Collections
On all sightseeing tours, we will arrange collection from anywhere within Durban.Areas such as Umhlanga in the north, Kloof in the west, and the Bluff in the south, will incurr a minimal charge if not on route.

Luggage
Luggage should be kept to a minimum. We suggest one medium sized suitcase, and 1 carry bag per passenger. Special arrangements will be made for divers equipment on all diving tours, who are then permitted to take one diving bag with their diving equipment. Please contact us if you require storage for extra luggage, and we will attempt to assist you.

Transportation
Transportation will be in minibuses and 4x4's where necessary for small groups. For larger groups, coaches will be utilised. If a larger group is visiting the game reserves in a coach, game drives will be done in open vehicles unless stipulated prior to the tour. All vehicles carry transportation permits. Should all vehicles owned by Amatikulu Tours be utilised, we may utilise the

Accommodation
On all tours including accommodation, the accommodation charges are included. Unless a special quotation has been requested, all accommodation is upmarket, with en-suite bathrooms. This may be in the form of hotels, guest houses, or game lodges. Linen and towels are provided, although towels may not be used for beaches or swimming. 

Meals
Half day tours do not include meals. Full day tours include lunch. On all extended tours marked as FULL BOARD, meals are included, as breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We will, however, never include breakfast on the first day of the tour, or dinner on the last day of the tour, so you should arrange those meals with your accommodation establishment. Certain tours marked as HALF BOARD, include breakfast and dinner only, and exclude lunch. Vegetarians will always be catered for, but it is your responsibility to inform Amatikulu Tours of your special dietary requirements, as at certain establishments, there will be a set menu, which must be arranged beforehand.

Malaria
There are various high risk malaria areas in Northern Zululand, such as Sodwana, northern St Lucia, and Tembe Elephant Park. Swaziland and Kruger National Park are also high risk areas. Preventative measures include prophylaxis, (consult your medical practitioner and be aware of side affects), mosquito repellant, and wearing long sleeved clothing in the evenings. Prophylaxis can be obtained without a prescription from most pharmacies in South Africa. On our sightseeing tours, pills are not necessary, although they can be taken for your peace of mind. On our diving tours which include Sodwana and Mozambique, we recommend pills, although please tell your medical practitioner / pharmacist that you intend to dive, as some pills have adverse affects on divers.

Diving Conditions
The best visibility is usually found between April and September in KwaZulu Natal, and between June and August for Cape Town, although good dives are to be had all the year round. If there has been heavy rainfall, then dives may be cancelled due to bad visibility. Although exciting sightings are occasionally seen at any time of the year, there are recommended times of the year, where you will have a greater chance of seeing the species listed below :

Southern Right / Humpback Whales (June to December)
Whale Sharks (All year round)
Ragged Tooth Shark (June to August)
Turtles (November to January)
Tiger shark (May)
Zambezis (June to October)
Hammerheads (June to October)
Great Whites (April to July)

Weather and Climate

Safety
 Amatikulu Tours have guides who are hand picked and have an intimate knowledge of local conditions. We have international tourism experience and provide highly personalised service to our clients. From the time you embark your journey with Amatikulu Tours until the time you leave, our operators will be there to ensure your safety and comfort. They can advise you for when you leave our care for other destinations. Our knowledge of local conditions enables you to enjoy the magic and thrill of South Africa, without being unduly concerned about security.

Payments

Deposits
As tour bookings are usually conducted by e-mail, deposits or full amounts are requested on all forward bookings.
We will first confirm that the tour you request is available for your specific dates, and ensure that we agree on all details. You will then be e-mailed a Proforma Invoice.
Tours will only be confirmed upon deposit or full amount recieved and sucessfully authorised.
Payments can either be made by credit card or by bank transfer. If paying by bank transfer please notify us a.s.a.p. after the deposit as international transactions can take up to 7 days to clear. an emailed copy or faxed copy would be appreciated.
Please note that Amatikulu Tours does not charge and extra fee for processing credit cards.

Value for money
South Africa offers great value for money, as the Rand exchange rate is very low. This affords most countries with a very favourable exchange rate. Local food, beverages and clothing offer exceptional value for money to the European and American visitor especially. See our Currency Converter for details.

