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15 December 2006
On arrival at the O.R. Tambo (Johannesburg) Airport you proceed through passport control to the luggage collection area and then through Customs to the Arrivals Hall. Look out for our representative from Wilro Tours, they will be holding a name-board with your surname on it. They will meet you and assist you at the airport. They will then transfer you to the Airport Grand Hotel for your overnight stay.
Airport Grand HotelThe 151-bedroom Airport Grand Hotel & Conference Centre is situated a mere five minute drive from the Johannesburg International Airport, offering the leisure traveller and business executive convenient access to the major business centres of Johannesburg and Pretoria.
16 December 2006
Today you take the shuttle bus back to the O.R. Tambo (Johannesburg) Airport where you board the flight to Maseru in Lesotho.
On arrival at Maseru Airport, you are met by a representative from ....they will be holding a name board with your surname on it. They will then transfer you to Malealea Lodge in the Lesotho highlands for your two night stay. The transfer will take approximately 1½ hours.
Malealea Lodge Malealea is situated in a remote part of Western Lesotho, breathtaking in its beauty and a chance to experience traditional Basotho life. Inscription in the rock by Mervyn Bosworth-Smith, founder of Malealea, Trading Station in the early 1900's - now Malealea Lodge. Malealea Lodge is run by the owners, Mick & Di Jones, both born in Lesotho and credited with more local knowledge than anyone. Various Basotho Children's choirs and a Local Basotho Band, using their local home-made instruments, entertain the guests in the evenings around a campfire. Lesotho – The Kingdom in the Sky Located in the heart of Southern Africa, Lesotho is unique in that it is entirely surrounded by South Africa, while still being an independent nation within the Commonwealth. With a land area of approximately 30 000 km², no part of the Country is below 1000 metres and much of the land consists of high mountains that reach their peak at Thabana-Ntlenyana, at 3,841m the highest point of Southern Africa. Because of the altitude, the climate is well described as invigorating. Clean mountain air, spectacular blue skies, and brilliant sunshine for more than 300 days each year provide a wonderful climate that will restore even the most jaded traveller. The majestic Maluti Mountains and the spectacular Drakensberg Range, offers a magnificent backdrop to a near tropical destination that can provide a wide range of outdoor holiday activities. Although it is a young independent nation, Lesotho’s history goes back millions of years. Fossilised dinosaur trails and discoveries of petrified wood testify to a long natural history, while later the San (bushmen) have left their cave paintings as relics of their later occupation. Most of the inhabitants of Lesotho are Basotho and speak the national language Sesotho, although nearly all speak excellent English. Although many Basotho still live and work outside their Country, their attachment to their local village and traditional culture is still strong. The family is still the dominant unit, and respect for the elder generation important. Basotho culture is centred around village life, and most traditions and festivals relate to local village life and the seasons of the year. Basotho people are predominately rural, and getting around the mountainous areas has always been difficult. However, the Basotho pony is ideal for local transportation and so breeding and riding these surefooted ponies is very important. In the towns, as well as in the mountains, it will not be unusual to meet a Basotho horseman, clad in a kobo, his traditional cloak or blanket, and who will raise his hand in the traditional greeting Khotso – peace.
18 December 2006
Today you are collected from the lodge by ...and transferred back to the Maseru Airport where you board the flight back to Johannesburg.
At the O.R. Tambo (Johannesburg) Airport you look out for the representative from the Airport Grand Hotel, they will be holding a name board with AIRPORT GRAND HOTEL WELCOMES and then you surname on it. They will then transfer you via shuttle bus to the hotel for your overnight stay.
19 December 2006
This morning you take the hotel shuttle bus back to the Airport where you board the flight to Maun in Botswana. TAKE THE SHUTTLE EARLY SO YOU CAN STORE YOUR LUGGAGE
LUGGAGE STORAGE FOR SAFARI …SEE STEPHENS NOTES
Johannesburg/Maun:
On arrival at the Maun Airport you look out for a representative from Mack Air Charters. They will transfer you via light aircraft transfer to the Okavango Delta and onto Kwando Kwara Camp for your two night stay and game viewing experience. On arrival at Kwara, you are transferred by 4x4 to the camp within the private Kwara concession.
