local driver/guide. Guaranteed departures min 4 / max 16 participants until seats are sold out
include meals (v. the fee includes)
minimum age: 12 years
Itinerary
Giorno 1 — Victoria Falls
I arrive at the airport of Victoria Falls., Meeting with the driver and transfer to the hotel., free time, meeting with the guide at the reception at 18.00 for an informative orientation on the trip, You have an afternoon and a morning available in one of the most spectacular places in Africa for optional excursions and to browse through local markets; there are many possible activities (optional, not included): rafting, canoeing, cruises on the Zambezi, helicopter or plane flights over the falls, walks, elephant-back safaris, bungee jumping, and of course visiting the falls., dinner free, accommodation Paradise Cottages,
Auto
Giorno 2 — Victoria Falls → Chobe National Park
Breakfast, morning available for an optional excursion (not included), departure for, Chobe National Park is one of the great African parks, comparable in size to the entire Abruzzo region, and combines three types of natural environments: sandy depressions, shrub desert, and the alluvial plains of the great rivers Lynianti and Chobe, which flow into the Zambezi near Kasane, where four states - Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe - meet. Their lush basins provide the ideal environment for herds of elephants, buffalos, and zebras, for which the park is famous., dinner in the lodge, accommodation, The lodge is located on the banks of the Chobe River, famous for its magnificent sunsets and abundance of wildlife.,
Giorno 3 — Chobe National Park
Breakfast, in the morning, photo safari in the park, return to the lodge, free time for lunch (not included), At sunset, a photo safari by boat on the Chobe River., dinner in the lodge, accommodation,
Auto
Giorno 4 — Chobe National Park → Hwange National Park
Breakfast, departure for, lunch along the way (not included), I will arrive in the late afternoon., Upon arrival, sunset safari aboard open 4x4 vehicles in the private concession bordering Hwange National Park, dinner, accommodation Sakura Sakura Onsen,
Giorno 5 — Hwange National Park
Full board at the lodge, Day dedicated to safaris in the Reserve, one in the morning and one in the afternoon., The park, which extends over a plain of almost 15,000 km², an arid territory that includes a large part of the Kalahari sands and wooded areas rich in teak, boasts the highest concentration of large animals in all of Africa. Much of Hwange is closed to tourism; visitors all gather in the northern part of the park. The park is home to 30,000 elephants, 15,000 buffalos, giraffes, zebras, and various species of antelopes. Rhinos, both white and black, have also been reintroduced. The most common predators are lions, leopards, and cheetahs, as well as hyenas and wild dogs., accommodation,
Auto
Giorno 6 — Hwange National Park → Matopos National Park
Breakfast, departure for, free lunch, Matobo National Park is located in Zimbabwe, near the city of Bulawayo. It is renowned for its spectacular landscapes characterised by imposing granite formations shaped by wind and erosion, which give rise to rounded hills called kopjes, and for its caves decorated with ancient rock paintings by the San people. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003, the park is of great natural and cultural importance. It is home to a rich fauna, including white and black rhinos, antelopes and numerous species of birds of prey. It is also a place of profound historical and spiritual value for the local people and houses the tomb of Cecil Rhodes, the British coloniser., I will arrive at the lodge in the afternoon., In the morning, you will have the unique opportunity to get up close to one of Africa's most iconic and endangered species: the rhinoceros. Home to a population of black and white rhinos, Zimbabwe remains a stronghold for these peaceful and ancient animals, dinner, accommodation Private transfers,
Auto
Giorno 7 — Matopos National Park → Mapungubwe National Park
Breakfast, departure for, Mapungubwe National Park is located in northern South Africa, on the border with Zimbabwe and Botswana, where the Limpopo and Shashe rivers meet. It is a site of great natural and cultural value: it boasts spectacular landscapes of rocky hills, savannah and baobab forests, as well as rich biodiversity with elephants, giraffes, antelopes and over 400 species of birds. The park is also famous for its historical importance: it was the site of the Kingdom of Mapungubwe (11th–13th century), the first great civilisation in southern Africa, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Archaeological remains, such as the famous golden rhino, bear witness to the area's central role in trade at the time., lunch along the way (not included), I will arrive at the lodge in the afternoon., dinner, accommodation Century Marina Hakodate,
Giorno 8 — Mapungubwe National Park
Breakfast, In the morning, there will be a walk to visit the Kaoxa rock painting, free lunch, free time, At sunset, activities to enjoy the spectacular view of the area dotted with baobab trees., dinner, accommodation,
Auto
Giorno 9 — Mapungubwe National Park → Mpumalanga/Panorama Route
Breakfast, departure for, you follow the famous Panorama Route; the road crosses the Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve, one of the most spectacular views in Africa, through pine and eucalyptus forests crossed by numerous streams that form picturesque waterfalls such as the Mac Mac Falls. The Canyon is one of the largest in the world, 20 km long and up to 700 m deep; from the God's Window viewpoint, the view over the Lowveld plains is spectacular and stretches as far as the eye can see over forests and hills. Other stops are made at Bourke's Luck Potholes, the giant potholes carved by the erosive force of water, and at the Three Rondavels viewpoint, three large round mesas., Arrival at the lodge in the late afternoon, dinner free, accommodation zzz Terracana Ranch Resort,
Auto
Giorno 10 — Mpumalanga/Panorama Route
Breakfast, departure for, off-road photosafari day, Kruger National Park is the centerpiece of South African tourism, a vast area rich in wildlife that stretches for over 400 km across the provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga. But the region inhabited by large African animals extends beyond the public part into a large number of private reserves, often very expensive and exclusive, which form the Greater Kruger and where the circulation during photo safaris is not limited to roads, but open to the entire accessible territory by off-road vehicles. The distinction between Kruger National Park and Greater Kruger obviously does not concern the animals, which freely and indifferently roam both the national park and the private reserves. In any case, the adventure and the extraordinary natural environment will thrill you., return to the lodge, dinner free, accommodation zzz Terracana Ranch Resort,
Auto
Giorno 11 — Mpumalanga/Panorama Route → Johannesburg
Breakfast, departure for, lunch along the way (not included), I will arrive in the late afternoon., dinner, accommodation Shuttle bus Monteverde - Playa Flamingo/Tamarindo/Conchal,
Giorno 12 — Johannesburg
Breakfast, airport transfer with shuttle bus, end of the tour,
Notes
LUGGAGE: One soft bag per person, maximum 20 kg, is allowed. The organizing company reserves the right to refuse overweight luggage and does not accept responsibility for damaged or lost luggage or personal belongings.
