What to Expect
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Physical requirements:
This trip is only for physically fit and healthy travelers and is not appropriate for travelers using wheelchairs or other mobility aids. You must be able to walk unassisted while carrying hand luggage; expect 2-4 hours of physical activities on some days. You will need to access vehicles by ladder without aid. We reserve the right for our Trip Leaders to modify participation, or in some circumstances, send travelers home if their limitations are impacting the group's experience.
- Climate & terrain:
The hottest months are October-February; mid-day temperatures can reach over 100 degrees. During May-August it is dry and 70-80 degrees during the day, and as low as 50 degrees at night. December-March brings heavy rain and thunderstorms. The roads may be in poor condition and can cause problems for travelers with leg or back issues. We’ll travel over bumpy, dusty terrain during game-viewing excursions, and we’ll be walking on sandy, uneven terrain in the Okavango Delta and at our camps.
- Pacing:
6 locations in 17 days with a single 1-night stay. Early morning game-viewing drives on safari days, rising at 6am; 1-2 guided walks of up to an hour each; and 5 internal flights on five- to 14-seater aircraft.
- Transportation:
On game-viewing drives, we travel overland in open-sided safari vehicles with bench seating and no air-conditioning. We’ll also travel in a dugout canoe and in motorized boats.
- Accommodations:
We spend 12 nights in comfortable but basic lodges and tented camps. Our lodges use generator electricity and lantern lighting at night, and do not have air-conditioning. There could be a 1- to 5-minute walk from our tents to the main lodge.
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Group size & leadership:
16 maximum and 1 Trip Leader.
Visa Information
U.S. citizens will need a visa (or visas) for this trip. In addition, there may be other entry requirements that also need to be met. For your convenience, we’ve included a quick reference list, organized by country:
- Botswana: No visa required.
- South Africa: No visa required, but South Africa will require either proof of a yellow fever vaccination or a waiver of vaccination for this itinerary.
- Zambia: Visa required.
- Zimbabwe: Visa required.
Travelers who are booked on this adventure will be sent a complete Visa Packet— with instructions, applications, and a list of visa fees—approximately 100 days prior to their departure. (Because many countries limit the validity of their visa from the date it is issued, or have a specific time window for when you can apply, we do not recommend applying too early.)
If you are not a U.S. citizen, do not travel with a U.S. passport, or will be traveling independently before/after this trip, then your entry requirements may be different. Please check with the appropriate embassy or a visa servicing company. To contact our recommended visa servicing company, PVS International, call toll-free at 1-800-556-9990.
Vaccinations Information
Documentation on a yellow fever vaccination is required for this adventure. It is a legal entry requirement for South Africa. South Africa will accept either a proof of vaccination or an official waiver of vaccination (a doctor’s letter stating you cannot receive the vaccination for health reasons).
For a detailed and up-to-date list of vaccinations that are recommended for this trip, please visit the CDC’s “Traveler’s Health” website.