I'm planning a trip to Cape Town then on to Zimbabwe this month. I had planned to see Victoria Falls for one day and then try to travel to Hwange National Park for a few days. However after much
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Cat:Middle East and AfricaForum:0EEAA93A
Cat:Middle East and AfricaForum:0EEAA93ADiscussion:73afe9f3-3212-47e7-b05f-a0be1f3a7b93
I'm planning a trip to Cape Town then on to Zimbabwe this month. I had planned to see Victoria Falls for one day and then try to travel to Hwange National Park for a few days. However after much research, I'm concerned that due to it being the rainy season, I may not be able to see many animals. Should I forget even trying to see the park at this time of year and just spend more time at the falls, or will the river levels at the falls be too high to enjoy kayaking and other activities?
Your conundrum is a common one for travelers to Southern Africa at this time of the year, in that the weather in Cape Town is sublime while the weather further north can be humid and rainy. You are correct in assuming that the Zambezi will be at a high level, thus requiring all white water rafting activities to start further downstream from the Falls. Rafting at this time of the year can actually be a bit more dangerous than at low water, due to the speed of the water. Having said that, it can sometimes be regarded as the safer time to raft as the water is so high that there are very few rapids that pose a danger of knocking you out of your raft. The power of the mighty Zambezi is breathtaking at this time of the year. Canoeing, which is conducted upstream from the Falls, offers the opportunity to see wildlife on the riverbanks. As this is the wet season, you are again correct in assuming that there usually isn't as much wildlife to see as there is plenty of water elsewhere besides the river. Mind you, this is a great time to see birdlife, as a direct result of the increase in insect life due to the rains. The adventure activity operators in Victoria Falls are some of the best in the world and have survived all of Zim's internal problems due to their creativity, enthusiasm, and above all else, their professionalism. If this is the only time that you can get to the Falls, then I say go for it and have some fun on the river...you'll still have a great time as the operators are used to dealing with the variable weather seasons. This also rings true, I believe, for a visit to Hwange. It often depends on the ability of your guide, but you should still be able to see some great wildlife in Hwange, including the afore-mentioned birdlife. Again, I say that if this is the only time that you'll be in the region, then I say go visit the park and absorb it in its 'greenest' finery.
Thanks so much for your advice. I'm actually not much into bird watching ... really wanted to see the "big" animals. Is there a way I can learn in advance about the ability of any particular guide?
Depending on whether you are hiring your own private guide or booking within a group tour, it's a bit difficult to know in advance as to who your guide will be. If you wish, I can enquire about the availability of a good tour and/or a good guide? I would need to know roughly when you would like to go to Hwange National Park. I can also enquire as to the quality of recent "big" animal sightings within the park. Should you then wish to proceed further, then I will advise you of the company/guide's contact details and you can deal with them directly. No worries however, if you'd rather look into this by yourself.
Thank you so much. I arrive in Livingstone on the 20th and leave the afternoon of the 24th so I was looking for something only a day or maybe two at most to probably get just an overview.
Since I'm traveling alone I'd prefer to meet up with a group but due to time constraints, if I need to hire a private guide, I can do that too. Yes, I would greatly appreciate your help in both knowing of the quality of recent big animal sightings as well as information on a quick tour or private guide. Your help is greatly appreciated.
