Photo
         Explorer
         Tours
         2011
      
   

Southern Africa Explorer,
Mozambique's Indian Ocean Coast, Victoria Falls & Botswana Safaris 
with Dennis Cox

May 7 - 20, 2011


   

      

         
         
         
Traditional Indian Ocean
         dhows.
      
      

         

         Victoria Falls from the
         Zimbabwe side.
      
      

         
         
         
Experience 2 Safari camps
         in Botswana.
      
   

Photos © Dennis Cox

This unique new itinerary features some of the most spectacular scenic locations in Southern Africa with stays in four countries.

*It begins with the enchanted tropical Ibo Island on the Indian Ocean coast of Northern Mozambique where Arab, Dutch, and Portuguese influences linger amid tales of pirates, prisoners and lost treasures of silver. Ibo retains an aura of a lost world in it's architectural heirlooms and mysterious legacy of its isolated, but warm and friendly people. Staying there will be much more than a resort experience -- although the snorkeling on a shipwreck and kayaking through a mangrove forest are not to be missed -- it will be an unforgetable cultural experience and adventure.

*Rivalled in size only by South America's Iguassu Falls, Victoria Falls is a spectacular curtain of water and is best viewed from the Zimbabwe side of its gorge. Known as "the smoke that thunders," in May it will be at the end of flood season on the Zambezi River and should be mostly visible from top to bottom.

*Visiting Southern Africa virtually requires going on safari, and in Botswana there will be not one, but two. The first takes placeat the exclusive private Xugana Island Lodge in the world famous Okavango Delta, with safaris by boat, mokoro and on foot. Following is a transfer to the private Linyati Reserve, located north of the Okavango, during the beginning of the dry winter months when game, and predators, concentrate in abundance along the Linyati River and around watering holes, one of which sits right in front of the group's accommodations in the Savuti Camp. Night drives, as well as off-the-road and walking safaris are featured at Savuti. The combination of these two safaris make for an unforgetable African photographic experience.

This tour, priced at $7995 based on double occupancy ($695 single supplement), includes seven connecting flights and ground transportation; hotels and safari camp accommodations; and most meals, except breakfast only at Johannesburg and Victoria Falls. Not included are visas for Mozambique and Zimbabwe which can be obtained upon entry, personal expenses, including beverages, and tips. International airfare for this tour to Johannesbug and return home from Johannesburg is not included. To save you money on your air booking, we can provide information on a reliable consolidator; or you can arrange your own international air online.

Tour price of $7995 is based on shared double accommodations. A supplement of $695 is required for single room. Minimum group size is 6 participants & maximum is 12.

Saturday, May 7, 2011 -- Arrive at Johannesburg International Airport in time to connect with group for flight at 11:10AM to Pemba Airport arriving at 2:00PM where the group will take a scheduled charter flight to Ibo Island with arrival in time for dinner.

Saturday - Tuesday, May 7 - 10, 2011 - Four nights accommodation at the Ibo Island Lodge.

Ibo Island lies in the Quirimbas Archipelago of northern Mozambique. Nominated for World Heritage status, Ibo has been described as one of the most unique and atmospheric islands in the world. Ibo Island Lodge was built by the community, pioneering tourism development on Ibo. Today either directly or indirectly, the lodge benefits a large part of Ibo's population. Here your visit really does make a difference. Ibo offers pristine beach excursions, snorkeling, sea kayaking, dhow sailing, birding, mangrove forests, sumptuous seafood, romance, simplicity, tranquility and a perspective that will change your life forever.

All nine bedrooms are individual and feature a king size 4 poster, or twin hand crafted bed with crisp cotton linen and Indian silk throws. Wide verandas are a traditional feature of all Ibo mansions, but they widened theirs considerably to house comfortable plantation style chairs with soft cushions. All bedrooms are individually designed and unique, with many opening onto private verandas, decked with hand crafted furniture and soft cushions covered in vibrant local fabrics. All rooms are air-conditioned and also have ceiling fans. All rooms have en-suite facilities with twin basins and large marble showers. Some have baths and outside showers. Located on the prime waterfront site where romantic dhows sail out to sea on each high tide, Ibo Island lodge encompasses magnificent mansions each over one hundred years old. Coral and lime walls over a meter thick, high lofty ceilings and original beams.

