Name: Cape, Safari and Falls
Brand: Contiki
SKU: N/A
Price: 2518 USD
Availability: LimitedAvailability
Rating: 5.0 (11 reviews)

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Zimbabwe Cultural Trips & Packages Tours & Trip Packages

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Zimbabwe Cultural Trips & Packages

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We did two safaris, one in Botswana living with the animals in their environment and Tanzania glamping in gorgeous lodges with great entertainment. Both were amazing and different.

World Expeditions

Botswana Leopard Trail & Kalahari

The local staff really made the trip great.

The website is great and gives all encompassing information on the various trips. It was very helpful in our decision making process. Delighted with our trip.

Exodus Adventure Travels

Trafalgar

Intrepid Travel

Costsaver

Luxury Gold

Contiki

G Adventures

Globus

Safari365

Cosmos

Bamba

Senior Discovery Tours

I am an experienced Exodus/Africa client as I love both the continent and the 
Exodus tours I have completed there. This present tour was outstanding in the 
scope, the experiences and the group: all influenced by our excellent leader 
Rowan. The itinerary encompasses game drives and walking drives which were 
very productive. We saw all the usual big 5 but had some special experiences- 
a leopard up a tree in full camera view with its fresh impala breakfast, wild 
dogs [our guides said we were VERY lucky] and a rare as hen's teeth caracal 
in the light of day begging from a parking attendant. WOW!
The combination of two countries in one tour encompasses some amazing 
scenery, including the majestic Victoria Falls. Wild camping on the 
extraordinary Okovango Delta is a once in a lifetime experience. Our group 
shared interests and enthusiasms and we became addicted to the Millionaire 
Quiz app to which our leader introduced. Who thought we could be so 
competitive in such a jolly way!
The three amazing and very special animal sightings: leopard with kill, wild 
dogs and caracal. Last experience probably never to be repeated in a lifetime 
and special to me as my Abyssinian breed cat is descended ultimately from the 
African caracal.


Hi is ace!!!!!!!
His organisational skills and enthusiastic love of Africa shine through.
A really god shopper and cook too over very many meals. An Exodus tour 
marches on its tummy we know and we marched well and on time.


Do not hesitate if you love the African experience: this is a very special 
tour.

Botswana & Zimbabwe Lodge Safari

This was a fantastic trip,  helped by a great group of people.  Both the 
guide and driver were very knowledable and we all learnt a lot. The long 
drives were helped by Rowan our guide reading out who wants to be a 
millionaire from his phone and after several attempts we beat the odds!
Some of the group were nervous about camping in the Okovango delta but it was 
glamping rather than camping and this proved to be one of the most enjoyable 
2 days the trip. Mornings were chilly but we all layered up and with the help 
of blankets on the game vehicals managed to keep warm.  The trip notes were 
inaccurate in the meals we had provided by the guide which worked out in our 
favour. Most of us felt that all evening meals with the exception of Victoria 
falls should be included.
Rowan provided good meals and there was plenty to eat.
We missed out on seeing lions and leopards but did see the most difficult cat 
to spot the cheeteh so that more than made up for it and as it is wildlife 
there are never any guarntees. When I booked this trip it was the animals I 
was most interested in but this has lit in me an interest in birds that I 
never knew I had and I hope to continue spotting and photographing bird in 
future.
Victoria falls were amazing and I would recommend both the sunset dinner 
cruise and the helicopter flight over the falls both were superb.
Coming face to face with a white Rhino whist walking with our knowledgeable 
guide, John.
The evening cruise on the Chobe river was truely amazing with a wealth of 
animals and birds at close quaters.


Rowan was fabulous  as was Safiso our driver.
My only critisism would be that he did not ask far enough in advance if 
anyone wanted to fly in a helicopter over the Okovango Delta, this could also 
have been arranged by exodus in advance back in England. This meant we missed 
out on this but we did manage a plane flight.


Yes take a warm hat in winter months, this should be added to the kit list. 
Long jonhs or legging were useful too and a pair of gloves would have been 
welcome first thing in the mornings.


Most of the accomodation was great but I would suggest exodus look for anothe 
lodge in Maun as River nest cottages is fairly run down compared to the other 
lodges we stayed at.  The locks on my windows would not shut and others had 
issues with showers etc.

A wonderfully varied trip which combines the comforts from home whilst giving 
you a real wildlife experience. The lodges were each unique in character and 
all very comfortable, most of them with swimming pools, and the camping in 
the Okavango Delta was much more comfortable than anyone had expected! You 
get to see a good part of two quite different but equally friendly and 
welcoming countries and because the places you visit are so quiet you never 
feel that you are on a tourist trail.
There are so many moments to choose, from standing close enough to rhinos to 
be able to hear them eat in Matobo, to watching an elephant walk past our 
camp in the Delta, and experiencing the exhilarating Victoria Falls up close. 
  We also met some truly inspiring people who are very proud of their country 
and do amazing work to protect the natural landscape and wildlife.

