Trip planned to a troubled area?

The advantage of Charlie’s Travels: we are on the ground

We operate from the African continent, which means we always know exactly what’s going on, where you shouldn’t be, and which areas and activities are absolutely safe. And no, not just in Kenya. We’re active in nine countries, with our staff spread across four (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and South Africa). In the other five destinations (Eswatini, Mozambique, Namibia, Botswana, and Rwanda), our partners live on the ground, and we’re in daily contact with them. These ‘partners’ include drivers, chefs, guides, accommodation owners, and local entrepreneurs with whom we organise our unique experiences.

Our nine African destinations are all rapidly developing. This is part of what makes travel in Africa so adventurous—the often untouched nature, the incredibly hospitable people, and the wonderfully pure culture. However, a developing country can sometimes also experience unrest. Examples of this include: limited infrastructure leading to an increased risk of natural disasters, unstable or corrupt politics causing protests, or even areas with terrorist threats.

Many of these worst-case scenarios are localised within a specific part of a country. For example, floods might affect one national park, while 200 kilometres away, there’s little to no impact. Or protests may take place in a very specific neighbourhood of a big city, while in another part, you can still enjoy fantastic cultural activities. Where exactly should you be, and more importantly, where shouldn’t you be? That’s where we come in!

Moreover, the media often provides a very one-sided and unnuanced view of what’s really happening. That’s why it’s crucial to get well-informed before your trip—preferably by us—about the precise situation on the ground.

What you can count on with Charlie’s Travels:

• Up-to-date information: If any issues arise in the country you’re travelling to, we’ll always proactively inform you before your trip.
• Travel briefing before departure: A few weeks before you set off, you’ll have a standard travel briefing with the operational consultant who organised your trip. If you have any concerns or doubts at that time, this is the perfect opportunity to discuss them in detail.
• 24/7 contact with your travel consultant: During your trip, you’ll have 24/7 access to your travel consultant via WhatsApp. You can always reach out with any questions, and they’ll assist you as needed. If your plans need to change unexpectedly during your trip, we can adjust arrangements day or night to make it happen.
• Flexibility to adjust your trip if needed: If we strongly advise you to alter your original travel plans, we’ll suggest alternative accommodation and activities within the same budget (if possible).

In the rare case we advise you not to go: If we recommend against travelling, we’ll cover the costs. If there’s no substantial reason not to go, but you still don’t feel comfortable travelling, the costs will be on you. But don’t worry—together, we’ll always find a solution that works for both sides.

What you can do to prepare:

• Always check the travel advice from the Dutch government. Although we often see more nuances than just red, orange, and green, this advice can sometimes affect your insurance.
• Make sure your travel insurance covers Africa and take out cancellation insurance.
• Stay informed through reliable news websites, but be aware that international media often provide a one-sided and unnuanced view of the situation. They tend to focus on the negative (newsworthy) aspects, and you might not see much of the positive news or the nuances.
• Feel free to ask us any questions. We can provide you with our on-the-ground experiences and information.

In short, make sure you’re well-informed about the situation in a country before you travel and take advice from our team for up-to-date, nuanced, and on-the-ground information. Rest assured, we would never take the risk of putting you and your travel companions in an unsafe situation. Nobody knows how a situation will develop in a week or a month, which is precisely why reliable, current, and fast communication from our travel consultants on-site is a must. The choice is always yours—to start or adjust your trip. Don’t let yourself be easily spooked by all the stories and, if the situation is safe, opt for that unforgettable African adventure!