DETAILS
Few experiences can match this exclusive, in-depth itinerary exploring the many facets of southern Africa, where nature’s spectacle is at its most dramatic, history is rich, culture is diverse and “Big Five” game viewing in pristine natural habitats is extraordinary. A highlight of your journey is the three-night river safari aboard the exclusively chartered, 28-passenger, Five-Star Zambezi Queen on Namibia’s legendary Chobe River. Your itinerary also includes the classic land safari, with superb game viewing aboard four-wheel-drive safari vehicles in seldom-visited Botswana, a haven for nearly all of the southern African mammal species.
- Pricing from
- $9,445
Register now. Early booking savings!
- Trip Type
- Group Travel Tour, International Land & Rail Voyages, International River Voyages
- Departure Dates
-
Feb 10, 2024 - Feb 24, 2024
Mar 2, 2024 - Mar 16, 2024
Exclusive five-star hotels have been specially selected to enhance your experience in each fascinating destination we visit.
Fairlawns Boutique Hotel provides extraordinary luxury, tranquility, and a stately ambiance in Johannesburg. Stay in the exclusive, individually decorated Grand Chateau suites.
Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel is a timeless garden estate in Cape Town’s cosmopolitan center at the foot of Table Mountain. Enjoy stylish accommodations, modern amenities, and colonial grandeur in this world-renowned hotel of choice for visiting dignitaries.
The Victoria Falls Hotel features dramatic views looking toward the mist of Victoria Falls. Originally built to house railway workers, this grand Edwardian-era hotel is a member of the Leading Hotels of the World.
MalaMala Private Game Reserve Post-Program Option
MalaMala is South Africa’s largest private Big Five game reserve, renowned for its extraordinarily up-close wildlife sightings and elusive leopard viewing. Ideally located in the exclusive Sabi Sands Game Reserve and sharing an unfenced boundary with Kruger National Park, this combined 6 million‑acre sanctuary affords exceptional wildlife viewing. Enjoy early morning and late afternoon game drives aboard 4‑wheel drive safari vehicles to observe well‑habituated lion, cheetah, impala, warthog, giraffe, painted wolf, and Cape buffalo. Luxury accommodations at the MALAMALA PRIVATE GAME RESERVE.
The Post-Program Option is available at an additional cost. Details will be provided with your reservation confirmation.
Airport transfers and luggage handling abroad are only included if air arrangements are booked through Gohagan & Company. If travelers make their own air arrangements, transfers and luggage handling are not included; transfers can be organized through Gohagan & Company and purchased by the traveler.
A non-refundable administrative fee of $300 per person will apply for all cancellations received more than 7 days after booking and before other fees take effect at 120 days:
120 days $300 per person admin fee after 7-day grace period from booking
120 – 91 days 25% of full invoice fare
90 – 61 days 50% of full invoice fare
60 – 31 days 75% of full invoice fare
30 – 0 days 100% of full invoice fare
Separate airfare Terms & Conditions apply
TOUR MAP
ITINERARY
-
days 1-2
Depart the U.S.
Depart the U.S. and arrive the next day in cosmopolitan Johannesburg, known colloquially as “Joburg,” and check into the five‑star Fairlawns Boutique Hotel & Spa.
-
day 3
Johannesburg for Pretoria
North of Johannesburg, vibrant Pretoria is South Africa’s administrative capital, known for its distinctly Afrikaans culture, stunning architecture, and ubiquitous purple‑blossomed jacaranda trees. Visit the monolithic Voortrekker Monument, honoring the mid‑19th‑century Dutch voortrekkers (pioneers) who migrated from the British‑controlled Cape Colony to the inland highveld. See the sandstone Union Buildings and the formal garden where Nelson Mandela delivered his historic presidential inauguration speech in 1994. Attend the Captain’s Welcome Reception and Dinner.
-
day 4
Johannesburg for Soweto
Follow in the footsteps of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Nelson Mandela along Vilakazi Street and visit the house where he lived from 1946 to 1962, a short distance from the former home of fellow Nobel Peace Prize laureate Desmond Tutu. At Johannesburg’s poignant Apartheid Museum, trace South Africa’s 21st‑century journey to democracy and gain insight into the realities of township life through powerful artifacts, photographs, and film footage.
-
day 5
Johannesburg/ Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Arrive in Victoria Falls and check into the elegant and historic Victoria Falls Hotel.
-
day 6
Victoria Falls
Walk the jungle-fringed trail along the edge of UNESCO‑inscribed Victoria Falls, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Here, the Zambezi River plunges into a narrow, 360‑foot gorge—twice the height of Niagara Falls—creating frothy rapids and vaulting a colorful mist into the air.
-
day 7
Victoria Falls/Kasane, Botswana/Namibia/Embark the ZAMBEZI QUEEN
Watch for elephants, wild dogs, zebras, and giraffes on a game drive in Chobe National Park. In the afternoon, embark the Zambezi Queen, a five-star river boat, to prepare for your cruise along the Chobe River.
-
days 8-9
Cruising the Chobe River
Enjoy up‑close views of wildlife, including elephant, giraffe, kudu, oryx, and an astounding array of bird species. Discover the unique symbiosis between species such as the Oxpecker and Cape buffalo in this unspoiled ecosystem. Expert local guides will lead game‑viewing river safaris aboard small excursion boats.
-
day 10
Kasane/Cape Town, South Africa
Disembark the river boat in Kasane and transfer to the airport. Fly to Cape Town, South Africa, and check into the iconic, five-star Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel at the foot of Table Mountain.
-
day 11
Cape Town/Table Mountain/ Robben Island
Enjoy a cable car ride to the top of Table Mountain for spectacular views, followed by a scenic drive through the city and view the Bo‑Kaap and District Six area. This afternoon, tour Robben Island, a UNESCO World Heritage site, where Mandela and other political prisoners made strides during apartheid. The prison’s storied interior and its guides—former
prisoners, many of whom served with Mandela—provide an invaluable perspective on South Africa’s social and political transformation. -
day 12
Cape Town/Cape Point
Experience a panoramic drive to Cape Point, visit an African Penguin Colony on Boulders Beach, and journey to Cape Point, a nature reserve within the Table Mountain National Park. Take the Flying Dutchman Funicular for incredible views over the Cape of Good Hope.
-
day 13
Cape Town/Cape Winelands
Drive to the world‑class estate of Vergelegen for a wine tasting. Explore the picturesque formal gardens and historic Cape Dutch manor house, then continue on to Bonshendal for lunch.
-
days 14-15
Cape Town/Return to U.S.
Check out of the hotel and transfer to Cape Town International Airport for your return flight to the U.S., which arrives the next day.
Everything you need to know about the tour
Save this information for later by downloading the full tour brochure.
Be prepared with the National Trust Travel Plan
Since 1973, USI Affinity Travel Insurance Services has served travelers just like you, to help protect their travel plans