Adventure Safaris

Situation Profile

INTRODUCTION

About Us
Adventure Safaris is an inbound safari organiser based in Botswana. We are represented throughout Southern Africa and we specialise in the following:

:Custom designed adventure safaris to the Okavango, Chobe, Namib, Zimbabwe, upper and lower Zambezi and other select destinations throughout the sub-region, including East Africa.
:Personalised and exclusive private camping safaris.
:Group incentive travel trips and team building wilderness experiences.
:Expedition planning to unchartered territories.
Truly independent support and advice in safari planning.

Our Services
Our services include the following:

:Assistance, meet-and-greet facilities, road and air charter links from Johannesburg, Harare, Victoria Falls, Maun, Windhoek and Gaborone.
:Full medical rescue coverage for those unforeseen eventualities.
:Personalised, individual attention.
:Travel Insurance.
:Permit and Licensing services.
:Expedition planning services including acquisitions of maps, aerial photographs and gathering of other information.
:Advice and assistance on all motor vehicle, boat, canoe and camping equipment hire.

Botswana
Botswana is a landlocked country bordered by Namibia in the west, the Caprivi Strip in the north, Zimbabwe in the east and South Africa in the south. 85% of the area is Kalahari desert populated by 160 species of different animals and a group of hardy hunter-gatherers known as the San people. The wildness of Botswana and the untouched beauty of its open spaces attract adventurers into the heart of the country.

Viewing Wildlife
Film is available at most game lodges, but the stocks are not extensive. Wildlife photography requires a telephoto lens of between 200 and 300mm. Larger lenses requiring a tripod are impractical for game photography from vehicles. A lens hood and ultra violet filter are advisable and a dust cover (plastic bag) is essential. Remember to bring spare batteries for your camera as these are seldom available on safari. Binoculars are essential for bird and game viewing.

The Okavango Delta
The Okavango Delta is one of the most pristine wildernesses on the African continent. It embraces a unique ecosystem situated in the middle of the largest stretch of continuous sand in the world, covering as much as 18,000 kilometres squared at full capacity.

The Okavango consists of crystal clear water channels, lagoons, sweeping flood plains and palm-studded islands. The Delta is home to over 450 bird and 1,000 plant species. Several of the world's rarest species of antelope as well as the full spectrum of Africa's big game find their home in the Okavango. The countless wonders of the Okavango Delta may be enjoyed at numerous destinations within this area.

Moremi Game Reserve
The Moremi Game Reserve comprises almost one third of the Okavango and forms an intricate part of the Delta. The Reserve encompasses permanently swamped and seasonally swamped areas as well as dryland. It is one of the prime tourist attractions in Botswana and offers a host of safari adventures including boat trips, fishing expeditions, mokoro rides, excellent game viewing and exhilarating African vistas.

The Moremi Game Reserve is unique in that it is the first wildlife sanctuary to be created by an African tribe, the BaTawana, within their own area. Enjoy an adventure safari by visiting one of the many lodges or camps situated within the environs of the Moremi Game Reserve.

The Chobe National Park
The serenity of the Chobe National Park contrasts sharply with the excitement engendered by encountering its multitudinous game. The highest concentration of elephant anywhere in Africa, huge buffalo herds and an abundance of predators live in natural harmony with the rich bird life and the Chobe bush buck.

The Chobe National Park, the third largest in Botswana, extends from the Chobe River on its northern boundary to Moremi in the extreme south-west and encompasses an area of 10,698 kilometres squared. The exquisite beauty of the Chobe may be enjoyed at various lodges within this area.

The Linyanti Swamps
The Linyanti swamp areas are situated in one of the most remote and untouched areas of Botswana, in the north-western corner of the Chobe. The scenery is magnificent and the area offers game drives and walks, fishing and a variety of other water activities. The Linyanti River forms a swamp in the fault-line areas where it dramatically changes direction by turning through almost ninety degrees.

FACILITIES

ACTIVITIES

Tours on offer from this vendor

ADDITIONAL INFO

Best Time To Visit
Botswana is a year- round wildlife destination. However, there are certain seasons which special interest groups should be aware of:

:Bird viewing - November to March. The Delta is filled with migratory birds.
:Botany - December to May. The vegetation is lush and green and most of the plants are in bloom.


