Africa Safaris & Holidays

Highlights: Botswana: Okavango Delta - Chobe National Park - Zimbabwe: Victoria Falls - Zimbabwe Ruins - Matobo National Park - Zambia: Zambezi National Park Canoe Trip

Day 1 Botswana – Palapye
We depart Johannesburg heading north to Botswana to cross the border and spend our first night in Palapye, located on the banks of the Lotsane River.
Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Day 2 Khama Rhino Sanctuary - Maun
This morning we visit the Khama Rhino Sanctuary, a community based wildlife project, established in 1992 to assist in saving the vanishing rhino. We arrive in Maun in the afternoon and prepare for the Okavango Delta. In the late afternoon there is often time to visit a local Crocodile Farm. Optional Activity: Crocodile Farm
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3/4 Okavango Delta
During our time in the Delta we enjoy the best nature has to offer. We go on nature walks and if possible will explore the Delta by mokoro. The Delta is the world’s largest inland delta. The rivers leading to the Okavango Delta have no passage to the ocean and irrigate instead some 15,000 square km’s of Kalahari Desert. This is a truly spectacular and unforgettable experience where wild animals are not familiar with people. We travel into the Delta on a large 4x4 vehicle - in high water season boats will be used. We join up with some of the local people and set up our bush camp for the next 2 nights.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5 Gweta
We leave the Delta behind us and travel east to Planet Baobab, which is located halfway between Maun and Nata, near the Makgadikgadi Pans. You can explore the bush around our campsite and view some of the oldest Baobab trees in the area. Optional Activity: Flight over the Delta
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6 Kasane - Chobe National Park
Today we head north to Kasane, on the banks of the Chobe River. The afternoon is spent game viewing on a river cruise, into the renowned Chobe NP. This is an excellent opportunity to view some of Africa’s spectacular wildlife.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7 Zimbabwe - Victoria Falls
On arrival in Victoria Falls we have time to plan the next day’s adventure activities before we visit the spectacular Victoria Falls and experience the thundering of the mighty Zambezi as it drops over 100m in to the gorge below. Optional Activities: Chobe National Park Early Morning Game Drive, Zambezi Sunset Dinner Cruise
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 8 Victoria Falls
Most people will spend the day White Water Rafting, a not-to-be-missed experience of a lifetime! Vic Falls offers many exciting activities. Optional Activities: Morning Game Drive in Chobe, White Water Rafting, Bungee Jump, Walking with Lions, Elephant Excursion, Dinner
Meals: Breakfast

