Southern Africa Safari: Cape Town, Victoria Falls, Chobe National Park & More - 14 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Cape Town, City Tour & Table Mountain

Welcome to South Africa! Arrive at Cape Town International Airport and transfer to your accommodation to unpack and unwind. After you settle in, meet your local guide in the city center for a four-hour walking tour of the historic city. You'll explore the different eras of Cape Town and learn about South Africa's history, as well as the people who shaped it. Stops along the tour include the Company's Garden, Parliament, Green Market Square, the Castle of Good Hope, and the Slave Lodge.

The Company's Garden dates back to the 1650s when European settlers farmed the land to grow fresh produce to replenish ships rounding the cape. Around the corner is the Iziko Slave Lodge, a national history museum dedicated to exploring the history of slavery at the Cape. Since its construction in 1679, the building has functioned as a center for the bustling slave trade (primarily operated by the Dutch East India Company) as well as a government building and supreme court.

Nearby sits the historic Green Market Square, which has served as a slave market, vegetable market, and center for political protests under Apartheid. These days it hosts a flea market with African souvenirs and crafts for sale. Just down the street is the Castle of Good Hope, South Africa's oldest existing Dutch East India colonial building. On the way, you'll pass by several memorials and monuments, including the We Are Still Here Street Memorial to destitute children and the District Six Museum, which commemorates forced relocation under apartheid.

After strolling the streets of Cape Town, stop for lunch in the city center. In the afternoon, give your legs a rest with a hop-on-hop-off tour aboard the distinctive red open-top bus. Start at the Cape Town City Center Terminal, then take the bus to Table Mountain. From the bus stop, continue to the summit on the cable car for spectacular views of the city, mountains, and ocean. Return to Cape Town in time for dinner at the bustling Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, where you'll find a variety of fine dining restaurants and pubs with views of the ocean.

Day 2: Cape Peninsula Tour, Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden

Get an early start for your full-day Cape Peninsula tour. The Cape Peninsula is a rocky peninsula that juts out into the Atlantic Ocean at the southwestern extremity of the African continent. At the southern end of the peninsula are Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope. On the northern end is Table Mountain, overlooking Cape Town. The Cape Peninsula has outstanding flora and fauna and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Cape Floral Region.

Start the day on Chapman's Peak Drive along the scenic roads of the Atlantic Seaboard. You'll pass by Llandudno and Camps Bay beaches before reaching Cape Point. Afterward, head to Simons Town and visit the penguin colony before breaking for lunch at a local seafood restaurant along the water in the sleepy fishing town.

End your day with a visit to Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens, one of the world's most exceptional botanical gardens. Set against the slopes of Table Mountain, this lush paradise houses thousands of unique species of indigenous and exotic plants. Walk along the curved steel and timber Centenary Tree Canopy Walkway (informally known as the 'Boomslang') to see the views from the treetop canopy. End the day with dinner in the city before returning to your accommodation for a relaxing evening.

Day 3: Cheese, Wine, & Chocolate Tour

Enjoy a full-day cheese, wine, and chocolate tour—a heavenly combination. You'll sample dark chocolates, creamy cheeses, and superb wine while experiencing South Africa's stunning scenery and acclaimed hospitality. Start your day with a one-hour drive to the Fairview Winery. With several hundred years of wine-making heritage originating on the farm, it's no wonder that Fairview wine has become a cornerstone of South African wine history. Enjoy a wine and goat cheese tasting in an intimate setting, then head outside to visit the winery's furry mascots (baby goats!) and take in the beautiful views.

Your next stop is the Tokara winery in Stellenbosch for wine tasting, located on the southern slopes of Simonsberg Mountain about 20 minutes down the road. Round out your wine tour with a 20-minute drive to visit Bilton, on the foothills of the Helderberg Mountains. Here you can sample fine South African wines, accompanied by dark Belgian chocolates to complement the flavors of the wines.

Return to Cape Town in the evening.

Day 4: Cape Town to Johannesburg, Soweto Tour

Today you will transfer from Cape Town to Johannesburg with a short but beautiful domestic flight. Check in to your accommodation in Johannesburg, then head out for a full day in the city. Johannesburg (also called Jozi, Jo'burg, and eGoli) is South Africa's largest city and one of the world's largest urban areas. The town dates back to 1886, when workers arrived to mine the large deposits of gold. Within a few years, the population of the city had ballooned, with thousands of native African and Indian workers working in the gold mining industry.

Due to racial segregation during the Apartheid era, the workers were forced to live in separate townships outside of the city limits. The most famous of these are Soweto (short for South-West Township) and Lenasia, which was home to a large population of South Africans of Indian descent. Several prominent individuals have called the districts home, including Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi, and South African comedian Trevor Noah. 

