American breakfast (B) daily, 6 lunches (L), and 7 dinners (D); Local Host service in Cape Town and Johannesburg; experienced ranger and game tracker in Kruger National Park area and Botswana; sightseeing and game drives as outlined in the day-by-day itinerary (inside visits and special features are shown in UPPERCASE).
Itinerary:
Day #1 Arrive in Cape Town, South Africa. Welcome to South Africa! Arrive late in the evening and check in to your hotel.
Day #2 Cape Town. Today, enjoy a sightseeing tour that includes a CABLE-CAR RIDE up Table Mountain (weather permitting). Here you will enjoy stunning views of the city and surrounding area. The afternoon is at your leisure. (B)
Day #3 Cape Town. Enjoy a full day at your leisure. (B)
Day #4 Cape Town–Kruger National Park Area. Today, fly to KRUGER NATIONAL PARK area and check in to your lodge in a private game reserve. The Kruger area is famous for its abundance of wildlife, so you have a great chance to see the “Big 5”—lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and buffalo. Other animals you may see include kudu, impala, giraffe, hippo, cheetah, spotted hyena, wildebeest, and more! (B,D)
Day #5 Kruger Area. Enjoy two full days of game viewing in this wondrous land. Wake up early for a MORNING GAME DRIVE in an open-air, 4-wheel-drive Land Rover. Your skilled tracker and professional ranger will help you learn more about this special ecosystem as you view wildlife up close. After breakfast at your lodge, take advantage of some free time. Swim in the pool, read a book, or enjoy a drink at the bar. Tea will be served prior to your AFTERNOON GAME DRIVE. As the sun sets, your tracker will bring out a spotlight to help you spot nocturnal animals and, if you are lucky, maybe even a leopard! Return to your lodge in time to freshen up before dinner. (B,L,D daily)
Day #6 Kruger Area. Enjoy two full days of game viewing in this wondrous land. Wake up early for a MORNING GAME DRIVE in an open-air, 4-wheel-drive Land Rover. Your skilled tracker and professional ranger will help you learn more about this special ecosystem as you view wildlife up close. After breakfast at your lodge, take advantage of some free time. Swim in the pool, read a book, or enjoy a drink at the bar. Tea will be served prior to your AFTERNOON GAME DRIVE. As the sun sets, your tracker will bring out a spotlight to help you spot nocturnal animals and, if you are lucky, maybe even a leopard! Return to your lodge in time to freshen up before dinner. (B,L,D daily)
Day #7 Kruger Area–Johannesburg. Enjoy one last GAME DRIVE this morning before flying to Johannesburg. The remainder of the day is at your leisure. (B)
Day #8 Johannesburg. Today’s sightseeing starts with a visit to SOWETO (South Western Township), the largest township in the country. Along the way, see the homes of two Nobel Peace Prize winners: Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. You will also see the Hector Pieterson Memorial, dedicated to the 12-year-old boy killed by police during a demonstration in 1976. Next, visit the unforgettable APARTHEID MUSEUM. Here you will learn about the founding of South Africa before delving into the apartheid years. (B)
Day #9 Johannesburg–Okavango Delta, Botswana. Fly via Maun to the OKAVANGO DELTA, the largest inland delta in the world and one of the last truly untouched areas for wildlife viewing in all of Africa. Surrounded by the dry Kalahari Desert, it attracts a great diversity of animals looking for permanent water. Enjoy a GAME ACTIVITY this afternoon. (B,L,D)
Day #10 Okavango. Enjoy MORNING AND AFTERNOON GAME ACTIVITIES. Keep your eyes out for lion, elephant, zebra, hippo, rhino, and many others! The area is also home to the rare African wild dog and over 400 species of birds. During the heat of the day, take advantage of time at leisure. (B,L,D)
Day #11 Okavango–Chobe National Park. Today, fly to CHOBE NATIONAL PARK, which features some of the greatest concentrations of wildlife in Africa. Enjoy an AFTERNOON GAME ACTIVITY before settling in for the evening. (B,L,D)
Day #12 Chobe. Enjoy MORNING AND AFTERNOON GAME ACTIVITIES in this stunning land. You may see giraffe, lion, lechwe, and huge herds of elephant. It is said that these are the largest elephants in the world. Spend the middle of the day at your leisure. (B,L,D)
Day #13 Chobe–Victoria Falls–Johannesburg–Homebound Flight. Your vacation ends with a drive to Victoria Falls for a flight to Johannesburg to connect with your homebound flight. Book homebound flights after 5:30 pm. (B)