Bowers Museum - Iconic Zambia: Flying Foxes and Homecoming Elephants

EXPERIENCE THE FANTASTICAL FLIGHT OF GIANT FRUIT BATS, MANGO EATING ELEPHANTS, AND THE SPRAY OF THE LARGEST FALLS IN THE WORLD.

Visiting Zambia in November, you will experience three iconic world wildlife events.

Once a year, deep in the forests of Central Africa, giant fruit bats with three foot wingspans, converge in one place. They come in their millions to feed on the fruit trees of the Kasanka National Park in northern Zambia. They are so big they are called “flying foxes.”

At the same time of year, the elephants of Mfuwe return to the lodge for the very same reason, to feed on the succulent fruit trees around the lodge. The matriarch of this particular family of elephants, now known as Wonky Tusk, has been bringing her family to the lodge for over 20 years. Her children, including Wellington, feel at ease when visiting the lodge. So much so that they enter the lodge in the same way as other visitors, through the main lobby!

One other visitor arrives in Northern Zambia during this time of the year. The African Pitta is a radiantly coloured bird, also known as the Jewel Thrush, or the Jewel of the Forest.

PLEASE FIND BELOW;

• Emergency Contact Details
• Passport and Visa Requirements
• Health Precautions
• Itinerary Summary
• Baggage Restrictions
• Tipping Guidelines
• TravelApp mobile device code

EMERGENCY CONTACT DETAILS

• Jim Holden - President - Holden Safaris - Newport Beach CA + 1 949-500-0094
• Sonia Marsh - Holden Safaris - Newport Beach CA USA:  + 1 949-402-7828
• Vivienne Holden - Holden Safaris - Durban South Africa - + 27 (0) 82 882 5056
• Nick Aslin - Zambian Ground Handlers - + 260 977 747048
• Evie - Zambian Ground Handlers - +260 965 989229

PASSPORT & VISA REQUIREMENTS

• Passport and visa are required to enter Zambia
• Passport must be valid for at least six months after the intended date of departure from Zambia
• Passport to include two blank visa pages 
• If transiting South Africa, additional page required per entry
• Visas can be obtained on entry to Zambia
• Kaza Univisa: $50 allows multiple entries into both Zambia and Zimbabwe
• If Kaza Univisa not available: Double entry visa into Zambia $80 and Single entry visa into Zimbabwe $ 30: Total $ 110
• Please have correct denomination, undamaged and relatively new (+-5 yrs) dollar bills available for payment of visa

HEALTH PRECAUTIONS

• Malaria is prevelant in some of the areas to be visited. Please consult your physician for suitable anti-malaria medication
• No Yellow Fever inoculations are required for entry into Zambia direct from the USA
• No Yellow Fever inoclations are required for entry into Zimbabwe from Zambia
• For further information: https://www.passporthealthusa.com/

ITINERARY SUMMARY

8 Nov 2018 - Arrival in Lusaka

• Dona Leicht: SA 66 : 9pm
• Bruce and Mary Stambaugh: SA 66: 9pm
• Ann McDonald: SA 66 : 9pm
• Transfer to the Latitude Hotel – overnight

9 Nov 2018 – Arrival in Lusaka

• Louanne Champagne Brazil : Emirates 713 : 2:40 pm
• Grace Decker: SA 62 : 12:25 pm
• Roberta McCarty: Emirates 713 : 2:40 pm
• Lois Nelson : Emirates 713 : 2:40 pm
• Barbara Hamkalo : Emirates 713 : 2:40 pm
• Transfer to Latitude Hotel – overnight

9 Nov 2018

• 6pm: Welcome cocktail reception
• Overnight: Latitude Hotel

10 Nov 2018

• 09:30 am : Transfer from Latitude Hotel to Lusaka airport
• 11:00 am : Depart scheduled flight from Lusaka to Livingstone
• Transfer to The River Club
• Lunch and River Club orientation (confirm optional activities available)
• Sunset Cruise
• Overnight: The River Club

