Details

Frequently Asked Questions

Please click here to go to our general FAQ, which has essential information that applies to all of our programs.

Resources to Learn & Teach about Southern Africa

Visit our recommended reading page to see the list of books GEEO recommends reading before your program (this is not required reading). We also have lesson plans and Pinterest boards that may be useful for you as you learn about your destination and prepare to bring lessons back to your classroom.

Terms and Conditions

It is very important for you to visit our Terms and Conditions page before signing up for this program.

Cancellation Policy

All cancellations must be submitted to GEEO in written form by emailing your request for cancellation to travel@geeo.org. If you do not receive a confirmation that we have received your written cancellation request, please call us at 1-877-600-0105. Verbal cancellation requests will not be honored.

• If you cancel 60 days or more prior to departure, all your program fee payments will be refunded besides your $350 deposit, which is kept on file for future use
• If you cancel between 30 and 59 days prior to departure, you will receive a 50% refund and your deposit is kept on file for future use
• If you cancel within 30 days of departure, you will receive no refund, but your deposit is kept on file for future use

Trip Notes

1. TRANSPORTATION: This is not a physically demanding journey; however, traveling can be difficult, with long drives and poor road conditions at times. Despite this, most clients feel that the diversity of the African landscape, countries, culture and wildlife are all well worth the experience. We use a comfortable and safe air-conditioned touring vehicle for the long drives
2. YELLOW FEVER: According to the WHO and CDC, there is no risk of yellow fever in Botswana. It is compulsory to show a valid Yellow Fever vaccination certificate if you are traveling to Botswana from a Yellow Fever endemic country, or have recently traveled to a Yellow Fever endemic country (with entry stamps in your passport), including the following countries (but not limited to): Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea Zambia, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela.**We advise all travelers to Botswana who are coming from one of the above countries, or who have visited them in the last 10 years, to be prepared with a Yellow Fever vaccination certificate or letter from your doctor with proof of vaccination. Yellow Fever inoculations need to be administered at least 10 days prior to your entry into the country. Border officials in Botswana have been strictly enforcing these requirements. Travelers without the correct documentation run the risk of being denied entry, and will not be able to continue with the tour. (Any additional travel expenses will be on your own account.) **
3. EXTRAS: Looking to add to your experience? Check out our Extras! Specially designed for travelers with unique interests, Extras are optional add-ons to your trip that make your adventure more you-centric. Extras must be booked prior to departure, please see details in our optional activities field and email travel@geeo.org to book them.
4. WATER IN CAPE TOWN: Cape Town is currently experiencing one of the worst droughts it has seen in over 100 years, and while we want you to have the best time possible while there, please try to reduce your water usage.
5. MONEY EXCHANGE: We strongly advise that you bring ZAR or USD from your home country or exchange money before the start of the tour, to avoid delays on tour. Please see the Money Exchange section for more details.
6. DRONES: The use of drones in national parks in Southern Africa is prohibited.

Group Leader Description

All GEEO/G Adventures group trips are accompanied by one of G Adventure’s group leaders, which they refer to as Chief Experience Officers (CEO) and an expert driver. All of our leaders in southern Africa are registered and licensed tourism guides, meaning they’ve studied to have a broad knowledge base of the region’s history, cultures, and wildlife, and are legally certified to lead/guide tours in the regions visited. Most of our leaders in the region are from South Africa, though it may be possible that you’ll have a leader from another country in the southern African region. As the group manager and leader, the aim of the group leader is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. They will provide information on the places where we are traveling, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. He/she will take care of the small things so you can concentrate on enjoying your adventure. In addition, as an integral part of the team, your driver is skilled and experienced driver who has intimate knowledge of the vehicle and routes traveled. We also use local guides where we think more specific knowledge will add to the enjoyment of the places we are visiting.

Fitness Level

Trip includes moderate hiking and other activities that require an average/moderate level of fitness to enjoy. You can skip the longer hikes if you wish.