The two nights camping in the Okavango Delta were very special, made even 
more so by the kindness of the locals who looked after us so well. We were 
genuinely sad to say goodbye to them.


Justin was simply brilliant and made sure this trip was as special as 
possible for everyone. He was our group leader, driver and cook and managed 
all this very well and would never accept any help. His insight into Southern 
African culture and wildlife really helped us to get the most out of this 
trip and gain a good understanding of the way of life in this part of Africa. 
  He clearly has a good relationship with the local people and guides which 
was shown through the high level of service we received from everyone. We 
hope to be lucky enough to come across him again on future trips!


As someone else already said, just go! Yes, there are some days when you 
spend a fair amount of time on the bus, but there is always something to look 
at and otherwise you can use the time to catch up on some sleep from the 
early morning safari drives... There are also regular stops.

If you travel in their winter months, from May on-wards, do bring a fleece or 
coat as the early morning drives can be cold especially when sitting on an 
open sided safari truck.


There are a number of optional activities and we chose to do the scenic 
flight over the Delta, the helicopter ride over Victoria Falls and the sunset 
dinner cruise on the Zambezi. These are all personal choices of course but we 
didn't regret doing any of these and felt they each represented good value 
for money considering the once in a lifetime experience they gave us.

This was an amazing trip and we are already looking to book our next one to 
Southern Africa. However, do remember that this is Africa so go with an open 
mind and just enjoy the experience!

This was our first trip to Africa and it far exceeded expectations.  The 
itinerary was balanced and very well organised and we were fortunate to see a 
huge variety of wildlife - including four of the 'big five' on the first day! 
  Although there were (by necessity) some long drives, the vehicle was 
comfortable and well-driven by Sofiso.  Our guide Rowan both entertained us 
and still continued to point out interesting features and wildlife all along 
the way, making sure we didn't miss a thing!  There was a variety of 
accommodation and even the tents in the Delta were comfortable.

Our focus was the wildlife and the amount and variety were superlative.
There were just so many highlights that choosing just one is impossible!  The 
visit to the Okavango Delta via mokoros,  camping and the game walks were 
inspirational. Whilst here, we watched an elephant approach our camp and then 
wander over to a palm tree where it proceeded to shake the tree trunk 
vigorously, causing the palm nuts to rain down. We watched it eat the nuts 
and then repeat the performance - magic.
Watching a huge flock of vibrant lesser flamingos flying in the evening light 
at the Makgadikgadi Salt pans.
In Chobe, seeing a leopard resting up a tree twitching its tail, guarding its 
impala prey.
At Matobo, standing within a few metres from a mother white rhino and her 
baby (and her teenage calf) and then going to visit centuries old cave 
paintings which captured the wildlife so accurately (including rhino!).
In Hwange, looking into the faces of lion cubs who were resting in the shade 
after a big meal.


Rowan was very knowledgable, friendly, fun and enthusiastic and helped us to 
get the full benefit from all our trips.  He quickly made sure that the group 
was a cohesive unit in which we were all equal.  He was extremely well 
organised throughout the trip and at border crossings gave us all very clear 
guidance as to what we needed to do, making these parts of the trip go as 
smoothly as possible, too.
Rowan prepared and served us some great meals after long days on excursions.  
We often enjoyed these sitting round the camp fire at night and he still had 
the energy to entertain us into the evening!

Couldn't have asked for more!


We were surprised just how cold the early morning game drives were in open 
vehicles (we were there in July/ August; winter).  The blankets provided 
certainly helped, but we probably should have taken light windproof jackets 
as well as fleeces.  We had hats and gloves and also neck buffs - the latter 
very useful to protect against the dust as well as to keep warm/ stop any 
biting insects/ protect from the sun!  We weren't troubled by insects, as it 
happened!

We took US dollars which were fine for Zimbabwe, but local shops &amp; traders in 
Botswana preferred pula.  There were plenty of opportunities to stop at ATMs 
for these so this was not a problem.


If you are thinking about booking this trip - do it!  It is worth thinking 
about what you hope to see and planning the time of year accordingly.  
(Victoria Falls still had plenty of water, even at the beginning of August).  
We certainly had an experience of a lifetime.

Travelling with a group of friends who met in Botswana on a camping trip 7 
years ago, and had so much fun and friendship that we decided to reunite the 
Botties for a rerun with a bit of Zimbabwe added on!

Were slightly concerned that the lodges would lack the intimacy of the wild 
camping, however this trip was absolutely perfect for us and Exodus helped us 
fine tune the experience by switching a day in Vic Falls for an extra day in 
Hwange for our party of 6. And actually that was probably the highlight of 
the trip in the end, one of the greatest 24hrs safari experience of my life 
(and I've had a few)!

