Ultimate Africa: Botswana, Zambia & Zimbabwe Safari (2012)

This trip was aptly titled. This was an exciting trip from the first game camp to the fourth game camp, from Victoria Falls to Cape Town. Our lives were enriched and we learned so much. On more than one occasion when we were on the safari vehicles I looked at my husband and exclaimed, "I can't believe how exciting this is and how much fun we are having." There were many built-in surprises and interesting experiences - with African dancing and singing, drumming, and hospitality.

Our trip leader and our guides were, without exception, experts who were more than tolerant about answering many many questions. They anticipated our needs while in the camps and met them without fail.

The food was delicious, and appealing to the American palate - with enough adventure to know we were in southern Africa.

Be sure to take a proper Safari hat, because it is possible to get sun-burned even though the vehicles are covered - especially if you are taking Doxycycline.

We also learned many of the harsh realities of life in developing countries. Plan on buying at the markets, because it is impossible to resist the people who have created such beautiful things.

Traveler: Carole Aitchison from Gainesville, VA traveled on April 08, 2012

We were on the same trip as Susan Rector of Venice, Florida, and agree 100% with all she said. Her suggestions and comments were extremely pratical and useful.
OAT had contracted with an organization called Wilderness Safaris. It is a very large and efficient organization which is dedicated to ecology and preservation. All their employees with whom we came in contact - that includes the staff at the camps, the pilots and all those involved in transporting us - were top notch. I can think of nothing they could have done to make our visit more enjoyable. The logistics of moving the groups from place to place is amazing and, as Susan said,it all went off without a hitch.
When we arrived at Baobab Camp in Chobe National Park the staff "welcomed us to Paradise" which was in fact true. The tents were wonderful and gave one the feeling that one was sleeping outdoors. And to experience the vastness of the African skies and landscape was extraordinary. It was just great to be there.
We were able to start our trip at Pafuri Camp in Kruger National Park and this wonderful experience added to our overall enjoyment.
If there was a negative it was the torturous trip getting there and back. If we were meant to travel in these airplane seats. we would have been made pretzels. But, OH, was it worth it.

Traveler: Barbara Burritt from Bakersfield, CA traveled on March 31, 2012

This was the trip of a lifetime for us and much more than we expected. If you are thinking about this trip schedule it now. The most physical part of it was climbing into the safari vehicles and being bounced around when we were in the "bush." We were there in early April after the rainy season so the grasses were high and the animals were all well fed and healthy looking. I was amazed at how close we could get to them.

We didn't take the pre-trip so our first camp was a big surprise as we looked out over the river and saw our first African sunset. The guides were very patient and knowledgeable. We really felt like they were there to be sure we saw as much as we could and had a positive experience. Each camp we went to was better than the last and the food was excellent in every one.

The bugs were not a problem for us. I had a couple of Columbia shirts that were pretreated for bugs and they worked well. There is bug killer and bug repellant in each tent so we used some of our stuff and some of theirs. We rarely noticed any bugs in our tents.

The tents were very comfortable and had plenty of soap, laundry detergent, lotion and shampoo. Some even had sunscreen.

Do take a good flashlight. We were walked to our tents at night and it helped to have our own flashlight and it can be VERY dark at night. You will need it if you get up at night. An alarm clock was also nice to have. Alot of the mornings were early and we liked getting up a few minutes before the morning drum or call. We took bandannas to use in the vehicles over our faces when it got dusty. They also worked around our ears when it was cool or around our necks wet with cool water when it was hot. The days were hot mid day but cool in the mornings and evenings so layered clothing does the trick. A windbreaker was enough for me with a long sleeve shirt underneath. There were ponchos in the safari vehicles for us to use as well as blankets and hot water bottles to use in our tents at night.

We had ample time off in the middle of each day to rest and wash some clothes. I did mark my clothes but we all had our clothes returned the same day without difficulty. Most of my clothes were no iron and I should have marked it that way on the laundry slip because I think they were ironing my zip-off Columbia pants. They seemed to be getting bigger as the trip went along.

I brought a 7 in one screw driver for the village visit but I ended up hanging onto it until I got to Victoria Falls. I used it to barter for souvenirs along with some ball caps. Tools needed in the village are much more basic like rope, duct tape, small spades, pocket knives ect. Their homes are made of mud bricks and they use what they have like tree branches and thatch from the grasses. Clothing would also be appreciated I'm sure. We left some clothes and shower shoes at our last camp because a lot of the camp help actually lived in nearby villages. Many of us took some simple school supplies and the students were glad to get them.

Don't take extra food unless you have to have it. No food can be kept in your tents so you have to leave it in the main lodge in a plastic bag. You'll have plenty to eat. I had gum and I had to leave it in the plastic bag too. Your money is safe whether they keep it for you or you have a safe......no problem. We bought lots of things in each camp because we felt like the money went right into the hands that needed it especially in the village we visited. Don't get all excited when you first see the carved animals and copper bracelets......you will see them again and again and they get better.

As far as money, we each took $800-$1000 in cash with about $150 of that in ones. The rest was all small bills with lots of fives and tens and nothing bigger than a twenty. We were unable to get a visa for Zimbabwe before we left but it was no trouble to get it at the boarder for only $45.

The people in each camp entertain us the last night and they expect some entertainment from us. My group was not big on singing but we managed. If you can prepare something for the camps, it would be much appreciated.

The post trip to Cape Town was fabulous! It is such a beautiful area with water and mountains and history and wine country. Take all the tours there including the townships for the full experience. You will need some rand there but it's easy to get some from ATM's. There are no computers or wi fi until you finish the camps and get to Victoria Falls and you have everything in Cape Town, even TV. The food in Cape Town is some of the best food I have ever eaten!! We had our home hosted meal here and had a simple gift for them which was well received.

Oat folks were always there when we needed them at the airports. We also enjoyed the flights on the small planes between the camps. All of our flights and bus rides went off without a hitch as always.....a great trip!

Traveler: SUSAN RECTOR VENICE, FL traveled on April 04, 2012

We just returned from the African Ultimate Safari and as they have said before a trip of a lifetime. Read the other reviews and take notes because there is good advice there.
~The tetse flies in Zambia were awful. They bit dark colors, white, blue,black and even brown. So use Ben's 99% deet. It works. There is bug spray in the tents but not effective for Tetse fly.The jeeps have pots to burn elephant dung saying the smoke keeps the flys away!!!) Helps some.
~There are blankets and heavy ponchos in the jeeps for warmth or to sit on. They are great and I used them often am and pm.
~the roads are fough and jarring so if you have back,neck or hip probelms think twice.
~It is dusty. Use sunglasses, hankerchiefs for face coverings (for smoke from burning dung). I had no trouble with my contacts. Take 2 pair of sunglasses in case one breaks. Trade the other in Vic Falls at the market. They will want the clothes off your back,feet, or anything you have.
~I went to garage sales and thrift shops to buy gifts for the village. They loved the rope,line and twine, the mixing bowls, kitchen utensils,duct tape,sponges, tongs, the beige clothes I didnot want to keep and any shoes. The women do not wear slackstrousers or shorts so don't plan on leaving those.
~Take good binoculars, strong flashlight, a marking pen to put your name in the clothes you want washed. We had quite a few laundry mixups. But the service is free and clothes come back the same day. There is laundry powder in each tent for you to use to wash your underware. There are racks in each tent to hang the items and they dry during the day (in the dry season....April when we were there)
~There is no heat or AC (they had overhead fans) but wonderful duvets and we were warm each night however it was early fall. If you go in their winter, our summer, take some warm clothes to sleep in and put on early mornings. Hat and mittens for the drive if you need to use your fingers to take pictures!!
~The tents had comfortable beds,pillows and netting but there are ants and spiders in every camp. You are Camping afterall. If you bring snacks they give you plastic bags,mark your name on it and store it in a refrigerator not in your tent to keep the bug problem to a minimum. The camp food is plentiful,tasty and nicely presented.
~There was a basket making demonstration at the first camp (Baobab in Botswana) and the selling prices of the hand made baskets were the best of the trip. So purchase there. They will be at the last lodge for you to pick up so you don't have to carry them the rest of the trip.
~In Victoria Falls the opportunity to barter is fun. I took 25 baseball caps and had a ball. The seller wants to just get you to his stall and you will end up handing over cash and what you take to get what ever you want. They will take your items and resell them at their local flea market to make money themselves. You will see the same things over and over again. I found the Elephant Walk mall a very good place to shop. (The free lodge shuttle drops you off there.) They all take American dollars so have lots and lots of ones and fives to spend and tip. We had to tip the waiters for the meals in the Vic Falls Safari Lodge. Somehow OAT did not cover tips at that lodge according to our trip leader.
~You will have to be in the right place at the right time to see all the animals,the hunt,chase,etc but each jeep has a radio and the guides stay in contact with eachother. When we spotted a rare pangolin, the other jeep rushed over to the site, the animal moved all of 12 inches and rolled up into a ball for protection. We had plenty of time to take pictures. The cheeta chase was a different story.
~The solar heated water was very slow and difficult to regulate.You may want to take your shower at noon time before it cools off at night.
~I would be glad to answer any questions you have.

Traveler: Sharon Houchens from Melbourne Beach, FL traveled on April 09, 2012

We have just returned from our recent Ultimate Africa trip. It certainly lived up to all of our expectations. Our trip leader, Pricillah Marira, was excellent. She went the extra mile to fill out all of our paperwork ahead pf time so that we passed the customs as we went from country to country with minimum problems.

Our driver guides were exceptional. They made every effort, within the rules, to make our game drives a success. We never found a rhino, but it wasn't from lack of trying.

The camps were all clean, safe and the food was excellent. How they can put those meals together under the conditions they have to work under defies description.

I guess if I have any suggestions for improvement it would involve the following: On our second day in Victoria Falls we were given a list of seven possible activities that we could purchase. We didn't avail ourselves of any of them, choosing instead to visit the historic Victoria Falls Bridge. Talk about learning and discovery!! This magnificent structure was built over 105 years ago under the most unbelievable circumstances. We had a presentation by a gifted Zambian actor, Gabriel, as he portrayed the role of Georges Imbault, the site engineer for the construction of the bridge. He said he had stories to tell, and he did. He talked about the idea for the bridge, the problems of design and actually getting the iron work from England to the Falls, about building the Bridge without safety harnesses. He told these stories with such enthusiasm that we were spellbound.

Afterward we were harnessed in and walked the catwalk on the north side of the falls. We saw a double rainbow over the falls, we saw the original steel manufactures stamp on the trusses, the construction of the bridge as it was retro- fitted to accommodate truck, auto and bus traffic and the steel ball bearings at the base of the arch which allows the bridge to move as the steel expands and contracts with the temperature.

To build a steel structure in that environment over 100 years ago, to do it without all the tools that are available today, to have it last and still be in good shape is impressive. To tour the bridge and be informed of how it was all done was something I will always remember.

If OAT doesn't add it to the trip I hope anyone who takes the trip will contact the bridge at www.victoriafallsbridge.com and find out about scheduling the experience yourself. You won't be disappointed.

They also have bungee jumping and a bridge slide which we were not interested in. You can schedule the bridge tour by itself or add the lunch.

All in all, a great trip!!

Traveler: Bill Gnodtke from Charlevoix, MI traveled on March 27, 2012

Oh, how we loved Africa! This was our first trip with OAT and our first trip to Africa. Both surpassed our expectations. Our Tour Leader, Robson Zimbudzi was invaluable in creating a memorable and outstanding experience. There were many highlights each day so it is diffiult to give preference to one. Our game drives included a challenge from a female elephant that made all of our hearts pound a little faster but she was only claiming their territory. We experienced the repeat mating of male and female lion as well as observing 3 females after a kill of a wildebeest.with jackals and vultures arriving. Even though I had not been much of a "birder", I really enjoyed learning and discovering a new area of awareness. The guides were supberb and we even relished getting stuck! Accommodations, food, and safety were outstanding. Hats off to all those that were in the background making this a special trip for us all.

Traveler: Geraldine Eekhoff from Port Townsend, WA traveled on March 02, 2012

The Ultimate Africa tour was just that . Our trip leader, James Kashiri made it happen. He taught us TIA(time in Africa) and how an excellent guide works with other excellent staff. James ALWAYS had a plan A, B andor C that made for a near seamless journey.
Our families were concerned for the tents we would be staying in while in the bush. No worries. The views from Baobab Lodge, the oldest of the camps, to Linkwasha in Zimbabwe are hard to describe; full of ever changing species and breathtaking sunsets. My initial interest was giraffes but now the elephants hold my heart. It will never be the same seeing them in captivity! They are a stern, strong, confident and unique species.
At the end of the tour we were each asked to share a highlight. Mine was the guides who drove us effortlessly through the bush seeking things of interest, they gave informational lectures, spoke with us at meals and displayed endless patience. Others mentioned the first spotting of a lion, James, our trip leader, getting stuck in Lufupa, viewing multiple species at a time, a guide stopping to help a baby tortoise across our path to safety, the crested cranes. Many mentioned the ride through the villages to visit the school and village homes. To be noted also in the effort of the camps to preserve the environment.
Four of our group had taken the pre-trip to Kruger. It gave us a time to adjust and see those first impalas! While in camp we met Janet, an educator with Children in the Wildreness. The Wilderness Organization is a diverse group that has many interest and investments in Africa. During our time in Kruger we also met a research team with Save the Elephants. They had prepare a presentation to share with the staff on their project. We were invited to attend. What a bonus!
If you do this tour take good binoculars, some family photos, an idea to entertain the staff at the end of each camp. Most of all take your sense of humor and adventure.
This trip hits the the ultimate rating because of our trip leader, a fantastic destination and terrific fellow travelers. Pulling together all of the pieces of this adventure was our trip leader and guide, James Kashiri. I would like to thank him again: OAT also. It might be more than "106 miles to Chicago" but to him and all of you...."Happy Trails"
Ginger Judge, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan

Traveler: Virginia Judge from Mount Pleasant, MI traveled on February 12, 2012

Ultimate Africa was a trip my husband wanted to do, but to my surprise, I enjoyed it as much as he did. You just can’t help but be excited by elephants parading next to your tent, or a leopard only 10 feet from your open jeep. Our trip was at the end of the rainy season and everything was lush and green. It did not affect our ability to see animals. Our guide told us at the end, that in his 12 years as a guide ours was one of the best as far as animal sightings. It’s luck! I think we saw everything except rhinos and gorillas.

We put our OAT duffle bags inside of regular roomy suitcases for the international portion of the trip. They could travel that way to Johannesburg and on to Victoria Falls because we were on big planes. At Victoria Falls, we parted with the regular suitcases at the airport, sending them (locked with a few unnecessary items inside) to storage and taking our duffles from that point. Our purpose was to protect the duffle bags and to later have some extra room for purchases on the way home. When we returned to Victoria Falls from the bush, our suitcases were waiting in our rooms for us. It worked very well and we had room for all our purchases. We painted designs with acrylic paint on our OAT duffle bags to make them easier to spot in the pile with everyone else’s.

We shopped at Goodwill for clothing before going on the trip (they have dressing rooms to try clothes on) and found suitable items from Chicos, Columbia, Jones New York. We left much of it in Africa with the lodge staff, including a pair of shoes. One traveler gave his Tivo sandals to our guide who really loved them. My most useful piece of clothing was my hooded sweatshirt. We took raincoats but only wore them briefly once or twice, and we were there in the rainy season. The tented camps provided good long ones in our tents at the camps where they might be needed, and put out large umbrellas at the dining hall when it began to rain. Next time I’d only take a heavy-duty poncho because it’s smaller to pack. My travel umbrella was useful a couple of times. And you will need a good small flashlight. It is DARK at night!

I also liked having a couple of bandanas to dip in water and tie around my neck to combat the heat.

Ladies, you will be peeing behind trees and bushes at least twice a day when out on game drives. Check out the web site gogirl.com for a great little device. It’s a soft silicone funnel that allows women to stand up and pee like one of the guys. (Practice using it in the shower at home.) I loved mine. I didn’t have to squat in the tall grass and my knees were grateful. And the other women were entertained greatly for the whole trip…they may have been jealous.

Take seriously the need for a hat. Best with a chinstrap no matter how dorky it looks. I hate wearing hats, but wore one almost all the time and more or less became used to it. I also bought a mosquito head net and found it useful. It probably kept bugs out of my mouth a few times when we were driving in the open jeeps. There were only a couple of times when we were bothered by lots of flies.

I wear soft contacts every day, morning til bedtime, but never on long plane rides. I did pack them to use while on the trip however, and never used them. It is too windy in the jeep and the dirt and gravel roads are often very dusty. Take and wear your glasses and prescription sunglasses.

Having the lodge staff do laundry worked well, but you have to wash your own underwear & bras. I brought clothespin hooks, which were useful. Laundry soap is provided in a bowl near the sink. I only took 4 pairs of underpants and that worked fine. They will wash socks. I wrote our names in everything. They iron with coals, not electric irons, so don’t expect miracles. And no one really cares how you look. Everyone is oily with sunscreen & insect repellant, has “hat hair”, and no one can use a hairdryer or curling iron, and it’s OK!

In Zambia, where there are tsetse flies, believe it when they say the flies are attracted to black clothing, but know also, to blue clothing. I wasn’t aware of the blue, and had a lot of that color in my bag. Not if, but when I go to Africa again, I will make sure all of my clothes are in varying shades of khaki, brown and green. Nothing bright. Nothing white either: It scares the animals away.

OAT provided reusable plastic water bottles for each person, so it is unnecessary to bring your own. You will refill them for use from a 5-gallon dispenser.

Each tent cabin had spray insecticide for the room, spray insecticide for your body, and a foghorn for nighttime emergencies. We used the insecticides and fortunately didn’t have any emergencies. We also brought Off Deep Woods in a pump spray, that is 98% Deet and that is what we used most often. One small bottle would have been enough for the 2 of us. We only needed one bottle of sunscreen as well, although we brought extra, and we both used it daily.

We visited both a school and a village. To the school, we took stickers, an inflatable globe, scissors, pencils & sharpeners, colored chalk for the teacher, math flash cards, a Disney jigsaw puzzle, and wall maps of various countries. We also had 2 solar yard lights, which our guide suggested be given to the principal and a teacher. They and our guide had not seen such an item before, and were intrigued. The staff lives at the school during the week and there is no electricity, so now they can grade homework at night, in low lighting. I hope they find a better use for it. Some people brought books, but they want books in British English, not American English, since that is what they speak and the grammar they are taught. Someone thought that children’s shoes might be a good gift, since there are some kids at school without them. Some who had shoes, were without shoelaces….tennis shoes and dark leather shoes as well. Almost none had socks. Your OAT guide could decide whom to give them to for distribution. Obviously, you can’t bring enough for everyone.

On the drive through the rural area, there were lots of family “compounds” along the sides of the road. Our guide stopped the vehicles and he would jump out to give away some of our gifts or our used clothing: hot wheels cars, t-shirts, etc.

To the home in the village we took band-aids, an Uno card game and a set of pliers. We were a little at a loss to think of good gift items. After having been there, I might shop for stainless steel kitchen bowls or pans (even good used ones, you could pack them with clothes in between) and small kitchen tools like peelers, graters, kitchen gloves, sponges with an abrasive side, tongs, ladle, whisk, spatulas, hot pads, etc. Corn is a staple of their diet: a child might carry a cob to school to eat for lunch as his only meal for the day. We were served popcorn, so they might enjoy some of those flavored popcorn toppings to try. Also things like Neosporin, hydrocortisone, Tylenol, a Celsius thermometer, soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo. House paintbrushes. I bet they’d love a roll of duct tape!

On the last evening at each of 4 tent camps, the staff serves a typical African meal and performs. When they are done, your group will be asked to perform for them. We were clueless and non responsive the first time and felt badly afterward. But by the second camp, we had prepared, kind of. They don’t want to hear Yankee Doodle Dandy or Row, Row, Row your Boat or the Hokey Pokey ever again! Two men on our trip wrote out the words as best they could remember, to “In 1814 We Took A Little Trip” and the camp manager copied them off for us. We explained the song was about our troubles with the British, something we had in common with Africa. With cheat sheets we were able to get through it. Then with my iPod playing music (not loud enough) we jitterbugged for them explaining it was how American couples dance. And then we pulled them up to dance with us to Twist & Shout. They seemed to enjoy our efforts, even though we sang poorly and they have beautiful harmonizing voices. So think ahead and plan. Look up lyrics if you need to. It is way more fun to join in and participate. Everyone has a better time.

I went to Michael’s before we left home and bought 8 tubes (99 cents each) of those glow stick bracelets, 15 to a package. I intended to give them to schoolchildren, but we used them instead in our nighttime performances. We wore them and then took them off to put on our African dance partners and had extras because there were more of them than us. At the first camp, no one on the staff had ever seen them before and some of the women were incredibly excited and nearly fighting for them. We had not explained that they only last a few hours and they had wanted them to take home to their children. If you do something like that, make sure you take lots and explain the limitations. There is so much we take for granted that they have not seen before. And it really is a joy to see their wonder and excitement.

We carried about $700 each in cash (even though it made us nervous) and had plenty leftover. You have to use cash to pay for your bar bills and souvenir purchases at the tent camps. There were no meals on our trip that we had to buy ourselves accept at the major airport where credit cards could be used. I recommend notifying your bank about the denominations you want to take and then setting a date to go pick it up. Our bank ironed the bills to make them flatter. I determined amounts and put in labeled envelopes before leaving home what I would tip our OAT guide, the local guides and lodge staffs. It was way easier than tackling it there. Each tent camp and the hotels had room safes to use for valuables, or provided lockable sacks for each room that they stored in the main safe in the office. In spite of wondering if the safes were safe, we used them and had no problems. Most of the time, I carried my iPad in my daypack. I loved having the iPad simply to download photos onto and delete bad ones regularly. And to read books in the afternoon free time or at night. But there is no internet in the bush, only in Victoria Falls and Johannesburg at the very beginning and end of the trip.

Traveler: Deborah Quillin from San Diego, CA traveled on February 22, 2012

I was very satisfied with this adventure.
I was particularly impressed with the efforts of our leader, James Kashiri. James managed every situation with the least impact to us. His efforts permitted us enjoy each day and to have FUN.
The people in the camps, who provided services to us were excellent. I didn't see an un-smiling face among the 100 or so service personnel that I encountered during the trip.

Traveler: Joe from Florida traveled on February 16, 2012

This trip was wonderful. It vastly exceeded our expectations. We saw every animal we wanted to see: a family of 4 cheetahs, many lions, young and old, two leopards, countless and varied antelope and giraffes, 40,000 elephants (a joke--Chobe is thot to have 40,000 elephants and we felt as though we saw all of them), beautiful birds, 5 types of storks and two types of cranes, etc, etc. We did not see rhinos.
The trip was relaxing for us, though we were up early every day. Travel between camps took at least 4 hours every 4th day: driving to airports often took an hour or two, then flying to the parks. The organization was very smooth; we were lucky to experience minimal delays.
The guides were hard working and enthusiastic; some times the chase was as much fun as the sighting, as we drove right over small trees to reach the leopards. In the Okavanga, the guides were aware of a pride of lions occupying an area of the reserve--we found them in different locations every day. The first day, they were prowling, restless, hungry; the next day, sleeping off the large meal they must have caught the night before; the last day, still full but amorous. It was a bit unnerving to be within six feet of their large shiny teeth, in an open jeep. None of us were eaten.
We traveled in the off season, potentially rainy, buggy, with tall grass and difficulty seeing animals. None of these were problems for us. We were lucky that our travel was not interrupted by rain, and in fact most of the rain we encountered was during the siestas. The bugs were not bad; they are much worse in my backyard. In Zambia, there was a big storm that flooded a quarter of our tent when the tarp blew off. We were able to push the bed and suitcases to the dry section, and the staff mopped it up quickly. The tall grass was beautiful. The animals were sleek and healthy appearing.

The service was excellent. We were pampered. Our guide made a significant effort to brief us on plans for the next day every evening. The local guides and senior staff generally sat with us during meals, we enjoyed talking to them. The food was very good. lots of fruits and vegetables. Free filtered water was available at all camps, and they provided two free bottled or canned drinks, including beer, each day during game drives. Based on my previous OAT experience, I liberally ate salad, which might not have been the best idea. I did get sick on two differnt days, but it was short lived.
There was a swimming pool in the first and last camp, tho the Linkshasa pool was tiny. Linkshasa did not have room fans, but it was still my favorite camp, looking out over a watering hole. In the early morning, impala and antelope were directly outside our screen wall. They also had outdoor showers.
Overall, I thot this was a wonderfull trip. If you can live without air conditioning and do not mind bumpy jeeps, sign up.

Traveler: Meg Weiss-Rivera traveled on January 29, 2012

The idle time was excessive:
-We were restricted to our roomstents from 8:30 until 5 AM
-Siesta time was from 12-5 PM
We were surprised by the lack of opportunity (and inflexibility of Wilderness Safari to allow options of walks.)

Traveler: Frank Ruffin from Tucson, AZ traveled on December 27, 2011

For this "trip of a lifetime" we decided to add both the 4 day Pre-trip to Kruger National Park and 5 day Post-trip to Cape Town and Cape of Good Hope and we're glad we did. The total length of the trip was 28 days.
We just published an 80-page Blurb photo book with our best photos and lots of narrative. You can preview the book here: http:www.blurb.commybookdetail3020363#store -price If the link doesn't work, go to blurb.com and search for Ultimate Africa by LLum.

