Small-group trip to Okavango Delta and Victoria Falls

Summary

• Participatory safari with comfortable accommodation at a reasonable price, including chalets, log cabins, and a few nights in tented camps where we get up close to the wilderness.
• Some of the best wildlife viewing in Africa on foot and in open 4x4 vehicles.
• Everything is included here: cultural encounters, adventure, and wilderness.
• Victoria Falls, Moremi Game Reserve & Chobe National Park, Okavango Delta, Kalahari Desert, and the Makgadikgadi Pans.

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The following information is provided by our long-standing partner, Sunway Safaris, and describes their travel philosophy and services.

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Why travel with Sunway Safaris?

We know you have many options when choosing your African safari. We also know you want to make the most informed decision possible about your safari—what you get, what is included, and what you will see and experience. Here are just a few of the qualities and facts about Sunway:

• Small groups Small travel groups of a maximum of 12 participants make it possible to experience Africa and gain insights into this wonderful continent and its people. This is the key to our success. Our trips appeal to all age groups. The average age is 37, with most participants between 25 and 60. The diversity of the participants contributes to a unique safari experience each time.
• Two Sunway expedition leaders – Group tour guides are the key to any safari. On a Sunway Safari, you will travel with two qualified and registered FGASA (Field Guides Association of Southern Africa) field guides who make up your crew. This ensures maximum knowledge and an informative, engaging travel experience. Our expedition leaders have a passion for Africa, its people, and its wildlife, and they love sharing their knowledge with our guests.
• Guaranteed departures – Departures in bold are guaranteed. All other departures are guaranteed with a minimum of 4 people.
• All-inclusive price – When we plan Sunway routes, we ensure that every itinerary includes the very best highlights. For example, on a tour to Botswana, you should definitely visit the national parks in an open 4x4 vehicle; it is the essence of the Botswanan wilderness. When traveling to Zambia, you should absolutely visit South Luangwa National Park and take a walking safari with a local scout. When you book a Sunway Safari, all entrance fees, a variety of activities, and meals are included. We have incorporated all the highlights into our tours so that you can see and experience them without having to pay on-site. Therefore, there are no hidden costs. This should be an important factor in your decision to book a Sunway Safari.
• Safety – Our vehicles are all custom-built. We ensure comfortable and safe travel. Each vehicle was designed by an officially certified passenger vehicle manufacturer according to the latest safety requirements; it features a safety roll cage, and every seat is equipped with a seatbelt. This gives you peace of mind when traveling on the often challenging roads with Sunway Safaris.
• Good2Go - Sunway Safaris aims to make travel responsible and to support local projects and initiatives in the regions we visit. In our tour descriptions, the Good2Go symbol highlights selected projects or measures related to the respective trip.
• Solo travelers – Traveling alone won't put a strain on your wallet, as our reservations team will pair you with a roommate of the same gender to make the trip more affordable. You still have the option to book a single room or tent for a small surcharge.
• Experience – For 27 years, Sunway Safari has been planning trips through Southern Africa. As a result, our routes have been perfected over many years, guaranteeing a smooth tour experience. We visit many of Southern Africa's highlights while ensuring we don't follow the well-trodden tourist path. Our guides have extensive experience in Africa and all over the world.
• Based in Africa – Sunway Safari is an African travel agency, which means we live in Africa, we travel in Africa, and our passion belongs to this wonderful continent. This makes Sunway Safari the best travel option.
• Age limit - On all scheduled tours, we accept children aged 12 to 17 when accompanied by an adult. We have no upper age limit. Guests over the age of 65 at the time of travel require a medical certificate stating that they are fit and healthy enough to participate in an adventure group tour. We have many travelers over 65 who are perfectly capable of enjoying every aspect of a Sunway tour, whether in lodges or camping. For further details, please contact hallo@ajimba.com.

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SOS Tree Project – Okavango, Botswana

For hundreds of years, the local people and nearby residents of the Okavango Delta in Botswana have used the wood of the sausage tree to craft their traditional "mokoros" (dugout canoes). This knowledge has been passed down through generations and has been a consistent source of livelihood for them. The number of visitors to the Okavango Delta is increasing every year. This means more "mokoros" are needed, and consequently, more trees are being felled. Due to the growth of tourism, the sausage trees are unfortunately disappearing from this region. Traditional "mokoros" must be replaced every 5 years, which puts additional pressure on the dwindling number of sausage trees.

Against this backdrop, Sunway Safaris has launched a project to encourage "polers" (mokoro guides) in the region to purchase fiberglass replicas. These replicas last for 10 years, are significantly more durable, and are manufactured without any negative environmental impact. The project is currently struggling with the funding for these replicas. Although a portion of our tour costs already goes toward this project, further support is needed. We also offer our guests the opportunity to help solve this problem. For more information on the SOS Tree Project or if you would like to make a donation, please contact the Sunway Safaris office. This is a cause close to all our hearts, and we hope for a successful project.

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Local Payment

A local payment is required for this safari and will be collected by the tour leader upon departure. The local payment is a portion of your total trip cost and must therefore be taken into account when booking your safari. The local payment is used by the tour leader to cover expenses incurred during the safari.

Sunway pays most expenses via bank transfer. In some cases, cash is the only option: certain destinations we visit only accept cash. For example, most national parks, some campsites, and local food markets (and sometimes shops) only accept cash. Furthermore, every Sunway vehicle has a fuel card, but these are only accepted in South Africa and parts of Namibia. Therefore, diesel must be paid for in cash. The local payment system allows us to manage tour funds effectively, as some departure points are very remote. The efficiency of this system helps keep overall tour costs low.

