Cape Town to Victoria Falls, Zambia

* 4 nights in hotel / guest house & 16 nights camping
* Entrance fees
* Use of camping equipment (except sleeping bags)
* Transport in minibus / safari truck & 4WD
* Meals as per itinerary
* Professional guide
* Okavango Delta mokoro excursion

OPTIONAL ACTIVITY PRICES Below is a list of approximate prices, in US$, for the optional activities available on the various tours:

Game drives (2 hours) 35
Horse riding (2-3 hours) 50-70
Flight - fixed wing 55
Flight - helicopter 75
Flight - mirco light 75
Rafting ½ day 95
Rafting full day 95
River boarding 125
Bungi jumping 90
Canoe upper-Zambezi ½ day 65
Canoe upper-Zambezi 1 day 75
Zambezi cruise 35
Elephant rides 100
Crocodile farm 12
Snake park 5

Table Mountain cable car 10
Robben Island cruise 25
Seal Island cruise 10
Abseiling Cape Town 30
Diving 50
Shark cage diving 125

Pre / post-tour airport transfers cost € 20 per person per transfer. Please book these with your tour.

PRE & POST TOUR ACCOMMODATION / DEPARTURE POINTS - you can stay anywhere

CAPE TOWN
Spring Tide Inn,
Their rate is R650/double/night
http://www.springtideinn.co.za

LIVINGSTONE / VICTORIA FALLS
  Zambezi Waterfront Lodge B&B
  Mosi oa Tunya Rd, Livingstone
  sgl room only € 85
  dbl room only € 65 ppsharing

At departure there will be short meeting to discuss final arrangements of tour & inform you about the days activities. Please bring your travel voucher & insurance policy.

An epic journey through Namibia, Botswana and Zambia covering Fish River Canyon, the wildlife in Etosha Pan National Park, the Okavango Delta, Sossusvlei in the Namib Desert and the awesome Victoria Falls!

ITINERARY 2008

Day 1 CAPE TOWN [guest house ---]

Departing, after a tour briefing, from Cape Town at 08:00am we visit the African Penguin colony en route to Cape Point Nature Reserve and then relax on Hout Bay beach. We sample some of Cape Town’s culinary wonders at a local restaurant in the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront (own expense).

Day 2 CEDARBERG [camping BLD] (B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner)

The Cedarberg is a massive rocky wilderness where giant sandstone boulders have been sculpted by wind and rain into bizarre and artistic shapes. In the afternoon we explore the rugged landscape on foot.

Day 3 GARIEP RIVER [camping BLD]

We make our way into the more arid regions and entering Namibia, we camp at the Gariep River. Time free for swimming and relaxing or you can adventure down the river in canoes (own expense).

Day 4 FISH RIVER CANYON [camping BLD]

We make our way to Fish River canyon, the second largest canyon in the world. In the afternoon we watch as a spectacular sunset slips over the canyon’s rim.

Day 5 - 6 NAMIB DESERT [camping BLD]

Towering red sand dunes of Sossusvlei form the gateway into the Namib Desert. We will walk to Sossusvlei, explore Sesriem Canyon and watch dramatic sunsets over the world’s highest sand dunes.

Day 7 - 8 SWAKOPMUND [chalet Bx2 Lx1 -]

Lunar landscapes and the prehistoric Welwitchia plants surround the coastal town of Swakopmund. Day free to explore the town or try quad biking / dune boarding (own expense). We enjoy evening restaurant meals (own expense) and overnight in a guest house.

Day 9 SPITZKOP [camping BLD]

Two days of beautiful desert landscapes. We move north along the arid coast to the Cape Cross seal colony before heading inland to set up camp under the Spitzkoppe, huge granite domes rising out of the desert. Enjoy a magnificent sunset.

Day 10 UGAB WILDERNESS [camping BLD]

Our next stop is the Brandberg where we camp next to the dry Ugab River bed, home to the rare desert elephants. We explore the mountains on foot with our local guides, who lead us through this region adorned with rock art.

Day 11, 12, 13 ETOSHA NP [camping BLD]

The Himba culture is a synonymous with Namibia and we’ll visit a Himba settlement to meet these proud people.

Etosha National Park, “the great white place of dry water”, in the game rich northwest corner of Namibia offers a variety of wildlife. We take game drives around the huge dry pan to find the elephants, herds of antelope and lions around the waterholes before we camp at Okaukuejo with its flood-lit waterhole. (Subject to animal movements we may use any of the 3 camps in Etosha.)

Day 14 WINDHOEK [guest house BL-]

The charm of the city of Windhoek lies in its harmonious blend of African and European cultures and the friendliness of its people. We visit the cosmopolitan capital and enjoy a restaurant meal (own expense).

Day 15 KALAHARI [camping BLD]

Crossing into Botswana we overnight in the heart of the Kalahari. We take a walk with the local San Bushmen to learn fascinating bush skills (Local guide may not be San due to nomadic lifestyle of San Bushman).

