A pair of Red-billed Oxpeckers hitches a ride on a passing Impala in Kruger National Park Callan Cohen

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1 South Africa KRUGER & DRAKENSBERG LIMOSA HOLIDAYS TOUR INFO PACK A pair of Red-billed Oxpeckers hitches a ride on a passing Impala in Kruger National Park Callan Cohen 2019 Monday 4th - Saturday 16th February (13 days) 2020 Monday 3rd - Saturday 15th February (13 days) Small group tour with Joe Grosel There's a dazzling array of birds and mammals to look forward to on this fabulous tour to northern South Africa. Focusing on two of the country s top wildlife spots - world famous Kruger National Park (where our guide Joe has worked) and the spectacular Drakensberg Mountains - at a wonderful time of year for watching birds and wildlife-viewing there. The elegant Blue Crane, Drakensberg Rockjumper, Gurney's Sugarbird and the irresistible Meerkat feature among a long list of endemics and regional specialities. Abundant birds and mammals on this must-do South Africa tour The spectacular Drakensberg Mountains, South Africa's highest Expect 300+ bird species - including many regional endemics and specialities Blue Crane, Purple-crested Turaco, Drakensberg Rockjumper, Orange Ground Thrush Southern Bald Ibis, Blue Bustard, Southern Ground Hornbill, Rudd s and Botha s Larks Includes four nights in world famous Kruger National Park Superb for mammals: Meerkat, Giraffe, African Elephant, Lion, Leopard, White Rhinoceros Small group tour - maximum of 6 participants Expertly led by our South African Kruger specialist, Joe Grosel What's Included? Limosa Tour Leader Return flights - London Heathrow to Johannesburg, nonstop with British Airways 10 nights accommodation in South Africa, staying at comfortable hotels and lodges All main meals - with drinking water provided during the day Minibus transport, switching to an open-sided, 4WD wildlife viewing vehicle within Kruger NP All excursions, entry fees, permits & wildlife drives in the parks, tour based tips and taxes LIMOSA HOLIDAYS, West End Farmhouse, Chapelfield, Stalham, Norfolk NR12 9EJ (UK) TEL: +44 (0) info@limosaholidays.co.uk WEB: limosaholidays.co.uk

2 Outline Itinerary Day 1: Fly London Heathrow to Johannesburg (South Africa) Day 2: We arrive in Johannesburg this morning and transfer south to the Central Drakensberg. Bergville (2 nts) Day 3: We take one of the highest roads in Southern Africa, climbing up to 3000m in the Drakensberg Mountains and visit a particularly scenic area known as The Sentinel Days 4-5: Birding the pristine upland grasslands of Wakkerstroom (2 nts) Days 6-9: Kruger National Park, staying at camps in the southern and central park. Kruger (4 nts) Days 10-11: More jaw-dropping scenery is in store as we explore the Afromontane forests of the remote Northern Drakensberg. Mt Sheba (2 nts) Day 12: We make our back to Johannesburg today for our evening flight to London Day 13: Morning arrival London Tour Overview Below the great escarpment of the Drakensberg - the mountains of the dragon, with their breath of smoking cloud - sits one of the world s most celebrated national parks: Kruger. Bordered on its northern flank by the mighty Limpopo River, the Kruger is the largest of all South Africa s national parks - in fact, encompassing almost two million hectares it's only a tad smaller than Wales! Hot and dry in the north, wetter and subtropical in the south, its immense size and range of habitats ensures that wildlife is varied and abundant. More than 500 species of birds and around 150 different species of mammals have been recorded in Kruger - and our February tour will introduce you to many of them! After arriving in Johannesburg, we first travel south - via spectacular scenery and displaying Long-tailed Widowbirds - towards the Central Drakensberg. From our base in the foothills here, we take a trip next day into the mountains, climbing high into the realm of the Lammergeier to search peaks at around 3000m (9800ft) for the endemic Drakensberg Rockjumper. From here, we swing northeast through the highlands to explore the most threatened habitat in South Africa: the pristine upland grasslands around Wakkerstroom. The extremely localised Rudd s and Botha s Larks are two key endemics here, occurring alongside larger and more eyecatching specialities such as the wonderful Blue Crane, Southern Bald Ibis and Blue Bustard. Continuing north, we enter Kruger National Park, its mix of woodland, grassland and scrub home to a fabulous cross-section of African birds. Natal Francolin, Martial Eagle, Whiteheaded Lapwing, Purple-crested Turaco, Southern Carmine Bee-eater, Sulphur-breasted Bushshrike, Eastern Bearded Scrub Robin... and many more delights await our discovery here! On reaching our first camp in Kruger, we'll switch from our minibus to a custom-built, opensided