For these reasons, Sunway Safaris charges a local payment. A portion of the tour costs remains in the countries visited and is used for local services, national park fees, and selected projects and initiatives, among other things. This is part of Sunway Safaris' commitment to organizing trips in collaboration with long-standing local partners.

Recommended Reading:

Before you travel, you might want to read the following books. These books are not specific to Sunway tours, but they provide good background information and an understanding of the countries you are traveling

to.

• #1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith (Fictional story of life in Botswana)
• Trees of the Okavango by Veronica Roodt (A reference book with traditional uses and myths)
• Okavango: Jewel of the Kalahari by Karen Ross (A comprehensive description of the Delta ecology)
• Don’t Run, Whatever You Do by Peter Allison (A guide’s perspective of Botswana lodge life)
• Okavango: Africa's Last Eden by Frans Lanting (A coffee table book of photography)
• Newman's Birds of Southern Africa by Kenneth Newman
• Sasol Birds of Southern Africa by Ian Sinclair, Phil Hockey, and W.R. Tarboton
• The Safari Companion: A Guide to Watching African Mammals Including Hoofed Mammals, Carnivores, and
• Primates by Richard D. Estes and Daniel Otte
• Field Guide to Trees of Southern Africa (Field Guides) by Braam Van Wyk, Keith Coates Palgrave, and Piet Van Wyk

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Shopping

The best selection of souvenirs, such as wood carvings, batik fabrics, paintings, and clothing, can be found at Victoria Falls. In Botswana, you can find beautiful woven goods, though markets are rare, so these are usually only available in shops.

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Food and Drink

We take pride in providing our travelers with high-quality, delicious, and healthy meals three times a day. Exceptions are noted in the itinerary, during which we will try out local restaurants. The tour guide handles all shopping and menu planning. Whenever possible, they will purchase fresh ingredients for the group.

What you can expect:

• Breakfast: Cereal with milk or bread/toast, jam, and fruit with coffee and tea, or occasionally a full English (cooked) breakfast.
• Lunch: Cheese, cold cuts, fish, fruit, pasta salads, and bread.
• Dinner: Stews, barbecues, roasted meat, or curries prepared over an open fire or gas stoves. We provide all cooking utensils, as well as plates, mugs, and cutlery.

We are, of course, happy to accommodate the specific needs of vegetarians and those with allergies. Sunway Safaris provides the following drinks: fruit juice at breakfast and tea or coffee at breakfast and dinner. All other drinks must be purchased by you. Sunway Safaris does not provide bottled drinking water.

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Difficulty Level

Anyone who is generally active and in good health will enjoy this trip. The accommodations are simple but clean, and this trip is suitable for anyone who wants to experience the true wilderness of Botswana.

This is a full itinerary with some long travel days. Road conditions in the wilderness areas are very poor, and our progress can sometimes be slow and dusty. Remember to hold on tight and enjoy the ride!

Everyone is asked to help with camp duties during the tour. In other words, if everyone contributes a little time to setting up camp, preparing meals, and cleaning up, the tour will run smoothly and everyone will have a great time. Participation is key.

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What you should know

• All entrance fees and charges for national parks, game drives, and the Okavango Delta are included.
• In the wilderness, it is essential to strictly follow the instructions of the tour guides and local guides. This applies to behavior in the wild, safety in camp, and during game drives. Every participant requires a valid passport and visa for entry into Zimbabwe and Botswana, as well as for the return to South Africa.
• Luggage: Luggage should be brought in a soft duffel bag and must not exceed twelve kilograms. Also, remember to bring a small bag or backpack for day trips that can be easily stowed in the vehicle. On accommodated adventures, bed linen is provided, so there is no need to bring a sleeping bag or pillow. Most accommodations provide towels, but it is advisable to bring your own small towel for the pool and beach. For tours visiting the Okavango Delta, we ask that you bring your own small towel, as they are not provided there.
• Money. We generally recommend bringing Euros, US Dollars, or South African Rand. Please note, however, that foreign currency is not accepted in shops, restaurants, or markets in Botswana. Only Botswana Pula are accepted here. In Victoria Falls, individual activities can be paid for with US Dollars or credit cards. Traveler's checks can be exchanged in Maun, Kasane, and Victoria Falls.

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Frequently asked questions about this tour

1. What should I pack?
   Comfortable clothing for warm days and cool evenings, hiking shoes, a rain jacket, a hat/cap and sunglasses, swimwear, and binoculars. Also essential—handy and indispensable—is a sense of adventure.
2. Safety?
   Botswana is considered a relatively safe travel destination. Your tour guides know the country well; they will show you the most beautiful parts of the country while keeping an eye on your safety. In wildlife areas, they will provide detailed information about potential hazards. If you follow these instructions, you will generally be perfectly safe. Once you are aware of this, nothing stands in the way of an unforgettable trip.
3. Do I need malaria prophylaxis?
   Yes, the tour passes through malaria areas. Prophylaxis is strongly recommended.
4. Can I buy memory cards for my camera?
   Memory cards and other photo accessories are occasionally available during the tour. A camera with a zoom lens ranging from wide-angle to telephoto, 35-200mm, is recommended for landscape and wildlife photography. Each vehicle is equipped with a 12/24V cigarette lighter, but you should not rely on being able to charge your batteries there, so we recommend bringing a spare battery. Don't forget that you can always charge your camera when staying in accommodations (SA 220V).
5. What should I pack?
   ‍All details are listed in our general tour information (available at www.sunway-safaris.com). However, the basics are: comfortable clothing for warm days and cold nights, hiking shoes, a rain jacket, a hat and sunglasses, swimwear, and a small pair of binoculars—and, of course, a sense of adventure.
6. Are there laundry facilities?
   There are opportunities to hand-wash clothes at Victoria Falls and in Maun.

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