Sundance Spirit

Sundance Spirit is totally committed to providing our discerning guests a safari that meets you highest expectations. We will ensure to the best of our ability that:

our primary focus is to ensure the astonishing beauty of this exquisite corner of our planet is fully appreciated by those who are looking for that true African experience. Africa is a unique continent; a continent like no other & as such, it should be visited as many times as you desire, in your lifetime. A safari to Africa will undoubtedly spiritually awaken & enlighten you to the degree that enlightening will have you longing to come back time & again.
therefore in the planning phase, you are provided the best of safari destination choices to consider including in your itinerary, with insights from our personal experiences to guide & assist in your decision making
when you arrive to Africa, you are met by professionals, you feel safe, you have fun & your experiences are widely educational.
you return home a disciple, smitten by the African ´I will Come-Back´ bug, as then, you have truly tasted a small sampling of Africa’s wondrous Garden of Eden.

What exactly is a ´safari`?

It’s your ultimate dream ´nature encounter´ vacation; one which combines soft adventure, environmental learning & discovery, blended with total comfort & relaxation.

Whether you decide to take a safari in one of South Africa’s Private Game Reserves or through the National Parks in Zimbabwe, Botswana, Zambia, Namibia, Tanzania, Kenya or Uganda, you will open yourself up to the wonders & magnificent of unspoiled wilderness.

The many National Parks & the Wildlife Protection areas that Sundance Spirit has chosen to feature & recommend are home to a multitude of species of rare birds & mammals - inspiration for best selling novels, television documentaries & major motion pictures.

Be prepared to be pampered while you relax at a Private Lodge or in a bush setting Private Tented Camp; feel the power of silence & soak up the splendor of the natural, yet often harsh environment that these fantastic creatures inhabit, all from the comfort of an especially designed & equipped safari 4 x 4 vehicles.

Time takes on a whole new life meaning as you will learn to sit in the quiet solitude of the bushveld, acacia forest or open plains, observing the sights and sounds of Africa.

The ‘balance of nature’ will no longer just be another phrase in a book – that too takes on a whole new meaning - as you witness the triumphs, the tragedies & the drama that all species face in their daily struggle to survive & co-existence. There is simply nowhere else on earth that sunrise is so fiery, sunsets so lingering & dramatic, or the night sky so inky black, sprinkled with thousands of twinkling heavenly bodies.

It is impossible not to stare upward to the heavens to witness an array of planets & galaxies as awesome as you will ever have the privilege to see. Far from any city lights, the African night holds so many mystical images. This is a time when ancient spirits creep up to embrace your soul for a lifetime, providing the lure to your returning here again & again.

What sorts of folks generally go on a Safari?

African safaris are a perfect vacation for folks of all ages, backgrounds & expectations, provided that is, they are prepared to experience a world of natural wonders outside of their own normal comfort zones.

Depending on your personal financial position, there are safaris that cater to all budgets - from the most basic of camping, right up the scale to the fully exclusive, privately guided safaris staying in luxury 5 star + Lodges & the ultimate luxury tented camps.

A safari is not a strenuous or tiring vacation, although be prepared to be awakened early as this is the premium time for game viewing, just as the sun crests the horizon in a fiery display of dawn. But anybody of reasonable health is going to enjoy their stay because on safari, there is something for everyone & increasingly, this sort of vacation is becoming more popular with families.

´How will I find the folks who you say will be there to meet me at the airports when I arrive?`

After you have cleared the official Immigration & Customs procedures at the International Airport you arrive to, directly as you exit the Customs Hall out into the Public gallery a Sundance Spirit expert will personally be there to meet you, holding a signboard with your surname clearly written on it.

We have staff at on duty to meet guests arriving off International flights at Johannesburg (JNB); Cape Town (CPT); Maun (MUB); Livingstone (LVI); Victoria Falls (VFA); Lusaka (LUN); Windhoek (WDH); Walvis Bay (WVB) Nairobi (NBO); Dar es Saleem (DAR); Zanzibar (ZNZ); Praslin – Seychelles (PRI); & Mauritius (MRU) airports.

In addition, there are always Sundance Spirit staff who meet our guests at the first airport of entry if they are traveling to Swaziland, Mozambique, Malawi or Lesotho.

When is the best time of year to consider traveling on safari & what is the weather likely to be?

There really is no such thing as a defined ´bad time´ to travel, anytime of the year will deliver a quality safari experience. All year round is as good as any defined period, contingent on where you are thinking of going to - it’s basically that’s simple.

Again, this depends on where in Africa you are headed, but as a generalization, the dry season extends from May until late October & the rains come November – March & extend in parts of Africa, into April. There will be obvious slight variations due to latitude & altitude of your location.

Generally, in the southern tiers of Africa the dry season which is between May & late September is good for game viewing when the animals tend to congregate around the waterholes, as water is life-giving.

Grasses are short & ground cover burnt off by the sun, so game viewing is better during the dry, although in Botswana the peak season is from July to November when the floods from the Okavango Delta have subsided.

In Zambia the best time is April till late October; in Tanzania & Kenya, the best time (but overwhelmingly most prolifically traveled) is August, September & October when the Great Migration is in the rain-free zones of western Serengeti & the Masai Mara …but truly, no matter what time of the year you go on safari, you will always have that magical experience & will always see the wildlife.

If you are in a location where the landscape is elevated (the highveld of South Africa & the Mt Kilimanjaro & Ngorongoro Crater regions of Tanzania) temperatures at night are chilly, dropping into the mid 10 C or 40 F ranges, necessitating a warm pullover or safari jacket.

The same applies for those early morning & late afternoon- evening winter game drives, so do not go under prepared.

When the rains come, it is summer & both temperature & especially the humidity levels rise sharply. Summer is the traditional time for dazzling & awesomely powerful, but short duration thunder & lightening storms, mostly mid or late afternoon - evening after a sustained build up during the day.

During the summer or rainy season, the African landscape changes to verdant shades of green & there are fewer people, although animals are more dispersed with the abundance of water allowing them to free range, so animal sightings can become more scattered.

Will we be traveling alongside hordes of other international visitors?

That depends again on where you go & how you choose to travel, but generally speaking because Sundance Spirit is basing our tailor-designed itineraries on our personal experiences, we’d have to say definitely NOT.