Kwando Kwara CampThis is a magnificent wilderness area in excess of 1,700 square kilometres bordering the Moremi Reserve. Kwara encompasses a wide diversity of habitats, ranging from permanent delta water with reed-lined lagoons and channels, to open grasslands, Mopane woodlands and palm-fringed islands. The 8 luxury safari-style tents are built on raised teak decks, overlooking a vast floodplain within a grove of huge African Ebony trees. Each tent has its own viewing deck, private en suite facilities including hot and cold running showers, flush toilets and modern amenities. Our guests can enjoy a diverse wildlife experience all year round. Whether gliding silently through crystal-clear waterways in a mokoro (dug out canoe), bird watching, fishing, walking on one of the many palm-fringed islands, or going out on a spectacular night drive. Among the waterways there is an amazing number and variety of bird species, kingfishers, pygmy geese, fish eagles and the elusive Pel's fishing owl.
BotswanaBotswana is one of Africa's last pristine lands and offers its visitors beautiful scenery and prolific big game in equal measure. Most people know of the Okavango Delta, yet Botswana conjures up so many memorable images for those lucky enough to visit - the shimmering heat rising from the vast white salt pans of the Makgadikgadi pans; the flight of a fish eagle as it glides over the waterways of the delta; the majestic baobab trees rising out of the Kalahari grasslands; or the elephant family coming down to the Chobe River to drink as dusk falls. An enlightened programme of conservation in this stable country has meant that vast areas, one sixth of the country, remain a sanctuary for magnificent herds of game.
The Okavango Delta The Okavango Delta is exceedingly beautiful. A jewel in the middle of the Kalahari Desert, the Okavango Delta is Africa's largest and most beautiful oasis - an isolated, lush green paradise with some of the richest wildlife in the world. The maze of waterways, lagoons, vast grassy plains and palm-fringed and wooded islands is home to crocodile, hippo, elephant, lion, leopard, hyena, giraffe, wild dog, rare antelope and around 400 bird species. But wildlife is just one of many elements that combine to make the Delta a treasure house. It is the brooding quietness of the waterways, the plaintiff cry of the African fish eagle, the Malachite kingfisher reflected in the translucent waters, the scent of the water lilies and the Okavango's glorious sunsets, which will stay with you forever.
The delta is ever changing. Its source lies in the highlands of Angola, an extremely wet region known as the Benguela plateau. From here the Cubango River flows south, away from the sea, gathering ever more water until it reaches Botswana, where it is known as the Okavango. Here it forms a vast, fan-shaped, astonishingly luxuriant wilderness of flood plain and forest, stream and lagoon, with the occasional large expanse of open water - the ideal breeding ground for an incredible diversity of wildlife. With the influx of the annual flood, the delta's water levels rise steadily from May onwards, reaching further and further into the Kalahari sands, with its peak level reached in August.
In the north and central part of the delta lies the permanent water, with its typically deep channels and dense banks of papyrus and reeds. Here game viewing is predominantly by motorboat, as well as game walks with an experienced and armed guide on the delta's islands.
On Safari in BotswanaWords cannot describe the thrill of tracking a lion on the hunt or observing a breeding herd of elephants at a waterhole. This is an intimate and informative experience. You enjoy game drives in open-vehicle game drives with an experienced ranger who can give you a deeper understanding of the wildlife and the natural cycles of the bush.
The pattern of Game-viewingOn arrival you can relax in your room or by the pool until tea and coffee are served at approximately 1530 (in winter) or 1600 (in summer). The pattern for safaris is to take game activities - whether it be a game drive, a boat cruise or a mekoro trip - in the late afternoon and early morning. This is the time when animals are most likely to be seen. Game activities will start immediately after tea and will continue into the early evening.
