The following document is the Itinerary for the Africa portion of the holiday as it was sent to us from Andrea Dobbe at Nature Encounters. I thought it would be interesting to link between the "Demo" and the "Implementation" as the holiday progresses.
SUN SEP 17 JOHANNESBURG/HARARE
Arrive in Johannesburg this morning at 7:20am. Your Air Zimbabwe flight check-in is not until 3:00pm, so if you wish, make your way to the hotel rooms provided at the airport (for a very norninal charge), above the International Arrivals Halls (ask at information bow you can get to the rooms). Here you will find rooms with en-suite bathrooms and television, and you can take a nap or a shower if you wish.
Air Zimbabwe flight 762 departs at 5:00pm. Check-in is two hours prior to departure On arrival in Harare at 6:35pm, you will be met by Linda Law of Bushlife Safaris and driven to your hotel. The Sheraton Hotel is a five star property located on the outskirts of the city center.
MON SEP 18 HARARE/MASVlNGO/HARARE SHERATON
Arrange for an early morning room-service breakfast this morning. At approximately 6:00am Linda will meet you at the hotel and drive you to the airport to hoard your United Air charter at 7:30am to Masvingo. Arrival is at 8:20am. On arrival, you will be met by a representative of United Touring Company to enjoy a frill day tour of the Great Zimbabwe Ruins.
The ruined city of Great Zimbabwe was once a thriving corumercial center and capital of the Munhumatapa Empire, which dominated the region centuries ago. Today it is a place of mystery, the spiritual womb of the Zimbabwean people, a fascinating collection of dry stone granite walls, stone corridors and hilltop citadels. There is much speculation and discussion on the origins of The city, and your guide today will reveal at least some of her secrets. Lunch is on your own arrangements. This atternoon you will be driven to the airport at Masvingo to board your United Air charter at 4:30pm for Harare, touching down at 5:25pm. Here you will be met and driven to your hotel.
TUE SEP 19 HARARE SHERATON
Enjoy a till day at leisure. Harare is the capital of Zimbabwe, and the commercial and industrial center of the Central Aflican region. Harare is often called the city of flowering trees, and in spring (around the time of your visit) the jacaranda trees provide a ceiling of purple throughout the city Optional tours are available, and time perrrutting, we would suggest you visit the carving center at Dombasbawe.
WED SEP 20 HARARE/VIC FALLS MASUWE
Your flight departs ut 8:00am this morning and Linda Law will be at the hotel at approximately 6:45am to take you to the airport. Bid farewell and board UM324 to Victoria Falls On arrival at 9:00am, you will be met by a representative from Landela, and driven to your lodge just outside of town. Masuwe will become your home here, away from the rush of town, and during your stay, all- meals are included (in camp), as well as courtesy transport into town if you wish Masuwe is a tented lodge, overlooking the Masuwe Channel and each morning you will awake to the dawn chorus of birds outside your tent. There is a small swimming pool so tht you can cool off during the heat of the day, and meals are served in the open -air dining room.
THU SEP 21 VIC FALLS MASUWE
Enjoy a full day of white water rafting on the Zambezi River. You will be driven into town and the Ilala Hotel where you enjoy a safety brieftug in the garden. Then, set off for a day of adventure on. the Zambezi River. A picnic lunch will be provided en-route. This evening return to your lodge, where a scrumptious dinner awaits. Usually (and you will be told this during your briefing), videos from the raft trip are shown at the Ilala Hotel after dinner, and it is quite a fun event to attend, especially if you don't plan to purchase a video. Your hosts at Masuwe can take you into town for this, and bring you back after the showing.
FRI SEP 22 VIC FALLS MASUWE
The full day at leisure. We would suggest you take the shuffle to town and enjoy a walk through the rain forest -surrounding the Falls (as well as the magnificent views of theFalls themselves). Then wander through town - please kkep in mind that the street vendors are fairly aggressive, however once inside the stores you will have a quiet place to examine the local wares. The craft village is fun as well as providing the least expensive souvenirs in Africa, and stop in at the Vie Falls Hotel for tea on the terrace. If you like, you~migbt enjoy the Flight of Angels (a flight over the Falls in fixed wing plane) or a helicopter spin, which, we understand, is better for photographing the Falls. Aitematively, relax at your lodge.
