An African Adventure

[coyote25]

Drooling!!
Met your expectations?

What was excluded in the quoted prices?

Definitely meet my expectations, in fact exceed them on most occasions. That's not to say everything was perfect, our first tour leader lost a little focus around Christmas for a few days but nothing that was to big a deal, had one older passenger who only bought one way of accessing her money (one ATM card) which could withheld by an ATM and led to a 3.5 hour delay trying to resolve.

For this trip they didn't include (i.e. optional); the Mountain Gorillas Trek, Ngorongoro Crater / Serengeti Excursion, and Zanzibar trip. However OTG Tours now include these events other than the Mountain Gorillas in the tour price. The Gorillas isn't included as the prices change regularly depending on Government prices and the location you end up using.

I think the new approach is better as only one person didn't do the Zanzibar trip so easier to just include. They now include all National Park visits / excursions; Lake Naivasha NP and Victoria Falls NP. Park entry & game drive - Chobe NP, Etosha NP, South Luangwa NP, Lake Nakuru NP and Masai Mara, Ngorongoro NP, Serengeti NP.

Cost for 2018 is now $5,875 AUD with a $2190 USD local payment which I feel is a good deal.

Note: I upgraded the Victoria Falls to Cape Town from tent to basic room (where available).

 

[coyote25]

Zanzibar (part of Tanzania)
Population: 984,625
Visited: 16/12/17 - 19/12/2017
Places visited: Stone Town, Nungwi Beach
Visa: Included with Tanzania visa ($50 USD)

While Zanzibar is officially part of Tanzania they do have their own national football (soccer) side who I watched lose to Kenya in a championship match and you have to go though an immigration process - at least for water crossings. I visited Zanzibar via a boat crossing from Dar Es Salaam which was an enjoyable water traveling experience except for getting pass customs officers.

The highlight of the visit to Zanzibar was the old buildings and night food market in Stone Town and the stunning beaches at Nungwi Beach that I thoroughly enjoyed swimming in the warm Indian Ocean from. Zanzibar was a major slave trading location and visiting some of the dungeons and then not being surprised how so many died in them waiting to be solved.

There was a stronger Muslim presence in Stone Town which I didn't notice in other parts of East Africa and Southern Africa which showed up in the old style towns in the alleys at Stone Town. Also I managed to get lost a number of times in these alleys so you need to pay close attention!

 

[coyote25]

Zanzibar photos

 

[Quickstatus]

This is a “camping” safari
Can you please elaborate on this aspect of the trip?

 

[coyote25]

This is a “camping” safari
Can you please elaborate on this aspect of the trip?

Camping safari means you put up a supplied tent at ‘professional’ campsites. Most campsites have reasonable facilities like showers, normal toilets and power points to charge devices. They also usually have a bar, most have wifi (about 50% of campsites you need to pay) and upgrade options for rooms.

Tents are two people, waterproof and after the second or third time you will find easy to put up (or maybe you will be a natural and it’s akways easy).

Now the occasion bush camp however is different. This is camping in National Parks. Normally staff will put up your tent while you are out on game drives. The toilets will be dugout drop toilets, showers will be from a bucket or a river, no power or wifi or bar but animals might wonder though the campsite during the night for entertainment!

This is old style camping, finding a good spot in the park and setting up for the night - real adventure and real fun, but also can be hair riding if you hear or see lions near the bush campsite.

I hope that helps.

 

[Quickstatus]

57days of doing this - was it tiring?
Do you have photo of a typical campsite?

 

[coyote25]

57days of doing this - was it tiring?
Do you have photo of a typical campsite?

Did take too many photos of the campsites but this might help.

This is a bush campsite


These are standard / normal campsites

 

[Quickstatus]

What are the buildings behind the tents?

 

[coyote25]

What are the buildings behind the tents?

These are the upgrade room options at the different sites.

 

[Quickstatus]

Ah so apart from bushcamps with only camping , at commercial sites you can upgrade to a Cabin?

 

[coyote25]

Ah so apart from bushcamps with only camping , at commercial sites you can upgrade to a Cabin?

Yes at almost all commercial sites depending on availability

 

[Quickstatus]

That’s sounds better. I can’t see myself doing 57 days in a tent being lion bait

 

[coyote25]

That’s sounds better. I can’t see myself doing 57 days in a tent being lion bait

Agreed which is why in the first 2 legs I occasionally upgraded and for the last 2.5 weeks I paid for the upgrades in advance

Note: I don’t think OTG Tours now organise prepaid upgrades so you have to do it yourself as you go now).

Here are so photos of the truck you travel in, there is no air conditioning but for the most part very comfortable except the very bumpy roads

 

[coyote25]

Malawi
Population: 18.9 million
Visited: 20/12/2017 - 24/12/2017
Places visited: Kande Beach and Chitimba Beach (both Lake Malawi)
Visa: $75 USD

The Republic of Malawi, is a landlocked country, one of the smallest African countries and dominated by Lake Malawi. The Lake itself is beautiful and there is a lot to do in the area in particular horse riding and snorkeling and swimming. Note however the Lake has flatworm parasites so you'll need to source the right medicine there.

