Expedition Details
Soar over southern Africa’s splendid landscapes on an unforgettable journey by private air. Experience some of the world’s best wildlife viewing on safari, tracking lions, elephants, rare white rhinos, leopards, and cheetahs. Experience the thunder of beautiful Victoria Falls, and stay at luxury safari camps.Trip Highlights
- Enjoy game drives in South Africa's MalaMala Private Game Reserve, and take a wildlife river cruise in Botswana's Chobe National Park.
- Discover Pete's Pond, a watering hole in Mashatu Game Reserve where National Geographic established a WildCam to capture footage of the area's animals.
- Explore the Okavango Delta and Moremi Game Reserve by land and water.
- Visit spectacular Victoria Falls — a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the great natural wonders of the world.
Itinerary - 12 Days
Days 1 & 2 — U.S./Johannesburg, South Africa/MalaMala Game Reserve
Depart on an overnight flight to Johannesburg. Upon arrival, board our private charter flight to the MalaMala Private Game Reserve in Greater Kruger National Park. The distinctive habitat of the Lowveld Region is full of big game, including lions, leopards, and white rhinos. Our luxury safari lodge is situated amid shady trees on the banks of the Sand River. Take your first game drive in the afternoon, followed by a welcome dinner.
MalaMala Main Camp (D)
Day 3 — MalaMala Game Reserve
Set off on an early morning safari with naturalist guides in open, four-wheel-drive vehicles. Enjoy time to relax at the camp before lunch. Embark on an afternoon game drive, and stop for sundowners in the bush. As night falls, search for nocturnal species and predators on the prowl. Gather for dinner around a large campfire in a reed-enclosed boma.
MalaMala Main Camp (B,L,D)
Days 4, 5, & 6 — Mashatu Game Reserve, Botswana
Fly by private charter to Mashatu Game Reserve, home to seven of Africa’s giants—the elephant, giraffe, eland, ostrich, kori bustard, lion, and baobab tree. Located in the remote eastern corner of Botswana, this enormous tract of land comprises a diverse wilderness of savanna, riverine forests, marshlands, open plains, and sandstone outcrops. Go on a bush walk and morning and afternoon game drives accompanied by expert guides. Meet with on-site wildlife researchers who track the behavior and dynamics of local populations of elephants, endangered wild dogs, and predators. Stop to see Pete’s Pond, a watering hole where lions, elephants, zebras, and giraffes converge during the dry season. National Geographic established a remotely operated WildCam here to capture around-the-clock footage of wildlife. To view highlights of this footage, click here. Pay a visit to a local village and its school, and stop to see the finds at an archaeological site.
Mashatu Main Camp (B,L,D daily)
Days 7 & 8 — Moremi Game Reserve, Okavango Delta
Fly by private charter to our luxury tented camp in Moremi Game Reserve. Our camp offers us the opportunity to discover the Okavango Delta’s untamed habitat by land and water. Take a trip to Gadikwe Island by flat-bottom boat to see hippos and breeding colonies of herons, egrets, pelicans, storks, and cormorants.
Xakanaxa Camp (B,L,D daily)
Days 9 & 10 — Chobe National Park/Victoria Falls and Livingstone, Zambia
Our private aircraft takes us to Chobe National Park, known for its many elephant families. On a wildlife river cruise, watch for elephants frolicking at the water’s edge. Then continue on a short flight along the Chobe and Zambezi Rivers to Livingstone, Zambia; and check into the luxurious Royal Livingstone Hotel, just steps from Victoria Falls. On a sunset walk through the rain forest, look for bushbuck and vervet monkeys. Explore the falls with a local guide the next morning, venturing along suspended walkways into the mists. This afternoon, you may choose to visit a local village, stop by the Livingstone Museum, or browse the Maramba market. Enjoy an optional cruise on the Zambezi River, or experience the falls from a thrilling perspective on an optional flight-seeing excursion. Gather tonight for a festive farewell dinner on board the historic Royal Livingstone Express steam train.
Royal Livingstone Hotel (B, L; B, D)
Days 11 & 12 — Johannesburg, South Africa/U.S.
Fly to Johannesburg and connect with your return flight home, arriving the next day.
(B)
Optional Extension
- Cape Town, South Africa - Pre- or Post-Trip Extension, 5 Days
Related Trip
View LargerNational Geographic Expert
Bill Branch
Bill Branch has been a wildlife biologist at the Port Elizabeth Museum in South Africa since 1979 and has undertaken fieldwork from Ethiopia to South Africa and Senegal to Madagascar. Bill is also a general naturalist and keen birder. He has described numerous new species and amphibians, received a grant from National Geographic to help fund his research on African reptiles, and published six books as well as many photographs and scientific articles.
Bill will join the following departures:
Aug 26 - Sep 06, 2010 • Sep 23 - Oct 04, 2010Dec 27, 2010 - Jan 07, 2011 • May 14 - 25, 2011
Jun 19 - 30, 2011 • More »
Expedition Costs
All flights within Africa are included in the expedition cost. Transportation within Africa is by small private aircraft, except for the flight from Livingstone to Johannesburg. Round-trip airfare between New York and Johannesburg is not included and is estimated at $1,780.
See special terms and conditions for this expedition.
What To Expect
MalaMala Main Camp and Mashatu Main Camp are luxury safari lodges; Xakanaxa Camp is a luxury tented camp; the Royal Livingstone Hotel is a five-star hotel.
- August 26 - September 06, 2010
(waitlist only) - September 23 - October 04, 2010
(waitlist only) - December 18 - 29, 2010
- December 27, 2010 - January 07, 2011
- May 14 - 25, 2011
- June 19 - 30, 2011
- July 24 - August 04, 2011
- August 03 - 14, 2011
- August 26 - September 06, 2011
- September 22 - October 03, 2011
- December 26, 2011 - January 06, 2012