SAT SEP 23 VIC FALLS/HWANGE CHOKAMELLA
Landela (your hosts) will drive you to the airport this morning for your flight to Hwange. On arrival, you will be met and driven to your lodge located just oujside the reserve. Chokamella is comprised of nine luxuriously appointed fly tents covered by a large canvas roof encompassing a sleeping tent, en-suite hot water shower, basin and toilet. The camp is electrically lit.
Civilization ends, however, at the camp's perimeter. Situated on the border of Hwange National Park, which you enter through Inyantue Gate a world of wildlife opens up to you. Game viewing activities a,re conduettel on foot and by open landrover, and if at all possible, night gamc drives are undertaken with a spotlight.
SUN SEP 24 AND MON SEP 25 HWANGE CHOKAMELLA
Hwange is the oountry's largest national park, roughly the size & Switzerland, and houses 107 species of animals, and 410 species of birds. It is one of the few elephant sanctuaries left in the world and herds of up to 100 may be seen drinking and bathing at waterholes in the park. Game viewing activittes, on foot and by landrover, are offered during your stay. Night drives offer a view of nocturnal Africa, and specially constructed hides are perfect for the photographer. Two days of game viewing activities include drives by specially adapted landrovers, walks through the Two days of game viewing activities include drives by specially adapted landrovers, walks through the bush with your game ranger, and sitting peascfully at a hide, where you will learn about the wildlife of Hwange while being presented excellent opportunities for photographs. You should be able to see elephant, zebra, bufflalo, rhino. giraffe. kudu, impala, steenbok, wildebeest, lion, warthog, black-backed jackal, sable, hyena, bat-eared fox, hippo, klipspringer, cheetah, reedbuck and roan. A typical day starts at dawn with tea and coffee, followed by an early morning game drive. This is when the animals are most active. Return to camp for breakfast and a flirther game viewing activity. Then rest and lunch. During the hottest part of the day the aninials rest, and so do you. After Tea, depart on a game viewing activity, usually ending at a waterhole to enjoy sundowners while watching the animals come to drink. Drinks and dinner are accompanied by tall tales around the campfire.
TUE SEP 26 HWANGE/KARIBA KATETE
This morning you will be driven to the airport (about one hour away from camp) for your 8:30 AM flight to Kariba. On arrival at 9:30 am, you will board your charter flight to Bumi Flills. Here a representative of Katete will meet you, and drive you the remainder of the way to Katete. Situated in the Mopani wooded savannah of the Kariba Lakeshore, Katete is one of the newest lodges in the Matusadona National Park. Accomodations are provided in 16 twin bedded lodges, under thatch, constructed entirely of local materials. Enjoy an afternoon game activity, either a drive or boat ride, or perhaps some fishing.
WED SEP 27 AND THU SEP 28 KARIBA WATER WILDERNESS
After breakfst this morning you will be taken the short distance to Water Wilderness, a floating camp located in the shallows of Lake Kariba. Each `pontoon houseboat enjoys en-suite facilities, with the `mother' houseboat where all meals and drinks are served. The mother boat is accessible by canoe which is provided to each guest. You can either paddle yourself to and from the lounge, or have one of the intrepid staff members do it for you.
Each morning while staying here, you are awoken at dawn by the coffee canoe, and then depart on a game activity, whether by boat or on shore by foot. Enjoy the services of your resident naturalist manager, one of the best in Zimbabwe. Later in the afternoon you may wish to fish for dinner (tiger fish and bream), or just relax on your verandah and take stock of Africa. There will be wonderful photographic opportunities with the `drowned' trees of Kariba, and magnificent sunsets.
