Compare Africa's Wildlife by Odysseys Unlimited vs South Africa, Zimbabwe & Botswana in 13 days - Cape, Kruger, Victoria Falls & Chobe N.P. - LUXURY by Exoticca

Day 1

Depart U.S. for Johannesburg, South Africa

Day 2

Arrive Johannesburg Upon arrival we transfer to our hotel in the suburb of Rosebank.

Day 3

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Johannesburg/Soweto We meet our fellow travelers today as we embark on a tour of the Soweto district of Johannesburg. Here we see the home of former Archbishop Desmond Tutu; visit Nelson Mandela’s home, which is now a museum; and tour the moving Hector Pieterson Memorial and Museum, where we learn more about apartheid and the Soweto uprising of 1976. Then we hear fascinating stories from a local Sowetan who was present during the uprising, followed by lunch at a local restaurant. Tonight we enjoy a welcome dinner together.

Day 4

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Johannesburg/Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe We fly today to Livingstone, Zambia, then transfer to Victoria Falls and our deluxe lodge located in the Victoria Falls Private Game Reserve. This afternoon we see for ourselves the thundering falls, first “discovered” by David Livingstone and claimed for Queen Victoria in 1855. With its 300-­foot-deep gorge and soaking spray, “Vic” Falls is a wonder of the natural world.

Day 5

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Victoria Falls This morning we embark on a game drive to spot the elusive – and critically endangered – black rhino. Late afternoon we embark on a “Sundowner” dinner cruise on the Zambezi where we see wildlife on shore and in the water.

Day 6

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Victoria Falls After a morning visit to Victoria Falls town and a local village, this after­noon is at leisure at our deluxe lodge with its own watering hole and outdoor pool. Tonight we hear a fascinating guest speaker on “The Story of David Livingstone.”

Day 7

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Victoria Falls/Chobe National Park, Botswana This morning we visit a nearby school then 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 (including the sacred ibis, carmine bee-eaters, fish eagle, and kingfisher), and perhaps a beautiful Chobe sunset. We dine tonight at our lodge.

Day 8

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

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. And this evening perhaps we'll see one of the sublime sunsets for which Chobe is known.

Day 9

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Chobe National Park We’re settling into a comfortable routine, with early morning and late afternoon game drives. 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.

Day 10

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

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. Late afternoon we engage in some of the lodge’s game viewing activities that include open vehicle game drives, fishing, guided canoe trips, bush walks, and boat safaris.

Day 11

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Lower Zambezi National Park A 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, water­buck, antelope, impala, crocodile, hippo, kudu, wart­hog, eland, and leopard, among other wildlife; and where ebonies, leadwoods, figs, and acacias preside over the mineral-rich grassland. Together with Zimbabwe’s renowned Mana Pools Reserve situated across the river, the Lower Zambezi National Park forms a massive sanctuary and UNESCO World Heritage site where we’re certain to enjoy unparalleled game and bird viewing – and rarely see other safari-goers.

Day 12

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

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. Tonight we celebrate our wildlife adventure at a farewell dinner.

Day 13

Meals: Breakfast

Lower Zambezi National Park/Lusaka/Depart for U.S. We travel by charter flight today to Lusaka, Zambia’s capital, where we have hotel day rooms until our departure this evening for the airport and our overnight flight to the U.S.

Day 14

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

Day 1: US - Night on board

Arrival at your US departure airport ready to check-in for a flight * to Johannesburg. Night on board. * If your outbound flight leaves at dawn (before 4:00 a.m.) you must arrive at the airport the night before the selected departure day. Why not make the most of your time in South Africa by adding one of our optional excursion packages. Choose between our Gastronomic or Adventure packages in the next step of the booking process! Our Gastronomic Package includes two meals at excellent restaurants in Cape Town plus a Bo-Kapp Cooking Tour and Cape Winelands Excursion. Our Adventure Package includes a Full-Day Kruger Game Drive, an exciting Shark Cage Diving Experience and an Atlantis Dunes Quad Biking Excursion. Please note: you can only choose one of the optional excursion packages (Adventure or Gastronomic).

