Practical Information

> How Strenuous are these Trips?
> Group Participants and Tour Leader
> Private Tours and Custom Dates
> Local Transportation
> Accommodations
> Meals
> Climate
> Travel Documents
> Flights
> Airline Tickets
> Money
> Health
> Luggage & Clothing
> Resources
> Communication

How Strenuous are these Trips?

The challenge level of this trip is Intermediate-Advanced due to the constant physical nature of the program.

Group Participants and Tour Leader

Participants:
International Group MIN: 8 MAX: 20 Dutch tour leader.

Guide Service
The tour leader serves as logistics coordinator, not a lecturer. They provide information about the daily life and culture and practical tips regarding restaurants, transport, admission fees, activities, etc. The tour leader organizes and accompanies some activities but participants also enjoy independent time.

In-Country Staff
Our land representatives are situated in the destination country you will visit. We work closely with them and they function as our liaison with the guide, drivers and hotels. They are also available in the case of an emergency and their number will be provided on your emergency contact list.

Problems or Emergencies
While you are away, should you have a problem, you have several points of contact. Your guide, our land representative, and of course, we are just a call or email away. We will provide contact numbers for you before you leave. Please distribute this list to family or to your contact person at home. If someone needs to reach you from home due to an emergency, but is having difficulty due to language or bad connections, they can call our office and we will assist in contacting you.

What To Expect When Traveling on an INTERNATIONAL GROUP TRIP

Djoser, Inc. is an offshoot of a highly regarded, Dutch tour operator, established in 1985 in the Netherlands. Djoser has operated in the U.S. since 1998. We share an outstanding network of land representatives around the world, many of whom have worked with us since our beginnings. Many of our trips are offered in cooperation with the Djoser, Netherlands office.

On our Price/Dates pages you will see that departure dates are denoted as being organized for NORTH AMERICAN GROUPS or INTERNATIONAL GROUPS. On INTERNATIONAL GROUPS trips you will join Dutch and Belgian travelers. This multi-cultural aspect is the draw for many regular Djoser travelers, but not the perfect fit for every traveler. We invite you to consider the description below when selecting to travel with an INTERNATIONAL GROUP or a NORTH AMERICAN GROUP.

All Djoser adventures are designed for active travelers with emphasis on cultural interaction and nature explorations. The balance of guidance and freedom is also crucial to our journeys. Our International Group programs are some of our most adventurous and comprehensive. Some trips feature days spent in remote areas, with some long drive days, and a night or two in very basic or indigenous accommodations.

The group size ranges from 8 to 22 travelers of all ages, most from Holland. You will find 1 to 5 North Americans participating in these groups. Almost every participant will have a superb command of English, but you are sure to hear plenty of Dutch. You may need to exert a bit more effort to make initial contact but usually in a day or two, the group warms up to one another. The success of the social interaction tends to depend more on the individual personalities in the group rather than nationalities, just as with any other tour group.

On most trips, a Dutch tour leader will accompany the group and will speak both Dutch and English. In a few countries, a local guide will accompany instead or will assist the Dutch tour leader, such as in Japan or Syria.

These are not lecture tours. The guide functions as a logistics coordinator and you will receive the important information. The guide will organize and accompany some activities and meals, but also gives suggestions so that participants can dine and explore independently. Participants on these trips are rather independent-minded and welcome time on their own in addition to the group activity. Don't expect as much one-one-one attention from the guide as you would find on a North American Group tour.

On our African safaris with camping accommodations, there will be an English-speaking, African guide with a camp courier assisting with food preparations.Most of the safaris with lodge accommodations will have a a Dutch tour leader.

If you have a travel partner, or if you are solo and can easily engage with others, and welcome the idea of an international mix and an active travel style, then this should be a fun experience for you. If you are traveling alone, or if you are more introverted, blending with the group may be more challenging. Again, so much depends on the chemistry of the individual group members.

We want you to be happy and it is important that you select a trip style that fits. If you are worried that you will feel like the "odd man out" then we suggest that you consider a North American group trip. But if you welcome the added layer and occasional challenges of this added cultural experience, as well as the more adventurous nature of these trips, then these journeys are for you.

Feel free to call us with your questions. 877-356-7376

Private Tours and Custom Dates

Local Transportation

LAND PROGRAM
Djoser provides the LAND PROGRAM only. You will need to book your own flights from the United States to the destination and back.