wildlife viewing vehicle equipped with three tiered rows of seats, great visibility and a canopy roof for protection from the sun. We'll use this vehicle on two of our three full days within the park, reverting to our minibus again on our 'changeover day' when we make the more lengthy transfer between our camps in the south and centre of this vast national park. Giraffe, African Elephant, Zebra and White Rhinoceros are among many large mammals to watch for during our slow drives through the park - and we've a good chance of sighting Africa's two largest cats, Lion and Leopard, too! Also during our stay in Kruger, we ll enjoy a night drive in the bush - an adventure which could reveal anything from the big Spotted Eagle Owl to the bizarre Springhare. Bidding a reluctant farewell to Kruger, our tour concludes amid the mistbelt forests of the far Northern Drakensberg. Here we might again be fortunate to find Taita Falcon, one of the rarest raptors in the world, as we go in search of the exotic Narina Trogon and Orange Ground info@limosaholidays.co.uk

3 Thrush as well as two colourful endemics: Knysna Turaco and Swee Waxbill. From a landscape of scenic splendour awash with wonderful birds and wildlife through to good food, great accommodations and a personable guide who really knows his stuff, our Kruger & Drakensberg tour has all the right ingredients for a truly marvellous birdwatching holiday. Guide Joe Grosel grew up in northern South Africa and has been leading bird and wildlife tours for more than 20 years now. He first guided for Limosa together with Callan Cohen in 2007 (showing us owls and rhinos around his hometown in Limpopo Province), and more recently has led our tours to Namibia, Botswana and South Africa - including our Kruger & Drakensberg tour in February 2016, 2017, 2018 and Joe has been involved in a wide array of wildlife related activities, from field research in Kruger National Park through game capture and translocation to field guide training. Limosa has been operating a wide-ranging programme of birdwatching tours to South Africa since Our 2020 departure to Kruger & Drakensberg will be our thirteenth visit there. Daily Itinerary Days 1-2 FLY JOHANNESBURG, TRAVEL TO CENTRAL DRAKENSBERG Our birdwatching tour to South Africa begins with a flight from London to Johannesburg, where we arrive on the morning of day two. We ll be welcomed by Joe and travel south on an excellent highway through the highveld grasslands, stopping to enjoy Long-tailed Widowbirds as they display, while Blackwinged Kites and Blacksmith Plovers watch on. Our total drive time today will be 3-4 hours, and with a stop along the way for lunch. Later, we'll detour down some minor roads through the natural grasslands, where we ll begin our search for three species of crane. The elegant Blue Crane is South Africa s national bird and occurs in small flocks here; Grey Crowned Cranes prefer moist grasslands and, with luck, we might also find the very rare Wattled Crane in it s wetland home. We ll keep a keen eye out for bustards and could chance upon the exquisite Blue Bustard here. Larks might include Spikeheeled, Eastern Long-billed and perhaps even a Botha s or Pink-billed. Arriving at our country hotel accommodation we'll take dinner and get an early night in eager anticipation of more excitements next day! Night at a Harrismith country hotel Day 3 CENTRAL DRAKENSBERG This morning we take one of the highest roads in Southern Africa, climbing high into the lofty Drakensberg peaks and visit a particularly scenic area known as the Sentinel. Here, at 3000m above sea level and surrounded by the most sweeping views, we ll search for an enigmatic bird believed to be amongst the most ancient of passerines: the endemic Drakensberg Rockjumper, far removed here from its more rufous seaside relative found near Cape Town. We ll also keep a watchful eye on the skies for another high alpine speciality, Lammergeier (here of the endemic African subspecies), as well as the near-endemic Cape Griffon, a large vulture that is much chunkier than the African White-backed Vultures we ll see later in Kruger National Park. Southern Bald Ibis, Black Stork, Verreaux s Eagle, Lanner and Jackal Buzzard are among other cliff-nesting species we could encounter today, with White-necked Raven, Buff-streaked Chat and Cape Rock Thrush also likely, while Malachite and Greater Doublecollared Sunbirds busy themselves in flowering shrubs. We ll devote most of the day to exploring this fascinating area, retreating to lower altitude in the afternoon to resume our search for cranes, raptors and bustards. Night at a Harrismith country hotel Days 4-5 WAKKERSTROOM Leaving the Harrismith area behind, we wind our way northeastwards through the scenic info@limosaholidays.co.uk