Here are some tips and thoughts worth highlighting:

1. Immunizations: We followed the advice of the Kaiser travel nurse after giving her a detailed list of our itinerary a month before departure. A week before we left on the trip we had a call from O.A.T. advising us to get vaccinated for Yellow Fever. We checked with the Kaiser travel nurse and she advised us not to get immunized because of side effects due to our age (over 65) . Instead she sent us a document signed by a physician which was supposed to allow us to enter South Africa. Our guide was very uneasy about this. Most other couples had gotten immunized. One couple did not get immunized and did not have the exemption letter. We had to stop in Victoria Falls at a clinic and they were vaccinated even though this would not produce immunity before their entry into South Africa and it was very expensive. Upon arrival in South Africa we were not questioned about yellow fever at all and did not have to produce our letter.

2. Visas. OAT advised us to get visas in advance. Some of our group did not do this, but did not suffer any penalties in cost or time.

3. Power adapters. We bought a South African power adapter but did not need it.

4. Photography. We were the most prolific photographers, shooting tons of stills and videos. Our still camera was the new Sony a55 with a 18 - 250 mm zoom lens. The telephoto capability was almost good enough. We couldn't fill the frame with birds, but the 18 MP still images allowed us to crop and enlarge the pictures. The camera's ability to shoot wide panoramic shots enhanced our photo book. The 6 framessecond burst shooting mode is vital for capturing action. I brought four spare batteries and four 16 GB SDHC memory cards. I didn't have a polarizing filter, and one of the other photographers raved about the value of this tool. I bought a new electronic flash which I didn't need and somehow lost.

Our video camera was a Sony HDR-SR12, HD with a 120GB hard disk. Most of the time, we used a .7 X wide angle converter. I bought a Joby Gorillapod which I used as a monopod in the jeeps and wrapped around railings to film ourselves. I just ordered a new camcorder -- a Sony HDR-PJ760V -- which I highly recommend. It has a new Balanced Optical Steady Shot feature which will dramatically reduce camera shake, even when riding a Range Rover. It also has electronic wind noise suppression. Wind noise is always a problem when shooting outdoors. And it has a 26 mm wide angle lens, plus many other ground-breaking features. Every few days we videotaped ourselves recalling and summarizing the highlights of our trip. Every night, I downloaded the day's photos and videos to a portable hard drive using a netbook computer.

It's helpful to shoot both videos and stills, ideally with two different types of cameras. The videos capture the sounds and action and provide an additional source of still frames for our photobook.

5. Insect repellent. We brought lots of it, but mostly used the stuff provided in the tented camps.

6. Shopping. We were successful at bargaining for goods everywhere except the Kasane airport, where a hanging we wanted was fair-traded at $78. At the Victoria Falls open air market, we bought a "guitar man" stone statue. The vendor initially wanted $200, but we purchased it for $120 plus 50 ball point pens and four unique LED flashlights. The Safari Lodge porter wrapped this statue and other ironwood carving for shipment. Despite the one-bag allowance, we were not charged for excess baggage on the flights within South Africa. However, on the way home, they enforced the rule and wanted 60 pounds for the excess bags. But they allowed us to carry them onboard for free.

7. Currency. Charge cards were accepted at most places and we recommend using them. The small foreign exchange charge which the credit card company imposes is small compared to the "rip off" exchange rates which the local merchants will offer if you try to pay in dollars. Only in Cape Town did we have to exchange dollars for local currency.


8. Flight Johannesburg to Cape Town: There were flights leaving every hour but we had to wait several hours for our flight so we didn't get to our hotel until about 10 p.m. It would have been nice to have been booked on an earlier flight to make use of the time relaxing in our hotel instead of waiting in the airport. That said, the distance from the arrival gate to the departure gate was quite a hike and we were pleased to have been met by an O.A.T. representative in Johannesburg who guided us through the maze. We also did not have any problems with immigration or yellow fever regulations which would have delayed us.

9. Free time in Cape Town:
• Robben Island. Not included but strongly recommended. We bought the tickets for the boat trip online at their website before we left the states. Just make sure of the exact dates and time you have on your own.
• Township Tour and District 6 Museum. Highly recommended. You are supposed to make arrangements prior to beginning the trip but we were able to add the optional Township Tour while in Cape Town. We visited the District 6 Museum to learn about apartheid on our own.
• The Victoria & Alfred Waterfront
o location of the Nelson Mandela Gateway offering boat trips to Robben Island.
o Statues of the four South African Nobel Peace Prize winners
o Lego-man made of coke crates for the World Cup to promote the idea of recycling, reuse and of course drinking coke!

We hope these tips help you and that you enjoy our photo book.

Elliott & Linda Lum

Traveler: Elliott & Linda Lum from Carlsbad, CA traveled on September 27, 2011

I have just returned from the Ultimate Africa trip of a lifetime! I am in my eighties, and experienced my first OAT adventure. It met my dreams of seeing the big animals of Africa! I could not beleive I was there among them the first day or so. The food was fantastic. The accommadations perfect. And the staff members were wonderful, helpfull, and beyond kind. Our Trip Leader, Tinashe was perfect; good natured, well organized and an encyclopidia of facts.
I was less enthused on the day we made the visit to the village and school, as i am a part of a village in West Africa where I go every other year and know what a real village looks like. This village and school was a model, I think. But, I understand the goal behind the visit. Helping, one step at a time is the best we all can do. I would do the Ultimate Africa again tomorrow if I could!!

Traveler: Anne Smallidge from Blue Hill, ME traveled on February 01, 2012

We recently completed our third Ultimate Africa tour and I can only say that it has gotten better each time. The variety of the program, the plane flights between camps and the addition of Zambia has made each trip a new and exciting experience. Obviously we are "hooked on Africa", but to be continuously impressed with the animals and the people has made us once again eager to return to this area. We've been there in the spring and in December. Are they different?--Yes, but both are great times to be there. The guides and drivers we have been privileged to work with have been fantastic representatives of their countries, the various cultures as well as extremely respectful of the wildlife. Lifelong friendships have easily been formed as we continue to email our friends in Africa. For a fantastic African experience look no further than the Ultimate Africa trip.

Traveler: Dolores Rohrer from Tucson, AZ traveled on December 21, 2011

our first trip to southern africa and it was truly amazing. we expected to see impala, elephant,zebra,giraffe and cape buffalo. lion hopefully. our expectations were met on a daily basis. many lions even.
our trip leader, vitalis, was outstanding. always cheerful and interesting. the driverguides at each camp all seemed to know their stuff. all staff members at each camp were friendly and eager to help. the food was a surprise in its variety and excellence. eating as if we are on a cruise ship in the middle of africa! the Linkwasha staff even did a passable thanksgiving feast that i'll always remember for the kindness that brought it.
our opportunities to learn about zimbabwe, zambia, botswana and south africa (on our post-trip-cape town extension) were abundent and enjoyable. interspersed well between game-viewing drives, cruises and even a walk!
the bugs were something else! we brought 40% deet and only used it one time, the spray supplied in each tent was sufficient. many of the insects were photo-worthy and make great additions to our photo books. often colorful types unlike our familiar versions of locusts, termites, dragonflies and butterflies. plus dung and rhinocerous beatles
the accomodations, for being 'tents', were fantastic. canvas walls and roof on a solid foundation (usually wood planks) with plumbing. the common area at each camp was very pleasant and a good game viewing place in its own right. we had baboons in our first camp right outside our door one morning. a good wake up that there really are wild animals around, so be alert.
the village visit to ngamo village and school. the headman 'johnson' and his family were fantastic. we took a deflated soccer ball and coloring books, colored pencils and regular pencils and pencil sharpeners. they were all well received, though many soccer balls arrived that day. the headman got a few handtools, a pack of bungee cords and i left him my pocket knife--all received with appreciation.
finally--our post trip...
the safaris were a long time away from home, for us. and we missed the comforts of civilization a bit. victoria falls was close, but still kind of felt like across the street from the wilds. but the post trip visit to cape town was a perfect vacation to civilization before returning to the grind. in all my travels around the world, cape town is one of the nicest big cities i've ever been to. the wine-tasting tour was great and i'm more of a beer drinker. the waterfront area and table mountain were well worth a look and many photos. we were very pleased with the visits to cape of good hope and the kirstenbosh botanical gardens.
to sum up: A WELL NAMED TRIP! MEMORIES OF A LIFE TIME

Traveler: jon hoggan traveled on November 12, 2011

This trip was truly a life-changing experience. We loved the wildlife, scenery, camps, traveling companions, and our terrific trip leader Tinashe. We spent Christmas at Linkwasha Camp and they treated us like family. I can't say enough about how great the staffs were at each camp. And we were very lucky to have the reasonably good weather that we did at the end of December. We saw every animal that you can think of except a rhino. It was a totally successful game viewing experience and we had the best time of our lives.

Fellow travel reviewers have written about the many wonders, so I won't repeat them. All of the good comments are absolutely true. Instead I'll pass on a few recommendations to future travelers:

Weather - As lucky as we were with the weather, which means it rained a few times rather than constantly, we still had some adjustments to make. The wet season means muddy airstrips and land trips which can last hours. It's just the way it goes. It also means that the vegetation is growing and that viewing will become difficult. At Lufupa in Zambia, it was too late in the season and it was impossible to spot animals through the dense vegetation. I actually think OAT shouldn't book trips in January and February because of the weather and vegetation. So I would recommend that those contemplating the Ultimate Africa trip be fully informed about the plussesminuses of when you book your travel. It is green and there are lots of babies during the wet season, but it is also very hot, wet, buggy, and vegetated.

Bugs - during the wet season, mosquitos and tsetse flies are out in full force. Bring heavy duty DEET. There is bug spray in the tent cabins, but it is not strong enough to handle the bugs brought by the rains. Be prepared!

Tent cabins - some are more like cabins, and some more like tents. All are pretty nice and comfortable considering that you're in the middle of Africa. Things won't be perfect and there will be bugs. Use the bug spray, get under the mosquito netting, and relax. I learned the first night at Chobe that I'd have to deal with my aversion to bugs. Bring flip flops or shower shoes and a flash light to walk around the tent at night. It's Africa dark! You'll see what I mean, so just be prepared.

Camps - the camps are beautiful and the staff is great. The food was delicious and they always made a vegetarian alternative for me. The staff eat with you at every meal so you get an opportunity to talk to them and find out about their lives.The dining areas are nice, but they're open air, so at night. . . Yup, moths and sometimes dung beetles. It's part of the adventure. Take your flashlight with you to dinner because it will be helpful to have a little extra light on the paths when you're escorted to your tent at bedtime. Be prepared to sing a song the last night at a camp (not the Hokey Pokey or You are My Sunshine). We got a lot of mileage out of Jingle Bells!

Game drives - the guides are first rate and knowledgeable. One at each camp will give a talk about the country you're in. You'll be impressed. The first game drive is at 6:30 am so prepare for it to get warm. The second game drive is around 4:30 pm so prepare for it to begin cooling off and the mosquitoes to come out. Ladies will want to wear jogging bras. Everybody should wear hats. You'll be in Landrovers and get jostled around. You need to be able to climb in and out of the Landrovers, so if you've just gotten a knee or hip replacement, you should wait until you are fully recovered. There will be a break during each drive to use the bushes and have a snack. Going behind a termite mound or Acacia tree is no big deal. Bring some tissues or a small roll of toilet paper.

Luggage - the OAT duffle bags held up under most circumstances. 1 or 2 of our fellow travelers had the seams split. I would recommend that you don't overstuff the bags and that you put a strap around them. That will take stress off of the seams. Pack light because they'll wash your clothes in the camps. Bring boots for the game drives. Make up a little medical packet with bandaids, hydrocortizone, antibiotic ointment, things like that. Keep yourself covered during the wet season to minimize bug bites. It will be fine - don't worry about packing.

Money - You can buy absolutely EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE with US dollars. Don't worry about exchanging currency, you won't have to do it. Bring small bills - lots of them. Although you can use US $ everywhere, the change you will receive will be in the local currency. Now, Zimbabwe's currency is on the USD; HOWEVER, the condition of the bills that you'll receive as change is so bad, that a 7-11 at home will not take them. It is true - the condition of the currency is really that bad. It doesn't matter if it comes from a market vendor or the hotel. Bring a bunch of $1s and $5s - I wish we had!

You will love this trip. OAT took good care of us. Our trip leader, Tinashe, was friendly, knowledgeable, and a true professional. He worked quietly behind the scenes to get us where we needed to go despite the weather.

Everyone should see Africa. We want to go back some day. It really is that great!

Traveler: Lisa Garvey from Santee, CA traveled on December 12, 2011

My husband, parents, and I went on the Ultimate Africa trip, including the Kruger pre-trip, in late November. While this was the rainy season, the advantages were cooler weather and less dust but more flowers and baby animals. The disadvantage was rain – mostly because the airstrips we wanted to fly in and out of in a few locations were flooded, so we had to divert to airstrips further away. This meant a 3 hour game drive to our lodging, so it worked out fine.

The two highlights for us were seeing the mating leopards (9 times in half an hour!) and the mating Kori bustards. I loved it when our Trip Leader – the fantastic and personable Ndaba Ncube – and our driver-guides for those two events turned to us with looks of awe on their faces and announced that was the first time they had seen that.

The lodgings were all fantastic, though ensuite bathrooms doesn’t mean an enclosed toilet in all places for those who value complete privacy even from their partner of 25+ years. The beds were comfortable, and the openness of the tents or lodge rooms allowed us to hear and see the sights of the bush easily. I loved waking up to the birds even though it was before the morning drummer came around (Baobob). The view from our bed at Linkwasha in Hwange was wonderful – seeing the grassland stretch out in front of us and wildebeest, ostriches, and waterbuck grazing was special. Seeing the lion tracks near the path by our tent the next morning and the porcupine track next to our tent were symbolic of what happens in the night that we don’t see.

The staff outdid themselves with the food in these remote locations, and they did a particularly good job making vegetarian meals for me. Most of the others in our group also wanted to try them because they were so tasty. All in all, it was probably the best trip we have taken – and we have taken many over the years. Our trip leader Ndaba, the lodgings, the staff at each location, the feeling of exclusivity since we were some of the few guests in each game reserve, and all the numerous animals, birds, even bugs, reptiles, amphibians, and snakes-ugh, our driver-guides pointed out and told us about were outstanding.

Traveler: Rene Pizzo from Oregon City, OR traveled on November 21, 2011

Our 2nd safari with OAT was a wonderful experience. Our main guide, Chamu, was very knowledgeable and attentive with a booming deep voice and agreat sense of humor. We experienced both elephants and hippos foraging at night within feet of out tent - scarey but safe when we were tucked up inside.
The four national parks in 3 countries where we went on game drives were all very different, but supplied many different experiences. Whether it was a sleeping leopard with 15 feet, a pride of lions stalking cape buffalo or the African sunsets everyday brought new delights.
However, the lame lone mother cape buffalo with baby showed other face of africa.

Traveler: Adrian Deacon from Boston, MA traveled on October 28, 2011

Ultimate Africa was a great adventure that we heartily recommend for those who want to experience Africa’s wildlife up close and (almost) personal. Our three week safari visited four game preservesparks in Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe where daily safaris enabled us to observe the animals of southern Africa in their habitats. Although the animals were the primary attraction for us, birds and flora were available in variety and well pointed out and described by our guides who never saw a plant or bird they could not name.

No doubt the success of our trip depended on the excellent knowledge of guides at each of the places we visited and especially on the professionalism of our tour director, Chamu Paradzayi, who ably managed all aspects of the trip and lent a warm and outgoing personality to the experience. He ably connected personally with every member of the group to ensure that we all had the best experience possible and displayed an extensive knowledge of the animals and the environment that enhanced the details provided during the drives.

Our accommodations were most satisfactory and the food was well prepared and delicious. Clearly, OAT capably selected camps that knew how to care for travelers like us. One day laundry service at each camp permitted us to exist with minimal baggage. The staffs were uniformly pleasant, helpful, attentive, and welcoming. We left each camp with warm hearts.

Not that we were isolated from the animals or the environment. We watched a pride of lions stalk a water buffalo heard from about 20 yardsmeters and had a herd of 50 elephants walk through our camp, passing with a yardmeter of our cabin. Even safe in the cabin, it was a bit startling to hear the lion’s distinctive growl as he passed beneath us in the dark.

We also visited a village and school nearby to get a taste of the local culture and life and had time to explore Victoria Falls to better understand city life in this part of the world. Our hosts gave short lectures on culture, economics, etc to assist in our learning.

Ultimate Africa is a great way to experience Africa for the first time as we did.

Traveler: Frederick Mehrtens from Irvine, CA traveled on October 28, 2011

I wish everyone could do this trip! It spoke to my soul in a primal way -- from the freedom of the animals to the simplicity and beauty of the tribal people. We saw lions and leopards mating on the same day! Our trip leader, Samantha, was tops. Traveler tip: Recommend wrap-around glasses or goggles for game rides for wearers of contact lenses.

Traveler: Patricia Blumen from Evanston, IL traveled on November 18, 2011

This was an awesome trip and other reviewers have gone into a lot of detail which we found useful. However, some tips that we would have liked:
- We traveled in November, and the rainy season was a lot wetter than we expected. We had quite a lot of rain, and even more cloud,making photography a challenge due to low light. Because of puddles everywhere, the animals had no need to come to rivers to drink, so it was more of a challenge to see them. Our group did not see cheetah or leopard. It was also much cooler than we thought it would be and I'm glad I brought a heavier pair of pajamas.We were lucky that the rain did not disrupt us traveling from place to place by air, but the group prior to us had to get from Vic Falls to Hwange by road which took them 6 hours.
- There are pros to going in November in that it was cooler, we didn't have a dust problem reported by people who traveled at other times of the year, but it was still hot when the sun was out.
- The laundry service at each camp was excellent, despite the weather and lack of drying facilities! There is no need to take detergent for underwear because it is all provided. It is easy to travel light withthis service, and 3 changes of clothes is plenty.
- Be sure to have high percentage deet for the tsetse flies in Zambia, The "Peaceful Sleep" provided everywhere works well for mosquitoes but not tsetse flies!
- For walking safaris, take closed shoes for protection
- Soap was sometimes scarce, and a bar of soap would have been nice to have as an extra
- The food was excellent, and so was the water. There was never concern about getting ill and no-one on our group did. However, expect to put on weight, as you are fed 4-5 times a day and you sit in a jeep the rest of the time!
- Even though you don't go on a home hosted lunch, you are expected to take a gift to the village which we weren't fully prepared for. Old spectacles were well received! Of course the children at the school got tons of goodies which they enjoyed!
- We took $1000 in small denominations which was plenty but we're not big drinkers or souvenir buyers. We took 100 x $1 which was a bit much; the $5 and $10 were great, and we used $20 bills for camp tips which you leave at the end of your 3 night stays. It is important to have good condition bills (not new necessarily) but no tears.
- A typical day is wake-up at 0530, breakfast at 0600, first game drive at 0640, back for lunch at 1100, afternoon rest from 1200-1600, then high tea and excellent lecture, afternoon game drive at 1700 and back for dinner at 1930. Ifyou don't want to do game frives, don't come on this trip!
- On the cultural evenings, the Africans entertain, and then we are expected to. They asked us not to do the "Hokey pokey" or "You are my sunshine!" We did "America the beautiful" and "Home on the range"

We would highly recommend the trip and hope to remain in contact with our group! We wished we had done the Cape Town extension, but time was against us!

Traveler: Phillip Mastores from Scottsdale, AZ traveled on November 15, 2011

Man, is it great to be home. Getting back home from Africa was a bit exhausting - 36 hours of travel from Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, to our condo in Naples, Florida - 3 flights, 22 hours in the air, wearing the same clothes. Ugg!

But, all in all, it was the most amazing 19 days of a lifetime, almost indescribable. All that space and fresh air - it was like we had all of Africa to ourselves. We went for days without seeing another vehicle or person or paved road, just out little group of 16, bouncing along in open-sided Jeeps and small bush planes over the ruts and open spaces and mud puddles and dirt airstrips. Every few days we'd see another Jeep from some other group, and we'd wave and call out and sometimes stop to exchange news. Our group of 16, plus Samantha, our OAT tour guide, was distributed between two or three Jeeps, which were in constant radio contact with the latest animal sightings or to call for help if there was trouble (we did have flat tires or breakdowns a couple of times, and one time two Jeeps got stuck in the muck in a wetland area and they had to radio back to camp for the tractor to pull us out).

The interesting thing to me was the process of tracking - we'd have Jeep drivers, different ones in each camp, who were trained and experienced trackers. Each day we'd have two "game drives" in which they would teach us to look for signs; animal tracks (what kinds, how many, which way they were going and when), favorite habitats and known hangouts, prey animals on high alert or running from something, dung (you'd be amazed what you can learn from dung), and kills (vultures gathering in the trees or circling). Obviously Africa has lots of animals, but it has even more space, most of it empty. Often we were seeking a few rarely seen and elusive ones, the big cats or the endangered African Wild Dogs.

And did we ever see them; just about everything, up close and personal. Our drivertrackers were very good at knowing how to approach the animals. When we were in the Jeeps, rather than on foot (which was most of the time), the animals would usually allow us to get amazingly close. I couldn't believe it. We were told that the animals are so used to the sight and sound of the Jeeps and considered it one great harmless beast (as long as you were quiet and didn't stand up or wave or anything stupid like that). I guess they're used to the sound of cameras clicking, too. Sometimes, we'd get a threat response or or warning display, especially from elephants and hippos, and in one case a huge elephant ran right up the one of the Jeeps and raised its trunk - but then he backed off. Evidently they have very poor eyesight.

We came to Africa just as the rainy season was starting and the busy tourist season was ending, but we luckily got very little rain on the days we went out. It turned out to be a great time to go, as many animals give birth then and we saw lots of adorable baby animals, some just born that same day, including baby elephants, zebras, hippos, baboons, warthogs, impalas, jackals, wildebeests, and lion cubs. Most days it was very hot by midday, but our game drives and walks were in the early morning or late afternoon and early evening when it was cooler. In the heat of the day we stayed in camp.

We stayed at several different "bush camps" in Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, mostly in tents or tented cabins. The facilities at the camps were good; all had private en-suite toilets and showers, most had fans (but not air conditioning), solar hot water (which could be very hot), limited periods of electric power (mostly solarbattery systems), and mosquito netting (and no shortage of bugs, mostly harmless). Sometimes keeping all our camera batteries and laptops and iPods charged was a challenge. The common areas were beautifully designed and had great views, with nice seating areas and well-stocked bars that were open 247 for drinks. You could even get ice in most places, on request. On the game drives in the bush, there were frequent stops with designated "ladies" and "gents" bushes nearby to provide the required "loo with a view".

The food was actually very good, even in the most remote camps. We ate buffet-style, together at one long table. Service was excellent. Except on the one "native" night at each camp, the food was European in style, with African influences and fresh local ingredients, including fish from the local rivers and lakes. I thought it was excellent and cleaned my plate every time. At one of the lunches, there was even pizzas in several styles freshly baked in a huge wood-fired outdoor oven. The food at our final stop at the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge verged on the gourmet. We did eat some wild game also, especially at the final dinner in Victoria Falls, which included grilled warthog, crocodile tail, ostrich, antelope (Impala and Eland), and fried Mopani worms (not as bad as you might think - they are crunchy and chewy and tasted something like overcooked fried fish). There were also "tea" and snacks at various intervals throughout the day; even while on game drive, they would stop and set up tea and cold drinks and snacks on the "tailgate". Once, after a particularly long morning game drive, rather than returning to camp for lunch as we usually did, we all converged under a big shade tree to find that the staff has set up a full buffet table and chairs, with ice cold, scented washcloths for everyone to freshen up. Lovely.

But what I will remember most about this trip were the animals; there is just something about seeing them in the wild, together in groups in their natural home, running free and thriving beautifully in Nature. The experience is something that no zoo or game park can even begin to duplicate. My favorite were the African Wild Dogs - they are very rare but, were were so lucky that we were able to follow a pack or 22 of them while they hunted - so beautiful, just an unforgettable sight. And of course the big cats - prides of lions, a mating pair of leopards, a solitary cheetah. They all looked so healthy and well-fed and mostly very relaxed. It was their home; we were just visitors.

I will never forget the people also, especially our wonderful and endlessly energetic OAT guide Samantha, the delightful and unpredictable drivertrackers at the camps, and the warm and welcoming people of the village we visited near Hwange, including the Headman and his family and the lovely children of the village school with whom we shared some songs and dances. Everyone in Africa seemingly loves to dance, and one night in each camp was devoted to native foods around a campfire with drums and dances and singing. Not to be outdone, we made use of the music that some of us happened to have on our iPods and laptops and created impromptu demonstrations of the Jitterbug, the Twist, Disco, bluegrass, and other American icons, earning an enthusiastic and participatory response from the staff, who seemed to have a special affection for Michael Jackson and Chubby Checker!

Now I need to start wading through the 5000 photos and videos that we took. It just might take a while.

Traveler: Tom and Mary Ohaver from Naples, FL traveled on November 18, 2011

ULTIMATE AFRICA—words cannot do justice to the sights and experiences we had on this trip. The African people are friendly and noble. Our driver guides were great. They were very knowledgeable of the areas and animals we visited.

Our group wanted to see the “Big Five”, as I imagine most groups do, and we were not disappointed!! We saw hundreds of elephants, at least 41 lions, leopards, hundreds of Cape buffalo, and on our last evening game drive in Hwange, we saw 3 rhinos! And to top it off, along the way we also saw cheetahs, hippos, giraffes, warthogs, wildebeests, all kinds of the antelope, hyenas, jackals, baboons, and of course birds. We saw so many unique animals, birds, reptiles, insects and plants it is hard to remember all of their names. Many of the animals had babies, a real bonus for us.

