Are You Ready For The Adventure Of A Lifetime?

The countdown is on! It’s time to start planning all those little details that will make our OUTbound adventure in Africa even more exciting! Below are a few things to help you make the most of your safari cruise with us. As always, if you have any questions that we haven’t covered, or have a special request, hit us up… either by phone at 916.683.1000 or email us at info@iamOUTbound.com.

Let’s get started!

Flights

Since our African Safari Cruise leaves starts in Johannesburg and we end our tour in Victoria Falls, many OUTbounders are booking a ‘Multi-City’ ticket when looking for flights. The ‘Multi-City’ option can be found on most airline’s websites where you would choose between a one-way or round trip flight or under the ‘Advanced Search’ link. With the ‘Multi-City’ option, you’ll be able to enter your departure airport, arrival in Johannesburg (JNB) and then a departure from Victoria Falls (VFA) back to your original airport. The multi-city option will often be cheaper than purchasing two one-way tickets separately.

The airline you choose is completely up to you. While flights are not included, we’re always happy to help narrow down the best flight options for you. Simply give us a call or send us an email, letting us know where you’ll be flying from, if you have a preferred airline (based on frequent flyer miles or credit card points), and what class of service you typically like to book.

Luggage

Luggage Limitations

Since we’ll be flying on small charter during our safari cruise, be prepared to pack a little lighter than usual.

Our flight from Johannesburg to Kasane is a regularly scheduled flight.

Our flights from Kasane to Kariba and from Kariba to Victoria Falls are both charter flights. Since we will be using private planes to get us from our lodge in Kasane to our ship in Kariba, there are a few restrictions regarding the bags being transported due to the capacity of the planes.

Our luggage must adhere to these regulations:

You will be limited to two (2) checked bags, per person and one (1) carry on or personal item.
Your luggage must not exceed 44lbs (20kg).
Your luggage must not be larger that 23.6” in length x 15.7” in height x 11.8” in width.
Your luggage must be made from soft fabric. Hard-shell suitcases are not accepted.
Luggage with wheels is accepted (a maximum of 2 wheels per bag).

To help with the baggage limitations, laundry service is available during our stay at the lodge in Kasane & also at the Cape Grace Hotel in Cape Town after our safari cruise.

What To Pack

What to Pack for your Safari Adventure!

For our African Safari Cruise, you’ll want to wear mostly neutral colors… browns, tans, whites, light blues and grays are all perfect.

Avoid bright colors like reds or yellows.

Here are our tips for what to bring with you…

A great pair of walking shoes
A light jacket… evenings can get cold at the safari lodge and on our boat while sailing
Bug spray that contains DEET
Binoculars
A pair of comfortable long pants… convertible (zip-off) pants and quick dry fabrics are a good option
Comfortable shorts
Short sleeve t-shirts
Sunscreen
Have a picture of your passport on your phone

The key is to pack light and layers! Remember, we’re a small group out on safari… no need for fancy clothes or dressing to impress.

Travel Tips

Take A Picture!

Before heading out on a big trip, most travelers focus on packing the right clothes, confirming reservations, and making sure your passports are in hand. But seasoned OUTbounders know there’s another small step that can make a big difference in a pinch… snapping a few key photos before you leave home.

These quick snapshots take less than two minutes to capture but can save hours of stress if luggage gets lost, travel apps glitch, or important documents go missing.

Passport and Visas
A clear photo of the main passport page can make it faster to get a replacement at an embassy or consulate if your passport is lost. It’s best to keep this image in a secure, password-protected file or cloud app. Take a picture of each of the country visa stamps or pages you collect along the way too, just in case.

Prescription Medications & Labels
OUTbounders who take medication should take a picture of both your pills and the prescription labels. If your medications get lost or you run out, having the generic drug name on hand can make it much easier to refill while traveling.

Boarding Pass & Travel Documents
Travel apps sometimes glitch, and wifi isn’t always reliable at the airport. A screenshot of your boarding pass ensures it’s available offline when needed. The same goes for any hotel confirmations, train tickets, or tour reservations booked outside of your OUTbound trip.

Luggage Contents
Snapping a photo of everything packed in your suitcase before zipping it shut can be invaluable if your bags are delayed or lost. Airlines and insurance companies often ask for detailed lists of contents when processing a claim. A quick image can serve as proof of what was inside your bags and speed up any claims you might need to make.

