16-DAY SAVANNAH GRASSES SAFARI TO SOUTH AFRICA, BOTSWANA AND ZIMBABWE

Transcription

1 16-DAY SAVANNAH GRASSES SAFARI TO SOUTH AFRICA, BOTSWANA AND ZIMBABWE Safari to Zimbabwe s Hwange National Park Safari in Botswana to Okavango Delta Visit Cape Town and Victoria Falls Program highlights: This safari highlights the fantastic game viewing in Botswana s Okavango Delta and Zimbabwe s Hwange National Park combined with some sightseeing in Cape Town and Victoria Falls. The safari offers a variety of game viewing activities including day and night game drives, game viewing by boat and walking safaris in Hwange. We have included scheduled touring in Cape Town and you have a full day at leisure in Victoria Falls to enjoy optional activities. A beautiful African sunset in Hwange 2601 East Oakland Park Boulevard, Suite 600 Fort Lauderdale, Florida U.S.A Tel: Tel: Fax: safari@africanadventure.com

2 Day Destination Accommodation 01 Fly USA Johannesburg Travel 02 Arrive Johannesburg City Lodge at O.R. Tambo Airport 03 Fly Johannesburg - Victoria Falls Hwange Value - Davison s Classic - Little Makalolo or Linkwasha 04 Hwange Value - Davison s Classic - Little Makalolo or Linkwasha 05 Hwange Value - Davison s Classic - Little Makalolo or Linkwasha 06 Hwange Value - Davison s Classic - Little Makalolo or Linkwasha 07 Fly Hwange - Victoria Falls Ilala Lodge or Victoria Falls Hotel 08 Victoria Falls Ilala Lodge or Victoria Falls Hotel 09 Transfer Vic Falls to Kasane Fly to Okavango Delta Value Xakanaxa or Gomoti or Shinde Classic Xigera or Little Kwara or Qorokwe Camp 10 Okavango Delta Value Xakanaxa or Gomoti or Shinde Classic Xigera or Little Kwara or Qorokwe Camp 11 Okavango Delta Value Xakanaxa or Gomoti or Shinde Classic Xigera or Little Kwara or Qorokwe Camp 12 Fly Okavango Delta Maun Cape Town 13 Cape Town Full Day Peninsula tour 14 Cape Town Full Day Winelands tour Queen Victoria Hotel or Cape View Clifton Queen Victoria Hotel or Cape View Clifton Queen Victoria Hotel or Cape View Clifton 15 Fly Cape Town JNB USA 16 USA

3 Value Option ~ Based on Davison s, Ilala Lodge, Xakanaxa and Queen Victoria Hotel (Optional Upgrade to Gomoti Plains or Shinde Camp) VALUE Destinations Base Package Accommodations Optional Upgrade Optional Upgrade Hwange Davison s Victoria Falls Ilala Lodge Okavango Delta Xakanaxa Gomoti Plains Shinde Cape Town Queen Victoria Hotel Classic Option ~ Based on Little Makalolo, Victoria Falls Hotel, Xigera Camp and Cape View Clifton (Optional Upgrade to Linkwasha Camp or Little Kwara or Qorokwe Camp) CLASSIC Destinations Base Package Accommodations Optional Upgrade Optional Upgrade Hwange Little Makalolo Linkwasha Victoria Falls Victoria Falls Okavango Delta Xigera Camp Little Kwara Camp Qorokwe Camp Cape Town Cape View Clifton

