Home Tours Zimbabwe Botswana Game Trail Reviews

Tour Code

Reviews

Eg: 15 day small group non-participation Classic Journey

Departs:

Johannesburg

Ends:

Johannesburg

Accommodation

14 nights in 3+ star lodges & tented camps

15 Days Days From

€€4 850

Single supplement

€€1 030 pp

+ USD 300 local payment

Tour Code

Reviews

Eg: 15 day small group non-participation Classic Journey

Departs:

Johannesburg

Ends:

Johannesburg

Accommodation

14 nights in 3+ star lodges & tented camps

15 Days Days From

€€4 850

Single supplement

€€1 030 pp

+ USD 300 local payment

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have any questions regarding your planned African Safari? The list below provides answers to many common questions we get asked with almost every tour.

Does Sunway provide drinking water?

Sunway Safaris does not supply bottled drinking water. There is however clean drinkable water throughout Southern Africa. Tap water in most places is good to drink, and you can always ask your guide for advice if unsure. Each safari truck has a 150ltr water tank, which can be used for drinking. For those who are concerned about the water it is possible to purchase bottled water at own expense.

From an environmental point of view, we ask each client to consider how many plastic bottles they throw away. We suggest you either bring a water bottle from home, or buy a 1.5 ltr bottle of water at the start of the tour. You can then refill that water bottle from the truck or from a tap. If every Sunway client bought one plastic bottle every day, we would use over 40,000 plastic bottles a year! So please help us by re-using your water bottle.

What food can I expect while on Safari?

Sunway will provide three scrumptious meals per day, unless specified in the itinerary [B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner], from lunch on the day of departure until breakfast on the last day of your tour. Good healthy meals make happy travelers. The tour leaders do all the shopping and meal planning for each group. They will always try to obtain fresh produce wherever possible. Each tour has 1 cool box / freezer for the meats and fresh produce only, and 1 cool box for drinks. Please be aware that, due to the diverse tastes of our clients, we are unable to accommodate individual food preferences on our group tours. The group shared meals we provide are subject to available produce, and in our sometimes remote destinations, the variety of ingredients is sometimes limited. However, we do take allergies, vegetarian and vegan dietary requirements into consideration to ensure everyone has suitable meal options. Please bring this to our attention at time of booking.

A rough idea of what meals can be expected:

Breakfast – Cereals and milk or bread/toast, jam and fruit with coffee and tea or the occasional cooked breakfast.

Lunch – Cheese, cold meats, fish, fruit, pasta salads and bread or rolls.

Dinner – Potjies (stews), braais (barbecue), stir fries, curries etc prepared on a wood fire or gas stove.

On several nights we visit local restaurants, which because of individual tastes will be an own expense meal.

Do I need Malaria tablets?

Yes, Malaria prophylaxes are required on all of the safaris that we offer. Some trips, like the South Africa Scenic or Rainbow Route, are only in a Malaria area for 5 days, while others, such as the Zambia, Malawi & Mozambique Trade Route, travel through malaria areas for all 21 days. Your tour leader will advise you when you enter a malaria area, and when you exit a malaria area.

Do not be put off visiting Southern Africa because of malaria. Realistically most of Southern Africa is low risk area and if you use prophylaxis, use insect repellent and cover up at dusk with long shirt or trousers, the chances are very low that you would contract malaria. Of the thousands of clients that Sunway has carried since 1994 we know of only 1 case of a client contracting malaria, and only a handful of guides (and remember that the guides do not even use the tablets). Clients visiting Malawi and Mozambique should pay most attention to precautions as those two countries are warm and wetter, and therefore have higher incidence of malaria.

Please contact your local physician for latest information on malaria prophylaxis and what type of prophylaxis will be best suited for the area that you are visiting.

If you feel when you get home that you have flu like symptoms, headache, stiffness, nausea, fever, then it’s best to consult your doctor immediately. Remember that prophylaxis do mask the symptoms, so get checked out – and remember to tell your doctor that you’ve been to a malaria area. Malaria is easily treatable if detected early.

Are Mosquito nets provided?

If you are joining a camping trip, the Sunway tents have mosquito netting on the windows and door. Mosquitoes spend the heat of the day in shaded areas, so please remember to keep the mosquito net on the door closed during the day too, so that mosquitoes do not enter your tent. At night, you can sleep with the tent window flaps open, and the door rolled up, but remember to keep the mosquito net zipped closed. This will keep out the little biting things (like mosquitos) and the big biting things (like lion and hyena).

