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16 Day Okavango Delta & Victoria
Falls & Kruger
Departure: Wednesday
Departs from: Johannesburg, Pretoria Any Backpackers
hostel, hotel, guest house
Ends in: Johannesburg, Pretoria, Nelspruit Any
Backpackers hostel, guest house, hotel or airport
Bedded accommodation:
The only included bedded accommodation on our tours, is while visiting
Kruger National Park, where clients who booked bedded accommodation will
stay in a private lodge. All tours visiting Botswana & Zimbabwe are
camping tours. Clients have the option of upgrading to bedded
accommodation when they arrive at a campsite. W will pay the camping
rate, and the clients will have to pay the balance between camping and
the accommodation that they want to upgrade to. These accommodation
upgrades (if available) must be arranged with the guides while on tour.
Day 1: Nata (Botswana)
We depart early morning from Johannesburg & Pretoria. Your guide will stop
en-route for breakfast (own cost) and last minute shopping, before reaching the
Botswana border. You will get an opportunity to change money, after crossing
the border, from where we head further north to Nata, where we camp the night.
Dinner included
Day 2: Maun (Botswana)
The day starts with an early morning
breakfast, before heading west along the northern border of the Kalahari Desert
to Maun. We stay the night at a great campsite outside Maun, where you can visit
the crocodile farm, and relax by the swimming pool.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
included
Days 3, 4, 5: Okavango Delta (Botswana)
The Okavango Delta must be one of the best
experiences offered in southern Africa, and offers a large variety of mammal,
reptile and bird species.
We start the day with a large breakfast, before heading into the Okavango Delta
with 4x4 open-sided game viewing vehicles. The local guides (polers) will be
waiting for us in the park at the waterline, where we transfer all the equipment
and our personal belongings into mokoros (traditional dug out canoes). From here
we glide down the water channels deeper into the Okavango Delta, searching for
the ideal place to set up camp. There will be no fences, no running water, no
showers, no buildings and no electricity. We camp in the wild with only what we
take with us. After lunch you cool off by swimming in a natural swim hole in the
rivers.
Every day we will do early morning and late afternoon game walks, searching for
as many different animal species as possible. The guides will explain more about
all the animals, tracks and the Delta during these walks. You will have the
opportunity to get as close as possible (safety first) to the wildlife of the
Okavango Delta.
After dinners you can relax with the guides around a campfire, while listening
to their stories about the bush, animals, their cultures and of course listening
to the sounds of animals at night in Africa.
You start your last morning in the Okavango delta with a cup of coffee before
doing your final game walk. After the walk you will enjoy breakfast, break down
camp, and then return by mokoros to the place where the 4x4 vehicles will meet
you.
Your guide will prepare a light lunch on return to camp in Maun. This afternoon
you have the opportunity to do an optional one hour flight over the Okavango
Delta, during which you are guaranteed to see many large herds of animals, as
well as many single or smaller groups of animals.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
included
Day 6: Nata (Botswana)
This morning we head back to Nata, where you can relax by the pool or do an
optional quad bike excursion.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
included
Day 7: Chobe National Park (Botswana)
We head further north through the Kasane
forest where we always see herds of elephants, rare antelopes and sometimes
lion, hyena and wild dog. We arrive mid morning in Kasane where we will be
staying on the shores of the Chobe River at Chobe Safari Lodge that is at the
gate of Chobe National Park. Here you can relax at the swimming pool overlooking
the river where you stand a good chance to see animals like elephant, buffalo
and hippo, as well as a large variety of bird species. This afternoon we do an
open vehicle game drive inside Chobe National Park, which is well known for its
large variety and large numbers of wildlife.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
included
Days 8, 9, 10: Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe)
A short drive takes us across the border and
on to the adventure capital of the world, Victoria Falls, which is considered to
be one of the safest tourist destinations in southern Africa. On arrival the
guide will assist you with the changing of money and booking of your optional
activities, before going to one of the seven natural wonders of the world - the
magnificent Victoria Falls. The waterfall is 1700 meters (1.1 mile) wide, of
which 1300 meters is on the Zimbabwean side, including the main falls. Late
afternoon we do a sunset cruise on the 4th largest river in Africa
(Zambezi River), which has national parks on both the Zambian and Zimbabwean
side of the river. We normally see a wide variety of wildlife such as hippo,
elephant, antelopes, giraffe and much more while on the cruise, during which all
soft drinks, wine, beer and finger snacks are included.
