Namibia Wildlife Safari: Desert Landscapes & National Parks

• In order to enter Namibia and South Africa, U.S. and Canadian citizens need a valid passport with an expiration date at least six months beyond the date of reentry.
• We recommend having at least two blank passport pages for entry stamps.
• U.S. and Canadian passport holders must obtain a visa in order to enter Namibia. You must purchase an individual visa from the Namibian government’s visa portal (eservices.mhaiss.gov.na).
• U.S. and Canadian citizens do not need a visa to enter South Africa.
• If you are not a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you must contact your destination country’s consulate for your specific entry requirements.
• Minors traveling with only one parent must present an affidavit proving the missing parent’s consent to their trip. This requirement is waived if the missing parent’s name doesn’t appear on the minor’s birth certificate.
• You can see the most up-to-date entry requirements for the destination(s) you’ll visit on tour by going to goaheadtours.com/entry-requirements and searching the code NAM.

• Round-trip flights booked through Go Ahead Tours arrive in and depart from Johannesburg, South Africa (or depart from Cape Town, South Africa on the tour extension).
• Transfers to and from the airport at your destination are included for travelers who have purchased their flights through Go Ahead Tours. Travelers who booked their own flights are responsible for securing their own airport transfers.
• When you arrive in Johannesburg, a Go Ahead representative will be waiting for you in the arrivals hall with a Go Ahead sign or a sign with your name(s). If you don’t see a representative immediately, please be patient and stay in the arrivals area. They may be assisting another traveler who has also just arrived and will be back shortly.

Physical Activity Level

This is a very high physical activity-level tour. You can expect vigorous activity throughout the course of the tour.

Tour Pacing

This is a very fast-paced tour. The pace of a tour itinerary considers how often you’ll switch hotels, the amount of planned daily activities, and how you’ll get from place to place. You can expect:

• Three 1-night stays
• Most days and evenings full of included activities in a row (more if you add excursions)
• Most transportation by motor coach, some by commercial flight, boat, and 4x4 safari vehicles
• Daily drive time varies and can be lengthy

Walking, Terrain & Physical Requirements

• Travelers should be prepared to walk 3-4 miles per day on city streets, cobblestones, stairs, and hills.
• Cobblestone streets can become slick when wet.
• Travelers should be healthy enough to participate in all included walks without assistance.
• Please note: Adding optional excursions may increase the total amount of walking on tour.

Climate Considerations

• In winter, temperatures range from the 40s°F in the central plateau to the 50s°F along the coast.
• In summer, temperatures can reach the low-80s°F in the highlands and even higher in the desert regions. Occasionally, heatwaves during the summer months (November-March) can push temperatures even higher.
• Rainy Season: Summer is the rainy season in Namibia, bringing hot, humid days and frequent afternoon showers or thunderstorms, especially in the northern and eastern regions.

Physical Activity & Tour Pace Questions

• Go Ahead Tours and the Tour Director who accompanies your group are unable to provide special mobility or luggage handling assistance to travelers on tour. The responsibility of the Tour Director is to ensure the group enjoys a smooth and informative journey, and they can’t be relied on to provide individualized assistance to any one traveler.
• This tour moves at a reasonable pace to avoid missing scheduled stops. The rest of the group cannot miss any scheduled activities because of the needs of an individual.
• Due to the pace and physical activity level of this tour, mobility aids such as wheelchairs or walkers will be difficult to use and are not recommended. Please notify Go Ahead Tours before your departure if you plan to bring these on tour with you.
• If you have mobility concerns or tour pacing questions, please visit our Help Center or send a message to our Customer Experience Team.

• This tour includes various modes of transportation, including safari vehicles and private motor coach. Some modes of transportation will have raised platforms or steps and often not provide access to ramps or lifts.
• A round-trip flight between Johannesburg and Windhoek in included in the price of the tour. (The tour extension also includes a flight from Johannesburg to Cape Town.)
• During game drives, you will be traveling in a specially equipped safari van, which have high step(s) to board the vehicle. The vehicle is open, allowing for panoramic views.
• Game drives can be long and cross bumpy terrain, so we recommend bringing a small pillow to ease the ride and the impact that may have on a body.
• All other included transportation on this tour is by private motor coach.

• Please note that our travelers are limited to one checked bag and one carry-on bag per person due to storage limitations on motor coaches.
• Some airlines may impose additional charges if you exceed baggage size and weight restrictions. Be advised that you are responsible for any baggage fees incurred on all flights.
• Contact your airline(s) for baggage size and weight restrictions for your flights.
• Make sure you label your baggage and keep valuables, medication, and documents in your carry-on bag.
• Travelers must manage their own luggage throughout tour as porters are not guaranteed. This includes at hotels and airports.

