Safari update June 2020

OTS CEO Will Fox at home

Tigress and cub

Guest video- Sloth Bear in India

Pantanal Safari - Giant ant eater filmed by safari guests 2019

COVID-19 ADVICE NOTE

On Track Safaris Revised Terms & Conditions V2 – 20/04/2020

We at On Track Safaris recognise the increased uncertainty that the ongoing outbreak of Coronavirus (more specifically Covid-19) may be causing in the planning of your holiday with us.

We would like to reassure you that we continue to closely monitor this situation as it rapidly evolves. 

In order to offer you flexibility and security, we have revised our T&C’s (see below) to enable you to be able to postpone your trip should that become necessary.

Our wish is to arrange a holiday for you that not only gives you something to look forward to, but which also causes you no stress in terms of concern over losing either your holiday or your money. We will give as much advice as we can at every point. And remember, your funds are 100% secure. On Track safaris is a member of the Travel Trust Association, which is a trade association of Travel Agents, Tour Operators and Travel Organisers, that operate trust accounts, in order to provide financial protection for the consumer. The TTA lays down strict guidelines on how customer funds may be handled, and each member must adhere to these guidelines. Every TTA member puts customer’s funds into a designated trust account, which is supervised by an independent trustee. Your funds are held in this account and may not be released unless you receive your holiday, or your funds are released to another company that becomes responsible and provides for your financial protection.

CONFIRMED BOOKINGS TRAVELLING UP TO 30 JUNE 2020?

In order to accommodate the varying worldwide travel restrictions, we have amended our standard terms to allow guests to postpone their travel up to a year after their original travel date and carry forward 100% of their booking’s value* to the future booking. Should a guest elect to cancel their booking then our standard cancellation policy applies.

CONFIRMED BOOKINGS THAT ARE DUE TO TRAVEL IN JULY 2020?

Given the fluidity of global events, we recommend guests wait until the 15th May 2020 to make a decision to postpone or continue travel in July 2020. Should guests elect to cancel or postpone their booking prior to 15 May 2020 then On Track Safaris standard terms and conditions apply.

Should the same global conditions (varying worldwide travel restrictions) exist at 15 May 2020, then we will allow guests to postpone their bookings travelling in July 2020 up to a year after their original travel date and carry forward 100% of their booking’s value* to the future booking.

CONFIRMED BOOKINGS THAT ARE DUE TO TRAVEL IN AUGUST 2020?

Given the fluidity of global events, we recommend guests wait until the 15th June 2020 to make a decision to postpone or continue travel after 1 August 2020. Should guests elect to cancel or postpone their booking prior to 15 June 2020 then On Track Safaris standard terms and conditions apply.

Should the same global conditions (varying worldwide travel restrictions) exist at 15 June 2020, then we will allow guests to postpone their bookings travelling in August 2020 up to a year after their original travel date and carry forward 100% of their booking’s value* to the future booking.

CONFIRMED BOOKINGS THAT ARE DUE TO TRAVEL AFTER 1 SEPTEMBER 2020

Given the fluidity of global events, we recommend guests wait until the 15th July 2020 to make a decision to postpone or continue travel after 1 September 2020. Should guests elect to cancel or postpone their booking prior to 15 July 2020 then On Track Safaris standard terms and conditions apply.

Should the same global conditions (varying worldwide travel restrictions) exist at 15 July 2020, then we will allow guests to postpone their bookings travelling after 1 September 2020 and carry forward 100% of their booking’s value* to the future booking. 

*  Definition of Booking Value

1.      The booking value carried forward will be calculated as the full funds received on the booking, less any government mandated, regulatory imposed, or service costs at the destination that cannot be recovered.

2.      At the time of deferment, we will clearly communicate what costs are not recoverable and deducted from the credit that can be used on the future booking.

3.      If the future booking is made for travel in a different season, or availability of services means that the costs of the logistics, activities, or accommodation has increased, the traveller will be liable for the difference in costs associated with the new trip.

4.      Applied Special Offers may not be applicable on the new reservation.

Notes:

5.    While we will make every endeavour to replicate the same lodge accommodation for your preferred future travel dates, this may not always be feasible due to lodge availability, in which case we will advise on alternate dates.

6.    In the case of your wishing to postpone your travel as detailed above, we will advise if any revisions are possible to your balance payment schedule. 

