Luxury Wildlife Safari in Botswana

Your fare excludes:

Day 1 Zambezi River

On arrival at Livingstone Airport you will be met and transferred to Sussi & Chuma. This afternoon take a guided tour of the Falls. 

• Stay: Sussi & Chuma Lodge
• Included Meals: Dinner

Day 2 Zambezi River

Enjoy activities as offered by the lodge including sundowner cruise, game drives, walking safaris and fishing.

• Stay: Sussi & Chuma Lodge
• Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 3 Chobe National Park

Today you will be transferred by road from Sussi Lodge to Kasane Immigration. This transfer takes approximately 1 hour / 30 minutes and customs and immigration must be cleared enroute at both the Zambian and Botswana border posts. From here you will continue to Chobe Chilwero. 

• Stay: Chobe Chilwero
• Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 4 Chobe National Park

Enjoy morning and afternoon game viewing activities.

• Stay: Chobe Chilwero
• Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 5 Moremi Game Reserve

Today you will be transferred to Kasane Airport for your light aircraft flight to the Stanley’s Airstrip. This flight takes approximately 80 minutes. 

• Stay: Stanley's Camp
• Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Please note: There is a weight limit of 110kg on all light aircrafts.

Day 6 & 7 Moremi Game Reserve

Enjoy morning and afternoon game viewing activities.

• Stay: Stanley's Camp
• Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 8 End of Southern Africa Tour

Today you will be transferred to Stanley’s Airstrip for your light aircraft flight to Maun Airport. This is a flying time of approximately 15 minutes.

• Included Meals: Breakfast

Please note: This itinerary may be subject to change.

For travel between 1 November - 15 December 2023, this tour commences in Zambia, Botswana from $8,300 per person

Daily private departures based on a minimum of 2 passengers

Why not extend your stay to see more of what Africa has to offer? Feel free to ask for ideas. We can also book your flights and any additional travel requirements.

Call our Brisbane based travel team on 1300 414 198 to secure your seat on this amazing safari!

Sussi & Chuma Lodge

Sanctuary Sussi & Chuma is built on a dramatic bend of the Zambezi River in the Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Park, twelve kilometres upstream from the world-famous Victoria Falls. Twelve Luxury Treehouses are built into the canopy of majestic ebony trees lining the river bank. The air-conditioned rooms all with their own private viewing deck boast superb views over the white waters of the Zambezi.

Chobe Chilwero

Chobe Chilwero is located on the border of the Chobe National Park, home to the world’s largest remaining population of elephants, and just 10 minutes by road to Kasane and 1½ hours from Victoria Falls. This ideal location provides superb access to the Okavango Delta, Victoria Falls and the Caprivi Strip of Namibia. Chilwero, quite literally means a “place of high view”, and accurately describes this exquisite lodge, which sits above the Chobe River and offers unparalleled panoramic views across the islands and flood plains as far as Namibia.

Chobe Chilwero offers nine double and six twin luxury cottages, all of which are individually designed to blend in perfectly with the topography and natural vegetation of the surrounding area. The cottage floor plates measure 61 square metres in area. Each luxury cottage has its own en-suite bathroom with a large sunken handcrafted bath, indoor and outdoor showers, private garden, “sala” or private balcony, mosquito nets, ceiling fans and air-conditioning.

Stonley's Camp

Sanctuary Stanley’s Camp is built on a 260,000 acre private concession in the renowned Okavango Delta. This traditional safari camp has a large lounge area and dining area with incredible views over the floodplains in front of camp. The main area features a bar from where refreshing drinks are always served with a smile, a small library area and curio shop. From the swimming pool – a real treat after a hot day of game viewing – guests can watch giraffe and other plains game march across the savannah and sometimes catch a glimpse of rare wild dogs.

The intimate camp features only eight safari canvas tents, each individually designed, furnished with African antiques that exude a classic and understated elegance that harks back to the explorers and colonialists of the 19th century. Each tent has a large wooden deck providing private areas where you can relax in a hammock while soaking in the surrounding sights and sounds or enjoy cocktails, before dinner is served in the spectacular dining mess.

Travel Insurance:

We strongly recommend you take out Comprehensive Travel Insurance at the time of booking your trip.

Passport & Visa:

At the time of writing, a visa for Kenya is required for Australian Passport Holders. The visa can be obtained online, he visa can be obtained onlion arrival at the airport or at border posts. Online applications take around seven working days to process. Visitors are required to present their printed e-Visa upon entry. The four step procedure requires visitors to submit an application form and passport sized photo.

• Single Entry Visa: USD 50 per person on an Australian Passport (subject to change).
• Multiple Entry Visa: Please note that if you are travelling within East Africa (Tanzania, Zanzibar or Uganda or Rwanda) you can request free re-entry into Kenya. You will however be required to pay the normal visa charges for the other countries but may re-enter Kenya freely.
• Transit Visa: USD 20 per person on an Australian Passport. Transit time in Kenya cannot exceed 24 hours (subject to change).

