Documentation/Passports

To join any OneLife Adventure expedition you must have a full passport (not temporary) and it must have at least 2 clear pages in it and also be valid for the duration of the entire journey, preferably a full 6 months after this. If this is not the case, or else there is too much dissimilarity between your passport photo and you now, then apply for a new passport allowing plenty of time to arrange for the processing of a new passport.

Visas

British nationals currently do not need visas for Iceland, Spain, Morocco or Tunisia. Libya does require a visa for British nationals and must be applied for in advance of your journey. The position with visas remains fluid and I will advise on current needs and procedures when you book your expedition. I would like to add that passport, visa and immigration requirements remain the passenger’s responsibility, but I am able to advise and assist.

Personal Insurance

It is essential that everyone joining a OneLife Adventure expedition takes out travel insurance to cover the cost of any medical treatment necessary as a result of accident or illness whilst on the trip. This insurance should also cover the cost of flights home in the event of anyone being too ill to continue the trip. Please note that your cancellation cover should start from when the policy is issued, i.e. when you pay for it, even though the period of time insured should start to run from the date specified i.e. the date of departure. Therefore I advise that the policy be taken out at the time of payment of the full balance of the fare so that the cancellation cover is in place. It is important to check that any policy taken out is for Africa/worldwide cover and not just Europe, unless you are participating in our Spanish or Iceland Explorers expeditions.

Vaccinations

Vaccinations for our expeditions are generally not required. Please consult your local GP or local travel clinic, they may advise that you should have Typhoid and Hepatitis-A inoculations and also boosters for

Polio and Tetanus. A vaccination certificate for all your inoculations is required, signed and stamped by your doctor. You should carry this with you, as it may be required in some cases.

Malaria

Malaria does not occur in the countries we visit, but again you should seek medical opinion for the latest advice. There have been some recent cases of malaria occurring in countries or areas previously not considered at risk, probably due to climate change.

If you are travelling independently after your expedition with me then consider your exposure before, during and after the expedition. If you are planning to travel south of the Sahara you will encounter malaria and you must get professional advice from your local GP or Travel Clinic. Malaria is widespread in many parts of Africa and it is essential that you take a course of prophylactics before, during and after the expedition. Prevention is all-important in dealing with malaria.

Insect repellents

Long sleeved shirts and trousers should be worn after sunset. A good mosquito repellent containing 25% DEET is strongly recommended. Products using 100% DEET may cause a skin reaction and should be avoided, they are designed for fabric impregnation – they are also very good at melting sunglasses and any other bits of plastic they come into contact with!

Medical Kit

I carry an expedition medical kit, which includes courses of antibiotics to be used under medical supervision as necessary and a general supply of drugs and dressings. The medical kit is not intended for long courses of treatment or day-to-day medical care. If anyone has an accident or falls ill I will accompany you to a reputable hospital or doctor for professional treatment. This subsequent treatment may involve you in medical expenses, which would normally be covered under your travel health insurance policy and reclaimable on your return. You may wish to bring along your own personal medical kit. It should include such items as aspirins, throat lozenges (sore throats tend to occur in the low humidity air), antiseptic ointment, good supply of plasters, Imodium or similar anti-diarrhoeal tablets, re-hydration powders, eye drops, fungal infection powder/creams and any personal special medicines. A high protection factor sun cream will be needed (factor 20+) and moisturising lotions are also useful for desert dried skins. You should bring these with you, as they are not available locally. A chap stick for lips is also invaluable.

Clothing

You will see below the suggested clothing list. For warm and temperate countries clothing should be light, tough and casual, loose fitting preferably. For cold weather a multi-layered system, coupled with a wind and waterproof outer shell, will keep you warmer and allow you to control your own temperature effectively.  I use and recommend Land Rover Gear clothing - tough, practical clothing designed for active use.

North Africa

1 pair soft walking boots, 1 pair sandals/thongs.

2 pairs thick socks, 3 pairs thin socks,

2 pairs safari trousers (zip off legs),1 pair shorts

1 warm jumper or fleece jacket, 2 or more t shirts, underwear, 2 long sleeved tops.

