Tour

Wildlife Odyssey: South Africa, Botswana & Zimbabwe

Our 12-day safari journey takes you inside national parks and private game reserves in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Botswana for unrivaled big game viewing… plus excursions to South African vineya...

Spotting the "Big Five" and more in private game reserves in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Botswana… lush South African vineyards and wine estates… thundering Victoria Falls… the rugged tip of the African continent… and the cutting edge of art, culture, and cuisine in exciting Cape Town... Part safari, part cultural immersion, all amazing. Indulge your imagination for safari expeditions of old à la Dr. Livingstone during two nights in Victoria Falls. Make tracks for wildlife-rich game drives in the heart of Chobe and Kruger national parks during stays in luxury lodges in the heart of the wilderness. And explore the stunning landscapes and vineyards of Cape Town, enjoying regionally inspired arts, culinary treats and more. This is a trip of a lifetime you won't want to miss.

(from USD 16,690)

Inquire about this trip
Wildlife Odyssey: South Africa, Botswana & Zimbabwe
Spotting the "Big Five" and more in private game reserves in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Botswana… lush South African vineyards and wine estates… thundering Victoria Falls… the rugged tip of the African continent… and the cutting edge of art, culture, and cuisine in exciting Cape Town...

Part safari, part cultural immersion, all amazing. Indulge your imagination for safari expeditions of old à la Dr. Livingstone during two nights in Victoria Falls. Make tracks for wildlife-rich game drives in the heart of Chobe and Kruger national parks during stays in luxury lodges in the heart of the wilderness. And explore the stunning landscapes and vineyards of Cape Town, enjoying regionally inspired arts, culinary treats and more. This is a trip of a lifetime you won't want to miss.

Highlights

Spotting the "Big Five" and more in private game reserves in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Botswana… lush South African vineyards and wine estates… thundering Victoria Falls… the rugged tip of the African continent… and the cutting edge of art, culture, and cuisine in exciting Cape Town...

Part safari, part cultural immersion, all amazing. Indulge your imagination for safari expeditions of old à la Dr. Livingstone during two nights in Victoria Falls. Make tracks for wildlife-rich game drives in the heart of Chobe and Kruger national parks during stays in luxury lodges in the heart of the wilderness. And explore the stunning landscapes and vineyards of Cape Town, enjoying regionally inspired arts, culinary treats and more. This is a trip of a lifetime you won't want to miss.

Day-by-Day

Day 1: Arrive Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

Tour begins: 4:00 PM, The Elephant Camp. A transfer is included upon arrival from the airport to The Elephant Camp, set within Victoria Falls National Park overlooking the Zambezi Gorges with a magnificent view of the Victoria Falls spray. Join us for a welcome reception and dinner tonight. 

Overnight: The Elephant Camp

Day 2: Natural Wonders of Victoria Falls

This morning, visit an elephant sanctuary on a private tour with a family of elephants out in the bush, patiently waiting for the treats you'll feed them. Then it's off to the Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust Clinic to meet the naturalists and doctors who promote environmental conservation in southern Africa and operate a medical care facility and orphanage dedicated to the health and welfare of Africa's wildlife. Tour the facility and learn about efforts to protect animals injured by traps, snares, and poachers, and meet the wildlife they rescue. Pause for lunch with a view of the Zambezi River before joining a local guide for a walking tour of Victoria Falls, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Explore trails that offer different perspectives of the magnificent falls, considered the largest waterfall in the world. Tonight, dinner is at your lodge.

 

 

Overnight: The Elephant Camp

Day 3: Chobe National Park

Cross into Botswana this morning en route to your lodge in Chobe National Park. After lunch at the lodge and free time to settle into your stay, join us for a sunset cruise on the Chobe River. Expert guides will introduce you to the locals as you make your way into the bush. Botswana's first national park, Chobe, attracts large herds of elephants and Cape Buffalo that frequent the river; lions, antelopes, and hippos linger near lagoons; and numerous bird species and zebras favor the floodplains. Enjoy dinner at leisure at the lodge this evening and sleep to the sounds of the bush.

Overnight: Chobe Game Lodge

Day 4: A Game Drive and a Motorboat Safari

Rise early for a game drive that spots wildlife starting their day in the bush as dawn breaks over the park. Wildlife whisperers, your guides follow tracks and interpret signs that lead to animal sightings out of nowhere and everywhere. See the ever-present impala, puku antelopes, and majestic giraffes snacking on treetops more than 16 feet high, and look for lions, wild dogs, and leopards on the hunt. Return to your lodge for lunch, then join us on a private motorboat safari aboard a skimmer boat along the Zambezi River. Watch for birds, elephants, hippos, and herd animals stopping by for a drink while crocodiles lie in the water or on the shore, along with other thirsty predators. Dine indoors or out at your lodge tonight.

