Safari by Water & Land: Zimbabwe, Namibia & Botswana

After you enroll, we’ll ask you to provide or update your personal information and preferences, which includes your health information, lodging and meal preferences for your program.

A signed liability waiver is required before travel by the program provider (EXPLORE, Inc); this form is found at the back of the first informational mailing. During the program, you will be asked to sign indemnity waivers on-site at the safari lodges; examples of these are included in the first informational mailing. Road Scholar participants enrolling in this program are also subject to the Zambezi Queen cruise company’s terms and conditions of carriage, which include an assumption of risk agreement, waiver of liability, and other important information regarding your rights and obligations. The Zambezi Queen’s terms and conditions of carriage will be provided in pre-program materials, and participants are encouraged to carefully review them in advance of the program. US passports need a minimum of 5 blank visa pages for this program (NOTE: blank visa pages, not the amendment/endorsement pages at the back); Canadian passports need a minimum of 7 blank pages. The visa for Zimbabwe is included in the program cost and will be purchased for you when you enter the country. The visa for Namibia is not included in the program and should be obtained in advance, either applying directly online or using Passport Visas Express.

A passport is required for this program. It must be valid for at least 6 months after your return date.

This information about travel documents pertains to participants holding U.S. passports. Non-U.S. citizens should refer to their country's requirements to ensure they have the necessary documentation for travel.

Botswana

• Your passport must have 1 blank passport page(s) for entry/exit visas in this country.

• A travel visa is not required

• The cost of this visa is not included in the cost of your trip.

South Africa

• Your passport must have 2 blank passport page(s) for entry/exit visas in this country.

• A travel visa is not required

• The cost of this visa is not included in the cost of your trip.

Please note: You must have two blank visa pages in your passport, plus one blank visa page each for every other country visited on the trip, to gain entry to South Africa.

Zimbabwe

• Your passport must have 2 blank passport page(s) for entry/exit visas in this country.

• A travel visa is required and it must be obtained in advance.

• This visa is included in the cost of your trip.

• You’ll receive detailed information about your required entry documents in the information packet we send after you enroll.

Please note: The Zimbabwe visa is included in your program cost and will be paid on your behalf when you cross into the country. However, the immigration form for Zimbabwe must be filled out electronically in advance of the trip. Step-by-step instructions are provided in your informational packets. Please contact EXPLORE (Program Provider) with any questions; email: roadscholar.programs@exploreinc.com or phone: 800-303-6002.

Namibia

• Your passport must have 3 blank passport page(s) for entry/exit visas in this country.

• A travel visa is required and it must be obtained in advance.

• The cost of this visa is not included in the cost of your trip.

• Your visa can be secured electronically. You may use the services of our designated visa service, Passport Visa Express, please see details on the process and the price at Passport Visa Express. If you prefer you may secure your electronic visa on your own, see the notes below for details.

Please note: As of 1 April 2025, Americans and Canadians will need an entry visa for Namibia. The cost is N$1,600 per person (approximately US$90). Step-by-step instructions on how to obtain the visa yourself online in advance will be provided in the final trip materials, or you can choose to work with Passport Visas Express to process the application. Cost can be paid using a Visa or MasterCard. Visa can also be obtained upon arrival at the Namibian border, but obtaining online in advance is strongly recommended to avoid lengthy delays at the border crossing.

Malaria does occur in southern Africa. It is essential that you consult your health care professional as to which medications are recommended against malaria. They will probably suggest a prophylactic course of one of the anti-malarial drugs, which may need to be started two weeks prior to departure. For this reason, you should consult with your doctor well in advance of your departure. Tell your physician that you will spend 12 days in malarial areas. Your travel doctor may recommend other vaccinations besides malaria precautions - any vaccinations are your personal preference on if you would like to get them or not. If you are doing any pre-program travel in a Yellow Fever infected country, such as Kenya (amongst others), then proof of Yellow Fever vaccination will be required upon entry in South Africa; if you are simply flying to South Africa from the USA or Europe, then Yellow Fever proof is not needed. Since game drives can be bumpy, pack motion sickness medication if you are sensitive. If you have any unusual prescriptions, carry a letter from your physician explaining your need for the drug. Make sure your medication supply will be sufficient to last the entire trip. Avoiding scented bath products will deter bugs, but if you are allergic to bee stings or other insect bites be sure to bring a sufficient supply of antidote. Safari camps will have basic first-aid kits for minor medical needs. In case of more serious matters, evacuation to a hospital will be arranged. Contact EXPLORE, Inc. with questions or concerns.

If Road Scholar is arranging your air travel to and from the program, and you travel on the scheduled start and end dates, you’ll receive free round-trip transfers from the airport to the hotel.

Arrival day is on November 7, 2026

Meet the group at Sunrock Guesthouse in Johannesburg

Start of Trip:  2:00 p.m. hotel check-in; 7:00 p.m. Orientation followed by Welcome Dinner.

Getting to the site: Arrival transfers from Johannesburg O.R. Tambo Airport to the guesthouse in Johannesburg are provided for all participants, including "Program Only Participants;" transfer time is approximately 5 minutes. Transfers are also provided even if arriving early to the program. For Program Only Participants, please be sure to send your international flight details to the Program Provider, EXPLORE, Inc (email: roadscholar.programs@exploreinc.com) for coordination purposes

Your trip ends on: Thursday, November 19, 2026 in Khwai Concession at Sediba Sa Rona

End of Trip: 4:00 p.m. at the O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, after arrival of flight from Maun, Botswana.

Getting to the airport: A group charter flight from the Okavango Delta to Maun Airport is included for everyone. The commercial flight from Maun to Johannesburg is also included in the program price for all participants. Upon arrival at the Johannesburg airport, you connect to international departures; no further ground transfers are needed unless ongoing travel is planned. EXPLORE can help with ongoing travel arrangements if needed.

Information if you are purchasing your own airfare: Arrival airport transfers are provided for all participants in Johannesburg, regardless of booking status and even if arriving early to the program. If you have chosen the Program Only Option (POP option), please be sure to send flight details to the Program Provider (EXPLORE, Inc) so that appropriate airport transfers can be arranged; email flight information to roadscholar.programs@exploreinc.com. Please note the correct start and end dates in Johannesburg when booking your international flights. Contact EXPLORE with any questions. For departure, independent travelers do not need to arrange any separate transfers from the group. The group is transferred from your final lodge to the Maun airport. The flight from Maun, Botswana to Johannesburg is also included for everyone in the program price. Once in Johannesburg, you will connect to international flights home; no further ground transfers are needed unless ongoing travel is planned. EXPLORE can help with extra travel arrangements if interested.