&Beyond’s 20 Insider Travel Tips

As one of Africa’s leading inbound tour operators, &Beyond is renowned for designing luxury safaris and personalised travel itineraries in 16 African countries, and India.

With over 30 years’ experience in tour operating, &Beyond is constantly looking at new and creative ways to plan tailormade travel to these exciting continents to ensure that our partners and guests experience the adventure of a lifetime.

Here are some of our favourite &Beyond travel tips to help make your holiday extraordinary:

1.    Travel with an open heart and choose hosts and destinations that share your desire to leave a positive legacy. A good travel company will delight its guests, while at the same time being careful to minimise its negative impact and empower the local communities.
2.    As they say in South Africa, “Local is lekker.” Sample as much local food as possible; Africa offers a wonderful variety of traditional dishes bursting with flavour.
3.    Remove all expectations and embrace the differences. There are unexpected surprises around every corner.
4.    Make friends along the way and listen to their suggestions on different restaurants, shops and worthwhile excursions to try.
5.    Be open-minded and flexible; sometimes the best memories are created in the spur of the moment.
6.    When packing your important documents (passport, birth certificate, airline tickets, etc.), store them in a Ziploc bag. It keeps them clean and easy to locate.
7.    Always travel as lightly as possible, but make sure you squeeze in an inflatable pillow, sleeping mask, an extra change of clothes in your hand luggage, socks for the plane, baby wipes to freshen up with, and a lightweight raincoat.
8.    Consider hiring a rental car; this could free some of your holiday savings for more exciting experiences. South Africa is an excellent self-drive destination.
9.    Before you depart, take a photograph of you with your luggage. This will go a long way in assisting baggage claim should anything go missing.
10.    Secure a small plastic bag under the caps of your soap and shampoo bottles and tie the bag around the bottle. If the cap opens during transit, the contents will spill into the bag and not all over your clothes.
11.    Embrace the destination before you leave by listening to the local music, reading books and watching movies to inspire you.
12.    Respect the local customs and be sure to pack one conservative outfit to wear when required.
13.    Ensure your passport is valid for at least six months AFTER returning home from your trip; this is an international requirement. It is also essential that you have sufficient blank pages in your passport for visas, entry stamps or temporary residence permits.
14.    Send yourself a postcard. It will be a nice reminder of your holiday once you have returned home.
15.    Use this precious time to escape the interruptions of modern technology and switch off completely. Enjoy the peace and quiet!
16.    Experience different modes of transportation: ride a donkey or camel through a village; go game viewing on horseback; ride a shared minibus taxi around a big city; float on a traditional dugout canoe or dhow.
17.    Shop until you drop. Instead of buying random gifts from a roadside shop, why not join a shopping excursion that promotes local arts and crafts. Visit a factory or shop where you can actually see the crafts being made.
18.    Be eco-savvy. Find out what’s happening behind the scenes at the property you are staying at, from recycling initiatives to conservation projects. Find out how you too can do your bit: switch off your air conditioning, take shorter showers, reuse your towels, don’t litter, etc.
19.    Get as close to nature as possible. From walking safaris to hiking trails, explore the small wonders and appreciate the magnificent wilderness. Good for the heart and the soul!
20.    Explore, get out of your comfort zone, and dare to do things differently. You only live once — make it an adventure to remember!

Ends

Issued by: media@andBeyond.com

&Beyond T: +27 11 809 4300; F: +27 11 809 4511

www.andBeyond.com

About &Beyond &Beyond owns and operates more than 35 extraordinary lodges and camps in Africa and India’s wilderness highspots. The company is also one of Africa’s leading inbound tour operators, designing luxury safaris and personalised travel itineraries in 16 African countries, and India. Established in 1991, &Beyond delights guests in order to make a difference; its commitment to sustainable responsible travel and community empowerment is world renowned.

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