8 Day Discover Botswana and Victoria Falls African Safari

Trip Information

In a Nutshell

– A true African experience (wild and free)

– All detailed inclusive Itinerary with cultural experience, adventure and wildlife.

Know Before You Go – Although most of the planning and preparation is taken care of for you, there are still a few things you should know and some details you should take care of to ensure your comfort, safety and peace of mind. Please review the following information before your departure to ensure that any surprises along the way will only be pleasant ones.

Trip Preparation – A little pre-planning can make your trip go a lot smoother. Several weeks before your trip, make a list of what you will need to take with you. Make sure your personal documents (passports, visas, driver’s license) are in order. Make sure also that you have enough prescription medications to last through the trip and carry them with you in case your luggage is delayed. Bring a change of clothes in your carry-on bag in the event that your luggage is delayed or lost. Lost luggage is common. We strongly urge you to consider carry-ons instead of checked bags when possible, and when checking a bag is necessary, choose a bag color and identification that stands out. We suggest that you make photocopies of passports, visas, personal ID and any other important travel documents and pack them separately from the originals. You may also make a digital copy of your passport to keep a clear picture with the important details in your cell phone or digital camera photos. If you lose the originals while traveling, you’ll have copies for easier reporting and replacement. Pack a list of medications including dosage and generic names. You may consider bringing a small supply of over the counter medications for headaches and/or anti-diarrhea pills (especially when traveling outside of the USA and Western Europe). We recommend that you pack a portable alarm clock. Due to security reasons, many museums have restrictions on the size of bags that can be taken inside and backpacks, carry-on bags or large purses may not be permitted. It is recommended to bring a small shoulder bag or purse to use in these situations instead. Avoid placing valuables such as cameras in your checked luggage. Airplane pressure can cause similar pressure in your body, most notably in ears, as well as liquid tubes and bottles. Your physician can suggest medication for decongestion. We suggest that you place liquid containers into Ziploc bags to catch any leaks.

Best Time to Visit:

Dry Season (Mid – March to November):  Botswana has a hot and dry savannah climate. The main rainy season lasts from December to February. The recommended time for a trip is mid-March to mid-November. Daytime temperatures are particularly pleasant in the winter months of May to August. Spring, from September to October, is also very popular for safaris.

This is the best time for wildlife viewing, as animals congregate around the dwindling water sources. The weather is generally warm during the day and cool at night, making it ideal for outdoor activities. Contrary to it being Dry the Okavango Delta’s water levels rise in this time attracting more wildlife to areas flooded with water. One of the best times to enjoy scenic flights over the delta seeing it in its flooded state and wildlife within the bush.

Wet Season (December to February): The wet season transforms the landscape into a lush, green paradise, attracting a myriad of bird species. While rain showers are frequent, they are usually short-lived. This period is excellent for bird watching and seeing the Okavango Delta in full flood.

Trip Rating & Style – Easy and Moderate and cater to adventure enthusiasts seeking authentic experiences. 

Countries visited – Botswana & Zimbabwe.

Highlights – Victoria Falls | Chobe National Park | Makgadikgadi Salt Pans | Okavango Delta 

Activities – Animal Tracking | Cultural Mozaic Experience | Scenic Drive | Game drive | Bushwalks

Transportations – transport for most of this safari you will travel in air-conditioning minibus. Seats in the 10-seater minibuses can be compared in size to an airplane seat – if that setup is uncomfortable for you then please enquire about a private tour where different vehicles can be used. Some game safaris may be carried out using 4×4 jeeps/safari vehicles – see your tour itinerary for details. These may be open-roofed or enclosed. You must not leave the vehicle or lean out through windows without express permission from the guide.

Accommodation Considerations – while we make every effort to stick to the accommodations listed, please note that they serve as guidelines, and adjustments may occur. We recommend obtaining the latest version of the itinerary at least one week before departure to stay informed of any changes. 

Tour leaders – a fully qualified driver/guide will run the tour and do both the driving and guiding. The guides have a wealth of knowledge about the places you will be visiting and travelling past, and many travellers note them as one of the highlights of their tour.

Group Size – small groups of not less than 4 travellers per departure safari, guaranteed with an African Bushwalker Tours Team Leader escorting the group for the entire trip 

Travelling Responsibility – remember you are more than a tourist in this place. You are part of the team of global citizens, embracing diversity and committed to lifelong learning. Stay open to opportunities, contribute where you can, and connect with the many people you meet along the road.

Plan Ahead – now your chance to book any optional activities, chat with the reservation team and get planning 

Life on Land – contribute to any initiative that aims to halt biodiversity loss and promote the sustainable use of ecosystems

Your Fellow Travellers – we have no age restrictions on our tours and if there is one thing we have come to realise, it’s the mental attitude that counts the most. On this trip our group size is a maximum of 6 travellers and 1 crew of all ages and nationalities so you can expect to share this experience with a wide variety of characters from all walks of life. 

Experience – we have more than 23 years’ experience touring throughout East and Southern Africa. As such, our itineraries and routes have been perfected over many years ensuring that your tour will run smoothly. We visit the highlights of East and Southern Africa but ensure that you do not follow the well-trodden tourist track. All of us at African Bushwalker Tours have extensive travel experience in Africa, and throughout the world. Being adventure travellers ourselves, we know how to plan trips that give you a broad experience of the countries that you will visit.

Credit Card Payments:

– Credit card payments will attract a 3.5% handling fee of the value of the transaction.

– It is therefore advised that payments for your trip are done via Bank transfer through Paynow.co.zw

Based in Africa – probably the most important part of an African Bushwalker Tours is that we are an African company with offices in Tanzania and Zimbabwe. We live in Africa; we travel in Africa and it is our passion for this amazing continent that makes African Bushwalker your best travel option.