You will have plenty of free time to explore the town, meet the local, visit the
African arts and craft markets, or to relax by the pool in the heat of the day.
Victoria Falls is well known for offering great activities (optional excursions)
such as the best 1 day white water rafting, the 2nd highest bungi
jump in the world, elephant back safaris, flights over the waterfall, canoe
safaris, day trips to Hwange National Park, fishing, game walks, horse back
safaris and much more. The last night is dinner out at a local restaurants (own
cost).
Days 8 & 9: Breakfast, Dinner
included
Day 10: Breakfast included
Day 11: Palapye (Botswana)
This morning we head south to Palapye, where you can relax by the pool.
Breakfast, Dinner included
Day 12: Hartbeespoort (South Africa)
We depart early morning for Hartbeespoort where we stay in the valley below
the Magalisberg mountains.
No meals included
Day 13: Panoramic route - Blyde river
canyon (South Africa)
We depart early morning from Hartbeespoort, heading east towards Nelspruit
where we also pick clients up. We will stop en-route for breakfast (own cost).
From Nelspruit we drive further north where we stop for lunch (own cost) & banks
in Graskop.
After lunch we drive through the panoramic route where we stop at God's Window,
Bourke Luck Potholes and the 3rd largest canyon in the world - the Blyde River
Canyon.
Clients doing the camping option, will stay this night at a tribal village.
Clients doing the bedded option, will stay this night at a private lodge.
See the above links for more information & photos of each night's accommodation.
Dinner included
Day 14: Kruger National Park (South
Africa)
A very short drive takes us to Kruger National Park (arrive as the gates
open) that is home to 147 mammal (incl. the Big 5), 114 reptile, & 502 bird
species. You will be transferred to open sided 4 x 4 game viewing vehicles (on
arrival at the park) in which we will do game drives for the rest of the day.
Breakfast and lunch will be enjoyed at one of the picnic sites inside Kruger
National Park. At sunset you will start with a 3 hour night drive, done in a
Kruger Park open sided game viewing vehicle with a Kruger National Park guide.
This is a great opportunity to see nocturnal animals not normally seen during
the day game drives.
Clients who booked the bedded accommodation will be dropped off at the private
lodge, after the night drive.
Clients who booked the camping accommodation option will stay in our camp
inside Kruger National Park.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
included
Day 15: Kruger National Park (South
Africa)
We start the day with a cup of coffee / tea, before heading out on a game
drive as the gates open (in open 4x4 game viewing vehicles). You will be on a
game drive for the majority of the day, searching for as many animals as
possible. Breakfast and lunch will be enjoyed at picnic sites inside Kruger
national park.
Clients who booked the bedded accommodation will be dropped off at the private
lodge, after the night drive.
Clients who booked the camping accommodation option will stay in our camp
inside Kruger National Park.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
included
Day 16: Return to Nelspruit, Johannesburg
& Pretoria (South Africa)
We start the day with a light breakfast,
before heading out on a short game drive. We then return to Nelspruit,
Johannesburg and Pretoria.
Breakfast included
Included:
-
All
transport
-
All
accommodation
-
Qualified
and registered guide
-
Meals as
specified below
-
Okavango
Delta
-
Polers &
mokoros
-
Chobe
National Park
-
Entrance
to Victoria Falls waterfall
-
Sunset
cruise on Zambezi River
-
God's
Window
-
Bourke
Luck Potholes
-
Blyde
River Canyon
-
Tribal
village for clients doing the camping tour
-
Night
drive inside Kruger National Park
Excluded:
-
All
drinks (except coffee & tea with meals)
-
Meals not
specified below
-
Optional
game walk inside Kruger Park
-
Optional
flight over the Okavango Delta
-
Optional
activities in Victoria Falls (Book on tour)
-
Visas if
needed
Camping
Camping is pretty much camping
throughout the world. The tents that we use are: 2.4 x 2.4 meters in
size with built in mosquito nets over the door and windows. All camping
equipment is provided by us. The mattresses used are proper sponge
mattresses with covers that are washed after each tour.
