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 fantastic 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 magnificent Victoria Falls to witness 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, candlelit meals amidst the sounds of the African night, and an optional extension to romantic Cape Town—it all adds up to a spectacular adventure.

Itinerary at a Glance

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Days 1-3
Timbavati Private Game Reserve

Tanda Tula, on Timbavati’s sun-drenched savannas, is one of the most luxurious tented camps in all South Africa. 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. We also enjoy night drives and the excitement of optional bush walks accompanied by an armed ranger and tracker.

Days 4-6
Johannesburg / Victoria Falls, Zambia

After an overnight in Johannesburg, we head to stunning Victoria Falls to experience the astonishing splendor of the world’s largest waterfalls, whose towering columns of spray can be seen 50 miles away.

Days 7-9
Chobe National Park, Botswana

The Savuti region of Chobe is a legendary predators’ enclave with resident lions, leopards, and hyenas, and on 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 10-12
Okavango Delta

Flying right to Xugana Island Lodge, set 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, with crimson sunsets over the lagoon. Depart on Day 12 or join our Cape Town Extension.

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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