On the accommodated safaris, if we visit a malaria area, or a place with mosquitoes, then the accommodation will have nets provided. In areas where there are low numbers of mosquitoes and/or no malaria, mosquito nets will not be provided. These include places such as Knysna, Hermanus, Cape Town, Swakopmund, Windhoek etc.

Can I buy camera memory cards?

Memory cards and other photographic accessories will be available several times on tour. A camera with a zoom lens from wide angle to telephoto, 35-200mm, is advisable to capture both scenic and wildlife shots. Each vehicle is fitted with a 12/24V cigarette lighter – this should not be relied on for charging camera batteries and we recommend you bring a 2nd battery. Remember you can also charge your camera on those nights we use accommodation (SA 220V)

Do I need to bring a sleeping bag and a towel?

If you are joining a camping trip, you will need to bring your own sleeping bag (and small camp pillow) and a towel. Should you not have, or do not want to buy a sleeping bag, you can rent a sleeping bag and camp pillow from the Sunway office for Euro 1 per sleeping bag per day on tour. Please book this at the time of booking.

On most of the Accommodated Adventures & Classic Journeys, all bedding is provided, and you will not be required to bring a sleeping bag or pillow. At most accommodation establishments, towels will be provided, but it is always a good idea to bring a small travel towel for the beach or swimming pool. If you are traveling on a tour that visits the Okavango Delta please make sure to bring a small towel with you as there are no towels supplied. Please make sure to double check your detailed tour itinerary for more information.

How much luggage can I bring?

Due to space and weight limitations within each safari vehicle, luggage should be kept to a maximum of 12kgs per person (excluding camera equipment / day bag). The bag should be of a soft sided duffel bag / back pack design – no hard cases or hard sided bags will be accepted. While many people feel that they will need their full quota of 20kgs, people quickly realise that they have packed far too much.

Can I use my credit card while on safari?

Yes, Mastercard and Visa credit cards and debit cards are widely accepted throughout Southern Africa. American Express is not widely used in Southern Africa.

You’ll be able to use credit card to pay for most restaurant meals, and at most formal shops. Optional activities in Cape Town, Swakopmund, Maun, Livingstone and Victoria Falls can also be paid by credit card. More specific details available in the downloadable Sunway general information dossier.

How much spending / tipping will I need?

Sunway includes all activities in the safari, as detailed in the itinerary. You will therefore not be spending lots of money on additional excursions like game drives, national park fees, bush walks etc – those are included as per your itinerary. There are on some routes, opportunities to do additional own expense activities, such as helicopter flights, white water rafting or canoeing etc – please refer to the optional activities page for wages (right hand menu).

You will need some cash to purchase snacks, drinks, perhaps local curios, and some restaurant meals. For meal expenses you should count the number of lunches and dinners not included in the specific itinerary and then work on about US$15 to US$25 for a sit down restaurant dinner (including a glass of wine or a beer), about US$6 to US$12 for a light lunch or take away. (local currency will be required, but as an indication we’ve shown US$). In most restaurants you will be able to pay buy credit card – Mastercard and Visa are widely accepted, but Diners Club is not.

Bottled water is approximately US$1.50 per liter and a can of beer or coke is roughly US$2.00.

If you budget on +/-US$ 25 per day, you will have ample cash available for out of pocket expenses. Please bear in mind that this daily budget, does not include the expenses of optional activities such as white water rafting, shark cage diving or helicopter flights etc. The prices for these optional extras can be found on our downloadable detailed tour dossier.

Tipping is often a major issue for clients, especially when it comes to tipping the guides that we sometimes use for various activities (e.g. game walks, polers in the Okavango Delta etc). Clients sometimes find it difficult to get a realistic value of the local currency and what it is worth in the local economy. We suggest that a tip of 1-3€ per client per ½ day activity, or the local currency equivalent, is acceptable.

Your two Sunway tour leaders also work extremely hard to ensure that your safari runs smoothly and that all the clients on tour are happy. They are more often than not in bed last and up first, do most of the cooking and also give as much information to the clients about the areas that are visited and of course flora and fauna. We suggest that a tip of 2–5€ per client per day per tour leader is reasonable. A general procedure for tipping the guides, is for the group to collect the guides tips, and place in 2 separate envelopes for each of the tour leaders.

