safaris for photographer

The Hippo Trail
The Hippo Trail is Module 1 of "The Southern Skies"
Victoria Falls/Botswana/Namibia
9 Days: Victoria Falls to Windhoek (1 Night lodge and 7 Nights camping)
Tour fare pp R4 010 Local payment pp $180 Single supplement R530 add 5% credit card charge

Victoria Falls to Windhoek:

‘Gasp at the most spectacular natural wonder of them all, Victoria Falls - Mosi-oa-Tunya, ‘The Smoke that Thunders’. Hold on to your hat (and everything else) as you try to tame some of the most terrifying white water rapids anywhere in the world. Or give in to sanity and slip gently along the upper Zambezi watching the wildlife come to drink.

A whole world away we discover the mysterious Okavango Delta. A labyrinth of twisting and turning watery secrets. Gently poling through these winding waterways we view the teeming bird and wildlife.

HIGHLIGHTS:

Victoria Falls
Chobe National Park, river cruise with game viewing. (BL)
Maun, gateway to the Okavango Delta. (BL)
Okavango Delta, two nights "makoro" safari. (BLD)
Maun. (BLD)
Gobabis. (BL)
Windhoek. (B)
End of tour (B)

INCLUDED IN THE TOUR PRICE:

Itinerary as specified, highlighted text is also included, fully equipped safari vehicle, services of tour leader and camp courier, all accommodation, all camping and catering equipment and National Park entrance fees. Breakfast (B) Lunch (L) Dinner (D) where specified. Meals not shown will be to the clients account. Occasionally breakfast and lunch may be combined into a
brunch where necessary e.g. mornings with early game drives.

NOT INCLUDED IN THE TOUR PRICE:

International Airfares, travel and medical insurance, personal spending money, visas, passports, vaccinations, personal taxes (including departure and border taxes) all optional activities, unscheduled or optional national / game parks and other activities, gratuities, sleeping bag if required, restaurant meals and all other items of a personal nature. All drinks, even on days with
full board basis.

PRE DEPARTURE INFORMATION:

Most clients arrive a few days prior to the official start day. This is to give them plenty of time to enjoy all that Victoria Falls has to offer. Your operator can organise any accommodation or activities you may require if you want to arrive early or stay on in Africa after your tour ends. Please contact us for assistance.

On Day 1, clients should meet at The Victoria Falls Rest Camp Tel: (++263 13) 40509/11 at 18h30pm for the pre departure meeting. This meeting will give you all a chance to meet your fellow travellers and get to know your guides. The meeting will cover all the aspects of the trip. Please bring with you to this meeting: your passport with relevant visa's and evidence of medical and personal insurance. Please also bring the Local Payment. Please also bring the Local Payment. The local payment is required to cover a wide variety of our on-tour expenses, which can include National Park entrance fees, excursions and activities, certain fresh foods, vehicle tolls and entrance fees, as well as some accommodation costs whilst travelling throughout Africa. The local payment is that portion of the tour cost that must be paid in cash to the tour leader at the pre departure meeting.

If you have any questions regarding arrival prior to the tour or any other questions whatsoever, please contact your operator. If you are unable to attend the pre departure meeting, please let your operator know at least one week prior to your departure.

Other pre-tour accommodation is also available. Please contact your operator for assistance. All meals whilst in Victoria Falls will be to your own expense.

Meeting Point: Victoria Falls Rest Camp (pool dining room)
Address: Parkway Drive, Victoria Falls
Contact Details: Tel: (++ 263 13) 40509/11
Fax: (++ 263 13) 43434
E-mail: campsite@africaonline.co.zw
Pre Dep. Meeting: 18h30 Day 1
Tour Start Time: Truck leaves on Day 2 at approx. 10.00am
Tour End Time: Tour ends after breakfast on Day 9
Tour End point: Arebbusch Travel Lodge
Address: Auas Rd, Windhoek
Contact Details: Tel: (++ 264 61) 252255

ITINERARY:

DAY 1 – Victoria Falls

The spectacular Victoria Falls is one of the ‘seven natural wonders’ of the world. Explore it at your leisure. If you are an adventure lover this is the place for you! Take a sundowner cruise or enjoy hoards of other adventure activities. Our camp is close to all the bars, restaurants and hot spots. All meals in Victoria Falls are to the client’s expense.

CAMPING (Victoria Falls Rest Camp or similar) Parkway Drive, Victoria Falls

DAY 2 – Chobe National Park (90 km)

Departing Victoria Falls we head for Botswana and our first border crossing. Your guides will help with all the formalities and once through the border a short drive to Kasane takes us to our camp situated right on the banks of the Chobe River. Chobe National Park is home to the largest herds of elephant in Africa. Lunch will be served at the camp before the afternoon's activities.

We will be picked up by open safari vehicles and transferred to the departure point for our included guided river cruise with game viewing. Breakfast and lunch

CAMPING (Toro Safari Lodge) Lot 76 Gazungula, Kasane, Botswana

DAY 3 – Maun (606 km)

Departing Chobe we travel through Botswana and past the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans which is one of the flattest places on earth and famous for its stunning Baobab trees. Today is a long days - travelling so be prepared. We arrive in the little town of Maun, which is the gateway to the Okavango Delta; our camp is just outside of town. In the evening there will be a full briefing as to what expect and pack for the delta excursion. Please remember space in the makoros (local word for canoe - and your mode of transport in the delta) is at a premium and a small overnight bag with your sleeping bag and necessary clothes for 2 days is all that is needed. Your operator will provide all camping and catering equipment and all foods. Breakfast & lunch only. Dinner is to the clients’ expense at the restaurant in the camp.

CAMPING Audi Camp (or similar) 12 kilometres north of Maun, on the banks of the Thamalakane River

DAYS 4 & 5 – Okavango Delta

An early morning pickup awaits us where we will be transferred to the "makoro" poling station by vehicle. We will be assigned our makoro - each complete with poler /guide. After a two to three hour relaxing journey into the delta we will set up camp. The Delta is an incredible maze of inland waterways and lagoons. We'll be on safari ‘makoro’ style, poled gently along in canoes, hand hewn from logs, floating through this haven of wildlife and birds. The camp is in the wild and there are no ablution facilities. Your poler guides will take you on game walks to experience the full splendour of the region. Meals will be carefully planned for this duration. Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

CAMPING (Bush camps in the Okavango Delta )

DAY 6 – Maun

After breakfast we are gently poled back to the vehicle pick up point and transferred by vehicle back to the truck and camp in Maun. Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

CAMPING (Audi Camp or similar)

DAY 7 – Gobabis (510 km)

We travel and cross the border into Namibia and proceed to Gobabis where we will overnight on a private game farm. Our first night in Namibia and a fitting place to hear fireside tales of your journey so far and have your guides describe the days ahead. Breakfast and lunch

CAMPING (Zelda’s Game and Guest Farm or similar) on route between Gobabis and Botswana border

DAY 8 – Windhoek (240 km)

We leave Gobabis after breakfast for Windhoek, to arrive late morning. You are dropped off at Hotel Pension Eros – the rest of the afternoon is free. The vehicle continues to Waterberg Plateau National Park – therefore please ensure that all your belongings are removed from the vehicle. Breakfast.

LODGE (Arebbusch Travel Lodge or similar) Auas Rd, Windhoek

DAY 9 – Windhoek

Our tour ends after breakfast.

The Hippo Trail is Module 1 of "The Southern Skies"

.Local Payment: US$180