One of the most culturally and geographically diverse places on earth, South Africa, fondly known by locals as the 'Rainbow Nation', boasts 11 official languages, and its inhabitants are influenced by a fascinating mix of cultures. Discover the gourmet restaurants, impressive art scene, vibrant nightlife, and beautiful beaches of Cape Town. Enjoy a local braai (barbecue) in the Soweto township, browse the bustling Indian markets in Durban, or sample some of the world's finest wines at the myriad wine estates dotting the Cape Winelands. Some historical attractions to explore include the Zululand battlefields of KwaZulu-Natal, the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg, and Robben Island, just off the coast of Cape Town. Above all else, its untamed wilderness is astonishing: wildlife roams freely across massive unfenced game reserves such as the world-famous Kruger National Park.
Johannesburg is one of Africa’s largest and most vibrant cities. It is an economic powerhouse in Africa and the gateway to Southern Africa. This bustling city offers a wide range of activities, attractions and plenty to do in and around the city including nearby Pretoria. Downtown is a multi-cultural mixture of traditional medicine shops, Chinese restaurants, taxi ranks and ultra-modern skyscrapers. There are excellent museums, art galleries and organised tours of historical and political interest. The shopping is Southern Africa’s best and the many restaurants cater for all tastes. Soweto, a township steeped in history and a significant part of the Greater Johannesburg metropolitan area, is a popular tourist destination.
Set at the confluence of the Indian and Atlantic oceans and backed by the iconic Table Mountain, the bustling city of Cape Town presents an alluring combination of drawcards. Incredible powdery white beaches, highly acclaimed wine routes, and astonishingly beautiful mountain trails surround a cosmopolitan hub. This diverse metropolis is filled with superb shops and restaurants, extraordinary heritage monuments, a multitude of entertainment venues, and a spectacular, chic waterfront harbour. Highlights include the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary African Art; Table Mountain's jaw-dropping views; Boulders Beach, where penguins might swim right up to you in the warm Indian ocean waters; the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, where you can walk along a treetop canopy among incredible native flora or watch an open-air concert at the base of the mountain; Robben Island, where visitors can see the cell where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 years; and many more.
Set just over an hour from Cape Town, within the inspiring landscapes of the Cape Winelands, Franschhoek is a heritage town and a world-renowned food and wine destination. Travellers could choose to focus their visit on any one aspect alone - nature, cuisine or culture - and find plenty to keep them busy. The estates here attract wine experts from around the globe with their Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cap Classique sparkling wine (among others). Five-star restaurants alongside the cellars are surrounded by the same jaw-dropping valley scenes that have brought artists and writers to the area for centuries. A superb literary festival takes place around May every year, and, combined with the town’s Cape Dutch manor houses, fascinating museums, and charming boutiques, makes Franschhoek a wonderful place to visit in winter. Summer provides endless hiking, cycling and other outdoor opportunities among the lush farmlands and mountains.
Situated in the Lowveld region of Limpopo, the Makalali Private Game Reserve - also known as the Makalali Conservancy - covers over 22 000 hectares of pristine African bushveld stretching across a series of rolling hills. Makalali, meaning ‘Place of Rest’ in Shangaan aims to create a sanctuary for the diversity of fauna and flora in the area and re-establish the ancient wildlife corridor that connects the Drakensberg Mountains with the Kruger National Park. It is home to the infamous Big Five which includes lion, rhino, leopard, elephant, and buffalo. Visitors can look forward to soaking up magnificent views, spotting an abundance of wildlife and enjoying magical African sunsets. Don’t miss the opportunity to jump on a thrilling safari through the African bush. Other commonly spotted species include: cheetah, kudu, giraffe, and zebra.
Visa
Australian passport holders require a visa that is attainable upon arrival for US$30 single entry (current) and payable in cash only.
All visitors to Zimbabwe must have a passport, which is valid for at least 6 months beyond their intended departure date from Zimbabwe.
Kaza Univisa – Zimbabwe and Zambia
The Univisa was suspended asof the 31 Dec 2015.
Internal Flights and Transfers
Due to the remote areas the camps and lodges are based in, transfers between camps may take place by boat, train, game drive vehicle or light aircraft.
