As the early bird catches the worm, the early riser sights the animals. There will be many early starts either to make use of the better safari time or to beat the morning traffic on long travel days. The Game Drive's in Chobe National Park and Kruger National Park are in an open 4WD vehicle, and it can be quite cold in morning and evening. It's important to bring some warm layers with you. Southern Africa temperatures rise in the hot, dry period of September and October before the rains hit, and temperatures can get as high as 34 to 38°C (93 to 100°F). Not all accommodation will have air-conditioning. This is quite common across Africa, particularly in remote locations where lodges or camps operate on solar power or generators. Southern Africa is a very seasonal destination. What you see and experience can differ quite dramatically depending on the time of year you visit. Please consider this before you choose your departure date. See the 'Climate and seasonal information' section of the Essential Trip Information for more details.

Premium Southern Africa - The Travellers

Price
From $10,525
Meals
7 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 6 dinners
Transportation
Open 4WD Safari Vehicle, Private vehicle, Plane, Riverboat
Accomodation
Hotel (1 night), Lodge (6 nights)
Destinations
Botswana, South Africa, Zimbabwe
Theme
Wildlife
Minimum Age
15
Trip Type
Group Tours

Overview

Itinerary

Includes / Excludes

Check Availability

FAQs

Map

Important notes

Optional activities

Overview

Itinerary

Includes / Excludes

Check Availability

FAQs

Map

Important notes

Optional activities

Overview

Embark on a wild adventure through southern Africa’s finest scenery

Experience an abundance of wilderness, wildlife and waterfalls on an eight-day Premium adventure through South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana. Spend two unforgettable days in Kruger National Park, cruise down the Zambezi River at sunset, marvel at the showstopping Victoria Falls and search for a wealth of elephants in Chobe National Park. From exhilarating game drives to nights spent under the stars, the glorious south of Africa has so much to fall in love with.

Why you'll love this trip

Seek out the iconic wildlife of Africa – lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and rhino with two 4WD safaris in South Africa’s biggest reserve, Kruger National Park, with an expert local guide.
Visit the thundering Victoria Falls, one of the world's most spectacular natural wonders. Admire their power, then return to your comfortable lodge boasting magnificent views of uninterrupted wilderness.
Spot Chobe National Park's abundance of wildlife and the world’s highest concentration of elephants from multiple vantage points with an early morning 4x4 Game Drive, and an afternoon boat cruise along the picturesque Chobe River.
Spend two spectacular nights in touch with nature at your lodge Feature Stay within Kruger National Park. The Mdluli Safari Lodge is dedicated to sustainability and conservation, with their very own anti-poaching unit and partnership with the local Mdluli Community.
Enjoy a small and intimate sunset dinner cruise on the Zambezi River, a Premium Exclusive Experience. A private chef will prepare dinner as your boat navigates the islands above the thundering Victoria Falls.

Day 01 :

Johannesburg

Welcome to South Africa! Your trip begins in Johannesburg, where you’ll be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. Please ensure that you organise the details of your arrival transfer well in advance. You'll meet the rest of your group and leader for a welcome meeting at 6pm, but if you do happen to arrive early, the day is yours to spend at leisure. After your meeting, join your leader and fellow travellers for dinner at your hotel. South Africa enjoys a diverse food scene flavoured by its multicultural influences. This evening you may like to try some boerewors, a spiced South African sausage, or perhaps some springbok carpaccio.

Accommodation
The Maslow Hotel or similar (1 night)

Meals
Dinner

Included activities
Johannesburg - Welcome Dinner
Complimentary Arrival Transfer - OR Tambo International Airport to Johannesburg Hotel

Special information
It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this time. If you are going to be late please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.

Day 02 :

Kruger National Park

Set off early for a drive to Kruger National Park, arriving just in time for lunch at Mdluli Safari Lodge, your Feature Stay accommodation for the next two nights. Developed in partnership with the local Mdluli community, the lodge is in perfect harmony with its wild surroundings. Luxury tents feature first-class amenities, with private en suites, indoor and outdoor showers, air-conditioning and a gorgeous infinity pool overlooking the Kruger bush. Sit back and relax in the cozy lounge of the main lodge and take in spectacular views. In the afternoon, you'll enjoy your first open 4WD safari. Experience close encounters with wild animals in their own habitat, and if you’re lucky, you may see lions, elephants, rhinos and leopards. Retire to your lodge in the evening.

