We've selected seven of the best wildlife areas and exclusive tented camps and lodges in South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, Mozambique and Malawi. Choose two or more and create the safari of your dreams!
South Africa: Kruger National Park, "Big Five" Heaven!
Kruger has a stellar reputation for being one of Africa's great wildlife reserves. It harbors a huge variety of animals in astonishing numbers, including the celebrated "Big Five" (elephant, leopard, lion, rhino, and Cape buffalo) and many other predators. Kruger also attracts lots of visitors, though, so on this classic safari—a "must" for any visit to Southern Africa—we take you to a private reserve adjoining the park (part of the Kruger ecosystem). No fences encircle these areas, so the animals roam freely. Here you'll go on early morning and evening game drives, take short bush walks, and in between enjoy the ambiance of a deluxe intimate lodge. And because these are private reserves, you'll be far from the crowds; private reserves also allow you to take walks and night drives. Choose between Simbambili Game Lodge or the more upscale Leopard Hills: each lodge boasts gorgeous views of the surrounding African veld, while thatch-roof chalets feature a deck leading to individual plunge pools (not quite big enough to do laps in, but great for cooling off!).
South Africa: Cape Town: Between Mountain & Ocean
A visit to Southern Africa would not be complete without a visit to Cape Town, the historic and scenic jewel of African cities. You can easily spend a few days absorbing its sophisticated atmosphere, with art galleries, the up-and-coming wine country, and the Cape of Good Hope within easy access. Guided excursions may include a cable car ride to the top of Table Mountain, a hike at the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, viewing the African penguin colony at Simonstown, and a leisurely walk through Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, a stunning showcase of the indigenous flora of Southern Africa. The seven-day program also includes a visit to the world-renowned Winelands region, famous for its fine wines and Cape Dutch architecture. Choose from the classy Cape Grace Hotel, located on the waterfront and consistently ranked by Condé Nast Traveler as among the top 15 hotels in Africa, or the laid-back Welgelegen Guest House, a stately Victorian exuding charm and hospitality (and famous for their breakfasts!).
Botswana: Okavango & Linyanti Flying Safari
A safari in Botswana has a wonderfully authentic, old-Africa feel to it. Hordes of tourists simply do not exist here, and often you feel like you have the entire wilderness to yourself! We stay in private concessions so it's likely the only people you'll see are from your camp (camps usually accommodate about 15 people).
This safari focuses on two major areas of wildlife: the wetland paradise of the Okavango Delta and Linyanti Wildlife Reserve, both with high concentrations of big game and excellent bird life. You'll spend two nights at an intimate deluxe tented camp in each area. And while we use the word camp, they are hardly rustic: expect to be pampered beyond your wildest dreams, with luxurious en suite bathrooms, beds with crisp linens, and all the amenities of a fine hotel. Charter flights between the camps maximize your time for game viewing.
Botswana: The Kalahari Desert
Few parts of Africa can match the mystique of Botswana's Kalahari Desert. Its unique and striking environment, and its vastness and isolation, leaves a lasting impression on all visitors. In addition to exploring its fragile ecosystem, you can experience the cultural richness of the indigenous San (Bushman) people, who live in complete harmony with their environment. From Jack's Camp, an elegant, traditional East African–style camp (the best in the Kalahari!), you'll explore the saltpans on quad bikes and take a walk with a Bushman and learn how the San people have survived for centuries in this harshly beautiful environment.
Namibia: Exploring the Sand Dunes of Sossusvlei
Sossusvlei is a beautiful, wild, and romantic spot unlike any other—the scenic bed of a seasonal lake that is surrounded by what are reputed to be the highest shifting sand dunes in the world (more than a thousand feet tall!). You'll awake early and climb up onto the dunes as they start to glow under the soft morning light—a photographer's dream!—then return to camp and spend the afternoon taking in the desert scenery and the unique flora and fauna. A highlight is a hot air balloon flight over the desert for startling bird's-eye-views of the amazing landscape. Accommodations are at Little Kulala, a wilderness camp featuring thatched chalets on raised decks with en suite bathrooms, wraparound verandas, and individual plunge pools.
Namibia: The Skeleton Coast
The Skeleton Coast Park is one of the planet's most hauntingly beautiful places. Wild, desolate, and undeveloped, it has everything from roaring sand dunes and windswept plains to towering canyons and salt pans. This is a rare opportunity to explore the little-visited northern sections of the park that are off limits to the general public—a very rugged area with limited access. While here you'll spend most of the day out in the wild, with a picnic lunch, and return to camp in the late afternoon. You'll also have a chance to visit with the Himba , who are celebrated for their traditional way of life. "Base camp" is Skeleton Coast Camp, featuring six luxury tented rooms with en suite bathrooms.
Zambia: Kafue National Park
With an area of more than 8,600 square miles, Zambia’s Kafue National Park is one of the largest national parks in Africa. Its northern sector harbors the Busanga Plains—one of Zambia’s most significant wetland resources and one of the few areas in the world that remain untouched by development and human activity. This is 290 square miles of pristine wilderness at its finest!
And when it comes to wildlife, Kafue certainly delivers the goods: there are fantastic cheetah sightings (some of the best in Africa), huge prides of lions, excellent elephant and buffalo sightings, abundant hippo, and good numbers of plains game, such as zebra and wildebeest. Wild dogs are occasionally seen and leopard viewing is a regular highlight. A number of other species, not readily encountered in the south, are often seen, and these include puku, Defassa waterbuck, Lichtenstein’s hartebeest, oribi, and roan and sable antelope. Birdlife is abundant (nearly 500 species!) and includes many species that do not occur elsewhere in southern Africa, including endemics such as Chaplin’s barbet.
Mozambique: Bazaruto Archipelago Private Adventure
Explore the pristine Bazaruto Archipelago, a protected national park where low-impact eco-lodges overlook azure seas that are ideal for snorkeling and whale watching. You’ll enjoy relaxing on the white sand beaches or choose from a variety of outdoor activities, including some of the world’s best diving, a range of water sports, horseback riding, island drives, and ocean cruises. Accommodations are at Indigo Bay Island Resort & Spa.
Malawi: Lake Malawi Private Adventure
Lake Malawi, the southernmost of the great lakes of the African Rift Valley, is an ideal location to spend a bit of “beach time” before or after your safari. This tropical paradise offers a variety of activities, including swimming, kayaking, snorkeling, scuba diving, or simply soaking up the rays! Accommodations are at Kaya Mawa Lodge on Likoma Island or Mumbo Island Camp on Mumbo Island, the undisputed jewel of Lake Malawi National Park.
SOUTH AFRICA: Kruger National Park, "Big Five" Heaven! Private Adventure
DAY 1 ~ Kruger National Park
You will be met at Johannesburg international airport and assisted to your flight to a regional airport servicing Sabi Sand Game Reserve. From here you will be transferred by road to the lodge of your choice in Sabi Sand, a private game reserve bordering Kruger National Park.
Lunch, Dinner…Leopard Hills or Simbambili Game Lodge
DAYS 2-3 ~ Kruger National Park
Each morning you'll awake early for a game drive in an open 4x4 safari vehicle. Sunrise is a magical moment in the Kruger bushveld and the game is active. You'll have the chance to see a tremendous variety of birds and wildlife: lion, elephant, giraffe, leopard, antelope, river-going hippos, rhinos—the works. You'll also have the chance to see wild dogs (the Cape hunting dogs), one of the rarest predators in Africa. Kruger's habitats range from mopane-red bushwillow scrub and open savannas to the deep bush of mixed forest—the full range of lowveld habitats. Return to the lodge for breakfast. Afterwards, game walks are available to see the endemic birds, ungulates, and small mammals. Lunch is served at the lodge, and you may wish to take a dip in the plunge pool during the heat of the day or just relax and take a nap. In the late afternoon, you'll enjoy another game drive that develops into a night drive during which a spotlight is used to reveal some of the nocturnal creatures, such as aardvarks, aardwolves, porcupines, and bushbabies. Predators are also more active at night. Back at the lodge, you'll enjoy dinner served around the campfire under the stars.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner each day…Leopard Hills or Simbambili Game Lodge
DAY 4 ~ Depart
This morning, enjoy a morning game drive or hike. Road transfer to the regional airport to connect with your flight to Johannesburg and your next destination.
Breakfast...
SOUTH AFRICA: Cape Town: Between Mountain & Ocean Private Adventure
7-day option:
DAY 1 ~ Cape Town
Arrive in Cape Town. You will be met at the airport and transfered to your choice of hotel or bed and breakfast inn. Today is at leisure and meals are on your own.
Welgelegen Guest House or Cape Grace Hotel
DAY 2 ~ Table Mountain
Your guide will meet you in the morning and drive you to Table Mountain where, weather permitting, you will board a cable car to ascend to the Upper Cable station some 3,300 feet above the city. Here you will spend some time exploring the top of this majestic peak and enjoying the spectacular views of the Atlantic coastline, Robben Island, the city and harbor areas, and across the Cape Flats towards the Boland Mountains above the Winelands areas. If the cableway is not operating or the weather is bad, you will drive up Signal Hill.
You'll then return to the city and walk through Government Avenue where the original Dutch settlers planted their fruit and vegetable gardens. Today it is the cultural heart of the city, home to the South African and Cultural History Museums, Parliament, and the National Gallery. Continue to Greenmarket Square with its colorful traders, and possibly visit the Castle, the oldest building in the country, with its beautiful collection of old Cape furniture and paintings.
You will then visit the District Six Museum, District Six itself, and the colorful and vibrant Bo Kaap or Cape Malay Quarter. District Six was once the heart of the "coloured" community and was known for its jazz clubs and nightlife—the "Harlem" of Cape Town. From 1970 to 1982, during the height of the apartheid era, the neighborhood was demolished and the residents relocated to the Cape Flats Townships. The tour ends at your hotel or, if you choose, the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront with its shopping malls, aquarium, museums, and many restaurants. Lunch is on your own.
After lunch, you have the option of free time, or, for an additional fee, we can organize a trip to Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was a political prisoner for 17 years, visit the "coloured" townships in the Cape Flats, sea kayak, or enjoy a sunset cruise.
Breakfast...Welgelegen Guest House or Cape Grace Hotel
DAY 3 ~ Atlantic Coast
This morning you'll travel along the Atlantic coast, passing through the seaside suburbs of Clifton and Camps Bay. Along the way you'll enjoy the spectacular coastal scenery and magnificent views of the Twelve Apostles—the western side of Table Mountain. Visit Hout Bay and explore the bustling harbor before boarding a boat for a cruise to Seal Island below the Sentinel Peak (weather permitting). Continue to Chapman's Peak and stop to enjoy the views. There is an optional short walk through the fynbos with views over Hout Bay and perhaps the chance to see southern right whales, generally seen here between August and October.
Continue to the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve and explore the untouched areas of Olifantsbos Bay where you will see some endemic animals, including antelope, ostriches, baboons, and mountain zebra, and some of the 200 bird species. You'll head to Cape Point, visit the historic lighthouse, and leave the vehicle and embark on a hike to the Cape of Good Hope.
At the end of the hike, a well-deserved picnic lunch will be waiting for you, or if the weather is bad you will eat at one of the peninsula restaurants. After lunch you will drive to Boulders Beach at Simonstown to visit the African penguin colony. You'll then travel to Noordhoek for an optional horseback ride (at additional cost), or travel to Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens for a leisurely walk and exploration of this stunning showcase of the indigenous flora of Southern Africa, before heading back to the hotel for an evening at leisure.
Breakfast, Lunch…Welgelegen Guest House or Cape Grace Hotel
DAY 4 ~ Winelands
Leave Cape Town this morning after breakfast and drive to Blaubergstrand for views across Table Bay to Table Mountain and the city (weather permitting). In August and September you'll continue to the West Coast National Park, where you'll visit the historic Geelbeck Homestead, headquarters of the park. You can visit the bird hides, and the Postberg area of the reserve during the flower season for the chance to see the wildflowers and resident animals. After a picnic lunch or lunch at Geelbeck, you'll travel to Darling, where you visit the museum, then on to Malmesbury for a stop at the Swartland Co-op Winery. (Other times of the year we drive directly to the wine country to begin our winery visits.) You will taste some of the wines from Wellington and Paarl in the Winelands region. You will be staying at one of these two fine country mansions for the next two nights. Each evening you can enjoy a stroll before dinner.
Roggeland Country House
Roggeland Country House is an unforgettable haven of hospitality, an 18th-century Cape Dutch masterpiece that is a national monument. Ringed by the blue-purple Drakenstein Mountains on the outskirts of Paarl, this exclusive hotel for 19 guests offers the romantic atmosphere of Old Cape hospitality combined with stunning food inspired by the regional produce of Paarl and vegetables and herbs from the farm garden.
Le Quartier Française
Set in the picturesque "Valley of the Huguenots," in the town of Franschhoek, Le Quartier Française offers luxury and indulgence. Created in the style of a Victorian Square, this auberge is renowned for its innovative Cape Provençal cuisine, country hospitality, and fine regional wines. Each room features a comfortable sitting area, with fireplaces for winter and ceiling fans for summer. The auberge has a swimming pool and bar on the property.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner…Roggeland Country House or Breakfast, Lunch…Le Quartier Française
DAY 5 ~ Winelands
Today will be a leisurely experience, as you explore some of the area's famous wine routes—Stellenbosch, Paarl, and Franschhoek—and their delightful towns.You will taste the "fruits of the vines" and enjoy the charm and hospitality of this unique area, with the chance of an optional walk for the more energetic.
Estates visited vary and are selected after discussing your personal preferences with your guide. Examples are Vriesenhof, Warwick, Moreson, Mont Rochelle for fine red and white wines, and Glen Carlou or Fairview wine estates for a wine and cheese tasting. It must be noted that some wine estates close during the winter months (June through August).
For nature lovers, a visit to the Paarl Bird Sanctuary can be included, and you can visit the Afrikaans language monument with its lovely gardens and sweeping views across the Boland. Drive to Boschendal and visit the historic estate with some of the most beautifully preserved Cape Dutch buildings in the Cape, and its collection of priceless period furniture. Visit Franschhoek, nestled in the "Valley of the Huguenots," where the French first settled in 1688, and the Huguenot Memorial and Museum. You'll have a chance to explore this country town with its lovely shops and gardens. Explore historic Stellenbosch, drive along Dorp Street with its Cape Dutch houses, and visit the museum to see the history and different styles of architecture of the Cape from the 17th century. You can wander through the streets and town square area of this university town with its many quaint shops and galleries.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner…Roggeland Country House or Breakfast, Lunch…Le Quartier Française
DAY 6 ~ Hermanus
Travel to Hermanus for a walk through Fernkloof Nature Reserve. If in season, you may go whale watching on the Walker Bay Coast, one of the best places to see southern right whales from June to November. The afternoon is at leisure. You will stay at one of the following fine properties:
Auberge Burgundy
Set in the historic heart of Hermanus, Auberge Burgundy is a stylish Provençal-style guesthouse with charming courtyards and herb gardens. There are 14 deluxe en-suite bedrooms with garden or sea views.
Marine Hermanus Hotel
Built in 1890, the 47-room Marine is situated atop the cliffs of Hermanus. Recently renovated, the Marine has two restaurants, a swimming pool, and is famed for its excellent whale sighting opportunities from June to November. Visitors can also enjoy scenic cliff walks from the hotel.
Breakfast, Lunch…Auberge Burgundy or Marine Hermanus Hotel
DAY 7 ~ Departure
Depending on your ongoing flights, this morning is at leisure. In the afternoon, transfer back to Cape Town for your next flight.
Breakfast...
4-day option:
DAYS 1-3 ~ Cape Town
Same as Days 1-3 on the 7-day itinerary
DAY 4 ~ Departure
Depending on your ongoing flights, this morning is at leisure. In the afternoon we transfer you to the airport for your next flight.
Breakfast...
BOTSWANA: Okavango & Linyanti Flying Safari Private Adventure
DAY 1 ~ Maun – Okavango Delta
From Maun, fly by charter aircraft into the heart of the celebrated Okavango Delta, where one of Africa's great rivers fans out into the sands of the Kalahari. Transfer to your deluxe tented camp for an unforgettable two-night stay. Accommodations in the Okavango are at one of several deluxe tented camps. Each features large and roomy tents with en suite bathroom facilities, often with private outdoor showers. We'll set you up in the camp that is most ideal for your group size and for the time of year you'll be there.
Lunch, Dinner…Deluxe tented camp
DAY 2 ~ Okavango Delta
The Okavango, a great inland marsh similar to Florida's Everglades, is one of the most pristine and unique wilderness areas of Africa. Here the Okavango River spreads out through a sea of grass. Reeds and papyrus filter out the sediments of the Angola floods, leaving crystal clear waters to flow through channels covered with water lilies. Bird life is fantastic: the magnificent fish-eagle is a common sight, as are a wide variety of storks, herons, ibises, and other water birds, including pygmy geese, African darter, African jacana, and malachite kingfishers. Larger wildlife is interesting, too: lechwe stamp through the grassy shallows while sitatunga take shelter in the reeds (both are types of antelopes); hippos and crocs glide through sparkling waters.
To explore the Delta, we board eco-friendly fiberglass dugout canoes, modeled on the traditional African wooden canoes called mekoro (we don't have to cut down a huge old tree to make them), and paddle into its maze of meandering waterways. (Mokoro is the singular form, mekoro, the plural.) It's a unique way to travel—expert boatmen pole us through narrow channels that cut through mats of floating papyrus, then paddle us across lovely deep-water lagoons. We enjoy fishing as well as wildlife viewing, and we explore the larger Delta islands on foot—an opportunity to stalk lechwe, sitatunga, or the rare and beautiful fishing owl.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner…Deluxe tented camp
DAYS 3-4 ~ Linyanti Private Game Reserve
Transfer to the airstrip and take a charter flight to the Linyanti Private Game Reserve, to the northeast of the Okavango Delta. Transfer to your deluxe tented camp, searching for wildlife along the way. Accommodations are in one of several camps of the same caliber as the camps in the Okavango.
This area is rich in game—there are excellent hippo pools, plenty of elephant, sable and roan antelope, and it's great lion country. This is elephant country par excellence; it's possible to see large congregations coming down to the river to drink and bathe, and it's great fun to watch their social interactions.
Other wildlife is abundant here, too, either along the Savuti Marsh or in the wooded hills behind: lion, leopard, kudu, sable, and roan antelope are all resident species. We'll search for reclusive predators such as the African wildcat, civet, and the beautiful long-legged serval cat. Another specialty is the beautifully marked Chobe bushbuck. Bird life on the Linyanti marsh is always spectacular: storks catch thermal currents, herons, egrets, waterfowl, hornbills, kingfishers, and lilac-breasted rollers are always in abundance; seasonally, we can find colonies of gaily-colored white-fronted and carmine bee-eaters. Here we are outside Chobe National Park, so we will have the area all to ourselves. In addition to superb game viewing aboard our safari vehicle, we may be able to go on game drives at night in search of nocturnal animals. Lions and leopards are most active at night, so we will have a good chance to observe the big cats on the prowl (water levels permitting).
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner each day…Deluxe tented camp
DAY 5 ~ Depart
Transfer to the airstrip and depart on charter flight back to Maun.
Breakfast...
BOTSWANA: The Kalahari Desert Private Adventure
DAY 1 ~ To Makgadikgadi National Park
From Maun, take a light aircraft transfer across the vast expanse of northern Botswana to Makgadikgadi National Park with its endless vistas of rolling golden grasslands. The camp staff will meet you at the airstrip and take you the short distance to Jack's Camp, a permanent camp offering a chance to explore and understand the Kalahari. The Makgadikgadi is a relic of one of the world's largest super-lakes, dried up thousands of years ago as a result of the continued shifting of the earth's crust. Theories as to how and when this vast geographic phenomenon was formed vary. Our aim is to attempt to unravel some of the mysteries while providing the sophisticated traveler a first-class safari.
Jack's Camp offers a traditional East African 1940s safari-style experience and is comfortable and stylish. It recently underwent extensive remodeling and now offers the comfortable amenities associated with a permanent structure—flush toilets, electricity, and hot and cold running water.
Lunch, Dinner…Jack's Camp
DAYS 2-3 ~
You'll spend two full days exploring the fragile ecosystem in this part of the Kalahari Desert. When the Pans are dry, we use motorized four-wheel-drive quad bikes to travel where conventional vehicles cannot and to guard against scarring the Pan's crust. Venturing far into the middle of the Pans, you are able to explore remote archaeological sites, periodically discovering sites never before documented such as fossil beds of extinct giant zebra and hippo. You'll get an in-depth interpretation of the geology, archaeology, and anthropology of the Kalahari and Makgadikgadi.
The Makgadikgadi is also one of the most important wetland sites remaining in Africa. In the wet season, the Pans fill with water, attracting flocks of flamingo and other migratory birds. The area is also the only place in Southern Africa, depending on the season, where one is able to see a migration of tens of thousands of wildebeest and zebra followed by predators. Other desert species include gemsbok, rare brown hyena, springbuck, and meerkat (several families of meerkats have been habituated to human presence).
Many of the guides are fully qualified zoologists/geologists, often working on Ph.D. research. As such, they are most able to convey all the nuances of the desert and the adaptations of its inhabitants. Game drives are conducted in four-wheel-drive vehicles and walks guided by a bushman (San) guide are also an option.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner each day…Jack's Camp
DAY 4 ~ Depart
Return to Maun after breakfast by light aircraft to connect with your homeward-bound flight.
Breakfast...
NAMIBIA: Exploring the Sand Dunes of Sossusvlei Private Adventure
DAY 1 ~ Windhoek – Sossusvlei
Fly from Windhoek, Namibia, to Sossusvlei, scenic bed of a seasonal lake that is surrounded by thousand-foot-high sand dunes. Your accommodation is at Little Kulala Camp, in a prime location of the Kulala Wilderness Reserve. No matter in which direction you face, there are magnificent views: to the west are the dunes, to the east is a rugged mountain escarpment, to the north and east are grassy plains. Activities here include early morning guided game drives to the dunes, nature drives and walks on the private reserve, excursions into the mountains, and early morning ballooning.
Lunch, Dinner…Little Kulala Camp
DAY 2 ~ Sossusvlei
Sossusvlei is a beautiful, wild, and romantic spot unlike any other. We awake very early and travel west along the Tsauchab River bed to the towering dunes surrounding Sossusvlei. This is certainly one of the best times to visit the dunes, as they start to glow under the soft light. We hike through acacia woods and then climb high onto the dunes for spectacular views of the surrounding desertscape. Return to camp and spend the afternoon taking in the desert scenery and its unique flora and fauna. A sunset drive is available.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner…Little Kulala Camp
DAY 3 ~ Sossusvlei
Another day to enjoy the beauty of Sossusvlei. You may wish to take an early morning hot air balloon flight, or participate in other activities, including nature walks and game drives, or simply relax at camp.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner…Little Kulala Camp
DAY 4 ~ Depart
Transfer to the airstrip and fly back to Windhoek.
Breakfast...
NAMIBIA: The Skeleton Coast Private Adventure
DAY 1 ~ Windhoek – Skeleton Coast
From Windhoek, take a morning flight northwest to the remote and rugged Skeleton Coast, a strange landscape of sand dunes, gravel plains, and fog-bound, treacherous coastline. You will be met upon arrival at the airstrip and transferred to Skeleton Coast Camp, set in a private area of about 600,000 acres of Skeleton Coast Park and about 12 miles inland from the coast. The camp features six luxury "Meru-style" tents that are large and roomy, and an open-air dining area under an ancient leadwood tree. It's a comfortable base from which to explore this incredible and diverse corner of the world. Activities include all-day safaris, game and nature drives, birding, and guided walks.
Lunch, Dinner…Skeleton Coast Camp
DAYS 2-3
You'll spend the next few days exploring Skeleton Coast Park on foot or by vehicle. The arid desert environment in the Skeleton Coast is within the northern reaches of the Namib Desert. The cold Benguela Current travels from Antarctica and brings plankton-rich waters to this coastline, along with massive amounts of fish. The current also helps to moderate temperatures. The cool air off the ocean meets the hotter desert air, and nearly every morning in winter, a cool mist envelops the coastline, bringing life sustaining moisture to the desert. (By about 9 or 10 a.m. this mist is burned off by the rays of the sun.)
Freshwater springs permeate the barren sands to create rare desert oases that sustain pockets of wildlife. Springbok, gemsbok (oryx), the rare desert elephant, ostrich, Cape fur seals, jackal, and brown hyena—even cheetah on rare occasions—carve out an existence in this rugged terrain, along with vegetation like the ancient Welwitschia that has adapted to the harsh conditions.
Though there are many regions in the Skeleton Coast, we'll visit the most isolated, beautiful, remote, and private northern sector of the park—just north of Mowe Bay to just south of the Kunene River. While here we'll spend most of the day out in the wild, with a picnic lunch, and return to camp in the late afternoon. We travel in 4x4 Land Rovers with pop-top roofs and cover an extraordinary variety of terrain. Nature drives may include visits to the clay "castles" of the Hoarusib River, deposited here around 35,000 years ago; Rocky Point on the coast, where seals frolic offshore and dolphins swim close by; the roaring dunes; lichen fields; and possibly a shipwreck site. We may also have a chance to do some walking—due to the pristine nature of the area, many parts are accessible only on foot, and we'll be able to search out many specially adapted species of plants like lithops and welwitschia.
While in the extreme northern section of the Skeleton Coast, we will also have a chance to visit with the Himba nomads (the bare-breasted, ochre-daubed women you may have seen in photos). The Himba are celebrated for their traditional way of life, which revolves around their cattle, symbols of wealth and status. Many still wear traditional dress: animal-skin aprons or skirts and jewelry that includes coiled leather necklaces, copper bangles, and beaded anklets. The women also sport elaborate braided hairdos. The Himba migrated into the area from central Africa and tend their stock in these thirstlands.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner each day…Skeleton Coast Camp
DAY 4 (or 5) ~ Depart
Transfer to the airstrip and fly back to Windhoek.
Breakfast...
ZAMBIA: Kafue National Park Private Adventure
DAY 1 ~ Livingstone – Kafue National Park
Morning transfer from Livingstone to the airport and fly to the Lunga airstrip (approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes). Upon arrival you will be met and transferred by safari vehicle to the camp of your choice (Kapinga or Shumba Bush Camp). The transfer from the airstrip to Kapinga or Shumba Bush Camp is approximately 3 hours in duration but through some of Kafue’s most magnificent game country. You’ll settle into camp before a late afternoon game drive with the possibility of sighting some nocturnal animals after sunset.
L,D...Kapinga or Shumba Bush Camp
DAYS 2-4
Game drives, walking safaris, and night drives at Kapinga or Shumba Bush Camp.
B,L,D each day...Kapinga or Shumba Bush Camp
DAY 5
Morning departure to the Lunga or Moshi airstrip, enjoying an extensive game drive en route. The flight duration from Lunga to Livingstone is approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes. You can also elect to fly to Lusaka (1½ hours).
B...Kapinga or Shumba Bush Camp
Mozambique: Bazaruto Archipelago Private Adventure
DAY 1
Arrive in Maputo, the capital of Mozambique, and fly to Vilanculos. Transfer to the Bazaruto Archipelago by boat and plane and continue to Indigo Bay Island Resort & Spa, located on the west side of Bazaruto Island in a protected bay.
DAY 2-3
Enjoy a range of activities: located in a proclaimed Marine National Park, Bazaruto Island offers a true, unspoiled African island experience, from miles of sandy white beaches, crystal clear azure seas, superb coral reefs and dive sites, soaring sand dunes and exuberant bird life, to abundant marine life, including sea turtles and the rare and near-extinct dugong, the ocean-going version of the manatee. Depending on the season, you can watch whales on their annual migration from the safety and comfort of one of the resort’s fleet of boats.
DAY 4
Return to Vilanculos and continue to Maputo for departure.
MALAWI: Lake Malawi Private Adventure
DAY 1
Arrive in Lilongwe, Malawi. Transfer to the southern trip of Likoma Island where eco-friendly Kaya Mawa Lodge is situated, or to Mumbo Island Camp on Mumbo Island. Kaya Mawa is an elegant island retreat with ten small cottages with four-poster beds and sunken bathtubs; each has a private terrace and faces the water. Mumbo Island, an exclusive camp situated on a pristine and otherwise-deserted tropical island, features six safari tents, each with its own shaded view-deck and hammock. Either camp is a truly idyllic spot to begin your exciting adventure!
DAYS 2-3
Two days to swim, snorkel, kayak, scuba, explore the sites of the island, or just relax—the choice is yours!
DAY 4
Transfer back to Lilongwe and depart.
Stay a Little Longer
You may wish to combine these trips with one of our regular group departures in Africa, or other individual travel on your own. Please call us for the details.
Air Travel
Airfare is not included in the land cost of our trips. For air reservations, we recommend you contact the airlines directly, either by phone or the Internet. In addition, many travelers elect to use their "frequent flyer" miles when traveling with us. But please check with our staff before purchasing or obtaining your tickets, so we may verify your arrival and departure schedule.
Activity Level
Mountain Travel Sobek trips are designed for flexible, energetic people who like to be active and intellectually involved, and have a spirit of adventure and a positive attitude. These trips are all relatively easy in nature, and all the activities are optional.
You should note that tracking sessions vary from easy half-hour strolls through the forest to more arduous treks, and sightings are not guaranteed. You should be in good physical condition, and mentally prepared for a day of strenuous exercise. If you are not optimally conditioned, we recommend that you start a training program at least three months before departure, gradually increasing the intensity and duration. If your health is questionable or your physical stamina is limited, please discuss other trip options with us.
If you are not optimally conditioned, we recommend that you start a training program at least three months before departure, gradually increasing the intensity and duration. If your health is questionable or your physical stamina is limited, please discuss other trip options with us.
Your Guide
Each camp is staffed by local resident guides who possess an intimate knowledge of the region and the specific area. Their close familiarity with the wildlife, geography, history, and traditions are the key to a superb, informative experience—one you just can't get on your own. In their friendly company, you will truly learn, enjoy, and share their passion for the country they call home. You'll be in good hands with them every step of the way.
What's Included
- air transfers as noted in detailed itineraries
- accommodations as noted in detailed itineraries
- services of camp guides and staff
- ground transportation
- game drives and activities as noted in the itinerary
- park entrance fees
- basic medical and evacuation insurance
What's Not
International airfare as noted in detailed itineraries; optional tips to camp guides and staff; insurance other than basic medical and evacuation insurance noted above (we strongly recommend you purchase the supplementary trip insurance offered by Mountain Travel Sobek, which includes trip cancellation insurance); excess baggage charges; airport taxes (if any); cost of medical immunizations; visas; and items of a personal nature (sodas, alcoholic beverages, laundry, phone calls, etc.).
Payment & Cancellation Policy for Adventures
(This differs from regular Mountain Travel Sobek trips.)
I. Payment
At time of reservation: $800
120 days prior to departure: 25% of Land Cost ($747.50)
90 days prior to departure: Balance of Land Cost
II. Cancellation
If written notice of cancellation is received:
Cancellation Fee will be:
From time of reservation until
90 days prior to departure $800
89 to 60 days prior to departure 50% of Land Cost ($1495)
59 days or fewer prior to departure 100% of Land Cost
Note on Itinerary
This itinerary has been carefully designed for optimal value. You may wish to combine this tour with another or add extensions at the beginning or end of your trip. However, if you wish to customize this tour, other terms and conditions apply (ask us about information on customized adventures). Travel Agent commissions or any type of other discounts do not apply to this tour.
Although we will do our best to adhere to the itinerary schedule as listed, it is subject to change. Please read the Limitation of Liability and Booking Conditions in the four-page Participant Information Form. You can find all this information on our website.
Limitation of Liability
“Mountain Travel Sobek” is defined to include its owners, agents, directors, officers, employees, representatives and affiliates (collectively “Mountain Travel”). Except for the Alaska Discovery Inn, some small craft and some vans in Alaska, Mountain Travel does not own or operate any entity that provides goods or services for your trip including, for example, ownership or control over hotels or other lodging facilities, airline, vessel, bus, van or other transportation companies, local ground operators, providers or organizers of optional excursions, food service or entertainment providers, etc. All such persons and entities are independent contractors. As a result, Mountain Travel is not liable for any negligent or willful act or failure to act of any such person or entity, or of any other third party. Without limitation, Mountain Travel Sobek is not responsible for any injury, loss, or damage to person or property, death, delay or inconvenience in connection with the provision of any goods or services occasioned by or resulting from, but not limited to, acts of God, force majeure, acts of war or civil unrest, insurrection or revolt, strikes or other labor activities, criminal or terrorist activities of any kind, overbooking or downgrading of accommodations, structural or other defective conditions in hotels or other lodging facilities, mechanical or other failure of airplanes or other means of transportation or for any failure of any transportation mechanism to arrive or depart timely, dangers associated with animals, marine life or vegetation of any sort, dangers incident to recreational activities such as scuba diving, snorkeling, swimming, kayaking, sailing, canoeing, rafting, hiking, bicycling, rock climbing, etc., sanitation problems, food poisoning, lack of, access to or quality of medical care, difficulty in evacuation in case of a medical or other emergency, or for any other cause beyond the direct control of Mountain Travel. In addition, participants release Mountain Travel from its own negligence and assume all risk thereof. On advancement of deposit to Mountain Travel, the depositor therefore agrees to be bound by the above recited terms and conditions. These are partial conditions. Your participation is contingent on your signature on the full list of terms specified in the four-page Participant Information Form, which you can find on our website (or call us at 1-888-687-6235 and request a copy).
Arbitration
Any dispute concerning, relating or referring to these Terms and Conditions, to any literature concerning this trip, or the trip itself, shall be resolved exclusively by binding arbitration in San Francisco, California, according to the then existing rules of the American Arbitration Association. Such proceedings will be governed by substantive California law without regard to the California Arbitration Act.
Conditions of Participation
Your participation on a Mountain Travel Sobek trip is subject to the conditions stated in the four-page Participant Information Form, which includes the Agreement and Release from Liability and the Booking Conditions. Specific information on payment and cancellation policies is also contained within this document, as well as in our current catalog and on our website. We urge you to read this information carefully, and to call us at 1-888-MTSOBEK (687-6235) if you have any questions.
Why Mountain Travel Sobek is Your First Choice for Adventure
Mountain Travel Sobek is the pioneer in active adventure travel. No other adventure travel company can lay claim to that title. We were the first to take Americans trekking in Nepal, raft the wild rivers of Africa, and open up many previously inaccessible corners of the world to curious travelers. We set the standard for adventure travel and have a strong reputation for excellence that we do everything we can to maintain. Since we are the leading adventure company, we have a lot to live up to, so we make sure we provide safe, quality trips and the best customer service to our passengers.
References
Don't take our word for how great our trips are. We'll be happy to provide you with references of satisfied past travelers. Just give us a call at 1-888-MTSOBEK (687-6235).
Questions?
Feel free to call us at 1-888-MTSOBEK (687-6235) if you still have any questions or concerns. We're here to help you.
Note on Itinerary
Although we will do our very best to adhere to the itinerary schedule as listed, it is subject to change for numerous reasons beyond our control. Please read the Limitations of Liability and Booking Conditions in the four-page Participant Information Form.
This itinerary has been carefully designed for optimal value. You may wish to combine this tour with another or add extensions at the beginning or end of your trip. However, if you wish to customize this tour, other terms and conditions apply (ask us about information on customized adventures). Travel Agent commissions or any type of other discounts do not apply to this tour.
Conditions of Participation
Your participation on a Mountain Travel Sobek trip is subject to the conditions stated in the four-page Participant Information Form, which includes the Agreement and Release from Liability and the Booking Conditions. We urge you to read this information carefully, and to call us if you have any questions.
Note on Services
We often use local suppliers who provide services that may include transportation, equipment, logistic support, and other services (hotels, restaurants, etc.). We do not own or operate these independent suppliers. We work with service providers who share our commitment to safety and quality, and work closely with them to develop itineraries unique to Mountain Travel Sobek.
Ready to go? Signing up is easy!
Just call us at 1-888-MTSOBEK (687-6235) or make a reservation request online. Immediately after we receive your deposit, we will request your preferred dates. Upon confirmation (usually within four business days), we will send you a packet with all the information you need to get ready for your trip, including clothing recommendations, suggested reading lists, and other details.
Approximately 30 days before your departure, we'll send you detailed, step-by-step instructions, with emergency contact numbers, a detailed map, and other important information. Upon arrival at your destination, you will be met by your in-country host who will help orient you and describe what to expect in the week to come.