Day 16, 17, 18 OKAVANGO DELTA [camping Bx3 Lx3 Dx2]

We camp in Maun for a night in preparation before journeying deep into the Okavango Delta on Makoro (dugouts) - an experience not to be missed. We camp wild on remote islands for 2 nights and enjoy bush walks, swimming and the birdlife in this pristine wilderness area.

Day 19 MAKGADIKGADI PANS [camping BL-]

Feel the vastness of Africa under a big sky sunset. After the rains the pans fill with water and attract thousands of water birds and herds of zebra, wildebeest and springbok.

Day 20 - 21 ZAMBIA / VICTORIA FALLS [camping Bx3--]

Tour Victoria Falls, a natural wonder of the world, plunging into the Zambezi Gorge. Enjoy a sundowner river cruise on the mighty Zambezi or a spectacular “flight of angels” over the Falls (own expense). Tour ends at +/- 12:00 noon.

Price:
21d € 1 495 pps + local payment of ZAR 1900 (valid Jan 2008 – Dec 2008)
15d € 1 045 pps + local payment of ZAR 1200 (valid Jan 2008 – Dec 2008)

2008 DEPARTURE DATES

SAg 27-Feb-08 18-Mar-08 German
SA 19-Mar-08 08-Apr-08
SAg 02-Apr-08 22-Apr-08 German
SA 16-Apr-08 06-May-08
SA 07-May-08 27-May-08
SAg 21-May-08 10-Jun-08 German
SA 04-Jun-08 24-Jun-08
SA 02-Jul-08 22-Jul-08
SA 09-Jul-08 29-Jul-08
SA 23-Jul-08 12-Aug-08
SAg 06-Aug-08 26-Aug-08 German
SA 20-Aug-08 09-Sep-08
SA 10-Sep-08 30-Sep-08
SAg 24-Sep-08 14-Oct-08 German
SA 08-Oct-08 28-Oct-08
SAg 29-Oct-08 18-Nov-08 German
SA 12-Nov-08 02-Dec-08
SA 26-Nov-08 16-Dec-08
SA 17-Dec-08 06-Jan-09
SAg 31-Dec-08 20-Jan-09 German
SA 14-Jan-09 03-Feb-09

* SA: The “Cape Town to Victoria Falls Explorer” can be combined after all “South Africa Scenic Route” departures to create a complete circular safari in Southern Africa.

* SAg: German tour leader

Gariep River, Fish River Canyon, Namib desert, Sossusvlei, Swakopmund, Skeleton coast, Spitzkoppe, Twyfelfontein engravings, Etosha, Okavango Delta, Victoria Falls.

Variety - a tour that explores the diversity of Southern Africa! Spectacular Namib Desert, wild Okavango Delta and the awesome Victoria Falls - a natural wonder of the world. From the wildlife areas and cultural interaction to historical sites all set in beautiful landscapes!

National Parks and wildlife areas - We visit the famous Fish River Canyon, Namib Nauklauft and Etosha National Parks, the wilderness of the Okavango Delta as well as other lesser-known wildlife areas. This trip visits some fantastic wildlife areas as well as the fascinating desert environment.

Culture and history - we try to introduce you to the people of the areas we visit for example the Himba and Herero people of northern Namibia. We also get to spend several days with our local Okavango guides where we have the opportunity to experience a living contact with local people.

Small group - travelling in groups of up to 12 people creates a friendly, holiday atmosphere.

Walking - every opportunity to get out and walk in the areas such as the Fish River Canyon, Namib Desert, Spitzkoppe, Brandberg, Victoria Falls and Okavango Delta. Walks are easy to moderate exertion and optional. Duration from ½ - 4 hours.

Adventure - activities available include: dune boarding, quad biking, deep-sea fishing, hot air ballooning, rafting the mighty Zambezi! Bungi jumping, sky diving, horse riding, mokoro trail and game walks!

Mokoro Trail - the tour includes a 3 day excursion into the Okavango Delta with local guides in mokoros (dugout canoes). This is an escape into untouched African wilderness!

Camping - for 18 nights on safari we stay at designated campsites in national parks, on private land and in towns. Campsite facilities are generally very good but in places can be basic. There are hot and cold showers, restaurants, washing facilities and telephones available at most of the campsites. Some camps in Namibia and Botswana have simple reed enclosures for showers but do have flush toilets!

Your operator supplies all the camping equipment with the exception of your sleeping bag and pillow. The dome tents we use are 2.2 x 2.2 x 1.8 metres and putting them up or down takes only 5 minutes. Tents have built-in insect nets. We supply mattresses, which are about 5 cm thick, warm and comfortable. The camp chairs have a backrest.

Wild camping - for 2 nights while in the Okavango Delta we camp wild on remote islands. During the dry season we may also camp wild for 1 night on the Makgadikgadi Pans. Wild camps have no facilities; we will need to take our own water and all equipment. Wild camping is very enjoyable but please remember that we leave no trace of our stay and take all rubbish away with us. Toilets will be of the "dig and bury" variety.

