Botswana & Zimbabwe Wildlife Safari

• In order to enter Botswana and Zimbabwe (and South Africa on the tour extension), U.S. and Canadian citizens need a valid passport with an expiration date extending at least six months beyond the date of reentry.
• Travelers are required to have at least three blank passport pages for entry stamps and 3-6 blank visa pages.
• U.S. and Canadian passport holders must obtain a visa in order to enter Zimbabwe. U.S. Passport holders may purchase an individual visa for $30USD at the airport upon arrival; this can only be paid in cash, please be sure to have exact change. Canadian passport holders may purchase a single entry visa on arrival or through an e-visa service for $75USD per person.
• If you are not a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you must contact each destination country’s consulate for your specific entry requirements.
• All minors traveling through Botswana border posts are required to have a valid passport and a certified copy of an unabridged birth certificate.
• In the event that one parent is not present, the minor is required to have an affidavit consenting travel from that parent. An affidavit will not be required if the missing parent's name does not appear on the birth certificate. (Please note: If the minor is traveling through to South Africa on the tour extension, the documents they provided for the port of entry to Botswana will cover them going through the ports of entry to South Africa.)
• You can see the most up-to-date entry requirements for the destination(s) you’ll visit on tour by going to goaheadtours.com/entry-requirements and searching the code BZB.

• Round-trip flights booked through Go Ahead Tours arrive in Johannesburg and depart from Cape Town.
• Transfers to and from the airport at your destination are included for travelers who have purchased their flights through Go Ahead Tours. Travelers who booked their own flights are responsible for securing their own airport transfers.
• When you arrive in Johannesburg, a Go Ahead representative will be waiting for you in the arrivals hall with a Go Ahead sign or a sign with your name(s). If you don’t see a representative immediately, please be patient and stay in the arrivals area. They may be assisting another traveler who has also just arrived and will be back shortly.

Physical Activity Level

This is a very high physical activity-level tour. You can expect vigorous activity throughout the course of the tour.

Tour Pacing

This is a very fast-paced tour. The pace of a tour itinerary considers how often you’ll switch hotels, the amount of planned daily activities, and how you’ll get from place to place. You can expect:

• One 1-night stays
• Most days and evenings full of included activities (more if you add excursions)
• Most transportation by by 4x4 landcruiser safari vehicles
• Some transportation by motor coach
• Daily drive time varies and can be lengthy

Walking, Terrain & Physical Requirements

• Travelers should be prepared to walk 3-5 miles per day over varying terrain- this includes city streets, dirt and stone paths, uneven stairs, and steep hills.
• Pathways around Victoria Falls can be slippery.
• Travelers should feel comfortable stepping up and down or climbing a small ladder to get in an out of the vehicles.
• Travelers can expect to spend 6-8 hours a day in the game drive vehicle.
• Travelers should be healthy enough to participate in all included walks without assistance.
• Please Note: Adding optional excursions may increase the total amount of walking on your tour.

Climate Considerations

• Temperatures are relatively consistent year round, but vary significantly morning to afternoon.
• Travelers should be prepared for cold mornings and evenings (40sF-50sF especially in winter months) with hot and dry afternoons of 80Fs-90Fs.
• Rainy season occurs during the summer months, which typically consists of brief but intense periods of rain.
• Countries visited on this tour are in the Southern hemisphere so their seasons are opposite of those in North America.
• Summer months are considered December- February, while winter is June - August.

Physical Activity & Tour Pace Questions

• Go Ahead Tours and the Tour Director who accompanies your group are unable to provide special mobility or luggage handling assistance to travelers on tour. The responsibility of the Tour Director is to ensure the group enjoys a smooth and informative journey, and they can’t be relied on to provide individualized assistance to any one traveler.
• This tour moves at a reasonable pace to avoid missing scheduled stops. The rest of the group cannot miss any scheduled activities because of the needs of an individual.
• Due to the pace and physical activity level of this tour, mobility aids such as wheelchairs or walkers will be difficult to use and are not recommended. Please notify Go Ahead Tours before your departure if you plan to bring these on tour with you.
• If you have mobility concerns or tour pacing questions, please visit our Help Center or send a message to our Customer Experience Team.

