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Namibia's Kaokoland Discoverer Escorted Group Tour

4 December 2016

Herd of oryx, Namibia

We are very proud to have received a number of awards over

recent years from The Guardian and Observer, The Telegraph

newspaper and Ultratravel magazine, and Wanderlust, as voted

by their readers. We are a Which? Recommended Provider

achieving the maximum five star rating across all categories and

have also won awards with The Sunday Times Travel Magazine

and Condé Nast Traveller. Additionally, we have achieved two

stars from the Best Company organisation for our great working

environment.

These awards are widely recognised as being the most respected

in the travel industry as they are professional surveys of the

publications’ readerships. With over 500 travel companies for

you to choose from in the UK alone, we hope you find these

awards are an additional reassurance of the quality of service you

can expect from Audley.

Contents

Meet our specialists ______________________________ 4

Introduction to tour ______________________________ 6

Flights & visas ___________________________________ 8

Day by day summary of our Namibia's Kaokoland Discoverer

arrangements ___________________________________ 9

Price _________________________________________ 11

Why travel with us? ______________________________ 12

Introduction to the region _________________________ 13

Photographs of the region __________________________ 16

Your itinerary in detail ____________________________ 18

Accommodation information ________________________ 30

Charity support _________________________________ 38

General information ______________________________ 40

Terms and conditions _____________________________ 43

4 Meet our specialists

Himba girl, Namibia

Quality of Service

Most companies claim to offer first

class service, but very few genuinely

set out to achieve it. At Audley we

are wholeheartedly devoted to

offering you first class service from

the moment we start planning your

trip until after your return. If you feel

that our standards at any time drop

below your expectations or you have

any suggestions about how we could improve our

service, then please contact the Africa Manager, Ruth

Milligan on 01993 838 503 or email

[email protected]

We may record telephone calls to ensure quality of service and for training purposes.

Meet our East & Southern Africa Specialists

Meet our specialists 5

The Africa Team at Audley is made up of Africa

specialists with bags of passion for and experience of

Africa and Safari. Many of us lived and worked in

Africa before joining Audley and our knowledge of

the different regions of South, Southern and East

Africa is unsurpassed. We return regularly to our

specialist countries, keeping up-to date with

developments and discovering the best safaris, lodges

and beach hideaways for our clients. Heading up the

Africa team are our Regional Managers.

Introduction to our Namibia's Kaokoland Discoverer tour

6 Introduction to our Namibia's Kaokoland Discoverer tour

Tour overview

This tour is specifically designed for those people that want to explore the remote Kaokoland area of Namibia that is

usually difficult to access. This area is home to stunning and varied scenery and geology, specialised fauna and flora and

native tribes.

We have set the tour date to enable clients to escape the cold British weather in December and step into the glorious

Namibian summer. It is at the end of Namibia's dry season when the plains and mountains are dry and dusty, the sky is

clear, animals are limited by water availability and are found in huge numbers around permanent water sources in Etosha.

Just out of peak tourist season the country is quiet, and you can enjoy exclusive game drives and the feeling that you have

the country to yourselves.

Starting in Windhoek and taking a circular route through northern Namibia, the tour takes in the best wildlife and cultural

experiences on offer. Etosha offers the opportunity to see big game against the stark backdrop of the vast Etosha pan. Lion,

rhino, cheetah and elephant are some of the biggest draws here. Travelling by road through the recently opened western

side of Etosha you will pass numerous waterholes, game watching along the way. Leaving Etosha you will enter Kaokoland,

past farming villages to Opuwo - a bustling, central hub for the semi-nomadic Himba communities. You'll explore villages to

gain an appreciation of these fascinating people and visit the stunning Epupa falls before continuing into the Damaraland

region to discover ancient rock art, strange geological formations and search for the desert-adapted elephant and rhino.

The trip will end on the stark Skeleton Coast with two nights in the sleepy fishing town of Swakopmund where you will

cruise in search of dolphins and seals and enjoy fantastic fresh seafood.

During this trip there will be the chance to barter in local markets, have picnics beside waterholes and sundowner drinks at

the most stunningly scenic spots. With an expert guide throughout you will gain a true insight to both Namibia's wildlife and

cultural heritage.

Expert guides

The tour will be led by one of our expert Namibian guides. We work with a very small number of guides who are provided

by Ultimate Safaris, our partners in Namibia. Guides are selected for their personalities, enthusiasm and dedication, as well

as their in-depth knowledge of the region. They are trained to the highest levels of expertise and have an incredible

knowledge of Namibia and its flora and fauna. We invest in guide training, ensuring that they are constantly updated and

that they never cease adding to their encyclopaedic knowledge.

Vehicles

The group tour will travel around the country in one or two 4x4 air-conditioned safari vehicles. These vehicles have been

specially modified so that every guest has a comfortable window seat. They also carry second batteries for fridge/freezers,

lights and camera battery charging, long range fuel tanks and plenty of water. Most also have VHF inter-vehicle radios that

allow vehicle groups to communicate with each other while on the road. These radios also enable the guide to

communicate with local rangers in the eastern side of the Etosha National Park, ensuring that the group is the first to know

when a special animal is spotted.

Early starts and logistics

There are a number of early starts in the itinerary. This is done invariably so as to capture the best part of the day for game

viewing. For this reason we have built in time at leisure, often in the middle of the day, when you can relax. There are also

long days in the vehicle, often on bumpy roads, due to the distances covered during this itinerary and the remoteness of the

areas visited. The vehicle will stop regularly for breaks, but this tour is not recommended for those who find it

uncomfortable to be seated for long periods of time.

Group size

The group size is between four and fourteen. The small size of the group ensures that the trip is a more personal

experience and that you can always hear and speak to your guides. The small group size also ensures that your experience

of a particular sight is not marred by the presence of too many people.

Single travellers

Although we welcome single travellers, due to the complicated logistics of this tour, the single supplement can make this an

expensive option. There are two options for single travellers; you can choose to share a room with another single traveller

on the tour and pay the standard tour price, or if you want to guarantee sole occupancy of a room, a supplement will be

payable. Please note that due to limited numbers of rooms at some of the lodges on the tour, we are only able to accept a

maximum of four single travellers unless you are prepared to share a room.


Introduction to our Namibia's Kaokoland Discoverer tour 7

Extending your trip

You have the option to extend your trip, either before or after your tour. For example, some may want to go and see

Namibia's dunes and desert before starting the trip while others may like to fly to a beach in Mozambique or Mauritius at

the end of the trip. If you would like to extend your trip please just speak to one of our Namibia specialists.

Tour health and fitness requirements

To ensure that all participants get the most out of the tour, it is important that you are aware of the level of activity and

fitness and health required. Please read this dossier carefully prior to confirming your place on the tour. It is your

responsibility to contact us with any concerns regarding your level of fitness, health or ability. Please be aware that our tour

leaders have the right to exclude clients from the tour if they feel they are not sufficiently fit, healthy or able to complete

the tour without affecting its safety, comfort or smooth progress. If you would like to discuss any of these issues further

please contact our Namibia team.

Activity level - medium

The vast majority of this trip does not require any significant level of physical fitness or agility. However, there are elements

which involve getting in and out of boats and vehicles or walking on rough un-surfaced paths and so a certain degree of

physical dexterity will be required. Elephant and rhino tracking excursions can involve tracking on foot and may be over

some distance. Although speed is not required, a medium level of fitness is advisable. An experienced guide will be on hand

to help anyone should they need it. There is a lot of driving on rough, bumpy roads and game drives can last for four or five

hours at times. Finally, it may also be necessary for guests to carry their own luggage to and from vehicles and their rooms.

Luggage requirements

Luggage is restricted to 20 kilogrammes per person (not including photographic equipment) in a soft, holdall type bag.

Weight is generally less important than volume as everything is carried with you on safari and you must be able to easily lift

and move your own baggage.

Weather in Namibia in November

November is Namibia's summer and the weather is sunny and can be hot with the occasional rain shower. Namibia receives

a great deal of sunshine with over 10 hours in the summer and overcast days are the exception, rather than the rule.

Summer evenings are wonderfully warm and pleasant with temperatures in the low teens. Days are hot with temperatures

in the mid-thirties. November is just outside peak travel season and the land is still dry and animals are clustered around the

waterholes resulting in excellent game viewing. At Audley we believe that it is a great month to visit, the country is

becoming quieter with fewer visitors and you have it largely to yourself. Nearly all lodges have swimming pools where you

can cool off in the heat of the day.

Standard of accommodation

The accommodation included in this group tour is of a medium standard. These hotels are typically comfortable and clean

but without all the bells and whistles associated with luxurious accommodation. The quality of food is usually good but

simply styled and with a lot of red meat on offer, so be sure to tell your specialist if you have any special dietary

requirements. The lodges and hotels have been selected due to their locations and the accessibility to unique experiences.

Visas

Namibia UK passport holders do not currently require a visa to enter Namibia. You will require a minimum of two

blank pages in your passport. British nationals can enter Namibia for a holiday or private visit of up to 90

days without a visa.

Driving licence

Please note if you are hiring a car in Namibia, you must have a UK photocard driving licence. If you have

an old-style paper licence or a European Licence, you must get an international driving permit or you will

not be permitted to collect your car or drive. UK residents can obtain an international driving permit from

major branches of the Post Office for a small fee. Overseas clients should contact their country's licensing

authority for information on how to obtain an international licence.


8 Introduction to our Namibia's Kaokoland Discoverer tour

Important Note: we cannot under any circumstances guarantee that your visa application for any country will be accepted.

However, in our experience refusals are extremely rare. Visa information is given in good faith and is accurate to the best of

our knowledge.

Day by day summary

Day by day summary 9

1 Sunday 4

December 2016

Set off on your adventure on an overnight flight.

2 Monday 5

December 2016

On arrival in Johannesburg, connect with your onward flight

to Windhoek. Here you will meet the rest of the group and

your guide. You will then be driven to your guesthouse with

a short tour of Windhoek en-route. This afternoon will be at

leisure. This evening you will enjoy a welcome dinner at the

guesthouse.

Galton House, Windhoek

1 x Luxury room - Breakfast

and dinner are included

3 Tuesday 6

December 2016

Your tour will depart Windhoek today and you will be driven

north through the Central Highlands towards Etosha, calling

in at the Okahandja Craft Market en-route. On arrival in

Etosha you will enjoy an afternoon game drive in the park

before game viewing this evening at the floodlit waterhole

which is a real magnet for game.

Okaukuejo Rest Camp, Etosha

National Park

1 x Waterhole room - All meals

are included

4 Wednesday 7

December 2016

Today will be spent exploring the central part of Etosha with

your guide. Your exact movements will depend on the recent

game sightings.

Okaukuejo Rest Camp, Etosha

National Park

1 x Waterhole room - All meals

are included

5 Thursday 8

December 2016

Leaving Okaukuejo you will be driven west through Etosha

in the newly opened western sector of the park. Until

relatively recently this was only accessible to park rangers

and researchers.

Hobatere Lodge, Etosha

National Park

1 x Rondavel - All meals and

selected excursions included

6 Friday 9

December 2016

You will continue west today through Etosha, leaving the

park through the Galton Gate and entering Kaokoland. Here

you will travel through beautiful scenery to your hotel for the

next two nights in Opuwo.

Opuwo Country Lodge,

Kaokoland

1 x Standard - All meals are

included

7 Saturday 10

December 2016

Today you will visit a couple of Himba villages. There will be

the opportunity to talk with the villagers and learn about

their culture. These are not staged villages, just traditional

family settlements who are happy to welcome visitors. You

will then continue north to the Angolan border where you

will see the beautiful Epupa Falls before returning to Opuwo.


Kaokoland

1 x Standard - All meals are

included

8 Sunday 11

December 2016

From Opuwo you will head towards the Damaraland region

of Kaokoland where you will be staying at the first

community run lodge in Namibia - Grootberg Lodge. This is a

lovely little lodge, perched right on the rim of the Grootberg

Plateau and each room at this lodge has incredible views.