We do not submit to the theory of ´travel by herd ´- mass travel isn’t something our discerning guests want, nor do we provide.

Sundance Spirit caters only to couples, families or two couples traveling together, so the only other folks you will be with are those of your own choosing. The policy in most all of southern Africa is one of "high quality/low volume" safari experiences.

All of the better 4 star & upward standard safari lodges & luxury tented camps cater for boutique numbers of guests (8 to 24 persons max.) & if you are in a ´private game reserve´ then because to only other vehicle operating within that defined area come from the lodge you are staying at, the numbers of vehicles you will encounter is limited. Most of the time on private game reserves, you will be the only guests on any given big game sighting which translates as giving you exclusivity & privacy.

The same applies in Game Reserves & National Parks such as those in the Okavango Delta, the Savute & Linyanti in Botswana, Mana Pools in Zimbabwe, the Lower Zambezi & Jeki Plains in Zambia, major parts of the Serengeti in Tanzania & the Masai Mara in Kenya, as there are very few lodges, consequently, few vehicles are out each morning & evening.

But with the major safari draw-card destinations such as the Chobe National Park in Botswana & particularly the Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania, there will be many safari vehicles operating on any one given day, so it comes down to luck as to who comes across a ´kill´ or finds which species of animal first, to have the initial sighting to themselves.

Then when it comes to ´couples´, while you will not be traveling from safari destination to safari destination in a group, you will however be meeting other guests at the various safari lodges & luxury tented camps. On game drives for instance, the specialist 4x4 vehicles cater to 8 guests, so yes, you are likely to be with others for those morning & afternoon / evening game drives. However, that adds a fabulous dimension to each experience, as you share the sightings with folks who are as passionate as you are about nature.

On the literally hundreds of game drives we personally have undertaken, the instances where we met folks we didn’t previously know, but because of our sharing three or four days on games drives with them, as a result they have subsequently become friends, are too many to count.

However, for anybody who wants a truly ´exclusive´ safari , then that is easily catered for & tailored to, so don’t be concerned if you want privacy, as should you wish to be totally alone we can always custom-tailor a personal & totally private safari solely for the two of you.

If you are undertaking scheduled sightseeing highlight excursions (as opposed to fully ´private´ sightseeing services with your own designated guide) in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Victoria Falls, Nairobi, Dar es Saleem, Zanzibar or on the island of Mauritius, then there may be a few other guests joining you, but no more than 8 guests at a time.

If I am a single traveler, is it OK for me to contact Sundance Spirit & can you help me?

Most definitely, absolutely YES & you certainly won’t be a pioneer!

Sundance Spirit has had the privilege from our company’s inception of providing custom-tailored safaris services for countless single travelers.

And we view your being a single traveler not as a problem in any way, shape or form, as you will always be with a few other guests, as well as in the hands of our professional guides at all times.

The solitary issue you need be aware of is it is usual for Single travelers to pay an overall supplement for having a single room.

What variety of animals, birds, reptiles & insects can I expect to see on Safari?

You are going to have the privilege of being up close to many wild animals of all shapes & sizes, reptiles & bird species. You will view them from the comfort and safety of an especially designed safari vehicle & in the company of a professional guide. More often than not, you will also have a specialist professional game Tracker in addition to your Ranger, who’s responsibility it is to follow spoor & bring you and the other guests in contact with the animals.

Quite aside from animals, birds and reptiles, you are likely to interact with differing local tribal peoples; to be exposed to glorious vistas - from mountains, broad savannah & grassland plains, acacia forest & from the bushveld, to rivers, valleys, marshland & desert eco-systems.

In any typical day’s safari activities, where you will have the opportunity to partake in an early morning & a late afternoon-evening game drive, you will likely encounter 15 – 20 animal species.

We expect avid safari enthusiasts will have seen Animal Planet or Discovery Channel on cable television, & the programs on those channels are appetite whetting to the point of total salivation!

The most often asked question asked of us is ´will we see the Big Five` (African elephant, lion, rhinoceros, Cape buffalo & leopard)? Although it is not uncommon to have close-up viewing experiences of all of these species during a given stay, it is considered very special if you are fortunate enough to see all 5 in one day of activities.

But it also very much depends on the number of days you are on safari as this is not Disneyland – it is wild Africa & as such, nature is unpredictable.

One of the real highlights on any game drive is going out, not knowing what you might encounter at any given moment, around any corner.

Africa has the greatest diversity of wildlife on earth. While each & every single day on safari will produce something different, you will encounter such a variety of day time & nocturnal predators, plus the major big mammal species of elephant, buffalo, great varieties of plains antelope, hippopotamus, Nile crocodiles, lizards & all manner of other reptiles, & depending on where you travel to, an array of African primates.

As well, quite likely you will be in territory that has over 350 - 400 different species of indigenous & migratory birds, so for both bird-lovers & those yet to become bird lovers, the experiences you will have are plentiful.

Dependant upon where you are located, you are highly likely to have frequent sightings of many of the plains antelope species - giraffe, zebra, kudu, eland, hartebeest, wildebeest, sable, nyala, impala, dik –dik, gemsbok, klipspringer & diker are a few of the antelope species that inhabit the open flatlands & bushveld scrubland of Southern Africa.

On open plains or what is known as ‘savannah’ country, the world’s fastest land predators - cheetah - are to be found. So too in this sort of eco-system, African wild dog packs, (a rare & special sighting) jackal & hyena. The latter of these predators usually never far from their nemesis, the lion prides.

Late afternoon & evening game drives where a spotlight is used, will introduce you to the nocturnal animals. Bushbaby, civet, honey badger, bat-eared fox & aardwolf are considered special sightings.

Usually close to water - except during the hours of darkness when they come on land to graze - you are likely to see hippo lounging & mostly submerged in the channels of rivers & estuaries. Crocodiles too inhabit these same waterways & they are to be found basking at the waters edge. While they may look like inert logs, they are ever watchful, ever waiting & alert to a potential meal, or to fleeing in the face of danger. In the reptile world, many differing species of lizards & snakes abound. With the help of your Ranger, be alert for the hard to spot chameleon which blend in almost perfectly to their surroundings.

Birds of Africa are particularly colorful, with well over 600 species having been observed.

