Morocco to Ghana - West Africa 11 Weeks - Pre-Departure Information

Our Expedition trips are different from our other departures and other holidays you may have taken. We go through areas where no tourists go, the roads can be bad, food can be limited to what we have stocked on the truck, campsites are few and basic, visas can be hard to get and communication to the outside world limited or unavailable at times. We guarantee; we’ll break down, that we will have to wait somewhere we don’t really want to be for visas spare parts or just for someone to open a closed road and we’ll have to dig the truck out of mud and sand.

The trip might overrun so finish late; the route can change due to rains, closed roads visa issues, breakdowns and politics. It’s best not to book your return flights home until you finish the trip.

To join this trip you need to be prepared to work as part of a team and to share with the others on the trip. Some of the things you’ll never forget are the satisfaction of getting a big truck out of a bog cooking over open fires after collecting the firewood, pitching a tent and getting it right even when it rains, going to sleep when its dark and waking at dawn and wanting to get out of your sleeping bag to start another day in which you have no idea of what will happen, washing in rivers, not washing and not caring that your dirty, living outside for months, seeing more than you have ever before, trying to learn French Arabic or Swahili and having people understand what you say, finding out just how far places are away from where you started and how different places can be and how unaffected out of the way places are from the world we normally live in. Most people who do an expedition find it a lot of fun though of course hard at times.

Spending and Money - As a general rule US$ are the easiest to change. Credit cards are good to have for withdrawing cash and paying for things at shops and restaurants.

General spending - $20/$50 a day is a good start, excluding side trips. Depending on how much you drink, eat out and the souvenirs you buy, so much of this spending depends on the person

Currency - It is easier if you have cash in US$ or Euros. US Dollars are accepted everywhere. Bring new notes from 2013 on. Higher denomination notes US$50/100 are best.

Western Union & Money Gram You can have someone at home send by Western Union or Money Gram funds as you travel. On their websites are the locations of their offices in Africa. MoneyGram International -  moneygram.com or Western Union - westernunion.com

The best way to travel is to carry a portion of each;
(1) Euros for West/Central Africa Eurozone **
(2) US$ for everywhere else
(3) Credit/debit card

** The Eurozone in West/Central Africa includes; Senegal, Ivory Coast, Togo, Benin, Cameroun, Gabon, Rep Congo. Where their Franc is pegged to the Euro, so the best currency to have.

If you’re not coming from a Eurozone country bring $US instead of Euros.

Credit/debit cards - bring a few credit/debit cards, as they can be rejected by the cash machine. Tell your bank before you travel, to stop them blocking your card.  ATM machines are available.

Included in the trip price & Local Payment - The tour cost and local payment includes transport in a fully equipped expedition vehicle, road taxes and tolls, services of the driver-leader, use of camping and cooking equipment, campsite fees, entrance to gameparks as specified and two meals a day while on the truck. In towns or places where the vehicle will be parked up, although the kitchen will be available for you to cook with, food during this time will not come out of the Local Payment. Generally, at lunchtimes we eat at small cafes or restaurants where you can try cheap and tasty local food. If no local food is available, we eat on the truck. 

Local Payment - Payable US$ cash, in new notes, from 2013 onwards. 
Please pay this to the driver on departure. No cards etc.

Not included in the trip price and local payment - The price does not include flights, visas, side trips, lunches and meals out. There are a number of optional side trips that you can choose from and pay for on the route. 

Return flight - Although it is our intention to finish the trip on the finishing date, in case of delays buy your flight at the end of the trip.

Washing - Most of the time you can wash every day and at campsites.

E-mail - Can be collected frequently.

Drinking Water – We have drinking water on the truck, for good health drink bottled water.

Camping - Tents are provided and all have sewn in floors and mosquito netting. You will need to bring a sleeping bag (be prepared for some cold nights) & sleep sheet. Get a mosquito net in Africa if you want to sleep outside of your tent. If you start your trip in Nairobi or South Africa you can buy camping gear at the local department stores. Most campsites have facilities & bars, restaurants, and internet facilities.

