Gay Safari Tour: Escorted vacation to South Africa, Botswana, Victoria Falls for gay and lesbian travelers

SOUTHERN AFRICA TRIFECTA!
Cape Town + Botswana Wildlife Safari + Victoria Falls
September 7-15, 2011

Optional Extension to Hwange National Park
September 15-18, 2011
. . . for an even more in-depth safari experience . . .

Cape Town and Botswana safari for gay travlers

Gay Safari: Guided tour of Southern Africa

Gay Travel: Escorted vacations in Southern Africa

INTRODUCTION

For a third consecutive year Venture Out is pleased once again to offer our very popular tour that blends a splendid sampling of African culture, incredible wildlife, other outdoor activities, and gorgeous scenery -- beginning in Cape Town, one of the world’s most beautiful cities. We will cover a vast, majestic land, and this is sure to be the trip of a lifetime!

Cape Town is certainly one of the world’s most scenic cities — and the gay capital of Africa. We will visit the environs of the city: the lovely Winelands area that produces most of South Africa’s excellent vintages and home to some acclaimed restuarants, as well as the fantastically scenic Cape Peninsula down to the Cape of Good Hope at the “bottom of Africa.”

Being a natural wonderland, the country of Botswana is exceedingly rich in wildlife, and its vast expanses of nature are filled with a wide variety of fauna and flora to see and experience. This means that safari tours in Botswana are exciting and will leave you awestruck. Botswana is home to one of the world's great natural phenomena, the tranquil Okavango Delta, a 6,000-square-mile inland flood plain that fans out in the northwestern corner of the country, creating a paradise of palms, papyrus, crystal-clear channels, and backwaters. Set in a massive sea of Kalahari Desert sand, this fragile wonderland of waterways, islands, and forests is an oasis for wildlife, drawn to its life-giving waters from the surrounding thirsty lands. The evening air is filled with the sounds of birdcall, frogs, and antelope rustling in the reeds. Wildebeest, buffalo, and zebra roam the islands; elephants wade across channels under the watch of hippopotamus and crocodiles; and predators like lion and leopard rule the night. You will never forget our luxury "camp" in the midst of the Delta with its beautiful rooms, very warm staff, and delicious cuisine.

Straddling the western border between the countries of Zimbabwe and Zambia, Victoria Falls is justifiably called one of the Wonders of the Natural World, and spans a little more than a mile, making it the largest show of its kind on earth. The sight of more than 2 million gallons of water per second from the Zambezi River crashing 300 feet down (twice the height of Niagara) is one not easily forgotten. On a clear day, the veil of roaring spray can be seen from up to 20 miles away, and the rain forest that clings to the cliffs opposite the falls in the Victoria Falls National Park is nourished by this constant spray. It is this phenomenon that gave the falls its local name: Mosi-Oa-Tunya -- literally, "the smoke that thunders."

For those who have a few more days to spare and who'd like more time on safari we strongly recommend the 3-night optional extension to nearby Hwange National Park. Huge Hwange -- the size of Connecticut -- is one of the premier wildlife viewing regions on the African continent. Sightings of the "Big Five" are common here, and the scheduling of our trip in the dry season should further enhance wildlife viewing opportunities in the park -- and right from our own luxury camp, in fact.

Participation on this wonder-filled trip is limited to just 14 group members. Join us for this truly special journey through Southern Africa!

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Day 1 - Wednesday, September 7, 2011- Arrival into Cape Town, South Africa
Your air arrangements will take you into Cape Town, and then you’ll transfer on your own to our group hotel in the center of this beautiful and fascinating city. (If you’d like a private transfer from the airport to the hotel we can set that up for you.) We’ll come together later on for a drink at happy hour (also known as “sundowners” in this part of the world) and an orientation meeting to hear about what’s in store on this amazing journey through Southern Africa. Our Welcome Dinner in Cape Town will follow.

The town where modern South Africa was born is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, a marvelous meeting of mountain and ocean (two of them, in fact) — and the center of the country’s gay culture. Table Mountain, at 3400 feet, looms over the city and is one of the most spectacular urban geographic features in the world, an incredible environment for hundreds of species of endemic flora. According to some sources, Table Mountain is the oldest mountain in the world.