Most all of the safari companies supply Bird Guide books in the vehicle and with the help of your professional driver-Ranger and Tracker, you will quickly become accustomed to the more common species. Experienced birders can expect to see 60 + different species a day.

Especially thrilling is to witness the soaring raptors – the predator species that consist of the many eagle, owl & vulture species.

The flight antics of the short tailed Bateleur eagle is something that will provide a lasting memory & if at night you happen to witness a giant eagle owl, you have reached a pinnacle of birding experiences. Of all of the raptor bird species, the haunting shrill cry of the majestic fish eagle is something one never forgets & to see these magnificent eagles perched or in flight, is to witness the pure essence of freedom as nature meant it to be.

Wherever you go you will see animals as you’ve never seen them before, roaming free, daily fighting to survive in their many and differing environments, just as they have for millions of years past.

How close will I get to these animals?

On game drives because you are traveling in an especially designed safari vehicle (either a 4x4 or pop-top Minivan) & you are in a National Park or a Private Game Concession, the animals are likely very used to vehicles. So firstly, have no fear as long as you are in the vehicle, remaining still, silent & complying with your Rangers expert instructions.

Lion for instance, do not discern individual humans sitting in a safari vehicle, no matter how close the vehicle is. Instead, lions see the total vehicle & occupants as one huge solid object. Unless an individual stands up breaking the ‘solid outline’ or talks loudly, lion will display little or no interest as in the animal kingdom, size is all powerful & the safari vehicle is perceived by lion to be way superior in that regard.

Therefore it is imperative to remain still, silent for the most part & when the need to move arises, such as changing a camera lens or film, do so with movements that are slow & purposeful as opposed to jerky & rapid which will draw attention.

Animals´ natural behavior will continue as long as you provide them uninterrupted habitat. Animals that are disturbed or display a certain body language which indicates they are becoming agitated will not be approached.

Your professional Rangers have accumulated many hours of experience of animal body language & more often than not, know individual animal’s personalities so as to give disgruntled beasts a wide berth.

One thing that we do ask, is that you do not entice or encourage your ranger to ‘stalk’ or otherwise interfere with the space animals require, as that may distract them from hunting, hiding or activities crucial to their survival.

In general, with lions (who spend a huge amount of time sleeping and dozing) your Ranger is likely to take the vehicle within 10m – 15m, provided the specific lions at that sighting are not displaying body language to suggest they are aggressive or feel threatened.

Elephant sightings are also wonderful encounters, but lone bulls & especially cows with calves, are given a wide berth.

The same applies to rhino – black rhino are easily irritated, thus treated with the utmost of caution, whereas it is not uncommon for Rangers to choose to switch off the vehicle & remain stationary, as a herd of hundreds of Cape buffalo graze all around in open pasture.

Is a safari dangerous?

So long as you obey to the letter your Rangers instructions & equally, observe the safety precautions & instructions your Lodge or Camp Manager will provide you with on arrival, then "no" a safari is not dangerous.

Your Ranger & Tracker know what is safe & in most safari destinations, the Ranger will have a heavy weapon within arms reach, in case of need.

After dark or in the early morning, you will be escorted to & from your accommodation unit by Lodge staff. More often than not, your escort will be appropriately armed for your added security & in case of need. Incidents with animals are indeed rare & almost without exception, where they have occurred it has been as a result of somebody failing to observe safety instructions or engaging in behavior that they have been advised not to do.

Personal safety in Africa’s cities is little different from that in other major world cities & the rule is “don’t try to stand out as a visitor“.

For instance: carry a camera in an enclosed suitable bag rather than draping it over a shoulder, exposed.
Do NOT wear exterior body money belts as these are so simple to cut from behind.
Do NOT take expensive jewels, watches, rings or bracelets – you are inviting trouble unnecessarily if you do. Leave heirlooms & valuable jewelry at home.

It is a good idea to take photocopies of your Passport & credit cards in your suitcase & leave another copy either at home or with a close personal friend in case your Passport is stolen. Re-issuing these documents is made so much the easier if you can provide authorities with photocopies, rather than have to suffer delays while bureaucracy grinds away.

As a general observation, traveling on safari is safer than being in any of the world’s major cities, provided you observe basic personal safety rules & don’t go inviting trouble.

What is a typical day’s activity while I am on a safari?

Your day will commence with an early wake up – that is unless the night before you advise your assigned Ranger & Lodge or Camp management, you do not wish to partake in the morning game drive. That wake up call is normally between 0515hrs – 0530hrs in summer & 0545hrs – 0600hrs on a winter schedule, dependant on the Camp or Lodge policy.

You will be given approximately a half hour to get up, dressed & then an escort will come to walk with you to main lodge or game drive departure point. Here hot chocolate, tea, coffee & fruit juices with snacks are usually available prior to heading out in the 4 x 4 vehicle for the morning game drive.

The game drive usually lasts three & a half hours, during which time at some point which has been determined safe & checked out by your Ranger, a stop will be made for tea, coffee & snacks in a bush setting. This is a marvelous time to look at particular plant species, many of which are used for medicinal or food source by local tribes’ people. Your Ranger’s vast knowledge will uncover the mysteries of plant types & frequently he or she will take samples to let you taste those which mixed with water, make excellent refreshing drinks.

On returning to camp a hearty breakfast will be awaiting you. Traditionally, Africa safari breakfasts are sufficient to last the average person a full day. The choices are many & varied from cereals, fruits, meats and eggs or omelets and beverages of your choosing. You surely will not go under fed, that’s for certain. After breakfast & until lunch is served, the time is yours to relax, or perhaps for enthusiasts, go with your Ranger on a walking safari which will put the grounds eye view of the local environment into perspective.

Most of the animals are under shady cover at this time as the sun is fierce. They use the day to rest up, with most predator activity undertaken after dusk & during the hours of darkness & the first three hours after sunrise. Your ranger is likely to be carrying an appropriate heavy caliber weapon to ensure complete safety of all guests & in case of necessity on walking safaris.

The time between lunch & the pre-afternoon / evening game drive, is again yours to relax. At many of the Private Game Lodges, aromatherapy centers provide massage facilities or swimming pools. Typically we find many folks take a nap or siesta, while others may head off to one of the especially constructed ‘hides’ to await animals that come to water to drink during the heat of the afternoon. Still others seek out hammocks or a deck chair & immerse themselves in a good book.

