An elephant silhouetted against the sunset.

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions - Oxygen User Tours

I need oxygen permanently, can I travel with Endeavour Safaris?
Yes, absolutely whether you need oxygen permanently or only part of the time, our tours are designed around your needs. We have taken the logistics around your tour and pre-organised everything so you can enjoy a care free holiday.

How do I manage in the aeroplane?
The airlines supply oxygen to all passengers who require it from check in until arrival at your destination, till you pass through passport control. Their procedures and charges do vary, but usually you are charged a set amount per leg of your journey. It is very important to arrange oxygen in the terminal should you be over-nighting somewhere en-route, as this is no longer the airlines responsibility.

What happens between the aeroplane and the actual exit of the airport?
You will be assisted by the airline staff or ground crew until, you come outside of the passport control, where we will be waiting for you with Oxygen.

How does the oxygen aspect of the tour actually work?
Endeavour Safaris works out your individual oxygen requirements, from the information we receive in the questionnaire. Our vehicle is fitted with oxygen cylinders, we carry small portable cylinders, for any activities outside of the vehicle, and all the places we will be staying at, we have cylinders pre-delivered, for oxygen overnight in the room.

How does Endeavour Safaris know what my oxygen requirements are?
We have compiled an extensive questionnaire which you will need to fill out and return to us, advising us of your specific requirements.

Can I travel alone?
Yes. We do not discriminate against single travellers, provided you are medically fit to travel alone.

May friends and family travel with me on my tour?
Most definitely. In fact, that is our main target market – small groups, with 1 or 2 people in the group being disabled and the rest of the group consisting of able-bodied friends, carers and/or family members, we can however also cater for a group of only oxygen users.

Can we tailor-make this tour, around my specific dates and amount of days?
Depending on the availability of our vehicles and guides, we will do our best to try and accommodate your specific request – also taking into account any special interests that your group might have, for example, birding/ fishing/ cultural experience, etc.

Do I pay more for this tour due to my disability?
Yes. The only reason the cost works out more expensively for you, is because we include all the costs involved with supplying your oxygen. Besides the additional medical costs involved, all other costs are exactly the same as people who do not require oxygen.

Do my friends and family pay more, even though they do not require oxygen?
No, absolutely not. People not requiring oxygen simply pay the set tour price and are not charged anything extra.

May I organise a private tour?
Yes. We are happy to custom-design a private tour for small groups, provided there is a minimum number of 4 clients.

Must I bring my own oxygen bottles with me?
No, we use afrox cylinders and they will only refill their own cylinders, so to bring a cylinder would be a hinderance.

If I require oxygen 24hrs – i.e. also during the night – how do you provide this?
We organize that all oxygen used in the evenings is planned on a freeflow basis, it is only during the day, that we use a conserver on the cylinders.

Okay, so you have securely mounted oxygen bottles in the vehicle, which we use while driving, what happens when we leave the vehicle for activities?
You make use of the small portable cylinders.

Are these trips physically demanding?
All our itineraries are specifically put together in such as way to allow sufficient time for rest and relaxation. With our tours where lots of driving is included, we ensure plenty of rest stops for stretching legs, photo opportunities, etc.

Should a client experience a medical emergency, whilst on tour, how would ES react to this situation?
In South Africa, we are generally always within close proximity to hospitals of International standard. Should for whatever reason this not be the case, we will organise an emergency air evacuation, to the nearest major hospital for further medical help. In Botswana and Namibia or other countries to the North of South Africa, where we find ourselves further from major city centres, in the event of a medical emergency, that the local professional medical services, feel needs hospitalisation, we will without question organise an emergency air evacuation, to South Africa, or Windhoek the capital of Namibia.

How does the payment work for my oxygen, and how can I reclaim this with my medical aid?
Well, firstly, to be 100% sure, check with your medical aid and be sure they will accept our method. We have tried to simplify this payment system, because, as you know, money transfers are very expensive and often become a headache. Endeavour will invoice you for the full tour price, including all your oxygen costs. We will pay for all the oxygen direct. The oxygen supply company will invoice Endeavour Safaris as well as putting your name on the invoice. A copy of this invoice as well as a letter from Endeavour Safaris, stating that in order to cut down on administration, you paid us in full for medical costs whilst here on tour, and in actual point of fact you paid for your own medical indirectly.