Great Game Parks of Southern Africa

Experience the extraordinary wildlife and amazing natural habitats of three of Africa’s most beautiful countries! In South Africa, a spectacular bush flight whisks us to Timbavati, a private game reserve that’s part of famed Greater Kruger National Park. On open vehicle game drives with expert spotters, we get close encounters with lion, elephant, leopard, rhino, and more. Mid-trip brings us to Zambia and magnificent Victoria Falls, witnessing the wonder of its mile-wide curtain of thundering water, before we head out to wild, untamed Botswana and a safari across the game-filled Okavango Delta and savannas of Chobe. Thrilling gameviewing by day, candle-lit meals amidst the sounds of the African night, and an optional extension to romantic Cape Town—it all adds up to spectacular adventure.

Itinerary at a Glance

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Days 1-3
Timbavati Private Game Reserve

Tanda Tula, on Timbavati’s 230 square miles of sun-drenched savannas, is one of the most luxurious tented camps in all South Africa, with thatch-roofed tented suites and Victorian-style baths. Here we join our game trackers for world-class gameviewing, and because we are on private land, not in a national park, we can drive off-road in our open vehicles for better views of the “Big Five”—lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino, and leopard. After sundown on our game drives, a new world opens up as we look for nocturnal wildlife including elusive genets and perhaps leopards on the hunt. We also enjoy the excitement of optional bush walking accompanied by an armed ranger and tracker.

Days 4-5
Victoria Falls, Zambia

The world’s largest waterfalls, Victoria Falls is a stunning wonder whose towering columns of spray can be seen 50 miles away. From our lodge on the Zambezi River, we can walk to the falls to experience their astonishing splendor.

Days 6-7
Chobe National Park, Botswana

Our journey brings us to Botswana and our remote lodge in Chobe, where we find one of the largest concentrations of game in all Africa. The Savuti region of Chobe is a legendary predators’ enclave with resident lions, leopards, and hyenas (we may hear their calls in the night). And on our game drives we see their prey, including large herds of giraffe, kudu, and roan and sable antelope. Chobe also has incredible elephant viewing—the largest surviving elephant population in the world resides here.

Days 8-11
Okavango Delta

Flying right to Xugana Island Lodge, with its thatched chalets on a private island in the Okavango Delta, we safari by boat in quiet mokoros (canoes) poled through the shallow lagoons by our game spotters. Taking a break from the big game experience, the emphasis here is on birdlife and enjoying this classic delta setting. Evenings feature al fresco dining and crimson sunsets over the lagoon. Depart on Day 11 or join our Cape Town Extension.

For a more complete description, Download Full Trip Brochure

What the Trip is Like

The trip is  Level 2+, Moderate to Strenuous. This is a luxury hotel-and-lodge-based adventure tour with several days of walking. Although this is not a particularly rigorous trip, we still recommend that each participant undertake a preparatory program of physical conditioning. Daily walking or regular hiking, jogging, stair-climbing, and so forth are excellent preparatory exercises.

Explanation of Trip Levels