• > How Strenuous are these Trips?
• > Group Participants and Tour Leader
• > Private Tours and Custom Dates
• > Local Transportation
• > Accommodations
• > Meals
• > Climate
• > Travel Documents
• > Flights
• > Airline Tickets
• > Money
• > Health
• > Luggage & Clothing
• > Resources
• > Communication

How Strenuous are these Trips?

The challenge level of this trip is Intermediate. Count on an active pace, lots of walking and intensive nature explorations. You will also need to carry and pitch your tent.

Group Participants and Tour Leader

PARTICIPANTS:  International Group  MIN: 8 MAX: 20

WHEN YOU BOOK A TRIP WITH AN INTERNATIONAL GROUP
When you book one of our International Group Adventures, you will join an active group of travelers of all ages, most from Holland and Belgium. Depending on the trip, there will be only one to five North Americans on the trip. Most of the European participants have a superb command of English but you are likely to hear lots of Dutch spoken. The Dutch tour leader will address the group in Dutch and English. These are not lecture tours and you will get the important information.  On our African camping safaris, a local English-speaking local guide will accompany the group. Participants of these groups are extremely independent-minded  and embrace opportunities to explore or dine on their own, in addition to group activity.
 
Traveling with an international group adds another dimension to your trip. Compatibility has more to do with individual personalities of group members. Socializng can be more challenging for solo travelers and may require more effort on your part to initiate contact. The Dutch are usually quite social and often, very direct. Their politics tend to lean towards the liberal side. The European participants, of all ages, are typically very active and most everyone is up for a hearty hike or bike ride.
 
Trust your instincts....if this description sounds appealing, these trips are probably a great match for you. But if you feel that it may be too active, that you prefer more one-on-one attention, or that that the idea of being in the minority is not appealing, then a private trip or travel with our North American groups may be more suitable for you.


GUIDE SERVICE
An English-speaking, African guide accompanies this trip. An African camp courier oversees food purchase and meal preparations on safari, with assistance from the group members.    
 
IN-COUNTRY STAFF
Our land representatives are situated in the destination country you will visit. We work closely with them and they function as our liaison with the guide, drivers and hotels. They are also available in the case of an emergency and their number will be provided on your emergency contact list.
 
PROBLEMS OR EMERGENCY
While you are away, should you have a problem, you have several points of contact. Your guide, our land representative, and of course, we are just a call or email away. We will provide contact numbers for you before you leave. Please distribute this list to family or to your contact person at home. If someone needs to reach you from home due to an emergency, but is having difficulty due to language or bad connections, they can call our office and we will assist in contacting you.

Private Tours and Custom Dates

Custom dates can be arranged for your private group of 10 or more travelers for this trip. Please inquire.

Local Transportation

During this safari you will travel in all-terrain vehicles with four-wheel drive that offer a nice view of the surroundings. This way you will be able to observe and photograph the wildlife well and we will be able to move faster than by truck. The experienced drivers/guides know the national parks and the inhabitants like the back of their hands. We will have full use of these vehicles, so we may stop anywhere we want.

The roads from Kasane to Nata and from Nata to Maun are of good quality and paved. However the largest part of this safari will be spent in game reserves where you won’t find any asphalt. This will give you the ultimate bush feeling and the sensation of being far removed from civilization. In Moremi Game Reserve as well as in Chobe National Park most roads are sandy. Sometimes we will get stuck and a helping hand will be appreciated. During the stay at the Victoria Falls no transportation is provided. However, it will be easy to call a reasonably priced taxi at the reception desk. When you participate in optional excursions from the lodge, transportation will be provided.

Once we make a stop, we explore cities and villages on foot and by using the local modes of transport.

Accommodations

ACCOMMODATIONS
Tents (dome tents). Hotels on a few nights. Overnight on cots on deck on boat one night on Chobe River.
 
SINGLE TRAVELERS
If you are traveling solo, we will match you with a same-sex roommate. On our international group trips, if you request a roommate and there is not a roommate available, unless otherwise noted, there is no supplementary charge for the single room.  On most trips, you can request single accommodations for a reasonable charge. If you would like single accommodations, please indicate your preference on your booking form.   
 

