Southern Africa

Arrive in Cape Town where a private transfer will meet you and take you to your deluxe hotel. Home to Table Mountain and overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, Cape Town is often described as one of the world’s most beautiful cities, boasting beaches, mountains, and plenty of greenery. It’s also a rare cultural gem whose cuisines, languages, and cultures reflect the rich diversity of Cape Town’s unique population.

Travel along the Atlantic seaboard to the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, within which lie the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Point promontories. Here the windswept terrain and soaring cliffs showcase the reserve’s distinctive fauna and flora. Take the funicular to Cape Point, the tip of the reserve, which offers a dramatic vista southward over the Atlantic Ocean. Following your exploration of this dramatic coastline, travel to the charming fishing village of Simon's Town along the False Bay coast. En route visit the famous colony of African penguins at Boulders Beach, where you can observe these charismatic seabirds in their natural habitat. Enjoy lunch at a seaside restaurant before returning to Cape Town.

Depart Cape Town for a full-day tour of the renowned Cape Winelands, one of the most beautiful wine-producing regions in the world. Travel through spectacular mountain passes to the historic towns of Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, or Paarl, where you'll visit world-class wine estates nestled beneath dramatic mountain backdrops. Embark on a guided cellar tour to learn about South African wine-making traditions that date back over 350 years as well the intricate wine-making process, all while enjoying tastings of award-winning vintages at carefully selected estates. Enjoy a gourmet lunch at one of the region’s premier restaurants. Return to Cape Town in the late afternoon with time to relax at the hotel.

This morning take a commercial flight to Maun, then take chartered bush planes to Xugana Island Lodge, enjoying spectacular views of the waterways, islands, and wildlife-rich plains of the Okavango Delta from above. After arrival at the lodge, settle into your spacious safari suite overlooking the water channels. Enjoy a light lunch before embarking on your first afternoon water-based safari, either a motorboat safari or a mokoro ride in a traditional dugout canoe. After experiencing the magic of the delta as the sun sets over the waterways, return to camp for dinner under the African stars.

Enjoy a full day exploring the remarkable Okavango Delta ecosystem, where the water supports an incredible diversity of wildlife in an otherwise arid region. Following breakfast, begin with an early morning excursion of either a motorboat safari or mokoro ride, witnessing the wilderness awaken. Winding through the maze of water, islands, and channels, look for hippo, elephant, and possibly crocodiles, along with several captivating bird species. After your morning excursion, return to the lodge for lunch and time at leisure. Enjoy an afternoon activity, either another water-based safari, catch-and-release fishing on the Okavango, or a guided walking safari to view other wildlife, bird species, plants, and insects on foot. Return to the lodge for dinner and evening refreshments.

After a final early morning activity and breakfast, board a light aircraft for the scenic charter flight to the Savute region. Flying over the diverse landscapes of Botswana, you'll transition from the lush waterways of the Okavango Delta to the drier terrain of the Savute region within Chobe National Park. This legendary wildlife area is famous for its dramatic predator-prey interactions and dense concentrations of game. After landing, transfer to Savute Safari Lodge and enjoy lunch before embarking on your first afternoon game drive through this wild landscape. Enjoy viewing countless animal, bird, and plant species in their natural habitat, witnessing the African sun set over the plains. Return to camp for dinner.

Spend a full day exploring the Savute region with morning and afternoon game drives led by expert guides. The area's open savannah grasslands, acacia woodlands, and marshes create diverse habitats that support exceptional wildlife populations. Watch for large herds of elephants as well as buffalo, zebra, wildebeest, giraffe, and various antelope species, along with predator game. The region is also excellent for birdwatching, with over 450 species recorded in Chobe National Park. An optional activity is a trip to Gubatsa Hills to view the ancient San rock paintings. Between game drives, return to camp for meals and time to relax. End the day with a sundowner stop during your evening game drive before returning to camp for dinner.

This morning board chartered bush planes bound for Kasane, then transfer by road to Livingstone, Zambia, crossing the border into this charming town on the northern bank of the Zambezi River. Check in to the historic Royal Livingstone Hotel, a luxurious resort situated directly on the banks of the Mighty Zambezi, just upstream from Victoria Falls. The hotel's privileged riverside location allows guests to observe wildlife in the river, as well as enjoy the resident zebra on the grounds. After lunch at the hotel, enjoy some leisure time to relax before embarking on a sunset cruise on the Zambezi River. Drift along the calm waters upstream from the falls, enjoying refreshments and canapés while watching hippos surfacing and crocodiles basking on the banks. After the sun sets, return to the hotel for dinner on your own.

Embark on a guided tour of Victoria Falls, known locally as Mosi-oa-Tunya or “The Smoke that Thunders.” Measuring one mile wide, these magnificent falls drop between 295 feet and 350 feet into the Batoka Gorge. An average of 1,804,000 cubic feet of water pours over the falls every minute, and the constant mist creates a tropical rain forest–like cloud visible from the winding footpath along the falls’ rim. Walk along the network of trails through the rainforest created by the falls’ perpetual spray, stopping at numerous viewpoints for spectacular photo opportunities. Following your tour of the falls, enjoy lunch at the renowned Lookout Café, perched on the edge of the Batoka Gorge with breathtaking views of the Zambezi River below. The afternoon offers time for optional activities (at additional cost) such as a helicopter flight over the falls, white-water rafting on the Zambezi, bungee jumping from the Victoria Falls Bridge, or simply relaxing at the hotel.

This morning, transfer to Victoria Falls International Airport for your flight to Nelspruit, South Africa. Upon arrival in Nelspruit, connect with a charter flight to Sabi Sabi Bush Lodge, located in the heart of the world-renowned Sabi Sand Game Reserve, one of the first private game reserves in South Africa, which abuts the southwestern border of Kruger National Park. Check in to your luxury lodge and learn about the many safari activities that will be available to you during your stay. Depending on your arrival time, embark on your first afternoon game drive through the reserve, where experienced rangers and Shangaan trackers will introduce you to the Big Five and the diverse ecosystems of the South African bushveld. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Enjoy two delightful days exploring the African bush and relaxing at your lodge. Sharing an unfenced border with Kruger National Park, Sabi Sands Game Reserve offers exceptional game viewing, with plentiful opportunities to see the Big Five. The reserve is said to have the highest number of recorded leopard sightings. In addition to early-morning and late-afternoon safaris with your lodge’s well-versed and intuitive rangers and trackers, activities include guided bush walks, moonlit bush dinners, guided stargazing trips and birdwatching.

Enjoy a final early morning game drive, making the most of your last opportunity to experience the magic of the African bush. Then transfer via charter flight from Sabi Sabi's private airstrip to O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, where you'll connect with your international flight home.