Grootberg Lodge, Damaraland

1 x Standard room - All meals

are included

9 Monday 12

December 2016

Today will be dedicated to searching for the desert-adapted

rhinos that are found in this area.

Grootberg Lodge, Damaraland

1 x Standard room - All meals

are included

10 Tuesday 13

December 2016

This morning you will enjoy breakfast taking in the fantastic

views over the plateau before setting off south towards the

Twyfelfontein area. This afternoon you will, time permitting,

visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Twyfelfontein

famous for its ancient rock art. This excursion may also be

done tomorrow afternoon.

Camp Kipwe, Damaraland

1 x Standard - All meals and


11 Wednesday 14

December 2016

After an early breakfast you will depart in search of the

desert-adapted elephants found in this region. You will follow

the river course and will hopefully have good sightings,

although these animals can be very elusive.

Camp Kipwe, Damaraland

1 x Standard - All meals and


Day by day summary

10 Day by day summary

12 Thursday 15

December 2016

Today your journey continues to the Atlantic coast with its

bleak and dramatic scenery. This afternoon will be at leisure

in the small coastal town of Swakopmund.

Swakopmund Guesthouse,

Swakopmund

1 x Luxury room - All meals are

included

13 Friday 16

December 2016

Early this morning you will set off for Walvis Bay where you

will enjoy a catamaran charter. This is the perfect place to

view Cape fur seals, dolphins, sun fish and occasionally

whales. It is also the best spot for viewing an array of birdlife

including pelicans and flamingos.

Swakopmund Guesthouse,

Swakopmund

1 x Luxury room - All meals are

included

14 Saturday 17

December 2016

Unfortunately today marks the end of your Namibian

adventure as, after an early start, you will be driven east from

Swakopmund back to Windhoek. Lunch will be enjoyed at a

scenic spot en-route and your guide will leave you at the

international airport. Here you will board your flights home

via Johannesburg.

15 Sunday 18

December 2016

Arrive home this morning.

Prices

Prices 11

Arrangements as specified per person ____________________________________________________ £4,730

..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Please note the following supplements and/or upgrade options per person:

Single Supplement __________________________________________________________________ £420

..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Per person deposit required to confirm these arrangements _________________________________ £710

Optional carbon off-setting for your flights per person (see General Information section for further details) ____ £15

The deposit required is detailed above and relates to the itinerary detailed in this quotation. In most cases the deposit is 15% of the

total cost or £200 per person (whichever is the greater), however in some instances a larger deposit is required in order to secure

particular services. Please refer to the terms and conditions section at the back of this booklet. Please note if you confirm your

booking within 60 days of your departure date full payment is required at the time of booking. By paying the deposit you are

confirming you have read and agree to our terms and conditions on behalf of all persons named on the booking.

How to book

If you have any questions regarding the tour or would like to

hold a no obligation option for a place on the tour, please

feel free to contact our Namibia team on 01993 838 525

who will be delighted to assist you. To confirm an option,

please send us a completed booking form and the deposit

specified above. The deposit can be paid by cheque, bank

transfer or credit / debit card. Please make cheques payable

to Audley Travel. Please see below for more information on

paying by credit card.

Payment by credit card

Please note that we do not charge a fee on deposit payments

by credit card, except when a deposit is more than 15%. In

this situation a charge will apply. Credit card fees are

detailed on the booking form. Balance or full payment is

subject to a 1.3% fee to cover the credit card issuer’s

commission. There is a 2% fee for AMEX. We make a credit

card fee due to the high fees charged to tour operators by

the credit card companies: we do not make a profit on this

charge. We charge a credit card fee due to the high fees

charged to tour operators by the credit card companies. We

have chosen to make this transparent rather than including it

within the trip price. You may therefore wish to pay the

balance by bank transfer, debit card or personal cheque.

Terms and Conditions

The terms and conditions that apply to all of our holidays are

detailed at the back of this booklet. By paying the deposit

you are confirming you have read and accept the terms and

conditions on behalf of all persons named on the booking.

Included in the price

All flights as specified in the itinerary

Twin share accommodation as specified

All transfers and excursions as specified

Services of experienced local guides

Sightseeing and entrance fees

Meals as specified in the itinerary

Not included in the price

Meals not indicated within your itinerary

Where applicable, local airport departure taxes; payable

locally on departure in some locations

Items of a personal nature such as laundry, drinks, etc.

Tips for your guide and driver (discretionary)

Any camera or video fees at any sites

Entrance fees and other costs when on 'free time’

Travel insurance (see general information section)

Why travel with us?

12 Why travel with us?

The New Mill, our offices on the outskirts of Witney in west Oxfordshire

Reputation and quality

Well over 80% of our clients have

travelled with us in the past or have

had Audley recommended to them.

When you book with us you are

assured of quality arrangements if only

for the fact that we simply cannot

afford to risk our excellent reputation.

Our service has been recognised by

the readers of well-known publications

including the Guardian & Observer, the

Daily Telegraph and Wanderlust

magazine, where we have consistently

featured in their ‘best tour operator’

awards for a number of years.

Personal service

We are committed to offering you a

very personal service, with all your

arrangements being handled by one

country specialist. They will remain

your one point of contact and will take

responsibility for the smooth operation

of your trip. They are supported by a

team of specialists for that region and a

professional administration and

management team.

From the moment you contact us, we

are here to answer your questions

accurately and honestly, be they about

specific arrangements or any more

general queries you may have. We are

experienced travellers with a thorough

and in-depth knowledge of our

specialist destinations, and the benefit

of this experience is yours throughout.

When we do not know the answer to

a question we will endeavour to find

out and get back to you as soon as

possible.

Quality service when you are

travelling

We take a good deal of care when

choosing our travel partners overseas,

taking into account their quality of

service, guides and vehicles. We have

built up many long-standing

relationships, ensuring that they deliver

the level of service demanded by

Audley clients. Our local guides and

drivers, where appropriate, are the

people you will meet. In many cases we

know them personally, in all cases we

ensure that they are of the highest

calibre. They are there to do much

more than show you specific sights and

provide factual information. They will

be able to tell you about local life,

culture, cuisines and customs; and,

where applicable, act as translator. In

certain parts of the world a specialist

guide is more appropriate, for example,

a wildlife expert.

First class guides

A smooth journey

We have procedures in place for

dealing quickly and efficiently with

mishaps from minor flight time

alterations to more fundamental

changes. If problems do occur we will

rapidly rearrange your itinerary to

make best use of your time given the

changed circumstances, not simply

cancel part of your trip or leave you

sitting in an airport waiting for hours

for a rescheduled flight. Importantly, in

these situations we will do everything

possible to minimise any extra costs

involved – in the vast majority of cases

no extra charges will be made. If a

problem does occur while you are

travelling you can contact us on our 24

hour number. We will do everything in

our power to rectify the problem

immediately rather than allow it to

spoil your trip.

Detailed travel documents

Approximately two to three weeks

before you travel we will send you all

your travel documents presented in a

convenient travel organiser. As well as

your full itinerary and travel

documents, there will also be

additional information such as

recommended restaurants and

practical tips. A few days before you

travel your specialist will call you to

have a final talk through your itinerary

and answer any last minute questions

you may have.

Responsible travel

We have a firm commitment to

minimising the environmental and

social impact of travel, and strive to

ensure that a visit from an Audley

client has a positive effect on the

destination. We have a

firm commitment to the principles of

‘responsible travel’ and have been

awarded AITO 5 star status (the

highest achievable) for our policies and

practises. We continue to work with

AITO, and a number of other bodies,

to improve our policies. For more

details please refer to our website

(www.audleytravel.com/rt) where you

will find details of our responsible

travel policy and also our Travellers’

Code. If you are particularly interested

in these issues, your country specialist

will be able to tell you more.

Legal liability

We are a UK company and hence must

fully comply with English law. When

booking with us you can rest assured

that your arrangements are carefully

planned as we have a reputation to

maintain and are legally liable for any

omissions or negligent acts. You may

not find you have this level of

reassurance if you make your own

travel arrangements independently. [

Introduction to Namibia

Introduction to the region 13

Key facts:

Population: 2.06 million

Land area: 825.42 thousand square kilometres

Major languages spoken: English, Afrikaans and German

Currency: Namibian Dollar

Time difference: GMT+2 hours

Capital city: Windhoek

Introduction

Namibia is a country of vast blue skies and endless horizons. It contains one of the world’s oldest deserts, its highest dunes and

second largest canyon. In the north of the country, Etosha’s silvery salt pans and surrounding plains teem with game.

Damaraland’s desert-adapted elephant and endangered black rhino roam freely and can be tracked on foot and on open 4x4

safari vehicles. Flying along the Skeleton Coast, you’ll find roaring dunes, huge seal colonies with hundreds of thousands of seals,

and flocks of pelicans and flamingos. Perhaps the most spectacular scenery is found in the south. Climbing a dune at Sossusvlei

to watch the sunrise, it’s easy to see why Namibia is a photographer’s dream. The dunes are enchanting, unspoilt, and - best of

all - you have them all to yourself.

Damaraland

J F M A M J J A S O N D

Avg Max Day Temperature (0C)

Avg Min Night Temperature (0C)

Avg Hours of Sunshine

Monthly Rainfall (mm) 45 56 69 23 4 1 3 3 4 13 21 14

Etosha National Park






Kaokoland







14 Introduction to the region


16 Photographs of the region

Top: Namibia's roads have little traffic on them

Left: Himba bracelets

Lower left: Desert elephant, Damaraland, Namibia


Photographs of the region 17

Top: Black backed jackal

Left: Flamingos of Walvis Bay

Right: The Namib Desert

Itinerary in Detail

18 Itinerary in Detail

Sunday

4 December, 2016

London Heathrow Terminal: 2 to Johannesburg O.R. Tambo

Terminal: A South African Airways - Flight No: SA 235 - Dep: 19:00 - Arr: 07:00 - (1 day later)

- Duration: 11hr; Class: Economy Class; Non-stop flight

Monday

5 December, 2016

Galton House, Windhoek

Breakfast and dinner are

included

The Equestrian statue, Windhoek

Johannesburg O.R. Tambo Terminal: B to Windhoek

International Airport South African Airways - Flight No: SA 74 - Dep: 09:30 - Arr: 11:25 - Duration:

01hr 55min; Class: Economy Class; Non-stop flight

Northern Namibia introduction Northern Namibia offers a variety of scenery, wildlife and experiences that are

hard to beat elsewhere in the world. The harsh landscapes of the Skeleton Coast

and Damaraland, with its desert-adapted flora and fauna, will leave a lasting

impression. Himba villages, rock formations, and the search for game, including

desert-adapted elephant that roam the vast area, add a unique dimension to a visit.

Thriving birdlife and seal colonies inhabit the shores around Swakopmund and in

the Walvis Bay Lagoon. There are also excellent wildlife viewing opportunities

both in Etosha National Park and along the Caprivi Strip.

Windhoek introduction Windhoek is located at an altitude of 1,646 metres in the country’s Central

Highlands. The Auas Mountains lie to the southeast, Eros Mountains to the

northeast and the hills of the Khomas Hochland to the west. Lying more or less in

the geographical centre of the country, the city and surrounding suburbs are

spread out over a series of picturesque valleys.

Although small for a capital city by international standards, Windhoek remains the

political, economic and cultural centre of the country. It is certainly a place worth

spending a day or two looking around before setting off for the rest of the

country. The wide streets are lined with cosmopolitan pavement cafés. Look up,

and you’ll see old German architecture in soft colours sitting alongside glittering

office blocks.

Street vendors cluster under palm trees with arrays of wooden curios, while shops

have colourful displays of African art, twinkling Namibian diamonds and books on

every aspect of the country, from the Himba of the Kaokoveld to the ghost towns

of Luderitz. People are busy but relaxed, and stress seems unknown here. The

traffic is minimal, the air is clear, and the skies seem to be permanently blue.

Windhoek is one of Africa’s nicest capital cities. We have always found it very safe and

easy to get around but, although it is rare, there have been incidences of petty theft from

tourists in Windhoek whilst outside their guesthouse or hotel, so upon arrival, it is

advisable to keep any valuables locked in your vehicle until you are within the property.