Meals

Eating is a big part of traveling. Traveling with G Adventures you experience the vast array of wonderful food that is available in southern Africa. On this tour, we provide only a few meals for you and your group members, so as to give you the maximum flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat. It also gives you more budgeting flexibility in your choices. Our groups tend to eat together to enable you to taste a larger variety of dishes and enjoy each other’s company. There is no obligation to do this though – while in the larger centers, your group leader will be able to suggest favorite restaurants during your trip. Your tour leader prepares the meals included in the Okavango Delta, arranging to purchase the foodstuffs before our bush camping excursion begins. Breakfasts will generally be cereals, but if time allows a warm breakfast may be prepared. Lunches will be light meals such as sandwiches and/or salads. All evening meals will be freshly-prepared hot meals and will consist of a variety of continental and local dishes. For the included meals, vegetarian meal requests and other dietary requirements need to be specified prior to arrival.

About our Transportation

For all of our standard class trips in southern Africa, including this tour, we use a private local bus for the journey. With air conditioning and sliding windows, this style of transportation is a comfortable way to travel through the region. In addition, even with a full group of 18 travelers, there will be extra space for the benefit of the group. Having our own private vehicle throughout the tour allows us the flexibility of making stops when needed. In addition, we are able to travel to out-of-the-way locations where public transportation does not reach. Road conditions in South Africa are generally good, though once in Namibia and beyond, the road quality deteriorates. As such, we slow our traveling speed and enjoy some sand and bumps en route – something which is of course part of the adventure of traveling in Africa! In the Okavango Delta, we leave our bus behind and explore in the area in mokoros – traditional dug-out canoes. The mokoros usually seat 2 people and are handled by ‘polers’ – so named as they move the mokoro forward by using a very long pole pushed into the ground under the water. This is a relaxing and peaceful way to take in the fascinating environment and wonderful scenery of the delta.

About Accommodation

Hotel 9 nights in comfortable twin rooms with en suite or shared facilities. Lodge 1 night in standard rooms with en-suite facilities. Cabin/Huts 1 night is spent in simple Hut. Rooms are twin or single with shared facilities. Adventure Tents 2 nights are spent in simple Dorm/Adventure tents. Rooms are twin or single with shared facilities. Basic Camping (participative, please bring your sleeping bag and towel) 1 night is spent in pitched tents in the Delta with very basic facilities (no shower, dig-out toilet). Tents are twin share. Camping (participative, please bring your sleeping bag and towel) 4 nights are spent in pitched tents in Etosha National Park and Solitaire Area. Tents are twin share with shared facilities.

Single Travelers

Half of the people that travel with GEEO are traveling by themselves, so please don’t worry if you have no one who can join you on your trip. Our pricing is based on double occupancy or, in other words, two people to a room. You never have to pay for a single room unless you want one. GEEO can find you a roommate of the same gender. Most of our trips have a “My Own Room” option, also known as a “Single Supplement,” which is an extra fee that will allow you to have a room to yourself. If you want to room alone, please email travel@geeo.org. To see the price for the “My Own Room” option, please click here where you can look up your trip in the extra services spreadsheet. Please note that if you have booked the “My Own Room” option for this tour, you will receive your own single accommodation for all night stops, with the following exceptions: Day 5, 8, 9, 12, 13

Joining Instructions

Day 1 is an arrival day, and no activities have been planned. Upon arrival to the city on Day 1, or earlier if you have booked pre-accommodation with us, please make your way to the joining hotel. Please note: Check-in time will be in the afternoon. Once you arrive at the hotel, look for a note at reception from your tour leader. This note will give the details of your Welcome Meeting on Day 1, usually between 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., at which you will get a chance to meet your tour leader and other travelers, as well as learn more about how the tour will run. If you don’t see a note, please ask reception for details! If you have not booked a pre-arranged transfer, you can make your own way to the Shearwater Village by taxi. When arriving at the international terminal, depart the arrival hall and outside you will find taxis to town. It is approximately 20 km from the airport and takes about 25 minutes (Cost is about USD 30 for a taxi). If you have paid in advance for an arrival transfer, a G Adventures representative will be at the airport to meet you. If for any reason you are not met at the airport, please call our local support line. If you are unable to make contact for whatever reason, please make your way to the joining point hotel via taxi.

