YOUR O.A.T. ADVENTURE TRAVEL PLANNING GUIDE®

Ultimate Africa: Botswana, Zambia & Zimbabwe Safari 2022

Small Groups: 8-16 travelers—guaranteed! (average of 13) Overseas Adventure Travel ® The Leader in Personalized Small Group Adventures on the Road Less Traveled 1 Dear Traveler,

For me, one of the joys of traveling is the careful planning that goes into an adventure—from the first spark of inspiration to hours spent poring over travel books about my dream destinations—and I can’t wait to see where my next journey will take me. I know you’re eager to explore the world, too, and our Ultimate Africa: Botswana, Zambia & Zimbabwe Safari itinerary described inside is an excellent way to start.

As for Ultimate Africa: Botswana, Zambia & Zimbabwe Safari, thanks to your small group of 8-16 travelers (average 13) you can expect some unforgettable experiences. Here are a few that stood out for me:

There’s something magical that continues to draw me back to southern Africa. With a rich and complex cultural heritage and vast terrain rife with wildlife, it is truly a wonder to behold. But when I reflect on my time there—from images of expansive plains and sounds of animals wandering through the night air—the most vivid memories are those of the people I’ve met along the way, like the small community in Hwange where you’ll experience A Day in the Life of a local village. You’ll hear their personal experiences and see firsthand what it’s like to live in the village. Then, you’ll have a chance to visit the St. Mary’s Primary School, sponsored in part by Grand Circle Foundation, to meet some of the students and teachers and hear about the projects they’ve completed, such as installing solar panels, a garden, and a fence to protect the school from animals.

With so many local people and wildlife living side by side, I was saddened to learn about the impact of the trophy hunting industry in southern Africa, a controversial sport that generates around $200 million in annual revenue, though little of that trickles down to local communities and conservation efforts. You’ll have an opportunity to learn about this contentious subject during a conversation with a park ranger in Kafue National Park.

The way we see it, you’ve come a long way to experience the true culture—not some fairytale version of it. That’s why we don’t shy away from controversial topics, and why all our Trip Experience Leaders are “insiders” who live in the country.

To ensure your adventure is truly unique, join the 85% of our travelers who choose to put their own personal stamp on their adventure by personalizing their experience. You can arrive early and stay later, add a pre- or post-trip extension, spend time in a Stopover city, or combine two or more trips. Plus, your itinerary offers ample free time so you can pursue your own interests.

So now that the day has come when you can enjoy your Ultimate Africa: Botswana, Zambia & Zimbabwe Safari adventure, I hope you will relish the fun and anticipation that this O.A.T. Adventure Travel Planning Guide® will inspire. Should you have further questions, feel free to call our Regional Adventure Counselors at 1-800-955-1925.

Warm regards,

Harriet R. Lewis Vice Chairman Overseas Adventure Travel

P.S. I thought our 3 most popular videos about southern Africa would help you get inspired for the adventure ahead. Scan the QR code next to the video to watch.

Shari and Barbara’s Into Africa Lions of Zimbabwe Botswana Trip Experience

SCAN ME SCAN ME SCAN ME

Open the camera feature on your mobile device, and hover the lens over this code to scan it. A pop-up notification will take you directly to the video.

2 CONTENTS

A Letter from Harriet Lewis ...... 2 The O.A.T. Difference...... 4 The Freedom to Personalize Your Experience ...... 6 Grand Circle Foundation...... 8 The Leader in Solo Travel ...... 9

ULTIMATE AFRICA: BOTSWANA, ABOUT YOUR DESTINATIONS: ZAMBIA & ZIMBABWE SAFARI CULTURE, ETIQUETTE & MORE Your Adventure at a Glance: Southern African Culture ...... 83 Where You’re Going, What it Costs, Shopping: What to Buy, Customs, and What’s Included ...... 10 Shipping & More ...... 88 Your Detailed Day-To-Day Itinerary ...... 12 Optional Tours ...... 32 DEMOGRAPHICS & HISTORY Pre-Trip Extensions ...... 33 Botswana...... 91 Post-Trip Extensions ...... 42 Facts, Figures & National Holidays ...... 91 Dates & Prices ...... 51 Botswana: A Brief History ...... 91 Zambia ...... 93 ESSENTIAL TRAVEL INFORMATION Facts, Figures & National Holidays ...... 93 Travel Documents & Entry Requirements. . . 52 Zambia: A Brief History ...... 93 Visas Required ...... 53 Zimbabwe ...... 95 Rigors, Vaccines & General Health ...... 55 Facts, Figures & National Holidays ...... 95 Vaccines Required ...... 56 Zimbabwe: A Brief History ...... 95 Yellow Fever—Documentation Required . . . 56 South Africa...... 97 Money Matters: Local Currency & Facts, Figures & National Holidays ...... 97 Tipping Guidelines...... 60 South Africa: A Brief History ...... 97 Air, Optional Tours & Staying in Touch ..... 65 Namibia ...... 98 Optional Tours ...... 65 Facts, Figures & National Holidays ...... 98 Optional Tours: Reserve Before You Go .... 66 Namibia: A Brief History ...... 99 Communicating with Home from Abroad . . 67 Uganda...... 101 Packing: What to Bring & Luggage Limits . . . 70 Facts, Figures & National Holidays ...... 101 Duffel Bag: Required ...... 71 Uganda: A Brief History ...... 102 Suggested Packing Lists ...... 72 Electricity Abroad ...... 76 RESOURCES Climate & Average Temperatures ...... 79 Suggested Reading ...... 104 Suggested Film & Video ...... 108

O.A.T. Health & Safety Measures...... 112 Notes...... 113 Map ...... 115

3 EXPERIENCE THE O.A.T. DIFFERENCE in southern Africa

This adventure not only showcases iconic sights, but takes you beyond them to experience the culture through unique activities, engagement with the natural world, and authentic encounters with local people. Since our founding in 1978, O.A.T. has become America’s leader in personalized small group journeys on the road less traveled. SMALL GROUPS: 8-16 TRAVELERS LOCAL MODES OF TRANSPORTATION (AVERAGE OF 13)—GUARANTEED To see the world like the locals, you should The world feels more intimate and engaging travel like one. Our small group size allows when your experience of it is also personal us to take the roads and waterways that are and genuine. That’s why our groups never less traveled, and we often follow them using exceed 16 travelers. This gives you access to the same unique modes of transportation people and places larger groups simply can’t that the locals use—be it a canoe, a camel or a reach. More authentic interactions. Deeper vintage cab. bonds with your travel mates. Personal service from your Trip Experience Leader. Smoother UNIQUE LODGINGS transitions. And a far more satisfying Our lodgings reflect the local character, experience than any traditional tour offers. from smaller family-run hotels and historic manors to comfy inns. Occasionally, larger THE BEST TRIP EXPERIENCE LEADERS hotels closer to city centers are used. Wherever Your English-speaking, O.A.T. Trip Experience you stay, you’re assured fine comfort and Leader is a resident of the region you are visiting, hospitality. so you will get a true insider’s perspective that brings each place alive—the stories, food, OUR WORLDWIDE OFFICES customs, hidden treasures and more. With 36 regional offices around the world, we are perfectly poised to leverage our local AUTHENTIC CULTURAL CONNECTIONS relationships to deliver an excellent experience Engage with local people through visits to and value. During this trip, you’ll be supported farms, factories, markets, and artisans’ by our team in Victoria Falls. studios; school visits; Home-Hosted meals; and more.

Meet local children at a primary school in Zimbabwe Witness "the smoke that thunders" at Zimbabwe's legendary Victoria Falls

4 THE PILLARS OF DISCOVERY Enriching. Inspiring. Unforgettable. These features form the foundation of your Ultimate Africa adventure.

GRAND CIRCLE FOUNDATION (GCF) VISIT Let’s find out during your O.A.T. A Day in the Life GCF was established in 1992 to help change , an exclusive, immersive experience people’s lives in the world where we live, that places you in the heart of a community work, and travel. To date, we have pledged or where you’ll meet various people where they donated $200 million worldwide. live, work, and play; visit the neighborhood school; lend a hand with daily chores; and You’ll see GCF’s work in action when we visit break bread with our hosts. St. Mary’s Primary School in a remote village A Day in the Life in Zimbabwe. Although St. Mary’s lacks a This adventure includes of a lot of the basic necessities, the school has Hwange village where we’ll learn how locals been able to build some new classrooms and live, tend to their animals, raise their crops, obtained several computers for its small and fetch water for their families—a task computer lab, thanks in part to a GCF grant. that has long been a challenge for the local community. We’ll also learn a few words in the CONTROVERSIAL TOPICS language of the local Nambya people, before Every culture has its joys and achievements, sitting down with some village members to and we celebrate them all. But every place gain insight into their culture firsthand. also has its challenges, and to gloss over them HOME-HOSTED EXPERIENCES would not do justice to those whose stories need to be told—nor to you, as a traveler who Stories shared. Differences solved. Taste buds deserves more than a sugar-coated version of engaged. Good will extended. It’s amazing the things. So our Trip Experience Leaders will things that can happen across a kitchen table, lead frank discussions on controversial issues, so we’ll break into groups of 4-5 to join a local and introduce you to people whose stories will family in their home for a snack or a meal. expand your understanding. This is a rare opportunity to witness family life, learn local customs, and taste some For example, we’ll learn about the trophy home-cooked fare. hunting controversy during a conversation with a park ranger in Kafue National Park. For example, on our adventure in Scotland, While the annual revenue of trophy hunting we’ll get a taste of Scottish hospitality and in Africa estimates around $200 million, sample traditional flavors when we join a conservationists argue that little of it family for dinner in Glasgow; on our Baltic trickles down to local communities and adventure, we’ll observe life from a communal conservation efforts. Russian apartment in St. Petersburg as we share lunch with the residents; and, on our A DAY IN THE LIFE Adriatic adventure, share a meal with a Do you ever wonder, “What would it be like Bosnian family who has lived along Sarajevo’s to live here?” when you visit new lands? “Sniper Alley,” since before the siege of the city.

5 You're in control with THE FREEDOM TO PERSONALIZE YOUR EXPERIENCE Exclusively with O.A.T. Your Choice. Your Adventure. Your Way.

It’s your adventure, so why not make it exactly what you want it to be? We offer an exclusive variety of options that let you tailor your adventure so it’s completely your own. In fact, O.A.T. is the only travel company to offer this level of flexibility and choice for a truly personalized experience.

PRE- OR POST-TRIP EXTENSIONS 2. Great value: All extensions include Every O.A.T. adventure offers at least one accommodations, daily breakfast, and optional pre-trip and one post-trip extension. airport transfers. Here’s why more than 55% of O.A.T. travelers 3. Continuity and camaraderie: You’ll usually choose to take a pre- or post-trip extension: travel with the same Trip Experience Leader 1. You’ll maximize your discoveries—often who leads your main trip, enjoying more of in an even smaller group than your main his or her insider expertise—and more time adventure (on average, 6 travelers with a to bond with the group. dedicated Trip Experience Leader)—and take advantage of your included airfare.

Optional Extensions offered with your Africa adventure

Karongwe Private Game Reserve: Quest NEW! Namibia: Colonial Windhoek, for Southern Africa's Big 5 Sossusvlei Dunes & the Skeleton Coast 4 nights pre-trip from $1945 7 nights pre-trip from $3295

Rhinoceros, Kruger National Park, South Africa Desert landscape, Namibia

Cape Town & the Cape of Good Hope NEW! Uganda Discoveries: Mountain Gorillas 4 nights post-trip from $1395 of Bwindi & Queen Elizabeth National Park 7 nights post-trip from $4995

Table Mountain, Cape Town, South Africa Kibuli mosque, Kampala, Uganda

6 ARRIVE EARLY, STAY LATER • Istanbul: $695 per person Extending your time abroad—with us or • Amsterdam or Paris: $945 per person on your own—is the best way to broaden • London: $995 per person your experience. It’s also a practical way to maximize the value of the international airfare Other O.A.T. Stopovers are available. If the city covered in your main itinerary. you’re interested in is not offered, our Regional Adventure Counselors can arrange your airfare. Expand Your Discoveries Before or After Your Adventure COMBINE ADVENTURES You’re already overseas. Why not see more and Arrive early in the first destination on your maximize your value by avoiding the cost and pre-trip extension or main adventure, or stay length of another international flight? Here’s later in the last city on your main adventure or why 2,250 O.A.T. travelers combined two or post-trip extension. By coming early, you can more adventures in 2019: rest after your flight and adjust—with time to explore. By staying later, you have extra time • Save a total of $600-$3000 per person when to relax, pack, or continue exploring. you combine two adventures compared to the cost of taking each trip separately. This option lets you take advantage of our lower group rates, with prices from $50 per • Apply the 5% or 6% Frequent Traveler Credit person per night—including accommodations, you earn on your first trip to your second trip. private airport transfer, and daily breakfast. • Sir Edmund Hillary Club members save an • Arrive early on your main trip or the extra $250-$350 per person when booking Karongwe Private Game Reserve pre-trip multiple trips in a calendar year. extension, or conclude your main trip with • Our Regional Adventure Counselors make all more time in Johannesburg for $50 per the arrangements for a seamless experience. person, per night Combine this trip with our New! Kenya & • Arrive early in Windhoek on your Tanzania Safari: Masai Mara to the Serengeti Namibia pre-trip extension for $50 per adventure—for a total cost of $10990-$15690 person, per night per person—and save $1500-$2100 per person • Remain in Cape Town after your South versus taking each trip separately. Africa post-trip extension for $75 per AIR PREFERENCES person, per night 54% of our travelers customize their air • Spend more time in Entebbe after your itineraries: Uganda post-trip extension for $50 per • Choose your departure city and airline person, per night • Depart from one city and return to another Accommodations are at the same hotels where • you begin or end the main trip and optional Upgrade to Premium Economy or extensions, so transitions will be seamless. Business Class NEW! Stopover in any major international city PERSONALIZED PRIVATE ADVENTURES Travelers with O.A.T. airfare have the Travel on a private departure with as few as opportunity to Stopover in popular cities. five travelers and your own Trip Experience Your price includes 3 nights accommodations, Leader. An additional cost will apply depending daily breakfasts, and roundtrip private airport on the number of travelers in your group. transfers. Here are a few popular destinations:

7 GRAND CIRCLE FOUNDATION Changing people’s lives, one village, one school, one person at a time

ON THIS ADVENTURE … Dear Traveler, Since our inception in 1992, the Grand Circle In 1992 we established Grand Circle Foundation has pledged or donated more Foundation, an entity of the Lewis Family than $200 million to projects around the Foundation, as a means to give back to world. Here are just a few of the ways we have the world that had already given us so partnered with the communities on this trip. much. We’ve pledged or donated more than $200 million worldwide to support St. Mary's Primary School the education of young people and the Total Donations: $246,690 preservation of international treasures Situated in a remote village in Hwange, St. Mary’s and UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and Primary School serves over 800 students with the conservation of natural resources for 22 teachers. With the support of GCF, the school future generations. has built new teacher housing, classrooms, a library, and a computer lab; installed solar panels Of course, none of this would be possible for electricity and water; planted a garden; without your help. A portion of the proceeds constructed a fence to protect the school from of every adventure is donated to Grand animals; and launched an Eco-Composting Circle Foundation—so just as your life will Project to teach conservation-based practices at be enriched by the discoveries you’ll make a household level. on your journey, you’ll also help to enrich the lives of the people you’ll meet along the Ziga Primary School way. Thank you for traveling with us, and Total Donations: $173,940 for helping to change people’s lives. In 2010, some of the classrooms at the Ziga Primary School in Zimbabwe had been Love and peace, condemned and students were studying in buildings without roofs. With the support of GCF, the school has built new classrooms, a library and Harriet R. Lewis media center, playground, storage facility, and Chair, Grand Circle Foundation new restrooms.

SCAN ME See how Grand Circle Foundation is giving back in this video Open the camera feature on your mobile device, and hover the lens over this code to scan it. A pop-up notification will take you directly to the video.

www.grandcirclefoundation.org

8 THE LEADER IN SOLO TRAVEL in southern Africa—and Around the World

ON THIS ADVENTURE …

FREE Single Supplements: We don’t charge The leader in solo-friendly a single supplement on this adventure and travel for Americans— optional trip extensions—a savings of $699- by the numbers $995 per person compared to other travel companies. But single spaces fill quickly, so 50% early reservations are advised. More than of all O.A.T. travelers are women who travel solo One of our most popular trips for solo travelers. More than 2,390 solo travelers 30,000 joined us on this adventure in 2018 and In 2022, we’re offering 2019—either independently or sharing singles spaces across all O.A.T. a room with a mother, daughter, sister, adventures. That’s 86% more than or friend. offered in 2019

High ratings: More than 91% of these solo 92% of our 30,000 single spaces travelers rated their adventure excellent. have FREE Single Supplements. The On average, half of your group will also remaining 8% have the lowest single be traveling independently, so it’s easy supplements in the industry. to forge special bonds as you experience unforgettable moments together. In 2022, we’re offering 25 exclusive women’s departures on some of our You’ll be in good hands, thanks to your most popular itineraries dedicated local Trip Experience Leader (a resident of southern Africa), and the expertise of our regional office team in Victoria Falls. NEW! 101+ SCAN ME Single Space: In 2022, we have 48% more Tips for Solo single space than in 2019, with up to 5 single Women Travelers spaces per departure. See available FREE This complimentary, 96-page single space at www.oattravel.com/bot2022. booklet is a comprehensive collection of savvy tips specifically for seasoned women Exclusive Women’s Departures: We are travelers going solo. Learn about thrilled to offer a women-only departure safety for solos, packing like a pro, of Ultimate Africa: August 18, 2022. Space the best travel apps, self-care on is limited so don’t delay. Join our traveling the road, and more. Scan this code sisterhood today! to view an online copy or to request one by mail.

9 Spend A Day in the Life of a Hwange village and visit the local primary school

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Small groups: 8-16 travelers—guaranteed! It’s Included (average of 13) • Explore in a small group of 8-16 • Services of a local O.A.T. Trip FROM PER DAY DAYS travelers (average group size of 13) Experience Leader and driver-guides $5395 $318 17 • International airfare, airport transfers, • Gratuities for local guides, drivers, government taxes, fees, and airline fuel lodge and camp staff, driver-guides, Including international airfare surcharges unless you choose to make and luggage porters your own air arrangements D˜11œĢłėķāœŽťťķāĿāłŶ • 5% Frequent Traveler Credit • Accommodations for 15 nights toward your next O.A.T. trip—an average of $448 • 42 meals—15 breakfasts, 13 lunches, mÖƗĢĿĢơāÈŋŽũ and 14 dinners • Unlimited filtered water at camps 'ĢŭóŋƑāũĢāŭͽÁÖķŽā • Up to 27 small group activities, • O.A.T. safari duffle and a including up to 19 game-viewing complimentary wash of 3 items at the drives, boat cruises, and walks, laundry service at tented camps zťŶĢŋłÖķāƗŶāłŭĢŋłŭ̆ plus park fees bÖũŋłėƒā”ũĢƑÖŶāFÖĿā˜āŭāũƑā̆ Quest for Southern Africa’s Big 5 4 nights pre-trip from $1945 SCAN ME Travel from only $487 per night Watch our #1 most popular video New! pÖĿĢðĢÖ̆!ŋķŋłĢÖķÂĢłùĞŋāĴ̇ for this adventure Sossusvlei Dunes & the Skeleton Coast 7 nights pre-trip from $3295 Open the camera feature on your mobile device, and hover Travel from only $471 per night the lens over this code to scan it. A pop-up notification will take you directly to the video. !Öťā¦ŋƒłͽŶĞā!ÖťāŋĕFŋŋùNŋťā 4 nights post-trip from $1395 Travel from only $349 per night New! ­ėÖłùÖ'ĢŭóŋƑāũĢāŭ̆mŋŽłŶÖĢł FŋũĢķķÖŭŋĕƒĢłùĢͽ—Žāāł1ķĢơÖðāŶĞ pÖŶĢŋłÖķ”ÖũĴ 7 nights post-trip from $4995 Travel from only $714 per night PLUS, see Dates & Prices for Stopover city options

Elephants, Chobe National Park, Botswana

Ultimate Africa: Botswana, Zambia & Zimbabwe Safari

10 Itinerary Summary PRE-TRIP EXTENSIONS POST-TRIP EXTENSIONS

spruit n From Johannesburg Karongwe G.R. oed M Cape H a

O ZAMBIA e Town c Pre-trip extensions: 4 nights in Karongwe SOUTH Z Table Mtn. O A Kafue Stellenbosch

M (Optional AFRICA c Private Game Reserve: Quest for Southern i Kirstenbosch B National Park Tour) t

I March-October

n Q

a Africa’s Big 5 OR New! 7 nights in Namibia:

U Departures False l SOUTH

t Johannesburg ESWATINI E Bay A Cape AFRICA Colonial Windhoek, Sossusvlei Dunes & Cape of Peninsula NAMIBIA Good Hope the Skeleton Coast Atlantic Cape Cross Nat. Reserve Cape Point Ocean Mosi-oa-Tunya Windhoek National Park Swakopmund Kuiseb January-February, November- D.R.C. UGANDA Walvis Bay Canyon December Departures Queen DAYS DESTINATION Elizabeth Entebbe NAMIB-NAUKLUFT Zam bez N.P. NATIONAL PARK To/From i Johannesburg 1-2 Fly to Johannesburg, Sossusvlei Kasane Livingstone Bwindi Lake Victoria South Africa Victoria Falls N.P. TANZANIA K Chobe NAMIBIA be Z w Cho National ambezi From an Johannesburg d ti Park RWANDA o ya via Nairobi 3-5 Fly to Victoria Falls • in L Hwange National Park, ZIMBABWE Zimbabwe Hwange To/From U.S. O National Park k BOTSWANA Internal flight a va Land route 6-8 Fly to Zambia to Kafue ng 060Miles o Okavango Delta To/From Johannesburg National Park or overland to Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, Zambia What to Expect 9-11 Fly to Chobe National Park, Botswana

12-14 Fly to the Okavango Delta Pacing: 6 locations in 16 days with one 1-night stay Physical requirements: During game-viewing excursions, we’ll travel over bumpy, 15-16 Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe dusty terrain and occasionally go off-roading in the bush, as well as walk on sandy, uneven terrain in the Okavango Delta and at our camps 17 Return to U.S. Flight time: Travel time will be 16-26 hours and will most likely have one or two Post-trip extensions: 4 nights in Cape connections Town & the Cape of Good Hope OR New! View all physical requirements at www.oattravel.com/bot2022 7 nights in Uganda Discoveries: Mountain Gorillas of Bwindi & Queen Elizabeth National Park Southern Africa: The O.A.T. Difference Arrive Early, Stay Later Unbeatable Value: Travel at the lowest price and per diems in the industry. Prices below include accommodations, daily People-to-People Experiences: Spend A Day in the Life of a Hwange village, breakfast, and private airport transfer. learning how locals live, tend to their animals, and raise their crops. Near the • Arrive early on your main trip or your village, we’ll also visit a primary school sponsored by Grand Circle Foundation Karongwe Private Game Reserve pre-trip extension, or conclude your main trip with (when in session), perhaps helping the teachers out with lessons, or practicing more time in Johannesburg for $50 per English with the local children. Since 2000, our travelers and Grand Circle person, per night Foundation have donated nearly $1.2 million in Zimbabwe. • Arrive early in Windhoek on your Namibia O.A.T. Exclusives: From safari vehicle drives in 3 national parks to exploring the pre-trip extension for $50 per person, Okavango Delta by mokoro (canoe), enjoy up to 19 game-viewing excursions— per night more than other travel companies. We’ll also get a full picture of the region by • Remain in Cape Town after your South discussing various Controversial Topics with the people directly affected by Africa post-trip extension for $75 per person, per night them: The exploitation of coal mine workers with a daughter of a miner, the issues of trophy hunting with a park ranger in Kafue National Park, Botswana’s • Spend more time in Entebbe after your Uganda post-trip extension for $50 per controversial poaching policy with a game ranger, and the plight of sex workers in person, per night Southern Africa with an HIV-positive sex worker.

Information & Reservations 1-800-955-1925 www.oattravel.com/bot2022

11 Ultimate Africa: Botswana, Zambia & Zimbabwe Safari

YOUR DETAILED ITINERARY

BEGIN YOUR ADVENTURE WITH AN OPTIONAL PRE-TRIP EXTENSION 4 nights in Karongwe Private Game Reserve: Quest for Southern Africa’s Big 5

Day 1 Depart U.S. Day 4 Game-viewing drives • Controversial Topic: Animal Day 2 Arrive in Johannesburg, Conservation vs. Local Poverty with an South Africa anti-poaching activist Day 3 Fly to Hoedspruit • Transfer Day 5 Game-viewing drives to Karongwe Game Reserve for game-viewing drive Day 6 Morning game-viewing drive • Fly to Johannesburg • Join main trip

OR 7 nights in Namibia: Colonial Windhoek, Sossusvlei Dunes & the Skeleton Coast

Day 1 Depart U.S. Day 6 Optional Sunrise Balloon Safari • Visit Walvis Bay • Overland to Day 2 Arrive in Johannesburg, Swakopmund • Dinner with local family in South Africa Swakopmund township Day 3 Fly to Windhoek, Namibia • Day 7 Explore the Skeleton Coast Explore Windhoek Day 8 Overland to Windhoek Day 4 Overland to Sossusvlei • Game-viewing drive Day 9 Fly to Johannesburg • Join main trip Day 5 Visit the Sossusvlei dune fields • Explore Sesriem Canyon

Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925

12 Day 1 Depart U.S. Day 3 Fly to Victoria Falls • Transfer • Destination: Johannesburg to Hwange National Park • Game-viewing drive You depart today on your overnight flight from the U.S. to Johannesburg, South Africa. • Destination: Hwange National Park • Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner Day 2 Arrive in Johannesburg, • Accommodations: Kashawe Tented Camp, South Africa Makalolo Plains Camp or similar • Destination: Johannesburg Activity Note: With a morning flight to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, followed by a drive over both • Accommodations: Southern Sun O.R. Tambo paved and unpaved, bumpy roads to Hwange International Hotel or similar National Park, this is a long travel day. We may Late Afternoon/Evening: Depending on your also experience a possible delay when passing flight schedule, you’ll arrive in Johannesburg through customs. Total transfer time will be late this afternoon or this evening to rest before around 10 hours. You will need to climb a few flying to Victoria Falls tomorrow morning and steps to board the safari vehicle during today’s traveling to Hwange National Park. You will be game-viewing drive. met at the airport by an O.A.T. representative and take a 10- to 15-minute transfer by Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the hotel minibus to your hotel, located near the airport. starting at 8am, with regional and American Depending on the hotel you stay in, it may options available. feature a pool, bar, restaurant, and health club Morning: Around 9am, we’ll board a bus for your enjoyment. Typical rooms include and drive for about 10 minutes to the nearby satellite TV, wireless high-speed Internet, a Johannesburg airport to check in for our 2-hour safe, coffee- and tea-making facilities, and flight to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. private bath. Here, you’ll be joined by those who traveled on our optional New! Namibia: Lunch: A light lunch will be served on the flight Colonial Windhoek, Sossusvlei Dunes & the to Victoria Falls. Skeleton Coast or Karongwe Private Game Reserve: Afternoon: Upon arrival in Victoria Falls around Quest for Southern Africa’s Big 5 extension. Due 1pm, we’ll meet with our Trip Experience to our early flight the next morning, you can Leader. After going through customs, we’ll either visit the hotel’s restaurant for dinner on board a van around 3pm and then set off on a your own or retire to your room to prepare for drive of about 2 hours to the gated entrance of our 7am wake-up call. Hwange National Park. Then, we’ll meet with our guides, split into smaller groups, and board two open-air safari vehicles around 5:45pm to head to our tented camp, which is located inside Zimbabwe’s largest park. Hwange is home to many diverse habitats, from teak forests to stands of palms to vast savannah plains. Likewise, you may behold a rich menagerie of game that can include elephant, buffalo, eland, wildebeest, impala, lion, leopard, cheetah, and

Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925

13 more than 400 known bird species. The park respiratory complications caused by prolonged is also known for its herds of sable antelope, a exposure to coal dust. She will share how his graceful animal with large, elegant horns. death and consequent failure of the mining company to compensate their workers affected Around 6:30pm, we’ll arrive at our camp her family. Read more below about this difficult located in the park. Upon arrival, we’ll have a but important conversation. short 20-minute briefing, during which the camp manager will explain how camp staff will Activity Note: This will be a full day of escort travelers to their rooms after dark each game-viewing in Hwange National Park that night. We will go into more detail about the begins very early in the morning (with a 5:30am camp during tomorrow’s orientation briefing. wake-up call). We will return to the camp for No matter which campsite you stay at, the site brunch, and then head out again and get back will offer panoramic views of the surroundings to camp at about 6pm. When dressing for your with ideal access to game-viewing. Typical safari adventure, keep in mind that neutral amenities include a large, tented main lounge earth tones (browns, tans, greys, or greens) are and dining area, and tented rooms with en suite usually best—blue or black clothing should be shower and toilet. avoided in certain areas as they attract tsetse flies. And while temperatures vary greatly Dinner: Served buffet-style at our camp’s main depending on the time of year, the air is usually dining area just before 7pm, featuring a choice cool on early morning game-viewing drives, so of entrees (fish, meat, and vegetarian options), you may wish to dress in layers to stay warm. along with regionally-inspired side dishes that utilize fresh local ingredients. Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the camp’s main dining area starting at 6am, featuring a Evening: On your own—you are free to return continental breakfast of pastries and yogurt to your tent, or relax with fellow travelers by with coffee. the fire pit or in the common area to talk about the day’s activities and your upcoming Africa Morning: Around 6:30am, we’ll board discoveries. open-air safari vehicles and set off on a 3-hour game-viewing drive with our Trip Experience Day 4 Explore Hwange National Park Leader and professional driver guide in Hwange • Morning Game-Viewing Drive • National Park, which offers game viewing Controversial Topic: The Exploitation of year-round due to its man-made waterholes. the Coal Miners of Hwange with Sauseje During all of our drives, we will learn about the region’s flora and the intricate cycle of life in Phiri, daughter of a miner • Afternoon the bush. Our expert guides may expound on Game-Viewing Drive everything from how elephant dung can be used • Destination: Hwange National Park as mosquito repellent, to how the giraffe is able • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner to eat leaves off of the thorny acacia trees. • Accommodations: Kashawe Tented Camp, We’ll return to the camp just after 9:30am. Makalolo Plains Camp or similar You’ll have about 30 minutes of free time to Exclusive O.A.T. Activity: Today will feature the relax and freshen up before we regroup at Controversial Topic of the exploitation of the 10am for a Welcome Briefing with our Trip coal miners of Hwange. We’ll meet with local Experience Leader and camp staff. We’ll learn woman Sauseje Phiri who lost her father to about the camp facilities and get familiar with

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14 our surroundings. During this briefing, we The exploitation of these hard-working miners will also introduce ourselves and review our has not gone unnoticed. While the miners itinerary in more detail (including any changes themselves, predominantly men, fear reprisal that may need to occur). Our Trip Experience or loss of employment if they try to fight for Leader will also discuss logistics, safety and better wages, their wives, mothers, and sisters emergency procedures, and answer any formed the Women Under Siege movement and questions we may have. have been sporadically protesting at the mine’s gates for years, demanding improved wages Brunch: Served around 11am at the camp’s from both the colliery and the government. main dining area, featuring a variety of hot and The government however, places the blame cold brunch choices. entirely on the Hwange Colliery, insisting that Afternoon: Enjoy free time to relax in our poor management led to the company’s many tented rooms or in the common area during the issues: Decades of looting, the alleged misuse hottest part of the day. You may also choose to of a $115 million government loan, the theft of join a local guide on a walk around the lodge. coal stock by connected local syndicates, and They’ll identify which animals have passed the nepotistic appointments of unqualified through the area, as well as the medicinal uses relatives and friends to upper management of plants grown here. positions.

