Amateur Traveler Trip – Africa 2019 – Kruger to Victoria Falls

Kruger to Victoria Falls – 8 days/7 nights

We are taking the adventure up to 11 for the Amateur Traveler 2019 trip, but be advised this trip has more camping than our past trips. This is a safari. We are working again with Intrepid for this trip.

No Whining

As with all Amateur Traveler trips our rule is bring your sense of humor and bring your flexibility. If you are someone who needs to be waited on hand and foot this is not your trip. If you plan on complaining that “we don’t do it that way at home”, this is not your trip. Things may go wrong, so remember:

“Don’t sweat the petty things and don’t pet the sweaty things”.

Travel to Southern Africa

May 2019

Home to large populations of wildlife, rugged national parks, wetlands alive with birds and one of the world’s largest deltas, Southern Africa’s bounty of natural treasures is remarkable. With winter sunshine, a temperate climate and golden sunsets, it’s no wonder most locals have beaming smiles – they’re surrounded by some of Mother Nature’s greatest triumphs.

Everything you need to know about Southern Africa

We have an entire webpage dedicated to the need to know information for this country. Find out about everything from the weather, to the food, destination highlights, and so much more. Just click on the link below!

ITINERARY

Day 1 / Date: 25 May 2019

Destination – Johannesburg

Meals included: None

Sawubona! Welcome to South Africa. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm. You can arrive at any time as there are no activities planned until this important meeting. Please ask the hotel reception where it will take place. If you can’t arrange a flight that will arrive in time for this, consider arriving a day early so you are able to attend. If you are going to be late, please inform the hotel reception. We’ll be collecting your insurance details and next of kin information at this meeting. If you arrive early, get out and explore Johannesburg, a city of remarkable contrasts. Perhaps visit the culturally rich areas of Newtown, Braamfontein or Maboneng. The eye-opening Apartheid Museum is well worth your time.

Notes: Please make sure that if you explore Johannesburg on your own that you get local advice as to where it is safe to walk, especially in the evening. The level of crime here may be higher than what you are used to.

Arrival Transfer

  • Not included – Group / Guests to make their own way to starting point – Holiday Inn Rosebank, in Johannesburg

Note from Chris – I was just in Johannesburg in December 2018. It is easy to get to the Holiday Inn Rosebank by taking the train from the airport. You will need to change trains once but it will be fast and easy. I stayed in the Rosebank area twice on my trip. It is a large mall area with lots of shopping and dining options. The neighborhood felt very safe to me, at least during the daylight hours. There is also a hop on hop off bus suburb loop that starts right near the mall.

Accommodation

Holiday Inn Rosebank or similar – www.hi-rosebank.co.za

Standard Twin Share Room

Day 2 / Date: 26 May 2019

Destination – Kruger

Meals included: Breakfast & Dinner

Travel to Kruger National Park (approximately 11–12 hours). You will leave Johannesburg and travel through the Mpumalanga Province, journeying along the famous Panorama Route through some of the most stunning scenery in the country. Sights along the way include God’s Window, Bourke’s Luck Potholes, the Three Rondavels (Sisters) and the magnificent Blyde River Canyon. Your wildlife-spotting begins as soon as you enter Kruger – you’ll head straight into prime game viewing areas. The park is home to some 500 bird species, 100 species of reptile and 150 mammal species, including the Big Five and the endangered African wild dog. Arrive at your campground, which has shared facilities, hot and cold water. Enjoy dinner prepared at camp by your crew. 

Included Activities

  • Kruger National Park – Game drive – In our own closed vehicle
  • Panorama Route – Bourkes Luck Potholes
  • Panorama Route – God’s Window Viewpoint
  • Panorama Route – Three Rondavels

Accommodation

Satara Rest Camp or similar – https://www.sanparks.org/parks/kruger/camps/satara

Basic Camping, each 2 pax in a tent

Day 3 / Date: 27 May 2019

Destination – Kruger

Meals included: Breakfast & Dinner

We pack up camp, and rise early for a light breakfast of coffee and rusks before embarking on a morning game drive in our own closed vehicle. Most of the day will be spent game viewing, birdwatching and stopping at various waterholes and viewpoints. Arrive at our second camp, Letaba Rest Camp, where we will set up camp. We then take a night drive with the park guide. This is a great chance to spot nocturnal animals and perhaps even a night-time predator or two – catch a lion or hyena out hunting, or an impala out in search of a late-night feed.

Included Activities

  • Kruger National Park – Game Drive in our own vehicle
  • Kruger National Park – Evening Game Drive, in open 4 x 4

Accommodation

Letaba Rest Camp or similar – www.krugerpark.co.za/Kruger_National_Park…Camping…/letaba-camp.html

Basic Camping, each 2 pax in a tent

Day 4 / Date: 28 May 2019

Destination – Mokopane

Meals included: Breakfast & Dinner

Enjoy a final game drive while travelling out of Kruger National Park. Make your way towards the bushveld town of Mokopane (approximately 6 hours). Mokopane is a vibrant town within the Limpopo region, known for its rich mineral deposits and well-established farm land. Tonight, you’ll stay outside of Mokopane on a working cattle farm called Thabaphaswa (meaning ‘black and white mountain’ in the local dialect). It’s situated in a natural basin surrounded by hills. Tonight, you will experience South African farm hospitality on this operational Nguni Stud Farm. The Nguni is the most colourful cattle breed of Africa and is deeply intertwined with the traditions and cultures of the local people. For dinner, feast on a traditional spread prepared by your hosts at the farm. Accommodation upgrades are possible tonight.

