F.A.Q. South Africa, Namibia, Botswana & ZambiaSouth Africa, Namibia, Botswana & Zambia

F.A.Q.

Why travel with Djoser to Southern Africa?

We fly to and from the African continent on reliable airlines. The entrance fees for the national parks, all game drives, the Okavango Delta-excursion and the boat tour in Chobe are included in the travel sum. An enthusiastic Dutch tour guide, an experienced chauffeur and a camp courier accompany the tour. We will visit the most well known sites of South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Zambia. On the camping tour we will spend the nights in the national parks on excellent official campgrounds with good facilities. During the hotel/chalet tours you will usually sleep in nice bungalows, situated in beautiful locations.

You will travel with our own modern trucks, equipped with sliding glass windows, comfortable chairs that face the driving direction and an electrical cooler. The trucks are well maintained and give you an excellent view of the wildlife.

Will I get to see the ‘big five’ on this tour?

The ‘big five’ (lion, elephant, rhinoceros, leopard and buffalo) can be seen year-round. In the dry season, from April until October, the wild animals are concentrated around the water pools, so they will be easy for you to photograph.

What are the accommodations like on this trip?

On the camping trip we spend the night primarily in basic tents, which are equipped with mosquito netting. The tents are quite spacious. The guide will show you how to pitch the tent at the beginning of the trip but then you will be expected to pitch your own tent so it is important that you are comfortable carrying and lifting the tent onto the safari truck. We make arrangements for all the camping equipment, except for your sleeping bag that you have to bring along. The sanitary facilities at most of the camping grounds in South Africa, Namibia and Botswana are of good quality. From time to time there are even splendid hot showers available and you can take a refreshing dive in the swimming pool. Often, you will also find small camp stores. The only place where you will have to forfeit comforts is at the Okavango Delta. Here the facilities are limited but the amazing natural beauty compensates for the lack of creature comforts. We spend the nights in Cape Town in a simple hotel and at Victoria Falls in tents equipped with a bed. In the event you are traveling alone we will generally hook you up with another traveler who will share a tent and rooms with you. It is not possible to guarantee a single tent as space on the safari vehicle is limited.

During the hotel/chalet trips we use several different forms of accommodations. We usually spend the night in rondavels which are chalets with sleeping which accommodate 2, 4, or sometimes 6 people. Rondavels are free-standing houses with private bedroom and common living area and bath facilities. The chalets are usually located in beautiful bird-inhabited gardens, many with their own little terrace, a built-in kitchen facilities and a barbeque outside. In addition we will spend the night in tourist-class hotels and simple lodges. In Okavango Delta, we spend two nights on the deck of a houseboat. Above the bed you have an awning and mosquito netting. The other night in the Delta, you will sleep in a small tent. A bed with mattress, pillows, blankets, etc. are provided. If you book a single room, you will have your own bedroom in the chalets however you will share the bathroom and living room area. During the overnight on the houseboat it is possible to book a private cabin. If you travel alone, you will share accommodations with another group member of the same sex. If you prefer single accommodations, you may indicate your preference on the registration form. If you request a roommate and we are unable to find one for you, there will be no additional charge billed to you for a single.

Use the following link to view some of our lodgings: http://www.djoserusa.com/hotels

What sort of vehicles do we use on these trips?

During this trip we use a specially equipped safari vehicle. These are trucks with storage for luggage, camping equipment and supplies. On the camping safari, we use an open vehicle. This vehicle requires a large step up to board. As we use this vehicle throughout the trip we are free to make stops along the way whenever we desire. The connecting roads in South Africa, Botswana, and Namibia are generally paved and of excellent quality. Some stretches of road are unpaved, for example in the wildlife parks. In the large cities such as Cape Town and Swakopmund we do not have our own transportation.

Use the following link to view some of the buses that we use: http://www.djoserusa.com/transportation

How are meals handled on this trip?

During the camping portions of the trip, we cook our own meals. A camp courier travels along with the group and is responsible for the purchase of supplies and gives instructions regarding the preparation of meals. Every participant is expected to pitch in a few times during the safari, to assist with the preparation of meals and clean up. Look under Meals in the Practical Information section of this trip to see the cost of food per person. This is spent for the purchase of the food, cooking supplies, fuel, and the salary of the camp courier. The cost for these meals is billed separately on your invoice. The meals we prepare are based more on Western tastes.

During the hotel/chalet trip, there are no meals included except during the stay in the Okavango Delta, where meals are arranged. The cost for these meals will be billed separately on your invoice. You are free to determine where you can go for dinner. The guide will give you recommendations. The base ingredient for the local cuisine in these countries is cornmeal. In the south of Africa, this is called Sadza. It is usually consumed together with beef or goat meat with a relish sauce. If you do like the locals, this dish is eaten with your hands. A local specialty in Namibia is Mahango; a type of hops that is turned into a mash. In the better restaurants in these countries you are able to get western dishes such as fries, pastas, steaks and other familiar dishes. In the larger towns you will also find take-out restaurants. The most popular local snack in southern Africa is Biltong, which is a dried, salted meat of a variety of animals. It is commonly found as a common cocktail snack.