Emergency Contacts

Should you need to contact G Adventures during a situation of dire need, it is best to first call their local G Adventures office. If for any reason you do not receive an immediate answer, please leave a detailed message and contact information, so they may return your call and assist you as soon as possible. AIRPORT TRANSFER If you have purchased an arrival through G Adventures or if an arrival transfer is included in the cost of your tour, please note that: Your arrival transfer has been arranged based on flight information provided to us. If you are advised of a flight schedule change within 48 hours of your scheduled arrival time, we will do our best to rearrange your arrival transfer however we cannot guarantee this. If your arrival transfer does not arrive within 30 minutes after you have exited the arrivals area please call the local emergency contact numbers listed below for more information. EMERGENCY CONTACT NUMBERS G Adventures Local Representative (South Africa) From outside South Africa: +27 713823286 From within South Africa: 071 3823286 If you are unable for any reason to contact our local office, please call the numbers listed below, which will connect you directly with our 24 hour Sales team, who will happily assist you. Toll-free, North America only: 1 888 800 4100

Packing List

Please read this article on GEEO’s blog for our staff’s suggestions on the best gear to pack for your upcoming travels. You will be on the move a lot, so our advice is to pack as lightly as possible. Your baggage should be clearly labeled and restricted to one soft compact suitcase (please avoid a hard-top case), or sports bag, maximum 15kg, plus a daypack. Luggage limits on airlines are strictly enforced and space on vehicles is limited. Porters are not often available, so be prepared to carry your own bags. It is important to pack clothes for warm days and cool evenings, as well as a warm jacket for early morning wildlife safari drives. A set of smart casual clothes is also advisable. During the winter months (May to October), the temperatures can get quite cold in Namibia and Botswana. It is wise to bring plenty of layers for cool mornings and evenings. A set of smart casual clothes is also advisable. Please be advised that if you plan to bring a drone with you, the use of drones in national parks in Southern Africa is prohibited.

 Suggested Checklist

• Sleeping bag
• Long-sleeved shirts or sweater
• Warm gloves
• Warm hat
• Warm layers
• Compact, packable winter coat
• Light windproof/waterproof rain jacket
• Sun hat
• Personal clothing for weather in the 50’s to the 80’s – we recommend packing 8-9 days of outfits so you only have to do laundry twice
• At least one pair of long pants
• Daypack
• Sturdy walking shoes
• Sport sandals or flip-flops
• Sunblock
• Sunglasses
• Watch or alarm clock
• Small flashlight or headlamp
• Toiletries – your hotels will have soap and shampoo
• Camera
• First-aid kit, including: lip salve, aspirin, bandaids, anti-histamine, Dramamine, Imodium or similar tablets for mild cases of diarrhea, electrolyte powder, insect repellent, extra prescription drugs you may be taking

Optional Checklist

• Lightweight silk sleep sheet
• Travel pillow
• Money belt
• Water bottle
• Phone/Tablet for internet – most hotels have WiFi
• Chargers for electronics as well converters/adapters, if needed
• Packing cubes – these are awesome
• Earplugs – these are a life-saver if you have a snoring roommate
• Snacks – packing a few granola bars is a good idea; you can buy snacks when you get there too, so don’t go crazy here
• Ziplock bags for wet clothing
• Reading/writing material
• Hand sanitizer/Baby wipes

Document Checklist

• Passport (with photocopies)
• Travel insurance (with photocopies)
• Airline tickets (with photocopies)
• USD/EUR cash
• Credit or debit card
• G Adventures vouchers, pre-departure information, and dossier
• Any entry visas or vaccination certificates required
• GEEO Classroom action plans for your group – this is sent 10-30 days before departure

Laundry

Please note that you will be on the move a lot, and as such there will not be a lot of time for same-day laundry service. Please ask your guide to arrange if any laundry needs to be done so that they can advise or make arrangements for you. Most travelers on this trip find that Swakopmund and Windhoek are convenient places to get their washing done, though facilities are available as well in Cape Town and Victoria Falls.