We would also recommend, as a general precaution, to lock your doors when driving

around. If going out to dine in the evening, you should book taxi transfers with a reputable

company - your guesthouse or hotel will be able to help you arrange this.

In the last few years, the Namibian economy has boomed, and small boutiques and

restaurants have sprung up everywhere. You can eat out at fabulous restaurants for very

good prices, explore at your own pace, and stay in some beautiful guesthouses that are

full of character.

Itinerary in Detail

Itinerary in Detail 19

Christus Kirche, Windhoek

Windhoek International Airport to Galton House group-tour transfer

After landing in Windhoek and completing immigration formalities you will collect

your bags. You will then be met and welcomed by your Ultimate Safaris guide who

will transfer you in to town and to Galton House. You will be treated to a short

orientation tour of Windhoek en route. On arrival at the hotel, the rest of the

afternoon is at your leisure to relax and settle in. Dinner will be eaten this evening

at Galton House's excellent restaurant, where you will get to know the other

group members.

Tuesday

6 December, 2016

Okaukuejo Rest Camp,


All meals are included

Zebra drinking from an Etosha

waterhole

Windhoek to Okaukuejo Group tour excursion

After breakfast this morning you will be collected by your group tour guide, who

will drive you north from Windhoek through the commercial farmlands of the

Central Highlands. You will stop off at the Okahandja Craft Market; where you will

be able to get out, stretch your legs and buy a cold drink. If you would like to,

you can try your hand at bartering for some of the many crafts on sale here.

Following a stop here, you will continue north to Etosha; entering by the southern

gate. You will continue to Okaukuejo Restcamp; home for the next two nights.

Etosha National Park introduction Etosha is one of Africa’s largest game parks. Much of it is covered by the silver

Etosha salt pan, which shimmers in the heat. To the south of the pan there are

open grasslands and woodland, along with permanent waterholes that act as a

magnet for game. In the dry season, the game congregate in their thousands

around the water sources, leading to some phenomenal game viewing.

On Etosha’s grassveld, it is easy to find grazers, including Burchell’s zebra, blue

wildebeest, red hartebeest and black-faced impala. Kudu are found on the margins

of the woodland, while giraffe nibble the acacias and eland come to drink. Etosha’s

cats are thriving with large populations of lion, leopard and cheetah. Elephant

occur in 100-strong herds, while both black and white rhino are found; particularly

in the west of the park.

Etosha has over 340 bird species, and it is common to see ostrich and secretary

birds on the open plains. There are over 35 species of raptor, including the yellow-

billed kite, steppe eagle and pygmy falcon. From black-faced babblers to the

crimson-breasted shrike, birders will not be disappointed.

Itinerary in Detail


Zebra drinking in Etosha National Park

Wednesday

7 December, 2016

Okaukuejo Rest Camp,



Elephant, Etosha National Park, Namibia

Exploring Etosha Group tour excursion

The whole day will be spent on an extended game drive in the central area of the

Etosha National Park to spot the many different animal and bird species that are

found here. Depending on the recent game movements you may travel north

towards Okondeka, southeast to the pans of Gemsbokvlakkte, Olifantsbad and

Aus, or east towards Homeb, Reitfontein and Halali. This evening you can relax at

the fantastic waterhole at Okaukuejo Camp, spotting game as dusk falls.

Herd of Elephant, Etosha National Park

Itinerary in Detail


Thursday

8 December, 2016

Hobatere Lodge, Etosha

National Park

All meals and selected

excursions included

Lilac Breasted Roller

Okaukuejo to western Etosha The western side of Etosha National Park is much less busy, so it's well worth

spending a while exploring with your guide. You'll stop off for a picnic lunch and

get to the heart of this fascinating area, which was a research station that has only

just been reopened to the public. After an exciting morning you will arrive at

Hobatere in the afternoon for a bit of time to relax and rest before heading out in

the evening for a night drive.

Friday

9 December, 2016


Kaokoland


Himba boy

Western Etosha to Kaokoland Group tour excursion

This morning will be spent game viewing in the western reaches of the Etosha

National Park before leaving the park through the Galton Gate and travelling on in

to Kaokoland. For the next two nights, you will be based at Opuwo Country

Lodge and from here you will explore this fascinating area with your guide. A

picnic lunch will be taken en route and your arrival in Opuwo will be in the late

afternoon. You may want to explore Opuwo a little this afternoon or alternatively,

relax in the lodge.

Kaokoland introduction The Kaokoveld is unexplored, and will appeal to the adventurer. Big mountain

ranges, such as the Etendeka, Tonnesen, Hartmann and Baynes are found here. To

the north, you find the Kunene River, which separates Angola from Namibia.

Rainfall in the area is much lower than in the rest of the country and, when it rains,

all the roads get muddy. Even dry riverbeds hide soft traps of deep sand, while the

few that seem damp and hard may turn to quicksand within metres. This area is

not recommended without a guide.

The town of Opuwo is the administrative capital of Kaokoland. It has shops, a

bakery, several garages, a large school and even a short stretch of tarred road in

the centre of town. The town is spread over a low hillside, and has no apparent

centre. The outskirts fade in to groups of round Himba huts and irrigated maize

fields.

Epupa Falls is one of the highlights in this vast area. About 145 kilometres west of

Ruacana, the Kunene River threads its way through the Baynes Mountains, en

route to the Atlantic. It winds between arid hills and wild, rough-looking

mountains on both sides. As it meanders east, a thin strip of verdant palm-forest

lines its path. Makalani palms extend for about 30 metres from the river itself.

Further from the water, the land reverts to its parched, dry state – the preserve of

the Kaokoveld’s semi-desert flora and fauna. The Epupa River widens to

accommodate a few small islands, before plunging in to a geological fault. This is 35

metres deep in places and, as the river is sizable, it makes a lot of noise and some

spray. Because it is in such an arid region, it makes this waterfall much more

striking than others.

Itinerary in Detail


The area has fascinating birds, including fish eagles, various bee-eaters, kingfishers

(ranging from the giant to the tiny malachite kingfisher), louries, bulbuls and

hornbills, as well as rollers, golden and lesser masked weavers, scarlet-breasted

sunbirds, and perhaps even a great white egret.

Road in the Kaokoveld

Saturday

10 December, 2016


Kaokoland


Dry riverbed, Kaokoland

Exploring Kaokoland, the Himba and Epupa Falls Group tour excursion

Today is spent exploring the area with your guide. You will visit traditional

settlements of the tribes that can be found in this area. The Himba, Tjimba and

other Herero people who inhabit this remote northwestern Kunene region are

loosely referred to as Kaokovelders. Essentially Herero in terms of origin, language

and culture, they are semi-nomadic pastoralists who tend to move from one

watering place to another. Other cultures have left little impression on their

traditions and they were not involved to any noteworthy extent in the long

struggle for pasture lands between the Nama and the Herero.

The largest group of Kaokovelders are the Himba, semi-nomads who live in

scattered settlements throughout the Kunene region, moving several times a year

to seek grazing for their cattle and goats. They are a tall, slender and statuesque

people, characterised especially by the women's intricate hairstyles and traditional

adornments. They rub their bodies with red ochre and fat, a treatment that

protects their skin against the harsh desert climate. The homes of the Himba are

simple dome-shaped structures created from saplings bound together with leaves

and plastered with mud and dung. Men, women and children wear body

adornments made from iron and shell beads. With their striking designs, these

items have gained a commercial value and are being produced on a small scale.

The Himba are one of the last traditional peoples of Namibia and you will have the

opportunity to learn about their customs and traditions. You will gain an insight

into their beliefs, way of life and everyday routine.

Following your visit you will continue north to the beautiful Epupa Falls (Herero

for 'falling waters') on the Kunene River where it forms the northern border with

Angola. The falls are a series of cascades where the Kunene River drops a total of

60 metres over a distance of about 1.5 kilometres, dividing into a multitude of

channels and forming an array of rock pools. The greatest single drop of 37 metres

is commonly identified as 'the' Epupa Falls. With its richly coloured rock walls,

variety of trees including wild fig, baobabs and waving makalani palms, spectacular

sunsets and perennially flowing waters, Epupa Falls offers much to see, do and

Itinerary in Detail


experience. Birdwatching is rewarding, especially for the rare rufous tailed palm

thrush, as well as bee-eaters, African fish eagles, kingfishers (including giant and the

beautiful malachite), rosy-faced lovebirds, paradise flycatchers, louries, bulbuls,

hornbills and rollers.

After an exciting day of activities you will return to your lodge in the late

afternoon and the rest of this evening will be at leisure.

The Epupa Falls

Sunday

11 December, 2016

Grootberg Lodge,

Damaraland


Black rhino, Damaraland

Kaokoland to Grootberg Mountain group-tour excursion

Today you will be driven south towards the Damaraland region via the old colonial

settlement at Sesfontein (meaning six fountains). You will have a picnic lunch en

route at a scenic spot and will arrive at Grootberg Lodge in the late afternoon.

The remainder of the day can be spent at your leisure enjoying the stunning views

over the Grootberg Plateau.

Damaraland introduction Damaraland has a wild, rugged landscape and is one of Namibia’s least populated

areas. In southern Damaraland, attractions include the Gross Spitzkoppe and the

country's highest mountain, Brandberg Mountain, both of which are home to a

wealth of rock art and are best seen at sunrise. Twyfelfontein has hundreds of

paintings and engravings, mostly depicting animals and their tracks, and is perfect

for a few hours of exploration. Driving to and from these places, you will often

encounter donkey carts and tiny roadside stalls selling gemstones and seed-pod

mobiles.

In northern Damaraland there are thriving populations of wild game, including

gemsbok, kudu, springbok, Hartmann’s zebra, desert-adapted elephant and the rare

black rhino. Here, tracts of land have been designated ‘concession areas’. These

areas are huge and encompass a number of villages, but tourism is strictly limited.

Operators work in conjunction with the local communities, creating camps with

local guides where a proportion of all income goes straight to the community.

Itinerary in Detail


Rock carvings at Twyfelfontein

Monday

12 December, 2016

Grootberg Lodge,

Damaraland


Rhinoceros Tracking Group tour excursion

After an early breakfast you will embark on an exciting day of rhino tracking. You

will head out with your guide and experienced local trackers to search for these

highly endangered animals by identifying their tracks and tracing them to the

animals themselves. Typically you will set off in the game drive vehicle and once

located you will approach them on foot. The amount of time spent walking today

all depends on the terrain, wind direction and location of the rhinos.

Namibia is home to the larger of the two subspecies of black rhinoceros found in

southern Africa. This is the only population that remains in the wild, unfenced and

outside of reserves, occupying this arid area of the western Kaokoveld. The

animals are internationally recognised as a desert-adapted group and have large

ranges, favouring mountainous escarpments and ephemeral rivers in to the

northern Namib, particularly after the rains. They typically walk and feed at night

and rest during the day.

Lunch will be had in the field during your excursion and you will return to the

lodge in the late afternoon.

Black rhino, Damaraland

Itinerary in Detail


Tuesday

13 December, 2016

Camp Kipwe,

Damaraland


excursions included

Damaraland road sign

Grootberg to Twyfelfontein Group tour excursion

After an early breakfast you will continue on your safari heading further south into

the wonderful and diverse region of Damaraland. The scenery around

Twyfelfontein is some of the best you will experience on the trip and is typified by

magnificent table-topped mountains, rock formations and bizarre looking

vegetation. The present-day landscape has been sculpted by the erosion of wind,

water and geological forces that have formed the rolling hills, dunes, gravel plains

and ancient river terraces. This is one of Earth's true wildernesses.

You will arrive at your accommodation in the early afternoon and if time allows

you will visit the nearby attractions and geological sites of Twyfelfontein rock

engravings, Burnt Mountain and the Organ Pipes. If you have stopped frequently en

route to Twyfelfontein then these excursions will be done tomorrow.

