RAW FAQs

Our tour prices don’t include travel to and from the country of origin, but if you need any help organising this, just get in touch and we’ll point you in the right direction. We prefer our tours to start in country so that you can stay a little longer, combine tours or add another destination to your adventure.

Travel Insurance

Insurance is compulsory and you’ll need to organise your own. Just let us have a copy of the policy and carry the details with you on your travels. Look around for the best deal and choose a policy that has cover suitable for your trip.

Visas

In most cases you’ll need a Visa to travel to African countries. We’ll provide specific and more up to date information closer to your trip departure date and we encourage you to check with your travel agent also.

In most cases Visa on arrival charges are payable in US  dollars. Some visas are available only online

Please note: Raw Africa is not responsible if passengers are not in possession of the correct travel documents. This is ultimately the responsibility of the traveller. You should ensure you travel with enough US cash to pay for your visa.

You’ll need a passport, valid for at least six months after your return and a visa. Check out our ‘Travel Tips’ page for more info.

Your local GP or travel-specific medical centre should have the most up-to-date information available on what you’ll need. Visit your GP at least three months before you leave as some vaccinations must be given well in advance. Make sure you make an informed choice about malaria, which is prevalent in many of the areas we travel to.

It’s hard to say exactly how much you’ll need, but we’d suggest allowing for around A$20 per day for those little extras and personal treats! Remember most of our tours include all accommodation, meals, activities and tips required (with the exception of Zanzibar), but check your itinerary and “Welcome Letter” before you head off to be sure! Head to our ‘Travel Tips’ page for more info.

To make things easier for everyone, we’ve included tips in the cost of most of our tours, with exception of your RAW Africa guide. If you happen to be on a tour where tips aren’t included, just ask us prior to departure and we’ll let you know the score.

Our best advice is travel light! Pack for comfort above style and stick to neutral, earthy colours (especially good for walking in the bush). Avoid bright, primary colours as they can scare the animals away. It can get cold so bring clothes that allow for layered warmth. Cotton will be both cooler than synthetic fibres and easier to wash and press. Leave the valuable items at home as most laundry is done by hand, by the traditional method of pounding! For more suggestions, check out our blog post for more tips on what to pack.

Because we believe in responsible tourism, we like to give back as we travel. That means we work in partnership with local community and conservation programs to ensure local communities thrive and develop and local wildlife is protected. Check individual tours for details of where the conservation fund is allocated.

Many of our tours can be booked back to back, for those looking for a little more adventure! We can also help you with arranging additional accommodation at the start or end of the tours. Just get in touch and we’ll do our best to help.

We offer a wide range of tours, aimed at a variety of different travellers. So, who you meet is mostly dependent on which tour you choose! But rest assured, on all our tours you’ll be surrounded by like-minded travellers, all looking for adventure, all passionate about wildlife and all looking for a journey with a bit of a difference, with responsibility at its core.

Because we offer such unique, intimate tours, we like to keep our group sizes small, so each and every person gets the space needed to get the most from the experience. Check individual tour pages for maximum group sizes, but they are usually around six or eight people.

Our tours are designed to be flexible, but also our accommodation partners and organisations are an important part of our tours. At RAW Africa Eco-Tours, we’re serious about working with the communities in which we visit. In fact, our Director Brook started RAW Africa Eco-Tours to help support local organisations and communities in the incredible things they do. We like to stay flexible so that we can work around their availability.

Many of the places we stay at are small and beautifully intimate, and often our groups are the only people there. We want to make sure you can have that experience and the best way to do that is to remain flexible.

Plus, it’s YOUR adventure, we want to work around your timelines. If you’re joining a tour with other groups or individuals, we’ll always try to match you with like-minded travellers to ensure you’ll have the best experience possible. And sometimes that can require flexibility on our part.