OAT is fortunate and should be proud to have Sour Kurima as a trip leader. He is our choice for Trip Leader of the Year! He was so knowledgeable and informative, we all learned so much about Africa (its people, animals, plants, customs, etc.). It was truly a Learning and Discovery experience.

The school visit and home visit were great. The children were eager to meet us and learn from us, as we learned from them. Some walk up to 5 miles to get to school as they don’t have a bus or vehicle to pick them up. Classrooms do not have electricity and the class size averaged 40 students, but they are there, eager to learn. Mr. Johnson, Headman of Ngamo Village, welcomed us to his homestead and was very informative and frank about African issues.

As in other traveler’s reviews, the lodging and food was very good, as were all of the staff at the camps and our fellow travelers.

Anyone thinking about a trip to Africa should take this one and see for your self – IT IS THE TRIP OF A LIFETIME!

Traveler: Jack Stormo from Barstow, CA traveled on October 27, 2011

The combination of true wilderness and amazing comfort and food is incredible. I felt like a maharajah. We saw all the "big 5" as well as nearly all of my favorites: the ugly 5 and little 5. Driver guides were incredible. Their vision was astounding as well as their knowledge. I'm a pretty serious amateur naturalist, and lead trips back in the US, but they still saw nearly everything before I did, could discuss behavior and ecology of each species, and discuss local politics, too. These are truly talented people.

My biggest surprise was the music of Botswana, everyone sings beautifully.

It was very hot in late October, but the wildlife was easy to find around every waterhole. Only thing the trip lacked was exercise. A few walks around the near camp roads would both find more birds & other small things you miss from the jeeps and prevent everyone from turning into a butterball with all that great food.

Traveler: Richard Carlson from Tahoe City, CA traveled on October 27, 2011

Grand, grand trip. Robson was a terrific guide. The accommodations were excellent. The guides at the camps were just grand. The food was excellent and homemade bread at each meal was delicious.

When traveling in August, I would definitely suggest that you take ear muffs and a fleece jacket for under the coat. Great to see the morning feeds, but the winds and cool mornings really require warm clothing.

The walk with the lions was interesting, but too much time was spent at the introduction, and the food was less than good. A bit too expensive for the value received.

There was an excellent variety of game, and the local guides knew just where we would see the most.....several prides of lions and seeing leopards and cheetas was exciting.

It was a great finish to stay at the Victoria Falls Game Lodge.....first class.

Would definitely recommend the Capetown extension. We particularly loved the wine tour and the all day tour around the Cape of Good Hope.

What a fabulous trip.

Traveler: Bruce Carlson from Odessa, TX traveled on August 02, 2011

I WAS ANYTHING BUT ALONE. OAT GUIDES, DRIVERS, LAND & AIR STAFF
TREATED ME WITH THE SAME T.L.C. AS MY FELLOW TRAVELERS. I WAS FORTUNATE TO BE IN THE COMPANY OF SEASONED ADVENTUERS WHO. IQUICKLY BONDED OVER CAMERAS, BIRDS, ANIMALS & THE INCREDIABLE ENVIONMENT. IT DID NOT COST MORE FOR THE SAME PAYOFF. IT WAS A LIFE CHANGING EXPERIENCE, O.A.T. PROVIDES A LIFE TIME OF SPICE IN FILMS, BOOKS, THEATER, MUSEUMS & MEMORIES. I SAY "JUST GO FOR IT"

Traveler: Esther Liwazer from Farmington, MI traveled on October 06, 2011

Not much I can add to all the other high reviews this trip gets, except that I did take the extension to Kruger and HIGHLY recommend it. Game viewing was excellent and cabins were the best on entire trip.

I have been doing foreign travel since 1970 and this was easily the most uniquespecial experience ever.

Traveler: Terry Bass from Torrance, CA traveled on October 09, 2011

I have read the other reviews and I want to add, the biggest advantage of this tour is the eagle eyed, competent, friendly guides. They knew and used our names, they spotted animals in the dark from the dark spot at the end of a tail. Many times our guides were the first on the scene, then the call would go out and other tour vehicles would arrive. Finding the animals and sharing the experience seemed to be a first priority for them. They ate with us, a wonderful opportunity for close up and personal, animals,staff and guides.

Traveler: Kathryn Kastama from Oakland, CA traveled on October 09, 2011

I fear this review is much too long, but I couldn't get stopped once I began to gush. OAT has my permission to cut.


Ultimate Africa was a fabulous trip. The camps are wonderfully comfortable. The dining and communal areas are large and attractive, and the individual tents are fitted with showers and toilets and very comfortable beds. Every meal was beautifully prepared, delicious and abundant. The pacing was intense, but having traveled so far for a learning experience, I was glad for every opportunity, and did not want too much “down” time. Nevertheless, afternoon rest periods in the tent camps were welcome and necessary.

I am in very good health, yet I wondered ahead of time about my endurance for this adventure, since I am a 76-year old woman with a recent hip replacement. I would characterize Ultimate Africa as a somewhat strenuous trip because of so much travel, yet we were completely coddled all along the way.

The comprehensive and informative materials from OAT arrived in a timely fashion and covered all my questions, including immunizations and medicines needed, clothing requirements and travel documents. Weather for the time of year was included in travel materials. The month of September was simply perfect. We had no rain at all (until the post trip to South Africa) so our safaris and photography were unhindered by weather. It was chilly in the morning, but layering clothing was the answer. By 10 or 11, we had removed our lightweight coats, our sweatshirts and sometimes our long sleeved shirts, leaving just short sleeved T-shirts. All those layers were necessary to start the day and I also recommend lightweight gloves and perhaps a headband. The Jeeps all had blankets which we also used at 7:00 a.m. as we bounced along in the open-air Jeeps. In the afternoon, it probably got into the mid-80s, but it was very dry with absolutely no humidity in September, so it never was oppressive. By evening, I needed a sweatshirt again.

British Airways was excellent. The layover at Heathrow was made comfortable by use of a hotel room at the airport. I used some of the day to make a quick trip into London via the Heathrow Express to enjoy a Big Bus tour.

Three nights in each camp gave us time to settle in, to become familiar with the terrain and to see and photograph many animals “up close and personal.” We were well cared for on travel days by our guide, by drivers, by pilots. During these moves, we were kept informed and carefully herded. Our large green duffel bags were transported for us. Every bus had cold bottles of water and there was always a snack or lunch along the way. Moving from camp to camp and country to country involved some major maneuvering. During one travel day we took eight modes of transport, including two planes, two or three busses, a boat and a couple of Land Rover Jeep rides, with passport stops along the way. All of this was seamless because of our unflappable tour guide, Wallace, who kept all the balls in the air, producing a bus and boat to substitute for a canceled plane in the middle of the day.

Every single driver-guide in each of four tent camps seemed completely knowledgeable concerning wildlife, birds, trees and terrain, and very willing to share his knowledge. And all were cheerful. Though we were banged around on truly horrific dusty, rutted roads, the drivers were considerate of our comfort, slowing down for the really bad spots. Our closeness to the animals was, at first, unnerving, very soon amazing, and ultimately wondrous, and all credit goes to the expert guides for knowing when and how to approach these wild animals, and for instructing us in proper behavior while allowing us to snap some great pictures!

We learned much from the interaction with the guides, primarily about the wildlife and the terrain but, at meals, we sat together and learned even more, as they willingly answered our many questions. My brain is full to overflowing with new and unfamiliar information – like studying for a master’s degree in 17 days.

In our afternoon Learning and Discovery sessions, led by the guides and staff members, there were discussions of many controversial subjects, topics as diverse as the politics of each country, the HIV-AIDS problems, the educational systems and the differing cultures of southern Africa, with the guides and other speakers giving us their perspectives. Because of their openness and willingness to respond to any questions, we felt free to broach a wide range of subjects. I thought I had signed up to see animals; the Learning and Discovery sessions were a dividend I had not expected.

How could our days be strenuous when we were seated in a Land Rover most of the time? To start the day, we were awakened very early. Each day there were two (2) 3-hour game drives; we were always on high alert and many times bumped around “off-road” crunching over small trees and bushes. The game drives were both exhilarating and exhausting, but we always returned to good food and good comradeship, and the experience of living with the animals was a real high! Time off in the middle of the day was needed and appreciated, but usually did not mean a real rest, as there were “smalls” to wash, journals to update, camera shots to review and the necessity of a shower and shampoo to remove the Kalahari sand and savannah dust. Tip: take a small nail brush.

Our visit to Ziga Village in Zimbabwe was a great day. We were invited to the Head Man’s house and given an orientation by his granddaughter – a culturally enlightening session. Just driving through the village with its tidy log fences and thatch houses was informative and eye-opening. We stopped to watch a cow being skinned by locals, and paid a visit to the water-pump, and all the residents were friendly and responsive.

It was exciting to see the buildings and the progress made by Grand Circle Foundation at the Ngamo Primary and Secondary Schools, and then to see the new buildings and changes at Ziga Primary, in the same village. The children walk such long distances and have so little, but were adorable and enthusiastic, and clearly eager to show off what they are learning. And thanks to GCF, they now have a vital water pump for the school, new toilets and several new buildings. It was a heart-warming experience.

Bringing souvenirs for the school and the village seemed a dilemma since we were restricted as to packing weight. One fellow traveler who likes to shop said she brought 10 pounds of presents to leave behind, so that she could buy 10 pounds of souvenirs. One friend brought a dozen T-shirts from the Dollar Store, packed tightly. I took sewing items for the village and school-related items for the primary school, and managed to get all my gifts into the zipper compartment on the front of my duffel, which I never had to open until we got to Ziga village, which is nearby the final tent camp in Zimbabwe.

Having read Travelers’ Reviews before departure, I took the tip about packing a sports bra, and was glad I did. Those washboard roads are tough. Other tips from me: The sandals I took were not practical as they were always filled with sand or dust, even while wearing socks. I only had one other pair of shoes (sneakers) and had to wear them every day. I recommend at least two (or three) good sturdy pairs of very comfortable shoes. Don’t worry about fashion, as your shoes will be dirty all the time. Think comfort.

As suitcase weight is an issue, remember that laundry is offered every day in the tent camps. Four or five T-shirts is enough, with two long sleeved shirts (one in the wash, one on your back), perhaps two sweatshirts (same washing system) and a windbreaker with a hood. Three or four pairs of pants will do fine, some undies and perhaps a scarf or two. Don’t forget a hat for blocking the savannah sun. The Jeeps have a canvas top, but there is still plenty of sun.

I loved my Travel Vest since it negated the necessity of a pocketbook. Mine (Columbia, from PackingLight.net) had 10 pockets outside and two inside, with an extra zipper across the back for a map (Cape Town or London). This sounds confusing and formidable, but I learned to keep my personal stuff on the left side and my travel documents and money on the right. So: left side = sunscreen, bug spray (Zambia only), chapsticklipstick, small comb, tissues; right side = travel documents (inside), small wallet or change purse, binoculars, spiral notebook, pencil or pen (outside). If you are a note taker, as I am, take more than one spiral. On day Four, I lost my spiral out of the back of the Jeep and it was never found. I was glad to have a replacement, as there are no corner stores in the bush.

A backpack is a necessity. You will want to tote a hat or visor, perhaps extra clothing, perhaps a bandana, camera and camera case (big enough for memory cards, batteries, lens wiper, and instruction book). If you don’t wear a vest, you’ll need the backpack for personal stuff and travel documents when you are changing locations. I got a light weight one with several pockets from eBags.com (Everest brand).

Each tent camp had a very sensible method for keeping our money and documents safe. The “green bag” was sealed and locked in front of us, and we reclaimed it from the communal safe when it was time to leave – in order to pay for any souvenirs we purchased, drinks we consumed, and to leave tips (in sealed boxes).

I am glad I took advantage of the Chobe Gift Shop for some jewelry and Linkwasha Lodge for animal carvings, as there are not too many souvenir spots on this trip, and I liked the idea of helping out the local people in these remote places. In Victoria Falls, there were some opportunities for shopping and, for those taking the post-trip to Cape Town, other things in the Market on the Square.

I brought an extra battery for my digital camera (one could be charging while I used the other) and brought 8 memory cards (at a savings online), though I only needed 5 of them. With 750 pix per card, I have far too many pictures (click, click). However, I did not want to delete any while I was traveling, feeling that decisions would be better made on a computer screen (delete, delete). Needless to say, many hours of deciding and deleting has been required since my return. Good fun!

I took a very small extra csrry-on suitcase for our post-trip to South Africa. It was whisked away when we reached Victoria Falls the first time and returned to me at the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, after all of our adventures in the tent camps. We really did not need “city clothes” as our safari attire was just fine everywhere in South Africa, although it was nice to have a fresh pair of pants at that stage, and an extra jacketsweatshirt helped to keep out the chill. Cape Town was cooler in September – further from the equator. In this extra bag I took a very small pocketbook, thinking I would not want my backpack or vest in “the city.” It was not necessary; a backpack was fine. Africa is informal.

On the post trip to South Africa, the optional activities seemed pretty hokey to me. I chose to ride an elephant, thinking my grandchildren would be amused by a photo – but it was disappointing and pricey. Others Walked with the Lions, and some went on a Rhino Hunt. I think our gang enjoyed the activities, but I didn’t hear any raves. Those offerings seemed tame and “touristy” after our time in the bush with the “real thing.”

This was a remarkable trip, vivid in memory, yet indescribable. Our proximity to wild animals (their territory, not ours) was extraordinary. Best of all, having truly knowledgeable guides all along the way made each day a blessing and a treasure. Our personal Trip Guide, a Zimbabwean gentleman named Wallace Gwatidzo, was a gem. Wallace went above and beyond our expectations every day, in every situation. When a plane was absent, he arranged a bus and boat – with no delay involved. It seemed he was always working behind the scenes. Wallace was knowledgeable, informative, responsive and unflappable, as well as cheerful, kind and funny. He answered every question and calmed any concerns. He gave us very clear directives ahead of our activities, so we knew what to expect. I hope OAT can hang onto Wallace for a long time.

Traveler: Marjorie Kinkead from Wayne, PA traveled on August 29, 2011

Just returned from this fabulous trip! The people were amazing; the most polite and enthusiastic and genuine people on the planet! The pacing was great, with enough time to read, write in my journal, organize my photos and socialize. October is hot in the midday in the camps. There were many unexpected adventures, such as a "kill" on one game drive, elephants surrounding our tent in the middle of the night! The general ambience and routine of the camps and game drives was a pleasant surprise. A few caveats: 1. The new OAT duffel bags are not great. Both mine and my wife's sustained tears (bring duct tape!) 2. Don't obsess about adapters. They have them there except for S.Africa (bring the 3 pronged and the UK style) 3. Bring an extra fold up bag to take gifts, etc. home 4. We brought too much cash. $1200 is probably ok for a couple 5. Capetown extension was terrific and a great way to end the trip 6. I brought a Canon Powershot SX210, which was compact and took great pictures except for very closeups of some birds. I just got it last year and did not want to buy a new camera just for the trip. 14x zoom was adequate, but a little more is better, and a bean bag was helpful to steady my hands. 6.The laundry service in the camps was essential and well done. I brought two convertible pants (and one for Capetown), 2 long sleeve shirts and 2 short sleeve shirts, and 3 tees. This worked out well. All in all a unique vacation, educational, and amazing animals , birds and sunsets, great food.......and more. Just go!!

Traveler: Gene Ginsberg from Allentown, PA traveled on October 10, 2011

The Ultimate Africa trip was on my "bucket list" but I was a little hesitant because I thought it would be too strenous. This was not the case. The most challenging activity was getting in and out of the game vehicles. As a frequent traveler, I have been to all seven continents as well as all fifty states. This was one of the best trips I have ever taken.

I saw all of the big five animals of Africa. The game drivers were extremely knowledgable and helpful. We were in the bush but had all the comforts of a first class hotel. The pacing was good and variety of the camps suprised me. It was a wonderful experience in every way.

Traveler: Elizabeth Finnegan from Asheville, NC traveled on August 28, 2011

This was the absolute BEST! We saw every animal , other than a rhino and hundreds of birds. The accomodations are better than expected and the staffs at the lodges are so very friendly ,courteous, and good singers and dancers. Our guide Sam is wonderful , so well informed, accommodating ,happy and fun. This was our fifth trip with OAT and they all have been great but this fulfilled the dream of a lifetime.

Traveler: Robert Franklin from Bowling Green, KY traveled on September 03, 2011

Honestly, we were a little hesitant to go to Africa. We'd been to Morocco and to Egypt, but for some reason that didn't seem like the Africa of tribes, wild animals and safaris that we were now planning to visit in South Africa, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Once we arrived at Kruger NP, we were finally in the Africa of my dreams. It didn't take long to shatter my pre-conceived ideas of what I would find there. Everyone was friendly, intelligent and cultured. The tribal connection is very much alive and centered in the villages, where extended families live close together. The village is considered "home home" even if you reside in a "home" somewhere else. People are proud of their tribal ties because this is where the center of their family and culture really is. As we stayed in each camp, I watched men from different tribes work together as brothers...and joke in friendly camaraderie as their "national pride" in their relatively new independent countries superseded their tribal pride. I learned about their strong desire for education..., saw "Education is Power" written on their children's jackets...and walked into classrooms where the teacher may have stepped out for a few minutes, but the students (in all grades) continued to work silently with admirable self-discipline. As and ex-teacher, this impressed me. Girls and boys are encouraged by their families, parents and villages to learn and better themselves. They are most appreciative of the help given by the GCF, which gives money to help them build decent schools with supplies to encourage eager minds. I met friendly, happy children who wanted to see and touch Americans. Seeing the many animals was fabulous but meeting the people and changing my perception of them was why I travel. I came away LOVING Africa!!

Traveler: Le Andrea Conine from Scotia, NY traveled on September 19, 2011

This was our first trip to Africa and we had no idea what to expect. Our first impression was one of peaceful coexistence between the people and the animals. As we traveled to Botswana and Zambia and Zimbabwe we discovered that this was mostly true among the people as well.

The local guides impressed us with their detailed knowledge of the animals' habits and sounds. Walking in Kruger single-file following the tracks of the two giraffes was a favorite moment.

The commitment in each camp to bring in the local children for a week at camp each year touched us.

Even with a small Canon camera we got amazing pictures as the animals were quite close. We alternated very quickly between still shots and 5-10 second movies and in I-photo they make a seemless show.

We saw a cheetah, three leopards and some wild dogs, now called spotted wolves. We saw 40 lions, some mating, some eating, some hunting, some resting. Lots of giraffes, elephants, zebras, hippos, all kinds of antelopes and birds all together. We knew there was no guarantee so we felt truly lucky.

One person in our group recorded sounds of the animals, the guides and the staff performances and gifted us with a recording. Lovely memory.

Game drives were harder on the neck than on the back.

We were happy for many layers of clothes including wool or heavy long underwear for the nights and the game drives. We ended up never being cold. Some brought down jackets and were glad for them.Then early in September it got hot in Zambia and Lake Victoria. The mosquitoes sought out the computer room at the Lake Victoria Hotel.
We were at the tail end of winter.

It is wise to bring 50-100 one dollar bills for small purchases and paying for drinks. The tip boxes are great as you can use larger bills there.

We had plenty of rest with the three hour breaks in the middle of the day. The beds were very comfortable.

We had heard that this was many people's favorite OAT trip and now it is ours as well.

Traveler: Dilip and Margaretha Derasary from Oakland, CA traveled on August 13, 2011

This was our 2nd OAT trip and it exceeded all expectations we could possibly imagine. I would definately recommend this trip to all travelers with two exceptions - if you have a strong fear of flying on small planes or if you have moderate to severe back problems because you jolt and bump around quite a bit on ALL safari game rides.
The four countries are amazing. You cannot imagine how many animals you will see up close and personal. Hundreds of elephants, zebra, giraffes, impala. The birds are so beautiful and so many different kinds. All of our accomodations from hotels, lodges and all camps were excellent. The food is excellent and they feed you six times a day. You will NOT go hungry. No one got sick from the food or water. All of it was safe to eat and drink where we were located. The weather was great. It was the dry season so it was quite dusty but excellent conditions for game and bird viewing. There were very few bugs and basically no mesquitos. The flies were annoying on game drives in Zambia. Take Deet and you will be fine.Our trip leader James Kashari was amazing. You will be very lucky if you have him for your leader. All of the game guides and drivers are so friendly and like walking encyclopedias when it came to their information on the surroundings, animals and plant life. They are superb trackers. The camp staff at all camps are so friendly and helpful and you will want for nothing ! Capetown is beautiful. A nice way to end the trip. We arranged our own all day whale tour and wine tour before with left the USA for our last two days and that worked out excellent. I cannot say enough about how wonderful this trip was and what a lifetime experience it was for us. I highly highly recommend this trip to Africa if you are interested in animals, birds, culture and getting to know the people of Africa. I will post some helpful hints on the travel forum discussions as well.

Traveler: Linda Harms from Winona, TX traveled on September 19, 2011

Memorable moments; watching wild dogs for the first time after 5 safaris, seeing lions and a cheetah on kills, and viewing Victoria Falls on the ground and in the air. Elephants are everywhere.
If you want to see a wide variety of animals and birds without a hoard of fellow travelers, this is the trip to take. Parks of Kenya and south Africa are crowded with tourists so that when you come across an unusual sight up to 20 vehicles will crowd around.
The trip could use some physical exercise and activities at the camps at night.

Traveler: John Boudette from Spring Hill, FL traveled on September 09, 2011

the title almost says it all. My wife and I went to Africa the first time on the OAT "Safrari Serengeti" in June 2007and, of course, fell in love with Africa.This trip was taken to go on safari again and note any differences between the two areas. The trips are different, but either one is a "trip of a lifetime."
The pace of the trip was perfect for us, up at 6 AM, breakfast at 6:30 and then start a game drive at 7.Then time for rest and shower after brunch and before tea at 3PM, then out on a game drive and back for dinner at 7 or 8PM.
Flying between camps is fun and there is a chance of seeing animals from the air. Going to and from the airstrips are also game drives. Even in towns and on the lodge grounds you will see baboons, warthogs, monkeys and all the large animals in the camps.
We had a diversified group that jelled together extremly well and from the first game drive, everyone was amazed that the next one just got better and this attitude lasted the whole trip thanks to the driversguides at each camp and especially due to our trip leader, Tinashe Nyandoro, we all had "The trip of a lifetime"
Each camp and it's staff were superior in every way and yet different(in a good way) from each other due to the site location and layout. The food was excellant and the last night's native dinners at each camp were exceptional fun with wonderful food.
The school and village visit were great, as usual, and allows us to see first hand the good work the the Grand Circle Foundation is doing. We also learn from the children and adults how alike we all and the differencs we have in living and thinking.
We havd several first timers in our group, both to OAT trips and on safari and we would and have recommended this trip for a first or tenth safari trip.The last day in Victoria Falls offers total excitement in thinks to do and we loved the lion walk and the elephant ride.
I only had two things missing on this trip and both are just me. Couldn't find hat pins or maps of the game parks(big deal).

Traveler: John Johnson Ii from Ocala, FL traveled on September 10, 2011

Just think?! Where on earth can one escape to peace and tranquility mixed with fun and laughter for 15 days? Ultimate Africa is where.

This was my second trip on the very same tour. Early mornings and late afternoons are optimal times for tracking animals by their prints and excrements. And late evenings… the animals find us! The animals have our sleep cycles all figured out. Their fun begins around midnight! They either all talk to each other or talk to themselves at this time. The Baboons begin the choir. They also alert other animals of imminent danger. The baboons love to use the roof of the tents as a jungle-gym and slide down and screech with glee. The elephants plan their antics by getting into mischief such as tearing up water pipes and so forth or by merely eating away a tree next to your tent. Hippos are present too especially in the Okavango Delta with their grunts and groans all night long. Rhinos are hard to spot due to increased poaching. I saw perhaps the last one spotted in 2009 in the Hwange National Park.

Since I am in Health Care the, “Morning Report” is a must. Even in, “The Lion King”, everyone wants to know who did what to whom, what, where, when, and why. So too with my travel group, which was the best I have ever traveled with. We were up at 5:30 AM, breakfast at 6:00 AM Andes on the road at 6:30 AM but, first “The Morning Report”. Our tour leader, Chamu, (the best one I have ever had) let us chatter about the animals’ antics of the previous night. We all had different versions as animals would move from one tent area to another and change behavior.

At Wilderness Tented Camp, in the Okavango Delta, at precisely midnight, according to my lighted alarm clock, I saw complete darkness of the whole left side of my tent. I had requested my tent flaps up (with screens in place) preferring openness. Hearing snap, crackle, crunch, and the smell of wood awakened me. My first reaction was: “My God, it’s an elephant! What do I do now? What if he brings the whole tent down tree and all, with me under the rubble?!” Emotionally I was fearful but my cognitive reaction was to do nothing… lie still, don’t breath, and say nothing. He was making such a destruction of the tree, I could hear the branches scraping the screen. I finally left my bed for the shower area, where the flaps were down, to hide and listen. In a few minutes it became quiet. The elephant had left and I returned to bed.

Also at this camp, we had six flat tires in two days. At dinner on the second day, guides announced there were two lions spotted coming into camp. Travelers, drivers, and tour leader (making 16) jumped into two Land Rovers to go search for the lions in the dark. All of a sudden, we had another flat tire making number seven in two days! Now, all 14 people had to hop into one Land Rover while two drivers changed the flat by flashlight. Remember, there were two lions roaming about – position unknown! Everyone laughed hysterically but especially so when a traveler Dave, (one of our many jesters) stated: “I came tonight to get a picture of lions not another picture of a flat tire!”

