Itinerary
Day-By-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Depart U.S. for Johannesburg, South AfricaDay 2: Arrive Johannesburg Upon arrival we transfer to our airport hotel, where we gather for tonight’s welcome dinner.
DDay 3: Johannesburg/Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe We fly today to Victoria Falls and our deluxe hotel located in the Victoria Falls Private Game Reserve. Tonight we get our first glimpse of the thundering Falls while enjoying a sunset cruise on the Zambezi before dinner at our hotel.
B,DDay 4: Victoria Falls This morning we tour the Falls first “discovered” by explorer David Livingstone and claimed for 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. Later we encounter local village life up close as we pay a visit to a nearby settlement. Tonight we attend a “Boma (African place of eating) for dinner and a traditional dance performance.
B,DDay 5: 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 tap during tonight’s game drive after dinner.
B,D
Day 6: Victoria Falls/Chobe National Park, Botswana This morning we travel two hours by motorcoach to Botswana and Chobe National Park, boasting one of the largest concentrations of game in all of Africa. After settling in and enjoying lunch at our lodge, this afternoon we embark on a game-viewing boat safari on the Chobe River, where we may see hippo, crocs, some of the park’s 450 species of birds, and perhaps a beautiful Chobe sunset. We dine tonight at our lodge.
B,L,DDay 7: Chobe National Park Known for its diverse terrain that attracts an exceptional array of wildlife – including the world’s largest elephant population (some 120,000), along with zebra, lion, giraffe, impala, wildebeest, and buffalo – Chobe covers 7,270 square miles of protected parkland. We’ll see a portion of this natural wonder on our early morning game drive and this afternoon’s boat safari.
B,L,DDay 8: Chobe National Park We’re settling into a comfortable routine, with another early morning game drive and afternoon boat safari. In between game viewing activities, we’re at leisure to enjoy the amenities of our lodge on the banks of the Chobe River, adjacent to the park itself. Among the options: fishing, birding, nature walks, or relaxing by the outdoor pool.
B,L,D Day 9: Chobe National Park/Lower Zambezi National Park, Zambia This morning we board a privately chartered plane for the 1½-hour flight to Lower Zambezi National Park, Zambia’s newest reserve (since 1983) and, as the former private sanctuary of Zambia’s president, the least developed. Here in one of Africa’s last stretches of pristine wilderness we have the chance to get closer to the animals than anywhere else. This afternoon and evening we engage in some of the lodge’s game viewing activities that include open vehicle game drives, night game drives, fly fishing, guided canoe trips, bushwalks, boat safaris, and sunset river cruises.
B,L,D Day 10: Lower Zambezi National Park Another day of game viewing activities in this 1,600 square mile park on the southern end of Zambia known for its 100-strong elephant herds, unusually large prides of lion, plus buffalo, waterÂbuck, antelope, impala, zebra, crocodile, hippo, kudu, warthog, eland, and leopard, among other wildlife; and where ebonies, leadwoods, figs, and acacias preside over the mineral-rich grassland. With Zimbabwe’s renowned Mana Pools Reserve situated across the river, the Lower Zambezi National Park forms a massive sanctuary where we’re certain to enjoy unparalleled game and bird viewing – and rarely see another person.
B,L,DDay 11: Lower Zambezi National Park From our 14-room luxury lodge on the banks of the Zambezi, we have another day to engage in game viewing activities in this lush riverine environment of 50 mammal species and 400 bird species. With the Zambezi River, abundant game on the valley floor, and the Zambezi Escarpment as a backdrop, the Lower Zambezi National Park offers a dramatic setting for game viewing ... as does our lodge, where animals roam freely on the grounds.
B,L,DDay 12: Lower Zambezi National Park We have one more day to savor the unique game viewing opportunities of this singular preserve in the country many call the “real” Africa.
B,L,DDay 13: Lower Zambezi National Park/Lusaka/ Johannesburg We travel by private charter flight today to Lusaka, Zambia’s capital, where we board a scheduled flight to Johannesburg. Upon arrival we transfer to our hotel, where tonight we toast our Africa adventure over a farewell dinner.
DDay 14: Depart for U.S. After a morning at leisure we return to the Johannesburg airport for our return flights to the U.S.
BDay 15: Arrive U.S. We arrive in the U.S. this morning and connect with our flights home.
B = Breakfast included L = Lunch included D = Dinner included