CLIMATE:

Summer
November to April
The days are hot and generally sunny in the morning with possible afternoon thunder storms. Day time temperatures can rise to 38º C and night time temperatures drop to around 20º C - 25º C. The rainy season starts in late October / early November and ends in March. The Northern areas receive up to 700mm per annum while the Kalahari Desert area averages as low as 225mm per annum.

Winter
May to October
The days are dry, sunny and cool to warm while evening temperatures drop sharply. Day time temperatures generally reach 20º C and can drop to as low as 5º C at night. Please note that exceptionally cold spells can occur, although not often, so appropriate clothing is recommended in this event.

Medical Requirements
It is imperative that you obtain malaria prophylactics before entering Botswana. When purchasing this medication, please tell your doctor or pharmacist that you intend visiting Botswana. A prophylactic compatible with the strains of malaria found in this region should be taken. Start your course at least 24 hours before entering Botswana and continue taking the pills for 6 weeks after leaving the country. If you suffer from side-effects, try taking your malaria prophylactics at night, after dinner, as this usually minimises the effect of the symptoms.

Further precautionary measures to avoid contact with mosquitos are:

:sleeping under a bed-net or in a room / tent with mosquito proofing (remember to keep the flaps zipped at all times);
:spraying your accommodation with insecticide;
:making use of a mosquito-repelling lotion or stick; and wearing long-sleeve clothing, long trousers and socks when outside at night.

Any person entering Botswana from, or via, a yellow fever infected area must be in possession of a valid International Certificate of Vaccination against yellow fever.

MEDICAL SERVICES

Botswana does not have a national health welfare scheme. It is therefore advisable to obtain medical insurance prior to arrival and to ensure that any medication usually required is brought with you, since there will be no access to pharmacies whilst on safari.

Clothing
Casual, comfortable clothing is recommended throughout the year. Please note that packing space is limited on all forms of safari transport and thus your luggage should be restricted to between 10 and 12 kilograms, packed into a soft bag.
:Blouses with long sleeves (necessary even in summer as this offers protection from the sun and mosquitoes)
:T-shirts
:Shorts or a light skirt
:Jeans or safari trousers for evenings and cooler days
:Sweater and a warm jacket for game drives (necessary even in summer)
:Comfortable walking shoes or hiking boots
:Sunblock, sunglasses, hat, insect repellent - essentials!
:Binoculars and a camera
:Track suit for sleeping in during winter months
:Light, compact raincoat
:Swimsuit, as most hotels and lodges have swimming pools
:Towel, torch and sleeping bag for camping safaris although sleeping bags may be hired from most safari operators
:Layers of clothing in neutral colours are the most practical and suitable for the fluctuating temperatures in Botswana.

Entry Requirements
PASSPORT:

Required by all. Passports must be valid for 6 months beyond the intended length of stay and please ensure that there are sufficient blank pages for any visas as well as for entry stamps upon arrival.

VISAS:

:This is a guide only - please check with your nearest Botswana Consulate for up to date information. It is the responsibility of all visitors to Botswana to obtain all necessary visas in advance.
:Citizens of the Commonwealth (except Ghana, Mauritius, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh), the EU and Scandinavian Countries, the USA and South Africa do not require visas.
:Any visitor, requiring a visa or not, who wishes to stay more than 90 days should apply for prior permission to the Chief Immigration Officer in Gaborone, Botswana.

GENERAL

:Visitors should have sufficient funds to support themselves for a reasonable period after arrival and should be in possession of a return ticket.
:No visitor is permitted to work or seek employment.

General Information
Insurance
Travel insurance which includes curtailment and cancellation cover, is recommended when confirming your booking.

Communication
A direct international dialing service is available from the major hotels and lodges in Kasane, Maun and Gaborone. Major hotels and businesses have a fax service. Lodges in the more remote areas of Botswana such as the Okavango Delta do not have telephonic communication facilities. The lodges communicate with the outside world via two-way radio.

Tipping
Service is not usually included in the bill. Provided the service is good, it is usual to tip porters, waiters, taxi drivers, room attendants, golf caddies, game rangers and trackers. Generally speaking, gratuities to waiters and taxi drivers should amount to around 10% of the cost of the service.

Water
Throughout Botswana tap water is purified and safe to drink. Please remember that water is scarce in Botswana so remember to conserve this precious resource.