As we all know, travel can be unpredictable, but your smartphone camera (something that’s already in your pocket and doesn’t require any extra cost) offers one of the easiest safeguards. Taking a few extra photos before you depart is a small habit that can prevent big headaches… and help you stay calm when plans don’t go exactly as expected.

Hotels

Johannesburg Hotel

For our African Safari Cruise, we’ll be staying at the Hotel 54 on Bath, a 5-star hotel located in a vibrant central district of Johannesburg. This first-class hotel radiates a sophisticated ambience and provides its guests with the utmost level of luxury and service. More information about our Johannesburg hotel is available here:
Hotel 54 on Bath

Here’s the tentative schedule for our first day together…

Arrival at the Hotel 54 on Bath starts at 11:00am
Lunch starts at 12:30pm – 1:00pm
Full Day Tour starts at 2:15pm – 2:30pm
Return to Hotel 54 on Bath at 6:00pm – 6:30pm
Dinner starts at 7:00pm – 7:30pm

Our program will end back at our host hotel for dinner where you’ll be able to get a full night’s sleep before starting out the next morning.

Cape Town Hotel

For those of you joining us on our Cape Town extension, we’ll be staying at the Cape Grace Hotel, a 5-star hotel situated on a private quay between Cape Town’s bustling V&A Waterfront and the tranquil yacht marina. More information about our Cape Town hotel is available here:
Cape Grace Hotel

Here’s the plan for our first day in Cape Town…

Check In at the Cape Grace Hotel starts at 2:00pm
Reception starts at 7:00pm – 8:00pm
Dinner starts at 8:00pm – 10:00pm

We’ll start our Cape Town tour in the morning, heading up to Table Mountain after sleeping in & having breakfast at the hotel.

Visas

Visa Requirements

The only required Visa for Americans or Canadians is for Zimbabwe. These are eVisas paid ahead of our arrival at the Kariba airport. No other visas are required for our trip. OUTbound will purchase a single-entry Zimbabwe visa for everyone in our group upon landing in Victoria Falls. The visa requirements for Zimbabwe are…

Passport valid for a least 6 months from your date of entry
Proof of your return ticket back to the US (or your ticket from Victoria Falls to Cape Town for our pre/post-safari program)
Two (2) blank pages in your passport to fit the required entry visa.

More information is available here:
Victoria Falls & Zimbabwe eVisa Requirements

Vaccinations

Vaccinations & Immunizations

There are no compulsory vaccinations for any of our destinations or countries we are visiting during our African Safari Cruise.

However, it is strongly recommended that you ensure your vaccines for the following Diseases are up-to-date:

Tetanus
Polio
Hepatitis A and B
Diphtheria
Typhoid

It is also recommend that you consult with your General Practitioner regarding an Antimalarial Treatment and a Yellow Fever Vaccine.

Tipping

Tipping Our Hosts

Tipping is the ONLY thing not included with your OUTbound vacation. We never want to dictate anyone’s generosity or decide how much you think YOUR experience with a crew member, waitstaff or tour guide was worth. How much to tip depends on the type of service you receive and your personal experience.

During our trip together, you’ll come into contact with many different servers and hosts. At the end of each day’s guided tour, you’ll have the chance to tip our guide and driver whatever you feel your experience was worth.

A general rule of thumb for tipping the staff at the lodge & on our ship is $10 per day, per person.

However, if your experience warrants something more, then by all means feel free to be as generous as you would like. If you feel that any individual in particular has gone above and beyond in making your experience something extra special, then we encourage you to reach out to them directly and let them know how much you appreciated their service during our time together.

Power Outlets

What Power Converters Will I Need?

For our hotels in South Africa and Zimbabwe, you’ll need a Type M adapter.

The Type M is the plug which has three round pins, like this…

You can find a ton of options on Amazon or other retailers that will include USB, USB-C or Lightening ports for charging your phone, tablet and other devices all at the same time.

Travel Insurance

If we’ve learned anything over these last couple of years, it’s that the world can be an uncertain place at times. While you’re never required to buy travel insurance, it’s a good idea and we recommend all OUTbounders consider protecting your hard-earned vacation money. The price of your coverage will depend on a few factors, including the cost of the trip, what state you live in, how long before the trip departs, and if you have any pre-existing or underlying health conditions, to name a few.

Some reasons why you might buy travel insurance include:

Cancel for Any Reason
Unexpected Work Requirements
Personal or Family Illness

OUTbound does not provide travel insurance. However, we always recommend using a third-party insurance carrier to provide your coverage.

Get Ready African Safari