UK +44 (0)1367 850566

USA 1-855-216-5040

Useful Information

The following information is here to help you. But please remember that the best advice will normally be available from our highly knowledgeable staff.

Consumer Protection

Your holiday is properly and fully protected as required by the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018. As we tailor-make every single holiday we have bonding arrangements to cover flight-inclusive holidays as well as holidays where flights are not arranged by us.

The Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust Limited (ABTOT) provides financial protection under its ATOL Franchise and The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 for African Explorations Ltd t/a The Explorations Company, ABTOT number 5197, ATOL number 7195, and in the event of their insolvency, protection is provided for the following:

1. non-flight packages;
2. flight inclusive packages that commence outside of the UK, which are sold to customers outside of the UK; and
3. flight inclusive packages, flight only and linked travel arrangements (LTAs) sold as a principal under the ABTOT ATOL Franchise.

ABTOT cover provides for a refund in the event you have not yet travelled or repatriation if you are abroad. Please note that bookings made by customers outside the UK are only protected by ABTOT when purchased directly with African Explorations Ltd t/a The Explorations Company.

In the unlikely event that you require assistance whilst abroad due to our financial failure, please call ABTOT’s 24/7 helpline on 01702 811397 and advise you are a customer of an ABTOT protected travel company.

You can access The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 here: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2018/634/contents/made

 

 

All the flights and flight inclusive holidays on this website are financially protected either by ABTOT or the ATOL scheme. When you pay for something protected by the ATOL scheme you will be supplied with an ATOL Certificate. Please ask for it and check to ensure that everything you booked (flights, hotels and other services) is listed on it. Please see our booking conditions for further information or for more information about financial protection and the ATOL Certificate go to: www.atol.org.uk/ATOLCertificate

The African Travel & Tourism Association (ATTA)

The African Travel & Tourism Association (ATTA) is a trade association that promotes tourism to Africa from all corners of the world. Recognised as the Voice of African Tourism, Atta serves and supports business leaders in Africa representing the elite buyers and suppliers of tourism product across 22 African countries.

With over 500 members, Atta acts as Pan-Africa’s largest network of tourism product covering not only accommodation, transport and travel specialists in Africa, but a formidable selection of tour operators, representation and PR companies in Europe, USA and worldwide promoting tourism to Africa.

 

Foreign Office

Website details for latest information and updates from the Foreign Office. The FCO promotes British interests overseas, supporting our citizens and businesses around the globe.

The Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) has a worldwide network of embassies and consulates, employing over 14,000 people in nearly 270 diplomatic offices. They work with international organisations to promote British interests and global security, including the EU, NATO, the United Nations, the UN Security Council and the Commonwealth.

www.fco.gov.uk

Medical Information

First stop for information on travelling to any country ought to be the The National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) provides health information for both health professionals and travellers. The information has been compiled by the NaTHNaC clinical and scientific team, and is updated regularly. On these pages you will be able find information about:

  • Health risks in your destination country: Country Information Pages
  • General health and safety advice: Health Information Sheets
  • Reports of disease outbreaks: News and Outbreak Surveillance Database

www.nathnac.org/travel

Masta are able to give the most up to date information regarding Malaria. Telephone number 0207 631 4408 and website masta travel health.

Please refer to your General Practitioner for inoculations and vaccines.

Another helpful website is Fit For Travel, which is fitfortravel.scot.nhs.

Travel Insurance

It is a condition of booking with us that you have current, travel insurance at the time of travel. This should include repatriation in case of emergency and should also be valid from the time of booking to cover any unforeseen event that might incur a cancellation and loss of deposit or full holiday cost. Please always check inclusions and exclusions, maximum holiday cost limits, activity limits and other details before finalising your insurance – annual travel insurance and family policies can often be much cheaper than taking out more than one single trip policy in a 12 month period.

In the UK, Brunel Insurance are an independent broker providing quality insurance. They have access to all major UK insurers offering a range policies to suit most needs and can also provide cover for various types of activity holiday. Call them on 01934 643 400 or email on [email protected] stating that you are a client of the Explorations Company for an immediate quote and cover, or go to the Brunel Insurance website to start an online quote. 

In the USA many clients have recommended the services of Best Travel Protection the owner, Jim Best, can be contacted via [email protected] or Best Travel Protection's website. Best Travel Protection will tailor quotes to suit individual travellers but note that insurance should be taken out within a short time (14-21 days) of finalising the vacation if pre-existing medical conditions or financial cover is to be included. We can make the initial contact with Jim on your behalf otherwise please let them know that you are a client of ours to access negotiated discounts.

