the big overlander northbound - 47 days go guide · experience the contrasts and raw appeal of this...

The Big Overlander Northbound - 47 daysgo guidedon't leave home without it

A World Of Discovery

The Big Overlander Northbound - 47 days updated on 03-09-2012

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This Go Guide has been compiled with care and good faith. It gives an accurate illustration of the proposed arrangements for this holiday. Circumstances beyond our control such as changes in local conditions, inclement weather or otherreasons could force us to make changes to this itinerary. This document does not form part of a contract between the traveller and on the go and their affiliates. Any costs shown are subject to change though are an accurate reflection ofcosts at time of writing. Please also note that visa requirements are subject to change and are the responsibility of the traveller and not that of on the go

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Experience the contrasts and raw appealof this majestic continent up close andpersonal. Visiting seven different countries,spot wildlife in Africa's best game parks, trekfor gorilla in Uganda, relax and unwind onZanzibar and soak up the incredible sights!

HIGHLIGHTS AND INCLUSIONS

Trip Highlights• Kenya: Nairobi, extend your stay to

explore the sites. The Great Rift Valley.Lake Nakuru National Park and lake,famous for its flamingos. Lake Naivasha,the highest Rift Valley lake. The MasaiMara, Kenya's finest wildlife reserve.Masai Mara tribal lands.

• Uganda: Kampala, the lively capital. LakeBunyoni, spectacular scenery. Jinja, Nilerafting. The Equator Crossing.

• Gorilla Trekking (an optional excursion).Bwindi or Mgahinga Gorilla park in

Uganda or Ruhengeri (Rwanda) or ParcNational des Virunga (DRC)

• Tanzania: Arusha, the safari gateway.The Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater(an optional excursion). Views of Mt Meruand Mt Kilimanjaro. Pangani, a historicalcoastal town. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania'slargest city. Mikumi National Park (transitonly).

• Zanzibar: (optional) Beautiful northernbeaches & historic Stone Town(UNESCO-listed).

• Malawi: Lake Malawi, one of the AfricanGreat Lakes, with beautiful beaches, baysand inlets.

• Zambia: Livingstone & Mosi-oa-TunyaNational Park, Zambia's gateway toVictoria Falls (optional).

• Botswana:Chobe National Park, famousfor its herds of elephants. Boat cruisealong the Chobe River.

• Zimbabwe:Masvingo and The GreatZimbabwe Ruins. Musina hot springs.Gweru and The Antelope Park. MatoboNP, renowned for its black and whiterhino. UNESCO Listed Victoria Falls, oneof the natural wonders of the world.

• South Africa: Kruger National Park,South Africa's flagship game reserve. Thescenic Panorama Route and Blyde RiverCanyon. Johannesburg - extend your stayto explore the city.

What's Included• Arrival transfer from Johannesburg Airport

on day 1• 1st night dormitory accommodation at

Mufasa Backpackers Johannesburg(upgrades available), 42 nights camping

• Transport in fully equipped expeditiontruck

• Services of 3 person crew (leader, driver,cook)

• All camping fees & appropriate equipment• 41 breakfasts, 36 lunches, 38 dinners• Park entry - Lake Naivasha NP and The

Antelope Park (Gweru). Park entry &game drive - Kruger NP, Matobo NP,

Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru NP and ChobeNP

• Return ferry to Zanzibar• Chobe River boat trip• All road taxes & tolls

What's Not Included• Entrance Fees: Gorilla Permit + Transfer

US $575 - 815• Gorilla Permit and transfer fee: Please

note that Gorillas often move across theborder, between the national parks inRwanda, Uganda and DRC, thereforeitineraries often have to be changed atshort notice in order to track the Gorillasin whichever National Park they havemigrated to. For this reason the cost ofthe Gorilla Permit and relevant transfersvaries, as do the applicable visa costs,dependent upon which country we need totravel into.

• Accommodation in Zanzibar• International flights and visas• Tipping - an entirely personal gesture• Sleeping bag and roll mat - please bring

your own• Optional activities

Local PaymentUSD $1105

The local payment is a cost per person whichneeds to be paid in US Dollars cash only. Itis this payment which in part covers the parkfees and other inclusions such as meals asdetailed under ‘what you get’. The local paymentalso covers your arrival transfer and 1st night’saccommodation. Please note that due toexchange rate fluctuations in the US dollar, thelocal payment amount may be subject to changes.This payment will be collected by your tour leaderat the Welcome Meeting on day 1.

DETAILED ITINERARY

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Day 1 : JohannesburgTuesday. Welcome to South Africa! Upon arrivalat Johannesburg Airport you will transferredto Mufasa Backpackers - 21 Fourth Road,Cloverdene, Benoni, Johannesburg. Tonight youwill be accommodated in dormitory rooms withshared facilities. Upgrades to single and twin ensuite rooms are available upon request and subjectto availability. Tonight there will be a pre departuremeeting at 17.00pm where you will meet your guideand the rest of your group.

Arrival Transfer Details: On arrival atJohannesburg Airport please go to the help desk/info kiosk, give them your name/s and ask them tocall Mufasa BP’s at 073 600 3185 and give themnames of the people being collected (you will needto provide the help desk with the above number tobe called). Then walk from the international arrivalsto Domestic Departures in Terminal B (approx.5-10 mins). At Terminal B, Domestic Departuresexit the building and turn left and continue walkingfor approximately 130m to the Carport ExecutiveSIGN. Wait here and the Mufasa BP’s vehicle willcollect you from this point. The driver will ask foryour names to confirm you are getting into thecorrect vehicle. Overnight - Johannesburg

Days 2-3 : Kruger N.P.

Johannesburg - Hazyview. Leaving Johannesburgwe head towards the Lowveld and Umvubu campsituated on the border of the famous KrugerNational Park. On our way we pass through thesouthern section of the picturesque PanoramaRoute – famous for its breathtaking vistas. Ourcamp for the next two nights is a short drive fromthe Kruger’s Numbi Gate and has some interestinglocal residents that include hippo, giraffe, zebra andimpala. We spend a relaxing evening around thecamp fire before our game drive tomorrow.

The next day we explore the amazing KrugerNational Park. Covering 21 497 km2 - 60 km wideand over 350 km long, this conservation area hasmore than 146 mammals, 500 bird, 114 reptile,33 amphibian & 49 fish species. 23000 differenttypes of plants have been recorded. We spend theday driving around the park keeping an eye out forthese. There is the option of doing a night drivelooking for a few of the nocturnal inhabitants orupgrading to a small vehicle for the game drive atan additional cost. Overnight - Kruger N.P. (B:1,L:2, D:2)

Day 4 : Blyde River CanyonHazyview - Polokwane. Today we leave theLowveld and head on the long, scenic driveto Polokwane. Along the way we stop off atsome of the best scenery in South Africa,including the ever striking Blyde River Canyonand God’s Window. The many viewpoints of theCanyon, afford us excellent photo opportunities.Polokwane, capital of Limpopo, is the largestmetropolitan complex in the north and a majoreconomic centre. Its proximity to the neighbouringcountries of Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambiqueand Swaziland, as well as its convenient distancefrom the Kruger National Park and Magoebaskloof,makes it a perfect gateway and good destination initself. We set up our tents on the lush green grassof our campsite located outside of the city beforeenjoying a dip in the lovely swimming pool.Overnight - Polowane (B, L, D)