Sorry for the late response, as I've been waiting for replies to my enquiries to friends in the Falls. Everyone is telling me that the sightings within Hwange aren't so great at the moment, as the park has received a bit of rain and the wildlife has spread out and away from the permanent waterholes. A few of my friends have subsequently questioned whether it's worth having to pay for an entry visa into Zimbabwe just to go to Hwange, considering you arrive into Livingstone and will have already had to pay for a Zambian entry visa. Hwange is around 2.5 hours' drive from the Falls, thus meaning a round trip of 5 hours just to get there and back. Having said all this, I still stand by my earlier comment that a good guide should still be able to find you some exciting wildlife to view. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find anyone that is willing and able to guide you from Livingstone or Victoria Falls to Hwange. If you're still keen to get to Hwange, I suggest contacting the fine folk at The Hide (located within Hwange NP) to see if they can organize/recommend a guide and/or operator to take you to Hwange. Their email address is corrie@thehide.co.zw. Cyndee, I'd like to mention two alternative options that may interest you: 1. Perhaps a day/overnight trip from Livingstone to Kasane/Chobe (Botswana) might be better? Granted, the wildlife will also have spread out a bit in Chobe National Park due to the rains, but at least you have the option of both land- and water-based viewing. Another plus is the lack of a visa fee to enter Botswana. I'm sure your accommodation establishment at the Falls will be able to organize this for you. 2. A "rhino walk' within the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, which lies on the Zambian side of the Falls and Zambezi river. The white rhinos that reside within this park are heavily guarded and monitored, which results in a high percentage of sightings (on foot) for visitors. There's only one or two operators that are licensed to provide this activity. I recommend my friend Tony Simpson of Bwaato Adventures, whose email is bwaato@zamnet.zm.
Apologies again for the late response, so close to your departure. Cape Town is currently bathing in summer sunshine.
Thank you so much. I leave the states tomorrow evening so this arrived just in time. I think I will take your advice and forget Hwange. I would hate to ride 5 hours and pay the additional entry fee and then not really see anything. I will try for Botswana instead. Again, your advice has helped so much. This is my "trip of a lifetime" and with your help, I'm certain it will live up to my expectations.
One final piece of local knowledge...although we are currently bathed in sunshine in Cape Town, there is also a fair bit of wind around the city and Table Mountain. The cablecar that transports hundreds of visitors up to the top of Table Mountain every day, ceases operation when there are strong winds. Should you be planning to use the cablecar to get up the mountain, then be sure to take the opportunity whenever the cablecar is operating (i.e. the wind factor is minimal). Too many visitors don't make this a priority upon their arrival and subsequently miss out on getting up the mountain because the cablecar isn't working when they finally decide to go.
Cyndee, I was just in Zimbabwe in November. I took a day trip into Botswana to Chobe National Park, it was fantastic lots of animals and I even ran into and took pics with Jack Hanna who filming a new series while I was there. If you to Vic Falls also try to do the lion walk, best experience ever. Look up lionalert.org. You actually get to walk and pet lions ....Loved It!!! You can do both in the same day, Chobe is an all day event, land first half then on the river the second half or in reverse. I loved it so much I can't wait to go back again. Enjoy! See my pics of Africa on my Facebook pics, Sandra Montemayor( Houston, Texas)
Trip was simply amazing. Started out in Livingston and stayed at the Jolly Boys backpacker hostel/hotel. Was really cheap and the rooms were each an individual cute little bungalo. But had to walk through the garden to get to the bath house ... plus the water went out 2 times in the 3 days I was there so couldn't recommend. There is an excellent Italian restaurant just around the corned though that had incredible food and all of their profits go to help orphaned children. I'm so sorry that I don't remember the name though.
Went to Vic Falls. Breathtaking and very, very wet. I had a disposable personal tarp thing I had brought along but still got soaked. Word of caution... I was walking along a trail where the path divided and some guy came up and said we worked with the park and I was going the wrong way. I had unknowingly just obeyed a "self appointed" guide who I couldn't seem to ditch no matter how many times I protested saying, I'd really like to walk alone. And yes, he did ask for money at the end. Gave him about a dollar and a snarl and was off. Then took a evening river "booze cruise" the first night. Had I realized that my Chobe trip included the river, I would have skipped the evening cruise as due to the rainy season couldn't see much and the "booze" was such cheap crap that after one sip I wouldn't drink it.