4 foothills towards Wakkerstroom, with a chance to look for specialities such as the little-known Bush Blackcap en route. Once a sleepy hamlet in a forgotten part of the country, the presence of a range of rare birds nearby has propelled Wakkerstroom into the international birding limelight. Its grassland specialities, such as the localised Rudd s and Botha s Larks and the beautiful Yellow-breasted Pipit, are a major draw. We ll spend two nights here, exploring the excellent wetland at the edge of town and enjoying some very productive drives into the surrounding hills. In addition to those species mentioned already, we ll be searching for Redwinged Francolin, Ground Woodpecker, Denham s and Blue Bustards, Grey Crowned and Blue Cranes, Black-winged Lapwing, Southern Bald Ibis, Sentinel Rock Thrush, Buffstreaked Chat and Drakensberg Prinia. We might even be lucky to spot a troop of endearing Meerkats foraging in the grasslands... Simples! Two nights in a small hotel in Wakkerstroom Days 6-9 KRUGER NATIONAL PARK We spend much of day six driving from Wakkersroom to our next destination: world famous Kruger National Park. As we head north and east, we ll descend from the cool, rolling upland grasslands into the warmer lowlands, where the whole landscape takes on a distinctly more tropical feel. Entering Kruger in the south, we ll enjoy a stay of four nights within the park, divided between restcamps located in the southern and central areas. We ll focus our attention on a series of small side roads that have proved good in the past, as well as following up on recent reports around the Pretoriuskop, Skukuza, Lower Sabie and Satara areas of the national park. The vast Kruger reserve is one of Africa s best known safari parks, protecting a 20,000 km 2 swathe of wilderness that boasts an impressive diversity of mammals and a bird list in excess of 500 species. In addition to a high diversity of woodland birds, Kruger is a vital refuge for a host of large birds which require extensive areas of prime habitat to ensure their survival - among them the striking Saddle-billed Stork; Hooded, African White-backed, Lappet-faced and Whiteheaded Vultures; Tawny and Martial Eagles; Bateleur; African Finfoot; Kori Bustard and the lumbering Southern Ground Hornbill. Other species with limited distribution in Southern Africa to look for here include Lesser Blackwinged Lapwing, Stierling s Wren-warbler, Eastern Bearded Scrub Robin and Meve s Longtailed Starling. To make the most of our stay at Kruger we ll make early starts, heading out at dawn in an open-sided 4WD vehicle and returning to base again for breakfast in classic safari fashion. Afterwards, we may continue with another wildlife drive or maybe take some time to sample the bird-rich habitats found within the camps themselves. These can be extremely productive, with the likes of Brown-headed Parrot, Golden-tailed Woodpecker, Purplecrested Turaco, Sulphur-breasted Bushshrike, Greater Blue-eared Starling and Red-headed Weaver present in many of the camps. Chinspot Batis and Blue-breasted Cordon-bleus are common, and upright Groundscraper Thrushes hop about the lawns. Our wildlife drives should produce an excellent variety of birds, including many birds of prey - from the large eagles such as Martial and Tawny to the smaller Black-breasted Snake Eagle and Bateleur. Vultures are drawn to predator kills and here include the common African Whitebacked and the massive and somewhat grotesque looking Lappet-faced. Swainson s, Natal, Coqui, Crested and Shelley s Francolins are all possible and best seen along the edge of the road before they scuttle off into the grass. Perhaps the most ubiquitous bird in the park is the stunning Lilac-breasted Roller and there never seem to be enough photo stops for this appealing species. Groups of the social Southern Ground Hornbill can often be seen wandering along the Kruger s roads, allowing one to admire their red facial skin and long, delicate eyelashes! Burchell s and Cape Glossy Starlings are common, and Saddle-billed Storks and Whiteheaded Lapwings frequent sand bars in the larger rivers where we ll carefully search the info@limosaholidays.co.uk

5 overhanging waterside vegetation for a glimpse of the secretive African Finfoot. The taller trees along the rivers offer good raptor perches and also host noisy groups of Retz s Helmetshrikes; if we are lucky, we may also come across their brood parasite, the scarce Thick-billed Cuckoo. Gorgeous White-fronted Bee-eaters like to perch up here, too. While the birding is brilliant, Kruger is perhaps even more famous for its large mammals. Impala, Common Zebra, Blue Wildebeest and Giraffe are common; African Elephant can be found in big herds, as can African Buffalo - we ll check carefully for Red-billed Oxpeckers riding on the latter. The park supports a good population of Lion and we ll be exploring some of the best drives in the