Day 9 Zambia - Livingstone and Zambezi River
Starting our day early, we cross over the historical railway bridge that links Zimbabwe and Zambia at the Victoria Falls. This bridge was completed in 1905 and was placed, at the request of Cecil John Rhodes, so that the spray from the falls could embrace the railway carriages as they crossed from one side to the other. Once in Zambia there will be a short stop to collect any additional passengers and then we have a long drive to reach the camp for the evening.
Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Day 10 Lower Zambezi National Park Canoe Trip
Today we will be beginning our canoe adventure in to the Lower Zambezi National Park. Starting early in the morning we will be taking the minimum of equipment necessary and ‘bush camping’ on an island this evening, surrounded by wildlife, including the hippo. This is a unique experience as we will be a long, long way from any form of civilisation!
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 11 Lower Zambezi National Park
This is the second day spent on the mighty Zambezi River. As we are travelling downstream with the current the physical effort required to negotiate the river is not extreme and many happy hours can be spent simply drifting and enjoying the beautiful scenery, birdlife and company. At certain times of the year it may not be possible to canoe on the river due to extreme temperatures or water levels. In this instance the 2 days normally spent on the river will be swapped for a 2-night houseboat excursion on Lake Kariba.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 12 Zimbabwe – Chinhoyi Caves
In the morning there is a transfer through the Lower Zambezi National Park and back to the truck. All together again, we will pass through the Chirundu Border (sometimes a time consuming process) and re-enter Zimbabwe. From Chirundu it is not a long trip to Chinhoyi. Probably best known for cave diving, the Chinhoyi caves system is the largest publicly accessible cave system in Zimbabwe and reputably a ‘mysterious’ area.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 13 Harare and Chimanimani National Park
After visiting the caves it is a short drive from Chinhoyi to Harare, the capital city of Zimbabwe, where we will stop for some shopping, lunch and exploration. Although Harare has not had a lot of positive press in the last 10 years, many will be surprised at just how safe and accessible this small, modern capital is. After lunch we will be travelling to the Eastern Highlands and the Chimanimani National Park. The Mountain range that separates Zimbabwe and Mozambique is the site of some simply spectacular hiking and scenery and with time permitting we will take a short walk to the well-known Bridal Veil Falls in the late afternoon.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 14 Chirinda Forest
It is possible to spend another full day hiking in the Chimanimani, or take a day trip to Zimbabwe’s only rain forest on the Mozambique Border. Chirinda is the southernmost rain forest in Africa and home to some spectacular large mahogany trees. A short hike to ‘the big tree’ is a lovely outing and a fantastic spot for a picnic lunch.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 15 Great Zimbabwe Ruins
No visit to Zimbabwe could possibly be complete without visiting the world-famous Great Zimbabwe ruins. Dating from around the 11th century these iron-age ruins have been the source of much speculation and disagreement over the years. Built without any mortar some of the walls are up to 5 metres high and still standing after so many centuries. This site was also home to 8 carved Zimbabwe birds, the image of which is found on the Zimbabwean National Flag.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 16 Gweru and Antelope Park
This morning we drive to Gweru, home to a place called Antelope Park. This is a unique place and home to The African Lion Environmental Research Trust (ALERT) and the world’s first Lion Rehabilitation & Release into the wild Programme. On arrival we have some time to relax and then decide on any of the optional activities available here. In addition to the Lion program there are also Elephants, horse riding, canoeing, fishing and a marketplace selling local crafts, including woven goods.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 17 Gweru and Antelope Park
We have a second day here in which to really enjoy all that is on offer. This is a fantastic opportunity to spend some quality time with Africa’s wildlife. In the afternoon we have an included walk with the Lions that are part of the rehabilitation and release program.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 18 Matobo National Park and Bulawayo
It is not a long drive to Bulawayo and the Matobo National Park (and also a World Heritage site) where we have a full afternoon of activities. Here we will visit the grave of Cecil John Rhodes, love him or not, he was a big part in Zimbabwe’s history. We will also be taking a game drive in the Matobo National Park, which is home to a very successful breeding program of Black and White Rhino. In the evening there are a number of local restaurants to choose between in Bulawayo.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 19 South Africa – Bulawayo to Messina
After a short visit to the Bulawayo Historical Museum we start the drive back to South Africa. We cross the border at Buitbridge, which can sometimes take a long time, and return to South Africa where we will camp at the border town of Messina.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 20 Johannesburg
Today we leave early for the journey South along the Great North Road for our final destination in Johannesburg, the City of Gold. We will gradually move up from the Bushveld and Baobabs of the Limpopo Province through citrus and maize fields to the heavily populated and industrialised Highveld and Gauteng Province, the powerhouse of Africa. We will travel through Pretoria, one of South Africa’s capital cities, before arriving in Johannesburg in the late afternoon. Although this final night is not included in the tour most people choose to get together for a final meal out at one of Johannesburg’s many excellent restaurants.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Safari Facts
 
Price 2012: Camping EUR 1560 + EUR 620 (for the Activity Package, which includes all acitivites that are mentioned as included in the itinerary, except for the optional activities)
Start in Johannesburg/South Africa
End in Johannesburg/South Africa
Meals B x 18, L x 18, D x 16
Tour in english
Accommodation: Participatory camping in twin share tents or 4 per room/dorm
Transport: Overland truck

24-Apr-2012 to 13-May-2012
22-May-2012 to 10-Jun-2012
19-Jun-2012 to 08-Jul-2012
17-Jul-2012 to 05-Aug-2012
14-Aug-2012 to 02-Sep-2012
11-Sep-2012 to 30-Sep-2012
09-Oct-2012 to 28-Oct-2012
06-Nov-2012 to 25-Nov-2012
04-Dec-2012 to 23-Dec-2012