FAQ...
1. Where is the camp? This is the most often asked question, and the answer is; it is in an enormous warehouse in Johannesburg. Remember that it is a mobile safari camp, and therefore can almost anywhere you want it to be.
2. How many guests can be accommodated by Chiefs? Currently the camp can accommodate 350 guests in 150 dome tents and 25 luxury tents.
3. Where can the camp be set up? Almost anywhere in Southern Africa and the world for that matter.
4. What does it cost? Due to the nature of the camp, variable number of tents and nights and wide range of possible destinations, it will always be tricky to provide with absolute certainty in the absence of a short brief. But rates can vary from R2000 to R6000 per person per night.
5. How long does it take to establish a camp? Again this is often size dependent, and typically the Chiefs team will mobilise 5 to 10 days before the date of arrival, and striking the camp will generally take equally as long before the tents are cleaned and stored at the base in Johannesburg.
6. Why does it take so long to establish the camp? A question we get from time to time, and becomes easy to understand when one considers that as much as 200 tons of equipment must be transported onto sight, and typically we establish the camp in virgin areas. Firstly a substantial crew village is established. And there after the guest camp is established. But perhaps the most important phase is the break down of the camp and the cleaning of the site. In some cases wild grass seeds are sown to assist in the rehabilitation of the site.
7. What is ‘Experiences’? Some would argue that merely being in remote locations under canvas is an experience in itself, and we would agree, butExperiences is possibly best defined as all the activities which generally take place outside of the Chiefs hospitality offering.Experiences is also a set of activities which can be offered without any association with the tented camp.
8. How does the camp work? In essence the camp is no different to any other safari lodge, resort etc. with one possible exception; we do not have any ‘do not disturb’ door hangers, and this is because mother nature’s alarm clock is one that we cannot silence. The team at Chiefs will design your itinerary to make best use of the time you have in camp.
9. Is it safe? The camp is established in a variety of locations, and where this includes big 5 game reserves, the camp is surrounded by an electrified perimeter fence and patrolled by armed wardens. There is also always a medic on call in the camp.
10. What is the level of Luxury at the camp, and do I have options? Indeed you do, we have three tent styles, which begin with ourwarriors tent, followed by thedome and finally theluxury tent. Where the warrior is small by our standard at 2,5m x 2,5m, the dome is 3m x 3m and the luxury option is a cavernous 4m x 8m. Typically when the warrior tent is selected we would gather a four to five tents around a communal shower and toilet facility. The dome, our most popular offering gets a private shower and toilet facility which is adjacent to the tent. The luxury tent features en-suite bathroom including bath, shower and toilet. We believe the standard interior equipment levels are more than adequate for most guests and in the event that you would like additional furnishing added, we would be more than happy to assist.
11. What level of food can I expect? All meals are freshly prepared in a completely self sufficient kitchen facility, and are normally buffet style. Menus are available for your perusal, and we would be delighted to consult with you regarding specific meal plans. Most of our guests are taken by surprise by what can be achieved in a remote location.
12. How do the showers and ablution services work? Your camp manager will determine from you when you would like to take a shower, and at that time your shower reservoir will be filled with hot water and this allow you a ten minute shower. The adjacent portaloo is cleaned throughout the day. In addition there will be portable loos located at the central guest facilities, these are also cleaned after every use.
13. Is it possible to conference at the camp? Indeed it is, and there are several options available to you in the form conference facilities; Our standard, and most popular offering is a combination of two general purpose tents, and when configured in class room style, will provide generous space for 40 delegates, or up to 90 in cinema style.
14. What risks would I be taking if I were to place a group in the camp? We are of the view that sufficient camps have been established for Chiefs to have an excellent track record in operating mobile safari camps .
15. Who has used the camp before? FNB, Castrol, Cell C, Investec, Hewlett Packard, Speed Heat, Reckitt Benkeiser, Vodafone, Coca Cola, Rainbow Chickens, BMW, Bytes Technology (this camp won the SITE Crystal Award for best incentive worldwide for 2007)
16. My people don’t do camping? There is indeed a difference between camping and Chiefs Mobile Safari Camp, a bit like calling a Ferrari ‘transport’
