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Holiday Information |
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How to book When you have decided on the accommodation you require, contact Onyx International Travel Services Ltd for a quotation. Then, complete and sign the booking form and return it to Onyx with the relevant deposit. Onyx will then check if the services requested are available and, if so, will make a reservation for you and issue a confirmation.
Passports/visas Full British passports are required. They must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the end of your stay. At present a visa is required to enter Ethiopia or Madagascar. Please note: It is your own responsibility to check with the relevant embassy that you meet all passport and visa requirements.
Health No vaccinations are compulsory; however, the following are recommended at the time of writing: Hepatitis A and B, Polio, Typhoid and Tetanus. Protection against malaria is strongly recommended. As requirements may change at short notice, you are responsible for ensuring you take advice from your GP or specialist vaccination centres. Do not drink tap water. Drink only bottled mineral water which is available in most hotels and stores, but always check carefully that the cap is securely sealed before opening. It is advisable not to swim in or drink from rivers or lakes as they may be infected with bilharzia.
Climate Ethiopia: Despite its proximity to the Equator, Ethiopia’s high altitude ensures a temperate, moderate even sometimes chilly climate - certainly not tropical. There are two rainy seasons; the irregular short rains from late January to early March and long rains from June until mid-September. The average temperature is about 25°C and in the lower lying areas such as Awash, Omo and Mago parks it can be considerably higher. Protection against the sun is strongly advised. Madagascar: The weather is hot sub-tropical, but cooler in the highlands. The hot rainy season is from November to March. It is very hot on the coast usually up to around 36°C and in some areas, like Berenty Private Reserve, up to 39°C. Up to 30°C is common in the highlands. The cyclone season is usually January-April with around 4-6 cyclones annually. The western and southern parts of the island are dry and hot whereas the east is hot and wet. The dry season is April-October except in the rain forest which is wet most of the time. Protection against the sun is strongly advised.
Luggage Baggage allowance can vary according to destination and airline. On internal flights within Ethiopia and Madagascar, the allowance is 20kgs in economy class.
Dress code Lightweight casual clothes are recommended during the day with warmer clothing during the evenings and early mornings. Some hotels require smart casual clothes during the evenings (collar and long trousers for men), others require jacket and tie.
Children Some hotels are obviously more suitable than others for families with young children. Details of facilities and prices on request.
Check-in/out times at hotels Generally hotel rooms are made available between noon and 3pm and are to be vacated between 10am and noon. If you arrive at a hotel before the normal check-in time your room may not be ready.
Special requests Please inform Onyx of special requests at the time of booking. Onyx cannot guarantee that special requests will be met and has no liability to you if they are not.
Electricity Power supply is 220 volts with round two pin plugs.
Game reserves and outdoor pursuits Whilst every precaution is taken by game lodges and organisers to ensure the safety of their guests, it must be accepted that there can be a small risk of danger as you will be travelling through areas where wild animals wander freely.
Bonding Onyx International Travel Services Ltd is a bonded Tour Operator. We hold Air Travel Organiser’s Licence no. 3306, granted by the Civil Aviation Authority. Payments for tours which exclude flights will be covered by an insurance policy.
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