At the Mokololo Lodge in Hwange National Park, again the elephants were at play and tore the water pipes up at midnight. The camp employees worked for hours on this so we would have water at 5:30 AM. The animals at this camp are especially verbal as the lions roar to each other or perhaps just to test out their roaring ability for practice. Nevertheless, one feels as though it is like being in Jurassic Park for the stay at this camp.

From the Mokololo Lodge, the drive to a typical native village was long and not without event again. It felt like we were on the, “Road Less Traveled” or more like Hannibal crossing the Alps on elephants at a speed of a flying saucer. Laughter and more laughter all the way!

At the village, we met Mr. Johnson, the Headman, who held court while question and answer period ensued – men on one side, women on the other. No laughter here as this was serious business.Grand Circle Foundation has donated to Mr. Johnson’s village to build classrooms for students and a well. Some children at different grade levels are taught together which is very successful. Mr. Johnson’s priorities would be to have a fence surrounding the perimeter of the school and garden to keep out non-domestic animals thus protecting food supply, over an individual classroom building for eighth grade level.

The last stay was at the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge. Again, at midnight, the fire alarm sounded for fast evacuation from all rooms immediately! The lodge has a thatched roof and I was on the fourth floor! I hurried out mighty fast! Thankfully, this was a false alarmed caused by two-legged creatures vs. four-legged – not a fire, just wild partiers! Well, I sure didn’t think of a key in all my rush! Here I was barefoot in a nightie and needed to go for assistance.

From the literature the reader can learn about the food, bath supplies, what electrical plugs and clothes to bring, what terrain will be encountered and so forth. But, as Harriett Lewis said, “Africa is not a place one can quantify, analyze, itemize, or master. You just have to let pure reality, power, beauty, and primal Africa surround you – left, right, front, center and inside out”. How true!

The whole trip was spectacular including Baobob II and Lufufa Camps. It was even better the second time around. All of the minor disruptions only added to everlasting memories of my African adventure.
All’s Well That Ends Well

August 25th – September 12th 201
Carol Chase Lynch, 9 Time OAT Traveler Cary, NC

Traveler: Carol Lynch from Cary, NC traveled on August 25, 2011

Travel during August was the perfect choice. The animals were plentiful and varied. The number of elephants, giraffe's, water buffulo, impala, and etc were more than we expected. We could have spent numerous hours watching the elephants, especially the babies playing in the water and mud.
The camps were well maintained and the food and service was excellent. Each camp provided a differrent landscape and an opportunity to view the wildlife in a different setting.Our trip guide and the wild life guides were well informed and added valued insight to every aspect of our adventure.
The opportunity to village a village and elementary school added insight into how the local people lived and socialized. The children were all smiles and loved having their pictures taken.
The only thing I would have changed was for more time near on on the water while at the okovongo delta.

Traveler: George Clemens from Huntington Beach, CA traveled on August 11, 2011

This trip was a long time dream of mine, and it did not disappoint. I have done LOTS of traveling over the years, with many wonderful and very memorable trips ~ this trip tops them all as my favorite. It was so different from anything I have done before. One cannot describe how awesome this was . . . . one has to experience it.:o)

Traveler: Cynthia Bernard from Kokomo, IN traveled on August 10, 2011

I would highly recommend this trip to anyone that loves the outdoors and seeing wildlife in their natural habitat. It was an experience of a life time. Our trip leader was wonderful, knowledgeable and made sure that everyone had a safe and awesome trip.

Traveler: Grace Ragan from Hayward, CA traveled on March 31, 2011

Our trip was fabulous. August Sept. is a perfect time to be in Africa. We were able to view animals with out any follage obstruction and the weather was cool in the morning and warmer in the afternoon.
All of the different camp staff were enjoyable and very attentive.
We had the newer version of OAT bags with the tiny wheels and had no zipper problem or transportation problem on our small flights.
We did sign up for the Soweto tour in Johannesburg and were not pleased with the tour.We just drove around for the majority of the tour and stopped for a short time at the museum in Soweto. Our guide was poor and the cost was certainly high for what we received from the tour.
The bush is a wonderful experience.Be prepared for some low water pressure issues in the morning at the various camps. Showering at night is recommended.
All and all,the trip was wonderful. .Lots of animals, birds, hippos, crocs ,leopard in a tree after an impala kill, a lion protecting his giraffe kill, zebras, lions, giraffes, elephants their babies, all kinds of deer and antelope.
Truly a great trip. Our guide Madodana was exceptional...extremely knowledable, an ambassador, and a great group leader.

Traveler: Linda Krohn from Janesville, WI traveled on August 17, 2011

My husband and I took two O.A.T. Africa trips back-to-back in July 2011 and perhaps you may benefit from our comparison of the two trips. The trips were “Ultimate Africa: Botswana, Zambia & Zimbabwe” (UA) June 30 to July 18 and “Tanzania.” (T) July 17 to July 30th.

Duration:
UA: 19 days, 13 people total.
T: 14 days, 16 people total

Long-Distance Transportation
UA: Small planes from camp to camp. We spent three nights at each of four remote wilderness camps. The plane rides were pleasant and they gave a good perspective on the topography.
T: Enclosed Landrovers with removable rooftops travel. No plane rides within country. There were two days with long rides between destinations.

Accommodations:
UA: Four unique camps for just a group of 13. Each camp had a scenic view of the wilderness. We had one very nice lodge for two nights in Victoria Falls.
T: Two unique camps for our group of 16 and lodges that accommodated other visitors.

Highlights:
UA: Botswana’s Chobe National Park and the helicopter ride over Victoria Falls. The ability to go off-road in private lands allows some exciting close up views of animals. The air flights in small planes allow good views. Some camps are positioned right on animal pathways, so one can see animals in camp.

T: The Maasai village visit and the Serengeti grasslands with cheetahs chasing gazelles. I was astounded at how enthusiastic the people in the Maasai village were in entertaining us. They danced, sang, laughed and led us around for hours, and seemed to even enjoy us taking photos of them.

Most Noticeable Animals:
UA: Close encounters with big groups of elephants, zebras, giraffes, impala, hippos, cape buffalo, kudu, bushbuck, waterbuck, hartebeest, sable antelope; other sightings of steenbok, topi, dik-dik, eland, warthogs, jackals, vultures, baboons, and a night sighting of a leopard for maybe fifteen minutes.

T: It was thrilling to see close up cheetahs in chase of prey; frequent lions, gazelles, hyena, ostrich, warthogs, wildebeest, cape buffalo, giraffe, hippos, baboons, and mongoose. Unfortunately the rhinos in the Ngorongoro Crater were in the very far distance… too far to be photographed distinctly.

Guides:
UA: One Trip Leader coordinated all events and was not involved with driving. The local guides enthusiastically gave in-depth information and drove local vehicles. Abiot Zuze (“Abby”), our Ultimate Africa coordinator, was excellent. I feel skeptical when reading rave reviews about O.A.T. guides. But, Abby really was an exceptional talent. It would be rare to find anywhere in the world, someone this dedicated to serving his group and with this much charm. Since he was not involved in driving, he could spend his energy answering questions, planning lectures, confirming logistics or simply entertaining us.

T: Three guides drove vehicles for entire trip. And after a long day of driving, perhaps they are not as energetic for giving lectures or entertaining the group. They do their best, however, and eat with the group. And we had no problem entertaining ourselves.

Game Drives:
UA: Often took off-road tracks through the bush following animal tracks. 7:10 am load in vehicles. Teacoffee & snacks stop at 10 am. Back to camp at 11:15 am. Brunch 11:30 am. Siesta until tea, cakes or fruit and lecture at 3pm. Evening game drive 4pm. Stop with beerwinecoke etc… for sunset each night. Return 7:00 to 8pm. Sometimes out after dark with guides using lights to search for leopards and nocturnal animals.

T: Game drives restricted to park roads. No refreshments on route. 7:30 am in vehicles. Stop at park restrooms around 10:30 am. Back to camp at 11:30. Meal 12:00 noon. Siesta until evening game drive 4pm. Restroom stops 5:30pm. Return to camp by dark, 6:15pm.

Toilet Facilities (during game drives):
UA: The nearest bush during scheduled or requested stops; not really a problem. Anyone can adapt to this, especially for the sake of adventure.
T: Actual buildings with flush toilets with the National Parks.

Game-Drive Transportation
UA: Two open-sided vehicles with 3 rows, each elevated above the other; canvas sunshade above. Exposed to dust and and cold. Eyeglasses or sunglasses are good protection from dust. Hats and sunscreen required.

T: Three enclosed vehicles with roof that opens; no pop-up sunshade; hats required.
Legroom for people with long legs is a problem in these vehicles. As a female with an in-seam of 32 inches, I could not get my legs behind the seat in front of me, when I was in the last row. Luckily I was able to sit sideways or grab another seat.

Shopping:
Several people brought an empty lightweight duffle bag for bringing purchases home. Some bought khaki-colored clothing at thrift shop, left the clothes with the locals, then used the space in their luggage for souvenirs. We forgot to plan for this.
UA: Available in Victoria Falls at end of trip.
T: Available at Cultural Center in Arusha and at local wood carving sites. The tour stayed the first two nights in Arusha. The first day, our bus drove around for hours so we could view this somewhat unattractive city. You can wonderful art at the Cultural Center and pick it up at the end of the trip since you come back to Arusha. There is a terrific collection of masks there. Ask to see the locked room full of masks.

Weather
UA: July is winter in the southern hemisphere and July 2011 it was extremely cold, much more than normal. The tents have no insulation or heat. When getting dressed at 6 am, we could see our breath. We ate breakfast bundled up, even with wool caps on. You will be traveling in a totally open vehicle as early as 7 am and as late as 8pm. We wore our long underwear usually reserved for skiing, several layers of fleece on top, gloves, a wool cap, two pairs of socks, and used the blanket in the jeep.

T: Tanzania is closer to the equator and the weather was mild and pleasant in July.

Bugs:
UA: Almost none in July. Saw one mosquito and heard one mosquito. It was winter and it was too cold for mosquitoes to proliferate. We took expensive anti-malarial pills and bug resistant clothing, but during July this might have been overkill. But better to be safe, than sorry.

T: Warmer temperatures, but wrong time of year for mosquitoes.

How did back-to-back work?
We were gone a total of five weeks. We felt the second trip complemented what we saw on the first trip. The environment and the tribes of the Serengeti in Tanzania were different. This part of Tanzania has more grassland with more opportunities to see cats such as cheetahs.

You need to pace yourself on long trips. We skipped a couple of game drives on the first trip and one on the second trip, to avoid getting over-tired. We took business class air seats where we could sleep in flat beds in both directions: Delta to Johannesburg and KLM back to the USA. OAT will do custom air arrangements for you when you take two trips back-to-back.

Ambiance:
UA & T: This is amusingly primitive budget travel. Meals are buffet style. We had three days with no hot water for showers—this was a problem only because it was so cold during those days. None of the camps have heat. The walls and floors are not insulated. And, or course, tents have no air conditioning. If you accept that you are roughing it, you will have a fun time and memorable experience.

There are luxury tours to Africa, but they cost more than the O.A.T. trips. After staying three days in a tent, our OAT group stopped at the dock of a luxury hotel, the Chobe Safari Lodge, for a river cruise. This lodge, with air conditioning and internet, is right smack in the heart of animal migrations. So, it is possible to have comfortable lodging and see wild animals at the same time.

Nonethless, the OAT camps have their own unique charms. For example, in Tanzania, it’s an opportunity to take a shower from a bucket of water filled overhead by hand. And the small OAT camps have no other tourists around, just your one OAT group.

School Visits:
UA: The school was a long way away on a bumpy dusty road. Bring snacks. We left at 7:15 am and got there at 11:30, with no time for game drive on the way. We finally had lunch at 2:45pm.
T: School is nearby and is a wonderful place to visit.

Luggage Weight Allowed:
UA: More restrictive because of the flights on small planes between camps: 44 lbs maximum including carryon bags and camera. There is no need for more weight. Laundry is provided free of charge at camps in order to enable guests to carry less luggage. There is no need for more than 3 complete outfits and you could get by with just two complete outfits.
T: Less restrictive on weight because of no flights within Tanzania.

Expenses:
Almost everything is included. The extra $125 per person to see Victoria Falls from the helicopter is well worth it. Getting required vaccinations, malaria medication & visas are additional costs to keep in mind.

Photography:
UA & T: You will get great snapshots of animals, but often there isn’t much time to get artistic composition in pictures. Where the driver stops might not be the best photographic angle. When drivers approach too abruptly, animals turn away positioning their butts toward the vehicle, in a ready-to-run position. Occasionally, the driver and people in front might see the animal, but you in back, may not. A fast 300 mm lens and a camera with a large sensor are ideal for this trip. If you are deeply interested in photography, I suggest your take a tour tailored to photography.

Which is best?
It is hard to say. The topography on each tour was different. Perhaps “Ultimate Africa” is best, although I loved seeing the cheetahs in Tanzania. We rarely saw other safari jeeps in Ultimate Africa, and that seemed more like a real safari because we could go off road. It might be better to wait until late July-early August, when this area has warmed up.

In July, we saw many tourist vehicles in Tanzania, especially near the park entrances and the Ngorongoro Crater. So that took away from the special connection with animals. Another month in Tanzania might be much better, especially if you could see the migration or baby animals, although any month is good.

Groups:
Our second group was a group of friends, and we did a good job of entertaining ourselves. Africa would be an ideal location for putting together your own group of friends. As a group you could have fun preparing your pack lists of safari items. As friends, you can find it even more amusing when primitive conditions create odd situations. And you can share photos afterwards.

Traveler: Linda from Montara, CA traveled on June 30, 2011

I was skeptical how seeing herds of animals day after day could be interesting, Every review that I read by people with the same concern said when they arrived and were on the adventures it was fantastic.
I must not have the animal gene in me. I was bored after the 1st day, One herd of zebra, elephants, cape buffalo etc looked the same to me. I missed culture, history and museums. I also missed being able to get adequate exercuse since the days were spent riding around in vehicles watching animals.
No complaints about OAT -- they gave us just what they said. Everyone else on the trip enjoyed it. I did not.
Make sure you want to spend 14 or more days just looking at animals.

Traveler: Eugene Mikolajczyk from Fountain Hills, AZ traveled on August 19, 2011

If you only take one trip in your lifetime, this is the trip! An amazing adventure from start to finish. Viewing the quantities of animals in their natural habitat is truly undescribeable.The people are warm and friendly. The experiences that OAT provides add so much - you truly feel apart of Africa. One thing you need to be aware of - and I wasn't, but it was my own fault - when you visit at least four different tented camps, you need to tip both the drivers and staff at each one. Just plan for that. They deserve it - trust me. I am still basking in the fact that I went to Africa - and would go back in a heartbeat - despite the long flight!

Traveler: Suzanne Brierley from Bakersfield, CA traveled on July 30, 2011

I loved my trip! Every day I saw or did something I had never seen or done before. The guides and drivers were so well informed and could tell us about all the animals, plants, birds, environment and culture. It really was a wonderful education as well as an exciting, never-to-be-forgotten trip.
The accomodations were wonderfully comfortable and the food was outstanding. The staff at each camp was very accomodating and friendly.
Our trip leader, Ndaba Ncube was exceptional as well. He was extremely well informed and he looked after us with care and consideration. I always felt safe.
I would recommend this trip and trip leader to anyone. There is nothing I would change or recommend. It was perfect.

Traveler: Cece Algra from Keene, CA traveled on August 10, 2011

A trip not to be missed. Exciting learning experience. Walk with the Lions, Ride an Elephant. Two game drives a day and each day we saw more and more, Hippos, Impala, Cheeta, Leopard, zebra, beautiful birds, and a pride of lions (10) strolled right in front of our landrover. Amazing.
Our guides were so knowledgeable - explained everything to us. We visited 4 camps (3 nights each) Food was delicious and so plentiful. Mornings are cold, so bring a scarf, wool cap and gloves. I used them every morning and evenings. Our "tents" were spotless and confortable. Take lots of pictures .

Traveler: Joan Gasparro from Pompano Beach, FL traveled on August 02, 2011

Having traveled to east Africa previously, we were expecting, foolishly, similar terrain, climate and sights. This is not the endless plains of East Africa. There is a lot of dense brush, gnarly trees, with the accompanying excitement and suspense of turning a corner and coming face to trunk with an elephant.
We traveled in July and August, the end of winter in Africa where the clear, starry nights are cool (45-50 degrees) and the days are cloudless and warm to 85 degrees.
No problem with mosquitos at all.
Traveling with OAT is perhaps the best way to see Africa, or anywhere else for that matter. Every detail has been thoughtfully worked out to the last detail and with OAT you are immersed in the local culture. You are not a visitor looking from outside in. You meet, eat with and get to know the indigenous people.
Our guides, drivers and camp staff were all exceptional, no question, request or problem going unanswered, done or solved.
Staying in tented camps is an adventure unlike any other. During the day guinea fowl, wart hogs, antelope, baboons and the occasional elephant wander through camp and around the tents. The night, well when the sunlight dies the darkness comes alive with the sounds of primal Africa.
The din and discord of the wild, the melodic language of the people and the stirring harmonies of their song, Africa touches the soul.
If a picture is worth a thousand words, Africa is a thousand pictures.

Traveler: Christopher Monzert from Lynbrook, NY traveled on July 26, 2011

we loved the trip and would do it again. it was our fourth trip with OAT and we cannot imagine seeing and experiencing these far away places any other way. the staff at the tent camps are wonderful and the guides are knowledgeable about their surroundings and made every effort to make each outing special in every way. we will recommend this trip to everyone we know and have our cityslicker friends get some adventure!

Traveler: Sigrid Schmidt from Long Beach, CA traveled on August 04, 2011

Did this 6 years ago with husband and other couples we knew and it was fabulous. Did it in July with a woman's group and it continued to be an extraordinary, unbelievable experience. Our OAT leader Sam, the camp guides and personnel were s welcoming, knowledgeable, and willing to share their lives and experience with us. The camps were all different from last time although 3 were located in the same area. They were each a new experience though all were beautiful and comfortable with views that were breathtaking and people you hated to leave. It was cold at night and in the mornings...very cold..so heed the guide if he says bring warm clothes! I would go again in a minute if I could!!

Traveler: Sally Nelson from Arvada, CO traveled on July 20, 2011

We traveled from July 30 to August 17 of 2011. There were six of us including our two adult children and their spouse and girl friend. To say we had a fabulous time would be an understatement. One of the other couples also had their adult children along on the trip as well. It was great to have all these young people along on the trip as they kept everyone amused and the pace fast. If you can afford it, take your adult children on a trip like this, you will get to know them in a totally different way. You are just spending their inheritance on them making memories that they will never forget it.

One thing we would strongly suggest is to read all the other reviews from other travelers. They were very insightful and provided some answers to questions we would never have thought of. Since their comments were so helpful we thought we would provide some additional comments that would enhance those of other travelers.

School visit- these kids really don’t have much. We were there on a Saturday while the school was closed for vacation. We were still able to talk with one of the teachers and the principal of the school. The work that the Grand Circle Foundation was doing was evident in the new building. But once you entered the class room there were only a few basis tables and chairs and a blackboard that was simply painted black on the walls. Any and all school supplies would definitely be put to good use. We had brought along some little balls, bracelets, whistles and Frisbees. The type of things you can buy at a party store for use in goodie bags. They cost only a couple of dollars for a bag of 12 pieces. Those little presents certainly made those kids day. I am sure their parents were upset by the whistles since all we heard were the whistles blowing when the kids were heading home. It warmed my heart to know that those 10 cent whistles made the kid’s day. Also take a lot of photos of the kids and send copies of them to your tour leader who can take them back on his next visit. The kids loved seeing themselves in the viewfinder on the back of the camera and were thrilled with some of the photos from previous trips that the tour leader had brought back with him. Remember these kids probably don’t have photos of themselves and they will become keepsakes of their childhood for years.

In terms of the home visit, we brought gifts for our host family, but we brought things that we would typically bring to a hostess here in the US. (fancy tea, chocolates, etc.).
These people have very little in terms of the basic needs. I had some extra rope that I had brought along to use as a clothes line to dry our “smalls”. The rooms had a place to hang out our laundry. So I took the rope along and asked the family if they could use the rope. They were excited about it. They showed us some of their prized possession which included an axe and a sickle. These were things that they used in their everyday life. After seeing and thinking about what we should have brought, things like metal serving utensils, blue plastic tarps, some wire and small hand tools would have been really appreciated and used everyday. We related these people’s living conditions to what the pioneers who trekked out in the Wild West had back in the 1800’s in terms of worldly possessions. The teenage daughter showed us her room and like teenagers in the US she had her stuffed animals on her bed. Unlike our daughter who had a ton of them she had her one baby doll from her childhood and a couple of small dirty stuffed animals. All of them were prized possessions. One of our fellow travelers suggested that we collect the shampoo and soap from the rooms and give them to the family. This is a great idea as it doesn’t add to your weight and the girls went crazy over the possibility of smelling good. You don’t have to spend a lot of money and even the most basic items are greatly appreciated by these people who have basically nothing.

In Victoria Falls, there was some confusion as to what tours and activities were available for your free time. Our guide arranged a couple of things but we found that when we went into town we were able to book many more activities directly at the Shearwater office. We were able to book the Bridge Slide and Swing, whereas our tour leader didn’t think he could book it for us. We also booked the Bridge tour which we had read about but was not offered. We enjoyed the tour very much.

In the trip reviews, someone had suggested taking baseball caps and other things to trade. We took a bunch of hats and a pair of flip flops we didn’t use on the trip. What fun we had offering these as partial payment for some of the goods at the market in Victoria Falls. They will trade for almost anything you have or don’t want to take back home with you. Unfortunately, they have a tough time understanding that you paid $50-60 for your convertible pants and they only wanted to give you credit for about $5-10 for them.

I also left a heavy jacket that I no longer needed for the trip, at the last camp to give to one of the “back of the house” employees, who labored behind the scenes. I told the camp manager to use it as an incentive or to give it to one of the workers who needed it. These people work in these camps for months before they get a couple of weeks off to visit their family. The smallest things are worth a lot to these people who have so little. I gave a “Leatherman’s Tool” to one of the guides who found a pride of 12 Lions for us on our last day of the tour. Best gift he ever got. The biggest brightest smile I have ever seen. He was so proud of it he wore it on his belt for the rest of our stay.

Another great souvenir you can buy in the market was Zimbabwe currency. They now use US dollars as their currency due to hyper inflation of their dollars. Where in the world can you buy a 100 Trillion Dollar bill for a couple of dollars? They have all sorts of 20 Million, 100 million, Billion dollar notes available. I bought an assortment of 10 bills for $2.00. I was thinking about sending President Obama one of the 100 trillion dollar bills to pay off the national debt with.

Speaking of money. Since the country now uses US Dollars for their currency, they have a definite need for small US notes. You have never seen us money that is so dirty and falling apart until you get some change back from a purchase. The hotel was delighted when I offered to exchange all of the new $1, $2, $5 and $10 bills I had, for larger denominations US bills that guests had used to pay their room bills.

Song and Dance- You will find that at each camp the staff will provide some entertainment after dinner. This includes some local songs and dancing. You will be asked at every camp to reciprocate with some “performance”. Trying to come up with a song that everyone knows is almost impossible. At the last camp, we finally got our act together. We sang our national anthem, which we all should know. But the most fun was getting the staff to join us in doing the “Hokey-Pokey” It was fun seeing them “sticking their left foot in and left foot out and shaking it all about.”

Traveler: James and Barb Golomb from Northfield, IL traveled on July 30, 2011

Click on the website below to read a .pdf with photos of a trip-of-a-lifetime. The site will be available through Sept.20, 2011. -- Marvin Sosna

http:dl.dropbox.comu651760africafinal-corrected.pdf

Traveler: Ethel Sosna from Morro Bay, CA traveled on May 18, 2011

Tent Camps:
The various tent camps are wonderful, staff is incredibly warm and inviting at each camp. They are certainly comfortable but uniquely rustic. Every chance I had to sleep with the tent flaps open was a unique experience with the sounds of elephants, baboons, and hippos right outside my tent. I really did not feel it was unusually cold, we did have the first night in Chobe when it was chilly and we had a morning in Hwange that was on the cool side but they do provide at most camps hot water bottles which many in our group really appreciated. The tents in Okavango are on the small side but I was a solo traveler and thought it was wonderful. My least favorite camp was in Zambia. I couldn't get any hot water in the morning for my shower at this camp and had frogs coming out of the sink fauset each time I turned it on. I loved the main lodge building and that it was on the river but really liked the camps with the above ground boardwalks providing a truly unique bush experience. All tents have power so bring an adapter to charge or camera equipment.

Trip Leader:
Our trip leader Edison Chikukwa was fabulous. He was always checking to ensure that what our group was looking to achieve was met. He was personable and really made the experience one worth repeating. He helped us to understand the different cultures and wasn't a bad guidedriver either. Too bad he did not accompany those of us who went on to Cape Town.

Food:
There is plenty of food provided at each camp location however, I wish there was more fish served. We had one true vegetarian on the trip and she had fish on many occasions. However, there were several of us who although not vegetarian, did not eat red meat (which beef is a big deal in Africa). I also felt the breakfast were on the large size for what most health conscious individuals are eating today. Do note that many times you will be coming in from an afternoon or evening game drive and will be eating dinner later than you might normally do, and immediately thereafter, you are heading to your tent for bed, so eat smaller quantities.

Money:
I took both US and RAND on my trip and really other than a few glasses of wine at several tent camps, did not spend really any US money. I had already built gratuity envelopes in advance. There were people in my group that ran out of small bills, so I would strongly encourage that you not bring US bills bigger than 20's. With the collapse of the Zimbabwe dollar, they will take anything for currency.