The afternoon – evening game drive is preceded by drinks and snacks, before leaving camp around 4.00pm. A highlight of this safari activity is always the ‘sundowner’ drinks, set up with table, white cloth & glassware, where you witness the final minutes of that day’s sun prior to it dipping below the horizon. Most Lodges & Camps provide soft drinks, bottled water, beers, red & white wine, some provide spirits & champagne.

To toast the end of another glorious day with your favorite beverage in the middle of nowhere listening to the cicadas chirping, is impossible not to treasure as one of the many highlights being on safari provides.

The onset of darkness in many areas is not the end of the game drive as your Ranger or Tracker will turn on spotlight to enable you to try and find the nocturnal species that otherwise would remain anonymous. Civet, aardvark, aardwolf & honey-badger – all of these species are nocturnal smaller predators frequently spotted in the beam of the spotlight going about their business.

Once back at the Lodge or Camp around 8.00pm, you will have approximately a half hour to freshen up, shower & change as you may feel appropriate & then you will be escorted to dinner.

Each Lodge or Camp usually engages in providing different daily dinner venues. Some are held in the ‘Boma’- a stockade with a roaring fire in the center around which tables are set up. Others delight in bush setting dinners or in a river bed, with strategic lantern lighting, a roaring log fire & naturally, security provided by camp staff that are positioned away from the guests on the perimeter of the dining area. These special dinner locations provide lifetime memories & there is nothing to equal the inky black, punctuated with thousands of stars that dominate the African night sky.

After dinner, guests can either choose to be escorted back to their accommodation units, tents & bungalows, or perhaps share one last cocktail to chat with your hosts, after which an escort will take you back to your accommodation.

As most all camps electricity is provided by an on-site generator which will be switched off at an appropriate predetermined time (after 11.00pm & before midnight) which from that point on, the sounds of the African night is uniquely pure.

The roar of a lion in close proximity to camp is unimaginable unless experienced; the low ‘whoop – whoop’ seemingly tortured call of hyena is distinct & unmistakable; a sharp loud cough – this is a danger signal emitted by startled impala; or the grunting of hippo in nearby water setting. So while you are safe & secure in your rondavel, chalet, bungalow or double canvassed safari tent, let the sounds of Africa lull you to sleep until the early morning wake up call heralds new adventures.

What sort of accommodation can I expect on safari?

Different standards of safari provide for differing types of accommodation. All accommodations, be it solid walled constructed lodge or the East African tented camps have en-suite private toilet facilities & are of the highest standards available in Africa. Porcelain baths, modern basins with hot & cold running water & showers that are the envy of city slickers – such features are typical to have while on safari.

Mainly because of the respective nations Government mandates, the safari lodges & luxury tented camps have been specifically designed & constructed to blend rustically in with their respective natural environments. To see what the accommodations in the various lodges look like see our section & click on the ´Safari Lodges´ throughout the various regions we have displayed on our website in Africa.

Let’s first deal with tented safaris & move on to Lodges latter.

A typical tented safari uses a standard double canvas tent, with a sewn in canvas floor, equipped with either twin beds or a double bed.

This though depends, firstly upon whether the tented safari is a ‘mobile’ itinerary – that is where you move from location to location, usually by land but sometimes by way of a light aircraft flight. When you arrive, the campsite has been pre-set.

The other type of luxury tented safari typically is where a luxury East African Tent has been permanently set up on a raised wooden deck, with private bathroom either en-suite, or adjacent on the same raised platform, inter-connected to the sleeping quarters.

The permanent tented camps with raised deck sites provide for spacious living quarters, clothes wardrobe, vanity unit, usually bedside tables & reading lights which run off locally generated electricity. They usually offer a choice of twin beds, or a double (sometimes Queen) sized bed which you may indicate a preference for when you make the initial reservations for your safari.

These tents have sewn in canvas floors, zip out canvas flap windows - where the window space is covered with bug screens that are an integral part of the tent structure.

Thereby in summer, guests can choose to have the window space left protected only by the bug screen, or, at nights, zip the double canvas panels & secure them shut.

On the mobile tented safaris, the entrance to the tent is more usually a canvas flap secured with double heavy duty zips, whereas on the permanent tented sites, doors & door frames are more frequently constructed of wood with a conventional door lock for security. Some have a small decking area with directors chairs & a table for guests to sit outside while enjoying a drink or reading a book during the day.

It is important to note that at the permanent tented campsites, each tent is strategically set out on its raised deck well removed from neighboring tent locations. Ample space (often 30m – 40m) is to provide privacy. Many such camps are set out in bushes or between large trees so as not to be able to see from one tent to another unit.

In the Private Game Reserves there are a variety of types of luxurious accommodation. Most all of these composite material ‘rondavel’s are constructed with local variations. (A rondavel is usually a circular bungalow with a main bedroom, separate en-suite bathroom, hot & cold running water for the basin, shower & a flush toilet).

Rondavels usually have a thatched, high pitched roof with ceiling fans suspended over the bed. Some locations provide air-conditioning in addition to variable speed ceiling fans. Other variations include bungalows with semi-glassed sliding doors & solid walls & with a permanent material roof. Some Lodges provide private plunge pools for each accommodation unit, while others have a centrally located swimming pool.

Well lit walkways between your unit & main lodge are usually of wooden construction, most raised above ground level. They link the accommodation units to the main lodge dining room & bar facilities. Fine wines, beers, top shelf liquor, soft drinks, bottled water are available & dependant on the type of safari product, many include all local alcoholic beverages, but do not include imported labels in the tariff.

All meals including cooked breakfast, lunch & dinner daily with pre-game drive snacks, bush drinks etc are provided daily, throughout your stay. If one thing is for certain, you will not go under fed while on safari – more likely, quite the opposite!

All of the Lodges or Camps you will stay at have radio communications with a base & the outside world, so you are not isolated, irrespective of your location. Many have fax, some have telephones in your room & certainly, a telephone installed in the main lodge. So you are able to be contacted or make contact with home, in the case of an emergency.

As a recommendation, we believe it essential to stay a minimum of two nights – preferably three in any location - as only in this way will you get to relax, unwind & experience the real differences in value of each Lodge or Camp & the environment in which it is located.

