Safari by Water & Land: Zimbabwe, Namibia & Botswana

15 days
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4.4/5 Great
100+ reviews  
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Small Group Tour
Discover the wildlife and natural gems of southern Africa on this safari by land and water, searching for the “Big Five” as you explore Zimbabwe, Namibia and Botswana.
From$11,999
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Overview

Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate

Highlights

    • I like to spend much of the day exploring
    • Whether walking through historic neighborhoods at a moderate pace or out and about on a coach, I prefer to keep my days full
    • Stairs don’t bother me, and I love to keep up with the group

What's this trip about?

    Discover the wildlife and natural gems of southern Africa on this safari by land and water, searching for the “Big Five” as you explore Zimbabwe, Namibia and Botswana.

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Details

Itinerary focusOperator does not provide
Group sizeSmall Group - max of 24 people
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportN/A
Start CityJohannesburg
End CityOkavango Delta

Travel Themes

  • Culinary & Wine
  • National Parks
  • Nature & Wildlife
  • Relaxing Retreats
  • Yoga, Meditation & Wellness
  • Photography
  • Holy Land

Destinations

  • Zimbabwe
  • South Africa
  • Botswana
  • Namibia

Attractions

  • Hwange National Park
  • Johannesburg
  • Okavango Delta

Activities

  • Nature
  • Photography
  • Relaxing Retreat
  • Wildlife viewing
  • Yoga & Meditation

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Itinerary

Day 1 In Transit to Program In Flight

Day 2 Arrive Johannesburg, Check-in, Welcome Dinner, Orientation Johannesburg

Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 10 miles, approximately 1/4 hour. Hotel check-in from 2:00 p.m.

After arriving at the hotel and checking in, take some time to freshen up and relax before our welcome dinner.

Orientation: The Group Leader will gre...

Day 3 Fly to Zimbabwe, Victoria Falls Victoria Falls

Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 10 miles, approximately 1/4 hour. Flight time approximately 1.5 hours. Getting in/out of a minibus; driving about 15 miles, approximately 1/2 hour. Walking up to 2 miles throughout the day; mostly flat, paved paths.

We ...

Day 4 Wildlife Trust, Local Community Projects, Free Time Victoria Falls

Getting in/out of a mini-bus; driving about 30 miles round-trip, approximately 1 hour total. Walking approximately 1/2 mile; uneven terrain; periods of standing; potentially hot temperatures.

By minibus, we will transfer to the Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust, whe...

Day 5 About Dr. Livingstone, Transfer to Hwange, Safari Game Drive Hwange National Park

Getting in/out of a mini-bus; driving about 110 miles, approximately 2.5 hours. Getting in/out of open-air 4x4 vehicles. Afternoon game drive 3 to 4 hours; evening game drive about 1 hour.

A noted local historian will join us to discuss the story of Scottish exp...

Day 6 Safari Game Drives, Bush Walk Hwange National Park

Getting in/out of open-air 4x4 vehicles. Early morning and afternoon game drives are approximately 3 to 4 hours each; evening game drive is about 1 hour. Walking about 1 mile on morning bush walk, approximately 1 hour; uneven, sandy terrain.

In the early hours o...

Day 7 Safari Game Drives, Importance of Termites Hwange National Park

Getting in/out of open-air 4x4 vehicles. Early morning and afternoon game drives are approximately 3 to 4 hours each; evening game drive is about 1 hour. Walking about 1 mile on morning bush walk, approximately 1 hour; uneven, sandy terrain.

We will embark on an...

Day 8 To the Riverboat, Sunset River Safari Chobe River

Getting in/out of mini-bus; driving about 160 miles, approximately 6 hours (depending on immigration at the borders). Getting on/off tender boats.

We will have time to pack our bags before checking out and driving north to Victoria Falls.

There will be sev...

Day 9 Choice of Morning Activity, Elephant Behavior, Boat Safari Chobe River

Getting on/off tender boats. Morning and afternoon activities last for 2-3 hours. Walking up to 1 mile for village visit; periods of standing; potentially hot temperatures.

We will have a choice of early morning, pre-breakfast activities provided by the Zambezi ...

Day 10 Choice of Activity, Human-Wildlife Conflict, Boat Safari Chobe River

Getting on/off tender boats. Morning and afternoon activities last for 2-3 hours.

We will again have a choice of early morning, pre-breakfast activities provided by the Zambezi Queen: 1) an early morning birding-focused boat safari; 2) fishing on the Chobe River...

Day 11 Transfer to Okavango Delta, Overview of Botswana, Game Drive Okavango Delta

Total transfer time approximately 2.5 hours, including border crossings. Flight time approximately 1 hour. Getting in/out of open-air 4X4 safari vehicles. Game drives last for 3-4 hours.

We will look for animals along the banks as the riverboat cruises to its fi...

Day 12 Bush Walk, Delta Hydrology, Safari by Mokoro Okavango Delta

Bush walk about 1 mile, approximately 2 hours; uneven ground. Getting in/out of mokoros (canoe-like vessels); activity lasts 2 to 3 hours.

We will embark on a bush walk in the reserve with a local safari specialist. We will learn to identify tracks, spoor, and o...

Day 13 Safari Game Drives Okavango Delta

Getting in/out of open-air 4X4 safari vehicles. Early morning and afternoon game drives are approximately 3 to 4 hours each.

We will board our safari vehicles to explore more of the reserve in the company of our local specialists, returning to camp midmorning.

Day 14 Game Drive, Fly To Johannesburg, Program Concludes In Flight

Getting in/out of minibus. Flight to Maun approximately 1/2 hour. Flight from Maun to Johannesburg approximately 1.5 hours. See your program’s travel details regarding transfers.