Day 2: Johannesburg

Arrive in Johannesburg and transfer to the hotel. Spend the rest of the day at your leisure exploring the city and it's diverse and vibrant neighbourhoods. Tuck into the vibrant food scene and pop-up eateries. The city is a real cultural hub and it a great place to catch live music performances and indulge in trendy bars and restaurants. Overnight stay in Johannesburg.

Day 3: Johannesburg - Mpumalanga - Kruger

Breakfast at the hotel. At the indicated time transfer by road to Mpumalanga. You're headed for Kruger, home to some of the most iconic wildlife in South Africa. Along the way, see some of the most iconic sights of the Panorama Route such as Blyde River Canyon and the Three Rondavels (entrance fees not included). You'll fall in love with the natural beauty of South Africa's landscapes!* Arrive and transfer to the hotel to check-in. Dinner and overnight stay in Kruger. * Please note: The journey today takes approximately 7-8 hours by road and includes stops along the way for lunch (at own expense) and sightseeing. There will be no accompanying guide for this journey so take the opportunity to enjoy the passing landscapes as you travel through some of the most spectacular regions in South Africa.

Day 4: Kruger National Park

Enjoy a Full-Day 4x4 Game Drive at Kruger National Park. Begin the day early on safari in the southern area of South Africa's most famous game reserves with breakfast on the go. The game viewing area is known as the 'Southern Circle' and is renowned for its rhinos and lions. Enjoy an afternoon game drive in Kruger National Park and discover the amazing diversity of animals in one of the world's largest game reserves. Remember to bring comfortable shoes, warm and rainproof jackets, sunhat and protection and cameras to capture the beautiful wildlife. Dinner and overnight stay.

Day 5: Kruger National Park

Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy a day at your leisure to explore the beautiful natural landscapes of Kruger and the White River. We recommend an optional day trip to Kruger National Park to experience more of its wildlife-rich eco-systems.* Dinner and overnight stay in the Kruger Region. * Optional Kruger National Park Day Trip: Set off to the wilds of Kruger for your chance to spot the famous Big Five. Enjoy a slow drive through the national park, home to elephants, buffalos, giraffes, impalas, zebras and, of course, lions. An unforgettable day in the wilds of Southern Africa. Packed lunch included.

Day 6: Kruger - Johannesburg - Cape Town

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer by road back to Johannesburg, stopping to see the exterior of the Union Buildings in Pretoria, the official headquarters of the South African government.* Arrive in Johannesburg and transfer to the airport to catch a flight to Cape Town. Arrive in Cape Town, known as the 'Mother City', and transfer to the hotel. Overnight stay in Cape Town. * Please note: The journey today takes approximately 7-8 hours by road and includes stops along the way for lunch (at own expense) and sightseeing. There will be no accompanying guide for this journey so take the opportunity to enjoy the passing landscapes as you travel through some of the most spectacular regions in South Africa.

Day 7: Cape Town

Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy the ticket hop on hop off tour in Cape Town. South Africa's capital combines cosmopolitanism, culture, architecture, and the best of nature. With the hop-on and hop-off ticket, you will be able to do over 30 stops to enjoy some of the most remarkable attractions of the 'Mother City'. Take the Cableway and go up to Table Mountain where you can enjoy one of the most breathtaking views of Africa's landscapes.* Transfer to the hotel and overnight stay in Cape Town. * Please note: the Table Mountain Cableway in Cape Town will be closed for maintenance from the 25th of July until the 28th of August 2022. If your trip coincides with these dates, you will enjoy an included Sunset Cruise instead and your included Hop-On Hop-Off bus tickets will still enable you to visit the lower station of the cableway if you wish.

Day 8: Cape Town

Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy a free day by discovering the city further. We recommend taking the optional Cape Winelands excursion, especially if you're a wine lover as this region is known for its award-winning whites and reds.* Overnight stay in Cape Town. * Optional Full-Day Wine Route Excursion with Wine Tasting: Set off into the lush Winelands outside of Cape Town and visit the wine producers in Stellenbosch for delicious wine tasting and a cellar tour.

