Luxury Wildlife Safari to Botswana, South Africa and Victoria Falls in Zambia

August 25-September 4, 2008

Faculty: To Be Announced
Price: $6,995 per person, double occupancy, land only
International Air Cost: Approx: $1,700 form Washington D.C. or New York plus taxes

Registration is Open

Overview

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Program Highlights

• See Victoria Falls, one of the seven natural wonders of the world, as it plunges more than 300 feet into a chasm that separates Zimbabwe from Zambia.
• Take a sundowner cruise along the Zambezi River and watch hippos, elephants, monkeys and colorful birds.
• Experience elephants at Chobe National Park, where you may see as many as 1,000 of these magnificent animals during a two-hour wildlife drive.
• Visit an authentic native village, whose culture and way of life has remained virtually unchanged for centuries.
• Have the opportunity to view buffalo, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, hippo, crocodile, cheetah, lion, and hyena, as well as hundreds of fascinating bird species.

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Accommodations

• Airport Sun Intercontinental Hotel - Near Johannesburg attractions, the hotel offers a health and fitness center, indoor pool, spa services, 24-hour room service, and a first-class restaurant.
• Pom Pom Tented Camp - This 18-bedded safari camp is designed in the style of safari camps of old, for the safari traditionalist. Overlooking a scenic lagoon, it is built under a grove of shady trees and its nine large walk-in tents are equipped with en suite showers and flush toilets. The bathrooms are enclosed but roofless - for a true bush experience. There is no electricity in the camp. Instead, paraffin lamps give a wonderfully warm atmosphere.
• Chobe Safari Lodge - Chobe Lodge is spread along the lush banks of the Chobe River. Our rooms facing the river feature air conditioning as well as the convenience of telephone, television, and large en suite bathrooms. The crowning touch, however, is the deck that each room offers, which allows leisurely viewing along the riverbanks. Lunch and dinner are served in a braai buffet style around the pool area overlooking the river, with a selection of local treats as well as exotic game dishes.
• Royal Livingstone Hotel - This five-star resort hotel is located within the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park and enjoys prospects over the Zambezi River and Victoria Falls. The bedrooms are two-story clusters inspired by the grand estate houses of a bygone era. Each air-conditioned room has a private balcony and terrace that offers spectacular views of the great river and beyond. The a la carte restaurant serves a range of exquisite delicacies from around the world.
• Marataba Lodge - Located beneath the Waterberg Mountains, Marataba is an unfenced, malaria-free, 57,000-acre private game lodge, and is the first luxury lodge to be built in the area. Designed to blend into the environment, it is constructed of indigenous stone, sand, and soil with water flowing around it and offering vast vistas through glass walls. Accommodation is in 12 air-conditioned tented suites with beautiful stone bathrooms and outdoor shower decks overlooking the superb plains below. Gourmet cuisine with fresh African flavors is served in the elegant dining room, on the verandah, or under the glorious African sky in the boma. As temperatures rise in Limpopo, guests can cool off in the crystal clear pool.
• Radisson Waterfront Hotel (Cape Town extension) - The Radisson is spectacularly situated on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean overlooking its own private marina and the famous Robben Island. This first-class international hotel combines high levels of luxury with efficient service and the warmth of true South African hospitality. Relax on the pool terrace with a refreshing drink or take a dip in the sparkling swimming pool. Each of the 182 guestrooms and suites is equipped with modern amenities such as direct dial telephones, satellite television, coffee-making facilities, Internet access, and mini-bar.

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Meals

• Breakfast daily and other meals as specified in itinerary.

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Faculty

U.Va. Faculty To Be Announced.

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Itinerary

Day 1 - New York or Washington D.C. En Route

If you are participating in the group flight, your journey begins as you board a South African Airways flight. Enjoy excellent in-flight service on the overnight flight to Johannesburg.
(Meals aloft)

Day 2 - Johannesburg

Upon arrival at the Johannesburg International Airport today, we will be met and escorted to our hotel. Often called Jo'burg, Johannesburg is the country's largest city and its financial center, with ultra-modern skyscrapers and a bustling way of life. It is the city of gold, as its claim to fame is the gold that was discovered close by. A great, relaxing place to begin our journey into South Africa's capital city, the Airport Sun Intercontinental Hotel is near many attractions. The restaurants are open until the early hours of the morning, and there is a pool, as well as golf, tennis, and an IMAX cinema nearby.
Airport Sun Intercontinental Hotel
(Meals aloft)