Clothing and equipment on open vehicle game vehiclesCasual bush clothes are the order of the day at the safari camps and you are not expected to dress for dinner. Please ensure that you have a lightweight shirt and trousers to cover yourself in summer evenings when there are mosquitoes about. Neutral colours are most suitable. Bright colours or white are to be avoided if you are planning to take a bush walk with a ranger, as strong colours will scare off the animals. A hat with a brim and sunblock is also essential in Summer.
In Winter and Spring, it can be very chilly in the early morning and late evening, no matter how warm it has been during the day - please believe us! Bring a warm jacket for the 0600 starts! It is best to dress in layers of clothing so that you can peel off as the sun comes up. By 0900 it could be quite hot again!
Binoculars are necessary to really appreciate the animals and good mammal and bird books will aid in identification and will boost your own enjoyment and recollection of your safari.
Photography on SafariFor close-up photographs of animals, it is essential to have a 300mm or telephoto lens. However much of the bush is characterised by wide open spaces, so a 28mm wide angle lens could also be invaluable, especially if you want to emphasize something in the foreground.
100-200 ASA film will be appropriate for most conditions, but some 400 ASA film can be useful for the light conditions at dusk or if you are lucky enough to come across a cheetah in a high-speed chase. Make sure you bring some spare batteries, as these may not be readily available and an ultra-violet filter is also useful for reducing glare. A lens hood will prevent light from diffusing an image if you have to shoot towards the sun.
If you are not a regular photographer, the following tips may be useful: · The bright sunlight in South Africa means that early morning and late afternoon are generally the best times for photography. · Avoid static pictures of animals - a giraffe drinking is a much better photo than one just calmly looking at you. · Think about your background - if you are at a water hole you can select a spot to wait, which gives you a good background and the right light. · If you don't have a good tele-photo lens, don't be tempted into taking numerous shots of animals in the medium ground. You will end up with lots of photos of green or brown bush! Instead concentrate on taking landscape or scene shots, for example, zebras playing or animals congregated at a water hole.
20 December 2006
The mornings start early as this is the best time to spot the night-time animals looking for sustenance. The two to three hour drive finishes in time for a late breakfast that sets you up for the day. The pattern for the middle of the day is similar to the first day with lunch and relaxation around the lodge followed by a late afternoon game drive or boat cruise. A boat cruise is very much another form of game viewing as you may see game coming down to drink at the river.
21 December 2006
This morning after a final game activity, you are transferred back to the airstrip where you are collected by Mack Air Charters and transferred to the Linyanti area for your two night stay at Kwando Lagoon Camp. On arrival at Lagoon Camp, you are transferred by 4x4 back to the lodge.
Kwando Lagoon Camp Lagoon Camp prides itself on having one of the most beautiful settings in Botswana, on the shady banks of the Kwando River among tall and ancient African Ebony and Marula trees. Each tent looks out over the water and has private en-suite facilities, including open-air showers and flush toilets. There is a pool in which to cool off during the hot months. Morning and night game drives are conducted by our specialist guides and trackers in open safari vehicles. This area is home to huge herds of elephants and buffalo, especially in the dry season. Then large herds of elephant drink almost daily at the river bank in front of the camp, in full view of the guests. The big herds attract big predators - lion, hyena, leopard, cheetah and wild dog. These animals are generally very relaxed in the presence of vehicles, meaning the sightings are usually at close range. Among the great variety of antelope species found at Lagoon Camp, the endangered Sable and Roan are often seen. Playful spotted necked otters are commonly seen performing in the Lagoon right in front of the tents. Boat cruises along the Kwando River provide excellent opportunities for birding and specialist fly fishing and spinner fishing for Tiger fish and Bream is also on offer. Some excellent catches have been made by Kwando guests.