Hotel - 1 night on tour is spent in a comfortable, but basic, hotel in a metropolitan area of Cape Town near the V&A Waterfront. Rooms are twin with en suite facilities or quad sharing with shared ablutions.

Guest House - 2 nights in Swakopmund and 1 night in Windhoek we stay in guest houses. We may have twin or double rooms all with shared facilities. The guest house is central and convenient.

On foot - easy to moderate walks throughout the tour - Fish River, Sossusvlei, Spitzkoppe Okavango Delta and Victoria Falls. Duration from ½ - 4 hours.

Mokoro - In the Okavango we use mokoros (dugout canoes), "poled" by our local guides, 2 people and their kit per mokoro.

Open Game drives - The transfer into the delta is also with an open vehicle. This allows us the opportunity to really feel part of the bush, the smells, sounds and of course great views!

Vehicle - for longer distance travel, place to place, we use custom built safari trucks with 12 forward facing seats. Comfortable touring and good for game viewing. Large, sliding windows and viewing hatches give everyone a good view; or Toyota Hiace minibuses with 10 forward facing seats (roof rack and trailer for equipment and baggage). There are a couple of long days of travelling but the vehicles have a comfortable cruising speed. The emphasis of the trip is "getting out and doing things".

A local payment is required on this safari and this will be collected by ther tour leader on departure. This covers a portion of the local operational costs including entrance and park fees. This ensures that a major portion of your tour price goes directly into the country you are visiting, benefiting local communities and contributing to the conservation of the area.

An essential part of your safari is participation – from putting up your tent (while camping) or packing away in the morning to helping with meal preparation and cleaning up – it’s all part of your adventure and when everyone puts in a little effort the trip will run smoothly. Your tour leaders will do all the meal preparation but we do ask the clients to help with the washing up. Team spirit is part of the fun!

Craft shopping for carvings, batiks, paintings and clothing are best in Livingstone, Zambia which has a wide variety of curios. Botswana has beautiful grass weavings. Namibia also has unusual and interesting curios and crafts. If you see something you like, it is best to buy it because it is unlikely that you will see something similar further along. Crafts from change from region to region.

We pride ourselves on giving very good healthy meals to our clients and will provide three meals per day, except 7 dinners and 3 lunches in Cape Town, Victoria Falls & Swakopmund where we try local restaurants.

The tour leaders do the shopping and meal planning for each group. He/she will always try to obtain fresh produce wherever possible. A rough idea of what these will consist of is: Breakfast - cereals or coffee and toast or the occasional fried breakfast, Lunch - cheese, cold meats, salads on bread or rolls, Dinner - braais (local barbecue), potjies (stews), stir fries etc. We use regular plates, cups and cutlery. All cooking and eating utensils will also be provided.

We will supply fruit squash served with breakfast and tea or coffee served with breakfast and dinner. All other beverages will be for your own expense. We will not supply bottled drinking water although it is available at many shops on tour.

Anyone who is generally active and in good health should enjoy this trip. The outdoor enthusiast enjoys simple campsites and basic wild camps, you will get dusty on occasion; but this is Africa!

Full itinerary with a couple of long driving days, but also plenty of outdoor activity with some relaxing time. This is a long distance trans Africa safari - there is a lot of distance to be covered and so there will be some long travelling days. Due to local conditions, border crossings, road detours and weather, the trip may alter route / schedule - please remember that this continent has its own time scale and things work differently here. Keep an open mind and a sense of humour - it’s all part of the adventure!

Everyone is asked to help out with the running of camp on tour. In other words if everyone spends a little time setting up camp, preparing meals and cleaning up then the tour will run smoothly and everyone will have a good time. Participation is the name of the game.

Your client will need a valid passport and visas for entry into South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Zambia.

There is a visa waiver service available through your operator for Zambia – please enquire at the time of booking.

Luggage, please pack to a limit of 12kgs in a soft sports tog bag. Bring a daypack for walks.

We recommend that you bring US$ or South African Rand for personal expenses on this trip. Travellers cheques can be changed in Cape Town, Swakopmund, Maun and Livingstone.

What do I need to bring? A warm sleeping bag, comfortable clothes for warm days and cool evenings, walking shoes, a raincoat, hat and sunglasses, swimsuit, a water bottle and a small pair of binoculars also comes in very handy and most importantly - a sense of adventure!

Is it safe? South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Zambia are relatively safe and your guide knows the countries intimately and will endeavour to show you the best parts while looking after you. In the wild areas your guide will brief you on the necessary precautions, follow this advice and you will be fine. Be aware of your personal belongings and you will have a great trip! Every precaution is taking to ensure a happy holiday.

Do I need malaria tablets? Yes, the trip passes through malaria areas and prophylactics are recommended.

Can I buy camera film? Film and other accessories will be available several times on tour. A camera with a zoom lens from wide angle to telephoto, 35-200mm, is advisable to capture both scenic and wildlife shots.

Can I wash my clothes on tour? There are facilities for hand washing your clothes along the way.