Then, we’ll gather around 2:30pm for afternoon While the directors of the mine have never tea and snacks. As we sit together, we’ll delve publicly responded to Women Under Siege into the Controversial Topic of the exploitation about why they haven’t been able to honor of the local coal miners, and the life-long salary obligations, they have repeatedly blamed struggles they and their families continue the low wages on their own financial woes, to endure. We’ll be joined by a local woman claiming it is selling coal at a loss and that it is whose life has been directly impacted by this besieged by local and foreign creditors to whom issue—Sauseje Phiri, the daughter of a late it owes up to $300 million. Yet in the last year coal miner. alone, the colliery sold 1.5 million tons of coal to buyers in South Africa and Zambia. It is such a Founded in 1899, Zimbabwe’s Hwange Colliery highly prized asset, that the company’s stocks Company—which you may have glimpsed were, until recently, listed on the Zimbabwe during our private motorcoach drives—mines Stock Exchange, the Johannesburg Stock one of the country’s richest coal deposits. Exchange, and the London Stock Exchange. Its coal reserves are estimated to last over 1,000 years at the current production levels. The financial gains of the colliery do not trickle The largest shareholder of this mine is the down to their hardest working employees, government of Zimbabwe itself. Yet the colliery however. The miners live in or close to poverty hasn’t paid wages in excess of $70 million despite the fact sales of coal have increased to more than 3,200 workers since 2013. As a by 20% over the last 3 years. And while the result, the miners do not have the financial company provides employment and housing means to access adequate food, medical care, for the local miners, their monthly wages are and education for their families—let alone any the equivalent of just $35 USD—the value of other services that require money. which is around two pockets-full of potatoes. In fact, until recently, workers did not receive a monetary salary at all, but were paid with a

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15 parcel of groceries. And since the coal mining they have helped the community by providing industry remains the dominant economic jobs. Then we’ll have around 40 minutes to ask factor in Hwange with around 3,200 miners in Sauseje any questions we may have. its employ, the lives of an average of 19,000 After our conversation, we’ll thank Sauseje people—the families of these miners—depend before boarding our open-air safari vehicles on the colliery for survival. again to set off on another game-viewing As Sauseje will tell us, the price of working drive just after 3:30pm. Later, we’ll rely on in a coal mine not only takes a financial toll, the tracking skills of our guides to choose the but a physical one as well. In 1972, Sauseje’s perfect spot to observe the animals during the grandfather was killed in a catastrophic mining fading afternoon light as we enjoy our first accident which also claimed the lives of 471 African “sundowner” (drinks and snacks during other miners. To date, the victim’s families sunset over the Africa Bush) before returning to have not received any financial compensation. camp around 6pm. Instead, the Hwange Colliery Company Dinner: At about 6:30pm, we’ll have dinner gave Sauseje’s father—who was 17 at the together at the main dining area with a time—his late father’s position as a form of selection of regionally-inspired items prepared compensation. Far from improving his life, by our expert chef. the job instead shortened it. Ongoing poor working conditions—primarily prolonged Evening: All evenings at our tented camps are exposure to inhaling coal dust—has resulted free for you to relax in your room, linger in the in lung diseases such as bronchitis, asthma, common area for a nightcap, or sit by the fire and cancer in most miners, Sauseje’s father with your fellow travelers. included. He passed away in 2003 due to respiratory complications, leaving behind a Day 5 Grand Circle Foundation visit: St. wife and ten children. This time, none of the Mary’s Primary School • A Day in the Life surviving members of the family were granted of a Hwange village • Afternoon game employment by the colliery. viewing in Hwange National Park Sauseje’s life has continued to be a struggle • Destination: Hwange National Park since then. Now a single mother of three, she • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner works as a shop keeper making the equivalent • Accommodations: Kashawe Tented Camp, of $50 USD a month to support herself and Makalolo Plains Camp or similar her family. And yet she feels fortunate, as it is estimated that approximately 90% of Exclusive O.A.T. Activities: Today we’ll Zimbabwe’s people are unemployed. And for visit St. Mary’s primary school—Grand those who do find work in Hwange’s coal mine, Circle Foundation site—and interact with the struggles far outweigh the benefits of the students and teachers there. Then we’ll employment there. experience A Day in the Life of a Hwange village where we’ll meet the chief, shop at a local We’ll discuss this difficult yet important topic market, then head to a local family’s home for around 20 minutes—our Trip Experience where we’ll learn how to prepare a traditional Leader adding some context by sharing the meal using very unique ingredients. Read on to views of the mine itself, and how they believe learn more about these immersive activities.

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16 Activity Note: We will have an early wake-up books, maps, solar-powered calculators, call at about 5:30am before riding in open-air toiletries, secondhand clothing, deflated soccer vehicles to the park gate. Then, we’ll switch balls, or any number of items. to a minibus on our way to a village outside Around 9:30am, we’ll bid the students goodbye of Hwange National Park and will travel over before heading to a small community called bumpy, dusty roads. Lukhosi to experience A Day in the Life of a Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the Hwange village. Once we arrive around 9:40am, camp’s main dining area at 6am, featuring a we’ll pause at the village market where we’ll continental breakfast of pastries and yogurt have about 20 minutes to shop for local with coffee. ingredients to bring with us for a meal we’ll take part in making later today. Some of the Morning: We’ll leave camp at about 6:30am, items on our grocery list will be maize (corn) board our safari vehicles, and drive to a small meal, tea, local vegetables, and Mopani worms Hwange village. Around 7am we’ll arrive in to take as a gift for the family we’ll visit later Mbala where we’ll switch from our safari this morning. vehicles to a private motorcoach before continuing our journey. Then around 8am Then around 10am, village leader Chief Charles we’ll arrive at St. Mary’s primary school Nekatambe will meet us outside the store. Chief (when in session), which is supported in part Nekatambe is the reigning chief of the Nambya by Grand Circle Foundation as part of the World people in this village and the surrounding Classroom initiative. areas. He inherited his title from his uncle in 2011 as his own father passed away before Grand Circle Foundation becoming chief himself. His grandfather, Chief St. Mary’s Primary School Mashambwa, had eight wives—since then the Total donated: $261,623 chieftainship has revolved around the eight Partner since: 2013 houses of these wives, yet the title can only be held by a male member of the family. The Enjoy this opportunity to learn more about process of appointing a successor can therefore what education is like in a remote village in be a complicated task, as it is not always an Zimbabwe. After we are greeted by the school’s automatic father-to-son transition, but instead principal—Mrs. Thokozile Dube—we may revolves around the families of these eight have a chance to meet the teachers and some houses. For example, since Chief Nekatambe of their students. Perhaps we’ll help them out only has daughters, his bother is currently next with their lessons or practice their English with in line. Before becoming chief, Charles worked them during our time here. St. Mary’s is typical at the local colliery. Now, he plays a critical of the many village schools in the region and role in his community, making important lacks many basic necessities. The Foundation decisions on development, infrastructure, has contributed to the building of some new village projects, conflict resolution, youth classrooms and donated several computers, development programs, and more. He also which you may see in the school’s small owns and sponsors a competitive local soccer computer lab. Items that you may wish to bring team called the Nekatambe Cheetahs. with you to donate might include educational

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17 Chief Nekatambe will take us on a short walking Afternoon: After about 1 hour of free time, we’ll tour of the village, revealing how local people set off on another late afternoon game-viewing live, tend to their animals, and raise their crops. drive through Hwange National Park aboard Lukhosi is actually able to cultivate their crops open-air safari vehicles at about 4pm. Perhaps, year-round, due to the implementation of a we’ll seek out a pack of wild dogs or any community irrigation system. We’ll also learn a number of the many different animals found few words in the language of the local Nambya here that we haven’t spotted yet. We’ll return to people, before sitting down with some village camp at approximately 5:30pm and enjoy some members to gain insight into their culture time to relax before we regroup for dinner. firsthand. Dinner: Served buffet-style at the camp’s Then, we’ll head to a nearby family’s house to main dining area around 6:30pm, featuring have an opportunity for hands-on discovery traditional African dishes. as we spend about an hour taking part in some Evening: You’re free to relax at the campsite, farming activities (season permitting)—like perhaps to sit with a cool drink and observe the planting, milking a cow or goat, and collecting brilliant stars of the African night sky for our eggs. The animals kept by the families of the last night in Hwange. village are used primarily for their milk and eggs, but on special occasions—such as a birthday or wedding—they will be used for Day 6 Overland to Livingstone • Fly to meat. For everyday protein, the people here Kafue, Zambia • Game-viewing drive look to what we might consider a very unique • Destination: Kafue National Park source: Mopani worms. • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Included in the groceries we collected earlier • Accommodations: Musanza Tented Camp, this morning is a sampling of these Mopani Lufupa Tented Camp or similar worms. After completing our chores, we’ll Activity Note: We will have an early wake-up gather with the family around an outdoor fire call at about 5:30am. Then this morning, and learn how to prepare then fry the worms. we will drive from Hwange, Zimbabwe, to A healthy and affordable source of nutrition, Livingstone, Zambia, where we’ll fly aboard Mopani worms contain three times the amount a small plane (4-12 seaters, and we may have of protein as beef. We’ll have about 30 minutes to split up) for approximately 1-1.5 hours to to try a taste of the fried Mopani worms while Kafue National Park. Total transfer time will asking our hosts any other questions we may be up to 11 hours. Travelers who reserve a have about village life. January-February or November-December departure of this adventure will spend Days We conclude our discoveries around 12:30pm, 6-8 in Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, with thanking both Chief Nekatambe and our host minor differences in included activities and family for their hospitality. Then we’ll drive transfer times. about 1.5 hours back to our camp, arriving just in time to freshen up and enjoy lunch. Breakfast: Served buffet-style at 6am in the camp’s lounge area. Lunch: At the camp around 2pm, featuring traditional dishes. The camp staff will prepare Morning: After breakfast, we’ll check out of our our meals using local cooking techniques, as rooms and depart camp at about 7am to make well as fresh, regional ingredients. our way to our next destination: Kafue National

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18 Park in Zambia. Our overland transfer will In addition to 55 mammal species, Kafue is take us back to Victoria Falls, arriving around home to 500 species of birds—as many in this 11:45am. park as in all of Europe. Our guides will help us keep our eyes peeled for Black-cheeked Lunch: A packed lunch will be provided during Lovebirds, Bohm’s Bee-eaters, Pel’s Fishing our overland transfer. Owls, a variety of cranes, and Zambia’s only Afternoon: Just before noon, we’ll cross the endemic species, the Chaplin’s Barbet. We’ll Zambian border to the town of Livingstone, also be on the lookout for puku, an antelope about seven miles from the falls. Just before found only in Zambia and the Congo. 1pm, we’ll stop at a local market to stretch our We return to our camp around 6pm and legs and discover the goods sold here. You may you have about 30 minutes to freshen up choose to grab a snack for the road before we before dinner. get into taxis around 1:30pm for the next leg of our journey. We’ll drive about 15 minutes to the Dinner: Served at the camp’s main lounge airport, where we’ll split up into smaller groups around 6:30pm, featuring dishes prepared by and board small, privately-chartered planes the camp staff. around 2:15pm for our short flight (about 1-1.5 Evening: You’re free to go back to your walk-in hours) to our camp at Kafue National Park. tent or relax with your fellow travelers by a Upon arrival around 4pm, we’ll drive around 15 cozy campfire set up along the slow-moving minutes to our camp. Kafue River. We’ll enjoy a Welcome Briefing at the riverside tented camps that we stay at in Kafue shortly Day 7 Explore Kafue National Park • after arriving. Typical safari-style tents have en Controversial Topic: Trophy hunting in suite toilets and showers and perhaps a deck, sub-Saharan Africa with game ranger while the camp may include a fire pit, tented Golden Kalindawalo & safari guide dining area, lounge, and bar. Then around 5pm, Brian Shiompa we’ll enjoy our first game-viewing excursion, which will either be by boat or safari vehicle. • Destination: Kafue National Park • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner One of Zambia’s most impressive parks, • Accommodations: Lufupa Tented Camp, Kafue was one of the first to join an initiative Musanza Tented Camp or similar to link the national parks of five African countries into what will eventually become a Exclusive O.A.T. Activity: Today we’ll gather 108,000-square-mile park, to be known as the to discuss the Controversial Topic of trophy Kvango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation hunting in sub-Saharan Africa. During our Area (also the Okavango-Upper Zambezi TFCA). conversation with game ranger Golden Our private O.A.T. campsites are situated in the Kalindawalo and safari guide Brian Shiompa, northern section of the park along the banks we’ll discuss the long-term effects of the of the Kafue River, one of the three rivers recreational sport, as well as the arguments nourishing the park. From the decks of our for and against it. This is a unique opportunity safari-style tented rooms, we can view the to examine the importance of effective slow-moving river—where we might enjoy wildlife management and the conflicting the chance to fish for bream and pike during beliefs surrounding it. Read more about this our stay. conversation below.

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19 Activity Note: Travelers who reserve a experience combined and both find the most joy January-February or November-December in showing visitors wildlife—but not in taking departure of this adventure will spend Days trophies. 6-8 in Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, with Trophy hunting is a form of recreational minor differences in included activities and hunting in which the goal is to acquire parts transfer times. of an animal to put on display. It was first Breakfast: To get an early start, a light introduced by British colonialists during breakfast of cold dishes, such as pastries, the early 19th century—a time when wildlife yogurt, fruit, and coffee will be served at 7am at flourished—and by the end of the century, our camp. the devastating effects of uncontrolled sport hunting were glaring. Though some protections Morning: Since the temperate hours of early were established since that time, only a fraction morning and late afternoon are when the of these animals remain, and those that do are wildlife is at its most active, we’ll set off at under constant threat. In Zambia, for example, about 7:30am for a game-viewing excursion the African dog population has declined from either by land or water. Keep your eyes peeled half a million to an estimated 6,000 in the for the yellow-billed oxpecker, trumpeter last century. Just over the border in Tanzania, hornbill, and grey crowned crane. Along hundreds of thousands of black rhinos once the rivers that feed the park, we might also roamed freely, while now it is estimated that encounter the white-backed night heron, only 5,000 are left. And, all across Africa, the African finfoot, or saddle-billed stork. lion population has declined by 42% over the We’ll return to our camp just after 10am and last two decades alone. These are just a few you’ll have some free time to take a nap, catch of the numerous species whose futures are in up on a book you brought with you, or relax. question.

Brunch: We’ll enjoy a hearty brunch featuring Over the years, political corruption, habitat African-inspired specialties at our campsite at loss, population growth and other significant about 11:30am. factors—including hunting—have contributed to these dramatically dwindling populations. Afternoon: Take advantage of free time at the Still, hundreds of thousands of hunting permits camp until about 2pm. Perhaps you’ll enjoy are issued every year. Proponents of trophy Kafue River views, or grab a cocktail with a hunting, which our Trip Experience Leader fellow traveler. can speak to, maintain that they have a vested interest in ensuring these populations thrive Around 2pm, our group will reconvene in because the sport depends on it. They also tout the lounge for a conversation surrounding the fact the industry generates roughly $200 the Controversial Topic of trophy hunting million in revenue in sub-Saharan Africa, in Zambia. Our discussion will examine the a sum that is theoretically shared between impacts of game hunting for sport, as well as government authorities, hunting companies, outline common arguments for and against it. parks and surrounding rural communities. To facilitate this conversation, we’ll be joined at Furthermore, a fair number of local farmers the lodge by 47-year-old game ranger Golden who live within range of wild herds, such as Kalindawalo and 44-year-old safari guide Brian elephants and lions, actively support trophy Shiompa, who have about 40 years of naturalist hunting. In recent decades, habitat loss has led

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20 to increased human-animal conflict, leading Then around 3pm, we’ll gather at the main to an uptick in deadly encounters. Farmers fear lodge for tea and snacks. During this time, we’ll that without hunting these scenarios would also witness a peanut spread demonstration, exponentially rise. in which legume crops are ground between two stones. We’ll even have an opportunity to try While the issue at hand isn’t simplistic, the our hand at this traditional method. cries to ban trophy hunting are growing, as is evidence against the controversial practice. Around 3:30pm, we’ll enjoy another Opponents not only believe this “kill for sport” game-viewing excursion or boating activity mentality to be immoral, but numerous studies highlighting the myriad wildlife of Kafue. We indicate that the revenue generated rarely return to our camp around 6pm and you have reaches rural communities or goes toward about 30 minutes to freshen up. conservation efforts. For example, National Dinner: At about 6:30pm, featuring a choice of Geographic published a report in 2015 that found buffet options prepared by the camp staff. that elephant hunting fees in Zimbabwe went almost entirely to the government, a governing Evening: Your evening is free to linger by the body famously rife with corruption. There is campfire and enjoy a nightcap or return to also a strong link between trophy hunting, your tent. poaching, and illegal hunting methods. Poachers often claim they are operating Day 8 Explore Kafue National Park a trophy hunt as cover for their unlawful actions, and some hunting companies will go • Destination: Kafue National Park to criminal lengths to “produce” an animal for • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner their clients—whether luring them outside of • Accommodations: Musanza Tented Camp, protected areas or inhumanely killing them. Lufupa Tented Camp or similar Wildlife management experts also contend that Activity Note: Travelers who reserve a trophy hunting hurts the overall population of a January-February or November-December species because it typically targets ornamental departure of this adventure will spend Days males, whose genetics are often critical for 6-8 in Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, with reproduction. If a dominant male lion dies, it minor differences in included activities and often destabilizes the entire pack, leading to transfer times. threats from outside males and the death of existing cubs. Breakfast: A light breakfast with a choice of pastries, yogurt, fruit, and coffee will be served Today’s conversation will address a complex this morning at 7am at our camp. and emotionally charged subject here in Zambia, one which some travelers may find Morning: At around 7:30am, we’ll set off on a difficult. Approach the conversation as a game-viewing excursion to explore the outer unique and respectful discourse. After gleaning reaches of the park by boat or safari vehicle. insights on this issue from our speakers for It’s impossible to exhaust the discoveries at about 20 minutes, the conversation will open Kafue, one of the continent’s largest national up to a 40-minute Q&A session, giving us parks—at 8,600 square miles, it is roughly the the opportunity to probe deeper into this size of the entire state of New Jersey. Kafue’s controversial issue. habitats span riverine forests, floodplains, woodlands, and dambos (open grasslands). We

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21 return to our camp just after 10am and you have Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the camp’s about 1.5 hours of free time. Perhaps you’ll lay main dining area starting at 7am, featuring a down and rest in your tent, or you may choose selection of hot and cold dishes. to take a stroll along the river. Morning: Around 8am, we’ll leave our camp Brunch: Served with a variety of traditional and enjoy a final game-viewing drive in dishes at our campsite at about 11:30am. Kafue of about 1 hour. Then we’ll drive to an airstrip, arriving just before 9:30am, for Afternoon: Following our meal, you can relax our 1- to 1.5-hour flight to Livingstone. We at camp, enjoying the views of the Kafue River. arrive at the Livingstone airport around 11am Around 2:45pm, we’ll regroup for afternoon before boarding our bus for a 1.5-hour drive to tea and snacks before setting off on another the border. game-viewing excursion or boating activity focusing on Kafue wildlife around 3:15pm. Lunch: We’ll have a light boxed lunch of fruits, There will also be opportunities to fish along nuts, and a sandwich on our way to Chobe the banks, as well as a sundowner cruise before National Park. returning to camp at approximately 6pm. Upon Afternoon: Upon arrival at the border around arrival, the camp staff will treat us to regional 12:30am, we’ll board a ferry for a 10-minute songs and dances. You may even get to learn ride into Botswana. Then around 1:30pm, we some traditional moves yourself. board our next bus for a 1-hour drive to our Dinner: Around 6:30pm, prepared by the camp lodge. We’ll check in and gather for a short staff. We’ll enjoy the traditional flavors of orientation briefing with the Trip Experience Africa as our meal will be cooked with typical, Leader. We spend the next three nights at an local ingredients. intimate safari lodge. No matter which lodge you stay in, its location just outside the park Evening: After dinner, you may wish to swap gives us more time to spend on game-viewing memories of all we’ve encountered on our drives while the dining room and bar may be explorations in this beautiful locale. perfect spots to view the sun setting over the river in the evening. Typical lodges feature Day 9 Fly to Livingstone • Transfer to comfortable bungalows, each with two beds and Chobe National Park • Game-viewing drive a private bath. • Destination: Chobe National Park Chobe has one of the greatest concentrations of • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner game found on the African continent and is sure • Accommodations: Baobab Safari Lodge to be a highlight of our safari adventure. Around or similar 4pm, we’ll board open-air safari vehicles to Activity Note: This morning, we’ll split up into get our first glimpse of Chobe’s wildlife during even smaller groups and fly by small, chartered a late afternoon game-viewing drive with aircraft to Livingstone, Zambia, where we’ll our expert driver-guides and Trip Experience journey by bus to the Zambian border and take Leader. We’ll return to our camp shortly a short boat ride to cross into Botswana. Then, after 6pm. we’ll continue overland to Chobe National Park in northern Botswana. Our total transfer time is up to 7 hours.

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22 Dinner: A buffet-style dinner featuring a Brunch: A selection of hearty brunch items selection of salads, entrees, and side dishes will be available in the lodge beginning prepared by the camp staff will be served at around 10:30am. about 6:30pm in the dining area. Afternoon: Following some free time after Evening: After dinner, we can relax at the bar brunch, we’ll regroup around 2:30pm for tea or enjoy views of the Chobe River from the main and a conversation about Botswana’s history lounge of our open-air lodge. with a local guide. Then, several women from a local village will visit us at our camp to give Day 10 Explore Chobe National Park a basket-weaving demonstration around 3pm. In our small group, we’ll get one-on-one time • Destination: Chobe National Park with some of the women who will show us • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner how they use palm fronds to make their finely • Accommodations: Baobab Safari Lodge detailed woven baskets and how they introduce or similar various colors from the bark of trees and Activity Note: Today, we will have an early other natural sources. During this hands-on wake-up call at about 5:30am. demonstration, we’ll also have the opportunity to try weaving a design ourselves. Afterwards, Breakfast: Served at the lodge’s main dining we set off on a game-viewing drive in open-air area starting at 6am, featuring cold dishes, safari vehicles around 3:30pm, enjoying such as pastries, yogurt, fruit, and coffee. sundowners before we return to camp just before sunset around 6pm. Then, we’ll gather Morning: Around 6:30am, we set off on an to soak in the views of the sun sinking behind a early morning game-viewing drive in open-air nearby waterhole. safari vehicles. The next two days are devoted to seeking out game in Chobe National Park, the Dinner: Served buffet-style at the lodge at second-largest (and first-established) national around 6:30pm in the dining area, featuring park in the country. Chobe National Park is traditional dishes. home to one of the world’s largest elephant populations—the present herd is estimated at Evening: You are free to enjoy the facilities 60,000. This enormous region offers variety in of our lodge, relax with a book, or take in both wildlife and terrain. Riverine forest, flood the serenity of our surroundings along the plains, and mopane are home to large and small Chobe River. game. Elephants gather around baobab trees, drawn by the water stored in their bark. Day 11 Explore Chobe National Park • Controversial Topic: Death and poaching Large groups of giraffe amble about the land, with veteran game ranger Moses or Ban and hyena, cheetah, leopard, and wildebeest may also be glimpsed in this thickly populated • Destination: Chobe National Park habitat. The birdlife here is diverse, ranging • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner from eagles and bustards to plovers and rollers, • Accommodations: Baobab Safari Lodge and bee-eaters bustle near their sandbank or similar nests. There are also water birds, such as egret, Exclusive O.A.T. Activity: Today’s discoveries ibis, and heron, along the river. We’ll return to include a candid conversation about a our lodge at about 10:30am. Controversial Topic: The morality of

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23 Botswana’s “shoot to kill” anti-poaching The world’s rhinoceros population is gravely policy, which was rescinded in 2018, but some threatened—a rhino is killed by poachers believe should be reinstated as an upsurge in every ten hours, a trend which will render illegal hunting threatens to render the world’s the majestic creature extinct by 2025 if rhinoceros population extinct. We’ll discuss the left unchecked. In 2013, Botswana took the issue with a veteran game ranger, who has lived drastic step of arming its game rangers and his entire life in Botswana and is intimately authorizing them to use lethal force against connected to the crisis caused by poaching, any poachers they encountered in the wild; as well as the economic and social issues that while undeniably extreme, the policy was drive locals toward it. Read more about this effective, as Botswana experienced significantly activity below. less poaching than its neighbors, making it a relative “safe space” for the endangered Activity Note: This will be a full day of species. In 2018, the policy was rescinded, game-viewing in Chobe National Park that and an upsurge in poaching subsequently begins very early in the morning (with a 5:30am ensued—56 rhinos were killed in Botswana wake-up call). over the following two years, roughly 10% of Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the camp’s the country’s rhino population—leading to a main dining area starting at 6am, featuring a serious debate about whether it’s time to arm selection of hot and cold dishes. Botswana’s rangers and declare open season on poachers once again. Morning: We’ll begin a full day of game-viewing activities at about 7am. With the We’ll discuss this difficult subject with one of help of our expert driver-guides, we hope to two game rangers—Moshe “Moses” Zhibi, or spot some of Chobe’s elephants, in addition to Bannyatsang “Ban” Shakwa—each lifelong zebra, Cape buffalo, hippo, and crocodile. Botswana residents with decades of experience in the hospitality and conservation industry. Lunch: Around 1pm, we’ll take a break from our As certified wildlife experts, Moses and Ban full-day game-viewing drive to enjoy a picnic each have a deep respect for Africa’s rare and lunch of fruits, vegetables, pasta, cheeses, unique animals, and have dedicated their homemade bread, and more. lives to showing off their majesty and keeping them safe from harm. However, they also have Afternoon: We continue our game-viewing a deeply-rooted love and connection with in Chobe throughout the afternoon, relying Botswana’s people—Moses and Ban have each on the expert tracking skills of our guides and lived their entire lives in this country and have Trip Experience Leader. Around 2:30pm, our started families here, and are familiar with the game-viewing excursion concludes and we challenges faced by citizens trying to survive return to camp, where you’ll have some free in Botswana’s impoverished communities. time to relax. Because of their connections and experience, At around 4pm, we’ll gather in the lounge they’ll be able to offer uniquely personal with a veteran Botswana game ranger for an insights into why so many people become hour-long conversation about a Controversial poachers, how it affects daily life in Botswana, Topic: Botswana’s controversial “shoot to kill” and how challenging it is to solve the issue. anti-poaching policy.