4 ITINERARY DAY 01 USA/JOHANNESBURG Depart today on your overnight international flight to Johannesburg. DAY 02 JOHANNESBURG On arrival you will be met and escorted to your hotel. Johannesburg began as a mining town when the largest deposits of gold in the world were discovered in the Witwatersrand in This City of Gold and locally known as Egoli, is now the country s largest commercial center and city and the country s main gateway for overseas visitors. The city itself has a population of approximately 2 million, while the total urban area including Soweto (SOuth WEstern TOwnships) has a population of approximately 4 million. Based at Africa s busiest airport, City Lodge at OR Tambo Airport has 303 rooms and provides travelers with home away from home accommodation that is ideal for short layovers that require immediate access to the airport. The hotel has a fitness room as well as a deck with a pool and a large commercial area with a coffee shop. Accommodation: City Lodge at OR Tambo Airport (B) Standard Room DAY 03 JOHANNESBURG/VICTORIA FALLS/HWANGE Make your way back to the airport. Depart today on your scheduled inter-africa flight from Johannesburg to Victoria Falls. On arrival you will be met by your pilot and continue on your scheduled charter flight to Hwange. *Please Note* there is a luggage limit of 44lbs (20kg) per person on the charter flight so please pre-pack your luggage accordingly in a soft-sided bag. Scheduled Charter flights times are estimates and may include multiple stops. Hwange is Zimbabwe's largest national park and is famous for its large herds of elephant. Predominant species also include rhino, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, lion, wild dog and bat-eared fox. This is one of the best parks on the continent to see sable antelope. The park ranges from semi-desert in the south to a plateau in the north. The northern part of Hwange is mudstone and basalt, and the southern part is Kalahari sand veld. The park has an average altitude of 3,300 feet. Winter nights can be cold, and summer days can be over 90 F, while average temperatures range from 65 to 83 F. The wilderness area of Makalolo/Linkwasha in the southeastern part of the park is excellent for seeing a great variety of game.

5 There are no rivers and only a few streams in the north of the park, but waterholes (fed by wells) provide sources of water year-round for wildlife. During the dry season, these permanent water holes (pans) provide an excellent stage for guests to view wildlife performing day-to-day scenes of survival. Destinations Hwange Value Base Package Accommodations Davison s Camp Optional Upgrade Hwange - Classic Little Makalolo Linkwasha Value Option ~ Davison's Camp is located on a private concession in the south-eastern section of Hwange National Park. The camp features nine luxury tents, including one honeymoon tent, each with en suite facilities and a private verandah that offers a great view. The main lounge area includes a dining room, bar and plunge pool that overlook a waterhole. There is a small curio shop (please note that items purchased must be paid for in cash, there are no credit card facilities in the camp). Activities include morning and night game drives and walking safaris. Accommodation: Davison's Camp (Full Board) OR Classic Options ~ Little Makalolo Camp is located in a private concession area of Hwange National Park. The camp has six classic tents with en suite bathrooms, including a flush toilet, and shower with hot and cold running water - as well as an outdoor shower under the stars. The main living area is under canvas and houses the dining room, lounge and pub, and a small plunge pool. The camp overlooks a small waterhole and guests can enjoy game viewing during the "siesta" hours in a wood-pile hide. Day and night game drives and walks are offered. Due to the private game concession, few other vehicles will ever been seen. Accommodation: Little Makalolo Camp (Full Board)

6 OR Linkwasha Camp is ideally located in the game-rich Hwange National Park. The camp offers seven en suite luxury tents and one family tent, accommodating a total of 18 guests. All rooms include coffee- and tea-making facilities, mini-bar fridges, ceiling fans and outdoor showers. Enjoy sitting on the expansive deck and watch the wildlife in the Makalolo Pan located right in front of camp. Other activities available include visits to the Ngamo community, fresh out of the oven pizzas and sundowners in the bush, and a night spent under the stars at a nearby sleep-out deck. Game viewing activities include morning and night game drives and walking safaris. Accommodation: Linkwasha Camp (Full Board) DAY HWANGE NATIONAL PARK Enjoy days of game viewing in remote regions of the park. Accommodation: Davison's Camp or Little Makalolo Camp or Linkwasha (Full Board) DAY 07 HWANGE/VICTORIA FALLS You will be transferred to the airstrip for your scheduled charter flight to Victoria Falls. On arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel. The afternoon is a good time to view the falls (park entry fee US$30.00 per person).