In the afternoon, head out for a guided half-day tour of the Soweto Township. Soweto's history stems back to the early 1900s when the government began forcibly separating blacks from whites by removing the black population from the city and relocating them into separate areas. These were separated from the white neighborhoods by a cordon sanitaire (sanitary corridor) like a river, road, or industrial area.

The area experienced civil unrest during the Apartheid era, with the most notable riots occurring in 1976. The riots followed a rule that Afrikaans should be the official language for schools of black Africans in the area (most of whom spoke indigenous African languages). Tens of thousands of black students took to the streets to protest the decision. The demonstrators were met with police violence and brutality; several hundred students were killed, and many more were injured.

After stopping by the memorial, enjoy a quiet stroll down Vilazaki Street to see the former homes of Nelson Mandela and Bishop Desmond Tutu and visit the Nelson Mandela Museum. Along the way, you'll pass street vendors selling fresh fruit, snacks, and various African art—the perfect excuse to stop for a mid-afternoon treat and a quick shop for souvenirs. Today's tour includes a tapas-style lunch at a local joint and a visit to the Kliptown Youth Program, an after-school tutoring and personal development program for disadvantaged youth. After the tour, stop at a tavern for a beer or a soft drink to reflect on the day's experiences. 

Day 5: Johannesburg to Sabi Sands Safari

In the morning, transfer to the OR Tambo International Airport and board your domestic flight to the Ulusaba Airstrip in the Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve. The game reserve shares a border with Kruger National Park and is home to a remarkable number of wild animals, thanks to the careful conservation efforts of the reserve staff. The Sabi and Sand Rivers run through the reserve, further adding to the ecology of the region.

Upon arrival in Ulusaba, you'll be met by a preserve representative and transferred to your lodge, where you'll spend the night. The resort is all-inclusive, so you don't have to worry about a thing—besides taking in the views and relaxing. Twice daily, in the mornings and afternoons, head out for big game drives or walking safaris. Keep your eyes open for the elusive leopard—one of the reserve's top predators. In the evening, sit down to a home-style meal as you listen to the nighttime sounds of the African bush around you.

Days 6-7: On Safari in the Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve

Spend the day on safari in the Sabi Sands Game Reserve. Sabi hosts a variety of wildlife, many of which also live across the park border in the Kruger National Park. Early European landowners used the land for recreation and hunting before transforming it into the luxurious Big Five safaris of today.

In the 1960s, the neighboring Kruger Park erected fences to prevent the transmission of diseases into the park. This prompted the Sabi Sands management to fence in the entire park to keep the wildlife contained within the park boundaries. Following a 1990s agreement between the two parks, the fence between Sabi and Kruger was removed to allow wildlife to once again roam freely between the regions. Many inter-park projects ensure the ecological diversity and health of the plants and animals. Invasive plant control, anti-poaching activities, and fire control management are all used to improve the quality of habitat for the animals.

These days the park is famous for its luxury lodges and Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino). Make sure to keep to also keep your eyes open for the Sabi Sands Secret Seven (serval, African wild cat, aardvark, pangolin, civet, porcupine, and large spotted genet)—the park's most elusive nocturnal wildlife. Over 145 mammal species, 500+ bird species, and hundreds of amphibian, reptile species, fish, and plant species call the park home. Thanks to the limited farming practices in the area, the environment appears a lot like how it did hundreds of years ago.

Day 8: Sabi Sands to Victoria Falls

Get an early start today with a transfer to the Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport in Nelspruit. Catch a flight to Livingstone Airport in Zambia, then transfer across the border to the Zimbabwe side of Victoria Falls (Mosi-oa-Tunya in Lozi). From here, continue to your hotel, where you'll spend the next few nights.

The town of Victoria Falls in western Zimbabwe is a gateway to the incredible nearby waterfall of the same name. The native Lozi name for the falls, Mosi-oa-Tunya, means "The Smoke that Thunders." Here, the Zambezi River plunges over a cliff and into the Boiling Pot (a permanent whirlpool) before rushing through a series of steep gorges. The incredible Devil's Pool, a natural infinity pool, sits on the edge of a sheer drop. Victoria Falls Bridge, which was built in 1905, spans the river. Nearby, Zambezi National Park is home to spectacular African wildlife like white rhinos, elephants, and more.

In the late afternoon, transfer to the jetty for a dinner cruise along the Upper Zambezi. Relax on deck as you take in the views of the surrounding landscapes, then sit down to dinner as you experience an African sunset. After dinner, cruise back to the jetty and transfer to the hotel.