1 pair of good trousers and shirt.

A wide brimmed hat (for shade), waterproof anorak, long scarf for protection from blown dust and sand, towel and swimwear.

Spain

1 pair good walking boots, 1 pair sandals/thongs/trainers.

2 pairs thick socks, 3 pairs thin socks,

2 pairs safari trousers (zip off legs).

1 pair of warmer trousers.

1 warm jumper or fleece jacket, 2 or more t shirts, underwear, 2 long sleeved tops/shirts.

1 pair of good trousers and shirt.

A wide brimmed hat (for shade), a warm fleece type cap, waterproof anorak and leggings, a towel and swimwear.

Iceland

1 pair good waterproof walking boots, 1 pair trainers or light boots for camp wear, Wellington boots can be useful for river crossings.

Water and windproof anorak/shell jacket and leggings

2 pairs thick socks, 3 pairs thin socks,

1 pair safari trousers (zip off legs).

2 pairs of warm trousers.

1 warm jumper, windproof fleece jacket, 2 or more t shirts, underwear (thermal), 2 long sleeved tops/shirts.

1 pair of good trousers and shirt.

A wide brimmed hat (for shade), a warm fleece type cap, gloves, a towel and swimwear.

Avoid bringing military style clothing or government surplus items as these are illegal in some countries and may be confiscated. Generally, try to avoid white, as you will never get it clean and dark colours, especially blue, seem to attract insect’s more than lighter colours. Washing may be undertaken while on the expedition but will be limited.

Miscellaneous

Wash bag with toilet articles, good quality sunglasses, binoculars, camera plus spare battery, camera films, Swiss army knife or similar, 1 head torch and spare batteries, 1 water bottle (1 litre) and a money belt.

While loo paper is universally available, female sanitary items are sometimes unavailable so a full supply of these is recommended. If you wear contact lenses we recommend that you use spectacles during the trip, although by all means take your lenses for use in the towns. If you have a spare pair of spectacles take them as well.

Strong smelling perfumes, cosmetics and deodorants seems to attract insects so should be used with caution.

Photography

You will encounter some of the most spectacular photographic opportunities in the world, to capture these scenes you may wish to invest in a camera with a good zoom lens (28mm to 300mm). You will need more film than you imagine, quality film may not be available locally. Film speeds of 100 ASA are generally sufficient. Fill in flash is useful, especially when photographing people or other dark objects in high incident light situations. Heat and dust will be the biggest hazards - safe guard your camera against dust at all times. For digital cameras much of the above also applies, dust is a big problem particularly for cameras with interchangeable lenses where dust may settle on the CCD unit. Bring enough storage media for the expedition. I carry a laptop and a CD writer and can make backups for you during the expedition.

Although standard batteries are very easy to come by they don’t seem to have the longevity you expect so bring a few spare Duracells, especially those for cameras and penlights.

Personal Spending

In North Africa the Euro is sometimes accepted and easy to change at banks. UK pounds and US dollars can also be changed in most banks and bureaux de change. You may wish to bring some traveller’s cheques (50 Euro and 100 Euro denominations are recommended), The proof of purchase receipt will also be required to enable you to cash your cheques at bureaux or banks. ATM machines are becoming widespread, at least in the major cities, and it is worth bringing your card with you.

Barclaycard, Visa and American Express credit cards can sometimes be used, however this should not be relied upon as a source of cash unless you are in Spain or Iceland. Remember to notify your credit card company that you will be using it abroad. A money belt or similar is essential for carrying your passport and monies. I use an underarm holster type, which is more comfortable when driving compared to a belt type. Don’t rely on trouser pockets, even when zipped as they can easily be slashed.

Pace and service

North Africa does not run like clock work, things do not always run to plan: there may be times when you will need to be patient and philosophical. OneLife Adventure makes a strong point of visiting indigenous populations of each country you visit, in order to give a true reflection of the country and its culture: therefore please treat the local population and their customs with respect, they are sometimes not used to the standards of service that we are accustomed to in our busy developed worlds.

