FAQ
The usual questions, answered.
What groups ask us most often about logistics, weather, safety, money, and what to bring. If your question isn't here, email us at info@mungaplains.com.
Planning a retreat
Logistics of a week here.
How long are retreats?
6 to 8 nights at the camp, plus one or two nights at Victoria Falls before, and an optional mobile safari extension after. Most retreats run 8 to 11 days total.
What group size works?
Up to 24 guests. The camp is privatized for your group for the week. You never share the shala, the boma, or the pool.
When can I bring a group?
March through December. The camp is closed in January and February for maintenance and the peak of the wet season.
Can I bring my own teacher?
Yes. You bring the practice and your students. We handle everything else. The shala is fully equipped for most styles, including aerial yoga.
What’s included in the week?
Accommodation, all meals, all practice sessions led by you, all safari and cultural activities, and transfers from Victoria Falls Airport. Alcohol and sodas are charged separately.
Travel & logistics
Getting here and the paperwork.
Which airport should we fly into?
Victoria Falls Airport (VFA) in Zimbabwe is the most common arrival. Kasane Airport (BBK) in Botswana is a closer alternative for some routings. Direct flights to both from Johannesburg, Cape Town, Nairobi, and Addis Ababa.
Do I need a visa?
Most Western nationalities enter Botswana visa-free for 90 days. Zimbabwe requires a double-entry e-visa for Victoria Falls arrivals: $45 for USA, EU, and Swiss citizens; $70 for UK, Irish, and Canadian citizens.
Apply online at evisa.gov.zw. Complete the online immigration form before arrival. Paper forms are no longer handed out at the airport.
How do we get from the airport to camp?
We meet every flight inside arrivals, take the group through the Zimbabwe/Botswana border at Kasane, and run the road transfer to the camp. About 3 hours by road, often with a boat cruise on the Chobe along the way.
Can we skip Victoria Falls and go straight in?
Yes. Most groups spend a night or two at a partner lodge in Victoria Falls to arrive slowly, but it isn’t required. We can transfer direct from the airport.
Weather & seasons
What the year looks like.
When’s the best time to visit?
Dry season, from May to Oct, is the busiest window: cool nights, warm days, and wildlife concentrating along the Chobe River. Shoulder months, Mar, Apr, Nov, and Dec, bring short afternoon rains, dramatic skies, and migratory birds.
What’s the temperature range?
Jun-Aug nights can drop to around 8°C (46°F), while days stay warm at 25-27°C. Apr-May and Sep-Oct are hotter, up to 30°C. The wet months, Nov-Apr, are hot with afternoon rains and mornings around 17-18°C.
Are there rates that change by season?
No. Rates are consistent through our open months. Quieter shoulder periods book faster precisely because the weather is dramatic and groups are smaller.
At the camp
How it works day to day.
What are the tented rooms like?
Twelve rooms on wooden decking, each with a private veranda, a wardrobe, mosquito net, and an en-suite bathroom with a flushing toilet and a hot-water shower. Mains electricity, reading lights by the bed, beds configurable as king or twin.
What about meals?
Local Botswana recipes alongside healthy international cooking, with herbs and vegetables from our own garden and orchard where the season allows. Three full meals a day, plus high tea and sundowners. Vegan, vegetarian, and allergen-friendly menus are arranged in advance. The menu was designed by Ednah Rosen, author of A Taste of Botswana.
Is there Wi-Fi and phone signal?
Wi-Fi is available in the main area. Phone reception is patchy across the bush. eSIMs or local SIM cards work if you need better coverage on your own device.
What’s the power situation?
The camp runs on solar. 230V, Type M three-pin plugs (South African standard). A universal adapter covers it.
Health & safety
Before you travel.
Do I need malaria prophylaxis?
Recommended. Malaria exists in the region, though it’s less frequent during the dry season. Speak to your doctor about a regime that suits you. Use DEET-based repellent on exposed skin and wear long sleeves at dusk.
Yellow fever certificate?
Only required if you’re transiting from a yellow-fever-risk country. Most European and North American travelers don’t need one.
Is it safe?
Botswana is one of the safest countries in Africa. Follow your guide’s instructions during wildlife encounters, don’t walk outside the camp at night, and respect local customs.
What if there’s an emergency?
We have a full medical brief in place and protocols for evacuation to Kasane or Victoria Falls. Full details go out to retreat leaders on confirmation.
Money & tipping
What to bring and what to pay.
What currency is used?
The local currency is Botswana Pula (BWP). USD is widely accepted at the camp and in Kasane. Most costs sit on the retreat invoice, so guests rarely need much cash.
What about tipping?
The customary rate is around USD 10 per guest per day, contributed to a communal staff tip box. Guide tips are at your discretion.
Can I pay for extras by card?
Yes. Visa is accepted at the end of the trip for drinks, souvenirs, and massages. Alcohol and sodas are the usual extras.
Any cash I should bring?
A small amount of USD for tipping and any Zimbabwe-side purchases. $50–100 in USD covers most personal spending.
Packing
What to bring.
What should I pack for safari?
Lightweight breathable clothing in neutral tones (khaki, tan, olive) for daytime. Bring warm layers for dawn and evening: fleece, down jacket, and thermals in Jun-Aug. Sturdy walking shoes, a sunhat, sunglasses, high-SPF sunscreen, insect repellent, and a reusable water bottle.
What about yoga gear?
Mats, blocks, belts, bolsters, aerial hammocks, and sound bowls are all at the shala. Bring your own mat if you prefer, but it isn’t necessary.
Luggage limits?
At the camp itself, there is no strict limit. If you’re continuing on a mobile safari extension with a bush flight, bring soft-sided luggage only, around 15-20 kg including hand luggage.
Anything else worth packing?
A small flashlight or headlamp, a power bank or solar charger, a camera with spare batteries and memory cards, binoculars, and a scarf or bandana for dust. A South African (Type M) plug adapter.
Keep reading
- See the camp and the rooms
What the tented rooms and shared spaces are actually like.
- See how to reach the camp
Airports, borders and the road transfer.
- Host a retreat in Botswana
For teachers planning a week for their own group.