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About this trip
Join Walker Wellness Retreats on this 8-night/9-day all-inclusive luxury adventure to Africa! We will visit South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Botswana. From the time we pick you up at the airport, everything will be taken care of. All transportation, meals, and activities are included.
The great part about visiting South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Botswana during July is that it is winter there, which means there are very few to no bugs!
Please note that everything is entirely optional. The itinerary is subject to change due to weather. This retreat is a little more active as we will be moving from place to place. We cover a lot of land, but we hope to provide you with a nice mixture of relaxation and excursions. Please also note that the retreat officially starts on the first day of the welcome dinner and ends after breakfast on the last day.
Helpful Information
All travelers need a visa to enter Zimbabwe. Visas are issued on arrival (VoA) at the respective point of entry and vary in length depending on the traveler's needs. All travelers must obtain visas at the port of entry, as currently, there is no option of obtaining a visa through the Zimbabwean Embassy.
You do not need a visa for South Africa or Botswana at this time.
No vaccines are mandatory, but please review the suggested vaccines at least six weeks before your trip's departure.
The best thing to do is to book an appointment at your local travel clinic and tell them you are going to South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Botswana and which vaccines they feel you should get.
They recommend Hep A and B, Malaria ( though you are going in winter, so less of a risk for sure), Typhoid, and Yellow Fever ( you are good for life once you get this one).
It's good to have rabies, meningitis, mumps and rubella (MMR), Tdap, pneumonia, and influenza. Your primary care doctor or your local travel clinic can tell you which vaccines you've already had and which ones you need.
Please make sure your passport has at least three empty pages and is valid for at least six months after you return from your trip.
USD can be accepted, but please make sure you have new, crisp bills with no imperfections so they can be accepted.
If you would like to extend your stay in Africa, Walker Wellness Retreats can assist you. Please contact Amy Walker at amy@walkerwellnessretreats.com to review your options. After this retreat, we will be going to Rwanda and Uganda.
Game Drives at Senalala Safari Lodge
During our stay at Senalala Safari Lodge, guests can enjoy twice-daily game drives (approximately 3 hours long) in open safari vehicles that offer unobstructed views in all directions. The first game drive leaves soon after sunrise, with a stop for coffee or tea and a snack in the bush. The second game drive departs in the late afternoon with a stop for sun-downers, where guests can watch the sunset over the African horizon. After the sun sets, we continue with a drive back to the lodge aided by a spotlight for night sightings.
The animals roam free, and we get to view them in this open habitat. In exceptional circumstances, vehicles will go off-road for unusual sightings, providing guests with a unique safari experience to get close to Africa’s wildlife.
Packing List
What should I bring with me to Africa?
- Casual, comfortable clothes are key. The morning and afternoon game drives will be colder than you think, so please bring warm clothing.
- Bring your own shampoo and conditioner. The shampoo throughout Africa is not great and its very hard to find shampoo.
- Wear clothes in khaki, green, beige, and neutral colors. We suggest keeping to light, neutral colors, but not white—it will get dirty and dusty very quickly.
- Long-sleeved shirts that offer protection from the sun and mosquitoes
- T-shirts
- Flip flops for walking around or using the pool
- Bathing suit
- Poncho for the falls
- Jeans or safari trousers for evenings and cooler days
- Jackets and sweaters for early morning and late afternoon game drives
- A lightweight waterproof jacket in case of rain
- During the day, it can be warm, so our advice is to pack loose, lightweight layers in natural fabrics such as linen, bamboo, and cotton that will keep you cool and are easier to wash and dry.
- A wide-brimmed safari hat to protect your face and neck.
- Long trousers and long-sleeved tops are best, as they protect you from the harsh sun during the day and mosquitoes at night.
- Take comfy, practical footwear for daytime—the roads are dusty and uneven—and make sure you have sturdy, closed-in walking shoes or trainers for trekking in the bush.
- Sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, insect repellent, moisturizer, and lip salve.
- Binoculars and camera equipment.
- Leave your valuables and expensive jewelry at home. You really won't need them.
- A pashmina or sarong is a versatile item that you can use for sun protection or to 'glam' up the simplest of outfits if you feel like a change.
- Power converter – a universal converter can be purchased from Amazon.
- Please backlight. The small planes we will take have weight restrictions. A soft-sided rucksack is more practical than a hard suitcase—it's easier to fit into small planes or transfer vehicles. Using packing cubes can also help keep your belongings tidy while compressing the volume.
- Use a portable phone charger to boost your battery when out and about—you don't want to miss that great photo opportunity!
- Do not pack valuables in your checked bag.
- Please consult with your doctor or local travel clinic at least six weeks before your adventure to Africa to find out what medications and vaccinations are best for you.