Welcome Drink and Welcome Dinner included

ITINERARY NOTE: You may wish to arrive in Cape Town a day or two early if you have the time. We will not be touring the city itself on our itinerary so you may wish to do this on your own. Options include a ride to the top of Table Mountain (you can also hike up); an excursion to Robben Island, the highlight of which is the prison where Nelson Mandela was incarcerated; exploring the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront with all its shops and restaurants; museums; and more. An early arrival into Cape Town also helps to shake off some of the jet lag prior to meeting the group. We can arrange extra nights at the group hotel for you.

Day 2 - Cape Peninsula Tour
Today we’ll explore the beautiful Cape Peninsula with a guide who loves the region, knows the history, and won’t get us lost! This day trip follows the scenic drive around the peninsula, stopping at the major attractions and for a spot of tasty lunch along the way. The Cape of Good Hope is largely considered the bottom of Africa even if technically it’s not the southernmost point on the continent.

The Atlantic side of the Cape Peninsula has some of the most spectacular coastal scenery in the world, a great combination of beaches and mountains. The Chapman’s Peak Drive is a gorgeous scenic route (subject to occasional closures) that winds its way along the coast with fynbos-covered mountains on one side and the azure Atlantic Ocean crashing into the other. Down at the dramatic Cape of Good Hope and Cape Point Nature Reserve, where the Atlantic and Indian oceans meet, there are numerous walks, and one can witness a great cross-section of flora and fauna. Watch out, too, for the cheeky baboons. The homeward-bound side of the peninsula goes via Boulders Beach and its fascinating penguin colony. We stop for lunch at a local restaurant nearby.

Our route then winds through the gracious Constantia Valley and makes a final call at the world-renowned Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. We are lured by the incomparable site of the Gardens, right at the foot of the final steep escarpment on Table Mountain’s eastern side. The gardens themselves are considered among the most beautiful in the world, exhibiting about 9,000 of South Africa’s 22,000 plant species.

We finish back in Cape Town in time for you to enjoy a “sundowner” and toast a rather marvelous day out. Dinner is on your own this evening, and Cape Town has no shortage of interesting (and excellent!) restaurants. And perhaps you’d like to sample some of the gay nightlife as well. This is Africa’s gay capital, after all.

Breakfast and Lunch included

Day 3 - Cape Winelands Tour
Today will bring us out for a tour of South Africa’s famed wine country. Less than an hour inland from Cape Town is one of the most beautiful and prolific wine producing regions in the world. The Cape has become synonymous with the art of wine making. It was Jan van Riebeeck, the founder of the Cape of Good Hope in 1652, and the other early Dutch settlers who transplanted the first grape vines in their adopted country. The French Huguenots, who arrived from 1688 onwards and settled mainly in the Franschhoek Valley, contributed their sophisticated skills by refining the production of wine, and before long high-quality wines were being produced at the Cape. Even Napoleon Bonaparte, while languishing in a prison cell in St. Helena, was reported “to be longing for the sweet wines of Constantia,” as these wines had been extremely well received in the French Court.

The area around the town of Stellenbosch is the oldest wine route, and lies in the heart of the winelands. More than 400 Stellenbosch wines can be tasted along the well-marked route of Cape Dutch homesteads, although we won’t get to all four hundred. We’ll have a brief visit of this historic and quaint university town. Stellenbosch is the second-oldest European-settled town in South Africa, one of the best preserved, and hence very picturesque. The town is full of architectural and historic gems, is shaded by enormous oak trees, and dwarfed by 5,000-foot mountains.

Near the town of Franschhoek (Afrikaans for “French Corner”), we visit one of the area's nicer wineries to see what all the fuss is about. Our excellent lunch will be in the very charming small town of Franschhoek, which enjoys a cultivated Provençal character, culinary excellence, and perhaps the most perfect setting in the Winelands.

After our return to Cape Town, you are free to follow your own interests for dinner and the remainder of the evening.

