Wagon Trails - Small group adventure holidays and safaris in Africa

PRE-DEPARTURE INFORMATION

Thanks for choosing Wagon Trails Travel. Below is some general information put together to help you prepare for your trip. If there is anything further you need to know, please give us a call.

BOTSWANA

For many years Botswana was listed as one of the world’s 25 poorest countries, however, with its vast mineral wealth, it now has one of the most rapidly expanding economies in the world. The Botswana people are proud, with a great respect for their nationality and traditions. In Botswana the immensity, variety and untamed vitality of the old Africa are still to be experienced. The Botswana government has a very clear eco-tourism policy aimed at low impact tourism.

The Okavango Delta

The Okavango River comes down from Angola. The flatness of the land in Botswana causes it to fan out into an inland delta covering an area of some 16,000 km2.

Your trip into the Delta should be regarded as much a cultural experience, as a wildlife one. The majority of the polers who will guide you and the people you will meet in this area are a mixture of baNoka and baYei. These people still live on corn, sorghum, melons; herding cattle and goats; fishing and hunting and gathering to supplement their livestock and agriculture.

Your time in the Delta

Once again, this should be looked upon as a cultural experience to live in the bush for a few days - the opportunity to “get back to nature” with no showers, toilets and electricity. Take off your watch and relax! Whilst in the Delta the polers are in charge of your day which usually consists of early morning walks, some free time to swim, relax, read a book, explore the bush, followed by an afternoon mokoro and or game walk.
Don’t panic when given the time to spend with yourself !

Climate

Rainy season begins late October to November and ends in March. During the summer month’s temperatures can rise to over 40º C, and usually drop to 25º C in the night. The winter months which last from May to August have beautiful days with temperatures that average 25º C, although the nights can become cold.

LOCAL TIME

Local time is the same as South Africa (G.M.T plus 2 hours).

LANGUAGE

The national language is Setswana, English is the official language. Each tribe speaks a different language.

HEALTH

Botswana is a malaria area. It is strongly recommended clients take anti-malaria medication. Inoculations are currently not required by Botswana except when one is from a yellow fever zone such as Kenya, Tanzania, or Uganda. As requirements can change check with your doctor.

CURRENCY

The monetary unit is the pula (which means rain) and the thebe (which means drop).
1 pula = 100 thebe (cents) = R1.40 = GBP 0.20p = US$ 0.30c
Travelers Cheques can be changed in banks. These however are quite slow sometimes.

VISA REQUIREMENTS

South Africa

Visiters entering South Africa are required to have a minimum of two blank pages in their passports to enable the entry visa to be issued. If there is insufficient space in the passport entry will be denied and the person is likely to be detained pending return to their country of origin.

Zambia - as of Jan 26th 2008

$50 for all passport holders - single entry

$80 for all passport holders - multiple entry

$20 for day Trips

Botswana

Requirements change often, so you should consult your nearest embassy prior to departure. As a guideline the following countries DO NOT require visas at time of printing:
Nationals of all commonwealth countries, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Namibia, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Samoa (Western), San Marino, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Uruguay, USA and Yugoslavia.

Visas are the responsibility of the client when required.

MONEY TO BE COLLECTED

Your money will collected in cash at the point of departure.

DEPARTURE POINT

Jollyboys International Backpackers
34 Kanyanta Road
Livingstone, Zambia
Tel: + 260 3 324229
jollybs@zamnet.zm

Book here - Jolly Boys

Jollyboys offer a package deal for US$20 that includes airport pick up, 1 or 2 nights dorm room accommodation, 2 meals and the visa waiver. This can be booked either directly with them or through our office.

PRE – DEPARTURE MEETING

Your Wagon Trails Guide will meet you at Jollyboys the day before departure at 17h00. The first day of you tour has a free morning, should you wish to do any optional activities in that time the guide will help you arrange these during the meeting. You will also have time to discuss the next days arrangements such as pick up time and ask any questions that you might have.

FOOD & MEALS

 

Included in the tour cost are the following meals:

Days

Meals
1 D
2 B, D
3, 4, 5 B, L, D
6 B, D
7 B

Dinners are camp meals prepared by your guide with your assistance. In the Delta everyone helps to carry in the cooking equipment and food. On days where lunches are not included we stop at places where you can buy food at a reasonable cost.

PARTICIPATION

Our tour are based on client participation and as an active member of the group, everyone helps out with the running of the tour, e.g. making campfires, cooking, setting up camp, dishes etc. Its all part of the African experience.

Remember the more you put in the more you get out!

CAMPSITES

We stay in a variety of campsites, from basic facilities only to ones with restaurants, swimming pools, bars etc. All campsites have shower and toilet facilities, although it is advisable to bring a small supply of your own toilet paper.

In the Delta you “camp out” in the bush at sites selected by the polers (guides). They light a fire for warmth and safety. In the Delta there are no facilities such as toilets and showers as you are in the wilderness. You can swim in the Delta at spots selected by the polers, however for conservation reasons no soap may be used for washing.

VEHICLES & GROUP SIZE

We offer budget tours, whilst trying to keep group sizes small and personal. For this reason we travel in a microbus with a trailer for luggage. The vehicles have either 2 rows of seats (seating up to 4 across) or 3 rows of seats (seating max 3 across). This varies according to group size. The vehicles do not have air conditioning, but do have opening windows.

INCLUDED HIGHLIGHTS

OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES

Please note that these prices are meant only as a guideline as they change seasonally, although we do make every effort to keep up to date with the changes.

EQUIPMENT

Wagon Trails provides you with the following equipment:

WHAT TO BRING

For comfort reasons luggage is limited on each trip to 1 small bag, sleeping bag and camera per person. Soft Bags only may be used (i.e.: no suitcases) Please note that there are storage facilities at the Backpacker Ritz. We provide you with your tent, sleeping mat and cooking equipment.

ONWARD TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS

Due to unforeseen problems we recommend onward travel arrangements be made only for the day after the tour ends. If arrangements are made for the same day the tour ends, Wagon Trails cannot be held responsible for any delays, and the clients must take the risk for themselves. If you are making further bookings for busses/trains/flights the day the tour ends we strongly recommend you make them the latest time possible and that you inform our reservation staff and the tour guide at the beginning of the tour.

If you require any additional information, just give our offices a call.

We look forward to meeting you