Village Visit:
The general experience was beyond wonderful. The students at the primary school are warm and enthused with american visitors. They love to have their picture taken, especially wearing something of yours when you first meet. The discussion with the village head was also enlightening however, lunch was not provided. Our group shared juice and cookies and ended up after leaving having a quick sandwich break in bush on our way back. This is a long day, with a game drive enroute to the village from Hwange Camp and not getting back until 3:30 pm. As soon as we arrived back to camp a very big lunch was served and then, dinner a short while later - be aware.

Victoria Falls Excursion:
There were five in my group that really had wanted to participate in the Big 5 Interactive Safari option in Vic Falls but apparently were not scheduled for several reasons. Nonetheless, three of us did the Lion Encounter (Walk) and I can not speak more highly of this option. It was an experience of a lifetime with an outfit that is passionate about re-populating the lions of Africa. To walk alongside and interact with these amazing animals that I had seen on several occasions in the bush was beyond anything I thought possible. Do miss the opportunity!

Note: that on the morning of our departure from Victoria Falls, those five members (myself included) that wanted to do the Interactive Safari, paid through the activities desk at the Vic Falls Safari Lodge to do just the game drive portion (in the hopes of spotting the last of the big five - RHINO). We were picked up at 6:15 am and ventured into the Victoria Falls Private Game Reserve where eventually, we saw FIVE Black Rhino and wild dogs. It was most definitely hard to contain our enthusiasm and we were all on an adrenalin high the rest of the day.

Packing:
I did not receive a green bag and simply used a duffle without wheels of my own. It actually made it easy to know that my bag was on every flight. It is really not that difficult to keep your weight down. I had two pair of long pants, a khaki cargo and light colored jeans (both worked great for safari) and washed at the camps, easily. I had 4 lightweight long sleeve t-shirts and 4 lightweight short sleeve t-shirts. One fleece hooded jacket and one fleece crew pullover. I had a rain jacket as well as two lightweight gloves. No shorts or capri style pants. I worn a low-cut hiking style shoe by Columbia (very lightweight) and had a pair of flip flops for shower and Victoria Falls. I did not pack nor need long underwear and managed great.

As for camera gear, I left many lenses behind and carried a Nikon D90, with a wide angle lens 10-24mm), an all purpose lens (18-105 mm) and a smaller telephoto lens (70-300). I carried 3 batteries for that and 5 - 8 gig and 5 - 16 gig memory cards. My second camera was an Olympus Waterproof Point and Shoot that took the most amazing video clips. I will tell you that in most safari situations, you should have a telephoto on at all times, it is the best option as you never know how close you will actually get. Do not carry a tripod, it is difficult to use in a vehicle and simply adds weight.

Basically know that your camera equipment, carry on and duffle must not exceed 44 pounds. It seems impossible but it can be done. One piece of advice I would give, it was provided to me by a professional photographer before I went, take a cotton pillowcase or sack (not plastic) to place your camera in while driving on the game drives, it will make your camera accessible but keep dust and dirt off it.

Cape Town Extension:
I was less impressed with the Cape Town extension. Cape Town itself is breathtaking, and we had the most amazing weather. The hotel was rundown and in need of an overhaul which was a disappointment because there are so many hotels in Cape Town. The home hosted dinner was wonderful, food beyond amazing and the company warm and invitiing. Table Mountain and the Cape of Good Hope great day trips, but need more time to really appreciate them. If I go back, I would book this part of the trip on my own.

Lastly, enjoy the trip, it is definitely a lifetime of memories in a span of 3 weeks.

Traveler: Shannon Mueller from Hillsboro, OR traveled on May 30, 2011

We just got home three days ago and let us start by saying the trip was wonderful beyond all expectations. Everything they claim it is … it’s better than that! Our trip leader was Samantha Johnson and she was a delight – count yourself lucky if you have her. (We could write a whole essay on how wonderful she was, but unfortunately it will be the luck of the draw if you get her. OAT doesn’t seem to assign trips leaders until right before the trip.)

Southern Africa is beautiful and the people are warm and friendly and the animals are spectacular. This truly was a trip of a lifetime. Here are some of our thoughts; we hope you will find them helpful for planning your own trip.

Weather

Pack for the cold if you go at this time of the year! It wasn’t all that cold at Chobe (the first camp) and we were wondering what all the fuss was about. But then we went to the Delta – on our last night in Botswana the temperature dropped drastically, and it was very cold from then on. Believe the recommendations to bring warm jackets and hats and gloves this time of year. A sweater or two isn’t enough. Our coldest nights were hovering around the freezing point, and remember, you’ll be sleeping in an un-heated tent. I packed long underwear and heavy socks to sleep in, so I was mostly warm at night. They give you hot water bottles to warm the beds and we were in love with them.

The early morning game drives (and there is one every day) are FREEZING! The vehicles are open to the elements, and the wind brings the temp into the Arctic Zone. My husband brought both a down vest and a down jacket, along with a warm hat and gloves, and was very glad to have them. The Jeeps have ponchos and blankets – but believe me, it’s not enough to keep you warm.

The daytime temperatures were very pleasant, 70-75ish. We shed our warm layers all morning long, until by mid-morning we were either in shirtsleeves, or a light sweater. All in all, I was very happy to deal with the cold nights this time of year instead of the heat of the summer months.

One of my favorite memories is gathering in the cold mornings around the campfire with the other OAT travelers and the guides, sipping hot tea and eating steaming porridge, watching the sun come up and waiting for the game drive to begin. Sublime!

Money

We brought $2000 in cash, split between us in money belts, and used $1300 of it for both of us. We took 50 $1s, 30 $5s, 20 $10s, 60 $20s, and 8 $50s. If I had to do it again I would take $1600 and eliminate 25 $20s and take 10 more $10s.

We spent cash on souvenirs (about $200), and on the various tips (at the maximum rate), as well as on visas which we purchased at the border. (Despite OAT’s recommendations, we had no difficulty purchasing visas at the borders.) It is helpful to have $10, $5, and $1 bills in your pockets when you’re on the move between camps, because you will be asked to tip bus drivers along the way.

Each camp provided money bags which were locked into the manager’s safe, and we felt our money and passports were secure enough. For some of the money bags you could use your own lock which we did.

We were able to use our credit card for all excursions. They seem to accept only Visa in Southern Africa.

Food

Two words: “Plentiful” and “Excellent”! They fed us tasty fare all day long and a joke among our group was – “Hey, it’s been more than two hours … where’s the food?” Here is the breakdown: continental breakfast at 6:30 am; game drive snack at 9 am; large brunch at 11 or noon; tea time at 3 pm; game drive snack at 6 pm; dinner at 7:30 pm. How they make those large, delicious meals in the middle of the bush is beyond me. One day, they fried the fish that we’d caught ourselves the day before. Never mind that they served it at breakfast – it was absolutely delicious.

You do not need to bring additional food as suggested elsewhere in these comments; no one on our trip ate any of the snacks brought from home. The only place these might be useful is in the airports or on the long flights to and from the States. Anything you bring along has to be gathered in a plastic bag and turned in at each camp for safe storage from mice (the management understandably doesn’t want food in the tents); it’s really not worth the effort to lug the stuff around from camp to camp when they feed you so well.

Virtually all meals are included on this trip. We only bought one meal in the Johannesburg Hotel at the beginning of the trip and at the airports going to and coming from Africa.

Souvenirs

We knew before we left home we’d want African crafts for gifts and for our curio cabinet. We were surprised to find crafts to buy at the camps. At each tented camp was a small selection of nice souvenirs at a decent price. These were made by local artisans andor camp staff. The quality varied, but there were many nice objects.

At the village there was a small craft market. The crafts were probably not handmade by the villagers since they all sold similar objects of many types (even though they all said their husbands made them), but there were a lot to choose from, and the crafts were usually nice and at a decent price. This may be a better place to buy souvenirs than Victoria Falls (see below).

At the open-air market in Victoria Falls, we found the best variety and prices, but in retrospect, it perhaps was not worth the effort to negotiate and the prices in the camps and the village were, in general, just as good. We brought soccer jerseys to trade … and news of the jerseys went around amongst the vendors as quick as lightening. Our carefully laid plans for bartering went down the tubes, and we were mobbed by insistent vendors, who wouldn’t leave us alone. After an exhausting two hours, however, we ended up with a very nice collection of carvings, some of which we barely remembered buying because we were so overwhelmed.

Afterwards, of course, we were panicked about how to get it all home. Samantha to the rescue! She suggested a packaging service at the hotel, which cost only $5. Our bags of treasures were neatly tucked into two well-packed and padded bundles, complete with handles and a space to write our name and address. I recommend this service, it is well worth the $5.

Packing

We didn’t use the green OAT luggage. We purchased duffle bags on wheels, small enough to fit into the overhead compartments on the airplanes, which meant that we had to pack very, very lightly. Much space was taken up with our warm clothing, as noted above. Luckily, there is laundry service at every camp, so you can really cut back on what you bring. (There is a laundry ticket to fill out for the service. My favorite was the one that listed “pleated skirts” as one of the items. In what world would anyone bring a pleated skirt on a Safari?)

Electricity

There is electricity at every camp; bring an adapter.

Flexibility

It’s a good idea to stay flexible. Our fourth camp was switched at the last moment (Samantha didn’t even know before that) to a “sister” camp forty-five minutes away, and it was gorgeous, simply gorgeous. There was a huge watering hole right in front of it, where a large family of elephants entertained us during our first meal there. Many aspects will be slightly different between trips because there is more than one camp at each location.

Highlights

I may have to write a book! How can I list every single highlight?

I’ll just mention a few. My favorite was the surprise traditional African wedding that my husband requested and that Samantha and the staff cooked up to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary. In the evening after a game drive, several ladies took me off to dress me up in a traditional dress and headdress, and the men took my husband aside and his “uncle” gave him a lecture on how to be a good African husband. He got dressed up, too. Then our respective “families” led us to the boma, where there was a large fire going and everyone else was waiting. The families sat us down and proceeded to try and out-sing each other - very loudly and with a lot of energy. It was wonderful. After a while, I was instructed to serve my “new” husband his dinner – on my knees as a show of respect. While he was eating, we all heard crashing sounds coming from just beyond the fire … and then an enormous elephant looked in on us while everyone froze. It looked as shocked as we were. It tossed its head and moved on, like an apparition. It was an evening I’ll never forget.

A highlight that caught me by surprise was the visit to the village and the school. What could have been uncomfortable and an invasion of privacy by gawking tourists, was truly a sharing experience enjoyed by both villagers and by us. On the way to the village, we came across a group of women heading out to cut grass. They came over to our jeeps and were clearly delighted to see us. They sang for us and showed us how to use their scythes. A few minutes later, at the well, others showed us how to use the pump. In the home of a villager, four ladies fed us roasted peanuts and popcorn and answered questions. And asked questions of us, as well. The children at the school were cute and energetic and taught us words of their click language. A wonderful day.

OAT has put together a fabulous trip and everything was coordinated beautifully. Every camp we went to was extremely well run. The game drives, the African landscape, the guides, the other people on our group, all the people at the camps, and the sunsets… everything was fantastic. I know your trip will be fantastic, too.

Traveler: Evelyn Arvey from Seattle, WA traveled on May 31, 2011

Trip date: April 3, 2011 – April 21, 2011

We arranged our own air, left the same day as the OAT flight and arrived in Johannesburg a day earlier. For the same price as OAT was charging we had the advantage of good night’s sleep in a hotel on arrival, receiving 100% or our frequent flyer miles and the ability to pick flight times that were convenient and had the seats we wanted. An email to the hotel requesting a quote as we were part of the OAT group resulted in a rate that was half the price posted on the internet.

The Protea OR Tambo Hotel shuttle was easy to locate. The hotel had an adequate restaurant. Internet was available in the rooms and the business center.

Being well rested we were ready for the Soweto tour. Well worth the money as this tour was very interesting and the only time we were able to see part of South Africa.

We decided to get our “Visa on Arrival” for both Zimbabwe and Zambia as there is a significant savings. The Zimbabwe Visa was USD $45 for a double entry, Zambia was USD $50. No forms or photos were needed, they just wanted our money! If you are getting your visa on arrival in Zimbabwe, it is important to sit close to the front of the plane or you may be behind another tour group and it would be a very long wait to get the Visa. We were at the back of the long line waiting to purchase a Visa and learned Visa on arrival was available in both lines so we went through with the rest of our group with no problem.

Some members of our group did not receive a double entry visa for Zimbabwe from the company OAT recommended. They were told it would cost USD $90 when they entered Zimbabwe the second time. When we arrived for our second entry, they purchased a single entry visa for USD $30 (not USD $90). This was a relatively quick process, although they had to fill out forms so take a pen if you are in this situation.

The weather was great, no rain. Most were putting jackets and fleeces on early mornings and during the evening game drives, and shedding layers quickly as the days were very hot.

Chobe National Park (Baobab Safari Lodge): Very nice tented camp with electricity. There was power in each tent. An adapter was provided accommodating a US plug on the side (kind of hard to see but it is there). Everyone received a water bottle which could be refilled in the dining area. We used a piece of white tape from our “first aid supplies” to put our names on each bottle which was a big help as it seemed everyone left their bottles in a common area at some point during the trip.

We saw animals, birds and reptiles on all game drives. Both our Guides were extremely knowledgeable and ready to answer every question we asked. The camp staff was terrific.

We saw lions, elephants, hippos, crocodiles and lots of birds on the Chobe River Cruise.

The boat leaves from an upscale camp that has internet access in the lobby. For those that are addicted, take your smart phone with you. The Kasane Airport has a hotspot as well but you have to ask the person behind the gift shop counter for the password.

Okavango Delta (Wilderness Tented Camp): Another very nice tented camp. Power was provided by generators during the day and batteries during the evening. Camera and other personal batteries could be charged in each tent, an adapter was provided, accommodating a US plug on the side. Water to refill bottles was available in the main area.

We were able to get up close and personal with elephants in the camp and a hippo came up on the grass at night. The sounds from the Delta were wonderful in the evening. We saw animals, birds and reptiles on all game drives, including lions, which was pretty cool.

The mokoro (canoe) ride through the Delta was a highlight.

Once again our Guides were very knowledgeable and patient as they answered every question with a smile.

Kafue National Park (Lufupa Tented Camp): This camp was a disappointment after such great experiences at the two camps in Botswana. The fishing and boat ride were fun and we saw tons of hippos.

Camera batteries were charged in the office as there was no capability to charge them in the tents. The camp had a few adapters but be prepared with your own as there were not enough for the entire group. While there were an ample number of outlets, for some strange reason batteries that were charging when we left them at night were not charged in the morning. This was very frustrating for many members of the group.

The safari vehicles spent a significant amount of time broken or stuck so game drives were not always productive. Vehicles getting stuck and breaking down is expected but the situation was handled poorly which was very frustrating.

Hwange National Park (Makalolo Plains Camp): This camp and location was the highlight of the trip. In addition to the animals we had already seen, we added a Cheetah and a huge snake, which still remains unidentified, to the list!

The camp and staff was exceptional.

Power was provided by a generator during the day and LED lights at night. Camera batteries were charged in the main area. These batteries could not be left overnight as the Hyenas liked them. There were 11 outlets available during the day so the group worked together to ensure everyone was able to keep at least one battery charged. One adapter with a US plug was available; all other outlets required you provide an adapter.

The camp had a swimming pool which became a watering hole for the elephants in the evening. A campfire was burning early morning and each evening which provided a wonderful place to sit after dinner and catch up on the day.

Day and night game drives provided the opportunity to see many animals, birds, reptiles, beautiful sunsets and gorgeous scenery. The Guides were exceptional – knowledgeable and lots of fun.

Victoria Falls (Victoria Falls Safari Lodge): The lodge was nice. The Falls were spectacular. Be prepared to get wet. Everyone had a raincoat of some type and we were all soaked to the bone with the exception of one member of the group that had a 99 cent “poncho” from Walmart. I suggest spending the $3 to rent a Poncho if you haven’t invested 99 cents at Walmart.

We walked with the lions which was an incredible experience. Our Trip Leader arranged for my husband and I to have a private walk as we wanted a video without all the others that joined the tour (not with our OAT group). The folks at the Lion Encounter were happy to accommodate our request and there was no obligation to purchase the video.

We went to the Boma . Our group was seated in a back corner so we could not see the entertainment. We could hear, so the audience participation with the drums worked. There is plenty of food one would only find in Africa. I found the Boma to be very commercial and lacked the authenticity of the entertainment and food at our camps.

The sunset cruise was relaxing and a good time to chat with our new friends before ending the trip but not sure I would recommend spending the dollars.

Received another water bottle!!!!!

Internet was available in a computer room, wifi in the lobby. You can purchase a card for USD $5.00 which is good for 80M or each time we went in the computer room we found that the users before us had not logged off so we had free access! The internet is very slow at this lodge.

Then there was the flight home – what can one say except it was a loooong trip! Those that had booked OAT air had a 5 hour layover in Johannesburg after the flight from Victoria Falls. Their layover in London ranged from 3 to 7 hours depending on their final destination.

I have now had 8 Trip Leaders with OAT, the majority being terrific. Our Trip Leader for Ultimate Africa was truly exceptional – far exceeding any Trip Leader I have ever had in the past. It was a privilege to travel with a young man of this caliber.

A few tips:
• The only adapter we needed was the South Africa one with the three large round prongs.

• There were a couple long days where we were very glad we had granola bars. The day we went to the village school we had breakfast at 6:30 and didn’t stop again until 3:00 p.m. The snack when we stopped was egg salad, which had not been refrigerated all day. Mayo that had been in the heat most the day did not seem like a great idea, so was happy to have my own snack. One travel day we had a “sack” lunch which was also egg salad that had not been refrigerated.

• A flashlight with a strong beam would have been nice as we would hear animals at night and could not see them with the flashlight we brought. It helps to take your flashlight to diner to use for the walk back to your tent. Your Guide will have one but if more than a couple people walk back together it is hard to see where you are walking without your own flashlight. A flashlight was provided at the first camp.

• We used the mosquito spray provided at the camps and did not have any bites.

• Ladies – the shampoo is good but there is no cream rinse. Don’t bother with a hair dryer as there is no way to use it after the first camp. A hair dryer is provided at the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge.

• Powered soap for washing clothing in the sink is available at all camps.

• For this time of the year it was nice to have a couple short sleeve shirts and at least one pair of shorts (my zip off pants are just too short for me)!

• Make sure you specify no ironing on clothes that may be damaged by a hot iron.

• We took the equivalent of USD $100 in Rand just in case and found we did not need it, although at the Johannesburg Airport it was nice to have since they had a horrible conversion rate in the restaurants and stores. You will spend money at the airport on the way home if you have a long wait.

• Camera: There has been more than enough discussion on camera equipment on the forum so won’t get into much here. One point to be made -- some members of the group did not have a charger separate from their camera. At the camp in Hwange National Park we could only charge batteries during the day (when you would want to have your camera with you). I suggest making sure you have a separate charger or enough batteries to accommodate this situation.

• Luggage: Of the 11 people that used the OAT provided bag only one ripped. Our backpacks were never weighed. Checked luggage was weighed. I saw it weighed at a couple airports and saw the weight written on the baggage tag at others. One bag was 19 Kilos (limit was 20 Kilos) all the rest were around 10 – 12 Kilos. The British Airways flights do not have the 20 Kilo (44 pound) restriction. Check the BA website for their baggage weight limits.

• We took $1,000 and it was more than enough. We do not buy much on trips and do not drink much other than water, so our only expenses were tips, departure tax at a couple airports and about $150 on T-shirts and some other stuff. If you tend to buy crafts and have wine, beer or soda in the evening, you may need more cash.

• We were able to purchase T-shirts made for the Ultimate Africa trip for $25. They are good quality look great. This was arranged by our Trip Leader.

• We went to Goodwill before the trip and bought a half dozen baseball hats ($1.00 each). Had great fun trading them at the craft market in Victoria Falls.

Traveler: Janice Wiswell from Silverthorne, CO traveled on April 03, 2011

Ultimate Africa was our first OAT trip and what a dazzling experience it was! With recent abundant rains, grasses were tall, admittedly making it more difficult to spot certain wildlife. It was a good trade-off for us: our photographic story is a rich blend of landscapes and wildlife, rounded out with dozens of heartwarming people portraits.

OAT prepared us well via timely communications, a thorough handbook, and the website. Our trip leader encouraged feedback every step of the way and OAT's post-trip evaluation form provided ample opportunity to praise, criticize and offer suggestions.

An advantage of our bush camp accommodations was having game drives almost completely to ourselves. We were royally treated by friendly staff. The driver-guides were excellent, contributing in their own special way to our "Learning and Discovery." At Lufupa Camp in Zambia we went fishing. (Fishermen might want to take a few lures to leave with the guide -- spoons and #3 & #4 spinners.) Our chef prepared the catch to accompany an already fabulous meal. Food at all camps was healthy, beautifully presented and cheerfully served. Two tea breaks a day resulted in our eating every 2-3 hours; we didn't need our own snacks except on long flights.

There was more interaction with camp staff than expected. What genuine, warm, friendly, beautiful people they are. And, boy, can they sing and dance! We're enjoying my video clips of their welcome and farewell performances.

A Day in the Life village and school visit did not disappoint. GCF support is tangible and has greatly improved the learning environment at Ziga Primary School. Smiling 7th graders won our hearts, and the visit to the homestead and market gave us personal insights into village life. I have mailed them prints of photos taken that day -- such eager subjects they were!

Our trip leader, Edison Chikukwa, was excellent. He is knowledgeable, warm, patient, thoughtful, fun and well organized, and he quietly resolved those few issues that arose in our very congenial group. We were so fortunate to have him leading the way for 15 days.

Practical matters: You'll be asked to perform a song or two on the last evening at each camp and at the school. Taking a few pages of familiar songs might be helpful.

Another gift idea for guides and village host is a mini-calendar of scenes from your area.

Cameras: On the walk next to Victoria Falls, take a small dry cloth or towel to wipe the considerable moisture off your camera between photographs; otherwise, the inside of your waterproof bag gets wet too. I took a new SLR with 200 zoom, plus a small digital camera for closer shots so I wasn't trying to change lenses all the time. (And I had a few photos from the 3 days' worth that are on an unreadable, corrupted memory card from the SLR!)

Tipping guidelines: Under "Local Guides" there were 11 bus van drivers plus (in Vic Falls) a "Tourist Police" guide whom we tipped. At camps, you drop tips on the last morning into separate boxes for Staff and for Safari Guides (3 days at each of 4 camps). Next time I will take 10-15 note cards (with Colorado scenes) to give personal thanks to people who went out of their way for us, especially our trip leader.

Carrying cash: We took $1600 in U.S. dollars, spent $1450, and charged airport and hotel meals. If you get unused bills they won't be so bulky. We each carried half the cash and barely noticed the waist belts. We took $1600 in U.S. dollars, spent $1450, and charged airport and hotel meals.

Traveler: Susan Pedrick from Erie, CO traveled on February 24, 2011

The best are the game drives and the staying in the wilderness camps......wonderful and comfortable places.....solar-hot water always. Take a good sun hat and light weight long sleeved clothing.....the sun is out !! Be prepared to eat dinner late in the evenings. Take a camera with a zoom. American money is used everywhere......take small bills.
The worst was the long unavoidable flights at the beginning and end of the tour.
I did feel "put upon" by the numerous humanitarian efforts brought forth by the tour leaders when in contact with the plight of the African people....both economic and political.

Traveler: Kathleen Malavasic from Florence, OR traveled on February 23, 2011

My Sister and I traveled November 12 - December 4, 2010 which included the Capetown extension. I am compelled to let all know that November is an awesome time for the Ultimate Africa trip, because we saw animals pregnant, new born babies, nursing animals and also the mating adventures for the next year. We witnessed it all and felt so privileged! We surely were guests in the African animal’s world.

The local guides were talented at finding exciting encounters with animals. I appreciated how they educated us about how the animals see us and how to behave in the in their presence, which was often very close. Each guide shared his life with us which helped us understand the human rhythm in his country.

All food was excellent and no one was ever sick. Each camp accommodation was a different, comfortable, private and very scenic set up with varied experiences included. I loved the outdoor showers in Zimbabwe where we were watching a huge plain of animals. A herd of elephants grazed close by our huts during midday break at one camp. There is usually a water experience with boat excursions. I found the staff at each camp friendly and fun and because they joined our meals we gleaned much about their lives.

Our visit to a local village was an exceptional experience. Students at the Ngamo School met and entertained us with charming song and dance. Teachers mentioned that they need writing materials for the students, especially notebooks. There was a visit to a Headman’s home complex where we learned about life and could ask any questions of a very educated, articulate and candid local man.

Tips: My OAT bag zipper broke so I was lucky to borrow a shoulder strap and put 2 straps on my bag so I could get through the rest of the trip fine. I enjoyed having facial wipes for morning and evening which I brought. All laundry (except smalls) was perfectly (even ironed) and promptly done so no need for extra gear.

Well, Capetown is a gem! We did all the tours, enjoyed the waterfront walks and harbor.

I highly recommend this trip.

Traveler: Nancy K Kemper from South Londonderry, VT traveled on November 12, 2010

Sheila and I are collaborating on a fuller review, but even before that we have to finish sorting out 4,000+ images and hours and hours of video.

Our trip was nearly flawless, including travel to and from. (Some needless boring time waiting for a boarding pass in Johannesburg airport on the way home. Only bad thing we experienced from British Air, which was otherwise excellent.)

Our trip guide, Tinashe, and all of the other staff we interacted with were excellent. The community forum on this website compensates from the lack of accurate and timely answers to questions from OAT central as the trip approached.