Smoking
For the comfort and safety of our passengers, we have a no smoking policy on all vehicles. There are now some strict laws in South Africa, governing smoking in public places, so be careful where you light up. However, there will be areas which will be designated as smoking areas whilst on tour for the comfort of smoking passengers. If in doubt, check with your tour guide, or establishment official.

Insurance
We recommend that you take out travel and medical insurance for the duration of your visit to South Africa. On our diving tours, travel insurance is compulsory which should cover you for any cancellation or curtailment, death, any medical or rescue expense, emergency travel as well as lost baggage, lost money or lost personal items. The small expense incurred is well worth it, as South African private hospitals are costly.

Cancellations
Please note that as much as we need to enforce cancellation polocies, we are also extremley symperthetic with our clients as in most cases it is due to unforseen circumstances which normally results in their entire holiday been cancelled. All clients that are charged a cancellation fee will be entitiled to discounts on their next boking with Amatikulu Tours.

If a booking is cancelled without the consent of Amatikulu Tours, the latter will retain the full deposit value. If the booking is cancelled less than 4 weeks prior to departure, Amatikulu Tours will retain the full deposit and a cancellation fee will be payable by the client as follows : 21-27 days, 50% of total fare, 14 - 20 days, 75% of total fare, 00 - 13 days 100% of total fare.*
Should the client fail to join a tour after departure, or leaves prior to completion, no refund or liability will be accepted by Amatikulu Tours.
Should a tour be cancelled by Amatikulu Tours due to weather conditions or other valid reasons, we will first offer a replacement tour, and if that is not suitable, refund payment, less a 10% handling charge.
Should the client become a nuisance to the group, and interfere with the enjoyment of other passengers, or is found to be in any contravention of the laws, customs or foreign exchange regulations of South Africa or Mozambique, the client is aware that Amatikulu Tours may at it's discretion, order the client to leave the tour without right to refund any monies paid, and without liability to Amatikulu Tours or it's employees and / or agents. The client will then be obliged to make his/her own way home at his/her own expense and responsibility.

* Group charters follow a different deposit and cancellation policy. The group charter policy will be sent upon enquiry by the party concerned.

Cancelled activities
a) Tours - Should any tour be cancelled for circumstances outside of Amatikulu Tours control, e.g. route conditions, weather, safety concerns, an alternative tour will be offered. If refused, then the client will be refunded any monies paid, less a 10% handling fee.
b) Divers - Should any dive be cancelled by the dive charter, the diver shall be fully refunded for that specific dive. Should the client miss a boat launch for any reason, Amatikulu tours will not be held responsible for a refund. A valid diving certificate, or log book, must be presented to the dive center before any diving commences. Under NO circumstances, shall any diver embark on a dive without a valid qualification for that specific dive. Amatikulu Tours shall not be held responsible for any damage or theft to diving equipment before, during or after the tour.

Travel Documents
The client acknowledges that it is his/her responsibility to ensure that he/she is in possession of any necessary and valid travel documents such as passport, vaccination certificates, Visas etc. We will provide the with a list of necessary documents for the tour which is requested, and the onus will be on the client to gather the necessary documents.

Indemnity
Amatikulu Tours accepts no responsibility for any death, illness or injury sustained or suffered, or for any theft, loss or damage to property occurring whilst on tour. We reserve the right to change any route or arrangements, and if the need arises, to offer suitable replacement/s. Prices are subject to alteration without notice prior to booking.

General Information for South African Travel

Non Drivers
There are various options of getting around, such as domestic flights, coach travel etc.
Domestic flights usually cover Bloemfontein, Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, Pretoria, East London, Port Elizabeth, George, Kimberley, and other major cities. Air charters including helicopter hire can also be arranged to other destinations. Some airlines service flights to tourist destinations, e.g. Comair and other small airlines.
Inter-city coach lines include Greyhound and Translux.
Transport inclusive tours can be an excellent way of sightseeing and getting around without any hassles. Sit back and let the experts do the work.

Driving
A self drive trip can be a wonderful way to explore South Africa. There are various reputable car-hire firms represented in most urban areas of South Africa. There are plentiful petrol stations to service your car. Pre-plan your routes, using maps obtainable at all airports, or AA (Automobile Association) shops.

