Frequently Asked Questions

As with any successful expedition – it all starts with good planning and research. Our expedition safaris are no different.

Each and every safari is initiated with us starts with a free 30 min discovery call where we gather as much information from you about your private safari. This includes menu and drink preferences, allergies, special occasions, bespoke requests, logistics, points of interest, guest expectations, medical & travel insurance and many other details relating to expedition planning.

Following this Discovery Call, we are able to curate a well-planned, highly personalised experience with a great amount of care and attention to detail.

With a detailed understanding and clear picture of the ideal trip, we set about planning the menu, logistics, activities and overall logistics for your trip. With a host of options available to us throughout Zimbabwe, we take pride in our approach to curate every expedition safari for our guests, on an individual basis – there are no set departures or allocated seats on the bus waiting to be filled.

We take no shortcuts in our planning, preparation and only partner with the best third-party service providers. And we are proud in doing things right, the first time – this is not a budget low cost run of the mill experience – and this is evident at every stage of our operation.

Our safaris are flexible and are tailored to your specific interests and desires while adapting to the environment unfolding around us.  That being said, a typical day on our expedition safaris is outline below and can vary based on time of year, temperatures and location.

• 05:30 am – Wake up and tea and coffee around fire
• 06:15 am – Morning activity
• 11:00 am – Brunch
• 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm – Siesta & Relax
• 3:00 pm – afternoon tea
• 3:30 pm – afternoon activity
• 6:00 pm – return to camp, shower, meet around campfire
• 7:00 pm – dinner
• 8:00 pm – gather around campfire and reflect on the day
• 9:30 pm – retire for the evening

We can cater for all dietary requirements and food allergies and dietary requests should be highlighted in your Discovery Call with the team. The cuisine in camp is fresh and locally sourced, and the style is homely and wholesome.

A complimentary laundry service is offered to all of our guests where possible, on days when the camp moves between locations – laundry will be returned the next day. As all laundry is hand washed in the bush, we ask you do not send in delicate or special items.

Our camps are situated in wild and remote areas, home to a variety of wildlife, including the big 5 in some areas. It is not uncommon for wildlife to pass through or be in close proximity to the camp during the night. Your guide will escort you to and from your tent at night. Once in your tent, you are perfectly safe to relax and fall asleep to the sounds of the African bush.

We suggest you talk to your medical practitioner at home prior to travelling on Safari about Malaria, Zimbabwe is classified as a potential Malaria risk area – but due to the remote locations and time of year, the risk is low.

Our expedition tents are designed with netted windows and doors, and our staff will take precautions against mosquitos during ‘turn-down’ service in the evenings. We would also encourage you to wear long sleeves and trousers in the evenings, with socks and closed shoes, and recommended the use of insect repellent.

During your Discovery Call, you will get a detailed overview of the specific climate and weather conditions you can expect on your safari. However, the climate will depend on the location of your camp, and the time of year. As a guideline, the Zambezi Valley is generally associated with the following conditions.

• November to April – Zimbabwe’s rainy season with hot and humid conditions during the day, and thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening.
• May to August – Our winter season with crisp, cool mornings and bright sunny days.
• August to November – our hottest and driest months, building up to the onset of the rains in November.

Guests are required to have comprehensive travel and medical insurance to cover cancellation, medical expenses, personal baggage and money. Travel insurance is readily available in your own country and must be obtained before setting off on safari.

16 Degrees South takes every care possible of guests and their property, but cannot be held responsible for any accident, injury or illness you may incur, or for any loss or damage to your property during an expedition safari.

All of our guests are covered for medical evacuation from the site of incident to the closest appropriate medical facility. This is NOT medical insurance; it is an emergency response service only and should not substitute your own medical insurance.

Guests are required to have comprehensive travel and medical insurance to cover cancellation, medical expenses, personal baggage and money. Travel insurance is readily available in your own country and must be obtained before setting off on safari.

16 Degrees South takes every care possible of guests and their property, but cannot be held responsible for any accident, injury or illness you may incur, or for any loss or damage to your property during an expedition safari.

All of our guests are covered for medical evacuation from the site of incident to the closest appropriate medical facility. This is NOT medical insurance; it is an emergency response service only and should not substitute your own medical insurance.

Our expedition safaris typically include the following activities but can vary depending on the location, nature and time of year of your safari.

• Game drives
• Bush Walks
• Sunrisers & Sundowners
• Out of camp dining & picnics
• Tracking

Additional safari activities can be provided depending on the location of your camp. These need to be arranged prior to arrival and can incur an additional cost:

• Yoga
• Helicopter flights.
• Cultural & historical visits.
• Fly camping
• Boat cruises
• Fishing
• Mountain Biking

The mobile camp runs on solar power and an inverter system, which provides power 24 hours a day. There is a back-up generator on stand-by. Guests’ electronics can be charged in the main mess tent, where we have an international power socket.

Our camp is plastic bottle free and we provide clean, filtered drinking water on all activities as well as throughout the camp. We provide refillable bottles for guests to use throughout their safari.

Our expedition safaris are supported by two-way radios, satellite phone communications and a satellite internet facility in our expedition vehicles which allows basic Wi-Fi communications like WhatsApp and instant messaging but does not support heavy data use applications. Your guide will have a satellite phone and two-way radio when out of camp on activities.

We operate lightweight 4×4 expedition vehicles, harness our camps energy from the sun and filter all our fresh water needs onsite through an advanced, three stage mobile filtration system. Our hot water is heated via LPG, our toilets are compostable with biodegradable accelerants and we carry out all our rubbish.

Our mobile walking safaris are based on an average of 15-20 kilometres per day and require a reasonable level of fitness and good health. Our Matusadona expedition is more strenuous due to the elevation and topography encountered on the route. Please talk to us during your Discovery Call and we will do our best to accommodate your abilities.