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24 For many people in Botswana’s rural and contemplation to observe these creatures in impoverished communities, where meaningful their natural environment as we discuss their employment is limited and many struggle to uncertain future. survive on even a subsistence level, poaching Our conversation will end at around 5pm, when can be seen as either a gruesome necessity we’ll regroup for drinks as we watch the sun for survival, or a tempting road to riches. The set before enjoying a performance by the lodge crisis has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 staff. At about 6pm, they will treat us to some pandemic; as the virus cripples the local traditional dances and songs. economy, sending even more people into poverty, unscrupulous “traditional medicine” Dinner: Beginning at 6:30pm at the lodge, vendors in China, Vietnam, and other countries featuring a traditional South African braai, have touted rhino horn as a cure for the similar to our barbecue but more closely deadly virus, in addition to its other dubious connected to the outdoor life, culture, and health benefits. As a result, the demand for laid-back lifestyle of southern Africans. We’ll poachers and their ill-gotten goods has risen enjoy traditional dishes like boerewors, African significantly in recent years, threatening the sausage, during this meal. world’s rhino population even further. Evening: After dinner, we can reflect on the On the other hand, as sympathetic as a memorable animal sightings we’ve made while poacher’s plight may be, the simple fact celebrating our last night in Chobe. remains—if something isn’t done soon, poachers will wipe the rhinoceros off the face of Day 12 Fly to the Okavango Delta • the Earth within the next five years. While most Game-viewing drives agree that current anti-poaching measures aren’t working, there is a deep moral debate • Destination: Okavango Delta Region within Botswana about how much farther the • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner authorities should be allowed to go. At what • Accommodations: Santawani Camp point does it become acceptable to sacrifice a or similar human life to save an animal’s? How does the Activity Note: This morning, we take a minibus moral calculus change when an entire species’ ride of about an hour to Kasane, Botswana, and survival is at stake? Are there any alternative then a flight of a little more than an hour by solutions that can save Botswana’s rhino small bush plane to the Okavango Delta region. population without resorting to bloodshed? Our total transfer time is up to 6 hours. Moses or Ban will spend about 20 minutes Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the lodge sharing their stories and points of view about at 7:30am, featuring a selection of hot and this challenging issue, and we’ll then have the cold dishes. rest of the hour to ask candid questions of our own to deepen our understanding. Our private Morning: Around 8:30am, we check out of lounge offers a panoramic view of the African our rooms and board a minibus to Kasane’s bush, where we might see rhinos or other airport, arriving around 9:30am. At about safari wildlife roaming about as we talk; we’ll 10:30am, we’ll split into smaller groups for end our conversation with a quiet moment of our 1-hour flight to the northern area of the Okavango Delta region. Upon landing, we’ll enjoy a game-viewing drive in an open-air

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25 safari vehicle en route to our camp. We arrive regardless of the season. When you arrive in at our camp around 12:30pm and check in. The the Delta, your Trip Experience Leader will camp features tented cabins, each including an monitor conditions and advise you of whether en suite bathroom with running water, toilets, it’s possible to explore by canoe. You will either and showers. explore by mokoro or set off on a game-viewing drive on Day 13 and Day 14. Lunch: Around 1pm at our camp, featuring a variety of hot and cold selections. The Breakfast: Served at the camp’s dining area camp staff will prepare typical dishes using starting at 6am, featuring cold dishes, such as traditional techniques, so our meal will reflect pastries, yogurt, fruit, and coffee. the flavors of the region. Morning: At about 6:30am, we’ll split into Afternoon: You are free to relax, or you smaller groups and explore the Okavango Delta may choose to enjoy tea around 2pm. Then, by mokoro (if conditions permit), or we’ll set off we gather together for a late-afternoon on a game-viewing drive aboard open-air safari game-viewing drive beginning at about 4pm. vehicles. Mekoro (the plural of mokoro) are One of the world’s largest inland deltas, the traditional canoe-like vessels commonly used Okavango is a watery wonderland of islands, in the Okavango Delta as a mode of transport. marshlands, and waterways teeming with If we explore using these canoes today, we’ll wildlife. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage divide into pairs and travel along the calm Site, the Okavango Delta is also home to some waters of the delta alongside a local guide. We’ll of the world’s most endangered species of large discover the distinct flora and fauna of the delta mammals, including cheetahs, white and black as our local guide propels our mokoro forward rhinos, and African wild dogs. We return to our by using a long pole. We return to our camp camp just after 6pm and you have some time to around 11am. freshen up. Brunch: Just after 11am at our camp, featuring a Dinner: Served in the camp’s main dining variety of hot and cold selections. area at about 6:30pm, with many hot and cold Afternoon: You have some free time to enjoy selections. our surroundings, or you may challenge our Evening: You can relax in our camp, which Trip Experience Leader or the camp staff to a features a dining area, large lounge, fire pit, traditional African game. They can teach you and an area overlooking a watering hole where the rules before playing. Then, just after 4pm, we can observe the local wildlife. we’ll regroup and set off on a game-viewing drive and sundowner in the Delta’s neighboring Day 13 Explore Okavango Delta savannah. We conclude our drive around 6pm and return to the camp where you have some • Destination: Okavango Delta time to relax before dinner. • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner • Accommodations: Santawani Camp Dinner: In the camp’s main dining area or similar around 6:30pm, featuring a selection of traditional dishes. Activity Note: This morning, we will have an early wake-up call at about 5:30am. Our mokoro Evening: On your own—you may wish to relax excursions are dependent on safety and water by the warmth of the fire pit or enjoy a nightcap levels, which fluctuate constantly in the Delta, at the bar before retiring for the night.

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26 Day 14 Explore Okavango Delta • Day 15 Fly to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe • Game-viewing drives Controversial Topic: The Plight of Sex • Destination: Okavango Delta Region Workers and the Spread of HIV and AIDS • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner with sex worker Matilda Ramotswe • Home-Hosted Dinner • Accommodations: Santawani Camp or similar • Destination: Victoria Falls

Activity Note: This morning, we will have an • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner early wake-up call at about 5:30am. • Accommodations: Shearwater’s Explorers Village or similar Breakfast: A light breakfast of cold dishes, such Exclusive O.A.T. Activities: Today we will as pastries, yogurt, fruit, and coffee begins discuss the Controversial Topic of sex workers at 6am, as we get another early start for our in Botswana, and the omnipresent risk of HIV game-viewing drive. and AIDS. Speaking with a sex worker named Morning: At 6:30am, we continue to search Matilda Ramotswe, we will learn the harsh for wildlife in the Okavango Delta region. We’ll and uncomfortable truths of this topic. Later, again split into groups and explore the area by we’ll visit a local family in their home for a mokoro on the Delta (if conditions permit), or Home-Hosted Dinner—sharing a meal and we’ll set off on a game-viewing drive aboard learning about their daily lives. Read more open-air safari vehicles. We return to our camp about these two activities below. around 11am, just in time for brunch. Activity Note: We take a short flight to Kasane, Brunch: Just after 11am at our camp, featuring a a small settlement about 20 minutes from variety of hot and cold selections. the border crossing between Botswana and Zimbabwe. From there, we’ll continue by bus to Afternoon: We can relax during the hottest part Victoria Falls. Our total transfer time is up to 4 of the day (this is the time when the wildlife hours. During our tours of the Falls, it’s a good relaxes, too) before regrouping for high tea at idea to wrap your camera equipment, cash, and 3:30pm and then setting off around 4pm on other valuables in plastic. a 2-hour game-viewing drive in the Delta’s neighboring savannah aboard open-air safari Breakfast: Served buffet-style at 6:30am in the vehicles. dining area of our camp, featuring a selection of hot and cold dishes. Dinner: Served around 6:30pm back at camp, featuring a selection of hot dishes and Morning: We board our camp vehicles and regional cuisine. depart camp around 7:30am, heading to a nearby airport, and arriving around 8am. We’ll Evening: You are free to take some time after split up into smaller groups for our 1-hour dinner on your final night in the Okavango flight to Kasane. Upon arrival around 9:40am, Delta to observe the stars and reflect on the we’ll collect our luggage before boarding our daily drama of the wildlife encounters you may private motorcoach to cross the border into have observed here. Zimbabwe.

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27 Around 10am, our motocoach will pull into is far from a perfect solution, as an estimated a local truck stop near the border which is 7,000 local and migrant workers are involved in frequented by truck drivers carrying goods the prostitution trade. across the country. It is here we will take part During this frank conversation, Matilda will in a very sensitive Controversial Topic: The share with us what led her to choose this risky lives and struggles of local sex workers here, profession. Now a single mother of three, including the threat of HIV and AIDS. Matilda is also solely responsible for raising her Botswana has the third highest HIV rate in the children as their fathers were all former clients world, and while prostitution is illegal here, and do not provide any child support. Despite many women—particularly from poor, rural the challenges stacked against her, Matilda communities—choose this line of work out received her hairdresser qualification in 2018 of financial desperation. These young women and hopes one day to be able to change careers often move to the bigger cities to escape completely. For now, however, she needs to male-perpetuated violence, a sadly common continue to work as a prostitute, saving as occurrence in these smaller patriarchal villages, much as she can to buy the equipment required and their lack of money and marketable to work in a hairdressing salon. Matilda will skills is what ultimately leads them to turn stay onboard with us for about an hour during to prostitution as a way to make ends meet. which time we’ll have around 40 minutes to ask Unfortunately, this puts these women in the her any questions we may have, such as how crossfire of the HIV and AIDS epidemic—a she finds childcare for her children during her reported 61% of sex workers in Botswana are working hours. HIV positive yet most continue to work, further Around 11am we’ll thank Matilda, then head spreading the disease. Joining us onboard through customs to continue our journey. our private motorcoach today will be Matilda Ramotswe, a sex worker who, like many of her Lunch: Around 12:45pm, we’ll enjoy a peers, is HIV positive. traditional African lunch at a local restaurant upon our arrival in Victoria Falls. We’ll get a At most Southern Africa border posts like true taste of Africa when we have rice, chicken this one, truck drivers transporting goods are or oxtail, and vegetables cooked with peanut usually delayed here for a few days or even up butter for lunch today. As we enjoy our meal, to a week or two as they wait for the necessary we’ll also be treated to the melodies of a permits and paperwork to be completed. This finger piano. creates an opportunity for women to sell sex to the drivers waiting at these border posts in Afternoon: Around 1:30pm, we’ll continue on their trucks. Since prostitution is illegal and to our hotel, arriving shortly after 2pm. We’ll unchecked in Botswana, most sex workers check in, and depending on the hotel, it may can charge a small premium for unprotected feature an on-site swimming pool, bar, and sex, increasing the spread of HIV. Since the restaurant, while typical rooms include air virus has become so prevalent with these truck conditioning, an in-room safe, and a bathroom drivers, some transport companies now allow with a hair dryer. the drivers to bring their wives or girlfriends on these long drives to keep them company and Then at about 3pm, we’ll board our private discourage the temptation to engage with sex motorcoach and drive about 20 minutes to workers—in the hopes to slow the spread. This Victoria Falls—the largest curtain of water

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28 in the world and one of the world’s Seven braai’ing (barbequing) the meat. Then we’ll all Natural Wonders—where we’ll enjoy a 1-hour sit outside together savoring the fruits of our walking tour with our Trip Experience Leader. labors—all while getting to know our hosts and We’ll discover walking trails and lookout experiencing what daily life is like here. Then points—each with different views. There around 7:45pm, we’ll thank our hosts and drive are five main cataracts, including the most back to our hotel. dramatic, the Main Falls and Devil’s Cataract. Evening: On your own—you may wish to head These cataracts, whose African name (Mosi-oa into town for souvenirs or enjoy the amenities Tunya) means “the smoke that thunders,” of our hotel, which may include a bar and a are nearly twice as high as Niagara, one and a lounge, and an outdoor swimming pool. half times as wide, and generate three times as much water. On a clear day, you can see the Freedom To Explore: During your two days in mist sprayed into the air from these crashing Victoria Falls, you have the freedom to explore waters from more than 50 miles away. At peak this bustling town on your own during free flood times, 1.4 billion gallons of water per time. Below are a few recommended options for minute pass over its edge. The flora around the independent explorations: Falls is naturally profuse: You’ll see ebony, fig trees, and many flowering species. The rain • Visit the COMESA Clothing Market: This forest surrounding the Falls is particularly lush, informal trading market established by fed by the Falls’ perpetual spray. COMESA (Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa) caters mainly to locals and We’ll conclude our discoveries around 4:30pm features authentic African attire, wall hang- and drive back to the hotel where you have 1.5 ings, colorful chitenges (sarongs) and more at hours to relax and freshen up before dinner. reasonable prices. A roughly 30-minute stroll through the market reveals a colorful, hectic Dinner: Around 6:15pm, we’ll break into atmosphere that can be thrilling for visitors, smaller groups of no more than 5 to take part in and provides a great opportunity to meet a Home-Hosted Dinner with a local family. We local residents, many of whom live below will drive to the nearby village of Chinotimba, the poverty line and sell crafts to provide for a small, tight-knit community. The homes we their families. will visit are primarily built with cement bricks and feature little vegetable gardens—some • How to get there: A 20- to 30-minute taxi families even keep chickens in their yard. ride, about $8 USD one way. • Hours: 8am-5pm, daily. The families we’ll meet usually have more than • Cost: Free. one generation living under the same roof. If • Watch the vulture feeding at Victoria Falls not retired, many of our hosts make their living Safari Lodge: With a local guide giving as entrepreneurs—selling homemade foods or commentary, and over drinks if you’d like, handicrafts. take your spot at a viewing platform above a We will be treated to a typical Zimbabwean nearby watering hole as vultures descend to family meal, cooked over an open fire and feed on meat scraps from the hotel kitchen. comprised of sadza (a corn flour porridge), While vultures play an important part of the vegetables, and a meat dish. We’ll take part ecosystem in the wild (preventing carcasses in the preparations of the meal—helping from rotting and spreading disease), there to make the fire, peeling vegetables, and is not enough food for them in Victoria Falls.

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29 You can learn much more about the eating for travelers who would like to take any of the habits of vultures while observing this feed- Optional Tours. Travelers who choose to take ing frenzy. one of our Optional Tours will return to the • How to get there: A 30- to 40-minute taxi hotel around 11am. ride, about $10 USD one way. Lunch: Served back at our hotel’s restaurant • Hours: 1pm-2pm, daily. at about 1pm, featuring a selection of • Cost: Free. traditional dishes. • Listen to live music at Mama Africa: Enjoy Afternoon: You can continue exploring the area dinner and dance the night away at Mama on your own or relaxing at the hotel. Perhaps Africa, a restaurant that serves local cuisine you’ll venture to the Victoria Falls Hotel for and features live musical performances each high tea. You may also choose to join your night by a 4-man band specializing in African Trip Experience Leader for explorations of the Township Jazz. Victoria Falls Women’s Curio Market around • How to get there: A 5- to 10-minute taxi 2pm. Here, you’ll find a variety of handcrafted ride, about $6 USD one way. goods designed by local women. • Hours: 6pm-9pm, daily. • Cost: About $35 USD, including dinner. We’ll regroup at the hotel around 4:30pm and board our bus for a 20-minute drive to a nearby Day 16 Explore Victoria Falls • Optional boat dock. Tours • Local interactions Dinner: At about 5pm, we’ll enjoy a festive • Destination: Victoria Falls Farewell Dinner cruise along the Zambezi • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner River. As we watch the sun setting over the • Accommodations: Shearwater’s Explorers water, we’ll enjoy dining on a variety of dishes, Village or similar including western-style and traditional dishes.

Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the hotel’s Evening: Our cruise ends around 7:30pm, and restaurant beginning at 7am, featuring local we’ll board our bus to make the return journey and American dishes. to our hotel, arriving around 8pm. You’ll have free time to relax at the hotel’s lounge Morning: Enjoy the morning on your own to or begin packing for your return flight home relax or explore the area at your own pace. tomorrow morning. Or, you may choose to depart around 9am on one of our optional tours. On our Elephant Day 17 Return to U.S. or begin your Encounters tour, you’ll visit the Wild Horizons optional trip extension Elephant Sanctuary and Orphanage to observe • Included Meals: Breakfast and lightly interact with these creatures. On our helicopter ride over Victoria Falls, you’ll board Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the hotel, a four- or six-passenger helicopter for views starting at 7am, featuring a selection of hot and of the iconic “smoke that thunders.” And on cold dishes. our historic bridge tour, you’ll get to explore Morning: Around 8am, we’ll gather for a the 100 years of history behind the engineering talk with a local expert about the life of David feet that is the Victoria Falls bridge. Your Trip Livingstone, the first European to witness the Experience Leader will facilitate reservations magnificence of Victoria Falls. Then, we’ll

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30 board a bus with our luggage for a 45-minute Uganda Discoveries: Mountain Gorillas of Bwindi ride to the airport for our return flights home, & Queen Elizabeth National Park or Cape Town & or to begin your post-trip extension to New! the Cape of Good Hope.

END YOUR ADVENTURE WITH AN OPTIONAL POST-TRIP EXTENSION 4 nights in Cape Town & the Cape of Good Hope

Day 1 Arrive in Cape Town • Day 3 Explore Cape of Good Hope Nature Home-Hosted Dinner Reserve • Controversial Topic: The South African courts’ views on the murder of Day 2 Explore Cape Town • Optional drug-addicted family members Townships of Cape Town tour Day 4 Cape Town • Optional Tour to Stellenbosch Wine Country Day 5 Cape Town • Return to U.S.

OR 7 nights in Uganda Discoveries: Mountain Gorillas of Bwindi & Queen Elizabeth National Park

Day 1 Fly to Johannesburg Day 5 Overland to Queen Elizabeth National Park National Park Day 2 Fly to Entebbe, Uganda via Nairobi Day 6 Morning game-viewing drive • Day 3 Fly to Bwindi • Controversial Cruise along the Kazinga Channel Topic: The Rise and Fall of Idi Amin Day 7 Lake Katwe salt extraction site visit Day 4 Gorilla trekking in Bwindi • Afternoon game-viewing drive Impenetrable Forest National Park Day 8 Fly to Entebbe • Return to U.S.

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31 OPTIONAL TOURS

During your trip you will be able to book optional tours directly with your Trip Experience Leader. He or she will ask you to confirm the payment for these tours by filling out a payment form. Optional tours can only be purchased with a credit or debit card. We accept Visa, MasterCard, and Discover credit cards. We also accept Visa and MasterCard debit cards, but it must be a debit card that allows you to sign for purchases.

In order to correctly process these charges, there can be a delay of 2-3 months from the date of your return for the charges to be posted to your account. Therefore we ask that you use a card that will not expire in the 2-3 months following your return.

Please note: Optional tour prices are listed in U.S. dollar estimates determined at the time of publication and are subject to change. Optional tours may vary.

Elephant Encounters Historic Victoria Falls Bridge (Day 16 $100 per person) (Day 16 $80 per person)

Join us as we visit the Wild Horizons Elephant In his quest to build a railway line from Cape Sanctuary and Orphanage. Here, we’ll get a Town, South Africa to Cairo, Egypt, Cecil chance to observe, and lightly interact with, Rhodes encountered one overwhelming the beautiful creatures. We’ll also enjoy challenge: the Zambezi Gorge. On this tour, discussions with the elephant keepers about delve into 100 years of history and fascinating the organization’s conservation efforts, as well engineering feats as we uncover the story as their plans to rehabilitate and release the behind what would ultimately be the solution elephants back into the wild. to his problem, and the key to completing his dream railway: the Victoria Falls Bridge. Designed by George Hobson, and positioned Helicopter ride over Victoria Falls directly within range of the spray coming off (Day 16 $150 per person) the falls (a dramatic effect insisted upon by Rhodes), it was the world’s highest railway Join us for a flight over Victoria Falls, and bridge at the time of its completion. With its appreciate the “smoke that thunders” enthralling history and scenic setting, this from a whole new angle. Aboard a four- or historic bridge tour is a great way to enhance six-passenger helicopter, your experienced your visit to Victoria Falls while getting a better pilot will treat you to a bird’s-eye view of sense of the significance of the area. majestic Victoria Falls, the wide Zambezi River, and the zigzag-shaped gorges below. This is the best way to see such vast, impressive landscapes—as Dr. David Livingstone said himself, the falls are “so lovely they must have been gazed upon by angels in their flight.” Please note: There is a national park fee of U.S. $15 in addition to the price of this tour.

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32 PRE-TRIP Karongwe Private Game Reserve: Quest for Southern Africa’s Big 5

INCLUDED IN YOUR PRICE

» Accommodations for 1 night in » Services of an English-speaking O.A.T. Johannesburg at the Southern Sun O.R. Extension Guide, as well as step-on Tambo International Hotel or similar, and local guides 3 nights in Karongwe Game Reserve at » Gratuities for your Extension Guide, local Kuname Lodge or similar guides, drivers, and luggage porters » 10 meals—4 breakfasts, 3 lunches, » All transfers and 3 dinners » 6 game-viewing activities

PRE-TRIP EXTENSION ITINERARY

South Africa’s private game reserves are bursting with wildlife, housing more than 500 bird species and 140 species of mammals, including the famed “Big Five.” This rugged landscape—mostly open savannah, complemented by the beautiful Drakensberg Escarpment in the distance—is ideal for spotting the rich diversity of game here. On this trip extension, you’ll enjoy rustic accommodations at Karongwe Game Reserve, staying in a private, isolated area, where you can go off-road in search of elusive wildlife without the crowds.

Day 1 Depart U.S. Upon arrival, you will check in and receive your room assignments. Depending on where • Destination: Johannesburg we stay, our hotel may feature a pool, bar, You depart today on your overnight flight from restaurant, and health club. Each of the the U.S. to Johannesburg, South Africa. air-conditioned rooms typically includes a TV, complimentary Internet access, a safe, Day 2 Arrive in Johannesburg, coffee- and tea-making facilities, and a private South Africa bathroom.

• Destination: Johannesburg Dinner/Evening: On your own—you are free • Accommodations: Southern Sun O.R. Tambo to rest in your room after your long flight to International Hotel or similar prepare for tomorrow’s discoveries, eat dinner Afternoon: You’ll arrive in Johannesburg in the at the hotel restaurant, or venture out to afternoon. An O.A.T. representative will meet explore Johannesburg’s nightlife. You may seek you at the airport, where you’ll board a bus out traditional ugali, a type of porridge that is and transfer to your hotel—a 10- to 15-minute usually combined with meat or vegetable stew. drive, depending on traffic.

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33 Day 3 Fly to Hoedspruit • Transfer best locations for spotting wildlife, and will be to Karongwe Game Reserve for pleased to point out highlights. We return to game-viewing drive our lodge around 6pm. • Destination: Karongwe Private Game Reserve Dinner: The lodge will have a buffet containing • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner a variety of cuisines, including traditional • Accommodations: Kuname Lodge or similar dishes, for dinner starting at about 7pm.

Activity Note: With a morning flight to Evening: All evenings at our lodge are free for Hoedspruit Airport, followed by a drive to you to relax in your room or sit by the fire with Karongwe Private Game Reserve, this is a your fellow travelers. long travel day. Total transfer time will be Freedom To Explore: During your three days approximately 5.5 hours. at the Karongwe Game Reserve, you have the Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the hotel freedom to explore this conservation area starting at 7am, with American and regional on your own during free time. Below are a options available. couple recommended options for independent explorations: Morning: Around 10am, we’ll board a bus for about a 1-hour ride to the airport to check in • Learn how to cook traditional potjiekos: With for our flight. We’ll fly for about one hour to the help of the cook at our lodge, you’ll learn Hoedspruit Airport. how to make this traditional African dish. Potjiekos most closely resembles a stew and is Lunch: We’ll enjoy a light lunch during our made with a variety of vegetables and either flight today. chicken, beef, lamb, or venison. And after our Afternoon: We arrive around 12:30pm and lesson comes perhaps the most rewarding leave the airport around 1pm. We’ll board a part: We’ll enjoy the finished product for bus for the approximately 1-hour drive to our dinner this evening. lodge where we’ll check in. Then, we’ll set off • How to get there: Located on the premises on an orientation walk with a local guide to of our lodge. get acquainted with the lodge’s amenities and • Hours: 6pm, daily. surroundings. Depending on where we stay, • Cost: Free. our lodge may include a swimming pool and an • Stargaze with a local guide: Sit back, relax, open-air dining area. Lodges typically feature and behold the beauty of the starry night air-conditioned rooms with a minibar, coffee- sky. Let one of our local guides show you the and tea-making facilities, and a private bath. best location for stargazing at our lodge. On a At around 3:30pm, we’ll have about 1.5 clear night, our guide will be able to point out hours to enjoy afternoon tea before boarding iconic constellations as we observe. safari vehicles and setting out for our first • How to get there: Located on the premises game-viewing drive with “sundowners” of our lodge. (drinks and snacks during sunset). During our • Hours: 8pm, daily. drive, we may spot herds of elephant, buffalo, • Cost: Free. antelope, zebra, and eland—among other species. Your game-viewing drives will be led by knowledgeable driver-guides who know the

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34 Day 4 Game-viewing drives • maintain a source of food, but now they are Controversial Topic: Animal being told that animal conservation is the best Conservation vs. Local Poverty with an way to go to attract paying visitors. This has left anti-poaching activist local villagers in poverty with limited means to support their families as they are no longer • Destination: Karongwe Private Game Reserve allowed to hunt. Wildlife, such as antelope • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (a good food source) are plentiful in South • Accommodations: Kuname Lodge or similar Africa’s Reserves and Parks, and each year Activity Note: We’ll set out very early in the these animals have to be taken out of the parks morning (with a 5:30am wake-up call). When to protect the environment. Instead of culling dressing for these game-viewing drives, keep these animals or selling them annually, locals in mind that neutral earth tones (browns, tans, argue that these surplus antelope be set aside greys, or greens) are usually best—blue or black in certain areas for the communities to hunt clothing should be avoided in certain areas as to feed their families. During our hour-long they attract tsetse flies. And while temperatures conversation, we will spend around 40 minutes vary greatly depending on the time of year, asking any questions we may have. the air is usually cool on early morning game Lunch: Enjoy a buffet-style lunch at the lodge drives, so you may wish to dress in layers to around 1pm. stay warm. Afternoon: You are free to spend some time Early morning: We rise at around 5:30am. We’ll on your own this afternoon—perhaps you’ll have tea, coffee, and light snacks before we set simply take the opportunity to relax at our off on a game-viewing drive at around 6:30am. camp. Or, opt for another chance to discover We’ll return to our lodge around 10am. your surroundings on foot during a guided Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the lodge game-viewing walk. Let an expert guide lead beginning at 10am, featuring a selection of hot you on an exploration in the bush where you and cold breakfast items. may take in the reserve’s natural beauty, and perhaps discover animals taking a drink from Morning: We’ll enjoy some free time to relax the nearby Makutsi River. at the lodge today. Then around 12pm, we’ll meet a local anti-poaching activist at the After having afternoon tea at around 3pm, we’ll lodge to discuss a Controversial Topic: The enjoy a game-viewing drive with sundowners. issue of animal conservation versus poverty. Keep an eye out for a leopard slinking by Many people who live near South Africa’s or perched in a tree. We return to our lodge National Parks view conservation as a white around 6pm. man’s ideal—a belief leftover from laws Dinner: Around 7:30pm at our lodge, we’ll have during Apartheid that prevented black people a variety of regional options to choose from at from entering the parks. They also feel that the buffet. conservation places a greater value on the life of animals than it does on humans. Some Evening: On your own—you are free to return people resort to hunting in order to save their to your room or relax with fellow travelers by families from starvation, yet if caught they the fire pit to talk about the day’s activities and would be arrested and jailed. In the past, your upcoming Africa discoveries. subsistence hunting helped these families

Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925

35 Day 5 Game-viewing drives Evening: On your own—you’re free to relax at the campsite. Perhaps you’ll sit by the fire and • Destination: Karongwe Private Game Reserve observe the stars of the African night sky for • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner our last night at the game reserve. • Accommodations: Kuname Lodge or similar Activity Note: We will have an early wake-up Day 6 Morning game-viewing drive • Fly to call at about 5:30am. Johannesburg • Join main trip

Early morning: We rise early at around 5:30am. • Destination: Johannesburg We’ll have tea, coffee, and light snacks before • Included Meals: Breakfast we set off on a game-viewing drive—during Activity Note: You’ll have an early 5:30am which we’ll enjoy another opportunity to spot wake-up call for a morning of game viewing. a diverse array of species, including cheetah, giraffe, baboon, vervet monkey, impala, and Early morning: We rise early for our final day of more. We return to our lodge at around 10am. explorations (around 5:30am). We’ll have tea, coffee, and light snacks before we take one last Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the lodge game-viewing drive in this area. beginning around 10am, featuring a selection of hot and cold breakfast items. Breakfast: We return to the lodge at about 9am where a selection of hot and cold breakfast Morning: Enjoy some free time this morning items will be served buffet-style. to relax at the lodge. On our last full day, you’ll have another opportunity to take an optional Morning: We depart the lodge at around 11am guided game-viewing walk in the bush at about and board our bus for the nearly 1.5-hour drive 11am with a local guide. This time, you may to Hoedspruit Airport. want to change your focus and start looking up: Lunch: Lunch is on your own today, so you may Bustards, bee-eaters, eagles, and herons are want to grab something to eat before our flight. common in this area. Afternoon: Our short 1-hour flight leaves Lunch: Enjoy lunch from the lodge’s buffet around 12:15pm. Upon arrival just after 1pm, around 1pm. we board our bus and depart for Johannesburg. Afternoon: You’ll have about 30 minutes of free We arrive in Johannesburg at about 2pm and time to relax before we gather for tea at 2:30pm. transfer to our hotel where you’ll meet the rest Then around 3pm, we’ll enjoy an afternoon of your fellow travelers who are joining you game-viewing drive with sundowners as our on your Ultimate Africa: Botswana, Zambia & final day of exploration draws to a close. We Zimbabwe Safari adventure. return to our lodge around 7:30pm. Dinner/Evening: On your own—your Extension Dinner: We’ll toast to our discoveries Guide can provide restaurant recommendations we’ve made over the past few days and the on the best locales for whatever your explorations to come during our Farewell preferences are. Later, enjoy free time to rest at Dinner at the lodge this evening. the hotel before our explorations tomorrow, or you may venture out on an evening stroll.

Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925

36 PRE-TRIP Namibia: Colonial Windhoek, Sossusvlei Dunes & the Skeleton Coast

INCLUDED IN YOUR PRICE

» Accommodations: 1 night in Johannesburg » 7 small group activities and 1 at Southern Sun O.R. Tambo hotel, 2 nights game-viewing drive in Windhoek at Olive Grove Guesthouse, 2 » Services of a local O.A.T. Trip nights in Sossusvlei at Sossusvlei Lodge, Experience Leader and 2 nights in Swakopmund at Hotel » Gratuities for local guides, drivers, and Pension A La Mer luggage porters » 18 meals—7 breakfasts, 5 lunches, » All transfers and 6 dinners

PRE-TRIP EXTENSION ITINERARY

Immerse yourself in all the country of Namibia has to offer when you take this fascinating pre-trip extension. Discover the capital city of Windhoek, and the vestiges of its German colonial past … climb red sand dunes and traverse deep canyons in Sossusvlei … and witness the unique flora and fauna along Namibia’s famous Skeleton Coast Road.

Day 1 Depart U.S. Day 3 Fly to Windhoek, Namibia • Explore Windhoek Depart today on your overnight flight from the U.S. to Johannesburg, South Africa. • Destination: Windhoek • Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner Day 2 Arrive in Johannesburg, • Accommodations: Olive Grove Guesthouse South Africa or similar • Destination: Johannesburg Breakfast: At the hotel. • Accommodations: Southern Sun O.R. Tambo Morning: We’ll transfer to the airport, arriving International Hotel or similar at Windhoek International Airport about two Afternoon: You’ll arrive in Johannesburg in the hours later. afternoon, then drive to check in to our hotel. Lunch: During our flight today. Dinner/Evening: On your own—you are free Afternoon: Upon arrival, we’ll transfer to our to rest in your room after your long flight to guest house. prepare for tomorrow’s discoveries, eat dinner at the hotel restaurant, or venture out to explore Johannesburg’s nightlife.