Linyanti SwampsThe Linyanti Swamps lie to the west of Chobe National Park, wilder than Chobe and also known for the large elephant herds. Huge African ebony and marula trees, favourite food for elephant, shade the rivers. This is big game country, with predators such as lion, cheetah, wild dog and hyena regularly sighted, as well as herds of impala, lechwe, kudu, zebra, giraffe, sable, roan, waterbuck and buffalo. The landscape is characterized by grassland vistas dotted with palm forest islands - all very picturesque and open. The three good private concessions here - Kwando, Selinda and Linyanti - offer a seasonal home to game migrating from the grasslands to the south, with the permanent water of the Linyanti/Kwando River drawing the animals during the dry season.
23 December 2006
Today you are transferred back to the airstrip where you are collected by Mack Air Charters for your transfer to Kasane. On arrival at the Kasane Airport you are met by a representative from UTC Tours, they will be holding a name-board with your surname on it. They will then transfer you across the border into Zimbabwe and onto Victoria Falls for your three night stay at Rainbow Hotel.
********** REMEMBER YOU WILL HAVE ZIMBABWE VISA CHARGES.
Please allow 15 minutes either way as this transfer collects clients from the Airport and the other hotels.
Sunset CruiseDeparts daily from all central Vic Falls hotels at 16h00. Duration 2.5 hours. Transfer to the jetty for a cruise along the Upper Zambezi in the late afternoon. Enjoy the sights and sounds of the Zambezi River in relaxation, with local wines, beers, soft drinks and snacks served during the trip. This trip often offers a magnificent chance to witness a spectacular African sunset. Cruise back to the jetty for transfer back to the hotel after sunset.
Victoria FallsThe Victoria Falls is a dramatic scenic contrast and a change of pace from the private game reserves. It is a sight not to be missed - the clouds of spray generated by this thunderous descent have resulted in a lush rain forest full of stunning wild flowers. A host of activities are centred on three separate delights: the Falls, the magnificent Zambezi River and the surrounding Zambezi National Park. To gain an overall impression of the Falls, the helicopter 'Flight of Angels' is essential. A microlight ride and bungee jumping are available for the truly daring. The Zambezi River has two characters - the wide gentle river above the Falls is the perfect place for languorous sunset boat cruises or gentle canoeing, whilst below the Falls, the more adventurous can enjoy serious white-water rafting or jet-boating. Game drives and horse riding are offered in the Zambezi National Park to view elephant and buffalo. Visitors can also sample elephant back safaris and take part in their grooming and feeding activities at the Elephant Camp.
24 December 2006
This morning you are collected from the hotel at 07:30 by Tours for your half day white water rafting.
Half day White Water RaftingDeparts daily from all central Vic Falls hotels between 0730-08h00. Half day is low water only (July – Jan approx), and returns to town around 14h30. NB during high water (around mid-Jan-mid-July) depending on the rains, not all options may be available. Please check before booking. No under 15. Rates do not include River Usage Fee (currently Usd 10 per person) payable locally.
Take the shuttle bus from the hotel to the meeting point for a safety talk and to pay the River Usage Fee. Continue to the Gorge for practice in the raft. Proceed with an experienced guide through some of the most exciting rapids in the world, drifting between rapids through breathtaking gorge scenery. Lunch of cold meats & salads and cold drinks is served. An extremely strenuous climb out of the gorge marks the end of the day’s activity, and clients are transferred back to town, arriving late afternoon, after enjoying cold drinks and local beers at the top of the Gorge.
25 December 2006
This morning you are collected from the hotel at 09:30 byTours for your Falls and Village Tour. This evening you are collected from the hotel at 19:00 for your boma restaurant dinner.
Guided Tour of the Falls and visit to the Traditional Living VillageDeparts daily from all central Vic Falls hotels at 09h30 & 14h00. Duration 3 hours. The tour starts with a visit to the Falls with many photographic opportunities along the way, and continues to the Traditional Living in Zimbabwe village – a unique reconstructed African village which depicts the way of life of Zimbabwe’s six main ethnic groups.