As in all cases with tipping, the final decision of the amount tipped is up to the individual. It is up to you to decide if you thought the service was poor, or exceptional, and the amount tipped should reflect that. The amounts quoted above are guidelines for you to get an idea of what to tip.

Will I be safe while on safari?

Southern Africa, like all 3rd world regions, has its problems, but your tour leader knows all of the areas intimately and will endeavour to show you all of the highlights while always taking your safety into account. Sunway plans the itineraries to visit interesting places, while not placing clients in harms way.

Like all practical advice about safety, be aware of your surroundings but not paranoid. As you would anywhere in the world, don’t leave valuables such as wallet and cameras unattended or in plain view. IE: don’t leave your camera on a restaurant table while you dash to the loo, or leave your wallet on the bed in your room while you’re not there. The temptation for cleaning staff may be too much.

Please also bear in mind that the people in many of the places you will visit are living in difficult and sometimes poor conditions. To them the possessions you have are signs of your relative wealth, and therefore please be sensitive to their position. Don’t create that temptation in their mind by “flaunting” your valuables.

When entering a wilderness area your tour leader will give you a full safely briefing. If you follow the simple rules while in wilderness areas you will have nothing to worry about when in close proximity to wild animals. On game drives keep quiet and don’t make any sudden movements. On game walks walk in a single file, keep quiet and listen to your guide’s instructions and you will enjoy and amazing wildlife experience. When staying in un-fenced campsites do not wander off alone, always make sure that you are aware of your surroundings.

Follow your guide’s instructions and you’ll have a great time.

Do I need travel insurance?

Yes, all clients travelling on a Sunway safari are required to have their own comprehensive travel insurance. The travel insurances needs to cover lost luggage, missed flights and most importantly comprehensive medical cover in the un-likely event of you being injured while on safari.

Please note that while most credit card companies offer travel insurance if you have bought your airline ticket on your credit card, we have found that cover is not sufficient for adventure travel in Africa. We strongly recommend you buy additional specific travel insurance. You need to buy this insurance in your home country, before you travel and your local Sunway travel agent can assist you with this.

Is there an age limit?

The minimum age for our guests is 12 years old, although we do occasionally make exceptions depending on the specific itinerary, the group make-up and sometimes during our low season. Please note that a child of 12-17 years will only be accepted for travel with an accompanying adult.

On some of our safaris we camp wild in remote areas and these campsites are not fenced, so it is possible for wild animals do enter the campsite. It is important that parents make sure that the children listen and follow the guide’s safety instructions. Parents are also required to supervise their children at all times so as not to affect the enjoyment of the tour for any other clients.

We, as Sunway, do not believe that age should be a determining factor on the enjoyment of life! Therefore we do not have an upper age limit.

But clients who are older than 65yrs are required to submit a medical self declarations letter or doctor’s report stating that they are fit and healthy and that they will be able to undertake a safari that includes a moderate level of physical activity, some long driving days and some moderate full day walks. This is not an onerus document, but rather an indication that the client is aware of the style of tour that they will be joining, and capable of participating in all activities on tour. We’ve found that we have many fit and healthy clients who are over 65 years of age, join Sunway trips, and put the younger clients to shame on the mountain walks!

Do Sunway Safaris offer a repeat traveller discount?

There is a 5% discount available to repeat clients, so if you have travelled with Sunway before and are considering another Sunway safari, remember to tell your original booking agent when you book again.

How-to-book-your-Sunway-safari

By booking with your local agent you’ll be advised by a knowledgeable consultant who knows the Sunway tours. You’ll be covered by the travel laws of your country, assisted in your home language, in your own time zone and your agent can assist with travel insurance and visas. You are welcome to contact Sunway and we’ll recommend an agent.

Sunway shows live availability online. Your agent can hold a provisional booking for up to 7 days with no-obligation.

To confirm your safari reservation your agent will require a 20% deposit and a completed booking form. And voilá, you’re off on an adventure!