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37 After we settle in, we’ll meet up with a local Before heading back to our lodge for the guide and head out to discover Windhoek—the evening, we’ll witness sunset over the capital and largest city of Namibia—on a Namib Desert. walking tour. The political, cultural, and Dinner: At the lodge. economic center of the country, Windhoek also has a distinctly European feel from its years Evening: Free to spend as you’d like. as a German colony from 1890 to 1915. We will see evidence of German influence today when Day 5 Visit the Sossusvlei dune fields • we visit Christuskirche, a Lutheran Church Explore Sesriem Canyon built in 1896; the Parliament Gardens; and Tintenpalast, which houses the Namibian • Destination: Sossusvlei government. Well also visit the Alte Feste, • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner or Old Fort, constructed around 1890 with • Accommodations: Sossusvlei Lodge the arrival of the Germans and strategically or similar positioned to overlook the valley. Activity Note: Today begins with a very early Dinner: At a local restaurant. morning wake-up call.

Evening: Free to spend as you’d like. Breakfast: At the lodge.

Morning: After an early wake-up call and Day 4 Overland to Sossusvlei • breakfast, we’ll drive to the dune fields of Game-viewing drive Sossusvlei, home to some of the highest sand • Destination: Sossusvlei dunes in the world. As we explore, we’ll have • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner the opportunity to see, photograph—and climb, if you wish—the famous red sand Dune 45. • Accommodations: Sossusvlei Lodge Before the desert sun has a chance to reach its or similar zenith, we’ll return to our lodge to escape the Breakfast: At the guest house. midday heat.

Morning: This morning we’ll depart Windhoek Lunch: At the lodge. via motorcoach for Sossusvlei crossing through the scenic Spreetshoogte Pass—Namibia’s Afternoon: After lunch, we’ll have around 3 steepest mountain pass. Along the way, we’ll hours to spend as you wish. Perhaps you’ll visit stop to enjoy sweeping views of one of the the lodge’s onsite beer garden, enjoying a cool highest roads in the country. drink beneath the shade of acacia trees, or take a refreshing dip in the outdoor pool. Lunch: At a local restaurant in the town of Solitaire, specializing in apple pie. Then late this afternoon, we’ll set off via motorcoach to visit Sesriem Canyon. Upon Afternoon: Arrive and check into our lodge. arrival we’ll discover the canyon on foot and After we’ve settled in, we’ll embark on a sunset learn fascinating insights into the geological game drive with a local guide, keeping a lookout history of the area as we explore. Created for the unique wildlife that have adapted to between two and four million years ago survive in the harsh conditions of one of the when continental shifts caused rivers to flow world’s oldest deserts—such as baboons, westward through the Namib Desert, today cheetah, hyena, and even wild desert horses. the canyon entices visitors with its interesting

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38 layers of exposed rock and crystal clear We’ll then continue on to Walvis Bay, arriving pools collected on the canyon’s floor after in the late morning. Coveted for its natural heavy rains. deep-sea harbor, Walvis Bay fell under Dutch control in 1793 and was annexed by the British Dinner: At the lodge. two years later. In 1910, Walvis Bay was ceded Evening: Free to spend as you’d like. to the South African Union, where it remained until as recently as 1994. Once a center for Day 6 Optional Sunrise Balloon the whaling industry, Walvis Bay is still an important fishing port, and the salt fields of Safari • Visit Walvis Bay • Overland to this area produce 400,000 tons of high-quality Swakopmund • Dinner with local family in salt annually. Swakopmund township Lunch: At a local restaurant in Walvis Bay, • Destination: Swakopmund featuring classic Namibian fare. • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner • Accommodations: Hotel Pension A La Mer Afternoon: We’ll spend some time exploring or similar Walvis Bay and discover that its reed-fringed, fresh-water lagoon is southern Africa’s most Activity Note: Travelers who choose to important wetland for coastal birds. During participate in the elective Sunrise Balloon Safari much of the year, huge flocks of seabirds stroll optional tour will have an extra early wakeup along the lagoon—while hungry, fleet-footed call on this day. This activity may need to be jackals and other predators hide in the giant canceled in the event of inclement weather. dunes skirting the shoreline. Among the many Early Morning: Rise extra early to join an aviary creatures who make their home here optional hot-air balloon ride that journeys high are flamingos; in fact, it is reported that at the above vast Sossusvlei, where you can witness height of their visit, flamingo numbers are in the sun rising and soar with the winds for excess of 40,000 birds. approximately one hour. We’ll then continue our drive to Swakopmund, Breakfast: At the lodge. arriving in the late afternoon. We’ll check into our hotel and you’ll have some free time to Morning: We’ll bid farewell to Sossusvlei and unpack and settle in. begin our overland journey to Swakopmund. To break up our drive, we’ll make several Dinner: At the home of a local family in stops. First up: Namib-Naukluft Park, where Swakopmund township. We’ll learn to prepare we’ll behold the world’s tallest sand dunes, mahangu (a traditional Namibian maize a mountainscape of towering sands whose porridge) and then sit down with our hosts to colors shift with the light and wind. The park enjoy a home-cooked meal made with seasonal offers us an opportunity to see some of the ingredients. wildlife that make their home in the desert, Evening: Free to spend as you’d like. including gemsboks, springboks, jackals, and hyenas. We’ll also pass through the Kuiseb Canyon, where Henno Martin and Hermann Korn hid from the Germans for over two years, an experience captured in Martin’s book The Sheltering Desert.

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39 Day 7 Explore the Skeleton Coast admire these remarkable organisms, be careful where you step—a cruched lichen can take 40 • Destination: Swakopmund to 50 years to regenerate. • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner • Accommodations: Hotel Pension A La Mer Next, we’ll we head to Cape Cross, a large or similar breeding site for Cape fur seals—as we’ll be sure to notice, since there may be 100,000 or Breakfast: At the hotel. more of them at any time enjoying the cold Morning: Today we set out on a full-day tour Atlantic waters or basking on the beach. While of Namibia’s famed Skeleton Coast—one of Cape Cross is a protected Seal Fur preserve, the the most dangerous lengths of coastline in the Namibian government still allows seal hunting. world for ancient mariners. This legendary We’ll learn more about this controversial policy coastline is aptly named for the many ships before setting off for Henties Bay, a small whose “bones” have washed up along its coastal town. treacherous, mist-shrouded shores over the Lunch: At a local restaurant in Henties Bay, years. Raging currents, violent storms, heavy featuring fresh Namibian seafood. fog, and a lack of safe harbors are to blame for the estimated 1,000 shipwrecks that have Afternoon: We’ll return to our hotel in been found here at the edge of the sea. The Swakopmund, arriving in the mid-afternoon. windblown sands are constantly unearthing There, you’ll have a few hours of free time to new wrecks and covering old ones. This explore independently. You might like to visit beautiful but dangerous coastline also harbors the National Aquarium, which boasts unique the bones of unfortunate sailors who manned walk-through tunnels so visitors can truly the ships and met an untimely end here. immerse themselves in Namibian aquatic life. Portuguese sailors referred to the coast as “The Or, enjoy a beer at a local brewery. Sands of Hell,” and Namibian Bushmen called it “The Land God Made in Anger.” Whale and seal Dinner: At a local restaurant in Swakopmund, bones also contributed to the coastline’s name, featuring typical Namibian cuisine. as they dotted the shore during the whaling era. Evening: Free to spend as you’d like. First, we’ll drive to Wlotskasbaken, a remote vacation town along the coast. Wlotskasbaken Day 8 Overland to Windhoek features a variety of holiday homes and town • Destination: Windhoek buildings with unusual architectural designs; • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner their brightly-painted exteriors, combined • Accommodations: Olive Grove Guesthouse with the stark canvas of the desert, make for an or similar unexpected and even surreal scene. Next, we’ll drive to the nearby Living Lichen fields. Lichens Breakfast: At the lodge. are an unusual and impressive organism in that Morning: Enjoy a free morning in Swakopmund they are neither plants nor animals; composed to make any final discoveries. of both a fungus and an alga, they represent one of nature’s most perfect examples of a Lunch: At a local restaurant in Swakopmund, symbiotic relationship. We’ll view the lichens featuring typical dishes of the region. at Messum Crater in the Namib Desert, where a particularly rich thicket of lichen grows. As we

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40 Afternoon: We’ll board our private motorcoach Evening: Free to explore as you’d like. Retire and set out on our 2.5 hour overland transfer early to pack or hit the town for one last to Windhoek. Along the way, we will stop at nightcap in Namibia with your fellow travelers. Okahandja to explore its famous craft market. Known primarily as a woodcarver’s market, Day 9 Fly to Johannesburg • Join main trip the craftspeople here are renowned for their • Included Meals: Breakfast incredibly expressive animal carvings, ranging in size from life-sized to ones that fit in the Breakfast: At the hotel. palm of your hand. Morning: After breakfast, we’ll transfer to the When we arrive, in the late afternoon, we’ll airport for our flight back to Johannesburg. check into our hotel and you’ll have some time Lunch: On your own. You might like to to relax and settle in. grab something at the airport to eat during Dinner: Our small group will enjoy a Farewell your flight. Dinner this evening, complete with the Afternoon: Upon arrival, we’ll transfer to our Namibian staples we’ve come to know and a hotel where you’ll meet the rest of your fellow toast to the memories we’ve made. travelers who are joining you on your Ultimate Africa: Botswana, Zambia & Zimbabwe Safari adventure.

OPTIONAL TOUR

Sunrise Balloon Safari (Day 6 $470 per person) Arise early to embark on a hot-air balloon ride that journeys high above vast Sossusvlei, where you can witness the sun rising and soar with the winds. A light breakfast will be provided for those taking part in this early morning excursion. Please note: This Optional Tour can only be sold onsite as it is dependent on the weather to operate.

Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925

41 POST-TRIP Cape Town & the Cape of Good Hope

INCLUDED IN YOUR PRICE

» Airfare to Cape Town » Services of a local O.A.T. Trip » Accommodations for 4 nights in Cape Town Experience Leader at the Sunsquare City Bowl Hotel or similar » Gratuities for local guides, drivers, and » 6 meals—4 breakfasts, 1 lunch, and 1 luggage porters Home-Hosted Dinner » All transfers » 3 small group activities

POST-TRIP EXTENSION ITINERARY

With Table Mountain as its backdrop, a bevy of bays at its feet, and the lushest foliage this side of paradise, Cape Town arguably occupies one of the most spectacular natural settings on Earth. Here is your chance to revel in it—and to witness the amazing social transformation of the “Rainbow Nation.”

Day 1 Arrive in Cape Town • of shops and restaurants, which you can Home-Hosted Dinner enjoy during your free time. Typical on-site amenities include a fitness center, an indoor • Destination: Cape Town pool, a bar, and a restaurant. Typically, • Included Meals: Dinner each of the air-conditioned rooms features • Accommodations: Sunsquare City Bowl Hotel a TV, wireless Internet access, coffee- and or similar tea-making facilities, and a private bathroom. Morning: Around 8:45am, we’ll board a bus Around 4:45pm, we’ll gather for a 30-minute with our luggage and drive about 30 minutes orientation walk around the vicinity of our to the airport. Then, around 11:45am, we’ll fly hotel. Our Trip Experience Leader will point out from Victoria Falls to Cape Town, which will restaurant recommendations and suggestions take around two hours. for where you can spend free time.

Lunch: On your own—you may grab lunch at Just before 6:30pm, we’ll split up into smaller the airport. groups and board our buses to drive for about 30 minutes to the homes of local families. Afternoon: We arrive in Cape Town between 1:45pm and 2:45pm. An O.A.T. representative Dinner: Around 7:15pm, we’ll join our hosts will meet us at the airport and we’ll board a for a traditional Home-Hosted Dinner. We’ll bus for the approximately 45-minute drive have the opportunity to enjoy regional cuisine, to our hotel. Depending on which hotel we while getting an intimate glimpse of daily life in stay at, we’ll likely be located in the heart Cape Town. of the city, in close proximity to a variety

Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925

42 Evening: Around 8:15pm, we’ll board our bus get an intimate glimpse of its rich history as a and drive a little more than 30 minutes back to former political prisoner leads you on a 3- to the hotel. Upon arrival, you may wish to retire 4-hour tour. to your room to get some sleep before our early • How to get there: A 10- to 15-minute taxi start tomorrow, or you may head to the hotel’s ride, about $8 USD one way. bar for a nightcap. • Hours: The ferry picks travelers up at 9am, Freedom To Explore: During your four full days 11am, and 1pm, daily. in Cape Town, you have the freedom to explore • Cost: About $25 USD. this vibrant city on your own during your free • Set off on a cooking tour in Bo-Kaap: Satisfy time. Below are a few recommended options for your curiosity on this culinary tour of Bo- independent explorations: Kaap, a vibrant neighborhood in Cape Town. During a walking tour led by local community • Enjoy high tea at Mount Nelson Hotel: Visit members, you’ll discover the history of Bo- the historic Mount Nelson Hotel, a five-star Kaap’s culinary landscape, and the influence accommodation located in the heart of Cape the neighborhood’s distinct cuisine has had Town, to enjoy afternoon tea. Against the on South African flavors. Then, you’ll step pink backdrop of the hotel, which was painted into a local family’s home for a hands-on 3- at the end of World War I to symbolize to 4-hour cooking lesson, where we’ll learn to hope, we’ll sip tea and sample a selection of cook local specialties like saffron rice or lamb savory treats and sweets, including salmon casserole. sandwiches, cheesecakes, macarons, and lemon meringue. Plus, soak in the history • How to get there: A 10- to 15-minute taxi surrounding this iconic hotel, where Nelson ride, about $5 USD one way. Mandela, John Lennon, and the Dalai Lama • Hours: 10:30am, Tuesday-Thursday. have all visited. • Cost: About $70 USD. • How to get there: A 5- to 10-minute taxi Day 2 Explore Cape Town • Optional ride, about $6 USD one way. Townships of Cape Town tour • Hours: 1pm-3pm and 3:30pm-5:30pm, daily. • Destination: Cape Town • Cost: About $30 USD. • Included Meals: Breakfast • Accommodations: Sunsquare City Bowl Hotel • Take a tour of Robben Island: Venture to the or similar infamous island where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 of his 27 years in prison, Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the hotel and discover the site’s other uses as a hos- starting at 7am, featuring local cuisine. pital, mental institution, and military base. Morning: We’ll board our bus and depart the Hop aboard a double-decker ferry for a ride hotel around 8am for a 6-hour city tour with of about 1.5 hours to the island, where you’ll our Trip Experience Leader. Depending on wind conditions, we will travel by cable car up to Table Mountain, one of Cape Town’s most dramatic natural landmarks. Weather permitting, we may enjoy views of the Atlantic Ocean, the bays, the city below, and the peninsula that meanders south to the Cape

Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925

43 of Good Hope. Some 1,400 species of wild learn about their rich and fascinating culture flowering plants grow on and around Table from a resident. We’ll conclude our Optional Mountain, which is also home to the unusual Tour by driving through the nearby townships rock hyrax (often called dassies), rodent-like of Guguletu and Bonteheuwel before driving creatures whose closest living relative is the about 45 minutes back to our hotel, arriving elephant. Perhaps you’ll see some during your around 6pm. optional walk around the mountaintop. Dinner: On your own—your Trip Experience We will spend 1.5 hours here before we enjoy Leader can provide recommendations on the a 1-hour visit to the lovely National Botanical best locales for whatever your preferences are. Gardens of Kirstenbosch, a dazzling showcase You may seek out traditional ugali, a type of of nearly 4,000 varieties of indigenous flowers porridge that is usually combined with meat or and plants. The garden rests on the lower slopes vegetable stew. of Table Mountain, with the forest interspersed Evening: On your own—you may wish to retire with the broad lawns and cultivated pathways to your room to get some sleep before our early of the gardens. We’ll cap off our tour at a local start tomorrow. diamond factory where we’ll learn about how diamonds are formed, mined, cut, and then we’ll have a chance to see the final product. Day 3 Explore Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve • Controversial Topic: The South Lunch: On your own around 1pm—you may African courts’ views on the murder of want to find a lunch spot along the waterfront. drug-addicted family members Your Trip Experience Leader can provide recommendations on the best locales for • Destination: Cape Town whatever your preferences are. You may search • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch for a restaurant that serves local dishes like • Accommodations: Sunsquare City Bowl Hotel bunny chow. While this dish’s name implies or similar the use of rabbit as an ingredient, it typically Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the hotel consists of other meats like beef or chicken, starting at 7am, featuring local cuisine. which is prepared in a curry and served in a bread bowl. Morning: We board our bus and depart the hotel around 8am. We’ll travel along the coast, Afternoon: On your own—you can spend the enjoying views of majestic Table Mountain afternoon exploring Cape Town at your own rising in the distance. We continue further onto pace. Or join us for our optional Townships of the Cape Peninsula itself, along the coast road, Cape Town tour at 2pm. Although townships the Atlantic Ocean’s crashing surf endlessly were established during the apartheid era splashing the rocks below. Soon we reach the for non-whites, today they are vibrant urban Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, with its communities that house a large percent of wild fynbos landscapes, variety of flowers, Cape Town’s population. Learn more about elusive bontebok, baboons, and ocean views. their history during a 30-minute visit to the District 6 Museum around 2:30pm. Then, we’ll Contrary to popular belief, the Cape Peninsula is take our bus to the Langa township, arriving not consistently where the Indian and Atlantic around 3:30pm, and we’ll have a little over oceans meet. Because of shifting currents, that 1 hour to meet the people who live here, and distinction is shared with lesser-known Cape

Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925

44 Agulhas, approximately 150 miles east of the doors for parents to kill their drug-addicted Cape Peninsula. When you get to the tip of the family members instead of seeking help first. Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, you’ll see Others, however, believed the murder was Cape Point, the technical “Cape of Good Hope.” justified considering the enormous abuse Ellen Rapidly changing climatic conditions and had been put through. During our hour-long the Indian Ocean currents coming from Cape conversation, we’ll have around 40 minutes Agulhas make this a particularly dangerous to ask any questions we may have. This topic spot for ships. Your local guide will tell you may be upsetting to hear, but it will also paint a that more “sightings” of the legendary ghost fuller picture of life in South Africa and bring us ship, the Flying Dutchman, are reported here closer to the issues that affect the people who than anywhere else in the world. Who knows live here. what you’ll spy on the distant horizons as you We’ll begin our return trip to Cape Town at gaze from the Cape Point viewing platform? about 3pm, stopping along the False Bay We explore some of the vegetation and more coastline for a chance to see the penguins at remote corners of this nature reserve. Boulders Beach. Passing Simon’s Town and We’ll conclude our discoveries shortly before Fish Hoek, we arrive back at the hotel around 12:30pm and drive for 10 minutes to a local 3:45pm. The rest of the afternoon is on your restaurant. own to relax or explore independently.

Lunch: At about 12:30pm at a local restaurant, Dinner: On your own—your Trip Experience where you’ll have a selection of seafood and Leader can provide recommendations on the traditional dishes to choose from. best locales for whatever your preferences are.

Afternoon: Around 1:30pm, we will meet a local Evening: On your own—you may wish to retire mother whose child is addicted to “tik” (crystal to your room to rest, or you and your fellow meth) to discuss the Controversial Topic of the travelers may grab a drink at the hotel’s bar to courts’ views on the murder of family members discuss your explorations thus far. addicted to this highly destructive drug that Afternoon: Around 1:30pm, we will meet a local shatters lives and destroys families. She will mother whose child is addicted to “tik” (crystal tell us the story of another mother—Ellen meth) to discuss the Controversial Topic of the Pakkies—who killed her own tik-addicted courts’ views on the murder of family members son after years of enduring his abuse. Ellen addicted to this highly destructive drug that was known as a loving mother, a religious shatters lives and destroys families. She will woman, and an upstanding member of her tell us the story of another mother—Ellen community. But on a September morning in Pakkies—who killed her own tik-addicted son 2007, she killed her son Abie after suffering after years of enduring his abuse. Ellen was years of abuse and violence—as do many known as a loving mother, a religious woman, mothers and other family members with kids and an upstanding member of her community. who use tik. After a great deal of support, Ellen But on a September morning in 2007, she killed was acquitted of murder—the South African her son Abie—a tik addict. Ellen suffered abuse courts having ruled it is it acceptable to kill at the hands of her tik-addicted son, as do your own child under these circumstances. The many mothers and other family members with debates around this judgement have been quite kids who use tik. After a great deal of support, heated, as some people believe it opened the Ellen was acquitted of murder—the South

Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925

45 African courts having ruled it is it acceptable to Lunch: On your own—seek out traditional kill your own child under these circumstances. cuisine during your free day. For those travelers The debates around this judgement have been on our Optional Tour, a light lunch will be quite heated, as some people believe it opened served at the vineyard. the doors for parents to kill their drug-addicted Afternoon: Travelers who chose to stay in Cape family members instead of seeking help first. Town can continue enjoying free time. You Others, however, believed the murder was may choose to venture to the Mount Nelson justified considering the enormous abuse Ellen Hotel where you can sip tea and indulge in little had been put through. During our hour-long snacks. Travelers on the Optional Tour will conversation, we’ll have around 40 minutes to rejoin the rest of the group back at the hotel at ask any questions we may have. This topic may around 4:30pm. be upsetting to hear, but it will also paint us the full picture of life in South Africa and bring us Dinner: On your own—your Trip Experience closer to the issues that affect the people who Leader can provide recommendations on the live here. best locales for whatever your preferences are. Perhaps you’ll seek out a restaurant that Day 4 Cape Town • Optional Tour to serves traditional dishes like bobotie, a hearty Stellenbosch Wine Country meat pie prepared with egg custard and, on occasion, fruit. • Destination: Cape Town • Included Meals: Breakfast Evening: Free for your own discoveries. You • Accommodations: Sunsquare City Bowl Hotel may wish to retire to your room to rest, or or similar if you wish to explore this vibrant city this evening, your Trip Experience Leader can offer Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the hotel suggestions on a wide range of activities. starting at 7am, featuring local cuisine.

Morning: Today you have all day to explore Day 5 Cape Town • Return to U.S. Cape Town on your own. Perhaps you’ll take the • Destination: U.S. ferry to Robben Island where you can trace the • Included Meals: Breakfast history of Nelson Mandela’s imprisonment. Or, depart the hotel at 8am for an exciting, full-day Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the hotel optional tour of Stellenbosch Wine Country. starting at 7am, featuring local cuisine.

During this Optional Tour, we’ll visit the heart Morning: Depending on your flight of South Africa’s beautiful wine country and the arrangements, we’ll have a later wake-up historic area around the town of Stellenbosch. call today at 8am, followed by free time. We’ll visit various wine estates, tasting and This morning you can simply relax, or take sampling their offerings. The scenery includes the opportunity to do some last-minute rolling hills, farms, and dramatic mountain sightseeing on your own. Then, you’ll board vistas. This area is also the heart of Cape Dutch a van for a 45-minute drive to the Cape Town culture, and you will see fine examples of airport for your flight home to the U.S. traditional architecture while learning about the history of early settlements here.

Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925

46 OPTIONAL TOURS

Townships of Cape Town (Day 2 $40 per person) Discover the Townships of Langa, Guguletu, and Bonteheuwel on this tour, learning from the locals about their daily lives. Although the townships were originally created during the apartheid period as residential areas for non-whites, today they are vital and energetic urban communities that house a large percent of Cape Town’s population. In a tour that will add to our in-depth knowledge of South Africa’s people, we’ll focus on the traditions, culture, and customs of the residents of these townships though a guided tour and home visit. This optional tour should be pre-booked at least 45 days prior to departure to guarantee space.

Stellenbosch Wine Country (Day 4 $90 per person) Join us on a full-day optional tour to the heart of South Africa’s beautiful wine country to explore the historic area around the town of Stellenbosch. We’ll visit various wine estates, tasting and sampling their delicious offerings. The scenery includes rolling hills, graceful farms, and dramatic mountain vistas. This area is also the heart of Cape Dutch culture, and you will see fine examples of traditional architecture while learning about the history of early settlement here. This optional tour must be pre-booked at least 45 days prior to departure to guarantee space.

Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925

47 POST-TRIP Uganda Discoveries: Mountain Gorillas of Bwindi & Queen Elizabeth National Park

INCLUDED IN YOUR PRICE

» Accommodations: 1 night in Johannesburg » 3 small group activities and 3 safari at Southern Sun Hotel, 1 night in Entebbe at game-viewing drives Boma House, 2 nights in Bwindi at Engagi » Services of a local O.A.T. Trip Lodge, and 3 nights in Queen Elizabeth Experience Leader National Park at Kasenyi Safari Camp » Gratuities for local guides, drivers, and » 18 meals—7 breakfasts, 5 lunches, luggage porters and 6 dinners » All transfers

POST-TRIP EXTENSION ITINERARY

Wrap up your discoveries on the African continent with a journey to Uganda, and encounter families of mountain gorillas, glimpse the wildlife of the savannah on game drives, and cruise down the Kazinga Channel in search of floating hippos.

Day 1 Fly to Johannesburg Day 2 Fly to Entebbe, Uganda via Nairobi • Destination: Johannesburg • Destination: Entebbe • Accommodations: Southern Sun O.R. Tambo • Included Meals: Breakfast International Hotel or similar • Accommodations: The Boma Hotel or similar

Morning: We’ll transfer to the airport for our Breakfast: At the hotel. flight to Johannesburg. Morning: We’ll transfer to the Johannesburg Lunch: On your own during our flight today. Airport for our flight to Nairobi.

Afternoon: Upon arrival, we’ll transfer to Lunch: On your own—you may wish to eat our hotel. during your flight.

Dinner: On your own—ask your Trip Afternoon: Once we arrive in Nairobi, we’ll Experience Leader for suggestions. transfer for our flight to Entebbe, Uganda.

Evening: Free to spend as you’d like. Dinner: On your own—you may wish to eat during your flight.

Evening: Upon arrival in Entebbe, we’ll transfer to our hotel, check in, and get settled for the night.

Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925

48 Day 3 Fly to Bwindi • Controversial Topic: feet. As overexposure to humans is harmful The Rise and Fall of Idi Amin to mountain gorillas, contact is limited to one hour. • Destination: Bwindi • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Breakfast: At the lodge. • Accommodations: Engagi Lodge or similar Morning: Board a private motorcoach this Breakfast: At the hotel, early this morning. morning and set off for Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park to begin a morning of Morning: We’ll transfer to the Entebbe Airport incredible discoveries during our mountain for our early morning flight to Bwindi. Upon gorilla trekking experience. Skilled trackers arrival, we’ll transfer to our lodge in Bwindi’s have gone ahead of us to locate a good spot to Impenetrable Forest. Take some time to rest visit one of the park’s populations of mountain and freshen up after your journey once we gorilla families. There are only around 500 check in. mountain gorillas living in the forest today. Lunch: At the lodge. We will spend a few hours here trekking before Afternoon: We’ll take part discussing a driving back to our lodge. Controversial Topic—The Rise and Fall of Lunch: At the lodge. Idi Amin, the country’s infamous former president known as the “Butcher of Uganda” Afternoon: Free to explore how you wish. and considered to be one of most brutal despots Dinner: At the lodge. in history. Then we’ll take a walk through the local village with our Trip Experience Leader. Evening: Free to spend how you wish.

Later, back at the lodge, we’ll receive a briefing from a park ranger about tomorrow’s activity: Day 5 Overland to Queen Elizabeth gorilla trekking. We’ll go over the various safety National Park National Park details we’ll need to know before our excursion. • Destination: Queen Elizabeth National Park

Dinner: At the lodge. • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner • Accommodations: Kasenyi Safari Camp Evening: Free to spend how you wish. or similar

Breakfast: At the lodge. Day 4 Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park Morning: Today we will check out of our lodge and journey overland to Queen Elizabeth • Destination: Bwindi National Park, arriving just before lunch. We’ll • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner check into our camp and get settled in. • Accommodations: Engagi Lodge or similar Lunch: At the camp. Activity Note: Today’s mountain gorilla trek typically involves two to four hours of walking Afternoon: We’ll have around 2 hours of free through thick brush over steep, rugged terrain time after lunch, then we will set out on an at elevations ranging from 7,000 to 9,000 afternoon game-viewing drive in the park for a

Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925

49 chance to see different animals like buffaloes, Morning: After breakfast, we’ll drive to Lake leopards, and elephants. After a 3-hour Katwe, a crater lake situated inside Queen excursion, we’ll return to our camp. Elizabeth National Park. While several streams flow into the lake, it does not have an outlet, so Dinner: At the camp. the intense evaporation during the dry season Evening: Free to spend how you wish. leads the lake water to become extremely salty. Today we will learn how locals extract precious Day 6 Morning game-viewing drive • salt from the lake, using methods that have remained unchanged for decades. Cruise along the Kazinga Channel • Destination: Queen Elizabeth National Park After a tour of the site and a visit to the nearby • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner village, we’ll drive back to our camp. • Accommodations: Kasenyi Safari Camp Lunch: At the camp. or similar Afternoon: After some free time, we’ll head Breakfast: At the camp. back out into Queen Elizabeth National Park for Morning: Get another chance to glimpse an afternoon game-viewing drive. the wildlife of Queen Elizabeth National Dinner: At the camp. Park—perhaps sighting giraffes, lions, or antelopes. Evening: Free to spend how you wish.

Lunch: At the camp. Day 8 Fly to Entebbe • Return to U.S. Afternoon: Our private motorcoach will take • Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner us to a docking site along the Kazinga Channel. From here, we’ll embark on a cruise down the Breakfast: At the camp. channel. This cruise gives us the opportunity to Morning: Today we will begin our travels see Uganda’s wildlife from another perspective. home, starting with our flight to Entebbe. Once The channel attracts all manner of species, such we arrive, we will check into a hotel near the as buffaloes, antelopes, crocodiles and—of airport for the day, giving us time to rest up for course—hippos. the next leg of our journey. Dinner: At the camp. Lunch: On your own—ask your Trip Experience Evening: Free to spend how you wish. Leader for recommendations.