Boma Restaurant DinnerDeparts daily at 19h00 from all central Vic Falls hotels. Duration 3 hours (flexible). Transfer to the Boma Restaurant at the Vic Falls Safari Lodge/Lokuthula Lodge site. Dinner is buffet style, and consists of a wide variety of game meats, local dishes, vegetarian options, salads and accompaniments, as well as a range of desserts. During dinner, dancers perform at various intervals – traditional African style, to suit the ambience of this vibey venue. Tea/coffee ends the meal, and a cash bar is available. Transfer back to the hotel later.
26 December 2006
Today you are collected from the hotel at 11:50 by UTC Tours and transferred to the Victoria Falls Airport where you board the flight to Johannesburg.
At the O.R. Tambo (Johannesburg) Airport you look out for the representative from the Airport Grand Hotel, they will be holding a name board with AIRPORT GRAND HOTEL WELCOMES and then you surname on it. They will then transfer you via shuttle bus to the hotel for your overnight stay.
27 December 2006
This morning you take the hotel shuttle bus back to the O.R. Tambo (Johannesburg) Airport where you check-in for the Pelican Air flight to Vilanculos at Counter 55 of International Departures. Check in is at 08:30.
The luggage allowance is 20kg per person and the flight time is 2 hrs and 15 minutes.
********** LUGGAGE STORAGE
On arrival at the Vilanculos Airport you are met by a representative from Dugong Beach Lodge and transferred to the lodge for your three night stay.
Dugong Beach LodgeDugong Beach Lodge is situated on the East-African Seaboard, on the coast of Mozambique within the boundaries of "The Vilanculos Coastal Wildlife Sanctuary".
Accommodation is in 10 luxuriously appointed framed tented rooms with hardwood floors, en-suite bathrooms, huge feature baths and outside showers, under thatched Jekka grass canopies. Guest rooms have two twin beds or one king-size bed and are equipped with hair-drier, fans and mosquito nets; all open onto a private patio.
Facilities include the Bar, open daily and offering poolside refreshments, the Lounge, equipped with TV monitor and DVD player, the Fresh Water Swimming Pool & Boardwalk Jetty. The Gazebo, located at the end of the jetty, is the perfect setting for sundowners or private dinners.
Water sport enthusiasts can look forward to an array of activities, including Salt Water fly fishing, Deep Sea fishing, Scuba Diving, Snorkelling, Pedal Boats and Kayaks. Shallow and deepwater reefs reveal beautiful creatures such as great and leatherback turtles, sailfish and manta ray, to name a few.
Vilanculos MainlandIt is hard to imagine somewhere more romantic than empty white sandy beaches, lush vegetation and an azure blue sea for swimming amongst the rich coral life. This 'land of smiles', is synonymous with long sandy beaches, warm tropical water, a relaxed atmosphere and delicious Portuguese cuisine.
The protected reefs around Vilanculos support dolphin, dugong, game fish and giant lobster. The shallow, crystal-clear waters offer spectacular safe snorkeling protected by the dazzling soft coral reefs. You float above starfish, anemones, seahorses and a bewildering range of jewel-like fish, which extend out to the many dive sites where you also encounter green turtles, manta ray, sailfish and a variety of docile sharks. The more adventurous will enjoy the thrill of a night dive or wreck dive whilst beginners can take the PADI open water dive course (4 days). Experience the exhilaration of big game fishing, fighting marlin (Oct to Mar) as well as barracuda, kingfish, tuna and sailfish amongst others. This truly memorable trip is available for enthusiast and first-time fisherman alike as you are helped every step of the way. Bird-watchers will not be disappointed with over 125 species recorded including the rare Crab plover, Green coucal, Narina trogan and Paradise flycatchers. Above all, there are no people! If you want a cosmopolitan bustling resort experience, Mozambique is not for you - there are few shops, no real roads and very few vehicles.
30 December 2006
After the morning at leisure you are transferred back to Vilanculos Airport where you board the flight to Johannesburg. At the O.R. Tambo (Johannesburg) Airport you board the international flight back home. |
