This information is important for being prepared for your journey; we want you to have the best experience possible. If you only read one section, this one is key!
Ahead of Your Tour
- Make sure your passport is valid for six months AFTER your return date, with at least FIVE entirely blank pages (three for Zambia and two for Zimbabwe). No visa is required for US passport holders into Zambia. Zimbabwe visas are required and can be obtained at the Port of Entry.
- Please check current CDC recommendations for travel to Zambia and Zimbabwe and consult with your doctor about general travel vaccinations you should have as precaution for travel. See the “Health and Inoculations” section below.
- Travel insurance in case of serious medical emergency is strongly recommended. Full health coverage and repatriation is available through Allianz Travel Insurance.
- Plan your flight reservations arriving into Lusaka Airport (LUN), Zambia and out of Harare (HRE), Zimbabwe. Send a copy of your itinerary to the Naturalist Journeys office please.
- Soft sided luggage/duffel bags are easiest for packing. Pack essential medications in your carry-on luggage, as well as one day of clothing and optics in case of luggage delay.
Arrival into Lusaka Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (LUN), Zambia
Please note: If you are delayed in travel, please refer to your emergency contact list, and contact your ground operator, with a copy to our office. You may also phone or text your guide. Quite a few guides will set up a WhatsApp connection so you can also reach your guide by phone.
Please check the Travel Details section of this tour for additional information and updates.
Departure from Harare Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport (HRE), Zimbabwe
Please check the Travel Details section of this tour for additional information and updates.
Passports, Visas & Documents
Guidelines and regulations can change. It is always advisable to double-check the country’s documentation requirements 60-90 days ahead of traveling.
Information for U.S. citizens can be found at:
If you are from another country, please contact the tour destination’s embassy website for guidelines.
At the time of writing, you must have a passport in good condition and valid for at least six months AFTER your scheduled return to the U.S. You must have at least five (5) blank pages (three for Zambia and two for Zimbabwe). The blank pages need to say “Visas” at the top. Pages marked “Amendments and Endorsements” will not be accepted.
Zambia: A visa is NOT required for U.S. Passport holders.
Zimbabwe: A visa IS required for U.S. Passport holders and is obtainable at the airports or other ports of entry.
As a precaution for lost or misplaced documents you carry on your person during travel, we highly recommend you keep hard and digital backup copies on your phone (either photo or PDF scan), as well as a hard copy left with your emergency contact at home. The recommended important documents to copy include, but are not limited to; your passport ID page, travel visa, the front and back of your credit card(s), the airline barcode on your luggage. This will greatly expedite getting new ones if necessary – we hope everyone will always keep travel documents close so that losing them will not be an issue.
General Health & Inoculations Information – Be Prepared!
We will share your health information with your guide. This information will be kept confidential but is very important as we want to be best prepared in case of a medical emergency.
Vaccinations: Bring copies of your current vaccination records with you. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all travelers be up to date with routine vaccinations and basic travel vaccines (such as Hepatitis A and Typhoid) before traveling to any destination. Please check with your doctor for recommendations at least 4-6 weeks before departing on your trip. Your physician may recommend other preventative immunizations like DTaP (Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis), which is recommended every 10 years. Check the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) webpage for Traveler's Health, or reach them by phone at 800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636).
Yellow fever: Zambia and Zimbabwe require a YF vaccination certificate if you have traveled through or originated travel from an area with yellow fever. Please consider this if you are traveling ahead of time. If you have a current yellow fever vaccination certificate, definitely bring that with you. If you don't, it is a vaccine that is highly recommended for any travel to Africa since requirements can change with an outbreak at any time.
Malaria: Even though you are here during the dry season, you do travel in Malarial-risk areas. Your doctor is likely to recommend that you choose anti-malarial medications. See the CDC Yellow Book for additional Yellow Fever vaccine and malaria prevention information, by country.
Prescriptions: It is a good idea to pack any meds you take regularly in your carry-on luggage. Bring an extra pair of glasses or contact lenses. Bring an adequate supply of any prescription medications you use, a copy of the prescription and a list of generic names of your medicines as “back-up” in case it is necessary to purchase drugs while abroad. You’ll want to keep medications in their original, labeled containers.
Allergies: To be prepared for environmental triggers to allergies or breathing difficulties, please bring your allergy and/or asthma medication(s). If you have severe allergies talk to your doctor about carrying an EPI pen and notify your guides. It is also recommended to carry with you an up-to-date record of known allergies, chronic medical problems and Medic Alerts so that, if necessary, emergency treatment can be carried out without endangering your health.