Afternoon: Free to spend how you choose. Day 7 Lake Katwe salt extraction site visit • Afternoon game-viewing drive Dinner: At the hotel. • Destination: Queen Elizabeth National Park Evening: After dinner, we’ll depart for the • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner airport and board our flight back to the U.S. • Accommodations: Kasenyi Safari Camp or similar

Breakfast: At the camp.

Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925

50 Ultimate Africa: Botswana, OUR SMALL GROUP ADVENTURE COVID-19 VACCINATION POLICY To ensure the safety of all of our travelers, we are requiring that all travelers Zambia & Zimbabwe Safari joining us on one of our Small Group Adventures must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 at least 14 days prior to departure of their adventure— and provide proof of their vaccination on-site. 2022 Dates & Prices For more details, please visit www.oattravel.com/covid-update.

J A N U A R Y - M A Y ; AUG 12-31; DEPART FROM F E B R U A R Y M A R C H A P R I L OCT 1-25 JUNE-JULY AUG 1-10 SEP 13-28 SEP 1-12 OCT 26-31

New York $ 5395 $5995 $7095 $7995 $8695 $8795 $8495 $ 8595 $7395

Newark, Washington, DC $ 5495 $ 6095 $ 7195 $ 8095 $ 8795 $ 8895 $ 8595 $8695 $ 7495

H o u s t o n $ 5595 $6195 $7295 $8195 $ 8895 $ 8995 $ 8695 $ 8795 $ 7595

Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Los Angeles, Miami, Orlando, $ 5695 $6295 $7395 $8295 $ 8995 $ 9095 $ 8795 $8895 $ 7695 Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle

Atlanta, Minneapolis, Tampa $ 5795 $ 6395 $ 7495 $ 8395 $9095 $9195 $8895 $ 8995 $ 7795

Additional departure cities are available. Upgrade to Business Class may be available for the international portion of your flight. Call for details.

J A N U A R Y - J U N E - AUG AUG O C T O C T F E B R U A R Y M A R C H A P R I L M A Y JULY 1-10 12-31 SEPTEMBER 1-25 26-31 Without international airfare $ 3895 $ 4495 $ 5495 $ 6395 $ 6595 $ 6695 $ 6895 $ 6995 $ 6495 $ 5895

BOT2022

NEW! STOPOVERS RISK-FREE BOOKING POLICY: RESERVE WITH CONFIDENCE— All O.A.T. Stopovers include 3 nights in a centrally- NOW THROUGH 12/31/21 located hotel, daily breakfasts, and roundtrip private airport transfers. We will waive any change fees if you transfer to another departure date for any reason—up until 24 hours prior to departure. See details at www.oattravel.com/ Istanbul : $ 695 per person riskfree-booking. Amsterdam or Paris: $ 945 per person London : $ 995 per person Prices are per person. Airfare prices include government taxes, fees, and airline fuel Other O.A.T. Stopovers are available. If a city you surcharges. All prices and availability are effective as of the date of this publication, and are interested in is not offered, we can arrange are subject to change without notice. Standard Terms & Conditions apply, please visit our your airfare for that, too. website: www.oattravel.com/tc. Every effort has been made to produce this information accurately. We reserve the right to correct errors. Call your Regional Adventure Counselor for full details at 1-800-955-1925.

For specific departure dates, current availability, and detailed pricing, visit www.oattravel.com/bot2022pricing

SAVE UP TO 10% WITH FREE SINGLE SUPPLEMENTS SHARE YOUR LOVE OF TRAVEL OUR GOOD BUY PLAN We offer FREE Single Supplements on all New travelers you refer will instantly save The earlier you reserve your departure of our adventures and pre- and post-trip $100, and you’ll earn increasing rewards— and pay in full, the more you’ll save—up extensions. up to a FREE trip! to 10%—plus, you’ll lock in your price. Each departure has limited solo space For details, visit www.oattravel.com/va For details, visit www.oattravel.com/gbd available—call today to reserve.

Publication Date 6/9/21

Information & Reservations 1-800-955-1925 www.oattravel.com/bot2022

51 TRAVEL DOCUMENTS & ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Your Passport • Must be in good condition

• Must be valid for at least 6 months after your scheduled return to the U.S.

• Must have the required number of blank pages (details below)

• The blank pages must be labeled “Visas” at the top. Pages labeled “Amendments and Endorsements” are not acceptable

Need to Renew Your Passport? Contact the National Passport Information Center (NPIC) at 1-877-487-2778, or visit their website at www.travel.state.gov for information on obtaining a new passport or renewing your existing passport. You may also contact our recommended visa service company, PVS International, at 1-800-556-9990 for help with your passport

Recommended Blank Pages Please confirm that your passport has enough blank pages for this adventure.

• Main trip only: You will need 8 blank pages for entry into South Africa (2 pages, front and back of 1 sheet), Botswana (1), Zambia (2), Zimbabwe (2), and to re-enter the U.S. (1). Even if local officials do not end up using all 8 pages, you should have them. The U.S. State Department reports that travelers who don’t have the correct number of blank visa pages can be fined and/or denied entry, especially in South Africa.

• Pre-trip extension to Private Game Reserve: This extension does not need any additional pages beyond the 8 needed for the main trip.

• Pre-trip extension to Namibia: You will need 2 additional blank pages, for a total of 10 blank passport pages.

• Post-trip extension to Cape Town & the Cape of Good Hope: You will need 2 additional blank pages, for a total of 10 blank passport pages.

• Post-trip extension to Uganda: You will need an additional blank page, for a total of 9 blank passport pages.

• Both the Private Game Reserve pre-trip extension and either post-trip extension: You will need a total of 10 blank passport pages.

• Both the Namibia pre-trip extension and either post-trip extension: You will need a a total of 12 blank passport pages.

52 • Stopover in Amsterdam or Nairobi: You will need to add 2 additional pages to the applicable total listed above.

• Stopover in Istanbul, London, Paris, Addis Ababa, or Dubai: You will need to add an additional page to the applicable total listed above.

Please note: You might not use all of these pages on your adventure (when you return, some may still be blank) but local officials will want to see that you have them.

Visas Required We’ll be sending you a detailed Visa Packet with instructions, application forms, and fees about 100 days prior to your departure. In the meantime, we’re providing the information below as a guideline on what to expect. This information is for U.S. citizens only. All visas and fees are subject to change.

• Botswana and South Africa: No visas required. U.S. citizens do not need visas for stays of less than 90 days in these countries.

• Zambia: Visa required. We recommend that you wait and get this visa on arrival. Typically, all you need to do is show your passport and pay the visa fee, although you may need to fill out a form too.

• Zimbabwe: Visa required. You must obtain this visa upon arrival.

• Namibia (pre-trip extension only): Visa required. You must obtain this visa upon arrival. This visa is available at your port of entry and is free of charge.

• Uganda (post-trip extension only): Visa required. This can only be obtained in advance; you cannot obtain it upon arrival.

• Turkey (optional stopover only): Visa required. We suggest you obtain an e-visa in advance through the Turkish government’s website as visas cannot be obtained upon arrival.

• Ethiopia (optional stopover only): Visa required. U.S. citizens will require a visa for Ethiopia; detailed instructions will be included in your Visa Packet, as noted above.

• Kenya (optional stopover only): Visa required. It is important that you get this visa in advance.

• United Arab Emirates (optional stopover only): Visa required. Currently, the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) allows U.S. citizens to get a tourist visa free of charge on arrival in Dubai.

• The Netherlands, England, and France (optional stopovers only): No visas required. A visa is not required for U.S. citizens for stays of up to 90 days.

53 Traveling Without a U.S. Passport? If you are not a U.S. citizen, or if your passport is from any country other than the U.S., it is your responsibility to check with your local consulate, embassy, or a visa services company about visa requirements. We recommend the services of PVS International, a national visa service located in Washington D.C.; they can be reached at 1-800-556-9990 or www.pvsinternational.org.

Traveling With a Minor? Some governments may require certain documentation for minors to enter and depart the country or to obtain a visa (if applicable). For further detail on the required documentation, please contact your local embassy or consulate.

Emergency Photocopies of Key Documents We recommend you carry color photocopies of key documents including the photo page of your passport plus any applicable visas, air itinerary, credit cards (front and back), and an alternative form of ID. Add emergency phone numbers like your credit card company and the number for your travel protection plan. Store copies separate from the originals.

If you plan to email this information to yourself, please keep in mind that email is not always secure; consider using password protection or encryption. Also email is not always available worldwide. As an alternative, you could load these documents onto a flash drive instead, which can do double-duty as a place to backup photos during your trip.

Overseas Taxes & Fees This tour may have taxes and fees that cannot be included in your airline ticket price because you are required to pay them in person onsite. All taxes are subject to change without notice and can be paid in cash (either U.S. or local currency). If applicable, you will receive a list of these fees with your Final Documents.

54 RIGORS, VACCINES & GENERAL HEALTH

Is This Adventure Right for You? Please review the information below prior to departing on this adventure. We reserve the right for our Trip Experience Leaders to modify participation, or in some circumstances send travelers home, if their condition would adversely affect the health, safety, or enjoyment of themselves or of other travelers.

PACING • 6 locations in 16 days with one 1-night stay

• Early morning game-viewing drives on safari days, rising at 5am

• Your longest transfer between camps will be up to 10 hours on Day 3

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS • Not appropriate for travelers using wheelchairs, walkers, or other mobility aids

• You must be able to walk unassisted while carrying hand luggage; expect 2-4 hours of physical activities on some days

• You will need to access vehicles by walking up steps without aid

• We reserve the right for Trip Experience Leaders to restrict participation, or in some circumstances send travelers home, if their limitations impact the group’s experience

• Travelers in need of a CPAP machine may only bring one that runs on rechargeable batteries

CLIMATE • The hottest months are October-February; mid-day temperatures can reach more than 113°F

• Daytime temperatures between May-August can be 70-80°F, and as low as 32°F at night

• December-March brings heavy rain and thunderstorms

• Morning and evening game drives may be colder due to wind

TERRAIN & TRANSPORTATION • Travel on roads in poor condition and on unpaved trails that can cause problems for travelers with leg or back issues

• During game-viewing excursions, we’ll travel over bumpy, dusty terrain and occasionally go off-roading in the bush, as well as walk on sandy, uneven terrain in the Okavango Delta and at our camps

55 • On game-viewing drives, we travel overland in open-sided safari vehicles with bench seating and no air-conditioning, dugout canoe, and motorized boats

• 4-6 internal flights on 5- to 14-seat aircraft (depending on time of year)

ACCOMMODATIONS & FACILITIES • We spend 12 nights in comfortable but basic lodges and tented camps

• Our lodges use generator electricity and lantern lighting at night, and do not have air-conditioning or heating. There could be a 1- to 5-minute walk from our tents to the main lodge

• All accommodations feature private bathrooms

Steps to Take Before Your Trip Before you leave on this adventure, we recommend the following:

• Check with the CDC for their recommendations for the countries you’ll be visiting. You can contact them online at http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel or by phone at 1-800-232-4636.

• Have a medical checkup with your doctor at least 6 weeks before your trip.

• Pick up any necessary medications, both prescription and over-the-counter.

• Have a dental and/or eye checkup. (Recommended, but less urgent)

Vaccines Required

COVID-19 Overseas Adventure Travel requires that all travelers are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and are able provide proof of their vaccination upon arrival at their destination. A full vaccination is defined as having been inoculated at least 14 days prior to departure by an approved vaccine. This requirement is not contingent on the countries the tour visits, but a strict company policy due to the nature of the pandemic.

Yellow Fever—Documentation Required All travelers will need to bring EITHER proof of a yellow fever vaccination OR an official vaccination waiver in order to meet Uganda’s entry requirements. This is also a requirement for entry into Nairobi, Kenya or Addis Ababa, Ethiopia during the optional stopover in each country. While the CDC offers a wide range of vaccination and medication suggestions, there is one in particular that we’d like to draw your attention to—the yellow fever vaccine. For some countries, the yellow fever vaccination is a legal entry requirement, like a passport. For other countries, it is a health recommendation to protect you from getting sick. On this adventure, this vaccination is a legal entry requirement for the Uganda post-trip extension—but fortunately, authorities will accept a doctor’s waiver in place of getting the actual shot.

56 You should discuss the vaccine with your doctor to see if he or she recommends it and if your health allows for it. (He or she can offer a suggestion tailored to your personal medical history.) If you and your doctor decide the vaccination is right for you, then he or she will issue you a Yellow Fever Card, also called an International Certificate of Vaccination. This is your proof of vaccination; you should bring it with you on the trip. f you and your doctor decide the vaccination isn’t right for you, then have your doctor issue an official vaccination waiver. An official waiver is a letter that meets these requirements:

• It must be on business letterhead paper.

• It must be signed by a doctor.

• It must be stamped using the same stamp that the doctor uses on a Yellow Fever Card.

• It must give the medical reason why you cannot get the vaccine, say how high the risk is, and cite an authority. (For example: Mr. Smith cannot receive the yellow fever vaccine due to a high risk of side effects as outlined in the Center for Disease Control’s guidelines for people over the age of 65.)

Whether you receive a Yellow Fever Card or an official vaccination waiver, keep it on your person (in your backpack or purse) so it is easy to find when you arrive or when you cross the border. You may not be asked to show anything at all when you cross the border—it all depends on the local official. But if you are asked, you must be able to produce your Yellow Fever Card OR your waiver.

Medication Suggestions • An antibiotic medication for gastrointestinal illness

• Prescription pain medication in the unlikely event of an injury in a remote location

• Motion sickness medicine, if you are susceptible (the roads are very bumpy).

• Anti-malaria medication for Zambia and Zimbabwe. Check with the CDC and your doctor first because these medications can have strong side effects.

Traveling with Medications • Pack medications in your carry-on bag to avoid loss and to have them handy.

• Keep medicines in their original, labeled containers for a quicker security screen at the airport and a better experience if you get stopped by customs while overseas.

• Bring copies of your prescriptions, written using the generic drug name rather than a brand name to be prepared for any unforeseen loss of your medications.

57 We recommend checking with the State Department for medication restrictions by country: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel- Country-Information-Pages.html. (Pick the country and then follow the links to “Local Laws & Special Circumstances”; if you don’t see any medications specifically mentioned, then you can presume major U.S. brands should be OK).

IMPORTANT TIP: At time of writing, the State Department did have a warning that travelers should not bring over-the-counter drugs with the ingredient diphenhydramine or anti-histamines (like Benadryl) to Zambia. These medications are considered controlled substances in Zambia, and while the Zambian authorities have stated you can bring them with a doctor’s prescription, the State Department recommends leaving them behind.

Staying Healthy on Your Trip Jet Lag Tips

• Start your trip well-rested.

• Begin a gradual transition to your new time zone before you leave or switch to your destination time zone when you get on the plane.

• Attempt to sleep and eat according to the new schedule.

• Avoid heavy eating and drinking caffeine or alcoholic beverages right before–and during– your flight.

• Drink plenty of water and/or fruit juice while flying

• Stretch your legs, neck, and back periodically while seated on the plane.

• After arrival, avoid the temptation to nap.

• Don’t push yourself to see a lot on your first day.

• Try to stay awake your first day until after dinner.

Allergies

If you have any serious allergies or dietary restrictions, we advise you to notify us at least 30 days prior to your departure. Please call our Traveler Support team at 1-800-221-0814, and we will communicate them to our regional office. Every effort will be made to accommodate you.

Water • Tap water is usually safe to drink in Botswana, South Africa, and Namibia, but always use caution.

• In Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Uganda tap water is not safe to drink.

• Bottled and/or filtered water is provided at most of your hotels, lodges, and tented camps, as well as on your game drives.

58 • At most lodges it is safe to use ice in your drinks, but check with your Trip Experience Leader first

Food • The food served at our lodges is safe, including salads and fruits. We recommend you exercise more caution when eating at small local restaurants or buying food from street vendors.

• Eat only food that is well done and is still hot.

• Since the tap water is not safe to drink in Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Uganda, you should be mindful about eating salads or fruits outside of our lodges—they may have been washed in tap water. (Fruit that you peel yourself should be OK.)

• Your Trip Experience Leader will advise you if he/she feels that something is unsafe for you to eat.

Electricity Supply: CPAP Machines A constant electricity supply cannot be guaranteed during overnight stays. Travelers who rely on a CPAP machine must bring one that runs on rechargeable batteries.

Insects Besides the usual suspects like mosquitoes, you may encounter African insects, such as tsetse flies. (Fortunately, on this adventure we only encounter these flies in Zambia.) Wearing bug spray helps, as does avoiding black and blue clothing while you are in Zambia. The flies are most active during the dry season (May-November) but can be present other times of year.

59 MONEY MATTERS: LOCAL CURRENCY & TIPPING GUIDELINES

Top Three Tips • Bring enough cash to cover your needs for 80% of the trip and only expect to be able to use plastic (credit, debit, or ATM card) 20% of the time. You’ll still want to bring a credit or debit card as a backup, especially in Botswana, where some lodges are cashless. But you cannot rely on plastic alone for this trip.

• When budgeting, keep in mind that your biggest expenses will be tips, meals, and souvenirs. As a guideline, an average meal in this region costs between $15 and $20 per person including a non-alcoholic drink and a tip.

• A mix of small bills ($1s-$20s), in good condition, and printed after 2000 is best. You’ll be able to pay in U.S. dollars in most places except in South Africa.

Local Currency For current exchange rates, please refer to an online converter tool like www.xe.com/ currencyconverter, your bank, or the financial section of your newspaper.

Botswana You’ll be able to pay in U.S. dollars almost everywhere in Botswana. However, the official currency is the Pula (P), which is divided into 100 thebe.

• Bills come in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 pula

• Coins come in denominations of 5, 10, 25, thebe and 1, 2 and 5 pula

Zambia The official currency of Zambia is the Kwacha (ZMK) or (K), which is divided into 100 ngwee. However, it is common to pay in U.S. dollars, which are accepted everywhere.

• Bills come in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 ZMK

• Coins come in denominations of 50 ngwee and 1, 2, 5, and 10 ZMK

Zimbabwe Zimbabwe has recently brought back the Zimbabwean dollar (or Zimdollar) and announced plans to restrict foreign currency. However, you will still be able to pay for many purchases in U.S. dollars. At hotels and markets, you can use U.S. cash; at shops and supermarkets you may be able to use a Visa card to do transactions in U.S. dollars. When using U.S. cash, please note two things: 1. Bills in bad condition or older than the year 2000 are not accepted and 2. You may receive change in Zimdollars, which are useless outside of Zimbabwe (paying with exact change is recommended).

60 South Africa The official currency of South Africa is the Rand (R), which is divided into cents.

• Bills come in denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 rand

• Coins come in denominations of 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents and 1, 2 and 5 rand

U.S. dollars aren’t readily accepted for payment in South Africa; you will need rands instead.

Namibia The official currency of Namibia is the Namibian dollar (NAD), which is divided into cents.

• Banknotes: 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 NAD

• Coins: 5, 10, and 50 cents and 1and 5 NAD

U.S. dollars are not widely accepted in Namibia; the local currency or South African rand are preferred.

Uganda The basic unit of currency in Uganda is the Ugandan Shilling (UGX).

• Banknotes: 10, 20, 50, 1,000, 2,000, and 5,000 shillings

• Coins: 1, 2, 5, 10, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1,000 shillings

In Uganda, U.S. dollars are accepted for payment in most situations. Bills must be issued after 2006 and be in good condition.

How to Exchange Money In many of the countries we visit on this adventure—Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe—you won’t need to exchange money because you can pay in U.S. dollars. But you will want a mix of small bills ($1, 5, 10, and 20s), in good condition, printed after 2000. Large bills ($50s and $100s) will be hard to break, and bills in bad condition (dirty, worn, or torn) or printed before 2000 might be rejected, even by banks.

However, there is one country where U.S. dollars aren’t readily accepted: South Africa, which uses rands instead of dollars. If you want to get rands before your trip, you can usually do so through your bank or at an exchange office. Your departure airport in the U.S., a travel agent, or an AAA office are also possible outlets.

During the trip, the easiest way to get rands is to use a local ATM (your bank at home will convert and charge you in U.S. dollars). You can also exchange cash at some hotels and money exchange offices. To exchange cash, you’ll usually need your passport and bills in good condition (not worn, torn, or dirty). Never exchange money on the street. All exchange methods involve fees, which may be built into the conversion rate; ask beforehand.

61 TIP: While it might be tempting to withdraw a bunch of $20 bills from the ATM at home, a mix of some $1, 5, 10, and 20s would be better. It makes tipping and bargaining easier when you have exact change.

ATMs When using the ATM, keep in mind that it may only accept cards from local banks, and may not allow cash advances on credit cards; you might need to try more than one ATM or more than one card.

Many banks charge a fee of $1-$10 each time you use a foreign ATM. Others may charge you a percentage of the amount you withdraw. We recommend that you check with your bank before you depart.

Lastly, don’t forget to memorize the actual digits of your card’s PIN number (many keypads at foreign ATMs do not include letters on their keys—they only display numbers.)

Botswana: The places we visit in Botswana are generally out in the bush where there are no ATMs.

Zambia: ATMs are practically non-existent in the parts of Zambia that we visit. The only place you might see one is if you pass through Livingstone Airport.

Zimbabwe: ATMs are not to be relied on. A few are available in Victoria Falls, but they are consistently out of money. If you don’t have enough cash on hand for Zimbabwe, your best bet is to use an ATM at one of the regional airports outside of Zimbabwe, such as Livingston or Jo’burg. Then convert the money you get (which will be in local currency) to U.S. dollars at the exchange desk.

South Africa: ATMs are common in South Africa, especially in large cities like Johannesburg and Cape Town. The only place you might have difficulty finding one is in a remote game reserve or national park.

Namibia: ATMs are typically found in larger cities, such as Windhoek. In the bush, there is no access to ATMs. Local ATMs may only accept cards from local banks and usually will not allow cash advances on credit cards; therefore it is best to bring a cash reserve large enough to pay for most expenses.

Uganda: ATMs are common in large cities, such as Kampala, but many be more difficult to find in rural areas. Keep in mind that ATMs are not always reliable so we recommend that you keep a cash reserve on hand.

Credit & Debit Cards Even if you don’t plan on using a credit card during your trip, we still suggest that you bring one or two as a backup, especially if you are planning a large purchase (artwork, jewelry). We also suggest that you bring more than one brand of card (i.e. Visa, MasterCard, American Express) if possible, because not every shop will take every card. For example, although the Discover card is accepted in some countries outside the U.S., it is not widely adopted, so other brands will work at a much larger range of stores, restaurants, etc.

62 Botswana: A few lodges have become cashless, so we suggest bringing a credit or debit card in case. But generally most businesses won’t accept them. At time of printing, the cashless lodges were the Kadizora, Saguni, and Elephant Valley. If you are staying at one of these, you will need a credit or debit card to make purchases or pay for services.

Zambia: Credit cards are rarely accepted.

Zimbabwe:Credit cards are only somewhat accepted. You can usually use them at hotels in Victoria Falls, high-end shops, pharmacies or supermarkets. (In contrast, camps/bush lodges, street vendors, and small souvenir shops tend to be cash only.) Of the major credit cards, Visa is the most useful as it is accepted in more places and may let you process the transaction in U.S. dollars. MasterCard is not as well-known and both American Express and Discover are not accepted at all.

If possible, we recommend using credit/debit cards at supermarkets and pharmacies to avoid issues with making or receiving change.

South Africa: Credit card use is fairly common in South Africa, so you’ll be able to use one in most hotels and shops, plus some restaurants.

Namibia: Credit cards are more commonly accepted in Namibia, but many camps and lodges will be cash only. Businesses that do accept credit cards tend to use a slow approval process that may involve calling your credit card company for authorization.

Uganda: Credit cards may be accepted at some large hotels, but are not commonly used outside of Kampala.

Notify Card Providers of Upcoming Travel Many credit card companies and banks have fraud alert departments that will freeze your card if they see suspicious charges—such as charges or withdrawals from another country. To avoid an accidental security block, it is a good idea to notify your credit card company and/or bank you will be using your cards abroad. You can do this by calling their customer service number a week or two before your departure. Some banks or credit card companies will also let you do this online.

You should also double-check what phone number you could call if you have a problem with a card while you are abroad. Don’t assume you can use the 1-800 number printed on the back of your card—most 1 800 numbers don’t work outside of the U.S.!

Tipping Guidelines Of course, whether you tip, and how much, is always at your own discretion. But for those of you who have asked for tipping suggestions, we offer these guidelines.

• O.A.T. Trip Experience Leader: It is customary to express a personal “thank you” to your Trip Experience Leader at the end of your trip. As a guideline, many travelers give $7-$10 USD (or equivalent in local currency) per person for each day their Trip Experience Leader

63 is with them. Please note that these tips can only be in cash. If you are taking any of the optional extensions, your Trip Experience Leader during the extension(s) may not be the same as the one on your main trip.

• Please note that the Private Game Reserve Safari: Quest for South Africa’s Big 5 pre-trip extension is run by a local Extension Guide who specializes in the game reserve instead of your Trip Experience Leader. His or her tip is included.

• Housekeeping staff at city hotels: $1-2 per room, per night. This only applies to the hotels in Victoria Falls (main trip), Cape Town (post-trip extension), and on the London or Johannesburg Stopovers. Tipping for housekeepers at tented camps and safari lodges is included as they are part of the camp/lodge staff.

• Waiters: When dining on your own, you would tip up to 10% of the bill in Southern Africa and 10%-15% in London.

• Taxis: Tipping isn’t necessary, but if you want to give something you can round up the bill and let the driver keep the change.

• Your Tour Price Includes: Gratuities are included for local guides, drivers, lodge and camp staff, driver-guides, and luggage porters on your main trip, extensions, and all optional tours.

Please note: For your convenience, tips to O.A.T. staff can be paid in U.S. dollars or local currency. Please do not use personal or traveler’s checks for tips.

64 AIR, OPTIONAL TOURS & STAYING IN TOUCH

Land Only Travelers & Personalized Air Quick Definitions

• Land Only: You will be booking your own international flights. Airport transfers are not included.

• Air-Inclusive: You booked international air with us. Airport transfers are included as long as you didn’t customize your trip’s dates (see next bullet).

• Personalized Air: You booked international air with us, and have customized it in some way. If you have customized your trip’s dates to arrive early, stay longer, or stop on your own in a connecting city, airport transfers will NOT be included. You must also arrange your own accommodations for any additional nights. For your convenience, a preliminary list of your included hotels is available on your My Account at www.oattravel.com/myaccount under “My Reservations”.

Airport Transfers Can Be Purchased For eligible flights, airport transfers may be purchased separately as an optional add-on, subject to availability. To be eligible, your flight(s) must meet the following requirements:

• You must fly into or fly home from the same airport as O.A.T. travelers who purchased included airfare.

• Your flight(s) must arrive/depart on the same day that the group arrives or departs.

Airport transfers can be purchased up to 45 days prior to your departure; they are not available for purchase onsite. To learn more, or purchase airport transfers, please call our Traveler Support team at 1-800-221-0814.

If you don’t meet the requirements above, you’ll need to make your own transfer arrangements. We suggest the Rome to Rio website as a handy resource: www.rome2rio.com.

When booking your international flights, please also note that the tour will end on Day 17 of the base tour (Day 21 of the post trip) for your overnight flight back to the United States.

For travelers on the Cape Town post-trip extension, please note that a day room is not provided in the afternoon on Day 21 if you are booking your own flights.

Optional Tours Optional tours are additional add-on tours that allow you to personalize your adventure by tailoring it to your tastes and needs. And if you decide not to join an optional tour? Then you’ll have free time to relax or explore on your own—it’s about options, not obligations.

65 What You Need to Know • All optional tours are subject to change and availability.

• Optional tours that are reserved with your Trip Experience Leader can be paid for using credit/debit cards only. We accept MasterCard, Visa, and Discover credit cards; we can also take MasterCard or Visa debit cards as long as the card allows you to sign for purchases. (You won’t be able to enter a PIN.)

• To ensure that you are charged in U.S. dollars, your payment will be processed by our U.S. headquarters in Boston. This process can take up to three months, so we ask that you only use a card that will still be valid three months after your trip is over. The charge may appear on your credit card statement as being from Boston, MA or may be labeled as “OPT Boston”.

• Your Trip Experience Leader will give you details on the optional tours while you’re on the trip. But if you’d like to look over descriptions of them earlier, you can do so at any time by referring to your Day-to-Day Itinerary (available online by signing into My Account at www.oattravel.com/myaccount).

Optional Tours: Reserve Before You Go We strongly recommend that you reserve the following optional tours in advance. Unless otherwise noted, the deadline to do so is 45 days prior to your departure. Occasionally, space will be available for booking onsite, but this not guaranteed. Optional tours with O.A.T. can only be purchased with a credit card (Visa or MasterCard) or a debit card with credit card functionality. Because our headquarters are in Boston, charges may appear to be from Boston or might be labeled as “OPT Boston” (depending on your credit card company).

Stellenbosch Wine Country

Join us on a full-day optional tour to the heart of South Africa’s beautiful wine country to explore the historic area around the town of Stellenbosch. We’ll visit various wine estates, tasting and sampling their delicious offerings. The scenery includes rolling hills, graceful farms, and dramatic mountain vistas. This area is also the heart of Cape Dutch culture, and you will see fine examples of traditional architecture while learning about the history of early settlement here.

This optional tour is offered during the Cape Town & the Cape of Good Hope trip extension. The cost is $90 per person.

Please note: This optional tour must be pre-booked at least 45 days prior to departure to guarantee space.

66 Elephant Encounters

Join us as we visit the Wild Horizons Elephant Sanctuary and Orphanage. Here, we’ll get a chance to observe, and lightly interact with, the beautiful creatures. We’ll also enjoy discussions with the elephant keepers about the organization’s conservation efforts, as well as their plans to rehabilitate and release the elephants back into the wild.

This optional tour is offered during the main trip. The cost is $100 per person.

Townships of Cape Town

Discover the Townships of Langa, Guguletu, and Bonteheuwel on this tour, learning from the locals about their daily lives. Although the townships were originally created during the apartheid period as residential areas for non-whites, today they are vital and energetic urban communities that house a large percent of Cape Town’s population. In a tour that will add to our in-depth knowledge of South Africa’s people, we’ll focus on the traditions, culture, and customs of the residents of these townships though a guided tour and home visit.