Are we safe from the animals?

The first thing we must instill in all guests is the need that they understand they are in foreign territory where humans are not the masters. Common sense & a need to be diligent & mindful of where you are, at all times is paramount to personal security while on safari.

When you are out in the 4x4 safari game viewing vehicles you will always be in the hands of professionally experienced, highly trained Game Rangers & native African trackers. On all safaris whether you are on foot or in the safari 4x4 vehicle, these Rangers are armed (except in Botswana) & your safety is their highest concern.

The key is to listen exactly to what you are told & obey without question those insight tips & instructions. At night your Ranger will personally escort you to your from you tent/chalet/bungalow to go to dinner & to return.

Never, never ever under any circumstance whatsoever, go unescorted by your Ranger or a lodge security professional during the hours of darkness – to do so is life threatening.

From our own personal experience over decades of safaris we caution every single one of Sundance Spirit’s guests that using ´common sense´ at all times is paramount to your well being; remember, you are in the territory of wild animals, they are not in yours, so in their domain, they rule supreme.

Having said this, by following the instructions of your Ranger to the letter, you will be safe & have unforgettable encounters with all of the game animals that previously have starred on your TV screen, only this time, they will be right in front of you, up-close & in real time!

What type of food can we expect on Safari?

Let’s start off by saying that to our knowledge, Jenny Craig (author of countless best-selling diet books) has never, thankfully, been to Africa on safari, as she’d be totally out of her depth & the cuisine she’d be placed in front of, would make mockery of her writings.

To paraphrase what you are going to experience in the cuisine department ´ safari food is fit for a King or Queen´ & you are sure to gain some very well deserved pounds as the ´temptations´ are too many to ignore even for the most disciplined of patrons.

Breakfasts are served in the true African colonial tradition, offering a selection of fresh fruits, freshly squeezed juices, hot & cold cereal, huge fluffy omelets or eggs (any way you ask they be prepared) sausages, bacon, tomatoes, mushrooms, toast & fresh baked bread with jams & toppings aplenty!

Wash that down with coffee or tea & then, ideally a bush walk.

Most lodges have adapted to serving ´breakfast / lunch ´when guests return from morning games drive, but there are still a good number who have breakfast, then a totally separate ´lunch´ & if you are staying at those safari locations you may well ask yourself ´oh dear, do I really have to?`.

Breakfast is usually served including an expansive variety of hot & cold food choices & yet another chance to try some African specialties. Dinner is the main meal of the day & is usually served in the open-air ´boma´ around a blazing log-fire, or on special evenings, in a bush setting. The quality of the evening meal can be compared to that of any five star luxury restaurant, or cruise liner, but the setting it is served in, is supreme

To accompany lunch & dinners you will also be able to sample some of the finest selection of Southern African wines. All this is followed by mouth-watering desert platters & always after dinner, sampling fine liqueurs around the fire.

Can I confidently drink the tap water?

The short answer is, in most all places, ´yes´. Unless you are instructed otherwise, the tap water in all the safari camps & lodges is perfectly safe to drink, as it will have been purified, but for anybody who may harbor doubts then we suggest you err on the side of caution & there is always bottled water available & usually provided in your room.

Tap water in the major cities like Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth, Victoria Falls, Livingstone, Maun, Windhoek, Walvis Bay, Nairobi or Dar es Saleem is also considered safe to drink.

However, our experience would lean towards suggesting you err on the side of caution, as there’s nothing worse than coming down with a short sharp bout of tummy bug while on vacation, so being cautious drinking quality named branded bottled water is best.

Can I eat fruit, salads & vegetables with confidence?

Sure - the fruit & vegetables (salad items) supplied by the hotels & in safari lodges is perfectly safe to eat, however use common sense & do not pick fruit from trees (or any lying on the ground) or snack on vegetables or fruits from local market stalls without first consulting your Ranger as there are a variety of fruits which can be poisonous & inevitably, locally grown vegetables being sold from local stalls are unlikely to have been thoroughly washed.

Are children able to be taken on safari?

The short answer is definitely ‘yes’.

However, most all Private Lodges and Camps have age limitations, not necessarily that prohibit children under a certain age going, but limiting their participation in game drive activities where inadvertent cries are interpreted by predator animals as distress signals, which trigger their natural hunting instincts.

Equally in the case of restless youngsters, this takes the pleasures away from other guest’s experiences.

While the majority of lodges & safari camps limit the age of children to 12 years or older, which is for their safety & other guest’s enjoyment reasons, there are a number of lodges that will accommodate children under the age of 12.

Some Lodges & Camps also have baby sitting services where younger children can be left in safety in the care of trained childcare personnel. Other locations require an adult from the party to remain behind to look after children under 8.

In South Africa for instance, two such safari destinations stick out; in the Eastern Cape just north of Port Elizabeth, Lalibela Private Game Reserve has a lodge on their expansive safari property that caters solely to families with younger kiddies – that is called Marks Camp. They also provide fantastic local African ladies as ´minders´ to assist parents while they are on safari at Lalibela, allowing the parents to have privacy while the youngsters are under a watchful eye, but having fun doing things that kids love, with their chaperones.

Then in the Madikwe Game Reserve, Jaci´s Safari Lodge likewise encourages families as the owners Jaci & Jan Van Heteran have grown up there with a young family & they know what it is like to bring up youngsters in a safari environment. They are also mindful that families need vacations, so Jaci´s has erected a game-proof fence right around the lodge.

We would suggest that the most beneficial way to enjoy a family safari, is to consider to takeover a camp exclusively.

Many camps have limitations on numbers of guests they cater for . It is not uncommon to find superb camps catering to a maximum of 6 or 8 double units, so the opportunity to take one over for a set duration, or combine with another family to do so, is a wonderful option.

The range of cuisine, fresh fruits & vegetables, meats, fish, poultry & deserts will certainly cater for any child, so do not be concerned about the ability of the destination to provide the very best of sustenance & children’s beverages.

No matter where you choose for your safari, should you or any member of the family have special dietary requirements or allergies, please make those known at time of reservation so the lodge or Camp you are staying at can make note and cater accordingly.

Should you wish to go on a Family Safari please consult us & we will be delighted arrange it for you. We have been at the forefront of designing many, many fabulously successful family safaris in the past & we take great pleasure from doing just that.

