Southern Africa Sojourn

Arrival into South Africa at Johannesburg Int. Airport.

As you wearily collect your belongs off your flight, disembark the plane where  you will be met airside by a friendly  ETA Rep  and assisted with Customs, immigration, COVID Protocol, and  Baggage Reclaim

Once completed, walk through to the Arrivals Hall where another  friendly face awaits you.  Your Private Guide for the duration,  Sid Hayes, will be waiting to meet you.  He will relieve you of your luggage and take you across the road to the Intercontinental Hotel

Check in to Standard Rooms for one night on a B&B Basis

Dinner at leisure - Extra Cost

During this evening Sid will do a Safari Briefing which basically gives you an in-depth explanation of the next 12 days ahead of you - the do's and dont's, the tales of what is to come and a general get to know each other over a glass of wine or an ice cold beer.   This is the only time you will need to take any responsibility of where you going or what you doing, as Sid will take over from here and will bring your story in Africa to life, making it hassle free and truly remarkable.

Today is the start of your adventure with a gentle wake up call from Sid who will check in and ensure that you are up, jetlag has not got you!

Meet up for breakfast after which you will walk over to the  the Regional Terminal check in desks for your flight to Victoria Falls.  Commercial flight to Victoria Falls is not included in this package.

On arrival in Victoria Falls, you will need to purchase a KAZA UNI Visa of $50 per person, check through customs and Immigration, reclaim your luggage and proceed through to the Arrivals Hall where you will meet your pilot for the short charter flight to Hwange National Park.

The number of passengers carried on each leg of our circuit flights is dependent on aircraft used, time of year, passenger and luggage weights, routing, fuel required, etc.

Short charter of 40 minutes to Hwange National Park  where you will land at the Linkwasha Airstrip. Here is where you will get your first taste of safari - landing on a dirt air strip, met by a ranger in khaki uniform and transferred in  open 4x4 vehicles to the camp.  

One of our favourite parts of safari is the welcoming committee at the camps -  there is always much cheer, song and dance where the people of Africa smile from their eyes.  One cannot help but feel like a VIP and the bubbles of expectation in ones tummy begin to brew. 

The camp looks out across a pan with a permanent waterhole that attracts wildlife year round, and being in a private concession guests benefit from exclusive and flexible game viewing.  Linkswasha camp is  modern and luxurious in design and  eases you into the 'safari way of life' through its  stylish and contemporary setting whilst enjoying  excellent wildlife sightings in an isolated part of the park.    Check in THREE nights on a fully inclusive basis.

Once in camp, you will be advised daily on what activities are on offer subject to weather and game patterns. you will have a private vehicle so your time and interests are your own.  This is particularly necessary for photography so that you are not influenced by other guests' and their interests if not the same as yours.

All camps have different surprises during guests' stays that happen unexpectedly and are so perfectly curated to enhance a game drive, a meal or simply a bush nature walk.   Guests are never sure what lies around each corner and each encounter will engulf them in awe and admiration that surpasses any planned occassion.  We will leave that to simmer in your subconcious for now.

By now you have become firm safari experts who are accustomed to the sights, smells and noises of the African bush, and we defy anyone at this point to  deny that Africa has gently crawled into their skin -  take a minute to search your soul and not realise a sense of peace and tranquiity that has settled over it. 

It is time to say goodbye to the wonderful team at Linkwasha and head onto the next adventure - The Seventh Wonder!  The number of passengers carried on each leg of our circuit flights is dependent on aircraft used, time of year, passenger and luggage weights, routing, fuel required, etc

Take a light aircraft flight back to Victoria Falls and  on arrival you meet another friendly ranger who will transfer through to another time. 
 

The Old Drift Lodge is a unique lodge built on the banks of the Zambezi River just a few kilometers upstream from the mighty Victoria Falls itself. 

The setting is stunning, right on the waters edge of the wide mighty Zambezi River, about 15 km upstream from the big waterfall, and the site sits on the original crossing place before the bridge was built, they even show you remnants of the old drift when you go out on the River.   The lodge is in the National Park so you get wild animals walking around the lodges as they wander down to the River, it truly is idyllic.  The décor is extremely well done in a colonial  cross Bedouin tent style and the main entertainment area is full of trinkets and tales of the history of the Victoria Falls and of course in particularly the old drift itself. 

The rooms are large and spacious, but the  best part is a stunning outside bath on the deck - who doesnt dream of lying in a bubble batch under the  beautiful and dramatic African sky  - put this on  your bucketlist and add the value of  listening to hippos snorting in the distance while you sip on a delicious glass of bubbles. 

Whilst in Victoria Falls, Sid will plan your few days precisely to ensure that you get to excperience everything that is on offer, not to miss out any opportunity but also to have time to enjoy the lodge and what it is all about.  You will also be hosted by Sid and his family at his home during your stay at some point.  