- Please visit https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/Africa to review safe travel tips and other information related to the country you will be visiting in Africa.
- Please bring a credit card, debit card, and around $100-$200 in cash for emergencies. You can take out money at the ATM when you arrive, and it will be in local currency. This is an all-inclusive retreat, but you will need money for small purchases and personal tipping.
- Please bring small bills in USD for personal tipping. USD is accepted.
Meet Your Host
Amy Walker, MSW, LCSW, CCM, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Owner of Walker Wellness Retreats. Amy started Walker Wellness Retreats in 2016 due to her love for travel and helping others experience the world. When Amy is not leading international retreats, she works as an online mental health therapist. Amy is passionate about helping individuals and couples work through barriers and find new ways to communicate, connect, and thrive. In addition, Amy loves international travel, wine tasting, whale watching, and the outdoors. Amy works alongside her husband, Brian Walker, to run Walker Wellness Retreats.
Amy has a love for traveling to Africa and has led 6 group travel trips to Africa and counting!
To meet more of the Walker Wellness Retreats team, visit the About Us page on our website.
Payment & Cancellation Policy
If you cancel your trip before the 90-day deadline, 25% of the total trip price is non-refundable, as are any airfare, train tickets, or ferry tickets purchased as part of your trip package due to the strict cancellation policy by foreign carriers (if applicable).
Trip cancellations requested after the final payment deadlines listed above are non-refundable, and guests are encouraged to file a claim with their travel insurance for reimbursement.
In the unlikely event Walker Wellness Retreats cancels the retreat, guests will be provided a full 100% refund of their booking.
Lastly, we partner with several third-party booking platforms that have separate deposit and cancellation policies. If you book through a third-party partner, please refer to their specific cancellation policies.
Questions about refunds or cancellations? Click here to view our payment and cancellation policy.
The deadline to book an international retreat is 30 days before the retreat begins; however, some exceptions can be made based on availability. Please email us at contact@walkerwellnessretreats.com to inquire about booking after the deadline has passed.
What’s included
- Accommodations9 days/8 nights in luxurious accommodations
- Airport TransfersPick-up and drop-off at O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB)
- Airfare during retreatEconomy flights between Johannesburg, Hoedspruit, and Victoria Falls
- MealsAll meals and drinks during the retreat
- TransportationAll transportation during the retreat
- ExcursionsPrivate excursions with a local guide
- GratuityGratuities for tour guides, restaurant staff, and drivers
- Game DrivesTwice-daily game drives while staying in South Africa
- Elephant EncounterGet up close and personal with elephants
- Victoria FallsMarvel at Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe on a tour of the falls
- Chobe National ParkSpot a plethora of wildlife in this surreal national park in Botswana
- Zambezi River CruiseZambezi River Cruise
- Boma DinnerBoma Dinner in Victoria Falls
- Retreat GiftTote Bag
What’s not included
- International AirfareAirfare to and from Johannesburg, South Africa
- Additional ItemsSouvenirs, drinks, snacks, additional excursions, or other personal items
- Additional GratuityGratuities of a personal nature (hotel staff, spa services, etc.)
- Alcoholic BeveragesAdditional alcoholic beverages enjoyed outside of Senalala Lodge
- InsuranceTravel insurance and medical insurance (required)
- Travel FeesAny travel-related fees (visas, passports, baggage, etc.)
- VisaVisa on arrival for Zimbabwe $30-$45
Available Packages
Double occupancy includes a private bedroom and private bathroom for 2 people.
Helpful hints: If you have two people who would like to share a room, select 2 Double Occupancy packages. If you are traveling alone but want to be paired with another solo traveler, select 1 Double Occupancy package. If you are traveling alone and want your own room, select 1 Single Occupancy package below.
Solo occupancy includes a private bedroom and private bathroom for 1 person.
Helpful hints: If you are traveling alone but want to share a room with another traveler, select 1 Double Occupancy package above. If you are booking for two people who would like to share a room, select 2 Double Occupancy packages above.
Available options
Want more of South Africa? Enjoy a 4-day/3-night extension in Cape Town (see trip description for more details).
This is for an extra night at the hotel in Johannesburg before the retreat starts.
Airfare from Johannesburg to Cape Town
Itinerary
Welcome to South Africa! Here you start your luxury African safari adventure!
You will be picked up from O.R. Tambo International Airport and taken to your hotel for the evening. The retreat does not officially start until the welcome dinner at the hotel.
7:00 PM - Orientation and dinner as a group at the hotel.
Overnight at the Protea Hotel O.R. Tambo Airport. Just a short 6 minute drive from the airport.