Driving Regulations
Drivers must hold a valid drivers license. Most will be accepted if printed in English, however, it would be a good idea to carry an International Drivers License.
Third party insurance is compulsory in South Africa. If hiring a car, you will automatically carry third party insurance. If driving from another country, you can obtain a third party insurance token at any border gate entering South Africa.
All driving is on the left hand side of the road.

Safety Tips for drivers
Ensure that you preplan your route to know where you are going, and to make sufficient fuel stops.
Keep your doors locked when driving slowly.
Never pick up hitchhikers - if in doubt, call or drive to the nearest police station.

Gratuities
 Although gratuities are never demanded, there are occasions where it is an "understood" custom. When you have stayed in South Africa for a while, you will find it useful to keep a little stash of small change on you, as you are often 'required' to dole it out.

Car guards
A relatively new phenomenon, usually out of work persons who patrol populated parking areas, to guard your car. These guards will also assist you by guiding you in and out of your parking, and occasionally helping you with lots of shopping. They can be a nuisance occasionally, however, the rate of car theft has significantly declined due to their presence. A reasonable tip would be anything from R1.00 to R5.00 depending on how long you have parked in their turf. If you have parked in a Pay to Park area, then it is not necessary to give a tip to any 'guard' as your car should be safe - you are paying for it.

Waitrons
Most waitrons are paid peanuts for a 6 - 10 hour shift, and rely on gratuities for their salaries. 10% of the total meal bill is recommended, although if you want to make someone's day by paying more, please do so.

Petrol attendants
In South Africa, to increase employment, practically all petrol stations are serviced. A reasonable tip is anything from 50c to R2.00 depending on how many services they give you, e.g. petrol, oil, water, tyre pressure etc.

Tour guides
It is not necessary to give any gratuities to tour guides. However, if you feel they have given exceptional service, and you would like to tip them to show your appreciation, they aren't going to stop you.There will be occasions where adults or young children will offer to do a service, e.g. wash your car while you are shopping, wheel your shopping cart, carry heavy shopping* or even wash your windscreen without your consent while you are stopped at a traffic light. If you value the service then any small change would probably be appreciated, however, the practice of washing windscreens on busy intersections should be discouraged. (*Be careful of opportunistic thieves who may do a runner with your things - use your discretion)

Beggars
Some of the beggars you see are truly heart rending, especially when you see a small child sent by a parent to do the begging. Although you will often want to donate money, please consider before you do so. There are shelters in the main cities which cater especially for homeless children, with food and education, and a safe place to stay. The children are encouraged by people who give them money to leave the shelters, and the money is often spent on glue and thinners. Rather donate a sum to a shelter in one of the cities if you would like to do something. However, it is easier said than done, so a useful thing to do if you feel strongly about helping individuals, might be to carry a few bread rolls or food items which can be distributed easily. If you really feel you must give money, then give no more than R2.00.

Currency
The South African Rand (ZAR) is made up of 100 cents (R1.00 = 100c). Denominations of coins are as follows 1c, 2c, 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, R1.00, R2.00, R5.00.
Denominations of notes are as follows R10.00, R20.00, R50.00, R100.00, R200.00
We suggest that you make yourself familiar with the coins especially, as they can be very confusing.

Credit Cards
Many places will accept major credit cards, and if you find that you cannot pay by credit card, you can draw money from a SASWITCH ATM, widely found in urban areas.

Travellers Cheques
We suggest that you obtain South African Rand travellers cheques which are accepted at face value. Certain retailers may charge a small levy for foreign currency travellers cheques.

Drinking Water
Although bottled water is widely found it is relatively expensive. Tap water in all South African urban areas is very enjoyable, and perfectly safe to drink. If you want to go for absolute peace of mind, buy yourself a 2 litre water bottle, and boil tap water as you need it. This will cost you practically nothing, and the taste is usually nicer. Never drink water from streams, no matter how enjoyable it looks. If you have to use stream water, there are 3 steps which are absolutely necessary before you drink it. 
1) Buy some household bleach, e.g. JIK, and add one teaspoon to every five litres of water. 2) Leave the water to stand for at least an hour. 
3) Boil the water for a minimum of 5 minutes.