Breakfast and Lunch included

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Day 4 - Cape Town / Travel to Johannesburg
A good part of the day will be at your leisure to soak up a last bit of Cape Town however you choose. Perhaps you'll be up for some shopping, or just strolling the V&A Waterfront. A ride up the cable car on Table Mountain (weather permitting) is always amazing. Visits to Robben Island or the District Six Museum are informative and thought provoking. A wander through the Company's Garden and the craft stands in Greenmarket Square is a pleasant way to spend a few hours. This afternoon we'll board our flight for Johannesburg (two hours) where we will spend the night close to the airport prior to an early-morning flight to Botswana the following day. Our overnight accommodation offers much in the way of restaurants, shopping, cinema, and even a casino.

Breakfast included

Days 5, 6, 7 - Travel to Botswana; On Safari
We begin the next leg of our Southern Africa adventure with a morning flight from Johannesburg to Maun, Botswana (approximately 90 minutes). Upon our arrival in Maun -- the gateway to Botswana’s amazing Okavango Delta – we’ll clear immigration and be escorted to our light aircraft for the brief charter flight (20 minutes) to our luxury 'camp' in the bush and our base for three nights.

The Okavango Delta is one of the world’s greatest natural mysteries – channels of water in a desert! The Kalahari Desert is the largest continuous stretch of sand in the world and within it lies the magnificent Okavango Delta, an area that is home to a myriad of animal and bird species. The area is a huge expanse of waterways, floodplains, forested islands, and lagoons that cover about 6,000 square miles – larger than the state of Connecticut. The Delta, in the midst of the Kalahari sands, is Africa's largest and most beautiful oasis. Here the thirstland of the south meets a blue-green wilderness of fresh water, with emerald reedbeds and towering trees. Located in northern Botswana, the Okavango River is a unique natural phenomenon -- flowing more than 600 miles from its source in Angola, this river disappears beneath the sands of Botswana, creating a lush inland delta in the midst of this otherwise arid country. The Okavango Delta is in a constant state of flux, expanding and contracting according to the season. While some parts of the Delta remain permanently flooded, others are only deluged part of the year.

Renowned for its abundant wildlife, the Okavango Delta and the areas surrounding our lodge are home to a large number of species, including many predators, as well as a number of species adapted to the semi-aquatic lifestyle, such as the elegant red lechwe and shy sitatunga. Lion prides, cheetah, leopard and African wild dog may be encountered, while families of hippo hide in the deeper channels and lagoons.

While lion are commonly encountered here, they are not the only predator found in the area. Although predominantly nocturnal and difficult to spot, leopards are fairly common throughout the Okavango, particularly in dense riverine forest. Apart from the more commonly encountered predators, the Okavango is also a stronghold for the endangered African wild dog, although sightings of this rare animal are relatively uncommon. Exhibiting a fascinating social structure, wild dog live in packs led by a dominant pair with a strict social hierarchy. One of the most common antelope in the Okavango, the red lechwe is especially adapted for the swampy conditions. Its splayed, elongated hooves give it a sure footing in muddy conditions, allowing it to inhabit the outskirts of the permanent swamps. With an incredible wealth of species, the Okavango is also a wonderful haven for birding enthusiasts. One of its most sought after species is the huge but elusive Pel’s Fishing Owl, which roosts in the densest evergreen thickets. A quintessential African sound, the haunting call of the fish eagle can be heard echoing over the channels.

Our gorgeous safari lodge is set in a private concession of 20,000 acres on the southeastern border of the Moremi Wildlife Reserve, thus affording us exclusivity. The clear waters of the Delta glimmer through a maze of brilliant green papyrus in front of the lodge and the game-rich grassy floodplains stretch into the horizon beyond. Our lodge enjoys exclusive traversing over 67,000 acres of wilderness adjacent to Moremi. Gentle breezes drift through window screens and the outdoor shower makes for great stargazing. Take in the sun on raised private decks with great views over the Delta and then cool off in the swimming pool.

Tread in the footsteps of elephants as you walk the ancient paths that bisect the lodge grounds in the shady forest of the Delta. You'll awaken to the sounds of animals, laugh at the antics of monkeys and squirrels over breakfast, and spend your days exploring mazes of papyrus and golden, grassy floodplains. Connect with the remote wilderness of Africa in this peaceful luxury camp, where little separates the comfort of the warm interiors from the haunting beauty of the natural spectacles outside.