Twyfelfontein: Strewn over a hillside amongst flat-topped mountains,

Twyfelfontein's boulders and slabs of red sandstone hold some 2,500 prehistoric

engravings that depict wildlife, animal spoor and abstract motifs. It is arguably the

largest and finest collection of petroglyphs in Africa. The drawings depict animals

such as giraffes, elephants, kudus, lions, rhinoceroses, springboks, zebras and

ostriches that once used to drink from a fountain at the bottom of the hill. The

abstract motifs feature mostly circles. Stone tools and other artefacts discovered

on the site suggest that it was occupied over a period of around 7,000 years.

During your visit here you will be accompanied by a local guide and you will follow

one of two circular routes. The first loop takes around one hour of climbing whilst

the other takes 40 minutes longer. The area of Twyfelfontein is one of Namibia's

key national monuments and has recently become a UNESCO World Heritage

Site.

Organ Pipes: The Organ Pipes are another geological curiosity in the area and

consist of a mass of perpendicular dolerite columns that intruded the surrounding

rocks around 125 million years ago and have since been exposed in a ravine due to

river erosion.

Burnt Mountain: A rounded hill located a few kilometres away from Twyfelfontein

and the Organ Pipes, Burnt Mountain looks as though it is ablaze at sunrise and

sunset. These fantastic colours are due to a chemical reaction that took place

around 125 million years ago when molten lava penetrated organic shale and

limestone deposits, resulting in contact metamorphism. In ordinary sunlight it

appears to be a dull black colour and blackened rubble lies to one side like cinders

from the original fire.

C39 Road Damaraland

Itinerary in Detail


Wednesday

14 December, 2016

Camp Kipwe,

Damaraland


excursions included

Desert elephant on the move

Elephant Tracking in Damaraland group tour excursion

After an early breakfast you will set off on an exciting 4x4 adventure along the

ephemeral Aba Huab River valley to explore this remarkable region and to search

for game, and in particular the elusive desert adapted elephants if they are in the

area. Damaraland is home to a variety of desert adapted wildlife and hidden desert

treasures. You will return to the lodge for lunch and this afternoon you may visit

Twyfelfontein and the other attractions if you have not done so already.

Alternatively you can relax and enjoy some well-deserved leisure time!

Elephant, Damaraland, Namibia

Thursday

15 December, 2016

Swakopmund

Guesthouse,

Swakopmund


Germanic architecture in Swakopmund

Twyfelfontein to Swakopmund Group tour excursion

Today's journey takes you south past Namibia's highest mountain, the Brandberg,

and via the small mining community of Uis before heading west to meet the coast

at Henties Bay. You will then continue south to reach the coastal town of

Swakopmund where you can enjoy the pleasant seaside location and cooler coastal

air. There will be time this afternoon to wander around the town and along the

waterfront on foot if you feel like it, before heading off for dinner at the popular

Tug Restaurant on the jetty which specialises in fresh seafood.

Kayaking at Pelican Point

Swakopmund introduction The old town of Swakopmund perches between the sands of the Namib Desert

and the waves of the Atlantic Ocean. With misty morning fog, it’s a contrast to the

Itinerary in Detail


interior, and very refreshing after days in the desert. The streets are wide and

lined with palm trees, while the buildings are fascinating examples of old German

architecture. There’s an array of curio and antique shops, as well as some

particularly good seafood restaurants, serving fresh crayfish and Skeleton Coast

mussels.

A couple of hours’ drive north of Swakopmund, you will find the seal colony at

Cape Cross. It’s certainly worth a visit, as it is home to between 100,000 and

240,000 Cape fur seals at any one time. The sand and rocks are covered in seals,

while the sea is a mass of black heads. It’s fascinating to watch the interaction

between them.

South of Swakopmund, and equally worth a day’s visit, is the lagoon at Walvis Bay.

Pelicans sweep over the dunes to the sea, while hundreds of flamingos, avocets and

other waders are found in the lagoon. It’s easy to explore these areas by yourself;

however, for some of the less accessible areas (such as Pelican Point and Sandwich

Harbour) a guide is essential.

Flamingos of Walvis Bay

Friday

16 December, 2016

Swakopmund

Guesthouse,

Swakopmund


Flamingos at Pelican Point

Catamaran Charter - Seal and Dolphin Cruise group tour excursion

This morning you will be collected from your guesthouse for a drive south

towards Walvis Bay. At the Walvis Bay Yacht Club you will board a catamaran for

a morning's cruising in the lagoon. The morning will be spent exploring the bay

where you will find a shipwreck, lighthouse and oyster platforms. The area boasts

enormous bird diversity including flamingos and pelicans whilst other sightings may

include three species of dolphin, seals, the rare and bizarre mola mola (sun fish),

the occasional leatherback turtle and whale.

The journey then proceeds to Pelican Point to take a closer look at the lighthouse

and the resident Cape fur seal colony. The old supply railway lines can still be seen

from the years when the lighthouse was occupied by the coast guards. Moving

around the point, three different types of dolphin may be encountered. The

heaviside dolphins are the most important, as they are endemic to the coast of

Namibia but you may also see dusky dolphins and Atlantic bottlenose dolphins.

The larger mammals like the southern right whale and the humpback whale may

occasionally be spotted and with a bit of extra special luck, the mighty killer whales

(orcas) might make an appearance. Sparkling wine, oysters, snacks and beverages

are provided while on board and the trip makes for a wonderfully relaxing

morning.

You will return to the jetty at around 12.30pm after which your group will return

Itinerary in Detail


to Swakopmund for an afternoon at leisure. You may spend your afternoon either

at your guesthouse or exploring the town under your own steam. There are no

activities pre-arranged or included for you this afternoon so you may also enjoy

one of the many other activities available in Swakopmund, such as a scenic flight or

quad-biking excursion in the dunes. Any of these additional activities can be

arranged and paid for through your guesthouse and your guide will advise you on

the suitability of each excursion.

Seals off Walvis Bay

Saturday

17 December, 2016

Flamingos of Walvis Bay

Swakopmund to Windhoek group tour excursion

After an early breakfast you will be collected from your guesthouse and will take a

drive through the countryside to Windhoek. You will stop off en route for a scenic

picnic. On arrival in Windhoek you will be transferred to the airport in time to

connect with your international flights home. On arrival at the airport you will say

goodbye to your guide after what should have been a fantastic and memorable trip.

Namibia's roads have little traffic on them

Windhoek International Airport to Johannesburg O.R. Tambo South African Airways - Flight No: SA 77 - Dep: 16:00 - Arr: 17:45 - Duration:

03hr 05min; Class: Economy Class; Non-stop flight

Johannesburg O.R. Tambo Terminal: B to London Heathrow

Terminal: 2 South African Airways - Flight No: SA 234 - Dep: 19:55 - Arr: 06:25 - (1 day later)

Itinerary in Detail


- Duration: 11hr 30min; Class: Economy Class; Non-stop flight

Sunday

18 December, 2016

Arrive home this morning.

Important Notes

Flight times and the daily order of sightseeing are subject to change.

Transfer times are approximate and subject to local conditions at the time of travel.

All flight times are local.

Accommodation

30 Accommodation

OUR ACCOMMODATION GRADING SYSTEM

Your accommodation is described on the following pages. Please do not

hesitate to call us if you require any further information about any of the

properties. We classify accommodation into the following categories. These

are for your guidance only, they are based on the opinions of our staff and are

therefore quite subjective.

Basic: Very primitive accommodation where we are not aware of anything

better in the region.

Simple: Clean and simple but limited facilities.

Medium: A good standard of accommodation, reasonable range of facilities.

First Class: A high standard of accommodation with a wide range of facilities.

Deluxe: Superb accommodation with facilities and service to match.

Opulent: The world’s most unashamedly luxurious hotels, resorts and lodges.

Accommodation

Accommodation 31

and dinners are available on request if

you don't feel like venturing in to the

city.

GALTON HOUSE, WINDHOEK

Medium

This lovely guesthouse is situated on a

hillside in the upmarket neighbourhood

of Eros. It has been decorated in a

modern, stylish way, without being

pretentious. There are eight rooms,

two of which are designed for families.

All rooms have en suite bathrooms as

well as air-conditioning, a digital safe,

satellite TV, hairdryer, and

international plug adaptors. The family

rooms are vast, with twin beds and

two additional beds. However, the en

suite bathroom in the family room is

quite compact, which is worth being

aware of. The main areas are open plan

with plenty of sofas and areas to relax.

The facilities include an honesty bar,

coffee station, swimming pool, Wi-Fi

Internet, curio shop and secure off-

street parking. For early check-ins or

late check-outs, there is also a

dayroom where you can freshen up.

The food here is delicious, and lunches

Accommodation

32 Accommodation

out of the dark to drink. It is very

exciting, and during the dry season you

are likely to see elephant, giraffe, zebra

and jackal, while lion and black rhino

often visit too. The waterhole is

separated from the camp by a low

stone wall, behind which there are high

wooden benches to sit on. We

recommend eating early and coming

down here in the evenings with a drink

or two, some warm layers and

something soft to sit on.

Our opinion: The accommodation at Okaukuejo is

fairly good, but being a government

rest camp, the service is often slow and

impersonal and the food pretty

uninspiring. It can be a little noisy with

people having barbecues and truck

groups camping on the campsite, but it

is full of life and there is plenty of space

for you to walk around stretching your

legs. Despite its many flaws, we are

really fond of this historic camp, and a

OKAUKUEJO REST CAMP,

ETOSHA NATIONAL PARK

Simple

Okaukuejo was the first rest camp to

open in Etosha and is situated at the

western end of the Etosha Pan. It is like

a small village, with 100 or so

rondavels, a shop, restaurant, camp

site, petrol station and swimming pool.

It is also the administrative hub of the

park and the centre of the Etosha

Ecological Institute. All of the rondavels

are of a good standard, with en suite

bathrooms, ample living space and

modern furnishings. Guests may also

stay in comfortable double rooms or

on the campsite.

The big attraction of the camp is the

large, permanent, floodlit waterhole.

The animals have become accustomed

to both the light and noise from the

camp and come to drink throughout

the day and night. The light only shines

on the waterhole itself, not the

surrounding bush, so animals appear

real highlight of many of our trips is

sitting through the evening with a drink

at the magnificent waterhole.

Accommodation

Accommodation 33

Namibia.

Our opinion: Hobatere has long been a favourite with

repeat visitors to Namibia. It has a solid

established feel, is very remote, and well

worth the journey.

HOBATERE LODGE, ETOSHA

NATIONAL PARK

Medium

Hobatere Lodge is built on the banks of the

small Otjivasondu River. It is owned and

run by the local Khoadi Hoas Conservancy

and so works to benefit the local

community. This property has 12 rooms

and a spacious lodge from which you can

view an active waterhole.

The lodge is set in a large concession area

bordering Etosha National Park, with

activities that focus on game drives on the

Hobatere Concession. Morning, afternoon

and night drives are available from the

lodge on the private concession, home to

elephant, giraffe, eland, Hartmann’s

mountain zebra and also the nocturnal

aardwolf. Full day excursions into Etosha

will be offered, where Etosha is entered

through Galton Gate and lunch is at

Okaukuejo.

Please note that nobody from Audley has

viewed this lodge because it is re-opening

after total refurbishment, but it has been

recommended by our local team in

Accommodation

34 Accommodation

OPUWO COUNTRY LODGE,

KAOKOLAND

Medium

Opuwo Country Hotel is situated on

the outskirts of Opuwo Town, with

breathtaking views to the northwest.

There are 28 luxury rooms and 12

standard rooms, all of which are en

suite. The main building is a beautiful

wood and thatch structure, and houses

a lounge, wine cellar, bar, dining room,

curio shop and swimming pool. Trips

to the Epupa Falls, Ovahimba villages

and walking in the Kaokoveld can all be

arranged from the lodge.

Accommodation

Accommodation 35

note these are next-door rooms, but

do not have an adjoining door.

A number of activities are offered by

the lodge, including trips to see the

Himba tribes, and guided walks or

drives where it is possible to see both

rhino, and the amazingly adaptable

desert elephants. Other wildlife

occasionally found in the area include

oryx, giraffe, lion and mountain zebra.

Grootberg is also a perfect place to

simply relax by the pool, and take in

the magical setting and stunning views.

