South African Safari and Victoria Falls

South African Safari and Victoria Falls 15 Days

From $1720 USD

Trip URL: www.adventurelink.com/

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South African Safari and Victoria Falls
South African Safari and Victoria Falls
South African Safari and Victoria Falls
South African Safari and Victoria Falls
South African Safari and Victoria Falls
South African Safari and Victoria Falls
South African Safari and Victoria Falls
South African Safari and Victoria Falls
South African Safari and Victoria Falls
South African Safari and Victoria Falls

Overview
Itinerary
Nuts & Bolts
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Overview

Highlights

Duration: 15 Days
Comfort: 66.6666666666667%
Language: English
Rating: 0%
Trip ID: 128057
Start Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
End Location: Johannesburg, South Africa

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Primary Activities: Safari, Waterfalls
Other Activities: Canyoning, River & Canal Cruising, Off-road Auto & 4x4, Museums & Expositions, Parks & Nature Reserves, Waterfalls, dugout canoe, african elephant, indigenous tribes, Camping

Discover the allure of southern Africa as you roam from the golden plains of the world-famous Kruger National Park and the awe-inspiring Victoria Falls to the watery wonderland of the Okavango Delta and the teeming game parks of Botswana.

Whether it's spotting the Big Five, relaxing by dreamy lagoons, experiencing tribal village life or cavorting near raging waterfalls, this adventure tour will fill your memories with the wonders of the African south.

Trip Information:

Start: Johannesburg, South Africa

Finish: Johannesburg, South Africa

Group size: Min 1 , Max 16

Ages: Min 18

Included activities:

African Ivory Route - Cultural Dinner, Blyde River Canyon, Chobe - River cruise, Elephant Sands - Afternoon game drive, Khama Rhino Sanctuary - Evening game drive, Kruger Park - Game drive, Maun - Local village visit, Okavango Delta - Mokoro trips & bushwalks, Visit Victoria Falls

Notes:

This is a combination trip. Please see trip notes (Important notes) for more details.

A single supplement is available on this trip.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Johannesburg: Sawubona! Welcome to South Africa.

Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6pm on Day 1. You can arrive at any time as there are no activities planned until this important meeting; please ask the hotel reception where it will take place. If your flight arrives too late, we recommend that you consider arriving a day early and book a night's accommodation prior to the trip so you are able to attend. If you are going to be late please inform the hotel reception. We'll be collecting your kitty, insurance details and next of kin information at this meeting so please ensure you have all details on hand to provide to your leader.

Johannesburg is a sprawling city of remarkable contrasts. In the townships, mansions stand alongside tin shacks and there are as many green parks on the outskirts of the city as there are conglomerations of concrete in the centre. This is a good place to spend a couple of days to get an insight into South Africa's history, and it's a great base for exploring the rest of the country.

Optional Activities
Apartheid Museum, Johannesburg - ZAR75.00
Art Gallery, Johannesburg - ZAR60.00
Gold Reef City and Heritage mine tour, Johannesburg - ZAR360.00
Museum Africa, Johannesburg - ZAR40.00

Meals Included
1 Breakfast

Accommodation
Hotel (1 nt)
Day 2: Khama Rhino Sanctuary evening game drive: Leaving South Africa behind, cross the border into Botswana and travel toward the Khama Rhino Sanctuary (600 km, approx 8-10 hrs). Situated on the edge of the vast Kalahari Desert, the Khama Rhino Sanctuary is a result of local efforts to convert a former hunting area into a conservation project. Built to protect Botswana's only remaining populations of both black and white rhinos, the sanctuary is also home to other wildlife including zebras, giraffes, leopards, ostriches and wildebeest, which have all moved in and can be seen around the many natural waterholes.

Visiting this project benefits local communities, as well as contributing to the protection of the highly endangered white rhinoceros. Head out on a dusk game drive to see the rhinos when they are at their most active before returning to camp.

Included Activities
Khama Rhino Sanctuary - Evening game drive

Meals Included
1 Breakfast

Accommodation
Camping (with facilities) (1 nt)
Day 3: Explore Maun: Our destination today is Maun (520 km, approx 7-8 hrs). Maun is the gateway to one of the world's most renowned and complex ecosystems, the Okavango Delta. Formed by the Okavango River as it flows from the highlands of Angola down to a basin on the edge of the Kalahari Desert, the Okavango Delta is unlike anything else in the world. The river has no outlet from the desert and spreads out into thousands of small streams to form a wilderness that is totally unspoilt.

The 16,000 sq km maze of wetlands is a wonderland of clear meandering waterways, green islands, lush plains and prolific wildlife. The delta is filled with a diversity of flora and fauna that includes hippos, crocodiles, elephants and the big cats. However, it's not for the game that we come as it can't always be found. The delta is about exploring one of the world's most fascinating ecosystems. Camp on the outskirts of town at a simple campsite with shared facilities.

