Best of & Safari

SOUTH AFRICA BOTSWANA 10 Days

Johannesburg, | Okavango, Botswana | Okavango, Botswana | Livingstone, Zambia | Johannesburg, South Africa

Best of Botswana & Victoria Falls

SOUTH AFRICA BOTSWANA ZAMBIA 10 DAYS

Itinerary

Day 1 Saturday Johannesburg South Africa Intercon Johannesburg OR Tambo Day 2 Sunday Okavango Botswana Abu Camp Day 3 Monday Okavango Botswana Abu Camp Day 4 Tuesday Okavango Botswana Abu Camp Day 5 Wednesday Okavango Botswana Vumbura Plains Day 6 Thursday Okavango Botswana Vumbura Plains Day 7 Friday Okavango Botswana Vumbura Plains Day 8 Saturday Livingstone Zambia Toka Leya Camp Day 9 Sunday Livingstone Zambia Toka Leya Camp Day 10 Monday Johannesburg South Africa Depart

From: $8,955 Per Person

Availability must be finalized by one of our trip planners who will contact and confirm availability and pricing with all accommodations and operators.

Rates are valid only for travel between 01 November – 19 December, 2014 and 11 January – 31 March, 2015. No single supplements charged by the safari camps/lodges mentioned in the itinerary.

INCLUDED IN THE COST

• All scheduled domestic air in Africa per the itinerary • All accommodations, safari activities, transfers as indicated in the itinerary • Meals as indicated in the Includes section for each accommodation below • All park entrance fees per the itinerary • Accommodation taxes, applicable tourism levies and all relevant Value Added Tax (VAT) or Government Sales Tax • Professional naturalist guides and local tour guides in each safari camp and lodge • Portage of one soft-sided bag • Total maximum per person luggage allowance of 41 lbs (one carry-on and one checked bag combined weight) on all light aircraft flights • Medical evacuation insurance

NOT INCLUDED IN THE COST

• Flights between the United States and Africa • Personal expenses such as souvenirs and telephone/fax charges • Excess baggage fees • Travel cancellation insurance, visa and inoculation fees • Cost of additional seat on scheduled charters to allocate camera equipment. • Activities not mentioned as included in the Includes section for each accommodation • Gratuities • Airport Departure Fees and Security Tax • Any Government taxes, levis, fuel or industry increases beyond our control • Anything else not mentioned as included

Day 1 – Johannesburg

Start safari O.R. Tambo International Airport Johannesburg, South Africa (Arrival Location)

Johannesburg, South Africa Sofiatown. Joburg. Gold Reef City. This is the commercial capital of one of Africa's strongest economic engines, South Africa. Johannesburg was built on a gold mining town established in the 1800's, and you can still see the slag heaps within the city limits. If you are focused on a wildlife safari, your time should be kept to a minimum in Johannesburg. But if you have time to explore the city, it’s definitely worth a stay. Feel the vibe of Soweto, for example (an acronym for South West Township), then we can organize a fun bike ride that takes you through the streets of Soweto and gives you a flavor for this colorful and energetic township.

Intercon Johannesburg OR Tambo With 138 rooms including 2 Presidential Suites, 26 Executive Rooms and 110 Standard Rooms, each accommodation is well-appointed and tastefully decorated with subtle influences of Africa. Spacious showers, comfortable king beds, blackout curtains and soundproofing ensure a night of relaxation. Wireless Internet and ample natural light provides executive guests a comfortable, ergonomic environment. Located on the ground floor overlooking the terrace, Quills Restaurant & Bar is open 24 hours daily and specializes in African game meats such as springbok, warthog, kudu and crocodile paired with outstanding local wines. Al fresco dining is available on the outside terrace and dress code is relaxed. Numerous activities are available, at additional cost, while in Johannesburg. Tours of Pretoria and Soweto are available as well as visits to the De Wildt Cheetah Center, the Apartheid Museum and Sterkfontein and Maropeng. Please advise if any of these activities are of interest for further descriptions, availability and pricing.

Activities Apartheid Museum • Curios/Fine Art Shopping • DeWildt Cheetah Centre • Elephant Educational at Hartebeespoort Dam • Family Friendly Activities • Maropeng: Cradle of Humanity • Origins Centre • Pretoria City Tour • Scenic Helicopter Flight • Soweto Township Tour • Spa Service • Sterkfontein Caves

Includes/Excludes: Rates include: accommodation, breakfast, complimentary wireless internet, complimentary access to the 24-hour hotel gym Amenities: Air Conditioning, Cell Phone Coverage, Ensuite Bathrooms, Hairdryer, Pool, Wi-Fi, Workout Room

Day 2-4 – Okavango

Johannesburg Maun Commercial Flight (1 hour, 45 minutes)

Maun Okavango Scheduled Light Aircraft Transfer (45 minutes)

Okavango, Botswana The Okavango Delta is a safari icon. Its landscapes are awe-inspiring: yellow grasslands, pristine papyrus filtered rivers, ivory palm trees standing tall above the savannahs, red sunset skies punctuated by fish eagle cries…and great game viewing. It is a resilient system where drainage basins in Angola capture rain water in the African summer (December to March). But because Botswana is so flat, it takes months for that water to make it down the Okavango River and flood into the Kalahari Desert. The timing is perfect - it brings water to the Kalahari during the dry season (May through October) and becomes a key attraction for wildlife at this time of year.