Camp activities  include  game drives and cruises, plus Sid will take you on a private tour of the  Falls followed by lunch at  The Lookout Cafe and anyone who is keen for some adrenaline can throw themselves off the edge of on a Gorge Swing, Zip Line or canopy tour.  Adrenaline activities are not included (extra cost).

Devils Pool is something that should not be missed - not for the feint hearted though.  Thisis an included day trip across to Zambia where you will have the adventure of a lifetime by swimming in Devils' Pool. Your KAZA Uni Visa will be used for entry into Zambia.  This activity is done mid morning, lunch time and in the afternoon so we will decide which slot to fill once Sid  has determined what else you want to see and do. 

Another 'must do' is the Helicopter Flight of Angels.  This phenomenal experience will literally take your breath away as you soar above the seven gorges that have for millions of years made up the deep chasms that eventually form the wall of rock that the Zambezi River plummets over.  Rainbows make anyone happy and no one gets out of a chopper without a smile on their face.  If you have a special occassion to celebrate, Sid can pull rabbits out of hats to arrange flights through the gorge and suprise picnics on squeaky white sand at the bottom of the gorge.   Quite something to experience!

There are many other amazing activities to do whilst in Victoria Falls, ranging from painting art with Elephants to visiiting local rural villages and communities, to watching vultures feed..there is something for everyone and Sid will assist with making all those wants into reality.

The camp staff, like Linkwasha, have their own super surprises during your stay that will once again tickle your  fancies with intrigue and make you feel like celebrities on safari.

"The African Bush - just the thought of it conjures up some fascinating images of breath-taking wilderness, sunrise safaris and a retreat far away from the city. Here your imagination becomes reality. I hope someday we’ll be able to share this with you. " Sir Richard Branson.

And share with you we will - Ulusaba means 'place of little fear'.  Everyone knows  Virgin, but not everyone has the opportunity to stay at this incredible lodge that is designed on top of  a rock kopje overlooking the lush bush that makes up the Sabi Sabi concession. 

This morning you will enjoy a leisurely breakfast before checking out at 10h30 and transferring by road to the  Airport  for your flight to Nelspruit, South Africa.  (to be confirmed whether out of Victoria Falls or Livingstone - commercial flight cost not inlcuded)

ON arrival into Nelspruit, the Gateway into Kruger,  you will connect on another short charter hop directly to Ulusaba Lodge.  This charter is included.

On arrival at Ulusaba Rock Lodge, you will check into Rock Lodge for three nights on a fully inclusive basis.  All activities will be outlined to you by your guide  and Sid on site, weather and game movement dependant.

Again, the staff at Ulusaba will vary your few days with them and ensure that your experiences, surpass your wildest expectations. From safari walks, relaxing spa treatment and cocktails by the pool, there is no shortage of things to do during the day. And while these activities may currently look a little different because of additional safety measures rest assured there will be no compromise on the  incredible Ulusaba experiences.

The saying - leave the best til last!!  Well, Tswalu identifies that. 

Tswalu,  a 'New Beginning'  is a generous landscape and as the sun rises above the Korannaberg mountains each morning, new opportunities to learn, play and explore come to life.   Every Tswalu safari is a true journey to the heart of an inspired conservation vision, and a landscape that’s dreamlike in its intensity and scale.   The Oppenheimer family dedicated themselves to restoring and preserving conservation on this private concession and this initiative is seen through all the safari excperiences you  will encounter during  your stay. 

After an early breakfast, check out and transfer to the Ulusaba airstrip for your charter flight to Johannesburg Intl. airport.    This flight is included in the cost.

On arrival into Johannesburg you will be transferred to the Fireblade Hangar which is the departure lounge for the special Charter flight to Tswalu on Tswalu Air

On arrival at Tswalu Airstrip, you will be met and transferred to Tarkuni, fomrerly the Oppernheimers private residence,  where you will check in for three nights on a fully inclusive basis.   All activities will be outlined to you by your guide  and Sid on site, weather and game movement dependant.

Every drive or walk is  different at Tswalu with its wildlife encompassing both the familiar and the bizarre - black maned lions sharing savannah with the Aardvark, Meerkats and Pangolin, the ending to your safari will tick all the boxes and more. 

In the words of Ernest Hemmingway - "I never knew of a morning in Africa when I woke up that I was not happy.”  Today will be bittersweet waking up as is the last african dawn you will experience on this trip.  Take a moment to listen to the sounds of the morning, the lifegiving melody of birdsong as the sun rises silently over the horizon ingniting life into every bit of the african landscape and its creatures.  There is nothing quite like it and you will remember this for a very long time.  

Charter from Tswalu Airstrip to Fireblade Hangar where you are free to utilise their Lounge and Day room to freshen up, have a shower, a meal and relax before being transferred across to the International Terminal where you will check  in for your flight home.

This is where your journey with Sid ends and you bid each other fond farewells.  If you cry - that is okay as then he knows he has done his job well.     If we are lucky, you will become a return guest of ours and already be planning your next African adventure  in your head as you take to the skies over a continent that will hold your soul forever.