Passports and Visas

All GEEO trips require that the participant have a valid passport.  Please see our general FAQ for information on obtaining a passport. As with all of our trips, we try to provide the most accurate information we can, but governments sometimes change visa rules. It is your responsibility to double-check the information we provide below by searching here. For this program, you must have at least 9 empty pages in your passport. Namibia, for some unexplained reason, requires that you have 6 empty passport pages. That means you might need to apply for a new passport. We are not sure if this is actually enforced, but better be safe than sorry. ZIMBABWE You need a passport, visa, return ticket, and adequate funds to cover your intended stay in order to enter Zimbabwe. If you are traveling to Zimbabwe for tourism, business, or transit, you may obtain a visa at the airports or other border ports-of-entry. There is currently no option of getting a Zimbabwean tourist visa in advance through the Zimbabwean Embassy in Washington. You can expect to pay 30 USD for a 30-day/single-entry visa. We recommend seeing Victoria Falls from both the Zimbabwean and Zambian side. You should be able to get a “Kaza” visa on arrival for $50 which is good for both Zimbabwe and Zambia. IMPORTANT NOTE: If you have purchased a single entry visa upon arrival and then decide to leave Zimbabwe (even for a few hours) you will need to buy another visa to re-enter Zimbabwe. In this instance, you should buy a double entry visa upon arrival as it works out cheaper. Multiple entry visas cannot be obtained at the port of entry into Zimbabwe. You may enter Zimbabwe on a single entry visa and then obtain a multiple entry visa from the town office – but this may take up to 7 working days to be issued. Alternatively, a multiple entry visa can be obtained from the Zimbabwe Embassy in your country prior to departure for Zimbabwe. BOTSWANA, NAMIBIA, AND SOUTH AFRICA Americans do not need visas for any of these countries for the duration of the stay included in this tour. Non-Americans should check with their nearest embassy.

Money Exchange

The currency in South Africa is the South African Rand (ZAR). The South African rand is also an accepted form of payment in Namibia. The Namibian currency is the Namibian Dollar (NAD), which is equivalent to the South African Rand. In Botswana, you pay with Pula (BWP). Zimbabwe uses the US Dollar and South African Rand. Each currency can be obtained locally by changing foreign currency or by using ATMs (where available) which will disperse local currency. Your tour leader will inform you where you can change money throughout the tour and approximately how much money you will need. The easiest foreign currency to exchange for locally for any of the local currencies is the $US; however, the British Pound and Euro may also be exchanged as well. For Zimbabwe, we strongly advise that you bring ZAR or USD from your home country or exchange money before the start of the tour, to avoid delays on tour, as it can be difficult to obtain cash at ATMs. Please note that due to past problems with forgery, $US notes that are older than the year 2006 are not accepted in Africa. Large note ($US 50, $US 100, etc) can be difficult to change in some places but will gain you the best exchange rate. If you plan to buy your visas at borders, you will need to bring $USD cash to pay for these visas. Please note you cannot use the local currency or any other currency to buy these visas- they must be purchased in USD. Please do not bring Travelers’ checks to Africa. They are difficult if not impossible to exchange in many places. Visa/Plus system cards are the most widely accepted debit cards. it is harder to find machines Mastercard/Cirrus cards. We highly recommend that if you hold a Mastercard, you obtain a Visa card prior to departure and travel with both. This is also useful should something unforeseen happen to one of your cards during your travels. While there are many ATMs in the major centers, there are no guarantees that your credit or debit cards will actually work in Africa. Check with your bank. Credit cards can be used in major cities and towns ONLY but please do not rely on them as a method of payment because they are generally not widely accepted. You should be aware that to purchase products or services on a credit card a fee of 5%-10% usually applies. The majority of our optional activities can also be paid by credit card. Your tour leader will advise on these. Please note that in many areas there may be occasional power-outages, where there will be no electricity for hours at a time. In addition, ATMs outside of larger centers often run out of cash or can be out of order unexpectedly. These factors could affect your ability to access money from ATMs. As such, please do not rely on credit or debit cards as your only source of money. A combination of foreign currency and debit/credit cards for cash advances is best. Always take more rather than less, as you don’t want to spoil the trip by constantly feeling short of funds. As currency exchange rates can fluctuate often we ask that you refer to the following website for daily exchange rates: www.xe.com.