Overnight: Chobe Game Lodge

Day 5: Local life on the Chobe River

Meet the people native to Botswana when you visit a local village this morning, stopping at a preschool to interact with teachers and their students. Learn about their daily lives and deep-rooted cultural traditions, and see baskets handwoven to perfection. Depending on the season, ride aboard a safari vehicle or a skimmer boat in search of up-close wildlife sightings that never get old. Enjoy panoramic views of the Chobe River from the elevated boardwalks at your lodge during your free time – a great spot to watch the ever-changing wildlife parade across the river, on the islands, and across the surrounding floodplains. As night falls, enjoy a traditional African feast around the fire with local music and dancers.

Overnight: Chobe Game Lodge

Day 6: South Africa's Kruger National Park

This morning, you'll drive back to Zimbabwe to board a flight headed for Nelspruit, South Africa. Take a private charter flight from Nelspruit to Ngala airstrip and continue to your safari lodge, &Beyond Ngala Safari Lodge, the first private game reserve to be incorporated into Kruger National Park. Stay in a thatched-roof cottage with its own private verandah for animal sightings – the property's watering hole is a favorite gathering place for visiting wildlife. An afternoon game drive introduces you to the park before dinner this evening. 

Overnight: &Beyond Ngala Safari Lodge

Day 7: Game Drives in Kruger National Park

Set off in search of Africa's "Big Five" – lions, leopards, buffaloes, elephants, and rhinos – along with wild dogs, hippos, cheetahs, and herd animals with your expert guides. Early morning and afternoon game drives offer ample opportunities to see predators and prey in their natural habitat. Kruger National Park, one of Africa's largest game reserves, is world-renowned and is home to hundreds of species of animals and birds, including vultures, storks, and eagles.

Overnight: &Beyond Ngala Safari Lodge

Day 8: Walk with the animals

Rise early for a game drive followed by a nature walk unlike any you have experienced before. Join your safari guides on a walking safari that offers an opportunity to learn about the bush and its fascinating fauna and flora from the ground up. Follow in the tracks of Africa's wildlife as your guide shares tracking tips to help you seek out signs and scents that reveal which animals passed through before you. Catch a glimpse of smaller game, like impalas or gazelles, or see elephants lumbering on distant landscapes. Walking safaris are only permitted on private lands and not in Africa's national parks. Enjoy an afternoon game drive and join us under the stars for a private dinner tonight.

Overnight: &Beyond Ngala Safari Lodge

Day 9: Fly to Cape Town

Take a final game drive this morning before flying to Cape Town for a three-night stay. Your hotel, painted pink for peace in 1918, is nestled on a lush garden estate at the foot of Table Mountain. Dinner is at your leisure in the hotel tonight.

Overnight: Mount Nelson A Belmond Hotel Cape Town

Day 10: Choices in Cape Town

A choice of sightseeing excursions today includes a tour of the Cape Winelands with tastings at two prestigious wineries, along with a wine pairing luncheon that tempts with regional fare and time to explore the quaint streets of Franschhoek. Or, join us for an artisan and culinary tour of Cape Town, stopping to meet a jewelry designer who makes pieces from prison fences from Robben Island. Take a cooking lesson in making traditional Cape Malay appetizers before lunch at a hidden gem of a restaurant and visit an art gallery featuring the works of South African artists. Your local guide enriches your tour with insights about Cape Town's history and highlights. The rest of the day is free to explore on your own.

Overnight: Mount Nelson A Belmond Hotel Cape Town

Day 11: Helicopter over Cape Town

Experience a bird's-eye view of Cape Town as you soar over the city aboard a helicopter that follows the coast to see Table Mountain, the Twelve Apostles, Chapman's Peak and the bays and towns that line the shores of the Cape Peninsula. Spend the remainder of the day exploring the waterfront delights of Victoria & Albert Waterfront, a mecca for shopping, art galleries, restaurants and entertaining street performers. Tauck's shuttle will bring you back to the hotel at your convenience this afternoon. Tonight, join us for a farewell dinner at a local restaurant, renowned for its local culinary fare.

Overnight: Mount Nelson A Belmond Hotel Cape Town

Day 12: Journey Home

Tour ends: Cape Town. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included to Cape Town Airport from Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel. Allow three hours for flight check-in at the airport.