Accommodation
Camping (with facilities) (1 nt)
Days 4-5: Okavango Delta mokoro trips and bushwalking: Traverse the waterways by mokoro, a traditional dugout canoe navigated by friendly local 'polers'. With luck, you might spot some of the delta's unusual wildlife and prolific birdlife. Spend time exploring the maze of lagoons, lakes and streams on foot, led by experienced and knowledgeable guides. Camp on a remote island in the heart of the wilderness. Dig a bush toilet and go without a shower, it's all part of the Okavango experience. At night, the sounds of the African bush are the only things you will hear - a true wilderness experience!

Wake up early the following morning and venture out on a sunrise walk hoping to catch a glimpse of some elephants and Cape buffalo. Returning to camp for breakfast, take the rest of the day to relax, take a swim or test your poling skills before heading out for an afternoon walk or perhaps another mokoro trip - the choice is yours.

Included Activities
Okavango Delta - Mokoro trips & bushwalks

Accommodation
Bush camp (no facilities) (2 nts)
Day 6: Visit a local village at Maun: After taking down our camp, take the mokoro back to the poling station before transferring back to Maun (60 km, approx 2-3 hrs). Visit a local rural village for an insight into life in the Okavango Delta. For those wanting more adventure, there's an opportunity to fly over the delta in a small plane for a bird's-eye view - a great way to appreciate the immensity of this watery world. Camp on the outskirts of town at a simple campsite with shared facilities.

Included Activities
Maun - Local village visit

Optional Activities
Scenic flight, Okavango Delta - USD385.00

Accommodation
Camping (with facilities) (1 nt)
Day 7: Elephant Sands afternoon game drive: Head north to Elephant Sands, a private conservancy in northern Botswana (390 km, approx 6-7 hrs). Elephant Sands is not only home to elephants, but also lots of antelope species, lions, giraffes, zebras and hundreds of different bird species. Arrive in time for an afternoon game drive hoping to spot some of this area's amazing animals. Camp in the conservancy at a basic camp with shared facilities.

Included Activities
Elephant Sands - Afternoon game drive

Accommodation
Camping (with facilities) (1 nt)
Days 8-9: See the thurndrous waterfalls of Victoria: Travel on to Victoria Falls (330 km, approx 5-6 hrs). Cross the border into Zimbabwe in time to have lunch on the banks of the Zambezi. Visit the magnificent Victoria Falls. Our campground is centrally located in the town of Victoria Falls, the perfect place to use as a base for the vast array of activities on offer in the area. Upgraded accommodation is available, please ask at reception.

As this is a combination trip, your group leader and the composition of your group may change at this location. There will be a group meeting to discuss the next stage of your itinerary, meet your new fellow travellers, and collect the next part of your kitty.

The Victoria Falls are an enormous curtain of water, about a mile wide, falling 108 m into a narrow gorge below. In the wet season, the spray created can rise up an incredible 400 m and the falls are an impressive raging torrent. The spray from the falls can sometimes be seen from kilometres away. It's no wonder that the local name Mosi oa Tunya means the 'smoke that thunders'. In the dry season, the view of the falls is unobstructed by spray and it's possible to see little islets in the river below.

Responsible Travel Note:
During your visit to the Victoria Falls area you may notice businesses offering an optional 'Walk with the Lions' experience. We recommend that Intrepid travellers bypass this activity as it is contrary to Intrepid's Responsible Travel guideline stating that we 'actively discourage the participation of Intrepid groups in activities which exploit animals - wild or domestic.' Professional wildlife conservation organisations, including Born Free and the World Society for Protection of Animals (WSPA), advise that habituating lions to humans can shorten their life and may result in lion-human conflict issues. While there is some merit in the argument that the money that you pay for the activity goes towards lion research, we feel that the negative impacts on the lions' rehabilitation far outweigh this.

If you are interested in the Optional Helicopter flight ( 12 minutes or 25 minutes ) we endorse the following operator only: Zambezi Helicopter co CAA Zimbabwe. Your leader can help you arrange this activity.