Clients must have a sleeping bag, but
can rent one from us at R50 per person per tour, if they do not have a
sleeping bag of their own.
Okavango Delta free camping
We enter the Okavango Delta with
traditional transport used by the locals for a very long time. This form
of transport (left) is called mokoros and the guy at the back with the
long stick is called a poler. It is an awesome experience and very
relaxing. More often than not, we will see animals such as elephant
while travelling deeper and deeper into the Okavango Delta.
The area that we visit while in the
Okavango Delta is totally untouched. No power boats or planes and
landing strips, no fancy lodges or villages. Just us and mother nature.
Probably one of the most untouched areas in southern Africa, with an
enormous variety of wildlife.
This also means that you will not be
staying in a fancy lodge or camp ground, will be doing free camping.
What is free camping? Well, any one of
our guides will tell you that it is the best way of camping. We find an
ideal patch of trees along the waterways that is suitable for us to
camp. This means that there are no fences, electricity, buildings or
bathrooms. All that it is, is us plus what we are able to carry with us
in the mokoros.
The polers will dig a hole and build a
toilet seat from palm tree leaves. Unfortunately we do not have a shower
for these days, but we do have many natural swim holes in the rivers.
These swim holes has crystal clear water and are extremely welcome when
the temperatures reaches Africa style maximums during the afternoons.
Tribal village (Kruger Park tours)
Please note: The tribal village requires a minimum of 4
people. We normally have more than 4 clients on tour, and therefore will stay
95% of the time at the tribal village. You will stay at a private lodge (more
info) if we do not have enough people to stay at the tribal village, or if the
tribal village is fully booked.
A local African teacher from the local rural community
realised that the children of his community do not know their culture, as there
are too many modern influences. He then got a piece of land on a nearby game
farm, where he started the village to teach the children about their traditional
culture. His family lives at the village, to maintain and look after the
village. The local culture is "Shangaan". This village is built the same as what
it would have been a long time ago. The nice thing about this particular village
is that it is for education and not as commercial as the other villages around
South Africa. Obviously there is some form of "commercial" like a shower and
toilet, to make it convenient for our clients. Be warned - cold showers.
A short tour: On arrival you will do a short tour of the
village, during which you will learn about the different tasks in a village, how
they make ropes and carpets from plants and reeds, the layout of the village,
the culture and traditions as well as traditional believes.
Dinner will be served in the boma (place of eating) where the
woman prepare a traditional meal cooked in large pots on an open fire. You will
enjoy dinner the traditional way, which means that you have to wash your hands,
men dish up before woman and then eating without any knifes, forks or spoons.
Yes, with your hands.
After dinner the young men and boys will entertain us with
traditional dancing while the woman entertain us with African singing. You are
more than welcome to join in on the dancing.
Accommodation: You will sleep in a traditional clay hut as the
locals do, except that you will have a mattress and sleep in a sleeping bag. The
huts do not have windows and only an opening as a door that is covered at night
with a panel made from river reeds.
Kruger Park Camp
We are fortunate enough for our local operator
to have their own campsite within one of the Kruger Park camps. This camp is in
the central region of Kruger national park that is well known for it's huge
number and variety of animals, especially Big 5.
Our tents are permanently erected on wooden
platforms along the fence. The tents that we use are 2.4 x 2.4 (meters) and 3.0
x 3.0 (meters) with built in floor and mosquito nets over the windows and door.
Each tent has two proper single bed mattresses (same as what many hotels in
South Africa use) with fitted sheets.
