Expedition can be also understood  as a group, unit, assotiation excursion to various localities of the whole world. What is exactly the reason for? We need to prepare and plan perfectly  any expedition, in order to avoid potentional danger, which can be met in the locality supposed to be visited.  So, the preparation just from your home, is decisive for the expedition success and minimalises eventual problems.

The preparation could take several months, even years. It depends on contents and difficulty of the expedition. Anyway, the first step is to obtain initial collections of information. The ways, how to get it, are various (phone-calls, maps, tourist guides and, more and more internet information at present). In spite of the fact that it seems to be you received  information sources enough, there exist some places you do not manage to get it or there are not available at all. This is a challenge! Provided you travel to exotic countries, you will meet the existence of illnesses, such as sleeping sickness, yellow fever and many other tropical diseases. In this case, the vaccination is necessary.

Anyway, this first  information-summary takes some effort and financial costs, of course. So the costs, which belong to expedition´s budget. We have to take into consideration while looking for donators and calculation of total costs. If it does not seem so, this part could reliably cover a quarter of total costs. Provided you have the chance to offer something concrete, you can cover these costs from donators´ gifts. However, you have to prepare all expedition-items right and carefully for donators. Nobody invests something to an action, not knowing in advance, what exactly brings to him. The profit for both parties bring - for instance - the tests of products, publicity in place of expedition-operation, successive advertisement after valuation of action-results, etc.

Anyway, as most important of whole expedition-preparation there is - choice of persons into group. Take in mind that you spend a lot of time with these people. You happen to be in such situation, you did not know before. A week - you spend with everybody. However, after longer time-period, the people become more nervous and  this could not be O.K. So, from the very beginning, make the division of separate actions among all participants. Provided you would like this action prepare yourselves, so would you state exact rules for everybody. It is a proverb that an order is valid for idiots and an intelligent man overcomes even a chaos. However, it could happen, that successively you are an idiot, and further problems come very soon and you will not be able how all coulld be solved.

Provided you travel to areas  less known, it happens to you, for sure, that  you do not obtain suitable maps, no mention about reliable guides. You have to try to ask for in special shops in Czech Republic or in abroad.  Sometimes, good source could be Czech Embassies abroad. They are able to supply you with this information in electronic way (e-mail) and free of charge. If you do not manage to receive it in this way, do not  worry, you find something in internet , you have to be patient, in case you fail after several unsuccessfull attempts. There exist many systems of  internet looking up.

Now, there are many travellers, who visited the country in past. Most of them have their web-sites. I did not met anybody up to now who refused to give me the necessary information. You find on internet the information where to get the maps at least. However, attention! There exist some countries where your request, regarding maps inquiry, could give cause for suspicion, you could be a spy. For what purpose does a normal person need a map?

Anyway, detailed maps of states or areas where you travel, you can directly buy there on spot. At present, the tourist traffic is extended all over the world, so there is no problem to buy a map in big cities. The other problem is in its quality. Provided you wish to be perfectly prepared and would like to obtain detailed map before  your departure and are not successfull in getting it, there exist the only possibility: to contact the respective Embassy of Trade Mission of due state in question. However, attention! They could ask you, for what reason you need it, what you intend to do there and, in final stage, you do not receive it at all.

Anyway, one of better possibilities exists: to obtain maps direct in the country you intend to visit . In local capitals you can visit  seats of geographical institutes or geodetic offices or other specialised offices, where is possible to get maps of reliable quality – at reasonable prices, of course.

So, you could say, we have all items available, however, it is not true. Just, while planning this action, it is necessary to think over its prosperous course, and successfull return, of course. Except of organisation´s affairs, there is a necessity to have one person in team, who knows how to offer first aid service. This person must know how to get it! It is a big advantage that the expedition participates a doctor or somebody of health service range.

When to start the expedition?

In case we organise a watermen expedition (rivers´drive-navigation), we need to know what climatic conditions predominate in certain area, what water-stands exist in rivers, we wish to drive. In Europe and in areas of our geographical width it depends mostly on heavy rains, snow throw or glacier and dry period in summer. So, the water stand (level) can be estimated quite easily.  

On the other hand, in tropical areas, during dry periods, the rivers suffer, with exception of big rivers,  from lack of water in its basins. On the contrary, during rain-periods, there is a danger of floodings! In that cases, the water level there could change any minute!  In general, you can tip a suitable period in advance, but  pay attention on exceptions! Climatic conditions which are well-known generally, are in connection with monsoons or trade winds. These phenomenons make easier to choose a suitable time-period. Nevertheless, also it could be a problem in this case. Let´s say, that this area is chosen in right time and water in river has its sufficient level. Further problem arises - thanks to rains, there is no way how to enter to river banks as the entrance disappeared! During raining period, when there are sufficient water conditions, the rains destroy all accesses to the river, the rains can release slopes of mountan, which slide into river-bed and river, investigated in detail  before, could be completely changed.