park for them, hoping for some more memorable encounters to rival those on our previous visits. If we are really lucky, we might also spot a Leopard. Although the southern reaches of the park are one of the best areas to see this elusive animal in South Africa, encounters are still far from guaranteed! There are a number of packs of African Wild Dogs in the area that we will be traversing and though we ll keep a watchful eye open for them, it will be a matter of luck if we see them on our travels. Another of Kruger's highlights is the option to take a 'night drive'. We ll go out one evening in the park's own large, wildlife-viewing vehicle, equipped with powerful spotlights and a driver guide. One never quite knows what to expect but we usually manage to find something really interesting - be it a pride of Lions on the hunt, a Spotted Eagle Owl perched beside the road or a courser running along the track ahead of the vehicle. In all, we shall spend a total of four nights in Kruger National Park at camps located in the southern and central areas of the vast national park. Four nights Kruger National Park Days NORTHERN DRAKENSBERG FORESTS Leaving the Kruger, we head back west, once more into the hills - only this time to visit a very different habitat. Our first stop will be on the Drakensberg escarpment itself, where we ll pause at a dramatically beautiful mountain pass to scan for one of the world s rarest raptors: Taita Falcon. The birds breed on an inaccessible cliff but are often active at this time and we ll wait at a vantage point nearby, hoping to see this most attractive orange-coloured falcon hunting overhead - or perched on the cliff face. Continuing further inland, our journey will take us along the edge of the Blyde River Canyon - the world s third largest canyon - where the vistas are nothing short of spectacular! Our remote and luxurious hotel, where we spend the last two nights of our tour, borders a secluded patch of Afromontane forest. Indeed, we can walk directly into the forest from our rooms and will spend the following day here, working the woodlands via the excellent trail network and exploring the surrounding areas. Endemic Knysna Turacos call from the forest canopy; with patient scanning, we should see their bright red wing flashes as the birds move between patches of fruiting trees, competing with Blue Monkeys for the ripest fruits. In the understorey, White-starred Robin, Chorister Robin-chat and Barratt s Scrub Warbler betray their presence with their calls, while the lovely Narina Trogon may be seen hawking from a liana beneath the canopy. Yellow-streaked Greenbul, Cape Batis, Olive Woodpecker and Yellow-throated Woodland Warbler are conspicuous members of feeding parties moving through the trees. Along the forest edge, we'll check for Red-necked Francolin, Black Sawwing, African Dusky Flycatcher, Swee Waxbill and Forest Canary. Bushbuck and Blue Monkey also inhabit the forest and Mountain Reedbuck may be seen on the grassy slopes. Two nights Mt. Sheba Day 12 RETURN TO JOHANNESBURG, FLY LONDON After enjoying some final birding at Mount Sheba this morning, reluctantly we must make our way back to Johannesburg today. We will make some stops for birds along the way, as flight schedules and travel time allows info@limosaholidays.co.uk

6 Saying a fond farewell to Joe at Johannesburg airport, we board our evening flight to London. Day 13 ARRIVAL LONDON We arrive back at London Heathrow this morning, where our February birdwatching tour to South Africa concludes. Trip Information Group Size Max 6 participants & 1 leader Birds species Mammals species When To Travel Both spring (Sep/Oct) and summer (Feb) are excellent for watching birds and wildlife in South Africa. In February, more birds will be in breeding plumage and more species will be breeding, plus all the migrants are in (so the potential number of species is higher) - but spring is great for birdwatching, too! Mammal viewing is easier in Sep/Oct as the waterholes attract more species then, but it is also excellent in Feb, when dew in the grass often encourages big cats to the roadsides in the early mornings. Accommodation 10 nights accommodation in South Africa, staying at a selection of good to excellent hotels, lodges/camps and/or guest houses. Accommodation in Kruger National Park consists of fully serviced, self-contained chalet units set in attractive gardens and grounds. All rooms have private facilities. Meals All main meals are included in the tour price, commencing with lunch in South Africa on Day 2 and concluding with lunch on our way back to Johannesburg on Day 12. Food is good to excellent in South Africa, with most main meals taken at our lodgings and lunches either as picnics or at the lodges. Walking Easy. Short walks. In Kruger, away from the camps, please note that the presence