2012 Rates, Yellow Fever, Park Fees, Proflight Excess Baggage, Royal Update

As the year draws to a close there are a few boring but important bits of admin I thought I should tackle.

2012 rates - hopefully you have these by now but just in case you don't - you can download the pdf by clicking on this link; http://www.normancarrsafaris.com/download_files/NCS-RAC-Rates/2012-Rates-NCS.pdf These are rack rates - please note that rates remain the same for 2012 (they have not been raised since 2009) although the park fees have gone up a bit - more below on that.

National Park Fees - the park fees in the bush camps have gone up from $45pppn to $60pppn. We were recently told by ZAWA (Zambia Wildlife Authority to whom we pay the fees) that park fees for lodges outside the park (such as Kapani) would rise from $25 to $30 so have amended our rates accordingly. However - this has not actually been 100% confirmed yet and we still await clarification. I think it's safe to quote $30pppd for Kapani and $60pppd for the bush camps but we advise that you mention in your quotations that park fees MAY change. We will of course keep you informed.

Royal Zambezi Airstrip Access Fees - You may recall there was a proposal that guests should be charged $65 each for using the Royal Airstrip? This is NOT happening at the moment and there's no extra charge to use Royal for the time being but again - watch this space and we'll update you should the situation change.

Proflight Excess Baggage Charges - the rules have recently changed RADICALLY on this - have a look at the Proflight website; http://www.flyzambia.com/content/beforeyoufly/baggageallowances/ but for your convenience, here's a précis of what they say;

Only one bag per passenger up to 15kg - anything weighing between 16 - 32kg will be charged an extra $50 flat! (Yes, even if it is only 1 or 2kg overweight!).

Any extra bag will be charged at $30 - irrespective of the weight. Any bag over 32kg will not be flown.

Only one piece of hand luggage up to 5kg - ie a lap top or camera PLUS a handbag is not allowed.

Proflight have done away with the extra baggage allowance for passengers from or to international flights.

I imagine there will be a lot of comment on this subject. Please feel free to email your thoughts on this and I will pass them to Proflight. We realise they have a problem with excess baggage weight and need to find practical and workable solutions, we as operators need to "train" our guests to bring less luggage too! But we would prefer to see something more flexible such as perhaps a $3 per kg charge on excess and a relaxing of the hand baggage rule to allow for lap tops and cameras etc whilst still limiting hand baggage to a total of 5kg.

Yellow Fever Vaccinations - according to various websites travellers DO need a Yellow Fever vaccination certificate when entering South Africa from Zambia even ij just in transit - the clearest info I have found is on the WHO website - click on this link; http://www.who.int/ith/updates/20110921/en/index.html As it happens, I have just been to SA bearing my shiny new YF certificate and hopefully proffering it to the immigration staff. Not one person asked to see it! But I have also heard that guests ARE being asked for them - so once again - we don't know for sure - best to be on the safe side and just get the jab. If this changes - we will let you know!

We advise that in all your quotes you build in a bit of flexibility in case of rises in park fees, air fares, departure taxes, visa fees, any local levies, fuel costs etc as well as warning about the lack of clarity on the yellow fever issue and for the time being recommending that your guests DO get the jab. It's a big pain and I wish we could be more definite about all these things but the world is an unpredicatable place these days and it's wise to warn your clients about some possible unexpected costs or requirements - all part of the adventure!

• 10 Nights South Luangwa Safari
• The Luwi River Trail - Exclusive Adventure
• Luangwa Lion cubs - Family Safaris
• A Week on the Wildside
• Luangwa Forever - With Norman Carr Safaris
• Rivers & Rainbows
• Green Season Birding
• Sleep-out Zambian Safari
• 12 nights Falls Bush and Beach
• 12 nights Exclusive Zambia and Malawi
• Best of Zambia
• Zambia in a Week
• A Zambian Honeymoon

• View our visitors book