Self Drive Safari Planning Guide

SELF-DRIVE SAFARI PLANNING GUIDE

bushlore.com So you are planning a self drive-safari in Africa?

It is the perfect holiday option for travellers that enjoy freedom and ﬂexibility! A self-drive safari in Southern Africa is one of the most popular travel options for visitors planning to explore Africa. But you need to plan every aspect carefully. This guide is here to help you make the right decisions.

Let’s start planning!

1. HOW MANY IN YOUR GROUP?

The number of people traveling together inﬂuences quite a few aspects of your trip. You should choose the 4x4 vehicle based on your group size, as well as the accommodation and campsites where you plan to stay along the way.

TWO FOUR FAMILY MORE+

bushlore.com PLAN YOUR SAFARI TO SUIT YOUR GROUP SIZE

4x4 Rental vehicles are set up according to the number of people travelling. But it also depends on your speciﬁc requirements. A family will have a different setup to a couple.

It also inﬂuences the places you plan to visit. A large group will require more space for the vehicles, and a group of four using two vehicles can possibly make use of one site in some camps.

If there are special requests, you need to take that into consideration. You might want to make use of a ground tent as some of your travel partners do not want to sleep in a rooftop tent. If two intrepid friends travel together, they might want to each have their own tent.

This is where expert advice comes into play. If you require assistance with your self-drive trip, it is imperative to ask your rental company to assist with the planning and conﬁguration based on your group size.

INTERESTS, ACTIVITIES & THINGS TO DO ON SAFARI

It is important to take into consideration the interests of all the group members. A family that includes children will have different requirements to a group of avid photographers. And an older couple will have difference interests than a group of friends looking for adventurous activities.

Plan your self-drive route accordingly. If wildlife is the main attraction, include as many game reserves in your itinerary as possible. But also keep i mind that there are many awesome attractions along the routes and you don’t want to miss something really special. Your 4x4 rental specialist should be able to point out the most important and interesting sites to see, and will suggest a suitable duration to be spent there. Some activities might require an overnight stay. Others might just need an hours or so.

It might also be a good idea to take into consideration where you will eat along the way. There are some hidden gems in small towns only known by the locals and experts, so make sure to add these restaurants on your list.

Next up, how to choose the correct 4x4 vehicle for your self-drive safari…

bushlore.com 2. CHOOSE YOUR 4X4 VEHICLE

There are a variety of 4x4 rental options to choose from. Your choice will depend on the number of people travelling together and the destinations you plan to visit. You might decide to camp all the way, so a fully equipped 4x4 or a camper will be best. If you are staying in accommodation establishments along the way, an SUV or unequipped 4x4 will work for you.

There are options for 2 persons, 4 persons, 5 persons and 7 persons. Your 4x4 rental company should provide a vehicle and equipment that suits your travel plans. State of the art camping equipment makes a big difference when putting up camp often.

Choose the 4x4 that suits your requirements.

EQUIPPED CAMPER SUV UNEQUIPPED

The following needs to be taken into consideration: Does your 4x4 rental company offer unlimited kilometres? Can you cross borders without hassle? Are the vehicles reliable and safe? What type of equipment is included? Does your 4x4 rental company offer 24 hour roadside assistance and back up support? Are you offered route planning and booking assistance? Does your 4x4 rental company have a comprehensive footprint (depots and ofﬁces) across the destinations you are planning to visit? How long has the company been operating? What are others saying about the 4x4 rental company?

SEE ALL VEHICLES

bushlore.com SOME OF THE BUSHLORE 4X4’s

2 PERSONS - Toyota Hilux (HilC2) 2 - 4 PERSONS - Toyota Hilux (HilCAM) Fully-Equipped 4x4 Fully-Equipped Camper 4x4

2 PERSONS - Toyota Land Cruiser 4 PERSONS - Toyota Land Cruiser (CruCAM) Fully-Equipped Camper 4x4 (CruC4) Fully-Equipped 4x4

2 - 4 PERSONS - Toyota Fortuner Toyota Hilux (HilS) 5 Seater (ForC) Equipped 4x4 Unequipped 4x4

SEE ALL VEHICLES

bushlore.com CAMPING EQUIPMENT LIST The below equipment checklist must form part of your 4x4 rental

