Adventure tours are becoming an increasingly popular alternative to a traditional vacation. Travelers have found that adventure tours break up the monotony of visiting just one location on a trip. By visiting numerous locations, most of which are breathtaking landscapes or vibrant cities, an adventure tour can making an entire vacation an experience to remember. Many adventure tours include hiking and camping, and some even feature white water rafting or ocean kayaking. Since an adventure tour is not your ordinary vacation, there are a few things that you should keep in mind when venturing out on one. Here are the 10 most important tips to remember when setting out for your adventure tour vacation.
#1 – Be Prepared
Many of the places that an adventure tour can take you will put you out of the range of most cellular phones, so it is important that you prepare yourself ahead of time. Make sure that you travel with a fully-stocked first aid kit, complete with epinephrine and a snakebite kit. Training classes in CPR and first aid can be useful as well, and are generally offered by the local Red Cross or other civic organizations throughout the year. If you or anyone in your party requires medication, make sure that you have enough for the entire trip. Carry a list of all allergies that your party members have as well as all of the medications that everyone takes so that it can be provided to medical personnel if needed.
#2 – Don’t Forget the Sunscreen
While most people can get a sunburn and have it be a minor inconvenience, you will likely be spending most if not all of the day outside when on an adventure tour. Severe sunburns can lead to infections or other threats, and can also greatly increase your chances of getting several types of skin cancer. Make sure that you choose a waterproof or sweat proof sunscreen to keep it from getting washed off, and reapply it several times throughout the day.
#3 – Review the Tour Information Before You Set Out
Not only can reviewing the tour information help you to be more prepared for what you will face on your adventure tour, but it can also give you an idea of some of the things to be looking for. Many wonders may go unnoticed if you are not looking for them while on your tour.
#4 – Listen To Your Tour Guide
When travelling with a tour guide, make sure that you pay attention to the things that they say. This can not only enrich your tour experience but can also help you to avoid dangerous situations. A tour guide or tour coordinator is one advantage of taking an adventure tour rather than venturing to these locations on your own. The tour guide should be well versed on the locations you are visiting and has been trained to both add information and an element of safety to the vacationers on the adventure tour.
If an Adventure Tour Requires Experience, Make Sure That You Have It
Some tours are perfect for everyone, while others may require that you have a certain level of experience with hiking, rafting, or other activities. Make sure that you meet the requirements or you may be at risk of injury.
#5 – Stay Hydrated
Drink plenty of water while on your adventure tour, as it can be very easy to become dehydrated when out in the sun or doing physical activities. Make sure that you avoid caffeine and alcohol, as these can speed up dehydration.
#6 – Be Careful What You Eat and Drink
Only eat or drink from the wild when you absolutely know that it is safe to do so. There are a number of poisonous berries and plants which look perfectly harmless at first, and open water can contain a number of harmful microbes. Your best bet is to make sure that you have plenty of food and water in your pack.
#7 – Be Wary of Wildlife
Wildlife can be beautiful, but you should make sure that you give it the respect that it deserves. Not only are wild animals unused to human contact and may attack if provoked, but some animals can carry diseases which can be very dangerous. Likewise, many foods which are processed for human consumption can make wild animals very sick. Admire wildlife from afar to keep both you and the animals safe.
#8 – Be Respectful of Your Environment
Ideally, when an adventure tour group passes through there will be little or no signs that they were there. Avoid leaving litter behind or causing unnecessary damage to the environment as you pass through so that other tour groups will be able to enjoy the scenery as well.
#9 – Don’t Take Unnecessary Risks
It’s easy to get caught up in the adventure aspect of an adventure tour, especially when your days consist of activities such as rock climbing and white water rafting. Remember to keep a level head and don’t take unnecessary risks, since these risks can lead to serious injury if you aren’t careful.
#10 – Take Pictures! An adventure tour is truly a memorable experience. Whether you are traversing a narrow path down the Grand Canyon, hiking through the French countryside, or experiencing a safari in Africa or Australia, take a camera! Send the pictures to friends and family, or keep these memories for yourself. Either way, you will ensure that the incredible sights you have witnessed will stay with you forever.