Lots of animals. Close-up, usually. Great visits with real people. More than enough good shopping. Nice group of 11 travelers. Lodges were all very good, including high quality food, electricity, hot water, and even Internet at one lodge. I only applied insect repellant twice and only had one mosquito bite the entire trip.

Tips:

*The adaptor you need is the one that has three, large, rounded plugs on it. Some did not have it, but only at one camp did competition for juice flare up as they often had spares for travelers.
*You cannot expect feminine hygiene products to be available in the camps.
*You will not need anything but American dollars, and in both Johannesburg and Victoria Falls, credit cards work fine in most places.
*Expect to be kept busy. This is a very fast-paced trip.
*One of the new "smart" cameras in the $400-500 range, and with a good zoom lens (mine was 20x) works better than expensive SLR stuff, due to how quick and easy it can be used and manipulated - like from still images to video in a click.
*The soap stone souvenirs will not arrive home in less than many pieces.
*When asked, the local teacher said that workbooks for basic learning would be perhaps the most valuable thing to give to the school you visit.
*The only physical skills needed for this trip are the ones that get you up into and then back out of the Land Rovers.

Traveler: Terry Calhoun from Ann Arbor, MI traveled on November 03, 2010

Our Ultimate Africa trip during October 2010 was more than what we had dreamed it would be. Every aspect of the trip was outstanding: schedule, people, animal viewing, guides, trip leader and the people we traveled with. This trip is for anyone who wants to see the "bush" and enjoy the best Africa has to offer.

The schedule is agressive in that you don't sleep in; you are up and going early in the morning. During October the days were hot so the midday scheduled break from the bush was welcome. Most of the evenings were cool for a good night's sleep.

The limitation on the amount of luggage was a concern but was not an issue. The camp laundry services took care of that issue.

The trip leader, Chamu, and the various local guides were very well prepared to lead and educate us on the local traditions, the animals and birds we saw. The vehicles and equipment were in good shape. The camps and facilities were remarkable especially considering their location. Not once did we her any negative coments from our companions about the meals we were served.

We took both the pre-trip to Kruger National Park and the post-trip to Cape Town. It is hard to imagine a complete trip without these options being included.

Traveler: Rex Leforgee from Twin Falls, ID traveled on October 04, 2010

We took this trip in 910 and we enjoyed the trip and the company of our group very much until the day when we found out our money was stolen, which spoiled the whole trip.
We stayed in 4 different lodges during this trip. Each time when arriving a lodge, the trip leader would reminder us to turn in our valuables to the lodge manager for keeping in a safe. The trip leader did not warn us any of potential risk of this practice. We trusted oat and thought it was the best way of protecting our valuables. We followed the group leader's instruction & turned in our money passport at each camp(except one which has safe in each room). Close to the end of the trip, We were shocked to find out that ~ $1,100 was stolen, someone took all the large bills-$100 & $50 bills from the envelope we keep the money( It is not difficult to track money because the trip is everything inclusive.)
We reported this to the trip leader who stated this never happened before, which is not true. I read from one of reviews, who also lost money by turning in money to the lodge manager.
We have done quite travelling on our own and never lost money before. this is a hard lesson we learned from travelling with oat.
My advise to the feature oat travellers is to safeguard your own valuables, no one but yourself can better protect your valuables. Also you do not need carry large amount of cash with you on this trip . You can easily get cash from a ATM at Zimbabwe Bank in Victoria Fall, where you likely do most of your shopping .

Traveler: Paula from Fremont, CA traveled on September 08, 2010

Fantastic trip - hard to add anything substantive to all the positive reviews already posted. If you have the opportunity to go--GO!! (And perhaps you'll have the great good fortune to be led by Mrs. Priscilla Marira, who stepped in at the last minute to replace the scheduled Trip Leader injured in an auto accident. She was superlative in everything!!!)


A couple of cautions, however, if you're considering this trip:

1. Be well aware of the physical demands of the trip, and compare them to your age and abilities. Not a problem for anyone on our trip, but the long game drives in open safari vehicles over rough tracks and cross-country could pose a problem for some. (Another reviewer posted a similar observation.)

Look at the marketing photos and picture yourself mounting, dismounting, and riding in the vehicles. If it looks OK for you, then go for it!

2. Most of the other reviewers happily reported on their sightings of animals, birds, reptiles, and whatever else showed up. Many of our group, for some reason, felt that birds had no place on a safari, and were quite vocal in their opposition to the guides and Trip Leader taking time for identification and discussion of birds.

Puzzling behavior, never noted before on our several GCTOAT trips, but didn't detract from our enjoyment of the trip.
Probably won't happen again, but be aware if you have some special interest that may not be entirely compatible with others'.


Remember always, as Priscilla would say when she went about solving the inevitable minor glitches inherent in any trip: "T.I.A." - "This is Africa". Things happen, so be flexible.

Traveler: Bill and Sandy Caldwell from Harrison, TN traveled on August 08, 2010

If you scan through the other reviews of this trip, you will see many superlatives. We agree, this was truly a trip of a lifetime. OAT certainly exceeded our every expectation. We traveled in May 2010 and the weather was excellent. The warmest day was about 85 degrees and the coolest night about 48 degrees. We did experience a short afternoon rain shower towards the end of the trip as we transitioned to Victoria Falls. Mosquitoes and bugs were minimal and not a problem. The camps were in beautiful locations, well maintained with pleasant, helpful staff. Our accommodations were unique, clean and comfortable, all one could ask for. The food was excellent and along the way we got to experience the African staple polenta, along with kudu, buffalo, warthog, and impala – all delicious. The local African beer, chibuku, was actually quite good, as were the mopani worms (once you could get by the idea of eating worms). Our trip leader was Samantha Johnson and one cannot say enough about her. She is a warm, open person with great knowledge of the land, its history, culture and wildlife along with an ability to share that knowledge. Not to mention her administrative ability to keep our group of 12 organized and on schedule – our days were full. The game viewing and photography was excellent with close up encounters of elephant, Cape buffalo, lions, leopards and cheetahs. We also encountered large groups of Impalas, wildebeest, zebras, and giraffes on our game drives. There were many opportunities to observe all manner of small game and birds. Additionally, one morning a pack of African wild dogs moved by us as we waited at the landing strip to fly between camps.
The wind chill does make it cool when dashing about in open air vehicles in the early morning or late evening. A light fleece under our bush jackets was sufficient for May, but it was obvious that as the season gets colder, a high quality cold weather jacket parka would be very desirable.
At first the 26 pound baggage weight limit appeared restrictive, but after a practice packing exercise we found that there would be no problem. The fact that laundry service was provided at each camp made it easy to stay within the limit. Our camera gear was the heaviest single item that we took along. Our cameras and medications were carried in a backpack and all other gear went into the duffel.
Speaking of cameras, it may have been overkill but we took along three battery packs for each camera. One in the camera, one fully charged in the pocket, and one on charge back at camp. We took a lot of pictures and recommend taking at least two battery packs for your camera. Take along a South Africa (3 large pins) to US electrical adaptor plug, it’s all you will need if your battery charger is compatible with the 240v, 50Hz electricity in the area (most chargers are). The plug adaptor can be found for under $10 at travel stores or on the internet. OAT recommends that you become fully familiar with your camera before leaving. While you do not have to be an expert, it’s helpful to know ahead of time how to deal with low light situations, how to turn the flash on & off, how to force a flash, and how to deal with auto focus issues where objects (brush, etc) are between you and the subject of your photo. If you have one of the newer digital cameras, consider learning to use the movie feature. It does use up memory (bring extra cards), some of our party recorded great videos.
In terms of other helpful gear, take along a small lightweight flashlight (the keychain type). It’s sufficient for moving about your cabin in the middle of the night when you do not want to turn on the lights and disturb your partner. Flashlights were in short supply at some camps. A lightweight travel clothesline was a handy item when it came time to wash our “smalls”. A small lightweight voice recorder would have been a nice addition to our equipment. It would have been great to record some of the night sounds and to keep notes on the fly during our game drives. Turning to a more delicate subject, the ladies might want to consider taking along a little item called a “Whiz”, or its equivalent “Go Girl”. According to my wife, it makes going to the loo behind a bush a lot easier and comfortable. The” Whiz” can be found at aswechange.com, “Go Girl” at Magellans.com.
With respect to money matters, the method used to safeguard valuables at most camps (locked pouch kept in the office safe) worked well for us. At the camps, incidental expenses such as bar tabs and souvenirs are paid up on the day you leave. OAT provides some guidance on gratuities, but it was not entirely clear just how much to budget for the entire trip. It was simple enough to plan for guides and staff at each camp and for the trip leader, but one need also budget for those not included above (drivers, mokoro polers, excursion driver-guides, etc). I really do not know how much this amounted to at the end, but if you budget an amount equal to the amount budgeted for camp staff, you should be OK. All gratuities are paid in US dollars. Fives, tens and twenties are the most useful denominations, but you will need some ones. All in all, it makes for a fat money belt at the start of the trip. One pleasant surprise was that the sponsored excursions at Victoria Falls (helicopter flight, lion walk, etc) could be paid by credit card.
The excursions at Victoria Falls are well worth the expense. The helicopter flight over the falls coupled with a later walk along the rim really pulls the experience together and gives you an appreciation of the magnitude of the falls. We chose not to go on the elephant ride (a mistake). If we had chosen to do so in combination with the lion walk, we would have ended up in a much smaller group in both events and would have had more individual time with the animals. The walk with the lions is something not to be missed. To be up close and personal with the beauty and power of these animals is really special, and the handlers saw to it that everyone had a chance to have some individual time with the lions.
As stated earlier, this was a trip of a lifetime and we really would love to return. The only downside to the entire experience was the excruciatingly long flights in economy seating with a layover in London. No leg room, no shoulder room, and the seat in front inclined back into your face. Unable to sleep on the plane, we arrived in Africa exhausted and arrived home the same way. If you can at all swing it, go business class.

Traveler: Michael Hallett from Fountain Valley, CA traveled on May 04, 2010

We did Ultimate Africa March 2-20, 2010. It was the best trip I've ever taken. The culture, people, geography, weather, animals, birds were so spectacular!! Our guide, Ndaba, was absolutely the best, as were all the driverguides and the workers in the camps. Watching the pride of 16 lions was beyond belief. Being up close and personal with the elephants, hippos, zebras, lions, cheetahs, water buffaloes and everything else was MARVELOUS!!Pictures don't capture the splendor of Africa. In reading other OAT traveler reviews about this trip we experienced the same wonderful events.

I think everyone should experience Africa. You will be a changed person when you return. The people are so happy and we can all learn so much from them.

I can't wait to return. OAT does a FIVE STAR job and the camps were also FIVE STAR. Our group was a very lucky group - we saw a lionness stalking a water buck and her baby - they got away; a lionnes stalking a cheetah - he got away; saw an elephant have a miscarriage and much, much more!!!

The Nature Walk was so great - walking into the playa and then being surrounded by all the animals. What an experience.

I took over 1200 photos and love to look at each and every one of them - the memories of the trip will last forever!! By all means I highly recommend this trip to everyone. My 81 year old Mother went - this was her seond trip - and she loved it as much as she did 9 years ago. I am so thankful I was able to share this trip with my Mom, sister-in-law and friend and the rest of our "family" group.

Traveler: Terri Hellbusch from Burns, OR traveled on March 02, 2010

THE ULTIMATE AFRICA trip I took in April, 2010 was without a doubt the best OAT trip I have taken. As mentioned in the brochure of this trip, this tour was indeed the safari of my dreams. I was impressed with the driver-guides knowledge of the animals and of their commitment to preserving the environment. We had the best trip leader in Samantha (Sam) Johnson. The weather was perfect –no rain, not too hot nor too cold. After a few days, our group felt like family. We had a wonderful group of people on the trip that enjoyed trying new things and having a good time and making the trip fun. We all enjoyed singing, one person wrote lyrics for popular tunes and we sang a lot of songs. When we greeted other OAT groups while waiting to board our small airplanes to fly to other camps, we greeted them with singing. One of our most popular and well received songs was the Barney Song. We called ourselves the Singing Impalas. The children at the school also enjoyed our Barney Song, along with hand gestures.

I was surprised at how close we were able to get to the wild lions. We were able to watch them for a long time, while they lay on their backs sleeping. I enjoyed watching the antics of the baboons climbing trees, and scampering about on the ground. I was able to get many good pictures of elephants, birds, water buffaloes, impalas, élans and giraffes. Another favorite animal was the hippos with just their heads sticking out of the water and listening to their grunting (or was it singing?).

The food was delicious. It seemed we ate every three hours. My favorite food was the home-made sausage, bread, potatoes and vegetables. I even had Wart Hog which I liked. To me, it tasted like barbecued pork. I did try Sam’s fried worms, but decided an acquired taste for them must be developed.

At the first camp, at 5:30 a.m., our days began early with a drum being beaten at our front door and the drummer would continue until he was acknowledged. We would have breakfast, and then climb aboard a Range Rover for our morning game drive. The Big 5, as defined by hunters, are the 5 most dangerous animals. They are the lion, elephant, water buffalo, leopard and hippo. We saw all, except the leopard. I was surprised to learn that the three countries do not put up fences to keep animals out. The animals are allowed to roam freely in search of water and food.

I even experienced a wedding ceremony. One of our pollers (as groom) made me a necklace out of the water lily. A poller is the person who stands at the rear of the dugout, (mokoro) holding a pole which he puts in the water to move the dugout forward. He intertwined the stalk into a circle, with the flower at the base. The bride then makes a hat for the groom out of the leaves. I had picked wild flowers growing in the river which I used as my bouquet. I asked someone to take a picture of me and the poller. I was surprised when the poller requested a copy of the picture upon my return home.

Sam, our guide made each day an adventure, a discovery and learning experience. On our way to the airport, she took us to the market where the locals buy their produce, clothing, and shoes. Since many of us were in the medical profession, she stopped at a local hospital to see if we might be able to have a tour of their facilities. She returned to our vehicle saying we were going to be allowed a tour of the hospital. It is hard to turn Sam down!

We were taken on the tour of the hospital. In Admitting, I saw a large log book with many pages where names were handwritten into the book. No computers for this process. We were shown the children’s ward, men’s ward, women’s ward, operating rooms, delivery room, and birthing room. It is a shame that most of the women who have difficult deliveries cannot reach the hospital in time and die. The hospital equipment is old and out of date. The condition of the hospital was run down with tiles missing from the floor.

The school children are so eager to talk with us and practice their English. They love to have their picture taken. I was very impressed with their near perfect penmanship. A visit at Mr. Johnson’s (no relation to our guide) home, meeting his children, grandchildren, and wife was a glimpse for me into the local’s way of life. Mr. Johnson had only one wife because of his religion. Men in South Africa may have many wives.

Women do the cooking, cleaning, childrearing, gardening, harvesting of the crops, and catching fish in homemade traps. Men pay a dowry for a wife consisting of cattle. If the wife is lazy or is not able to perform the above tasks, she is sent back to her family for training. When the food is ready to be eaten, the wife serves the husband first on her knees. After the husband is served his food, then the others eat. They have two meals a day and the children eat more than two meals. Babies are wrapped in a long scarf and tied to their mother’s back while the mother performs her tasks.

At our last camp, we were showed how our laundry was done by hand using large washtubs. One tub is filled with soap and clothes are washed by hand, then they are put into a rinsing tub and hung on the line to dry. Linens for the camp’s dining tables are ironed by two ladies. We saw the maintenance garage, other assorted shops, and the generator that powers the camp.

I took many pictures of the beautiful sunsets in Africa. The sky during the day is also such a beautiful shade of blue. Of course, I had to take a picture of the Acacia tree, the tree of Africa. I was so glad I experienced Victoria Falls with its falling water and I got soak and wet getting close to the falls on purpose. It was like a Michigan summer rain storm with the water pouring down on your body. I know my pictures do not capture what it is like experiencing these places, but they are proof that I was there.

I celebrated my 64th birthday on the trip. Sam surprised me with this 10 inch bee-hive looking cake with chocolate icing and a sprinkling of nuts. It was difficult to cut into and Sam said it must still be a little frozen because it may not have been removed early enough from the freezer. So I sawed, and sawed, and finally I cut through the tough cake. Everyone wanted me to push it open so they might see the fudge filling. When I did, I saw grass! Sam had persuaded the kitchen staff to decorate a pile of elephant dung with icing and nuts. Sam knew I had a good sense of humor and I never was so shocked and surprised – definitely a birthday I shall remember. By the way, she did give me a beautifully decorated cake and it was so very delicious too.

Coming home, after dining by candlelight, I am surprised at how much better I am able to see in the dark. I learned a lot about Zimbabwe, Namibia and Botswana during the interesting lectures we were given by very knowledgeable presenters. I would like one day to return to another area of Africa, perhaps OAT’s SAFARI SERENGETI: TANZANIA LODGE & TENTED SAFARA.

On my trips, I keep a journal of all the amazing, wonderful things I see and learn each day. From one page, I wrote the lyrics of the song we sang to Sam, our trip leader, in appreciation for all her efforts in making this trip so wonderful

TIA
By The Singing Impalas

Impalas jumping and
Hippos are grunting
Cheetahs are hiding
Giraffes are necking

We are the group that
Tries to sing and
These are a few of our
Favorite things:

When the sun sets and
The frogs croak and
Cats are too few

We simply remember we
Are in Africa
And we don’t feel so bad

Mosquitoes biting
Eagles, mud flying
Elephants, wart hogs and
Loos with a View

Just want to say to Samantha
And Crew:
ARE WE ALL TOGETHER?

SAM, WE LOVE YOU!
Oh! What memories of this trip we will carry. Thank you, OAT, for putting this trip together and for choosing the members of our group -- a job well done!
Submitted by: Adventure Gal
43010
AND, a traveler who was glad her airline flight home was not affected by the Iceland volcanic ash which caused delays for some air travelers flying through London’s Heathrow Airport.

Traveler: Shirley Bingham from Kalamazoo, MI traveled on March 29, 2010

We were one of the few groups to take the “Ultimate Africa” trip during the rainy season in early January. We were told that it would be difficult to see animals because of the lush foliage but, in fact, we saw thousands of animals all happy in the bounty of their environment. This was our third Safari trip and in some ways the most satisfying since we were totally immersed for two weeks in the bush with the 12 people in our group. After the first week and no lion sightings, we came across a pride of 14 females with their young, including a magnificent young male almost ready to make it on his own. One of the thrills, and on my wish list, was to be able to hear the roaring of a lion while going to sleep. On several nights in the Okavango and Hwange camps we were treated to this unmistakable sound. On other nights in Chobe the baboons had their squabbles or warnings that a leopard may be near, and in Mudumu in Namibia, sounds of birds and hippos kept us company. Other great sightings included a group of rare wild dogs in Chobe, a leopard at the air-strip in the Okavango, a large herd of elephants right outside our cabin in Hwange, and a bold male elephant drinking from the plunge pool on the deck of our lodge. A close encounter with a cobra on the road (we were in the vehicle) added to the adventure. And, not to be forgotten, were wonderful sightings of birds. We counted 117 species of animals and birds in all.
A couple of suggestions to make the trip even more memorable: take a good camera and learn how to use it. We were the only couple with a video camera. It was worth it getting some of the action shots although the new cameras usually have a video feature. I highly recommend the “National Audubon Society Field Guide to African Wildlife”. As our guide would give us the name of the animal or bird I could look it up in the index which was cross referenced with a beautiful colored picture, and another page that described where this animal could be found, all its habits, its weight and size range, even its claw or hoof print. The local guides loved this book and if I go back I would take one or two as gifts.
Our group leader, Ndaba was wonderful, sensitive to all our needs, knowledgeable and fun to be with. We were so happy to be able to meet his wife and young son in their home.
As for practical advice, the other travelers have spelled it out and they are correct. Don’t go over the 26-pound limit! You don’t need a hair dryer, dress up clothes or quantities of clothes. We were able to store a bag at the Vic Falls Hotel if we were overweight before heading into the bush. The lodge staff will wash your clothes and they provide laundry powder in every room for intimate apparel. Take about 100 $1 bills for small tips for drivers, take plenty of $5 and $10 but the bulk of your money for tips in $20. We took about $1200 but wish we had a little more. Out ATM card did not work in Vic Falls and we could have bought a few more of the local crafts if we had had more.
We enjoyed the elephant ride at Vic Falls and loved the walk with the young lions. It was worth it just to get the pictures to wow your friends.
Africa is the ultimate adventure destination. We hope to go back. Wish OAT had a trip to Uganda or Zambia.

Traveler: Val and Winnie from Ithaca, NY traveled on January 04, 2010

Vietnam was my #1 trip with OAtT until the Ultimate! What the group learned, experienced, visualized,and explored was totally awesome, fantastic, and eye opening. The facilities at each camp were each unique with a chance to meet and enjoy our multiple hosts and hostesses. One could not even think about ever having a greater holiday. One place one might want to think about serious, light shopping is at Linkwasha Lodge. All of the carvings are done by the employees very artistically and also at the market near Nagamo School area. One should also go to the market near Ilala Lodge for the experience. It is loud! Shopping in Vic Falls away from the Ilala Lodge area is also good.
The food will tickle your tastebuds, entice you to you expand your horizons and leave you with a smile on your face.
If you have the wonderful luck of having Tino as your group leader you are in for an extrodinary journey. His smile and laugh are infectious!!!!!!!
The guides at each camp are so knowledgeable, courteous, humorous, and make this trip so much fun!
Go with an open mind, enjoy the uniqueness of the journey and the moment.

Traveler: Doris from Grand Junction, CO traveled on November 01, 2009

This trip had it all! We expected to love the animals but were pleasantly surprised how much we learned about the geography, history, people, culture and the politics of these countries! I feel like we got a real education!

And Sam was a fabulous guide and a fabulous representative of his country and his culture!

And I have to mention the camps - OAT knows what amenities folks needwant without being over the top! And the food, so varied, fresh and yummy!

Traveler: Ellie from Martha's Vineyards, MA traveled on October 01, 2009

Ultimate Africa was the trip of a lifetime! We came home with over 2600 pictures and had a hard time picking out 300 to show to interested people. We have not stopped talking about this experience with all of our friends!

Our trip was in MayJune and the weather was very pleasant with warm days and cold nights and no rain the whole time.

The amount and variety of animals was amazing: elephants, Cape buffalo, lions, rhinos, leopards, hippos, sable antelope, wildebeast, kudu, impala, giraffe, and a wide variety of bird species to name a few. At first we would see solitary animals and then at later camps we would see herds of them! Our drivers went out of their way to help us complete our group’s quest for the last of the “Big Five”, and we eventually found them all!

Accommodations were termed “tented camps” and there were platform bases and canvas sides to our rooms and lodges, but they were actually very comfortable and more luxurious than we had expected; they were not tents as we think of them! All were roomy and had all the essentials, including hot water bottles in our turned down beds every night.

We booked the pretrip to Kruger NP. It was a luxurious camp and a wonderful way to regroup from the two day long flight and begin game drives. We were introduced to a great variety of animals. We must have taken 60 photos of our first elephant, not realizing how many herds of them we would see later!

On the main trip we were in a group of 16 and Sam was our wonderful, attentive guide. He saw to all our needs and wishes. We stayed at four camps, plus our pretrip camp and each had a diffferent ecosystem, from bush with low-growing trees, to savannah, to flooded plain. One camp was only accessable by boat, as the roads were flooded. Bush planes made the trip from camp to camp much shorter and more pleasant so we had more time to visit the animals. Most days we were in the rovers to observe all the wildlife, but we had walking safaris and a dug-out canoe ride. Be sure to take the Chobe River ride, as it is interesting to see all the animals from another view point. We visited two villages and schools and were treated to local craft displays where we could support the local ecomony. At each camp Sam arranged to have a local person talk about that country’s economy, politics, history, educational and medical system, and family units. Some local women even did a basket weaving demo.

Our usual routine for non-travel days was an early wake up call around 5:45 am and a quick breakfast so we could get out by dawn to see the night animals still roaming. Mid morning we had a coffee and muffin break. Arriving back at camp around 10:30 or so, we would have a big breakfast and then break time to shower and see to personal needs. We would return for a group talk and then another light meal before our afternoon safari that would leave about 4:30 pm. Around dusk, our drivers always found a great view and we had “sundowner” cocktails and snacks served on the hood of the rovers; we got many beautiful sunset picures. Returning to camp aound 7:30 or 8 pm we would have a big evening meal. There was plenty of food and most meals were served buffet style, so you could always find things you liked to eat. Most meals were slanted towards American tastes, altho a few were native feasts. It was hard not to gain weight because it seemed like all we did was eat!

Returning to Johannesburg was a culture shock, as it was more commercial than anything we had seen in weeks!
Even so, the elephant safari and lion walk were among the highlights of our trip. The helicopter ride above beautiful Victoria Falls put all in perspective before we walked along the 2 mile path to observation points. We were even treated to a lunar rainbow of white that night, as the full moon was during that time, and this is the only place in the world to view such a phenominon. A walk behind the hotel to the village stalls is an experience not to be missed; six different people tried to barter for my husband’s hiking sneakers!

When planning for the trip we studied the info OAT had provided and on the whole the information was complete and accurate. We do have a few comments that a future traveler might find helpful.

We took a huge wad of money in ones and fives and then had to deal with the volume throughout the trip. You do need small bills as no one will give you change. We could have used more 20’s and less in smaller denominations, as the camp personel kept a tab for bar and gift shop at each camp, and every three days we would fill the tip boxes and pay the tab, so we could use some larger bills. We purchased a fanny pack with cable and padlock that made carrying the cash easier when we were moving from camp to camp and on airlines; they are available from travel magazines. At each camp Sam would lock up our money packs, but he would get them out if we had a wish to purchase goods from locals. Sam wanted a credit card for the excursions in Johannesburg, not cash.

