Itinerary

Day 1: Johannesburg, South Africa

Upon arrival in Johannesburg, South Africa, you will be met by a guide who will drive you to your accommodation.
 
Check into your sophisticated hotel, which has 75 spacious bedrooms with luxury bathrooms. Tastefully and individually decorated, the rooms are enhanced by natural light from large French windows. Guests can relax in a private lounge and bar, where a concierge maintains a discreet presence in the atmosphere of a private club. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served off a sun-drenched pool terrace and exquisite rose garden high above street level.
 
The hotel is surrounded by superior amenities, including exclusive boutiques, special shopping malls, cinemas and a comprehensive range of fine restaurants offering indigenous and international cuisine. (B)
Days 2 - 4: Johannesburg, South Africa - Okavango Delta, Botswana

After a morning breakfast, a guide will meet you in the reception area of your hotel and transfer you to the Johannesburg International Airport.  From here you will take a scheduled commercial flight to Maun, Botswana.

On arrival in Maun, you will be met at the airport by your pilot who will fly you by scheduled charter to your camp (approximately 20 min.) situated in the Moremi Game Reserve. Your camp is one of few camps in the delta that can offer both vehicle and boating trips.

Specially adapted delta craft can take you on an interesting trip to Gadikwe Island to see a fascinating breeding colony of herons, egrets, pelicans, cormorants, and storks. Your guide will arrange walks, show you insects, as well as a wide variety of birdlife and animals. You may also wish to match your skills against the renowned fighting tiger fish, bream, and pike. Plentiful game and the silent waters of the Okavango combine to make your stay a rare experience indeed.

A morning or afternoon game drive along the Khwai River will enable you to witness some of the behavioral patterns of many of the animals, the caution with which they approach the water, the natural hierarchy, and the instinctive protection of the young. Buffalo, elephant, lion, zebra, wildebeest, giraffe and many different species of antelope are to be found. You may see the elusive leopard and a profusion of smaller mammals. Game drives in the Moremi Wildlife Reserve offer excellent views of some of the Okavango specials including red lechwe and tsessebe.

Evenings are a comfortable time. After a hot shower and an ice-cold cocktail, enjoy a bush-cuisine meal accompanied by fine wines, and a good yarn around the campfire.

Accommodation consists of specially modified Meru luxury safari tents built on elevated wooden platforms with en suite shower, flush toilet and hand wash basin. At the front of each tent is a game viewing platform/patio which overlooks the Khwai River and the dining room/bar is cantilevered over Xakanaxa Lagoon.
20-BED LUXURY TENTED CAMP (B,L,D)
Days 5-6: Okavango Delta, Botswana - Livingstone, Zambia

On Day 5 transfer by scheduled charter to Kasane where you will then continue onto Livingstone, Zambia.
 
After clearing customs into Zambia it is a short drive to your exclusive lodge set in a secluded, tranquil grove of African ebony trees on the banks of the Zambezi River, upstream from Victoria Falls, Zambia, with an emphasis on romance and highly personalized service.
 
Accommodation is in five luxury cottages and four spacious open planned thatched houses. All rooms have magnificent views of the river and a private verandah. Each of the houses has unique architectural features, king size beds and large airy mosquito canopies. All rooms have en suite bathrooms, flush loos with views and running hot and cold water. The cottages – four doubles and one twin with oversized beds, have en suite bathrooms and private decks with a view.
 
This ideal setting is complete with a relaxing lounge and dining area, swimming pool and grass tennis court. Join a hosted dinner or enjoy private service in your new-found exotic home. As the candles are lit, be serenaded by the music of Africa and the twinkle of the stars. Well-presented cuisine with an indigenous flair will tantalize the taste buds.
 
Let the romanticism of Africa capture you and enjoy our unique sampan dinner in the middle of the Zambezi and have each course delivered by canoe.
 
Victoria Falls is the center of a hive of activities – from crafts markets to more adventurous sports. The Falls themselves offer the most spectacular views and are a must for the photographer and a walk in the rain forest is a memorable experience. Visit the Cultural Village, Handicraft markets, museum and Tongabezi’s own sponsored school.
 
