9 day - Botswana Baobab Small Group Tour ACCOMMODATED

A nation of spectacular natural beauty, friendly people and rich culture, Zimbabwe’s status as one of Africa’s leading safari destinations was dampened for years by its political instability. But now that the country is transcending its strife and returning to a state of equilibrium, it is once again emerging as a vacation highlight of the continent. Victoria Falls – known to locals as ‘The Smoke That Thunders’ – is one of the seven natural wonders of the world and the sheer power of this massive body of water plunging into the Zambezi Gorge is awe-inspiring and unforgettable. Lake Kariba, with its game-rich shores and islands, is an idyllic safari spot featuring mind-blowing sunsets; Hwange National Park is known for its huge herds of elephants; and a kayak trip down the Zambezi through the Mana Pools National Park will appeal to the intrepid traveller, providing close encounters with crocodiles, hippos and a host of other wildlife.

You can obtain your visa upon arrival or online via the following website: https://www.evisa.gov.zw/#/Home. The visa cost US$30. In case you want to travel into Zambia after Zimbabwe, you can also apply for a KAZA UNIVISA. This visa is valid for both countries for 30 days. You can apply for it online.

Currency

Zimbabwe uses US$ as well as its own unit of currency, the Zimbabwe Bond Dollar. It is advised to carry small denominations of change with you, however it is best to pay for as much as possible outside of the country. US$ work best and are widely accepted in supermarkets, and for curios, accommodation, activities and gratuities. South African Rand and Euros are only accepted in some places in Victoria Falls. Do not plan on being able to use cash machines in Zimbabwe to draw money. Before leaving home please exchange all the money that you will need for your trip, plus extra, into US$. Most of this should be in 1, 5, 10 and 20 denominations because change is not always available. In an emergency you can try Barclays Bank, Stanbic Bank or Standard Chartered Bank as they will infrequently accept foreign debit cards for withdrawing cash.

Banking

Banks in Zimbabwe are open for business Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 08h00 to 15h00, on Wednesdays from 08h00 to 13h00 and Saturdays from 08h00 to 11h30. They are closed on Sundays and Public Holidays.

Only VISA and MasterCard are accepted in Zimbabwe, however it should be noted that very limited facilities will have credit card machines, and the connection is not always reliable so it is advisable to carry cash as back up.

At this moment the Zimbabwen banks do not supply any cash to foreigners and ATM's are out of use. Please make sure you bring enough cash into the country for your stay.

Taxis are safe and reliable, and can be booked through your hotel front desk. Taxis in cities travel within a 40km radius of the city. Always take a taxi at night.

Major airlines fly into Victoria Falls, Harare and Bulawayo. Charter flights are available to most attractions and camps.

Zimbabwe has a good road infrastructure, by African standards, although potholed. Between major towns, there are frequent road blocks. Traffic drives on the left side of the road.

If you are driving yourself around Zimbabwe, be sure to check on fuel availability in advance. If you are covering long distances within the country, ensure you carry extra fuel in 5 or 10lt metal containers in case of emergency. Fuel is generally available, but supply can fluctuate. Fuel is only available for cash.

Zimbabwe's native cuisine is based on sadza, a cooked porridge made from ground maize which is normally be accompanied by some tasty relish, perhaps made of meat and tomatoes, or dried fish. Safari camps will often prepare sadza if requested, and it is almost always available in small restaurants in the towns.

Camps, hotels and lodges that cater to overseas typically serve a variety international fare, and the quality of food prepared in the most remote bush camps is usually excellent.

If you are driving yourself around and plan to cook, then get most of your supplies in main towns. There are a number of South African shopping chains operating in Zimbabwe which will generally have all that you will need.

Water in the main towns is usually purified.. The locals drink it, and are used to the relatively innocuous bugs that it may harbour. If you are in the country for a long time, then it may be worth acclimatising yourself to it. However, if you are in Zimbabwe for just a short period of time, then try to drink only bottled, boiled, or treated water available in towns and from all camps, lodges and hotels.

In Zimbabwe, the rains come principally in December, January,February and March; the further north you are, the earlier the precipitation arrives and the later it leaves. Zimbabwe's higher eastern areas usually receive more rainfall than the lower-lying western ones.

By April and May most of the rain is gone, leaving a verdant setting, which is starting to dry out. Especially in more southerly and higher locations, the night-time temperatures start to drop.

