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Safari groups are kept to eight people or less, allowing the staff to cater for each guest personally. Accommodation is split between the country's top lodges and luxury en-suite safari tents, and for the adventurous, there's always the option of spending the night under the stars. Glorious meals and fine wines are a daily feature. And great care is always taken to ensure that the land and its plant and animal life experience no ecological damage.
[BOOKING CONDITIONS] [LUXURY SAFARI CAMP] [OUR VEHICLE] [SAFARI SPECIFICATIONS] [FOOD] [HEALTH] [CLIMATE] [MONEY] [VISAS] [PHOTOGRAPHY] [WILD ANIMALS] [DRIVING CONDITIONS] [ITINERARY] [INCLUDED COSTS] [EXCLUDED COSTS] 
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BOOKING CONDITIONS [TOP] Your nearest GAVA Explorations
agent will provide you with a booking form - please see 'Contact
Us'. All safaris are conducted in English. OUR LUXURY SAFARI CAMP [TOP] GAVA Explorations' fully self-contained, mobile luxury tented camp is set up prior to each client's arrival at the site. Each tent measures 4x3 m (or 5x4 m including flysheet) and incorporates en-suite facilities: a hygenic chemical toilet, hand basin and gauranteed daily hot shower (there is nothing quite as refreshing as a shower under the stars!). Proper beds are provided, and the tents are high enough to stand upright in. Freshly-laundered bedding and towels are provided and laundry is done every day. We pride ourselves with a one-to-one staff to client ratio with extra camp staff drawn from the local Topnaars, thus ensuring that the clients' stay in the bush is as comfortable as possible. Delicious evening meals and picnic lunches/brunches are prepared daily by our professional chef on the luxury safaris, otherwise all of our guides are excellent cooks. Dinner is a three-course meal, and breakfast, lunch/brunch always feature a wide variety of appetizing dishes. Beverages are freely available, including bottled water. Meals are taken in a dining tent or - weather permitting - under the stars. The dining tent also provides ample shade during the heat of the day. OUR VEHICLE [TOP] The GAVA Explorations vehicle is a comfortable 4x4, with roof hatches and windows that can be completely removed. We never take more than eight people at a time on safari, ensuring an intimate atmosphere. Our philosophy is to make the tour as educational and comfortable as possible, tailoring it to your specific needs and interests. There is ample space in the 4x4, and unobstructed views for photography. NB A no smoking policy is adhered to on all GAVA Explorations' vehicles. We will, however, schedule regular stops for those needing smoke breaks. SAFARI SPECIFICATIONS [TOP] Safaris are graded as follows:
There is a minimum age limit of 12 and a maximum age limit of 70 (health permitting) on all safaris conducted by GAVA Explorations. The Intense Namib safari has a strenuous and very busy schedule, requiring all participants to be reasonably fit and healthy. We recommend that you bring soft bags for your luggage – a maximum of two bags per person are allowed plus, a reasonable amount of camera equipment. No formal clothing is needed, unless you want to go to the casino in Swakopmund. Laundry will be done every day. Bright colours and white are not suitable for safari, neither is camouflage wear. Khaki and related colours are fine. Please study the attached list of what to bring. GAVA Explorations cannot be held liable for the loss, damage or theft of personal belongings, nor can they be held liable for any accidents, personal injury or illness. Please ensure that you have yourself and your belongings adequately insured before you depart on safari. Be sure to take out baggage insurance, especially if you carry valuable camera equipment. The airline liability is limited, so it is always best to take cameras as carry-on luggage rather than checked baggage. If you have to cancel your safari for any reason, particularly close to the departure date, your insurance company should also cover you for the loss of your tour deposit and all other accidental fees. If you anticipate any insurance claim upon your return, be sure to document as accurately as possible any injury, loss or accident. Police and/or medical reports will validate any claim. FOOD [TOP] All meals are included in the price of your safari, with the exception of the hotel and restaurants in Swakopmund. We pride ourselves on supplying you with a variety of delicious meals: some will be in local restaurants, while the host or hostess accompanying you on safari will prepare others. At lodges, all meals are prepared by the lodge staff, and we believe that an integral part of your safari is the opportunity to taste local cuisine. The drinking water provided is completely safe to drink, and bottled water is also available. HEALTH [TOP] It is imperative that
you travel with medical/accident insurance your travel agent will be
able to supply you with details, or your regular health insurance company
might be able to supply you with a supplementary policy. GAVA Explorations
will not accept you on any safari without proof of insurance. Make sure
that your medical insurance covers emergency repatriation. Expect to
pay any medical costs on the spot and to be reimbursed by your insurance