Accommodations on Ibo Island Lodge in a standard room are all inclusive. Included are : Meet and Greet in Pemba - Air transfer from Pemba to Ibo - Refreshing non-alcoholic cocktail on arrival - All meals (drinks excluded) - Morning coffee/tea wake up. Transfer daily to photo locations including private sandbank beaches - Guided historical and cultural tours of the island - Medical evacuation insurance - Air Transfer from Ibo to Pemba. Professional guide Rob McKenzie will also be available to advise on great photographic locations on the island as well.

Wednesday, May 11, 2011 -- Following breakfast, take a scheduled charter flight from Ibo Island to Maputo in time for your domestic flight to Johannesburg. Take the shuttle transfer from Johannesburg Airport to the Airport Grand Hotel for overnight in a standard room with breakfast.

A mere five-minute drive from Johannesburg International Airport, the Airport Grand Hotel & Conference Centre offers the business executive and the leisure traveler convenient access to the major business centers of Johannesburg and Pretoria. A complimentary airport shuttle transports you between the hotel and the airport. The hotel has two swimming pools, a restaurant and breakfast room, and a cocktail bar. There is a gym opposite the hotel. Travelers may make use of wireless internet connectivity. Dinner is not included this evening.

Thursday & Friday, May 12 - 13, 2011 -- Following breakfast, take the shuttle transfer from the Airport Grand Hotel to Johannesburg Airport. Fly from Johannesburg to Victoria Falls Airport on South Africa Airways SA40 at 9:30AM and arriving in Victoria Falls at 11:15AM where you will be collected and transferred to Ilala Lodge for two nights accommodation in a standard room with only breakfast included.

Ilala Lodge is situated in Victoria Falls town and is the closest hotel to the magnificent Victoria Falls. Ilala is small and intimate and offers comfortable and affordable accommodation for guests wanting to explore the town with its many optional activities and excursions. The National Park borders the front of the hotel and animals can often be found on the hotel lawns.

Ilala Lodge offers 32 standard rooms as well as 2 deluxe suites. All rooms offer en-suite bathrooms with a separate shower, air-conditioning, overhead fans, satellite TV and coffee and tea making facilities. The rooms are comfortable and spacious with patio doors leading onto either open lawn or a balcony offering beautiful views with the spray of the falls visible from the upper level rooms. Other facilities at Ilala Lodge include a swimming pool and bar, a laundry service, The Palm Restaurant and conference facilities. The Palm Restaurant is famous for offering gourmet cuisine served indoors or on the terrace.

Saturday, May 14, 2011 -- You will be transferred from Ilala Lodge to Kasane Airport in time for your schedule charter flight to Xugana Island Lodge for your three-night stay in a fully inclusive standard room.

Saturday - Monday, May 14 - 16, 2011 -- The Xugana Lagoon is widely accepted as being the most spectacular permanent water site in the entire Okavango Delta, which in the midst of the Kalahari sands, is Africa`s largest and most awe-inspiring oasis. The Okavango River, rises in the highlands of Angola and never reaches the sea; instead its immense waters empty over the sands of the Kalahari. Here the great desert thirst is quenched in a wilderness of fresh water lagoons, channels and islands. It is in the heart of this inland delta that one will find the remote Xugana Island on the edge of the beautiful Xugana Lagoon, assuring a year-round water wilderness experience to our visitors. Xugana Island Lodge is situated on a private concession and takes full advantage of this magnificent site. The views from the front of the lodge or one of the lodgeís eight elevated rooms allow for the immediate realization that one has arrived in the heart of the Okavango Delta. Prepare for the cacophony of bird calls, the distant grunt of hippopotamus and the sweet smell of the well irrigated African bush. The exploration of this part of the Okavango Delta is as exclusive as the base from which one departs to do so, Xugana Island Lodge. Experiencing the sunset across the Xugana lagoon, as viewed from the front of the lodge or from a boat adrift the lagoon will leave memories which will be etched in your mind forever. Daily activities exploring the serpentine waterways, expansive floodplains and wild island networks by boat, mokoro and on foot keep the visitor to Xugana enthralled and entertained. Welcome to the true Okavango!avuti Camp is located in a remote part of the Linyanti Concession along the Savuti Channel in northern Botswana. The area is known for its incredible predator activity and abundance of wildlife. The Linyanti Wildlife Reserve offers one of Africa's most exhilarating wildlife experiences and elephants are one of the reservesí prime attractions.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011 -- Scheduled charter flight from Xugana Island Lodge to Savute Safari Lodge for a three-night stay in a fully inclusive standard room.