• Kenya has enforced a ‘blank pages’ condition of entry. This means that all those requiring a visa to enter Kenya must have at least two blank pages available in your passport upon arrival. Failure to meet this requirement may result in an entry visa being refused.
• Your passport must be valid at least six months beyond the intended stay.
• Visitors must also be in possession of onward travel documents and have sufficient funds for the duration of their stay.
• Yellow Fever: A Yellow Fever vaccination is required. All travellers must carry proof that the Yellow Fever vaccine has been administered at least 10 days prior to travel.

Vaccinations:

So that we can keep you safe, COVID-19 vaccinations are compulsory in order to embark on your travel with Bench Africa. You must have received the full dosage of the COVID-19 vaccine and allow enough time for immunity to take effect. If you are exempt for medical reasons, then it is your responsibility to notify Bench Africa and provide us with a medical certificate from a health professional at time of booking. Your case will be assessed on an individual basis.

We strongly advise that you consult a medical professional before you travel.

Money:

United States Dollars, Euro or Pounds Sterling are the currencies for most of Africa, and Rand in South Africa or Namibia. Take small denomination notes for tips and other minor expenditure. Avoid the larger $100 bills as they are often unacceptable. Please ensure the notes do not pre-date 2007, as they will not be accepted. ATM machines and money changes are readily located in most major cities and at airports and casinos and some credit cards are acceptable.

Electricity & Voltage:

In Kenya the general voltage is 240 and the frequency is 50 Hz. The British three rectangular blade plugs are common.

Shopping:

• There is an abundance of wonderful souvenirs and crafts to buy. Look for colourful materials, sisal bags, wood or stone carvings, unusual artwork, handcrafted jewellery, woven goods and attractive basketry are recommended. Be aware of the products you are buying, as you may have to declare these at Australian Customs on your return.
• Bargaining is expected at markets and roadside stalls, but not in shops. The locals may start off with highly inflated “tourist prices” and you will need to bargain until you feel you are paying what the product is worth.
• Cash in local currency is accepted, as well as US Dollars, while credit cards may only be accepted in larger shops.
• Do not purchase ivory, rhino horn, animal furs/hides, tortoise shell, coral, game skin, trophies or elephant hair bracelets. These items are prohibited as hunting was banned in 1976.

What to Pack?

• You will be limited to a certain weight, often between 15–20 KG. Bags also have to be soft-sided cases so that they can fit in the hold. These restrictions cannot be avoided, as there simply is not the capacity on small planes and/or road vehicles so bear this in mind when you are packing for your Kenya trip.
• The dress code is informal at all of the camps and it is advisable to bring long sleeved shirts and trousers for the evenings to minimise insect bites.
• On a wildlife safari, casual cotton clothing is the most practical. Calm neutral colours such as tan or khaki are a good idea although a bush outfit is not essential. Some form of headgear is recommended, and sunglasses are essential. A warm fleece or jacket is advisable for colder evenings and early mornings. A lightweight raincoat may be useful as some seasonal rains can occur.
• It is always a good idea to dress in layers on activities to accommodate the early morning and late afternoon change of temperature. Winter months will definitely require a warm jacket and perhaps a beanie, gloves and a scarf.
• Heavy footwear is not required, but sturdy, comfortable walking shoes or boots are recommended for nature walks, with a change of shoes (such as trainers) for the camp.
• Good laundry facilities are readily available at many hotels, game lodges and camps, and often on a complimentary service where the amount of luggage is restricted. However, on a busy itinerary it is advisable to check that your clothes
 will be ready before your departure. For your transfers between camps you may be subject to some very strict baggage restrictions.
• Make sure to leave a little extra space for the souvenirs you are bound to buy!

SAFARI CHECKLIST

• Hat for protection from the sun
• Good quality sunglasses (preferably polarised )
• Binoculars
• Torch
• Camera, charger and adaptor
• If you wear contact lenses, we recommend that you bring along a pair of glasses in case of dust irritation.
• Good walking shoes, trainers as well as sandals
• Socks
• Shorts/skirts
• Tracksuit
• Long trousers/slacks
• T-shirts/long-sleeved cotton shirt for cooler evenings
• Sweater/fleece/raincoat. These may be required for early morning and late afternoon game activities throughout the year.
• Lip balm
• Swimming costume
• Basic medical kit (aspirins, bandaids, Imodium, antiseptic cream etc )
• Malaria tablets AND anti-histamine cream
• Insect repellent (many lodges do supply sprays)
• Protective suntan lotion particularly for pale and sensitive skins
• Tissues or ‘wet wipes'