Odysseys Unlimited

Day 1: Depart U.S. for Johannesburg, South Africa

Day 2: Arrive Johannesburg We arrive in Johannesburg today and transfer to our hotel in the suburb of Sandton. As guests’ arrival times may vary greatly, we have no group activities or meals planned. Dinner tonight is on our own.

Day 3: Soweto/Pretoria A full day of touring begins in Soweto, the largest black city in Africa and where the seeds of South African freedom took root. Here we visit Nelson Mandela’s home, now a museum, and the Hector Pieterson Memorial. Then we travel to the South African capital of Pretoria, where we see the imposing Voortrekker Monument. Tonight we enjoy a welcome dinner. B,D

Day 4: Johannesburg/Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe We fly this morning to Victoria Falls, first “discovered” by explorer David Livingstone and claimed for Great Britain’s Queen Victoria in 1855. With its 300-foot-deep gorge and thundering spray, “Vic” Falls is a wonder of the natural world. This afternoon we see it for ourselves on a guided walk. Later we attend a talk on David Livingstone’s travels, trials, and travails. We dine at our hotel tonight. B,D

Day 5: Victoria Falls This morning we visit a local school where have the opportunity to interact with the children and teachers, then spend some time exploring the town of Victoria Falls. Late this afternoon we embark on a Sundowner dinner cruise on the Zambezi River. B,D

Day 6: Victoria Falls We enjoy a small group highlight this morning as we set off first on an elephant-back safari through the bush in the Victoria Falls Private Game Reserve, followed by a rhino safari for sightings of the most endangered of the “Big Five” species. B,D

Day 7: Chobe National Park, Botswana Early this morning we journey by motorcoach to spectacular Chobe National Park in nearby Botswana. Known for a diverse terrain that attracts an exceptional array of wildlife, Chobe National Park boasts one of the largest concentrations of game in all Africa, including the world’s largest elephant population (some 120,000), as well as zebra, lion, hippo, giraffe, impala, wildebeest, buffalo, and more. We’re sure to see some of them on today’s full-day excursion to Chobe, where we take a morning game drive and an afternoon game cruise. B,L,D

Day 8: Victoria Falls/Windhoek, Namibia Today we are in transit, flying via Johannesburg to Windhoek, Namibia’s attractive, German-influenced capital and the country’s largest city (pop. 150,000). With just over two million inhabitants in an area nearly four times the size of the United Kingdom, Namibia has the world’s second lowest population density. Upon arrival this evening, we board a motorcoach for the one-hour transfer to our hotel. Lunch and dinner are on our own today. B

Day 9: Windhoek/Namib Desert/Sossusvlei After a brief tour of Namibia’s largest city, we set out through the central Namib Desert of vast gravel plains and giant sand dunes that rise more than a thousand feet high. Isolated and immense, tranquil and romantic, this endless expanse offers a glimpse of a land before time. Along the way we stop for a quick lunch en route. Late this afternoon we reach our lodge in the heart of the dune desert where we dine tonight. B,L,D

Day 10: Namib Desert/Sossusvlei We rise with the sun to see the world’s highest crested dunes at Sossusvlei, its red-orange hues constantly changing in the early morning light. We enjoy breakfast in the great wide open and have the opportunity to climb the velvet-like sand of Big Mama, as the locals call the largest dune. Then we see nearby Sesreim Canyon before returning to our lodge. B,L,D

Day 11: Sossusvlei/Swakopmund We travel through the Namib desert today en route to Swakopmund, Namibia’s largest port, with a stop for lunch. During our journey we hope to see oryx, springbok, and ostrich in the wild; as well as the Welwitschias mirabilis, a botanical curiosity that exists only on the gravel plains of this desert. Reaching Swakopmund, we take a brief city tour. Tonight we have dinner at our hotel. B,L,D

Day 12: Swakopmund/Skeleton Coast This morning we set out on a half-day excursion along Namibia’s famed Skeleton Coast, named for the many shipwrecks its rocks and fog have caused and for the many bones on its beaches from whaling and seal hunting. We visit the seal reserve at Cape Cross, the world's largest, where some 150,000 gather during the breeding season. After lunch at a local restaurant, we return to Swakopmund with the remainder of the day at leisure to explore this charming coastal city on our own. This evening we enjoy dinner together at a local restaurant. B,L,D

Day 13: Swakopmund/Walvis Bay/Cape Town, S.A. En route to the airport for the flight to Cape Town, we stop in Walvis Bay to see the lagoon with its massive seabird colonies, including flamingos. We arrive in Cape Town, South Africa early afternoon with the remainder of the afternoon and evening at leisure. Lunch is on our own today; we dine together at a local restaurant tonight. B, D

Day 14: Cape Town/The Winelands Today we tour The Winelands, South Africa’s renowned wine-growing region just 45 miles east of Cape Town. Amidst the beautiful scenery, we visit two wineries for tours, tastings, and lunch. B,L

Day 15: Cape Town/Cape of Good Hope This morning we take a panoramic tour of this beautiful city at the southern tip of Africa and also stop at stunning Hout Bay. Then we travel to the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, where we ride a monorail to the summit for stupendous ocean views. After a seafood lunch in historic Simons Town we visit Boulders Beach to see a colony of enchanting African Penguins up close. Our last stop is Kirsten­boch National Botanical Garden. B,L

Day 16: Cape Town/Robben Island Today we come face-to-face with an indelible aspect of South African history: the notorious prison on Robben Island that once held Nelson Mandela and other opponents of apartheid. We tour the island and prison, guided by a former inmate. Returning to Cape Town, we ride by cable car 3,500 feet to the top of Table Mountain for glorious views. Tonight we enjoy a farewell dinner at a local restaurant. B,D

Day 17: Cape Town/Depart for U.S. This afternoon we transfer to the airport for our return flights to the U.S. B

Day 18: Arrive U.S. We arrive in the U.S. today and connect with our flights home.