Highlights of Southern Africa
The highlights of Southern Africa are so interesting and make a great first trip consideration because this region is peppered with such diverse elements. Read More
You start with a soft landing in Cape Town. You have 4 nights at a great hotel to use as your base to explore Africa's most cosmopolitan city. You have exciting days touring to visit the penguins at Boulders Beach along the Cape Peninsula, take the cable car to the top of Table Mountain and tasting your way through wine country. We will round out your stay with all of your restaurant reservations at the cities top restaurants.
You continue into Northern Botswana for your 6 night wildlife safari split between 2 different eco-systems. Our itinerary recommendations shift throughout the year to position you perfectly for the game movements during these different seasons. Botswana, with the exception of the Okavango Delta, consists almost entirely of the Kalahari Desert and as such, rainfall is low. Phrases like ‘rainy season’ or ‘afternoon thundershowers’ need therefore to be seen in context. Rain typically falls in short thundershowers in the late afternoon which produce spectacular dark skies and vivid rainbows before passing.
Game viewing is good year round, however, there are some seasonal highlights such as the concentrations of elephants in the Linyanti/Selinda over the dry winter months (high season). The wide dry grasslands with small forested islands of the Linyanti create a beautiful game rich environment. Powerful prides of lion, Botswana’s largest herds of buffalo, families of elephants and the rare and endangered wild dog are commonly seen. During the summer months (green season) the predator concentrations of the Central Kalahari.
The annual seasonal inundation of the Okavango Delta are a big part of the story with the floods hitting in May each year and the animals congregating in 2-3 times their normal concentrations so they have access to the remaining permanent water. As explore on land, this is prime leopard habitat. Cruise the papryus-lined water ways on water based safaris that expose the hippos in deeper channels, crocs sunning themselves on the banks, diverse birdlife and painted reed frogs.
After your exciting safari, you return to civilization in Livingstone, Zambia or Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe to see this natural wonder of the world and do a little last minute shopping before you start your journey home. Close
Best
12 Nights - $26,995
Privately guided touring of Cape Town's iconic sites, a hip luxury hotel and two legendary safari lodges during the height of their prime season create this spectacular itinerary. Of course, this comes with all the extra bells and whistles like professional camera and lenses for each guest’s complementary use at Zarafa. Mombo offers an unforgetable experience. Finish in pure relaxation and luxury along the Zambezi river.
Better
12 Nights - $19,975
Enjoy attentive service at one of Cape Town's finest hotels. Then it is a combination of two intimate camps - one set in the heart of the Okavango and one in the Linyanti. The two camps work together to create a truly memorable wildlife safari during the prime season to explore Botswana. Finish this with a lovely location set on the Zambezi River just upstream from the falls. It's a perfect trip!
Great
12 Nights - $13,350
In a word, this itinerary is crafty. By making a few key adjustments, we can offer a more affordable but still impressive experience of this dynamic region in high season. A charming boutique hotel in the heart of Cape Town makes a lovely base to explore the surrounding sites. Fly into the Okavanago Delta where the two camps we have suggested offer some of the best wildlife viewing in Botswana. Finish at a lovely historic hotel in Victoria Falls.
Best
12 Nights - $21,850
This shoulder season combination is dripping with luxury around every corner for this price! Meander the immaculate gardens and art collection at this gorgeous property just outside Cape Town as opposed to the hustle and bustle in town. Your wildlife safari camps enjoy such prime locations that they deliver incredible game viewing any time of the year. Sipping sun downer cocktails from the river deck just upstream from Victoria Falls is a fitting end to this much travel bliss.
Better
12 Nights - $14,600
You will enjoy sunny days in Cape Town while you see the sites from your base in a great neighborhood outside the heart of the city. You have a home run wildlife itinerary splitting your time between amazing wildlife destinations in the Okavango Delta. Drinks on the sundeck at your boutique lodge in Victoria Falls watching the Zambezi river flow by is a suitable finale moment.
Great
12 Nights - $10,875
During the shoulder season, you might get a thunder shower or it might be warmer but you get a ton of great memories on this itinerary for a reasonable price. Your boutique hotel in Cape Town provides great South African hospitality. Touring around reveals the not to be missed sites of Cape Town. Fun, well-located safari camps in the the Okavango Delta reveal the pristine wilderness that makes Botswana so stellar. Viewing the falls and staying at the lovely Illala is the perfect finish.
Best
12 Nights - $17,625
This itinerary provides luxury travelers some interesting and unique locals. Your Cape Town hotel is perched on the cliffs over the ocean and easy walking distance to the exclusive Clifton beaches. Qorokwe starts the safari off in a dynamic wildlife area. Then off for a visit to the luxurious Duba Plains Camp for more extraordinary wildlife experiences. Tongabezi House is a perfect location to see Victoria Falls and enjoy time on the Zambezi River.
Better
12 Nights - $14,315
Enjoy a perfectly hosted boutique hotel along the coast in Cape Town. Continue to the not to be missed Okavango Delta at one of our favorite camps in all of Botswana, Chitabe Lediba. Then off to a very private mobile camp in an incredible location and just enough of this and that. The last few days are touring the falls and enjoying a few relaxing days at the lovely Stanley & Livingstone Lodge.
Great
12 Nights - $7,995
Stroll the neighborhoods around your historic Cape Town hotel. Your safari starts in the Central Kalahari Desert when the grasslands attract a wide array of animals and the predators who are never far behind. Explore the Okavango Delta from an area that is prime all year long and rarely fails to impress. This is a non-stop adventure on vehicle and water based safaris. Your hotel in Victoria Falls is walking distance to everything so brilliantly located and hosted.