Included Activities

  • Kruger Park Game Drive – In our own vehicle
  • Cultural Dinner at Farm Stay

Accommodation

Thabaphaswa Dome Rock Camp or similar – http://www.thabaphaswa.co.za

Basic farm stay, in a glass enclosed shared rooms

Day 5 / Date: 29 May 2019

Destination – Palapye (Moremi)

Meals included: Breakfast & Dinner

This morning we visit a nearby village. Then hit the road for Moremi Gorge near Palapye. This will be an approximate 6-hour drive. This evening we will camp at Goo-Moremi Gorge. This Gorge hosts breeding sites for various bird species, including endangered Cape Vultures, and forms a unique vegetative habitat, which is spectacular to explore. After arriving at the campsite and settling in, perhaps take a short hike in the beautiful surrounds and visit the gorge. The camp tonight is basic with limited hot water in winter. Enjoy dinner this evening, prepared by your cook. 

Included Activities

  • Thabaphaswa Village Visit

Accommodation

Goo-Moremi Camp Site or similar – http://www.upandgo.co.za/botswana-districts/ad/goo-moremi-gorge

Basic Camping in tents – 2 pax per tent

Day 6 / Date: 30 May 2019

Destination – Nata

Meals included: Breakfast & Dinner

Journey from Palapye to Nata (approximately 6 hours). Your campsite is situated on the edge of the amazing Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, one of the largest salt flats in the world (covering some 12,000 square kilometres). On arrival take a three-hour excursion in an open vehicle to explore these seemingly endless plains. Surrounded by the Kalahari Desert, the pans are naturally dry and salty for a large part of the year. During this time the arid landscape has an eerie feel to it as heat mirages disorientate the senses. Then, after the rains hit, it become a grassy refuge for migratory birds and animals. Facilities at your camp include a restaurant, swimming pool, gift shop, ATM and bar/lounge area.

Included Activities

  • Pan Sanctuary Excursion

Accommodation

Nata Lodge, Campsite, or similar – http://underonebotswanasky.com/camps/nata-lodge.php#accommodation

Basic Camping in tents

Day 7 / Date: 31 May 2019

Destination – Victoria Falls

Meals included: Breakfast

Travel on to Victoria Falls (approximately 7–8 hours). You will cross the border into Zimbabwe in time to have lunch on the banks of the lovely Zambezi. Experience the roar of the falls, a gigantic curtain of water about a mile wide and dropping 108 metres into a narrow gorge below. In the wet season, the spray created can rise up an incredible 400 metres, making them an impressive raging torrent. In the dry season, the view of the falls is unobstructed by spray and it’s possible to see little islets in the river below. Your camp tonight has shared facilities, WiFi access and an ATM. We will be staying at Victoria Falls Rest Camp.

Your leader will take you to a local activity centre where a range of activities will be on offer. We have not risk assessed all activities and only those listed in our trip notes are recommended. It is against company policy for leaders to facilitate the booking of any activities that have not been risk assessed or do not adhere to our company’s Responsible Travel policy and ethos. This includes organizing transport to and from these activities in our vehicles.

You may notice businesses offering an optional ‘Walk with the Lions’ experience. We ask all Intrepid travellers to avoid this activity as it is contrary to our Responsible Travel policy. While wildlife viewing is a big part of many of our itineraries, we strive to only view animals in their natural habitats and to do so with the greatest level of respect. The lion walking industry directly contributes to the captive breeding and canned hunting of lions.

Included Activities

  • Victoria Falls Entrance Fee, with Tour of Falls

Optional Activities

  • Sunset Cruise

Accommodation

Victoria Falls Rest camp or similar – www.vicfallsrestcamp.com

Basic Camping in tents

Day 8 / Date: 1 June 2019

Destination – Victoria Falls

Meals included: Breakfast

There are no activities planned for the final day. Our tour comes to an end today, at Vic Falls Rest Camp, after breakfast. Bid Farewell to your crew. If you are interested in the optional helicopter flight (12 minutes or 25 minutes) we endorse the following operator only: Zambezi Helicopter co CAA Zimbabwe. 

Optional Activities

  • Victoria Falls – Helicopter flight (12 mins)
  • Victoria Falls – Gorge swing
  • Victoria Falls – Canoe trail (full day)
  • Victoria Falls – Helicopter flight (25 mins)
  • Victoria Falls – Flying fox
  • Victoria Falls – Whitewater rafting (full day)
  • Victoria Falls – Whitewater rafting (half day)

Departure Transfer

  • Not included

About Your Trip

Start Location

Johannesburg, South Africa

Finish Location

Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

Accommodation

  • Hotel x 1 nights
  • Basic Camping x 5 nights
  • Farm Stay x 1 night

Rooming Requirements

Twin share

Included Meals

  • Breakfast (7)
  • Dinner (5)

Transport

Air-conditioned vehicle transfers throughout.

Chartered Vehicle, depending on size of group

Leader/Guide

1 English speaking tour leader, driver & cook throughout.

Local guides at various activities

Included Activities

Refer to day by day itinerary

Entrance/Admission Fees

Where applicable with included activities

Airport Transfers

Arrival and departure transfers are NOT included

Exclusions

  • International Flights
  • International airport departure tax
  • Any visas required
  • Services not mentioned in the itinerary
  • Late check out at hotels
  • Meals and drinks not mentioned in the itinerary
  • Drinks with included lunches and dinners
  • Tips for leaders, guide and driver
  • Expenditure of personal nature
  • Personal Insurance
  • Optional activities

Package Price

All costs are per person in American Dollars based on indicated number of passengers travelling together as one movement. No arrangements are being held at this point. In order to book, a deposit of USD 400/person is required and the remaining balance as well as the full group’s details will need to be supplied at 60 days prior to departure.

Pricing per person (twin share basis)  $1,735.00

Signup via email at [email protected] or by phone +1-707-310-8540 or +1-855-394-3021.

Reference Number: 5817157

 
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