7 Victoria Falls is approximately 5600 feet wide, twice the height of Niagara Falls, and one and one half times as wide. It is divided into five separate waterfalls: Devil's Cataract, Main Falls, Horseshoe Falls, Rainbow Falls and Eastern Cataract, ranging in height from feet. Fortunately the area immediately around the falls has not been commercialized, and there are unobstructed views from many vantage points connected by paved paths. Be prepared to get wet as you walk through the rain forest surrounding the falls, a result of the continuous spray. A path called the Chain Walk descends from near Livingstone's statue into the gorge of the Devil's Cataract, providing an excellent vantage point. Destinations Victoria Falls Value Victoria Falls - Classic Base Package Accommodations Ilala Lodge Victoria Falls Hotel Value Option ~ The Ilala Lodge is a charming hotel under thatch that offers well priced, comfortable accommodations that is conveniently located for both Victoria Falls and the shops and markets of the town. The swimming pool has a large wooden sun-deck overlooking the National Park, and is a welcome oasis from the bustling town of Victoria Falls. There are two restaurants from which to chose, the elegant 'colonial' terrace restaurant offering a full a la carte menu of local and International dishes, and the open air Kubika restaurant providing a local flavor like venison, ostrich and crocodile tail. Accommodation: Ilala Lodge (B) Deluxe Room OR Classic Option ~ The Victoria Falls Hotel has maintained much of its colonial elegance with its graceful architecture, spacious terraces and colorful gardens. The hotel has 161 air-conditioned rooms with private facilities, swimming pool and tennis courts and is only a ten-minute walk from the falls.

8 You may enjoy dinner in the elegant Livingstone dining room or the Jungle Junction restaurant that offers a unique cultural dancing and ethnic eating experience. Accommodation: Victoria Falls Hotel (B) Deluxe Central Room DAY 08 Enjoy the day at leisure. VICTORIA FALLS Optional activities you may book for an extra charge include: 1) Tour of the falls and Market Visit (includes park entry fee $30.00) 2) A sunset cruise upstream on the Zambezi River 3) Flight of the Angels by helicopter (park entry fee $10.00 payable direct) 4) Day of white-water rafting (5th class) (park entry fee US$10.00 payable direct) 5) Bungee jump off Victoria Falls Bridge (not Monday) 6) Half day High Wire (includes Gorge Swing, Foofie Slide and Flying Fox) 7) Livingstone Island Lunch (Zambia visa fee applicable) (Subject to water levels) 8) Morning Breezers and swimming on the edge of the falls (Zambia visa fee applicable) (Subject water levels) 9) Elephant interaction with a family herd at the Elephant Sanctuary & Orphanage 10) Rhino game drive at Stanley & Livingstone Private Game Reserve 11) Full day game viewing excursion to Chobe National Park (includes lunch) 12) Half day canoeing trip (above Victoria Falls) 13) Fishing on the Upper Zambezi above Victoria Falls 14) Experience the African life of a local school at Monde and rural village of Mpisi, Ncube or Ngwenya. (half-day) 15) Visit one of the schools that we sponsor in the area Jabulani, Chamabonda and Chinotimba. 16) Visit Rose of Charity Orphanage in Victoria Falls. 17) Evening African Spectacular Dancing and dinner at Boma Restaurant or dinner at Jungle Junction Accommodation: Ilala Lodge (B) Deluxe Room or Victoria Falls Hotel (B) Deluxe Central Room

9 DAY 09 VICTORIA FALLS/KASANE/OKAVANGO DELTA Following breakfast, transfer to the Kasane Airport for your scheduled charter flight to your camp located in the Okavango Delta. *Please Note* there is a luggage limit of 44lbs (20kg) per person on the charter flight so please pre-pack your luggage accordingly in a soft-sided bag. Scheduled Charter flights times are estimates and may include multiple stops. The Okavango Delta, covering over 6,000-square-miles (15,000-km2), is a natural mosaic of palmfringed islands, open savannah, flowing rivers, crystal-clear lagoons and floodplains sprinkled with water lilies, and gigantic baobab and jackalberry trees. The Okavango River originates in the central African highlands, located in Angola which is about 600 miles (1,000 km) northwest of Botswana, then it fans out into the Kalahari Desert to create a vast system of thousands of waterways, separated by innumerable islands, and it eventually disappears into the Kalahari sands. Game viewing for the larger land mammal species is excellent in many parts of the Delta. Large herds of buffalo, elephant, giraffe and a variety of antelope are often seen. Lion, leopard, cheetah and other predators are also frequently encountered. Hippo and crocs are found in the waterways and bird lovers will relish the incredible variety. Destinations Base Package Accommodations Optional Upgrade Optional Upgrade Okavango Delta - Value Xakanaxa Gomoti Plains Shinde Okavango Delta - Classic Xigera Camp Little Kwara Camp Qorokwe Camp

