Botswana Safari & Hiking Tour

We recommend booking your flights through our preferred travel partner – Fuzion Travel. They’re our experienced hand-picked experts in travel, passionate about what they do, and will tailor-make your flight itinerary to match your Active Adventures tour. Get in touch with them directly by email – [email protected] fuziontravel.co.nz or on +1-833-244-5886. Let them know your preferred travel plans, including any stopovers or extra nights’ accommodation, and they’ll put everything in place for you. They offer a total travel solution and five star service that you’ll want to tell your friends about!

If you’d prefer not to share a room, we have a single supplement option for an additional fare. If you purchase a single supplement, we’ll arrange for you to have your own room throughout the trip, except when you’re tenting in the Kopano Conservation Area and the price of the single supplement takes this into account.

Once you've booked your trip, you'll have access to a gear list in your portal on exactly what to bring along. The gear list is carefully thought out to provide you with everything you need to be warm and happy, or cool and relaxed, whatever the weather! So it is best to bring everything we recommend along, if you don't bring everything you need, we can't guarantee your comfort.

If you have good ankles that will be able to cope pretty well with varied terrain, then good hiking shoes or sneakers should be fine, but if not then hiking boots will give you better support.

Being in a tropical environment and not treated by the government, the water in Botswana & Zimbabwe contains different bacteria to what we’re used to at home. So we ask you not to drink it or use it for brushing teeth - use treated water at all times. Bottled water is recommended and the safari lodges will provide refillable drinking bottles too.

Botswana’s safari lodges & camps serve excellent international-style cuisine that incorporates loca influences such as game meat, traditional maize (porridge) or sorghum-based Botswana staples.
In Zimbabwe, the local diet includes tasty peanut-based stews, wild mushroom soup and starchy staples. You’ll also enjoy sumptuous fruit, especially papaya and plenty of locally grown vegetables.

We are accustomed to catering to the following special diets:

• vegan (no meat or animal products)
• vegetarian (no meat products)
• fishatarian (vegetarian, and eat fish)
• no red meat (eat chicken & fish)
• gluten intolerant (no wheat, rye, barley or oats)
• lactose intolerant (no dairy products)

You will get the opportunity to specify your particular requirements when you fill in our pre-trip questionnaire. If you have any other dietary requirements please let us know well in advance, via email or the online questionnaire.

The currency in Botswana is the Botswana pula and Zimbabwe does not have a local currency (demonetised in 2015). Both countries use USD so it’s not necessary to exchange money into any local currency.

Our trips include all transportation, guiding, meals and activities (except where indicated on the itinerary). As far as spending money, you may want to bring some spending money to buy a souvenir or two, try a local activity or restaurant, or buy a round of drinks.

Usually the easiest thing to do is use your credit or debit card to withdraw money directly from your home account, in local currency. There are plenty of ATM's and banks in larger towns in Africa, and ATM's will accept all major credit cards and many debit cards. Cash advances are the most convenient way to get cash.

Central Africa Time (CAT) is the time zone for Botswana & Victoria Falls, it’s 2 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

Botswana & Zimbabwe operate on a 220 volt system, 50Hz and the 3-pin (Type M) is the most common, though nothing is guaranteed, a plug type can be different, even in the same rooms! Electricity will only be available while staying at the accommodations in Maun and Victoria Falls, though charging points will be available for your cameras and phones while on the safari.

WiFi will only be available when you’re staying at the accommodations in Maun and Zimbabwe on your trip, though it could be sporadic. If you have WiFi, then you’ll be able to use your cell phone about 60% of the time during your trip, and 3G/4G is available too for accessing the internet from a smartphone or tablet.

From a wildlife persepctive, it’s important to follow the below guidelines as you’re likely to encounter animals on foot or in water:

• On all game activities (game drives, mokoro, boating and on foot) follow the instructions of the guides at all times.
• Being quiet is not only important from a safety point ofview, but also to have the best possible experience for all guests.
• The camps are unfenced meaning that animals might walk through at any time (especially at night) so guests to be aware and take caution.
• In the camps the guides will always accompany guests to their tents/rooms after dark.
• Never approach any animal and should you encounter one, stand your ground and never run

Botswana & Zimbabwe can be divided into two main seasons. You’ll spend most of your time in the Okavango where the winter (June/July/August) mornings can be very cold however they warm up to nice sunny winter mornings from mid morning onwards.
In spring (Sep/Oct), it’s very dry therefore the day temperature can rise rapidly and it can be very hot around midday. The temperatures are mostly pleasant, with nighttime temperatures dropping down to 4-9°C (40-50°F) and daytime temperatures occasionally reaching up to 24- 27°C (75-80°F)

Please contact our New Zealand office using the details below. If the office is unattended (outside of New Zealand business hours), please leave a message so we can pick it up and respond as soon as we can.
Free phone 1 800 661 9073 (USA, Canada & Australia)
Free phone 0808 234 7780 (UK)
Free phone 0800 234 726 (New Zealand)
Worldwide +64 3 450 0414, ext 1
Email: service@activeadventures.com