company when you produce the bills. If you are taking any other medication, make sure you have enough for the duration of your safari – there is nowhere to restock with medicine or supplies in the small towns and National Parks. If you suffer from any medical condition, please ensure that you have a medical certificate from your doctor to confirm that you are fit for the safari; this should be presented to your guide before the safari commences. It is also important for your guide to be aware of any medication you take and/or any medical condition that might require special care or attention. GAVA Explorations carries a basic first aid kit on all vehicles, and all guides have attended first aid courses. However, it is always a good idea to bring your own medical kit that includes sterile needles and your own medication. Drinking water and food supplied during the duration of your safari will be safe! It is important to drink a lot of water all the time as dehydration is the cause of most medical conditions experienced in the desert. Three litres per day is the recommended minimum. CLIMATE AND WEATHER CONDITIONS [TOP] Namibia has a dry climate typical of a semi-desert country. During the months of November to March, some rain might be expected in the northern regions, including Etosha. Average rainfall figures vary from less than 50mm along the coast to 350mm in the central areas. In the far north-eastern regions it can be as much as 700mm. It is therefore difficult to estimate a true annual average for the whole of Namibia. Days are mostly warm to very hot, while the nights are cool. Interior temperatures are higher because of the altitude, while the coastal regions are milder, due to the influence of the Benguela current. This current also causes fog along the coast for about 100 days of the year. Average summer day temperatures: 20°C-34°C (68°F-93°F). Average winter night temperatures: 0°C-10°C (23°F-50°F). Bring lightweight cotton shorts and shirts for days, but also something warmer for the evenings. The coast, Walvis Bay and Swakopmund can be very cold if the fog comes in and quite wet, so be prepared for all conditions. Please see attached list of what to bring on safari. MONEY [TOP] The tour fare is fully inclusive as detailed below. Personal expenditure, curios, tips to your guide and camp staff, certain meals in Swakopmund and airport tax are excluded. We suggest that you allow US$35.00 per day for accidentals. Swakopmund is a shopping haven and if there is anything you forgot to bring, you could probably buy it there. The Namibian dollar is fixed to equal the South African rand. The South African rand can also be freely used in Namibia. Major credit cards are accepted, as well as US$ travellers cheques and US$ cash. There are plenty of banks and hotels at which to exchange foreign currency. Tipping is often an embarrassing
subject to raise, so you should know that the local guidelines are as
follows: tipping is common practice in Southern Africa, but never compulsory.
We suggest that if you are happy with the service you receive, that
you tip as follows:
If you have any problems or queries with this, please feel free to raise the matter with your guide. VISAS [TOP] All passport holders should verify with their travel agency or relevant consulate if any visa entry requirement for Namibia exists. If you are travelling elsewhere in Africa, make sure you are aware of the visa requirements in all countries that you intend to visit. Neither GAVA Explorations, their staff or their agents can be held liable for any errors. PHOTOGRAPHY [TOP] There will be ample opportunity to take photos during your safari. We recommend that you bring an SLR camera with a zoom lens of at least 200mm. Make sure that you bring enough film (5 rolls more than you expect to need), as there will be no shops along the way. ISO 100 film is best suited to most of the situations that we will encounter. If you have more than one camera body, please feel free to experiment with other speeds of film. Don't forget to bring spare camera batteries! If your preferred way of documenting your safari is by video, make sure you bring along an adapter for the cigarette lighter (12V) to charge your batteries. Your guide will be happy to assist you with this. Driving in Namibia is very dusty. A dust-proof camera bag and good cleaning equipment is essential. WILD ANIMALS [TOP] Many of the animals and reptiles we will see are potentially dangerous. No fences exist around the animals! DRIVING CONDITIONS [TOP] Most roads in Namibia are gravel, so the journey is often bumpy and rough. GAVA Explorations, its staff and agents cannot be held liable or responsible for any injuries or damages that might occur due to rough driving conditions. ITINERARY [TOP] The itinerary is a guide and the route we follow will be flexible. We do our very best to keep to the scheduled itinerary, but it may change subject to the availability of accommodation in the Sossusvlei area and other circumstances such as the weather, which is beyond our control. The safari is planned to include as large a variety of different landscapes and animals, and it is our philosophy to make sure that you see as much as possible. INCLUDED IN YOUR SAFARI COST [TOP] All accommodation from
Day 1 until the safari ends.
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