What essential clothing items should I need to pack?

Going on safari is considered a casual affair, so the following list has been compiled from our past experiences to help you make quality choices for packing as there’s absolutely no sense in your bringing items along that never make it out of the suitcase or your safari kit bag.

Good quality sunglasses, preferably polarized - tinted fashion glasses are not good in strong light
A wide brimmed bush hat. Baseball-styled hats are not ideal as they provide little protection for your neck.
T-shirts & at least one long-sleeved cotton shirt
Shorts for men & ladies, & for ladies , comfortable light-weight skirts
Long trousers / casual slacks for evening
Track suit pants – ideally a beige color, not black or dark blue which attracts insects & bugs
Comfortable underwear & wool socks
Good stout walking shoes (running shoes, sneakers are fine) or walking boots
Sandals for around the pool
Swimsuit
Warm winter sweater
Warm anorak or fleece (important for the cold mornings & especially from late May thru Septembers winter mornings & when the sun goes down at nightfall)
If you wear contact lenses we highly recommend that you bring along a pair of normal reading glasses in case you get irritation from the dust which is always apparent
Camera equipment & plenty of digital chip capacity or 35mm film.
BINOCULARS – are absolutely essential & a copy of Newman's Southern & East African bird book if you are an avid bird watching enthusiast
Personal toiletries
Anti- Malaria medication
Moisturizing cream & as strong a degree of suntan lotion as you can procure
Anti-histamine cream
Insect repellent e.g. Peaceful Sleep, Tabard, Rid, Jungle Juice, Off etc
Basic medical kit (aspirins, Band-Aids), Imodium, antiseptic cream etc
Basic sewing kit
Tissues & baby wipe such as "Wet Ones" will come in useful
Air tickets, passports, money etc – make certain to recheck your nationalities Visa requirements with the countries you are traveling to, well prior to departure as sometimes these do change
A good but small flashlight. Please bring spare batteries & a spare bulb as by-in-large such items are in the main unobtainable in Mozambique, Malawi, Zimbabwe & Botswana
Light rain jacket for the summer months (late November to April)
Consider packing a scarf & gloves for the winter months (IE. May to September)

What kind of camera & lens equipment is best for me to take on safari?

Africa is the photographer’s dream playground, so the choice of the correct camera equipment & film will determine the quality of your photographs.

For good photography of birds & animals, a good SLR camera & most importantly, a well balanced lens (telephoto or zoom) is necessary.

Based on our personal experience we use a combination of the Nikon F100 & Nikon D200 camera body with the minimum recommended lens size being 70mm x 200 mm.

We carry a Nikon 18mm x 200mm, 70mm x 300mm & a 80 x 400mm zoom lens which is an extremely useful ´selection´ for use in & around the lodge, camp-side & open grassland, or forest bushveld photography on safari.

Consideration should be given before traveling with any lens bigger than 400mm as most of your best photo opportunities are shots taken using hand held equipment & when you are using larger than a 400mm lens, even with VR capability (Vibration Reduction feature on the more modern camera bodies & lenses) there inevitably will be slight vibrations that effect focus.

You may also consider taking a good sized ´bean-bag´ which will give greater stability for use against the side of the safari 4x4, or on a roof or hood mount small tripod.

Standard tripods are cumbersome, as are the single ´pole´ camera stand mounts – least that’s what we’ve found when we have taken one along.

For SLR film cameras, color reversal film (slides) will give far greater quality than prints. The Field Guides & Rangers we’ve encountered on our countless safari experiences have found that they are getting the best results using Fuji film; however we have had equal success using Kodak Extra.

It is a popular myth that you need fast film – you flat-out don’t!

The better daytime shots will be best using a standard AS100 film; & for dusk or night-time shots, the key is not so much the film speed, but the lighting, so unless you carry high technical capability auxiliary flash (not just the standard built-in camera flash) then night photography is always going to challenge, even to the most experienced camera person.

Fuji has however introduced a good high speed film which gives good color with very little grain (less so than any of their competitor brands). This is especially useful when using a big lens in relatively low light situations, but you have to know what you are doing to get optimum pictures

EXTRA IMPORTANT: Bring lots of FILM or DIGITAL MEMORY (way more than you anticipate you may use) & for goodness sake, bring a spare camera battery; there are so many specialist types these days not always will your lodge or tented camp curio shop stock the type you need & it is awfully frustrating to have to wait till the next aircraft comes to get one flown in, let alone very expensive to contemplate doing so.

We always travel with an 8GB digital memory chip & 2 x 2GB back ups. That gives us the capacity for around 7000 digital images – you think that alot?

In reality on a recent Great Migration safari in Tanzania & Kenya traveling over 3 weeks, it only just was sufficient after editing & dumping shots we might normally have kept for editing at home.

So be warned, when you are on safari is not the time to discover you have come with too little.

As for video cameras, we always travel with a digital video & as a precaution, half again the quantity of DVD discs as you might think necessary, again working on the premise that running out while in a remote location is not an option we wish to contemplate.

Do I need a tourist visa to enter African countries I will be going to on safari?

While most southern Africa nations will issue a Visa at the port of entry, there are certain passports that require pre-issued tourist visas.

So whilst Sundance Spirit will provide you the most up to date information we have as regards your passport & its applicable visa requirements, we are not a Government agency, therefore we are unable to speak on behalf of any foreign Immigration authority. Accordingly we strongly recommend that you check up on this before you leave.

Please feel free to consult the foreign Embassy or Consular office or their website, in your home nation as they will have the most current, accurate official information.

What health precautions do we need to observe & which inoculations & medicines do I require in these countries?

There are some strict requirements as regards inoculations & equally, some strong advice as to taking of anti-malaria tablets for travels within Africa.

To guard against contracting malaria, any medication your medical professional prescribes must be commenced two weeks prior to your arrival and continued until the course is completed, after your departure from Africa.

Malaria carrying female mosquitoes is to be found in certain parts of South Africa (exceptions being the Madikwe, Waterberg, Pilanesberg & Eastern Province game reserves) & accordingly anti-malaria prophylaxis are absolutely essential & MUST be taken starting prior to your departure from your home. But as we are not qualified medical professionals we recommend you consult your personal professional medical physician & a professional pharmacist who will know exactly what brand of anti-malaria prophylaxis best to give you.