of wild animals usually precludes excursions on foot so our birdwatching must mostly be done from the safety of the vehicle. Sturdy but comfy walking shoes or lightweight boots with rugged, corrugated soles advised. Maximum elevation this tour: 3000m (9800ft). Weather South Africa has a temperate to subtropical climate, according to altitude. In spring (Sep/Oct), often warm sunny days but with a chilly start - temperatures typically ranging from 11-24C/52-75F in Johannesburg. It s likely to be cold at 3000m, but not below freezing. Expect quite a temperature range as we drop down from Johannesburg (around 5000ft) to the warmer lowlands of the Kruger. Some rainfall is likely in spring. In summer (Feb), daytime temperatures average warmer - typically ranging from 14-25C/57-77F in Johannesburg through to humid afternoon highs of 32C/90F (sometimes higher) in the lowlands of Kruger National Park. Summer rainfall is characterised by torrential convective downpours in the afternoons. Flights Return flights from London Heathrow to Johannesburg, nonstop with British Airways (or occasionally South African Airways). Ground Transport We use a 10-seater Toyota Quantum minibus driven by our guide. These are the vehicles best suited for general group travel in South Africa and the current market leader. On arrival at our first camp in Kruger, we'll switch from our minibus to an open-sided 4WD vehicle equipped with three, tiered rows of seats and a canopy roof for protection from the sun. The vehicle is especially designed to allow clear wildlife viewing and photography (note that the use of 'open-topped' vehicles is not permitted in South Africa's national parks), and is big enough to accommodate our whole group. We'll use this vehicle on two of our three full days within the park, reverting to our minibus again on our 'changeover day' when we make the longer transfer between our camps in the south and centre of this vast national park. On one evening during our stay in Kruger, we ll also enjoy a night drive in the bush. Night drives within the park are by similar open-sided safari vehicles, organised and operated by the park staff info@limosaholidays.co.uk

7 South African roads are generally good but some travel on this tour will be on well-graded gravel roads. Some dirt tracks in the Kruger; these are generally well maintained but the going can be bumpy at times. Photos Good-excellent opportunities including birds, mammals and some stunning scenery. Tour Cost * (13 days): 4395 (inc flights from London) Land only cost: 3795 Deposit: 600 Single Supp: 495 Cost includes Services of our expert guide Return flights - London-Johannesburg 10 nights accommodation in South Africa All main meals (with drinking water provided) Minibus transport, switching to open-sided 4WD wildlife viewing vehicles in Kruger NP Night drive in Kruger NP All excursions, entry fees, permits and wildlife drives in the parks, tour based tips (including tips to local drivers/guides) and taxes Map and Limosa checklist of bird & mammals Cost excludes Insurance, drinks, airport meals/snacks & other items of a personal nature. * prices shown. Costs for February 2020 tour TBC (available summer 2019). About Your Guide Joe Grosel Joe grew up in northern South Africa and since a young age showed a great passion for the natural environment around him. He has been leading bird and wildlife tours in Africa for more than 20 years. Joe first guided for Limosa in 2007, when he introduced us to owls and rhinos around his hometown in Limpopo Province, in northern South Africa. As well as being an exceptional birder and a highly accomplished wildlife tour guide, Joe has been involved in a vast array of wildlife related activities - ranging from field research in Kruger National Park through game capture and translocation to field guide training. Joe lives in South Africa and led our February 2016, 2017 and 2018 'Kruger & Drakensberg' tours. In 2019 and 2020, you can also travel with him on our tour to Namibia - as well as South Africa, of course! What You Say... "Thank you! It was a wonderful trip... great leader, great itinerary, great participants and very comfortable accommodations. I felt it was excellent value!..." BY, Kruger & Drakensberg tour "I think perhaps your brochure does not state with sufficient emphasis the sheer beauty of the scenery for the first six days. For me, looking down the Blyde River canyon was completely stunning. This was emphasised by the superb display of a pair of White-necked Ravens overhead!" MM, Kruger & Drakensberg tour The are two critical aspects - pre-tour organisation (selection of sites and bookings) and leadership of the tour. Organisation was sound, with no unforeseen errors or omissions. Leadership was outstanding - kindness, consideration and a phenomenal breadth and depth of knowledge. DT, Kruger & Drakensberg tour Financial Security Limosa Holidays is a fully bonded Tour Operator and a member of the Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO). We hold an ATOL (Air Tour Operators Licence) granted by the CAA, providing for your protection in the event of Limosa Holidays' insolvency. Our ATOL licence number is ATOL info@limosaholidays.co.uk