For those travelling from other origins in the rest of the world we have links for travel insurance with global providers, please ask us for further details.

Visa Service

Please check whether you require a visa for the country that you are travelling to. We can offer advice but, as we are unable to actually obtain visas on our client’s behalf, we have an arrangement with CIBT/Visa Central, a visa facilitation business with offices in 11 countries including the UK and USA, to assist our clients. Visa Central can be contacted as follows:

In the UK:

Website: www.visacentral.co.uk

Telephone: 0844 381 4798

Email: [email protected] – please mention The Explorations Company to obtain any discount.

In the USA:

Website: www.visacentral.com

Telephone: National Customer Service Center: 800-929-2428 Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday; 7:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Central)

Email: [email protected] – please mention The Explorations Company to obtain any discount.

In the past we have also found Action Visas, London, (www.actionvisas.co.uk ) or The Visa Service (www.visaservice.com) to be helpful.

World Weather

Supplied by Accuweather. Established in 1962, is the World's Weather Authority. They provide local forecasts for everywhere and in over two million locations worldwide. They also provide products and services to more than 175,000 paying customers in media, business, government and institutions. Their headquarters in State College, PA, is home to the greatest number of forecast meteorologists in one location anywhere in the world.

www.accuweather.com

Airport Information

Find out the latest details on hand luggage in particular.

Heathrow Airport Holdings Limited (formerly BAA) owns and runs London Heathrow Airport, Britain's aviation hub, as well as a number of other UK airports - Aberdeen, Glasgow and Southampton.

Bags, Travel Wallets and Luggage Labels

Our bags, travel wallets and luggage labels are all sustainably hand-crafted in Africa utilising the skills of the “Antassia” Maasai / Mukogodo ladies in Northern Kenya.

Throughout Africa & India and South America, when travelling by light aircraft, there are strict luggage restrictions with a maximum of 15kgs being usual. We can of course advise on this but the most important stipulation is to have a soft, carryall bag without wheels which will best mould to the small, curving underbelly pod of the aircraft.

Our soft carryall bags have been specially made in Africa. Being hand-made the dimensions vary slightly but are approximately:

L              600mm

W            315 mm

H             280mm

They have a double carry handle with a shoulder strap and a handle at each end. One side has an external zip-&-flap pocket, the other just a slip pocket. There are no pockets internally.

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We can include our bag in your costing, part of which will form a donation to Antassia, on request – this is an excellent way to not only make sure that your luggage is suitable for light aircraft flights but also to own a beautiful product, crafted in Africa, for use long after one returns from a safari!  

Antassia is a grass roots initiative which empowers the Maasai women of Kenya by teaching them to utilise their traditional beading skills to make beautiful bespoke pieces in the form of bags and other accessories; thereby creating a sustainable source of income for themselves and their families. Please ask us for more information on this as well as the many other projects that we support, both directly and through donations made by our wonderful clients.

We also recommend the following company which stocks excellent safari products as well as alternative bags; we will send you a voucher to obtain a worthwhile discount or just quote The Explorations Company:

www.thesafaristore.co.uk

Clothing

Travelling Light - the UK's leading retailer and manufacturer of hot weather travel clothing and accessories for men and women, all year round.

The key to a successful hot weather wardrobe is a selection of cool separates that mix and match to make a range of outfits that encompass a multitude of occasions.

For more information go to www.travellinglight.co.uk

Alternatively you can go to www.thesafaristore.co.uk  who will give you a discount through if you mention our name.


The Explorations Company, where no two journeys have ever been the same

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As a guide, the cost of our extraordinary and utterly bespoke journeys tends to start from $1200 per person per day excluding international flights.

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Explore with The Explorations Company

By Marcela Kunova - 20th April 2017

Nicola Shepherd, founder and CEO of The Exploration Company, organises unusual trips for HNW and UHNW clients ranging from birthday parties at an Indian Maharajah's palace to reliving Sir Vivian Fuchs's 1950s expedition to the South Pole. Citywealth caught ...

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Our Guarantees To You

Premium service from one of the world's most knowledgeable travel companies

24/7 contact number

Your holiday is fully protected by the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018

Flight-Inclusive Bonding: We are licensed by the Civil Aviation Authority and hold ATOL Number 7159

Flight-Exclusive bonding: Your holiday is further protected by our membership of ABTOT Membership Number 5197

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