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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