10 Value Options ~ Xakanaxa Camp is in a prime location on the banks of the Khwai River on the Xakanaxa Lagoon in the heart of the Moremi Game Reserve. This unique region provides an authentic year-round Okavango Delta land and water experience. Xakanaxa Camp features 12 luxury tents with en suite bathrooms. The tents overlook the waterways and are built on platforms. The main lounge area features a dining room, bar, fire pit and swimming pool all raised on decking overlooking the lagoon. Vehicle and boat game drives are offered. Accommodation: Xakanaxa Camp (Full Board) OR Gomoti Plains is located in an exclusive community run concession in the Okavango Delta. The camp features ten tents, including two family units, and decorated with locally designed furniture and art. Activities offered include game drives, guided walks, and mokoro and motor boat trips. Accommodation: Gomoti Plains (Full Board) OR Shinde is located in the heart of the north-eastern Okavango Delta in a private game concession. Built on a palm island, the camp features eight classic tents with en suite bathroom with large walk-in shower, upscale linens, and tasteful furnishings. Sliding doors lead out to private decks with expansive views of the open floodplains of the Delta. The multi-tiered dining room and lounge is the centerpiece of the camp and ideal place for guests to meet over sundowners.

11 Activities are both water and land-based and include game viewing by open-vehicle game drives, mokoro and motorboat as well as guided bush walks. Fishing is available from March to December (basic equipment supplied). Accommodation: Shinde (Full Board) OR Classic Options ~ Xigera Camp sits on a large island in the central-western area of the Delta, within the Moremi Reserve. The Moremi Reserve rates as one of the best and most beautiful in southern Africa and both game and birds are diverse and plentiful. Xigera Camp features ten large twin-bedded, luxury tented rooms with en suite facilities. Activities include mokoro (dugout canoe) trips to explore the crystal clear channels, islands and waterways, walking on islands, and limited game drives. A feature unique to Xigera is the wooden footbridge connecting Xigera Island to the island next to it. You are often treated to close-up views of lion, hyena or leopard padding across the bridge as they move between islands. The camp "newspaper" (a sand pit built into the bridge to capture paw prints) is "read" each morning and provides information on unseen nightly visitors to camp. Accommodation: Xigera Camp (Full Board) OR Little Kwara Camp is located on an island on the edge of the permanent waters of the world renowned Okavango Delta in Botswana. The concession shares a common boundary with Moremi Game Reserve. The camp features four luxurious tents with en suite facilities and private decks with spectacular views. The ability to operate off road and at night is critical in order to see the up to 30% of interesting mammal species that are mainly active at night. These include leopard, lion, wild dog, hyena and smaller predators. The presence of permanent water at Little Kwara ensures excellent year-round game viewing. The permanent water also ensures that mekoro trips (dugout canoes) can take place in shallow water throughout the year. Little Kwara is one of a handful of camps able to make this claim of being a wet and dry camp all year around. Accommodation: Little Kwara Camp (Full Board)

12 Qorokwe Camp is located on the 64,900-acre Qorokwe Concession in the south-eastern region of the Okavango Delta. This exclusive region features diverse habitats, from acacia woodlands to vast floodplains and is home to a variety of game including zebra, giraffe, Cape buffalo and a local pride of lion. Camp accommodations include eight tented suites and one family suite with its own plunge pool. The main area has been built on raised platforms and overlooks a lagoon and includes the dining area, lounge, library and bar. Game viewing activities include open-vehicle drives, nature walks, bird watching and exploring by boat or mokoro. Accommodation: Qorokwe Camp (Full Board) DAY OKAVANGO DELTA Enjoy two days of activities. Accommodation: Xakanaxa Camp or Gomoti Plains or Shinde / Xigera Camp or Little Kwara Camp or Qorokwe Camp (Full Board) DAY 12 OKAVANGO DELTA/MAUN/CAPE TOWN Following breakfast in camp, transfer to the airstrip for your scheduled charter flight to Maun. Connect to your scheduled Inter-Africa flight to Cape Town (The direct flight operates Mon/Wed/Fri/Sat/Sun. Alternate days will route via Johannesburg.) On arrival in Cape Town you will be met and transferred to your hotel. The Cape has one of the most beautiful settings in the world. It has Table Mountain dominating the skyline, the Cape Peninsula to the Cape of Good Hope, stunning coastal scenery, and lots of well-run hotels. You may travel through the winelands, and historic, small coastal towns. Sir Francis Drake once said of the Cape Town area, The fairest cape we saw in the whole circumference of the globe. The Cape is reminiscent of the California coast stark, natural beauty and a laid-back atmosphere.