Common Ailments: We recommend that you bring a travel-sized first aid kit and a supply of standard over-the-counter medications for prevention or treatment of common ailments (such as diarrhea, constipation, stomach upset, cough, congestion, head or body aches, insect bites and sunburn); as well as ointments, moisturizer, sunscreen, oral rehydration salts, band-aids, moleskin for blisters, cotton swabs, nail clippers, and tweezers, etc.
Weather & Climate
July is during the cool dry winter season of both Zambia and Zimbabwe. Expect temperatures ranging from the low 40s°F at night to high 70s°F during the day, though at times it can drop to near freezing at night. Days are generally clear and sunny. Light clothes to wear during the day with warm layers to add at night are recommended. Sun and dust protection are also advised.
Annoyances & Hazards
There can be mosquitos and other biting insects (including the Tsetse Fly), so long sleeves, long pants, and insect spray containing 20 – 30% DEET is a must. During the dry season, we generally have little insect life, but be prepared if we encounter some. The sun is also very strong, so plan to protect yourself against it, too. Your guides will go over all the other biting (and exciting) critters to avoid when you arrive – most are rare finds.
It is also important to remember that there are many large predators, so always follow your guide’s directions carefully and thoroughly when in the field and at the lodges. They will not be letting you out of the vehicles often in lion country – one termite mound can hide a full-grown male! We also take precaution around elephants, but you will be able to get wonderful photos and have a sense of being very close. Animals DO enter and walk around the mobile camp area, they will discuss what to do, but it’s basically to remain very quiet and still in your tents, not always the easiest thing to do if an elephant is munching the acacia tree nearby. When your safety is of issue your safari guides may be firm and gruff – the message simply must come across and be understood; in the bush they are captains of us all.
Food & Drinks
Our camps and lodges pride themselves in preparing healthy and varied food for you. To be out early on a schedule to hit activity peaks for wildlife, they typically give you tea and coffee and some fruit and biscuits early for the morning game drive and you return to a lavish brunch. After brunch, there is a rest period, and you reconvene over tea with savory and sweet snacks before going out again. Dinner is typically after sunset, and cocktails are served ahead around the fire. We have the option to stop for “sundowners”, but we also keep in mind that this is the primo light of the day for photography and excellent for wildlife viewing, so expect on some days that we prefer to return to camp, freshen up and then do cocktails and dinner. A mix of both customs is nice.
Packing, Clothing & Laundry
Please, pack light! The included small charter flights have luggage size restrictions and weight restrictions. More specific information on these requirements will be given before your journey.
Dress is very informal. You may wish to change for dinners, but casual dress is suitable at all locations.
Laundry services may not be available at all your lodges, so we suggest packing travel-sized laundry soap or soap "sheets" and expect to do hand laundry.
Camera gear, phones, laptops can all suffer from dust and in Botswana there is plenty. Have good protective cases and we suggest you bring a towel-size microfiber cloth (3 x 5 ft. approx. size) that you can quickly wrap over your gear as you are out on a dusty safari. A pillow case can be used as a quick and easy dust cover!
TRAVEL TIP: Imagine NOT getting your suitcase. Wear your most important shoes for the field and have one day’s clothing change (including a change of underwear!). And please DO NOT pack any essential medications, or your vital optics, in your checked luggage!
Spending Money
The official currency of Zambia is the Zambian Kwacha (ZMK). One kwacha is divided into 100 ngwee. By law all payments within Zambia can only be made in kwachas but many shops, hotels, lodges and restaurants that cater to travellers or foreigners will accept US dollars (you may receive your change in kwachas so keep the exchange rate in mind so ensure you get the correct value). One helpful resource is: www.zambiatourism.com. The official currency of Zimbabwe is the Zimbabwean Dollar though the US dollar is commonly used.
Plan to get newer currency, you may have to alert your bank ahead or start planning ahead now. Please note that US bills must be 2007 and newer and 2013 and newer is the best. Make sure that bills are in good shape, torn or damaged bills will not be accepted. It is best to have smaller denominations. Visa is the most widely accepted credit card.
In larger cities an ATM can be the easiest way to change money if you wish to do so or need to replenish your supply; make sure you know your PIN number. You should also inform your bank and your credit card companies that you will be traveling outside the country to avoid a freeze on your account as many banks do this as a security measure when unexpected purchases are made.
