• Ebony Safaris (3*** level) - exclusive mobile camping safaris guided by a specialist guide
• Mopane Safaris (2** level) - adventurous mobile camping safaris
• Fully accommodated lodge-to-lodge safaris ( 2**; 3*** 4**** or 5***** level)
• Combinations of any of the above camping and lodging safaris

FULLY ACCOMMODATED SAFARIS
- GUIDED OR UNGUIDED -

For those who find the thought of a camping safari just too daunting we can design a fully accommodated safari and utilise our own selection of fine and independent lodges in areas which we have found to be most rewarding. These safaris can be arranged throughout Africa and its off-shore islands as far as Madagascar. Travel between destinations can be by road, air or even boat.

Our highly experienced and well traveled specialist professional guides could accompany you throughout your safari, if so desired.

A TYPICAL DAY ON SAFARI

We give you a wake-up call at sunrise with hot water for your morning ablutions, followed by a light continental breakfast. Then we then set off for an early morning game activity (a game drive in an open safari vehicle to track the nocturnal animals making their way to bed, boat trip, game walk, canoeing, etc). We like to keep the activities flexible depending on what surprises we might find in the bush. We usually return for brunch and siesta. Tea & snacks are served before we set off on the afternoon game activity. We return to camp at dark to find the campfires blazing and drinks on ice and snacks ready. Hot showers are available to wash off the day’s heat and dust. Dinner is served in the dining tent or under the stars to the blissful call of lions, hyena and jackal.

On days when we are moving from one campsite to another we rise early, have a light breakfast and spend the day game viewing and driving to our next destination with a picnic lunch en route. Once we are out of the way the staff will break and move camp. We will then meet up and drive in convoy to the next campsite where the staff will set up camp while we explore our new surroundings.

We recommend a minimum duration of:

12days/11 nights for a mobile safari which includes several national parks and a minimum of 4 days/3 nights stop-off in any one area

MODES OF TRANSPORT

Certain sections of the safari routes can be interchanged with different modes of transport such as:

Driving: in open safari vehicles on mobile safaris and game drives in Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia, closed safari vehicles in Namibia, Tanzania and Uganda or enclosed mini buses for long distance hauls on tarmac roads
Walking: hiking or backpacking
Boating: in open 8-seater aluminium boats with sunroofs or 12-seater double-decker boats
Canoeing: in fibre-glass canoes with professional paddlers; inflatable 2-seater canoes or mokoros (dug-out canoes) with professional polers
Flying: in single-engined 5 seater planes or twin-engined 11 seater planes

The above are described in detail below. Contact us for any suggestions and details.

MOBILE SAFARIS

This has been Untamed Africa’s core business for over twenty years. We pride ourselves on the quality of our safaris and the number of repeat clients that we attract.
On a mobile safari we go into the remoter areas of the national parks or adjacent wildlife concessions where we set up a full base camp, either in private tour operators’ campsites for our exclusive use or selected public campsites, from whence we explore the immediate area for a few days. Then we break camp and move everything to the next destination.

TYPES OF VEHICLES

Untamed Africa uses custom designed open safari vehicles for all our safaris throughout Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia. Due to long distances to be travelled on tarmac roads in Namibia and higher rainfall in Tanzania and Uganda we use enclosed safari vehicles with game viewing hatches.

After operating safaris under challenging conditions in some of Africa’s most difficult terrain over many years, our choice of the most rugged and enduring, yet comfortable vehicle remained Toyota Landcruisers. We have personally designed our vehicles for optimal comfort and game viewing. Some of the features include: raised comfortable upholstered seats that offer perfect vantage. The sides are open to allow unimpeded game viewing or filming, a greater sense of contact with the bush and a cool breeze. Side steps allow easy access to the raised seats. Canvas sunroofs overhead provide shade during the heat of the day. As our rainy season is short with only occassional short thunder showers we provide guests with waterproof poncho’s or simply wait in camp until the thunder storm has abated. All vehicles have long-range fuel tanks and 12 Volt plug points to charge video equipment. We carry full sets of spares and tools on every trip and our guides are fully adept at dealing with breakdowns in even the remotest parts.

ROAD CONDITIONS

In Botswana the roads in and around the national parks are primitive and consist mainly of thick Kalahari sand or muddy cotton soil. Thus the time taken to reach our destinations is often long and taxing on the vehicles. Therefore each safari is backed up by a supply vehicle with staff members who go ahead to set up camp and have drinks on ice and food on the fire when we get back from our game drives.