Meals

During the stay in Johannesburg and at Victoria Falls no meals are included. The driver/guide will care for the meals during the camping days with the help of the participants. The cost of the food on safari is part of the local charges, which (as of 2008) have been built into the cost of the trip. This amount is spent for the purchase of the food, cooking supplies, fuel, and the salary of the camp courier.  (See the price page inclusives for value of local charges.)

Mush is Botswana’s basic dish. “Seswaa,” which is mush served with beef or goat meat and relish, is a traditional meal. It tastes best if you eat it with your bare hands. Mopane worms are a local specialty. They are in fact dried caterpillars that feast on the leaves of the Mopane tree. In the better restaurants in lodges and hotels you will be able to get more western food. At most locations outside the wild parks you can buy non-alcoholic beverages such as Cola, Orange Soda and Sprite. You will also be able to get mineral water, cooled or not cooled. As far as alcoholic beverages are concerned we recommend the local beer brands such as “Zambezi.” Also the imported wines for the most part from South Africa are of especially good quality and very affordable.

Climate

The Kalahari Desert covers most of Botswana. Therefore the country has a semi-arid climate. Fierce short downpours followed by sunshine will interrupt the arid heat only in the rainy season from November until March. In this period the rain is often unpredictable and local and will provide some drop in temperature. In between May and August the dry winter period begins. The wildlife will follow the seasons. In Chobe the rainy season attracts migrating zebras and other game to the Savuti depression from December onward. At the end of this period, from August to October, the wildlife travels to the rivers and water basins at the Chobe River. In Moremi and the Delta you can observe wildlife all year round due to the permanent presence of water, but because of the sparse vegetation and the short grass you will usually not see it until the end of the dry period (September-October).  In Nxai the summer rains attract the most wildlife and the flamingoes. This is also the period that most hoofed animals give birth to their young. In the dry period the wildlife is concentrated around the water basins and the saltpan is deserted.

Check the following website for a summary of temperature and rainfall in the region during your season of travel:  www.worldweather.org

Travel Documents

U.S. citizens do not need a Visa for Botswana or South Africa. A double entry visa is needed for Zambia.
 
Be sure to check with the Department of State for the most recent document requirements for travel to your destinations. Be sure that your passport is valid for at least six months after departure from your destination. Also make sure there are extra pages in your passport.  When completing VISA applications, be sure to confirm whether you will need a SINGLE or DOUBLE entry tourist visa. We will provide you in-country contact information for your visa application. The website for the Dept. of State is:  http://travel.state.gov/travel/travel_1744.html.
 

Flights

As we provide only the LAND PORTION of the trip, you will need to book your own flights from and to the United States. Book your flights into and out of the cities listed below:
 
Land program begins in:   Johannesburg
Land program ends in: Johannesburg

Please note the arrival and departure times listed for the Dutch participants. Plan your flights to arrive prior to the scheduled arrival of the Dutch travelers so that you will not miss the initial group meeting with the tour leader. Flight delays or late arrivals could result in missed activities or can even require that you catch up to the group, which may involve costly transfers. Leave ample time for flight connections and terminal changes. If the scheduled arrival time for the Dutch participants is between 3AM & 11AM we recommend that you arrive the night before, requesting an extension hotel night when you book your trip. If the group arrives late evening or up until 3AM, we include the hotel night and you are free to check in early and rest up or explore on your own. The hotels are usually available for check-in at 1PM.

Dutch group flight scheduled to arrive: on Day 1, 9:25 PM. You may check in earlier in the day, after 1PM.
On the final day, the flight for the Dutch participants is scheduled to leave at:
11:55 PM

USEFUL LINKS FOR BOOKING YOUR FLIGHTS
ORBITZ:   http://www.orbitz.com/
EXPEDIA: http://www.expedia.com/

BEFORE YOU FINALIZE YOUR FLIGHT, GET TRIP CONFIRMATION!
Do not book your flight prior to written or e-mail notification from Djoser that the trip is a "go". For instance, group trips must meet the required minimum enrollment. We will notify you of the status of enrollment upon request. Also, on very rare occasions, an unforeseen itinerary or date change can occur.  We advise you to take out travel insurance. Before booking your flight, make sure that you are aware of your flight provider's penalties for changes or cancellations.  We are not liable for penalties incurred for flight changes or cancellations. 
 