Days 3 & 4 - Maun, Botswana / Okavango Delta / Moremi Reserve

Today we fly to Maun, Botswana, where we will board light aircraft for our flight to one of the world's most distinctive regions, the Okavango Delta - the earth's largest inland water system. Its headwaters start in Angola's western highlands, with numerous tributaries joining to form the Cubango River, which then flows through Namibia (where it is known as the Kavango) and finally enters Botswana, where it is called the Okavango. Millions of years ago the Okavango River used to flow into a large inland lake called Lake Makgadikgadi (now Makgadikgadi Pans). Tectonic activity and faulting interrupted the flow of the river, causing it to back up and form what is now the Okavango Delta. This has created a unique system of waterways that now supports a vast array of animal and plant life that would have otherwise been a dry Kalahari savannah.

Our next two nights will be spent at Pom Pom Camp, located in the heart of the Okavango in a private concession to the west of the Moremi Game Reserve. Pom Pom offers great Okavango scenery with game drives, night drives, walks, and mokoro (dugout canoe) safaris. Our days here will be full of adventure - buffalo, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, and all the big predators can be seen. If we are lucky, some of the nocturnal animals such as serval, civet, and genet may be encountered on night drives in open four-wheel-drive vehicles. Hippo and crocodile are found in the deeper lagoons in the area. Birding enthusiasts will perhaps enjoy sightings of Pell's Fishing Owl, African Fish Eagle, Giant Eagle Owl, and White-Backed Vulture.
Pom Pom Tented Camp
(B, L, D Daily)

Days 5-7 - Chobe National Park

We travel to Chobe National Park where we'll spend the next three days viewing wildlife. World renowned for its wildlife, Chobe is a symbol for much that is unusual, exciting, and interesting in Botswana. It is the second largest park in Botswana and the first declared national park. It covers a wide variety of country: riverine forest, floodplain, periodic marsh, mopane and miombo woodland, and a few rocky outcrops. Such a diversity of habitats implies a wide variety of wildlife, ranging from water animals such as hippo, crocodile, otter, and fish, to forest and dry land species such as elephant, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, and eland. In all areas predators abound - lion, leopard, cheetah, and hyena are plentiful. In the open grasslands of the pans, one can find the rare oribi and occasional reedbuck. Puku, an antelope associated with this park, can often be seen in herds around the edge of the river. The Chobe River is also well known for its magnificent bird viewing, with over 400 different species, ranging from eagles to kingfishers and from Marabou Storks to bee-eaters. There are over 90 species of fish in the local waters.

A major feature of Chobe National Park is its abundance of elephant, which are often seen at the riverfront bathing in the water. Vast numbers of elephant come down to drink in the late afternoons, and it is possible to see as many as 1,000 of these magnificent animals in a two-hour wildlife drive. The Chobe elephant compose part of what is probably the largest surviving continuous elephant population, covering most of northern Botswana and northwestern Zimbabwe. Botswana's elephant population is currently estimated at around 120,000, which has built up steadily from a few thousand in the early 1900s and has escaped the massive illegal off-take that caused serious population declines in the 1970s and 1980s. These elephants are migratory, making seasonal movements of up to 124 miles from the Chobe and Linyanti rivers, where they concentrate in the dry season, to the pans in the southeast of the park, where they disperse in the rains. The elephants in this area have the distinction of being the largest in body size of all living elephants.
Chobe Safari Lodge
(B, D daily)

Days 8 & 9 - Livingstone / Victoria Falls, Zambia

Today's drive takes us to Victoria Falls. At more than twice the size of Niagara Falls it's no surprise that Victoria Falls is among the seven wonders of the world. Mosi-oa-Tunya - The Smoke that Thunders, derived from the towering column of spray when the Zambezi River runs high - is the name that Zimbabwe's local people have given to this natural phenomenon. Five separate falls make up this incredible spectacle that plunges more than 300 feet into a sheer-sided chasm separating Zimbabwe from Zambia. The awe-inspiring abyss is spanned by a 1905 Edwardian bridge that links the two countries and that many adventurers now use to bungee jump. The masses of water plunging down the falls and into the gorge below originate from the mighty Zambezi River, which meanders through more than 1,700 miles of African countryside.