Departure Taxes
International departure taxes are included in the scheduled flight rates. However light aircraft transfers from Victoria Falls Airport to Livingstone or Kasane require an International Departure tax of US$35 per person & AIDF Levy of $15 = $50 per person to be paid in cash.
Domestic departure taxes are payable in cash at the airport, for any flights departing internally from any registered, manned airport. These include Harare, Bulawayo, Kariba, Hwange and Victoria Falls Airport. The amount is US$10 departure tax + US$5 AIDF Levy = US$15 per person. We recommend small denominations for easier and quicker transactions as change is not always available. Traveller’s cheques and credit cards are NOT accepted.
At Victoria Falls, the earth splits open and swallows one of Africa’s greatest rivers, the mighty Zambezi, creating the largest sheet of falling water on earth. As the water hits the narrow depths of the Batoka Gorge beneath, it blasts a cloud of mist skywards, lending the falls their local name ‘mosi-oa-tunya’ (the smoke that thunders). When the Zambezi is its fullest, the mist hangs a permanent raincloud above the falls, showering visitors on even the sunniest of days and visible for miles around.
Above the falls on the upper Zambezi, boats cruise the tranquil water at sunset while the distant spray catches the fading light downstream. Below the falls, the Batoka Gorge’s rocky walls funnel the lower Zambezi into a chain of world-class rapids, prime for white water rafting.
Aside from being a UNESCO world heritage site and a natural world wonder, Victoria Falls also forms a natural border between Zimbabwe and Zambia. The falls can be seen from both countries, and for the most part the same activities are offered on both sides, from helicopter scenic flights to village visits and souvenir shopping.
Whether your idea of getting away from it all is a relaxed high tea in colonial grandeur or a heart-stopping bungee jump off a bridge, Victoria Falls keeps both the faint of heart and the most insatiable of adrenalin junkies busy for days.
From Zambia, a side on view of the falls is on offer with views into the Batoka Gorge, as well as the possibility of perching yourself at the edge of the falls on the vertigo-inducing Livingstone Island.
From Zimbabwe, you’ll get a full-frontal view of three quarters of the falls’ 1.7km wide curtain of water from viewpoints and footpaths meandering through a rainforest kept hot and humid by the spray of the falls.
Visa
Passports are required by all foreign visitors and must be valid for 6 months after the intended length of stay. Please ensure that there are two blank pages per country to be visited. It is imperative to check visa requirements with the country embassies/consulates as it may vary according to your nationality. A visa is not required for Australian passport holders.
Currency
The currency of Botswana is the Pula (BWP). US$ Dollar notes (2007 Series onwards), and Visa and MasterCard are accepted.
Internal Flights and Transfers
Due to the remote areas the camps and lodges are based in, transfers between camps may take place by boat, mekoro, game drive vehicle or light aircraft.
Flight times around Botswana | Approximate flying times
Flight duration times (as listed below), are to be used as an average guideline. They are based on actual flying time, and passengers may have various stops en-route to a destination affecting the total travel time. Your pilot will brief you of your flight route and duration during the safety briefing.
Maun - Delta: 15 to 30 minutes
Delta – Delta: 10 to 20 minutes
Delta - Linyanti: 30 to 40 minutes
Maun – Linyanti: 50 to 60 minutes
Linyanti - Kasane: 40 to 60 minutes
Maun/Delta - Kasane: 60 to 80 minutes
Maun - Makgadikgadi/Desert: 40 to 60 minutes
Departure Taxes
Departure taxes are included in ticket prices.
Situated in the northwestern corner of Botswana, the Okavango Delta is a World Heritage Site as it is the largest inland delta in the world. The magnificent Okavango River sprawls out over the dry sands of the Kalahari Desert forming this flourishing waterlogged oasis featuring countless meandering waterways and crystal clear lagoons studded with water lilies, as well as fertile floodplains and reeded islands inhabited with abundant wildlife. The Okavango Delta stretches over an impressive15000 square kilometres. Visitors can enjoy a number of wonderful activities such as game viewing, fishing, bird watching or taking an authentic guided Mokoro excursion through this wetland paradise in a traditional dugout canoe. Commonly spotted animals include: lion, rhino, leopard, giraffe, hippos, elephants, crocodiles and countless species of bird.
