Foreign Office Travel Warnings

Before booking your tour, please familiarise yourself with the country specific information provided by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) – www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice. This includes important information such as latest immigration requirements, and details of any travel advisories.

We constantly monitor the advice posted by the FCDO. In particular we will always advise clients of any travel warnings. At the time of writing the there are no warnings for travel to any of the countries visited on this tour.

It should be noted that this information applies to British citizens. Other nationals are asked to check the current position of their respective government.

Visa Information

UK, US, and Australian passport holders will require a visa for Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. These nationals do not require a visa for a short-term tourist visit to South Africa.

As it is the travellers’ responsibility to ensure that they meet all entry requirements it is essential that you check the rules and any other conditions at the time of booking and again when making your balance payment. In addition, we would strongly advise that you make a final check around two weeks before your arrival. This is important as requirements can change at short notice. Undiscovered Destinations, when possible, will provide guidance about entry rules, but in the first instance please contact the relevant authorities, including the applicable embassy or consulate for assistance. Contact details can be found by visiting the following websites

British Nationals – www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice

US Nationals – https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel.html

Australian Nationals – www.smartraveller.gov.au/

Other nationals should check the latest requirements with the authorities in their home country, or with the destination’s nearest embassy or consulate.

Passports

It is your responsibility to ensure that you are in possession of a full passport, valid for at least six months after the date of return to your country.

We strongly advise that your passport contains a minimum of two blank pages, as this may be a requirement of the local immigration authorities. In addition, certain countries will stipulate that the two blank pages are opposite each other. If you are unable to meet these requirements, you may be refused boarding by your airline or denied entry by the immigration authorities.

For specific information about the requirements for your destination please check with the country’s embassy or consulate. Alternatively, UK citizens can visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice.

Vaccinations & Protection

As with travel to most parts of Africa, we strongly recommend that you contact your doctor’s surgery or a specialist travel clinic for up-to-date information, advice, and the necessary vaccinations. For a visit of less than one month, you maybe advised to have immunisations against the following: Diphtheria and Tetanus, Hepatitis A, Typhoid, Meningitis.

The legal status and regulation of some medicines prescribed or purchased in your home country can be different in other countries. If you’re travelling with prescription or over-the-counter medicine, read this guidance from NaTHNaC on best practice when travelling with medicines. For further information on the legal status of a specific medicine, you will need to contact the embassy, high commission or consulate of the country or territory you’re travelling to.

Travel Insurance

It is a condition of booking with Undiscovered Destinations that you have adequate valid travel insurance. It is your responsibility to arrange appropriate travel insurance and ensure you have read and understood the full terms and conditions of your travel insurance policy to ensure that you are covered for all activities you intend to undertake whilst on the tour, including all optional activities. Your Insurance Policy must fully cover you for medical expenses (including cover for Covid-19 conditions) and emergency repatriation to your home country and be valid for the entire duration of your holiday.

Tour itinerary notes

The itinerary has been carefully planned based on the latest train schedules, but timings can change at short notice, or the days of the week that a particular train normally operates can also change. This will potentially require amending our itinerary and the number of nights that we stay in each city. Before you are asked to accept any changes our experienced travel consultants will of course discuss the options with you. These may well be limited, so it is important that you can be flexible.

Is this trip for you?

This journey will be best suited to experienced travellers and to those who are comfortable in carrying their own luggage unassisted. This is important as trains in Africa do not provide an airline style checked-in baggage service. Each passenger is responsible for their own luggage, which they will keep with them on each leg of the trip. On occasions this will mean storing luggage in overhead racks. Although the group, a maximum of 12 travellers, will be escorted by a tour leader from Undiscovered Destinations for the leg of the trip from Dar es Salaam to Lusaka, their role is primarily one of managing the logistics and liaising with the locally based guides who will be responsible for providing guided tours and excursions along the way.

As well as considering the matter of luggage, it is also important to note that facilities on the TAZARA train are basic and cannot be compared to travel by sleeper train in other parts of the world, such as Western Europe and North America. Our group will be assigned private first class 4-berth compartments, with western style toilets at the end of each corridor. Shower facilities are unlikely to be available for the two night journey. Although bedding will be provided, we suggest you take your own lightweight sleeping bag or liner. Meals and drinks are available for purchase, payable in local cash, from the train’s dining car, although menu options will be very limited especially later in the journey when stocks can run low. Unfortunately, it will not be possible to cater for particular dietary requirements.