13 Destinations Cape Town Value Cape Town - Classic Base Package Accommodations Queen Victoria Hotel Cape View Clifton Value Option ~ Queen Victoria Hotel is located in the world-renowned V&A Waterfront in a heritage building along Portswood Road, ideal for shopping, restaurants and visiting the harbor. Accommodations include 34 rooms and suites each with amenities such as flat screen televisions, pure Egyptian cotton sheets, and en suite bathrooms with Molton Brown toiletries. The hotel features a designer spa with treatment rooms, gym, pool and pool bar. Enjoy dining in the Dash Restaurant serving contemporary cuisine. Accommodation: Queen Victoria Hotel (B) Deluxe Room Classic Option ~ The Cape View Clifton boasts uninterrupted views of Clifton, Camps Bay and the Twelve Apostles. The boutique hotel features decadent suite accommodations, each room uniquely appointed with contemporary bathrooms, deluxe toiletries, tea-coffee making facilities, in-room safe and private terraces with sea views. Guests enjoy family-style continental breakfast each morning; treats, house wines and beers from the honor bar and even home-style comfort food for those who do not want to dine out in the evening (must be pre-arranged). There is a small gym and swimming pool with spectacular views Accommodation: Cape View Clifton (B) Deluxe Suite DAY 13 CAPE TOWN This morning you will be picked up at your hotel for your scheduled group full-day Peninsula tour. Travel along Atlantic seaboard to view the Twelve Apostles and the beach of Camps Bay. Drive along Chapmans Peak Drive, one of the finest scenic coastal drives in the world. View Long Beach and Noordhoek. Continue to Kommetjie and Scarborough. Drive to the tip of the Cape Peninsula and visit the lighthouse. Continue to the Cape of Good Hope, the most south western point of the African continent. Continue to Boulders Beach to study the African Penguin.

14 Drive through the historic naval town of Simon s Town, to Fish Hoek. Return to Cape Town. Duration: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm Accommodation: Queen Victoria Hotel (B) Deluxe Room or Cape View Clifton (B) Deluxe Suite DAY 14 CAPE TOWN This morning you will be collected from your hotel for your scheduled group full-day Winelands tour. Leave Cape Town and drive towards the wine lands region nestled below the spectacular Boland Mountains some 50 minute drive from the city. Today will be a leisurely experience as you explore some of the historic wine estates. The three major centres in this region are: Paarl, the birthplace of the Afrikaans language, Stellenbosch, the second oldest city in the country and Franschhoek, first settled by the French Huguenots in 1688 and now, undoubtedly, the culinary capital of South Africa. Your tour will take you to each of these three towns allowing you to enjoy a cellar tour and wine tasting at a leading estate, followed by a second tasting later in the day (time-permitting, perhaps even a third!). Enjoy the mix of majestic mountain ranges, fine wines and beautiful Cape Dutch architecture. Accommodation: Queen Victoria Hotel (B) Deluxe Room or Cape View Clifton (B) Deluxe Suite DAY 15 CAPE TOWN/JOHANNESBURG/USA Enjoy the morning at leisure. Transfer to the airport for your scheduled inter-africa flight to Johannesburg. Continue onward overnight to the USA. DAY 16 WELCOME HOME! USA