Day 5 : Musina

Polokwane - Musina. After a quick replenishingof our stocks we begin our journey north towardZimbabwe. We have a long, relaxing drive wherewe get to sit back and enjoy the ever changingscenery. Tonight we’ll camp near to one of thehottest towns in South Africa, Musina, at the hotwater spring resort – Tshipise. Situated betweenthe rolling hills, the resort is well known for itsnatural hot water springs. Once we’ve set up camp,you’re free to enjoy the pools, walking trails orvarious other activities on offer here. Overnight -Musina (B, L, D)

Day 6 : MasvingoMusina - Masvingo (Zimbabwe). Today we enterZimbabwe - a beautiful country rich in soul, cultureand tradition. We make our way to the town ofMasvingo - on the outskirts of the Great ZimbabweRuins. This was the greatest medieval city in sub-Saharan Africa, built by an ancient highly skilledcivilization. The name Zimbabwe is derived fromthis ancient city and means “great stone houses”in Shona. The most notable artefacts found at theruins were the 8 Statues of stone birds carvedout of soapstone. Wander around these amazingruins, before setting up camp at the foot of the hills.Overnight - Masvingo (B, L, D)

Days 7-8 : Gweru

Masvingo - Gweru. Leaving Masvingo, we continueour journey north to Gweru, in Zimbabwe’sMidlands. Here we stop over at The Antelope Park.It is said “you have not been to Zimbabwe until youhave visited the Victoria Falls… and the AntelopePark.” A wide variety of game viewing opportunitiesare available in this area inhabited by lion, elephant,giraffe and obviously numerous antelope! We havethe unique option to walk with lions, ride or swimwith elephants, view game from horse back or fromthe back of a vehicle. We guarantee Antelope Parkis a place you’ll never forget! Overnight - Gweru(B:2, L:2, D:2)

Days 9-10 : BulawayoGweru - Bulawayo. Leaving Gweru, we headto Bulawayo - Zimbabwe’s second largest city.Bulawayo is noted for its exceptionally wide streets,which were originally designed to accommodatea full span ox wagon. The city also still retainsmuch of its British Colonial character, evident by themany buildings maintained as heritage sites by theBulawayo City Council. Interesting places to visitare the Natural History Museum, the National ArtsGallery and the Mzilikazi Arts and Crafts Centre,which employs over 70 people.On day 10 we visit Matobo National Park, one ofthe last strongholds of both the black and the whiterhino. This park is also well known for its highconcentration of the elusive leopard and majesticblack eagle. Rock paintings are to be found too,providing evidence of the ancient San inhabitants ofthis area. Cecil John Rhodes (after whom Rhodesiawas named) asked to be buried at the top ofone of the sacred hills, (although there is somecontroversy over whether he will stay!) We spendthe day exploring this unique geological, ecologicaland historic area. Overnight - Bulawayo (B:2, L:2,D:2)

Day 11 : Victoria FallsBulawayo - Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe). LeavingBulawayo, we head to Victoria Falls. Named afterthe famous World Heritage site and Water Falls, thetown of Victoria Falls is situated on the ZambeziRiver and surrounded by the Victoria Falls NationalPark. Our campsite is conveniently situated in thecentre of town, and within walking distance of theadventure booking agents, restaurants and shops.A 20 minute walk down the main road takes you tothe entry point to view the falls, which are situatedbetween Zimbabwe and Zambia. Victoria Falls, orMosi-oa-Tunya (the Smoke that Thunders), wasnamed by David Livingstone on his explorations,

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and is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of theWorld. At 1700 m wide and around 100 m high, thisis the world's largest sheet of falling water and amemorable sight on any African Safari! After ouradventure activities briefing (see price guide at theend of this document for options), the afternoonis spent relaxing at the campsite’s swimming pool,viewing the Victoria Falls, or exploring the manysights and delights of this town! Overnight -Victoria Falls (B, L)

Days 12-13 : Victoria Falls

The next two days are spent relaxing orparticipating in a myriad of optional excursions.

Optional excursions include elephant back safaris,horseback safaris, walking with lions, a visit tothe crocodile ranch, boat cruises and golf atThe Elephant Hills Resort. Adrenalin junkies canbungee from the Victoria Falls Bridge connectingZimbabwe and Zambia or abseil down the BatokaGorge - neither activity is for the faint hearted! Allyear round, flights in fixed wing, micro light andultra light aircraft or helicopters provide an aerialperspective over this magnificent World HeritageSite. White water rafting on the Zambezi is worldclass. Beside the excitement of the Grade 5 rapids,there are the "floats," where there is time to admirethe scenic cliffs and the occasional wildlife on theriverbanks. Overnight - Victoria Falls (B:2)

Day 14 : Chobe N. P.Victoria Falls - Chobe NP (Botswana). We headout from Victoria Falls to the border crossingto Botswana. Once we’ve completed the borderformalities, we continue to the town of Kasane,situated on the banks of the Chobe River. TheChobe River forms a border between Botswanaand Namibia and Zambia and is the main watersource to the Chobe National Park. After lunch,we take a boat cruise along the Chobe River.Once we return and are packed and prepared,we leave for our Chobe National Park OvernightMobile excursion – an overnight experience inthe wilds of the Chobe National park. Chobe isone of Botswana’s premier game parks, renownedfor its large elephant herds. Spend the afternoonin search of wildlife while we game drive to ourcamp within the park where we spend the eveningsurrounded by the night-time noises of the localwildlife. Look out for the rare Sable and RoanAntelope on your game drive, with their majesticbackward slanting horns, or try keep a count of theLilac Breasted Roller’s that swoop by!

Please Note: Should we not be able to stay inChobe National Park due to lack of availability at thebush camp, this excursion will be replaced with anovernight trip in the bushveld of the Lesoma Valleywhich is situated in the Kasane Forest Reserveadjacent to the Chobe NP and the Matsetsi Gamearea of Zimbabwe. Lesoma is equally rich in wildlifeand affords a similar experience to the above.Overnight - Chobe N. P. (B, L, D)

Day 15 : Livingstone

Chobe NP - Livingstone (Zambia). After our nightin the bush, we head out early to continue oursearch for wildlife, before packing up the camp andheading back to Kasane. Once returning to thecamp at Kasane, we get back on our truck andcontinue to the town of Livingstone. This afternoonwe have the opportunity to view The Falls from theMosi-oa-Tunya National Park, Zambia or partakein a sunset boat cruise on the Zambezi River.Another fantastic photo opportunity! Overnight -Livingstone (B, D)

Day 16 : LusakaLivingstone - Lusaka. An early morning start seesus head north through southern Zambia to ourcampsite on the outskirts of Zambia’s capital city,Lusaka. As we drive, we pass through a few ofthe villages and towns of Zambia along the way.Prosperous during the copper boom in the 60’s,Zambia was able to build infrastructure at the mainmining and farming communities. After the fall ofthe copper industry, the country was left virtuallybankrupt and existing infrastructure was left to fallto ruin. Due to foreign investment and a rise inthe mining industry, Zambia is today once againstarting to prosper. The difference is evident in thecities with the availability of foreign stores, banksand imported cars, while the villages and smallertowns are still to catch up. Our campsite is home tosome local wildlife including the largest antelope –Eland. Overnight - Lusaka (B, L, D)

Day 17 : Chipata

Lusaka - Chipata. From Lusaka we head north easton the old ‘East Road’ to a beautiful little campsitelocated just 10 km before the Zambia/Malawiborder. In the days of old, the route from Cairo toCape Town passed through Lusaka and it’s alongthis route to Malawi we travel today. While todayis mostly spent driving, we do cross the impressiveLuangwa River Bridge which is heavily guardeddue to its close proximity to the Zimbabwean &Malawian borders. We’ll also stop off to purchasesome fresh produce and coal from the local sellersalong the way. Mamarula’s campsite is where wespend the night before heading into Malawi.