By: Mike Cole
Posts Tagged ‘First Aid Kit’
Top 10 Tips for Vacationing on an Adventure Tour
January 13th, 2010Checklist for Packing for an African Safari Adventure
September 7th, 2009Before leaving your house to go on your safari adventure, there are a few things that you must remember to pack. Some key essentials are your passport and visas and one other thing you should definitely do is check ahead to make sure you have all necessary visas. International vaccination cards, traveler’s checks, two copies of your passport, passport photos, visas, and health record, driver’s license and any other ID.
Now I am sure the last thing you would want is to get sick on your trip, so prevent that by making sure you take all the necessary precautions. Malaria tablets are something you should bring along however, do remember they are not a preventative, just a pill that will suppress the harsh symptoms of malaria, so cover up at night and sleep under your mosquito netting.
Iodine tablets are another must, contaminated water is your worst enemy in Africa. If you choose to not buy the very affordable spring water, you will want to treat your water with iodine.
Re-hydration salts are something that taste like hell but will make your body feel like a king after an inevitable surge of Montezuma’s revenge, better known as traveler’s diarrhea.
Chap stick is simple but you will find that it is necessary. The plains are dusty and dry so without it, your lips can look like and feel like the terrain you will cross on safari. Vitamin tablets, small first aid kit, tweezers, headache or allergy medicine for squinting, sun, and bumpy jeep rides through the plains can all contribute to a pounding headache. It is best to always come prepared.
Some things that you should bring to wear include a wide brim hat or scarf for sun protection, cotton long sleeved shirts because tsetse flies, mosquitoes, and other insects can be brutal in some game parks. Also, temperatures can plummet to very extreme cold at night.
Also pack fleece for cool evenings and it is also great as an extra pillow on planes and a butt cushion on safari drives. Urban sandals, that act as shower shoes are mandatory and cheap. You would be surprised what type of foot diseases are just lurking within public showers. That is a very comprehensive checklist for packing for an African safari, always be prepared.
By: Munya Chinongoza
Top African Destinations
September 3rd, 2009
The top African Safari destinations include Botswana, South Africa, Namibia, Mozambique, Victoria falls, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
Most of these safari destinations are self driven African safari. A self driven African safari can provide the traveller with loads of freedom, privacy and choices, although it is always best to have a well-planned route map, with lodging or accommodation booked and paid before you leave for safari.
Self driving is a very cost effective & an exciting alternative solution for travellers to Africa, providing them with a huge sense of adventure & fun. It is well suited in those countries which have good infrastructure and road network. South Africa is a good option, where sedan vehicles running there are more than appropriate, followed by Namibia & Botswana.
However, Namibia is very much known for the Namib Desert. Here, one can enjoy the beauty of the desert from a hot air balloon ride and relax in the luxury lodges deep in the heart of the desert. It is one of the most photographic areas in Africa, with Desert landscapes, bush-veldt and National Parks teeming with wildlife. Namibia is a safari destination that one can not afford to miss when one gets an opportunity.
Namibia Safari is one of Africa’s unique safari destinations. Many visitors who have been there to Namibia remark that it is the most beautiful place on earth. The drivers need to be well prepared for routes of Namibia safari as they run into the vast deserted countryside with enough reserve fuel to travel the great distances between filling stations.
It is very necessary to carry extra fuel and oil, spare wheels, tools, a fan belt, spade, axe and torch, as well as a first-aid kit and sufficient water, food and firewood in case of a breakdown.
There are fewer filling stations, so fill up the tank at every opportunity. Filling stations in most of the towns remain open around the clock seven days a week, but in some of the smaller places close for the night and even part of the weekend.
The suitable time for Namibia safari is between May and October (the winter months in Southern Africa), but although hot in summer there is less tourist around and the best time to escape those European winters.
Namibia itself certainly is a land of stark and splendid scenery, often breathtaking in proportions, colour, lighting and variety or habitats.
By: Anirban Bhattacharya