• We recommend packing lightweight, loose-fitting clothing that can be easily layered to accommodate varying temperatures, as well as a light jacket or rainwear. Quick-dry material is best for hot days outside, and a warmer layer may be needed for chilly evenings and early mornings.
• On game drives, blue and black clothing can attract tsetse flies, while bright pieces may scare animals away. For these outings, we recommend packing muted, light-colored, medium-weight clothes.
• Comfortable closed-toe shoes, such as sneakers or lightweight hiking boots, are best for walking during the day.
• Pack a swimsuit: Many of the hotels have pools that you are free to use at your leisure.
• Sun protection is very important. Bring sunscreen, sunglasses, and a broad-brimmed hat to protect your face and the back of your neck.
• Occasional rain showers are common during certain seasons, so lightweight rainwear may be necessary depending on the timing of your trip.
• Insect repellent and binoculars are highly recommended. We also suggest bringing a flashlight: Some hotels turn off the electricity at night or experience unpredictable blackouts.
• A small bottle of hand sanitizer may be helpful on the road when other facilities aren’t readily available.
• On this tour, we recommend the use of a reusable water bottle, as the local drinking water is safe for travelers or potable water is provided on the bus and/or hotel. Make sure to bring a reusable water bottle to cut down on single use plastics.
• We recommend packing a universal adapter, as well as a voltage converter if you plan on using your own hairdryer or other device without a built-in converter.
• In case of emergencies, we also recommend packing your medical insurance card in your carry-on.

• Go Ahead handpicks every hotel you’ll stay at, striking a balance between comfort, location, and local charm.
• Specific properties will vary based on your departure date, but are typically three-to-four-star hotels; always include private bathrooms; and usually have in-room safes for valuables. Additionally, your hotels will have Wi-Fi, but access may be limited to common areas. There may also not be elevators.
• Unfortunately, we can’t guarantee that your accommodations will have laundry services or facilities. We recommend checking directly with your hotels once they’ve been confirmed, about 30 days prior to departure.
• Some hotels on this tour are situated on narrow streets; as such, our buses can’t drop you off right out front. In these instances, you’ll have to walk your luggage to the property, no more than a few blocks.
• Please be advised that the strength of the air conditioning in African hotels/buildings is often not as strong or as cool as what you might be used to in the U.S. or Canada.
• Namibia operates on 220–230 volts and uses a Type M plug with two small round pins and one larger round pin. Many lodges also use Type C plugs with with two small, round pins.
• South Africa operates on 220–240 volts and also uses Type M plugs.
• Not all of the hotels on this tour may have air conditioning.
• South Africa regularly experiences load shedding: Also known as rolling blackouts, this occurs when the demand for electricity exceeds available supply and utility providers cease delivery to certain areas to prevent a total outage. You should only be briefly impacted on tour, as all accommodations are equipped with generators and activities aren’t reliant on the grid.
• Specific accommodations will vary based on your departure date.

• Excursions are available for purchase prior to departure, and most excursions will be available for purchase while you are on tour directly through your mobile app for an additional $10 USD.
• We recommend purchasing excursions at least 3 days prior to your tour departure. Please note some excursions have advance booking deadlines. Check your tour itinerary for more information to ensure you don’t miss the deadline to add them.
• Optional excursions may be canceled on tour due to reasons like low enrollment, weather or unexpected closures. If an excursion you signed up for is canceled by Go Ahead Tours, you will be refunded the full cost of the excursion. Please note it may take up to 60 days for your refund to be processed.
• Your Tour Director may offer their own optional excursions which can only be purchased on tour via cash (in local currency).

• At least 60 days prior to departure, check with your doctor or healthcare provider for the latest updates and entry requirements, or visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at cdc.gov.
• Local governments may require proof of a yellow fever vaccination (often referred to as a yellow card) or a statement of medical exemption from the vaccine. This is only required of travelers arriving from countries with a risk of yellow fever virus transmission. (Please note: The U.S. and Canada are not on that list.) Visit cdc.gov/yellowfever for more information.
• Avoid eating fresh fruits and vegetables unless they’re peeled and cooked or washed in clean water.
• Bring a small first aid kit—including antacids, antidiarrheals, motion sickness treatments, and any prescription medications—in your carry-on bag.
• If you have medication that you take daily, be sure you have enough for each day of the tour and any possible delays you may encounter.
• If you have dietary restrictions and/or food allergies, please notify Go Ahead Tours at least 30 days prior to departure by logging in to your account and updating your traveler info. To update this information closer to your departure date, please call our Customer Experience Team.
• The water is safe to drink throughout your tour unless posted otherwise.