Abu Camp The vast 450,000-acre private and exclusive Abu Concession is set within the unspoiled pristine wilderness area of the Okavango Delta. As the largest inland delta on the planet, the Okavango and surrounding areas of northern Botswana holds more elephants than any other area in Africa. Abu Camp is nestled in the shade of a magnificent grove of ancient hardwood trees on the edge of a large lagoon, ringed with a backdrop of fig and jackal-berry trees. Flowing beautifully from tiered decking, an imaginative use of canvas and poles forms the main area of camp. Creating a modern, unique blend of sweeping lines in complete harmony with the surrounding wilderness, the lounge and dining room have been designed to complement the easy flow of nature and to accentuate a feeling of lightness at Abu Camp. During your stay you are invited to immerse yourself in the elephant herd. Explore the pristine environment with the herd, and get to know the personalities of each family member, from playful babies to precocious teenagers and doting mothers, all led by the sage, experienced matriarch, Cathy. The Abu herd offers an incomparable opportunity to intimately engage and physically interact with elephants through varied activities. Shortly after arriving at camp, guests will be personally introduced to the herd. You will be offered opportunities to walk with the elephants, physically interact with the herd, participate in or just observe activities such as mud bathing, training and veterinary care, view wildlife from the back of an elephant, discuss elephant conservation and care with local researchers and gain insightful interpretation of elephant behavior. Abu Camp now offers the opportunity to sleep out under the stars, in the new Star Bed overlooking the elephant boma. On request, guests are escorted to the large double bed of the Star Bed after dinner on one night of their stay at Abu Camp. Here, raised high above the ground, they sleep beneath the incredible canopy of stars. Also on offer are game drive activities in open safari vehicles. Early morning or late afternoons provide the best opportunities to see wildlife, which tends to be more active in the cooler temperatures, often choosing to hunt, feed and drink then. Float in tranquil reflection down the quiet channels of the delta on a motorboat or mokoro, a traditional dugout canoe, navigated through the waters by a skilled poler.

Activities Canoe/Mokoro • Elephant Riding/Interaction • Family Friendly Activities • Game Drive • Game Viewing by Boat • Night Drive • Off-Road Game Viewing • Photo Specialty • Scenic Helicopter Flight • Spa Service • Stargazing • Walking Safari

Includes/Excludes: Rates include: accommodation, all meals, laundry, drinks (except premium imported wines, champagnes, spirits and liqueurs), twice daily scheduled camp activities: game drives (morning and afternoon), off-road game viewing, mokoro excursions, nature walks, star bed experience, elephant interaction, birding, park fees, wireless internet connection Amenities: Ensuite Bathrooms, Hairdryer, Laundry Included, Local Drinks Included, Pool, Recharge Facilities, Wi-Fi, Workout Room

Day 5 - 7 – Okavango

Okavango Okavango Scheduled Light Aircraft Transfer (15 minutes)

Okavango, Botswana The Okavango Delta is a safari icon. Its landscapes are awe-inspiring: yellow grasslands, pristine papyrus filtered rivers, ivory palm trees standing tall above the savannahs, red sunset skies punctuated by fish eagle cries…and great game viewing. It is a resilient system where drainage basins in Angola capture rain water in the African summer (December to March). But because Botswana is so flat, it takes months for that water to make eit down th Okavango River and flood into the Kalahari Desert. The timing is perfect - it brings water to the Kalahari during the dry season (May through October) and becomes a key attraction for wildlife at this time of year.

Vumbura Plains Vumbura Plains Camp is a premiere luxury camp situated in a private concession of the Kwedi Reserve, located in the extreme north of the Okavango Delta. The concession includes a wide variety of habitats, diverse wildlife and an enormous traversing area of approximately 150,000 acres. Vumbura Plains Camp encompasses such a wide variety of habitats and species that guests can see just about every animal that occurs in the Okavango Delta biome. Vumbura Plains Camp comprises two separate seven-room satellite camps, each with its own raised dining, lounge and bar area tucked beneath a canopy of cool, shady, indigenous trees. By day enjoy magnificent vistas across the Okavango Delta floodplains. At night, a star-gazing deck with comfortable cushions protrudes into the floodplain, providing a place to gaze upwards or relax with fellow travelers in a convivial camp fire setting. This camp is unlike any safari camp you have seen before. Each large, luxurious room is raised off the ground on wooden decks and each comprises a bedroom, lounge, shower and full en-suite bathroom. Outdoor showers are standard. It is open on three sides, and the billowing curtains between the various areas create the sense of a yacht floating through the floodplains. Each room also has a plunge pool and 'sala' - a comfortable area to lie and relax, watching the waving grasses of the floodplain. Both land and water activities are on offer and included with the accommodation. Guests can enjoy nature viewing in varied habitats in open 4x4 vehicles for day and night game drives, nature walks, mokoro (canoe) trips and boat excursions. While exploring the spectacular ecology of this area, one can enjoy close-up viewing of lions, leopards, elephants, cheetahs and buffalo along with all the plains game. The Vumbura area is possibly the only area in the Okavango Delta where one can see a red lechwe, which inhabits the fringes of the waterways, and sable antelope, which prefers the dry countryside, on the same game drive. Birding around Vumbura Plains Camp is also incredible - with both variety and prolific numbers.

