FAQs

UBON Safari’s tour consultants would be delighted to work with you to help you and your family, friends or organization build the best possible safari to meet and match your interests and budget. We are also more than happy to organize customized safaris for professional photographers, honeymoon couples and families. Simply ask us! Need help?

The best way to start is to look through our website and choose the destination you wish to visit. Should you need more guidance and assistance, simply give us a call on +44 203 1980 484 or go to “Contact us” and fill out our questionnaire and we will contact you immediately.

We encourage you to plan your Safari in advance as much as possible; five to six months would be ideal. This would give you good time to select camps with availability and gives you time to organise the vaccinations and visas prior to your travels.

YES! UBON Safari has a personal understanding and deep commitment to meeting the special needs of families. Our safaris are tailor-made to accommodate children. Our itineraries are planned in such a way to accommodate children. Our staffs are trained to care for kids while on safari. Please specify your family’s interests while sending your enquiry and we will we include them in the itinerary buildup. You will never regret to travel with your children when you book with us.
Some of the African safari camps have age limits for children above the age of 7 or 8.
There is no upper age limit at most African safari camps. However some suppliers may set an upper age limit due to the nature of the Safaris. We would encourage you to check with us if you are in doubt about the age restrictions.

Our safaris offer a wide range of safari styles to suit your interests and budget. Please navigate around our website for a choice of accommodation type and standard from our carefully selection of accommodation. For choices and description of the different types of accommodation available or let us know your preference.

Our scheduled safaris vary in size depending on the nature of the safari. In general, we keep our groups small (minimum 1 to 6 people, and occasionally up to an absolute maximum of 15). We feel strongly that the small size allows a more intimate connection with the African wilderness. All in all our safaris ensure a window seat and seat swapping policy every day is recommended.

You will be pleasantly surprised and shocked by both the quality and the variety of the food available on safari. In most lodges, meals are served buffet-style, so you can choose what you like. In our camps we have a more stylish type of menus, which will leave you to request for recipe after your camping safari. The food is generally prepared according to western tastes, with some curries and local cuisine included. If you choose a camping safari, fresh meat and produce is prepared to the highest sanitary standards by our team’s expert chefs. Indeed, most returning guests talk about our camping food. Special request for local food is certainly welcome. Our camping crews always purchase food before the safari starts, so get your list to us on time.

Special meals requirements such as vegetarian or diabetic meals can easily be arranged with advance notice. If you are vegetarian or vegan you may wish to bring along some alternative protein sources. If you have multiple food allergies, you will definitely want to bring along supplemental snacks. It is important we know of any possible dietary restrictions as soon as possible.

We provide one liter of bottled water per day for each client, and you can purchase additional bottled water at all lodges and camps or before the Safari. Overall, we recommend you consume only bottled water. Or treated water if it’s on our camps or Kilimanjaro treks.

While we have made all possible measures to avoid any breakdowns but due to the nature of our roads anything can happen. In this case UBON Safaris will be responsible for sending a rescue vehicle(s) within 2 to 4 hours (depending on your location) upon receiving notification of a vehicle breakdown. Your safari guide will do their best to compensate the wasted time during the breakdown so that your plan goes as it was scheduled. If necessary, an emergency evacuation can be arranged by “flying doctors” (included in the trip package, on your request), or a simple transfer to nearby Hotel or lodge for accommodation and catering services.

It is usually a booking condition, that you carry the right comprehensive Travel and medical insurance to cover yourself.
Please click on Travel Insurance page for info The Insurance cover should include the following:

• Cancellation or curtailment of your trip to Africa
• Emergency Evacuation expenses
• Medical Expenses
• Repatriation expenses
• Damage/Theft/Loss of personal baggage, money and other items.

• Imodium or any anti-diarrheal suitable to you.
• Hydrocortisone cream/ointment/After Bite/Anti histamine cream
• Painkillers
• Malaria Tablets
• Mosquito repellant

Some countries require certificates for mandatory vaccinations. The World Health Organisation and UK authorities have their recommendations. As a tour operator, we are not qualified to provide recommendations on health or vaccinations beyond advising the mandatory requirements of the countries that you will be visiting. Please contact your doctor, or the Medical Advisory Service for Travellers Abroad (MASTA 0870 606 2782) who provide a very detailed report on each country you may visit, but they do charge for this service. Being aware of the risks and taking all precautions to maximise these where you can is advised. It’s important for you to see the Travel Health Advisor as soon as possible and in good time before your departure dates.
Please note that some vaccinations courses must be started up to 4 weeks before travel, so familiarise yourselves well before departure with the precautions recommended by the health authorities.