In Zimbabwe, Namibia, Zambia, Tanzania and Mocambique the road infrastructures to the parks are better and therefore the use of back-up vehicles is not always necessary and is determined by the itinerary and group size.

WALKING SAFARIS

For many years Zimbabwe has been a leader in wildlife conservation and utilization. As a result the professional guides in this country are amongst the best qualified in the world. An extremely challenging training and examination system ensures that those who qualify are not only highly knowledgeable about the bush but also entirely capable of ensuring the safety of their guests while on safari. A licensed professional guide who is suitably armed always conducts all Untamed Africa’s walks.

We offer walking safaris to any or all of Zimbabwe’s national parks as well as certain areas in Botswana and Zambia. On these safaris guests have the option of tracking game on foot, (or by vehicle for those who feel less energetic) or to just sit quietly at a hide and observe what happens in and around the waterhole. We can set up a base camp from where we explore the immediate area or our staff will pack up and move camp while we walk from one camp to the next.

We recommend a minimum duration of:
12days/11 nights for a walking/mobile safari which includes several national parks
and a minimum of 3 days/2 nights stop-off in any one area

BACKPACKING SAFARIS

Untamed Africa also offers backpacking safaris into several areas. These trips allow one to reach the remotest areas that are rarely visited by people, thus affording an exceptional wilderness adventure into pristine areas. An experienced and suitably armed professional guide leads all of these backpacking safaris. Guests carry their own personal belongings as well as lightweight tent, sleeping bag, mattress, food and water. Our favourite backpacking safaris are in the Matusadona National Park, but we also operate these safaris in the Okavango Delta, Chizarira and Hwange.

We recommend a minimum duration of:
3days/2 nights for a backpacking safari

CANOEING THE ZAMBEZI RIVER

The Zambezi River is the 5th largest river in Africa and certainly the wildest and most romantic. This great river forms the international boundary between many countries and forms Zimbabwe’s northern border. Untamed Africa conducts canoeing safaris on the Upper Zambezi River, the magical section of the river above the Victoria Falls between Zambia and Zimbabwe. There is no better way to experience the river than by canoeing it with a talented professional guide. We will navigate small rapids, explore secret channels and islands, paddle wide expanses of this massive river or just quietly drift past hippo, antelope, buffalo or elephants grazing on the banks. All our canoeing safaris traverse the Zambezi National Park, affording true wilderness experiences with ample opportunities for game viewing and bird watching.

We offer from short 3-hour paddles in fibre-glass canoes with professional paddlers, to multi-day trips where our staff pre-erect a comfortable, private bush camp at idyllic locations on the banks of the Zambezi. For the longer trips we use inflatable two-person canoes, which are extremely stable and maneuverable. No prior canoeing experience is necessary for participation in any of our safaris.

The ultimate canoeing safari launches in Chobe National Park in Botwana, crosses to Namibia to the confluence of the Chobe and Zambezi rivers where four African countries meet, cuts across the Katomboro rapids in Zambia, traverses the Zambezi National Park (Zimbabwe) and ends in Victoria Falls town above the falls.

We recommend a minimum duration of:
2days/1 night for a canoeing safari

EXCLUSIVE & PRIVATE SAFARIS FOR THE DISCERNING TRAVELLER
THE ACCENT IS ON THE LEVEL OF GUIDING

PAX = MIN 2, MAX 12 (MAX 6 PER VEHICLE)
MIN 10 BED NIGHTS PER SAFARI

THESE SAFARIS OFFER:

• Exclusive & private camping
• Fully serviced camps for the middle to upper market and those who need something above mere creature comforts
• Comfortable, spacious and clean equipment with attention to detail
• Only specified highly experienced professional guides and/or field specialists
• Tailored itineraries (by special arrangement & dependent on availability of exclusive camp sites, private camps and lodge accommodation)
• Can be part camping and part lodging; part flying and part driving (or boating) between destinations
• Flexible departure dates (some pre-booked camp sites guaranteed during peak seasons)
• Small groups only
  

WHAT IS INCLUDED:

SLEEPING ARRANGEMENTS:

Large walk-in tents (3,5 x 3,5 m) with built-in floors, mosquito gauze on both doors and windows

Front verandah with floor & door mats

Bedside tables, lamps, small cupboard, waste bin, floor mat

Beds with mattresses (in a bedroll to keep bedding dust proof when moving camp)

Full linen (2 pillows, pillow cases, sheets, duvet & duvet cover, extra blankets, towels, face cloth, change of linen during safari)

Toiletries: (soap, hand cream, mosquito repellant, sun block, mirror, toilet paper, tissues)

