Definitions
Five things, sold under one word
Each bought separately, each priced very differently, and each easy to assume you have already bought.
1. The vehicle
A shared vehicle is four to six people on one schedule. Every departure time is a negotiation, every decision to leave a sighting is a vote, and on a honeymoon the specific cost is that skipping a morning becomes a social act.
A private vehicle removes all of it for a few hundred dollars a day. It is the cheapest layer and it changes the most.
| You are told | Ask |
|---|---|
| "You will have a private vehicle" | Guaranteed, or only if the camp is not full? |
| "Private vehicle on request" | What does it cost, and can we book it now rather than on arrival? |
| "Maximum four guests per vehicle" | Four including us, or four others? |
| "Private guide" | Does that include the vehicle, or is it a separate line? |
2. The guide
Separate from the vehicle, and often sold as though it were the same thing.
A guide assigned for your stay rather than per drive is a small cost and frequently included, and by the third morning he is putting you where something is about to happen rather than driving you to where something is. A guide who travels with you between camps is the most expensive layer after exclusive use, and on a multi-stop trip it changes more than any camp choice.
3. The meals
The layer everybody forgets, and on a honeymoon the one that shapes the evenings.
| Arrangement | The evening |
|---|---|
| One hosted table | Dinner with everybody, every night, led by the manager |
| Separate tables | You talk to whom you choose |
| Separate tables plus deck dinners on request | Company when you want it, and not when you do not |
It costs nothing. It is a question about how the camp is run rather than an upgrade, which is exactly why it should be asked before you choose the camp.
4. The camp
Two separate decisions: how big, and whether to take it whole.
Six to ten tents suits most couples. Choosing small is usually free. Size and price are only loosely related above the entry level. Taking a camp whole is the top of the market and a different proposition, covered on its own page.
5. The aircraft
A scheduled light-aircraft transfer follows a route with other stops and other passengers. A private charter is your aircraft and your departure time.
Priced per aircraft rather than per person, which makes it very good value for six and poor value for two. On a honeymoon it is usually the last layer worth buying and, reliably, the first one mentioned.
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