8 For tours not including the cost of a flight from the UK or for holidays booked by you as Land Only, all payments made to us are fully bonded through the Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust Limited (ABTOT). Our ABTOT membership number is For details please see our brochure or website: Limosa Loyalty Discount We are proud of the number of loyal customers who travel regularly with us. As our way of saying thank you, we offer a Frequent Travel Discount. Under the scheme, everyone who takes four trips with us is entitled to claim a 5% discount on their 5th trip. *1 *1 Conditions: This offer applies to the basic tour cost only and excludes certain commissionbased trips, extra costs such as additional flights or accommodation, private extensions and cancellations. Discounts cannot be given in lieu of tour deposits or off the cost of single room supplements. Please note discount must be requested at time of booking! How To Book Check availability on our website or with our office. We are happy to hold Provisional Reservations for up to 7 days. After this, we do require a Booking Form and deposit to confirm your place on tour. Any unconfirmed space will be released. Book Online, by Phone or by Post You can book and pay the deposit simply and securely Online via our website, using the Book This Tour button on the relevant tour page or the Booking tab at the top of the page. Telephone bookings must be confirmed in writing by completion of a Booking Form (there's one tucked inside every brochure or as a PDF download from our website), which can be mailed to us in the time honoured way. Be sure to read our Booking Conditions and General Information (found at the back of our brochure, on our website or available from our office on request) prior to booking. When to Book Early booking is advised since flights and accommodation are much more easily secured well in advance. To encourage early booking, we are pleased to offer an Early Bird Discount - see our current brochure or website for details. All our tours are limited to small group sizes. So they can fill up quickly - sometimes even before our new brochure comes out! Single rooms in particular can often be in short supply and among the first to go, so do try to plan well ahead if you definitely require one of these. Last-minute Bookings: We inevitably receive a few unexpected cancellations over the course of a season so it is always worth enquiring about vacancies on any tour - even for those departing in just a few weeks! Payments Deposit: The amount of booking deposit per person is shown alongside every tour. We accept deposit payments by electronic bank transfer (please ask for our bank details), UK debit card and cheque (made payable to Limosa Holidays and drawn on a UK bank in GBPounds Sterling). We also accept Visa and MasterCard credit cards for payment of Booking Deposits only. Balance: Full payment of the tour balance is due not later than 12 weeks prior to departure (20 weeks in the case of certain tours such as cruises or those involving rail travel). We will send you an invoice before the balance is due. We accept balance payments and any additional payments (e.g. interim flight deposits, flight upgrades, extra hotels etc) by electronic bank transfer (BACS), UK debit card or cheque. Payment by overseas customers These must be in GB Pounds Sterling and may be made by electronic transfer direct to our bank (please ask for our bank details) info@limosaholidays.co.uk

9 We do not accept cheques on US Banks in US Dollars, or cheques in Euros or Eurocheques. Credit cards - please note: (i) We do NOT accept credit cards or overseas debit cards for balance payments (including any additional or interim payments) from customers living within the UK or European Economic Area (the EEA is the EU countries plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway). (ii) For customers living in North America, Australia and all other areas outside of the UK and the European Economic Area we are able to accept payment by Visa and MasterCard credit cards or overseas debit card but with a charge of 2.5% of the transaction amount to help offset card company charges. Late Booking Payments: In order for us to guarantee your airline seats, hotels etc., full payment is required at time of booking for all late bookings (i.e. bookings made within 12 weeks of departure). Other Things You Need To Know Passports & Visas Your passport should be valid for a minimum period of 30 days from the date of exit from South Africa. Although no additional period of validity beyond this is required, when travelling anywhere overseas we always recommend that your passport has a minimum of 6 months left to run after your intended date of return home in case of unforeseen delay. IMPORTANT NOTE! South African authorities state officially that only one blank passport page is required for entry into South Africa. However, visitors have been refused entry and sent back to the UK as some officials are insisting on two blank pages. The UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) advise that you should have at least two blank pages in your passport when you present it at immigration to enter or leave South Africa (note: South African Immigration officials will not allow the passport s Child / Infant page to be used for this purpose). If you do not have at least two blank pages then you might possibly be refused entry and may be returned back to the UK on the next flight. Please be sure to check your passport complies with this requirement in good time prior to travel. Depending upon conditions locally at the time of our visit to the area, it might be possible for us to cross into the land-locked country of Lesotho during one of our days in the Drakensberg Mountains. We generally drive up to the border on this tour anyhow - but there is a new birding site just across the border in Lesotho, which is proving good for several of the high altitude species. We would need to carry passports, but no visas are required and there are no fees for UK passport holders to do this. Our guide will have further details about this for you on tour. Note that we will only do the excursion into Lesotho if local conditions are suitable. Taking note of the above advice, you could require an additional blank page in your passport to facilitate this. VISA NOT REQUIRED by UK passport holders for this tour. Holders of non-uk passports should contact the nearest South African embassy or consulate to check whether or not they require a visa/s. If a visa/s is required, you will need to apply locally. If the embassy or consulate requires you to provide a letter confirming that you are booked on an all-inclusive tour, please contact our office and we will be happy to provide one. Health & Vaccinations Visit your health professional at least 4 to 6 weeks before your trip to check whether you need any vaccinations or other preventive measures. Country specific information and advice is published by the National Travel info@limosaholidays.co.uk

10 Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC), visit: travelhealthpro.org.uk/countryinformation/ and by NHS (Scotland), visit: Useful information and advice about healthcare abroad is also available at NHS Choices website: ad/pages/healthcareabroad.aspx Compulsory vaccinations: None (but yellow fever certificate is required if arriving from infected areas). Recommend immunisations: hepatitis A, tetanus, polio and typhoid. Consult your doctor for up-to-date advice about diphtheria, hepatitis B and TB, which may be recommended in some circumstances. Malaria: There is a moderate risk of malaria in this corner of South Africa (Kruger NP). Note that areas of malaria risk can change and as tour operators we are not in a position to give medical advice - you should consult with your GP or local health centre for the latest information. All places we stay on this tour have either mosquito nets or netting on the windows, so you do not need to take your own mosquito net with you. A sun hat is essential on many days, and use of an effective barrier cream and sunglasses are advised. The above information, together with that contained within our Travel Information sheets (sent to everyone who books), outlines health requirements for this tour. Please note that these details are given for guidance only - and are only for certain diseases - and you must consult your doctor in good time prior to travel as to what immunisations (if any) are needed for your chosen holiday. For full and latest health information we urge everyone to consult The National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) website (see above) prior to booking any overseas holiday. NaTHNaC is funded by the UK Government s Health Protection Agency and provides health information for both health professionals and travellers, with information compiled by its own clinical and scientific team. You can search for individual country requirements, which are updated regularly. Your Safety & Travel Advice An unavoidable aspect of travelling abroad nowadays is the risk it may pose to your safety and security. The best advice on current risks is provided by the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO). In order to assess and protect against any risks in your chosen destination we strongly recommended that you refer to the relevant FCO Travel Advice - both prior to booking and regularly before you travel. See It is standard Limosa policy for our office to send a copy of the relevant FCO Travel Advice about the tour to all participants along with their Final Letter (ca. 2-3 weeks prior to the trip). Travel Aware - staying safe and healthy abroad - is a travel safety campaign run by the FCO, and another useful resource. Go to: Travel Insurance Good travel insurance is essential before setting off on any overseas trip. In common with all responsible tour operators, it is a condition of booking that all clients are fully and adequately insured before travelling overseas with us. Be aware that some destinations may require you to produce proof of comprehensive travel insurance (e.g. valid insurance certificate) at immigration on arrival in the country, so you should carry your documentation with you. Your travel insurance should cover against cancellation, curtailment, missed departure, delay, personal accident, death, loss of baggage and valuables (see note below), personal liability and legal expenses. Most importantly, your insurance must cover you fully in respect of medical care and repatriation should you become too ill to continue with the tour, including the cost of emergency evacuation by helicopter or air ambulance should this be necessary. Note info@limosaholidays.co.uk

11 that passenger liability insurance covering the transportation that we hire, particularly in Third World countries, may be inadequate; it is therefore important that your insurance cover includes sufficient provision for your dependents in the event of an accident. We recommend that you obtain travel insurance as soon as possible after booking your holiday to ensure you are protected right from the word go in the event of unexpected cancellation prior to departure due to accident or illness. You must inform your insurers of any pre-existing medical conditions (including those of persons not necessarily travelling but upon whom your holiday may depend) that may require treatment during a period of overseas travel or might cause you to cancel the trip. Once you have arranged your insurance, please be sure to send us the following essential details: name and contact details of your insurance provider, your policy number, expiry date and your insurers 24hr Emergency Assistance number. Important Things to Note about Insurance Travel Insurance does not normally provide sufficient cover for valuable optical equipment, which is often best protected under your own household insurance policy. If in doubt ask your insurers for advice prior to travel. Most travel insurance policies limit the amount of cover, typically up to a maximum tour cost of 5000 per person. If the tour you are booking exceeds this amount (as in this case), additional cover can usually be provided upon payment of additional premium. We recommend all travellers check their individual policy limit to ensure the full cost of their holiday is covered. Arranging Your Insurance: due to UK Government legislation, under Financial Services Authority (FSA) regulations, we are not allowed to offer or recommend travel related insurance to customers. Premiums can vary widely according to your age, needs, health, choice of destination and other factors, while many people nowadays have Annual Travel Insurance cover. For these reasons, we leave you free to shop around and pick your own policy, one best suited to your own individual needs. General Information Our website gives easy access to detailed tour itineraries (Tour Info Packs), trip reports, trip photos and the latest Limosa News. Special Diets & Other Requests We pass on all such requests to the airlines, hotels and other suppliers, and do our best to ensure (but of course cannot guarantee) that your needs will be met. Please be sure to tell us about these (in as much detail as possible) at the time of booking, to allow good time to make the necessary arrangements. Smoking Almost all of our clients prefer a smoke-free environment. For the enjoyment and comfort of all, we ask that smokers refrain from smoking in proximity to the group and respect our NO SMOKING policy in the vehicle, at meal times and when watching wildlife. Any Questions? If you have any questions at any time, you ll find our office staff friendly, efficient, approachable - and just a phone call away, eager to assist you in every way. Our office is open hrs Mon-Fri, and can also be reached by . In the event we are unable to take your call, please leave a message on our answerphone (24 hrs) and our office will contact you as soon as we can. Thank you for your interest in our tours. We do hope that you will be able to join us - and we look forward to hearing from you again! CK info@limosaholidays.co.uk