Activities available include serene excursions by mokoro -- a canoe, dug out of a sausage or ebony tree traditionally, which the guide maneuvers with a long pole (this activity is subject to appropriate water levels in the Delta). Our game drives are in custom-built open 4 x 4 vehicles -- and we have the rare opportunity of night drives.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included each day

Day 8 - Transfer to Zambezi River / Victoria Falls
After breakfast we’ll board our next light charter aircraft (about 60 minutes) for the transfer to Kasane airport in Botswana from where we will continue overland (around 90 minutes) to the town of Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. (We will clear Botswana and Zimbabwe immigration en route.) The town lies on the mighty Zambezi River, Africa's fourth longest river and a mile wide at this point where it tumbles over the edge of cliffs, creating the stunning Victoria Falls!

This afternoon we’ll witness one of the true wonders of the natural world. It is called “Mosi-oa-Tunya," meaning “the smoke that thunders,” which describes the spray and the roar as the Zambezi River drops over 300 feet into the narrow gorge below. The Falls have fascinated travelers since 1855 when David Livingstone was the first European explorer to see them. Sighting the Falls from his dugout canoe in November 1855, Livingstone could hardly believe his eyes at such a spectacle. He named the Falls for his British queen. The Falls are over a mile wide and dump an average of 120 million gallons of water over the edge every minute. Victoria Falls has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

This evening we’ll enjoy our Farewell Dinner -- a cultural experience accompanied by traditional Shangaan song and dance performances and a storyteller who recounts tales of the country's folklore, culture, and heritage. The venue is partly open to the night sky. The meal combines a la carte starters with a buffet that includes such local delicacies as mopani worms and game stews (although more standard fare dishes are certainly available!).

Breakfast and Farewell Dinner included.

Day 9 - Thursday, September 15, 2011 - Departure or Optional Extension in Hwange National Park
This morning we bid farewell to this amazing place (or you can begin the optional extension to Hwange National Park -- see below). We'll transfer to the Victoria Falls airport (about 30 minutes from town) for your homeward-bound journey during which you’ll have plenty of time to reflect on your amazing trip to Africa!

Breakfast included

LOGISTICAL NOTE: Our tour officially ends when we are dropped off at the Victoria Falls airport. The air arrangements for your return flights should originate out of Victoria Falls (airport code VFA). Flights from here (on South African Airways or British Airways) go to Johannesburg, from where you will continue your journey. These flights usually depart from Victoria Falls between noon and 2:00pm.

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Days 9, 10, 11 - Extension in Hwange National Park
For those who would like more time on safari, this extension is sure not to disappoint! Like the Okavango Delta region in Botswana, Hwange is one of Africa's premier game viewing areas. The park claims to have the densest concentration of wildlife on the continent, including the "Big Five." It boasts, amongst a host of other game, a huge elephant population, large herds of buffalo, and a thriving population of both black and white rhino (not seen in the Okavango Delta). Numerous large pans scattered throughout the park draw the wildlife, particularly during the dry season when we're there. Other predominant species include lion, wild dog, giraffe, zebra, and wildebeest. This is one of the best parks in Africa to see the beautiful sable antelope, and birdwatching is excellent with over 400 species of birds.

A two-hour comfortable drive from Victoria Falls will take us to Hwange Main Camp at which point we'll be met by the staff of our camp for the remaining trip to the lodge, which is in effect our first game drive in the park.

Our safari camp caters to a maximum of just 20 guests, offers personalized service, very comfortable and newly refurbished luxury safari tents, and superb guiding. Guided bush walks are offered here for a change from the usual vehicle game drives, and there are concealed hides next to the camp's waterhole allowing guests the unique experience of remarkably close encounters with the animals. At night a diffused orange light is used to view game at the camp's waterhole when lion, leopard, and other nocturnal predators may be seen. A magical experience, nighttime game drives after dinner are also offered since we are on a private concession.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included each day

Day 12 - Sunday, September 18, 2011 - Departure
An early start will get us going back to Hwange Main Camp where we'll re-connect with our coach to return us to Victoria Falls airport.

Breakfast included

LOGISTICAL NOTE: Our tour officially ends when we are dropped off at the Victoria Falls airport. The air arrangements for your return flights should originate out of Victoria Falls (airport code VFA). Flights from here (on South African Airways or British Airways) go to Johannesburg, from where you will continue your journey. These flights usually depart from Victoria Falls between noon and 2:00pm.

