Small-group tour | “Game Tracker”

Summary

• A true African experience – wild and free!
• This package tour includes cultural encounters, adventure, and wilderness.
• Kruger National Park, Great Zimbabwe Ruins, Matobo National Park, Hwange National Park, Victoria Falls, Chobe National Park & Okavango Delta.‍

The following information is provided by our long-standing partner, Sunway Safaris, and outlines 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 are getting, 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 no more than 12 participants make it possible to truly experience Africa and connect with 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 guests between 25 and 60. The diversity of our participants contributes to a unique safari experience every time.
  
• 2 Sunway expedition leaders – Group guides are the key to any safari. On a Sunway safari, you will travel with 2 qualified and registered field guides (FGASA) who make up your crew. This means maximum knowledge and informative, engaging travel. 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 pricing – When we plan Sunway routes, we ensure that each 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—that is the essence of the Botswanan wilderness. If you travel to Zambia, you absolutely must visit South Luangwa National Park and take a bush walk 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 you can see and experience them without having to pay extra on the spot. There are no hidden costs. This should be an important factor in your decision to book a Sunway safari.
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• 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 while traveling on the often challenging roads with Sunway Safaris.
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• Good2Go Sunway Safaris is committed to responsible travel and supporting local projects and initiatives in the regions we visit. In our trip descriptions, the Good2Go symbol highlights selected projects or measures associated with each specific journey.
  
• Solo travelers – Traveling alone won't break the bank, as our reservations team will pair you with a roommate of the same gender to keep your trip affordable. You also have the option to book a single room or tent for a small additional fee.
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• ‍Experience – For 28 years, Sunway Safaris has been planning journeys through Southern Africa. As a result, our routes have been perfected over many years, ensuring a smooth and seamless tour experience. We visit many of Southern Africa's highlights while ensuring we stay off the beaten path. Our guides have extensive experience both in Africa and around the world.
  
• Based in Africa – Sunway Safaris is an African travel agency; we live in Africa, we travel in Africa, and our passion is this wonderful continent. This makes Sunway Safaris your best travel choice.
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• Age limits - On all scheduled tours, we accept children aged 12 to 17 when accompanied by an adult. There is no upper age limit. Guests over the age of 65 at the time of travel require a medical certificate confirming 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 staying in lodges or camping. For further details, please contact info@ajimba.com.

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SOS Tree Project – Okavango, Botswana

For hundreds of years, the local people living near 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 long provided them with a steady livelihood. The number of visitors to the Okavango Delta is increasing every year, which means more mokoros are needed and, consequently, more trees are being felled. Due to the growth in 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's implementation is currently hindered by the funding of 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 our partner, Ajimba African Tours. This is a cause close to all our hearts, and we hope for a successful project.

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 costs 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 locations 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 will be visiting.

• A Falcon Flies by Wilbur Smith (Fictional story of life in pre-colonial Rhodesia / Zimbabwe)
• Wankie by Davidson Ted (a story about Hwange National Park)
• Selous Scouts Top Secret War by Ron Reid-Daly (an account of the Zimbabwe War of Independence)
• How I found Livingstone by Henry M. Stanley (a factual account of Stanley’s travels in Africa)
• #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

Shopping

The selection of souvenirs such as carvings, batiks, paintings, and clothing is best at Victoria Falls, where you will find a wide variety. In Botswana, there are beautiful woven goods to buy, but markets are rare, so these are usually only available in shops.

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, where we will try out local restaurants.

The tour guide handles all shopping and menu planning. Whenever possible, they will purchase fresh food 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 stove. 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.

Difficulty Level

Anyone in good general health will be able to enjoy the tour without any problems. Simple camping in the wilderness is a true joy for outdoor enthusiasts. You might get a little dusty and sweaty, but that is exactly what Africa is all about!

The itinerary includes some long days on the road. Roads in remote areas are not always in the best condition, and travel can sometimes be slow and dusty. But never forget: the journey is the destination! Take in the diverse, exotic impressions and enjoy the African adventure during the moments when things aren't moving quite as fast. An important part of a Sunway safari is participation. Loading luggage and equipment in the morning, helping to tidy up, assisting with meal preparation—all of this is part of the adventure, and when everyone contributes a little, the trip runs smoothly. The tour guides prepare all meals themselves, but they do ask participants to help with the washing up. Team spirit is fun!

What you should know

All entrance fees and charges for national parks, game drives, and the Okavango Delta are included.

When in the wilderness, it is essential to strictly follow the instructions of your tour leaders and local guides. This applies to behavior in the wild, safety in camp, and during game drives. All participants require a valid passport and a visa for entry into Zimbabwe and Botswana, as well as for re-entry into South Africa.

Luggage: Please pack your belongings in a soft-sided duffel bag weighing no more than twelve kilograms. You should also bring a small bag or backpack for day trips that can be easily stowed in the vehicle. Bedding is provided for accommodation-based adventures, 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 or beach. For tours visiting the Okavango Delta, please 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 there. 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.

Frequently asked questions about this tour

• What should I pack? Comfortable clothing for warm days and cool evenings, hiking boots, a rain jacket, a hat/cap, sunglasses, swimwear, and binoculars. Also essential—and highly recommended—is a sense of adventure.
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• Is it safe? Botswana is considered a relatively safe travel destination. Your tour leaders know the country well; they will show you the best of what it has to offer 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 these guidelines, nothing stands in the way of an unforgettable trip.
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• Do I need malaria prophylaxis? Yes, the tour passes through malaria-prone areas. Prophylaxis is strongly recommended.
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• 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 socket, but you should not rely on this for charging batteries; we recommend bringing a spare battery. Don't forget that you can always charge your camera when staying in accommodations (SA 220V).
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• 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 boots, a rain jacket, a hat and sunglasses, swimwear, a small pair of binoculars, and—essential—a sense of adventure.
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• Are there laundry facilities? You can hand-wash your clothes at Victoria Falls and in Maun.

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