TRANSPORTATION & TOUR VEHICLE
The package includes the use of a bike with gears. We cycle between 25 and 40 kilometer per day. The length of the bike tours depends on the wishes of the group. We cycle through both flat and hilly areas. We do not climb mountains (unless you choose to bike the Swartberg Pass ) but there are inclines.

Bus
We cover portions of our journey with our own, comfortable, air-conditioned bus,. The bus runs the entire journey with us and often puts us out at a point that we can bike. At the end of the bike ride (if we are not biking to our accommodation), the bus picks us up again. At times we do not use our bikes, the bikes are in a baggage car.

Accommodations

In South Africa using various types of accommodation. We often stay in good, touris-class hotels. In some places you stay overnight in a chalet or bungalow usually, with multiple companions. There is often a simple kitchen where you can make coffee and tea or even a complete meal. Generally there is a private shower / toilet. The chalets usually have a private terrace or patio and a braai (a barbeque grill). At the Baviaanskloof we stay in simple chalets with shared bath facilities.

If you are traveling solo, we will match you with a same-sex roommate. On our international group trips, if you request a roommate and there is not a roommate available, unless otherwise noted, there is no supplementary charge for the single room. On most trips, you can request single accommodations for a reasonable charge. If you would like single accommodations, please indicate your preference on your booking form.

Meals

The meals are not included in the fare, so you can decide where and with whom you will eat. In some remote overnight accommodations, there may only be one place to eat. Many South African dishes in the cuisine have their origin in India or Malaysia. There are also many typical African specialties on the menu: bobotie for example, and miliepap and biltong. Bobotie is a delightful mixture of chopped yellow rice and coconut. Biltong is mainly eaten as an appetizer or snack. The dried meat comes in strips or pieces, made from a large assortment of animals, from buffalo to ostrich. A favorite past time for South Africans is tto hold a braai, or barbecue. Fruit is found in South Africa in abundance, thanks to the mild climate. Fresh fruits and juices are also available everywhere. Breakfast is often a choice of eggs with bacon or "Boerewors", with jam or cheese sandwiches and traditional miliepap made from corn flour. As for alcohol, the local beers and South Africa wines are of great quality and very affordable.

Climate

Seasons are opposite here. July is the coldest month, January the warmest. The country has a temperate climate with mild winters and warm summers. The mountain areas are quite cool. Winter months June to August and the higher areas, such as in Lesotho can be cold in the evenings. On the southern coast the weather is varied from day-to-day. Spring and autumn have pleasant temperatures similar to our summer. Summer itself is long and warm with mild temperatures from 77 to 95F. There is no clear rainy period.

Check the weather for your destination: Check temperature and rainfall for specific cities on your trip, during your month of travel at www.worldweather.org

Travel Documents

A visa is not required for South Africa

Be sure to check with the Department of State for the most recent document requirements for travel to your destinations. Be sure that your passport is valid for at least six months after departure from your destination. Also make sure there are extra pages in your passport. When completing VISA applications, be sure to confirm whether you will need a SINGLE or DOUBLE entry tourist visa. We will provide you in-country contact information for your visa application. The website for the Dept. of State is: http://travel.state.gov/travel/travel_1744.html.

Flights

BOOKING YOUR FLIGHTS FROM/TO THE U.S.
As we provide only the LAND PORTION of the trip, you will need to book your own flights from and to the United States. Book your flights into and out of the cities listed below:

Land program begins in: Cape Town
Land program ends in: Cape Town

Please note the arrival and departure times listed for the Dutch participants. Plan your flights to arrive prior to the scheduled arrival of the Dutch travelers so that you will not miss the initial group meeting with the tour leader. Flight delays or late arrivals could result in missed activities or can even require that you catch up to the group, which may involve costly transfers. Leave ample time for flight connections and terminal changes. If the scheduled arrival time for the Dutch participants is between 3AM & 11AM we recommend that you arrive the night before, requesting an extension hotel night when you book your trip. If the group arrives late evening or up until 3AM, we include the hotel night and you are free to check in early and rest up or explore on your own. The hotels are usually available for check-in at 1PM.

