Greatest Parks of Southern Africa World Explorer Safari to

Zambia, Botswana & Namibia

For a great African adventure, travel to some of the greatest national parks in Southern Africa. Beginning in lush Zambia, discover the splendor of Victoria Falls. As you journey across these diverse landscapes, you will experience the exhilaration of wildlife viewing in open vehicles and even on foot in Zambia’s Luangwa Valley, Botswana’s Chobe National Park and famed Okavango Delta, and the mirage-like beauty of the pan in Namibia’s Etosha National Park.

Days 1/2 – Atlanta or New York/Johannesburg

Board your South African Airways overnight flight to Johannesburg. Upon arrival, you are escorted to your elegant hotel. Relax poolside before your welcome dinner. GRACE HOTEL. (B Aloft, D)

Days 3/4/5 – Lusaka, Zambia/South Luangwa National Park

Fly to Lusaka and connect with your flight to Mfuwe. Continue on to the Luangwa Valley, one of Africa’s prime wildlife sanctuaries. South Luangwa National Park has an abundance of wildlife and birdlife that is rarely seen in other reserves. The park has one of the densest populations of leopard in Southern Africa. Lions are plentiful and during your wildlife viewing you may see them roam in prides of up to 30. The winding Luangwa River is filled with hippos, crocodiles and wading waterfowl and about 400 of Zambia’s 732 species of birds appear in the Valley. Your beautiful lodge is situated on one of the many oxbow lagoons. KAPANI LODGE. (All Meals Daily)

Days 6/7 – Livingstone/Victoria Falls

Fly to Livingstone to experience one of the world's greatest natural wonders. The mighty currents of the Zambezi River race forward, more than a mile wide to create Victoria Falls. They roar with such resonance that the local people refer to it as Musi Oa Tunya or "the smoke that thunders." Feel the mist on your face as you take a guided tour of the falls. Visit a local village to see a way of life that remains virtually unchanged through the ages. Toast the setting sun during a sundowner cruise on the Zambezi River. Savor the beauty of a bygone era at your elegant hotel and a view of the falls from your room. ROYAL LIVINGSTONE. (B Daily)

Days 8/9 – Chobe National Park

Drive to Chobe National Park, renowned for its vast numbers of elephants. It is possible to see as many as one thousand of these gentle giants during your wildlife viewing here. Chobe’s diversity of habitats also supports a wide variety of wildlife, ranging from water animals such as hippo, crocodile, and fish, to forest and dryland species such as buffalo, giraffe, zebra and eland. Predators abound – lion, leopard, cheetah and hyena are plentiful. Birders will delight in Chobe’s over 400 different species. Between wildlife viewing, relax poolside at your beautiful lodge located within the national park. Each evening enjoy a sundowner cruise on the Chobe River. CHOBE GAME LODGE. (B Daily)

Days 10/11 – Kasane/Okavango Delta/Moremi Game Reserve/Chitabe Camp

Fly to Maun and connect with your light aircraft flight to the Okavango Delta – the earth’s largest inland water system, to Chitabe Camp. One of the most beautiful islands in the Okavango Delta, the area is made up of a variety of habitats, which makes for wonderful wildlife viewing in open 4x4 vehicles and nature walks in search of elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard, cheetah, and the endangered African wild dog. Dr. Tico McNutt, head of the Botswana Wild Dog Project or one of his researchers will share their latest insights. Experience the magic of night drives before returning to your luxurious tents with four poster beds and private bathrooms built on elevated teak decks. CHITABE CAMP. (All Meals Daily)

Days 12/13 – Okavango Delta/Moremi Game Reserve/Vumbura Camp

Fly via light aircraft to Vumbura Camp, offering both water and land activities. Mokoros (dug out canoes) traverse the flood plains under the guidance of polers from the BaYei tribe. Boats take guests onto the deeper areas of water. At Vumbura, you may see red lechwe from a mokoro in the morning, then a Sable antelope from a Land Rover in the afternoon. This is the region that Dereck and Beverly Joubert have immortalized in films such as Eternal Enemies: Lions and Hyenas and Reflections of Elephants. VUMBURA CAMP. (All Meals Daily)

Days 14/15/16 – Maun/Windhoek/Etosha National Park

Return by light aircraft to Maun and fly to Windhoek where you connect on your light aircraft to Ongava, in the southern end of Etosha National Park. Here you may see large herds of plains animals, elephant, lion, leopard, cheetah, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, and oryx around the waterhole. Etosha's elephants are reputed to be of the largest in Africa and the tallest measuring up to 13 feet at the shoulder. Birdlife is also good with Ostrich and raptors in abundance. The option of tracking white rhino on foot is available as are night drives. Your luxury lodge is in a private concession adjacent to the park and commands a panoramic view. ONGAVA LODGE. (All Meals Daily)

Days 17/18 – Johannesburg/Atlanta or New York

Fly back to Johannesburg, via Windhoek. Relax at the Premier Lounge before boarding your South African Airways overnight flight home. (B, Meals Aloft)

Optional Extensions to Sabie Sands, Sossusvlei & Cape Town

For the ultimate adventure in Southern Africa, begin your adventure at the Sabi Sands, adjacent to Kruger National Park. See the “Big Five” (buffalo, rhino, elephant, lion and leopard) and enjoy your accommodations at Exeter’s Kirkman’s Kamp with its 1920’s period detail and spectacular views. Dinner is served beneath the stars in an enclosed boma around a camp fire. After Etosha, extend your adventure with a short flight to the stunning scenery of the Namib Desert. Your camp is nearby on the Kulala Wilderness Reserve in the midst of awesome desert scenery with access to the Sossusvlei sand dunes, the highest in the world. End your trip in South Africa’s lovely mother city, Cape Town. Your hotel has the prime position on the waterfront with its many yachts, restaurants and boutiques. Take a coastal drive to the Cape of Good Hope, surrounded by spectacular mountains, rugged shorelines, and the blue sea, see the African penguins at Boulders, and wine taste at internationally renowned vineyards.

Your Safari Includes:

Roundtrip air transportation from Atlanta or New York via South African Airways.
All local flights within Southern Africa as specified.
Superior accommodations as specified.
All meals as specified.
All wildlife viewing by private 4X4 open vehicles, driven by professional driver/guides.
Complimentary bottled water and soft drinks in vehicles
Gratuities for baggage handling, hotel tips and taxes.
All game park entry fees.
Complimentary flight bag, baggage tags and passport wallet.