15 2018 LAND ARRANGEMENTS: Value Option ~ Based on Davison s, Ilala Lodge, Xakanaxa and Queen Victoria Hotel (Optional Upgrade to Gomoti Plains or Shinde Camp) Accommodations Jan 11-May / Nov Jun Jul-Aug Sep-Oct Base Package From $ From $ From $ From $ Optional Upgrades Gomoti Plains + $275-$475 + $ $ $ Shinde + $395 (Apr-May/Nov) + $ $ $ * Pricing is quoted per person sharing a room Classic Option ~ Based on Little Makalolo, Victoria Falls Hotel, Xigera Camp and Cape View Clifton (Optional Upgrade to Linkwasha Camp or Little Kwara or Qorokwe Camp) Accommodations Jan 11-May / Nov Jun Jul-Aug Sep-Oct Base Package From $ From $ From $ From $ Optional Upgrades Linkwasha + $ $ $ $ Little Kwara + $395 (Apr-May/Nov) - $ $ $ Qorokwe Camp + $495-$ $ $ $ * Pricing is quoted per person sharing a room AIR ARRANGEMENTS (subject to change until ticketed): Please note the following sample airfares. Lower promotional airfares are offered throughout the year so please take a moment to contact our in house air department for even better pricing options! INTERNATIONAL: Economy Class: From $1, $2, per person (low-high season) Business Class: From $5, per person (via Europe or on SAA) (low season) New York/Johannesburg/New York - Please call for add-on fares from your departure city. INTER-AFRICA: From $ per person (approx) Johannesburg/Victoria Falls Maun/Cape Town/Johannesburg

16 LAND COSTS INCLUDE: - Accommodations - All meals and game activities on safari (Full Board) - Breakfast only (B) in Johannesburg, Victoria Falls and Cape Town - All airport and road transfers - Park and guiding fees - Charter flights between camps - Tour as stated in Cape Town - Local drinks (house wines, beer and spirits and soft drinks) and laundry in the camps NOT INCLUDED: - Extra meals in Johannesburg, Victoria Falls and Cape Town - Optional tours in Victoria Falls and Cape Town - Park fees in Victoria Falls - Tips to staff and drivers - Airport departure taxes - Travel insurance - International economy airfare - Inter-Africa flights - Zimbabwe visa Trip Reports: We have been to Hwange four times, including this month. The first two times, we stayed at Little Makalolo. Last year, we tried Davison's, and fell in love with this camp. Themba and Bee, the managers, are so warm and friendly, but also efficient and responsive! We consider them to be our friends. They have a small staff that works so well together, you never realize how few staff there are. All of the people seem determined to give us a grand time and they did. The game viewing was very good, the meals were fabulous, the housekeeping was excellent, all in all, an experience we will not soon forget. Our guide, Dickson, came over from Little Makalolo to guide us. We had six super guides on this trip, but our return safari with Dickson, proved to be the best! Dickson Dube is so humble, so experienced, so knowledgeable, but fun at the same time. We enjoyed every minute with him. We walked with him, spent all day in the bush, laughed with him and left wishing we had another day at this camp with Dickson Mark and Darlene Knott, May 2017 Everything was wonderful - Everything went well - Ilala Lodge was delightful! We walked everywhere, to the falls, to town and to the Victoria Falls Hotel - We loved all three safari camps Kanana, Okuti, Shinde - Best animal sighting: 7 lions and 27 giraffes on one game drive (at Okuti) - Activity at Kanana quite good, they saw dogs - All the facilities and food in the camps were outstanding - The people of Africa so sweet and gracious Richard Friese, Jun 2017 I don t think we have ever stayed at a Kwando camp before but after Little Kwara, I would look for them again. We had great game viewing. I also love the old school vibe of the camp. Personally- I love coffee by the fire in the morning, tents that feel like tents, and more of an old fashioned culture For me, the combination of great game and a safari experience that felt old school was perfect.

17 I also have to confess that I packed insufficient pills for one of my medications and Okie in camp was able to get me more from Maun. Totally saved the trip for me and honestly- the camp staff were generally wonderful and sweet. Kate Sullivan, Jul 2017 We loved the Victoria Falls Hotel the location and the feel of the property. The first afternoon the activity was the sunset cruise what a great beginning most spectacular sunset. They enjoyed Cinthia and the tour of the Falls. The school and village visit was very meaningful they would recommend that to everyone! Goldman Family, Jul 2017 Wow, where do I even begin. Still processing what my son and I just experienced. In short, our Africa trip was something beyond awe inspiring. And the ability to share it with my son, I really don t have the words to express my gratitude. I am so glad we used Africa Adventure Company to make this trip happen. You did a fabulous job customizing the trip to my initial requests and desires. The three camps you recommended balanced and contrasted each other beautifully. Both Xigera and Duma Tau get 10 out of 10. Outstanding camps My son and I would LOVE to return to it especially in a couple of years after the rhinos they are soon to introduce have become established. David Isenberg, Sep 2017