Our opinion: The views from the lodge are truly

breathtaking - this is a perfect spot to

break up the journey between Etosha

and Swakopmund. Pack a sweater,

though, as it can be a little windy up

here.

GROOTBERG LODGE,

DAMARALAND

Medium

Grootberg Lodge is located at the top

of the Grootberg Pass, some 25

kilometres east of Palmwag. Unique in

Namibia, this is the first lodge to be

entirely owned by the conservancy,

thanks to some financial support from

the European Union. At almost 1,700

metres above sea level, the lodge offers

some of the finest views in the country,

across the Klip River Valley below.

Each of the 16 rooms is perfectly

positioned to take advantage of the

stunning views from the balcony. The

rock cottages are decorated with a

traditional African design thatched

roof, have double or twin beds, and en

suite facilities, with showers.

There are also two family rooms,

which are exactly the same as the

standard cottages, but are joined

together by the same roof - please

Accommodation

36 Accommodation

stunning views over the scenery and

you can also make your way up the 100

steps to the sundowner viewpoint.

The fascinating ancient rock art at

Twyfelfontein is nearby, and you can

also enjoy nature drives to make the

most of the scenery and search for the

desert-adapted elephants that inhabit

this area.

Our opinion: Camp Kipwe is one of our favourite

options in this area, a great setting and

unique place to stay. The food here is

excellent and the view from the

sundowner viewpoint is breathtaking.

CAMP KIPWE, DAMARALAND

First Class

Camp Kipwe is located in a superb

position in Damaraland. It is a sister

accommodation to the well-established

Mowani Mountain Camp, which has an

impeccable reputation for high-quality

rooms, food and service. Aiming for a

slightly more affordable but still very

comfortable style, this is a great base

for exploring the southern area of

Damaraland and all it has to offer. The

position of the lodge is superb, with

the accommodation making the most

of the panoramic views over the rocky

kopjes, valleys and hills. Not far from

the front of camp runs a dry riverbed,

frequently traversed by the desert-

adapted elephants.

The rooms consist of ten beehive-style

chalets with en suite outdoor

bathrooms. Each room is situated

amongst the rocks, giving you

exceptional privacy. The dining area

and comfortable lounge area command

Accommodation

Accommodation 37

SWAKOPMUND GUESTHOUSE,

SWAKOPMUND

Medium

This small, upmarket guesthouse is

located right in the heart of

Swakopmund, only five minutes' walk

from the main shopping streets and the

beach. It is owned and managed by the

Borg family, who have worked in the

tourism industry for many years, and

ensure all of their guests' individual

needs are met.

There are 12 rooms, consisting of four

standard rooms, seven luxury rooms

and a family suite. The atmosphere is

peaceful and friendly, with plenty of

quiet areas in the garden and main

house to relax and read a book.

All of the rooms have been individually

designed and decorated, with clean,

crisp linens, large canvas wall art, and

en suite bathrooms decorated with

beach pebbles. Rooms also include a

minibar and television. The overall

effect is modern and stylish, without

compromising on comfort.

A shuttle service is available on

request, and excursions in or around

Swakopmund can be organised for you.

Our opinion: This is a stylish option, with a

convenient location from which to

explore Swakopmund.

Charity support

38 Charity support

Audley has been supporting carbon reduction projects through Friends of Conservation since 2005 and in addition to this each

individual department also supports a charity of their choice with a yearly financial donation. This charity is one that is close to

their hearts and the team often chooses to fundraise to add to this amount. Please ask your specialist if you would like to find

out more as in most instances they will have visited the charity themselves, or one of their colleagues will have.

Children, Mara Rianda Charitable Trust © Richard Long

The Mara Rianda Charitable Trust

Our friend and former colleague Ariana Grammaticas left Audley in 2007 to return to her home country of Kenya. In early

2008 she wrote to us about The Mara Rianda Charitable Trust. Set up by Richard Long, who visited Kenya in 2004, it supports

the school and community in the wider Mara area. All the money Richard raises is used to provide this support, and he covers

administration costs himself. The Trust has installed a borehole to supply fresh water, built five new classrooms provided

bursaries for exceptional students to go to secondary school and paid the salary for one teacher. Most recently in 2013 the

Trust also opened the Mara Rianda medical centre, complete with three wards, consulting rooms and a dispensary. Though

much has been achieved, there is always much more that can be done!

The old Enkeriri school building

©Richard Long

Head teacher in front of the new Enkeriri school building

©Richard Long

Audley and The Mara Rianda Charitable Trust

We initially became involved with The Mara Rianda Charitable Trust to help with its aim to bring clean drinking water to the

children of Aitong Primary School, who were previously drinking from a muddy spring. Complications arose when it was

discovered that the spring that the trust had hoped to tap for clean water dried up for three months of each year. After several

meetings with the Maasai elders, it has now been agreed that the water can be taken from the main spring at Aitong village and

be pumped over 1 kilometre to the school. This project is now completed, aided by donations from Audley and other

organisations.

Charity support

Charity support 39

More recent achievements at the charity have included a new kitchen and dining room at the primary school – which is now

fully waterproof and the parents who help cook the meals there are delighted. The trust has also funded the building of a new

maternity unit at Mara Rianda, as women who had complications previously had to travel for three hours on a bus to the

nearest hospital. In addition to this they are working with a new school, Olipikdong’oe, which needed help to install electricity

so that the children who board could study after dark. In addition two new primary schools have been built – that allow light in

(unlike the original mud buildings made out of dung) and to provide a classroom for another school that was being taught under

a tree. As the maternity unit at Mara Rianda grows Audley is helping to support the installation of solar power to allow

continuous lighting throughout the night. In addition to this, the Trust is aiming to support a further twelve children through

secondary school.

If you would like further information please speak to your Africa specialist. Alternatively, if you are going to

Kenya and staying at any of the Governor’s Camps in the Masai Mara, do ask the staff to take you to visit!

General information

40 General information

Travel insurance

It is advisable to take out your travel

insurance at the time of booking your

trip as cover will commence for pre-

departure cancellation from the policy

issue date. This will, therefore, provide

cover should you have to cancel your trip

for an insured reason such as illness or

serious accident.

We strongly recommend that you and all

members of your party are adequately

insured, providing financial protection

against unforeseen circumstances. Cover

should include medical expenses and

repatriation in the event of accident or

illness. In addition, we strongly

recommend that you have cover for

personal belongings, delay at your

outward or homeward point of

departure, personal liability, overseas legal expenses and cancellation. If you are

undertaking any sports or adventurous

activities, including trekking, on your trip

you should also make sure that your

policy covers these. Please also ensure

you read the policy conditions and

exclusions.

The type of trips we create and the

requirements of Audley clients vary

greatly. We have therefore listed below a

number of companies who offer policies

which may suit these varying

requirements. You can find links to the

companies' websites, at

www.audleytravel.com/insurance. Other companies and policies are also

available. We are unable to provide you

with more detailed information and you

should contact the company concerned

directly for this. Please note this is general information only. We are not

providing any specific advice on travel

insurance or recommending any

particular policy or insurer.

Trips of up to £5,000 pp

A large number of companies offer

insurance policies which include cover for

cancellation charges of up to the full

holiday cost.

Trips over £5,000 pp

It can be more challenging to get

insurance which includes cover for cancellation charges of up to the full

holiday cost for higher value trips. A

number of companies do, however, offer

such policies. Thomson (in partnership

with AXA) (0845 366 2212) offer

cancellation cover up to £20,000 per

person, American Express (0800 232

277) offer cancellation cover up to

£12,500 per person and Insure and Go

(0844 888 2787) offer cancellation cover

up to £7,500 per person.

This information can also be found on our

website www.audleytravel.com/insurance

with links to the insurers’ websites.

Clients over 65 years of age

Many companies now offer cover to people

over 65 years of age. However, if you are

finding it difficult to get cover you could try

Age UK (0845 600 3348) or Saga (0800

015 0757) both of whom currently have no

upper age limit on their policies. See also

the companies referred to under pre-

existing medical conditions below. This

information can also be found on our

website www.audleytravel.com/insurance


Pre-existing medical conditions

If you have a pre-existing medical

condition, there are a number of

companies that may be able to help you. P J

Hayman / Free Spirit (0845 230 5000) will

consider most pre-existing medical

conditions and they have no upper age limit

on single trip policies. Age UK (0845 600

3348) and Insure and Go (0844 888 2787)

will also consider a number of pre-existing

conditions and may be able to help. Cancer

Travel Insurance Services (0845 880 0163)

specialise in travel insurance for people

with non-terminal cancer and have no

upper age limit on their policies. This

information can also be found at

www.audleytravel.com/insurance


Non-UK residents

If you are not a UK resident you will

usually need to get insurance in your

country of residence. Some insurance

companies, such as Columbus Direct (0845

888 8893), will consider policies for non-

UK residents. This information can also be

found on our website

www.audleytravel.com/insurance


Once you have a travel insurance policy in

place, please let your specialist know who

your insurance company is and your policy

number.

The above information is provided in good

faith and is correct to the best of our

knowledge. No liability is, however,

accepted for any errors and all information

must be checked directly with the

insurance company.

Financial security

We hold an Air Travel

Organiser's Licence (ATOL)

issued by the Civil Aviation

Authority (ATOL number

4817). All the flight-inclusive holidays* that

we provide are financially protected by the

ATOL scheme. When you pay, you will be

supplied with an ATOL Certificate. Please

check to ensure that everything you

booked is listed on it. Please see our

booking conditions for further information

about financial protection and

www.atol.org.uk/ATOLCertificate

for further information on the ATOL

Certificate.

*The flight inclusive holidays we arrange

are ATOL protected providing they are

made available in the UK. For further

information, visit the ATOL website at

www.atol.org.uk

Not all holiday or travel

services offered and sold by

us will be protected by the

ATOL scheme. Those

package arrangements which

are not protected by our

ATOL are covered by ABTOT, the

Association of Bonded Travel Organisers

Trust. This insurance means your money

will be refunded or you will be returned to

the starting point of your contracted arrangements if already abroad in the

unlikely event of our being unable to

provide your holiday due to our insolvency.

(For more details please see Section 12 of

the Terms and Conditions.) In these

instances you will not receive an ATOL

certificate with your invoice.

Health

It is essential that you see your GP or a

travel clinic before booking your trip and

before travelling to make sure that you

have taken all the necessary health

precautions. Some vaccinations require

more than one visit with a period of weeks

between injections. You should visit your

GP at least six weeks before departure. For

up to date medical advice you may wish to

use the Medical Advisory Service for

Travellers Abroad (MASTA).

MASTA Traveller’s Health Brief

Before travelling abroad, you can visit

www.masta-travel-health.com to obtain a

‘Health Brief’ specifically tailored to your

journey. Your brief will give information

about immunisations and malaria as well as any Foreign Office advice and the latest

health news.

http://www.audleytravel.com/insurance





http://www.atol.org.uk/ATOLCertificate

http://www.atol.org.uk/

http://www.masta-travel-health.com/

General information

General information 41

Other health information services are

available, including www.nathnac.org and

www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)

The majority of international airlines now

issue advice on how to lessen the risk of

DVT, however, if you have any concerns,

we recommend that you consult your

doctor.

Pre-existing medical

conditions/Disabled passengers

It is essential that you advise us before

booking if you have any disability or pre-

existing medical condition which may

affect your holiday, or any special

requirements as a result of any disability

or medical condition (including any which

affect the booking process) so that we

can assist you in considering the

suitability of the arrangements and/or

making the booking. It will also enable us

to make sure you receive the relevant

level of assistance when you fly.

Full details must be confirmed in writing

at the time of booking and whenever any

change in the condition or disability

occurs. You must also promptly advise us

if any medical condition or disability

which may affect your holiday develops

after your booking has been confirmed.

The nature of many of the destinations

we travel to means that in the majority of

cases they are unsuitable for those who

are wheelchair-bound or have a lack of

mobility. We will be delighted to discuss

the feasibility of creating a tailor-made

itinerary for you that takes into

consideration your level of mobility.

On our escorted group tours the Tour

Leader is, unfortunately, unable to offer

additional assistance to passengers with

limited mobility and all such assistance

will need to be provided by whoever the

passenger is travelling with. We may request that you provide a letter from

your doctor confirming your fitness to

travel.

High altitude

Your itinerary may include sections

where the altitude exceeds 10,000 feet

(3,048 metres). If you suffer from

circulation, heart or respiratory problems

we advise that you consult with your

doctor before confirming your booking.

Smoking

Airlines do not permit smoking on the

aircraft. At the request of the majority of

our clients we do not allow smoking on any

form of transport used for our escorted

group tours. Stops are regularly made

where you will be able to smoke. For

smokers travelling on a tailor-made tour

we request that you check with your driver

or guide whether smoking is permitted in

the vehicle.

Health and safety standards

Each country has its own regulations and

enforcement levels relating to health and

safety standards. These do not always

match the very high standards we are used

to in the UK. We therefore recommend

that you follow a few precautionary safety

procedures. Always check where the

nearest fire exit is and how to raise the fire

alarm. Do not enter a swimming pool

before checking the water depth first. For

more suggestions please see the Important

Information section in your Travel

Organiser.

Passport and visa information for

British Citizens

Passengers must hold a passport which is

valid for at least six months following the

return date of your holiday. British

passport holders (full British Citizens)

currently require visas, in advance of travel, for the following destinations featured in

our brochures and on our website:

Australia, Bhutan, Burma, China, Cuba,

India, Kenya, Mongolia, Papua New Guinea

(also available on arrival), Russia, Tanzania,

Tibet, Uganda, the USA*, Uzbekistan and

Vietnam**.

Visas may be required for other countries

but can be arranged on arrival.

* British Citizens travelling to the USA

require an ESTA – please speak to your

specialist for more information

** Visitors to Vietnam can obtain a visa on

arrival but require a letter of authorisation

from ourselves – please speak to your

specialist

We are normally able to obtain visas on

your behalf, please ask for details at the

time of booking. Non-British passport

holders should check with the relevant

embassies as visa requirements may be

different to those of British passport

holders. It is your responsibility to ensure

you have the correct documentation and

visa stamp(s) for all sectors of your

journey. Failure or inability to obtain all

required visas for whatever reason does

not entitle you to cancel without paying the

applicable cancellation charges.

Travel advice

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Travel Advice Unit monitors all overseas

destinations and offers advice to British

travellers. In order to be fully informed of

safety issues, crime rates, political stability

and local customs you can view the advice

at www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice.

Flights and airlines

The difference between a direct flight and a

non-stop flight can cause confusion. To

clarify, on a direct flight no change of

aircraft is scheduled but touchdowns will

be made en route either to refuel or to

board or disembark passengers. On non-

stop flights no change of aircraft is required

and no stops are made en route. Exact

details of your route will be given in your

itinerary.

Premium Economy, Business and

First Class

If you require business or first class flights

these can be arranged on most airlines at

very competitive rates. Premium economy

can be arranged on certain airlines, please

call us for details.

Specific seat requests

We will do all we can to try to reserve a

specific seat for you, if you have a

preference. However, whilst airlines may

allow us to request seats, they will not

guarantee any specific seat reservation. If

this is important to you, it is always best to

arrive for your flight early, regardless of

having made this request in advance. Please

make it clear on your booking form if you

have a specific request.

Flight amendments

We generally use special ‘inclusive tour’

fares when we purchase your air tickets

from the airlines. While these fares are

very good value they are inflexible in terms

of changes and offer no refunds once the

tickets are issued. Once your flight is

confirmed the airlines will charge an

amendment fee or insist on the purchase of

a completely new ticket if you make

changes.

Internal flights

Smaller local airlines are often more likely

to change their schedule at short notice. We will endeavour to inform you of any

changes in advance of travelling but this

may not always be possible.

General information

42 General information

Frequent Flyer Clubs

If you collect points through any of the

airline frequent flyer clubs please provide

your membership details on the booking

form and we will ensure that these are

recorded against your flight reservation.

Please note that on some of our specially

negotiated ‘inclusive tour’ fares points are

not always awarded.

Carbon offsetting

Please let your specialist know if you

would like to carbon offset your flights.

We work with Friends of Conservation

(FOC) and all offsetting payments are

donated through them. For more details

visit www.audleytravel.com/offset. The

suggested contributions are based on the

approximate levels of CO2 expended on

an average flight, with the cost per tonne

of carbon taken from industry averages.

Flight information previously provided by

TICOS, now part of Beyond Carbon.

UK airport hotels, car parking and

lounges

We are able to arrange airport hotel

accommodation, car parking, meet and

greet services and airport lounge access

in the UK, subject to availability. To

arrange any of these services please call

us on 01993 838 051.

Hotel information There is often confusion over the

terminology used for bed arrangements

in hotel rooms. A ‘double’ is recognised

as meaning a room with a double bed,

this may be two single beds pushed

together. A ‘twin’ is a room with two

single beds. Please note that all rooms

are allocated at the discretion of the

hotel and cannot be guaranteed.

Single rooms

Single rooms tend to be smaller than

double or twin rooms, however, many

hotels do not have single rooms, in which

case you will be allocated a twin or

double room.

Special dietary requirements

Special diets should be requested on the

booking form; however, it is unrealistic

to expect special diets to be catered for

in some of the destinations we feature.

We will advise the hotels and airlines of

your request but we cannot guarantee

their availability. If you have an airborne

nut allergy you must make us aware at

the time of booking as most airlines require this information in advance of

travel.

Accuracy of information

We thoroughly check all the information

that is included within our brochures,

website and individual tour itineraries,

however, changes do occur and errors are

occasionally made. Airlines may change

their schedules, roads may close and

government regulations may alter. Should

there be any changes to the travel

arrangements you have booked we will do

our best to keep you informed of the

situation prior to departure.

Travel in the developing world

Many of our destinations are in the

developing world where attitudes,

infrastructure, priorities, lifestyles and

cultures are very different from our own.

This is often the very reason to visit the

destination but certain aspects may be

frustrating. We always advise that the first

thing you should pack is your sense of

humour. This can prove invaluable when

travelling over rougher roads, waiting for a

delayed aircraft and communicating with

hotel staff whose first language is not

English.

Data Protection Act

We will hold your name, address and any

other details you supply us with on our

database. This information will be used to

make your travel arrangements and to send

you information about Audley Travel. In order to make your travel arrangements

we will need to pass your details to

companies and individuals outside the EU

where less stringent data protection

controls may be in place. We will not pass

on your details to third parties for any

other purposes.

AITO Quality Charter:

The Association of Independent Tour

Operators

AITO is the Association for independent and specialist holiday companies. Our member companies, usually owner-managed, strive to create overseas holidays with high levels of professionalism and a shared concern for quality and personal service. The Association encourages the highest standards in all aspects of tour operating.

Exclusive membership AITO sets criteria regarding ownership, finance and quality which must be satisfied before new companies are admitted to membership. All members are required to adhere to a Code of Business Practice which encourages high operational standards and conduct.

Financial security An AITO member is required to arrange financial protection for all holidays and other arrangements (including accommodation only) booked by customers with the member under the AITO logo. This financial protection applies to customers who are resident in the UK at the time of booking and to most overseas customers who have booked directly with the member. In doing so, the member must comply with UK government regulations. Members are required to submit details of their financial protection arrangements to AITO on a regular basis Accurate brochures and web sites All members do their utmost to ensure that all their brochures and other publications, print or electronic, clearly and accurately describe the holidays and services offered.

Professional service and continual improvement All members are committed to high standards of service and believe in regular and thorough training of employees. Members continually seek to review and improve their holidays. They listen to their customers and always welcome suggestions for improving standards. Monitoring standards AITO endeavours to monitor quality standards regularly. All customers should receive a post-holiday questionnaire the results of which are scrutinised by the Association.

Sustainable tourism All Members acknowledge the importance of AITO’s Sustainable Tourism ethos, which recognises the social, economic and environmental responsibilities of tour operating. Customer relations All members endeavour to deal swiftly and fairly with any issues their customers may raise. In the unlikely event that a dispute between an AITO member and a customer cannot be settled amicably, AITO’s low-cost Independent Dispute Settlement Service may be called upon by either side to bring the matter to a speedy and acceptable conclusion. Audley Travel is a member of the Association of Independent Tour Operators. To contact the Association, visit www.aito.com or call 020 8744 9280.

Terms and conditions

Terms and conditions 43

Please read the following conditions carefully. All holidays are sold by us subject to these conditions and the other general information in this booklet, our brochures and quotations.

Audley Travel Group Ltd (whose administrative offices are at New Mill, New Mill Lane, Witney, Oxon OX29 9SX) are members of the Association of Independent Tour Operators. Audley Travel Group Ltd (hereafter referred to as ‘we’, ‘us’, ‘our’) offers a number of products and the trading names we use are ‘Audley’, and ‘Audley Travel’. In these Terms & Conditions, ‘you’ and ‘your’ means all persons named on the booking, or any of them as applicable (including anyone who is added or substituted at a later date).

Your contract with us and all matters arising out of it are governed by English law. We both agree that any dispute, claim or other matter which arises out of or in connection with this contract or your holiday, will be dealt with by the AITO Arbitration Scheme - see clause 9 or the Courts of England and Wales only unless, in the case of Court proceedings, you live in Scotland or Northern Ireland. In this case, proceedings may be brought in the Courts of your home country. If proceedings are brought in Scotland or Northern Ireland, you may choose to have your contract governed by the law of Scotland/Northern Ireland as applicable. If you do not so choose, English law will apply. 1. Paying for your holiday (i) The procedure for making a booking is shown in your itinerary quotation and on our website. All bookings are subject to these terms and conditions and by asking us to confirm your booking, and by paying a deposit, the person who makes the booking is taken to have accepted these booking conditions on behalf of all persons named on the booking. Once we have received the applicable payment(s) due at the time of booking (see below), we will, subject to availability of the requested arrangements, send you your invoice. It is at the point when we issue this to you that a valid contract will come into existence between us. Please check your confirmation/invoice and all tickets/documents carefully as soon as you receive them and contact us immediately if you think any details are incorrect. We regret we cannot accept any liability if we are not notified of any inaccuracies (for which we are responsible) in any document within ten days of our sending it out (five days for tickets).We will do our best to rectify any mistake notified to us outside these time limits but you must meet any costs involved in doing so.

(ii) The deposit is part payment of the holiday. The deposit required will be shown on the quotation page of your itinerary. In addition to the deposit, full or part payment of certain elements of your holiday (such as flights) may be required at the time booking or at some point between booking and balance due date. Also see clause I (iv). The deposit and all such additional payments are non-refundable except as set out in clause 4. The balance must be paid not later than the date specified on the invoice. This is normally no less than 8 weeks before the departure date. However, there are a few destinations or trip components that require payment no less than 90 days before the departure date which will be specified on your invoice and quotation. Please note if we do not receive all payments due (including any surcharge where applicable) in full and on time, we are entitled to assume that you wish to cancel your booking. In this case, we will be entitled to keep all amounts paid or due at that date. If we do not cancel straight away because you have promised to make payment, you must pay the cancellation charges shown in clause 3 depending on the date we reasonably treat your booking as cancelled. (iii) Full payment is required at the time of booking for all bookings made after balance due date as above. (iv) On occasions, we may be asked by suppliers to make payment to them earlier than normal. Such requests may, for example, be made in order to secure accommodation and other services during periods of peak demand. Whilst suppliers may have no contractual right to make such requests, failure to comply with them may result in the loss of confirmed arrangements. Where this situation arises, we reserve the right to ask you to make payment of the requested sum within a stipulated period and prior to balance due date. We will of course endeavour to avoid doing so if we can. Any such early payment will be non refundable except as set out in clause 4. (v) If you are booking your holiday through one of our authorised travel agents the balance must be paid to the agent two weeks prior to the applicable balance due date as specified on the invoice and quotation. All payments made to one of our authorised travel agents for the arrangements

we have contracted to provide will be held by them on our behalf. If you book your holiday through a travel agent who is not a member of ABTA, all payments must be made to us directly and not your travel agent. 2. If you change your holiday If, after the contract between us has come into existence, you want to change your holiday we will do our best to pass your request to the relevant supplier, however we cannot guarantee that such changes can be made. Where a change can be made, we will charge for any additional costs incurred including any costs imposed or incurred by any of our suppliers, and including for example cancellation charges that may be incurred for sectors cancelled. You should note, for example, that a change of name on or other alteration to an airline ticket will usually incur a 100% cancellation charge and full rebooking fee. 3. If you cancel your holiday If you have to cancel part of the booking or cancel the entire booking once it has been confirmed by us, written notification must be sent to us by recorded delivery post or by email. As proof of receipt by email of your notification to cancel you must receive and retain written acknowledgement from Audley Travel. Charges will be applied from the date the letter is received, or the email is acknowledged by Audley Travel, according to the scale below. The charges are applied as a percentage of the total holiday cost excluding any amendment charges and any amounts paid in addition to the deposit at the time of booking or before balance due date (see clauses 1(ii) and I(iv)) which are non-refundable in the event of cancellation. The following cancellation charges apply if your final balance due date is 8 weeks prior to departure. Please note, different cancellation charges apply in relation to certain products – please see your quote for details. Period before departure Cancellation date within which written Charge notification is received at Per Person our offices Up to balance due date Deposit only Balance due date-43 days 30% 42-29 days 60% 28-3 days 90% Within 2 days 100% Alterations or cancellations by you after commencement of travel and unused services We will do our best to implement any changes to your arrangements you request once they have commenced, but we cannot guarantee this will be possible. In the event of such amendments being made you will be liable for any cancellation charges that may be levied for the services originally booked, and for the cost of booking the revised arrangements and the arrangements themselves. As a basic principle, no refunds will be paid to clients who do not complete a tour. However where we ourselves are able to obtain a refund from hotels or principals for services not used, we will pass this on to you, less any reasonable administration charges. THE IMPORTANCE OF TRAVEL INSURANCE If you have taken out holiday insurance you may, depending on the detail of your policy, be able to recover the cancellation charges, check your policy for details. Never travel without insurance, the unexpected can always happen. It is your responsibility to ensure you are adequately covered by insurance for all elements of your trip. Please read your policy and take it on holiday with you. 4. If we change your holiday We start planning the holidays we offer many months in advance. Occasionally, we have to make changes to and correct errors in itineraries and other details both before and after bookings have been confirmed and cancel confirmed bookings. Whilst we always endeavour to avoid changes and cancellations, we must reserve the right to do so. However, we promise we will only cancel your confirmed booking after balance due date where you have failed to comply with any requirement of these booking conditions entitling us to cancel (such as paying on time) or where we are forced to do so as a result of ‘force majeure’ as defined in clause 5 below. We will not cancel after this date for any other reason. Most changes are minor. Occasionally, we have to make a ‘significant change’. A significant change is a change made before departure which, taking account of the information you give us at the time of booking and which we can reasonably be expected to know as a tour operator, we

can reasonably expect to have a major effect on your holiday. Significant changes are likely to include the following changes when made before departure; a change of accommodation to that of a lower official classification or standard for the whole or a major part of the time you are away*, a change of accommodation area for the whole or a major part of the time you are away, a change of UK outward departure time or overall length of time you are away of twelve or more hours, or a change of UK departure airport to one which is more inconvenient for you (except as between Gatwick and Heathrow). *Please note: A change affecting a stay in a hotel during a tour where the hotel itself is not the focus of the tour, does not constitute a significant change. If we have to make a significant change or cancel, we will tell you as soon as possible. If there is time to do so before departure, we will offer you the choice of the following options:- (a) (for significant changes) accepting the changed arrangements or (b) purchasing an alternative holiday from us, of a similar standard to that originally booked if available. Please note: Due to the original and individual nature of our holidays it frequently may not be possible to offer you a comparable holiday to that originally booked. (c) cancelling or accepting the cancellation in which case you will receive a full and quick refund of all monies you have paid to us. You must advise us of your decision within 7 days of the date on which we notified you of the significant change or cancellation. Please note, the above options are not available where any change made is a minor one. A minor change is any change which, taking account of the information you have given us at the time of booking or which we can reasonably be expected to know as a tour operator, we could not reasonably expect to have a significant effect on your confirmed holiday. If we have to make a significant change or cancellation we will pay you the compensation set out below subject to the following exceptions. Compensation will not be payable and no liability beyond offering the above mentioned choices can be accepted where (1) we are forced to make a change or cancel as a result of unusual and unforeseeable circumstances beyond our control, the consequences of which we could not have avoided even with all due care or (2) we have to cancel because the minimum number of bookings necessary for us to operate your holiday has not been reached - in this case we will notify you no less than 60 days before departure. Please note: all escorted group trips are based on group arrangements involving a given minimum number of passengers. No compensation will be payable and the above options will not be available if we cancel as a result of your failure to comply with any requirement of these booking conditions entitling us to cancel (such as paying on time). Period of notification of Compensation change before scheduled per person departure date More than 60 days Nil 60-43 days £10 42-29 days £20 28-15 days £30 14-0 days £40 In the unlikely event that we become unable to provide a significant proportion of the services you have booked after you depart, we will make alternative arrangements for you at no extra charge, or, if this is impossible, or you do not accept these alternative arrangements for a good reason, we will provide you with transport back to the point where your holiday arrangements with us commenced. If we are forced by ‘force majeure’ (see clause 5) to change or terminate your holiday after departure but before the scheduled end of your time away, we regret we will be unable to make any refunds (unless we obtain any refunds from our suppliers), pay you any compensation or meet any costs or expenses you incur as a result except as set out above. 5. Force majeure Except as set out in these terms and conditions, we cannot accept liability or pay any compensation where the performance or prompt performance of our contractual obligations is prevented or affected, or you otherwise


44 Terms and conditions

suffer any loss or damage (as more fully described in clause 7 (i) below) as a result of circumstances amounting to ‘force majeure’. In these terms and conditions ‘force majeure’ means any event or circumstances which we or the supplier of the services in question could not foresee or avoid even with all due care. Such events and circumstances may include, whether actual or threatened, war, insurrection, riots, strikes, civil action, decisions by governments or governing authority, technical or maintenance problems with transport, changes of schedules or operational decisions of air carriers, terrorist activity, industrial action, natural or nuclear activity, epidemics/pandemics, adverse weather conditions, fire and all similar events outside our control. 6. Surcharges Once the price of your chosen holiday has been confirmed at the time of booking, we will only increase or decrease it in the following circumstances. Price increases or decreases after booking will be passed on by way of a surcharge or refund. A surcharge or refund (as applicable) will be payable, subject to the conditions set out in this clause, if transportation costs (e.g. fuel, scheduled airfares and any other airline surcharges which are part of the contract between airlines (and their agents) and the tour operator) or dues, taxes or fees payable for services such as landing taxes or embarkation or disembarkation fees at ports or airports change. Even in the above cases, only if the amount of the increase in our costs exceeds 2% of the total cost of your holiday (excluding any amendment charges), will we levy a surcharge. If any surcharge is greater than 10% of the cost of your holiday (excluding any amendment charges), you will be entitled to cancel your booking and receive a full refund of all monies you have paid to us (except for any amendment charges) or alternatively purchase another holiday from us as referred to in clause 4 ‘If we change your holiday’. Please note that travel arrangements are not always purchased in local currency and some apparent changes have no impact on the price of your travel due to contractual and other protection in place. A refund will only be payable if the decrease in our costs exceeds 2% as set out above. Where a refund is due, we will pay you the full amount of the decrease in our costs.

You have 14 days from the issue date printed on the surcharge invoice to tell us if you want to cancel or purchase another holiday where applicable. If you do not tell us that you wish to do so within this period of time, we are entitled to assume that you will pay the surcharge. Any surcharge must be paid with the balance of the cost of the holiday or within 14 days of the issue date printed on the surcharge invoice, whichever is the later. We reserve the right to make changes to and correct errors in quoted prices at any time before your holiday is confirmed. We will advise you of any error of which we are aware and of the then applicable price at the time of booking.

7. Our responsibility (i) We promise to make sure that all parts of the holiday we have agreed to arrange, perform or provide as part of our contract with you are arranged, performed or provided with reasonable skill and care. This means that, subject to these booking conditions, we will accept responsibility if, for example, you suffer death or personal injury or your contracted holiday arrangements are not provided as promised or prove deficient as a result of the failure of ourselves, our employees, agents or suppliers to use reasonable skill and care in making, performing or providing, as applicable, your contracted holiday arrangements. Please note, it is your responsibility to show that reasonable skill and care has not been used if you wish to make a claim against us. In addition, we will only be responsible for what our employees, agents and suppliers do or do not do if they were at the time acting within the course of their employment (for employees) or carrying out work we had asked them to do (for agents and suppliers). We will not be responsible for any injury, illness, death, loss (including loss of enjoyment), damage, expense, cost or other sum or claim of any description whatsoever which results from any of the following:- (a) the fault of the person(s) affected or any member(s) of their party or

(b) the fault of a third party not connected with the provision of your holiday which we could not have predicted or avoided or

(c) an event or circumstance which we or the supplier of the service(s) in question could not have predicted or avoided even after taking all reasonable care (see clause 5) (d) the fault of anyone who is not carrying out work for us (generally or in particular) at the time. In addition, we will not be responsible where you do not enjoy your holiday or suffer any problems because of a reason you did not tell us about when you booked your holiday or where any problems you suffer did not result from any breach of our contract or other fault of ourselves or, where we were responsible for them, our suppliers or agents or where any losses, expenses, costs or other sum you have suffered relate to any business. Please note: we cannot accept responsibility for any services which do not form part of our contract. This includes, for example, any additional services or facilities which your hotel or any other supplier agrees to provide for you where the services or facilities are not advertised in our brochure and we have not agreed to arrange them as part of our contract and any excursion you purchase during your holiday. (ii) The promises we make to you about the services we have agreed to provide or arrange as part of our contract - and the laws and regulations of the country in which your claim or complaint occurred - will be used as the basis for deciding whether the services in question had been properly provided. If the particular services which gave rise to the claim or complaint complied with local laws and regulations applicable to those services at the time, the services will be treated as having been properly provided. This will be the case even if the services did not comply with the laws and regulations of the UK which would have applied had those services been provided in the UK. The exception to this is where the claim or complaint concerns the absence of a safety feature which might lead a reasonable holiday maker to refuse to take the holiday in question. (iii) We limit the maximum amount we may have to pay you for any and all claims or parts of claims which do not involve personal injury, illness or death. Except where loss of and/or damage to luggage or personal possessions is concerned or a lower limitation of liability applies to your claim, the maximum amount we will have to pay you for such non personal injury claims if we are found liable to you on any basis is twice the price (excluding any amendment charges) paid by or on behalf of the person(s) affected in total. This maximum amount will only be payable where everything has gone wrong and you have not received any benefit at all from your holiday. Where we are found liable for loss of and/or damage to any luggage or personal possessions (including money), the maximum amount we will have to pay you is £150 per person affected as you are assumed to have taken out adequate insurance at the time of booking. Please also see clause 7(iv) below. (iv) Where any claim or part of a claim concerns or is based on any travel arrangements (including the process of getting on and/or off the transport concerned) provided by any air, sea, rail or road carrier or any stay in a hotel, the maximum amount of compensation we will have to pay you will be limited. The most we will have to pay you for that claim or that part of a claim if we are found liable to you on any basis is the most the carrier or hotel keeper concerned would have to pay under the international convention or regulation which applies to the travel arrangements or hotel stay in question (for example, the Warsaw Convention as amended for international travel by air and/or for airlines with an operating licence granted by an EU country, the EU Regulation on Air Carrier Liability for national and international travel by air, the Athens Convention for international travel by sea and COTIF, the Convention on International Travel by Rail). Please note: Where a carrier or hotel would not be obliged to make any payment to you under the applicable International Convention or Regulation in respect of a claim or part of a claim, we similarly are not obliged to make a payment to you for that claim or part of the claim. When making any payment, we are entitled to deduct any money which you have received or are entitled to receive from the transport provider or hotelier for the complaint or claim in question. (v) You must provide ourselves and our insurers with all assistance we may reasonably require. You must also tell us and the supplier concerned about your claim or complaint as set out in clause 9 below.

8. Flights and your responsibility The flight details shown in your itinerary quotation are for guidance only and are subject to change. Final details will be confirmed on your travel documentation, sent approximately 14 days prior to departure. The times shown on all tickets are local times and check in for both outward and return flights is at least 3 hours prior to the departure times on the travel documents. It is possible that flight times may be changed even after tickets have been dispatched - we will contact you as soon as possible if this occurs. In accordance with EU Directive (EC) No 2111/2005 Article 9, we are required to bring to your attention the existence of a “Community list” which contains details of air carriers who are subject to an operating ban within the EU. The Community list is available for inspection at http://europa.eu.int/comm/transport/air/safety/ flywell_en.htm. In accordance with EU Regulations we are required to advise you of the actual carrier(s) (or, if the actual carrier(s) is not known, the likely carrier(s)) that will operate your flight(s) at the time of booking. Where we are only able to inform you of the likely carrier(s) at the time of booking, we shall inform you of the identity of the actual carrier(s) as soon as we become aware of this. Any change to the operating carrier(s) after your booking has been confirmed will be notified to you as soon as possible. If the carrier with whom you have a confirmed reservation becomes subject to an operating ban as above as a result of which we/ the carrier are unable to offer you a suitable alternative the provisions of clause 4 will apply. Any change in the identity of the carrier, flight timings, and/or aircraft type (if advised) will not entitle you to cancel or change to other arrangements without paying our normal charges except where specified in these conditions. We can accept no responsibility if you arrive late for the check in and miss your flight as a result nor can we accept responsibility for any loss by you of your holiday/flight travel tickets, vouchers or coupons. Air travel is subject to operational decisions of carriers and airports which may result in delays and diversions. Please note that minor carriers sometimes change the departure time of short-haul or domestic flights at short notice, and in some instances, schedules shown in the computers of intercontinental carriers differ from those actually flown by smaller local carriers. We advise you that it is your responsibility to be meticulous in locally reconfirming directly with the carrier operating the flight. We accept no liability for the consequences of flights missed owing to the passenger’s failure to reconfirm. Clients flying in economy class to long-haul destinations should be aware that flights are often full and you may not be able to get seats together. We also recommend that you check in early for a long flight, and in any case not less than 3 hours before the scheduled departure time. If your flight is cancelled or delayed, your flight ticket is downgraded or boarding is denied by your airline in circumstances which would entitle you to claim compensation or any other payment from the airline under EC Regulation No 261/2004 - the Denied Boarding Regulations 2004, you must pursue the airline for the compensation or other payment due to you. All sums you receive or are entitled to receive from the airline concerned by virtue of these Regulations represent the full amount of your entitlement to compensation or any other payment arising from such cancellation, delay, downgrading or denied boarding. This includes any disappointment, distress, inconvenience or effect on any other arrangements. The fact a delay may entitle you to cancel your flight does not automatically entitle you to cancel any other arrangements even where those arrangements have been made in conjunction with your flight. We have no liability to make any payment to you in relation to the Denied Boarding Regulations or in respect of any flight cancellation or delay, downgrading of any flight ticket or denial of any boarding as the full amount of your entitlement to any compensation or other payment (as dealt with above) is covered by the airline's obligations under the Denied Boarding Regulations. If your airline does not comply with these rules, you should complain to the Air Transport Users’ Council on 020 7240 6061 www.auc.org.uk We cannot accept liability for any delay unless it has a material effect on your holiday arrangements. See clause 4.


Terms and conditions 45

You undertake to behave with propriety and in such a manner as in no way causes or is likely to cause distress, danger or annoyance to other clients and/or any third party or damage to property. If, in the view of ourselves, our employees, agents or suppliers, you are in breach of this clause, we reserve the right to terminate your contract and neither we nor the providers of any of the services in question will have any further contractual obligations to you either in respect of covering any expenses, paying any compensation or refunds, or arranging for your return home. When you book with us, you accept responsibility for any damage or loss caused by you. Full payment for any such damage or loss (reasonably estimated if not precisely known) must be paid direct at the time to the accommodation owner or manager or other supplier. If the actual cost of the loss or damage exceeds the amount paid where estimated, you must pay the difference once known. If the actual cost is less than the amount paid, the difference will be refunded. If you fail to do so, you will be responsible for meeting any claims subsequently made against us (together with our own and the other party’s full legal costs) as a result of your actions. You must ensure that all your travel documents, full passports, visas, vaccination certificates, currency and travellers cheques are in order and valid for travel. All costs incurred in obtaining such documentation must be paid by you. We regret we cannot accept any liability if you are refused entry onto any transport or into any country due to failure on your part to carry correct documentation. We are able to give general advice on these matters for British citizens holding a British passport. However, non-British citizens and non-British passport holders should check with their embassy or consulate vis-a-vis current requirements. See also our General Information section. If failure to have any necessary travel or other documents results in fines, surcharges or other financial penalty being imposed on us, you will be responsible for reimbursing us accordingly. The name on your airline tickets must be the name that appears on your full passport. Please note that if you believe that we have stated orally that a particular facility or service should be available, but is not in the brochure or in writing from us, please make reference to it on the booking form so that we may confirm it to you when accepting your booking. 9. Complaints Should you have any complaints about any aspect of your holiday arrangements, you must inform our local representative or tour leader immediately and the supplier of the arrangements concerned. Problems can most easily be dealt with on the spot. Please note, if you do not report a problem or complaint which, if it had been reported at the time it occurred could have been resolved there and then we cannot accept any liability in respect of that problem or complaint. It is sensible to expect a client travelling in the developing world to be reasonably resourceful if things go wrong. If you experience any difficulties, contact us in the UK on our 24 hour emergency telephone service. The number will be found on your pre-departure information and with your tickets. In the unlikely event that an acceptable solution cannot be found, you should then write to us within 28 days of your return with full details of your complaint. If you fail to follow this complaints procedure, your right to claim the compensation you may otherwise have been entitled to may be affected or even lost as a result. If we cannot reach an amicable solution to any dispute you do have the right to refer the dispute to the Association of Independent Tour Operators which operates an Independent Dispute Service (details on request) for resolution of the dispute by a mediator provided the claim does not involve personal accident, injury or illness. 10. The brochure and quotation We have taken every care in ensuring that the information in the brochure and given in quotations/itineraries is correct at the time of publication. However we are sure you will appreciate that subsequently minor alterations may arise. We reserve the right to change any of the prices, services or other particulars contained in this brochure or any quotation at any time before we enter into a contract with you. If there is any change we will notify you before we enter into such contract. Where we state that

additional information, a fact sheet or a dossier is available on a particular itinerary or programme, this information should be regarded as a term of the contract. The hotel classifications given on our website, in our brochures, quotations and dossiers and fact sheets are for guidance only. They are not based on any national or international classification system, they are the opinions of our staff or agents and are quite subjective. The photographs that appear in the accommodation section of your quotation are indicative only and may not be of the exact room you have been quoted for. 11. Special requests If you have any special request, you must advise us in writing at the time of booking. Although we will endeavour to pass any reasonable requests on to the relevant supplier, we regret we cannot guarantee any request will be met. For your own protection, you should obtain confirmation in writing from us that your request will be complied with (where it is possible for us to give this) if your request is important to you. Confirmation that a special request has been noted or passed on to the supplier or the inclusion of the special request on your confirmation invoice or any other documentation is not a guarantee that the request will be met by the relevant supplier. All special requests are subject to availability. We regret we cannot accept any conditional bookings, i.e. any booking which is specified to be conditional on the fulfilment of a particular request. All such bookings will be treated as ‘standard’ bookings subject to the above provisions on special requests. If you have any medical problem or disability which may affect your holiday, please tell us before you confirm your booking so that we can advise as to the suitability of the chosen arrangements. In any event, you must give us full details in writing at the time of booking. You must also promptly advise us if any medical condition or disability which may affect your holiday develops after your booking has been confirmed. If we reasonably feel unable to properly accommodate the particular needs of the person concerned, we must reserve the right to decline their reservation or, if full details are not given at the time of booking, cancel when we become aware of these details. 12. Your financial protection We hold an Air Travel Organiser's Licence issued by the Civil Aviation Authority (ATOL number 4817). When you buy an ATOL protected flight-inclusive holiday* from us, you will receive an ATOL Certificate. This lists the flight, accommodation, car hire and/or other services that are financially protected, where you can get information on what this means for you, and who to contact if things go wrong. We, or the suppliers identified on your ATOL Certificate, will provide you with the services listed on the ATOL Certificate (or a suitable alternative). In some cases, where neither we nor the supplier are able to do so for reasons of insolvency, an alternative ATOL holder may provide you with services you have bought or a suitable alternative (at no extra cost to you). You agree to accept that in those circumstances the alternative ATOL holder will perform those obligations and you agree to pay any money outstanding to be paid by you under your contract to that alternative ATOL holder. However, you also agree that in some cases it will not be possible to appoint an alternative ATOL holder, in which case you will be entitled to make a claim under the ATOL scheme (or your credit card issuer where applicable). If we, or the suppliers identified on your ATOL certificate, are unable to provide the services listed (or a suitable alternative, through an alternative ATOL holder or otherwise) for reasons of insolvency, the Trustees of the Air Travel Trust may make a payment to (or confer a benefit on) you under the ATOL scheme. You agree that in return for such a payment or benefit you assign absolutely to those Trustees any claims which you have or may have arising out of or relating to the non-provision of the services, including any claim against us, the travel agent (or your credit card issuer where applicable).You also agree that any such claims may be re-assigned to another body, if that other body has paid sums you have claimed under the ATOL scheme. *The air inclusive holidays and flights we arrange are ATOL protected providing they are made available in the UK. For further information, visit the ATOL website at www.atol.org.uk Not all holiday or travel services offered and sold by us will be protected by the ATOL scheme.

The Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust

Limited (ABTOT) provides financial protection under the

Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours

Regulations 1992 for Audley Travel (ABTOT Membership

number 5297) and in the event of their insolvency,

protection is provided for the following:

1. non-flight packages commencing in and returning to

the UK;

2. non-flight packages commencing and returning to a

country other than the UK; and

3. flight inclusive packages that commence outside of

the UK, which are sold to customers outside of the

UK.

1, 2 and 3 provides for a refund in the event you have not

yet travelled. 1 and 3 provides for repatriation. Please note

that bookings made outside the UK are only protected by

ABTOT when purchased directly with Audley Travel. 13. Excursions Please note that we do not provide or arrange excursions other than those listed in your itinerary and forming part of the arrangements booked and paid for in the UK. Our local representatives or guides may put you in touch with local organisers of excursions if you request but we can have no liability for such excursions, as your contract for such excursions will be with a local company providing the services and not with us. 14. Prices and Brochure Accuracy Please note, the information and prices shown on our website, in our brochures and/or quotations may have changed by the time you come to book your holiday. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the website, brochures, quotations and prices at the time of printing or when they are given to you, regrettably errors do occasionally occur. You must therefore ensure you check all details of your chosen holiday (including the price) with us at the time of booking. 15. Honeymoon Gift Service All honeymoon bookings and use of Audley's Honeymoon Gift Service are subject to our Terms & Conditions. It is important to note that in the unfortunate event of the cancellation of your booking you will be responsible for all cancellation charges as detailed in our Terms & Conditions. Audley also reserve the right to charge a £150 administration fee to cover refunding all monies to your guests. These refunds will only be made once all cancellation charges have been paid. As the client, you will take on the responsibility for the full payment of the booking as the amount of your guest contributions cannot be guaranteed. Audley Travel Group Limited. Registered Address: New Mill, New Mill Lane, Witney, Oxfordshire OX29 9SX. Registered in England with Company Reg. No. 3190720. VAT Reg. No.125454721. September 2014.

http://www.atol.org.uk/

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