Inagurate your 15-day adventure with a 3-night stay in picturesque Cape Town. Next, fly to Kasane, Botswana to begin your Zambezi Queen safari cruise on the Chobe River. Explore the banks of Chobe National Park, home to one of the densest populations of wildlife on the African continent. Spend two nights at the legendary Victoria Falls before flying to Johannesburg for an overnight stay. Travel to Hoedspruit, located in the game-rich country of Greater Kruger National Park. Spend three nights at a game lodge in this premier eco-tourist destination, known for some of the best “Big Five” viewing in South Africa. Experience the thrill of daily game drives, while evenings bring you breathtakingly clear skies.
Highlights
Tour famous wineries and taste South African wines
Take a cable car to the top of Table Mountain and view the city below
Drive through Chobe National Park and observe spectacular wildlife
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Your full-day exploration on one of the world’s most beautiful drives takes you southeast along the Atlantic seaboard past the 12 Apostles, Hout Bay, and Chapman’s Peak. Stop at the Cape of Good Hope, first rounded in modern times in 1488 by the Portuguese in their attempt to establish trade in the Far East and still a significant landmark for sailors today. Also visit Boulder Beach, home to thousands of African penguins. Lunch today is fine dining with drinks overlooking False Bay.
Choose from two sightseeing options today. The first option is to take a cableway up Table Mountain for spectacular views from the summit. Then head out to the scenic Cape Winelands, which comprises the Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, and Paarl valleys. Visit two renowned vineyards and sample their wines. A sumptuous regional meal lunch is included along the way. Or you can choose to board a ferry to Robben Island, once used as a prison for many political prisoners, including Nelson Mandela. Your tour is led by a former inmate before returning back to Cape Town. After lunch, board the cableway to the summit of Table Mountain followed by a drive through some of the city’s diverse neighborhoods.
In the morning, transfer to the airport for a flight to Victoria Falls. Here, you will be transferred to the Chobe River which forms the border between Botswana and Namibia. Then board tender boats that will take you to the Zambezi Queen moored on the Namibia side of the river. Settle into your stateroom, enjoy a mid-afternoon snack, and in the evening, be treated to a Welcome Cocktail Reception and Dinner.
This morning embark on an exhilarating, morning boat safari to explore the Chobe River’s diverse game viewing. Afterward, return to the Zambezi Queen for lunch. As the Zambezi Queen cruises along the Chobe River, relax on board in the afternoon and enjoy what nature has to offer. Be sure to spend time in the splash pool or perhaps catch up with your favorite book. Later in the day, revel in a panoramic view with another thrilling boat safari.
Join a full-day safari of Chobe National Park in open-top 4x4 vehicles. Chobe National Park is home to one of the most dense populations of wildlife in Africa. Be on the lookout for elephants, giraffe, zebra, sable, warthog, and cape buffalo. Prides of lions, hyenas, and more rarely cheetahs are normally visible along the way. Lunch includes a delicious picnic served up under the trees.
This morning, enjoy an unforgettable visit to a typical African village to experience the local culture firsthand. Spend time with the children of the village as well as its elders and learn about their day-to-day life. After lunch on board, you can choose your afternoon activity including an afternoon safari by boat, bird watching, or fishing. Tonight your crew hosts an African-themed dinner complete with singing and dancing.
Transfer to legendary Victoria Falls, one of the greatest natural wonders on earth. Spend the afternoon exploring the town or experience one of the many activities offered at your hotel. This evening travel back in time aboard a historic steam train and jaunt onto the iconic Victoria Falls Bridge. The sweeping views are unforgettable and with five-star service you can enjoy cocktails and appetizers along the way. Dinner follows at the hotel.
Join a local guide for a tour of remarkable Victoria Falls, more commonly referred to as the smoke that thunders. The afternoon is free. Relax and enjoy the amenities and grounds of your iconic hotel, walk into town for a little shopping, or take an optional outing. Tonight, embark on a private and festive Sundowner cruise complete with drinks and tapas, along with music.
Day 10: Victoria Falls | Johannesburg, South Africa
Get an in-depth look at Soweto’s unique neighborhoods, the center of the uprising against the apartheid state. Walk the footsteps of Nelson Mandela, followed by a township lunch. Before dinner, gather with a local expert for an informative discussion and afterward enjoy a multi-course dinner.
Day 12: Johannesburg | Fly to Kruger National Park Area
This morning fly to the Greater Kruger National Park, where you are transferred to a private game lodge, luxurious Tintswalo Safari Lodge. Later, set out on an afternoon game drive in search of the country’s “Big Five” and other native wildlife. Tonight, enjoy your first dinner at the lodge.
Begin your day with an early morning game drive. Your open-air vehicle is the perfect means to explore this private game reserve, located just a stone’s throw from the game-rich Kruger National Park. The rest of the morning can be spent enjoying the facilities at your lodge. The afternoon brings another game drive deep into the bush, where you may encounter South Africa’s top predators: cheetahs, hyenas, and lions.
Enjoy two exhilarating game drives today, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, as well as ample leisure time to relax and enjoy your game lodge accommodations. Tonight, after dining with your fellow travelers, the evening is yours to read, socialize, or simply gaze up at the stunning star-filled African sky.
Day 15: Kruger National Park Area | Fly to Johannesburg, South Africa
1 Breakfast
Early this morning, have your final game-drive before returning to the lodge for breakfast. Afterwards, transfer to the airport for your flight to Johannesburg for your connecting flight home. Please do not schedule onward flight before 4:30 pm.
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Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
Our guide and driver were very good with their knowledge and were very helpful with our questions. It was a very pleasant visit that would have been impossible to do on our own. Hotels and restaurants were fantastic. The special places we got to go to, like the kitchens, were great. Enjoyed the entire trip!
Meyer Smolen
TrustScore 4.8 | 169 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 169 reviews on
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Friendly and professional interactions. Answered my questions and followed up on initial contact.
Tim Elliott
1 day ago
Adventure Life has been an extraordinary travel resource for us over the years and today was no exception. Our River Cruise booking was handled by Jess (who has been our personal trip planner for several years) the same day as our inquiry. Suggestions were given for cabin choice and pre-trip options (that were not shown on the cruise line's website) like airport transfers and prepaid gratuities. Trip insurance recommendations followed and we were assigned a travel co-ordinator till the end of the tour. All we have to do is show up! Great service from friendly folks.
APtravelwell
2 days ago
My representative Kevin was very responsive generally and in crafting our itinerary to our specific priorities.
Rocco Labella
2 days ago
Although there was a lot of paper work, I received help and guidance when I needed it.
Donna Kirby
3 days ago
Our travel was flawless! The rider pickup (airport, hotel, ship) was seamless. Jane's recommendation for Emerald Cruise Sakara was everything I wanted but the experience was soooo much more. Adventure Life took care of each and every detail and this was the easiest of all my travels.