Southern Africa Safari Adventure

Arrive in Cape Town and transfer to your hotel. Cape Town is South Africa’s oldest and most beautiful city sitting beside two oceans and crowned with Table Mountain National Park. Rest from your flight and then start to enjoy the blend of cultures, cuisines and landscapes that define the “Mother City.” Your hotel is just steps away from the numerous shops, restaurants, markets and attractions of one of the city’s most popular destinations, the Victoria and Albert Waterfront. Tonight you have the option of attending a dinner show with South African entertainment (not included).

Begin the day with a guided tour of the various sights of this fascinating city and a trip aboard the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway to the summit (3,558 ft.) with views of the city, Table Bay and Robben Island. Visit Bo Kapp (“above the Cape”), also known as the Malay Quarter, a National Heritage Site and the city’s oldest surviving residential neighborhood. This multicultural enclave, with its brightly colored houses and cobble stoned streets, sits on the side of Signal Hill, from which the firing of the Noon Gun (cannon) has been a Cape Town tradition since 1806. The remainder of the day is yours to explore some of Cape Town’s other sights: the Iziko South African Museum, the Clifton Beaches and more of the V&A Waterfront, including the Two Oceans Aquarium.

You’re off on one the world’s most spectacular drives as you travel south through Cape Peninsula National Park en route to the nature re- serve encompassing Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope. See rugged mountains, sandy beaches, historic lighthouses, and, of course, Simonstown and Boulders Beach with its colony of African penguins. The excursion also includes the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens.

This morning’s flight takes you to Johannesburg, South Africa’s largest and youngest major city, established in 1886 following the discovery of gold in the region. Your destination is the township of Soweto and Vilakazi Street, the world’s only road to have produced two Nobel Laureates, President Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. See their homes and visit the Hector Pieterson Museum, which honors the struggle to end apartheid and the young teenager killed in the 1976 Soweto Uprising. The tour also allows you to meet the locals, taste their pavement-cooked meals and experience “Ubuntu,” the humanity, hospitality and warmth of township life.

A short flight takes you to South Africa’s flagship conservation area: Kruger National Park, one of the largest on the continent (7,580 sq.mi.). Today experience two safaris in search of the Big Five and perhaps giraffes, zebras, hippos, wildebeest, cheetahs, warthogs, hyenas, antelopes, monkeys, baboons and more. There are 147 types of mammals and hundreds of species of birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and insects, plus an extensive diversity of flowers and trees, including the iconic baobab. You can also relax by the pool, enjoy being pampered at the spa, or simply savor the ambiance of your wilderness lodge.

Get aboard your 4x4 open vehicle for two more game drives today in pursuit of Kruger’s extensive wildlife population and unique photo opportunities. (The best times for viewing are early mornings or evenings when the weather is cooler.) En- joy a sundowner (refreshments) in the bush and dine on traditional cuisine in the restaurant or under the stars around a “boma” fire pit, a traditional gathering spot for dining, entertainment and conversation.

Today you fly to Livingstone, Zambia, a former British colonial city where you can visit the Dr. David Livingstone Memorial Museum (fee) with memorabilia from the life of the famous explorer, plus artifacts featuring Zambia’s rich culture. For an authentic African experience, there is an optional tour to Mukuni Village (not included), an actual indigenous community with genuine Leya people going about their daily lives. This evening enjoy a sunset cruise on the Zambezi River. Your lodge features a spa, nature center and hiking trails.

A visit to Africa is incomplete without a trip to Mosioa Tunya (“The Smoke That Thunders”), better known as Victoria Falls, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Your guided tour shows you the best views and scenic walks to fully appreciate this awe- inspiring spectacle. In addition, learn how the falls were formed and the local customs and traditions surrounding them. Cross the bridge over the falls’ Second Gorge and enter Zimbabwe and Victoria Falls Town with bustling marketplaces selling an array of African merchandise.

Your next destination is Botswana and Chobe National Park, renowned for its diverse and abundant game-viewing opportunities. During the 55-mile ride from Livingstone, you will cross the Zambezi River by ferry near the Four Corners, the spot where Zimbabwe, Zambia, Namibia and Botswana come together. Your lodge in Kasane lies on the northern edge of the park along the Chobe River. This region is known for its dense concentration of hippos and the spectacular Kalahari elephants, the largest on earth. In fact, Chobe National Park has the highest elephant population in the world (50,000). Of course there is all manner of game including large herds of cape buffalos, along with the lions who prey on them. Two game drives take you into the park and along the river, a favorite watering spot for breeding herds of elephants as well as families of giraffes.

Experience the variety of wildlife in Cho- be National Park on two more safaris, one on land and one on the river. You can also enjoy the benefits of the lodge with all rooms facing the Chobe River and lush expansive gardens that are home to warthogs, mongoose, vervet monkeys and the African fish eagle, to name a few. Relax by the pool, take advantage of the spa, go fishing or visit Sedudu Island for the chance to see more wildlife.

It’s time to bring this great adventure to a close as you ride back to Livingstone International Airport.