Days 18-21 : Lake MalawiBeachesChipata - Lake Malawi Beaches (Malawi). LeavingZambia we cross into Malawi, the ‘Warm Heart ofAfrica’. We stop off in the capital, Lilongwe, a smallcity distinctively divided into the old town and thenew administrative centre. Malawi is a landlockedcountry with 20% of its total area made up ofbeautiful Lake Malawi. We camp first at the centralLake, and then in the northern area over the next4 days.Spend the days learning the game of bao from thelocals, scour the markets for a bargain or simplyrelax on the pristine beaches. Malawi’s temperateclimate allows for swimming in the clear blue fresh-water lake all year round. Explore the beautifulshore where you’ll happen upon the local fishermensorting their catch. Traditional fishing techniquesare still practiced and to appreciate their boatingskills, try to paddle a dugout canoe yourself! At nightyou’ll see the ‘fairy’ lights of the fishermen out on thelake. The various beachside campsites along LakeMalawi’s shores offer many optional Excursionsincluding a variety of water sports, horseback ridesand a visit to the local village and school (seepricing guide at the end of this document).(B:4, L:4, D:4)

Day 22 : IringaLake Malawi Beaches - Iringa (Tanzania). Aftera relaxing 4 days, we leave Malawi, enteringTanzania through the border post at Songwe.Winding our way through the beauty of the Tukuyutea and banana plantations, we head towards Iringawhere we spend the night in the beautiful rustic‘Farmhouse’ campsite famous for its Amarula HotChocolates and its steamy showers! Overnight -Iringa (B, L, D)

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Day 23 : Dar es SalaamIringa - Dar es Salaam. This morning we headoff early and make our way to Dar es Salaam.We pass through the Mikumi National Park whereit is possible to view a range of wildlife from theroadside, totally impervious to the passing traffic.Today’s drive time is extended due to the heavieramount of traffic heading in to the city, but the sightsand sounds of Dar’s vibrant outer suburbs are sureto keep you entertained. Look out for the colourfulshop-fronts with their sometimes humorous ‘catchphrases’. On arrival in Dar es Salaam, we makeour way to our lovely seaside campsite and preparefor our departure to Zanzibar the next morning.Overnight - Dar es Salaam (B, L, D)

Days 24-26 : Optional Zanzibarexcursion

Dar es Salaam - Zanzibar (optional). A ferry fromDar es Salaam takes us to the "Spice Island,” wherewe have the option to spend the next 3 nights.Zanzibar is steeped in history and was one of themajor starting points for most East African explorersin their quest for new lands. New passengers mayjoin us to replace those that will leave us at the endof our excursion to Zanzibar.PLEASE NOTE: Accommodation and meals are foryour own account whilst on Zanzibar, as it is ourexperience that passengers prefer to explore theisland on their own, and in accordance with theirown budget. The Trip Leader joins you and canarrange your accommodation, while meals can beenjoyed from a wide selection of restaurants. Thereare also a wide variety of optional excursions onoffer – please see the price guide on the end of thisdocument for more details.

History aside, Zanzibar offers a wealth ofexperiences for the visitor. Today the quiet streetsof the old Stone Town still retain their Arabicinfluence, from the Medina-like shops to thepalaces of the Sultans, who founded their vastempires on the spoils of the slave and ivory trade.The island is famous for its spices and an excursionaround a spice plantation is always a fascinatingexperience. Other options include a trip to thebeautiful beaches and giant tortoises of PrisonIsland, a full day scuba dive in Nungwe or a fishingtrip in a traditional dhow. Mopeds are available forhire if you’d like to explore the more remote areas ofthe island. Zanzibar is a seafood lover’s paradise.Numerous restaurants offer a great variety of thefreshest catch from the ocean - crayfish being apopular speciality. Alternatively, mingle with thelocals for dinner at the Forodhani Gardens seafront

market, where delicious, inexpensive seafood is onoffer.For those not opting to visit the island of Zanzibar,the next 3 days are spent at leisure at thebeach campsite in Dar es Salaam. There arevarious optional excursions available from thecamp including diving, snorkelling and fishing trips.The driver and cook remain behind in Dar esSalaam during the excursion. Overnight - Dar esSalaam OR Zanzibar (optional) (B:1)

Day 27 : Zanzibar

Zanzibar - Dar es Salaam. Leaving Zanzibar in theafternoon, we return to the mainland and anothernight in Dar es Salaam. Arrival back to camp isusually in the late afternoon, or early evening.Overnight - Dar es Salaam

Day 28 : ArushaDar es Salaam - Arusha. From Dar es Salaamwe have a long day’s drive through vast sisalplantations and African bushveld to Arusha. On theway, we pass The Pare and Usambara Mountainranges before driving through the town of Moshi.Moshi is the base for Mount Kilimanjaro climbingexpeditions and weather permitting; we may evencatch a glimpse of this magical mountain’s snowysummit - a photo opportunity not to be missed!Tonight we stay at a campsite in Meserani onthe outskirts of Arusha, before heading out onour Optional Excursion to the Serengeti andNgorongoro Crater tomorrow. Overnight - Arusha(B, L, D)

Days 29-31 : OptionalSerengeti & Ngorongoro

Arusha is a pleasant town situated at the base ofMount Meru, and is the starting point for safarisinto the Serengeti, Tarangire and Lake ManyaraNational Parks, and the Ngorongoro ConservationArea. This morning we have the opportunity to

explore this thriving town while we stock up onprovisions needed for our excursion. You maychose to wander the vibrant craft markets, stockup on supplies or perhaps catch up on thenews back home at one of the small internetcafe available. Heading back to our base camp,Meserani Snake Park, those that are participatingin the optional excursions to Ngorongoro Craterand Serengeti National Park can start to preparefor their departure this afternoon. The excursion isoffered by a local Tanzanian operator who conductsthe trip into the Parks in 4WD vehicles (In peakseason, there may be a minivan or bus transfer toKaratu), which are adapted for safari use.For those not opting to visit the Ngorongoro Crateror Serengeti National Park, the next days are spentat leisure enjoying the Meserani reptile park, MasaiCultural Museum and the surrounding villages andcraft markets. Alternatively the town of Arusha isclose by to explore. The driver and cook remainbehind in Dar es Salaam during the excursion.The Optional Ngorongoro/Serengeti excursiontakes us via the Masai town of Mtu WaMbu (Mosquito River) that lies adjacent tothe Lake Manyara National Park and up theRift Valley Escarpment to the higher lyingvillage of Karatu. Karatu offers magnificent viewsover the surrounding hills and has many wellestablished wheat farms that add to the picturesquepanoramas. We spend the evening at a pleasantcampsite in Karatu. The following morning wedepart early for the Ngorongoro Conservation areaand head into the wildlife rich Ngorongoro Crater.This World Heritage Site boasts some of the bestgame viewing in Africa – including the elusive BlackRhino.After our game drive in the Crater, we continuedown the Crater rim and past the ‘Cradle ofMankind’ on our way to the Serengeti National Park.We cross the vast plains as we game drive throughthe southern and central areas in the park. Tonightwe bush camp (no ablutions) in the wild surroundedby the sounds of the African wilderness. In themorning, we head off for another game drive andexplore the landscape in search of the residentwildlife. With some luck, we may see some ofAfrica’s ‘Big 5’!After our morning drive, we head back across theplains and the lush Crater rim to our truck at Arusha,where we spend the evening musing over ourthrilling wildlife experience. Overnight - Arusha(3), OR optional Karatu & Serengeti (B:3, L:3,D:3)

Days 32-33 : NairobiArusha - Nairobi (Kenya). We set off early thismorning and make our way to the Tanzania/Kenyan border and the small border town ofNamanga. After completing the border formalities,we continue on our journey to the Capital CityNairobi and our campsite on the outskirts of the city.Acacia Camp Nairobi is ideally situated right next tothe Nairobi National Park, and is close to the giraffesanctuary and elephant orphanage. The famousCarnivore Restaurant is also in close proximity.