We have also erected a 6.0 x 6.0 (meters) army
tent where we have a fridge, gas stove and electricity where you can recharge
your camera batteries. This tent is perfect for those nights that it is raining,
as it is big enough for the group to pull their chairs in and gather around
without getting wet.
We also have an open fireplace along the fence
where your guide will prepare food and you can relax around a campfire. Eating
from your lap is never comfortable. That is why we have two large tables next to
the fireplace where you can sit down and enjoy meals, write your post cards /
letters, play cards or just relax.
The campsite ablutions (bathrooms) are of an
extremely high standard. You will always walk into a very clean bathroom with
hot water. Separate bathrooms for males and females, and the bathrooms is right
next to our camp.
The camp is totally fenced to keep the animals
out, or is it to keep the people in. Almost every night we have hyenas walking
along the fences (only meters away). Other regular visitors are elephants, honey
badgers, impala and buffalo. Many nights you will hear jackals calling, lions
roaring or hyenas crying in the night.
Bedded Accommodation
Nata: Clients who book
bedded or lodge accommodation will normally stay in safari tents with
bathrooms, built on platforms. Please note that two people from the same
sex might have to share a safari tent. We will pay for the next upgrade
available, if there are no safari tents available. It might happen
during the high tourist season that the lodge is full, and that you will
be staying in a 4 bed chalet with bathroom.
Maun: The camp that we stay at
in Maun, is an overland campsite with a few wooden rooms. You will be
using shared ablutions (bathrooms). No further accommodation upgrades
available.
There are crocodile farm with hundreds
of small, medium and very large crocodiles. Make sure to do a guided
tour for only a few dollars.
Maun is one of those places where it
gets extremely hot, like most of Botswana. Cool off in the pool or have
a refreshing cold drink at the bar. Other services is hand washed (super
clean) laundry.
This camp is definitely a great place
to stay over, where you will meet many other travellers, and have a
great relaxing time after coming out of the Okavango Delta.
Palapye: The
accommodation in Palapye is in safari tents with two single beds, and
without bathroom.
Hartbeespoort : Moonlight
Backpackers Lodge is a 8 hectares (20 football fields) property in the valley
below the Magiesberg Mountains. The closest town is Hartbeespoort. Accommodation
for single people will be in small dormitories, single room, or twin room (2
single beds) that share a bathroom, depending on availability. Couples will be
in a twin room or double room with or without bathroom, depending on
availability.
Chobe national park: Please note that we
stay over in Kasane, and not inside the park, although the game drives
are done inside Chobe National Park. The accommodation booked is safari
tents with two single beds or rondawels with two single beds, some with
en-suite bathroom and some without, if safari tents are fully booked.
Please note that it might happen that a single person might have to
share a safari tent or rondawel (with 2 single beds) with another person
of the same sex.
Victoria
Falls: The accommodation booked is chalets with two single beds,
without bathroom. Please note that it might happen that a single person
might have to share a rondawel (with 2 single beds) with another person
of the same sex. It might also happen that you can be booked in a chalet
with two bedrooms (each with two single beds) and a joined bathroom.
Private Lodge (Kruger Park tours)
Please note: The below mentioned lodge is our first choice of
lodge accommodation. It does happen from time to time (not often) that this
lodge is fully booked, and we have to stay in alternative lodge (with same
standards) accommodation in the area. The lodge that we stay at, is just outside
Kruger National Park, so that we can enter the park as the gates open in the
morning.
The accommodation: The first choice of accommodation is a well
decorated rondawel (left) with en-suite bathroom. Some rondawels have a double
bed (bottom left) and others two single beds (below). We do our best to ensure
that couples get a rondawel with a double bed, but can not guarantee it. The
lodge also has chalets with two rooms (two single beds) that share a bathroom,
and another room (double bed) with en-suite bathroom. These chalets are perfect
for families, or a small group travelling together.
Also keep in mind that we do our best to let single people
stay in their own rondawel, but it might happen that a single person might have
to share a rondawel (with 2 single beds) with another person of the same sex, if
the lodge is fully booked.
