Ron Hunter’s Dive Expeditions presents:
Mozambique Ocean Safari and Coral Reef Diving
Plus Zambia, Victoria Falls, Botswana Adventure Safari
incorporating a Professional Photographic Workshop.

Twenty-two days, twenty-one nights: 17th Sept – 8th Oct 2010

Tour leader: Ron Hunter

Australia / South Africa

Friday 17th September 2010
Depart Sydney (SYD) on Qantas flight QF 63 at 09:50 am
Arrive O. R. Tambo international airport, Johannesburg (JNB), South Africa at 16:00pm
Overnight twin-share accommodation in Africa Sky Guesthouse, Johannesburg (B)

South Africa / Zambia

Saturday 18th September 2010
Depart JNB on British Airways flight BA 6293 at 11:10am
Arrive Livingstone (LVI), Zambia at 12:55pm
Overnight twin-share accommodation in Waterfront Lodge, Livingstone

Zambia

Sunday 19th September 2010
Today we white-water raft the mighty Zambesi River starting just below Victoria Falls, we have a full day on the Zambesi, encountering twenty major, grade 4-5 rapids, on this the highest graded white-water commercial rafting journey in the world. Lunch and a break are included between rapids #13 and #14.
For the less adventurous the helicopter “Flight of the Angels” over Victoria Falls is available.
Overnight twin-share accommodation in Waterfront Lodge, Livingstone

Zambia / Botswana

Monday 20th September 2010
This morning we have free time; perhaps undertake a guided walk to Victoria Falls (extra cost) or just relax around the pool, the choice is yours. We are picked up from our hotel at noon and travel by road from Zambia into Botswana and travelling around 70 kilometres to, what will be for the next five nights, our own exclusive game lodge, the beautiful Garden Lodge on the banks of the Chobe River. (D)

Botswana

Monday 20th September through to Friday 24th September 2010 (B,L,D)
Our hosts Gabi and Philip, the owners of Garden Lodge, or Kirsten the Manager, will meet us upon our arrival. Also there to greet us will be Peter Craig-Cooper and Emanuel Maria, our professional photographic instructors, who will guide us in their Photographic Workshop for the next five days. This afternoon / evening we will enjoy a boat cruise on the Chobe River watching elephants, lechewe, puku, giraffe, crocodiles and hippos and masses of birdlife.

Each of the next four mornings we will set out very early, after a cup of tea / coffee, on 4WD safaris, in open, canvas-topped, Land Cruisers seeking game in the surrounding Chobe National Park. Chobe National Park is home to 100,000 elephants, huge herds of buffalo that can be seen on a daily basis, and hopefully we will encounter some of the Park’s resident prides of lions and even the elusive leopards. Our morning game drives last around three hours (sometimes four hours, at a little extra cost, if we encounter something extra special) and then we return to the Lodge for a very welcome breakfast.

Each afternoon / evening we will enjoy a cruise in two or three small boats, with only six or seven photographers on each boat, along the Chobe River. It is here we will encounter the wildlife that congregates along the riverbanks, for this is really their only source of water at the time of the year that we are there. Close up encounters with herds of elephants are the norm, plus all the other game that Chobe is famous for. This sunset concentration of game and the amazing “African light” is a photographers delight, making the sunset cruse back to the lodge a once in a lifetime experience, never to be forgotten.

Accommodation at Garden Lodge is double or twin share, plus there are family rooms.
The lounge and dining room, as well as the guest rooms, are furnished in teak and wicker. All décor comes from Botswana or one of the surrounding countries. Guests have the choice of sitting inside under the thatched roof, outside by the swimming pool or make use of the boma in the garden. The upstairs lounge overlooks the spacious garden, and is decorated with old African masks and beautiful baskets from various African countries.
Night time at Garden lodge will give us the opportunity to observe the “resident” hippo(s) and warthog that arrive nearly every night to graze on the lawns surrounding the Lodge.
All meals are supplied at Garden Lodge as well as wine with dinner. Guests have the choice of a continental or English breakfast. Lunches are buffet style with a choice of hot dishes, salads, cold meat and cheeses. Dinner is a set menu, however, the kitchen will happily cater for guest’s individual requirements. The Lodge bake daily their own bread, which is served with all meals. Generally guests sit at one table, which allows them to meet each other and often the conversation continues well after the meal has ended!