Gratuities
Tipping has long been part of the African safari tradition and is expected. Our Naturalist Journeys guide can bring envelopes for the local guides, and most lodges have a prominent staff tip box. To avoid awkward situations, we give guidelines here for tipping, but please know that tipping is always voluntary and should depend on the kind of service given. In general, you tip only once, at the end of your stay at any location. You should tip when possible in cash, in local currency or USD. Tipping by credit card means a long wait for staff at lodges to get it and often no guarantee that they do.
Safari guides are tipped separately; this is the person from each lodge who coordinates your game drives and outings. The safari guide is the main person to make your safari successful, from finding wildlife to keeping you comfortable; the industry standard for the lead guide is $20 USD per day. If we have different guides on different days, they simply share this. The driver and tracker should be tipped at half of this amount. We will try to map out tips in more detail for you with the Schedule at a Glance document sent ahead of your journey.
You will find camp staff at the lodges well trained and eager to please, many of them live away from their families for long periods of time, and the gratuities are a big incentive to them with much appreciation. You interact mainly with the wait staff, but behind them is a whole team making it all happen from chefs to maids and cleaners, and security guards. The lodges have a “General Tips” box that you can put an envelope into at the end of your stay. For Camp or Lodge Staff to share, figure a range of $10-$20 per day, depending on how personal the service and the number of persons you interact with.
Cell Phones & Internet Service
If you plan to bring your cell phone, it is important that you know how to turn off your data or that you speak with your provider before the trip to purchase a temporary international data/calling plan, if you plan to use your cell phone during the trip. Wi-Fi may be available at lodges though there may be fees, and these are determined by how much data you use, so be aware of that if people are sending you photos, etc. There are free apps available on smart phones that offer free international calls and texts, and you may want to research this ahead of time and download them; we use WhatsApp frequently. If you use your phone for a camera, be sure to have a good pocket or secure place to put it, it is easy to slip off the seat of the safari vehicle!
Electricity
In Zambia the power plug sockets are of type C, D and G. In Zimbabwe the power plug sockets are of type D and G. The standard voltage is 220-230 V and the frequency is 50 Hz. A power plug adapter and a voltage converter can be found online or at most electronics stores. Many people carry a universal adapter, to have options. More information is available at www.power-plugs-sockets.com.
Time
Both Zambia and Zimbabwe are on Central Africa Time (UTC+2) all year long. Daylight savings time is not observed. A helpful website to help with international time conversion is www.timeanddate.com.
Questions?
Please contact Naturalist Journeys by email at clientservices@naturalistjourneys.com or telephone at our office: (520) 558-1146 or toll free: (866) 900-1146 if you have any questions. Many thanks for traveling with us and we hope you enjoy your journey!
Pace of the Tour & What to Expect
You will receive a Schedule-at-a-Glance and list of hotels (our eContact List) a few weeks before your departure. This will serve as an outline for each day and alert you to any recent changes made in the schedule or to our hotels, if needed.
Our journeys are set up to follow the rhythm of nature. Our focus is on birding and nature; we offer full, well-planned field days and often get up early for that magical time around dawn. We generally follow the published itinerary, but we stay flexible to the weather, wildlife opportunities and the interests of the group. Your guide will keep you apprised of the next day’s schedule at each evening meal, noting what to bring and what to prepare for. Questions and/or concerns are welcome.
The pace of our Naturalist Journeys tours is moderate; to fully participate you should be able to get in and out of vehicles several times a day, and walk 1-3 miles over uneven terrain. It is important to participate with a flexible attitude as adjustments may be made in our schedule to make the most of our time in the field or for other purposes at your guide's discretion. We are not a “listing” bird company that drills down on target species, but at times we do wait for those special species unique to the places we visit. During the day, we take time to stop for photos and for educational opportunities to learn about conservation projects, landscapes, and geology. We appreciate other taxa as well as birds, with mammals often the biggest draw but plants and butterflies are also very popular. Our clients often lend their own expertise to the mix.
We like to make meals a fun and memorable part of the experience, too. Breakfasts are often at hotels, and we carry snacks, fruit, and water in the vans each day. Lunches are a mix of picnics in the field (weather dependent) and a chance to dine with locals at small cafes and restaurants. For dinner, we pride ourselves in our homework to keep up with the best choices for dining, choosing restaurants with atmosphere that specialize in local foods. On occasion we keep dinner simple to go back out in the field for sunset wildlife viewing or night walks. In some remote locations, our choices are limited. If you are tired, room service for dinner may be an option you can choose.