This optional tour is offered during the Cape Town & the Cape of Good Hope trip extension. The cost is $40 per person.

Please note: This optional tour should be pre-booked at least 45 days prior to departure to guarantee space.

Communicating with Home from Abroad One of the advantages of a safari is the chance to “unplug” and unwind—but the trade-off is that you won’t have the same access to the Internet, email, or phone service that you would back at home.

Cell phone or Internet service will be available in some places, but not all. Even basic telephone and email service is not always available in the bush, where you will be spending much of your time. You won’t be completely out of touch—our bush camps and safari lodges do have satellite radio service. However, the satellite radio service is usually for emergencies only. Outside of the bush, you’ll be able to send emails and make phone calls in Johannesburg, Victoria Falls, and Cape Town.

Cell Phones If you want to use your cell phone on the trip, check with your phone provider to see if your phone and service will work outside of the U.S. It may turn out to be cheaper to rent an international phone or buy a SIM card onsite. If you want to use a local SIM, just make certain your phone is

67 “unlocked”, meaning it can accept a local SIM card. If your cell is “unlocked” then you will be able to purchase a local SIM for it and then buy minutes with “Pay as You Go” cards, so that you have a local contact number for your friends and family.

Please understand that throughout Africa, good cell phone service is only available in large towns or cities.

Calling Apps Another option is to use a smartphone app like Skype or FaceTime. These services are usually less expensive than making a traditional call, but you’ll need a Wi-Fi connection and the calls may count towards your phone plan’s data allowance. Many smartphones—and some tablets or laptops—come with one of these apps pre-installed or you can download them for free from the appropriate apps store.

Calling Cards & 1-800 Numbers When calling the U.S. from a foreign country, a prepaid calling card can be useful because it circumvents unexpected charges from the hotel. Calling cards purchased locally are typically the best (less expensive, more likely to work with the local phones, etc.). One reminder: Do not call U.S. 1-800 numbers outside the continental United States. This can result in costly long distance fees, since 1-800 numbers do not work outside the country.

Internet Internet access on this adventure will be mostly limited to two places: airports (Livingston, Kasane) and city hotels. At the airport you’ll find WiFi (wireless Internet service) but it will be very limited and slow. In hotels, there might not be any WiFi, but there’s usually computers for guests to use in the lobby or business center. The few hotels and lodges that do offer WiFi will normally charge for the service, and again, the speeds and quality may not be the best. There is usually no Internet service at all in tented camps.

Receiving Calls from Home To ensure you are available during your trip to friends and relatives at home, you will receive two copies of your hotel list, including phone numbers, with your Final Documents. One copy is for you to bring, and one is to leave behind with friends or relatives in case they need to contact you during the trip.

It is worth noting that most of the time the phone number for a bush camp or bush lodge is for a central office in a nearby city; they take a message and then relay it to you in the bush by the satellite radio service. Please explain to your friends and family that there might be a delay in reaching you when you are on safari, and it’s best if they only try to reach you in case of an emergency.

68 How to Call Overseas When calling overseas from the U.S., dial 011 for international exchange, then the country code (indicated by a plus sign: +), and then the number. Note that foreign phone numbers may not have the same number of digits as U.S. numbers; even within a country the number of digits can vary depending on the city and if the phone is a land line or cell phone.

Botswana: +267 South Africa: +27

Zambia: +260 Namibia: +264

Zimbabwe: +263 Uganda: +256

69 PACKING: WHAT TO BRING & LUGGAGE LIMITS

Luggage Limits

MAIN TRIP LIMITS

Pieces per person One checked bag and one carry-on per person.

Weight restrictions Combined weight of checked and carry-on luggage: Up to 44 lbs total.

Size Restrictions Standard airline size: Checked luggage should not exceed 62 linear inches (length+width+depth) and carry-on should not exceed 45 linear inches.

Luggage Type Must use a duffel bag as your checked luggage.

TRIP EXTENSION(S) LIMITS

Same as the main trip.

REMARKS/SUGGESTIONS

EXCESS BAGGAGE CANNOT BE TAKEN.

Type of luggage: Use of a duffel bag is a requirement on this adventure. We ask that you use the complimentary O.A.T. safari bag that we will be sending you.

Option to leave a bag in Victoria Falls: During the main trip, you will have the option to leave a small bag in the hotel at Victoria Falls on Day 3, to be retrieved on Day 15. This option can be arranged directly with your Trip Experience Leader. The hotel does not charge for this service and does have lock-up facilities. This “left luggage” does not change your luggage weight limit. (There’s at least one more flight in Africa after you pick up your luggage.)

It is really only to relieve you of unnecessary luggage while on safari. Therefore, it may be more useful to travelers on the Cape Town extension who want to bring a few “city outfits” just for Cape Town. However, the option is open to all travelers on the main trip; it is not available during the pre-trip extension. If you would like to use this service, please ensure that your additional small bag has a lock, as the hotel cannot be held responsible for the security of your luggage.

Don’t Forget • These luggage limits may change. If the airline(s) notify us of any changes, we will include an update in your Final Documents booklet.

70 • It’s a good idea to reconfirm baggage restrictions and fees directly with the airline a week or so prior to departure. For your convenience, we maintain a list of the toll-free numbers for the most common airlines on our website in the FAQ section.

• Baggage fees are not included in your trip price; they are payable directly to the airlines.

• The luggage limits above are based on your safari jeeps and regional flights, which may be less than your international flights. Even if your international airline offers a larger weight limit, you will need to pack according to the lower restrictions.

Your Luggage

Duffel Bag: Required On safaris, the room allowed for checked luggage is limited one piece per person.

• Use of a duffel bag is a requirement on this adventure.

• We ask that you use the complimentary O.A.T. duffel bag that we will be sending you because it has been approved for this safari by our regional office in Africa. Suitcases of any kind, hard-sided luggage, or luggage with an internal frame are not allowed. If you bring something other than a cloth duffel bag without an internal frame, your luggage may not fit on the small planes or in the safari vehicles we use on this adventure. We’d like you to have your luggage with you on the whole adventure—so a duffle bag is key.

• The O.A.T. duffel bag has wheels and measures 28” x 13” x 11”

• Previous travelers have recommended adding an identifier to your duffel bag, such as a scarf or colored tape, to set it apart from the others.

TIP: When traveling with a companion we recommend “cross-packing,” i.e., pack 2 outfits of your clothing in your companion’s luggage and vice-versa, in case one bag is delayed.

Carry-on Bag You are allowed one carry-on bag per person. We suggest a tote or small backpack that can be used as both a carry-on bag for your flight and to carry your daily necessities—water bottle, camera, etc—during game drives.

Luggage Handling on Arrival Airport porters are not allowed in the customs hall area. When you land, you must take your luggage off the baggage carousel and then clear customs. When you exit the airport building, your driver will load your luggage into the coach.

71 Locks For flights that originate in the U.S., you can either use a TSA-approved lock or leave your luggage unlocked. Outside of the U.S. we strongly recommend locking your luggage as a theft-prevention measure. TIP: Most camps or lodges do not have personal safes in the tents/rooms. Instead, valuables, passports, and money can be secured in lockable canvas bags that are put into a locked central safe. Camps and lodges provide the bags and the locks for this purpose.

Clothing Suggestions: Functional Tips As you will experience a wide range of temperatures and weather conditions, we suggest several layers of clothing. If you like to hand-wash your clothes, look for fabrics that will dry out overnight. You can buy clothing designed especially for travel, with features like wrinkle- resistant fabric or built-in sun protection.

• Layers for game drives: Many game drives are in the early morning or late evening. Even at the height of summer, these times of day are cooler than the afternoon. Therefore we suggest bringing a piece that you can wear over your clothing for cooler mornings and remove as the day heats up (windbreaker, jacket, sweater, sweatshirt, etc.). And just a reminder: south of the equator, the seasons are reversed. Travelers on summer departures will want to bring more than one layer—it is winter in southern Africa.

• Footwear: You’ll be on your feet a lot during the trip, and walking over some rough and slippery surfaces. We recommend you wear sturdy walking shoes or similar supportive sports shoes that offer good traction. We also recommend you bring a pair of rubberized sandals (i.e., Tevas) for showering, wearing around the lodge, and general warm weather use. They will come in particularly handy when you walk through wet areas in Victoria Falls National Park.

Fashion Dos and Don’ts • Do wear muted earth tones (beige, khaki, etc.) because they don’t show dirt easily, coordinate well, don’t distract animals, and don’t attract tsetse flies like black and blue.

• Don’t wear white or very brightly colored clothing. These colors have traditionally been used to keep animals away, and even color-blind animals can spot dark and light shades like black and white, which is why white is a danger signal for some species.

• Do wear clothes that are functional and casual. There’s no need for formal or dressy clothing, although travelers on the Cape Town post-trip extension may want one nicer outfit for a dinner out.

• Don’t wear camouflage or military-type clothing in Zimbabwe—it is illegal.

Suggested Packing Lists We have included suggestions from Trip Experience Leaders and former travelers to help you pack. These lists are only jumping-off points—they offer recommendations based on experience, but not requirements. You may also want to consult the “Climate” chapter of this handbook.

72 And don’t forget a reusable water bottle—you’ll need it to take advantage of any refills we offer as we are working to eliminate single-use plastic bottles on all of our trips.

Year-Round Clothing Checklist REMINDER: Most safari lodges or tented camps in Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe provide daily laundry service. Usually, you can have one outfit laundered for free each day (minus underwear). Therefore, you only need 5-8 outfits total. ‰Shirts: A mixture of short and long-sleeved shirts to layer ‰Trousers and/or jeans: Comfortable and loose fitting is best. ‰Shoes and socks: Comfortable walking/running shoes or low-cut hiking shoes, with arch support. Light hiking boots will suffice; there is no heavy hiking during the trip, but hiking boots should offer better support and traction than shoes. We also recommend you bring a pair of rubberized sandals (i.e., Tevas) for showering, wearing around the lodge, and general warm weather use.

‰Light rain jacket/windbreaker with hood ‰Wide-brim sun hat or visor for sun protection ‰Underwear: Most camps and lodges will not include “smalls” (underwear) in their laundry service. This is partly for cultural reasons and partly because many properties still do laundry by hand. It is usually OK for you wash them yourself in your room. For women travelers we suggest close-fitting brassieres, such as sports bras—the roads are very bumpy.

‰Sleepwear ‰Optional: Swimsuit

Seasonal Clothing Recommendations For spring and summer (September-March): ‰Walking shorts ‰A jacket or sweater. Even in summer it can be cool during early morning game drives.

For the rainy season (November-March):

Your laundry will take more than a day to be returned dry because most lodges don’t have dryers. ‰Light rain jacket/windbreaker with hood ‰Hood/lens cap/waterproof bag for camera

73 ‰Optional: Swimsuit (Just kidding, it doesn’t rain that much!)

For fall and winter (May-August):

It’s colder than you think in winter, especially during early morning game drives or at night in a tented camp. Warm clothing is essential, so add these items your packing list. ‰Long-sleeved shirts in a warm, heavy fabric for cool nights, i.e., flannel or knit ‰A warm, insulated jacket in addition to a wool or fleece sweater. If you own a light or medium-weight insulated field jacket or parka, you can use that.

‰Warm hat, gloves, and a scarf (especially useful on the game-drive vehicles) ‰Warm sleepwear ‰Long underwear. It keeps you warm but doesn’t take up a lot of space or weigh much.

Essential Items ‰Daily essentials: toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, hairbrush or comb, shaving items, deodorant, etc. Tented camps and lodges provide shampoo, soap, and insect repellent, but you may want to bring your own if you have preferred brands. Camps and lodges do not typically provide wash cloths.

‰Spare eyeglasses/contact lenses; sunglasses ‰Sunscreen: SPF 15 or stronger ‰Flashlight or headlamp: Consider a small but powerful LED version or a version with an alternative power source (wind-up, solar powered).

‰Lightweight binoculars: To avoid disturbing the animals’ natural activities, we stop the vehicle at a respectful distance. By having your own binoculars, you’ll be able to enjoy the experience more. Models such as 8 x 21 or 6 x 16 provide suitable magnification and illumination. 10 x models are usable, but are usually heavy, expensive, and require a very steady hand.

‰Pocket-size tissues ‰Moist towelettes (baby wipes) and/or anti-bacterial “water-free” hand cleanser ‰Electrical transformer & plug adapters. We do not recommend electric shavers or hair dryers, as electricity is limited at many of our lodges. On our Cape Town extension, your hotel provides hair dryers.

‰Camera gear with extra batteries or battery charger

74 Medicines & First Aid Gear ‰Your own prescription medicines ‰Travel first aid kit: Band-Aids, headache and pain relief, laxatives and anti-diarrhea tablets, something for upset stomach. Maybe a cold remedy, moleskin foot pads, or antibiotic cream.

‰An antibiotic medication for gastrointestinal illness ‰Optional: A strong prescription pain medication for rare emergency purposes ‰Optional: Motion sickness medicine if you are susceptible (the roads are very bumpy). ‰Optional: Anti-malarial medication—discuss with your doctor first

TIP: At time of writing, the State Department warned that travelers should not bring over-the-counter drugs with the ingredient diphenhydramine or anti-histamines (like Benadryl) to Zambia.

Optional Gear ‰Eye drops: The dry air and dusty roads can cause itchy eyes. ‰Inflatable seat cushion for bumpy roads ‰Travel alarm or travel watch with alarm ‰Hanging toiletry bag (with hook to hang on doorknob and pockets to organize items) ‰Basic sewing kit ‰Hand-wash laundry soap ‰Reading materials ‰Travel journal/note pad and pens ‰Field guide: A small, lightweight guide so you are not encumbered during game drives. ‰Phrase book ‰Small gift for Home-Hosted visit ‰Folding walking staff, sold in most camping stores

75 Tips on Packing Light Simply put, space and weight are at a premium on this adventure. You’ll need to pare down to the basics that you need, but this can be hard to figure out. Here are a few techniques that can help:

• Bring half the clothes. Don’t pack for a 16-day trip; pack for an 8-day trip. Most safari lodges or tented camps in Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe provide daily laundry service— they will launder an outfit a day for each traveler without charge. Even in big cities like Cape Town, or at the handful of lodges that do charge a fee, the prices are quite reasonable. Laundry service does not include “smalls” (underwear), but it is usually OK for you to wash them yourself in your room.

• Stick to a simple color palette; it will be easier to mix and match to create outfits out of limited clothing. Watch out for too much black and blue (they can attract tsetse flies) or white (gets dirty easily).

• Divide and conquer. If you are traveling with a companion, you can save space by deciding in advance to share some essential items.

• Consolidate by going digital. A tablet or smart phone can easily replace multiple items such as a book, a phrase guide, your journal, a flashlight, an alarm clock, etc. And if it is WiFi enabled, you can also use it to send the occasional email. (Some properties will have limited service.)

• Leave basic toiletries behind: You don’t need to bring soap, shampoo, or conditioner—they will be provided at the camps and lodges.

Electricity Abroad When traveling overseas, the voltage is usually different and the plugs might not be the same shape.

Voltage Electricity in Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Namibia, and Uganda is 220-240 volts. In the U.S. it is 110 volts. Most of the things a traveler will want to plug in—battery chargers, MP3 players, tablets or computers—can run off both 110 and 220-240. But you should check the item or the owner’s guide first to confirm this before you plug it in. If you have something that needs 110 volts—like a shaver or a hairdryer—you can bring a transformer to change the current. (But transformers tend to burn out, so it might be better to leave whatever it is at home.)

Plugs The shape of plugs will vary from country to country, and sometimes even within a country depending on when that building was built. To plug something from the U.S. into a local socket you’ll need an adapter that fits between the plug and the socket. Because there are many different types of plugs in this region, it may be easier to purchase an all-in-one, universal adapter/ converter combo. Versatile and lightweight, these can usually be found at your local electronics

76 goods or hardware stores. Sometimes you can buy them at large retailers too, like Target or Walmart. If you forget to bring an adapter, you might also find them for sale at the airport when you arrive at your destination.

Different plug shapes are named by letters of the alphabet. Standard U.S. plugs are Type A and Type B. Here is the list of plugs for the countries on this trip:

Botswana: M

Zambia: C, D, or G

Zimbabwe: M or G

South Africa: M. It can be difficult to find a Type M adapter in the U.S.; you can find them at large local airports like the Johannesburg and Cape Town airports.

Namibia: M (a larger version of D)

Uganda: G

Type D Type M Type G Type C

77 Availability In the remote lodges, the generator that supplies electricity may operate during limited hours. It is possible to recharge camera batteries, but only while the generator is running. Therefore, bringing two batteries—one to use while the other is recharging—is recommended. Electric current is usually adequate to run an electric razor, but not a hairdryer. The lighting at the lodges may not be as bright as you are used to; a small LED flashlight can be useful.

A constant electricity supply cannot be guaranteed during overnight stays. Travelers who rely on a CPAP machine must bring one that runs on rechargeable batteries.

78 CLIMATE & AVERAGE TEMPERATURES

Zimbabwe: Most of Zimbabwe has a pleasant climate for much of the year; temperatures are generally warm. The hottest month is usually October, when daytime highs can be extreme (as high as 100 degrees F, or more). From May to August, evenings can be surprisingly chilly. The rainy season from November to March brings heavy rains and thunderstorms.

Namibia: Most of Namibia’s climate is typical of semi-desert terrain: hot days and cool nights. The coast is cooler and often foggy, due to the cold Benguela current, which causes fog and inhibits rainfall. Over the central plateau, which is higher up, temperatures are understandably lower. Nights here can be very cold, with frost. Rainfall occurs exclusively in the summer months, between November and March, when heavy thunderstorms can be expected. Summer is very hot and the Namib Desert should be avoided at this time as temperatures are often above 104°. Winter (May-August) is another matter. It is dry and cold during the early mornings and evenings, and you will feel even colder in an open vehicle—especially on those early mornings. The days are bit warmer. Be sure to bring warm clothes for the winter.

Johannesburg, South Africa: Johannesburg lies in the High Veld, an area of plains at elevations from 4,000 to 6,000 feet. Summers are warm, though rarely uncomfortably hot; this is the time of year when the most rain falls. Nights are cool in winter, but daytime temperatures are mild and dry weather predominates. A high percentage of sunshine and low humidity year-round make for a pleasant climate.

Zambia: Zambia is warm all year long, but not tropical. It has three distinct seasons; December through April is hot and wet, May through August is cooler and dry, and from September to November it is hot but dry.

Cape Town, South Africa: Located where mountains slope down to coastal lowlands, Cape Town has a Mediterranean climate of mild, rainy winters and sunny summers.

Uganda: Uganda enjoys a tropical climate with steady temperatures throughout the year due to its location near the equator. Temperatures typically range from the mid-50s to mid-80s, except in the mountains which are much cooler. Rain can occur throughout the year, especially from March-May and September-November. January-February and June-August are considered the “dry season.”

Seasonal Notes You will be in the southern hemisphere throughout this tour. South of the equator, the seasons are the reverse of those in the northern hemisphere; the warmest months are between October and March, and the coldest are between April and September.

• Summer (September-March): Heat waves tend to hit Botswana and Zimbabwe from September to November; it can get as hot as 110 degrees. Along South Africa’s coast, the hottest time of year is usually from December to February, when highs can occasionally be in the 90s or 100s.

79 • Rainy Season (November-March): The rainy season brings heavy rains and thunderstorms, particularly in January and February. You will want good rain gear during this period, and your laundry will take more than a day to be returned dry. (Most lodges don’t have dryers; some don’t even have washing machines—the laundry is done by hand.) In addition to being rainy it is also hot. Temperatures can easily be in the 90s, although it will feel cooler on game drives.

• Winter (May-August): When most people think of Africa, they picture a warm climate—the hot sun beating down on a savannah or a humid jungle. But winter in Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe is colder than most travelers expect. Nighttime lows are in the 40s or 50s; daytime highs are usually in the 70s or 80s. And given that our early-morning game drives are in open vehicles, you’ll feel at least 10 degrees cooler than the actual temperature. Bring warm clothes and wear layers; that way you are prepared for the combination of cold mornings, warm days, and cold nights.

• Seasonal Flooding in Botswana’s Okavango Delta: A unique phenomenon that makes the Okavango Delta such a compelling destination is the seasonal flooding that occurs every year. This is when waters from the Angolan highlands flow down into Botswana via the Okavango River, and spread out into a wide, marshy delta. When the floods dry up, the delta turns back into sandy shrubland. Although the floods are unpredictable, they typically arrive by late May. Water levels usually remain high until November. Ironically, though this is when the “rainy season” begins, it is also when the landscape appears driest, as flood levels are largely unaffected by local climate.

NOTE: If you are taking one of our optional stopovers before or after your OAT adventure, please be aware the climate and temperatures might be different from what you experienced during your tour. To prepare for weather differences and pack appropriate clothing, we recommend the following world weather sites:

• www.intellicast.com

• www.weather.com

• www.wunderground.com

Climate Averages & Online Forecast The following charts reflect the average climate as opposed to exact weather conditions. This means they serve only as general indicators of what can reasonably be expected. An extreme heat wave or cold snap could fall outside these ranges. As your departure approaches, we encourage you to go online to www.oattravel.com/myaccount for your 10-day forecast.

80 Average Daily High/Low Temperatures (°F), Humidity & Monthly Rainfall

MONTH JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA HWANGE NATIONAL PARK, ZIMBABWE

Temp. High-Low % Relative Average # of Days Temp. High-Low % Relative Monthly Rainfall Humidity (am-pm) with Rainfall Humidity (am-pm) (inches) JAN 77 to 60 85 to 52 15 85 to 65 -- 5.7 FEB 75 to 59 88 to 54 13 84 to 64 -- 5.1 MAR 74 to 58 85 to 53 12 84 to 62 -- 2.2 APR 69 to 53 80 to 47 8 82 to 56 -- 0.8 MAY 66 to 48 70 to 38 3 79 to 48 -- 0.1 JUN 60 to 42 70 to 38 2 75 to 41 -- -- JUL 61 to 42 68 to 34 2 75 to 40 -- -- AUG 65 to 46 66 to 32 2 80 to 45 -- -- SEP 71 to 51 68 to 34 4 88 to 54 -- 0.1 OCT 73 to 54 77 to 42 12 90 to 61 -- 0.8 NOV 74 to 56 82 to 49 15 89 to 64 -- 2.2 DEC 76 to 59 84 to 51 17 86 to 64 -- 5.0

MONTH KAFUE NATIONAL PARK, ZAMBIA CHOBE NATIONAL PARK, BOTSWANA

Temp. High-Low % Relative Average # of Days Temp. High-Low % Relative Monthly Rainfall Humidity (am-pm) with Rainfall Humidity (avg) (inches) JAN 78 to 68 91 to 68 13 88 to 66 -- 6.3 FEB 78 to 67 93 to 68 12 86 to 64 -- 5.3 MAR 78 to 67 91 to 66 9 88 to 63 -- 3.1 APR 77 to 63 89 to 55 4 86 to 59 -- 0.7 MAY 75 to 57 85 to 46 1 82 to 55 -- 0.2 JUN 71 to 52 84 to 42 - 79 to 50 -- 0 JUL 72 to 51 80 to 37 - 79 to 50 -- 0 AUG 76 to 55 73 to 31 - 84 to 54 -- 0 SEP 83 to 63 64 to 28 - 91 to 61 -- 0 OCT 85 to 68 63 to 32 2 95 to 64 -- 0.8 NOV 83 to 69 73 to 43 6 91 to 66 -- 2.6 DEC 78 to 68 88 to 65 13 88 to 68 -- 5.9

81 MONTH CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA WINDHOEK, NAMIBIA

Temp. High-Low % Relative Average # of Days Temp. High-Low % Relative Monthly Rainfall Humidity (avg) with Rainfall Humidity (am-pm) (inches) JAN 77 to 63 83 to 60 7 84 to 69 64 to 39 3.1 FEB 78 to 63 86 to 60 6 81 to 66 72 to 47 3.2 MAR 76 to 60 88 to 63 7 79 to 64 69 to 41 3.1 APR 72 to 56 90 to 67 10 77 to 59 67 to 34 1.5 MAY 67 to 52 90 to 69 13 73 to 53 55 to 26 0.3 JUN 64 to 48 88 to 70 16 68 to 47 50 to 23 -- JUL 62 to 47 89 to 70 16 68 to 46 42 to 19 -- AUG 63 to 48 89 to 67 16 73 to 51 39 to 16 -- SEP 65 to 51 88 to 65 14 79 to 59 34 to 15 0.1 OCT 69 to 54 85 to 63 11 82 to 64 38 to 19 0.5 NOV 72 to 58 84 to 61 9 85 to 68 44 to 21 1.1 DEC 75 to 61 85 to 60 8 86 to 70 51 to 27 1.6

MONTH KABALE, UGANDA KASANE, BOTSWANA

Temp. High-Low % Relative Monthly Rainfall Temp. High-Low % Relative Monthly Rainfall Humidity (avg) (inches) Humidity (am-pm) (inches) JAN 79 to 58 73 4.59 87 to 67 -- 5.3 FEB 79 to 58 75 4.87 87 to 67 -- 5.3 MAR 79 to 59 79 6.68 88 to 66 -- 2.8 APR 77 to 60 82 4.76 87 to 61 -- 0.9 MAY 78 to 61 79 3.00 84 to 56 -- 0.1 JUN 77 to 58 70 2.32 79 to 50 -- -- JUL 79 to 57 61 1.56 79 to 49 -- -- AUG 80 to 59 61 2.86 85 to 54 -- -- SEP 80 to 59 72 4.30 91 to 61 -- 0.1 OCT 79 to 60 77 6.98 94 to 67 -- 0.8 NOV 77 to 59 82 6.24 92 to 69 -- 2.5 DEC 79 to 60 79 5.47 89 to 68 -- 5.0

82 ABOUT YOUR DESTINATIONS: CULTURE, ETIQUETTE & MORE

O.A.T. Trip Experience Leaders: A World of Difference During your adventure you’ll be accompanied by one of our local, expert Trip Experience Leaders. All are fluent in English and possess the skills, certification, and experience necessary to ensure an enriching adventure. As locals of the regions you’ll explore with them, our Trip Experience Leaders provide the kind of firsthand knowledge and insight that make local history, culture, and wildlife come alive. Coupled with their unbridled enthusiasm, caring personalities, and ability to bring diverse groups of travelers together, our Trip Experience Leaders ensure that your experience with O.A.T. is one you’ll remember for a lifetime.

Southern African Culture Southern Africa is a veritable tapestry of heritage and historical influences, encompassing a multitude of cultures woven together throughout history, from the first known peoples called the San—sometimes referred to as “Bushmen”—to Bantu tribes, European colonists, and Christian missionaries.

Perhaps one of the best preserved traditions with roots tracing back to several indigenous tribes is a shared love of music and dance, which serve not only as recreation, but as a form of cultural expression and storytelling. From school assemblies to wedding—and even funeral—ceremonies, singing and playing musical instruments is an integral part of southern African culture. While music permeates throughout everyday life in Africa, a great place to witness this beautiful tradition is around a boma, a gathering place centered around a fire pit where families and community members share meals and entertainment.

Although southern Africa has made great strides for women’s civil rights, the dominant culture is still patriarchal with women in charge of running the household. When visiting some of the villages throughout rural southern Africa, you may see some of these traditions in practice, such as men being served food first at mealtimes.

With the arrival of European colonists and missionaries came the spread of Christianity, which has remained the prevalent religion across southern Africa to this day. As former British colonies, the official language of Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe continues to be English, however many languages rooted in indigenous tribes continue to be spoken. South Africa is a former Dutch colony and currently has eleven official languages.

Points to Know: Fall and Winter Departures Please note, January-March and November-December departures will have a slightly altered itinerary in Zambia. On these departures, you will visit Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park instead of Kafue National Park with minor differences in included activities and transfer times. For more details, please refer to the website at www.oattravel.com. Your detailed itinerary will also be provided in your Final Documents booklet, which will arrive approximately 2 weeks prior to departure.

83 Keep an Open Mind • This is not a typical tour, and the itinerary you follow is subject to change. This is Africa— weather, the political situation, migration of game, fuel availability, road conditions, seasonal floods in the Okavango Delta, and flight schedule changes may all impact your trip.

• In some cases, they may change the sequence of places visited, or we may not follow the trip itinerary exactly as published.

• Poverty is prevalent in Africa, so be prepared to witness a lower standard of living during our visits to local villages and schools.

Accommodations • Our hotels and lodges are comfortable, but not luxurious.

• There can be occasional problems with electricity, hot water, and air conditioning (where it exists in the cities; there is not air conditioning in the safari camps).

• The roads within and between the parks can be dusty and very bumpy.

• Near the towns, some roads may be littered with trash.

• Water is scarce in the parks. We ask that you conserve water when washing, and shower only once each day.

• Most camps do not have personal safes in the tents/lodges. Instead, valuables, passports, and money can be secured in lockable canvas bags that are put into a locked central safe. Camps provide locks for the canvas bags, but feel free to bring your own lock if you wish.

• During the Private Game Reserve Safari: Quest for South Africa’s Big 5 pre-trip extension, we will stay in either Karongwe Game Reserve or Thornybush Game Reserve, depending on availability. The number of included features, meals, and game drives remains the same in either reserve.

Game Viewing There can be no guarantee that you will see every animal that you hope to see. Our guides are among the best in Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Zambia, and no one knows the animals better. But, unlike the inhabitants of zoos and fenced animal parks, the wildlife of the African wilderness parks roams free. An animal your guide spotted three days ago may not be seen again for weeks.

Safari Vehicles • We fly between camps/lodges aboard 5-seat and 12-seat light aircraft. Our longest flight is approximately one hour and 20 minutes; most are shorter. In the event of inclement weather, we may be unable to fly, in which case we will travel overland.

84 • Game-viewing drives are done in specially outfitted 4x vehicles, often over bumpy, muddy, or dusty paths. These open-sided vehicles hold a maximum of eight travelers and one guide each and have bucket or bench-style seating, with the benefit of a 360-degree view.

• We will also explore the Khwai River and Gomoti Channel in mokoro boats, and have the chance to explore a bit on foot.