Do not under-estimate Malaria; it is a disease that if left untreated can be fatal, so do not under-estimate the need to take preventative measures.

Please consult your medical professional, however once you establish what countries you intend traveling within, as there are different types of the same medicinally prescribed drugs - some which may suit individuals better than others - & it therefore is essential a qualified doctor makes prescription recommendations for you, as they know your medical history & your state of health.

Yellow Fever inoculations are strongly recommended, as is vaccination against hepatitis & small pox.

In specific countries (such as Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania) yellow fever inoculations are mandatory & the Immigration officials will check your inoculation documents prior to allowing you entry to their country. Some specific inoculations are mandatory if you are entering one country from another where those diseases are active. So again, consult the Embassy or Consulate of those countries you are traveling to for their most accurate official lists, then get your qualified medical doctors advice as it applies to your personal circumstances.

We would also suggest you consider having an anti-tetanus inoculations – this is a wise precautionary consideration, so again, please consult your professional medical practitioner on this issue.

Travel Insurance – is that necessary & what other insurances do I need take out?

We strongly recommend each person take out a comprehensive Medical & Travel Insurance Policy. This is not simply for peace of mind, but it is the one way to save you potentially horrendous financial costs should something goes horribly askew when you are away, without such cover.

We strongly advise everyone traveling in Africa to take out Medical Insurance which includes a provision for ‘emergency evacuation’ simply as the remote nature of some areas of the continent would necessitate any emergency medical evacuation to likely include helicopter & / or private aircraft charter to nearest commercial sized airport, or indeed to the nearest major medical facility where treatment could be provided.

Medical evacuations, while rare, should they be required are extremely expensive if that provision is not covered for by a suitable Medical Insurance Plan.

Imagine if you didn’t have the appropriate medical insurance & you required medi-evac (emergency air transporting) out of a remote safari location? Please, don’t even consider foregoing travel insurance Emergency Medical Evacuation coverage

Remember too, Travel Insurance is compulsory for most of the lodges & luxury tented camps you are likely going to experience while on safari, so we suggest consulting your insurance broker on this matter.

Sundance Spirit, nor any of our supplier companies, safari lodges or luxury tented safari camps that we use will not be held liable for unforeseen medical situations, loss, damage, or theft of personal luggage & belongings, nor can we be held liable for any personal injury, accident or illness.

Forewarned is forearmed & this is one issue we strongly advise you don’t take anything for granted.

One last thing on the subject of medical issues – we will require you to declare any pre-existing medical issues (asthmatic, diabetic etc), tell us about medication you may be using or require, or any special dietary requirements you may have, especially any allergies you know of with food or, for instance, allergies to the likes of bee-stings, etc.

Again, this falls into the category of being forewarned as we don’t have a crystal ball & you are likely going to be in locations where not always are there emergency room medical facilities within a short distance of your location.

Please DO NOT under-estimate the importance of this recommendation.

While certain Lodge & Camp operators may include emergency medical evacuation insurance in their tariff, that will NOT cover other than local evacuation, so it is far better to have your own comprehensive cover prior to your departing from your home.

Along with Medical Insurance, coverage for loss of personal effects, valuables, trip interruption or cancellation etc. should be also taken prior to departure.

Your Travel Professional will be best placed to advise you of the various options available to you.

What extra costs will I likely have while I am traveling on safari?

As your safari basically is fully inclusive of all meals, the twice daily game drive activities, transfers & accommodation the only extras are items of a personal nature, such as drinks (local drinks are usually – but not always - included in the daily safari tariff in Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Malawi, Zambia, Kenya & in some parts of Tanzania with the exception of imported spirits & liqueurs), phone calls, in some instances laundry & personal purchases from the gift shops.

Your airport arrival & departure taxes are required often to be paid in cash (please enquire as to what currency & denomination of notes is best) but aside from tips for staff, Rangers, Trackers which are your discretion, not much hard currency is needed.

All the lodges and camps have credit card facilities & currency can be obtained in the major cities & airports.

A quick word on credit cards & that is VISA & Mastercard are universally accepted, but be wary of relying on American Express as it is far less accepted. In our personal experience the best motto is American Express – you’re better off to leave home WITHOUT it.

Are there any hard & fast ´Rules & Regulations´ I need know about prior to my going on Safari?

You will be given a detailed briefing upon arrival at each safari location. While you may assume they are all pretty much the same briefing, they most certainly are not, so you will benefit by being highly attentive at each briefing as most all safari locations differ, one from another.

When out with your Ranger in the 4x4, you are likely to be coming into close proximity contact with very large animals, so to ensure personal safety off everybody aboard, observe the animals silently & with the absolute minimum of disturbance in any manner to their natural activities.

Talking loudly on game drives can & will frighten certain species of animals away, whilst it will irritate other species.
Never, never ever attempt to attract an animal's attention.
Don't imitate animal sounds, clap your hands, bang the metal sides or interior of the vehicle, & absolutely never be tempted to throw objects.
Please respect your Field Guide, Ranger & Trackers judgment as to the proximity they will bring the vehicle to where there are lions, hyaena, elephant, Cape Buffalo, cheetah or leopard.
Don't insist that they take the vehicle closer so you can get a better photograph. A vehicle driven too close can hinder a hunt, cause animals to abandon a hard-earned meal or potentially, provoke an attack.

Your Ranger & Field Guides have been highly trained to observe animal behavior & body-language as to be best positioned to judge when an animal is relaxed, thereby allowing distances to be closer, or when an animal is agitated, in which case they will likely keep well away.

Litter tossed from the vehicle on the ground can choke or poison animals & birds. In addition, never ever attempt to feed or approach any wild animal on foot. This is tantamount to asking from trouble & is especially important near lodges or in campsites where animals may have become accustomed to human visitors.
Cellular phones are not welcome when you are out on game-drives; in fact, they are openly discouraged. It is a common courtesy to fellow safari-goers that you leave your cellular phone in your room when out in the field, besides which, the high shrill tone may just provoke an animal into a behavior that puts everybody’s safety in jeopardy.
Lastly, please refrain from smoking on game drives. The dry African bush ignites very easily & a flash fire will invariably kill animals & especially so, those such as leopard tortoise who cannot move quickly to get away.