11 Nov 2018

• 08:00 am: Depart on tour of Victoria Falls (Zambia and Zimbabwe)
• Optional Activity: Microlight flight (early morning)
• Shopping and Lunch - Victoria Falls
• Return transfer to The River Club
• Sunset Cruise
• Overnight: The River Club

12 Nov 2018

• Optional Activity: Helicopter flight (early morning) :
• 10:00 am : Collected from River Club and transferred to David Livingstone Lodge (boat departure location)
• 10:30 am : Depart by boat to to Elephant Café for lunch
• 1:30 pm : Depart Elephant Café and return to River Club
• Optional Activity: 2:00 pm: Game-Rhino Walk (afternoon)
• Sunset cruise
• Overnight: The River Club

13 Nov 2018

• 08:30 am : Visit to Simoonga Village
• 9:30 am : Return to River Club - breakfast and check-out
• 11:00 am: Transfer to Harry Mwanga Nkumbula International Airport and assisted with check-in for your scheduled flight to Lusaka.
• 12:35 pm: Depart flight PO706 and arrive in Lusaka @ 13:45 pm.
• On arrival at Lusaka airport, transfer to charter flight from Lusaka to Kasanka Airstrip, departing Lusaka at approximately 14:15pm.
• 15:50 pm : Approximate arrival at Kasanka Airstrip
• Transfer to Wasa Lodge Kasanka
• Afternoon bat observation
• Overnight: Wasa Lodge Kasanka

14 Nov 2018

• Morning and afternoon bat observation (sunrise and sunset)
• Overnight: Wasa Lodge Kasanka

15 Nov 2018

• 10:00 am : Transfer to Kasanka Airstrip
• Charter flight to Mfuwe Airport
• 45  min Road transfer from  Mfuwe Airport  to Mfuwe Lodge
• Afternoon game drive and sundowners
• Overnight: Mfuwe Lodge

16 Nov

• Morning game viewing - 5:30 /6:00 am
• Afternoon game viewing -  3:30 /4:00 pm.
• Walking safari
• Elephant visit to the lodge
• Overnight: Mfuwe Lodge

17 Nov 2018:

• 09:00 am :Visit to Tribal Textiles
• 12:30 pm: Depart Tribal Textiles and transfer to Doricas Restaurant  for lunch
• 15:00 pm: Depart Doricas Restaurant and transfer to community village
• 16:30 pm : Depart community village and transfer to the lodge.
• Overnight: Mfuwe Lodge

18 Nov 2018

• Morning game viewing - 5:30 /6:00 am
• Afternoon game viewing -  3:30 /4:00 pm.
• Elephant visits to the lodge
• Farewell function
• Overnight: Mfuwe Lodge

19 Nov 2018

• 14:00 pm :Transfer from the lodge to Mfuwe Airport (lodge management to confirm time)
• 15:40 pm : Depart charter flight  from Mfuwe Airport
• 17:20 pm : Arrive Lusaka Airport
• Check-in for connecting outbound flights.

BAGGAGE RESTRICTIONS

• Proflight Zambia: Lusaka to Livingstone 23kg per person
• Lusaka to Mfuwe/Jeki/Royal : Light aircraft : one bag per passenger up to 15 kgs per person
• 5 kgs hand luggage per passenger on all flights

TIPPING GUIDELINE: ZAMBIA AND ZIMBABWE

• Porters US$ 1 per person per day.
• Waiters US$ 2 per person per day
• Driver guide US$ 10 per person per day
• Normally the guide/ranger is tipped separately in order to show your appreciation and the guide/ranger tip can be made at the end of your stay in each location.
• At many camps there will be a tipping box at checkout or you can give to the manager to share with Camp staff

TRAVELKEY APP : Enjoy mobile access to your itinerary by downloading the App

• Download the TravelKey App from Google Play Store & the App Store
• Enter your itinerary mobile code (password) :  URIB48 to complete the itinerary download allowing you access to your itinerary from your mobile device during your trip

For further information please refer to the  detailed information documents attached .