Despite the beauty of Malawi I didn't really enjoy this country. It has the highest visa cost at $75 which by itself is okay as countries need money. However when we enter Malawi our Yellow Fever Certificates were taken away and the Canadians in our group were told they didn't have the right level of vaccination and couldn't enter the country without an extra payment of $100 USD each. I don't see how extra payments improves what we were told was a health issue, it felt like a shake down. Our driver talked the official down to $100 for the three Canadians in total which just confirmed this was a money making exercise, I'm sure the Government won't get any of that $100 USD.

I did enjoy a good visit to a local village near Kande Beach seeing how the locals live and paying a local artist to make a African map drawing. Still not a lot to recommend Malawi, corrupt border officials and the main attraction (the Lake) requires you to buy medicine to avoid parasites.

Malawi Blog Entries

 

[coyote25]

Malawi Photos

 

[coyote25]

Zambia
Population: 18.9 million
Visited: 24/12/2017 - 28/12/2017
Places visited: Chipata, Luangwa, Petuake, Lusaka, Livingstone
Visa: $50 USD

In theory you should be able to to get a KAZA UniVisa to cover both Zambia and Zimbabwe but it wasn't possible for me and talking to our guide he hasn't seen anyone successful in at least 6 months so plan on getting separate visas for these two countries.

A real highlight of visiting Zambia was the South Luangwa National Park which I got to enjoy on a Christmas Day early morning game drive. Lots of elephants and baboons right next to and even inside our campsite at Luangwa. You really had to watch your stuff with the baboons around!

In Zambia I got to see the colourful wild dogs who are extremely successful in hunting as a pack wearing out they prey. I could to witness them several kills on the one day. The Game drive in the lush forest area also highlighted lots of different colourful birds and enpalas / antelopes.

The other big highlight in Zambia was a highlight of the trip that I also enjoyed in Zimbabwe that of Victoria Falls. Really stunning. It's easy to forget before visiting that Victoria Falls divides two countries and it's defintely worth visiting on both side. Near the falls I also got to experience an amazing sunset over the Zambezi

Zambia Blog Entries

 

[coyote25]

Zambia photos

 

[coyote25]

Botswana
Population: 2.3 million
Visited: 28/12/2017 - 29/12/17 & 03/01/2018 - 07/01/2018
Places visited: Chobe National Park (twice), Okavango Delta, Ghanzi
Visa: Nothing (although officially $20 USD)

Botswana was the country in which I experience a pride of 16 lions followed by elephants charging followed by a lion jumping out and chasing our open air vehicle within a 35 minute period! That got the heart racing before setting up our bush camp under the stars in the Chobe National Park. I learnt to respect nature a lot more on that day.

I visited Botswana twice in a short time with no border visa charge either time and very easy at immigration crossings except you need to wash all your shoes on a chemical covered mat and there are inspections inside the country as well.

Chobe National Park is a marvel, some much wildlife. The Okavango Delta can't be underestimated either which for me included a mokoro (canoe) ride, a walking safari and a flight over the amazing Delta. In the Ghanzi area, which is very arid, an experience with the San people (bushman) highlighted to me that I would quickly die out in the wild.

Of all the countries I visited during this two months Botswana provided the most memorable experiences that felt most like Africa. If you only have a limited time to visit Africa try to ensure Botswana is part of it.

Botswana Blog Entries.

 

[coyote25]

Chobe National Park

Okavango Delta

Ghanzi

 

[coyote25]

Zimbabwe
Population: 16.2 million
Visited: 29/12/17 - 01/01/18
Places visited: Victoria Falls
Visa: $50 USD

As per Zambia entry earlier the KAZA UniVisa is supposed to cover both Zambia and Zimbabwe but it wasn't possible for me and talking to our guide he hasn't seen anyone successful in at least 6 months so plan on getting separate visas for these two countries so plan for needing a separate visa for both these countries.

I only visited Zimbabwe to see the mighty Victoria Falls and took advance of the location to also to a night game drive (well really a late afternoon to night drive) and a sunset cruise on Zambezi (really a booze cruise). I got to see Victoria Falls from both the Zimbabwe and Zambia sides on the ground and from the air via a helicopter ride which I really enjoyed especially having never been in a helicopter before.

Zimbabwe was were I got to see a black rhino up close (at the Stanley Livingstone Private Park) meaning I had seen and experienced the big five during this trip up close i.e. the lion, leopard, elephant, black rhinoceros, and African buffalo. Note you will be approached to buy curios in the streets of Victoria Falls and the shops while I was there had limited food and drink items. Still I managed to find a nice bar to bring in 2018 right near my hotel

Note: Zimbabwe discontinued their currency and now use US dollar unlike other Africa countries merchants didn't insist on post 2009 USD currency but it still needs to be in good condition.

Zimbabwe Blog Entries.