Will I have any language difficulties as I only speak in English?

English is an official language throughout Africa.

All transfer drivers, Game Rangers, Field Guides, Trackers, Lodge & Camp staff & most of the native peoples you will encounter will speak & understand English.

It is also fun for you to learn a few phrases from the locals you meet, so ask & certainly they will be only too pleased to teach you.

It is a real joy to be able to greet a host in his or her native tongue with a simple phrase & you will be surprised at the reaction you will get just by your simply trying. Many of the local peoples will delight in practicing their English with you.

At some roadside markets & shops bargaining is an accepted practice so go ahead, try your skill.

Bargaining can be fun, however be respectful & do not haggle, then when having attained your price by agreement, go back on the deal.

Often people wonder how to tell when they have reached the best available price. It is our experience that the way to tell if the price you offer is unacceptable is when the owner doesn’t follow you out of his shop or stall & try to lure you back.

As for the local children, please do not be tempted by their huge brown eyes & expressions of longing to hand out candies, pens or other gifts as it encourages them to wait & beg for trinkets from other visitors. Equally it will encourage them to remain out of school, so please, do not entice these beautiful & courteous kids to beg.

When wanting to take a photo of a local person, ask their permission first. This often requires a token ‘fee’ being a small denomination coin & your guide will help out with that ‘negotiation’. If you happen to have a Polaroid camera, giving the person a Polaroid photo of themselves will almost always enable you to get other shots that otherwise would not be forthcoming with your much better camera, provided you have one.

By keeping an open mind & going out of your way to be respectful & courteous, you will win friends & be much more likely receive what it is you are seeking.

Remember though, in certain countries such as Kenya & Tanzania, it is a crime with severe consequences to photograph anything they consider ‘military’- especially airports & Government buildings. So do not tempt fate as the consequences are not worth the risk.

What is the ‘Great Migration’ & when does it take place in Tanzania & Kenyan National Parks?

The Great Migration is an evolutionary annual cycle that goes on all year round in a continuous circular direction; more commonly however, it is seen as the heralded movement of millions of Wildebeest & Zebra across the Serengeti Plains, crossing the Grumeti, the Mara & the Talek River’s into the Masai Mara Game Reserve in Kenya.

The Great Migration is probably best observed in the western sections of the Serengeti & on into the Masai Mara from late June through late October.

Whether you catch this spectacle or not here, there will always be an abundance of animals – more than you’ll imagine - however the Great Migration is the most amazing ongoing spectacle & historical trek by animals on the planet.

Often you can travel all day in a vehicle surrounded by a seething mass of horns & hooves, all heading relentlessly onward at a purposeful pace as if robotic. Always, the million plus grazing animal species are followed by predators - lion, hyena - & in the rivers, gigantic, cunning centurion old Nile crocodiles who seem to know when the herds are arriving, congregate at the best crossing spots in anticipation of what for them is an annual gorging session.

The Great Migration in the Serengeti & Masai Mara is a spectacle like no other & something we believe every safari enthusiast should witness in person.

How will I get around from place to place in Africa?

By land you will travel in especially designed 4 x 4 safari vehicles, custom-built Land cruisers, or in pop-top minivans that allow everybody a window seat & ease of taking photographs above the roof line in complete safety.

Depending on the season, 4 x 4 safari vehicles, be they landrovers, landcruisers or similar, the vehicle will likely have open sides - although it can be covered with a canvass roof to shield guests from the direct sun, or from rain in inclement weather.

The seat back of each passenger seat usually has a large storage pouch for placing a new roll of film, binoculars or a different camera lens, but because of the nature of the dirt tracks & open savannah you will be traveling over, it isn’t recommended to place fragile items in these seat pockets.

Each vehicle will have a pair of binoculars & a bird & mammal species pictorial guide book for reference. Your Ranger & Tracker have undertaken extensive training & likely will have years of on-the-job acquired knowledge of the species & eco-systems you are traveling through.

They are in effect a ‘walking thesaurus’ on animals, reptiles, birds, flora & fauna. Do not be afraid to test their knowledge as no question you ask will be taken lightly. Most certainly, if they do not know the answer, they will find out & provide you with an explanation latter that day. We have many known instances where a question that has been posed but was unable to be answered out in the field, has been answered by a Ranger on e.mail after guests have returned to their homeland. So be assured your Rangers & Trackers pride themselves on being the best that they can be in delivery of first class guest services.

It is worthy of mention that within the National Parks, Game Reserves & Conservation Concessions the roads are not sealed. Likely roads will be dirt tracks & they are weather affected.

It is not unusual for vehicles to experience a flat tyre, or to get stuck in mud requiring to be pulled out. But these occurrences are all part of the experience & your Ranger will display adept skill in fixing or dealing with these instances as they occur. All safari vehicles are linked to base & to other vehicles in the general vicinity by radio, so if additional help should be required, it is never far away.

When distances or road conditions are either too far or hazardous, short flights & / or water transport will be provided.

The many bush airstrips cater to the efficient & speedy movement of guests from lodge to lodge or camp to camp & water transport – for instance in the Okavango Delta in Botswana - is essential, as here the river, estuaries & channels act as solitary highways.

Africa’s bush pilots are skilled & extremely capable, ensuring you will be delivered safely & efficiently to your next location. What’s more, these short air transfers are in fact ‘flightseeing’ journeys as on most of them, the aircraft will travel at low altitudes enabling guests to witness the savannah, marshlands or forests from a totally different birds eye perspective. It is not uncommon to be able to gaze upon herds of African elephant, buffalo wildebeest & zebra or pick out giraffes as they chew cautiously the high branches of the acacia tree where the juiciest leaves are located.

So however you are transported, sit back, and relax, knowing that the driver, ranger, guide or pilot is a proven true professional, who has been skilled & trained specifically to undertake his or her job in getting you to your destination with the best care, attention & above all, with total regard for your safety.

How do I pay Sundance Spirit for my Safari?

Sundance Spirit will require you electronically wire the payment from your bank, to our bank account, of which we shall give you the details.

If there is a deposit required, we will give you those details in the early part of the booking process, then final payment is usually required 30 days prior to your first arriving to use our services in your safari destination. It’s as simple as that.