The Dutch participants are scheduled to arrive on DAY 1 at: 11:00 PM
On the final day, the flight for the Dutch participants is scheduled to leave at:
11:55 PM

USEFUL LINKS FOR BOOKING YOUR FLIGHTS
ORBITZ: http://www.orbitz.com/
EXPEDIA: http://www.expedia.com/

BEFORE YOU FINALIZE YOUR FLIGHT, GET TRIP CONFIRMATION!
Do not book your flight prior to written or e-mail notification from Djoser that the trip is a "go". For instance, group trips must meet the required minimum enrollment. We will notify you of the status of enrollment upon request. Also, on very rare occasions, an unforeseen itinerary or date change can occur. We advise you to take out travel insurance. Before booking your flight, make sure that you are aware of your flight provider's penalties for changes or cancellations. We are not liable for penalties incurred for flight changes or cancellations.

Airline Tickets

If internal flights, trains or boats are used during a Djoser program, the tour leader will handle the tickets and disperse them to group participants at the appropriate time.

Money

The cost of the land packages includes city-to-city transport, guide assistance, lodging as described, and only meals listed in the price inclusive section. You should budget for out-of-pocket expenses for other meals, fees for optional excursions and activities, in-city transport and other personal expenses. See our prices for the estimated out of pocket expenses.

CURRENCY & CASH
On your trip you will want to make sure you are prepared with the proper form of currency. ATMs can be scarce and charge cards are not always accepted. You will want to exchange money for the local currency. Before you go, you can check the most current conversion rates, and you can also print out a handy currency exchange "cheat sheet" at: http://www.oanda.com/convert/cheatsheet

Pins: ATMs are everywhere.
Local currency: South African Rand.
Credit cards: frequently used.
Traveler's checks: in many places to exchange, but often time consuming.

TIPPING
On our international group trips, for your convenience, the tour leader will organize a tip pot at the beginning of the trip. At the beginning of the trip, each participant will donate a few dollars per day to the pot. The amounts will be disbursed to drivers, local guides, hotel staff, and others along the way. If there are funds remaining at the end of the trip, they will be divided among the group. The tip pot does not include a tip for your tour leader. On our private trips, tipping is up to you.

Health

Check with your doctor or local health authorities for the latest recommendations. Be mindful of what you eat. We recommend you carry a first aid kit and be sure to be equipped with your personal medications, painkillers, and medicines to prevent diarrhea and stomach disorders. The tour leader will also carry a first aid kit in case of emergencies. Keep in mind that travel can be tiring. It is important to be in good health, in good condition and fully equipped for the journey. Take care that you eat properly, drink plenty of water and get lots of rest. Those who travel on our more physically active trips, including our Walking Tours or Biking Tours, should have higher level of fitness and stamina. For country specific health advice, please consult the Center for Disease Control website at www.cdc.gov.

TRAVEL INSURANCE
For piece of mind, we highly recommend that you procure travel insurance. Make sure that you are covered in the event of illness or injury. If adequate treatment is not readily available in the area, emergency evacuation is often required by private carrier and can be exorbitantly expensive. Also, unforeseen events at home can prevent you from going, such as the illness of an immediate relative. Even things like delayed or missed flights or lost luggage can be costly. You are free to choose your own insurance provider. Over the years, we have recommended TRAVELEX. They offer a variety of plans and most importantly, they are responsive. Should you choose to go with TRAVELEX, you will contact them directly and the cost of your coverage will depend on the plan you choose. The cost will be based over the total cost of your trip and flights, and the amount is also subject to your age. Ask about the TRAVEL PLUS plan and the more economical TRAVEL LITE plan. Their website is www.travelexinsurance.com and phone number is 1-800-228-9792. It is important to get travel insurance immediately after booking as most companies have a brief window (10 days from booking) for coverage of pre-existing conditions, for example, coverage of cancellation due to a chronically sick relative.

Luggage & Clothing

Please limit your luggage to 35 pounds. We recommend a soft, rolling duffle as the hard suitcases are difficult to pack on the vehicle. Be sure to bring good comfortable walking shoes with good tread, and already broken in. Sneakers can be slippery. Keep in mind that most hotels will not have porter service.

VOLTAGE
220V

It is recommended that you bring a universal adapter plug and extra batteries for your flashlight, in the event of power outages. The voltage in this destinations is:

WHAT TO BRING
Light cotton clothing and bicycle gear are advisable throughout the year. It is also a handy to take a fleece, a sweater and raincoat for the web periods of the year. Evenings are quite cool in the winter months. In South Africa, the wearing of bicycle helmets is mandatory. You may bring your own, rent or buy a helmet there. Other tips for baggage include a hat or sunglasses, sunscreen. bike gloves, water bottle, first aid kit, aspirin and drugs indigestion.