Our visit will include a tour of the falls on the Zambian side. During an afternoon sundowner cruise on a private boat, we will glide along the Zambezi River watching hippos snort, elephants drink on the riverbank, monkeys jump from branch to branch, birds fly overhead or pose for a photograph on the branches, and much more. See a panoramic sunset as the sun dips below the horizon, painting the whole area in unbelievable shades of brilliant reds, yellows, purples, and mauves.

We'll also get a chance to visit an authentic native village to see how the local people live. We will be escorted by an English-speaking village guide, and see a culture and ways of life that have remained virtually unchanged through the ages. View their daily rituals, from the women cooking and mending their huts, to the artistic woodcarvings created right in front of us by the village artisans. We are welcome to mingle and take photographs. Long after we've left, this cultural visit will remain with us, as we experience a different part of Africa, essential to understanding the complexity of this continent.
The Royal Livingstone
(B Daily)

Days 10 & 11 - Livingstone / Johannesburg / Waterberg

Today we transfer to Johannesburg via Livingstone. We continue to the Waterberg District, located in the heart of the Bushveld, full of low mountain ranges and escarpments. It has been inhabited for thousands of years by many different tribes including the Bapedi, Tswana, and Basotho and is one of the most significant San Rock Art areas in South Africa. The history of this area is so rich that artifacts dating back to the Stone Age have been excavated here.

Nestled within the Waterberg area is Marakele National Park. Due to its location between the dry western and wet eastern regions of South Africa, Marakele National Park is considered a sanctuary for various types of wildlife. Marakele is home to rare plant species, such as yellowwood and cedar trees, the "Big Five" of Africa, and the largest population of the endangered Cape Vulture. Many antelope species as well as several primate species also reside in the park. The major predators found here are the cheetah, lion, and spotted hyena. For birders, Marakele is home to many bird species including Southern and Crimson-breasted Boubou, Whitebrowed and Kalahari Robin, Jackal Buzzard, and Brown and Black-breasted Snake Eagle, just to name a few.
Marataba Lodge
(B, L, D Daily)

Day 12 - Johannesburg / En Route

We'll enjoy a last morning to discover the amazing wildlife before driving back to Johannesburg for our overnight flight back to New York or Washington D.C. on South African Airways.
(B, meals aloft)

Day 13 - New York or Washington D.C.

This morning we land in New York or Washington D.C. bringing with us the memories of all the wonderful sights of southern Africa.
(Meals aloft)

Optional Extension to Capetown

Day 1 - Johannesburg / Capetown

We have a last chance to photograph the incredible wildlife before driving back to Johannesburg. We fly to Cape Town, South Africa's "Mother City," where we are escorted to our hotel. The provincial capital, Cape Town, is a sophisticated city with plenty to see and do, particularly around the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront area, where delightful buildings of the Cape Dutch and Victorian-era architecture have been restored as shops, restaurants, museums, and pubs, and the busy water traffic of the docks goes on unabated. The Aquarium is within easy walking distance from our hotel and is well worth a visit.
Radisson Waterfront Hotel
(B)

Day 2 - Capetown

A luxury motor coach takes us on a breathtaking coastal drive to the Cape of Good Hope. We are surrounded by spectacular mountains, rugged shorelines, and the blue sea below. See Devil's Peak, Lion's Head, Table Mountain, and the Twelve Apostles. We'll pass quaint seaside towns as we continue to Cape Point where the stormy waters of the Atlantic meet the calm waters of the Indian Ocean. At Cape Point, we can climb the steps or ride a funicular to the top where we can explore a lighthouse, enjoy the views, or indulge in a bit of shopping. Take a close look at the ocean where we may see dolphins and a variety of seabirds. We will also have the chance to explore the Cape Point Nature Reserve, which is host to approximately half of the 2,700 species of indigenous plants contained in the Cape Peninsula. There are 250 species of birds in the reserve, ranging from ostriches to tiny sunbirds. Caracal, chacma baboon, a wide variety of buck, and various other mammal species may be seen, including Cape Mountain zebra and the bontebok. At Olifants Bay, look for Oystercatchers and enjoy some superb birding.

We'll enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and continue to Boulders Beach where African (Jackass) Penguins can be seen - also known as Black-footed Penguins. These flightless seabirds are found only on the coast of southern Africa and are the only penguins found on this continent. Enjoy a delightful walk on a specially built platform onto the little sheltered beach where they nest among the rocks and waddle into and out of the sea. Since the penguins are accustomed to human presence, we can safely get within a few feet of them as we stand on the platform, and it is sometimes possible to view them nesting behind rocks and bushes.