Airline Tickets

If internal flights, trains or boats are used during a Djoser program, the tour leader will handle the tickets and disperse them to group participants at the appropriate time. 

Money

MONEY MATTERS
The cost of the land packages includes city-to-city transport, guide assistance, lodging as described, and only meals listed in the price inclusive section. You should budget for out-of-pocket expenses for other meals, fees for optional excursions and activities, in-city transport and other personal expenses.  See our prices for the estimated out of pocket expenses.

CURRENCY & CASH
On your trip you will want to make sure you are prepared with the proper form of currency. ATMs can be scarce and charge cards are not always accepted.  You will want to exchange money for the local currency.  Before you go, you can check the most current conversion rates, and you can also print out a handy currency exchange "cheat sheet" at: http://www.oanda.com/convert/cheatsheet

TIPPING
On our international group trips, for your convenience, the tour leader will organize a tip pot at the beginning of the trip. At the beginning of the trip, each participant will donate a few dollars per day to the pot. The amounts will be disbursed to drivers, local guides, hotel staff, and others along the way.  If there are funds remaining at the end of the trip, they will be divided among the group.  The tip pot does not include a tip for your tour leader. On our private trips, tipping is up to you.

Health

Check with your doctor or local health authorities for the latest recommendations. Be mindful of what you eat. We recommend you carry a first aid kit and be sure to be equipped with your personal medications, painkillers, and medicines to prevent diarrhea and stomach disorders. The tour leader will also carry a first aid kit in case of emergencies. Keep in mind that travel can be tiring. It is important to be in good health, in good condition and fully equipped for the journey. Take care that you eat properly, drink plenty of water and get lots of rest. Those who travel on our more physically active trips, including our   Walking Tours or Biking Tours, should have higher level of fitness and stamina. For country specific health advice, please consult the Center for Disease Control website at www.cdc.gov.

TRAVEL INSURANCE
For piece of mind, we highly recommend that you procure travel insurance.  Make sure that you are covered in the event of illness or injury. If adequate treatment is not readily available in the area,  emergency evacuation is often required by private carrier and can be exorbitantly expensive. Also, unforeseen events at home can prevent you from going, such as the illness of an immediate relative. Even things like delayed or missed flights or lost luggage can be costly. You are free to choose your own insurance provider. Over the years, we have recommended TRAVELEX. They offer a variety of plans and most importantly, they are responsive. Should you choose to go with TRAVELEX, you will contact them directly and the cost of your coverage will depend on the plan you choose. The cost will be based over the total cost of your trip and flights, and the amount is also subject to your age. Ask about the TRAVEL PLUS plan and the more economical TRAVEL LITE plan.  Their website is www.travelexinsurance.com and phone number is 1-800-228-9792.  It is important to get travel insurance immediately after booking as most companies have a brief window (10 days from booking) for coverage of pre-existing conditions, for example, coverage of cancellation due to a chronically sick relative.

Luggage & Clothing

Please limit your luggage to 35 pounds. We recommend a soft, rolling duffle bag. Hard suitcases are difficult to pack on the vehicle.  Be sure to bring good walking shoes that are comfortable and already broken in. Make sure any equipment that you bring is in good working order.

It is recommended that you bring a universal adapter plug and extra batteries for your flashlight, in the event of power outages.  The voltage is 220/240 Volts. None of the camps have electricity. Participants may take turns charging their batteries from the safari truck.

You will need to bring a sleeping bag. A mattress, pillow, and pillow cover will be provided. June to August bring a warm sleeping bag as evenings are cool

Resources

A good guidebook is invaluable. We recommend the Lonely Planet series as well as the DK Guidebooks.

Communication

Mobile telephone use is limited. Internet cafes can often be found in larger cities but count on a slow connection.  Check with your phone provider before departure regarding coverage or consult the following webpage: www.gsmworld.com/roaming/gsminfo/index.shtml