ACCOMMODATION
NB. All accommodation is based on sharing with several members of your team. If you prefer not to share accommodation, please contact us to discuss other options.

Orientation days
When you first arrive in Swaziland you will be taken to Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary.  You'll stay in a beautiful camp called Sondzelas which overlooks the reserve. The campsite is shady and cool with a swimming pool and volleyball pitch for spare moments between orientation talks and activities. There are ample hot showers and loos with a large braai area for evening meals where everyone gets a plate of delicious Swazi food, usually cooked by Matabo and her band of ladies who look after the camp. There is a telephone here and internet is a short walk away.

Expedition
During the expedition we use a combination of well-equipped hostels, tents and thatched beach huts. Obviously, for the safari sections of the expedition you will be camping out in the wild – often this can be very basic, for example in the Okavango Delta you will be using a pit a latrine and cooking over an open fire. You will share a tent with 2 other people, whereas in the hostels dorm rooms and bunk beds are the norm.

FOOD
There are two types of food that you will be eating whilst in Southern Africa.  Firstly food that you and your team will cook for each other and secondly traditional food that you will eat every now and then when staying with local communities.

A typical daily meal might be:
Breakfast: Porridge with raisins, golden syrup or sugar. Tea/coffee.
Lunch: Sandwiches of local bread with cheese or ham.
Dinner: Large rice or potato based dish with vegetable stew and/or chicken. In Mozambique the most amazing seafood!

Vegetarians
Don’t forget that most meat we eat is as organic as it comes – the term ‘freerange’ applies to almost all the meat you will be given up here.  Don't panic if you don't want to relax your eating habits though, we can easily cater for vegetarians.

A DAY IN THE LIFE
It’s pretty impossible to describe a ‘usual’ day on the expedition. Each day brings with it a new challenge, a new activity or just the chance to sit back and watch miles and miles of Africa roll by as you head to your next destination….

One of our most frequent comments about the expedition is how quickly it seems to go! Be prepared for the time to absolutely fly by, as you see and experience more than you think possible to fit into 6 weeks.

WHO ELSE IS GOING?
Your sabbatical group will be sized between 8-16 plus 2 Quest Leaders. The age range varies from 25 upwards but regardless of age, all volunteers have one thing in common – an enthusiasm to experience the real Africa, spend time out in the African Bush and to make a positive impact on the local communities through responsible travel.

WEATHER
The weather on our Southern Africa Explorer Expedition will depend on what time of your you are heading off on the expedition.

The dry season in Africa is from April > September. During this time the weather tends to be cool and dry. It’s not unusual to experience a drizzle and clouds early in morning, which then gets burnt off as the sun rises higher in the sky. However, most of the time the weather will be hot, around 15-20 degrees, cooling down at night. As you move up the continent into Botswana and Zambia the weather will get hotter and hotter. You’ll need to take plenty of sunscreen!

The rainy season in Africa is from October > March. During this time the weather tends to be hot and wet. It’s not unusual to experience a few torrential downpours and the odd thunderstorm whilst you are in Swaziland. However, most of the time the weather will be hot, around 25-30 degrees.