Best Of
Re: Carry on luggage
As a reminder the rolling duffels for Botswana, South Africa and Zambia and Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe are 30 x 15 x 14 according to Tauck. I've never seen an airline allow a 30" bag as carryon.
SAdivr
Re: Malaria Medication South Africa Kruger & Vic Falls
@GailP519 you don't need a yellow fever vaccination to enter South Africa if you're coming from an area that doesn't have yellow fever. This includes the U.S.and Europe. The same is true for Zimbabwe. You enter Zimbabwe from South Africa which doesn't have yellow fever
itskr
Re: Malaria Medication South Africa Kruger & Vic Falls
Stellie Hi!
July will be here pretty soon. 
Please, if you are getting all the vaccines people normally do, don't do them all at once, start now so you won't feel sick.
Regarding Malaria:
I took it and I went in Sept.- If you Do , I will suggest to take it with dairy products, milk, yogurt etc... and preferable at breakfast time, some people have had nightmares or cannot sleep when taken at nighttime.
I took it at breakfast time, no issues... of course my personal experience.
But again, better ask a doctor.
P.D
Hey, my friend ...Where are you???? You, the ghost that always comes up to comment about my replies.... maybe asleep?
mil
Re: Malaria Medication South Africa Kruger & Vic Falls
Mil, we did as you suggested and will do again, that is eat a substantial breakfast including yogurt. Then, take the Malarone, and we never had a problem.
GailP, if you are over a certain age (65??) you can get a waiver for the yellow fever vaccine. My husband and I both got the vaccination at 68 with no reaction at all. Please talk with your physician or an international travel clinic for the best advice for your individual circumstance. We look forward to meeting you in September. It should be a fabulous tour.
JanP
Re: Gear Icon in posts
Mike, I hope you are having a great time. The TD for our upcoming tour is also using WhatsApp. I think it is becoming more routine as our TD in 2022 also used it.
Re: Gear Icon in posts
I'm on a tour right now. The TD sent out an email to all the guests with all of the paperwork in electronic form. He had also set up a group WhatsApp thread and a QR code for people to use to join the WhatsApp thread.
One thing I really appreciated is that he did not send that email with everyone's email address exposed - as our last Tauck TD did. The only email addresses I could see were my address, my wife's address, and his address.
I think Tauck is trying to move to more electronic delivery. The TD on this trip said everything was available on paper for those who preferred that. I expect the majority will go with the electronic delivery.
Re: Is the pre-tour trip to Capri worthwhile?
BKMD
7:29PM
Thanks, both. I'll bring a personal item-sized dry bag (big enough for wallet, phone, etc.) that I've used on some rafting trips.
Just checked weather (next Wed.) and looks like 65 and chance of showers.
Really, unless you are normally unstable and think you might fall over, I do not think a dry sack is necessary. You might get a minor splash, but not enough to get wet or damage wallet, phone, or camera. I carried a DSLR with no problem. If it is rough in the slightest in the area of the entrance, they will close the Blue Grotto and you won't transfer into the row boats. If needed, the boatmen wipe the floor of the row boats dry between trips, so it would be unusual for even the seat of your pants to get damp or wet.
AlanS
Re: Gear Icon in posts
I wonder if the tech dept is having some "growing pains". 2 days ago we received a welcome letter from Tauck Operations with a reiteration of our itinerary for our upcoming trip. It included a mention of our post-night stay, but not our pre-night stay. I checked in with Tauck, and they had no record of this letter being sent. The agent bumped it up to the tech dept, from where an agent contacted me later. He said the welcome letter was a new feature and thanked me for pointing out the glitch, and that they absolutely knew we were arriving the day before the tour. (Of note, the main other focus of the letter seemed to be a reminder about the TG and driver tips.)
I am hoping that these mystery tech glitches are an indication that Tauck is finally on their way to improving their website and communication, not only with guests but among their various departments.
Wan
Re: Sunscreen and bug spray
Is it bad to wear DEET everyday?
Sunscreen needs to be reapplied often, while DEET should not be used more than once a day. DEET concentrations higher than 30% are not more effective and the chemical (which is absorbed through the skin) in high amounts can be toxic.
British