Extras: flash lights & batteries, thermos water bottle & mugs, hot water bottle in winter, plastic rain coats

ABLUTION FACILITIES:

En suite shower (private portable shower, filled on request with hot water by camp staff)

En suite bush toilet (toilet seat over a pre-dug pit with ash to fill in as you go)

Wash stands at each tent filled with hot water every morning and on request

DINING FACILITIES:

Mess tent with floor and sides

Dining table & chairs

Tableware: table cloths & napkins, earthenware crockery, cutlery

Bar: Wine glasses, tumblers, full bar on ice (drinks as requested by pax)

Healthy & hearty 3 course meals throughout with snacks available in between meals

STAFF:

• Handpicked specialist guide
• Full staff complement to do all camp chores (Cook, waiter, general camp & scullery hands to do fires, showers, toilets, pitch & move camp, staff to do laundry, make beds & clean tents)
  

VEHICLES:

Open game drive vehicles with shade roof, game viewing seats & long range fuel tanks

Seat 6 (or 7) pax each with window seat plus driver/guide

ACTIVITIES:

All activities as requested by pax & as specified by agent

Usually 2 to 3 activities per day

FEES:

Park entry fees, camping fees

Government taxes & levies

Road levies

Guiding fee

Public liability

EXTRAS:

Full medical kit

Full reference library

Fishing Tackle (on request)

Children’s games & books (on request)

Honeymoon bed (on request)

WHAT IS EXCLUDED:

International flights

Any lodge accommodation, meals, transfers & excursions not specified

Travel & medical insurance

Visas

Airport departure taxes

Tips & gratuities for guides and camp staff

EXPLORATORY LEVEL SAFARIS FOR THE ADVENTUROUS OR MIDDLE-MARKET TRAVELLER

PAX = MIN 3, MAX 16 (MAX 10 PER VEHICLE)
MIN 10 BED NIGHTS PER SAFARI

THESE SAFARIS OFFER:

• Adventure rather than luxury
• Comfortable and spacious equipment
• Staff to do the back-up work, but guests could be asked to assist with some camp chores at times
• Private camp sites where possible
• Group departures where individuals may join
• Unspecified licensed and experienced professional guides
• Set itineraries
• Set departure dates & pre-booked camp sites during peak seasons
• Tailored itineraries by special arrangement and dependent on availability of camp sites
• Lodge accommodation can be worked into the itinerary at additional cost
  
  

WHAT IS INCLUDED:

SLEEPING ARRANGEMENTS:

• Walk-in tents (2,5 x 2,5 m) with built-in floors, mosquito gauze on both doors and windows
• Door mats
• Camp beds with mattresses (in a bedroll to keep bedding dust proof when moving camp)
• Full linen (1 pillow, pillow case, sheets, duvet & duvet cover)
  Toiletries: (toilet paper only)
  

ABLUTION FACILITIES:

• Shared shower (private portable shower filled on request with hot water by camp staff) or shower in public camp site
• Shared bush toilet (toilet seat over a pre-dug pit with ash to fill in as you go) or toilets in public camp sites
• Wash stands
  

DINING FACILITIES:

• Gazebo to provide shade
• Dining table & stools
• Tableware: table cloths & paper napkins, durable melamine crockery, cutlery
  
• Two course meals throughout
• Limited Bar: boxed wine, beer & soft drinks on ice (Full bar available for purchase on request)
  

STAFF:

• Experienced licenced guide
• Staff complement to help with camp chores
  

VEHICLES:

• Open game drive vehicles with shade roof, game viewing seats & long range fuel tanks
• Seat 10 pax (3 per seat) plus driver/guide
  

ACTIVITIES:

• All activities as specified by agent
• Usually 2 activities per day
  

FEES:

• Park entry fees, camping fees
• Government taxes & levies
• Road levies
  

EXTRAS:

• Limited medical kit (available at cost)
• Limited reference library
• Fishing Tackle (at cost)
• Children’s games & books (at cost)
  

WHAT IS EXCLUDED:

• International flights
• Any lodge accommodation or meals not specified
• Any transfers & excursions not specified
• Travel & medical insurance
• Charter flights
• Specialist guides
• Private or en suite ablutions
• Extras: flash lights & batteries, thermos water bottle & mugs, hot water bottle in winter, plastic rain coats
• Linen (x-tra blankets & pillows, towels, face cloth, change of linen during safari)
• Toiletries: (soap, hand cream, mosquito repellant, sun block, mirror, tissues)
• Laundry
• Visas
• Airport departure taxes
• Tips & gratuities for guides and camp staff