Best of Africa: South Africa, Zimbabwe & Botswana - 2022

PACING

• You’ll visit 3 countries and 4 national parks in 13 nights, with 2-nights each in Johannesburg and Kruger and 3-nights each in Victoria Falls, Hwange and Chobe
• There are 3 short flights between destinations; flight duration ranges from 1 to 2 hours, unless taking the Cape Town extension which is a 3-hour flight
• There are 5 road transfers to reach your accommodation, lasting from 1 to 3 hours
• The longest tour day involves a 1-hour flight and 3 hours of road travel

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• This trip is moderately-paced and not wheelchair-friendly or appropriate for passengers with neck or back troubles because of uneven terrain
• There is easy to moderate walking on this adventure, but travelers should be able to walk 1-2 miles unassisted
• The longest walks will be to viewpoints at Victoria Falls, on a walking safari in Hwange and between terminal buildings at Johannesburg Airport
• Travelers who use CPAP machines should be aware that the rugged and bumpy conditions on some roads have caused damage to (and even broken) many machines. Please be aware of these facts when considering a safari
• In addition, while electricity is available everywhere, it is not always reliable
• Bottled or filtered water is always available

TERRAIN & TRANSPORTATION

• Travelers will use numerous kinds of transportation, including planes, motorcoaches, minibuses of various sizes, open-sided African safari vehicles, boats, and cable cars
• Surfaces encountered will include dirt roads, rough paths, wild bushland, paving stones, and tile
• Due to its active nature and uneven surfaces, this safari is not appropriate for those who need a wheelchair
• Four airports are used on this trip. Transiting in Johannesburg is a requirement on two occasions, including on your return to the U.S. This airport can be tiring, with security lines, check-ins, and long stretches of marble floors, especially between the domestic and international terminals. All other airports are smaller and more manageable

CLIMATE

• This tour covers a large area, so travelers can expect to encounter a range of temperatures and humidity, especially on safari
• Kruger is warm and wet during the summer months of December, January and February; Zimbabwe and Botswana are hottest at the onset of summer rains in October and November, and stay high right through March
• The dry but colder winter season is May to September. The early morning and late evening game drives can be chilly year-round — please pack accordingly