Drifters Johannesburg Inn

25 Alida Street,

Northcliff,

Johannesburg.

Tel: +27 11 888 1160

The Drifters Inn and transfers are booked through Kumuka or your travel agent.

PLEASE NOTE:  Please be in the reception of the Drifters Inn on Day 1 at 6.15am ready for a prompt departure at 6.30am.

Johannesburg - Pilgrim's Rest, Bourke's Luck Potholes, Blyde River Canyon - Bushveld Camp.  Departing at 06.30am from Johannesburg, we travel the scenic road to Mpumalanga.  Along the way we visit Dullstroom, traverse Robbers Pass and spend time at the quaint historic town of Pilgrim’s Rest.  We also visit Bourke’s Luck Potholes and the Blyde River Canyon.  We then wind our way down the escarpment to the Lowveld bushveld where we overnight in our well appointed bush camp.

In a private reserve adjacent / unfenced to the Kruger Park, the tented camp is tastefully designed, totally blends in with the environment, and offers comfortable beds, en-suite bathrooms, a refreshing splash pool, and stunning views over the surrounding bush.  Dinner tonight is cooked on the open fire.  Dinner

Hazyview. A leisurely start, we travel through the rural Bushbuck ridge area to the sleepy settlement of Hazyview, where we will be staying in a log cabin spectacularly situated on stilts in indigenous subtropical forest on the banks of the Sabie River.  This afternoon we will have time to relax at the bird hide, or enjoy swimming and forest walks.  Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

Swaziland/Zululand - World Heritage St Lucia, Hluhluwe Game Reserve.  Travelling south through the Kingdom of the Swazi, our journey takes us into an area of spectacular scenery, and past numerous traditional homesteads and curio markets. Then we enter Zululand, the area once ruled by the famed Shaka Zulu, a region of Game Reserves and impressive scenery. We spend the next two nights at a rustic camp situated in the sand forest on our private game reserve adjoining the World Heritage Site of St Lucia.

During our stay we will do a game walk on the reserve and will conduct an open vehicle game drive in Hluhluwe Game Reserve. We will also visit a rural Zulu school.   Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

Via Durban to Drakensberg.  After a visit to the holiday city of Durban, where we have the option of visiting the Ushaka Marine World or exploring the Golden Mile and the traditional market, we travel back inland to the majestic Drakensberg mountain range known as the “Barrier of Spears”. (Lunch today will be own expense in Durban.) 

On reaching the foothills we transfer to a 4X4 vehicle, and then enjoy an exciting drive up mountain tracks  to where we spend two nights in cosy log cabins.  Here we will spend time hiking and exploring the wonders of this National Heritage Site and visiting a San rock art site. Pony trekking is also available. Breakfast, Dinner, Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

Karoo - Sneeuberg Mountains.   Exploring lesser-known gravel roads, we head into the dry Karoo interior. We will travel via quaint and remote farming villages including Nieu Bethesda to our Inn. Our home for the next two nights will be in stone cottages on a traditional farmstead nestled against the Sneeuberg Mountains. 

During our stay here, we will enjoy an extensive walk in the mountainous terrain, home to a variety of interesting plants, animals and bird life.  Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

Cape Town - Cape Point, Hout Bay, Waterfront, Table Top Mountain. A leisurely start, we leave Knysna to travel through the Lake District and then to follow the "Whale Route" around the Hottentots Holland Mountains toward our final destination.  Arriving in the "Mother City" of Cape Town in the late afternoon.  We check into our accommodation at an Inn situated on the Sea Point beach front.

Cape Town is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful cities in the world and we will spend two days visiting Cape Point, Hout Bay, and the Waterfront, secluded beaches, a wine farm and many more highlights. We will also hike up Table Mountain.  Breakfast, (Lunches and Dinners in Cape Town are own expense).

This tour ends at 4pm on Day 18, however clients are welcome to extend their stay by booking post-tour nights at the Cape Town Inn.

If arranging an onward flight on the last day (Day 18), please allow time for an airport transfer and for check-in procedures (up to three hours).

This tour involves a fair amount of walking, so a small daypack is advisable. A sleeping bag, towel and pillow are required for this tour. 

Seasonal Malaria precautions may be necessary and can be purchased locally. Passports/visas are required for entry into Swaziland.

The price does not include alcohol and soft drinks, meals where stipulated, curios, tips and optional excursions.

All optional excursions, visas and meals unless otherwise stated in the itinerary.