Botswanan Cuisine You may see men sitting around a three-legged pot (called a potjie) over an open fire. Chances are what’s in it is seswaa, the national dish. This can be made with beef, goat, lamb, or chicken simmered with onions and peppers. The meat is removed and then the men vigorously pound it until it is soft; then it is served with pap, a starchy porridge (similar to grits or polenta) made from white corn maize. Pap is also served with morogo, leafy greens (such as pumpkin leaves) simmered with onions, tomatoes, and butter. Don’t miss the chance to try “Chicken in a Hole.” The poultry is seasoned with piri-piri chilies, curry, vinegar, garlic, and salt before being cooked underground, where it retains all its juices and falls off the bone.

Zambian Cuisine Zambia shares a border with Zimbabwe—and many food traditions. One of them is matemba, a sardine-like fish from Lake Kariba that is dried and then either fried or sautéed with onions and tomatoes. Other Zambian fish favorites include buka buka, a species of Nile perch; and bream which is either grilled, boiled or dried, and served with gravy. It usually accompanies the ubiquitous staple, nshima, a starchy porridge dish. If you notice people walking around eating something from a newspaper cone, it is probably vitumbuwa, yeasty fried dough balls dusted with sugar and often drizzled with caramel and Amarula liqueur.

Zimbabwean Cuisine Zimbabweans like their sadze, a starchy porridge (similar to grits or polenta), with a tasty pumpkin leaf relish cooked with peanut butter. They also love meat and many local menus feature exotic game like warthogs, kudu, ostrich, and crocodile. Feeling more adventurous? Try mopane worms, which are not really worms but the large, edible caterpillar of the emperor moth. Usually served fried, these crispy snacks are high in protein. Perhaps you have just decided (in this very instant) to go vegetarian. Then try dovi, an aromatic stew made with peppers, onions, carrots, and garlic simmered in a peanut butter sauce. If you have a sweet tooth there’s mapopo, a papaya candy.

The Cuisine of Southern Africa Most travelers are surprised and delighted by the variety and quality of the food they enjoy on safari. The chefs at our lodges are skilled and resourceful, and because much of their clientele is international, they can create delicious dishes from many worldwide cuisines, even while using the freshest local ingredients. As for the local specialties, here are a few to try:

85 South African Cuisine In South Africa, the cuisine bears the culinary influences of the many ethnic groups who have settled here. The national dish, bobotjie, is Indonesian in origin. It’s a casserole made from beef or lamb seasoned with curry; layered with dried fruits and chutney; topped with egg custard and bay leaves; and baked till brown and bubbly.

If you’re invited to a South African braai (barbecue), chances are you’ll be served boerewors, a savory grilled sausage. Try one with a roosterkoek, a bread roll baked over the coals. Chakalaka is a spicy, cold vegetable relish made with tomatoes, onions, peppers, carrots, and beans. It was invented in Johannesburg, but is now a staple at all South African braai. Try also biltong, air-dried strips of beef or other meat that have been cured in salt and marinated in vinegar. The resulting jerky is high in protein and a great portable snack during those long game drives. For dessert, enjoy melktart, a pastry crust filled with creamy custard and dusted with cinnamon.

Namibian Cuisine Traditional Namibian dishes have a focus on game meats, like eland, oryx, kudu, crocodile, or beef, with few vegetarian side dishes. As the country boarders the South Atlantic ocean, many dishes also include fish and seafood such as kingklip, kabeljou, and shellfish being. With the country being nearly entirely desert, few fresh fruits or vegetables grow in the area, with notable exceptions such as gem squash, butternut squash, oranges, and papayas. Staples of a traditional meal in Namibia would include oshifima, a doughy paste made from millet and served in a stew of meat or vegetables. Oshiwanbo, a dish of spinach and beef, or mealie pap, a porridge, are also common Namibian dishes.

In most restaurants in Namibia, you are more likely to find an international menu, like Italian or French, than traditional Namibia dishes. Even outside of big towns like Windhoek and Swakopmund, you’re likely to find an abundance of fried-food restaurants. Due to being colonized by Germany, there is a heavy German influence on Namibia’s desert scene, as you can easily find apfelstrudel (apple strudel), sachertorte (chocolate cake with apricot jam), and schwarzwalder kirschtorte (Black Forest cake) in any one of Namibia’s konditoreien (cake shops).

Ugandan Cuisine Uganda’s various tribal groups certainly have their own culinary traditions, but many of their favorite dishes rely on similar ingredients such as matoke (plantains), corn meal, cassava, beans, and peanuts. Then there is the influence of Uganda’s Indian, Arabic, and Asian immigrant cultures, which have added their own flavor profiles to popular favorites.

One of the most beloved national dishes is luwombo (or oluwombo). Legend says that it was created in the 19th century by the personal chef of King Kabaka Mwanga of the Buganda Kingdom. It’s a stew of chicken, beef, mushrooms, or fish steamed in banana leaves. Luwombo may be served with another Ugandan favorite, posho or ugali. Similar to polenta, this filling cornmeal porridge is eaten any time of day, as a main course or a side dish. It often accompanies chaloko, a traditional entrée made with pinto beans, green peppers, tomatoes, and red or purple onions.

86 Another popular side is chapati, an Indian-influenced, wheat flatbread that is ideal for wrapping around vegetables or sopping up the ubiquitous ground nut (peanut) condiment called g-nut sauce. Made from sweet and creamy red peanuts, it is perfect with roasted fish, sweet potatoes, and matoke (plantain).

Some Ugandan treats have clever names that may (or may not) hint at what’s so tasty. If you’re hungry on the go, visit a street vendor for some TV chicken—so named because the rotisserie oven that it’s roasted in resembles a television. Rolex is not an expensive watch. It’s very cheap and it is what it sounds like: rolled eggs. They are scrambled into an omelette with onions, tomatoes, and cabbage, then rolled up with a chapati. Then there’s the Ugandan egg roll, which is nothing like its Chinese namesake, but is quite literally a hard-boiled egg rolled up in a ball of mashed potatoes, and fried. Feeling adventurous? Hit up a pub and order some nsenene, or fried grasshoppers. They are perfect with cold beer.

Most Ugandans get their sweet fix from fruit, but you can also try mandazi, which are like donuts (minus the hole) sweetened with coconut milk; or sim-sim cookies, a brittle made with sesame seeds and honey.

Language Barrier You can have some great “conversations” with local people who do not speak English, even if you don’t speak a word of the local language. Indeed, this non-verbal communication can be a highly rewarding part of travel. To break the ice, bring along some family photographs, or a few postcards of your hometown. If you want to meet kids, bring a puppet or other interactive toy. Your Trip Experience Leader can help get the ball rolling.

Your attire is a key part of your non-verbal presentation. Your clothing should show a respect for local tradition. In small towns or near villages, you should dress in a relatively modest style—avoid revealing or tight-fitting outfits. The application of this guideline varies. You will see people in cities and large towns dressed in a modern style. And, of course, many foreign tourists are not sensitive to this at all. But you should dress modestly if you want to earn the respect of the local people.

Taking Photographs The etiquette of photographing most people in the countries on your itinerary is about the same as it would be on in your hometown. Some tribal members have particular concerns about photography. They know that professional photographers have profited from selling their images, and they will often ask for money in exchange for you taking their picture. Try to set a clear understanding when photographing tribal people, even from a distance.

In general, you need permission to take a close-up, as you would at home, but not for a crowd scene. Be especially polite if you want to photograph an older person. If you want to shoot a great portrait, show interest in your subject and try to have a bit of interaction first. Then use sign language to inquire if a picture is OK. Your Trip Experience Leader can help.

87 Responsible Safari Travel We do our best to have a minimum negative impact on local cultures and the natural environment in every country we operate trips. Here’s how you can assist in this effort.

Respecting Wildlife • Observe the animals silently and with a minimum of disturbance to their natural activities. Loud talking on a game drive can frighten the animals away.

• Never attempt to attract an animal’s attention. Don’t imitate animal sounds, clap your hands, pound on the vehicle, or throw objects. Failure to obey this rule could result in your removal from a National Park by one of the Park Rangers on patrol.

• Please respect your driver-guides’ judgment about your proximity to wildlife. Don’t insist that he or she take the vehicle closer so you can get a better photograph. A vehicle driven too close can hinder a hunt or cause animals to abandon a hard-earned meal.

• Litter tossed on the ground can choke or poison animals and birds.

• Never attempt to feed or approach any wild animal on foot. This is especially important near lodges or in campsites where animals may have become accustomed to human visitors. Failure to adhere to this could cause you to be bitten and need immediate rabies shots, which are unpleasant and costly.

• Smoking is not allowed on game drives. The dry African bush ignites very easily, and a flash fire can harm hundreds of animals.

Conserving the Natural Environment • Minimize the disposable items you bring on the trip and dispose of your trash properly.

• Ask whether plastic drinking water bottles can be recycled. Most days, it’s better to keep your empty bottles with you until you reach your hotel.

• Stay on established trails to avoid damaging plants.

• Don’t pick any vegetation, or remove any item of biological interest.

Shopping: What to Buy, Customs, Shipping & More There may be scheduled visits to local shops during your adventure. There is no requirement to make a purchase during these stops, and any purchase made is a direct transaction with the shop in question, subject to the vendor’s terms of purchase. O.A.T. is not responsible for purchases you make on your trip or for the shipment of your purchases.

88 Returns If you discover an issue with an item, you should contact the vendor directly and expect that any resolution will take longer than it would in the U.S. We recommend that you keep a copy of all your receipts, invoices, or contracts, along with the shop’s contact information. Keep in mind, local practice may vary from U.S. standards, so don’t assume that you have a certain number of days after the purchase to speak up or that you are guaranteed a refund.

Crafts & Souvenirs

Botswana Traditional souvenirs include gems and gemstone jewelry, batik artwork, traditional African woven cloths, stone and wood sculptures, terracotta, leather goods, beadwork, bone carvings, Bushmen’s handicrafts, and fine basketry.

Zambia The best places to find souvenirs in Zambia are the roadside stalls or the stalls in markets, where the prices aren’t fixed and you will have to bargain for a deal. At these stalls, traditional souvenirs be on the look out for include chitenjes (colored clothes, similar to a sarong, used as a skirt, wrap, cloak, or scarf), tonga baskets, wood or stone carvings, gourds decorated in beads and cowrie shells, model bikes or airplanes made from wire, copper bracelets, and teak furniture.

Zimbabwe Common souvenirs in Zimbabwe are geometric fabrics, Raku-fired ceramics, hand-woven baskets, traditional masks, wood-carved figurines, shona sculptures, and jewelry.

South Africa Traditional items for sale include hand-woven rugs, pottery, beadwork, wood carvings, kangas (a colorful woven garment), meerschaum pipes, fine basketry, and quality coffee and tea. In sophisticated Cape Town, there are fashionable boutiques and big-city shopping malls. South Africa is a major source of the world’s diamonds and other precious stones—either as jewelry or as gems you can have set back at home.

Namibia Namibia offers many fine craft items at good prices. Traditional souvenirs include gems and gemstone jewelry, batik artwork, traditional African woven cloths, stone and wood sculptures, leather goods, bead work, and fine basketry.

Uganda In Uganda, look for gold, silver, and beaded jewelry, wood carvings, handmade bags, woven rugs, curtains, hats, traditional baskets, and spices.

89 U.S. Customs Regulations & Shipping Charges For all things related to U.S. Customs, the ultimate authority is the U.S. Bureau of Customs & Border Protection. Their website, www.cbp.gov has the answers to the most frequently asked questions. Or you can call them at 1-877-227-5511.

The top three points to know are:

• At time of writing, your personal duty-free allowance is $800 for items brought with you. Items totaling more than $800 are subject to duty fees.

• Items shipped home are always subject to duty when received in the U.S. Even when the shop has offered to include shipping and duties in the price, this typically means shipping to the nearest customs facility and payment of the export duties—not door-to-door shipping or payment of the import duties. All additional duties or shipping charges would be your responsibility. Unless an item is small enough to send by parcel service (like FedEx), chances are you will need to arrange shipping or pick-up once the item is in the U.S. and will need to pay customs duties.

• It is illegal to import products made from endangered animal species. U.S. Customs & Border Protection will seize these items, as well as most furs, coral, tortoise shell, reptile skins, feathers, plants, and items made from animal skins.

90 DEMOGRAPHICS & HISTORY

Botswana

Facts, Figures & National Holidays • Area: 224,607 square miles

• Capital: Gaborone

• Languages: English (official), Setswana (Tswana)

• Ethnicity: Tswana (or Setswana) 79%, Kalanga 11%, Basarwa 3%, other, including Kgalagadi and white 7%

• Location: Botswana is bordered by Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Namibia.

• Geography: Botswana is a landlocked republic in southern Africa covering an area slightly smaller than France. Bordering nations include Zimbabwe in the northeast, South Africa in the south and southeast, and Namibia to the north and west. The country is geologically a vast sandy tableland with an average elevation of about 3,300 feet (1,000 meters). Large tracts of land in the central south and west (about two-thirds of the country) are covered by the Kalahari Desert. In the north-central portion of Botswana lie the wetlands of the Okavango Delta, the world’s largest inland delta, and the salt pans of the Makgadikgadi area.

• Population: 2,384,390

• Religions: Christian 71.6%, Badimo 6%, other 1.4% (includes Baha’i, Hindu, Muslim), unspecified 0.4%, none 20.6%

• Time Zone: Botswana is 7 hours ahead of U.S. EST. When it is 6am in Washington D.C., it is 1pm in Botswana.

National Holidays: Botswana

In addition to the holidays listed below, 05/01 May Day Botswana celebrates a number of national 07/01 Sir Seretse Khama Day holidays that follow a lunar calendar, such as Easter and Ascension Day. To find out if you 07/20 President’s Day will be traveling during these holidays, please visit www.timeanddate.com/holidays. 09/30 Botswana Day

01/01 New Year’s Day 12/25 Christmas Day

Botswana: A Brief History The earliest known inhabitants of what is now Botswana were the San, or Bushmen, who continue to wander the Kalahari Desert today. Their origins are unknown, but they are estimated to have lived here for some 30,000 years. The San were followed by the Khoi-Khoi, or Hottentots; and

91 then came the Bantu tribes around the first or second century AD. In the centuries that followed, southern African tribes like the Basotho made incursions into Botswana, and there was much fragmentation among the tribes until the end of the 18th century.

By 1652, Europeans had arrived on the Cape and had begun their inexorable spread northwards. But the face of Botswana was more significantly altered with the unification of the Zulu tribes under the fierce warlord Shaka, in 1818 (in what is now South Africa). His military machine conquered or destroyed all tribes in his path; by 1830, many tribes in southern and eastern Botswana had either fallen or been absorbed into the Shaka Zulu Empire.

Meanwhile, as the European settlements grew, the Dutch Boers and British colonists began their own partitions of southern Africa, taking advantage of the shifting alliances between fragmented tribes. Tension between the British and the Boers finally erupted in war in 1887. Its geopolitical result was the withdrawal of Britain from the Transvaal in exchange for Boer allegiance to the British Crown. But the Boers continued to push into Tswana territory in the north, in what was then called Bechuanaland (and later to become Botswana). The Tswana people lobbied for British protection, and in 1885, their territory became the Bechuanaland Protectorate, administered by Britain.

In 1902, the Union of South Africa was established with provisions for the incorporation of Bechuanaland. Self-rule advanced within Botswana when advisory councils of African and European residents were set up in 1920. A parliamentary government consisting of the National Assembly and the advisory House of Chiefs and headed by a president was instituted in 1965. Complete independence as a republic came on Sept. 30, 1966. Despite these political developments, Botswana remained among the poorest of nations. Then, in 1967, diamonds were discovered, and the entire economic base of Botswana changed overnight. Botswana now has one of the fastest growing economies in the world.

In the 1970s, Botswana had a growing economy and no apartheid regime and thus was attractive to South African refugees, anti-apartheid activists, and to those fleeing the Civil War in Zimbabwe. (Today Botswana is still one of the few African nations to specifically guarantee freedom of speech, press, and religion in its constitution.)

In 1980, the Southern African Development Coordination Conference (now known as the Southern African Development Community) was founded with the express purpose of creating a unified economy in southern Africa. Sadly, the country’s biggest crisis to date is one that unites much of Africa—the AIDS epidemic. But in keeping with their history of openness, Botswana’s National Health Council has been working hard against the epidemic in ways unheard of in most other African countries: with increased spending, open and frank communications about AIDS transmission, and by working with the government to ensure antiretroviral drugs reach the infected. Although the country saw a decrease in the early 2000s, the national infection rate is currently the third highest in the world.

92 Zambia

Facts, Figures & National Holidays • Area: 290,587 square miles

• Capital: Lusaka

• Ethnicity: African 99.6% (includes Bemba, Tonga, Chewa, Lozi, Nsenga, Tumbuka, Ngoni, Lala, Kaonde, Lunda, and other African groups), other 0.4% (includes Europeans, Asians, and Americans)

• Location: Zambia is bordered by Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Namibia.

• Geography: Near the southern edges of the country, where the plateaus dip down towards lakes and river valleys, are the three major rivers that flow into Victoria Falls. To the north and the west, the plateaus descend into vast floodplains.

• Languages: English is the official language; Bemba, Nyanja, Tonga, Lozi, Lunda, Kaonde, and Luvale are also spoken.

• Population: 15,066,266

• Religions: Protestant 75.3%, Roman Catholic 20.2%, other 2.7% (includes Muslim Buddhist, Hindu, and Baha’i), none 1.8%

• Time Zone: Zambia is on Central Africa Time, seven hours ahead of U.S. EST. When it is 6am in Washington D.C., it is 1pm in Lusaka.

National Holidays: Zambia

In addition to the holidays listed below, 03/12 Youth Day Zambia celebrates a number of national 05/01 May Day holidays that follow a lunar calendar, such as Easter and Unity Day. To find out if you will be 05/25 Africa Freedom Day traveling during these holidays, please visit www.timeanddate.com/holidays. 08/03 Farmers Day

01/01 New Year’s Day 10/24 Independence Day

03/08 International Women’s Day 12/25 Christmas Day

Zambia: A Brief History The earliest known inhabitants of Zambia were the San, a group of hunter-gathers who relied on stone tools. In the 4th century, new tribes who were more technologically advanced began arriving from the north; they used copper tools, knew how to make pottery, and were farmers. With their migration south, the San were slowly edged out. The new tribes, which were Bantu- speaking, became the forbearers of more than 70 tribal groups in modern Zambia.

93 These ancestors not only left a linguistic heritage, but also a direct connection to one of the major industries that would dominate Zambian history—copper. Like the Silk Road from China, a copper trade route sprang up from Zambia. Evidence uncovered at Ingombe Ilede indicates that the Zambian copper route was trading with empires as far away as India at one point.

Although the copper route lasted for centuries, by the 16th century new iron-age kingdoms began to form in Zambia. Eventually, two main kingdoms emerged: Barotseland and Mwata Kazembe. So when the first European explorers arrived in the late 1700s and early 1800s, they knew nothing about Zambia’s copper wealth; they were interested in establishing a trade route from Mozambique to Angola instead.

In 1855, the first British explorer arrived in Zambia. He was the noted Dr. Livingstone, the first European to see the “smoke that thunders”, and the man who named it Victoria Falls in honor of his Queen.

Although “Northern Rhodesia” (as Zambia was then known) was declared part of the British sphere of influence in 1888, it wasn’t until the presence of major copper deposits were confirmed in 1895 that the British took a real economic interest in Zambia. In 1924, Zambia became a British protectorate. In theory the local population was allowed a certain amount of self-rule and military protection in exchange for trading rights, but in practice the “self-rule” was limited to votes for the European population and none for the Africans.

Britain retained control of Northern Rhodesia until after WWII when it merged with Southern Rhodesia (present-day Zimbabwe) and Nyasaland (present-day Malawi) in 1953. But the federation was short-lived. On October 24th, 1964 the Republic of Zambia was formed as an independent country. The first president, Kenneth Kaunda looked to the socialist system for inspiration—policies were based on central planning, industries were nationalized, and a one- party system was adopted. In 1973, a new constitution formalized the one-party system, banning all other parties except Kaunda’s United National Independence Party (UNIP).

At first, the economy improved and Zambia began to take a role in regional politics. But when copper prices plummeted in the late 1970s, so did the Zambian economy. As ordinary Zambians grew fed up with the one-party system, there were protests and occasionally riots, but Kaunda remained president. In 1991 President Kaunda lifted the ban on the formation of other parties and a new constitution allowing for a multi-party system was passed.

The new political powerhouse, the Movement of Multiparty Democracy (MMD) was swept into power with the 1991 elections, but was almost immediately accused of corruption. Matters escalated in 1997 with a failed coup d’etat, which prompted the arrest of former president Kaunda by the then current president, Frederick Chiluba. The arrest provoked international response, as did the anti-corruption investigation of Chiluba by his successor. In 2011, the Patriotic Front (PF) gained control with the election of then President Michael Sata. The PF remains in power today under the leadership of President Edgar Lungu.

94 Zimbabwe

Facts, Figures & National Holidays • Area: 150,872 square miles

• Capital: Harare

• Languages: English is the offical language; Shona and Nguni are also spoken.

• Ethnicity: African 99.4% (predominantly Shona; Ndebele is the second largest ethnic group), other 0.4%, unspecified 0.2%

• Location: Zimbabwe is bordered by Zambia, Mozambique, South Africa, and Botswana.

• Geography: Zimbabwe is twice as large as Great Britain. Its Victoria Falls, approximately one mile long with a maximum drop of 420 feet, is located on the Zambezi River by the Zambia-Zimbabwe border.

• Population: 14,229,541

• Religions: Protestant 75.9% (includes Apostolic 38%, Pentecostal 21.1%, other 16.8%), Roman Catholic 8.4%, other Christian 8.4%, other 1.2% (includes traditional, Muslim), none 6.1%

• Time Zone: Zimbabwe is on Central Africa Time, seven hours ahead of U.S. EST. When it is 6am in Washington D.C., it is 1pm in Harare.

National Holidays: Zimbabwe

In addition to the holidays listed below, 04/18 Independence Day Zimbabwe celebrates a number of national 05/01 Workers Day holidays that follow a lunar calendar, such as Easter and Heroes’ Day. To find out if you 05/25 Africa Day will be traveling during these holidays, please visit www.timeanddate.com/holidays. 12/22 Unity Day

01/01 New Year’s Day 12/25 Christmas Day

02/21 National Youth Day 12/26 Boxing Day

Zimbabwe: A Brief History The name “Zimbabwe” comes from the capital city of the Monomotapa Empire, whose heyday occurred between the 5th and 15th centuries in this part of Africa. By the late 19th century, the area was occupied by African tribes including the Ndebele and the Shona, led by the powerful chief Lobengula. In 1890, a British column led by Cecil Rhodes marched from South Africa in search of precious minerals. They established Fort Salisbury (now Harare) and disbanded. Through treaties and persuasion, Rhodes and his British South Africa Company acquired mineral rights in Lobengula’s kingdom.

95 Rhodes claimed the territory north of the Limpopo River for Great Britain and distributed it among his pioneers and the indigenous Africans. The country was known as Rhodesia for many years in his honor. The northern portion is now Zambia, while the former Southern Rhodesia was renamed Zimbabwe in 1980 in honor of its historical and cultural heritage.

The Ndebele took up arms in 1893 and again in 1896. European settlers spread from the area around Fort Salisbury, and by 1897 the railway had reached from South Africa to Bulawayo, the capital of Lobengula’s former kingdom. A few years later the line was extended to reach the coalfields of Hwange, the copper belt in Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia), and Salisbury, which was already linked by rail to the port of Beira in Portuguese Mozambique.

Southern Rhodesia was granted independence by the British in 1923 as an autonomous member of the Commonwealth, but the passage of the Land Apportionment Act in 1931 solidified political power in the hands of the white minority. In 1953, Southern Rhodesia merged with Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland (now Malawi). Vigorous opposition by nationalists in Zambia and Malawi led to the dissolution of the federation in 1963. In 1965, Rhodesia’s prime minister, Ian Smith, announced a unilateral declaration of independence.

During the 1960s and 1970s, nationalism was building in Rhodesia under the parties led by Joshua Nkomo and Robert Mugabe. Both groups had to take refuge in neighboring independent countries. From there, they waged a seven-year struggle for liberation from white minority rule. At last, an agreement was reached to hold a popular election in 1980. Mugabe won a landslide victory to become Zimbabwe’s first prime minister under majority rule.

The parliament passed a Land Acquisition Bill in 1992, allowing the government to redistribute about half the land owned by white commercial farmers to black peasants. In his successful 1996 re-election campaign, Mugabe made a pledge to do more to speed up the resettlement of poor black people on land acquired by the government.

After 28 years of what had effectively become a one-party state, some opposition parties began to challenge the status quo as Mugabe became engulfed in scandals, economic problems, and charges of corruption, violence, and election fraud. In Zimbabwe’s 2008 elections, for instance, the leader of the country’s opposition party, Morgan Tsvangirai, won the popular vote, but Mugabe refused to step down from power quietly. He strong-armed opposition supporters and insisted on a run-off election, despite widespread condemnation from world leaders. In the end, South Africa’s president Thabo Mbeki brokered a power-sharing agreement in which Mugabe retained the presidency, with Tsvangirai serving as prime minister.

On November 14, 2017, Mugabe was placed under house arrest during in a military coup staged by members of his own party and the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF). Leaders of the coup appointed Mugabe’s former Vice President, Emmerson Mnangagwa, as the new President and gave Mugabe a deadline of November 21 to resign or face impeachment. Mnangagwa was sworn into office on November 24, 2017 and remains the current president.

96 South Africa

Facts, Figures & National Holidays • Area: 470,693 square miles

• Capital: Pretoria (administrative), Cape Town (legislative), Bloemfontein (judicial)

• Languages: There are eleven official languages; English, Afrikaans, IsiZulu, IsiXhosa, Sepedi, Setswana, Sesotho, and Xitsonga and others are all spoken.

• Ethnicity: Black African 80.2%, white 8.4%, biracial 8.8%, Indian/Asian 2.5%

• Location: South Africa is bordered by Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, the Indian Ocean, and the South Atlantic Ocean to the west.

• Geography: Africa’s southernmost country, South Africa has three major natural regions: the plateau, the mountains, and the coastal belt.

• Population: 53,675,563

• Religions: Protestant 36.6% (Zionist Christian 11.1%, Pentecostal/Charismatic 8.2%, Methodist 6.8%, Dutch Reformed 6.7%, Anglican 3.8%), Catholic 7.1%, Muslim 1.5%, other Christian 36%, other 2.3%, unspecified 1.4%, none 15.1%

• Time Zone: South Africa is on South Africa Standard Time (SAST), seven hours ahead of U.S. EST. When it is 6am in Washington D.C., it is 1pm in South Africa.

National Holidays: South Africa

In addition to the holidays listed below, 05/01 Workers’ Day South Africa celebrates a number of national 06/16 Youth Day holidays that follow a lunar calendar, such as Easter and Family Day. To find out if you 08/09 National Women’s Day will be traveling during these holidays, please visit www.timeanddate.com/holidays. 09/24 Heritage Day

01/01 New Year’s Day 12/16 Day of Reconciliation

03/21 Human Rights Day 12/25 Christmas Day

04/27 Freedom Day 12/26 Day of Goodwill

South Africa: A Brief History The San, nomadic hunter-gatherers, were the earliest people to inhabit southern Africa. DNA evidence suggests that the San—sometimes referred to as “Bushmen”—lived here as long ago as 100,000 B.C, very likely making them the oldest people in the world. If so, then we can all trace our genes to them. In the fourth or fifth century B.C., the first Bantus arrived, bringing the first tribal structure to the region and taking over most of the arable land.

97 In the late 15th century, the Europeans arrived, first from Portugal, then from Holland. The latter settled here and took slaves from Madagascar, India, and Indonesia. The Dutch were losing their foothold by the late 18th century, leaving them vulnerable to the British, who set up a base in Cape Town as a pit stop en route to India and Australia. The British continued what the Dutch had started: They fought the native Xhosa people, pushing eastward to expand their reach and erecting fortresses along the Fish River.

The remaining Dutch Boer farmers escaped British control when they set off to establish their own colony in the north and the east of South Africa. But en route, they came across many deserted or decimated villages. Villagers they met were dazed and confused. The Boers would meet the culprits of this ransacking when they came upon the Zulu, who were running their campaign of terror to overtake land from surrounding tribes. With fierce struggle, the Boers faced them down and formed their own settlements, only to be confronted themselves by the British, who were bent on land acquisition. Then, a sea of diamonds appeared in the earth in nearby Kimberley, giving the Boers a bit more incentive to stay—and to fight the British with everything they had.

They resisted the British push with guerilla tactics in the First Boer War. But the British returned with greater force to defeat them in the Second Boer War at the turn of the 20th century. The formation of the Union of South Africa in 1910 by the British and the Dutch-Afrikaaners set the stage for apartheid with its race-based policies, restrictions, and repression. Blacks were segregated to live in squalid backwaters known as “homelands.”

The white, ruling Afrikaaners paid plenty of lip service to the supposed self-sufficiency of these regions, but provided no means or opportunities for improvements. In the 1960s, black people began to protest with strikes and marches. It wasn’t long before things turned violent: 69 were killed in Sharpeville and members of the African National Congress (ANC) were jailed, Nelson Mandela among them.

Opposition against apartheid grew worldwide, and with the economic impacts of sanctions and divestments, the National Party’s FW de Klerk lifted the ban on the ANC and, 27 years after his imprisonment, released Nelson Mandela. In 1994, he won the country’s first multi-racial election by a landslide and became president.

Some of the disparities of apartheid remain, but South Africa is far more optimistic than it once was. Four subsequent presidents have been elected into office since Mandela’s retirement in 1999, with Cyril Ramaphosa serving as the current President since 2018.

Namibia

Facts, Figures & National Holidays • Area: 318,261 square miles

• Capital: Windhoek

• Languages: English is the official language of Namibia; Afrikaans (common language of most of the population), German, and indigenous languages are also spoken.

98 • Ethnicity: Black 87.5%, white 6%, mixed 6.5%; about 50% of the population belong to the Ovambo tribe and 9% to the Kavangos tribe; other ethnic groups include Herero 7%, Damara 7%, Nama 5%, Caprivian 4%, Bushmen 3%, Baster 2%, Tswana 0.5%

• Location: Namibia is bordered by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and the Atlantic Ocean.

