An 18 day overland vacation, traveling by bespoke truck with a small group, through South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe. Camping along the way. Long dusty journeys to vast, dramatic landscapes.
JohannesburgKhama Rhino SanctuaryMaun Okavango DeltaMakgadikgadi Salt PansChobe National ParkVictoria FallsHwange National ParkMatobos National Park Makushu homestayKruger National Park
Price
US $3540US $2562ToUS $4530excluding flights
Duration
18 Days
Countries
Botswana, South Africa, Zimbabwe
Type
Small group
CO2
732.6kg
More info
Single supplement from $165 - $245.
Offers
Up to US $1090 off selected dates. Late availability on these dates: 02 Oct, 09 Oct, 16 Oct, 06 Nov, 13 Nov, 11 Dec, 18 Dec, 01 Jan
The Okavango Delta floods life into Botswana. It's a waterhole on an epic scale.
Vacation information
Small group budget tour, ideal for solos or couples:
This is one of our budget trips, designed specifically for travelers who still want the security of group travel without lots of added inclusions. These trips don't have many included activities & meals are rarely included in the price, giving you the opportunity to search out local restaurants and sample regional specialities to your heart's content. The amount of free time in these itineraries means that these trips often appeal to younger travelers looking to explore independently and tailor the trip to your own interests. You often won't spend too many days in any one place and you'll pack lots of different locations into your vacation.
Responsible Travel
As the pioneers of responsible tourism, we've screened this (and every) vacation so that you can travel knowing we've worked to maximise the benefits of your vacation to local people and places, and minimise any negative impacts.
Planet
The very ethos of our style of travel is responsible. As a global tour operator, we take our role in tourism very seriously.
We are committed to operating in a responsible manner, incorporating the principles of sustainable development in the way we provide our travelers with real life experiences. These values are more than just words on a page; they are ingrained in our culture and the daily operations of every office and every trip. In addition, we expect our staff and travelers to demonstrate the principles of responsible travel - respecting people, cultures and local environments; in the distribution of wealth; in good will and cross-cultural sharing; and in contributing to sustainable development.
We believe that responsible travel is about the attitude you take with you and the choices you make when traveling - to respect and benefit local people, their cultures, economy and the environment.
CARBON REDUCTION
As this tour uses largely camping accommodation, it has some of the least carbon emissions in comparison to accommodated tours.
We provide most of the meals on this tour and always source our produce locally. Vegetarian and vegan food is available.
ENVIRONMENT AND WILDLIFE
On many of our Africa trips, we visit National Parks and conservations and the entrance fees are always included on the tour price. On this tour, we visit the Khama Rhino Sanctuary, Chobe National Park, Hwange National Park, Matobos National Park and Kruger National Park. The entrance fees help towards conservation of the Parks and to ensure the safety and welfare of the animals.
All game drives are accompanied by an expert local guide and animal welfare is a top priority - we do not disturb animals or get too close.
We operate a Leave No Trace policy in every campsite and this is strictly enforced by the crew.
Our own in house foundation has been in operation for over 11 years; donations come from our travelers and are then matched by us dollar for dollar. On this trip we visit two of our foundation partners, the Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust in Zimbabwe and the Black Mambas in South Africa. If travelers wish to donate to either cause, we match their donation. We also visit the Painted Dog Conservation Centre where travelers can donate to help protect these misunderstood and endangered animals.
People
LOCAL ECONOMY
Unemployment is a serious issue for the countries we visit on this trip and so every job that can be provided through the tourism sector is making a difference. On this itinerary we employ a Tour Leader, a chef and a driver who will all be locals. This provides much needed regular employment.
The itinerary also includes many game drives in National Parks where we employ the services of local wildlife guides. We operate a tipping kitty to ensure we show our appreciation for their expertise. Similarly, while wild camping in the Okavango Delta we employ the services of two guides and a team of mokoro polers who receive income from our stay.
There are many chances to buy souvenirs from local stalls on this trip and our Tour Leaders are on hand to offer advice about purchasing - negotiation is part of life here, but we never exploit.
Victoria Falls is an expensive tourism hub, but money does not necessarily trickle down to normal people. Through our regular tours here, we are able to provide a regular source of income for a few local people - we work with a man called Kosa who prints custom t-shirts as souvenirs and a woman who helps travelers with their laundry. This means a great deal in a country where wealth inequality is high and there are few opportunities to work.
EMPLOYMENT, INCLUSIVITY AND DIVERSITY
The biggest impact of this trip is the employment opportunities and income it provides for local people - the tour leader, chef and driver, wildlife guides, mokoro polers, homestay mothers and service providers.
The tour includes a day and night spent with the Venda community in Makushu, a town in Limpopo. During the day travelers learn about Venda culture, enjoy 3 meals cooked by the community and stay overnight in local homes with homestay 'mothers'. Our weekly homestays in Makushu bring valuable income and homestays are shared amongst the community to ensure all in the town benefit.