For the most part camps were well supplied . Not only were shampoo, insect spray, and laundry soap (as I have sensitive skin, I found this caustic, so was glad I had brought a milder tube of detergent) provided, but most camps had conditioner and body wash as well. Hair driers were supplied in all the hotels, but in camps run by generators we soon found that everyone just air dried hair; everyone soon adapted the natural look and hats flattened hair anyway! At some camps electrical converter plugs were in short supply and recharging camera batteries became difficult. We suggest purchasing a “South Africa” converter plug for the trip. We found one at AAA, but it was not a stock item and had to be ordered. Each camp seemed to get colder at night than the one before, but there were piles of blankets and the hot water bottles lasted about half of the night....we had a race to see who could get into the clothes faster in the morning, and one person on our trip didn’t want to use the hot water bottle for herself, but layed her clothes on it at night under the covers to make the morning race easier!

There were two areas where we encountered a larger expense than anticipated. First was medical; we went to a travel clinic at a large hospital near our home several months before departure. They did a medical history history and counselled us and another couple we were travelling with on general precautions for travelling in a third world country. Then each individual got whatever shots were personally recommended and prescriptions for malaria med and an antibiotic in case of travel sickness; these may or may not be covered by your medical insurance. We never saw a mosquito, but we needed the antibiotic! The second expense was buying the proper clothing for the trip. We purchased sunblock shirts, pants, and hats. Wicking sleeveless tops under long sleeved shirts worked well; zip-off pants allowed for shorts. They are serious about needing six layers in the open rovers both early morning and evening after sunset; gloves, hats, and warm coats are need. By mid morning the layers come off one by one and go in the backpack, as it is 80+ by ten o’clock. We purchased hiking sneakers that had more support and grip than regular sneakers, then got the smart wool sox that absorbed moisture and gave extra cushion comfort. You really have to hit that 26 pound limit, but it is possible as long as you follow OAT packing suggestions. If you are over, you have to take things our and leave them to pick up on the way home! Every camp and hotel had laundry service, and we got in the routine of sending out the wash the first day in a new camp, so if it didn’t dry we were sure to get it back before needing to move to another camp. Rotating 3 sets of clothes worked fine! We took inflatible cushions to use in the rover, but they were not necessary, as seats were cushioned, and rovers also had ponchos or blankets for added warmth and protection.

We had bought two pair of light-weight travel binoculars, but we found that my husband was looking through the camera lens so he could see that way and he couldn’t handle binoculars besides. I used mine a lot! We also found that one of us needed to run the video camera and the other the camera, as things happened fast and it was hard to switch back and forth in a moving vehicle.

I took a small spiral notebook and used one side for journal and the other to write names of animals and birds as we saw them. Originally I was going to write it down when we got back to camp, but there were too many to remember them all and not much free time at camp, either.

The day room in London was wonderful. We took a bus to the second terminal, registered, and went to sleep horizontally for a few hours, then showered and went to the lobby for a relaxing buffet meal before bussing back to the terminal to check in for the second night flight. It make 2 days of flights more manageable. The trip home was never-ending and made us appreciate the day room on the way over even more!

We had concerns about safety because of political unrest as our trip time neared. As it turned out we felt completely safe during this whole trip. We were escorted quickly through airports and dense population areas and were always treated kindly. Tourism is the main econimic resource, and locals are committed to making tourist feel safe. When on the safari our guide and drivers were very conscious of our safety at all times, allowing us to be close to animals when it was safe, and quietly backing off when signs of danger appeared. We cannot recommend this trip highly enough....this one was our first OAT adventure and is going to be hard to beat!!!

Traveler: Dorothyand Peter from Cavendish, VT traveled on May 19, 2009

We just returned from this trip the end of September and had a fabulous time. As stated in previous reviews, leave a small bag in Vic Falls as it is kind of nice to get out of safari clothes. The laundry service was excellent so the recommended list was right on.

The staff in each location could not have been more friendly, willing to please and totally wanted to ensure that we all had a wonderful experience.

One thing to remember, midafternoons in mid-Sept. are very hot (90-95 F) but the morning and evening drives are fine. Don't push yourself, if you want to skip a drive and just hang out and read or relax by all means do it.

We enjoyed all the camps but had a special preference for Linkwasha in Zimbabwe. Our guide, Charles, kept everyone informed and things running smoothly. The animals were fantastic, saw the Big 5!

We were very glad we did the post trip to Capetown as it was beautiful and refreshing after being in the bush.

Of course, our group was fantastic, thoughtful, and a pleasure to be with. One word of advice, be realistic. You will get hot (or cold) dirty, dusty and a little grumpy but you WILL see and experience sights, sounds and people that you will never forget.

Thanks OAT for another wonderful trip and a treasure of memories!!

Traveler: Karen from Seagoville, TX traveled on September 08, 2009

The trip itself was wonderful. I would do it again if there weren’t other places I haven’t been to yet. If I could give it 10 stars, I would.

Notes on Ultimate Africa

Electricity: Either 110 or 220 is available in all camps and hotels. Some camps have a central area and some have electricity in the room. Some camps only run a generator while the “guests” are in the camp and cut it off at 11pm. All can charge a camera battery. The triangular pattern 3 prong round wall socket is the one found in most camps. Some also have two round prong British models. Most have a limited number of American plug adaptors. No camp used only the flat bar 3 prong socket.

Weather: Summer is hot, Nov-Feb. Winter is cold, Jun-Aug. Spring is wet. Oct-Nov. Best is middle August through the end of September but be prepared for early morning game drives to be cold (e.g. 40°F and moving in a land rover at 20 mph feels like 30°F). The water hits the Okevango from the mountains in September, some camps become cut off at this time from land transportation (specifically Khwai WTC #2 camp).

Shopping: Don’t buy much at the Caprivi Demonstration Village Store. The store is dark and the goods are expensive. Wait for Ngamo Village and more and better crafts. Vic Falls is where you want to buy heavier and bulkier stuff like stone statues. The craft market is not far behind the Hotel. Nice baskets brought to the Baobob Lodge in Chobe for sale.

Weight Allowance: The 26 pounds is real, but they don’t weigh your camera bag or what you are wearing. The weight check comes first at Lanseria Airport (across Johannesburg from O.R. Tambo where British Airways come in) but is just so you can decide what to send to Vic Falls (n.b. this is after the Kruger pre-trip if you go there). At Baobab Lodge in Chobe you can pack a bag with stuff you don’t need to send to Vic Falls to hold for when you get there after the last small aircraft flight. Between Chobe and Vic Falls is where the 26 pounds really counts. At Vic Falls, if you take the helicopter flight, you will be weighed to determine where you will sit, not whether or not you can go.

Accommodations: All lodges we were in were two person chalet-type “tents”. All had hot and cold running water, at least one shower, big, nice beds, closets, either a safe or a bag that can be locked and given to the lodge for safekeeping. Each chalet was physically separated from the others. Paths or raised walkways between the chalets and the main lodge and dining area. The path at Khwai WTC was deep sand and difficult to walk on; the staff said this was an improvement over the mud that was there before.

Meals: We were fed every 2-3 hours, apparently on the theory that if we weren’t, we would become peckish and cause trouble. Brecky was a small meal, drinks and sweets halfway through the first drive, breakfast, lunch, drinks halfway through the second drive (sundowners), dinner, and the bar is nearly always open.

Tours at Vic Falls: Helicopter flight the main difference is 13 vs 19 minutes. The last 6 minutes consists of a flight over the Zambezi river and some other river areas where you can see crocks, elephants, and cape buffalo from the air. I thought the longer flight was worth it. You cannot take both flights. Lion Encounter: everyone who went on it said it was well worth it. Everyone went on the sunset cruise as it is the last thing you do on the tour.

Camera: Bring more memory cards and camera batteries than you think you will need. Be familiar with your camera before you get to Africa and bring the manual for it. A tripod isn’t needed. The game drive roads are really bumpy, but the seats are good. Unless you have a vibration-reduction system in your camera, you won’t be able to take pictures while the vehicle is moving.

Notes: Laundry is free at all the camps except Parfuri at Kruger NP and the hotels.

Traveler: Walter from Christiana, TN traveled on August 12, 2009

We took this trip including the pre and post trips on September 2nd, 2009. This is our 9th trip with OAT and Grand Circle and though they have all been good this one is special. We would not have left out a day. The entire experience is special. Of course, our guide Edison was the "whip cream on the cake". It is amazing how he took care of everything and could move so comfortably between two very different cultures. Each camp from Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwee and South Africa were different but all had the same warm welcoming staff with great big smiles, songs, and dances. We were made to feel special at each one. Needless to say the different cultures, landscapes, wildlife and biodiversity were beyond imagination until you are actually there. I do not think I will ever forget our "face off" with an elephant or the walking game drive we came upon two lions that had just taken down a wildebeast run away to have their prey shortly devoured by 123 ( we counted) vultures. There are so many other memories like the stillness in the morning and the birds and wildlife sounds that remind me of my relaxation tapes. The only negative I might have were some very long travel days. They were worth it.

Traveler:  Roz from Palm Beach Gardens, FL traveled on September 02, 2009

We agree with all of the reviews below, but would add a couple of comments.

We had some travelers who had trouble with the physical demands of the trip and we would recommend reading the requirements and taking them seriously.

The very best thing about this trip was the willingness of the staff to give us honest and straightforward answers to our questions about their cultures and customs. We would like to stress that you will learn a lot if you just ask and then listen to the answers. Leave your preconceived notions at home. And if you have a chance, become a little familiar with the history of the area before you go.

Our previous travel to third world countries has been limited and we thought this was a wonderful and safe way to go. Our experience on this trip certainly compares very favorably to the experiences of friends who have gone on similar trips by other organizations, some of them much more expensive.

And as below - Lloyd is fabulous, or as he would say - BRILLIANT.

Traveler: Ronald from Lititz, PA traveled on June 28, 2009

This was my 7th trip with OAT, and I'll try to cover some things that may not have been mentioned in previous reviews.

I'll start off by saying that my 4-star rating comes with an '*' attached to it. While Chobe and Hwange National Parks, and Victoria Falls, were spectacular, the Okavango Delta and Mudumu National Park in Namibia, were less so. The Delta was very interesting for it's very different ecosystem from the other parks, but the amount of wildlife in the area was a bit disappointing compared to Chobe and Hwange. Mudumu Park in Namibia was the most disappointing, with very little wildlife at all. This is a new park, established in 1990, and the animals really haven't migrated back there yet. A couple of positives included elephants and possibly hippos, roaming the campgrounds at night, and beautiful sunsets on the Kwando River, right where the Lianshulu Lodge is located. Most of the group felt that a better itinerary would be to eliminate Mudumu, and include an extra day at Chobe, Hwange, and Victoria Falls.

Be prepared for a lot of long-distance traveling at the beginning and end of the trip. It wasn't until the afternoon of day 4 that we actually met our trip leader Lloyd (who by the way was excellent), and in returning to the U.S., 38 hours door to door might not be out of line.

The Baobob Safari Lodge in Chobe, has a spectacular view of the flood plains separating Botswana and Namibia. You can sit on the deck and just watch the wildlife on the plains below. It was in Chobe that we got to see 4 leopards, a very rare event. One lone adult, and an adult with two cubs eating at the carcass of a recently deceased young elephant. Other wildlife and bird life there were magnificent.

Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe also has a spectacular location in a savannah grasslands ecosystem where you can see for miles without trees or bushes obstructing the view. It is very reminiscent of the Serengeti in East Africa. The Linkwasha Tented Camp there is situated about 50 yards from a watering hole where elephants, wildebeests, sable, and more come regularly to drink. The cabins are very separated from each other, and each one has (in addition to an indoor shower) an outdoor one where you can be watching the wildlife while they are watching you :)

Hwange is where we saw our only lions of the trip, but it was a pride of about 12 or 13 that our guide, Lawrence spotted at a watering hole right around sunset. Lawrence also found us a white rhino on a night game drive, and that gave half of our group, the big five.

If you are also considering doing one of OAT's East Africa trips that includes the Serengeti, I would strongly recommend doing this Ultimate Africa trip first, for the greater variety of wildlife available, and then the Serengeti, where you'll be blown away by the sheer numbers of animals involved in the annual migration there.

Victoria Falls is also quite spectacular, even though the water levels were down significantly from their AprilMay highs. There are many interesting activities available there, and one of them, white-water rafting on the Zambezi River isn't even mentioned in OAT's materials. This was an absolute blast, but you need to be in good physical condition to do the two VERY difficult climbs down to the river basin from the canyon rim, and back up to the top again at the end of the rafting. Other activities the group enjoyed, were the helicopter ride over the Falls, and the Lion Walk at a private reserve. Another day at the Falls would definitely have been looked upon favorably. Many things to do.

Overall, a great trip that could be made even better with a change in itinerary. If interested, my pictures from the trip can be found at
www.pbase.comsgitlinultimate.

Traveler: Stewart from Huntington Beach, CA traveled on July 25, 2009

I AM PLEASED TO BE ASKED TO WRITE A REVIEW OF OUR RECENT "ULTIMATE AFRICA" JOURNEY.

THIS IS A LONG TRIP AND A BIG TRIP. LENGHTY PLANE RIDES. A LARGE EXPENDITURE. BUT A TRIP LIKE NO OTHER THAT WE HAVE EXPERIENCED.

FOR THE LONGEST TIME MY WIFE'S MANTRA WAS "I AM ONLY GOING ON THIS TRIP BECAUSE HE WANTS TO GO" . THIS LASTED UNTIL THE FIRST ANIMAL SIGHTING. A GIRAFFE. THEN SHE FELL IN LOVE WITH THE TRIP AND WITH SOUTH AFRICA.

I HAD A FEW CONCERNS ABOUT OUR JOURNEY. ONE WORRY WAS ABOUT HOW DO WE CHARGE OUR CAMERA BATTERIES? THERE WAS NEVER A PROBLEM. EITHER THERE WAS A PLUG IN OUR TENT OR IN THE MAIN LODGE. AND OUR HOSTS WOULD HELP WITH THE CHARGING, IF NEEDED. WE BOTH PHOTGRAPH AND THIS WAS AN IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION.

YES, YOU CAN BRING EXTRA SUITCASES. BEFORE OUR WEIGHT LIMITED FLIGHTS TOOK PLACE WE MADE A QUICK STOP AT THE LODGE THAT WE COME BACK TO STAY IN AT VICTORIA FALLS. WE LEFT A BAG THERE. NO PROBLEM.

MONEY. CASH IS NEEDED AS CREDIT CARDS ARE ONLY GOOD IN JOHANNESBURG AND IF YOU TAKE THE POST TRIP, IN CAPE TOWN. SMALL MONIES, $1, $5, $10 AND $20'S WILL SERVE YOU WELL.THERE WAS NO PROBLEM SAFEGUARDING OUR VALUABLES AS A NEW METHOD OF SECURITY WAS IMPLEMENTED (SEE MARCH TRAVELER REVIEWS) AND THERE WAS NEVER A PROBLEM FOR ANY OF US. UNLESS WE WERE VISITING A VILLAGE THERE WAS NO REASON TO CARRY ANY CASH. IN THE CAMPS YOU RUN A TAB FOR DRINKS, WHICH ARE VERY WELL PRICED. AT THE END OF THE STAY YOU SETTLE YOUR ACCOUNT AND ALSO LEAVE TIPS FOR THE CAMP GUIDES AND THE CAMP STAFF. TWO TIP BOXES ARE PROVIDED. WHEN WE DID HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PURCHASE CRAFT,SUCH AS BASKETS AND WOODEN ANIMALS, ETC. CASH WAS THE METHOD OF EXCHANGE.

OUR PEERLESS TRIP LEADER, VITALIS, YES, LIKE IN HAIR TONIC, DID AN EXCELLENT JOB. HE WAS CONCERNED WITH OUR SAFETY. HE WAS THERE FOR OUR GROUP IN ALL OTHER RESPECTS.HE WAS ON THE GAME DRIVES. HE GAVE LECTURES. HE ADDED GREATLY TO OUR LEARNING AND DISCOVERIES. PERSONABLE AND MORE THAN WILL ING TO GO THAT EXTRA MILE FOR EACH AND EVERYONE OF US. KUDO'S TO VITALIS.

OUR LODGES WERE SIMILAR YET DIFFERENT. THEY HAD THE NECESSARY FACILITES. ONE LODGE ALSO HAD OUTDOOR PRIVATE SHOWER. IMAGINE ANIMAL VIEWING AND SHOWERING AT THE SAME TIME. THE STAFFS COULD NOT HAVE BEEN FRIENDLIER OR MORE COMPETANT. WE WERE GREETED WITH SINGING AND DANCING. THEY KNEW OUR NAMES AFTER THE FIRST DAY. I CAN'T SAY THAT I COULD ACCOMPLISH THAT. THE LAUNDRY SERVICE WAS TERRIFIC. BY LATE IN THE SAME DAY THAT WE TURNED IN LAUNDRY OUR CLOTHING WAS RETURNED.

WE DINED TOGETHER AT A LONG TABLE WITH OUR GUIDES AND VARIOUS PEOPLE FROM THE LODGES. OUR MEALS WERE UNIFORMALY VERY TASTEFUL AND VERY WELL PRESENTED. FROM TABLE CLOTHS AND TABLE SETTINGS EVERYTHING WAS WELL DONE. AT DINNER WE WERE USUALLY SERVED OUR APPETIZER. THEN WE HELPED OURSELVES TO THE MAIN COURSE AND DESERT AND COFFEE WERE AGAIN SERVED. THE VARIETY WAS EXCELLENT.

WE HAD SOME MEALS IN THE BUSH WHEN OUR GAME DRIVES DIDN'T PERMIT RETURNING TO THE LODGE. ALTHOUGH WE WERE PROMISED PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY SANDWICHES IT WAS ACTUALLY AN EXCELLENT BUFFET WITH MANY CHOICES. FOR MOST OF US THE BUSH SERVED ANOTHER PURPOSE AS WELL.

OUR TRIP WAS TAKEN AT THE END OF MAY. THERE WERE NO MOSQUITOES. TEMPS WERE COOL IN THE MORNINGS BUT SOON WARMED UP TO THE 70'S. THEN COOL AT NIGHT. IN OUR OPEN LANDROVERS IT WAS COLD. GLOVES AND SCARFS CAME IN HANDY. THERE WERE ALSO WARM PONCHOS AVAILABLE. WHEN WE STOPPPED FOR A COFFEETEA BREAK THE LAYERS STARTED TO COME OFF. DRINKING WATER WAS PLENTIFUL. THERE WERE MANY ANIMAL AND BIRD SIGHTINGS, BUT WHO WOULD NOT WANT TO SEE MORE? WE ALL BECAME OBSESSED WITH TRYING TO SEE THE "BIG FIVE". WE VIEWED FOUR. NO LEOPARD. WE HAD A REAL ADVENTURE TO SEE A RHINO COMPLETE WITH A SCARY RIDE, THUNDER AND LIGHTENING AND A DOWN POUR.THANKS TO THE EXTRA EFFORTS OF THAT PARTICULAR GUIDE, OBERT, WE WERE SUCCESSFUL.

AT EACH CAMP WE WOULD TOUR IN OPEN LANDROVERS. OUR DRIVER GUIDES WERE VERY IMPORTANT IN HELPING TO FIND THE GAME AND THEY DID A UNIFORMLY FIRST RATE JOB. ONE GUIDE TOOK US TO HIS HOME TO SHOW US HOW HE AND HIS FAMILY LIVED. A VERY APPRECIATED EXTRA. THEY SHOWED US DIFFERENT ANIMAL TRACKS. ONE WAS A PHOTOGRAPHY BUFF AND HE EVEN GAVE US A
SLIDESHOW OF SOME OF HIS PUBLISHED PHOTOS ALONG WITH MANY TIPS. THE GUIDES WERE ALL SO KNOWLEDGEABLE AND THEY DID THEIR BEST TO FIND BIRDS AND ANIMALS. THEY SEEMED TO KNOW EVERY SPECIES. THEY PATIENTLY WAITED UNTIL WE ALL HAD OUR PICTURES AND THEY ANSWERED ENDLESS QUESTIONS.THEY ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE TRIP AND THEY DEFINATELY EARNED THEIR TIPS.

IN THE AFTERNOON WE WOULD BE PRESENTED WITH LECTURES BY EITHER VITALIS, OUR GUIDES OR MEMBERS OF THE LODGE STAFF. THIS WAS ACCOMPANIED BY COOL DRINKS AND PASTRIES. SOMETIME CANAPES. VERY INFORMATIVE AND ALL OF OUR QUESTIONS WERE ANSWERED. THEN WE WOULD GO OUT ON OUR AFTERNOON GAME DRIVES. REGARDLESS OF THE SIGHTINGS WE WOULD STOP TO VIEW THE SUNDOWN. THIS WAS ALSO COCKTAIL TIME. CAN IT GET ANY BETTER?

WE VISTED TWO SCHOOLS AND MEET A LOT OF CHILDREN THEY POSED FOR OUR PHOTOS AND THEN WERE DELIGHTED TO SEE THEMSELVES IN THE PICTURES. THEY SANG TO US. WE SANG TO THEM. OUR VISIT TO A COMMUNITY GAVE US QUITE AN INSIGHT INTO HOW THE TRIBES PEOPLE LIVE.

IN VICTORIA FALLS OUR LODGE HAD ALL THE AMENITIES AND AFTER BEING ON SAFARI FOR TWELVE DAYS IT WAS A NICE CHANGE. HOWEVER, WE WERE STILL IN SOUTH AFRICA AND ELEPHANTS WERE RIGHT NEXT TO THE LODGE. WE TOOK THE SHORT HELIOPCOPTER RIDE. IT WAS LONG ENOUGH TO GIVE US THE VIEWS THAT WE WANTED. WE HAD A CHOICE OF A "LION WALK" OPTIONAL. EVERYONE ENJOYED THIS. WE HELD A BABY LION IN OUR ARMS AND PETTED BIGGER LIONS. DO IT!

THE FALLS WERE SPECTACULAR. WE MADE GOOD USE OF PONCHOS AS THE SPRAY IN SOME PARTS IS LIKE WALKING IN A DRENCHING RAIN. BE CAREFUL WITH YOUR CAMERAS AND ONE TRAVELER HAD HIS RUINED WHEN IT GOT A SOAKING. THE PHOTO OP'S ARE SPECTACULAR.

IN VICTORIA FALLS THERE IS A FLEA MARKET BEHIND OUR LODGE. WHICH AS BEEN THERE FOR MANY YEARS. THERE ARE A MULTITUDE OF VENDORS. THEY ASK IF WE WANT TO TRADE OUR SHOES, OUR SHIRTS, OUR JACKETS. EVEN PENS. SO IF YOU WANT TO BRING ALONG SOME EXTRA ITEMS THEY MAY COME IN HANDY. THE PEOPLE HERE ARE VERY POOR. ONE PERSON ASKED US TO EVEN MAKE A $1 PURCHASE SO HE COULD FEED HIS FAMILY.


BEING CLOSE TO THE ANIMALS OF COURSE IS THE ULTIMATE PART OF THE TRIP. WE HAD TOO MANY SIGHTINGS TO EVEN TRY TO MENTION EXCEPT FOR THIS ONE. VITALIS AND FOUR OF US WERE SPEEDING TO MEET A FLIGHT WHEN WE SPOTTED A LIONESS RIGHT OFF THE ROAD. HE JAMMED ON THE BRAKES. HE TURNED OFF THE MOTOR. WE JUST SAT A FEW FEET AWAY AND HAD OUR FILL OF PICTURES AND VIEWING THIS FABULOUS SPECIMEN. AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE.

YES, WE LOOKED AT THIS ODYSSEY AS A TRIP OF A LIFETIME AND AMONG OTHER THINGS IT WHETTED OUR APPETITE FOR MORE. WE STILL WANT TO SEE A LEOPARD.

Traveler: Stephen from Delray Beach, FL traveled on May 26, 2009

Having read the reviews already submitted for this trip, I agree with all the superlatives. I am in the process of writing a narrative of the trip for myself and my family, but already have almost 20 pages. It was cold, yes (but I missed the 100+ days in Dallas). The staffs at all the camps were helpful and personable, the driverguides could spot birds and animals in deepest bush--and weren't satisfied until we spotted them, too. Our Trip Leader, Charles (Tino) was one of the best I've experienced in my 11+ trips with OATGCT.

Seeing the animals one usually sees only in zoos or circuses in their natural habitats was an experience that kept me in a state of thankfulness and wonder. This truly was a unique experience for me, and I would recommend it to anyone with the slightest sense of adventure and curiosity.

The friend who had been planning to make this trip with me had to bow out, so OAT matched me with a roommate. When friends asked if I didn't feel as if I were taking a chance, I assured them that of all the OAT trips I have taken, there was never anyone who would not be a good roommate.

Traveler: Shirley from Dallas, TX traveled on June 22, 2009

A number of good friends recommended the Ultimate Africa trip and now I understand why. They are all well traveled and still place this trip as their favorite. I would have to agree.

This was our third OAT trip and we have loved every one, but Ultimate Africa is a unique experience that made life changing impressions. There is something quite thrilling about coming upon wildlife going about their daily lives in their natural habitat. As our first game drive got started we immediately encountered our first of many elephants, and no matter how many we saw after that we never tired of seeing these magnificent creatures...and all the many others we saw throughout the trip. Each habitat was unique and beautiful, and every sighting was thrilling. We saw many of the "big five" (except didn't see rhino, although other groups did). We were most surprised by the incredible bird life that hadn't previously been of particular interest. The variety and spectacular colors ended up being a special part of the trip.