We will have one last safari game drive this morning, returning in time to freshen ...

Day 15 In Transit From Program In Flight

Arrive North America.

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Dates & Availability

Price From $11,999
Price per day$800
Last Updated: 2/23/2024

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Road Scholar.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Road Scholar Reviews & Ratings

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Michael

Dec 2023

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Not a good bicycle trip

Our family of four, including two adult children, took the Bicycling: Day Trips to Paradise in Canada. This trip is entirely outsourced to the owners of the inn, th...

M

Marsha

Nov 2023

Written on

Travel Section Incompetent, Unhelpful, and Won't correct error

I booked a tour to Italy for May 2024. I cancelled in Oct. for a lot of reasons. Before I enrolled, I asked if Road Scholar would book the flights so that on the las...

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Jane Johnson

Sep 2023

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There is a nonrefundable deposit

Please know that Road Scholar will always keep a nonrefundable $100 deposit. I cannot find that buried in all the paper and fine print but they state it is there???...

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Road Scholar

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Road Scholar, the not-for-profit leader in educational travel since 1975, offers 5,500 educational tours in all 50 states and 150 countries. Alongside local and renowned experts, experience in-depth and behind-the-scenes learning opportunities, from cultural tours and study cruises to walking, biking and more.

Programs For Whatever You Love to Do:

Much more than a tour, a Road Scholar program is a true learning adventure. Whether you join us in Seattle or Santiago, Beijing or Berlin, Road Scholar programs all share four unique attributes:

--Exceptional opportunities for learning and exploration through special behind-the-scenes access to the world's most fascinating treasures, led by our passionate and knowledgeable instructors.

--The shared fellowship of learning and warm camaraderie, whether a solo traveler or with a companion.

--Comfortable accommodations and appetizing meals.

--Excellent value.

Explore Your Mind and the World:

There are no grades or tests on Road Scholar programs. All that's needed is an inquiring mind, an adventurous spirit, and the belief that learning and discovery are lifelong pursuits.

Established in 1975, Road Scholar offers participants once-in-a-lifetime experiences delivered by local and world-renowned experts. Experience in-depth and behind-the-scenes learning opportunities, from cultural excursions and study cruises to walking, biking and more.

Our Most Popular Tours:

Adventures Afloat Cruises: On these educational cruises, you’ll traverse some of the world's most spectacular waterways, offering you a convenient and rewarding way to learn and explore aboard ocean liners, riverboats and small ships.

Independent City Discoveries: Combine structured learning with independent discovery — each program includes hotel accommodations and some meals, lectures, expert-led field trips and detailed outlines for four self-guided excursions.

Grandparent Travel: Discover and explore together with your grandchild through interactive learning experiences and field trips. Both you and your grandchild will share the joy of learning with other grandparents and their grandchildren, bridging generations and opening doors to discovery and friendship.

National Parks: From Denali to the Everglades and countless beautiful, historic places in between, field trips to America’s National Parks reveal what tourists can’t see on their own, with specialized experts showing you how to track wildlife or lead you to the spot with the most awe-inspiring view.

Outdoor Adventures: From hiking in the Grand Canyon to exploring France by barge and bicycle, to sharpening your golf or tennis skills, these active programs exercise the body and the mind.

Service Learning: From tutoring school children or helping restore a crucial forest habitat for wildlife, to assisting with artifact restoration and museum curatorial work, Service Learning adventures are an opportunity to make a difference in the world.

Small Groups: Love to learn in a small-group setting? Check out this collection of programs that have 10-24 participants.

Why Road Scholar?

You Can't Beat Road Scholar's Remarkable Value: Our all-inclusive prices have no hidden costs. Compare the price of one of our programs to what it would cost to duplicate the experience on your own (if that's even possible) and you'll see what we mean by "remarkable value."

Lifelong Learning and Lifelong Friends: When you participate in a Road Scholar program, you will not only expand your mind, you will be in the company of other people who believe that learning is one of the best parts of life.

Instructors Who Inspire: Road Scholar instructors are both experts in their field and lifelong learners themselves who are excited to answer your questions, hear your opinions and share in your experience.

Solo Participants Love Our Programs: Road Scholar programs are renowned for being inclusive, warm and welcoming for solo participants. We can either match you with a roommate or, on most programs, you can choose to room on your own.

Think Outside the Tour: The educational focus of Road Scholar programs makes us completely different from a commercial travel tour. Road Scholar programs offer educational experiences that answer the what's, the why's and the how-to's.

You Go Where Others Can't: We've been offering educational experiences since 1975 and we've made connections with educators and other local "insiders" all around the world, creating learning opportunities that show you the world in a way that just can't be done on your own or on a "tour."

We've Covered All the Bases: From expert-led lectures and field trips to comfortable lodgings and meals, we handle all the details, including the ones you might not anticipate. We've taken the worry out of the planning, so you can focus on your learning experience.

Peace of Mind Through the Road Scholar Travel Assistance Plan: The Road Scholar Travel Assistance Plan, which is purchased on behalf of every participant, provides 24-hour emergency assistance in the unlikely case of a medical emergency.

Scholarships for Those in Financial Need: Each year, Road Scholar awards $250,000 in scholarships toward programs in North America for those who do not have the financial means to participate.

Our Donors: Each year, thousands of donors contribute to our Annual Fund, helping to cover the gap between the tuition we charge and the actual cost of our programs.

What they’re known for
Popular global tours with a unique focus on educational experiences for mostly senior travelers.

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Logistics

Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Meals Included
  • Number of Breakfast: 12
  • Number of Brunch: 5
  • Number of Lunch: 7
  • Number of Dinner: 12
Age Requirements
No age restrictions
Additional Information
Trip ID
roadscholar-7113842

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