Travel reviews by Mr & Mrs V from Jersey

A variety of experiences!

On this trip, I visited Botswana, South Africa & Zimbabwe between 10-Nov-2011 and 5-Dec-2011 and I travelled with 1 other person.

Time flew past all too quickly! South Africa as expected, although cooler than we would have wished - the electric blankets in Hermanus were most welcome! Botswana, undoubtedly depends on when you visit as far as game viewings are concerned, but based on our experiences we would not return having had better viewing experiences in South Africa, Tanzania and Naminia.

Victoria Falls - the only real problem on our trip. We planned our stay there to include a visit to Zambia, as there is a railway museum in Livingstone we wanted to see. In Botswana there were varying answers as to what Visas would be required. We travelled from Kasane to Victoria Falls with Wilderness.

At the Kazungula Border Post the driver gave us forms to complete and asked for US$ 55 visa fee from each of us. At the immigration counter I asked what Visa we would require as we wished to spend a day in Zambia, and was advised a dual entry Visa. I asked for a dual entry Visa and the Immigration clerk advised I could not have one. I asked why and he replied that such Visas were only issued at his discretion and his discretion was not to give us one. Reasoning did not help and I asked for the head of Immigration - he was at lunch but we waited for his return. I explained the issue, his clerk in the background was laughing throughout, but he said as we by now had the single entry Visa stuck in our passports he could not cancel them. He did however offer to sell us, in addition, dual entry Visas at a cost of US$ 80 each, or whatever. We declined.

I assume that this journey from Kasane to Victoria Falls is operated quite frequently. The driver of the Minibus ( on this occasion Big Boy) should be better informed on the options available beforehand so that such problems do not arise.

Regrettably, this finished our trip on a disappointing note.

I stayed at and have reviewed:

Place	Overall rating
Radisson Blu Hotel Waterfront, South Africa 10-Nov-2011 review: Radisson Blu Hotel Waterfront review	Good
Ocean Eleven, South Africa 16-Nov-2011 review: Ocean Eleven review	Excellent
Le Quartier Francais, South Africa 20-Nov-2011 review: Le Quartier Francais review	Average
City Lodge OR Tambo, South Africa 22-Nov-2011 review: City Lodge OR Tambo review	Good
Kanana, Botswana 23-Nov-2011 review: Kanana review	Good
Shinde Camp, Botswana 26-Nov-2011 review: Shinde Camp review	Good
Muchenje Safari Lodge, Botswana 29-Nov-2011 review: Muchenje Safari Lodge review	Excellent
Victoria Falls Hotel, Zimbabwe 2-Dec-2011 review: Victoria Falls Hotel review	Good