Tuesday - Thursday, May 17 - 19, 2011 -- Savuti Camp offers 7 comfortable walk-in safari style tents with en-suite facilities and outdoor showers. Each room is raised off the ground on wooden decks. The camp has a thatched dining area, bar and plunge pool, all on raised wooden decks. There is a waterhole close to camp and this attracts large numbers of animals that guests can view from the camp's extended deck, also ideal for star lit dinners next to the fire. The camp has a plunge pool overlooking the water hole..

The area around Savuti offers high wildlife concentrations, especially during the winter months. Apart from the normal plains game, the area has good sightings of roan, sable and giraffe. All the predators occur in the area -- lion, leopard, cheetah and wild dog. Two different prides of lion have been identified along the channel around the camp. As the waterhole in front of the camp is the only supply of water for a large area in the dry winter months, one of the highlights for Savuti Camp is the fantastic wildlife viewing directly from the camp. Hides at other waterholes are also a special feature.

Friday, May 20, 2011 -- Following breakfast, take scheduled charter flight from Savute Safari Lodge to Maun Airport. Fly with Air Botswana from Maun to Johannesburg arriving in time for evening international departures. Breakfast only included this day.

PLEASE NOTE: Flights are subject to availability. Accommodation is subject to availability. Cost may vary due to changes in air ticket fares and fuel surcharges.

TRAVEL INSURANCE: We highly recommend that you take out medical and travel insurance before you leave home. Information on coverage from Travel Guard will be provided, but you can purchase insurance from the carrier of your choice.

CANCELATION POLICY: Our cancellation policy onu this tour is 20% of the total cost of the itinerary is non refundable 6 weeks before travel and 4 weeks before travel there is a 100% cancellation fee. This doesn't include flights which have to be paid upfront and usually aren't refundable unless we specifically book refundable flight options.

HEALTH PRECAUTIONS: If you will be visiting malaria areas we advise that you take prophylactics. Please consult your doctor before leaving home. Visit the travel clinic website to read more on which areas are malaria areas, and what precautions and immunizations are necessary for travel in Africa: http://www.travelclinic.co.za/

PASSPORTS & VISAS: All visitors must be in possession of a passport valid until 6 months after their return date in order to enter each country. The passport must also contain at least 2 unused pages each when presenting the passport for endorsements in South Africa, Mozambique and Botswana, and 3 consecutive unused pages for Zimbabwe. Visas are required for Mozambique and Zimbabwe and may be obtained upon entry with payment of visa fee in US dollars (US$ for Mozambique and US$50 for Zimbabwe). In addition an arrival and departure tax for Mozambique of US$10 is required. Correct change is required.

LUGGAGE: Luggage weight limit on national and international flights within Southern Africa is 20 kilograms. Scheduled charter flights in Botswana have a luggage restriction of 20kgs (44lbs) of soft luggage per person.

CURRENCY: In Botswana and Zimbabwe the currency of choice is US dollars. All vendors, restaurants and attractions accept payment in US dollars. Please make sure to take dollars in small denominations. Credit cards are only accepted at the hotels (only Visa cards accepted in Zimbabwe). Most vendors (especially in Botswana) do not accept AMEX cards.