We return to Cape Town in the evening, where we have another opportunity to discover one of Cape Town's numerous fine restaurants.
Radisson Waterfront Hotel
(B, L)

Day 3 - Capetown

Today we visit the wine lands region situated below the spectacular Boland Mountains only 50 minutes from the city. Discover the internationally acclaimed vineyards of Stellenbosch, Paarl, and Franschhoek on the Western Cape, along a most scenic route. We will visit the historic estate of Boschendal with some of the most brilliantly preserved Cape Dutch buildings in the Cape, and its collection of priceless period furniture. We will also visit Franschhoek with its lovely antique shops and gardens, nestled in the Valley of the Huguenots where the French first settled in 1688. All the wine estates we will visit in the region offer tastings and cellar tours, and we will enjoy lunch in one of them. This afternoon, explore the university town of Stellenbosch, the oldest town in South Africa after Cape Town, and undoubtedly the most scenic and historically preserved town in southern Africa, with many fine examples of elegant Cape Dutch, Victorian and Georgian architecture - all part of this unique "Town of Oaks." We return to Cape Town in the late afternoon.
Radisson Waterfront Hotel
(B, L)

Day 4 - Capetown

Get a feel of what Cape Town is all about by taking the cable car to the top of Table Mountain, the signature of this city. For centuries Table Mountain has been a guiding beacon to mariners rounding the Cape of southern Africa. Sir Francis Drake described it as "the most stately thing and the fairest cape we saw in the whole circumference of the earth." Despite its formidable appearance, it is possible to hike up Table Mountain. Birdlife is exceptional, and the wild flowers include agapanthus, watsonias, and red nerines, growing in rock crevices amid a scrub of ericas and gnarled proteas. More than 1,400 species of flowering plants have been recorded on the mountain. Guinea pig-like creatures known as rock dassies, or hyraxes, (genetically the closest living relatives to elephants) scuttle everywhere. They are unafraid and scamper among the tourists seeking to be fed.

Next, we will visit the informal settlement of New Rest - a colony area of Guguletu. Our African guide, who lives in the township, will accompany us as we visit the crèche and community center. Visit the nursery that was built by the local community with bricks made at the township, and bring some gifts to the young children. See how the local community has reached out to reshape their township, with advice and input from tour companies and the University of Cape Town. Against all odds, township life prevails and conditions improve, but the transition is slow and hard. It is bleak evidence of the injustices of the past and the enormous challenges to the peoples of the New South Africa in the coming years.

We'll tour Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, one of the most beautiful in the world. Founded in 1913, Kirstenbosch lies on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain and consists of landscaped gardens of indigenous plants and trees, watered by the Liesbeek River, as well as natural forest that extends to the lower slopes. Kirstenbosch covers an area of 1,383 acres, most of which is a natural flora reserve. It is a living display featuring 9,000 of the estimated 20,000 species of indigenous South African flora. Among the interesting sections here are the Cycad Amphitheatre, which hosts most species of these "living fossils" found in southern Africa; the famed Protea Garden on the higher slopes, with its profuse growth of silver trees (Leucadendron argenteum); the JV Mathews Rock Garden (named after the first curator) containing succulents of the genera Crassula, Aloe, Lampranthus, and Euphorbia; the Erica Garden; and the Pelargonium Koppie. Two streams cut through Kirstenbosch, both laced with besembos, red alder, and hard fern. Of historical interest is an avenue of camphor trees and fig trees planted by Cecil Rhodes in 1898, and a small section of wild almond hedge planted by Dutch settler Jan van Riebeeck in 1660. Birds of all sorts can be seen here as well - Dusky and Paradise Flycatchers, sunbirds, Klaas's Cuckoos, bulbuls, pigeons, brilliant green and red Cape Sugarbirds, guinea fowls, and the Cape Batis.
Radisson Waterfront Hotel
(B, L)

Day 5 - Capetown / En Route

We have a last morning of leisure to relax or take advantage of the excellent shopping opportunities nearby. Later today, we will transfer to the airport for the overnight flight back to New York or Washington D.C. on South African Airways.
(B, meals aloft)

Day 6 - New York or Washington D.C.

This morning we land in New York or Washington D.C., bringing with us the memories of all the wonderful sights of Southern Africa.
(Meals aloft)

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Program Fees

$6,995 per person, double occupancy, land only. A limited number of single rooms are available for a supplement of $1,995 per person, double occupancy rates.