Accommodation at the end of the trip - Your crew can help with this.

Language - Learning any basic Arabic would be to your advantage in the Sahara. Elsewhere on route English and French is the most common second language.

Insurance - Deposit and balance & Insurance - Once you are booked, your deposit and balance is non refundable. Insure yourself when you book for the full time your away. You must have travel insurance. We only carry passengers on the understanding that, in most African countries through which we travel no passenger or vehicle liability is available. Take out insurance when you pay your deposit for the tour or for flights so that you are covered for cancellation and bring your policy. If you travel without insurance and you have a problem you could incur massive bills. 

Medical coverage is the important part of your insurance, loss of belongings less so. For UK, Australian and NZ residents, we can point you in the right direction for insurance if you contact us. For other nations, it is best to search online.

Medical & Inoculations - You have to be vaccinated against Yellow Fever and will need an International Vaccination Certificate to prove this when we cross borders. It is also advisable to be vaccinated against Typhoid; Rabies; Hepatitis A; Hepatitis B; Tetanus; Polio and Meningitis.

If possible, start your vaccinations two months before departure. Medical centres travel educated doctors can supply up-to-date medical advice and vaccinate you.

Malaria – There is malaria in the areas we visit. Malaria tablets offer only partial protection against malaria, so avoid mosquito bites. Mosquitoes come out in the evening, wear long trousers and sleeves plus socks - mosquitoes tend to bite around the feet and ankles. Use insect repellent. The use of repellents and covering up is as effective as the use of tablets, so by coupling both methods, you should be malaria free. In Africa buy a can of fly spray to clear your tent before you go to bed

In Africa buy a malaria cure – standard medical procedure in malarial zones is if you have a fever of unknown origin is to treat it as malaria first to stop it quickly. Doxycycline is a popular malaria preventative – it’s available in Africa

Medical Kits - We carry First Aid kits on board for emergency use only. However, the crew is not entitled to recommend or prescribe any medicine. We advise a health check with your doctor and dentist before you start your journey and that you carry your own medical kit with you. 

Security in general - Take a money belt that fits under your shirt. In certain problem areas a passenger roster will be drawn up to guard the vehicle during the day. Don’t take non essential items of value. If you lose your passport or valuables it is not always possible to wait for you. Only you are responsible for your belongings.

Photography - Do not take pictures of airports, railway stations or military installations. Ask before you take photos of people

Mobile Phone – your phone can work abroad if you have roam facility.  Coverage is good but incoming calls cost a lot. You can generally buy a local number in each country we visit. In most camps you can charge from the mains. Bring a travel adaptor plug, as outlet power points are mostly UK and Euro types and 220/240 volts. Bring a spare battery. 

Maps - To have your own map to follow the trip, for Southern Africa - Michelin map 955, West Africa - Michelin 953 and for North East Africa - Michelin 954.

Suggested list of clothing and equipment
The less you take the less you have to pack, wash, lug home and you can get clothes on the way. You'll be travelling in the heat and camping in the cool, so bring clothes for all climates, rough stuff is best. The best type of carrier is a rucksack (with an internal frame) or a kit bag.

Sleeping bag & sleeping mat (it can get very cold at night)
Poncho or rain jacket
Medical kit - a simple kit
Re-hydration sachets available from any chemist
Insect repellent containing Deet e.g. Jungle Juice
Sun cream
Headache tablets
Plasters
Malaria tablets
Toiletries and showering gear - You can buy toiletries in Africa
Clothes
Socks
Shirts
Jeans/long trousers
Underwear
Sweatshirt/jumper
Shorts, T-shirts, swimsuit
Skirt
Sandals/flip flops/jandals/thongs
Walking shoes
Small day-pack or bag to carry your daily items
Hat and sunglasses
Camera (in a protective case), spare batteries and all the film you think necessary
Money belt or pouch to hold your passport
Vaccination book
Torch & spare batteries
The easiest and best way to travel lightly.