Botswana Family Safari Comfort
Trip Code: UWFK
Why we love it
See Victoria Falls at sunrise – one of the world’s largest waterfalls and a UNESCO World Heritage site located on the Zambezi River. As the early morning light glistens on the water, colourful rainbows often emerge through the mist., Adventure through the Chobe National Park on a 4WD game drive. Botswana's first national park is known for its many elephants and hippos, so keep an eye out for herds walking by., Watch a family of meerkats on the edge of the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans go about their morning rituals., Explore the Okavango Delta's maze of lagoons, lakes and streams via a traditional mokoro boat safari., Learn about the local culture at an entertaining live show featuring songs, dance and puppetry – an activity the kids are sure to love!
Is this trip right for me?
As the early bird catches the worm, the early riser sights the animals. There will be many early starts either to make use of the better safari time or to beat the morning traffic on long travel days.
Important information
1. FAMILY TRIPS: Please note that these trips are for adults and children travelling together and there must be at least one child under 18 with you.
2. CHILD AGE: The minimum age for children on this trip is 6 years old. Most children travelling on Intrepid Family trips are between 10 and 14 years old.
3. DISCOUNT: A discount of 10% applies on this trip to children 17 years and under at time of travel.
4. SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: A single supplement is available for adults wishing to have a private room to themselves. The single supplement applies to all nights excluding Day 5 (Makgadikgadi Pans Sleep Out between June to October), and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
What to bring/pack
Physical rating
Joining your group
Cresta Sprayview Hotel, Livingstone Way, Victoria Falls, ZIMBABWE
Cresta Sprayview Victoria Falls is a stylish and conveniently located hotel, just 1.4 km from the majestic Victoria Falls one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. All rooms are air-conditioned and include complimentary Wi-Fi, tea and coffee-making facilities, flat-screen TVs, and en suite bathrooms.
Alternate Joining Point
Joining instructions
An arrival transfer is included from Victoria Falls Airport, your driver will be waiting for you in the arrivals area near the point you clear customs. Please look out for a Shearwater Adventure sign board.
If you are unable to find your driver please make your way to the ‘Shearwater Adventure’ desk which is located in the arrivals terminal. Shearwater Adventure operate our ground transfers and a representative will be able to help you. If you are still unable to find your driver, you can call +27 82 822 9407 during business hours, or +27 82 822 9407 after hours. If you are delayed beyond one hour after your scheduled arrival time, please make your own way to the hotel.
The Sprayview s located 20kms north of the Victoria Falls International Airport - roughly 30 minute drive away. If you wish to take a taxi instead of a shared transfer, they are readily available and will cost upwards of USD$50. Alternatively, it is 20kms south of Livingstone Airport in Zambia but the drive can be much longer through town traffic - up to one hour. Taxis from Livingstone will cost upwards of USD$60.
Finishing your trip
Maun Lodge, Plot No 459, Maun, BOTSWANA, Phone: 267 6863939
Maun Lodge is an eco-certified hotel situated on the banks of the Thamalakane River near the Okavango Delta. It is conveniently located 4km from Maun Airport and 2.5km from the village centre. The hotel facilities include an outdoor pool, fitness centre, restaurant, and bar. Each guest room features air-conditioning, tea and coffee facilities, complimentary WiFi, and en suite bathrooms.
Alternate Finish Point
A complimentary transfer from the hotel in Maun to Maun Airport is included. Please arrange this through the hotel during your stay, and speak with your Tour Leader if you require any assistance.
Meals & dietary information
Breakfasts included: 7
Lunches included: 1
Dinners included: 5
While travelling with us you'll experience the vast array of wonderful food available in the world. Your group leader or local representative will be able to suggest restaurants to try during your trip. To give you the maximum flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat, generally not all meals are included in the trip price. This also gives you more budgeting flexibility. As a rule, our groups tend to eat together to enable you to taste a larger variety of dishes and enjoy each other's company. If you have dietary requirements and/or food allergies, please let your booking agent know prior to departure.