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ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE LOGISTICS
Day 1: Please ensure that your flight arrives in Cape Town no later than 4:00pm on September 7, 2011. You will need some time to get to the hotel and settle in before meeting for the Welcome Drink and orientation. We can arrange a private transfer from the airport to the hotel if you'd like. Taxis are also readily available.

As of this writing, there are direct flights into Cape Town from London on both British Airways and South African Airways as well as a direct flight from Amsterdam on KLM Airlines. Alternatively, there are direct flights to Johannesburg from New York or Washington on South African Airways. There are also direct flights to Johannesburg from various European cities. From Johannesburg you would then connect to Cape Town (a two-hour flight).

Day 9 or 12: From Victoria Falls you will have to fly to Johannesburg (on South African Airways or British Airways) before connecting with flights to the U.S. or Europe. These flights usually depart from Victoria Falls between noon and 2:00pm.

ACCOMMODATIONS
Following is a description of the lodgings we intend to use on this tour. We reserve the right to make changes to these accommodations.

Cape Town
We have selected a small, tastefully-restored hotel on the edge of Cape Town's historic Bo-Kaap area, and it is well-placed for trendy restaurants and shops. Authentic finds from the original buildings (dating back to 1771), including murals and artefacts, have been carefully preserved and now form an integral part of the decor. The hotel opened in 1998 as part of an ambitious project to restore a collection of historical buildings in downtown Cape Town. The result is a beautiful little enclave of trendy shops, restaurants, hotel, and art gallery. The hotel overlooks the heart of the complex -- a pretty 18th century courtyard providing a delightful retreat from the bustle of the city center. Stylish Georgian, Cape Dutch, and Victorian architecture has been combined with elegant interiors featuring original teak beamed ceilings and polished yellowwood floors. Accommodation is in 17 tastefully decorated rooms, all designed along a different theme, among them African, Malay, and Japanese. Rooms are equipped with super comfortable beds, minibar, satellite TV, and free wireless internet access. Service is personal yet professional, and there are cozy lounges for reading. The atmosphere is relaxed, and the staff is a friendly team.

Click on images below to enlarge.

Botswana -- Okavango Delta
Camouflaged under a tumbling canopy of wild palms and gnarled fig leaves, eight thatched cottages emerge in leafy clearings right on the edge of the Delta’s waterways. This property was listed in the 2009 Conde Nast Traveler "Gold List" of the Best Places to Stay in Africa and the 2008 Conde Nast Traveler "Readers' Choice Awards" of the Top 50 Resorts in Africa. The cottages have overhead fans and are airy with all windows covered in gauze to maximize views of the forest. Private bathrooms include twin hand basins; the toilet is separate; and the shower is open-air. Blending seamlessly with its surroundings, the tranquil beauty of this lodge surprises not only guests but even the occasional wandering animals, startled as rough wooden beams and thatched roofs take shape within the leafy groves. The sounds of Africa lull and soothe guests, as elephants splash in the quiet waters, baboons chatter, and myriad birds call and twitter in the trees. The greens of the river bank peer into spacious guest cottages through large, airy screens. Earthy ochre tones bring the forest floor indoors, while tactile textures, from leather and silk to rough hewn wood, celebrate the natural beauty of the setting. You can gaze out onto the banks of the river from under the canopy of your king size bed or spend a restful hour watching the quiet play of light on water from your private raised deck. At one with the forest, enjoy the warm luxury of the sun skipping across your skin in the large outdoor shower. Lazy hammocks slung in the dappled shade beckon and the wooden deck by the shaded poolside offers refreshment. Layered guest areas with comfortable couches invite you to while the afternoon away among cozy cushions. Open sides in sitting and dining areas draw your eyes outward to dazzling plains and reeded river banks. Relax over scrumptious Pan African meals in the dining room with fine wines from the unique charcoal-cooled wine cellar, while animals wander only yards away, or enjoy the cozy shelter of the fire-lit boma as thousands of stars light up the African sky.

Click on images below to enlarge.