Lion patrolling

Video from February 20. Leopard seen by safari guests in the Thornybush Game Reserve. Thankfully, African wildlife will be there waiting for us just as soon as it's safe to travel again.

Lion walks by

Lion decides against a snack

Mum left him some food

Young Leopard watches for trouble

Evening Snack

Mum looking for her cub

A pleasant morning scene

Bush and Beach Safaris

Our bush and beach safari itinerary offers the ideal balance between activity and relaxation. Start your trip off with a safari adventure in the South African bush visiting two of our favourite game reserves, before completely relaxing and unwinding on Mozambiques sandy beaches. Safaris can be quite tiring, particularly with their early starts, so what better way to relax and re-invigorate yourself than by enjoying time on the coast before returning home to the real world.

CLICK HERE for more information

Serengeti Migration Safari

June - mid July

This great spectacle of nature is an iconic safari option for avid travellers, nature lovers and those who want a little more from their African experience. 

Our camp follows the migration as it moves through the Serengeti, therefore the start and end locations together with the first and last nights local accommodation alter accordingly first from June to mid July and then our base moves to cover the period to the end of October. You'll find both itineraries in this Tanzania section.

Our camp accommodation is in Bush Rover Suites that are working Land Rovers which drive in to each location and set up to accommodate 8 people in 4 Bush Rover suites. Each Bush Rover camp has a staff of 2 chefs, 2 waiters, guide and rangers. The Bush Rover Suites do not transport guests. Each camp is a set seasonal camp which guests arrive at similar to other camps in the Serengeti but with a unique look and function in the most iconic safari vehicle – Land Rover.  The elevation of the bedroom and balcony means that we can get closer to the action whilst still being secure. Each Bush Rover Suite has a 14 x 16 ft bedroom platform raised up over the roof of the vehicle, shower, bath and flush toilet in each unit and powered from a solar panel for 24-hour lights and hot water in each suite. The balcony in each suite looks over the migration in whichever camp we are situated. Meals are taken in a large comfortable mess tent or under the stars dependent on weather.

From your beautiful elevated bedroom with its balcony looking out to the wilderness, to the wood panelled bathroom, no screw has been left unturned to smooth your outdoor living. You will have the modern comforts of solar powered hot water, lights and power sockets to recharge your batteries. What more could you want? Most importantly, unlike fixed camps and lodges, the Bush Rovers move to the right places to provide the safari of a lifetime, to experience splendid isolation in total comfort. Blessed with a spectacular array of wildlife and the world's largest migration circuit, the Serengeti is ultimate safari country. This adventure lets you witness the unbeatable natural phenomenon of over one million wildebeest making their journey from the Maasai Mara, from the exclusive luxury of a Bush Rover suite. The camp will be set up at the heart of the migration, in a site specially chosen following years of research and knowledge, to make sure guests have an amazing experience but one they share with nobody else.

CLICK HERE for more information 

Snow Leopard Safari

Our Snow Leopard special safari is based in the province of Ladakh, in the Western Himalayas, India. This area was once a powerful independent kingdom encompassing much of the present-day Western Tibet, and an important route along the ancient silk road. Moreover, it is also one of the world’s key locations to see Snow Leopards. It's often thought that Snow leopards are very difficult to see, and while nothing in wildlife can be taken for granted, sightings are good with figures over the last four years showing an 80% chance of seeing one (or hopefully more), Snow Leopards on this safari.

We run this annual special safari on the following dates:

12th - 25th Feb 2021

The traditional snow leopard safaris utilise home stay or camping accommodation, however we prefer a little more comfort for our guests and have secured accommodation in the only tourist lodge in the area, at the very epicentre of Snow leopard sightings. 

Snow Leopard Lodge is located in the small village of Ulley, Ladakh, and offers superb views across the Ulley Chhu Valley. The lodge is basic, yet warm and cozy, with lovely home cooked meals, making this a much more comfortable alternative to camping. Leopards are regularly seen from the deck of the lodge where spotters watch across the adjacent mountains each morning and evening. In addition the lodge has a network of spotters in villages spread across forty five square kilometres who radio in any sightings, especially  on kills where Leopards will return for several days.

Please note that Snow Leopard Lodge sits at 4,000 meters in the magnificent Himalaya mountains. Keeping that in mind we take things slowly and allow you time to adjust to the altitude in luxury in the small town of Leh before travelling to Snow leopard lodge. We also take away the necessity to hike by using SUV's to traverse the area.

Click Here for more information