Most Inspirational Moment
Like others have said, you get inspiring moments daily. Difficult to choose just one but helicopter flight over Victoria Falls was a tick off my bucket list, boat safari in Chobe National Park, elephants & zebra at a waterhole on the road between Kasane & Maun, camping in Okavango Delta with walking safaris, elephants at Elephant Sands Lodge, Nata, walking with rhino in Matobo National Park, family of lions at a kill in Hwange National Park- to name just a few.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Siziba (Ceasar) was fantastic from the moment we met until we left. Humourous, intelligent, knowledgeable, well organised, likeable. He gelled the group together as a 'family', joined us at meals and varied who he sat with/spoke to, knew how to keep us in order with a few kind words if we got too excited, had menus in hand for any stop-offs so we could order in advance, organised any optional trips we wanted to go on, cooked great meals in the Okavango Delta. I also have to mention Trimo, our driver. Also humourous, intelligent, knowledgeable, organised, mixed with us well, always smiling & laughing, and very good at reading the road ahead to ensure we were comfortable when we encountered potholes on the long drives. Ceasar and Trimo made a great team and it showed.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Be open-minded, you may not see everything you want but you will still see and learn a lot.
Take as many small US dollars as you can-- change is scarce. A bank card is very handy and usually accepted.
Pack footwear in a separate bag in your suitcase. You need to take them out at Victoria Falls Airport when you meet the Exodus team. Suitcases go in a trailer, footwear in the bus as they need to be dipped in disinfectant on crossing into Botswana. The bus is a 23 seater inc driver and guide, so plenty of room.
The plug type here is wrong- type D in trip notes which I took but didn't fit. The first lodge (Kwalape Lodge) hired them for a fully refundable deposit and a few of us bought the correct one at the shopping stop off in Maun for 35pulas- approx £2. This stop-off was also where we obtained Botswanian pulas, either from a machine or exchange.
Don't underestimate the cold in June, July, Aug- their winter. Pre-sunrise drives in an open vehicle are freezing! Layer up as it does warm up later though that can vary- lots of cloud = cool, no cloud = hot.
Some of the drives are on long straight roads- mostly good but short stretches with potholes. Have something to do/read if needed. 'Bushy Bushy' will soon be part of your vocabulary i.e. behind the bushes. Ladies and Gents are sent to separate sides of the road/bus.
Take a large towel if you want a shower whilst wild camping. Pillows for the tents are small, hard & uncomfortable- use an alternative e.g. your large towel! A head torch or torch is a must- it's very dark both inside and outside the tent. The bags you are given are ample for 2 for a few days and you can take separate backpacks or camera bags too- mine had a large camera, 4 lenses, travel tripod etc.
Be aware of security checks on transfers at Addis Ababa- one on way there, 2 on way back. On way back maybe just time for a quick drink between the two but no liquid allowed through the check and nowhere to drink after it.
Enjoy yourselves!