Victoria Falls
Our selected hotel in the town of Victoria Falls is a colonial-era gem dating back to 1904. Its graceful architecture, spacious terraces, and colorful well-manicured gardens exude elegance and history. Set in lush tropical gardens with lily ponds, palm trees and semi-tropical shrubs, it provides the tranquillity and seclusion that many guests seek. Situated right in the heart of the town of Victoria Falls, this accommodation is an easy 10-minute walk to the Falls themselves along the hotel's private pathway. Indeed, the Falls are clearly audible and its spray visible from the grounds of the hotel. The terrace, with its clear view of the Victoria Falls Bridge, connecting Zimbabwe and Zambia, is renowned for its cocktails and afternoon teas and has been a rendezvous for adventurers in Africa for over a century. In the opposite direction a short stroll takes you to the open-air crafts market where vendors will eagerly bargain (or trade) with you. Facilities include three restaurants, swimming pool, lounges and reading rooms, business center with internet access, massage treatments, and curio shop. While the hotel's grandeur has faded somewhat in recent years and could probably use some updating, we feel that, all things considered, this is still the optimal choice for our one night at Victoria Falls.

Click on images below to enlarge.

Hwange National Park
Our camp comprises just 10 luxury East African-style tents under thatch, all overlooking the main waterhole. All tents are undergoing reburbishment at this writing and will be completed before the time of our tour. Each has its own bathroom, consisting of bathtub, open-air shower, hand basin, and flush toilet along with a small teak dressing table, and most importantly, piping hot water at night and in the mornings. The spacious bedroom area is very tastefully furnished with solid Zimbabwe teak furniture, each tent with an individual décor. All tents come with their own veranda. Tea or coffee brought to your tent serves as your early-morning wake-up call. The hub of the camp is the welcoming “A Frame" which houses the dining room and sun lounge downstairs and a large comfortable lounge and viewing area upstairs. Excellent meals are served in unsurpassed elegance and style around the great 20-seat teak dining room table. Breakfast is served alfresco under Acacia trees. Take a dip in the refreshing swimming pool. Laundry service is included. The A Frame and the swimming pool also overlook the camp's waterhole. Warm service and the truly relaxing ambience are noteworthy here.

Click on images below to enlarge.

TOUR PRICING
On most Venture Out tours, the price of the trip depends on the final number of people who sign up because of minimum fixed costs that need to be covered. With the pricing structure set up this way we are generally able to offer slightly lower pricing if we get a higher number of guests enrolled on the trip.

›› MAIN TOUR PRICING ‹‹
$5,195 (with 11 to 14 participants)
$5,295 (with 7 to 10 participants)

Single Supplement: $695

PLEASE NOTE: There is a limit of two single supplements for the Botswana safari portion of the itinerary (Days 5, 6, and 7). There is no limit to the number of single supplements for the other nights on the tour. Single Supplement for Hotels Only: $295.

Scheduled commercial flights:
Please allow approximately $400-$500 for the two commercial flights: Cape Town to Johannesburg and Johannesburg to Maun, Botswana. Venture Out will have these flights booked for you. Alternatively, you might be able to include one or both of these flights in your overall international air arrangements. Please check with us for the exact flights you would need to book.

Main Tour Pricing Includes:
* All accommodations as described above
* 2 private light-aircraft charters to/from our luxury camp in Botswana
* Meals as indicated after each itinerary day
* Alcoholic beverages (except for premium brands) at the Botswana safari accommodations (Days 5 through 7)
* 2 full-day guided tours outside of Cape Town as described in the itinerary, including lunches
* Entrance fee to Victoria Falls
* Fully guided wildlife safari activities as described in the itinerary
* Services of a Tour Escort throughout the program
* Laundry service at the safari accommodations
* Fees for parks, reserves, wine tastings, and other excursions and sights mentioned in the program
* Ground transportation in and around Cape Town on Days 2-4 and from Kasane, Botswana to Victoria Falls on Day 8.