Included Activities
Visit Victoria Falls

Optional Activities
Bungee jumping, Victoria Falls - USD130.00
Canoe trail, Victoria Falls - USD140.00
Flying fox, Victoria Falls - USD40.00
Gorge swing, Victoria Falls - USD90.00
Helicopter flight (12 mins), Victoria Falls - USD140.00
Helicopter flight (25 mins), Victoria Falls - USD275.00
Horseback safari, Victoria Falls - USD80.00
Jet boat, Victoria Falls - USD95.00
Rafting & river boarding combo (half day), Victoria Falls - USD180.00
Village & township tour, Victoria Falls - USD50.00
Whitewater rafting (full day) - USD140.00
Whitewater rafting (half day) - USD140.00

Accommodation
Camping (with facilities) (2 nts)
Day 10: River cruising on Chobe National Park: Travel to Chobe National Park in Botswana (100 km, approx 3 hrs). Botswana's first national park, Chobe, is perhaps best known for its high concentration of elephants, which can often be seen swimming in the Chobe River. The river also attracts wallowing hippos, a variety of birdlife, crocodiles sunning themselves by the water's edge, and cheetahs and lions which come down to drink. Enjoy a cruise on the Chobe River, a very relaxing way to spend the afternoon.

Included Activities
Chobe - River cruise

Accommodation
Camping (with facilities) (1 nt)
Day 11: Explore Nata pans and Chobe game driving: There's time for an optional dawn game drive for those who would like to further explore this beautiful park.
With a diverse range of ecosystems, a humungous number of elephants and the largest concentration of game found in Africa, Chobe National Park is safari heaven. Hit the road bound for Nata ( 302km, approx 5hrs ). Our campsite tonight is situated on the edge of the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans which makes up one of the largest salt pans in the world covering some 12,000sq km. Facilities include a Restaurant, Swimming pool, Gift Shop and Bar/lounge area.

While here you have the opportunity to explore the pans on 3hr excursion in open vehicles. Surrounded by the Kalahari Desert the pans are naturally dry and salty for a large part of the year. During this time the arid landscape has an eerie feel to it as heat mirages disorientate the senses. However they are seasonally covered with water and grass and as soon as the rains hit become a refuge for migratory birds and animals.

Optional Activities
Chobe - Dawn game drive, Chobe National Park - BWP240.00

Accommodation
Camping (with facilities) (1 nt)
DDay 12: Blouberg cultural tour: Up bright and early we have a long drive ahead as we make tracks for Blouberg ( approx. 600km, 10hrs ).
We should arrive at our camp late this afternoon. The camp is situated in South Africa’s Limpopo Province and offers a unique cultural experience. Located at the base of the mountain, where no roads exist due to its rugged and iinaccessible nature, it is home for a small community of the Hananwa people who still lead a very traditional lifestyle.

On arrival stretch your legs for a short walk with a local guide. Following paths along the base of the Blouberg Mountains, hear stories of a fascinating community, some of whom still following ancient traditions. The first stop is at a deserted Lutheran missionary village (Bochum) where you will get an understanding of the cross-cultural dynamics of the area.

Proceed to local village taverns (called shebeens) where locals will provide an evening meal, giving you an opportunity to discover traditional meals like mazie and watermelon (Thopi), chicken-based stews (Malana) and a green vegetable called marogo. Take the opportunity to try the traditionally brewed beer. Please note that this experience offers limited options for vegetarians.Ask your leader about organizing an alternative.

Included Activities
African Ivory Route - Cultural Dinner

Accommodation
Camping (with facilities) (1 nt)
Days 13-14: Kruger National Park game driving: This morning we make our way towards the Kruger National Park (350 km, approx 8hrs). One of the largest game reserves in Southern Africa, Kruger National Park is home to over 500 bird species, 100 species of reptile and 150 mammal species, including the Big Five and the endangered African wild dog. Our wildlife experience begins as soon as we enter the park. We head straight into prime game viewing areas where we hope to catch a glimpse of some of the amazing animals found here.

Rise early and have a light breakfast of coffee and rusks before embarking on a morning game drive. Most of the day will be spent game viewing, bird watching and stopping at various waterholes and viewpoints. Take an additional night drive with the park guide to spot nocturnal animals and perhaps even a night-time predator or two. Our campground within the park has shared facilities and hot and cold water.

Included Activities
Kruger Park - Game drive

Optional Activities
Kruger Park - Night game drive, Kruger National Park - ZAR180.00

Accommodation
Camping (with facilities) (2 nts)
Day 15: Johannesburg, departure: Transfer back to Johannesburg (600 km, approx 8-9 hrs). There's plenty of time to stop and explore along the way. Take in amazing views at the viewpoint over the awesome Blyde River Canyon. On arrival in Jo'burg you can be dropped at the airport or at our finishing point hotel.

No accommodation is provided for tonight, but we are able to book you additional accommodation in Johannesburg. Please ask at time of booking. Please don't book any international flights until after 10pm this evening.

Included Activities
Blyde River Canyon

Nuts & Bolts

Trip Includes

12 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 11 dinners

Trip Excludes

Trip Kitty R4,735.00

Trip ID#: 128057

CANCELLATIONS: 20% cancellation fee applied if cancelled 60 days prior to departure. Cancellations within 60 days are 100% non-cancelable

Operator

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