Travel insurance is compulsory for all tours. All clients MUST be insured to cover personal accident, medical expenses, cancellation, curtailment, repatriation, etc. Also, be aware that many activities such as trekking, bungy jumping or white water rafting may not be covered on your insurance policy. If you plan on doing any of these activities please purchase additional insurance. We recommend that you have a photocopy of this document, which you keep separate from the original. If you have not already arranged your own travel insurance then Kumuka can do this for you. Please visit http://www.kumuka.com/Travel-Insurance.aspx for more details or contact your nearest Kumuka office.

Please Note: You will not be permitted to join a Kumuka Tour without travel insurance.

Many nationalities are able to obtain visas at the local borders or point of entry. It is important that you obtain the appropriate information about your visas before you embark on your Africa trip.

Country entry regulations change frequently, www.kumuka.com provides you with visa information. Most visas are obtained as our trucks cross the borders. Please ensure you have US Dollars CASH to pay for your visas on the borders.  Please also consult your relevant embassy for all details on whether to obtain visas in advance or locally.

EACH CLIENT IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR OBTAINING ALL NECESSARY VISAS FOR THEIR TOUR.

Kumuka does not accept responsibility for changes in regulations or requirements for visas. The information provided is given in good faith.

Anti-malaria tablets are essential. Get professional advice from your GP or Travel Clinic about types of tablets, as resistant strains exist. These tablets may need to be taken at least 1 week before travelling to Africa, during your travels and sometimes for 4 weeks after leaving a malaria area. DO NOT forget to follow your prescribed routine. DO NOT CHANGE THE ROUTINE, once prescribed by your Doctor. As there is considerable resistance in parts of Africa, the only effective prevention is to NOT get bitten. Dusk till dawn is the time when mosquito's bite therefore, always protect your self with repellents and long clothing during this time. Malaria is the most common serious ailment that affects our clients; do not expose yourself to unnecessary risk.

Whilst all Kumuka Worldwide vehicles have secure doors and are fully lockable, it always pays to be cautious.

Do not bring any unnecessary valuables such as jewellery or electronic equipment with you.   Be aware of your surroundings and keep your personal belongings close to you at all times as pickpockets operate everywhere, particularly in built-up tourist areas.

A money belt or something similar worn close to your body is the best way to carry passports and other important documents.    DO NOT be overt about how much money you are carrying or walk around with your camera dangling around your neck, no matter where you are travelling on the globe, you will be a walking target for opportunistic thieves.

If staying in hotels, do not leave your valuables in the room, make use of the safety deposit boxes available.  Likewise, do not leave ANYTHING of value in your tent unattended, leave these onboard the truck in the safe.

Currency and how much to take is something that we’re always asked about.   We hope that the following information will assist with your budgeting. 

Please keep in mind that only YOU will know how much you’ll spend on souvenirs, drinks, meals off the truck, internet fees etc.    It’s always best to allow for more than you think you’ll need rather than go without.

Our recommendation is to allow for at least US$20 to US$25 per day for incidentals over and above the cost of the relevant local payment, optional excursions and visa fees which should be budgeted for separately.  There will be days when you’ll not spend anything and other days when you may blow your budget entirely on that souvenir that you have to have or a round of drinks for your fellow travellers.

US Dollars CASH is the most widely accepted currency in most parts of Africa.  Please ensure that all notes are clean and printed AFTER 2001.   Small denominations are best for changing into local currencies and tipping i.e. US$5, US$10 & US$20.    Where visas are required (refer to our visa guide) you can pay with US$50 notes however keep in mind that it is ALWAYS best to have the correct denomination as you will find immigration officials rarely have change available.

When changing money from USD to local currency be aware that you will NOT be able to change back to USD or into another currency, what money you don’t spend will be useless after you’ve left that country.   It is also often a good idea to join forces with other travellers to do one large money change transaction, thus avoiding excess conversion fees. 

If you are travelling to South Africa or Namibia you can easily withdraw Rand from an ATM in South Africa or Namibia, just be mindful of security when doing this.

Other currencies accepted but not as popular are Pounds and Euros, however you will find the exchange rate is not as favourable as USD.

Do not rely on credit cards for payment nor the use of working ATM’s to withdraw money as it is very common for the card facility to NOT be working when you most need it.  There have also been instances of credit card fraud and many ATM’s have been tampered with in the major cities.  

Where credit cards ARE accepted you will find that VISA CARD is more widely known than Mastercard or Cirus

Traveller’s cheques are not widely accepted and when the facility is available often you will receive a much lower rate of exchange.   If you do wish to take traveller’s cheques, we recommend taking 10% to 20% of your overall budget to use in case of emergency.