The railway bridge offers one of the highest and most thrilling bungee jumps in the world. ‘The flight of angels’ – a flight over the falls by light aircraft, helicopter or microlight, offers views experienced by few.
 
If water sport is your choice of activity – then try the white river rafting or power boating below the falls. A more sedate but equally adventurous activity is to take a guided canoe safari or fish for the prized tiger fish. Game drives into the Mosi O Tunya National Park give you the chance to view Zambia’s only White rhino population.
 
Or you may choose to relax at the lodge’s rock faced swimming pool, play a game of lawn tennis or croquet. Take a canoe or boat and glide by the pods of hippo, watch the crocs and elephant on the water's edge, as buck prance through the forests. Listen to the trill of hundreds of species of bird and the shrill call of the eagles.
20-BED EXCLUSIVE LODGE (B,L,D)
Days 7-9: Livingstone, Zambia - Lower Zambezi National Park, Zambia

Begin Day 7 with breakfast followed by a transfer to the Livingstone Airport for your private charter to Jeki airstrip (approx. 1 hr. 15 min flight time) where you will disembark. It is an hour drive through the park to camp and you will be able to see game on the way.
 
Resting peacefully on the river bank, in a grove of mahogany and acacia trees, your 16-bed luxury tented camp is constructed essentially of natural materials, and is designed to ensure its idyllic setting can be fully appreciated. The tents are light and spacious with en-suite facilities including a Victorian bath, his and hers wash basins and a shower for two all in wood and brass.
 
The spacious lounge and bar area has an observation platform built into its roof, providing one of the best views in the valley. Of course the dining area also looks out onto the river and the animals that regularly come to drink and feed at and near the lodge. Enjoy barbeques under the stars in an al-fresco dining veranda, while your hosts oversee your comfort and the preparation of delicious cuisine.
 
After dinner, retire to the campfire and enjoy a cocktail or two while taking in the sounds and magic of the African night.

Each day you will have the choice of walking, game drives, canoe safaris or boat rides on the Zambezi.

Walking
Pioneered in Zambia, bush walks are essentially a "micro-safari". An armed ranger will guide you through the wilderness on foot, interpreting spoor, identifying the various flora and fauna, and highlighting conservation issues. The pace is leisurely and the duration is determined by guests' requirements. Typically, a few hours are sufficient.
 
Game Drives
Game drives are the most effective way to view big game and are conducted in open 4wd Toyota Land Cruisers that have been specially adapted for safari use. Usually departing in the early morning, drives can last anywhere from 2 to 4 hours depending on what's seen and the requirements of the guests. In the late afternoon, drives set off for an hour or so before stopping at a scenic point for sundowners.
 
Once the sun has set and it is dark enough for the powerful spotlights to become effective, night drives commence. Zambia is one of the few countries that permit night drives, perhaps the most interesting of safari activities. This is an opportunity to see nocturnal creatures such as civet, porcupine, genet, and also to see some of the larger predators on the move. It is not uncommon to see a pride of lions on a kill or a leopard stalking through the bush. Again, these drives can last up to 4 hours depending on the action!
 
Canoeing
Although the Zambezi offers many activities, perhaps it is best known for canoeing. Nowhere else is there such a combination of breathtaking scenery, varied wildlife and interesting channels through which you will paddle. Tranquil yet exciting, these trips through waters such as the Chifungulu Channel are an excellent way to best appreciate the Zambezi.
 
Six meter long Canadian canoes are used and these trips may last anywhere from one hour to one day. Our most popular canoe safari is 90 minutes long where guests paddle (always downstream!) from the lodge to "Sunset Strip" for sundowners and then a night drive back to camp.
16-BED LUXURY TENTED CAMP (B,L,D)

Day 10: Lower Zambezi National Park, Zambia - U.S.A.

Day 10 brings you to the end of your safari.  Travel to Johannesburg International Airport via Lusaka on a scheduled charter and commercial flights to connect with your international flight home in the evening.

More information from Cultural Crossroads:

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