Tour Cost Does Not Include:
* International airfare into Cape Town (CPT) and returning from Victoria Falls (VFA)
* Airport transfer from Cape Town International Airport to hotel (a private transfer can be arranged if you'd like)
* Scheduled commercial flights on Day 4 from Cape Town to Johannesburg and Day 5 from Johannesburg to Maun, Botswana (See cost estimate above.)
* Any meals not specified after each itinerary day
* Alcoholic beverages on Days 1-4 and Days 8-9
* Tipping to tour guides, rangers/trackers, and hotel/camp staff
* Additional hotel nights pre- or post-tour that may be necessary or desired
* Medical immunizations and malaria prophylaxis (if applicable)
* Travel insurance (highly recommended for trip cancellation/interruption, emergency medical expenses, evacuation, repatriation, etc.)
* Passport costs
* Expenses of a personal nature

{Please note: Over the past few years the value of the U.S. dollar has fluctuated significantly on the foreign exchange markets — usually in an unfavorable direction for the dollar. We reserve the right to alter the trip pricing indicated here should there be a significant fluctuation of the dollar in either direction — up or down.}

Special deposit and cancellation policies apply to this tour. Download the Terms & Conditions and the Trip Enrollment Form.

›› HWANGE EXTENSION PRICING ‹‹
$1,395 (with 7 to 14 participants)
Single Supplement: $245

Extension Pricing Includes:
* 3 nights' accommodation at our safari camp as described above
* comfortable round-trip ground transportation from Victoria Falls to Hwange Main Camp
* round-trip transfers from Hwange Main Camp to our safari camp in safari vehicles
* breakfast, lunch and dinner each day
* alcoholic beverages (except for premium brands)
* Fully guided wildlife safari activities as described in the itinerary
* Services of a Tour Escort throughout the program
* Laundry service at the safari accommodations
* National Park fees

Tour Cost Does Not Include:
* Tipping to rangers/trackers and camp staff
* Expenses of a personal nature

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LUGGAGE
We have two small-aircraft charter flights ("bush planes") on this itinerary with very strict weight limitations on baggage. Each passenger’s total baggage must not exceed 44 pounds (20 kg), including hand luggage and accessories such as cameras and binoculars. (Forty-four pounds of luggage is more than most people think!) Keep in mind, too, that the safari camps include laundry service so you can pack less clothing than you might otherwise. It is also possible to leave a bag at the Johannesburg airport which you can pick up when you fly back there at the end of the tour.

WILD ANIMALS
The animals we come to see in Africa, while beautiful and different, are potentially dangerous. Though attacks by wild animals are very rare, no vehicle or walking safari can guarantee immunity from attack by wild and potentially dangerous animals or reptiles. Generally, wild animals and reptiles are afraid of man and usually avoid contact. Venture Out is not to be held responsible for injuries or death sustained during any incident involving wild animals and reptiles.

Please note: Wildlife viewing is an activity best appreciated through patience. The world of nature, especially in the African bush, can be fast but also very slow. To obtain the most out of a safari experience one should be patient, observant, respectful, quiet, and aware.

MEDICAL INFORMATION / INOCULATIONS
Venture Out is not in a position to provide medical advice as to whether a certain individual should have a particular vaccination. Please consult with your personal physician, a travel clinic, the Centers for Disease Control, and/or MD Travel Health.

In the end, it is largely a matter of personal choice as to which preventive measures are taken, but many travelers to Botswana do take malarial precautions as the northern part of the country, where we travel, is in a malaria zone. There are a few antimalaria drugs available. You should check with your health-care provider or a travel clinic about which is appropriate for you. The CDC says that Chloroquine is not one of the effective antimalaria drugs for Botswana.

It is also a good idea to be up to date with routine vaccinations such as measeles/mumps/rubella (MMR); diptheria/pertussis/tetanus (DPT); and polio. The CDC recommends a vaccination for Hepatitis A (or an immune globulin shot) and typhoid fever.

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ITINERARY CHANGES
While as accurate as possible at the time of printing, this itinerary should be considered an approximate indication of the schedule and scope of activities, trip routing, and meals, rather than an inflexible schedule of events; it is subject to change due to circumstances beyond our control. This trip is subject to the Limitation of Liability and all the Terms and Conditions as detailed in the Trip Application Form.

To realize the maximum enjoyment from your Venture Out trip, you must remember that it is an adventure. The essential requirements are flexibility, a sense of humor, curiosity and enthusiasm about new peoples and places, and an openness to the unexpected. With a spirit of adventure and positive attitude, we’re sure you will have a very special travel experience. If you are uncertain about the level of comfort, difficulty, or any of the activities described in this itinerary, please call Venture Out at 1-888-431-6789 to discuss your concerns.

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