Injuries

The tracks we hike on are sometimes slippery and uneven which can put extra stress on ankles and knees. Please inform us if you have previous ankle/knee problems as these are our most common injuries. We strongly recommend that you wear a reliable knee/ankle support if you have had previous injuries. A walking pole can also help considerably.

Blisters

There is nothing worse than a blister on your heel on the first day of hiking when you've got 9 more days to go! With new boots blisters are especially a problem, but can also occur with broken-in boots due to the amount of hiking and the terrain we travel over. In most instances they are preventable, simply by applying tape to your feet before you start hiking. If you feel a hot spot on your foot, stop and tape it up. This is an early sign of a blister developing.

Insect Bites

Sandflies and mosquitos can, at times, drive people crazy. The most important thing is not to get bitten. Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants in the mornings and evenings when they are at their worst, and put on insect repellent. If you do get bitten, antihistamine cream will help to stop the itching. We do not have any malaria in New Zealand.

Sunburn

New Zealand lies under a big hole in the ozone layer and has little air pollution so the sunshine can be very intense especially in midsummer. You can get sunburned in as little as 15 minutes. Therefore it is essential to have a good sunblock and to apply it repeatedly.

Personal Hygiene

Part of the Nature Safari ethic is getting away from it all, which can sometimes mean missing out on a hot shower for 3 or 4 days. However there are always lakes and rivers to wash in at the end of a days trek. You'll really get to enjoy this part of our Safaris. For those doing the Milford or Routeburn guided walks, hot showers are available at the lodges.Water - New Zealand's mountain water is great to drink. Giardia has arrived at some of the tourist tracks but unlikely in our Safari areas. It is important to drink plenty of fluids while hiking, as dehydration will slow you down and give you headaches, and can lead to sunstroke on hot days. Make sure you bring a drink bottle.

Toilets

All camps we use have some form of a toilet, quite often the long-drop style. If you need to go to the toilet while hiking, make sure you bury all traces of excrement. Always go well away from any water ways (at least 50 metres). The lodges on the Milford and Routeburn tracks are equipped with flush toilets.

New Zealand is famous for its hiking, or tramping as we call it. We have several famous tracks, e.g. the Milford and Routeburn, which attract thousands of visitors each year. However, New Zealand's hiking is not limited to these areas. We have great hikes throughout the country. On our Nature Safaris we explore the least known tracks and try to avoid crowded huts and walkways. Instead, we seek wilderness, off the main tourist routes. The scenery is just as spectacular if not more so.

As we explore many less known wilderness areas, tracks can at times be slippery and rough, and may involve river crossings. At times we hike off the track so hiking boots are essential. Although you do not need previous hiking experience (except for safaris graded 'fit'), you do need to be reasonably fit, enthusiastic and prepared for a mental and physical challenge. Our Nature Safaris are designed for adults and you generally need to be at least 16 years old to join us. However, fit and mature younger teens may be able to come if accommodationmodationodationpanied by an adult. The Milford and Routeburn Guided Walks welcome people aged at least 10 years.

You won’t be left behind! We hike together as a group at a steady pace, stopping for a good lunch and often for snacks. Due to changeable weather conditions and the remoteness of the areas we visit, we insist that the group stay together. We expect you to follow the guidelines in our environmental care code.

Our safaris are hiking tours of New Zealand, and therefore a reasonable standard of fitness is required. Almost every day will involve some hiking - some days, carrying your backpack for up to 7 hours (for overnight hikes, your backpack with sleeping bag, personal gear, and food will weigh approximately 12 kg). If you haven't been hiking or active for a while then we recommend that you get fit for your safari.

Most younger people are naturally fit if they participate in some form of sport or visit the gym every week. You will get fitter on your safari, but in general the fitter you are to start with, the more enjoyment you will get out of your trip. If you are concerned about your fitness and want to prepare yourself for the safari then here are some tips.

