Odysseys Unlimited

Day 1: Depart U.S. for Cape Town, South Africa

Day 2: Arrive Cape Town Upon arrival we transfer directly to our hotel, where this evening is at leisure.

Day 3: Cape Town/Winelands Today we tour The Winelands, South Africa’s renowned wine-grow­ing region just 45 miles east of Cape Town. The scenery is stunning; the wines on our two tastings sublime; and brief visits to the historic towns of Paarl, Franschhoek, and Stellenbosch interesting. Tonight we enjoy a special welcome dinner. B,L,D

Day 4: Cape Town Our introduction to this city at the southern tip of Africa includes a panoramic city tour and a stop at stunning Hout Bay. We also travel to the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, 19,000 acres of protected parkland. Here we ride a monorail to the summit for stupendous views of the “meeting of the oceans,” the Atlantic and Indian. After a seafood lunch in historic Simons Town, we visit popular Kirstenbosch National Botanic Gardens. B,L

Day 5: Cape Town/Robben Island Today we come face-to-face with an indelible aspect of South Africa: the notorious prison at Robben Island that once held Nelson Mandela and other opponents of apartheid. We reach the island by catamaran, then embark on a tour guided by a former inmate. Back in the city, we ride by cable car 3,500 feet to the top of Table Mountain for glorious views. B,D

Day 6: Cape Town/Walvis Bay/Swakopmund After flying to Walvis Bay this morning we visit the lagoon with its massive seabird colonies – flamingos, pelicans, cormorants – before continuing on to Swakopmund, Namibia’s main port. B,D

Day 7: Swakopmund/Spitzkoppe Mountains The “Matterhorn of Namibia” is our destination today, as we drive to this fascinating geologic and historic outpost of ancient rock paintings, unusual stone formations, and surprising vegetation. Our day includes a nature walk and a bush-style lunch. B,L,D

Day 8: Swakopmund/Namib Desert Today we travel 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. We pass through Kuiseb Canyon and Moon Valley as we travel along the western edges of Namib Naukluft Park. Late this afternoon we reach our unique lodge set in the heart of the dune desert and dine there tonight. B,L,D

Day 9: Namib Desert/Sossusvlei We rise with the sun to see the world’s highest crested dunes at Sossusvlei in the breathtaking early morning light. Back at our lodge we’re free to join in guided walks and game drives on the property’s private reserve, or to relax and enjoy the splendid scenery. B,L,D

Day 10: Namib Desert/Windhoek/Johannes­burg This morning we depart for Windhoek, Namibia’s capital, where we board a flight for Johannesburg. Dinner tonight is on our own. B,L

Day 11: Johannesburg/Victoria Falls We fly today 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, especially as hippos, elephants, crocodiles, and other animals roam freely in the surrounding jungle. This evening we enjoy a special guest speaker on David Living­stone’s trials and travails. B,D

Day 12: Victoria Falls Following this morning’s visit to a local school where we have the opportunity to interact with the children and teachers, we spend some time walking through town and visiting artisan shops. Late this afternoon we embark on a Sundowner cruise on the Zambezi then enjoy a very special bush dinner. B,D

Day 13: Victoria Falls We enjoy a small group highlight this morning as we embark on an elephant-back safari through the bush in the Victoria Falls Private Game Reserve, perhaps spotting some of the elephants, lions, or leopards that live here. Then we experience a Lion Walk with orphaned cubs now being protected at the Reserve. More big game is on today’s agenda during an evening game drive. B,D

Day 14: Botswana/Chobe National Park Known for a diverse terrain that attracts an exceptional array of wildlife, Chobe National Park in nearby Botswana 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 enjoy a game drive and cruise through this exceptional reserve. B,L,D

Day 15: Victoria Falls/Livingston/Sandton We transfer to the Livingston (Zambia) airport for our flight to Johannesburg, arriving at our suburban Sandton hotel with the rest of the day at leisure. B

Day 16: Pretoria/Soweto A full day of touring begins in Pretoria, the South African capital just 30 miles from Johannesburg. Known as the “jacaranda city” for its myriad of purple-blossomed trees, Pretoria was a bastion of Afrikaaner culture prior to Nelson Mandela’s election in 1994. This afternoon we tour Soweto, the largest black city in Africa and where the seeds of South African freedom took root. Tonight we toast our Southern Africa odyssey at a farewell dinner at our hotel. B,D

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

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