Photographic Workshop: Peter and Emanuel will accompany us each day on the game drives and boat cruises. We will have the opportunity to learn from their vast photographic knowledge and skills, as well as their intimate knowledge of the African wildlife that we will encounter. There will be individual and group daily tuition, downloading of images and daily prize awarding.

The Photographic Workshop is restricted to first twelve people to book. Suggested equipment required is a digital SLR camera with telephoto lens (300mm to 400mm). We will ideally be shooting in RAW format, so you will need plenty of memory in your card(s). Travellers with “point and shoot” or video cameras will also get a great deal from the Photographic Workshop. A laptop computer with Adobe Photoshop installed will be a great addition to have as well.

Garden Lodge will also supply fishing tackle for those that would like to try for one of the (in)famous monsters of the Chobe River, Tigerfish (catch and release).

Botswana / Zambia / South Africa

Saturday 25th September 2010
After breakfast we will be transferred back to Livingstone, departing Garden Lodge at around 9:30am
Depart Livingstone (LVI), Zambia at 13:40pm on British Airways flight BA 6294
Arrive O. R. Tambo international airport, Johannesburg (JNB), South Africa 15:25pm
Overnight twin-share accommodation in Africa Sky Guesthouse, Johannesburg (B)

South Africa / Mozambique

Sunday 26th September 2010
Depart O. R. Tambo airport, Johannesburg on LAM Airlines flight TM 2332 at 13:15pm
We will be travelling to Guinjata Bay in Mozambique on the east coast of Africa.
Arrive Inhambane (INH), Mozambique 14:45pm

Mozambique

Transfer by road from Inhambane to Guinjata Bay Resort

• Accommodation for the next TEN nights is at Guinjata Bay Resort, twin-share in an eight bedroom, five bathroom, beach chalet with all linen and bedding supplied, we will need to bring our own beach towels. Breakfasts and dinners are included for our stay.
• During our stay at Guinjata Bay we will enjoy FIFTEEN single boat dives, including cylinders, weightbelts and dive-guide services.
• We will also venture out on FOUR mornings of three-hour ocean safaris, for it is here in Guinjata Bay that we will have the opportunity to snorkel with the “BIG FIVE” of the tropical oceans.
• The "Big Five" of Mozambique are Humpback Whales, Southern Right Whales, Whale Sharks, Manta Rays and Dolphins. Whale Sharks in particular and Manta Rays are virtually guaranteed every time we venture out. This is the best place on the Planet to swim with Whale Sharks.

Mozambique / South Africa

Wednesday 6th October 2010
Transfer by road from Guinjata Bay to Inhambane
Depart INH on LAM Airlines flight TM 2334 at 16:00pm
Arrive JNB 17:55pm
Transfer from O. R. Tambo international airport, Johannesburg to Africa Sky Guesthouse, Johannesburg (B)

South Africa / Australia

Thursday 7th October 2010
Transfer from Africa Sky Guesthouse to O. R. Tambo international airport, Johannesburg
Depart JNB on Qantas flight QF 64 at 18:10pm

Friday 8th October 2010
Arrive SYD 14:55pm

• This tour really suits non-divers as well as SCUBA divers, all activities except the fifteen SCUBA dives at Guinjata Bay are included for everyone. The ocean safaris at Guinjata Bay are snorkelling only mornings

* Tour costs do not include flights into and out of Africa / Johannesburg on 17th September and 7th October

Cost ex: Johannesburg: $AUD 7400 SCUBA Diver,  $AUD 6750 non-diver,  Enquire about child rate
For airfares to and from Africa we suggest you contact Cameron at our Travel Agent:
Harvey World Travel – Tuncurry NSW - Licence number: 2TA 5683 / 2TA 5684

Cost ex Livingstone: $AUD 7375

Non - Diver AUD $6725

To find out more about this exciting new trip, email us at ron@diveforster.com.au.

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