What's Included

  • Private visit with an elephant family at a sanctuary in Victoria Falls
  • Private game drives and motorboat safaris in Chobe National Park
  • On-Tour Air (3 flights)
  • Morning and afternoon game drives in Kruger National Park to spot the Big Five

Details

Tour Operator
Tauck
Start City
Victoria Falls
End City
Victoria Falls
Duration (Days)
12
Activity Level
COMFORTABLE_MIXED
Difficulty Level
ALL_AGES

What’s included

  • Private visit with an elephant family at a sanctuary in Victoria Falls
  • Private game drives and motorboat safaris in Chobe National Park
  • On-Tour Air (3 flights)
  • Morning and afternoon game drives in Kruger National Park to spot the Big Five
Pricing & departures
Option From Departs Returns
Double USD 16,690 March 25, 2027
Single USD 19,782 March 25, 2027
Double USD 16,690 April 8, 2027
Single USD 19,782 April 8, 2027
Double USD 16,690 April 22, 2027
Single USD 19,782 April 22, 2027
Double USD 16,690 May 6, 2027
Single USD 19,782 May 6, 2027
Double USD 16,690 May 13, 2027
Single USD 19,782 May 13, 2027
Double USD 16,690 May 27, 2027
Single USD 19,782 May 27, 2027
Double USD 17,690 June 25, 2027
Single USD 21,488 June 25, 2027
Double USD 17,690 July 1, 2027
Single USD 21,488 July 1, 2027
Double USD 17,690 July 26, 2027
Single USD 21,488 July 26, 2027
Double USD 17,690 August 5, 2027
Single USD 21,488 August 5, 2027
Double USD 17,690 August 9, 2027
Single USD 21,488 August 9, 2027
Double USD 17,690 August 23, 2027
Single USD 21,488 August 23, 2027
Double USD 17,690 August 26, 2027
Single USD 21,488 August 26, 2027
Double USD 17,690 September 3, 2027
Single USD 21,488 September 3, 2027
Double USD 17,690 September 23, 2027
Single USD 21,488 September 23, 2027
Double USD 17,690 October 1, 2027
Single USD 21,488 October 1, 2027
Double USD 17,690 October 18, 2027
Single USD 21,488 October 18, 2027
Double USD 17,690 October 28, 2027
Single USD 21,488 October 28, 2027
Double USD 17,690 December 16, 2027
Single USD 21,488 December 16, 2027
Day by day
  1. Day 1

    Arrive Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

    Tour begins: 4:00 PM, The Elephant Camp. A transfer is included upon arrival from the airport to The Elephant Camp, set within Victoria Falls National Park overlooking the Zambezi Gorges with a magnificent view of the Victoria Falls spray. Join us for a welcome reception and dinner tonight.  Overnight: The Elephant Camp

  2. Day 2

    Natural Wonders of Victoria Falls

    This morning, visit an elephant sanctuary on a private tour with a family of elephants out in the bush, patiently waiting for the treats you'll feed them. Then it's off to the Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust Clinic to meet the naturalists and doctors who promote environmental conservation in southern Africa and operate a medical care facility and orphanage dedicated to the health and welfare of Africa's wildlife. Tour the facility and learn about efforts to protect animals injured by traps, snares, and poachers, and meet the wildlife they rescue. Pause for lunch with a view of the Zambezi River before joining a local guide for a walking tour of Victoria Falls, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Explore trails that offer different perspectives of the magnificent falls, considered the largest waterfall in the world. Tonight, dinner is at your lodge.     Overnight: The Elephant Camp

  3. Day 3

    Chobe National Park

    Cross into Botswana this morning en route to your lodge in Chobe National Park. After lunch at the lodge and free time to settle into your stay, join us for a sunset cruise on the Chobe River. Expert guides will introduce you to the locals as you make your way into the bush. Botswana's first national park, Chobe, attracts large herds of elephants and Cape Buffalo that frequent the river; lions, antelopes, and hippos linger near lagoons; and numerous bird species and zebras favor the floodplains. Enjoy dinner at leisure at the lodge this evening and sleep to the sounds of the bush. Overnight: Chobe Game Lodge

  4. Day 4

    A Game Drive and a Motorboat Safari

    Rise early for a game drive that spots wildlife starting their day in the bush as dawn breaks over the park. Wildlife whisperers, your guides follow tracks and interpret signs that lead to animal sightings out of nowhere and everywhere. See the ever-present impala, puku antelopes, and majestic giraffes snacking on treetops more than 16 feet high, and look for lions, wild dogs, and leopards on the hunt. Return to your lodge for lunch, then join us on a private motorboat safari aboard a skimmer boat along the Zambezi River. Watch for birds, elephants, hippos, and herd animals stopping by for a drink while crocodiles lie in the water or on the shore, along with other thirsty predators. Dine indoors or out at your lodge tonight. Overnight: Chobe Game Lodge

