Contacts and price from: FOTOTREKS, Inc.
240 Main Street, Suite 308
Little Falls, New Jersey 07424  USA
WWW.FOTOTREKS.COM
Toll Free: (877) FOTOTRK (877-368-6875)
Phone: (973) 890-4424
Fax: (973) 890-4324
Email: lucia@fototreks.com or fototreks@fototreks.com 

GAVA EXPLORATIONS DETAILED ITINERARY

10 July 2004 – 23 July 2004  (Trip Code: TM 4-5)

 

Day 1: 10 July 2004 – Arrive in Livingston
A transfer will collect us from the airport in Livingston and drive us to Impalila Island Lodge is a 16-bedded luxury lodge with much to offer discerning clients.   The island is situated at the confluence of two mighty African rivers, the Chobe and Zambezi rivers at the place where 4 countries meet - from the air an amazing mosaic of waterways, floodplains and bushveld - on the ground exceptional birdlife, game viewing and assorted vegetation.  Impalila is also the most secluded and remote of the Chobe destinations but close enough to offer guests the very best of the Chobe river – that is game photography and viewing by boat. 

(Accommodation: Impalila Island Lodge – full board, drinks extra)

 

Day 2 & 3: 11/12 July 2004 – Impalila Island Lodge 
Apart from our luxurious accommodation and culinary delights Impalila offer guests a wide variety of activities.............a sunset game cruise on the Chobe river, a visit to a 2000 year-old baobab from where the meeting of all 4 countries and 2 rivers can be witnessed, mokoro (dugout canoe) trips in the quiet backwaters which is ideal for bird photography. Rare birds like malachite king fishers are abundant as well as little bee-eaters and African fish eagles.

At Impalila game viewing by boat in the Chobe National Park for Africa's big game is preferable during the mid afternoon to sunset when game comes down to the waters edge to drink. The Chobe is but a short distance away and one of the attractions is to take a late afternoon cruise into the Kasai channel and from there into the Chobe - renown for vast elephant herds, buffalo, lion, hippo, the rare Chobe bushbuck and puku. Elephant cross the Chobe onto Impalila Island often, and along with hippo, sitatunga can be seen from Impalila Island Lodge

(Accommodation: Impalila Island Lodge – full board, drinks extra)

 

Day 4: 13 July 2004 – drive to Taita Falcon Lodge
The lodge is situated on the Zambian side of the Zambezi River, a short distance from the Victoria Falls, 20 km from Livingston.  The Lodge is perched on the very edge of the Batoka Gorge above Rapids 16 and 17, offering a spectacular view of the raging waters 200m below. The late afternoon is spent around the lodge, photographing the abundant bird life on the lodge grounds, with resident Black Eagles, Peregrine Falcons, and the Taita Falcon from which the Lodge takes its name.  A variety of other raptors and smaller birds are familiar to the Lodge and commonly sighted.  We enjoy sundowners at the edge of the gorge. 

(Accommodation: Taita Falcon Lodge – full board, drinks extra)

Day 5: 14 July 2004 – Taita Falcon Lodge
This morning we make our way to Victoria Falls, one of the natural wonders of the world. The 23 square kilometers of riverine jungle, ilala palms, ferns, figs, liana vines and mahogany provide a tranquil setting from which to view the five cascades of the Falls. Walking through the park’s patch of rain-forest where a fine mist of droplets creates an almost a constant rainbow, you can understand one of the indigenous names for the falls, “smoke that rises.” For the unwary tourist, they might have added; “Smoke that rises and makes you wet,” so cover your camera and take a raincoat. Afterwards we head out on game drive to the Zambezi National Park, six kilometers from the falls, wild with bush and big game, stretches along the river for forty kilometers. We enjoy a late morning with lunch in the park. Our late afternoon is spent on a sunset cruise and we get back in time for dinner at the lodge.

(Accommodation: Taita Falcon Lodge – full board, drinks extra)

Day 6:  15 July 2004 - Fly to South Luangwa, Robin Pope Safaris, Nkwali Camp
The South Luangwa Valley is one of Africa's last hidden jewels and is where time has stood still. This is where safaris began, in remote rustic bushcamps situated in areas of outstanding beauty.  The seclusion of your stay and the abundant wildlife combine to make this an experience not to be missed.

(Accommodation: Nkwali Camp – full board, drinks extra)

Day 7 - 9: 16 – 18 July 2004 - Nkwali Camp
The South Luangwa is an area of superb gameviewing. On our drives we explore the bush at many levels. From the termites crossing the road, to a bee-eater catching a butterfly, to the family of elephants drinking at a lagoon. The game viewing vehicles are open and this provides excellent viewing and opportunities for photography. We also do night drives which allow you to see different species and observe their behaviour. 

(Accommodation: Nkwali Camp – full board, drinks extra)

Day 10 - 13: 19 – 22 July 2004 - Robin Pope Safaris, Nsefu Camp
After breakfast we make our way to another section of the South Luangwa valley. Our days consists of early morning and late afternoon game drives to maximize photographic time in the best light. Experts have dubbed South Luangwa as one of the greatest wildlife sanctuaries in the world, and not without reason. The concentration of game around the Luangwa river and it’s ox bow lagoons is among the most intense in Africa. The Luangwa River is the most intact major river system in Africa and is the life blood of the park's 9050km^2.    The Park hosts a wide variety of wildlife birds and vegetation. The changing seasons add to the Park’s richness ranging from dry, bare bushveld in the winter to a lush green wonderland in the summer months. There are 60 different animal species and over 400 different bird species. The hippo is one animal in the South Luangwa you won’t miss as most of the dambos and lagoons will reveal many. There is estimated to be at least 50 hippos per kilometer of the Luangwa River! Thornicroft’s giraffe, unique to Luangwa Valley should be easily spotted. The park has 14 different antelope species, most of which are easily seen on game and night drives. 

(Accommodation: Nsefu Camp – full board, drinks extra)

Day 14: 23 July 2004 -  Depart
After breakfast we make our way towards the airstrip to board our flight to Livingston and then onto Johannesburg. Already sadness touches the group as we prepare to say goodbye – but with so many incredible experiences shared, the bonds between us will not be broken easily. We believe that we’ll see you again – after all, Africa is on your blood now.