Code of Conduct for HATAB Mobile Members – HATAB

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Code of Conduct for HATAB Mobile Members

COMPLIANCE FOR LICENSED BOTSWANA OPERATORS Upholding Standards In HATAB Mobile Sector

To ensure that the mobile sector of HATAB maintains a high level of standard. To ensure that all HATAB mobile members are bona fine resident Botswana operators, dully licensed by the Department of Tourism and operating within the rules and regulations as set down by the Botswana Government.

Licensing, certification and permits

Companies operating mobile safaris must be in possession of a valid Tourism Enterprise License issued by the Department of Tourism for the mobile category.

All operators must be in possession of a company Certificate of Incorporation issued in Botswana by the Registrar of Companies.

All non-citizens employed as professional guides must be in possession of a valid Professional Guide’s License issued by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks, valid work and residence permits as issued by the Department of Labour and Home Affairs, and may only undertake work for the company whose name is stated on those licenses and permits, which company name should correspond.

As the professional guide has to be the driver of the vehicle which is being used to carry clients, the driver must carry on his person a valid driver’s license appropriate to the size or type of vehicle being driven. A license issued within the SADC region is recognized in Botswana (as of November 1999). Driving licenses issued in all other countries must be converted to a Botswana driving license within 6 months of a person taking up residence in Botswana.

Vehicles used to carry or transport paying clients must carry a ‘P’ permit, and the driver of these vehicles must be the holder of a ‘PSV’ license, both of which are issued by the Department of Transport.

All professional guides must be in possession of a valid first aid certificate.

All passenger and supply vehicles and trailers being used on HATAB sites must be registered in Botswana and in the name of the operating company or a director of that company.

If members use private radios for communications, each one is required to have a Private Radio Communication License issued by the Botswana Telecommunications Authority.

Any member operating a boat must register it with the Department of Water Affairs for use in a particular zone. The boat will then be issued with a boat registration number, which must be displayed in the prescribed manner.

Insurance

Members of the HATAB mobile sector must hold a basic minimum insurance of P500,000 per client for both Public and Passenger Liability and produce evidence of such cover to HATAB upon request.

All companies, by Botswana Law, must have Workmen’s Compensation insurance covering all staff engaged in business for and on behalf of the company.

All professional guides should acquaint themselves with local emergency evacuation procedures and contact numbers for medical insurance evacuations. HATAB recommends that each company provides insurance to cover their employees and clients for such an event.

Transportation

Any craft or vehicle used to transport clients or supplies should be maintained in a safe and satisfactory mechanical condition.

Any craft or vehicle used to transport clients or supplies should, for the credibility of the safari industry, be designed with the safety aspect in mind and be maintained in an aesthetically pleasing appearance befitting its purpose.

Operators using single decked boats propelled by an outboard or inbound engine should display an oncoming warning device of the following type and proportions: a flexible aerial capable of remaining upright, of a height not less than 3 meters, with a red flag at the top approximately 250 x 390 cms in size.

Conduct and ethics on safari

The professional guide conducting a safari should, at all times, maintain a professional appearance and attitude which exudes a secure and friendly ambience to his/her clients and to any other persons encountered on the safari route.

At no time should a professional guide compromise the safety of any person by irresponsible actions or his/her inability to interpret a potentially dangerous situation.

It should be the responsibility of a professional guide to courteously point out to any person, any infringement of rules and regulations, or any potentially compromising or dangerous situation, which may cause inconvenience or harm to others.

It is the professional guide’s responsibility to report to the appropriate authorities any misconduct, infringement of rules and regulations or misactions by any non-receptive or non-cooperative person(s).

It is the professional guide’s responsibility to assist any person in distress by means of communication to qualified assistance, relocating persons to a safe haven, or personal indulgence in a problem situation. This should be done with an explanation to the guide’s own clients in order that the urgency of the situation can be understood by them. The guide should then render assistance without insensibly compromising his or her own safari.

No professional guide shall allow any campsite to be vacated without clearing the area, extinguishing all fires, tidying the fireplace, and checking the site in general in preparation for the next user. This applies to HATAB, DWNP, and any other camp sites/areas.

It is the professional guide’s responsibility to point out, recommend, or suggest any option, idea, or thoughts which may be of valued assistance to the industry in general in order that all may benefit from these acceptable and legitimate referrals.

It is the responsibility of the professional guide to respect all other people’s privacy, and no unnecessary or loud noise should be made. Cassette players and radios should not be played in the parks and reserves. The guide must respect other tour operators. Do not drive in front of a stationary vehicle already watching something. Do not drive close to or through other people’s campsites. Do not drive fast in the vicinity of a camp or stationary vehicles. Do not use radio communications equipment within earshot of other safari operators.

It will be the responsibility of all professional guides to ensure that all approaches to things of interest are undertaken in a courteous and considerate manner to other persons, flora, and fauna. Wild animals have the right of way. Respect the privacy of animals, do not drive too close, do not spend more than 30 minutes with a sighting if there are more than 4 vehicles present. Make room for others if you have already spent more than 30 minutes at the site.

The professional guide is there to practice and teach others about respect for the land and its inhabitants. All game park and reserve rules and regulations must be strictly adhered to at all times. The guide’s clients must be made aware of these regulations.

Conditions regarding the use of mobile operator campsites

All DWNP rules and regulations must be strictly adhered to. Attention is drawn to the following points:

No driving after prescribed hours

No vegetation may be cut

Off road driving is strictly prohibited.

Each site comprises ONE hectare and an Operator’s Campsite sign demarcates the center of the site. The camp must remain within a 50 meter radius of this sign.

The campsite must remain totally undeveloped.

Operators must provide their own toilets which must be either chemical/water or bio-bogs. (The dimensions of the hole for sewage must not exceed 30 cms square x 1.5 metres deep). The hole should be filled in with soil when it is 30 cms from full. There must be one toilet per six persons in the camp. If staff members are not using the client toilets, a staff toilet must be provided. No showering is permitted in the DWNP facilities.

No rubbish pits may be dug or litter discarded at the campsite. All litter should be removed and the whole site checked before departure. Litter may not be deposited in public campground litter bins. All fire ashes must be buried.

No electronic music making equipment may be used at the campsites.

All tents should be as discreetly hidden from the game viewing roads as possible and be erected in such a way so as not to obstruct any existing game trails.

Other than the access track, no new roads may be made.

No firewood may be collected within one kilometer of any campsite.

At any one campsite, the number of people must not exceed 20 (including staff). The number of vehicles must not exceed two passenger and one supply. If more people or vehicles are involved, a second campsite must be booked to cater for this carrying capacity, even if the whole party then uses only one site.