Price includes:

• Flights within southern Africa as specified
• Superior accommodations throughout at hotels, lodges and tented camps as listed in the itinerary, or similar
• Breakfasts daily, all meals while on safari and other meals as indicated in itinerary
• Laundry and all beverages during safari in Botswana's Okavango Delta except for Champagne and imported spirits
• All wildlife viewing by 4x4 open-air vehicles or by boat. Walking safaris may also be available, however all walking is at the discretion of the camp manager.
• Complimentary bottled water in safari vehicle
• All applicable hotel/lodge gratuities and taxes
• Gratuities to hotel staff and lodge guides, but not to driver/guides
• All park entry fees
• Complimentary baggage tags and passport wallet
  
  
Price does not include U.S. and foreign airport taxes; passport and visa fees and service charges for obtaining visas (no visas are required for South Africa and Botswana; visas are required for Zambia), excess baggage charges levied by airlines; meals and beverages, other than specified; gratuities to driver/guides; laundry (other than Botswana) and other items of a personal nature; personal and baggage insurance; cost for anything not specifically mentioned in the listing above.

Optional insurance coverage is available for Baggage, Accident and Trip Cancellation/Interruption at special low cost group rates.

International Air Cost: Approx: $1,700 from Washington D.C. or New York plus taxes. Classic Escapes will book international air for you at your request.

Please note that the itinerary sequence is correct at the time of writing, but is subject to change.

ENHANCE YOUR STAY WITH AN OPTIONAL EXTENSION TO:
CAPE TOWN
DATES : IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE MAIN PROGRAM.
COST : $2,195 PER PERSON
SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT: $795 ADDITIONAL

Classic Escapes Conservation Fund
In keeping with our mission to provide exciting, educational, and fun-filled experiences that nurture and directly support the diverse wildlife and cultures we visit around the world, Classic Escapes has established the Classic Escapes Conservation Fund to ensure that a percentage of all profits go to support conservation and wildlife researchers performing their critical work in the field. Project support has included environmental education efforts in India and Bhutan, wild dog and cheetah conservation in Botswana, Kenya, and Namibia, and global Earth Day education via school Internet programs. By traveling with Classic Escapes, you are supporting travel as a tool for building the mutual respect, awareness, and understanding that are vital to preserving this planet for future generations.

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How To Register

Ready to register? The best way to do this is by phone so that we can ensure we are meeting all of your needs. Please call us at 866-765-2646 or 434-924-7054 . Or e-mail cavaliertravels@virginia.edu with your contact information and the best time to reach you.

A deposit of $750 per person is required to reserve your spot for the main tour and $250 per person for the extension. Final invoicing will be done approximately three months prior to departure. Final payment is due 95 days prior to departure.

Deposits can be made via MasterCard, Visa . American Express and Discover.

Early registration is encouraged as space is limited.

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General Terms & Conditions

TRIP INSURANCE

Your tour operator will include information on obtaining trip insurance in your confirmation letter. Please note that there is a time frame for securing trip insurance. The University of Virginia will cancel its endorsement of and faculty and staff participation in any program destination for which a Travel Warning is issued by the U.S. Department of State. Vendor Terms of Agreement will specify under what circumstances the vendor will cancel a program and/or under what circumstances participants might receive some reimbursement if they cancel their travel with the vendor themselves. U.Va. strongly recommends that all participants purchase trip cancellation insurance which includes protection in the face of political unrest, natural disasters, and personal emergencies and participants should discuss this insurance directly with the vendor or other travel services with whom they deal. You will find more useful travel information by going to the Travel Resources link on this website.

Conditions Of Travel:

HOW TO BOOK: Fill out the reservation form and send it to University of Virginia Cavalier Travels, 400 Ray C. Hunt Dr., P.O. Box 400807, Charlottesville, VA 22904, together with a deposit of $750 per person for the main safari and $250 per person for the extension, as well as your insurance payment if you wish to take advantage of the preexisting medical condition exclusion. All checks should be made out to Classic Escapes. On receipt of your signed reservation form and deposit, we will, subject to availability, reserve your place on your safari. When we send off your confirmation invoice, your booking is confirmed and accepted by us. Final payment is due not later than 95 days prior to departure (May 22, 2008). Final documents will be sent to you approximately two weeks prior to departure.

