Your holiday, your choice

We can tailor-make any holiday for you. Longer or shorter durations, different hotels, alternative airlines, upgraded rooms and flights… all are possible. Part of the enjoyment of planning a holiday is the ease of mixing and match your destinations. Whilst we show a number of itinerary ideas in all our destination countries, these can all be easily adapted to your individual requirements. Our experienced team will be delighted to assist you further.

Travel in Africa

Africa is very different from Europe. Vast distances, tough physical conditions, and cultural differences mean that things do not always happen as scheduled. You must be prepared to adapt your plans if necessary and accept that there is a degree of uncertainty in African travel. This is especially relevant to travel in countries which are very poor countries with an undeveloped tourism infrastructure. Hotel standards can be inconsistent. Flights can be cancelled at short notice. Should this occur, we will do our best to minimize the inconvenience, but travel throughout Africa, requires a flexible attitude.

What’s included in our price

The guide prices, and our tailor-made quotations, are per person in US Dollars, unless otherwise stated. Accommodation and return transfers to the resort. Intimate Africa offers you the flexibility to create your own holiday from a wide range of accommodation and services available. Because of the choice we can offer you, it is not possible to list every price on every date.

A ‘from’ price is indicative of the lowest price available for the hotel or itinerary featured and is based on a shoulder season departure. These prices may also vary depending on a number of factors, such as your exact date of travel and choice of accommodation. In general we don’t show peak season prices. All our quotations are personalised to your exact requirements and each quote will utilise the very best rates available at the time, and can often be cheaper than the prices shown in our brochures.

What’s not included in the price

Unless specifically included in your quotation, the price does not include:

• Holiday insurance

• Transportation between your home and departure airport

• Your home regional flights

• Drinks on flights (some carriers offer complimentary beverages) and during resort transfers

• Porterage when not provided by the hotel

• Meals

• Expenditure of a personal nature such as drinks, laundry, room service etc.

• Tips and gratuities

Website accuracy

Although we have made every effort to ensure that the content of this website is correct, it is inevitable that circumstances may change. Facilities may be withdrawn due to maintenance – eg the pool is closed as it needs a tile replaced and so on. Public and religious festivals may also impact on the availability of facilities both in the hotel and resort. We will endeavour to advice of changes we are aware of prior to travel..

Seasonality

The majority of resorts and destinations shown can be offered on a year round basis, although seasonal variances do apply. These are summarised on the relevant destination pages. You will note that some of the lower prices and extra value offers apply in the quieter months, when the climate may not be so consistent.

Passport & visas

All customers must be in possession of a valid passport. This should have a minimum validity of six months from your scheduled return date. Before travelling, it is your responsibility to check that you have all valid documents in advance of booking your holiday. It is important that your passport has at least one clean page for entry stamps to be inserted. We suggest that you should enquire at the relevant embassy.

Your passport and air ticket must be in the same name. Again it is your responsibility to inform us of the correct spelling of your surname and first name. Even if you are commonly known by your middle name, this will not satisfy airlines who have become very strict in recent years on changing named bookings.

Health & Vaccinations

You should take precautions against malaria if travelling to Botswana, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe as well as certain parts of Ethiopia, South Africa (including Kruger Park) and northern Namibia. Some countries require you to have a certificate showing immunisation against yellow fever – we will advise you of this at time of booking.

All hotels and tours mentioned contract with us on the basis that they comply with local regulations governing health, safety and hygiene. Some of these standards may be less than applicable in your Country, whilst others may be even more stringent. Cases of hotel food poisoning are very rare. Less reliable would be the purchase of food or drinks from beach/roadside vendors. Having said that, please experiment with the local food from hotels and recommended restaurants..

Upgrading your flight

With Economy Class seats, please anticipate flights will be full, particularly at peak demand periods, and your choice of seats may not be available. In many cases we are able to offer flight upgrades to the extra comfort of enhanced economy on certain routes, as well as Business Class and First Class. Upgrades can be booked on a one way or return basis.

Hotel services

Even in the best of hotels, occasional hiccups can occur, although these are usually very quickly resolved. Minor problems can usually be resolved by receptionists, whilst others may need a prompt but discreet word with senior management. It is in everyone’s interest that problems are given the opportunity to be resolved whilst you are in the hotel/resort. This can particularly apply to items such as air conditioning, plumbing and hotel service. Please do not wait until you have returned to your country to register your complaint. Hotels are much more receptive to dealing with such problems whilst you are there.

Please acquaint yourself with the safety precautions such as the fire drill shown in your room, taking particular note of the fire exits. Most hotels will display this on the door or in your room information kit. If you are not certain please ask the hotel to explain. Please be vigilant with the safety of your children, particularly the younger ones, and ensure they do not play in unsafe areas (such as near a lift). Some of the hotel swimming pools may have lifeguards; however in most cases you will be responsible for your own safety, so please do familiarise yourself with the depth of the pool before you dive in.

Meals

When meals have been included in the price, these will always be arranged on a table d’hôte (set meal) menu. Supplements will apply should you decide on à la carte items. This could particularly apply on all inclusive options. For those with specific diets of any kind, we suggest you choose a room only or Bed and breakfast option and discuss your requirements locally. If alcoholic beverages are included, these tend to be house wine or locally bottled beer and spirits and supplements will apply to more premium brands.

Dress requirements

There are no specific dress codes on our itineraries. For itineraries that involve trekking, or visits to regions with extreme weather, you should dress appropriately. For other itineraries, if you are unsure about what clothing to take, our Travel Specialists will be able to offer advice.

Building work

If we receive prior advice we will inform you of any building work that we think will affect your holiday. Please note that we have little or no control over building work taking place on a private residential property that may be adjacent to one of our featured hotels.

Unlike Europe, much of Africa does not have stringent laws on building works. Whilst many hoteliers will act responsibly on this, the same would probably not apply to a private residence next to a hotel. Unfortunately we have no control over these works or the notice given. We will endeavor to notify you as soon as we become aware of any such building work within or nearby a hotel that will impact on your holiday enjoyment.

Personal safety

Many of the countries featured are part of the developing world. Financial extremes do apply. Please do not tempt fate with obvious displays of your own success. Small change to you can be a week’s salary to others. Most of the hotels will provide security safes for the storage of your valuables. Please check your insurance policy to ensure all items of value are adequately covered and take note of the hotel’s comments on resort safety.

Take sensible precautions. Walk purposefully, do not walk in unlit areas at night and adhere to local advice. Be particularly vigilant in crowded areas, such as markets, railway stations and airports. Avoid distractions. As with many areas that are seeing unemployment increase and job opportunities decrease, petty and not so petty crime is moving upwards. Be sensible in your security, just as you would at home.

Eco adventure tours / water sports / safaris

Eco adventure tours are increasingly popular. As the name suggests, there could be an element of risk, indeed for some that is very definitely part of the appeal. Some of these tours involve travel over unmade roads (for example) or at sea. You need to satisfy yourself that you are able to cope with such tours, particularly if you do not partake in regular exercise.