Question 1

+ Will someone be there to meet me at the airport?

Accepted Answer

Certainly! We take care of you from the moment you exit the airport until the moment we drop you off for your return flight home. We'll send you all of the info you need to know regarding arrival in a final info message before the trip.

Question 2

+ I plan to arrive a day early. Can you help?

Accepted Answer

Definitely, we'll be happy to make your reservations to ensure that you get to the same hotel that we have booked for the official first night of the tour. By the way, private transfers to and from the airport are always included in our tours, and you can use this transfer whether you arrive early or depart later than the official dates.

Question 3

+ What kind of clothes should I bring?

Accepted Answer

In general, your best choices are lightweight garments that breathe and dry quickly, and you'll want a mix of long sleeves and short sleeves. A light polar-tec and a good rain jacket are also good to have. For meals, it's informal at the lodges and in the region in general. A pair of jeans, tennis shoes, and a clean shirt are just fine for dinner, even in the capital city hotels. Lightweight hiking boots are fine for your photography out in the field, and if you're visiting a beach area, you will want sandals or aqua shoes as well. Of course a good hat and sunscreen are important. We will send you clothing information specific to your trip after you've signed up.

Question 4

+ Can I have laundry done?

Accepted Answer

Many of the lodges we use offer laundry service for a cost of approximately $2-4 per garment with same or next day service. We will indicate to you which lodges have laundry service after you've signed up for a given trip.

Question 5

+ Can I drink the water?

Accepted Answer

This is probably the question that our clients ask us the most. And it’s the one for which we have the least definitive answer, except to say that beer is always a safe choice!. Water in and around capital cities is treated with chlorine and generally can be consumed with no worries. The lodges that we use for our photo travel often have their own well or municipal water, which is tested regularly by the Ministry of Health. Nonetheless, upset stomachs do occur as a result of change in diet or simply bacteria different from those to which Northern stomachs are accustomed.
 
Serious disorders such as Giardia or amoebic dysentery are virtually unheard of. Bottled water is very widely available at our hotels and lodges, and a conservative strategy would be to use it as often as possible when outside the capital. As with travel to any foreign country, imodium pills are good to have along, and some of our clients also bring along Cipro or other broad-spectrum antibiotics. Some go so far as to begin taking antibiotics before arriving in-country. For antibiotic use, we suggest you consult with your physician. That said, we have very very few problems with water and food-related issues on our tours.
 
During the tour, we will indicate to you where and when it might be better to stick to bottled water.

Question 6

+ I'd like a single room. Can that be arranged?

Accepted Answer

Certainly. Simply indicate your rooming preference on the workshop signup form. There will be an extra charge for the single room supplement, and this is indicated in the full itinerary section of each workshop page. We do not take a commission for single room supplements.

Question 7

+ I'm traveling by myself but would like a double room. Can that be arranged?

Accepted Answer

It depends. If we can match you up with a suitable solo traveler who also wants to share, we will be happy to place you in a double room.

Question 8

Should I bring a tripod?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you always want to bring a tripod for all of our workshops. We will advise you each trip of any need for specialized heads or flash brackets.

Question 9

Can I pay with credit card?

Accepted Answer

Please note that we can accept credit card payments only for the reserve deposit. Because of exorbitant local fees and commissions and some quirks in the tax system here, we can accept payments of your final balance only via wire transfer. It's quite easy, and we will provide you with you all of the necessary information when we send your final invoice.

Frequently Asked Questions