Other facilities: Swimming pool
for the hot evenings Pool bar with great atmosphere
Local kids dancing for you: There are a number of local
villages in the rural community close to the lodge. The children from these
villages started their own dance and song routine and asked the lodge if they
can dance for their guests. The lodge assisted the kids by making uniforms for
them and allowing them to dance and sing for their guests. The children do not
work for the lodge, but for themselves, by earning tips from the guests. Please
note that the kids perform when they want to, which means that you may not see
them.
Important tour / safari information
Participation tours: All tours
are participation tours. This means that the clients are responsible for
pitching their own tents (except inside Kruger Park), and washing up
after every meal, which is social event where people chat and get to
know each other. Some guides may ask the clients to assist with the
chopping and cleaning of vegetables, while the guide prepares the meals.
Group sizes: We operate a
variety of different vehicles. Our largest vehicles seats a maximum of
14 clients. Therefore , except for our open vehicles inside Kruger
National Park which are not allowed to seat more than 10 clients. It
occasionally happen that we will have two vehicles on the same tour.
What to take on tour: Clothing
and personal effects Comfortable shoes for walking Warm clothing for the
evenings Basic first aid kit Insect repellent Anti-Malaria medicine
Sunblock and cap or hat Comfortable shoes for walking Slip slops or
trainers Camera with extra film & batteries Torch with extra batteries
Tent, sleeping bag and roll matt:
We provides all the camping equipment including a roll matt with
cover that is washed after every tour, and a 2.2 x 2.2 (meters) or 2.4 x
2.4 (meters) tent with built in mosquito netting over the door and
windows, as well as a built in floor. You must have a sleeping bag on
all of the camping tours, which you can rent from us at R50 per person
per tour, if you do not have one of your own. Inside Kruger National
Park we have a permanent camp. We do not use roll matts on these tours,
but have single bed mattresses with fitted sheets that are washed after
tour.
Malaria areas: Many of the
areas and destinations in southern and east Africa are malaria areas. It
is the responsibility of the client to ensure that you have insect
repellent and a course of anti-malaria tablets. Consult your local
doctor or pharmacist.
Water: All drinks (except
coffee & tea with meals) are excluded from the tour price. All tap water
in areas where we do tours to, are 100% safe to drink, and tastes very
good. Bottled water is freely available (every day), for those who
prefer bottled water.
Laws and clients: We expect our
clients to uphold the laws of each country that we visit while on tour.
We do not accept any responsibility for any client on our tours, who
breaks the laws of any country visited during a tour.
Be considered: Sometimes our
guides are asked to stop at local villages along the road, so that
clients can take photos. Nothing wrong with that, but then we often see
the people just walking into a village taking photos, instead of doing
it from the road. Keep in mind that a village will normally be a family
living together. How would you feel if a stranger just walks into your
yard or home and start taking photos?
Our clients: All our
clients are international travellers from different countries. The ages
of our clients range from 18 to 60, with the majority being between 20
and 40. All that we require from our clients is that they must enjoy
travelling and be fun-loving people. You do not need to be super fit to
participate in any of our included activities or adventures.
Our crew (guides & drivers):
All our guides and drivers are registered with the authorities as per
government regulations.
Our vehicles: All game
drives inside Kruger National Park will be done in open sided game
viewing vehicles.
Kruger optional game walks: The
maximum group size on a game walk is 8, and our groups are most of the
time more people than eight. Kruger national park often do not have
enough guides to do all the game walks. The game walks are cancelled
if it is raining.
The game walks inside Kruger
national park is three hours in duration. These bush walks are operated
by Kruger national park with two armed Kruger park guides conducting the
walks. The walks are 3 hours in duration, and starts at sunrise.
Our tours: We offer a variety
of tours and safaris to a variety of destinations, from 3 days to 16
days. You have the option of camping or lodge (bedded) accommodation,
while on any of our tours / safaris.
Important:
Before you travel please check your Tour Voucher and Arrival
Information for the latest joining instructions. This will be sent
to you upon receipt of final payment.
All itineraries are subject to change without prior notice.
Prices
for - Botswana Safaris
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