Bushlore Camping Equipment Bushlore Safari Equipment Aluminium Roof rack Long range fuel tank (129/160 litre) Gas cylinder holder Front and or Rear diff lock/center diff lock Eezi Awn rooftop tent/s Dual battery system Ground tents if speciﬁed Tow strap Draw storage system Jumper cables Eezi Awning (optional, at additional cost) Rubber sand ladders 60L Water-tank (full) Puncture repair kit 2 Ratchet tie downs Towbar (on request) Fold up table Fire extinguisher Camp chairs Grass seed net Battery powered lamp Basic tool kit Torch Highlift jack / Air jack / standard jack Gas cylinder (full) and cooker top Additional spare tyre (2nd spare) Gas cylinder and lantern Bullbar Axe Air compressor and tyre pressure gauge Spade Steel canopy on double cabs, side and rear opening* First aid kit Winch (on request only, additional cost) Camp shower GPS (on request only, additional cost) Bedding Two way radios (Optional - additional cost) - sleeping bag, sheets, towels, mattress and pillows Satellite phone (Optional - additional cost) Mobile toilet (on request) 40L Fridge/Freezer Fold up shower or toilet enclosure (on request) Portable wash-up basin Full kitchen - See Gomo Kitchen below

Gomo Camp Kitchen Picnic Box Campfire Box Camp Kitchen Paper plate holders Frying Pan Cutting board Plates No 10 cast iron bake pot Wooden spoon Forks Lid Bread knife Knives Collapsible Tripod Tongs Spoons Stainless steel Braai grid Serving spoon Teaspoons Butchers knife Utility knife Utility knife Waiters friend Utensil container Cutlery Container Utility container - L Dessert/Cereal bowls Billy can Mugs Kettle S/S CUPS Mixing/Salad bowl Can opener BOOKS AND DOCUMENTATION Pot lid lifter Spice container Field guide to mammals of Southern Africa. Dishcloth Bushlore 'On Safari': 4x4 and camp equipment information. All documentation required for cross border travel.

bushlore.com 3. WHERE ARE YOU GOING?

When it comes to the destinations you’d like to visit, it is always good to do thorough research! There are so much to see and do in Africa, and it will take more than one trip to tick off all the items on your bucket list.

The ﬁrst point to take into consideration is the available time you’ve allocated for your self-drive safari. This will directly inﬂuence how many destinations you can include into your holiday. You don’t want to spend ALL your time in the vehicle, and you don’t want to spend only one night in every destination.

Here are some of the most popular self-drive destinations in Africa.

BOTSWANA NAMIBIA SOUTH AFRICA MULTIPLE

Each country has so many unique attractions and can easily be explored on it’s own! But if time allows, it is worth going on a multi-country self-drive holiday. Just keep in mind that distances are vast in Africa.

With that in mind, it is very important to use a 4x4 rental company that offers adequate backup and support to ensure your holiday is not disrupted too much in the event of mechanical failure or a medical emergency. Ask the right questions. Find out where operational bases are located. Also read up on social media and get references from others who have done trips with the company you choose to rent with.

Let’s go into a bit more detail about each country to help you make an informed decision in where you plan to go on your self-drive safari.

bushlore.com BOTSWANA

Botswana, one of Africa's most stable countries, is a destination worth exploring due to its vast wilderness areas and spectacular wildlife. Sparsely populated, Botswana protects some of Africa's largest wildlife areas. Safari-based tourism is an important source of income.

Botswana is the ideal 4x4 self-drive destination. It combines well with Namibia but will require at least 3 weeks of available travel time.

HIGHLIGHTS

Moremi Game Reserve Makgadikgadi Pans Okavango Delta Kgalakgadi Transfrontier Park Savute Nxai Pan National Park Chobe National Park Central Kalahari Game Reserve

MUST-SEE & MUST-DO

Kubu Island at sunrise (Makgadikgadi) Tsodilo Hills Mokoro trip (Okavango Delta) Paradise Pools (Moremi) Savute marshes at sunset Nata Bird Sanctuary Sundowner cruise on the Chobe River Planet Baobab Camping under the stars Chapman’s Baobab Spectacular wildlife Hot Bread Shop in Kasane Khama Rhino Sanctuary Leopard Rock (Savute)

BEST TIME TO VISIT BOTSWANA

Botswana is a year-round destination. Some of the national park become inaccessible during the wet season (Moremi, Makgadikgadi), but this is the time to visit other parks that are not ideal during this season (Central Kalahari). The busiest time is during the winter months from June to August. Temperatures can drop signiﬁcantly in the evenings so pack warm clothes. April and September are excellent times of the year as it offers exceptional birding opportunities and the weather is ideal. There is a special ‘secret’ season to visit Botswana, from January to March known as the emerald season. The vegetation is lush and green, the cloud build up is spectacular with possible afternoon thunder showers to clear the air. Photographers love this season! bushlore.com BOTSWANA

SUGGESTED VEHICLES FOR BOTSWANA

2 PERSONS 2 or 4 PERSONS 4 PERSONS Equipped 4x4 Camper 4x4 Equipped 4x4

SAMPLE ROUTES

Route 1: Makgadikgadi, Maun, Moremi, Savute, Chobe, Kasane - 12 days

Route 2: Maun, Moremi, Okavango Delta, Salute, Chobe, Victoria Falls - 10 days

Route 3: Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Makgadikgadi, Moremi, Okavango - 10 days

Route 4: Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Central Kalahari, Okavango, Chobe - 14 days

SELF-DRIVE PLANNING TIPS

TIP 1 Fly into OR Tambo International Airport in South Africa and pick up your 4x4 rental vehicle in Johannesburg. It saves you the cost of the airfare to Botswana and you have the opportunity to see some of the less visited sights along the way.