NOTE: - For passengers joining or visiting Victoria Falls, please do not change any USD to local currency without speaking with your tour leader first.

The best rule for packing is to limit yourself to the airline limit of 15 to 20kgs. It will inconvenience you and your fellow passengers if you bring more. If your luggage does not arrive at the airport, please inform your crew at the Pre Departure Meeting.

A frameless or internally framed backpack is the best way to carry your belongings since it is easy to lift on and off vehicles. Please note that we do not recommend that passengers bring suitcases.

A small daypack is practical for keeping general items (e.g. camera, books, wallets etc.) at hand when your main pack is out of reach. It is also handy for day trips and excursions. This can also be used for carrying 2 days of clothing so it is not always necessary to unload the large backpacks every night.
Other important items:-
• Sleeping Bag - (You will need a sub zero sleeping bag, if climbing Kilimanjaro).
• Inner Sheet - for your sleeping bag. Can also be used as a sleeping bag when it's hot.
• Sleeping Mat - A self-inflating mat. "Thermarest" is best, although a compressed foam mat is adequate.
• Mosquito Net -if you wish to sleep outdoors. All tents have built in mosquito nets. Nets can be obtained cheaply in Nairobi and other parts of Africa.
• We also recommend that you keep your passport, credit cards travellers cheques etc. on you at all times, preferably in a money belt worn under your clothes.

NOTE:-  You might be tempted to buy a few souvenirs here and there, so leave a little room for those extra purchases!!

Personal Effects:
Torch (we recommend a head torch), camera & film OR spare memory card, spare passport photos, water bottle, money belt, sewing kit, sunhat/sunglasses, MP3 player, books, wet ones, tissues, soap to wash clothes, writing materials, army knife, calculator, personal toiletries, including tampons, contraceptives, insect repellent, sunscreen.

NOTE:- If you wear glasses, it is advisable to bring a spare pair since opticians are uncommon. If you wear contact lenses you may find that climatic changes and dust can create visual irritation, therefore, it is advisable to bring a pair of glasses.

Clothing:
We suggest that you take into account the time of year you will be travelling, and pack accordingly to the season. Quick drying clothes are recommended, and at many campsites there are laundry facilities. Your tour leader will advise where this is possible.

Contrary to expectations it does get cold in Africa. Southern Africa, particularly South Africa and Namibia get quite cold at night between June and August. Mount Kilimanjaro will be cold at night all year round, due to the extreme altitude. You will need to bring your warmest clothes.

A rough guideline follows:-
• underwear & socks
• 3-4 long sleeved & short sleeved shirts or t-shirts
• 2-3 long trousers / shorts
• polar fleece / waterproof jacket
• walking shoes or trainers / sandals
• a set of smart clothes & shoes

Africa has some of the most spectacular photographic opportunities in the world. To capture these scenes you will need to bring a camera with a good zoom lens. For game photography, a 200mm lens or higher is recommended. Tripods tend to be bulky and cumbersome and a versatile beanbag is a good substitute.

If you are using print film, all supplies plus any filters and other accessories should be obtained prior to departure. We do not recommend that you develop your film whilst in East Africa, as the standards vary considerably and are often unreliable.

NOTE:- Protect your camera from the elements, particularly dust, as getting your camera repaired will be impossible in most places.  A good idea is to use an old tea towel or t-shirt to wrap your camera up inside it’s dustproof camera bag when not in use.

Please remember, we are guests in the countries through which we travel and we may sometimes inadvertently cause offence by taking photographs without first asking permission. It is absolutely forbidden by law to take photos at any borders, as they are all active military installations

If you wish to spend a few additional days in your start city before the departure of your tour, then we can arrange accommodation for you.

If you would like to stay additional nights after the tour ends we will be happy to arrange this for you as well. All our accommodation is carefully chosen, conveniently located, clean and comfortable. (All rates per person per night and subject to availability).

Under no circumstances are any illegal drugs allowed on any part of the trip. Anyone discovered in possession of any such drugs, will be asked to leave the tour immediately without question or refund.

Tour Questionnaire - We would like to hear about your experiences on tour. One week after your tour ends you will automatically receive a feedback questionnaire via email. If we do not have your email address you can still complete a questionnaire by visiting www.kumuka.com/feedback

Email - If you have any specific comments about your tour then please write to us by email to operations@kumuka.com