I was in serious need of a break, but I came home from Africa a different and 
better person after one of the most amazing trips ever! I am an Exodus 
veteran but this had to be the best yet! Thank-you.
So many...hard to choose!
1. The Okavango Delta, the absolute isolation and peacefulness of wild 
camping, swimming amongst the water lilies and the fireflies spectacular 
light show at night whilst listening to the lions roaring and the elephants 
splashing in the water just yards from my tent.
2. Walking to track Rhino in Matobo and removing a poachers snare and the 
superb Hermits lodge with a great sundown dog walk with the zebra chasing the 
dog off!
3. The wonderful Hwange National Park. Superb game drives and even thought 
the landrover broke down, it meant our replacement vehicle had got wind of a 
leopard and we were lucky enough to see one descending from a tree.
4. Wonderful Hwange Safari Lodge hotel overlooking the waterhole, and a 
superb tracker guide who found us a cheetah with 3 cubs, a huge herd of 
elephant with a close encounter never to forget with a herd of 150 elephants 
doing what all elephants do best all around us. Just when we thought we had 
seen it all, he found us a pride of 16 lions right by the side of the road 
for an amazing encounter with some very relaxed and well fed cats!
5. Superb dinner cruise on the last night with great food, wonderful live 
music and the most amazing sunset. So emotional, it brought tears to my eyes, 
a perfect end to a perfect trip


Sheridan was very young and inexperienced and had her work cut out with some 
'older' seasoned travellers. She was pleasant and helpful but didn't really 
add much to the experience as she didn't give us much information about the 
country or the wildlife. She spent a lot of time on the game drives asleep. 
Sometimes communication was not as good as it might have been. But I am sure 
she will improve with experience and has the enthusiasm to learn.


There are some very long drives on dodgy roads with strict speed limits and 
very few stops. The estimated timings were a long way out, 4/5 hrs was often 
nearer 6/7 so there was little down time.
A significant amount of walking too on safaris so need to be reasonably fit, 
especially with the heat as some days were 40degrees.
Zimbabwe is still quite corrupt, we had a few issues with police stops, it 
also has little cash so take small notes and don't expect change. If you are 
prepared to take old clothes, these can be bartered for goods. Things are 
expensive in both countries so take plenty of cash/credit cards.
Don't expect luxury and its Africa and thatched accommodation so be prepared 
for bugs and meeting the outdoors.


Just to say thanks for such an amazing time. Will certainly be going back to 
Zimbabwe once the furore dies down. It certainly rivals Botswana for 
wildlife.

As mentioned in previous reviews it is a full on but very worthwhile trip.  
 From start to finish there are so many experiences.  It is a trip for you if 
you want to see wildlife but have a bit of comfort.
The camping trip was fabulous - not roughing it too much - everything is done 
for you - you just have to sit back and enjoy - Rowan even bakes a cake.  I 
was a bit apprehensive about the bush toilet  - but its was no problem and 
the bush shower quite fun.
We didn't manage to see any lions - but that is the luck of a safari - you 
are venturing into their habitat so nothing can be guaranteed.
There is not much down time - except during the long travel between places 
but that is undertaken in a very comfortable mini bus.  Plus there is always 
something to look at - or playing who wants to be a millionaire!  We didn't 
win a lot!
The group of people we were with were great company and thus also helped to 
make it a great trip.
It is hard to decide as it was a fabulous trip with lots of experiences - 
Seeing the leopard in Chobe NP, watching hundreds of elephants get together 
in the water hole in Hwange NP, coming up close to Rhinos in Matobo NP or the 
fabulous camping trip in Okavango Delta or seeing Victoria Falls for the 
first time.


Rowan our guide and Sifiso our driver certainly lived up to the good reviews 
others have previously placed.  Nothing was too much trouble, Both shared 
there experiences and information
Sifiso was a great driver - so we felt safe all the time.


Remember your torches and head torch for the camping plus if there is 
powercuts - which occurred in Zimbabwe.
Remember to take a travel plug adaptor for Botswana/South Africa you will 
need it to charge up anything.  Also take an additional battery pack for 
charging your phones ( if used as a camera) whilst camping.
It does get cold on the morning game drives - take layers - hats, gloves, 
windproofs etc you will need them!  Also the evenings can get cold.
We took lots of photos - but also you need to take time to experience the 
wildlife not through a lens.
If you are thinking of doing this trip - just do it - you will not regret it. 
  It is fabulous.


We took items to give to schools - ideas from pack for purpose - which we 
left at the village school where the villagers came from who poled our Mokoro 
canoes and looked after us whilst camping.
They need more colouring pencils, exercise books, counting cubes and other 
items for teaching maths, plus games fro small children to play.
We also paid extra for the flight over the Okavango delta which was awesome - 
seeing the animals from above and gave us an appreciation of how little water 
there was at the time we had our trip.  They were still waiting for the water 
to come down from Angola.
We also all did a night safari where you are not guaranteed to see anything 
but we saw elephants, zebra, etc
The helicopter ride over Victoria falls is also a must.

It is an awesome trip with lots of memories

Zimbabwe Cultural Trips & Packages Tour & Trip Reviews

Amazing Trip

Great Trip

Delighted with our trip.