Roads and driving

A days travel on the expedition varies, generally we leave our camp at 9am, on some days this may vary if we have a longer distance to cover, however we do not drive all day - comfort stops, roadside shopping, lunchtime and obviously sightseeing and photo stops break the day. Ultimately you will set your own pace. However it may be necessary to

increase the pace at times to ensure return travel arrangements are met. In general, our routes are designed to include a combination of shorter and longer drives. Road condition also varies widely and will have an impact on pace.

Road conditions will be very variable – from good sealed tar to dust and sand tracks. Driving on loose surfaces in a laden vehicle will be very different to what you are typically used to, braking distances will be increased, whilst traction and “feel” of the vehicle will be reduced. Local traffic will not follow the conventions we are used to in the UK, lanes do not exist and vehicle size determines how much space the driver will demand. Take time to become accustomed the local conditions. If in doubt then stop or pull off the road.  Our support staff will be on hand to advise and provide further training or tips when you are on your expedition, generally avoid heavy braking and harsh steering movements on loose surfaces. If no other traffic is present then adopt a central position on the road, branches or rocks placed in the road usually indicate a broken down vehicle or an area of subsidence ahead. Only drive to what you can see and be prepared to stop quickly.

Climate

On arrival there will be a marked difference in the weather from that of England. In North Africa the daytime temperatures will be approximately 25-35 degrees centigrade and at night it may drop as low as 10 degrees centigrade. It will be necessary to drink plenty of water, keep in the shade, wear a hat to keep your head cool until you become acclimatised. At nights the sun sets approximately between 6.00pm and 7.00pm, the night air suddenly becomes cool and the diurnal change in temperature can be as much as 20 degrees centigrade. So it is a good idea in the evenings to put on long sleeved top and long trousers to both keep you warm and protect you from insects. Insects will not be too much of a problem, save the river insects close to the shores of rivers and lakes in certain places. It does rain in Africa, sometimes a light shower for 10 minutes only, sometimes torrential, but these are isolated and hot sunshine is never far away. In the High Atlas it can be cool and misty but this mist soon burns off during the day.

In Iceland it will be milder than you think but very unpredictable, inland near the main ice masses night temperatures can be several degrees lower then those in Reykjavik. In the summer, day time temperatures can reach 17 O C but days can be interspersed with rain and misty spells.

When the temperature may fall to 10 O C. Days are long and in the north during July the sun never really sets.

In the Picos de Europa and the Pyrenees rain is infrequent during the summer, but the peaks can be cold, as they are still snow capped and exposed.

Water

Your vehicle should have the capacity to carry 40 litres of water. This is normally enough to last 5 days. I recommend you carry a 1litre water container for your personal use, bottled water is available in larger towns. Further guidance will be given regarding the use of water but generally speaking water should be used sparingly, especially in North Africa. Purification tablets are required in some areas and are supplied by OneLife Adventure.

Security

You need to be aware of what’s happening around you at all times, I advise that vehicle doors are locked when you are in the vehicle, especially in towns. Opportunist thefts can occur when vehicles are stationary in traffic. When parking in towns, solo exploring, it is worth using a car guard or to park, with permission, in police compounds or other secure areas. Personal possessions are much safer stored in the vehicle than carried on your person. Do not take unnecessary valuables with you. A money belt worn close to your body is the best way to carry passports and money. Baggage and valuables should never be left in your tent even when sleeping in it. I do employ camp guards when needed, but also will only camp on approved sites with their own basic security, unless we are in very remote areas wild camping.

Borders

Never get cameras out at frontiers or indeed when passing military personnel, installations or government buildings. Care must be taken with clothing especially at borders but also throughout our time in the country when in populated areas.

When completing forms for immigration observe the following:

• Write legibly using capital letters and in blue or black biro.
• Carry photocopies of all your important documents with you.
• Always treat officials with respect.
• Never volunteer additional information to an official.