Day 9: Victoria Falls to Chobe Safari, Zambezi Queen Houseboat

Start your morning with a transfer to the northern border of Zimbabwe and Botswana, where you will clear customs and continue to Kasane Immigration. Here you'll transfer to Namibian Immigrations via a boat transfer, then continue to the Zambezi Queen Houseboat for the next three nights.

The boat is separated into three decks, with a souvenir shop on the lower deck and leisure areas on the top deck. The top deck also features the dining area, an open-plan lounge for wildlife viewing, and a well-stocked bar. The outside areas on the top deck include a plunge pool and sunbathing area. On the top deck, both the dining room and lounge area are fully enclosed with mosquito screens. Your stay on the Zambezi Houseboat is fully inclusive and includes game viewing, a local village tour, and catch-and-release fishing. Please note that the Zambezi Queen operates on set departure dates.

Days 10-11: Houseboat Safari in Chobe National Park

Spend the day on safari in the Chobe area, enjoying the beauty of the river and its surroundings. Kick back and relax as you drift down the river and watch the scenery pass you by. With a small number of guests per boat, the setting is quiet and intimate. If you're vacationing with a large group, book the entire boat for your very own private villa on the water.

When it comes to game viewing, the Chobe National Park does not disappoint. With the world's largest concentration of African elephants and other animals, there's always something to see. Within the park, your wildlife viewing will be greatly affected by the ecosystem you visit—the Chobe Riverfront in the northeast, the Savute Marsh in the west, Linyanti Swamps in the northwest, and the dry hinterland in between.

The Chobe Riverfront is a popular destination with travelers. Safari boats travel along the river, giving guests unparalleled looks at the vast herds of elephants on the banks. By mid-morning, zebra and a variety of antelope replace the elephants. In the afternoons, massive herds of several thousand cape buffalo congregate on the riverfront. Where there are buffalo, there are predators, so look out for lions, leopards, and hyenas in action. In the water, large pods of hippos gather along the shore while African fish eagles fly over the river, hunting for their next meal.

The Zambezi Houseboat is a paradise for wildlife viewing. Rise at sunrise to sip coffee on the deck or enjoy a leisurely morning lie-in. During the day, choose from activities like bird watching and up-close wildlife viewing from a small boat. In the evenings, fall asleep to the sound of the river outside your window.

Day 12: Chobe River to Moremi Game Reserve & Okavango Delta

In the morning, transfer by boat back to Namibian Immigrations, then continue to Kasane Immigration in Botswana. From here, transfer by road to the Kasane Airport, where you'll board your small aircraft for your flight to the Okavango Delta and Moremi Game Reserve area. Land at camp, then check in for your fully inclusive stay. The wilderness area is one of Botswana's prime game-viewing regions. Spend your days exploring the area on game walks and relaxing in the peaceful countryside. See wildlife on game drives and motorboat trips or relax by the swimming pool.

The Okavango Delta sits at the terminal point of the Okavango River, where the water flows into a tectonic trough in the central part of the Kalahari basin. The water in the delta does not connect to any sea or ocean and ultimately evaporates into the atmosphere. It's the world's largest inland delta and exists as a result of seasonal flooding.

From January to February, the water drains and evaporates. From March until June, a surge of water from the Angola highlands spreads slowly over the delta. The flood peaks between June and August during Botswana's bone-dry winters. During this time, the delta swells to three times its usual size, attracting animals from all over and creating one of Africa's highest concentrations of wildlife.

The delta is home to a variety of both permanent and seasonal wildlife. African elephants, giraffes, hippos, tsessebe, sitatunga, blue wildebeest, black and white rhinos, warthogs, and chacma baboons all call the area home. Several hundred species of birds also live here, including Pel's fishing owl, crested cranes, lilac-breasted roller, hammerkop, and sacred ibis.

Day 13: On Safari at Moremi in the Okavango Delta

Spend the day on safari at the Moremi Game Reserve, which sits on the eastern side of the Okavango Delta. The combination of year-round swamps and seasonal floodplains leads to unexpected wildlife and geographic features. Mopane woodlands and acacia forests give way to floodplains and lagoons. Most prominent in the area, Chiefs Island and Moremi Tongue lie in the middle of the delta. The bulk of the reserve—roughly 70%—is situated in the Okavango Delta, with only 30% located on the mainland.

The Moremi Game Reserve is rich in wildlife, and visitors to the area can expect to see animals year-round. Explore the waterways of the nearby Okavango Delta by motorboat to see thousands of breeding herons and storks. Head to the thickly forested upland savannahs to see rare African wild dogs and leopards, cheetahs, jackals, impala, red lechwe, and other animals.

Day 14: Depart Botswana via Johannesburg

Get an early start for your day of travel. Transfer back to the airstrip and board your flight to Maun Airport, then connect with your flight to OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa. From here, you can catch your flight home.

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