The following day is yours at leisure to enjoy someof the many options available in this bustling city;visit The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, where youcan view the orphaned baby Elephants at feeding

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time, heading o to the Giraffe Centre in Langata,if you haven’t had your fill of game viewing, thenNairobi National Park offers some great day tripsor if you haven’t quite got all those souvenirs youwanted, take a “Matatu” to the local curio marketsclose by the campsite. This evening why not try thefair on offer at the famous Carnivores restaurant.Overnight - Nairobi (B:1, L:1, D:1)

Days 34-35 : Masai Mara N.P.

Nairobi - Masai Mara. Leaving the hustle andbustle of Nairobi we climb the escarpment to ourfirst stop, a viewpoint overlooking a section ofthe spectacular Great Rift Valley. Descending intothe Rift Valley, we enter Masai land where thesehabitual pastoralists are often seen tending theircattle from the side of the road. We pass throughthe town of Narok, and continue our drive possiblygetting a glimpse of some wildlife along the way.We arrive at our campsite, Acacia Camp in the lateafternoon. Acacia Camp looks on to the Meguarrahills and the stream that meanders by on the bottomend forms a natural border to the Masai MaraNational Reserve.The next morning we depart shortly after sunriseon our game drive into the Masai Mara Reserve.The Masai Mara is well known as one of EastAfrica’s best National Reserves and is home toa wide variety of wildlife species. Most famousfor the Annual Migration, that consists of theimpressive herds of over 1 million wildebeest,zebra and Thomson’s gazelle that cross overfrom the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania;the Masai Mara is most popular between Julyand October when these vast herds feast on thefresh grazing here. Following these herbivores areAfrica’s predators that are often seen at a kill duringthis period. We game drive through a section of thepark in search of the ‘Big 5’- elephant, rhino, buffalo,lion & leopard; along with the many other speciesof animals, reptiles and birds who make call thiswilderness home.After our game drive, we have the option to visit oneof the nearby Masai Manyatta’s – this is a traditionalhamlet where the Masai still live in their traditionalway. This evening we sit around the camp fire, andwatch the sun set over this “Garden of Eden”.(B:1,L:2, D:2)

Day 36 : KisumuMasai Mara - Kisumu. Leaving the Masai Maraearly, we head out of Masai Land pass throughthe scenic tea plantations of Kericho beforedescending the Rift Valley Plateau, on our way toKisumu - Kenya’s harbour town on the banks ofAfrica’s largest lake, Lake Victoria. We replenish

our supplies and overnight here. Overnight -Kisumu (B, L, D)

Day 37 : KampalaKisumu - Kampala (Uganda). This morning, wecross the border into Uganda where we overnight itthe capital city, Kampala. Uganda is a small countryof striking physical beauty. Its landscapes vary fromthe fertile green areas around the northern shoresof Lake Victoria to the snow capped RuwenzoriMountains in the west and the semi-desert regionin the north. The political instability that hashaunted Uganda in the past has actually had thepositive effect of leaving the country free of theover commercialism so common in other parts ofAfrica. The current administration under PresidentMuseveni has devoted considerable effort andfunds to return Uganda to its former status as one ofAfrica's most prosperous and, from a tourist’s pointof view, one of the most appealing and interestingcountries to visit. Overnight - Kampala (B, L, D)

Days 38-41 : Lake Bunyoni &Gorilla Trekking

Kampala - Lake Bunyoni. After an early morningdeparture from Kampala we drive west into thedepths of Uganda to our base at the tranquil LakeBunyoni.

Lake Bunyoni, the deepest Crater Lake in Africaand home to a large and varied number of beautifulbirds, is the base from which the optional Gorillatrek takes place. Dependent on where trekkingpermits are available, we trek in the Magahingaor Bwindi National Parks in Uganda, the VirungaNational Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo,or the Ruhengeri National Park in Rwanda. Forfurther information about gorilla trekking and thecosts involved please refer to Gorilla Permits underthe Uganda Country Guide section of this GoGuide.

For trekking in the DRC or Rwanda (the trip leaderwill advise at the pre departure meeting as to wherethe permits have been secured, and will assistwith the online visa application for Rwanda en-route if needed), we will also have to purchase anadditional visa to enter either country, as well asrenewing our Ugandan visa upon re-entry. We alsoadvise budgeting a little extra for tips for the localguides and rangers. Please budget accordingly aspayment for the permit must be made in US$ cashat the pre departure meeting.

Trekking Procedures: The mountain gorilla (GorillaGorilla Berengei), of which there are still onlyabout 700 remaining, are one of our closest livingrelatives. A visit to these gentle giants in theirnatural environment is a unique and wonderfulexperience - one you’ll never forget. The parkrangers monitor the gorillas on a daily basis andhave a fairly good idea of where they are. However,they are free roaming animals, and their sightingcannot be guaranteed. As the gorillas share muchof our DNA, anyone with even the slightest coldor transferable illness will not be permitted to trek.Trekking is also only open to people over 16 yearsold.

Due to the restrictions on the daily numbers ofvisitors to these incredible animals, we depart fromour base in Bunyoni in small groups over 3-4 days,depending on the group size. We wind our waythrough arguably some of the most picturesquescenery in Africa en-route to the National Park.Dependent on where permits are available, wemay spend a night in either Kisoro or in Rwanda.The following morning, after packing our picniclunch, we are transferred to a ranger’s stationwhere the trek commences. Your rangers will leadyou through the cultivated lands and then intothe dense rain forest and on to a gorilla family.Trekking can take anywhere from 45 minutes to 8hours (not including transfer time) and it can bequite strenuous, so a reasonable level of fitnessis required. To ensure the gorillas do not get tooused to the presence of humans and because theyshare many of our genes (and therefore able tocatch our diseases), the maximum time permittedto spend with them is 1 hour. You will have plenty oftime to watch their activity and to take photographs.The rangers will be able to provide you with abackground to the family you are visiting. Once yourhour is up, you trek back out of the rain forest to yourmeeting point where you will be transferred back tothe Lake Bunyoni campsite.

You needn’t feel like you’re exploiting theseanimals. The ever-growing number of touriststrekking them each day play a vital role in theirsurvival. For years they have been ruthlesslyhunted for their hands and heads, which havebeen sold as ashtrays and lampshades! In addition,large numbers have been killed whilst trying to stoppoachers stealing the babies for sale to zoos, wherethey have never lived long. 100% of the gorillapermit cost is used to by the parks authorities tofinance patrols that are instrumental in protectingthe gorillas from poachers and their lethal snaresand on promoting these wonderful animals.