In North Africa there are occasional road checkpoints, and you may be asked for the vehicle documents, passports and driving licenses at some of them. It’s worth keeping them to hand. Do not give them to officials, if the official requests them then accompany him. Sadly corruption does exist and some officials may try to solicit a “gift”. In these cases a polite refusal, a request to see the documentation/law quoted as the reason for an additional payment or a simple “ I’m sorry I don’t understand, is there someone else in authority I can talk to” may work, I will be on hand at all times. NEVER loose your temper, shout or undermine an official – they are the power on their patch of turf! I will advise on the best way to deal with checkpoints dependant on the country, and will be on hand to personally oversee the entry and exit procedures for countries.

Cultural/environmental impact

The government laws and local customs of the countries and areas we travel through should be respected and we always treat the local people, their cultures and religions with respect i.e. cover up in mosques and Muslim countries, I will advise on any local situations. English will be the second language in most of the African countries we visit, however a few words of French or Arabic will be useful. Religions are usually Christian or Islam.

Bargaining is normal in North Africa, and while initially intimidating, is fun. Generally expect to pay in the region of one third to half the initial asking price. Humour lubricates the deal and ensures it is a fun experience. Remember that you are very wealthy compared to them so pay what you feel is a fair price for the item rather than bargain them into the ground. Avoid buying items made from rare materials or animal parts, apart from further endangering them you will have problems upon exit from the country or upon entry to the UK.

There may be occasions when trading in kind is of more use than money, or you may just want to be able to make a gift in recognition of a service. Particularly popular are t-shirts, odd bits of inexpensive jewellery, hair slides, mirrors, pen knives and torches.

Taking a glossy tourist guide to the UK may open up conversation with local people who are interested in where you are from – remember that you will be as interesting to them as they are to you.

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A  I would not take travellers cheques, as they can be hard to change and we would not have access to banking facilities, I use credit/debit cards and take either sterling or Euros to change.

Q  We have the car and all the modifications insured on the car insurance policy but we are not sure what to do about the roof tent we have just bought and all the kit that will be inside the car - clothes/tools/camping equipment etc.  I think both our car and house insurance policies give about £200 worth of cover for belongings in the car but this will obviously be no-where near enough.  Any suggestions of the best way of getting it insured? 

A  This is the hardest part to insure, specialist cover is ridiculously expensive so I rely on house contents insurance to about 1500 GBP + some limited cover on the travel insurance. Vehicle insurers do not consider roof tents as fixed to the vehicle and hence not covered.

Q  Are we doing any activities other than the driving that I need to make sure are covered on the policy?

A  Nothing is planned unless specified in the expedition itinerary.

Q.  Car Insurance - Is it just a case of speaking to our insurer to check whether we are covered to drive in our destination? 

A  Yes, your own vehicle insurer will be able to advise on extensions of cover and green card arrangements. If they doe not offer Green Cards for the destination then we purchase additional insurance when crossing the border.

Q  What do we do about covering the vehicle for a major breakdown that needs to be fixed at garage or can't be fixed and needs vehicle to be transported home (hoping this won't happen!! but best to be prepared).  What about getting vehicle home if it is ok but we aren't and neither of us can drive it - what if anything to I put in place for this?  (hoping this won't happen either!).

A  If the vehicle is drivable/towable then I will arrange recover the car to a local garage for repairs. I have never found breakdown insurance that was effective for off road use either in the UK or abroad. In the event of you being unfit to drive then I may be able to use a support driver to return the car to the UK departure port.

Q  We have a CB radio for communication. Do we need a licence or similar for it ?

A  No licence is required for CB radio, provided the unit has not been modified to transmit  more than 4 watts power . For some countries some import restrictions apply

Q  What will there be in the way of laundry facilities if any?  Will there be washing machine/drying facilities anywhere e.g. at campsites or will it just be handwashing?

A  Some campsites offer limited washing facilities but generally we do not stay long enough to use them. I tend to handwash and dry in the vehicle during the day.

When taking an individuals picture always ask permission first, don’t be surprised if you are asked for money or are refused. Imagine your reaction if a tourist walked up to you in London and stuck a camera in your face!

