South Africa, Botswana, and Victoria Falls

From cosmopolitan Cape Town to the wildlife-rich parks of South Africa and Botswana, to majestic Victoria Falls, discover the best of southern Africa. Explore the stunning Cape Peninsula, and set out on safari in the Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve. In Zambia, experience breathtaking Victoria Falls. Cap off the journey encountering elephants, lions, and much more in Botswana’s Okavango Delta.

Days 1 & 2 — U.S./Cape Town, South Africa

Depart on an overnight flight to South Africa, and arrive in Cape Town the following afternoon. Check into our hotel, with views of the harbor and Table Mountain, and meet the group this evening for a welcome reception and dinner.
Southern Sun the Cullinan (D)

Day 3 — Cape of Good Hope

Spend a full day discovering the splendid flora and fauna of the Cape Peninsula. Trace the Atlantic coast to Hout Bay, a charming fishing village and one of the world’s greatest surfing spots. Board a boat to view the Cape fur seals that bask on Duiker Island. In the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, explore the dramatic coastline and the fynbos (“fine bush” in Afrikaans), magnificent, biologically diverse shrublands found only in the Western Cape region. Walk or take the funicular to the Cape Point lighthouse to take in views of False Bay, and then drive to the Cape of Good Hope, the southwesternmost point of the African continent. After lunch, visit Boulders Beach for a chance to see African penguins. Later, discover a wide range of exotic fynbos species and other regional plants at the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden. Return to Cape Town and enjoy dinner on your own this evening.
Southern Sun the Cullinan (B,L)

Day 4 — Cape Town

Today, you may choose one of two excursions. Explore Cape Town’s historic sites, beginning with Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela spent 18 of his 27 years in prison—now a World Heritage site. Then ride a cable car (weather permitting) to the summit of Table Mountain, which rises more than 3,000 feet above Cape Town. See the colorful Bo Kaap neighborhood, a center of Cape Malay culture; and visit the District Six Museum, which memorializes the forcible eviction of some 60,000 residents from a Cape Town suburb during apartheid. Or, set out into the Cape Winelands to go wine tasting and learn about South Africa’s burgeoning wine industry. Visit lovely Stellenbosch, the second oldest town in the country, now the hub of South Africa’s wine industry. At Boschendal wine estate, see a restored Cape Dutch manor house, and explore the charming village of Franschhoek, named for the French Huguenots who settled here in 1688. Return to Cape Town via Paarl, birthplace of the Afrikaans language. The remainder of the day is at leisure.
Southern Sun the Cullinan (B)

Day 5 — Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve

After breakfast, fly to Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport. Travel overland to Sabi Sabi, located within the Sabi Sand Reserve, the oldest private reserve in South Africa. After settling into your private thatched bungalow, set off on an afternoon safari with rangers and trackers in search of elephants, lions, leopards, cheetahs, buffalo, rhinoceroses, giraffes, zebras, antelope, and other species. Return to the lodge in time for dinner.
Sabi Sabi Bush Lodge (B,L,D)

Day 6 — Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve

Rise early this morning and head out in open safari vehicles to spot animals at one of their most active times. Return to the lodge and enjoy a leisurely breakfast on the terrace. In the late morning, take a walking safari with a ranger to see some of the smaller creatures of the bush and examine interesting plant life, or get acquainted with the local people on a visit to a rural Shangaan village. Late this afternoon, head out on another game drive, stopping for a sundowner cocktail as the sun sets. Continue exploring as night falls, using a spotlight to find nocturnal predators on the hunt.
Sabi Sabi Bush Lodge (B,L,D)

Day 7 — Livingstone, Zambia/Victoria Falls

After a final early morning safari, transfer to the airport and fly to Livingstone. Spend the afternoon exploring Victoria Falls, a mile-wide curtain of water that plummets some 350 feet into the narrow chasm of the Zambezi gorge. Later, take a sunset cruise along the Zambezi River on board the African Queen. Enjoy dinner on your own this evening.
Royal Livingstone Hotel (B,L)

Day 8 — Kasane, Botswana/Okavango Delta

After breakfast, transfer to the airport and fly from Livingstone to Kasane in Botswana. From Kasane, fly to the Moremi Game Reserve in the Okavango Delta. Fly from the nearby town of Kasane to the Moremi Game Reserve in the Okavango Delta. Settle into your deluxe safari tent and head out on safari, discovering the wildlife and landscapes of the world’s largest inland delta.
Xakanaxa Camp (B,L,D)

Day 9 — Okavango Delta

Rise at dawn and, after a light breakfast, set out into the delta, exploring by safari vehicle, motorized boat, or mokoro (traditional canoe). Look for herds of elephants, giraffes, and wildebeests, as well as lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, and endangered wild dogs. Return to camp for lunch. Enjoy free time before embarking on a late-afternoon game drive. This evening, toast our adventure in southern Africa at a festive farewell dinner.
Xakanaxa Camp (B,L,D)

Days 10 & 11 — Maun/U.S.

Time permitting, enjoy a final morning game drive before transferring to the Xakanaxa airstrip and flying to Maun International Airport. Connect with your international flights home, arriving the next day.
(B)