• This tour includes six lunches and eight dinners: They may be set menus, buffets, or family-style meals, depending on the location. Dinners also include one glass of beer, wine, or a soft drink, as well as water.
• Breakfast each morning is also included at the hotel and is typically buffet style with hot and cold options.
• Traditional Namibian cuisine uses locally-sourced ingredients, including game meats, fish, and fresh produce. The main staple is maize or millet porridge. Most meals feature a combination of grilled or stewed meat, a vegetable side dish, and a starch.

• At the conclusion of your tour, it is customary to offer your Tour Director and driver a gratuity in local currency. Please keep current exchange rates in mind.
• We recommend tipping $10USD to $12USD per person per day for your Tour Director and $4USD per person per day for your driver.
• If applicable, we also recommend $2USD per local guide.
• Tips can only be paid in cash.
• If you are traveling to multiple countries with different currencies and the same Tour Director, ask them what currency they prefer for their tip.
• The cost of porterage is included in your tour price, and it is not necessary to tip baggage handlers.

• The official currency of Namibia is the Namibian dollar, but U.S. dollars and the South African ran are widely accepted.
• You will use the South African rand when in South Africa.
• We recommend that you carry a little local cash as possible, as well as small amounts of U.S. dollars—only crisp bills printed in 2004 or later.
• ATMs are not readily available in more rural locations.
• Major North American credit cards are accepted, but can be difficult to use in certain remote locations. Visa cards are the most widely accepted.
• International banks and businesses primarily accept debit and credit cards that work with the EMV chip system. If you do not already have at least one debit or credit card with a chip in it, we strongly recommend requesting one from your bank prior to your tour.
• Plan ahead and bring cash to tip your tour director, local guides, and bus drivers.

• To help you feel prepared before traveling on tour, we strongly recommend downloading the EF Go Ahead Tours mobile app. It’s free and provides information about important deadlines and entry requirements, as well as your detailed itinerary, packing tips, and more. You can also connect with fellow travelers through the app’s chat feature.
• Wi-Fi is available in most hotels, though some charges may apply.
• There is no Wi-Fi on any of the motor coaches.
• Please contact your mobile service provider for information on roaming charges.

• Your Tour Director will be leading your group throughout your journey. You will have a different Tour Director on the tour extension.
• The role of the Tour Director is not only to provide information and context on the destinations you visit, but also to confirm services, coordinate inclusions, prepare each days’ activities and support travelers while on tour. As such, they must focus on the success of the group, and cannot provide individualized assistance to any one traveler.

• One of the benefits of traveling with EF Go Ahead Tours is our on tour emergency support team.
• Our extensive network of offices around the world, and our integration of ISO 31000: Risk Management Guidelines, help our dedicated 24/7 Emergency Service teams anticipate and address on-tour challenges in a flexible and iterative way.
• This team supports travelers and Tour Directors using a combination of extensive training, simulations, incident response planning, and decades of experience to help manage emergencies if they arise, ranging from personal health concerns or injuries to major world events.
• As needed, On Tour Support can facilitate additional support for travelers on tour, arrange assistance from outside specialists, and liaise with local and international authorities to help solve on-the-ground issues. In addition, the team is dedicated to supporting and facilitating communication between travelers and families in the event of an emergency while on the road or at home.

• Namibia and South Africa are two hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and six hours ahead of Eastern Time (ET).
• When it’s noon in New York, it’s 6pm on tour.

• When you travel with Go Ahead Tours, you’ll make a positive impact on the places you visit and the people and animals you meet along the way. That’s because our three core Responsible Travel commitments—protecting the environment, supporting local communities, and promoting animal welfare—are at the heart of every tour we offer.
• Travel, when done responsibly, can have an enormous socioeconomic impact on communities. To maximize your impact, eat at locally owned restaurants and shop at small businesses. Ask your Tour Director to point out restaurants they recommend.
• Prepare for your trip: Be aware of monetary norms such as tipping and negotiating in a market; learn about the destination’s forms of etiquette; and take some time to learn a few words in the local language.
• When interacting with locals, make sure to ask people for permission before you take their picture, and approach cultural differences with empathy and an open mind.
• Go Ahead Tours encourages travelers to limit their waste while on the road, especially single-use plastics. You can cut back on generating plastic waste by packing your own toiletries, using electronic documents, and bringing a reusable water bottle and shopping bag. If you need to use plastics or paper, please recycle.