GUIDED BIRDING & WILDLIFE TOURS SINCE 1985 Tour Info

Transcription

1 Limosa GUIDED BIRDING & WILDLIFE TOURS SINCE 1985 Tour Info Kenya Classic Kenyan Safari The brilliantly coloured Red-and-yellow Barbet is one of East Africa's most striking residents tour participant Keith Bedford 2014 Wednesday 21st May - Monday 2nd June LEADERS Callan Cohen & Deirdre Vrancken In the home of the safari (a Swahili word for journey), our 13-day Classic Kenyan Safari offers the perfect introduction to the magnificent birds and mammals of this wonderfully scenic and diverse country. Travel with our top-rated Africa specialists Callan Cohen and Deirdre Vrancken, on a journey that will transport you through the hills, forests and rich savanna landscapes of Kenya - from Nairobi National Park and Mountain Lodge, via Samburu and the flamingos of Lake Nakuru, to the Masai Mara. NEW FOR 2014! Our Classic Kenyan Safari Visiting some of Africa's finest wildlife reserves Abundant East African birdlife, including several endemics unique to the region Impressive numbers of large mammals Elephant, Black and White Rhinos, Lion, Cheetah and Leopard all possible See the spectacular scenery and massed flamingos of the Great African Rift Forested Mt. Kenya, Samburu National Park and the magnificent Masai Mara Fantastic photo opportunities: birds, mammals and other wildlife Expertly led by Limosa s top-rated Africa specialists, Callan Cohen & Deirdre Vrancken LIMOSA, West End Farmhouse, Chapelfield, Stalham, Norfolk NR12 9EJ (UK) TEL: +44 (0) /4 info@limosaholidays.co.uk WEB: limosaholidays.co.uk

2 Tour Overview Everyone will possess their own images of Kenya s fabulous wildlife riches: of limitless savannas stretched out beneath cloudless azure skies; of contented African Elephants quenching their thirst during the heat of the day; the roar of a distant Lion in the still of an African night; a lanky Giraffe loping silently across the acacia-studded plains; herds of noisy, fly-whisking Zebra trotting through tawny grasslands - and of the astonishing richness and variety of so many brilliant and exotic birds! From species whose very names compel one to seek them out: Bare-faced Go-away-bird, Water Dikkop, Flappet Lark, and Stout and Croaking Cisticolas, to 'must see' African species such as Ostrich, Bateleur, Hamerkop - and the thousands upon thousands of exquisite flamingos that stretch as a shimmering pink haze across the waters of the Great African Rift. Let your mind take in the glowing sunset across the lake Our Classic Kenyan Safari tour is designed to show you the best of Kenya's rich tropical habitats, on a journey that will take you from the thickly forested slopes of Mount Kenya to the flamingo-clad Rift Valley lakes, through the arid scrublands of Samburu and on to the vast open plains of the famous Masai Mara. Beginning in Nairobi, we first explore the city s own remarkable Nairobi National Park, where we might well encounter our first Lions or Secretary-birds, or see the endangered Black Rhinoceros. From here, we travel north to Mountain Lodge, on the forested slopes of remarkable Mount Kenya, where electric-blue Broad-billed Rollers and immense Silvery-cheeked Hornbills feed in the trees. The dry acacia bushlands of Samburu and dramatic scenery of Shaba national reserves will introduce us to yet more fascinating mammals as well as many birds - including the handsome Verreaux's Eagle and the peculiarly long-necked Gerenuk. Following three nights at Samburu, we swing west to the spectacle of Kenya's Rift Valley lakes, staying at wonderful Lake Nakuru. Our safari concludes with a three-night stay, in luxury tented accommodation, amidst the sweeping tawny grasslands of the magnificent Masai Mara, close to the Tanzania border. Overall, we can expect to see upwards of 400 species of birds and more than 45 different kinds of mammal - all set against a backdrop of some of the loveliest and most dramatic wildlife settings anywhere on Earth. A safari through Kenya is a 'classic' African experience - and a wildlife spectacle not to be missed! Brilliant birding, marvellous mammals, unsurpassed photographic opportunities... Add arrangements tailormade for us by our top-rated Africa specialists Callan Cohen & Deirdre Vrancken, and our Classic Kenyan Safari promises to be the holiday of a lifetime. Why not join us for some of the best birding on the African continent, in the company of two of its finest wildlife tour guides. Outline Itinerary Day 1: Fly London-Nairobi. Night Nairobi Days 2-3: Nairobi National Park & Mt Kenya. Mountain Lodge (2 nts) Days 4-6: Samburu and Shaba Nature Reserves. Samburu (3 nts) Days 7-8: Thomson s Falls to Lake Nakuru (2 nts) Days 9-11: Nakuru to Masai Mara, via Lake Naivasha. Masai Mara (3 nts) Day 12: Masai Mara to Nairobi. Depart Nairobi-London Day 13: Arrival London 2 Any questions? Please call: +44 (0) / 4 Or see:

3 Tour Itinerary Day 1 ARRIVAL IN NAIROBI We take a daytime direct flight from London to Nairobi, arriving there in the evening. Callan and Deirdre will be waiting there to welcome us, and we transfer directly to our lodge. Night Nairobi. Day 2 NAIROBI NATIONAL PARK Rising early, we spend our first morning exploring the remarkable Nairobi National Park. Situated just 5kms from the city centre, this extensive tract of rolling savanna offers a splendid introduction to the real Africa, with its Lions and Zebras, and chances of coming across the very rare Black Rhinoceros. Birds are abundant, too - and some will no doubt seem strangely 'familiar' as we come face to face with our first Ostriches, Secretary-birds, Hamerkops and swirling vultures. But we can also expect to see an array of pipits, larks, cisticolas and brightly-coloured weavers. In places there are upland olive forests, where we might encounter the colourful Hartlaub s Turaco. The magnificent Crowned Eagle also patrols here, along with other raptors. In shallow valleys, swamps and hollows might be regaled with pairs of elegant Grey Crowned Cranes, while amongst the dense acacia thickets, with their sentinel Long-tailed Fiscals and energetic Little Bee-eaters, the towering necks of Giraffes provide rich pickings for both Red-billed and Yellow-billed Oxpeckers. The scrubby vegetation is also home to bush-loving species such as Northern Pied Babbler, Siffling Cisticola and Red-throated Tit, along with the peculiar Speckled Mousebird, the lovely Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater and the vocal Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird, with its tell-tale pooping call such a characteristic sound of the bush. After a great introduction to East African birds and wildlife, we head north this afternoon towards forested Mount Kenya, and continue to Mountain Lodge on its southwest slopes. Night Mountain Lodge. Day 3 MOUNT KENYA Nestled on the forested slopes of Mt. Kenya, at an elevation of just over 2000 metres, the comfortable Mountain Lodge overlooks a waterhole and natural salt-lick. Floodlit at night, the pool is attractive to a wide mix of wildlife, from Verreaux s Eagle Owl to Large-spotted Genet, Elephant and even Leopard. Mt. Kenya is an extinct volcano and the second highest mountain in Africa, at 5202m. Its three lofty peaks, covered in snow with associated glacier fields, have altitudinal bands that support their own specific avifauna. However, the lower forested slopes host the richest variety. If skies are clear and the visibility is good, we shall awake this morning to views of its snow-capped summit rising above a veil of verdant equatorial forest. Birding from the rooftop gallery at Mountain Lodge is excellent, affording fine views over the forest and from where we may delight in flocks of handsome Bronze-naped and Olive Pigeons, dainty Tambourine Doves, immense Silvery-cheeked Hornbills and noisy Red-fronted Parrots, exquisite Broad-billed Rollers and darting, gem-like Eastern Double-collared Sunbirds. We shall spend the rest of the day exploring the forested lower slopes if Mount Kenya. With luck, we will find the enchantingly named Cinnamon Bracken Warbler, Mountain Yellow Warbler and melodic Greycapped Warblers skulking in the bushes. Perhaps a party of red-winged Waller s Starlings (or even a more distinctive Sharpe s or Abbott s Starling) might also be seen, or we might come across the impressive Crowned Hornbill with its bright red bill, or a richly coloured Montane Oriole moving through the tops of the taller trees. Night Mountain Lodge. 3 Any questions? Please call: +44 (0) / 4 Or see:

4 Days 4-6 SAMBURU & SHABA NATURE RESERVE Leaving Mountain Lodge after breakfast this morning, we wend our way down the mountain enjoying a final opportunity to check for montane birds before reaching the grasslands on Mt Kenya's lower slopes. The change of habitat brings a corresponding change of birds, and here we'll be keeping a keen eye open for the spectacular Long-tailed and Jackson s Widowbirds. Our picnic en route today will likely be in Meru Forest, home to White-eared Barbet and many others. From here we descend for a three-night stay in the arid lowlands at wonderful Samburu reserve. Extending over 40 square miles of spectacular dry bush country, Samburu is one of the most attractive of all Kenya s reserves - and a fantastic spot for wildlife. During these two exciting days we shall be on the lookout for the special mammals of the area, including Reticulated Giraffe, Beisa Oryx, Grevy s Zebra and that curious, long-necked antelope, Gerenuk. Immense Nile Crocodiles cruise in the muddy river. Samburu boasts a rich diversity of habitats, resulting in a wealth of birdlife. From the outsize Ostrich to diminutive sunbirds and Mouse-coloured Penduline Tit, there is much to see here. Vultures nesting in the tall trees beside the river include that real oddity, the vegetarian Palm-nut Vulture; dazzling Black-headed Orioles yodel from the canopy, and mixed feeding parties of passerines often hold the wicked-billed Grey-headed Bush-shrike. In the open acacia scrub, frequent splashes of colour betray the likes of Somali Bee-eater, Rosy-patched Bush-shrike, Somali Golden-breasted Bunting and the gorgeous Golden-breasted Starling, with its fantastical long tail. Handsome Verreaux s Eagles patrol the sandstone bluffs, below which Buff-crested and huge Kori Bustards, Vulturine Guineafowl and Orange-bellied Parrot are possible. Even the birdtable at the lodge is worth more than a passing look, with its visiting Red-billed Hornbills, White-bellied Go-Away Birds and Superb Starlings! During our stay at Samburu, we should also have time to visit nearby Shaba Nature Reserve for some further excellent birding. Situated to the east of Samburu, Shaba was the setting for the films Born Free and Out of Africa, and is well known to birdwatchers for the rare and endemic Williams s Lark plus a great range of raptors, including Martial Eagle, African Hawk Eagle and the aptly-named Pygmy Falcon. Three nights Samburu. Days 7-8 THOMSON S FALLS & LAKE NAKURU Departing Samburu, we retrace our steps across the lower slopes of Mt. Kenya, bound for the Great African Rift. We'll stop to enjoy a picnic lunch along the way and pause at Thomson s Falls, where the scarce Slender-billed Starling may be bathing in the spray. Other treats to watch out for on our travels today might include more Cinnamon-chested Bee-eaters, Tinkling Cisticola, African Montane White-eye and two superb highland specialists - the immaculate Tacazze and Golden-winged Sunbirds. Shy and wary, the smart African Black Duck is an uncommon resident along the swift-flowing upland streams. Our descent from the hills into the Rift Valley will bring us to the busy shores of famous Lake Nakuru, home to the world s largest population of Lesser Flamingos. Aside from Nakuru s myriad flamingos, crowds of noisy gulls and terns join the throng of waders, ducks, spoonbills, ibises, storks and herons that are drawn to the freshwater streams feeding this huge soda lake. Fringing the lakeshore, a forest of tall acacias conceals such specialities as Hildebrandt s Francolin, Redchested Cuckoo and Red-breasted Wryneck, while mammals of note include the huge White Rhinoceros, Olive Baboon and the curious Rock Hyrax. Nakuru is also one of the best places in Africa to see Leopard and we may discover one draped across a bough in the dappled shade of a tree. Two nights Nakuru. 4 Any questions? Please call: +44 (0) / 4 Or see:

5 Days 9-11 LAKE NAIVASHA & MASAI MARA With Arrow-marked Babbler, Pied Cuckoo and Cardinal Woodpecker possible before breakfast, it will be with some reluctance that we turn our backs on Nakuru today and head south via lovely Lake Naivasha. Naivasha s busy water s edge is alive with animated Pied Kingfishers, and dapper Spur-winged and Blacksmith Plovers. We could see Purple Heron, Giant Kingfisher and Marsh Sandpiper here, too! African Hoopoes waddle about the lawns, comical Green Wood-hoopoes cackle from the trunks of the trees, and apparently indifferent Lilac-breasted Rollers pose like brilliant neon signs. African Fish Eagles watch over the proceedings, as long-toed African Jacanas strut across the floating vegetation, Wire-tailed Swallows swoop and flit, and Grey-backed Fiscals hunt. Leaving Naivasha, we'll continue our journey south in the late morning. Passing the stark caldera of Longonot, we then cross the valley floor and ascend the west wall of the mighty Rift, bound for Kenya s richest wildlife reserve: the fabulous Masai Mara. Our arrival there is heralded by herds of zebras and gazelles, as we head for dinner at our luxury camp. Our days at the Masai Mara will be a feast of mammals and birds! Investigating the valleys, we try first for the sleek Magpie Shrike, Bare-faced Go-Away Bird and Von der Decken s Hornbill, before heading out across the vast grasslands of the Mara. Expect stalking Secretary-birds, and a bewilderment of birds of prey including Bateleur, and Ruppell's and White-headed Vultures. The Mara's sweeping plains also support enormous populations of grazing mammals - along with their attendant predators! It s a truly remarkable wildlife spectacle and we should encounter most of the big game for which East Africa is famous, including Elephant, Wildebeest, Impala, Zebra, Grant s and Thompson s Gazelles, Giraffe, Hippopotamus, Lion, Cheetah and the intimidating Spotted Hyena. Within the grounds of our superb camp, we may find Ross s and Schalow s Turacos, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eaters and the emerald-backed Narina Trogon; Red-tailed Monkeys frolic in the trees and troupes of Banded Mongoose play on the lawn. Exploring the area further, we visit the Olololoo Escarpment. Many special birds are found here but not elsewhere in the country, as we look for Yellow-bellied Hyliota, Pale Wren Warbler and three local cisticolas: Trilling, Tabora and Rock-loving. The view from the top of the escarpment is spectacular, stretching away over the endless plains and across the border into the famous Serengeti of Tanzania. Three nights Masai Mara. Day 12 MARA TO NAIROBI, FLY LONDON We enjoy our final breakfast in Kenya overlooking the plains. Leaving the wildlife spectacle, we journey across the Mara, back to Nairobi. Packed and refreshed, we ll enjoy a farewell dinner early this evening before boarding our overnight flight. Day 13 ARRIVAL IN LONDON Morning arrival in London, where our Classic Kenyan Safari concludes. Trip Information Group Size 12 participants & 2 guides Birds species 5 Any questions? Please call: +44 (0) / 4 Or see:

6 Mammals species Accommodation We stay at a selection of Kenya s best lodges and luxury tented camps, all with private facilities. Meals All main meals are included in the price. Food is good-excellent; some lunches will be taken at the lodges, others as picnics in the field. Walking Easy. Short walks. In the parks, away from our lodgings, the presence of wild animals may preclude excursions on foot so we travel by safari vehicles specially adapted for wildlife viewing. Comfortable walking shoes and sandals are suitable. Maximum altitude: on this tour we reach a maximum elevation of m above sea level - even though much higher mountains loom above. Weather Kenya sits astride the Equator and has a tropical climate. May is one of the cooler, cloudier and more pleasant months to visit, with daily temperatures in the range of 10-25C and average daily highs of around 20-25C (this may vary with altitude). Humidity is generally low. In theory, Kenya has two 'rainy seasons': the 'long rains' falling in March-April and the 'short rains' coming in November-December - however, both seasons can come early or late, or sometimes fail completely. In late May, we can expect the landscape to be very green and lush. Rainfall is possible almost anywhere in southern Kenya, but most likely over highland areas with mountain rainforests. Temperature falls with altitude and misty or cloudy mornings can feel surprisingly chilly around Mountain Lodge on the slopes of Mt Kenya (down to perhaps 5C at night). Be sure to bring some warm clothing (lightweight sweater or fleece and a jacket). Flights We use the scheduled services of British Airways or similar, direct from London-Nairobi. Ground Transport By minibus and/or four-wheel drive safari vehicle/s with pop-top roofs for superb game viewing and birding. Insects Mosquitos are present throughout the Afro-tropics. Bring repellent and dress accordingly, covering up with long sleeves and long trousers. Many of the accommodations we use do usually supply mosquito nets or have netted windows. See also Health & Vaccinations section, below. Photos Excellent photographic opportunities for birds, large mammals and landscapes on this tour. Tour Cost 2014 (13 days): 4995 (inc flights from London) Land only cost: 4445 Deposit: 500 Single Supp: 495 Cost includes Return scheduled flights London-Nairobi, all accommodation, meals, surface transport, entry fees to the parks, tips to local drivers/guides, airport taxes, map, bird & mammals checklist and services of the leaders. Cost excludes Insurance, visa (approx. 30), drinks & other items of a personal nature. This trip will be offered in conjunction with The Travelling Naturalist 6 Any questions? Please call: +44 (0) / 4 Or see:

7 What You Say "... I loved the wonderful hospitality and friendliness of the Kenyans, and was quite amazed at the very high standard of accommodation and delicious meals at all the places we stayed. Many thanks for arranging it all so beautifully... " Daphne Patterson, Kenya tour About Your Guides Callan Cohen South Africa-born Callan is a principal Limosa guide with more than 20 years experience of African birding. He lives in Cape Town where he runs Birding Africa, a company that specialises in birding trips in and around the Cape, and has spent more than ten years leading tours across the continent. With his comfortable easy style, he was an immediate hit with our groups and now designs and leads our tours throughout South Africa, as well as those to Botswana, Namibia, Uganda, Gabon, Madagascar and Tanzania (with more destinations in the pipeline). He is the author of two books on birding in Africa, including the definitive site guide to southern Africa and Madagascar, and has recently gained his PhD at the Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology at the University of Cape Town, with a degree in zoology and botany. His professionalism, all-round ability in the field and excellent people skills have earned him a deserved reputation as one of Africa s foremost birdwatching and wildlife tour guides. Callan has spent three months in Kenya, working with the National Museum Ornithology Department, and our 2014 tour will be his 4th trip there. Deirdre Vrancken Married to Callan, Deirdre lives in Cape Town (South Africa), where she assists both as a wildlife guide and in the office at Birding Africa, specializing in the continent s mammals - Gorillas, Chimpanzees and lemurs rate among her favourites. Her previous work in research includes studies of Man s closest living relatives, Bonobos, in the jungles of the Congo. Fluent in English, French and Dutch, Deirdre teams up with husband Callan to lead our trips to Kenya and Tanzania, where her feminine touch and special knowledge of African mammals adds an extra dimension to our tours. 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 fifth trip *1. Alternatively, you can opt to save your discounts up and carry them forward to claim a 10% discount on your 10th trip. The choice is yours, but please remember to request your discount at time of booking! *1 Please note: This offer applies to the basic tour cost only and excludes certain commission-based trips, extras such as additional flights, private extensions and cancellations. Discounts cannot be given in lieu of tour deposits or off the cost of single room supplements. How to Book You can make a booking by one of three easy methods, but if you experience any problems, please feel free to contact the office. Be sure to read our Booking Conditions and General Information found at the back of our current brochure or on our website - Book Online: You can book swiftly and securely online via our website: 7 Any questions? Please call: +44 (0) / 4 Or see:

8 Book by Post: Our brochures contain a Booking Form, but you can also download a copy from our website - Please complete both sides of the form, remembering to sign and date the section at the bottom of the second page. Send this to us, together with the appropriate Booking Deposit (see below). Telephone bookings: Telephone bookings will be accepted on a provisional basis to allow time for your Booking Form and deposit to reach us by mail. We will hold provisional reservations for up to 14 days pending receipt of booking form, after which time any unconfirmed space will be released. Payments Deposits: The amount of deposit per person is shown above. We accept payment by cheque (drawn on a UK bank in GB Pounds Sterling), by BACS or internet banking (please ask us for our bank details), and by debit card. We also accept most major credit cards (not AmEx). Final Balance: Full payment of the balance is due not later than 12 weeks prior to departure (occasionally longer in the case of some tours such as cruises or those involving rail travel). We will send you an invoice at about this time indicating the balance. We accept payment for final balances by cheque or debit card. Payment of the balance can also be by credit card with a 2% commission charge for the latter (see below). Please ask for our bank details if you prefer to transfer your payment direct to our bank account. Card Charges: Due to escalating credit card charges we are unable to absorb the cost of these. We will not charge for payment of the initial booking deposit (amount as indicated in the Tour Cost section, above), but will make a 2% commission charge on any balances or subsequent payments (e.g. interim flight deposits) paid by credit card. We do not charge commission on payments made by debit card or by cheque or direct to bank. Late Bookings: 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). When to Book This is one of the most Frequently Asked Questions - the short answer is as early as possible! Accommodation and flights are much more easily secured well in advance and there is nothing more frustrating than to know that on paper space is still available on the tour but that hotels and/or flights are full. To encourage early booking therefore, we are pleased to offer an Early Booking Discount - see our current brochure or website for details. Our tours are limited to small group sizes, so they can fill up quickly - sometimes even before our new brochure comes out! It's not unusual to find trips are fully booked around four to six months in advance. 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 late 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 time! 8 Any questions? Please call: +44 (0) / 4 Or see:

9 Other Things You Need To Know Passports & Visas For all overseas tours (also for cruises within the UK), participants must be in possession of a valid passport. Your passport must be valid for a minimum period of 6 months from the date of entry into Kenya. Make sure you have at least two facing blank pages in your passport on arrival. A VISA IS REQUIRED by UK passport holders to travel to Kenya. You can get a visa in advance of travel from the Kenya High Commission in London at 45 Portland Place, London, W1N 4AS (tel /5). Or you can download a visa application form from the Kenya High Commission website: Payment (currently 30 per person) only in cash or postal order, cheques are not accepted. Visas can also be applied for on arrival at Nairobi airport (no photographs are required for a visa on arrival as you are photographed and finger printed at the Immigration desk). Payment can be made in cash, approx. cost $50 or 30 per person. Single-entry visas are valid for three months from the date of issue. All others should contact their nearest Kenyan 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 Compulsory vaccinations: yellow fever. You should have a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate with you on arrival in Kenya. Recommend immunisations: diptheria, hepatitis A, tetanus, polio and typhoid. Consult your doctor for up-to-date advice including cholera, hepatitis B, meningitis and TB, which may also be recommended in some circumstances. Malaria exists throughout the year in Kenya, so prophylactic treatment is essential - you must consult your doctor for the latest advice. Other: 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 up-to-date health information we urge everyone to consult The National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) website 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 your individual country requirements, which are updated regularly. Your Safety & Travel Advice An unavoidable aspect of travelling abroad nowadays is the threat it may pose to your safety and security. The UK s Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) encourages British nationals to be better prepared for their overseas trips with a view to avoiding common travelling traumas, risks and dangers. In order for 9 Any questions? Please call: +44 (0) / 4 Or see:

10 you to assess and protect against any risks in your chosen destination it is strongly recommended that you refer to the relevant FCO Travel Advice both prior to booking and regularly before you travel. 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 (2-4 weeks prior to the trip). Further useful information on visas, health, etc., can be found at the World Travel Guide website: Know Before You Go - 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. 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 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! Be aware that 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, 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. 10 Any questions? Please call: +44 (0) / 4 Or see:

11 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 fax and . 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! BSCCCK Any questions? Please call: +44 (0) / 4 Or see: