South Africa, Botswana & Zimbabwe
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South Africa, Botswana & Zimbabwe . 1 unusual journey hosted by Patty & David Weber Crusoe & Son’s safaris are unique. We take you to places you can enjoy at leisure, places where you can view animals from a specially designed R.vehicle, from a seat in a traditional dugout canoe, or on foot. What an unforgettable moment—waking up in the bush luxury of a tented camp to catch a small herd of elephants soaking in the morning sun. Or deciding on a lark to join your safari guide for a game walk through a private wildlife reserve. Or taking stock of Southern Africa’s exquisite beauty over cocktails in the setting sun. Where the Buffalo (Elephant, Zebra, Hippo, Hyena, & Lion) Roam. Day 1: United States Wednesday, 2 September 2015 Embark on an overnight flight to South Africa. Overnight: in flight Day 2: Johannesburg, South Africa Thursday, 3 September 2015 up to the infamous raid in Rivonia as well as insights into Welcome to South Africa. On arrival in Johannesburg, some of the revolutionary personalities who helped to our VIP airport assistant greets you as you disembark the shape South Africa’s democracy. aircraft, guides you through immigration and customs, We pause for lunch along the way. helps collect your luggage, and escorts you to your private This afternoon, we head to Soweto (SOuth WEstern transfer to the hotel. TOwnship), the largest black residential area in South Johannesburg is lively and cosmopolitan, offering a Africa. A city within a city, it consists of 50 suburbs and tempting array of superb restaurants, elegant boutiques, is home to approximately two million people. We see all and world class shopping, yet it is also fresh and breezy the most important sites. Soak up the ambience of Africa with open spaces—golf courses, botanical gardens, and up close in the lively markets. Stop by a large worker parks. hostel. Nestled in the exclusive suburb of Sandton, the Saxon Next, the fascinating Hector Pieterson Memorial and Hotel prides itself on being a home away from home. Museum, a state-of-the-art multimedia center that depicts This was home to Nelson Mandela after his release from scenes leading up to the student uprising of 16 June 1976 prison, and it was here that he penned his autobiography, and the nation’s eventual transition to democracy. Nearby Long Walk to Freedom. Twenty-six suites surrounded by is Mandela’s former house, on the same street as the home lush gardens exhibit African art, and look out onto either of Desmond Tutu. the tranquil pool area or gardens. Our last stop of the day is the Apartheid Museum, The remainder of the day is on your own. opened in 2001 as the pre-eminent museum in the world We gather for a cocktail reception early this evening. dealing with 20th-century South Africa. Overnight: Saxon Hotel We venture out for dinner tonight at one of our (cocktails) favorite Johannesburg restaurants. Overnight: Saxon Hotel Day 3: Rivonia, Soweto, Johannesburg (breakfast, lunch, dinner) Friday, 4 September 2015 This morning, we visit Liliesleaf Day 4: Johannesburg; Maun, Okavango Delta, Farm. Situated in Botswana residential Rivonia, this interactive Saturday, 5 September 2015 museum honors the This morning we fly from Johannesburg to Maun, impressive trajectory of South Botswana, and then travel 20 minutes by light aircraft to Africa’s socio-political past. Once our first safari camp. headquarters of the military wing of Unlike most rivers, which flow towards the ocean, the the ANC and the Congress Alliance, Liliesleaf holds a Okavango fans inland, forming a 4,000-square mile position of esteem among anti-Apartheid landmarks in network of islands, lagoons, and waterways (the delta) South Africa. that, in the end, evaporate into the dry winds and sands of Experience a first-hand account of the events leading the Kalahari Desert. Such a water-filled environment 2 Day 6: Chobe National Park Monday, 7 September 2015 After breakfast this morning, board a light aircraft for a 45 minute flight to the heart of Chobe National Park, a 7,000-square-mile swamp and grasslands wilderness on the flood plains of the Chobe River. It supports large numbers of elephants, Cape buffaloes, hippos, warthogs, various antelope, and a wide variety of birds (watch for beautiful peach-colored carmine bee-eaters along the Chobe River). Spotting hyenas and lions takes a bit more luck, but you’re almost guaranteed a sighting in the Savute Marsh area. The marsh has the highest predator density in Southern Africa, including lions, cheetahs, leopards, as well as African wild dogs, jackals, and hyenas. The relatively short grass provides excellent photo opportunities. Perched on the banks of the Savute Channel, with an elevated view of the river, Savute Elephant Lodge is a supports a great range of wildlife including elephants, spectacular base from which to explore the area. Savute is zebras, buffaloes, wildebeests, giraffes, hippos, kudus, also unrivaled for its sightings of excellent predator / lions, leopards, hyenas, jackals, and a dizzying variety of prey interaction. birds (550 avian species are known to live in the delta). Overnight: Savute Elephant Lodge Xaranna Okavango Delta Camp and Xudum Okavango (breakfast, lunch, dinner) Delta Lodge enjoy luxurious solitude on their own Delta island within a 670,000-acre exclusive wildlife concession. Day 7: Chobe National Park Lunch and dinner are at the camp and lodge. Overnight: Xaranna Okavango Delta Camp & Tuesday, 8 September 2015 Xudum Okavango Delta Lodge When we venture out in open 4x4 vehicles there are (breakfast, lunch, dinner) excellent opportunities to see wildlife on the dried up Savute Marsh. In addition to game drives, excursions can be arranged Day 5: Okavango Delta to see historic San rock paintings in the hills or the Sunday, 6 September 2015 ancient Gametrackers baobabs. We have a full day to observe the variety of stunning Overnight: Savute Elephant Lodge wildlife here. The serene watery base lends itself to quiet (breakfast, lunch, dinner) relaxation, contemplation, and reflection. If, however, you are looking for adventure and excitement, climb into a mokoro (traditional dugout canoe) or a motorboat and take an excursion through the surrounding waterways. Vehicle safaris are available when the water levels are too low for a mokoro. Or try a complimentary helicopter safari for game-viewing from a different perspective. The open sides of the helicopter allow for fantastic photo opportunities. All meals are at camp. Overnight: Xaranna Okavango Delta Camp & Xudum Okavango Delta Lodge (breakfast, lunch, dinner) 3 Day 8: Moremi Wildlife Reserve center of a world that has not altered much since life Wednesday, 9 September 2015 began. You can sense the big game heritage from the After breakfast, board a light aircraft for a 25 minute moment you arrive. flight to your next safari adventure in the Moremi Overnight: Khwai River Lodge Wildlife Reserve that covers about 3,000 square miles of (breakfast, lunch, dinner) the Okavango Delta. The park essentially has two types of topography: dry land and wetlands. Habitats range from Day 9: Moremi Wildlife Reserve mopane woodlands and thorn scrub to dry savanna, Thursday, 10 September 2015 riparian woodlands, grasslands, flood plains, marshes, Wake up to more excursions in the bush, with options for permanent waterways, lagoons, and islands. guided bush walks along the river, after-dark spotlight Predators can regularly be seen in the reserve, as this is game drives, local village visits, and stargazing outings. one of the most prolific regions Khwai River Lodge is the in Botswana for viewing them. first luxury camp in Botswana to Watch for elephant, buffalo, introduce night vision binoculars lion, leopard, cheetah, and on the evening game drives. African wild dog. Experience the ultimate safari The abundant bird life thrill of following a pack of affords plenty of opportunity to hunting predators at night, ogling see wildfowl and raptors. This is manic hippo feeding frenzies, or the perfect location for perhaps admiring the meticulous observing the perennial drama of vision of nocturnal birds of prey the African bushveld and such as the Giant Eagle Owl, the provides excellent birding. Don’t largest owl in the world, forget your binoculars. swooping down on tiny unsuspecting hedgehogs. Nestled on the edge of a leadwood and figtree forest, Catch rare sightings of shy, gentle animals that only overlooking the vast Khwai River floodplains and beyond come out at night, like the aardvark (the mismatched into the Moremi Wildlife Reserve, lies Khwai River mammal that appears to have the snout of a pig, the ears of Lodge. Here you are close to Africa's heartbeat, at the a rabbit, the body of an ant eater, and the feet and tail of a 4 kangaroo). The brush-tailed porcupine with its brush-like falls since the 1800s. At first they arrived in small quills that make a peculiar noise when rattled and the numbers overland, either on foot or in wagons. The spring hare, all come out of their hiding places to forage. railway reached town in 1904, and with it came a larger We might also see the elusive small and large spotted number of the curious. In spite of the many visitors, the genets on a nocturnal hunting spree. government of Zimbabwe has made a concerted—and Don’t forget to take advantage of the spa. successful—effort to preserve the pristine falls and the rain Overnight: Khwai River Lodge forest around it. (breakfast, lunch, dinner) The mile-wide Zambezi River takes a sudden plunge over the edge of a 30-story cliff. This is Victoria Falls. It Day 10: Moremi, Kasane; Victoria Falls, is enormous, so big, in fact, that it Zimbabwe cannot be seen in its entirety from Friday, 11 September 2015 any one vantage point on land.