Odyssey Safari

• Odyssey Safaris are fully backed-up safaris – meaning clients can sit back and relax while everything is taken care of.
• We take a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 8 people (special arrangements can be made for larger groups upon request).
• Our minimum age limit is 14 years – there is no maximum age limit but common-sense should be used.
• No previous canoeing experience is necessary, but guests should be reasonably fit and healthy.
• There is no maximum luggage weight, as luggage will be transferred by vehicle from camp to camp.

Animals seen on the trip usually include elephant, buffalo, impala, waterbuck, hippo, crocodile, and plentiful birdlife. Lion, leopard, painted hunting dog etc. are more rarely seen but are certainly in the area. We cannot guarantee plenty of game while on safari, particularly during the green (rainy) season.

As Odyssey Safaris are fully backed-up they are more luxurious than our Explorer (semi-participatory) Safaris. Guests enjoy the services of a fully qualified professional guide who, as well as guiding clients on the Zambezi River, can take clients for guided walks or game drives through National Parks.

Odyssey Safaris do NOT include transfers. Clients are able to charter return flights to Mana Pools National Park to maximise time spent on safari. Commercial flights can be arranged to and from Harare, Kariba, Victoria Falls, Hwange, Lusaka, or Livingstone. Please contact us for assistance booking charter flights or transfers. Alternatively, guests may make their own way to Mana Pools by driving. For all canoe safaris, please arrive by 11:30am at the latest to be able to fit in an afternoon of canoeing.

Additional nights can be added to any safari – for example, start a safari with a Camp Zambezi so you are well rested, before starting a 3-day Mana Shoreline Canoe Safari, or, alternatively, end a canoe safari with a Camp Zambezi, so that you have an extra day to relax on the shores of the Zambezi. Please contact us with any special requests so that Natureways is able to tailor a safari to your needs.

DAILY ROUTINE
Generally, the Odyssey routine is similar to that of an Explorer Canoe Safari, however, with a few deserved luxuries. You will be awakened early, warm water will be placed in a basin outside your tent, while freshly brewed coffee awaits you on the campfire. All will have the opportunity to have something to eat before setting out on safari. There is the option of going for an early morning walk or game drive before breakfast or, for the avid fisherman, there is time to pull out a rod. Odyssey Safaris are tailored to suite the individual. Camp is set up and taken down by our staff to ensure that guests spend as much time as possible doing safari activities or simply enjoying their surroundings.

ABLUTIONS
Natureways Odyssey Safari Camps have no permanent ablution facilities, however camps are served by the luxury of long drop toilets, and, for night-use, all tents have ensuite chemical toilets. Guests can also revel in a luxurious hot shower underneath the star-studded expanse of the African sky.

BACK UP STATUS
All Odyssey Safaris are fully backed up with a Natureways team and 4×4 vehicle. The team will take care of all our guests’ needs and camp chores. During our mobile safaris the camp will be taken down and all equipment and guest luggage will be transferred to the next campsite by vehicle, after guests have left for their day’s activity, be it canoeing or walking.

EQUIPMENT SUPPLIED
All camping equipment is supplied.

Our Odyssey Safaris are true bush camps but offering a little rustic luxury – there is no electricity or plumbing and there are no permanent structures. It is a taste of the way a safari used to be – a truly authentic, African bush experience. Camps are eco-friendly, designed to be erected and dismantled within hours, leaving no trace on the environment.

Natureways has custom-built tents to guarantee guest comfort: they are spacious walk-in style tents supplied with en-suite toilet facilities for night-use and comfortable beds with fresh linen. Stationary camp tents are mosquito-proof with mosquito gauzed roofs so guests can lie in bed and enjoy the night sky. (All our tents have fly sheets to ensure no one gets wet if it does rain! They also provide shade should one want an afternoon sleep).

Odyssey camps are fully equipped with a mobile kitchen run by an experienced bush cook, bar facilities and a dining area with full waiter service.

FOOD
All produce is brought in fresh, and meals are prepared in camp by one of our famed bush cooks. All breads and pastries are freshly baked on the open campfire. Vegetarian or other dietary preferences can be catered to, providing Natureways is advised 14 days prior to the safari.

Breakfast may consist of cereals, yoghurt, muffins, biscuits, pancakes, toast, and jams. On the last day of safari, a full English breakfast will be laid on for clients to enjoy.
Lunch is usually fresh quiche, lasagne or similar with a varied selection freshly baked bread, salads, and cheeses.
Dinners are full 3-course meals with various starters, delicious main courses and sumptuous deserts, accompanied by an imported bottle of wine, all eaten by candlelight under the stars,.

DRINKS
All Odyssey Safaris include a supply of local beers, spirits, imported wines, minerals, cordials, mineral water, tea, and coffee. Drinks are served by our friendly camp staff whilst guests relax. We recommend you contact Natureways with any drink preferences i.e., if a particular brand of local beer is preferred. Clients are also free to bring their own beverages, cooler boxes can be set aside for this purpose. There is no limit to the number of beverages you may bring.

WHAT TO BRING
We recommend you pack the following for your Safari:

• Swimming/bathing costume
• Shorts and T-shirts
• Personal Toiletries
• Canvas shoes or rafting sandals, a comfortable pair of hiking shoes for those on a walking safari
• Hat with a wide brim
• Jacket or sweater for the evenings
• Shirts (including a long sleeved one for sun protection)
• A kikoi (or sarong) to cover your legs to protect them from the sun.
• Torch or flashlight and extra batteries
• Film and spare camera batteries
• Binoculars
• Sunscreen
• Insect repellent
• Socks for winter nights
• Warm clothes to sleep in on winter nights.
• Waterproof bags for personal items
• Money for National Parks Fees as well as identification documents where relevant

Natureways Safaris recommends clients take a course anti malaria medication before travelling to Africa, please consult with your doctor or GP.

Please ensure that you advise us of any medical or dietary requirements at least 14 days before your trip departs.

COSTS INCLUDE

• All transfers from Main Camp – Nyamepi or airstrips are in open 4×4 vehicles, please be advised that roads can be dusty and bumpy.
• All meals – We do cater for dietary preferences, such as vegetarian or diabetic, however we require advance warning – at least 14 days.
• Drinks – Including local beers, spirits, imported wines, minerals, cordials, mineral water, tea, and coffee. Guests are free to bring their own drinks.
• All canoeing equipment – Canoes are two-man, Canadian-style canoes, and the paddles are American Carlisle paddles.
• All camping equipment.
• Professional guide.

PLEASE NOTE THAT COSTS DO NOT INCLUDE NATIONAL PARKS FEES WHICH ARE PAYABLE DIRECTLY TO PARKS EN-ROUTE.
PLEASE CONTACT US FOR THE FEE BEFORE TRAVEL.

THIS ITINERARY IS GUIDELINE AND MAY CHANGE DUE TO UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES i.e., WEATHER CONDITIONS.