Overview
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, then head to Botswana for a safari across the game-filled Okavango Delta and savannas of Chobe National Park. Thrilling gameviewing by day, romantic candlelit dinners amid the sounds of the African night, and stylish safari camps and lodges—it all adds up to spectacular adventure.
This is the best vacation I have ever taken. It was the perfect way to see totally different areas of Africa, and the way the itinerary and travel days are set up was great. We were busy all the time and it was fun, informative, and exciting!
— Jon L., Los Gatos, CA
Days 1-3
Timbavati Private Game Reserve, South Africa
On sun-drenched savannas surrounding our atmospheric lodge, we experience superlative game viewing. Because we are on private land, not in a national park, we can drive off-road in open-sided vehicles for better views of the Big Five—lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino, and leopard. After sundown, a new world opens up as we look for nocturnal wildlife including elusive genets and perhaps leopards on the hunt. We also enjoy optional bush walks accompanied by an expert ranger and tracker.
Timbavati Private Game Reserve, South Africa - Days 1-3
Motswari Game Lodge
Days 1 to 3 (3 nights), Timbavati Private Game Preserve, South AfricaIf you’re looking for the quintessential Big Five (and beyond) experience, you’ll have good chances of it from this beautiful family-owned and operated lodge, located in Motswari Private Game Reserve within the Timbavati Nature Reserve. Fifteen rondavel-style thatched bungalows with air-conditioning feature four-poster, canopied beds, elegant baths, a sitting area, and a private veranda with views of the bush. Dine at lantern-lit tables set within an outdoor boma, or on a deck overlooking the river, with delicious meals complemented by a selection of award-winning South African wines. From the plunge pool, you can watch elephants as they amble by for a drink in the river. The lodge also features a library, art gallery, curio shop, and two bars. There are no fences, so animals can roam freely (you’ll be safely escorted to and from your room after dark).
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. We'll also search for wildlife, including crocodile, along the banks of the Zambezi during a sunset cruise (and with a sundowner in hand, of course!).
Johannesburg / Victoria Falls, Zambia - Days 4-6
DaVinci Hotel
Day 4 (1 night), Johannesburg, South AfricaThe stylish Da Vinci Hotel is right on Nelson Mandela Square in the Sandton district, Johannesburg’s financial and business center. The shops and restaurants of the Sandton Shopping Centre are close by and the hotel has spa services.
Stanley's Safari Lodge
Days 5 to 6 (2 nights), Victoria Falls, ZambiaSet on a hill bordering the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park and only a mile or so from Victoria Falls, this hilltop oasis has splendid views of the Falls, the Zambezi River, and the African sunset over Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park. At this spectacular lodge, the architecture is unique—the 10 guest cottages have just three walls, with the fourth side open to nature so guests can gaze on the mist from Victoria Falls in the distance and hear the lions roaring from the wildlife sanctuary nearby. The open-sided Main House is the place for sundowners in the lounge, and dinners can be enjoyed on the upper deck, in the wine cellar, or outdoors under the stars. The lodge has an infinity pool and a friendly and helpful staff. Optional activities at the Falls include helicopter overflights, rafting, and bungee jumping.
Days 7-8
Chobe National Park, Botswana
The Savuti region of Chobe is legendary, with resident lions, leopards, and hyenas, and on thrilling game drives we track them as well as their prey, including large herds of giraffe, kudu, and roan and sable antelope. Chobe also offers unparalleled elephant viewing, with numbers in the tens of thousands.
Chobe National Park, Botswana - Days 7-8
Savute Safari Lodge
Days 7 to 8 (2 nights), Chobe National Park, BotswanaWith a prime location on the game-rich Savuti Channel, this intimate lodge features 12 private chalets, each with its own private deck, sliding glass doors, and en suite facilities. The main lodge has a library, lounge, and bar along the Savuti Channel. You'll see wildlife right from the lodge and from your chalet—elephants and other species gather at the nearby waterhole at all hours of the day. Guests can cool off and relax at the pool, and wonderful meals are served al fresco.
Days 9-11
Okavango Delta
Flying right to Xugana Island, set on a private island in the Okavango Delta, we game view by quiet mokoros (canoes) poled through water lily–filled lagoons by our game spotters. The birdlife here is phenomenal, and we may see lechwe and sitatunga splashing through the shallows. Evenings feature al fresco dining and crimson sunsets over the lagoon. Depart on Day 11.
Okavango Delta - Days 9-11
Xugana Island Lodge
Days 10 to 11 (2 nights), Okavango Delta, BotswanaSet deep in the heart of the Okavango Delta on the edge of a lovely lagoon, Xugana is the perfect base for exploring Okavango’s “water” side on excursions by mokoro canoe. Each comfortable reed and thatch chalet faces the lagoon and features en suite facilities and private viewing decks. A beautiful bar and open-air dining area overlook the lagoon—where the sunsets are out of this world—and there is a small plunge pool to cool off in. The lodge is also known for its excellent walking trails.
Southern Africa Wildlife Safari