Activities Canoe/Mokoro • Curios/Fine Art Shopping • Family Friendly Activities • Fishing • Game Drive • Game Viewing by Boat • Night Drive • Off-Road Game Viewing • Scenic Helicopter Flight • Spa Service • Stargazing • Walking Safari

Includes/Excludes: Rates include: accommodation, all meals, twice daily scheduled camp activities: game drives, night drives, off-road game viewing, mokoro excursions, boating, nature walks, visit one of the traditional villages of the Okavango community trust, fishing, birding, outdoor dining, park fees, all house drinks (excludes premium imported brands and champagne), laundry Amenities: Ensuite Bathrooms, Hairdryer, Laundry Included, Local Drinks Included, Pool, Recharge Facilities, Workout Room

Days 8 & 9 – Livingstone

Okavango Chobe Scheduled Light Aircraft Transfer (1 hour, 20 minutes)

Chobe Livingstone Private Road Transfer (2 hours, 45 minutes)

Livingstone, Zambia While named the falls on his visit, he didn’t realize it already had a more fitting name – Mosai-Oa-Tunya, The Smoke That Thunders. The mighty Zambezi River drops off in spectacular fashion, creating a powerful spectacle that is the most notable of the seven natural wonders of the world. Above the falls, the Zambezi has a hypnotic power. It's full of crocs and hippos, and it is a wonderful place to enjoy a traditional African sundowner at sunset on the river.

Toka Leya Camp Livingstone, Zambia is renowned for the impressive Victoria Falls. Over one mile wide, Victoria Falls is the most expansive curtain of water in the world and drops more than 328 feet into the sheer Zambezi Gorge. Located in the southwest corner of Zambia, these falls and the Zambezi River are the central points in an area of spectacular scenic beauty. Toka Leya Camp is hidden on the banks of the Zambezi River in the western sector of the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, approximately seven miles upstream from Victoria Falls. The camp consists of 12 spacious en-suite safari-style tents with wooden walkways snaking between the units and main area. Tent interiors at Toka Leya Camp boast cool wooden flooring, tasteful, uncluttered African décor in earthy hues, climate-control for a cool summer sanctuary, and an expansive wooden deck from which to soak up the views of the Zambezi River. The islands in front of camp are intriguing and form part of the braided channel of the Zambezi River with several rapids, a main channel and dense vegetation. The camp's dining, lounge and bar areas offer ample space for relaxation and are complemented by an infinity pool, with meals served on the sundeck, the pool deck and dining room - all overlooking the Zambezi. A curio shop exhibits a fine selection of local crafts. Included activities at Toka Leya Camp consist of a tour of the Victoria Falls on the Zambian side, game drives within Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, river cruises, fishing excursions and guided nature walks. Tours of Livingstone town and museum and visits to Mkuni Market and a local village are all outstanding ways of learning about the people and culture of this part of Zambia. Other activities on offer in the area at an additional charge include sunset cruises, helicopter flights, micro-lighting, canoeing, jet boating, and white water rafting. Game drives into the Mosi-oa-Tunya Park offer sightings of general game species such as buffalo, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest and impala. White rhinos have been reintroduced into the park and the occasional predator is also seen. Good birding can be enjoyed within the confines of Toka Leya Camp itself, on boat cruises and out on game drives.

Activities Canoeing Safari on the Upper Zambezi - Half Day • Cultural Connection • Curios/Fine Art Shopping • David Livingstone Museum • Ebenezer Orphanage Visit • Elephant Riding/Interaction • Fishing the Zambezi • Guided Tour of the Falls, Zambia • Helicopter Flight over Falls • Horseback Riding • Livingstone Island Morning Breezer • Microlight Flight • Mists of Time Tour • Railway Museum and Tour of Livingstone Town • Royal Livingstone Express Dinner Train • Sundowner Cruise on the Zambezi • Zambezi River Boat Safari

Includes/Excludes: Rates include: accommodation, meals, house drinks (excludes premium imported brands), twice daily scheduled camp activities: game drives, a sunset river cruise on Wilderness boats, a game drive in the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, a guided tour of the Zambian side of the Victoria Falls, a guided tour of Livingstone Museum and a visit to a nearby village and local curio shops, laundry, park fees Amenities: Ensuite Bathrooms, Hairdryer, Laundry Included, Local Drinks Included, Pool, Recharge Facilities, Wi-Fi

Day 10 – Johannesburg

Livingstone Johannesburg Commercial Flight (1 hour, 35 minutes)

Johannesburg, South Africa (Departure Location) End Safari O.R. Tambo International Airport