Naturalist Journeys International Trips: Guide Role
Naturalist Journeys supports ecotourism and the development of excellent local guides. Once we know our international partners and guides well, we can send out small groups working directly with these trusted partners, adding a Naturalist Journeys guide to assist the local expert when we have a group of 6-7 or more. This helps us keep your costs down while retaining tour quality. The local guide is your main guide. You can expect your Naturalist Journeys guide to be well-researched and often they are experienced in the destination, but their role is not to be primary, it is to help to organize logistics, help you find birds, mammals, and interesting other species in the field, keep reports, help facilitate group interactions, and to keep the trip within Naturalist Journeys' style. Local guides live in the countries we travel to, know the destinations intimately, and are often the strongest force for conservation in their countries. They open many doors for us to have a rich experience.
Smoking
Smoking is not permitted in any vehicle or in any situation where the group is participating in an activity together, such as a vehicle excursion or a guided walk. Please respect all designated smoking areas at hotels and restaurants.
Transportation
As a courtesy to each other, we ask that all travelers please rotate seating. On international trips we may all be in one small bus, on some trips we are in vans, particularly the roomy Sprinter Vans when available. Some areas require us to be in smaller 4-wheel drive or safari vehicles. Rotation allows you to sit with different drivers and alternate front and back seating.
Photo Release & Sharing
We take many group photos and will share photos with the group. And after your tour, we will organize a chance to share photos via Dropbox or Google Photos. Please note that this is our policy and if you prefer to be excluded, we need to know ahead of your tour.
By registering for this tour, you agree to grant to Naturalist Journeys and its authorized representatives’ permission to record on photography film and/or video, pictures of my participation in the tour. You further agree that any or all of the material photographed may be used, in any form, as part of any future publications, brochure, or other printed materials used to promote Naturalist Journeys, and further that such use shall be without payment of fees, royalties, special credit or other compensation.
Travel Insurance
You are traveling in remote areas. Naturalist Journeys strongly recommends you have full medical and evacuation insurance from a company such as Allianz, for all international travel. If you do not have medical coverage or evacuation coverage on your existing travel insurance policy or for some reason elected not to take that out, we advise getting an evacuation plan with Global Rescue, World Nomads, Medjet, Allianz (they can do evacuation only) or a similar company. These plans are typically $300-$400 for a year for multiple destinations. This coverage may be a part of a larger Travel Insurance policy but can also be purchased on its own.
Questions?
Please contact Naturalist Journeys by email at clientservices@naturalistjourneys.com or telephone our office: (520) 558-1146 or toll free: (866) 900-1146 if you have any questions. Many thanks for traveling with us and we hope you enjoy your journey.
Please Pack Light!
For all of the journey, soft luggage is also much easier for us to pack than a more rigid hard sided piece, so if you have the choice, please use your soft luggage. Be sure to have your name and address on the inside of the bag, as well as on the luggage tag on the handle. It is our hope that you can pack in one checked suitcase that does not exceed 40 pounds. Note: Included small charter flights will likely have more restrictive weight limits. More information will be provided as we learn more.
Be sure to pack your personal medication, airline tickets, passport, binoculars, camera, and other essential items in your carry-on bag. You will want a day pack for field trips, so this is an ideal carry-on. Please reconfirm your airline’s baggage weight and size restrictions about a week or so before departure.
July is during the cool dry winter season of both Zambia and Zimbabwe. Expect temperatures ranging from the low 40s at night to high 70s during the day, though at times it can drop to near freezing at night. Days are generally clear and sunny. Light clothes to wear during the day with warm layers to add at night are recommended. Sun and dust protection are also advised.. Check a weather website closer to your departure to better predict what the weather will be on your adventure.
WARNING! As with several other African countries, Zimbabwe and Zambia are working to ban non-reusable plastic bags. We strongly advise against bringing any. If you wish to bring a bag for laundry, shoes, etc., we advise a lightweight nylon bag, packing cube, or reusable cloth tote as a substitute. We suggest a reusable toiletry bag in place of a Ziploc-style bag. Violations of the ban could result in fines, so please double-check your luggage before you leave!
Clothing & Gear
Dress is comfortable and informal throughout the trip. Dressing in layers is the best way to be comfortable. Lightweight long-sleeved shirts and long pants make ideal field clothing as they are more protective from sun and vegetation. Also, choose clothing you don’t mind getting dirty or muddy and things that are comfortable and easy to wear and launder. Prepare for dust. Seek an alternative to Ziploc-type bags - sealable, reusable, 2-gal. tight-weave or garmet-type storage bag and microfiber towels is one option to protect your optics. Several of our lodges and camps provide laundry service.