Day 9: Cape Town

Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy a free day by discovering the city further. We recommend taking the optional Full-Day tour of the Cape Peninsula, a paradise of natural beauty, vineyards and coastal seal and penguin colonies!* Overnight stay in Cape Town. * Optional Full-Day Cape Peninsula Excursion: Enjoy the delights of the Cape Peninsula including Clifton, Camps Bay, Llandudno and the amazing Twelve Apostles. Pass through Noordhoek and see the local ostriches before visiting the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve and Cape Point. Fall in love with the Penguin Colony and Boulder's Beach and see Simons Town and Muizenberg Beach.

Day 10: Cape Town - Victoria Falls

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport to board a flight to Victoria Falls. Named after Queen Victoria of England by the explorer David Livingstone, these impressive waterfalls are just one of the gifts that nature has given to southern Africa. Arrive and transfer to the hotel. Get comfortable at the hotel and perhaps explore the surroundings at your leisure. We recommend an optional Sunset Cruise on the Zambezi River, an unforgettable way to spend your first night in Zimbabwe.* Overnight stay in Victoria Falls. * Optional Sunset Cruise on the Zambezi River: Transfer to the jetty for a Sunset Cruise on the Zambezi River. Includes drinks and snacks on board.

Day 11: Victoria Falls

Breakfast at the hotel. Today visit the Zimbabwe side of the awe-inspiring UNESCO World Heritage Site of Victoria Falls. Described locally as 'The Smoke That Thunders', Victoria Falls sits at the south of the Zambezi River, between Zimbabwe and Zambia. Spend some time being amazed by the power of the falls and visit different vantage points to discover the sheer scale of this natural wonder. During the afternoon we recommend the optional Flight of the Angels Helicopter Experience * or the optional Guided Tour of the Falls from Zambia and Zimbabwe sides.** Return to the hotel for an overnight stay in Victoria Falls. * Optional Flight of the Angels Helicopter Experience (13 Minutes): To put the Victoria Falls into a true perspective, they must really be seen from the air. The sheer size and grandeur of the spectacle become all the more clearer from above. The huge Zambezi River flowing slowly south as the water spreads across the full width of a great rent in the earth before crashing over the lip in a burst of spray and then squeezing into a narrow, foaming, blast of water rushing down the zigzag funnel of the gorges. ** Optional Guided Tour of the Falls (Zambia and Zimbabwe): A guided tour of the falls enables you to delve into the local customs and traditions while gaining insight into how such an exquisite creation came to be. An aura of excitement envelopes everyone who lays eyes on this incredible spectacle and guided tours are conducted from both Zambia and Zimbabwe sides.

Day 12: Victoria Falls - Chobe National Park

Breakfast at the hotel. At the indicated time cross the border into Botswana and to Kasane, the gateway to the Chobe National Park. Enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure to explore the beautiful natural landscapes of Botswana. Dinner and overnight stay in Chobe National Park.

Day 13: Chobe National Park

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, set off for Chobe National Park, Botswana’s first national park which stretches for 11.700 sq. metres. The park is well known for its huge population of elephants, who bath in the waters of the Chobe River. Explore the park on a game drive in open safari vehicles. In the late afternoon, embark on a boat cruise on the Chobe River. Watch the animals by the river. Hippos and crocodiles, as well as a lot of birds, are often seen on the river banks. Enjoy the sunset whilst sipping on a sundowner drink. Return to Kasane. Dinner and overnight stay in Chobe National Park.

Day 14: Chobe National Park - Victoria Falls - Night on board

Breakfast * at the hotel. At the indicated time, transfer to the airport for a flight back to US. Night on board. * Depending on the return flight schedule and the hotel breakfast service, you may not be able to enjoy the included breakfast on the last day.

Day 15: US

Arrive in US and end your trip.