SINGLE ROOMS: solo travelers are welcome; there is also the possibility of sharing a room with another person of the same sex; if a roommate is not found within a month before departure, a single supplement will be charged.
MOBILE TENT FIELD: wide and spacious tents for 2 people (2.4m x 2.4m x 1.9m) equipped with camp beds, sleeping mats, sleeping bags, and small pillows; shared toilet facilities with toilets, showers, and sinks in the equipped camping areas; shared temporary toilet and shower in non-equipped fields.
TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: Participants must ensure before departure that they have the necessary and valid documentation for entry into the countries visited during the tour.
OPTIONAL EXCURSIONS: locally, several optional activities will be proposed, operated not directly by the tour organizer - Kiboko - but by third-party operators. Some of these activities are adventurous and involve an element of risk: do not participate if you do not feel confident in facing them. During the trip, you will receive a detailed description of each activity and you can evaluate the ones that are most suitable for you. The prices indicated in the day-by-day itinerary are purely indicative. Park entrances are not included.
SMOKING: smoking is not allowed on means of transportation, in tents, in rooms, and according to the guide's instructions.
We do not have a strict age policy. Our groups are pleasantly informal, usually comprising a wide range of nationalities aged between 30 and 70, and are aimed at healthy, active participants looking for an adventure holiday. This is merely a guideline, and older or younger adventurers are accepted on request. Customers must ensure, prior to booking, that they are fit and able to complete the chosen itinerary.
HOTEL / ITINERARY, CHANGES: The organizing company reserves the right to modify the itinerary and/or the planned accommodations if required by unforeseen circumstances and if necessary for the safety and smooth continuation of the trip.
HOTEL, CHECK-IN: as a rule, rooms are assigned starting from 2-3 pm; any early check-in is at the hotel's discretion. The request for a guaranteed early assignment requires booking an extra night prior to arrival.
INTOLERANCES AND SPECIAL DIETARY REGIMES: food intolerances (allergies, celiac disease, etc.) and special dietary regimes (vegan, etc.) must be communicated at the time of booking. Special menus or treatments are not provided or guaranteed, but we will do our best to accommodate the needs of participants. Notifications made after arrival will not be taken into consideration.
Starts from
12 days / 8 nights - from Victoria Falls to Johannesburg
Meals
Legend: B breakfast, L lunch, D dinner,
Price includes
Local driver/guide. Ranger guide in English during photo safaris., meals: 11 breakfasts, 1 lunches, 8 dinners, visits, excursions, and photo safaris as per the itinerary, hotel/airport transfer on departure, accommodation in a 2-3 star hotel/lodge with private facilities,
Price does not include
Opening fee and Zero Risk coverage, medical-luggage-cancellation insurance, Entrance to the parks USD to be given in cash to the local guide at the beginning of the tour., entry visa in Zimbabwe US$ 35 to be paid at the border, unmentioned meals, beverages and extras in general, tip, flights and airport taxes, everything not expressly mentioned in "The fee includes",
Important notes
Entrance to the parks USD to be given in cash to the local guide at the beginning of the tour., ***CLIMATE***
January-March in Namibia and Botswana is the rainy season, characterized by hot and humid weather. Some days are clear and sunny, while others are gray with afternoon thunderstorms.
April-June, the rains are over! Everything is fresh and new with clear skies; moderate daytime temperatures, and the wildlife begins to gather around permanent water holes, making it easier to spot them.
July-September: dry, with clear days and an average daytime temperature of 25°C, nighttime temperatures between 0 and 10°C; animal sightings are excellent, migratory birds start arriving in August. The best time for a safari!
October: the driest period of the year with daytime temperatures of 30°C. An excellent time for spotting the Big Five.
November-December: hot days with the first afternoon thunderstorms; it is the weaning period and the sighting is good; many migratory birds.,
Cancellation policies
No penalty if cancelled 31 days or more before the start of the tour. From 30 to 0 days, 20% will be retained as a deposit.
A 20% deposit is required at the time of booking.,
LANGUAGE / GUIDE: tours have English-speaking driver / guide; for guaranteed departures in Italian, a translator is added; safaris guided by park rangers are always in English.
TIPS: not included, but practically mandatory, unless there are serious shortcomings. We recommend: €5 per day for each driver/guide and ranger, and for each participant based on satisfaction with the service received.
MEALS: not included unless specified.
PUNCTUALITY: we recommend respecting the scheduled times. No refunds are provided for services missed due to customer delays.
REFUNDS: There are no refunds for parts of the tour or excursions not carried out due to force majeure; in any case, no refund is due to the customer who decides to interrupt the trip or stay.
HEALTH / VACCINATIONS: Participants must be aware of the itinerary and their own physical ability to handle it; it is recommended to always check the Viaggiare Sicuri website for the latest updates on necessary and recommended vaccinations and prophylaxis.