Note on clothing colors and insect repellent: We recommend muted colors of tan, brown, khaki, grey or green, as they are spotted less easily than white or bright colors, though camouflage clothing is not recommended, and in some countries, not legal to wear. It is possible to purchase field clothing permeated with insect repellent such as the Craghoppers Insect Shield collection. Another approach is to purchase Permethrin spray (online or from REI) to treat your field clothing and socks before your departure.
Packing List:
- Lightweight long pants, 3-4 pair
- Light weight long-sleeved shirts, 2-3 (loose fitting keeps you cool and are great to layer over T-shirts or sleeveless shirts for staying cool)
- T-shirts or equivalent, 3-4
- Lightweight sweater (fleece is ideal, but a sweatshirt will do)
- Jacket and warm hat and gloves
- Comfortable clothes for evening (clean field clothes are appropriate, think comfortable!)
- Personal underclothing and pajamas
- Socks (lightweight, and easy to hand wash and dry)
- Comfortable walking shoes with thorn-proof tread (such as tennis shoes)
- Lightweight hiking boots
- Comfortable sandals or light shoes for evenings, travel day, safari days in vehicles, i.e. Tevas (optional)
- Hat with broad brim– a safari style hat with a tie-down is great for vehicle time
- Bandana (optional, helpful for dust)
- Bathing suit (optional)
- Field vest (optional - a great source is Big Pockets)
Equipment & Miscellaneous
- Airline tickets or e-ticket verification
- Passport, visa (if required), photo ID, travel insurance info, money & credit cards.
- A secure pouch to carry the items above on your person at all times (such as a secure, under-clothing document pouch)
- As a backup: copies of all the above (phone and/or paper) packed in a separate location than on your person, plus a set given to your emergency contact at home as a backup. For passport, copy of the ID and entry stamp pages.
- Small daypack or fanny pack to carry field gear
- Money pouch/belt, or someplace to carry your money and passport with you at all times
- Binoculars (a hotel shower cap is great to cover these when it is raining or dusty)
- Flashlight or headlamp with fresh batteries
- Alarm clock (or use your phone)
- Walking stick (optional, but recommended if you’re use to using one)
- Sunscreen/lip balm with SPF
- Sunglasses with neck strap
- Insect repellent (containing DEET)
- Toiletry articles – tweezers can come in handy in this land of thorns!
- Pocket-sized tissues
- Reusable bags are good for organizing storage and two-gallon size can be helpful keeping dust from optics
- Universal adapter/converter combo
- Cell phone and charger
- Binoculars (a hotel shower cap is great to cover these when it is raining or dusty).
- Camera and extra batteries, digital chips etc., lens cleaning supplies and your instruction manual. Do a good check for all this before leaving (0ptional)
- USB cord for transferring photos from camera to tablet/laptop (optional)
- Portable external hard drive if you intend to take many photos (optional)
- Spotting scope and tripod (optional)
- Tablet or laptop for personal use and/or transferring photos, USB cord and charger (optional)
- Water bottle (or plan to reuse our store-bought water bottle if prefer)
- Travel-sized laundry detergent for doing a bit of laundry by hand
- Travel sewing kit
- Earplugs (if you are sensitive to noise at night – optional)
- Notebook or journal and pen (optional)
- Field guides (optional)
Rechargeable power bank (optional)
- Padlock for luggage (optional)
- Steri-Pen or other water treatment/filter device (like LifeStraw) to treat local water, this will help cut down on the use of plastic bottles (optional but highly recommended!)
WE DO NOT RECOMMEND TRAVELING WITH PRECIOUS OR VALUABLE JEWELRY – don’t tempt anyone and don’t bring things you’d regret losing - your mind will be at ease!
Medical & First Aid Items
- Heath insurance and vaccination records (kept in personal pouch with other travel documents)
- Personal medication
- Motion sickness preventatives if likely to be needed on bus, van drives, etc.
- Personal first aid kit including medications for general and stomach ailments (Imodium or Lomotil, antihistamine cream or tablets, eye drops, etc.)
- Band-Aids, moleskin to protect against blisters
- Foot powder, lotions for dry skin, general “comfort” items
- Copy of eyeglass prescription, medical prescriptions and any medical alerts
- Extra pair of eyeglasses or contacts
- Antibacterial hand-cleaning soap in small bottle or as individually wrapped moist towelettes
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