Depending on where the trek takes place youmay also pass through some of the local villagesthat have settled in this region due to the highnumber of refugees fleeing from the RwandanGenocide, or from the continued unrest in the DRC.The villagers in this area are mostly subsistencefarmers, and families that farm against the slopes ofthe volcanoes. It is impressive to see how they haveploughed, planted and harvest their crops in suchan unlikely landscape. Overnight - Lake Bunyoni(B:4, L:4, D:4)

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Day 42 : KampalaLake Bunyoni - Kampala. After marvelling at theexperience of our gorilla encounters and enjoyingthe peaceful Lake Bunyoni, we begin our driveback to Kampala. We cross the Equator for thesecond time and stop for the classic “one foot ineach hemisphere” photo opportunity. We overnightin Kampala and have the opportunity to sample itsnight life! Overnight - Kampala (B, L, D)

Day 43 : JinjaKampala - Jinja. Today we have the option ofvisiting the Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuaryor heading to Jinja for a selection of adventureactivities including white water rafting at thesource of the White Nile, quad biking or visitinga volunteer and community project. Spend theafternoon relaxing on the banks of the river, orticking off the wide variety of water birds in this area.Overnight - Jinja (B, L, D)

Day 44 : Lake NakuruJinja - Lake Nakuru (Kenya). Departing early,we head back to Kenya, stopping for lunch andsupplies en route. We overnight outside Nakuruat a lovely campsite on a local farm. Nakuru isKenya’s 4th largest town and capital of the RiftValley Province and lies adjacent to the small butwildlife rich Lake Nakuru National Park. Overnight- Lake Nakuru (B, L, D)

Days 45-46 : Lake Naivasha

Lake Nakuru - Lake Naivasha. In the morningon day 34 we begin our exploration of the LakeNakuru National Park - famous for the thousandsof lesser and greater flamingos that flock to thissoda lake’s edge. The numbers vary dependingon the water level, and when it’s low, the lakealmost turns pink. A truly spectacular sight! Thepark was established as a sanctuary for black andwhite rhino, which are often seen. We spend theday searching for these pre-historic looking beastsas well as the elusive leopard, encountering buffalo,giraffe, various antelope and the occasional hippoalong the way. After our game drive, we head toLake Naivasha arriving in the late afternoon.

Lake Naivasha, is home to a multitude of bird life,the most magnificent being the African Fish Eaglewith his regal cry. At 1880 m, this is the highestof the Rift Valley lakes. We spend the next dayenjoying optional excursions like Elsamere (formerhome to Joy & George Adamson of Born Freefame), a boat ride to the Crescent Island Game

Sanctuary or a bike ride around Hell’s Gate NationalPark. Overnight - Lake Naivasha (B:2, L:2, D:2)

Day 47 : NairobiLake Naivasha - Nairobi. After breakfast, we headback to Nairobi usually arriving by late morning,or early afternoon. On arrival to Acacia Camp, weexchange addresses and part ways, having justexperienced a trip of a lifetime!(B)

Masai Mara Bonus TripWhen you book this trip, you are entitled to receivea BONUS Masai Mara Safari after your trip ends. ALocal Payment of US$235 is applicable for this trip.This offer must be taken up at the same time youbook this trip.

Includes: Return transfer from Nairobi, 1 nightAcacia Camp Nairobi (dorm accommodation,shared facilities), 2 nights at Acacia Camp MasaiMara (camping), a full day exploring the Masai Maraon day 2, 2 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 1 dinner.

This safari must be booked at the same time yourmain trip.

Starts Saturday, ends Tuesday.

There is a pre departure meeting for this trip atAcacia Camp Nairobi at 17:00 on Saturday.

Please contact us for more details. Conditionsapply.

Please NoteThis expedition is run in conjunction with AfricaTravel Company.

This itinerary should be used as a guide only andmay vary from day to day depending on road &weather conditions, political situations and groupdecisions.

All prices & Local Payments are subject to change.

Due to Tourism Laws in some of the countries wevisit, there may be a truck and crew change duringthe trip.

For booking purposes please notify our office assoon as possible should you choose not to trek theMountain Gorillas.

Things To Bring• A sleeping bag and roll mat• For extra comfort, bring a travel pillow• Spare camera batteries/film and dustbag• Mosquito spray (with active DEET

ingredient)• Your own personal first aid kit• A torch• A small daypack for your day-to-day needs.• Antibacterial wipes• A photocopy of your passport data pages• Your Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate• Your travel insurance policy details• Hat, sunglasses & sunscreen

• Warm clothing - raincoat, warm hat, socksetc as across Africa wet/dry and hot/coolclimatic periods change invariably.

BudgetingIn budgeting for your holiday, we recommend US$160 - $210 per person per week for an Africansafari. Budget more if you plan on buying a lot ofsouvenirs. This amount should be sufficient to allowfor expenses such as drinks, snacks, small entryfees, occasional meals out and accommodationand meals away from the truck - for example on theisland of Zanzibar.Budget for your optional excursions and visasseparately.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Passports & VisasPlease ensure that you have at least two blankpages in your passport, plus an additional blankpage for each visa/African country you a visiting. Iftravelling on one of our longer overland safaris werecommend that you have at least 12 blank pagesin your passport.

Please also note that your passport must be validfor a minimum of six months from the end date ofyour trip.

Any visa information provided in this documentis for general guidance purposes only, visarequirements and fees are subject to change. It isessential that you check current entry requirementswith each relevant embassy/consulate prior todeparture. Visa procurement is the responsibility ofthe traveller and not of On The Go.

Botswana Country Guide

VisaUK, Ireland, Australian, New Zealand, USA,Canadian and South African citizens do not requirea visa for entrance into Botswana.

The few countries that do require visas; mostlyEastern European and Asian Nationals, need toobtain them prior to arrival at the border. Visas arenot issued at Botswana ports of entry, if you arrivewithout a visa, immigration officials will refuse youentry to Botswana.

VaccinationsYou should seek medical advice before travellingto Botswana from your local health practitioner andensure that all you receive all of the appropriatevaccinations. Typically the list includes typhoid,tetanus, polio, hepatitis A and B (for stays over 4weeks) and meningitis.

A yellow fever vaccination certificate is requiredfrom travellers arriving from infected areas or whowere in transit through infected areas (unless theyremained onboard or at the airport).

Certain areas of Botswana have a risk of malariaand these are; northern parts and southern

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provinces of the country and the OkavangoDelta area – if travelling to these regions westrongly recommend that you take your anti-malariamedication. Adequate measures to avoid mosquitobites, such as nets and creams and covering upafter sundown, are also essential.

Currency & BankingUSD 1 = BWP 7.4 GBP 1 = 11.7 EURO 1 = 10.2AUD 1 = 7.6Subject to fluctuation.The currency of Botswana is the Botswana Pulas(BWP) 1 Pula = 100 Thebe. Notes are indenominations of BWP10, 20, 50 and 100.Coins are in denominations of BWP1, 50, 25, 10,5, 1.

There are no restrictions on the import of localor foreign currencies, provided they are declaredon arrival. Export of local currency is limited toBWP50 and foreign currencies up to the amountdeclared on arrival. It is easy to change mostforms of currency including US$, GB£, Euros andSouth African Rand. The best place to changemoney in Botswana is the bureau de changes asbanks charge commission to change either cash ortravellers cheques. ATMs are available in all maintowns, cities, shopping centres and most petrolstations. MasterCard, Visa, American Express andDiners Club are all widely accepted.Travellers cheques should be in US Dollars orPound Sterling to avoid additional exchange ratecharges. Proof of identity may be requested insome instances, so it’s useful to carry a passportor some form of photo identification. In large citiestravellers cheques can incur a high surcharge.