The nights in June, July and August become much cooler, so don't forget to bring some warmer clothes, in case you want to spend an evening outside; the days are still clear and warm. For Zimbabwe, this is the start of the 'peak season'– days are often cloudless and game sightings continually increase.

Into September and October the temperatures rise once again: Zimbabwe's lower-lying rift valley – Mana Pools – can get very hot in October. During this time, you'll see some fantastic game, as the Zimbabwe's wildlife concentrates around the limited water sources.

November is unpredictable; it can be hot and dry, it can also see the season's first rainfalls – and in this respect it's a very interesting month, as on successive days, you can see both weather patterns.

When in Zimbabwe the cardinal rule is to wear casual, comfortable clothes during the day as temperatures can get very hot. It is advisable to wear light loose fitting clothing, such as cotton or linen, as they are cool and easy to wash. Warmer clothes are advised for the evenings and rainwear for the wet season.

A brimmed hat and sunglasses are a good idea year round. Long sleeved shirts and long trousers will also guard against the scourching sun rays. It is recommended you wear light shoes, especially if your itinerary entails a lot of walking.

For safaris, please remember to wear appropriate clothing and shoes. Earth colour clothes, such as browns, greens and tans are advisable.

Internet cafes: Limited 
Accommodation options: Yes 
Restaurants: Yes 
Cafes: Yes 
Shopping malls: Limited 
Public parks: Limited 
Libraries: Limited 

It is always African Travels aim to:

• Supply all non-­‐alcoholic beverages inclusive in your tour price (soft drink, water or juices) during periods outside of your hotel stay.
• Wherever possible make all hotel/lodge bookings inclusive of meals and included in your tour price. Also referred to as Full Board. It will be noted on your itinerary where this is included or not.
• We will supply inclusive of tour price any lunches (usually packed/picnic style) on activities outside your hotel/lodge that are not supplied in the activity you are doing.

What you should allow for is:

• Purchases of any snack food -­‐ $5 a day.
• Hotel/lodge alcoholic beverages – see your lodgings beverage menu list.
• Room service surcharges – see your lodgings compendium or information desk.
• Laundry costs -­‐ $1-­‐$3 USD per item is a guide.

CARRYING & STORING CASH

It’s a good idea to carry both USD’s (or other local currency) on your travels. A good guide is USD$50 per day. Most travellers find it prudent to keep cash on them (neck and waste belts are great). At the least keep your luggage/back packs locked if keeping valuables in them.

If using hotel safes ensure they are bolted in and don’t share the code or key with anyone. If the safe is not bolted most hotels will allow you to use their safes. Take a photo or sign an agreed register for valuables kept at hotel receptions.

If you are heading away from major towns for more than a day talk to your guide about how much currency you should carry or about availability of International ATM’s. International ATM’s are available in major towns and cities.

TIPPING

Tipping is a part of Zimbabean culture & surrounding countries. Bear in mind that most people are on very low wages, but the Zimbabweans are not demanding or rude about tipping and have no expectation other than tipping what you feel is appropriate and within your means. Quite often if you ask or seek guidance on how much to tip you will get the answer “Whatever you feel is right”. The below guide will help.

Tipping can be done in USD, however if in USD please ensure the notes are in excellent condition and post 2009. Rwandans can find it difficult to exchange USD’s outside of these parameters.

Also note that for more regional or rural trips tipping it’s preferred in the local currency as money exchanges may not be nearby. So it’s best to carry a bit of USD. That leaves a lot of leeway, anything from $0 to large amounts and can at times be confusing especially for visitors from non-­‐tipping nations.

Therefore to help assist our visitors below is a guide, but please bear in mind that you are entitled to tip however little or much you desire or budget for.

Activity

Safari Guides: (Normally given at the end of the tour) 

• 1 traveller: $15 to $30 per person per day
• 2 travellers $12 to $22 per person per day
• 3 travellers $11 to $18 per person per day
• 4 travellers $10 to $16 per person per day
• 5 travellers $9 to $14 per person per day
• 6 travellers $8 to $12 per person per day

Cook on camping safari
Some people feel that it is appropriate to tip a camping cook a little less than the safari guide and some may prefer to tip roughly the same.

Service Tips at lodges
Best to put in a central tip box. That way unseen staff get a share. $2-­‐$5 a day