Well done on choosing a wonderful tour. I'm the Tour Manager lucky enough to be going on this tour, so I look forward to meeting you at Heathrow. Not long now......

All the best

Lynne

I would have loved to do this trip in September, but had to postpone it for later. I will have to do it in 2016 as have already planned 2015! Are you doing the Zambia add-on?

Do write a review on your return.

Regards

Jaya

Hi Lynne. I would be grateful for some advice regarding currency to take. Alot of websites say get the South African Rand from ATM's when you get there rather than take currency and some say take US dollars. Any advice?

Cheers

Cheral

Best wishes,

Bob

Yes, Bob's right, you need SA Rand for the tour and that's the only currency you can use in SA. I will tell you where to get money, when we're going to be near banks, ATMs etc so please don't worry about it. You can also use credit cards too.

For those doing the add on you need to get your Zambian currency once we get to Zambia, but there is a bank on the hotel complex. They officially can only take Zambian Kwacha now in Zambia, but some of the 'informal' traders will take sterling, dollars, rand, euros etc etc!

Look forward to meeting you all at Heathrow,

Lynne

I planned to take $US for the Zambia add on, have I got this right that we can now only spend Kwacha there and not dollars

Keith

I'm also booked on the tour for 15th September, and like the others getting really excited as it gets closer.

Can I just ask I've also booked the Zambia add on and the optional excursions look fantastic. Can we book these up at the start of the holiday and pay you in rand or do we need to pay when we're able to get the local currency in Zambia?

Really looking forward to meeting everyone, it's lovely to read that people are excited and a little nervous too - that's just how I'm feeling! :)

Lyn

Hi Lynne,

I'm also booked on the tour for 15th September, and like the others getting really excited as it gets closer.

Can I just ask I've also booked the Zambia add on and the optional excursions look fantastic. Can we book these up at the start of the holiday and pay you in rand or do we need to pay when we're able to get the local currency in Zambia?

Really looking forward to meeting everyone, it's lovely to read that people are excited and a little nervous too - that's just how I'm feeling! :)

Lyn

Hi Lyn and Keith

Yes, Lyn, you can book any optional excursions with me in resort. Anything for South Africa will need to be paid for in SA Rand and anything for Zambia is best paid in £ when I take the booking which will be in the first few days of the tour.

Keith, no-one officially can take payment now in anything other than Kwacha in Zambia, however you do still need US dollars for your visa on entry to Zambia. (Don't forget you will need a double entry visa if you are planning to do the wonderful excursion to Chobe in Botswana)

You only really need to get some local currency in Zambia for drinks, meals etc and to get this you can exchange any currency at the bank close to the hotel for Kwacha - so £, ZAR, $ or €. Personally I find it easier to sign all drinks and meals to my hotel room and pay once on departure, rather than not knowing how much to exchange etc. The hotel will take a cc too if this is easier for you and just do one transaction when you check out. It can be quite confusing though as things have changed in the last couple of years with regard to currency in Zambia, so I hope this helps..

So looking forward to seeing everyone at Heathrow and it's great to know you're getting excited! (Me too!)

Anything else I can help with, don't hesitate to ask.

Lynne

Just picking up on the last post by Lynne, I am not doing this trip on the 15th but a couple of weeks later on the 28th Sept.

I planned to take $US for the Zambia add on, have I got this right that we can now only spend Kwacha there and not dollars

Keith

Hello Keith,

I brought this question up in the 'ask the editor' section a few weeks ago and was told to take US dollars for Zambia and change them in the resort. Hope this helps. Not long to go until the 29th! Jill

See you all soon.

Lyn