FRI SEP 29 AND SAT SEP 30 KARIBA/BULAWAYO MATOBOS LODGE
This morning you board your charter flight to Kariba, and connect with your flight for Bulawayo. On arrival, you will be met by a Touch the Wild representative, and driven to the Matobos Hills Ledge for a two night stay. Matobos National Park is where Cecil John Rhodes, African explorer, is buried. This area is a very spiritual home to the Matabele people of Zimbabwe, as well as being a sanctuary for the rhinoceros (almost extinct in other areas of Africa). While staying at the lodge, enjoy game viewing drives (the game is not as prolific as you'll find in other areas), and excursions to some of the local caves which feature centuries old bushmen cave paintings. The guides here are all experts in local history. Your days will be arranged according to yor interests and should be one of the memorable highlights of your stay. The key at the Matabos is to relax and drink in the history surrounding you.
. stretch your legs by climbing the rocks to some of the caves, relax at the swimming pool, enjoy the company of the mostly local holiday makers at the lodge, and marvel at the views of the rock formations surrounding your camp.
Two nights will be spent here. The lodge is stunning, built into the rock formations found in the area, each cottage has an en-suite bathroom (an actual tub!) and very large bedrooms with 360 degree views from the windows.
SUN OCT 1 BULAWAYO/VIC FALLS VIC FALLS HOTEL
After breakfast you will be driven to Bulawayo (approximately 40 minute drive) to board a flight for Vietoria Falls. On arrival, you will be met by your Afroventures driver and driven to the Victoria Falls hotel. Meet the rest of your group as they arrive from various cities.
MON OCT O2 AND TUE OCT 03 VIC FALL/SERONDELA CAMP SITE -
After breakfast, cross the border into Botswana and drive to the northern part of Chobe Game Reserve , where your camp site is set up on the private concession at Serondella. This is a refuge for great herds of elephant and cape buffalo, and it is not unusual to see large prides of lion, wildebeest, and zebra. Hippo and crocodile abound at water's edge, antelope too, make this a photographers paradise. Game viewing will be conducted by vehicle, and on the river by motor launch. The camp site is fully serviced, and meals will be provided by the camp staff. Two nights under canvas.
WED OCT 04 AND THU OCT O5 SERONDELA/SAVUTI SOUTH CAMP
Drive through the Chobe game reserve to Savuti traveling west and spotting game en-route. The rocky hills of Savuti vary from heavy sandveld and mopani forest to open marshland and savannah,providing a habitat for many different species of animals and birds. Part of the Chobe National Park, the Mababe Depression here form a floodplain surrounded by thousands of hectares of arid bush country. During the dry season (July - November), the game concentrations can be so vast that one sweep of your binoculars could capture a thousand animals and a dozen different species. Some of the herds will surpass your wildest dreams.
Two nights will be spent in a permanent tented camp, possibly Savuti South Camp. Game viewing drives are conducted by vehicle only in this area.
FRI OCT O6 AND SAT OCT 07 SAVUTI/MOREMI CAMP SITE
Continue to the North Gate at Moremi this morning, where the camp crew has gone ahead and set up the tents. Hot water will be awaiting your arrival for a shower, and you're sure to be pleased to greet your canip stala, agnin (nothing quite like bush cooking). Game viewing in Moremi should reveal some of everything, but I believe the giraffe here will strike you as plentiful, as well as the many antelope species . The campsite is located just inside the Park gate. at the famous `Bridge over the River Khwai' (no, not the movie, but the Khwai River).
SUN OCT 08 MOREMI CAMP MOREMI
Get ready for another nigbt of luxury at the beautiflul Camp Moremi situated further west of last night's camp, fln the Xakanaxa Lagoon, amongst giant ebony trees. Further game viewing activities by open landrover should reveal roan antelope, lion, leopard, zebra, sable, hyena and wild dog. The camp is made up ef eleven very large East African style tents, each with private hot showers and waterborne toilets.