OPTIONAL AIR TRANSPORTATION: Roundtrip economyclass jet transportation from WASHINGTON D.C. via SOUTH AFRICAN AIRWAYS. Rates based on special promotional group fares and are subject to cancellation fees once tickets are issued.

DEPARTURE TAXES: Please note the amount of departure tax reflected on the Reservation Form is subject to change, at the discretion of governments and airlines, and with no advance notice. Should this occur, you will be invoiced prior to departure for any additional taxes imposed.

AIRLINE SEATING: For South African Airways flights, we can request a seating preference on your behalf, however this is only a request and not guaranteed. Requests must be made in writing no later than 60 days prior to departure. Bulkhead and/or emergency row seats can only be requested at airport check in on the day of departure. Boarding passes will only be issued at the airport on the day of departure. You may inquire during checkin to have a seating change made, however this change is based on availability and is at the sole discretion of airport staff.

FREQUENT FLYER MILEAGE: At time of publication, South African Airways is partners with BMI British Midland, Delta Air Lines, El Al, Emirates, Lufthansa, Qantas, South African Airlink, Airlink Swaziland, South African Express Airways, SAS, SriLankan Airlines, Thai Airways, Varig Brasil. Therefore you may obtain frequent flyer mileage. Present your frequent flyer card for all flight checkins and keep the boarding passes until you receive a statement with the mileage credit.

BAGGAGE: International flights from the U.S. allow two pieces of checked luggage, each not exceeding 50 lbs. However we recommend you travel as light as you can manage. For safety and because space is restricted, baggage on charter aircraft is restricted to a maximum of 26 lbs. (12 kilos) The baggage limit on domestic flights is one piece at 26 lbs. per person (including carryon bag and camera equipment.) Also, the size and the structure of the bag is limited. Soft duffel bags are ideal. Large suitcases are impossible to stow on smaller aircraft and should not be used. Should you arrive with excess baggage without prior warning your baggage could be delayed, as your baggage may fly into camps at a later stage at considerable extra cost to you. WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU OBTAIN THE OPTIONAL INSURANCE POLICY.

ACCOMMODATIONS: You will marvel at the wonderful accommodations provided throughout your tour. All rooms have private facilities, and all rates are based on double occupancy. Most rooms are twinbedded, but kingsize beds are occasionally available and should be requested in advance. Accommodations listed in this itinerary are correct at time of writing, but on rare occasions can change for similar lodging.

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: Single accommodations are not guaranteed, but will be provided at additional cost if available (see reservation form for cost.) The singleroom supplement pays for privacy, not better accommodations. On occasion, in smaller lodges and camps, you may be required to share with other members of your tour group if single rooms are not available upon checkin. If this is the situation, appropriate per diem refunds are made to passengers in the event they paid for a single room but had to share during any portion of their trip. For passengers who are traveling alone and wish to share a room with another tour member, we will do our best to provide a roommate. However, if this is not possible, you will be required to pay the single room supplement prior to your departure from the USA.

MEALS: Breakfast daily, all meals while on safari and other meals as indicated in itinerary. All beverages during safari, except for imported spirits.

WILDLIFE VIEWING: Your tour will be conducted in 4X4 open vehicles throughout, driven by naturalist driver/guides.

TRANSFERS: Roundtrip transfer of passengers between airports and hotels are included in the tour.

TIPS AND TAXES: Gratuities for baggage handling, service charges and taxes imposed by hotels, lodges and tented camps, and entrance fees to all reserves as outlined in the itinerary are included. U.S. and foreign airport taxes are included in the air cost and are subject to change prior to issuance of tickets. Tips to driver/guides and specialistguide are not included.

INOCULATIONS: We would suggest you contact your personal physician or local health department for their recommendations as to inoculations. At the time of printing, no vaccinations are required for entry into Southern Africa. However, it is a sensible precaution for visitors to take one of the preventive pills that are in common use against malaria. Water is NOT safe to drink throughout and it is always advisable to drink bottled water which will be provided for you free of charge in the vehicles and during safari.

RATES: All rates quoted are based on tariffs and value of foreign currencies in relation to the U.S. dollar in effect as of August 17, 2007, and are subject to change. Rates are based on a minimum of 15 passengers traveling together (with a maximum of 18 passengers). The right is reserved to levy a surcharge if minimum is not met, but that is rarely done. We will do our utmost to keep to the prices as published. Should increases be forced on us by airlines, exchange rates, etc., we reserve the right to surcharge, up to a maximum of 10% of the tour fare.