TIP 2 Must-pack items on your list should include a hat, head lamp (with spare batteries), sunglasses, lip balm and sunscreen.

TIP 3 Ask your 4x4 rental agent to assist with your self-drive route, and book as many of the accommodation and campsites well in advance to ensure availability.

bushlore.com BOTSWANA

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park Moremi Game Reserve

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park Savute

Chobe National Park Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Ready to book your Botswana safari? NAMIBIA

Namibia is a land of wide open spaces, beautiful sunsets, friendly people and amazing experiences. Take in the beauty of the dunes at Sossusvlei, go game viewing in the Etosha National Park or explore the natural features of Damaraland.

Some of the highlight in Namibia include Etosha National Park, the Twyfelfontein rock engravings, the Petriﬁed Forest, Swakopmund, Solitaire and Sossusvlei in the Naukluft Park.

HIGHLIGHTS

Sossusvlei Damaraland Etosha National Park Kaokoland Fish River Canyon Waterberg Plateau Swakopmund Namib-Naukluft National Park

MUST-SEE & MUST-DO

Camping at Spitzkoppe Spotting desert elephant Hiking the Brandberg Game viewing in Etosha National Park Running down the world’s highest dunes Crossing the Tropic of Capricorn Dolphin cruise at Walvisbay Learning about the Welwitschia plant Dinner at Joe’s Beer House in Windhoek Views of the Fish River Canyon Twyfelfontein rock engravings The ghost town of Kolmanskop Epupa Falls Quiver trees near Keetmanshoop

BEST TIME TO VISIT NAMIBIA

Namibia offers exceptional wildlife and scenery all year round. It is important to take note that certain seasons are ideal for special interest travellers: - Birding is best during the summer months (Nov - April) because of the greater variety of species to be found. - Botanical season is from December to May when most plants are in ﬂower. - Photography is excellent in August and September with cloud build-up in the afternoon that offers spectacular scenes.

bushlore.com NAMIBIA

SUGGESTED VEHICLES FOR NAMIBIA

2 PERSONS 2 PERSONS 4 PERSONS Equipped 4x4 Camper 4x4 Equipped 4x4

SAMPLE ROUTES

Route 1: Windhoek, Spitzkoppe, Swakopmund, Sossusvlei, Namib Naukluft, Fish River Canyon - 14 days Route 2: Windhoek, Waterberg, Etosha, Damaraland, Swakopmund, Sossuvlei, Spitzkoppe - 14 days Route 3: Windhoek, Waterberg, Etosha, Kaokoveld, Damaraland, Swakopmund, Sossusvlei, Namib Naukluft, Kolmanskop, Fish River Canyon - 18 days

SELF-DRIVE PLANNING TIPS

TIP 1 Fly into OR Tambo International Airport in South Africa and pick up your 4x4 rental vehicle in Johannesburg. It saves you the cost of the airfare to Namibia and you have the opportunity to see some of the less visited sights along the way.

TIP 2 Must-pack items on your list should include a hat, head lamp (with spare batteries), sunglasses, lip balm and sunscreen.

TIP 3 Ask your 4x4 rental agent to assist with your self-drive route, and book as many of the accommodation and campsites well in advance to ensure availability.

bushlore.com NAMIBIA

Etosha National Park Kaokoland

Namib-Naukluft Elephant Encounter

Damaraland Twyfelfontein

Ready to book your Namibia safari? SOUTH AFRICA

South Africa is truly a world in one country… the southernmost country on the African continent has a coastline that stretches for 3000km from the border of Mozambique in the east, to Namibia in the south west.

South Africa has a superb road network and many National Parks, Game Reserves and Nature Reserves. You may see lion, elephant, white and black rhino, giraffe, many species of antelopes, and smaller predators in easily accessible game reserves.

