Southern Africa Highlights: Wildlife Safaris & Natural Wonders - 13 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Cape Town, Traditional African Dinner

Welcome to Cape Town! One of South Africa's three (yes, three) capitals, this coastal metropolis is a hotbed of diversity that lives up to the moniker "Rainbow Nation" bestowed upon it by Archbishop Desmond Tutu. About 80% of South Africans are of Bantu ancestry from various ethnic groups. The remainder come from primarily European, Asian, and mixed-race ancestry. Strolling Cape Town's streets, you'll see firsthand this diversity and get a feeling for the nation's complicated history. Upon arrival at the airport, a driver will transfer you to your hotel, where you can unwind after the long flight. 

Later, sit down for a traditional African dining experience in which you'll enjoy a 14-dish tasting menu that spans the continent. But the food is only part of the experience. Each night on the restaurant's stage, African musicians and dancers perform for the guests. This is particularly fun for children—in addition to learning how to perform basic beats on a djembe (a type of traditional drum), they can hop on stage and dance along with the performers. They'll even get to enjoy traditional Mali puppetry. 

Day 2: Cape Town Guided City Tour

Get the full scope of Cape Town on a half-day guided tour of the city. Visit historic landmarks as you learn about South Africa's history and the people who shaped it. Stops along the way include the Company's Garden, the Houses of Parliament, the 17th-century Castle of Good Hope, and the Iziko Slave Lodge. You'll also visit Green Market Square, which once served as a slave market but these days hosts a popular flea market. Afterward, you'll return to your hotel and will have the rest of the day free.

Day 3: Cape Winelands Private Tour

Embark on one of the most popular activities in the region with a full-day tasting tour through the Cape Winelands. This part of South Africa's Western Cape region is home to more than 500 wineries, and today you'll visit several of the best. A bonus is that Cape Town's wine country is vast and beautiful, so the drives between estates will be scenic and unforgettable experiences in their own right. 

The guide/driver will pick you up in the morning, then you can choose which of the six viticulture regions of Cape Winelands to visit (favorites include Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, and Paarl). At each winery, you'll taste incredible cabernets, syrahs, and other varietals and pair them with delicious tidbits like homemade goat cheese and artisanal chocolates. You'll return to Cape Town in the late afternoon. 

Day 4: Fly to Victoria Falls & Sunset Cruise

In the morning, you'll transfer to the airport in Cape Town to catch a three-hour flight north to Zimbabwe and Victoria Falls. Upon arrival at the airport, a driver will pick you up and transfer you to your accommodation. Later in the day, you'll hop in a boat for a safari cruise down the mighty Zambezi River as the African sun sets over the horizon. It's an unforgettable experience traveling down the same waterway that feeds Victoria Falls.

As you continue down the river, you'll be treated to the sight of giant crocodiles sunning themselves on the banks, families of hippos soaking in the water, and herds of elephants bathing in the river. And as wild zebras line up on the banks to enjoy their last sip of the day, keep an eye out for flycatchers and herons skimming the waterline. After sunset, you'll head to shore and return to your accommodation. 

Day 5: Tour Victoria Falls

No trip to southern Africa would be complete without witnessing the spectacle of Mother Nature that is Victoria Falls, the largest waterfall on earth. Here, 17,657 million cubic feet (500 million cm) of water cascade over the edge of sheer basalt cliffs every minute. Its cataracts vary in size, but the tallest is Rainbow Falls, which plunges 354 feet (108 m) into a river gorge below. There is a semi-permanent rainbow here, and during the rainy season, you can see the misty spray from 12 miles (20 km) away.

You'll witness all this grandeur and more on a 2.5-hour guided tour. It begins upon arrival at the rainforest entrance to Victoria Falls National Park. After spending time enjoying the falls and snapping plenty of photos, return to the park entrance, where you can browse a craft market. There's a large selection of high-quality items made by local artisans that make great souvenirs to take back home.

Day 6: Transfer to Chobe National Park

Transfer west by land this morning into Botswana and Chobe National Park, where you'll check in to your accommodation. After settling in, you can head out and explore. This 12,597-square-foot (11,700 sq m) reserve is the first national park in Botswana (it was created in 1967) and is famous for its 100,000 Kalahari elephants that congregate near the Chobe River. This waterway is also a haven for other exotic wildlife, including lions, leopards, hippos, giraffes, wildebeest, and plenty more.