Related safaris

Bevin

The most memorable part of my trip was the incredible wildlife viewing. Not only did we see the Big Five, but we also saw so much more. Staying in the heart of the Okavango Delta, surrounded by wild animals, was a truly surreal and unforgettable experience. To make the most of the trip, I highly recommend a few things. First, bring your own pillow for a more comfortable night’s sleep. Second, and most importantly, put your trust in your guides—they are experts and will ensure you have a fantastic time. I definitely felt that this holiday had a positive impact. We learned that tourism is a major source of income for many communities in the region, particularly in Zimbabwe. We also saw firsthand how our tour operator, Sunway, works with local people in Botswana to purchase fiberglass mokoros, which are the traditional canoes used on the trip. It was great to know our journey was supporting the local economy. Overall, I would rate this holiday as unforgettable. I can’t wait to go back and experience it all again.

Sinead

“The trip was amazing, very unique experience. Lots of variety, I loved the camping and the tents were comfortable. We saw a lot of wildlife and beautiful places. Highlights for me were Victoria Falls, Chobe, and the Okavango Delta (one of the most peaceful places I’ve ever been). Our guides were brilliant and definitely added positively to the tour. I feel very lucky to have had the opportunity to do something like this and I was sad when it ended!”

General comments

“Good organisation, nice route, professional guides”

“Thank you for this amazing experience/trip”

Claus

From 8 safari tours in Africa that was the best on. Well done.

Lindsay

Tour itinerary is excellent. Game drives were brilliant as were all our guides.

Michael

Perfect organisation, friendly guides and great camp sites.

Maria

I’m satisfied with the tour and I think that for 16 days I saw many different place, animals and cities and knew a lot of the things about this beautiful continent. Nicole – Jul15 Shadreck did a great job. He is a really professional and great guide

Nicole

Shadreck did a great job. He is a really professional and great guide

Nicole

Amazing, we did so much for such a reasonable price. A great bucket list trip. Thanks! We would recommend this trip to previous. Previous to the trip friends didn’t believe we could do all the items for the price, the trip was much more than expected. Thanks to Wayne Grace and Stephan, I was most impressed with their knowledge of Africa, the bush and animals, plants and history. I learned much more than I thought I would.

Verena Ann

Excellent organisation, guides and great travellers in the group. Amazing experiences, thanks so much!

Shannen

The tour was amazing and very informative. So much fun!

Lee

Sunway guides showed us more than we bargained for. They were attentive to our every need. Farai and Shandle are a credit to Sunway. I would travel with them anytime. I can’t rate them highly enough!

Yvonee

The whole trip was a pleasure! Excellent organisation, interesting itinerary, great guides, delicious meals. Couldn’t have been better, thanks a lot!!!

Claire (Agent)

“Hello Richard,
Thank you very much for your follow-up email. I spoke with the Maier’s after their return, and they had a wonderful trip!

They said their guide was excellent, and shared his knowledge and passion daily, and ensured safe travel as they made their way through Kruger NP and into Zimbabwe.

They truly enjoyed Victoria Falls from the Zimbabwe side, and can highly recommend spending time here vs the Falls from the Zambia side, which they experienced last year.

All the game drives were rewarding, and they saw many animals. They mentioned the parks were quite empty of people, which they found interesting. The loved the boat cruise in Chobe NP, said it was incredible.

Also they enjoyed the Khama Rhino Sanctuary at the end of their tour. They enjoyed the camping aspect, but said that some spots were very sparce.

Food provided on the trip was very good. They said the trip was a complete success and they will be planning a return visit.

Thank you again for the excellent service your company provided as well Thanks to their excellent guide.”

Claire Chilton, USA

Henriksen

Dear Richard, Tamlyn and Bruce

We had an amazing trip with Sunway Safaris and will be happy to go home and sell your products. Chris and Phumizile were really great.

Chris has an amazing knowledge and positivity – always smiling and helpful. But Phumi was still my favourite with his calm and kind appearence. Always ready to help and assist.

Thanks again for this oportunity to travel with you and say hi to our two guides from me and my daughter Karoline. We will really miss them and hope to see you all again later. Look forward to continue the cooperation with you.

Lara Freitag (Germany)

To whom it may concern,

I have recently done the trip through Zimbabwe and Botswana and just wanted to give a huge thanks to you for offering this amazing trip.

We had a wonderful time and our guides, Lissom and Chris, were superb. Lissom enchanted us with a delicious dinner every day (he is a phenomenal cook!) and both of them were always good-humored and extremely well informed about nature, culture and everything else. Both were born in Zimbabwe and I could feel the enthusiasm about having the opportunity to show us their mother country. They have done a great job.

If you would like to have your comments on your trip with Sunway posted on the website, please email your review to marketing@sunway-safaris.com and we will load it.