Banking hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1530, Sat0830-1100.

Time & VoltageTime Zone - Botswana is 2 hours ahead of GMT.Daylight saving time is not observed.

The standard voltage is 220 - 240V. Primarysockets require a ‘Type M’ - South African, electricalplug which has three thick circular pins. You willneed a voltage converter, and plug adapter in orderto use U.S. appliances.

ClimateBotswana’s climate is mainly temperate. Duringthe summer months (October-April) the weathercan be very hot with daytime temperatures ofaround 30 Celsius and higher. The rainy season(typically lasting from January to March) can behot with temperatures still in the mid 30’s andonly dropping to around the mid 20’s overnight.Winter (May-September) brings a cool change yetis still reasonably warm and mostly pleasant withan average temperature of around 25°C. Earlymornings and evenings may be cold and frostyespecially in the Kalahari region. The amount ofrainfall decreases the further you travel west orsouthwards during the winter and rainy seasonmonths.

Kenya Country Guide

VisasUK, Irish, Australian, New Zealand, USA, Canadianand RSA citizens require a visa for Kenya. Visascan be obtained by most nationalities upon arrivalat the airport, however it is advisable to procureyour visa from the nearest Kenyan Embassy/HighCommission prior to departure. There are oftenvery long visa queues at the airport.

For most nationalities a single entry visa currentlycosts US $50 and is valid for a period of threemonths and a multiple entry visa is US $110. At theairport the visa fee must be paid in a convertiblecurrency (eg US Dollars). All passengers require anonward/return tickets and sufficient funds for lengthof intended stay (at least US$500).

VaccinationsYou should seek medical advice before travellingto Kenya from your local health practitioner andensure that all you receive all of the appropriatevaccinations. As a guide diphtheria, hepatitis A,polio, tetanus and typhoid vaccinations are stronglyrecommended.

Kenya is affected by malaria – we stronglyrecommend that you take anti-malaria medication.Take your medication exactly as it’s prescribedand directed, don’t skip any medication! Adequatemeasures to avoid mosquito bites include: insectrepellent, sleeping under a mosquito net andwearing long sleeve clothing and long trousers inthe evenings.

A Yellow Fever Certificate of Vaccination isrequired if arriving from an infected area andtravellers arriving from non-endemic zones shouldnote that vaccination is strongly recommended fortravel outside the urban areas, even if an outbreakof the disease has not been reported.

Time & VoltageKenya is 3 hours ahead of GMT. Daylight savingtime is not observed.

In Kenya the standard voltage is 220-240V. Primarysockets require a ‘Type G’ - British BS-1363 type,three pin plug. You will need a voltage converter,and plug adapter in order to use U.S. appliances.We recommend packing a universal adapter.

CurrencyUSD 1 = KES 100 GBP 1 = 158 EURO 1 =137 AUD1 = 102Subject to fluctuation. Kenyan Shilling (code KES,symbol KSh).1 KSh = 100 cents.Notes are in denominations of: KSh1,000, 500, 200,100 and 50.Coins are in denominations of KSh20, 10 and 5.

Banking hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1500, Sat0900-1100. You can exchange money in banks orbureau de changes. Be aware that old pre-2003US$ banknotes or torn or marked banknotes are

difficult to exchange in Africa so make sure youtake crisp new notes! In major towns/cities mostbanks have an ATM. American Express, DinersClub, MasterCard and Visa cards are all widelyaccepted.

Travellers cheques can be changed at banks, theseshould be in US Dollars or Pound Sterling to avoidadditional exchange rate charges. Most banks willwant to see your passport and proof of purchasereceipt before cashing your travellers cheques.Please Note: Travellers cheques can be difficultto cash and often have restrictions of about US$100 a day maximum. They also tend to attract highcommission charges, especially when exchangingfor hard currency.

ClimateKenya is an excellent year round destination witha favourable climate and reasonably low rainfall. Ingeneral the hottest months are December to March,although the climate varies enormously from placeto place. The lowland coastal areas are tropical,with year round high temperatures and humidity,which is at its peak in April and May, althoughtempered by monsoon winds. The highlands aremore temperate with four seasons. Nairobi has avery pleasant climate throughout the year due to itsaltitude. Near Lake Victoria, the temperatures aremuch higher and rainfall can be heavy.

Malawi Country Guide

VisasMost nationalities including UK, Ireland, Australian,New Zealand, USA, Canadian and South Africancitizens do not require a visa for entrance intoMalawi.

The few countries that do require visas need toobtain them prior to arrival at the border, visasare not issued at Malawi ports of entry. Thereforeplease check current entry requirements with yourMalawi Embassy prior to departure.

VaccinationsSeek advice from your doctor or travel clinic atleast six weeks prior to departure about whatvaccinations you require. Typically the list includestyphoid, tetanus, polio, hepatitis A and B andmeningitis.

A malaria risk exists throughout the country, westrongly recommend that you take anti-malariamedication.

A Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate is requiredfrom travellers over one year of age coming frominfected areas.

CurrencyUSD 1 = 165 GBP 1 = 263 EURO 1 = 229 AUD 1= 172Subject to fluctuation.

The currency of Malawi is the Malawian Kwacha(MWK, symbol MK).

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1 MWK = 100 tambala.

Notes are in denominations of Mk500, 200, 100, 50,20, 10 and 5.Coins are in denominations of Mk1 and 20, 10, 5,2 and 1 tambala.

On arrival in Lilongwe you will be able to convertmoney into MKW. The bureau de changes are theeasiest place to change money, and US$ and GB£ are accepted in both cash and travellers chequeformat. Travellers cheques attract a commissioncharge and a lower exchange rate than cash, whichis changed with no commission.

If coming south from Tanzania, MKW can bepurchased on the border using US$ cash. ATMs areeffectively non-existent for foreign cards in Malawi.

Time & VoltageTime Zone - Malawi is 2 hours ahead of GMT.Daylight saving time is not observed

Standard voltage is 220-240V. Electrical sockets inMalawi are the "Type G " British BS-1363 type. Youwill need a voltage converter, and plug adapter inorder to use U.S. appliances

ClimateThere are three seasons in Malawi. The rainyseason extends from November to April, the coolseason from May to July and the dry season fromAugust to October. Temperatures and rainfall aregreatly influenced by Lake Malawi and altitude,which varies from 37 metres (in the Lower ShireValley) to 3050 metres (Mount Mulanje). Along thelakeshore, the mean annual temperature is 24°C,and humidity can be high during the rainy season.

Tanzania Country Guide

VisasUK, Irish, Australian, New Zealand, USA, Canadianand RSA citizens require a visa for Tanzania.A single entry visas can be obtained by mostnationalities upon arrival at Dar es Salaam,Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar Airport or at Namangaborder crossing point, between Tanzania andKenya. The current visa cost is U$50 for allnationalities, which can be paid in US$, GB£ orEuro cash. The three East African countries ofKenya, Tanzania and Uganda have an agreementthat you can travel freely between these countriesand do not have to get another visa when returningto each. If you exit this region and enter any othercountry, including Rwanda and the DemocraticRepublic of Congo, you will need to get new visasto re enter Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

VaccinationsSeek advice from your doctor or travel clinic atleast six weeks prior to departure about whatvaccinations you require. Typically the list includestyphoid, tetanus, polio, hepatitis A and B (for staysover 4 weeks) and meningitis.