ESCORT: Group will be accompanied by enrichment lecturer and university host with a minimum of 15 passengers on the main program and 10 on the extension.

TRIP INFORMATION: Upon receipt of your application, instructions will be sent to you concerning all aspects of your trip, such as itinerary, photographic equipment, documents, clothing, insurance, etc.

INVOICING: Final invoicing of your trip will be done approximately four months prior to departure. Final payment is due 95 days prior to departure (May 22, 2008.)

Schedules, accommodations and prices are accurate at the time of writing. They are subject to change.

FINAL DOCUMENTS: Final documents and tickets will be sent to you approximately two weeks prior to departure. We regret to advise that no documents can be released if final payments are not received.

PAYMENT SCHEDULE: A deposit of $750 per person must be submitted with each application for the main trip, and $250 per person on the extension, as well as your insurance payment if you wish to take advantage of the preexisting medical condition exclusion. Deposits may be paid by check or charged to American Express, MasterCard, Visa or Discover. Final payment is payable by check or money order ONLY and is due no later than 95 days prior to departure (July 26, 2007.)

CANCELLATIONS: Cancellations are only effective on receipt of written notification. The following per person fees are applicable on this safari: · Up to 90 days prior to departure, less $200.00 handling fee, plus $250.00 per person nonrefundable deposit forwarded to overseas suppliers. · 8960 days prior to departure, less 40% of tour cost. · 5945 days prior to departure, less 75% of tour cost. · Less than 45 days prior to departure, refund is dependent on amount recoverable from overseas suppliers.

These cancellation fees are also in addition to any imposed by airlines. WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU OBTAIN THE OPTIONAL INSURANCE POLICY. INFORMATION WILL BE SENT TO YOU UPON RECEIPT OF RESERVATION FORM. INSURANCE PREMIUMS ARE NOT REFUNDABLE.

DEVIATIONS: Should additional reservations be required, including extensions in Africa, we will happy to make all the arrangements. However, there will be an extra charge of $150 per person for such deviations, over and above the cost of the services required.

CHANGE FEES: Once you reserve your tour, changes are possible subject to availability of air or land space at the time of request. Should there be any change fees imposed by airlines or ground operators, or additional costs incurred due to availability of any space, this cost will be invoiced to you.

NOT INCLUDED: Cost of passport and visa fees, and service charges for obtaining visa fees; excess baggage charges levied by airlines; beverages and meals not specified in itinerary; gratuities to driver/guides and specialistguide, and other conveyance attendants; laundry and other items of a personal nature; gratuities not imposed by hotels and/or restaurants for included services; optional personal, baggage and tour cancellation insurance policy; U.S. and foreign airport taxes; cost for anything not specifically included in listing above.

WILD ANIMALS: Please be aware that this safari may take you into close contact with wild animals. Attacks by wild animals are rare, but no safari into the African wilderness can guarantee that this will not occur. Neither the company, nor their employees, nor agents can be held responsible for any injury or incident on the safari. Please note that not all camps are fenced.

PASSPORT & VISAS: The onus is upon the guest to ensure that passports and visas are valid for the countries visited. The company, their staff and their agents cannot be held liable for any visas, etc. not held by the guests, nor the cost of visas.

RESPONSIBILITY: Neither Classic Escapes (the Company) nor any person or agent acting for, through or on behalf of the Company shall be liable for any loss or damage whatsoever arising from any cause whatsoever and without restricting the generality of the aforegoing shall particularly not be responsible for loss or damage arising from any errors or omissions contained in its brochure or other literature, loss or damage caused by delays, sickness, theft, injury or death. In addition the Company shall have the right at any time at its discretion to cancel any safari or the remainder thereof or make any alteration in route, accommodation, price or other details and, in the event of any safari being rendered impossible, illegal or inadvisable by weather, strike, war, government or interference or any other cause whatsoever, the extra expenses incurred as a result thereof shall be the responsibility of the passenger. The Company may at its discretion and without liability or cost to itself at any time cancel or terminate the guest’s booking and in particular without limiting the generality of the aforegoing it shall be entitled to do so in the event of the illness or the illegal or incompatible behavior of the guest, who shall in such circumstances not be entitled to any refund. The person making any booking will, by the making of such booking, warrant that he or she has authority to enter into a contract on behalf of the other person included in such a booking and in the event of the failure of any or all of the other persons so included to make payment, the person making the booking shall by his/her signature thereof assume personal liability for the total price of all bookings made by him/her.