Accommodation
Mdluli Safari Lodge (Feature Stay) or similar (1 night)

Meals
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner

Included activities
Kruger National Park - Afternoon 4WD Safari

Special information
Today’s total driving time is approximately 5.5 hours.

Day 03 :

Kruger National Park

Rise early and make the journey into the heart of Kruger National Park. Upon entry, you'll find yourself in the perfect position to catch a glimpse of one, or hopefully all, of Africa's iconic animals. Stop at a picnic spot to enjoy your packed breakfast, then proceed with a full-day wildlife safari, stopping off at waterholes and various other points to observe animals in their natural habitats. One of the largest game reserves in Southern Africa, Kruger National Park is home to not only members of the Big Five but also 500 bird species, 100 reptile species, and 150 mammal species. The endangered African wild dog, herbivores like hippo, zebra, giraffe and numerous different types of antelope also enjoy the park’s rich mosaic of habitats, including savanna, mixed acacia woodland, rocky hills and mopane woodland. Today's game drive will finish in time for sunset and drinks, served on a kopje at your Feature Stay. Pronounced 'kopee' these large ancient rock formations provide scenic contrasts across Africa's vast landscapes. Take a moment to sit back and take in the sounds and sights of the bush as day turns to night.

Accommodation
Mdluli Safari Lodge (Feature Stay) or similar (1 night)

Meals
Breakfast
Dinner

Included activities
Kruger National Park - Full Day 4WD Safari
Kruger National Park - Sundowner Drinks

Day 04 :

Victoria Falls

Rise early and depart for Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport, where you will say goodbye to South Africa and board a mid-morning flight to Victoria Falls airport in Zimbabwe. Continue to your lodge accommodation, which serves up stunning views of uninterrupted wilderness and a waterhole frequented by elephant, buffalo, kudu and more. Spend the afternoon relaxing by the pool or spotting wildlife from any of the multiple viewing decks around the lodge. This evening head above the falls onto the Zambezi River and embark on a small and intimate dinner cruise. The specially designed jet-propelled boats allow you to reach the shallow water among the islands directly above Victoria Falls. Two private chefs will prepare dinner with locally sourced fresh ingredients and serve drinks while the captain navigates the islands above the thundering Victoria Falls. Sit back in your comfortable lounge chair as you enjoy a four-course meal while looking out for crocodiles lazing on the banks or elephants and hippos submerging themselves in the river – this is truly an experience to remember.

Accommodation
Victoria Falls Safari Lodge or similar (1 night)

Meals
Breakfast
Dinner

Included activities
Victoria Falls - Zambezi River Dinner Cruise

Optional activities
Victoria Falls - Helicopter Flight (25 mins - Excludes US$30 fuel surcharge and NP fees) - USD284
Victoria Falls - Helicopter Flight of the Angels (12 mins - Excludes US$25 fuel surcharge and NP fees) - USD150

Special information
Today’s total driving time is approximately 1 hour, and your flight is approximately 2 hours.

Day 05 :

Victoria Falls

Victoria Falls is one of the world's most awe-inspiring natural wonders of the world. Plunging over 100 meters into a deep gorge, its raw power and beauty are simply breathtaking. With an expert guide, explore the rich flora, fauna, birdlife, and fascinating history of this World Heritage Site, while capturing incredible photos of "The Smoke that Thunders" along the way. The rest of the day is yours to relax, or take part in the many optional activities available in Victoria Falls.

Accommodation
Victoria Falls Safari Lodge or similar (1 night)

Meals
Breakfast

Included activities
Victoria Falls - Guided Tour

Optional activities
Victoria Falls - Traditional Village Tour - USD55
Victoria Falls - Jet Boat (Seasonal - excludes USD10 NP Fee) - USD110
Victoria Falls - Whitewater rafting (Seasonal - excludes USD10 NP Fee) - USD126
Victoria Falls - Bridge Swing - USD168

Special information
Please note that we have not risk-assessed all activities on offer in Victoria Falls and only those listed in our trip notes are recommended. It’s against company policy for leaders to facilitate the booking of any activities that have not been risk-assessed or do not adhere to our company’s Responsible Travel policy and ethos. This includes organizing transport to and from these activities in our vehicles. If opting for a helicopter flight, choose Zambezi Helicopter Company (CAA Zimbabwe), the only operator Intrepid endorses.