• This tour includes various modes of transportation, including open-air safari vehicles, motorized boats, and traditional canoes. Some modes of transportation will have raised platforms or steps and often not provide access to ramps or lifts.
• The vehicle is open, allowing for panoramic views.
• 4x4 landcruiser's have high step(s) to board the vehicle.
• Transfers between parks are long and cross bumpy terrain, so we recommend bringing a small pillow to ease the ride and the impact that may have on a body.
• A flight from Johannesburg to Victoria Falls and Maun to Cape town, as well as chartered flights on small aircrafts from Chobe to the Okavango Delta and from the Okavango Delta to Maun are included in the price of your tour.
• For the small chartered flights, traveler's weights are required in order to properly plan ahead. Travelers must enter their weight into their health notes in their online account or mobile app no later than 30 days prior to departure.

• Please note that our travelers are limited to one checked bag and one carry-on bag per person due to storage limitations on safari vehicles and other transfers, which include on-tour flights.
• Safari luggage restrictions are strict and strongly enforced. It’s essential that your luggage meet the below requirements:
• Travelers should bring a soft, flexible duffel bag. No hard suitcases or bags with hard sides are permitted.
• Your carry-on bag must not exceed 24 inches x 12 inches x 10 inches (length by width by height) so that it fits in the baggage compartment on your included on-tour flights.
• Checked bags must not exceed a total of 33lbs per person and carry-on bags must not exceed a total of 11lbs per person. This total baggage limit of 44lbs per person includes any camera equipment.
• Contact your airline for baggage size and weight restrictions for your flight, but please note that our travelers are restricted to one checked bag per person due to storage limitations on safari vehicles.
• Make sure you label your baggage and keep valuables, medication, and documents in your carry-on bag
• Travelers must manage their own luggage throughout tour as porters are not guaranteed. This includes at hotels and airports.

• We recommend packing loose-fitting, layered clothing that can accommodate varying temperatures. Quick-dry material is best for hot days outside and a warmer layer may be needed for chilly evenings and early mornings.
• Wear muted colors for game drives, as bright clothing may scare animals away and blue or black clothing attracts tsetse flies.
• Comfortable closed-toes shoes, such as sneakers or lightweight hiking boots, are best for walking during the day.
• Pack a swimsuit as many of the hotels have pools that you are free to use at your leisure.
• Sun protection is very important. Bring sunscreen, sunglasses, and a broad-brimmed hat to protect your face and the back of your neck from the sun.
• Occasional rain showers are common during certain seasons, so lightweight rainwear may be necessary depending on the timing of your trip.
• Mosquito repellent, binoculars, and a flashlight are highly recommended.
• A small bottle of hand sanitizer may be helpful when other facilities are not readily available while on the road.
• Transfers between parks are long and cross bumpy terrain, so we recommend bringing a small pillow to ease the ride.
• We recommend packing a universal adapter, as well as a voltage converter if you plan on using your own hairdryer or other device without a built-in converter.
• In case of emergencies, we also recommend packing your medical insurance card in your carry-on.

• Go Ahead handpicks every hotel you’ll stay at, striking a balance between comfort, location, and local charm.
• Specific properties will vary based on your departure date, but are typically three-to-four-star hotels; always include private bathrooms; and usually have in-room safes for valuables. Additionally, your hotels will have Wi-Fi, but access may be limited to common areas. There may also not be elevators.
• Unfortunately, we can’t guarantee that your accommodations will have laundry services or facilities. We recommend checking directly with your hotels once they’ve been confirmed, about 30 days prior to departure.
• Some hotels are designed so that each room feels like its own secluded cabin and customers will need to walk outside to reach the common areas.
• Please be advised that the air conditioning in African hotels and buildings is often not as strong or cool as what you might be used to in the U.S. or Canada. Not all of the hotels on this tour will have air conditioning.
• Electricity is not guaranteed throughout the night at some of the safari camps.
• Zimbabwe and Botswana (plus South Africa on the tour extension) operate on 220-230 volts and uses a plug Type G plug (with three large, flat pins), a Type M plug (with two small, round pins and one larger round pin), and a Type C plus (with two round pins).
• South Africa experiences multiple periods of load shedding, or rolling blackouts, due to the demand for electricity exceeds its ability to produce. Travelers should only be impacted for brief moments as all accommodations are equipped with generators and tour activities should not be impacted.
• Specific accommodations will vary based on your departure date.