PHOTOGRAPHY: The Company reserves the right without further notice to make use of any photograph or film taken on the safari by our photographers without payment or permission. We guarantee that no photographs of a compromising nature will be used.

CHANGES TO SCHEDULES: Although every effort is made to adhere to schedules it should be borne in mind that the Company reserves the right and in fact is obliged to occasionally change routes and camps on safaris as dictated by changing conditions. Such conditions may be brought about by seasonal rainfall on bush tracks, airfields and in wildlife areas, by wildlife migrations from one region to another, or airline or other booking problems, etc.

REFUNDS: While the company uses its best endeavors to ensure that all anticipated accommodation is available as planned, there shall be no claim of any nature whatsoever against the Company for a refund either in the whole or part, if any accommodation or excursion is unavailable and a reasonable alternative is not found. If the guest is unable to use any service provided in the itinerary, then there are no refunds due.

AIRLINE CLAUSE: The airlines concerned are not to be held liable for any act, omission or event during the time the passengers are not on board their planes or conveyance. The passengers’ tickets in use by the airline or by other carriers concerned when issued shall constitute the sole contract between the airlines and the purchaser of these tickets and/or passengers.

DELAYS: We cannot be held liable for any delays or additional costs incurred as a result of airlines not running to schedule. If one of our guides is unable to take a safari due to illness, etc. we reserve the right to substitute with another guide. Schedules, accommodations and prices are accurate at the time of writing. They are subject to change.

This agreement is made subject to and shall be governed by and construed according to the laws of the country in which the safari takes place. Classic Escapes act merely as an agent for the operating companies. To the best of our knowledge the itinerary is correct at the time of printing. We cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies or changes that may occur after printing.

CONSENT: The payment of the deposit OR any other partial payment for a reservation on a safari constitutes consent by all guests covered by that payment to all provisions of the conditions and general information contained in this brochure whether the guest has signed the booking form or not. The terms, under which you agree to take this safari, cannot be changed or amended except in writing signed by an authorized director of the Company.

INSURANCE: It is a condition of booking, that the sole responsibility lies with the guest to ensure that they carry the correct comprehensive travel and medical insurance to cover themselves, as well as any dependants/traveling companions for the duration of their trip to Africa. This insurance should include cover in respect of, but not limited to, the following eventualities: cancellation or curtailment of the safari, emergency evacuation expenses, medical expenses, repatriation expenses, damage/theft/loss of personal baggage, money and goods. Classic Escapes, including their representatives, employees and agents will take no responsibility for any costs, losses incurred or suffered by the guest, or guest’s dependants or traveling companions, with regards to, but not limited to, any of the above mentioned eventualities. Guests will be charged directly by the relevant service providers for any emergency services they may require, and may find themselves in a position unable to access such services should they not be carrying the relevant insurance cover. Classic Escapes offers a comprehensive package. See premium schedule below, or call us for the exact amount and information on the policy. If insurance is purchased within 7 days of the initial trip payment, the PreExisting Condition Exclusion will be waived. This is applicable to all coverages contained in the policy. You must be medically able to travel when you pay your premium. In the event that a claim is filed, the injury or illness must be substantiated to the Claims Department. Please Note: Insurance premiums are not refundable.

INSURANCE PREMIUM: The cost of your insurance premium is based on the TOTAL cost of your trip including: the main itinerary, airfare, airline taxes, single supplements, optional excursions and optional extensions. The premium for your tour will be calculated as follows: TOTAL TOUR COST PREMIUM PER PERSON

 

Total Tour Cost	Premium Per Person
$5,001 - $5,500	$407
$5,501 - $6,000	$445
$6,001 - $6,500	$483
$6,501 - $7,000	$517
$7,001 - $8,000	$579
$8,001 - $9,000	$655
$9,001 - $10,000	$731
$10,001 - $11,000	$805
$11,001 - $12,000	$884
$12,001 - $13,000	$960
$13,001 - $14,000	$1,037

 

Please contact Classic Escapes if you have any questions or need assistance calculating your premium. 

PLEASE NOTE INSURANCE PREMIUMS ARE NONREFUNDABLE

SHOULD TOUR BE CANCELED BY PARTICIPANT

 

 

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Last Modified: 23-Jan-2008 19:29:25 EDT
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Email: cavaliertravels@virginia.edu