Useful Information

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 on this link.

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 the ATOL website.

For latest information and updates from the Foreign Commonwealth Development Office, visit their website. They promote British interests overseas, supporting citizens and businesses around the globe.

The Foreign Commonwealth Development Office has a worldwide network of embassies and consulates in 229 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.

For latest information for US citizens from the Department of State, visit their website. They protect and promote the interests of US citizens overseas and can assist with VISA information, documentation for travel, and safe travel advice.

The Department of State has 271 consulates and embassies in 173 countries.

A useful site with health information for travelling to any country is The National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) which 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: Outbreak Surveillance

Masta are able to give the most up to date information regarding Malaria. Telephone number 0207 631 4408.

Please refer to your General Practitioner for inoculations and vaccines.

Another helpful website is Fit For Travel.

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.

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 recommend CIBT/Visa Central, a visa facilitation business with offices in 11 countries including the UK and USA. Visa Central can be contacted as follows:

In the UK:
Website: www.visacentral.co.uk
Telephone: 0844 381 4798
Email: [email protected]

In the USA:
Website: www.visacentral.com
Telephone: National Customer Service Center: 877-535-0688
Email: [email protected]

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