You may notice businesses offering an optional 'Walk with the Lions' experience. We ask all Intrepid travellers to avoid this activity as it is contrary to our Responsible Travel policy. While wildlife viewing is a big part of many of our itineraries, we strive to only view animals in their natural habitats and to do so with the greatest level of respect. The lion walking industry directly contributes to the captive breeding and canned hunting of lions.

Day 06 :

Chobe National Park

Enjoy a leisurely morning before you depart Zimbabwe and make the journey to Chobe National Park in Botswana, crossing the Kazangula border. The afternoon is free to walk in Kasane town (watch out for wandering warthogs!), sit poolside on the edge of the Chobe River and watch the sunset, or perhaps opt for an optional afternoon game drive in Chobe National Park.

Accommodation
Chobe Safari Lodge or similar (1 night)

Meals
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner

Special information
Today’s total driving time is approximately 3 hours (excluding border crossing).

Day 07 :

Chobe National Park

Start the day with a game drive through Chobe National Park, the first designated national park in Botswana. Chobe is known for its huge population of elephants and buffalo and you may well see them drinking at the local watering hole during the drive. Then head back to the lodge for breakfast. Afterwards embark on a cruise along the picturesque Chobe River, an ideal location for spotting bird life such as saddle-billed storks, malachite kingfishers, fish eagles and beautiful bee-eaters as well as hippos, crocodiles and large families of elephants often seen crossing the river between the boats. You will be joined by other travellers on the boat cruise which has a toilet and small bar to purchase drinks. Enjoy a drink on board and watch the sun set over the river.

Accommodation
Chobe Safari Lodge or similar (1 night)

Meals
Breakfast
Dinner

Included activities
Chobe National Park - River cruise
Chobe National Park - Morning 4x4 Game Drive

Day 08 :

Chobe National Park

Your adventure comes to an end after breakfast this morning. If you would like to spend more time in Chobe, or Victoria Falls, we’ll be happy to organise additional accommodation (subject to availability). Airport transfers can also be booked (for an additional fee) for flights departing from Victoria Falls or Livingstone, while a complimentary a transfer to Kasane Airport is available.

Meals
Breakfast

Before you book you should know

Expand all

Is this trip right for you?

As the early bird catches the worm, the early riser sights the animals. There will be many early starts either to make use of the better safari time or to beat the morning traffic on long travel days.
The Game Drive’s in Chobe National Park and Kruger National Park are in an open 4WD vehicle, and it can be quite cold in morning and evening. It’s important to bring some warm layers with you.
Southern Africa temperatures rise in the hot, dry period of September and October before the rains hit, and temperatures can get as high as 34 to 38°C (93 to 100°F). Not all accommodation will have air-conditioning. This is quite common across Africa, particularly in remote locations where lodges or camps operate on solar power or generators.
Southern Africa is a very seasonal destination. What you see and experience can differ quite dramatically depending on the time of year you visit. Please consider this before you choose your departure date. See the ‘Climate and seasonal information’ section of the Essential Trip Information for more details.

Visas

Visa information is provided by Sherpa, a third-party. The “Add connection” feature shows transit visa requirements only and does not include full entry visa needs. Please note, additional service fees apply if you choose to purchase a visa through Sherpa.

Accommodation

Hotel (1 night), Lodge (6 nights)

The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation.

Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we’re arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn’t always possible which means we won’t be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available.

If you require a Sleep Apnea Machine to sleep please ensure that it is battery operated. Lodges and Permanent Tented Camps are often powered by generators which are turned off during the night.

Joining point

As the early bird catches the worm, the early riser sights the animals. There will be many early starts either to make use of the better safari time or to beat the morning traffic on long travel days.
The Game Drive’s in Chobe National Park and Kruger National Park are in an open 4WD vehicle, and it can be quite cold in morning and evening. It’s important to bring some warm layers with you.
Southern Africa temperatures rise in the hot, dry period of September and October before the rains hit, and temperatures can get as high as 34 to 38°C (93 to 100°F). Not all accommodation will have air-conditioning. This is quite common across Africa, particularly in remote locations where lodges or camps operate on solar power or generators.
Southern Africa is a very seasonal destination. What you see and experience can differ quite dramatically depending on the time of year you visit. Please consider this before you choose your departure date. See the ‘Climate and seasonal information’ section of the Essential Trip Information for more details.