The type of clothing you take on holiday will vary depending on your destination.
It is recommended that you Pack lightweight, washable clothes, plus a sweater for early morning game drives; a sunhat, sunglasses and sunscreen are strongly advisable as well.
Long sleeves and trousers in light-colored fabrics help discourage insect bites. Modest length shorts for women are perfectly acceptable, but women should carry a wrap to cover their legs in rural villages and towns, since clothes that are too revealing can cause offence especially in Zanzibar and in Muslim dominated areas. On the beach and within the confines of beach hotels, normal swimwear (but not nudity) is acceptable.

• Sunglasses
• Binoculars
• Sun hat
• T-shirts and long-sleeved cotton shirts
• Skirts/Shorts/Trousers
• Sweat pants/sweat shirt / Sweater (For winter months)
• Formal wear for your stay at prestigious hotels
• Underwear and socks
• Swimming Costume
• Good walking shoes / sandals
• Camera / Camera Equipment, Battery chargers and plenty of SD Cards
• If you wear contact lenses, we recommend you bring along a pair of glasses to wear while on safari
• Sunblock cream
• Mosquito repellent
• Wet Tissues / Handwash gel
• Visas, Tickets, Passports, Money etc.

On a Drive in / drive out basis safari, travel is with 4×4 safari vehicle throughout the safari.
On a Fly / Fly out safari, Guests are usually transferred by light aircrafts.

For these air transfers throughout Africa, the aircrafts used are Cessna Caravans.
Due to space and safety concerns, there’s a strict luggage limit policy followed by all Air Charter companies. The baggage limit is 15kgs per person and to be carried in soft duffel bags.
If you have more luggage we will be able to sell you an extra seat on each flight, which will allow you to carry upto an extra 70 kgs (in soft bags).
Passengers weighing more than 100kgs (220lbs) must please advise us in advance, as an extra seat may have to be priced up to the package for safety reasons.

Africa in general has a tropical climate; it is likely to encounter small insects and mosquitoes. Mosquitoes are usually present in the early mornings and evenings and the best way to deal with them is to keep arms and legs covered and use plenty of mosquito repellent.
In Tented camps and lodges, please always make sure to turn off the room lights at night as insects are attracted to light.

Tented camps in the remote wildlife areas have no access to electricity supply due to their locations. Most camps have generators or solar panels to provide electricity for the guests and its daily routine activities.
For most mobile-tented camps there is no electricity; they make use of paraffin lamps and campfires.

Most lodges offer Wifi services in some areas for the guests.
Some Tented camps have Wifi and phone network signals in limited areas due to their location in remote areas.
All camps have radio communications with their town offices in case of emergencies.

We suggest that you only take enough cash (in US Dollars or Sterling pounds) for your immediate use. You would need the extra cash for purchasing curios / gifts and to pay the camp staff and driver guides.
It is wise to carry another card and travellers’ cheques in case of an emergency.

Gratuities are entirely discretionary, however it’s a good way to show your appreciation.
A reasonable tip would be $5-$10 per guest per day for your driver guide and maybe $5 per day for the overall camp staff.
Generally, most camps prefer the tip to be put in a tipping box at the end of your stay but if you feel one person particularly looked after you, you can always tip them personally.

Most of our African Safaris and Beach Holidays are tailored to our clients’ taste, budget and timeframe. We also have some of the packages on our website and the rates we offer typically vary significantly due to the high/peak and low season rates.
We encourage you to contact us for a quotation; we would be here to guide and assist you in planning your dream holiday.

If any problems occur whilst on your holiday, please contact the manager / supervisor of the hotel or our representative in the region. If this doesn’t resolve the problem, please contact UBON Safari on +44 203 1980 484.

We would request you to advise us of your disability so we can only recommend the right kind of camp or lodge to suit your needs.

Yes, the animals in the wild and can be dangerous.
Most of the camps are located in these wild areas, which is the natural habitat for the wildlife.
The animals roam freely in these areas and you are always advised to be cautious when moving around the camp. All the camps have guides who walk you to and from your tents and trained to handle any situation if needed.

The game drives are conducted in either open-air or open-roof safari vehicles.
The Game reserves and National parks have no boundaries for animals and they are free to roam, there is no guarantee on game viewing or birding as Mother Nature offers no guarantees although your driver/guide will do their best in spotting the wildlife.
It is always a privilege to see the nature in its wildest form and in their natural environment.