  5. Day 5

    Local life on the Chobe River

    Meet the people native to Botswana when you visit a local village this morning, stopping at a preschool to interact with teachers and their students. Learn about their daily lives and deep-rooted cultural traditions, and see baskets handwoven to perfection. Depending on the season, ride aboard a safari vehicle or a skimmer boat in search of up-close wildlife sightings that never get old. Enjoy panoramic views of the Chobe River from the elevated boardwalks at your lodge during your free time – a great spot to watch the ever-changing wildlife parade across the river, on the islands, and across the surrounding floodplains. As night falls, enjoy a traditional African feast around the fire with local music and dancers. Overnight: Chobe Game Lodge

  6. Day 6

    South Africa's Kruger National Park

    This morning, you'll drive back to Zimbabwe to board a flight headed for Nelspruit, South Africa. Take a private charter flight from Nelspruit to Ngala airstrip and continue to your safari lodge, &Beyond Ngala Safari Lodge, the first private game reserve to be incorporated into Kruger National Park. Stay in a thatched-roof cottage with its own private verandah for animal sightings – the property's watering hole is a favorite gathering place for visiting wildlife. An afternoon game drive introduces you to the park before dinner this evening.  Overnight: &Beyond Ngala Safari Lodge

  7. Day 7

    Game Drives in Kruger National Park

    Set off in search of Africa's "Big Five" – lions, leopards, buffaloes, elephants, and rhinos – along with wild dogs, hippos, cheetahs, and herd animals with your expert guides. Early morning and afternoon game drives offer ample opportunities to see predators and prey in their natural habitat. Kruger National Park, one of Africa's largest game reserves, is world-renowned and is home to hundreds of species of animals and birds, including vultures, storks, and eagles. Overnight: &Beyond Ngala Safari Lodge

  8. Day 8

    Walk with the animals

    Rise early for a game drive followed by a nature walk unlike any you have experienced before. Join your safari guides on a walking safari that offers an opportunity to learn about the bush and its fascinating fauna and flora from the ground up. Follow in the tracks of Africa's wildlife as your guide shares tracking tips to help you seek out signs and scents that reveal which animals passed through before you. Catch a glimpse of smaller game, like impalas or gazelles, or see elephants lumbering on distant landscapes. Walking safaris are only permitted on private lands and not in Africa's national parks. Enjoy an afternoon game drive and join us under the stars for a private dinner tonight. Overnight: &Beyond Ngala Safari Lodge

  9. Day 9

    Fly to Cape Town

    Take a final game drive this morning before flying to Cape Town for a three-night stay. Your hotel, painted pink for peace in 1918, is nestled on a lush garden estate at the foot of Table Mountain. Dinner is at your leisure in the hotel tonight. Overnight: Mount Nelson A Belmond Hotel Cape Town

  10. Day 10

    Choices in Cape Town

    A choice of sightseeing excursions today includes a tour of the Cape Winelands with tastings at two prestigious wineries, along with a wine pairing luncheon that tempts with regional fare and time to explore the quaint streets of Franschhoek. Or, join us for an artisan and culinary tour of Cape Town, stopping to meet a jewelry designer who makes pieces from prison fences from Robben Island. Take a cooking lesson in making traditional Cape Malay appetizers before lunch at a hidden gem of a restaurant and visit an art gallery featuring the works of South African artists. Your local guide enriches your tour with insights about Cape Town's history and highlights. The rest of the day is free to explore on your own. Overnight: Mount Nelson A Belmond Hotel Cape Town

  11. Day 11

    Helicopter over Cape Town

    Experience a bird's-eye view of Cape Town as you soar over the city aboard a helicopter that follows the coast to see Table Mountain, the Twelve Apostles, Chapman's Peak and the bays and towns that line the shores of the Cape Peninsula. Spend the remainder of the day exploring the waterfront delights of Victoria & Albert Waterfront, a mecca for shopping, art galleries, restaurants and entertaining street performers. Tauck's shuttle will bring you back to the hotel at your convenience this afternoon. Tonight, join us for a farewell dinner at a local restaurant, renowned for its local culinary fare. Overnight: Mount Nelson A Belmond Hotel Cape Town

  12. Day 12

    Journey Home

    Tour ends: Cape Town. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included to Cape Town Airport from Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel. Allow three hours for flight check-in at the airport.

Inquire About This Trip

To receive updates about exclusive experiences, events, new destinations and more, please register your interest.


Idea Travel

Locations

More locations

Contact

13145 Byrd Lane
Los Altos Hills, CA 94022
Cell: (800)-843-4332
Landline: 650-948-0207
Email: mike@ideatravel.com


© 2026 The Idea Travel Company and its licensors — All Rights Reserved