 Age Policy – on all small group scheduled tours, we accept children 12-17 with accompanying adult and tailor-made tours, we accept children 5 – 17 with accompanying adult. We have no upper age limit. Clients older than 65 years of age at the time of travel require a medical certificate stating the client is fit and healthy to join an adventure travel group tour. We have many clients over 65 years of age, who are perfectly capable of enjoying every aspect of an African Bushwalker tour.

Weather – this Africa overland tour spans half a continent and you can expect it to be warm for the duration of the trip with minimal rainfall. Be prepared for the warm weather and you will enjoy this trip.

Drugs & Alcohol – please be aware that drugs such as marijuana and cocaine are illegal in most countries in Africa and they could enforce severe punishment for being caught in possession. NEVER carry illegal drugs on your person or on the vehicle during this tour as you would not only jeopardise your own freedom but also the well-being of the entire group if you are caught in possession. If you are caught in possession of illegal drugs on this tour you will be asked to leave the tour immediately and no refund will be given. Any such inconsideration can lead to the tour being cancelled and innocent people arrested. We will not hesitate to remove someone if we have to. Aggressive or abusive drunk behaviour will not be tolerated during this tour and if anyone is constantly abusing alcohol and causing trouble we will not hesitate to remove them from the tour and no refund will be given.

Travel Insurance – it is compulsory that every person who travels with African Bushwalker Tours obtain travel insurance for the complete duration of the tour. Proof of travel insurance must be shown before joining a tour.

Visas and Passports – please ensure you have 6 blank pages in your passport in order to accommodate all the visas and stamps, and ensure your passport is valid for at least 6 months after your tour end date.

Common questions about this trip 

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

– What do I need to bring? – comfortable clothes for warm days and cool evenings, walking shoes, headtorch, a raincoat, hat and sunglasses, swimsuit, first aid kit, yellow fever vaccination certificate, a small pair of binoculars also comes in very handy and most importantly – a sense of adventure!

About Drones – Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) or “drone” technology has quickly become affordable and is increasingly popular with recreational users. While some countries have clear, established drone laws, others do not, or existing regulations are undergoing review and change. Travelers who wish to bring a drone on their trip are responsible to research and abide by the laws and regulations of the countries they are visiting, as well as to check with their airline(s) regarding their rules for transporting drones. Please note that tours are unable to extend the length of scheduled visits and stops to accommodate use of drones.

Suggested Tipping

Gratuities – Tipping is always a matter of personal discretion. For your convenience, please refer to the summary below as a guideline for recommended gratuity amounts. Gratuities may be paid in local currency or US dollar equivalent where accepted. On some itineraries, you may encounter multiple drivers and local guides throughout. We recommend keeping small bills on hand for tipping.

Please be aware that many locals consider tipping to be a customary part of their compensation, and some may approach you for additional “compensation.” There is no need to feel intimidated by these requests, nor should you feel pressured to tip beyond the suggested amounts. If you become uncomfortable by any behaviour you encounter, please advise your tour manager, or contact our office (numbers are provided in your documents).

Tour Manager/Driver: US $5 per person per day

Note: Tips for hotel porters, wait staff, and for activities on your own, gratuities are appreciated and expected for good service in restaurants and other places that cater to tourists, as well as on safaris. Hotels and restaurants that are frequented mostly by tourists will often add a gratuity to your bill and additional tipping is at your discretion.

BOOKING – To make your booking, please make sure you have the correct names, nationalities and date of birth of all travelers – as per their passport. African Bushwalker Tours will hold an option of 14 days from the time African Bushwalker Tours have confirmed a tour, before the cancellation rules apply. If our service or a tour is booked less than 14 days prior to the service is rendered or the tour commences, cancellation rules will apply immediately. If you need longer time, please let us know. If a tour or hotel is fully booked African Bushwalker Tours will try to offer you an alternative property of a similar standard and location.

PRICES – All prices are based on costs at the time of publication. African Bushwalker Tours reserves the right to change the prices, in reasonable circumstances, at any time before a booking is made. African Bushwalker Tours will confirm price changes, if any, together with our confirmation of your booking.

For trips in Namibia & South Africa rates given in a currency other than respectively NAD (Namibian Dollar) and ZAR (South African Rand) are subject to change in case of substantial variation of the exchange rate. For trips in Kenya & Tanzania rates given in a currency other than in USD (American Dollars) are subject to change in case of substantial variation of the exchange rate.

PAYMENTS – 30% of the total booking value within 14 days of African Bushwalker Tour’s confirmation of the booking. The remaining 70% no later than 45 days from the trip starting date.

CANCELLATION – If the customer cancels a tour up to 61 days prior to departure the deposit will be lost. If cancellation is made within 60-31 days prior to departure, a penalty fee of 65% of the total price of the tour will be levied. For any cancellation made within 30-16 days before departure, a penalty fee of 85% will apply. In the case of cancellations made less than 16 days before the start of the tour we are unable to offer any reimbursement. No refunds will be given by African Bushwalker Tours for no-shows.

The payment of bank fees for bank transfers are the responsibility of the customer and are strictly non-refundable.

The trip may be cancelled with no penalty charge should war, a life-threatening epidemic, or any other natural catastrophe or similar event occur within 14 days prior to departure. This will however be on the condition that your government advises against travelling to the specific area, and that the situation in question has arisen after the booking of the tour was made.

Cancellations must be made in writing and delivered either by hand, post, fax or electronic mail.

In the case of death or serious illness, of the person for whose benefit the tour has been arranged, no cancellation fee will be charged if African Bushwalker Tours is presented with an officially-approved death/sickness certificate.