A malarial risk exists throughout Tanzania – westrongly recommend that you take your anti-malariamedication. Precautionary measures to take toprevent contact with mosquitoes include: insectrepellent, cover up at sundown, sleep under amosquito net and wear long sleeve clothing andlong trousers in the evenings.

A Yellow Fever International Certificate ofVaccination is required from travellers over one,arriving from countries infected with yellow fever orwho were in transit through infected areas (unlessthey remained onboard or at the airport); this isparticularly relevant if traveling from neighbouringAfrican countries. If visiting Zanzibar from mainlandTanzania, a yellow fever certificate must beproduced to gain entry.

CurrencyUSD 1 = TZS 1717 GBP 1 = 2710 EURO 1 = 2370AUD 1 = 1762

Subject to fluctuation. Tanzanian Shilling (codeTZS, symbol TSh).1 TSh = 100 cents.Notes are in denominations of TSh10,000, 5000,2,000, 1,000 and 500. Coins are in denominationsof TSh200, 100, 50, 20 and 10.

The Tanzanian Shilling is non exportable orimportable. You can exchange US Dollars, PoundSterling or Euro cash at bureaux de changes orbanks in larger towns/cities. Cash is changed withno commission. Exchange rates vary dependingupon the denomination of the note that you wantto change and generally smaller notes attract alower exchange rate than high ones. Be aware thatold pre-2003 US$ banknotes or torn or markedbanknotes are difficult to exchange in Africa somake sure you take crisp new notes. Alternativelymost large towns/cities have an ATM where cashcan be withdrawn using Visa or MasterCard.Credit cards are very rarely accepted for makingpurchases.

Banking hours: Mon-Fri 0830-1230; Sat0830-1300. Bureaux de change have longer hoursand in the cities open on Sundays.

Travellers cheques are more difficult to changeand require proof of purchase and often haverestrictions of about US$100 a day maximum.Please note that there is a surcharge when payingby travellers cheques.

Time & VoltageTanzania Time Zone - 3 hours ahead of GMT.Daylight saving time is not observed.

Standard voltage is 220-240V. Primary socketsrequire a Type G British BS-1363 or Type D IndianBS-546 type, three pin plug. You will need a voltageconverter, and plug adapter in order to use U.S.appliances. We recommend getting a universaladapter.

ClimateTanzania is sunny and tropical (accept in themountain regions). Given the sheer size of thecountry, the climate varies dramatically in differentregions. In coastal regions and on the islands ofZanzibar and Pemba it is hot and humid year-roundwith higher rainfall, whilst inland, the central plateauis dry and hot and the north-western highlands arecooler. The long rains occur between mid-Marchand the end of May and there are also short, lighterrains during November and December. The driestmonths are June to October.

South Africa Country Guide

VisasUK, Australian, New Zealand, USA and Canadiancitizens do not require a tourist visa for South Africafor stays of up to 90 days.

Very few nationalities require South African visasprior to entry into the country. Most nationalitiesare able to get an entry stamp at the border onentering South Africa. Please contact your localSouth African embassy to find out if you require avisa prior to entering SA. If you are subject to visarequirements, you must apply and receive your visabefore your departure for South Africa, visas are notissued at South African ports of entry.

Health & VaccinationsYou should seek medical advice before travellingto South Africa from your local health practitionerand ensure that all you receive all of the appropriatevaccinations. As a guide tetanus, diphtheria, polio,hepatitis A (for stays over 4 weeks) and hepatitis B(for stays over 3 months) are recommended.

A yellow fever vaccination certificate is requiredfrom travellers over one, coming from infectedareas.

A low malaria risk occurs in northern parts ofMpumalanga (as well as Kruger National park,northern and northeastern parts of KwaZulu-Natal).If travelling to these regions and/or the countriesnorth of South Africa, where there is a high malariarisk, we strongly recommend that you take anti-malaria medication. Precautionary measures totake to prevent contact with mosquitoes include:insect repellent, cover up at sundown, sleep undera mosquito net and wear long sleeve clothing andlong trousers in the evenings.

Tap water in South Africa is considered safe todrink in all urban areas and most rural areas. Thereare exceptions, such as in parts of the KrugerNational Park, and in areas near the Namibianborder, including the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.These areas – and most others where the water’snot drinkable – are well-marked with signs.

Hospital facilities are generally very good in townsand cities but in rural regions medical facilities arelimited.

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CurrencyUSD 1 = ZAR 8.3 GBP 1 = 13 EURO 1 =11.3 AUD1 = 8.4Subject to fluctuation. South African currency isRand (ZAR; symbol R)1 Rand = 100 cents. Notes are in denominationsof R200, 100, 50, 20 and 10. Coins are indenominations of R5, 2 and 1, and 50, 20, 10 and5 cents.

Obtaining local currency within South Africa is veryeasy. ATMs are widely accessible and very reliableand offer the best rates of exchange. Internationalcredit cards are accepted in almost all shops,restaurants, hotels and game reserves.

Bureau de changes offer a quick and commissionfree service but are only found in the main centressuch as Cape Town and Johannesburg. Travellerscheques can be changed at banks. These shouldbe in US Dollars or Pound Sterling to avoidadditional exchange rate charges. Please notethat proof of identity may be requested in someinstances, so it’s useful to carry a passport or someform of photo identification. Travellers cheques canbe difficult to exchange and tend to attract highcommission fees.

Banking hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1530, Sat0830-1100.

Rand can be used in Botswana, Namibia and SouthAfrica, so if you are travelling on one of our overlandsafaris ample money for these three countries canbe obtained prior to beginning your trip in CapeTown or Johannesburg. The Rand and Namibiandollar are tied to each other on an equal level andcan be used interchangeably in Namibia. The Randcan also be easily converted to Pula in Botswanaat good rates.

Time & VoltageTime Zone - South Africa is 2 hours ahead of GMT.Daylight saving time is not observed

Standard voltage is 220-230V. Primary socketsrequire a ‘Type M’ - South African, electrical plugwhich has three thick circular pins. You will need avoltage converter, and plug adapter in order to useU.S. appliances.

ClimateClimatic conditions generally range fromMediterranean in the south western corner ofthe country to temperate in the interior plateau,and subtropical in the northeast. A small areain the northwest has a desert climate. Most ofthe country has warm, sunny days and coolnights. Rainfall generally occurs during summer(November-March), although in the southwest,around Cape Town, rainfall occurs in winter (fromJune-August). Temperatures are influenced byvariations in elevation, terrain, and ocean currents.

Zambia Country Guide

VisasUK, Australian, New Zealand, USA, Canadiancitizens require a visa for Zambia. Visas can beobtained by most nationalities upon arrival at theairport/border. A single entry visa currently costsUS $50 and a double/multiple entry costs $80. Irishand South African passport holders do not requirea visa.

VaccinationsYou should seek medical advice before travellingto Zambia from your local health practitioner andensure that all you receive all of the appropriatevaccinations. As a guide Tetanus, diphtheria, polio,hepatitis A and hepatitis B (for stays over 4 weeks)are strongly recommended.

Zambia has a malaria risk throughout the year in thewhole country, therefore we strongly recommendthat you take anti-malaria medication.

The yellow fever vaccination is required forpassengers travelling to and from Zambia. All in-transit passengers travelling between Zambia andSouth Africa, irrespective of the time period intransit, will also be required to present their YellowFever Vaccination Certificate.