MON OCT 09 AND TUE OCT 10 - MOREMI/OKAVANGO CAMP OKAVANGO
Continue to the heart of the Okavango today, to Camp 0, where the staff awaits your arrival. Here game viewing is done on floot and on water (motor boat and makoro), and Michella and Sarel are your hosts, providing the finest food in all of the Delta. All meals are taken in the open air dining room under the shade of a tree, and there is a swimming pool which provides relief from the midday sun. Lechwe abound, and the clhances of seeing the elusive Sitatunga are good.
WED OCT 11 AND THU OCT 12 OKAVANGO/KALAHARI CAMP SITE
Board the charter flight this morning to Deception Valley located in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. Game viewing and `sight-seeing' is conducted in open vehicles, and the nights are spent under canvas in the preerected camp. Limited access is now allowed to the Central Kalahari area, and is most common for birdwatching safaris. This game reserve is still inhabited by groups of Bushmen, and it is for this reason that access is limited. Apart from the occasional tourist, often scientists visit this area regularly. The ganie reserve contains large herds of blue wildebeest, red hartebeest, eland, gemsbok, and springbok.
FRI OCT 13 KALAHARI/JOHANNESBURG AIRPORT HOLIDAY INN
Bid farewell to your camp staff and rangers today as you board your charter flight to Maun, arriving in time to connect with a BP flight to Johannesburg. On arrival in Johannesburg, make your way by hotel courtesy shuttle to the Jan Smuts Airport Holiday Inn, whiere a room has been reserved for you. May we suggest arranging for a room service breakfast tomorrow morning.
SAT, OCT 14 JOHANNESfBURG/CAPE TOWN THE BAY HOTEL
After breakfast, make your way to the airport by courtesy shuttle to board an SAA flight to Capetown. On arrival in Capetown you will be met by a represntative of GRS Safaris and driven to the Bay Hotel, located in beautiful Camps Bay. After checking in, depart on a full day tour of the Cape Penninsula. travel along the coastal road past charming seaside resorts such as Muizenberg, Fish Hock and Simonstown, to enter the Cape of Good hope nature reserve. As you drive through the reserve you will enjoy beautiful scenery as well as some antelope species living here and some very pesky baboons. Stop at Cape Point, the Southern-most tip of the African continent, which for many years was believed to be the meeting place of the Indian and Atlantic oceans (now disputed). Here you will stop and stretch your legs and enjoy the scenery, before returning to the city via Groot Constantia, home of the first Governor of the Cape and oldest wine making center in South Africa. The manor house, now a museum, is a magnificent example of Cap Dutch architecture. Astop will be made for lunch at the Blue Martin Restaurant, specializing in local Seafood.
The Bay Hotel overlooks one of the world’s most pristine stretches of beach, Camp’s Bay. Every room enjoys spectacular views, all with their own balcony.
SUN OCT 15 CAPE TOWN THE BAY HOTEL
The morning is at leasure to relax and sleep in, or take a walk along the beach front. Since this is Sunday, please note that most stores will be closed today. At 2:00 pm you will met by Petra Onel of GRS Safaris, and driven into the heart of the wine growing area at Paarl. A stop will be made at a local winery for wine tasting, then visit the Taal (language) museum, located on a hilltop overlooking the city of Cape Town across the water (perfect spot for photography). Continue on to the Grand Roce winery, a magnificently restored manor house which features superb gourmet cuisine and an impressiv wine cellar. Enjoy pre-dinner drinks, followed by a magnificent dinner and return to your hotel late this evening. The dress for today should be casually elegant.
MON OCT 16 MON, OCT 16 CAPE TOWN/JOHANNESBURG/DEPART
The morning is at leisure for last minute shopping or sightseeing. This afternoon you will be met at your hotel and driven to the airport to board your flight to johannesburg, and connect in London with your flight home.
Nature Encounters, Ltd. ,8438 Meirose Place Los Angeles, CA, 90069 213-852-1100