Tipping

Tipping is an expected, though not compulsory, component of your tour program. The gesture serves as an expression of appreciation for exceptional service, and amounts given are up to your discretion. Tipping is one of the most direct ways that you can have a positive economic impact within the African community. Although it may not be customary for you, it is an important source of income for those in the tourism industry. Giving a tip should be seen as a formal “thank you,” and the action should in no way be awkward. The best method of tipping someone that has served the whole group is to plan in advance, and not rush when it comes to saying goodbye. A suggestion would be for each group member to contribute anonymously by putting their tip into an envelope. This often works the best and the group should gather to present the gift to the recipient(s), offering their thanks and showing their appreciation. This method brings the action out into the open, allowing for friendly and appreciative interaction between the group and the recipient(s). You may use the following as a guideline, all given in a per person format: Tour leader: $5-8 USD (per day) Local guides: $2-3 USD (per day) Safari Guide/Driver: $2-3 USD (per day) Restaurant Staff: 10-15% of cost of bill Okavango Delta polers: 50-100 BWP (Botswana Pula)

Vaccinations

We legally cannot give you any medical advice. It is very important to consult your doctor or a travel clinic about which vaccinations you will need for your trip. Please take this seriously!

Flights

We often find the best prices for purchasing flights is 60 days before departure, but of course, this varies greatly from route to route and year to year. You must wait until this trip is confirmed with the minimum number of required participants before you book your flights. Typically, we reach the minimum number needed at least 90 days before departure. GEEO and G Adventures bear no responsibility for any flights purchased before the trip is confirmed. You can find out whether this trip has been confirmed here. This program begins in Victoria Falls and ends in Cape Town. Please double-check our itinerary for the date by which you must arrive in Victoria Falls. You could also fly into nearby Livingstone if flights are cheaper. You can arrive at any time you choose, but try to make it in time for our 6:00 p.m. Welcome Meeting on Day 1. Your trip ends in Cape Town and you can depart any time on that final day. We do recommend adding on at least one extra day on the front and back of this trip.

Plugs and Converters

There are two components to provide external power to your device: adapters and transformers. The adapter is the plug, adapting the prongs on a standard U.S. two to three-pronged power cord to match the prongs required by the local outlets. The transformer changes the local voltage to that required by your device. You will want to bring plug converters for Plug types G, M, D, and N. Their voltage is 220-230 Volts. U.S. outlets are 120V. Most new devices (phones and laptops) can handle the different voltage rates, but some devices only work on the U.S. standard of 120V. Check your device to see what voltage range it handles. Most transformer blocks will have an “Input” line that defines its voltage capacity. For example, “Input: 100-240V” means that it will work on voltages from 100V to 240V. If your transformer can’t handle the different voltage, you’ll need to purchase a voltage converter. You can find world regional voltage converters power packs at various vendors.

Expectations

Before you decide on traveling with GEEO, it is important that you read all of the information about the program you are considering. Remember, our programs are quite adventurous.

• The purpose of the accommodation is to provide a safe, well-located place for you to sleep. The hotels on this trip can be pretty basic.
• We use a mix of transportation that gets our guests from location to location safely. Expect some looooooong days in our vehicle.
• You must be able to easily carry or roll your luggage, so do not over-pack.
• We recommend always carrying snacks with you. Meals can sometimes be far apart.
• Please make sure you understand the role of your tour leader on this trip as they are not the traditional “guide” you may be expecting. While our trips are educational, they aren’t study/lecture trips. We want you to learn through exploring, and much of your experience will be based on how active you choose to be in acquiring knowledge and interacting with locals.

Hopefully this is the kind of adventure you are interested in!

Itinerary Disclaimer

While it is our intention to adhere to the routes described on our website, there is a certain amount of flexibility built into the itinerary and on occasion it may be necessary, or desirable, to make alterations. The itinerary is brief, as we never know exactly where our journey will take us. Due to our style of travel and the regions we visit, travel can be unpredictable. The information on our website is a general guide to the tour and region, and any mention of specific destinations or wildlife is by no means a guarantee that they will be visited or encountered. Additionally, any travel times listed are approximations only and subject to vary due to local circumstances.

Weather

This trip takes place over the Southern Hemisphere’s winter. It is a great time to travel in this region as it will be relatively dry and the days will be comfortable temperatures between the high 50s and 80s. At night in the desert it can get quite cold, so make sure you pack warm clothes.