HIGHLIGHTS

Kruger National Park Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park Panorama Route West Coast Baviaanskloof Richtersveld Garden Route Route 72 Winelands Cape Town

MUST-SEE & MUST-DO

The view over Blyde River Canyon Homemade pies at Oakley Farm Stall Game drives in Kruger National Park Flowers in Namaqualand Cows on the Wild Coast beaches Fresh seafood at Muisbosskerm Hiking the Drakensberg Mountains Augrabies Waterfall Golden Gate sandstone cliffs at sunset Camping in Richtersveld Swim at ‘secret’ Shelly Beach Knysna Forest walks Woody Cape Forest Hike Wildlife in Welgevonden Game Reserve

BEST TIME TO VISIT SOUTH AFRICA

South Africa as a self-drive destination is exceptional all year round. It offers wildlife, scenery, mountains, culture, beaches and excellent cuisine with some of the best wines in the world. It’s the ideal destination for a self drive holiday, a family vacation, and a bush & beach safari. • The northern parts of South Africa are best during the winter months (May to September) with wildlife and game viewing at its best. • The southern parts are best during the summer months (October to March). Rainfall is low during the summer. • The warm waters of the east coast make for almost year-round swimming. Winter is mild, except in the highest parts of the country. bushlore.com SOUTH AFRICA

SUGGESTED VEHICLES FOR SOUTH AFRICA

2 PERSONS 2 - 4 PERSONS 4 PERSONS Equipped 4x4 Camper 4x4 Equipped 4x4

2 - 4 PERSONS 1 - 5 PERSONS 1 - 7 PERSONS SUV 4x4 Unequipped 4x4 Unequipped SUV

SAMPLE ROUTES

Route 1: Kruger NP, Panorama Route, Swaziland, St. Lucia, Hluhluwe, Durban, Drakensberg, Golden Gate - 18 days Route 2: Cape Town, Cape Winelands, Garden Route, Karoo, Baviaanskloof, Addo Elephant NP, Route 72, Golden Gate NP - 15 days Route 3: Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Augrabies Falls, Richtersveld, West Coast, Cederberg, Cape Town - 14 days

SELF-DRIVE PLANNING TIPS

TIP 1 Pack a thermos ﬂask and ﬁll it with coffee or tea every morning. Nothing beats a cup of coffee in a beautiful spot or while watching Africa’s wildlife.

TIP 2 Must-pack items on your list should include a hat, head lamp (with spare batteries), sunglasses, lip balm and sunscreen.

TIP 3 Ask your 4x4 rental agent to assist with your self-drive route, and book as many of the accommodation and campsites well in advance to ensure availability.

bushlore.com SOUTH AFRICA

Kruger National Park Cape Town

Kenton On Sea Karoo National Park

Hluhluwe Game Reserve Addo Elephant National Park

Ready to book your South Africa safari? 4. YOUR PERSONAL PACKING LIST

Other Important Items Clothes Safari Essentials Airline tickets 2 x quick dry convertible pants Camera and accessories Converter power plug adaptor 2 x quick-dry long sleeve shirts Memory cards Credit cards 2 x long sleeve t-shirts Binoculars Cash in small denominations 3 x t-shirts Sunglasses Photocopies of all 1 x soft shell or ﬂeece jacket Sunblock and Aftersun documentation 1 x sleeveless jacket Insect repellant Cellphone, Tablet and chargers 1 x waterproof jacket/windbreaker Prescribed medicine SD-card reader for tablet 1 x wide brim hat (and copy of prescription) Alarm clock 1 x cap Guide books Clothes line 5 x underwear Head torch Money pouch 2 x pair ankle socks Chargers Small nail brush 2 x pair long socks Extra batteries Laundry detergent 1 x microﬁber towel Small sewing kit 2 x sarong Luggage Tweezers 1 x pajamas 1 x laundry bag

1 x strong, soft duffel bag Men's Items Clothes: Summer 1 x daypack/camera backpack Shaving blades & Shaving cream 1 x swimming costume 1 x toiletries bag Pocket knife/Leatherman

Grooming kit Clothes: Winter Documents 1 x long thermal pants Valid passport with visas Women's Items 1 x thermal vest Emergency phone numbers Sports bra 1 x scarf/buff Travel insurance documentation Your favourite Chocolate bars 1 x gloves Your itinerary Moisturiser 1 x beanie Vaccination certiﬁcates Ziplock bags

Shoes Kid's Items 1 x walking shoes/cross trainers Small notebook & Pen 1 x sandals Playing cards 1 x ﬂip ﬂops 1 x soft toy 2 x shoe bags

MEDICAL KIT - please consult your GP regarding these below medical kit items ** Aspirin** Broad spectrum antibiotic** Bandages Diarrhea medicine** Tweezers Prescription medication (with copy of prescription)** Malaria prophylaxis (if required)** Insect repellant Cold and allergy medicine** Vitamins Cortisone cream** Hand Sanitizer Antibiotic ointment** Coartem or Cotecxin malaria treatment**

bushlore.com 5. BOOK YOUR SELF-DRIVE SAFARI

We hope this planning guide helped you to plan the perfect self-drive safari.

Let us know if you have any questions about your self-drive safari in Africa. We will gladly assist in making your holiday a huge success.

We will assist with choosing the most appropriate vehicle for your trip, help with the route planning and do the bookings for you.

You can ﬁnd more details on our website - bushlore.com - or contact us on:

Tel: +27 11 312 8084 Email: [email protected]

bushlore.com