We traveled mid-June through the beginning of July which is African winter. It turned out to be an absolutely wonderful season to travel for a variety of reasons. It felt like winter in California.

Despite cold mornings (low 40's), the rest of the day was clear, sunny and short sleeve weather (68-72). Because it was cold in the morning and evening, there were no bugs or mosquitos at all. The mornings were quite cold, especially at the 5:30 AM wake up call, but the layers get peeled off as the sun began to warm everyone on the first game drive of the day.

I often layered two pairs of pants, a shirt, two pull over (or zip up) fleeces, heavy outer coat, scarf for around the neck and a knit cap. The safari vehicles also have blankets or ponchos to use as an extra wrap...which we all took advantage of.

The first drive gets started at 6:30 AM and by 8:30 the sun has already begun to warm up enough for a layer to come off. I appreciated that we weren't traveling during a hot season, since there is obviously no air conditioning in the lodges or tent accommodations and the safari vehicles are open air. Winter temps, although cold in the morning and evening, were so comfortable making each activity a pleasurable experience.

We did both the pre and post trips and are glad we did. Kruger was a great way to begin. Pafuri camp was a beautiful safari lodge and the "tent" rooms were wonderful with great views of the river outside where wildlife sauntered by in front of you. Cape Town at the end was spectacular and a nice way to ease back into normal life before the trek back home. We were very lucky with the weather and had clear sunny days to enjoy all of the many vistas and activities Cape Town has to offer.

We found all of the safari lodges to be very nice and comfortable with great views of the area. Friendly staff and wonderful food greeted us at each site. A few of our rooms had a power source for charging camera batteries (didn't work sometimes), but all lodges had an area with enough outlets for everyone to use for charging what they wanted, or they charged it for you in their office. I would always bring some regular batteries just in case, but we always had charged batteries ready to go.

Laundry: All safari lodges had same day free laundry service. They do all the laundry by hand and dry on a clothes line. You so have to hand wash your own underwear in your room. All places provided powdered laundry soap to use. It was so nice to have our laundry waiting for us every evening!

At the hotel lodge in Victoria Falls the free laundry service (including underwear) was machine washed. We washed everything in preparation for our post trip to Cape Town where laundry service was not included!

Tipping: The most helpful money to have were US 5's, 10's and 20's. We brought over $150 in ones, but didn't use those as much as we thought. We did need ones for the occasional bus driver to and from the airport and transport to an activity in Victoria Falls. At the safari lodges, instead of tipping daily for housekeeping like on other trips, tipping is done at the end in boxes for different groups. There is a box for the game drive guides and one for the rest of the staff (housekeeping, servers, laundry, maintenance, etc.) The tips are eventually split amongst everyone. Most of our rooms had a notebook with helpful information regarding suggested tipping amounts. Usually it was a minimum of $7per person per day for the guides and $5-7 for the staff. The trip leader is tipped at the end of the trip so big bills can be brought for that. Everyone tipped in US dollars because there isn't access to ATMs for the safari portion of the trip. Bring all the cash you will need for the whole trip. There are a few scheduled stops in towns when doing a school or cultural visit where locals sell their souvenirs (and expectation is to buy something to support the local economy) so plan on having some cash for that. The only time we used an ATM was in Cape Town.

I was able to get internet access at the hotel in Johannesburg for about $430 mins. and again in our Cape Town hotel (or internet cafes). Internet access was available but down in Victoria Falls.

In Victoria Falls there are optional activities. Many enjoyed the elephant ride, but we had done that recently in Thailand so we didn't do that. We enjoyed the helicopter ride over the falls. We chose the shorter ride which was just perfect...and less costly.

I had heard about a zip line across the Vic Falls gorge from a friend who just got back from the Ultimate Africa trip. Although not on the "recommended" OAT list, it was easily arranged with the same group arranging the other optional activities and three others in our group joined me. It was lots of fun...although I thought it was going to be very fast and it really wasn't. My husband and another in the group who are VERY afraid of heights really enjoyed it too.

We stayed at the Ilala Lodge in Vic Falls which was very nice. We also enjoyed walking 5 minutes across the street to the Victoria Falls Hotel. The outside patio has a wonderful view of the bridge and falls in the distance.

When visiting the falls you will rent a rain poncho ($2) at the entrance. Look for the thicker ones. Really check out the hood portion to be sure it will actually go all the way over your head. You will get soaked at the falls so think about the shoes you will wear and consider wearing short pants that day.

OAT really knows how to make travel a wonderful experience. Arrangements are well organized, accommodations and destinations chosen with care, trip leaders are personable and very knowledgeable and the emphasis on learning and discovery makes the experience life changing in so many ways. I will think about this trip for months to come and look forward to our next adventure.

Traveler: Sue from San Jose, CA traveled on June 13, 2009

We have ben on this trip twice. Both trips were great. We were disappointed to learn that OAT has two circuits and if you wanted to return to the same circuit no option was given.

Traveler: Lynn from San Diego, CA traveled on June 18, 2009

I would recommend this trip to anyone interested in having the trip of a lifetime. Our guide, Robson, was the best! He managed our family group plus two, ranging in age from 11 to 87 with humor, great patience and provided us with an education about the countries and people that we visited.

The 'tents' were so much more than tents - with hot and cold running water, toilets and showers, they were perfect. Each camp was different and provided us with opportunities to see wildlife without leaving our 'front porch'.

Our only issue was that it got very cold at night. Most nights, the hot water bottle provided by the thoughtful staff kept our feet warm all night. One night, it was so cold that we wore most of our clothing to bed. Didn't take long in the morning to get dressed!!

If you are going in the JuneJuly timeframe, make sure you take warm clothes - layers work best. I forgot gloves and had to wear an extra pair of socks for mittens in the early morning and after dark on the Land Rovers.

The staff in every camp and in the hotel in Vic Falls were attentive and provided us with great food and made our stay very comfortable.

We saw so many animals - it was absolutely amazing how our guides managed to find them and they were very knowledgable about the animals, environment, plants, etc. We learned a lot. Close up to elephants, lions, zebras, wildebeest, cape buffalo, giraffe, crocs, hippos, kudu, impala, roan antelope, red lechwe, steenbok, sable antelope, vervet monkeys, baboons (noisy lot, those baboons), leopard, water buck, lilac breasted rollers, kory busterds, secretary birds, ostrich, and on and on. Never a dull moment!

When it came time for us to go home, no one wanted to leave - we were ready for another three weeks.

The flights we had were very long getting there and coming back, but if you can get some sleep on the longer legs, it helps. Our flights between camps were an adventure - very small planes, dirt or grass runways - sometimes with ostriches in sight. Flying in the smaller planes gave us great views of the region - we were glued to the windows the whole time - seeing herds of elephants, dry riverbeds, etc.

Great trip!!

Traveler: Leslie from Utica, MI traveled on June 15, 2009

This travel experience was simply incredible. The difference between this trip and the many others I have taken began the first day when Robson, our trip leader, informed us that we were "travelers, not tourists". While we were comfortable, well-cared for, and catered to during this trip, I never felt starkly out of place or obnoxious. We learned how to act appropriately in a foreign community (several, actually), and I have never learned so much from a vacation. At the same time, the education was never a burden: we were relaxed and able to truly enjoy ourselves. With the exception of visiting the "traditional village" in Namibia, everything we experienced felt genuine, which made the entire trip all the more exciting. I was thrilled with the staff, especially the guides who were a great deal of fun to interact with and were clearly very knowledgeable and in love with their work. I would highly recommend this trip, and I myself would do the exact same trip again. If I had one recommendation, it would be to those traveling in the American summer months -- it's cold in southern Africa at that time -- pack accordingly!

Traveler: Amy from Dedham, MA traveled on June 15, 2009

This was a wonderful trip. We sa every animal except the Rhino and the Cheeta.
Seeing the animals of Africa was fantastic.

All of the camps were excellent, including the food (mid morning cookies, 3 p.m. cake and tea or coffee, and sunset snacks) and the people that made our stay excellent.

Our guide was the best. Samantha Johnson loved to explain all about the countries, the people and answer any questions you asked. She made the trip memorable. She was an excellent guide and very knowledgeable.

During our stay in late May, it was very cold. The temperature 40 degrees at 6 a.m. If not for the insulated ponchos, it would have been unberable to me. The OAT jacket was not enough to keep you warm in an open vehicle.You need gloves, scarf. a long sleeve fleece jacked and head cover. This would be for the winter season. The home office did not know about the ponchos.

The camps and Victoria Falls washed all clothes except for your ' smalls'.
You do not need to bring a lot of clothes for that reason. They wash clothes and they are dry the same day, weather permiting.

Our first experience of seeing an animal was just before we got to our first camp. A huge Elephant cross the road in front of our jeep.

Our jeep driver tracked Lion tracks for us to see our first Lions. All the drivers were excellent and very knowledgeable about wild live habits and the habitat.

The seats of the jeeps were padded, the ride still bumpy, but we had no problems at age 67 and 68.

Wait until you smell the sage, experience the tooth brush tree and taste other things!!!

Enjoy your trip with 26 pounds of luggage. Take clothes and shoes that can be left
at the end of your trip. They are needed in any country. Your guide can be very helpful if you do this. You can take home more treasures from Africa with a lighter suitcase.

Traveler: James from Cadiz, KY traveled on May 23, 2009

This was with out a doubt the best trip of the 10 we have taken with Grand Circle and OAT.
We experienced the thrill of seeing every animal we hoped to see with the exception of the Leopard. However I believe we saw some animals we didn't expect to see, i.e. 2 Cheetas, so we did not feel we missed anything.
The camps are great because of the excellent food service, the very comfortable "tents" with indoor facilities, the wonderful staff, the beautiful sunsets, the Milky Way and last but not least our wonderful Tour Director, Samantha Johnson. If you make this trip I do hope you are lucky enough to have her as your tour director.
Having an allowance of only 26 pounds for checked and carry-on baggage at first did not seem possible but we found this not to be a problem. We purchased light weight pants and shirts prior to the trip.
The pants were convertible to shorts and the shirts were designed to roll up and button into short sleeved shirts.
Since all of the camps provide laundry service, having clean clothes was not a problem. However as the OAT information states they do not do "smalls" or as we know them underwear. However if you buy underwear that can be washed out at night and dries quickly I found that 4 pair
was plenty.
In one of the reviews I just read about this trip a traveler did mention that it is cool in the morning and at night. Our OAT jackets were just about right however I did use one of the ponchos provide by our game driver on a couple of occasions when returning to camp in the evening. A long sleeved shirt or another windbreaker would be nice.
The guides or drivers were very knowledgeable of the areas we visited and provided a lot of information about the areas, the animals, the birds, the trees and other items of interest.
At no time did we feel in any great danger even though we did encounter some angry elephants and did get really close to a pride of Lions.
It was great being able to use the tap water in the tents at all of the camps to brush one's teeth. On so may of our trips we have had to use bottled water to do this. Just one of those small things that made this a great trip.
Flying in small planes was an adventure as was landing on dirt and grass airstrips. These flights just added to the adventure of the trip.
Traveling on small boats in Namibia was also a highlight as we saw many Elephants, Zebras and Hippos while on the river. The most exciting thing on the river for me was seeing a huge bull Elephant cross the river right in front of the boat.
As you can probably tell from what I have written that I am a big fan of this trip and if you are planning a trip to Africa this is one I would recommend.

Traveler: Gary from Columbia, MO traveled on May 04, 2009

I had been to Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Namibia during the dry season, several years ago. Then, I could never have imagined the vast expanses of water, water, water everywhere. Nor could I have imagined how the Land Rovers were equipped to cross bodies of water that covered the hoods of our vehicles. On the Ultimate Africa trip I experienced Africa in all its glory and reality. To see adult elephants romp around in the muddy water, and little guys imitating them was almost a spiritual experience. On the other hand, to see a momma lion and her adult daughters (or sisters) trying to protect the pride’s young from too randy an adult male was almost too much to bear. Alas, the male won– and the little guy was a sad victim, but I was sadder for the momma who carried him about trying to revive him. I just wanted to leave her to mourn, beyond our prying eyes. I kept telling myself that that is simply nature, and that was what I had come to Africa to see. At Linkawasha Camp we saw giraffes trying to keep the young among the herd. One little fellow wanted to explore on his own, but after about 15 minutes of trying to coax him back, the adults stopped coaxing and simply forced him back into the herd. Someone in the group said, “Just wait till your father gets home.” That’s what we all were thinking!

The camps were very well managed and I was happy that they hadn’t changed too much from when I was there 14 years ago. It was good to see how the Namibians, Botswanans, and Zimbabweans are taking charge. The camp staff participated in all aspects of our stay. The food was delicious, and always beautifully prepared. Wine and beer were very inexpensive in the camps, so there was no need to bring your own. Our drivers were excellent guides. Always calm, polite, and informative. Their job is difficult, and extremely tiring. We could see how tired they were at dinner which they shared at our tables. Drivers never sat with us on my previous visit.

I did not need all of the clothes I brought– free laundry service took care of that. Unfortunately, I did not trust the guidelines that the OAT pre-trip bulletin recommended. My luggage was not over the weight limit, but I did not require all that I had with me. Instead, I wish that I had made a trip to Goodwill and bought a lot of clothes to distribute to the children in the schools we visited.. The little girls seemed especially in need.

I have often read in the OAT Reviews complaints about the recommended tipping, and I often felt the same, but believe me, the guides and staff earn every penny they get. Some of the complaints reflect our personal views equating the tip to our income and the income in the third world. However, I remind myself that my income does not financially support an extended family the way their income does.

Traveler: Carol from New Castle, DE traveled on March 30, 2009

We traveled on the same trip as Stephen from Rochester, New York, and we agree with his review. We found being surrounded by the African environment so visceral that we will never look at another documentary about Africa in the same way.

The individual Africans that we met touched our minds and hearts so that we realized we had a very one-dimensional understanding of the African people before this. Our trip leader, Sam, was engaging, thoughtful, and straight-forward and provided us with a true learning experience.

Our driver guides in each park were knowledgeable and experienced and showed a true regard for the animal life around them. We were very heartened by the efforts of the guides, the researchers, and park rangers to protect and preserve the animals in the parks.

The personnel at the tent camps ran simple but very comfortable places. The food was nutritious and well-prepared, and the "canvas cabins" were clean and comfortable. With shampoo and bug repellent supplied and laundry done, it was possible to have only two outfits for the whole trip. The singing and dancing of the staff provided a very warm and endearing cultural experience.

Visiting the two schools on the trip was a highlight. The children were enthusiastic and eager to learn. They were in need of many things, but especially pens and pencils. We recommend that all travelers bring as many pens and pencils as they can to distribute to the two schools.

When you take this trip, prepare yourself for an experience you will get nowhere else. What minor discomforts you may feel will pale in comparison with the pleasure you will have viewing the birds and animals and meeting the people .

Traveler: Anna Marie & Edward from Ferndale, WA traveled on March 20, 2009

As a professional zoologist who has spent virtually his whole life working with amphibians and reptiles around the world -- living in tents for long periods of time, cooking for myself, often bathing in tepid or cold water from makeshift showers -- I (along with my wife -- who does NOT camp) found this a very exciting, comfortable and relaxing trip. Tented camps indeed -- hot showers, flush toilets, clean sheets, room service, ice, unlimited drinking water that does not taste of bleach, hot food, eggs to order at 5:30 am, and, most of all, experienced personnel who know the areas and the animals like the backs of their hands.

This is a trip for those of you who want to experience wild Africa from a comfortable vantage point. We travelled at the close of the rainy season, and most all the mammalian wildlife shared their new-born progeny with us. Who can resist a baby elephant? How about a couple dozen baby elephants -- bathing, being sheltered by the adults, and pretending to be grown ups [mock charges] -- or baby baboons romping among the adults in the troop? Wildlife biologists estimate that there are 20,000 lions left in the wild -- and their numbers are dwindling at a rate close to 5% (feline distemper, poaching, etc). That suggests that within 20 years we may not be able to see them in the wild anymore. There were two known animals in the area of our first stop -- and our guides located one of them on the second day (a magnificent adult male). By the end of the trip we had seen about eight adults and two cubs (the latter from a distance of about 20 feet) -- how can you duplicate that experience? And at what price?

As a field biologist, I understand how difficult it can be to find even common animals at times. Our guides located zebras in the bush that we couldn't see until they decided to investigate our vehicle. Even an elephant can be cryptic! By the end of the trip, we had logged dozens of birds, three cheetahs, a civit cat, vervet monkeys, hippos (including six newborns), and a White Rhinocerous -- impalas had became passé -- and much more. All the while, we ate and slept in comfort and -- for the most part -- the silence than only nature can provide.

We loved this trip, and would recommend it without reservation. There are, however, a few things I'd like to say about what to expect. For me, this trip was extremely personal, and I feel the experience and educational opportunity it provides at all levels should be the priority of every participant. With that in mind: if you decide to go, PLEASE be prepared to expect some minor discomfort. There is electricity at all camps, and the water is solar heated in some. When it's cloudy, the water may be chilly by morning -- shower at night. Clean, pure water was readily available at all camps (I took a filtration system along, but never used it -- a waste of 3 pounds of baggage allowance). You're not being judged by your appearance -- leave the hair drier behind (in Johannesburg and Capetown the hotels have them). You won't need heavy boots, but sneakers work really well; open-toed shoes are not comfortable when getting in and out of the land rovers. 26 pounds. And they mean it -- you can take whatever you want to Victoria Falls, but once at Victoria, the pilots of the small aircraft WILL weigh your baggage. If you need to carry more with you, separate it BEFORE you leave Johannesburg. One bag for 26 pounds worth of necessities, another for whatever else you want to carry around home with you. There is no convenient place in Victoria Falls airport to separate necessary from unnecessary, and nowhere to purchase that second bag you may need. Trust me on this: nobody wants to wait around while you decide what to take and what not to take (please be considerate). PLEASE, this is a safari trip. Wear suitable clothing -- insects are attracted to various colors and khaki or brown or beige are fine (I had three Khaki shirts -- all the same shade even, and nobody seemed to care). For the women, avoid leotards (seriously) and sequinned tee shirts. Slacks or cargo pants with pockets are appropriate.

If you're a photographer, a long lens is essential (I used a 300 mm lens with a 1.5X tele-extender and it worked beautifully). My wife and I filled 4 2GB cards between us, and batteries were changed about every week (I had three sets of lithium batteries for my camera with me, and used them all). Batteries will not be easily found -- take enough lithium for your needs (one of our group used a charger, but had spare fully-charged batteries along and was happy he had them).

Money needs are difficult to recommend, We do not drink alcohol regularly and found $600 in cash (10s, 5s, and 1s) to be sufficient for the two of us. Credit Cards (Visa) worked only with OAT trips and in South Africa where ATM machines are also available.

Unless you have medical issues, you will find the soaps and shampoos at the camps to be sufficient. Insect repellent and drinking water are readily available, but we used very little repellent during our visit -- insect breeding is seasonal, however, and we had no rain. Take enough of your favorite toothpaste along.

And, remember, it can get cold at night and the Land Rovers are open vehicles. A lightweight windbreaker and a light sweatshirt are likely all you will need -- but you will need them. There is free laundry service at all camps -- use it and avoid carrying more clothing than you need. By day two you will be among friends, all of whom will have sweat a bit.

Oh, and if you are the type of person who avoids public restrooms or is averse to relieving him- or herself in the bushes, remember that we were away from camp for 8-10 hours most days. We had our vehicle break its driveshaft one afternoon, coupled with an in-the-bush flight cancellation. It happens, and when it does, it affects everyone on the trip (if it happens to you, please try to remember you're not in the U.S., and your guides do know what they're doing. I was impressed by their expertise. Twenty minutes later we had a replacement vehicle -- amazing, simply amazing).

You'll love it, we certainly did.. Oh, and use the locked cashvaluables bags at the camps.

Traveler: Stephen from Rochester, NY traveled on March 17, 2009

We returned in mid-April from OAT's "Ultimate Africa" adventure and I'm still dreaming of Africa every night. As a travel agent for over 25 years I've been on a lot of tours to many destinations but, without a doubt, this was the most memorable life-changing trip I've ever taken. The animals were amazing (the only animals we didn't see were rhinos and cheetahs). Imagine seeing over 70 elephants frolicking in the waterhole in front of our camp in Zimbabwe! I was reluctant to go to Zimbabwe because of their much publicized problems, which are heartbreaking, but the camp and the beauty of the country and the people we met were amazing! I wouldn't have wanted to miss any of our very different camps in Botswana, Namibia or Zimbabwe. Our fabulous guide, Samantha Johnson, was the best I've EVER had and the "learning and discovery" was a highlight of every day. OAT always provides great value memorable tours (this was my 4th), but "Ultimate Africa" really is the "ultimate"!

Traveler: Nancy Schneider from Port Ludlow WA traveled on March 29, 2009

We have taken 5 OATGCT trips in the past 18 months.

After the many great trips we've had, we put together a group of friends to join us on this trip, 2 of whom wrote reviews below this one. Overall the trip was a wonderful experience, but regretfully it may well be our last trip with the company.

Sadly, money was stolen from 3 of our friends at the Baobab Camp in Botswana after they had given their money to camp management for safekeeping. OAT has done nothing to resolve this issue and make them whole, in fact going so far as to cast blame on the customer. Shame on them. I have written emails to OAT, which never get answered.

I am embarrassed that after my wife and I I recommended OAT so highly, something like this should occur. Unless this is resolved properly, we will no longer be willing to recommend this company, and will strongly consider finding a more reputable tour operator.

It's a shame that one incident like this can blemish an otherwise outstanding travel experience.

Traveler: Fred Gakstatter from Snellville, GA traveled on March 11, 2009

This trip is a life changing, super, fun experience: animals, birds, butterflies, flowers, trees and the gracious hospitality of the native people were a joy. The guides and trip leader were incredibly competent, knowledgeable, and accommodating. The controversial topics were all placed on the table for discussion after debriefings on history, culture, geopolitical issues, geography, economics and so forth.
As a vegetarian I felt well taken care of. Each camp provided me with options; the vegetable dishes were delicious and in great supply. I did have to try a wee piece of crocodile, wart hog, and impala, just for the experience. Everything was prepared according to OAT cleanliness standards so I had no trouble with stomach upset. The African instant coffee prepared on our game drives was as good, if not better, than our regular coffee.
Services were well planned. I took more clothes than I needed, but layers are critical for cool mornings and evenings and hot mid-days. As noted free laundry is provided at each camp.The weight limit of 26 lbs. is important for the small planes. Pack in the duffle provided for ease of transport. Take a backpack so that you can leave excess in Victoria Falls and transport your camera, binoculars, suntan lotion, layers, etc. during the game drives morning and afternoon.
Our trip took place during high water time in early April. The animals were simply amazing. It was nice to be able to take time to study animal behavior with extended stops and information from the guides. The reality of nature, the cruel and the caring, was incredible to see. According to the locals Victoria Falls had not seen that much water in 40 years.
I had no trouble with sea sickness, from which I suffer, on the mokorro or the river boats. Some of our party required dramamine on the small planes, but I had no trouble with airsickness at all.
Accommodations were a delight. Hot water was available, the beds were comfortable and warm, mosquito netting was always set out by the staff, and mosquito and bug spray were available in the cabins and tents. Take enough camera batteries and SD cards for at least double the pictures you think you will take. The photo opportunities are continuous with one better than the next.
This is my third OAT trip. Each has been different and spectacular in its own way. Ultimate Africa may be the best.

Traveler: Fiona from Bowling Green, OH traveled on March 30, 2009

This is our eleventh trip with GCTOAT and it truly is the ultimate trip! This was our second trip to Africa, having taken the OAT trip "The Best of Kenya and Tanzania" trip 2 years ago and we plan to return.

Our guide, Abiot Zusu, was fantastic - he truly made this a memorable and fun trip.

The bush camps were all beautiful with the friendliest staffs. They would immediately know all of our names which amazed us. The food was excellent and each camp had home made bread. The dinner tables were set beautifully at each meal!

You do need to keep to the 26 pound limit for your suitcase. This is really not a problem - we worried about it and packed and repacked many times before leaving. Each camp will do your laundry daily (except smalls) and they do an excellent job. So you really don't need that many outfits. This is not fashion trip!

Do take plenty of batteries for your cameras and keep them charged. Each camp has charging capability so this was not a problem. There is no place to buy replacements when you are in the bush.

We took games drives at least twice a day and saw "The Big Five" - finally the leopard! While out on a drive we would have fun tea times, lunches, and of course, great "sundowners" watching the amazing African sunsets! To top off the amazing day we would see the night sky - the Milky Way in all its splendor and the Southern Cross.

Some people expressed concern about the political situation in Zimbabwe - we never at any time felt threatened by anything or anyone. Do not be afraid to take this trip.You are totally taken care of. It is a wonderful trip that we would take again!

Traveler: Charles from Roseville, CA traveled on March 15, 2009

I have done a lot of travelling and this trip was the tops. I must say all our Guides were wonderful, especially our main Guide Vitalis.
The staff in each stop was so happy and caring and took such good care of us.
I loved the Villages and schools we visited. The people are so attractive, beautiful faces and nice physics. AND the children are prescious.
I loved seeing so many animals. Walking with the lions and petting them, Pictures to prove. Elephant ride and then the man made Helicopter over Victoria Falls. Seeing The Falls was a dream of mine since learning about it when I was a kid in school.
The trip is not strenuous. The Guides and the Land Rovers took good care of us.
I would highly recommend this trip to everyone.

Traveler: Marie from Walnut Creek, CA traveled on February 16, 2009