• Geography: With scant exception (in the north near Angola and in the thin Caprivi Strip), rainfall is rare and lakes or ponds are few. Two deserts blanket its land with sand: the Namib, possibly the oldest in the world, follows the entire Skeleton Coast and stretches 60 to 100 miles inland; and the Kalahari comprises almost the entire eastern part of the country. Central Namibia (a high, rocky escarpment that soars more than 6,500 feet above sea level) sees a mere six inches of rain per year.

• Population: 2,212,307

• Religions: Christian 80% to 90% (Lutheran 50% at least), indigenous beliefs 10% to 20%

• Time Zone: Namibia is on West Africa Time, seven hours ahead of U.S. EST. When it is 6am in Washington, D.C., it is 1pm in Windhoek.

National Holidays: Namibia

In addition to the holidays listed below, 05/01 May Day Namibia celebrates a number of national 05/04 Cassinga Day holidays that follow a lunar calendar, such as Easter and Ascension Day. To find out if you 05/25 Africa Day will be traveling during these holidays, please visit www.timeanddate.com/holidays. 08/26 Heroes’ Day

01/01 New Year’s Day 12/10 International Human Rights Day

03/21 Independence Day 12/25 Christmas Day

12/26 Day of Goodwill

Namibia: A Brief History The San were the earliest people to inhabit southern Africa. These nomadic hunter-gatherers were hardy and could quickly adapt to the region’s severe terrain and climate. DNA evidence suggests that the San—sometimes referred to as “Bushmen”—were in fact the oldest people in the world, and southern Africa was their Eden. If so, then we can all trace our genes to them.

In the third or fourth century B.C., the first Bantus arrived on south-central Namibia’s plateaus. They brought the first tribal structure to the region and drove other tribes into the desert or the swamps of the Okavango Delta. Tribes that did not retreat were taken on as slaves to the Bantu.

99 Around the fifth century, A.D., tribal Khoi-Khoi groups came into the region from Botswana, settling here to raise livestock. Over time, they displaced the San and ruled Namibia until the 16th century. Archaeological records suggest that the Khoi-Khoi were among the first pottery makers. Descendants of all these tribes remain in Namibia today, but most have been assimilated into modern society.

Namibia’s barren and inhospitable coastline largely turned away European explorers. But the late 15th century saw Portuguese mariners landing on its shores, merely to erect stone crosses along the beaches that could be used to guide navigation. Not until the late 1800s did Namibia become the object of imperial affections, when Germany annexed it. The enclave of Walvis Bay, however, was ignored by Germany, but taken by the British in 1878 for the Cape Colony.

In 1904, the Herero people—part of the Bantu tribe—rose up against German colonists. But their uprising was brutally quelled, and 60,000 Hereros were killed. Meanwhile, just east of Lüderitz in the southern Namib Desert, diamonds were discovered. German authorities, anxious to keep the locals out, quickly labeled the region a sperrgebiet, or “forbidden area,” and they set to mining.

After World War I, the League of Nations mandated that South Africa rule what had become known as South-West Africa. After World War II, the mandate stood, but the UN didn’t go so far as to grant South Africa annexation. Still, the South African government granted Namibian whites representation in their parliament in 1949. As a result, Namibia’s farmland was doled out to white settlers, and black workers were legally relegated as “reserves.”

Nationalism rose during the following decade, giving birth to the militaristic South West Africa People’s Organization (Swapo). A war for independence ignited. Still, Swapo pursued a more peaceful avenue when they presented their case against South African occupation to the International Court of Justice in 1966. Despite an inconclusive outcome, the UN General Assembly terminated the mandate of 50 years ago and got to work administering the region with the creation of the Council for South West Africa. But the council failed to create any internal government, so South Africa easily inserted itself, refusing to officially let go of Namibia unless Cuban troops left Angola, which borders Namibia to the north. As a response, Swapo stepped up guerrilla activities.

It wasn’t until 20 years later that a resolution was brokered in the form of a 1988 UN-sponsored deal that ensured Cuban troops would leave Angola if South African troops withdrew from Namibia. With all that said and done, Swapo won the 1989 elections, a constitution was created, and independence began under the presidency of Swapo leader Sam Nujoma. Walvis Bay was ceded by the British in 1994 after the end of apartheid in South Africa.

But peace would be short-lived. In 1999, Namibia welcomed Angolan troops onto its soil so they could attack UNITA (National Union for the Total Independence of Angola) from a more strategic position. Namibia was once again embroiled in conflict, even if as its own nation.

100 By far the one of the biggest controversies in recent times of Namibia has been the issue of land reform. At first, Namibia’s President Nujoma took a more conciliatory approach than his colleague Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe. While the latter took forcible possession of white farms, Nujoma condemned illegal land seizures and created a “willing seller, willing buyer” approach that was designed to allow for the peaceful redistribution of land from white farmers to black farmhands. By 2003, he had averted 15 farm invasions and played a role in a crucial agreement between a black farmhands’ union and white farmers. But with the 2004 election Hifikepunye Pohamba (who had previously been the Minister of Lands, Resettlement and Rehabilitation) came a more authoritarian approach; it became compulsory that white farmers turn over their land in exchange for a payout from the government. President Pohamba was re-elected in 2009 with over 70% of the popular vote; his term will expire in 2015.

Uganda

Facts, Figures & National Holidays • Area: 93,065 square miles

• Capital: Kampala

• Languages: English (official language), Ganda or Luganda, other Niger-Congo languages, Nilo-Saharan languages, Swahili, and Arabic

• Ethnicity: Baganda 16.5%, Banyankole 9.6%, Basoga 8.8%, Bakiga 7.1%, Iteso 7%, Langi 6.3%, Bagisu 4.9%, Acholi 4.4%, Lugbara 3.3%, other 32.1%

• Location: Uganda is bordered by Kenya on the East, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the West, South Sudan on the North, and Rwanda and Tanzania on the South.

• Geography: Uganda consists of a plateau with mountains along the border. It is surrounded by three lakes: Lake Albert, Lake Edward, and Lake Victoria.

• Population: 39,570,125 (estimate)

• Religions: Protestant 45.1%, Roman Catholic 39.3%, Muslim 13.7%, other 1.6%, none 0.2%

• Time Zone: Uganda is on Central Africa Time, seven hours ahead of U.S. EST. When it is 6am in Washington D.C., it is 1pm in Uganda.

101 National Holidays: Uganda

In addition to the holidays listed below, 03/08 International Women’s Day Uganda celebrates a number of national 05/01 May Day holidays that follow a lunar calendar, such as Easter and Eid al-Fitr. To find out if you will 06/03 Martyr’s Day be traveling during these holidays, please visit www.timeanddate.com/holidays. 06/09 National Heroes Day

01/01 New Year’s Day 10/09 Independence Day

01/26 Liberation Day 12/25 Christmas Day

02/16 Remembrance of Archbishop 12/26 Boxing Day Janani Luwum

Uganda: A Brief History Agricultural Bantu settlers are believed to be some of the first inhabitants of Uganda, dating back to 1,000 B.C. In the 17th and 18th centuries, several kingdoms were formed, including Bunyoro, Buganda, Busoga, Ankole, and Toro. By the 19th century, English Protestant and French Catholic missionaries arrived, whose influence can still be seen in modern-day Uganda. In 1894, the kingdom of Buganda became a British Protectorate and the British Colonial Office took control of the country in 1905.

In 1921, a legislature and executive council were formed to bring power back to the local people and by 1955, Ugandans made up more than half of the legislature. Britain granted independence to Uganda in 1962, and the first elections were held on March 1, 1961. Benedicto Kiwanuka of the Democratic Party became the first chief minister. Uganda became a republic the following year, maintaining its Commonwealth membership.

In succeeding years, supporters of a centralized state vied with those in favor of a loose federation and a strong role for tribally-based local kingdoms. Political maneuvering climaxed in February 1966, when Milton Obote, the Prime Minister, suspended the constitution and assumed all government powers, removing the positions of president and vice president. In September 1967, a new constitution proclaimed Uganda a republic, gave the president even greater powers, and abolished the traditional kingdoms.

After a military coup on January 25, 1971, Obote was deposed from power and the dictator Idi Amin seized control of the country. Amin ruled Uganda with the military for the next eight years and carried out mass killings within the country to maintain his rule. An estimated 300,000 Ugandans lost their lives at the hands of his regime, many of them in the north, which he associated with Obote’s loyalists. Aside from his brutalities, he forcibly removed the entrepreneurial Indian minority from Uganda, which left the country’s economy in ruins.

A border altercation involving Ugandan exiles who had a camp close to the Ugandan border of Mutukula resulted in an attack by the Uganda army into Tanzania. In October 1978, the Tanzanian armed forces repulsed an incursion by Amin’s troops into Tanzanian territory. The Tanzanian

102 army, backed by Ugandan exiles, waged a war of liberation against Amin’s troops and the Libyan soldiers sent to help him. On April 11, 1979, Kampala was captured and Amin fled with his remaining forces to Libya.

Amin’s reign ended after the Uganda-Tanzania War in 1979, in which Tanzanian forces aided by Ugandan exiles invaded Uganda. This led to the return of Obote, who was deposed again in 1985 by General Tito Okello. Okello ruled for six months until he was deposed. This occurred after the so-called “bush war” by the National Resistance Army (NRA) operating under the leadership of Yoweri Museveni, and various rebel groups, including the Federal Democratic Movement of Andrew Kayiira, and another belonging to John Nkwaanga. During the Bush War the army carried out mass killings of non-combatants.

Negotiations between the Okello government and the NRA were conducted in Nairobi in the fall of 1985, with Kenyan President Daniel arap Moi seeking a cease-fire and a coalition government in Uganda. Although agreeing in late 1985 to a cease-fire, the NRA continued fighting, and seized Kampala and the country in late January 1986, forcing Okello’s forces to flee north into Sudan. Museveni’s forces organized a government with Museveni as president.

Since assuming power, the government dominated by the political grouping created by Museveni and his followers, the National Resistance Movement (NRM or the “Movement”), has largely put an end to the human rights abuses of earlier governments, initiated substantial political liberalization and general press freedom, and instituted broad economic reforms after consultation with the International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and donor governments.

Between 1998 and 2003, the Ugandan army was involved in the Second Congo War in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Uganda continues to support rebel groups, such as the Movement for the Liberation of Congo and some factions of the Rally for Congolese Democracy.

In August 2005, Parliament voted to change the constitution to lift presidential term limits, allowing Museveni to run for a third term if he wished to do so. Mesuveni remains the current President of Uganda.

103 RESOURCES

Suggested Reading We’ve compiled a list of suggested books to help as you prepare for your safari adventure. Keep in mind that this is not a comprehensive list, but a starting point based on recommendations from our staff, previous travelers, and trusted book review websites. If you’re interested in a particular subject or just looking for more reading material, you may want to research online or speak to your local librarian for further suggestions.

General Africa Africa, A Biography of the Continent by John Reader (History): A great introduction to Africa from its ancient cultures up to modern times.

Faces of Africa, Thirty Years of Photography OR Passages: Photographs in Africa by Carol Beckwith and Angela Fisher (Photography/Anthropology) Traveling throughout Africa from the Sahara to Cape Horn, Beckwith and Fisher have produced decades of striking images.

Safari: A Chronicle of Adventure by Bartle Bull (History) In fascinating and often amusing detail, Bull delineates the evolution of the African safari—from the first European expedition in ox- driven wagons to the modern-day version in comfortable camps.

The State of Africa: A History of Fifty Years of Independence by Martin Meredith (History) Tracing the half-century since European colonial powers left the continent, this incisive study explores Africa’s most pressing issues including corruption, poverty, debt, ethnic violence, and the reliance on Western assistance for survival. Why has the post-independence arc moved from jubilation and idealism to despair, and what can be done about it?

African Safari Field Guide by Mark W. Nolting (Field Guide) Here in one illustrated source you will find just about everything you need to know while on safari. It includes safari tips, wildlife guides, a glossary of safari terms, maps, lists of vegetation zones, stargazing guides, language guides, pages for your own notes and much more.

Botswana Go Tell the Sun by Wame Molefhe (2011, Fiction) This anthology of short stories introduces several Botswanan characters whose lives intersect around issues of culture, gender, and modernity as they contend with family dysfunction, homosexuality, AIDS, and more.

The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith (1998-2020, Mystery) This internationally popular series of mystery novels follows the escapades of the resourceful detective, Precious Ramotswe. As each mystery unfolds so, too, do the customs, diverse landscapes, and national character of Botswana.

104 Whatever You Do, Don’t Run: True Tales of a Botswana Safari Guide by Peter Allison (2007, Travel Memoir) Raucous and riveting, this guide’s-eye view of living and working in the Okavango Delta is a wonderful way to learn how not to behave while on safari.

Cry of the Kalahari by Mark and Delia Owens (1984, Nature/Autobiography) The bestselling story of a young American couple who relocate to the Kalahari Desert, where they work to conserve the local animals, especially lions.

When Rain Clouds Gather by Bessie Head (1968, Fiction) Everything changes for a rural village in Botswana when a South African refugee and a British farming expert cross paths there.

Zambia The Old Drift by Namwali Serpell (Fiction) This acclaimed Zambian author offers a sprawling, multi-generational saga that traces Zambia’s 19th-century colonial past, and takes us into the near future.

The Mourning Bird by Mubanga Kalimamukwento (Fiction) Set in the 1990s, this tale of 11 year- old Chimuka and her younger brother, Ali, follows the two orphans as they escape their abusive foster family and are plunged into the brutal street life of Lusaka. As Chimuka and Ali struggle to survive, secrets of their family—and the challenges of Zambia itself—are revealed.

The Secrets of the Savannah by Mark and Delia Owens (Nature/Autobiography) The conservationist couple first moved to Zambia to help save the dwindling lion population, but ended up being captured by the plights of the elephants instead. This book recounts their 30-year effort to fight against poachers.

The Eye of the Leopard by Henning Mankell (Fiction) Mankell masterfully contrasts a man’s life in Zambia and his troubled youth in Sweden in this haunting novel, an uncanny portrait of cultural difference.

African Wild Dogs: On the Front Line by Brendan Whittington-Jones (Nature) Outlines the difficulties—and importance—of the conservation effort to save Africa’s painted dogs. Although the book is based on the author’s experiences in South Africa, the conservation effort continues in Zambia.

The Africa House: The True Story of an English Gentleman and His African Dream by Christina Lamb (Biography). A beautifully wrought account of the life of a pioneering white settler—and supporter of African independence—set amidst his estate in Northern Rhodesia, which is now Zambia.

Zimbabwe When a Crocodile Eats the Sun by Peter Godwin (2006, Memoir) This is the author’s searing, eyewitness account of more than three decades of upheaval in Zimbabwe under the independence hero-turned-dictator Robert Mugabe. More than a political memoir, it weaves the personal story of Godwin’s own white-liberal family; how they endured constant betrayals, assaults, and losses; and the family secret that ultimately explained their refusal to leave.

105 Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight by Alexandra Fuller (2001, Memoir) The author recalls her eccentric family’s meanderings from Zimbabwe to Malawi to Zambia during the upheaval of the Rhodesian Bush War. Written with humor and candor, it is a survival tale you’ll not soon forget.

The Girl Who Married a Lion and Other Tales of Africa by Alexander McCall Smith (2004, Fiction) A collection of often hilarious, often bizarre, folktales that the author heard as a child growing up in Zimbabwe. Also includes seven new tales from Botswana.

The Grass is Singing by Doris Lessing (1950, Fiction) In her first novel, Nobel Laureate Lessing explores the life of a white farmer’s wife in Zimbabwe, and her relationship with her African servant. An explosive topic for the times, the book is a thoughtful portrait of the country, its people and social challenges.

Harvest of Thorns by Shimmer Chinodya (2017, Historical Fiction) A powerful story of the Zimbabwean struggle for independence, seen through the eyes of a young guerilla.

The Last Resort: A Memoir of Mischief and Mayhem on a Family Farm in Africa by Douglas Rogers (2009, Memoir) A critically-acclaimed tale about the author’s family’s last-ditch effort to save their farm from a government ordinance re-claiming land owned by white farmers. Touching, and at times darkly funny.

South Africa Long Walk to Freedom: The Autobiography of Nelson Mandela by Nelson Mandela (Biography) Although there are more recent books about the charismatic South African leader, this is his remarkable story in his own words.

The Rise and Fall of the Zulu Nation by John Laband (History) The Zulu were perhaps Africa’s greatest tribe, yet much of their story has remained untold until now. This careful and in-depth study describes the origins of the Zulu people, their development into the “Black Spartans” under their legendary leader Shaka, and their defeat at the hands of Boers and Britons with superior firepower.

Coconut by Kopano Matlwa (Fiction) Two South African girls from opposite backgrounds both struggle for a sense of identity in modern Johannesburg, and find that for them, the “rainbow nation” is still colored in black and white.

Born a Crime by Trevor Noah (Memoir) The popular late-night television host and comedian describes growing up in apartheid-era South Africa as a biracial child.

Burger’s Daughter by Nadine Gordimer (Fiction) A young Afrikaner woman struggles to define her own path after her famous revolutionary father dies in prison, having spent his life fighting for the rights of South African blacks. The author won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1991.

Cry, The Beloved Country by Alan Paton (Fiction) This classic novel centers on a Zulu priest and his search for a long lost son, a black man who has been accused of killing a prominent white liberal. It poignantly depicts the disintegration of tribal communities in an increasingly urban society at the dawn of the apartheid era.

106 The Ones with Purpose by Nozizwe Cynthia Jele (Fiction) After a 10-year hiatus, South African novelist Jele came back into the spotlight with this emotional story about a women dealing with her sister’s terminal illness. A sad story, but moving and relatable.

A History of South Africa by Leonard Thompson (History) A comprehensive overview of South Africa’s history, updated every few years and now its fourth edition.

Namibia Burning Shore by Wilbur Smith (Fiction) One of a series of highly enjoyable novels from Zambian- born writer Wilbur Smith, this romantic adventure tale is partially set on Namibia’s Skeleton Coast. The story follows a shipwrecked French widow’s love affair with an Afrikaner outlaw in the Namibian desert. Highly recommended by O.A.T.’s Trip Experience Leaders.

Namibia Space by Julienne du Toit (Nature/Culture) A collection of photographs and essays highlighting Namibia’s landscapes, wildlife, and culture.

Sands of Silence, On Safari in Namibia by Peter Hathaway Capstick (Memoir) The first-person story of a hunter on safari in Namibia during the 1980s. The author’s defense of big game hunting may be seen as controversial, but his descriptions of the Bushman have been lauded for their accuracy and sensitivity. This book may not be in stock at your local store but can still be found online.

Soul of a Lion: One Woman’s Quest to Rescue Africa’s Wildlife Refugees by Barbara Bennett (Memoir/Animals) A tribute to Mariete van der Merwe, who runs a unique sanctuary for animals and specializes in helping disabled animals. Recounts the sanctuary’s creation and daily life with vigor.

The Second Coming of Mavala Shikongo by Peter Orner (Fiction) A fascinating novel about the relationship between a beautiful and enigmatic local woman and an American volunteer teacher, set in a school on the edge of Namibia’s vast desert.

Uganda Kintu by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi (2014, Fiction) What happens when your family is cursed? This epic novel follows several generations of the same family, all descendants of Kintu Kata, a Ugandan man who unleashes a curse on his family in 1750. The author won the 2014 Commonwealth Prize for this debut novel and as since written other well-received books like 2020’s A Girl is a Body of Water, about a 12-year-old’s trying to find out who her mother is.

Operation Thunderbolt: Flight 139 and the Raid on Entebbe Airport, the Most Audacious Hostage Rescue Mission in History by Saul David (2017, Non-Fiction) Days after Idi Amin Dada is declared President, an Air France flight is hijacked and diverted to Entebbe Airport on the shore of Lake Victoria in Uganda for six days where Israeli Special Forces must stage a rescue mission to free the hostages.

107 The Teeth May Smile but the Heart Does Not Forget: Murder and Memory in Uganda by Andrew Rice (2010, Journalism/Narrative) Journalist Andrew Rice spent four years in Uganda researching this gripping story of a man’s quest for the truth about the murder of his father during the brutal reign of dictator Idi Amin.

Abyssinian Chronicles: A Novel by Moses Isegawa (1998, Fiction) The story of a young man living in Uganda following the end of President Idi Amin’s regime.

Suggested Film & Video

Botswana A United Kingdom (2013, Drama) David Oyelowo and Rosamund Pike star in this true story about Botswana’s first president, Sir Seretse Khama, and his English wife Ruth Williams. When they married in the 1948, both their families objected and their union was challenged by both the South African and British governments.

The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency (2008, Mystery) After the death of her father, Precious Ramotswe (singer Jill Scott) moves to Gabarone to become the first female detective in all of Botswana. But will anyone hire her?

The Gods Must Be Crazy (1980, Comedy) Xi, a Kalahari tribesman, finds a Coca Cola bottle in the desert. When he brings it back to his village, it causes ridiculous arguments, so he embarks on a journey to rid the tribe of the mysterious object. Along the way he meets western teachers, policemen, scientists, and political guerrillas, and discovers a world even more absurd than the one he left behind. Though a South African production, the film is set in Botswana.

Zambia The Borderline (2019, Drama) This acclaimed production from Zambia is a film noir-style thriller about a young poacher and sometime gem dealer who sells his soul to the Devil. Available on Vimeo and various streaming services.

Zimbabwe Cook Off (2017, Romantic Comedy) An all-Zimbabwean cast stars in this delightful romcom about a single mom who finds love and good fortune as a contestant on a television cooking show contest. This is one of only a handful of films produced in Zimbabwe since the turn of the century. Made on a shoestring budget of $8,000, it is the first feature film made here to be offered on a streaming service (Netflix).

King Solomon’s Mines (1985, Comedy/Adventure) Based on the classic H. Rider Haggard novel, this version of the story takes a comedic approach and was meant to parody Spielberg’s Indiana Jones franchise. Hero Allan Quatermaine is hired to find an archaeologist who was lost during an expedition to find a legendary treasure. Filmed outside of the capital, Harare.

108 White Hunter, Black Heart (1990, Drama) Clint Eastwood produced, directed, and starred in this film about a famous director, John Wilson, shooting on location in Africa. To the dismay of his cast and crew, Wilson neglects his film duties and becomes obsessed with shooting elephants, despite his recognition that killing for sport is “a sin.” This is a thinly veiled account of the filming of John Huston’s classic, The African Queen. It was shot in and around Lake Kariba, Victoria Falls, and Hwange.

South Africa District 9 (2009, Science Fiction) Filmed in mockumentary style, this stylish sci-fi thriller was nominated for four Academy Awards. It concerns extraterrestrial aliens who flee their dying planet, and land in Johannesburg, where they live in a refugee sector very much like the real-life District 6 ghetto where South African blacks were forced to live. At once suspenseful, sardonic, and unflinching in its social commentary.

Searching for Sugar Man (2013, Documentary) Winner of the 2013 Academy Award for Best Documentary. Sixto Rodriguez, a Detroit rock musician, had a disappointing career in the U.S. But unbeknownst to him (thanks to the closed society of apartheid-era South Arica), he had become a sensation in South Africa, where his music influenced many activists. Sixto only learned of his huge following when determined fans set out to confirm whether rumors of Sixto’s death were true. A feel-good comeback story with a great soundtrack.

Tsotsi (2005, Drama) This is the only South African film to have won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. Adapted from the 1980 novel by Athol Fugard, it follows the travails of David, a young Johannesburg tsotsi (thug) who finds himself the caregiver of baby after a carjacking.

Invictus (2009, Drama) Director Clint Eastwood tells the story of how Nelson Mandela used the 1995 World Cup rugby matches to unite the people of South Africa.

Zulu (1964, Drama). This classic, rousing adventure recounts the true story of how a small regiment of 150 British troops held off an overwhelming number of 4,000 Zulu in 1879. The film depicts the Zulu army as worthy adversaries admired for their discipline and strategy. Starring Sir Stanley Baker (who also produced) and Michael Caine in his first major screen role.

Breaker Morant (1980, Drama). Brilliant recounting of events that transpired during South Africa’s Boer War revolving around the court martial of three Australian lieutenants—with lots of parallels to modern warfare.

Namibia Baxu and the Giants (2019, Drama/Family). A short film about Baxu, a 9-year-old girl, and her family in a small Namibian village as poachers arrive, looking for the nearby rhinos she holds dear to her, disrupting her life and her family.

Katutura (2015, Action/Drama). Three different people, an ex-convict, a gangster, and a disabled teenager, are forced into each other’s paths as they struggle to live out their dreams, faced with crime, drug abuse, and violence, in the Katutura township.

109 Namibia: The Struggle for Liberation (2007, History/Drama). Based off of the defeat of the South African army in 1987 that lead to creation of Namibia as a separate country, follow Sam Nujoma, the leader of the South West Africa People’s Organization and the first President of Namibia, as he dives into politics and strives to grant Namibia its freedom.

Uganda Queen of Katwe (2016, Drama) The inspiring story of a Ugandan girl living in a slum who learns to play chess and goes on to become a Woman Candidate Master at the World Chess Olympiad.

Who Killed Captain Alex? (2010, Action/Comedy) This low-budget action film is one of about 40 that have been produced in “Wakaliwood,” a slum of Kampala. Made for about $200, it was masterminded by director Nabwana Isaac Geoffrey Godfrey, who has gained a cult following as the “Tarantino of Uganda.” Even if you don’t like the gleeful mayhem, you can’t help but be impressed by the resourcefulness of the production.

Last King of Scotland (2006, Historical Drama) Forest Whitaker won Best Actor at the 2006 Academy Awards for his role as Ugandan President, Idi Amin, in this film which follows the story of the Ugandan President’s personal physician and confidant.

110 Useful Websites

Overseas Adventure Travel World Weather www.oattravel.com www.intellicast.com www.weather.com Overseas Adventure Travel Store www.wunderground.com www.oatshop.com Basic Travel Phrases (80 languages) Overseas Adventure Travel Frequently www.travlang.com/languages Asked Questions www.oattravel.com/faq Packing Tips www.travelite.org International Health Information/CDC (Centers for Disease Control) U.S. Customs & Border Protection http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel www.cbp.gov/travel

Electricity & Plugs Transportation Security www.worldstandards.eu/electricity/ Administration (TSA) plugs-and-sockets www.tsa.gov

Foreign Exchange Rates National Passport Information Center www.xe.com/currencyconverter www.travel.state.gov www.oanda.com/converter/classic Holidays Worldwide ATM Locators www.timeanddate.com/holidays www.mastercard.com/atm www.visa.com/atmlocator

111 VACCINATIONS NOW REQUIRED FOR ALL TRAVELERS, SHIP CREW, TRIP EXPERIENCE LEADERS, AND COACH DRIVERS Plus, updated Health & Safety Protocols for our Land Tours

The health and safety of our travelers is always our #1 priority, and we understand travelers are concerned about exploring the world in light of the unprecedented crisis we are currently facing. To ensure your safety and give you peace of mind, we have worked with our regional team and listened to government guidance and feedback from our travelers to create these health and safety protocols for our trips. As we continue to make changes, we will keep our website updated with the latest information.

VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS • All travelers, ship crew, and Trip Experience AND UPDATED HEALTH & SAFETY Leaders will have their temperature checked PROTOCOLS FOR SMALL SHIP every time they return to the ship using a non- ADVENTURES contact infrared temperature scanner. • All travelers must be fully vaccinated against • All meals are served by the dining staff— COVID-19 at least 14 days prior to departure buffets are no longer available. and provide proof of vaccination upon VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS AND boarding the ship. If you are unable to UPDATED HEALTH & SAFETY PROTOCOLS provide proof of vaccination upon arrival at FOR SMALL GROUP ADVENTURES ON LAND your destination, you will have to return • All travelers must be fully vaccinated against home at your own expense. COVID-19 at least 14 days prior to departure. If To meet this requirement, please bring your you are unable to provide proof of vaccination original COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card upon arrival at your destination, you will with you on your trip. The white card must have to return home at your own expense. display your name, type of vaccine, and the To meet this requirement, please bring your date(s) the vaccine was administered. We also original COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card with suggest taking a picture of this card to keep for you on your trip. The white card must display your records as a backup. your name, type of vaccine, and the date(s) • All local Trip Experience Leaders, the vaccine was administered. We also suggest fully ship staff, and crew will be taking a picture of this card to keep for your vaccinated against COVID-19. records as a backup. • fully All coach drivers will be • All local Trip Experience Leaders will be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. vaccinated against COVID-19. • All public areas will be sanitized nightly and • All coach drivers will be fully vaccinated all ships are equipped with High Efficiency against COVID-19. Particulate Air (HEPA) filters.

Help us ensure travelers’ safety and health while on our trips. Please follow best health and hygiene practices to prevent the spread of illness—wash your hands regularly and cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing. Together, we can create a safer travel experience for everyone.

Learn more at www.oattravel.com/covid-update

112 Notes

113 Notes

114 Lake Victoria Tour) Miles From (Optional SOUTH AFRICA To/From U.S. Internal flight Land route Entebbe via Nairobi Stellenbosch Johannesburg From Johannesburg From 060 Bay False Cape Point TANZANIA Cape Peninsula UGANDA Table Mtn. Table Kirstenbosch

N.P. Cape

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a ZIMBABWE Z Livingstone Victoria Falls Kafue To/From Departures National Park

i Johannesburg z

Mosi-oa-Tunya e March-October National Park ZAMBIA

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NAMIBIA d an Kw BOTSWANA NAMIBIA Okavango Delta Okavango Cape Cross Sossusvlei

NATIONAL PARK NATIONAL o Johannesburg Karongwe G.R. g Walvis Bay Walvis n NAMIB-NAUKLUFT

Ocean a Atlantic SOUTH PRE-TRIP EXTENSIONS AFRICA av Swakopmund Ok

115 Get inspired by our collection of more than 3,000 engaging and informative films and videos featuring 85 countries where we travel—all in one place. Discover a variety of different perspectives through carefully curated Videos & Slideshows by O.A.T. Travelers, Independent Films, videos highlighting the O.A.T. Experience, and more.

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