9-Day Victoria Falls & Botswana Safari

This safari begins at Victoria Falls Airport (Zimbabwe) and ends at Maun Airport (Botswana).

Baggage allowance is 20 kg (44 lbs) per person, including camera equipment and hand luggage. Only soft-sided bags are permitted, with maximum dimensions of 25 cm (10 in) wide x 30 cm (11 in) high x 62 cm (24 in) long.

Avoid regular Samsonite suitcases on safari; instead, please ensure you pack in soft duffel bags that can be easily transported in small spaces. If you do not own a duffel bag, simply make sure that your suitcase has soft sides with fold-away handles, as opposed to hard casing.

Please note that the Botswana Government has announced a complete ban on plastic bags in all its game parks and reserves. Plastic bags will be confiscated upon entry into any Botswana National Park or Reserve.

Yes, please. Shared light aircraft flights in Botswana often charge an additional seat if your weight exceeds 100 kgs (220 lbs). Please do let us know in advance.

Please be sure you are up to date with all routine vaccinations. Commonly recommended vaccinations for travel to Africa include the following: Tetanus, Diphtheria, Polio, Typhoid, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Yellow Fever, Rabies, and Meningitis. Visit your doctor several weeks before your trip to ensure that you have all the vaccines and medications you need.

Yellow Fever Vaccination –

Botswana requires a valid yellow fever certificate from all foreign visitors and citizens over 1 year of age travelling from an infected area or having been in transit through infected areas (>12 hours).

There is no risk of contracting yellow fever in Botswana. If you are travelling directly from USA or India and are not transiting through a country with the risk of yellow fever, you do not need the yellow fever vaccination certificate.

Malaria –

It is recommended you consult your doctor to see whether you should take malaria prophylaxis before entering Botswana. The Okavango Delta and other districts of Botswana are in a malaria zones, and travelers should consult healthcare professionals for personalized advice on malaria prevention, including prophylaxis and other preventive measures

To enter Botswana, all travelers must carry a passport valid for at least six months beyond the date of arrival. The passport should have at least three blank pages, two of which must be facing each other for visa endorsement.

Do contact your cell phone carrier if they have any international data / roaming packages that you may wish to subscribe to for the time that you are in Botswana. You can also purchase a calling card locally in Botswana.

Cell service, specially when you are in the bush, will be spotty at best since you will be remote locations. However, most camps will have Wi-Fi services either in the tents or main areas.

Botswana uses Type D and Type G electrical plugs. Type G is the UK-style three-pin plug, while Type D is commonly used in India and some African countries. The standard voltage is 230V with a frequency of 50Hz. Travelers are advised to bring a universal travel adapter, especially if their devices use different plug types.

The official currency is the Botswana pula (BWP), where 1 pula = 100 thebe. Visitors to Botswana should change foreign currency at banks, bureaux de change, or authorized hotels. The easiest currencies to exchange are the US dollar, the British pound sterling, and the South African rand.

Please note that in most African countries, only US dollar notes from 2007 onwards are accepted. Because of the risk of forgeries, people are sometimes suspicious of larger denomination notes so USD$100 and even USD$50 may sometimes be rejected in shops and it is advisable to carry lower denominations which are also more practical. USD $1 are not always easy to exchange (so not advised for tipping in Botswana).

All international visitors to Botswana need to make sure that they have the appropriate medical insurance before they travel. Please also make sure that you are covered for “Repatriation Cover” to get you home to your country of residence if necessary. Insurance coverage is mandatory for this trip.

Medical, emergency evacuation and repatriation coverage is mandatory for all trips booked with Chalo Africa Inc. Trip cancellation & interruption coverage is highly recommended and Chalo Africa Inc. shall not be held liable for any damages or losses arising from the absence thereof.

Cancellation of bookings will be subject to the following terms: 

• Cancellation from confirmation date until 91 days from tour date – you forfeit the 30% deposit and any other non-refundable costs already paid, including but not limited to the costs of permits. 
• Cancellation ninety (90) days or less from tour date – you forfeit 100% of the tour cost. 

Our cancellation and refund policy takes into account the fact that we must advance to our suppliers’ deposits for their services, which are often non-refundable. Payment assumes you have read our Terms & Conditions.