• Excursions are available for purchase prior to departure, and most excursions will be available for purchase while you are on tour directly through your mobile app for an additional $10 USD.
• We recommend purchasing excursions at least 3 days prior to your tour departure. Please note some excursions have advance booking deadlines. Check your tour itinerary for more information to ensure you don’t miss the deadline to add them.
• Optional excursions may be canceled on tour due to reasons like low enrollment, weather or unexpected closures. If an excursion you signed up for is canceled by Go Ahead Tours, you will be refunded the full cost of the excursion. Please note it may take up to 60 days for your refund to be processed.
• Your Tour Director may offer their own optional excursions which can only be purchased on tour via cash (in local currency).

• At least 60 days prior to departure, check with your doctor or healthcare provider for the latest updates and entry requirements, or visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at cdc.gov.
• Local governments may require proof of a yellow fever vaccination (often referred to as a yellow card) or a statement of medical exemption from the vaccine. This is only required of travelers arriving from a country with a risk of yellow fever virus transmission (Please note: This does not include the U.S. or Canada). Visit cdc.gov/yellowfever for more information.
• Drink bottled water only. Refrain from ingesting tap water, including when brushing your teeth.
• Avoid eating fresh fruits and vegetables unless they’re cooked or washed in clean water and peeled.
• Bring a small first aid kit, including antacids, anti-diarrhea medication, motion sickness medication, and any prescription medications in your carry-on bag.
• If you have medication that you take daily, be sure you have enough for each day of the tour and any possible delays encountered.
• Many hotels on this tour do not keep the electricity running throughout the night. Please contact Go Ahead Tours if you will be traveling with a CPAP machine so we can inform the hotels that the electricity in your room will need to stay running throughout the night.
• If you have dietary restrictions and/or food allergies please notify Go Ahead Tours at least 30 days prior to your departure by logging in to your account and updating your traveler info. To update this information closer to your departure date, please call our Customer Experience Team.

• This tour includes six lunches and eight dinners: They may be set menus, buffets, or family-style meals, depending on the location. Dinners also include one glass of beer, wine, or a soft drink, as well as water.
• Breakfast each morning is also included at the hotel and is typically buffet style with hot and cold options.
• Cuisine in your game lodges reflects the region’s British colonial influence—you may find that many locals pause for afternoon tea. Porridge and maize-based dishes are staples, as well as locally raised beef and goat and many different types of fish. Fresh varieties of melon are often served for dessert.

• At the conclusion of your tour, it is customary to offer your Tour Director and driver a gratuity in local currency. Please keep current exchange rates in mind.
• We recommend tipping $10USD to $12USD per person per day for your Tour Director and $4USD per person per day for your driver.
• We also recommend tipping the equivalent of $5USD per person for your local wildlife guides per game excursion (some vehicles may have 1-2 wildlife guides).
• Tips can only be paid in cash.
• If you are traveling to multiple countries with different currencies and the same Tour Director, ask them what currency they prefer for their tip.
• The cost of porterage is included in your tour price, and it is not necessary to tip baggage handlers.

