5 Star Safari: South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe

Soaring over South Africa, you will admire the sweeping savannas surrounding the Gauteng province and bordering the sprawling high-rise cosmopolitan cityscape of Johannesburg. You will touch down on South African soil, meet your private transfer, and cruise through impressive districts to your glamorous five-star hotel situated around the corner from the popular Sandton CBD. Your exquisite suite offers unbounded luxury and first-class amenities that will ensure you receive the best of the best that Johannesburg has to offer while enjoying the stirring atmosphere of Sandton’s elite neighborhood and nightlife scene.

You will enjoy your morning in Sandton before you transfer to the airport and make your way to Muan, Botswana, where you will board a domestic flight to the Okavango Delta. The Okavango Delta is Botswana’s wilderness highlight, an expansive inland river delta of unending natural beauty that boasts impressive conservation areas home to lush animal habitats. Shortly after entering the delta, you will arrive at your gorgeous glamping resort pinned on the banks of a little lagoon where animals come to escape the sun and birds nestle in the flanking trees.

As the sun rises over the sprawling plains of the Okavango Delta, you will capture iconic African images of acacias and wildlife peppering the plains silhouetted by the blazing orange sunrise over the delta. Between enchanting game drives through the greenery, you may embrace the wonders of the natural environment up close during nature walks on several low sandy islands. During these delightful strolls, you will snap up images of the colorful creatures and dazzling birdlife while learning more about the region’s ancient River Bushman and their fascinating way of life.

Traditional wooden dugout canoes are iconic in the Okavango Delta, a unique mode of localized transport connecting visitors to the traditions of tribal Botswana and the majestic natural environments unrolling across the delta. Today, you will wander the delta’s serene waterways within one of these canoes, known as a mokoro, and silently glide downstream to appreciate the finer details of the wilderness. Along the way, you will capture remarkable images of the water-loving wildlife and abundant birds peacefully residing across these nourishing wetlands.

You will tuck into breakfast alongside unparalleled vistas of the immaculate landscape before packing your things and preparing for a short transfer to your next camp in the delta. Submerged in an ancient forest of towering hardwood trees and sharing views of a lagoon perennially teeming with vivid birds and wildlife, your opulent campsite in the Abu Concession will be a dreamy escape in the delta. On the day of your arrival, you will join your dedicated game ranger for a tour of the greenery bound to reveal many of the magnificent animals dwelling in the delta’s diverse environments.

In the morning, before the sun has risen, you will join your knowledgeable ranger and safari through the bushveld illuminated by spotlight. Shrouded by the night sky and possessing impeccable nocturnal vision, hungry predators will hunt for unsuspecting prey through the evening and in the early hours of the morning. You will hope to spot lions and leopards in action before continuing across the delta in search of the rest of Africa’s Big Five. During your drives, you will observe elephant herds plodding across the plains, rhinos and their calves grazing the short grass, and giraffes picking at thorny acacias.

You will delight in day and night drives through the delta, offering a peek behind the emerald curtain that is the region’s sweeping plains. Alas, there are other exciting activities to partake in once you return from your game drives for those craving more adventure. Fishing, birding, and boating are unique ways of discovering the delta from new perspectives that intend to share various facets of Botswana’s untouched environments. Whether you catch river-bred tigerfish or spot the rare Pel’s fishing owl, activities in Okavango will share magic moments in the wild.

The Kwando-Linyanti river system is the lifeblood of northern Botswana, providing the proliferating wilderness and its abundant wildlife with the nourishment required to thrive across this sprawling untouched region. Stretching from the banks of these rivers are marvelous environments, including golden savannas and evergreen plains, home to a wealth of wildlife that you will explore soon after arriving at your spectacular camp perched on the banks of the Savuti Channel. Before meandering the Linyanti Concession, you may appreciate top-class service at your glamping suite and luxuries provided throughout your stay.

Marvelous game drives are a given in the Linyanti Concession, with morning and evening trips showcasing the varying sightings prevalent across the region’s immaculate stretches of wilderness. One of the greatest places to discover the game is at local hides scattered throughout the concession. These hides are designed to conceal visitors, allowing you to view the wildlife as it exists undisturbed and unaware of your presence. You will capture your encounters with professional photography equipment under the keen instruction and guidance of your expert ranger.

Today, you may discover the concession via its intricate network of rivers onboard boats revealing the riverside life. You may spot elephants swimming in the shallow waters and hippos lounging in the refreshing rivers before returning to camp for an afternoon leisurely watching the game come and go from your stylish terrace. After dinner, you may gaze upon the cosmos from private star beds stationed beneath Africa’s crystal clear night skies. From these platforms, you may cherish the sunset scenes and spot various constellations while sipping on sumptuous cocktails served directly to you.

Situated in the Victoria Falls National Park, a mere 10 minutes from the world-renowned waterfall and dubbed the ‘Grand Old Lady of the Falls,’ your accommodation for the remainder of your vacation is a Zimbabwean landmark offering unrivaled access to the spellbinding scenes of Victoria Falls. Your Edwardian-style five-star hotel reflects regality in every corner of its decadent rooms and boasts delightful facilities, including an exceptional spa and swimming area, allowing you to savor your first moments in Zimbabwe. This evening, you will be ravished by the majestic sunset scenes over the falls from your tranquil landscaped lawn.

The highlight of Victoria Falls is the falls itself, a Natural World Wonder of enormous proportions that needs to be seen to be believed. Spanning a 1,708-meter wide precipice and plummeting 90 to 107 meters into the Zambezi Gorge, the monstrous blanket of water is considered the largest waterfall in the world. After breakfast, you will adore a guided tour of the impressive natural spectacle where you will survey its pounding pearl-white streams and flourishing tropical environment while you feel the cool, light spray of the falls as it cascades into the gorge.

Wake up early on your final morning to the sounds of birds chirping outside of your window and step out onto your lush tropical lawn to gaze upon the Victoria Falls while tucking into a sensational breakfast spread. There are few sunrise views as impressive as those you will enjoy of the Victoria Falls, a spectacle that cannot be summed up in words. After breakfast, you will collect your things, and your private chaperone will whisk you away to the airport where you will bid ado to Africa and board your first-class cabin for a comfortable trip home.