Will I need visas for this trip?

You will need a visa for Zambia, which we will arrange for you if you are a U.S. or Canadian citizen. The cost for the visa is built into the cost of your trip. You will need to provide us with your passport details.

I will be joining a Dutch (International) group. Will I have problems with language?

It is possible that you could be the only North American traveler on the this trip, made up of Dutch travelers from Djoser, Netherlands. Almost all travelers from the Netherlands have a wonderful command of English and are willing to socialize. Many fellow travelers are willing to help with translations. The Dutch tour leader (who is a trip coordinator, not a lecturer) will address the group, first in Dutch. He/she will then repeat the important information to you in English. There is a breakfast meeting with the group and tour leader each day, which is a good time to review materials and to go over plans for the day. At some stops we may also have the assistance of a local country guide will address the group in English.

The overwhelming majority of people who book these trips enjoy the international blend but frankly, it is not for everyone. It is inevitable that there will be times when your fellow travelers are speaking Dutch. If you have a travel partner, it is much easier to blend in to conversation, or at least to have a buffer for an English conversation. A flexible and easy-going nature are essential when joining an international group. Single travelers may feel a little isolated at such times. Before booking, you can check with us to see if another North American traveler has booked. Singles who adapt well on these trips are typcially very experienced travelers, have traveled with with international groups (English not the primary language), and have easy-going personalities. Those who require a greater level of attention from the tour leader should book one of the Djoser trips with North American participants only.

What are the extra costs for the ‘popular’ excursions?

Most entrance fees for the national parks, the game drives and the excursion to Okavango Delta are included in the travel sum. For the remaining entrance fees (like for a museum, etc.) you pay small fees. For some offered excursions, like for the Victoria Falls, you should count on spending larger amounts. It is popular to go rafting on the Zambezi for example. Here you pay about US $90 for a full day of rafting. A bungee jump from Victoria Falls Bridge will cost you about US $100. The well known ‘flight of the Angels’ or a helicopter flight over the falls will cost you about US $80. In Swakopmund you can ride through the dunes on a quad bike. This will cost you about US $55. Sand-boarding here costs US $20. (Costs and availability are, of course, subject to change).

Can I recharge the batteries for my digital camera/video on this tour?

At most campsites where you will be staying you can recharge your batteries at the reception (for a fee) or at the toilet facilities where there are electrical outlets. In Africa it sometimes happens that campsites experience electrical blackouts. So be sure to also bring spare equipment. On this tour it is not possible to recharge your batteries during the excursion in the Okavango Delta or on the campsites of Twijfelfontijn and Brandberg.

Should I bring a mosquito net with me on this tour?

It is not necessary to bring a mosquito net with you on this camping tour. The tent has anti-mosquito gauze and thus functions like a mosquito net.

To see a picture of the tents you can take a look at: http://www.djoserusa.com/hotels

What should I bring?

In regard to your luggage we request you do not bring more than 32 pounds in a duffel bag or weekend bag. Suitcases are very difficult to pack into our truck. A warm sleeping bag can be brought along separately from the other luggage. Also bring a small daypack for storing your camera, binoculars, water bottle, travel guide etc. We recommend you bring clothing for different types of weather: light cotton clothing for daytime, but also a sweater or a fleece jacket for evenings or early mornings when it can be cool, especially in the period May-October. Don’t forget to take into account that we will be camping on this tour and that white clothing is not practical! It is handy to bring pants with zip-off pant legs/ diving goggles/ snorkel/ bath slippers/ towels/ clothing pegs/ flashlight/ hat/ bathing suit/ bug spray/ and good hiking shoes. A mosquito net is not necessary!

What is the best time for travel?

Throughout southern Africa it is pleasant to travel year-round; each season has its own charming aspects. In general the seasons are opposite to the North American seasons because these countries are situated in the Southern Hemisphere. This is especially so for South Africa and Namibia. July is the coldest month, January the warmest. In general the winters are dry with average temperatures ranging between 59-70°. In the morning and evening it can however cool down considerably, so that warm clothing and a warm sleeping bag (only for the camping tour participants) are recommendable. In summer the average temperature is about 10 degrees higher. In Botswana the rain season falls in the period between November and March. In South Africa and Namibia this is actually the period with lots of sunshine!

Can I take out cash at ATM machines?

Only in the larger cities in South Africa and Namibia can you use your bankcard with PIN number to take out cash at banks. If your tour starts at the Victoria Falls then it is advisable to take out South African rands already when you transfer in Johannesburg. We advise you to bring the largest amount of the spending money in travelers’ checks or cash dollars. Bring cash (in small denominations) for the payment of the airport taxes and the optional excursions.
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