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.
Located in western Zimbabwe, Hwange National Park (formerly Wankie Game Reserve) is the largest natural reserve in the country and is famous for its rich diversity of wildlife. Home to one of the biggest elephant populations in the world, as well as around 100 mammal species, the park is a wonderland for animal lovers. Several protected animals inhabit the awe-inspiring open landscapes, including the endangered wild dog, critically endangered black rhino, and rare roan and sable - along with lion, cheetah, and around 500 bird species. Adventurers can look forward to guided bush hikes, game drives, and horse riding safaris, all of which offer excellent photographic opportunities. Hwange boasts several unique natural features, most notably the natural seeps such as Nehimba and Shakwanki animals dig for water.
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.
The Chobe Riverfront is an elephant mecca; home to the largest density of African elephants in the world. Travel here during winter and you’ll fast run out of fingers and toes while you count them drinking at the riverbanks and socialising out on the floodplains.
Thanks to its ease of access from Victoria Falls, the Chobe Riverfront is the busiest part of Botswana (though still a much quieter affair than most South or East African safaris). What Chobe lacks in solitude during the busier months, it more than makes up for with quality game viewing.
Chobe will leave you feeling tiny as giant elephant bulls stroll up next to your vehicle or snorkel alongside your boat. It will make you feel lost as hundreds of hippos and buffaloes crowd you out on the floodplains. It will put your heart in your throat as prides of lions stalk antelopes by the water’s edge, and it will leave you alone with your thoughts while the classic red sunsets melt over the river to a soundtrack of whistling fish eagles.
Chobe is not just a great introduction to Botswana. It also makes a rewarding repeat journey once you’ve ticked off the big stuff. It’s a place to search for the rare sable antelope, to spot that gem from the birders’ bucket list and to explore the remoter corners.
Where you stay in Chobe makes a huge difference to your safari experience. The most affordable options are at bigger hotels in a town setting where you’ll share your game drives with a few more vehicles. On the more exclusive end, stay in a wilder area in or around the park, listen to the sounds of the bush at night and get a head start on accessing the park for activities.
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.