If you are using a digital camera offer to show them the picture, children are usually fascinated and often this simple ploy can lead to wonderful experiences with local communities. I once offered to take the pictures of an entire Hama family in Ethiopia, they insisted on dressing up in their best ceremonial wear and then invited me to stay for a few days – fantastic pictures and a unique experience. If you do promise to send them a copy then remember to do so when you get back.

If you wish to make donation to a community then I will be able to advise you a suitable way to ensure the community as whole benefits. Distribution of gifts from the vehicle must not be done at any time – it encourages people on to the road and they do not have the experience to judge traffic speeds, their desire for the gift may well over come their caution. If you are giving anything to local people, do so discreetly. You will be asked for things – this direct approach is acceptable in Africa and a polite but good natured refusal also accepted. You may wish to make a small gift or tip in exchange for a gift or in recognition of service, this is fine but avoid simply handing items out as it can cause problems.

Always slow down when approaching villages, do so well in advance to allow your dust to settle, be very aware of animals and children near the road. You may encounter stone throwing aimed at vehicles; children are the usual culprits and can usually be discouraged by a friendly wave, followed by a hard pointing finger if required. Stones are then usually dropped with an embarrassed look! If you, or your vehicle, are hit by a stone then do not attempt to chase the culprit. In some cases it may be worth stopping and explaining what has happened to the village elders, especially if an injury has occurred. Please call me on the radio if an incident occurs and I will stop and return to discuss this with the elders or officials.

Services provided by local people e.g. clothes washing, shoe repairing and guiding, helps bring money to local communities and are usually effective and reliable, I do use them when required.

Natural resources should not be misused or abused. Please do not squander firewood or water, it is precious in certain areas. We collect firewood in areas where it is in abundance and away from habitation, other times we’ll buy it from the local villages. Please ensure that rubbish from your vehicle is disposed of with respect to the environment. In general paper and plastics should be burned, biodegradable should be buried and metals crushed and taken with you. When going to the toilet in the bush make sure your waste is properly buried and any paper used is burnt. Respect property and surroundings and leave places as you found them, if not better.

Tipping

Tipping of local guides is usually expected when services are rendered, however tip an appropriate amount for the service provided. I’ll give guidance on local expectations.

Communications

You will need to have a CB radio fitted into your vehicle before you leave so we can communicate while driving, these can be acquired cheaply in the UK. Ariel’s should be demountable and, if possible, the base unit should be discreetly located in the vehicle or be demountable. Some countries are sensitive to foreigners bringing 2 way radio communications into countries (memories of mercenaries and coup d’etat!). By removing these items from view, along with GPS units and satellite/cell phones we will ease our entry into countries.

Emails can be received and sent throughout the expedition at various internet centres. However please remember that connections are not always reliable and often slow. Your mobile phone will work in many areas, providing international call barring is removed before you leave. Roaming charges are high, but it is possible to buy a local SIM card on a pay-as-you-go scheme to keep costs down. Vodaphone seems to have wider coverage and more extensive roaming agreements  than most other UK service providers.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q  Travel Insurance - I haven't bothered with travel insurance for ages but I'm conscious that we need to make sure we are covered for off-roading and the medical cover you suggest. 

A  Travel insurance is very important due to the remote places we travel in and the increased risk compared to a normal holiday.

Q Will general companies/policies give the cover for the driving/activities we are doing or am I looking for a more specialised policy?

A Generally travel policies do cover driving/carriage in off road vehicles. However I always state in writing to the insurer the nature of the expedition.

Q Are there any companies that you can recommend that give the right sort of cover for the driving and type of expedition we are doing?

A Try www.dogtag.com or www.worldwideinsure.com, either offer cover for holidays involving driving off road, but always get written confirmation that they understand the nature of your holiday

Q  Will the travel insurance also get the vehicle home as well as us if we are injured and can't drive or do I have to look at some kind of breakdown cover for the car for that?

A Car recovery is not covered in travel insurance policies. You would need separate recovery policies, ie, AA  or RAC Eurocover, but this will not be of use outside Europe. In the event of a breakdown or accident I will endeavour to arrange to get your vehicle recovered to your home by a support driver or to a local garage to effect repairs but you are responsible for any recovery costs.