Day 7:  Optional Activities in Chobe National Park

For your second day in Chobe, you can choose from a number of optional activities. These include safari game drives, boat cruises down the Chobe River, fishing trips, and day trips to Victoria Falls. More specialized tours include sunset boat cruises, private boat hire, scenic flights over Victoria Falls, and Namibian village tours.

The park is divided into a series of unique ecosystems, including marshland, swamp, and dry savanna. One of the best areas to spot wildlife is along the Chobe riverfront, where you're likely to glimpse crocodiles and hippos in the water. Watch as herds of zebras, gazelles, and buffalo flock to the banks to drink, and keep an eye out for the predators who are never far behind. 

Day 8: Fly to the Okavango Delta, Afternoon Game Drive

At the appropriate time, you'll check out of your accommodation and transfer to Kasane Airport, where you'll take a one-hour charter flight to the Okavango Delta. The remote Okavango is an inland river delta that, rather than emptying into an ocean, dissipates at an inland basin in northern Botswana. During the seasonal flooding, these grassy plains turn into wetlands that are a haven for exotic wildlife. In the morning, you'll embark on a safari that will put you up close to the endemic wildlife of the area.

It begins when you hop in a 4WD vehicle with your expert guide and head off into the delta wetlands. Go searching for Big Five safari animals like lions, leopards, elephants, and buffalo as you scan the woodlands for antelope, giraffes, and zebras. Also, on the edges of the delta, you can marvel at herds of elephants bathing in the shallow channels. At the end of the excursion, you can return to your accommodation or continue on a nocturnal game drive to see more rare animals, like the armored pangolin.

Day 9: Okavango Guided Walking Safari

Today, you'll eschew the 4WD vehicles in favor of joining an expert guide on a safari bush walk. As you follow the trails through the wetlands, your guide will reveal the fundamentals of animal tracking. In doing so, you'll learn to identify certain animals just by their footprint. You'll also get to observe the delta's magnificent birdlife. Spot the rare go-away bird, the iridescent lilac-breasted roller, the brown snake eagle, and the grey-headed kingfisher. After the walk, you'll return to your accommodation.

Day 10: Okavango Game Drive, Fly to Johannesburg

In the morning, you'll head out on an early half-day safari in the Okavango Delta. This is a great opportunity to try and spot some of the Big Five game animals you might have missed over the last few days. Afterward, you'll check out of your accommodation, transfer to the airport for the one-hour flight to Kasane, and then connect to Johannesburg. Upon arrival at the airport, a driver will transfer you to your hotel in the city.

Day 11: Fly to Kruger National Park, Sunset Safari

You're back on the move today with a transfer to the airport in Johannesburg for the one-hour flight to Kruger National Park. Upon arrival, a driver will pick you up and transfer you to one of the premier safari lodges in the area. After check-in, feel free to relax and perhaps take a refreshing dip in the pool.

At dusk, you'll board an open-topped 4WD vehicle and embark on a sunset safari to spot some of the park's plentiful wildlife, including rare black rhinos. After enjoying an African sunset over the savanna, your guide will lead you on a nocturnal wildlife tour. With powerful spotlights, you might spy animals like hyenas and lions out for their nightly hunt. Afterward, you'll return to the lodge for dinner. 

Day 12: Day Trip to Kapama Game Reserve

Today you'll visit Kapama, one of the finest luxury game reserves in the greater Kruger National Park. It's a private reserve home to over 350 bird species and 40 species of mammals, including the Big Five. Here, you'll embark on two game drives. The first leaves at dawn and has you back at the lodge in time for breakfast; the other is a sunset safari that departs in the afternoon and returns for dinner. 

For relaxation, Kapa offers several spa treatments in its wellness center. These include massages, facials, exfoliation, body wraps, beauty treatments, and more. There's also a full gym and an inviting swimming pool, and yoga and meditation sessions can also be arranged. 

Day 13: Fly to Johannesburg & Depart 

Wake early for the transfer to the airport in Kruger National Park, where you'll catch the one-hour flight to Johannesburg. Here, you'll connect with your flight out of the country, thus concluding your grand African adventure. Until next time!

Looking for more inspiration for your trip to South Africa? Check out these other South Africa itineraries, explore more ways to spend 13 days in South Africa, and learn about the best time of year to visit South Africa.