There exist states where - during rain period - it is not allowed  to drive on roads within 6 hours after a rain - as they are wet, muddy and damaged. So there is no traffic within rain period.

What there is necessary to be taken with?

A passport, of course. This is an essential travel document. Its validity must exceed minimally six months as  the expected departure is to be stated. We recommend you to take with - as a reserve - a passport copy (especially pages with photo and visas), further, supplementary photos (for eventual case of issuing of new passport document).

Nevertheless, original of passport or air-ticket or other valuable documents can be deposited on reliable place and copies only could be taken with. Provided you travel to a country, where you need the entry visa, would you find out at the respective Embassy Office, when the visa will be issued. You have to avoid the moment when you will be without passport and visa in departure-day. Would you ascertain also visa-validity period, as visa-prolongation in a country is mostly impossible, or incredibly slow and expensive.

However, some world areas are not accessible for us by land-traffic, and transport by sea could take a lot of time. So, there is no other possibility as to take a plane and buy air-tickets. At present, there exist many offices offering air-tickets at low costs, anyway, we recommend you to choose carefully, as not all offices are able to offer you good services. So, you can save thousands of crowns.

You can have another problem with expedition material, concretely with its weight and dimensions. Provided you wish to take a boat with, make sure if the agency takes this subject as a luggage. It is true that payment of traffic costs to air-ticket is quite expensive. Each kilo of  overweight costs 1% approx. of air-ticket value. All this is a communication matter. You have to negotiate with air-companies in advance, in order to avoid  some unpleasant surprise of staying somewhere in transit space of remote airport, far from your home and a target. You have to calculate with a fact that you can be asked for paying of some money within your stay period and for your just confirmed return air-ticket. So, there exist obliged money-exchanges on some airports and many other „specialities“, you find at preliminary information reserarch.

It is a fact that any currency cannot be bought in a bank. Would you change only a money, the exchange of which will be possible on spot. We mean USD or EUR. The use of travel checks or  credit cards is not possible to be used everywhere. Change of money could be effected in banks or exchange-offices only, so the danger of getting of false money is to be avoided. On the other hand, in some countries you obtain nothing, or in terrible exchange rate, on the contrary, the exchange-office is made in official way on the street. We recommend you to have your money and essential documents fix fastened on your body put aside your tricot, so your risk of  possible robbery will be let down. It is good to take only a small amount with (so eventual bandits with weapons could be satisfied) other money could be hidden in some other place. The robbers are interested in money only.

It is worth to have enough  of small change with – for small exchanges and bribes. In most of capitals, you find bancomats or banks where the credit cards can be applicated. However, it is not cheap but this can function as a guarantee. We recommend you to let some financial reserve at home, or instruct somebody, who could be able to send you the necessary sum of money, in case of urgent need. There exist two possibilities how to send money - via bank or via Embassy abroad. However, it could happen to you that you need to call for help. One of possibilities is those of using of mobil-phone with roaming, supposed there exists a covering in this state, or satellite phone which is rather expensive and not available for everybody. As to communicatione among expedition-members: we recommend you to use transmitter, attention for cheap models, these in terrain are often out of order. If you find yourselve out of civilization, it is recommandable the use of GPS instigated system, this is possible to be bought at favourable rates.

What other can we meet while travelling?

At air-transport - there is quite advantageous group luggage weight uniting. This creativity can save a lot of money. Sometimes it is advantageous  to cover up to group somebody who travels without luggage. The luggage taken on bord are not controlled in so severe way from the weight point of view but as fas as the contents is concerened, the control could be very severe. Do not take on board your manicure set, knife or sharp metal subjects, as in such case they will be seized to you. Anyway, some  companies will transport these subject with you but special packed and put out of your reach. We do not recommend to take a lot of food with, there is sufficient the essential foods or dry foods. There is not allowed to import foods at all to some countries. If you are not fastidious, the local food could be even a pleasant advanture for you. Anyway, pay attention for hygienic measures, as the health risk in development countries is great. A well-known instruction says: never eat not-peeled and not thermic worked food! However, the most serious problem is a waters - there is a lack of water on many places of a world, and if it is available, is polluted. Anyway,you have some possibilities how to clean the water: to boil (for 20 minutes at least) if it is not polluted (you can see with your eyes) or to use of chemical tablets, and during mechanical cleaning to use a filter. ATTENTION! During utensils wash or even teeth cleaning  you can catch an infection, so the use of cleaned water only is recommended. An ice is the other negative aspect which could be easily overlooked. We know that therein there  are conserved microbes but not destroyed.

As soon as you cross the border or stay in airport departure hall, you will be surprised that not all information  about the localities corresponds with real state. If you are able to improvise and have enough information available, it would be a minimal problem for you. However, the bigger problem , provided you are not situated in so called „civilization world“, will be the way of communication. Provided nobody speaks local language, it is good to learn the essential phrases at least. Even a couple of words in language of local people could open a door to their world, and they are ready to help you, if necessary.

Text: Filip Jančar

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