Next day set out to Chobe as you all recommended. THANK YOU! That was a day trip of a life-time and close enough to Livingston that the to/from travel didn't take most of the day as other parks might have. Spotted a herd of about 50 elephants drinking & bathing at the shore while on the boat portion ... we were less than 25 feet from them. Just amazing. Lots of hippos, crocks, iguanas, giraffes, water buffalo, elephants ... but no cats on my trip. Group the day before had seen them though. Chobe is not to be missed.
Following day was the absolutely most thrilling part of the trip ... white water rafting. Had an absolute blast. Note of caution ... don't even attampt if you have knee problems. The path/ladder from the top to the raft landing is about a mile straight down and takes a bit of stamina and excellent knees as you are walking down the ladder steps rather than climbing down like a normal ladder.
Then I flew back to Cape Town. Here I stayed at the Parliment Hotel. I can't recommend that place enough. Staff was incredibly helpful. Rooms were clean and mine had recently been re-decorated. On my last day, I didn't need to be at the airport until 4 pm but check-out was at 11AM. I had been shopping that early afternoon and returned to retrieve my suitcases all hot, sweaty and feeling a little faint ... they actually took me to a cleanly made up room to take a shower & rest and brought a huge pitcher of water with lemon to my room until it was time to leave for the airport. Oh, and they have an excellent and free breakfast buffet for guests with eggs cooked any way you like them. I think the rate was less than $80.00 per night.
In Cape Town, the first day I did the hop on/hop off red bus. I thought that was a very good value as it helped me get my bearings. Disappointed that it was too windy that day to go to the top of Table Mountain ... then the next day when it was open ... I had a previously scheduled Cape Tour so didn't get to the top. The Cape Tour was one I had booked in advance before I left the states. It covered some of the same route the much cheaper Red Bus tour did but then went to a very short 5 minute stop at an ostrich farm, on to a harbor where I took the boat out to see the seal island ... on to Cape Hope and the little tram up to the top, then on to see the penguins and finally the botanical garden. It was an okay tour but if I had it to do over again, I think I would have been smarter to have rented a car and set my own pace. Thought it was really too expensive for what I saw ... plus because it's a pre-planned tour ... we didn't get to see a winery even though everyone on the bus wanted to stop rather than do the botanical garden of which I wasn't that impressed. V&A waterfront was a fun morning just to window shop, enjoy the street bands and have lunch. Spent and afternoon at the District 6 museum ... had never heard of District 6 but now I'll never forget it. Enjoyed a day shopping for crafts ... which were priced cheaper in Cape Town than in Livingston which did suprise me. Took the tour to Robyn Island, which was well worth the price.
All in all, it was simply too short. Just one vacation I did not want to leave to come home. Thank you for all your wonderful suggestions. It made planning so much easier.
Brilliant Cyndee, I'm glad you had some quality wildlife viewing on the Chobe River plus also encountered some true South African hospitality. Cape Town sometimes suffers from a low standard of work ethic in service and delivery, and it makes me happy to read that the staff of the Parliament Hotel bucked that trend. I'm sorry your Southern African experience included the almost inevitable faux-guide (at the Falls) and I'm glad you sent him on his way with a snarl :-). Times are still very tough for the average Zimbabwean. All in all, it sounds like you had a great time and have been touched by Mother Afrika...as she touches everyone. Both she and I will patiently await your inevitable return one day.
The Parliment service was amazing. The have a special cab company they call that is extremely competitive and the service is faster as the cab driver knows that if you are unhappy he has more than simply one tourist that he will lose. Any time I asked for water in my room ... they brought an entire pitcher with lemons or other fruit on top. On day they gave me directions to a restaurant. I came back to the hotel ... LOST ... within 5 minutes ... they had one of the baggage carriers personally escort me the 6 or so blocks. I can't remember when I've had such service. In fact, everyone on the street was extremely friendly and helpful
Only complaint was that the WiFi in my room was sporadic but they advised that they were bringing in new wireless adapters for better coverage for the entire hotel (and WiFi will still be free) and for now they have a computer in the lobby to connect.
And yes, I WILL return. :-) Thanks again for all the help I received from all here.