CurrencyUSD 1 = 4965 GBP 1 = 7894 EURO 1 = 6850 AUD1 = 5110Subject to fluctuation. Zambia’s currency is theZambia Kwacha (ZMK)Notes are in denominations of ZMK50,000, 20,000,10,000, 5,000, 1,000, 500, 100, 50 and 20. Coinsare in denominations of ZMK10, 5 and 1, and 50and 25 ngwee.

Banking hours vary but most are open from Mon -Fri 0815-1430

ATMs are available at Standard Chartered andBarclays Bank which accept Visa. Most large storesand hotels accept credit cards.

If travelling on one of our overland safaris there isno real need to convert any of your money to ZMK,as you will only be in Zambia for a short period oftime. Campsites readily accept US$ cash for foodand beverages.

Time & VoltageTime Zone - Zambia is 2 hours ahead of GMT.Daylight saving time is not observed.

Standard voltage is 230V. Zambia has severalvarieties of electrical sockets. The 3 primarysockets are ‘Type C’ - European, ‘Type D’ - Indianand ‘Type G’ - British. You will need a voltageconverter and plug adapter in order to use U.S.appliances.

ClimateZambia is warm all year round, but has threedistinct seasons. Between December and April theweather is hot and wet; from May to August it iscooler and dry; between September and Novemberconditions are hot and dry. Average summer

temperatures range between 25°C to 35°C, while inwinter they can fall as low as 6°C at night, althoughdaytime temperatures average 24°C.

Zimbabwe Country Guide

VisasUK, Ireland, Australian, New Zealand, USA andCanadian passport holders require a visa to enterZimbabwe, these visas are available at the borderfor the following costs: Australian, New Zealandand US citizens: US$30 single/$45 double entryvisa. British and Irish is US$55 single/$70 double.Canadians can only obtain a single entry visa at theborder for US $75. South African passport holderscan obtain a visa for free. Visas can be broughtusing post 2003 US$ notes, GB£ or South AfricanRand.

VaccinationsSeek advice from your doctor or travel clinic atleast six weeks prior to departure about whatvaccinations you require. Typically the list includestyphoid, tetanus, diphtheria, polio, hepatitis A andB (for stays over 4 weeks).

In Zimbabwe a malarial risk exists from Novemberto June in all areas below 1200m and throughoutthe year in the Zambezi Valley. We stronglyrecommend that you take your anti-malariamedication. Other precautionary measures toprevent contact with mosquitoes include: insectrepellent, cover up at sundown, sleep under amosquito net and wear long sleeve clothing andlong trousers in the evenings.

Yellow fever: A yellow fever vaccination certificateis required from travellers over one year of agecoming from infected areas.

CurrencyThe Zimbabwean Dollar was abandoned in April2009. The country has adopted a multi-currencyscheme; the US Dollar and South African Rand canbe used for domestic transactions.

Banking hours: Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri - 0800-1500 ,Wed 0800-1300 and Sat - 0800-1130. In majortowns/cities most banks have an ATM. AmericanExpress, Diners Club and Visa cards arewidely accepted. Major foreign currencies can beexchanged at bureaux de change and banks at theofficial exchange rate.

Travellers cheques are accepted at banks, theseshould be in US Dollars or Pound Sterling to avoidadditional exchange rate charges. Most banks willwant to see your passport and proof of purchasereceipt before cashing your travellers cheques.Please Note: Travellers cheques can be difficult tocash so do not rely upon them as your sole sourceof funds.

Time & VoltageStandard voltage is 220-240V. Primary socketsrequire a ‘Type G’ - British plug, or ‘Type D’ - old

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English plug or Indian plug. You will need a voltageconverter and plug adapter in order to use U.S.appliances.

Zimbabwe is 2 hours ahead of GMT. Daylightsaving time is not observed.

ClimateAlthough located in the tropics, temperateconditions prevail all year round in Zimbabwe asthe climate is moderated by altitude and the inlandposition of the country.

Zimbabwe has a rainy season from November/December to March, during this time days are hotand sunny with possible afternoon thunderstorms.By April and May most of the rain is gone, skiesare clear and days are sunny and warm. Nighttime temperatures drop dramatically between Juneand August although daytime temperatures remainpleasantly warm. Late August sees the start of thehot and dry season which continues until October.

OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES

We offer a number of locally operated optionalactivities and excursions on each of ourexpeditions. We feel that offering optionalexcursions affords a greater degree of flexibility,independence and choice to our travellers. Tohelp you budget, below is a selection of optionalexcursions available on this trip.

Please note the following:All prices are in US Dollars and are subject tochange. Where activities occur away from yourbase, there may be an additional transfer cost.

Travellers cheques may be accepted for theSerengeti/Ngorongoro Excursions, although theyare subject to a surcharge of at least 5%.

All accommodation and activities in Victoria Fallsmust be paid for in US$ cash (GBP & ZAR alsoaccepted at a lower rate).

All optional excursions are offered by 3rd partiesand independently of on the go. They areundertaken at your own risk and on the go take noresponsibility for personal loss/injury caused.

Gorilla Trekking - the price varies dependant onwhere gorilla trek takes place ie Uganda, DRC orRwanda.

KenyaCrescent Island US $25

Elsamere Visit, home of Joy Adamson US $15

Giraffe Centre. Pre/Post tour US $20

Hells Gate National Park US $50

Masai Hot Air Balloon US $450

Masai Village Cultural Visit US $10

Masai Warrior Dancing US $6

Nairobi National Park half day. Pre/Post tour US$85

Naivasha Boat Hire (max 7 pax) US $55

Naivasha Horse Riding per hour US $20

MalawiFresh Water Diving at Kande Beach US $45

Full Day Snorkelling US $20

Horse Riding 2 - 3 hours US $60 - $90

Livingstonia Mission Hike 30km rtn US $7

Traditional Healer Visit US $7

Village Walk & Meal US $15

South AfricaKruger Park Night Drive US $160

Kruger Park Open Vehicle Game Drive US $75

Lion Park Jo'burg. Pre/Post Tour US $60

Soweto Tour - J'burg/Pretoria - from US $65

Tanzania3 day Serengeti/Ngorongoro Excursion from US$450

Olduvai Gorge US $5

UgandaAdrift/Softpower Community Project US $25

Chimpanzee Sanctuary (excl transfer) from US $60

Gorilla Trek* from US $600

Horse Riding 2 hours (excl transfer) US $50

Jinja Quad Bike 2 hours US $70

Nile River Bungee US $95

White Water Rafting On The Nile US $125

ZambiaZambezi Sunset Dinner Cruise US $80

ZanzibarDhow Fishing Trip US $35

Dhow Sunset Cruise US $30

Dolphin Trip US $35

Moped Hire Us $70

Nungwe Half Day Snorkel Trip US $35

Prison Island Snorkelling Trip US $25

Scuba Diving from US $75

Spice Tour US $25

Stone Town Tour US $40

Zanzibar Accommodation p.p.p.n US $30-$50

ZimbabweBungee Jump (111m) US $132

Elephant Back Safari US $130

Entry to Vic Falls National Park US $30

Full Day Adrenaline (min. 10) US $150

Gweru Game Drive (min. 6) US $25

Gweru Swim With Elephants US $40

Gweru Walk With Lions US $80

Helicopter Over The Falls 15 mins US $130

Horse Riding 3 hours US $75

Microlight Over The Falls 15 mins US $150

Rafting & Boarding Combo US $165

Rafting On The Zambezi US $130

Walk With Lions - Vic Falls US $130

the big overlander northbound - 47 days go guide · experience the contrasts and raw appeal of this...

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