general questions
carries elements of africa out all tours/activities itself?
no, elements of africa works together with chosen tour operators that carry out the tour/activities offered.

how much do I have to pay for the service of elements of africa?
elements of africa is paid by the tour operators. you do not have to pay anything for the service elemtns of africa offers and get all products at the same price as if you would book directly with the tour operator. in addition, elements of africa does not charge any booking fee and also no additional cost for payment with credit card.

does elements of africa offer packages that include flights, transfers etc. and are tailor-made especially for you?
no, elements of africa only sells single products, but is happy to refer you to reliable partners for any additional travel services you might require.

how does the booking procedure work?
when you send an enquiry, elements of africa checks your dates and availability and books you provisionally. you will then receive an offer with all details. if you are happy with the offer and would like to book, elements of africa sends you the booking form in order to obtain all further details from you as well as your credit card details. depending on the tour operator and time of booking, you either have to pay the full amount or a percentage of the total amount in order that the booking can be guaranteed. elements of africa informs you accordingly and takes the payment from your credit card. you then receive the confirmation of booking and all further details.

can I also book with elements of africa if I do not have a credit card?
yes, you can. elements of africa then simply informs you about its account details in order that you can transfer the amount.

why is elements of africa based in south africa?
for lots of tours and activites, south africa is the starting point. most operators also have their base in south africa. therefore elements of africa has chosen to work from south africa, in order to be close to the offer and of course, also to enjoy the sun and the beaty of africa.

is africa safe?
nowadays, safety can not be guaranteed in any place on this earth. if you behave in a usual way you will most probably not face any problems in africa and be treated in a friendly way everywhere you go.

what kind of malaria prophylaxis do I have to take?
some destinations in africa are risk areas for malaria. please consult your gp or the local health authority about how best to protect against malaria.

what kind of vaccinations are necessary?
please consult your gp or the local health authority what kind of vaccinations are necessary in order for you to safely travel to africa.

do I need a travel insurance?
we highly recommend a travel insurance and most tour operators only accept clients that do have one. please find further information here.

do I need a visa?
lots of countries in africa require a visa for visitors. we would like to point out that visas are the responsibility of yourself and neither elements of africa nor the tour operator will be held responsible for clients being denied entry. please find more information here.

overland tours
how does an overland truck look like?
these adventure trucks are converted trucks that have instead of the cargo area comfortable seats similar to those in a coach. in the section below the seats there is lots of space to store kitchen equipment, luggage and tents.

what is the 'local payment'?
the local payment is the cash part of the tour price. this amount is payable to the tour guide on departure. it is always in USD, in order that the tour operator has a portion of the tour price in a strong currency that is accepted everywhere in africa.

how big are the tour groups?
the size of the group depends on the tour operator. elements of africa is happy to inform you accordingly on request. 

which language is spoken by the tour guide?
the tours are in english.

how old are the participants of the tours?
the average age for most tours is between 20 and 45 years old. tours with accommodation in lodges usually attract slightly older people.

volunteer projects
why do I have to pay for volunteer work?
africa is one of the poorest continents of the world and therefore there is usually no budget to put together an informative volunteer project. the price for volunteer projects covers accommodation and meals and also all cost to operate the programme.

does elements of africa also offer longer volunteer projects?
yes, on request, elements of africa is happy to offer longer projects.