Zambezi Canoeing Safari Package

This Zambezi Canoeing Safari Package is a great way to spend time together as a family or with a group of friends.

The package runs as follows:

Day 1
Fly from Johannesburg to Livingstone.
You will be met off your flight at Livingstone airport and transferred to the Zambezi Waterfront where you will stay in a standard room on a  bed and breakfast basis.
There is a restaurant which serves light and more substantial meals as well as excellent pizzas!

Day 2
You will be collected from reception at 08h00

Your personal belongings required for the overnight camp are deposited with the trip leader before tsetting off for the approximate 40 minute transfer to the launching site at Mandia Village. Here you will be briefed on the safety procedures followed by a bit of padddling practice before setting off on the river (Dont forget your hat, suntan lotion and sunnies!)

Lunch comprising of cold meats, salad and fruit accompanied by mineral water and cordials will be welcome pause at around 12:30

After an afternoon paddling you will arrive at the overnight camp at around 16:30. Accommodation is in simple two-man dome tents located on the Zambezi riverbank.  Dinner is served next to the fire under the African stars! Soft drinks, mineral waters and some beers are included; if you would like to enjoy your favourite tipple  with dinner then your are welcome to bring a bottle along with you.

It will be an early wake up as the hippos grunt and birds call with the rising of the sun.

After breakfast you will pack up your stuff and continue the slow journey tracing the footsteps of the great explorer David Livingstone as you paddle further downstream.

A packed lunch will be taken as per the previous day.

At approximately 15:30 you will arrive at the take out point( which can vary depending upon the Zambezi water levels at the time.) The road transfer back to Livingstone will take approximately 20min.

Overnight in a standard room at the Zambezi Waterfront.

Breakfast at The Zambezi Waterfront (included)
Road transfer to Livingstone airport.
Flight Livingstone to Johannesburg
End of services

Canoeing FAQs:

- Does the canoe trip depart every day?
Canoeing is subject to availability and on request.

– What is the minumum and maximum people
Standard trips  need 4 guests to depart minimum; there will be a maximum of 8 clients per standard trip but larger groups can be done on request

- Is there an age restriction?
The minimum age is 12 years (there is no child rate). The maximum age limit is dependent on the individual’s general state of health and physical fitness.

- What level of fitness is required?
No previous canoeing experience is required, it should however be noted that clients should be proficient swimmers and be of a reasonable level of fitness necessary to self paddle a distance of approximately 17kms (about 6hrs) for the duration of the trip

• Upon your confirmation that you would like to proceed with a booking your Maplanga consultant will send you a booking form to confirm your holiday.
• We will require the full names of the people travelling as the names appear in the passport in order to book flights. You can either send us passport copies or send us the names by email.
• Please note name changes cannot be made after the tickets have been issued.
• Once a booking is made by you and the travel details confirmed to us we will send you an invoice with our full details indicated.
• The advertised package is based on flights with restrictive rules. The airlines require payment for flights within 24 hours of making the booking and we will require a deposit to cover the payment. Once flights are paid they are non refundable. If you prefer more flexibility a higher class of flight must be used.
• If a deposit is not received within the stipulated period the flights will cancel. We would then have to rebook the flights and this may result in the costed class being no longer available which would affect the cost of the package.
• Final payment is required a month prior to travel or as the terms and conditions of the service provider/s dictate.
• When full payment has been made we will send your e-tickets & travel vouchers to you. If you prefer they can collected from our offices in North Riding Estates.
  

• Victoria Falls is a malaria area contact your doctor or travel clinic for suitable medication prior to travel.
• We recommend that all travellers take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance. Speak to your Maplanga consultant if you would like further information on the Oojah Travel insurance we offer.
  

• You must have a current passport that is valid for 6 months after travel.
• There must be at least two empty pages in your passport
• South African passports require not visas to enter Zimbabwe.
• Many nationalities including US, British, Australian and Canadian can purchase their visas on arrival or online. Please have cash for this. Passports requiring a pre bought visa include Greece, Colombia, India. A Univisa is available for travellers who wish to include Zambia in their itineraries.

The company uses some of the finest equipment available to ensure that the trip is a safe and enjoyable one. The canoes are two-man, inflatable self-bailing canoes and are purchased from Ark in South Africa, ideal for use on the Zambezi River. America’s Cup high flotation life jackets are issued to clients and are obligatory.

All Safari Par Excellence guides are fully trained professionals certified by the International Rafting Federation, all hold valid advanced first aid certificates. Whilst every precaution is taken, it is essential that agents make clients aware that there is a risk of injury associated with the activity of canoeing on the Zambezi. A comprehensive first aid kit is carried on each trip. Each client is required to sign the Safari Par Excellence Upper Zambezi Canoeing indemnity form prior to departure. Each trip leader is in radio contact with our bases in Victoria Falls Zimbabwe and Livingstone Zambia and covered by S.E.S (Specilaised Emergency Services) based in Livingstone Zambia.

All clients are covered by Specialised Emergency Services (S.E.S) through Safari Par Excellence; however this only covers them for emergency evacuation in life threatening situations. It does not cover hospitalisation and medication. As such travel and medical insurance is compulsory for all clients. Please ensure you bring the details of your travel insurance policy with you. Safari Par Excellence will not cover clients should they not have insurance.

Ideally sandals (with straps attached to your feet)  
A pair of river or board shorts or swimming costume 
T-shirt, light shirt or rash vest
A baseball cap / hat to keep the sun off 
Personal water bottle
Waterproof sunscreen and lip balm SPF15 minimum
Sunglasses
Any medication you may be taking

• Lightweight long trousers
  
• Lightweight Long Sleeved shirt
  
• Fleece jacket
  
• Glasses or Contact lenses. Disposable lenses are ideal
  
• Toiletries: Toothbrush, toothpaste, soap and shampoo
  
• Moisturizer or an "After Sun" 
  
• Hand wipes
  
• A 2-season sleeping bag
  
• Small pack towel
  
• Headlamp or head torch and spare batteries
  
• Insect Repellent
  
• Bring a spare memory card or plenty of film
  
• Spare batteries for your camera