Africa Revisited 2008

Arrive Johannesburg at 07.10hrs. The onward Flight No. SA74, to Windhoek, departs at 10.55 hrs and we are due to arrive in Windhoek at 11.55 hrs.

At the airport our guides, Alan and Oriel, will be there to meet us. After packing the hire vehicles we will drive to central Windhoek and set up our first camp at Arebbusch camp site. It is hoped that there will be some time in the aftenoon for us to visit the centre of Windhoek.

After breakfast and packing up, we will drive to Waterberg Plateau Park. The area is an impressive sandstone plateau and its summit is home to many rare species including black and white rhino, leopard & roan antelope. There are breeding programmes for these endangered species.

Having driven onto the top of the plateau, we will establish camp for the next three nights. During our time on the plateau we will undertake guided game walks with local guides. There will be opportunities to visit some of the hides on the plateau and also to track animals such as white rhino.

The intention of this time is to experience isolation and become close to the wild, with only basic facilities. All provisions will have to be taken with us and access to the camp is via deep sand roads. We will be the only group at the Wilderness Camp.

After leaving the Plateau we will drive North towards Etosha National Park. The camp site for the night is at Etosha Safari Lodge and this will give us good access to Etosha the following day.

We travel to Etosha National Park, where we will spend the next three nights. The first night will be at Okaukuejo and the other two nights at Onguma, just outside Namutoni.

Okaukuejo offers excellent game viewing opportunities as it is located inside the borders of the Park and has a floodlit waterhole attracting a great variety of wildlife from dusk to dawn. The Park is dominated by the vast Etosha salt pan. Many water holes exist around the edges of the pan and they are joined by a network of well maintained gravel roads.

Species present in the Park include lion, leopard, cheetah, elephant, rhino, giraffe & zebra, in addition to many antelope and bird species. Black Rhino are almost guaranteed at night at the Okaukuejo Camp waterhole. The best chance of seeing the cats is early morning and we will take game drives as soon as the gates open and again in the afternoon. At Okaukuejo we will eat in the restaurant.

Leaving Onguma early in the morning we will embark on the long drive to Popa Falls. Here we camp by the river for one night.

From Popa Falls it is another long drive, along the Western side of the Okavango Delta to Maun in Botswana. One night will be spent camping just outside Maun.

In the morning we will travel to the edge of the Okavango Delta, where we will spend one night bush camping. We intend to explore the area on foot or by mokoro, with local guides (depending on water levels). This is an interesting wetland area and there should be plenty of opportunities to see elephant and a variety of antelope species whilst on foot.

After a final morning in the Okavango region we will return to Maun, where a further night is spent camping just outside the town.

DAYS 14 & 15 – MON 21 JUL 08 & TUE 22 JUL 08
In the morning we leave to drive to Chobe River front. We will stay for two nights, camping close to the river. On the morning of the second day we will take a game drive in Chobe National Park, whilst in the afternoon a sun downer boat trip will enable us to see hippo, crocodile and a wide variety of birds, at close quarters. On one night we will eat out in a restaurant.

Today we will cross the border into Zambia, via the Kazungula Ferry. It is a short journey to Livingstone, where camp will be established at Liyoyelo Farm. The farm will be our base during the project phase of our trip and also for activities in Livingstone. It is situated in 105 acres and fronts onto the banks of the Zambezi, just outside the National Park. The farm is Nomad African Travels base in Africa and we are told we could experience visits by hippo and elephant during our time there.

During this period of time we will have 9 days to work at Twabuka Community School, undertaking a variety of projects. Equally important is meeting the local people and the school pupils. Through this we hope to gain an insight into African village life in Zambia.

On our final two days in Livingstone there will be the opportunity to undertake many of the activities available in the area. These include visiting Victoria Falls, game drive in Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, white water rafting, bungi jumping, gorge swing, elephant back safari, horse riding, river boat trips, flights over the falls etc etc. These activities are all additional to the cost of the tour. On Sunday evening we will have a final restaurant meal in Livingstone.

After a final morning in Livingstone we will return the hire vehicles at the airport in time to catch our flight from Livingstone to Johannesburg. We will be flying with Zambian Airways departing Livingstone at 14.15 hrs and arriving in Johnannesburg at 15.45 hrs. From there we will transfer to a Game Lodge where we will stay for one night.

Today we will have some time for relaxation before our return flight in the evening. Whether we choose to spend time round the pool (which will be cold apparently) or take part in an activity such as a Soweto tour no doubt we will all be reflecting on what we have witnessed and achieved during the course of our expendition.

NB: Unless otherwise stated ~ All meals will be cooked by the students.

Itinerary