• Start doing hikes a month before the trip. Start with a walk around your village or town at a brisk pace for 1 or 2 hours and build up slowly to 4 -5 hour walks with a small, loaded (5-10 kg) pack. Also take walks over uneven terrain to improve your balance, over farmland or into the mountains.
• Cycling is great exercise for building up your leg and knee muscles.
• Visit your local gym and talk with your instructor. They can put together a fitness program best suited to your needs.
• You will find that on Safari you will eat more than what you would normally, especially snack foods, e.g. chocolate, peanuts, muesli bars, banana chips, biscuits etc. It is important to keep your energy levels up. You will be burning a lot of energy. When you are training for your Safari, remember to take some snacks with you.

GRADE MEDIUM
No previous hiking experience is required, but you need to be reasonably fit and enthusiastic.
Hiking per day	Up to 7 hours - average 4-5 hours
Pack weight	Up to 12kg
Altitude gain per day	Up to 700 metres - normally 200 metres
Terrain	Mostly tracks. Some may be slippery or rough; some off-track hiking and river crossings.
GRADE FIT
Hiking per day	Up to 8 hours - average 7 hours
Pack weight	Up to 14kg
Altitude gain per day	Up to 900 metres - normally 300 metres
Terrain	Lots of off-road hiking involving rock- hopping, scree slopes, bush bashing, river crossing and some exposure to heights.

Hiking times and distances are approximate only. They indicate actual hiking times and do not include breaks.

We have high quality hiking equipment which you can hire for our Nature Safaris. See the table below for price in NZ$ (GST included). Please arrange hire gear when you book. Requests for hire equipment must be made at least 5 days before the departure date. Requests for hire equipment within 10 days of departure may incur a $10 courier fee.

We also sell NZ Nature Safari fleece jackets ($100). Please order when you make your booking.

EQUIPMENT HIRE($NZD)	10 DAYS	4 DAYS
Sleeping Bag	$50.00	$25.00
Backpack	$50.00	$25.00
Therm-a-rest	$20.00	$10.00
Polypro top+bottom	$20.00	$10.00
Fleece Jacket	$20.00	$10.00
Raincoat	$20.00	$10.00
Full Set (all of them)	$150.00	$75.00

We recommend Fairydown and Macpac quality outdoor clothing and equipment. The hire gear above applies only to our Nature Safaris. The equipment required and provided for the Milford Track, Routeburn Track and Ball Pass trips is detailed in the relevant trip dossiers.

Safaris are run on a food kitty system - each person contributes about $10 per day. Our first stop is usually the supermarket where we all help with buying food for the next few days. Everybody is involved with the preparation and cooking of meals: barbecues, salads, pancakes, stews, pasta, dampers, hangi...Vegetarian meals are no problem. When we are on overnight hikes we tend to eat pasta and rice meals. We usually take lots of hiking food - chocolate, peanuts, raisins, biscuits. The vehicles carry a full range of cooking equipment including gas burners, woks, frying pans and billies. When we go on an overnight hike we carry a portable stove.

Hangi

This is a way of cooking food that was used by the Maori people of New Zealand. On one of the nights of your safari your guide will show you how to put down a hangi - usually on a beach. To prepare a hangi you dig a hole in the sand, light a fire in the hole and heat up rocks. When the wood has burnt down you put in the food (chicken, meat, potatoes, kumara, pumpkin, onions, sweet corn...), cover it with sacks and then sand. You leave it to cook for 2 hours and uncover. Eat with your fingers (knives and forks are optional).

Transport

We travel in a 10 or 12 seat minibus towing a trailer with camp equipment and your luggage. All vehicles have a public address system, and a stereo with a variety of music. We also carry a range of natural history reference books. We average 2-3 hours driving per day and we drive on a range of roads - sealed and unsealed. We often stop the vehicle for you to take photos.On some of the nights you will be camping by the vehicle

Your involvement

Everyone is fully involved with the running of the safari, from collecting firewood, to setting up camp and cooking meals. You are expected to do your share of work. If you are not a great cook, don't worry - your guide and other people in the group will help you.

The safaris are strong on group activities and participation (max. group size 12) including playing outdoor games, going for swims, helping one another to cross rivers and explore caves, and overcoming obstacles and challenges. We encourage you to participate in activities, but if it's not your thing that is also OK. We allow time for people to be by themselves on safari if they need it.