• The official currency of Botswana is the pula, but U.S. dollars are widely accepted.
• You will use the Zimbabwean dollar in Zimbabwe.
• You will use the South African rand on the tour extension in Cape Town. (Please note, travelers are restricted from importing or exporting more than $25,000 in South African rand and may be required to claim any additional foreign currency at customs.)
• We recommend that you carry small amounts of U.S. dollars (only crisp bills printed in 2004 or later, $1, $5, $10 bills are ideal).
• ATMs are not readily available in more rural locations.
• Major North American credit cards are accepted but can be difficult to use in certain remote locations (Visa is the most widely accepted).
• International banks and businesses primarily accept debit and credit cards that work with the EMV chip system. If you do not already have at least one debit or credit card with a chip in it, we strongly recommend requesting one from your bank prior to your tour.
• Plan ahead and bring cash to tip your Tour Director, local guides, and bus drivers.

• To help you feel prepared before traveling on tour, we strongly recommend downloading the EF Go Ahead Tours mobile app. It’s free and provides information about important deadlines and entry requirements, as well as your detailed itinerary, packing tips, and more. You can also connect with fellow travelers through the app’s chat feature.
• Wi-Fi is available in most hotels, though some charges may apply.
• There is no Wi-Fi on any of the motor coaches.
• Please contact your mobile service provider for information on roaming charges.

• Your Tour Director will be leading your group throughout your journey. You will have the same Tour Director throughout your tour.
• With your tour director, you will have experienced drivers that also provide additional commentary while in Botswana and Zimbabwe.
• The role of the Tour Director is not only to provide information and context on the destinations you visit, but also to confirm services, coordinate inclusions, prepare each days’ activities and support travelers while on tour. As such, they must focus on the success of the group, and cannot provide individualized assistance to any one traveler.

• One of the benefits of traveling with EF Go Ahead Tours is our on tour emergency support team.
• Our extensive network of offices around the world, and our integration of ISO 31000: Risk Management Guidelines, help our dedicated 24/7 Emergency Service teams anticipate and address on-tour challenges in a flexible and iterative way.
• This team supports travelers and Tour Directors using a combination of extensive training, simulations, incident response planning, and decades of experience to help manage emergencies if they arise, ranging from personal health concerns or injuries to major world events.
• As needed, On Tour Support can facilitate additional support for travelers on tour, arrange assistance from outside specialists, and liaise with local and international authorities to help solve on-the-ground issues. In addition, the team is dedicated to supporting and facilitating communication between travelers and families in the event of an emergency while on the road or at home.

• Botswana and Zimbabwe (plus South Africa on the tour extension) are two hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and six hours ahead of Eastern Time (ET). Botswana and Zimbabwe (plus South Africa on the tour extension) do not observe Daylight Saving Time.
• From November through March, when it’s noon in New York, it’s 7pm on tour. From April through October, when it’s noon in New York, it’s 6pm on tour.

• When you travel with Go Ahead Tours, you’ll make a positive impact on the places you visit and the people and animals you meet along the way. That’s because our three core Responsible Travel commitments—protecting the environment, supporting local communities, and promoting animal welfare—are at the heart of every tour we offer.
• Travel, when done responsibly, can have an enormous socioeconomic impact on communities. To maximize your impact, eat at locally owned restaurants and shop at small businesses. Ask your Tour Director to point out restaurants they recommend.
• Prepare for your trip: Be aware of monetary norms such as tipping and negotiating in a market; learn about the destination’s forms of etiquette; and take some time to learn a few words in the local language.
• When interacting with locals, make sure to ask people for permission before you take their picture, and approach cultural differences with empathy and an open mind.
• Go Ahead Tours encourages travelers to limit their waste while on the road, especially single-use plastics. You can cut back on generating plastic waste by packing your own toiletries, using electronic documents, and bringing a reusable water bottle and shopping bag. If you need to use plastics or paper, please recycle.
• When visiting national parks, reserves, or other protected areas, please do not remove anything from the natural environment or leave any litter. Carry out what you carried in.
• When you come across wild animals on tour, take the philosophies of World Animal Protection to heart: Don’t touch or feed them, and maintain a respectful distance. The animals you encounter on your trip should be able to exhibit natural forms of behavior.
• Furthermore, avoid buying exploitative animal products, like crafts made from tortoiseshell or meals such as shark fin soup.
• If you feel we aren’t meeting any of these commitments, please let us know.