While travelling with us you and your family experience the vast array of wonderful food available in the world. Your group leader will be able to suggest restaurants to try during your trip. Please ensure you tell them of any dietary requirements you and your family may have. We know children can be fussy eaters at times so we do recommend you bring any snacks from home to have throughout the trip.
To give you the maximum flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat, generally not all meals are included in the trip price. This also gives you more budgeting flexibility. As a rule our groups tend to eat together to enable you and your family to taste a larger variety of dishes and enjoy each other's company. There's no obligation to do this though.
Climate & seasonal information
WEATHER IN BOTSWANA
The Okavango Delta, Moremi and Chobe are Botswana's most popular parks. The best time to visit them is from May to September, during the dry season and winter, resulting in more moderate temperatures. There is also less vegetation and animals tend to concentrate around waterholes and rivers, making wildlife easier to spot.The Okavango Delta is also in full flood. The skies are clear, rain is rare and there are fewer mosquitoes. It does get cold at night and in the mornings. Packing warm winter clothing during June, July and August for the cold morning game drives is advisable.
In September and October temperatures climb again, drying the landscapes and concentrating the game even more. However, October can feel very hot, with maximum temperatures sometimes approaching 40°C.
November is difficult to predict, as it can sometimes be a continuation of October's heat, whilst sometimes it's cooled by the first rains; it's always an interesting month.
November to April is known the wet Season and Summer. Although wildlife is easier to spot in the dry season, you'll still see plenty, including newborn animals and migratory birds. Except for January and February, rains are mostly short afternoon showers and seldom have a negative impact on your trip.
The water from the Angolan Highlands starts to push into the Delta in the late summer and early autumn months with winter offering the highest levels. The Okavango water levels start receding towards the end of the winter months and into spring, with the summer months offering up the lowest levels. Please be aware that this can affect some water activities such as mokoro or boat trips.
WINTER MONTHS:
Yes it is Africa, however the winter months can be very cold. Please bring a warm sleeping bag as well as warm winter clothing such as a wool pullover, jacket and woolly hat. It's also a good idea to check the weather reports prior to travel.
In case of emergency
While we always endeavour to provide the best possible holiday experience, due to the nature of travel and the areas we visit sometimes things can and do go wrong. Should any issue occur while you are on your trip, it is imperative that you discuss this with your group leader or local representative straight away so that they can do their best to rectify the problem and save any potential negative impact on the rest of your trip.
We recognise that there may be times when your group leader or local representative may not be able to resolve a situation to your satisfaction - if this is the case, please ask the group leader or local representative to speak to their direct manager.
You may also choose to provide details in your online feedback, which we ask you to complete within 30 days of the end of your trip. Please do be aware that it is very difficult for us to provide any practical help after the trip is completed, so informing us while still travelling will give us the opportunity to resolve the issue in real-time.
For any concerns regarding pre-booked transfers, you can reach out via WhatsApp at +263 77 346 1716.
For general contact details please use the following page: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/contact-us
In case of a genuine crisis or emergency, you can reach our local office on the numbers below:
Intrepid's local Operator: +27828229407
Accommodations
GENERAL ROOMING CONFIGURATIONS:
Family of two: All family groupings of two will be accommodated in a twin room.
Family of three: Wherever possible we will put you in a triple room. Please be aware that in some places triple rooms are in short supply. This means that a triple room will often be a twin room with a rollaway bed or mattress on the floor. Where triple rooms aren’t available it will be at your discretion which of your family takes the single room.
Family of four or more: You will most likely be accommodated in two twin rooms. Where possible, we will accommodate your family in a quadruple room.
While we do our very best to ensure that family groups are roomed close together (in some cases, we can arrange adjoining rooms), we can’t guarantee this. Most family holidays occur during peak season and we sometimes have little to no control over the exact placement of rooms within a hotel. Please be understanding if we are unable to room your family in immediate proximity of one another.