Best
12 Nights - $26,995
Privately guided touring of Cape Town's iconic sites, a hip luxury hotel and two legendary safari lodges during the height of their prime season create this spectacular itinerary. Of course, this comes with all the extra bells and whistles like professional camera and lenses for each guest’s complementary use at Zarafa. Mombo offers an unforgetable experience. Finish in pure relaxation and luxury along the Zambezi river.
Best
12 Nights - $21,850
This shoulder season combination is dripping with luxury around every corner for this price! Meander the immaculate gardens and art collection at this gorgeous property just outside Cape Town as opposed to the hustle and bustle in town. Your wildlife safari camps enjoy such prime locations that they deliver incredible game viewing any time of the year. Sipping sun downer cocktails from the river deck just upstream from Victoria Falls is a fitting end to this much travel bliss.
Best
12 Nights - $17,625
This itinerary provides luxury travelers some interesting and unique locals. Your Cape Town hotel is perched on the cliffs over the ocean and easy walking distance to the exclusive Clifton beaches. Qorokwe starts the safari off in a dynamic wildlife area. Then off for a visit to the luxurious Duba Plains Camp for more extraordinary wildlife experiences. Tongabezi House is a perfect location to see Victoria Falls and enjoy time on the Zambezi River.
Better
12 Nights - $19,975
Enjoy attentive service at one of Cape Town's finest hotels. Then it is a combination of two intimate camps - one set in the heart of the Okavango and one in the Linyanti. The two camps work together to create a truly memorable wildlife safari during the prime season to explore Botswana. Finish this with a lovely location set on the Zambezi River just upstream from the falls. It's a perfect trip!
Better
12 Nights - $14,600
You will enjoy sunny days in Cape Town while you see the sites from your base in a great neighborhood outside the heart of the city. You have a home run wildlife itinerary splitting your time between amazing wildlife destinations in the Okavango Delta. Drinks on the sundeck at your boutique lodge in Victoria Falls watching the Zambezi river flow by is a suitable finale moment.
Better
12 Nights - $14,315
Enjoy a perfectly hosted boutique hotel along the coast in Cape Town. Continue to the not to be missed Okavango Delta at one of our favorite camps in all of Botswana, Chitabe Lediba. Then off to a very private mobile camp in an incredible location and just enough of this and that. The last few days are touring the falls and enjoying a few relaxing days at the lovely Stanley & Livingstone Lodge.
Great
12 Nights - $13,350
In a word, this itinerary is crafty. By making a few key adjustments, we can offer a more affordable but still impressive experience of this dynamic region in high season. A charming boutique hotel in the heart of Cape Town makes a lovely base to explore the surrounding sites. Fly into the Okavanago Delta where the two camps we have suggested offer some of the best wildlife viewing in Botswana. Finish at a lovely historic hotel in Victoria Falls.
Great
12 Nights - $10,875
During the shoulder season, you might get a thunder shower or it might be warmer but you get a ton of great memories on this itinerary for a reasonable price. Your boutique hotel in Cape Town provides great South African hospitality. Touring around reveals the not to be missed sites of Cape Town. Fun, well-located safari camps in the the Okavango Delta reveal the pristine wilderness that makes Botswana so stellar. Viewing the falls and staying at the lovely Illala is the perfect finish.
Great
12 Nights - $7,995
Stroll the neighborhoods around your historic Cape Town hotel. Your safari starts in the Central Kalahari Desert when the grasslands attract a wide array of animals and the predators who are never far behind. Explore the Okavango Delta from an area that is prime all year long and rarely fails to impress. This is a non-stop adventure on vehicle and water based safaris. Your hotel in Victoria Falls is walking distance to everything so brilliantly located and hosted.
Best
People sit around and dream about better and more exotic surprises to ‘wow’ their guests. Ultimate locations. The world’s very best, most exclusive properties smoothly stitched together to build an epic adventure.
Better
These itineraries include some fantastic iconic locations, staying at expertly run properties with lots of extra love in the pampering and luxury department. Extra focus to enlighten your senses with culinary delights, draw a bath with rose petals and surprising bush breakfasts on the savannah are all part of the program.
Great
Itineraries at this level are all about the experience. We have worked hard to discover these little gems where the focus is on quality guiding, prime location, intimate size and providing guests a great time and sense of place. Properties have all the musts haves like comfy beds with linens, en-suite bathrooms and healthy food but less fuss about luxury.
Priority: Date/High Season
High season is generally Africa’s winter time when you will rarely see rain. During these dry, typically cooler months the grasses get eaten down on the savannahs, the deciduous trees lose their leaves, so the viewing into the bush is more open. Animals come together in higher concentrations at the remaining permanent sources of water. The rain forests are always lush but hiking is a less muddy affair.
Expectantly, during these ideal game viewing conditions prices rise. This is the most expensive time of the year to travel.
Priority: Date/Shoulder Season
These are the pieces that go in between. In many areas, these are the biggest months of rain. Expect higher temperatures and humidity. There can be more insects. But there are less tourists and prices are fantastic.
These months shoulder the high season so the game viewing just does not change dramatically in a few days. We love the last week in May for example. When budget becomes part of the equation, you can afford to travel longer and/or stay at more luxurious properties in prime locations than you could do during the high season.
We expertly navigate itineraries to prime areas specific to this time of year to ensure great experiences.
Priority: Date/Green Season
This is a lush and green time of year. Rain is common but usually not in down pour mode. The grass gets taller, the bush thicker. Animals enjoy plentiful water sources so they spread out into neighboring areas sometimes outside the boundaries of the national parks. Animals have their babies.
In most areas, this is an affordable time to travel with the exception of Tanzania where the birthing season of the annual wildebeest migration stuns us all with the power and beauty demonstrating the circle of life.
Camp choice due to location is important and different from high season favs.
