Ultimate Southern Africa

Two Weeks, 4 Countries; Safari Excellence!

Day 1

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA
Arrive at Johannesburg International Airport where you are met by your Tour director. Transfer to the neighboring suburb of Sandton where the rest of the day is at leisure. A hospitality desk will be manned by the TD to suggest and book any excursions you may wish to take. A welcome dinner will be hosted by your TD who will also give a full briefing of the tour ahead.
Balalika Hotel, Sandton (DBB)

Day 2

VICTORIA FALLS, ZAMBIA
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for the flight to Livingstone, Zambia. Upon arrival you are met by your local guide and transferred to the hotel. After orientating yourself with the surrounds, you are collected and taken to the jetty where you board the ‘African Queen’ for a sunset cruise on the mighty Zambezi River. Return to the hotel.
Zambezi Sun (BB)

Day 3

VICTORIA FALLS, ZAMBIAEmbark on a walking tour of the Victoria Falls, Zambian side. This will take just a couple of hours, thereafter, those willing; join your TD for the trip to the Zimbabwean side to get a different perspective of the falls. This option will require a Zimbabwe Visa, obtainable at the border. After lunch at leisure, partake in one of many exciting optional trips. Some of which being:

  • Flight of Angels – 15 or 30 minute helicopter flight above the falls
  • Half day Elephant back safari
  • High tea on Livingstone Island (This island is right in the middle of the falls, the sights and sounds are awesome!)
  • Mukuni cultural village

Enjoy dinner this evening in the main dining room.
Zambezi Sun (DBB)

Day 4

CHOBE, BOTSWANA
After breakfast, travel by road to the border crossing at Kazunkula, the meeting point of 4 countries. Once Zambian formalities are taken care of, cross the Zambezi River either by boat or by means of the Pont where you enter Botswana. A short drive takes you through Kasane and onto the Chobe Game Lodge, situated on the Chobe River. After lunch and a rest, embark on the first safari by open jeep. Follow the river and its flood plains, stopping for sundowners watching the sun set in a most glorious fashion. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Chobe Game Lodge (Full board)

Day 5

CHOBE, BOTSWANA
Early morning game drive. Chobe is home to almost 35 000 elephants as well as Lion, Leopard, large buffalo concentrations and many more. Bird life is fantastic. Return to the lodge for a well earned breakfast. Back on safari but jeeps are exchanged for small boats. The remainder of the morning is spent ambling along the river, numerous hippo pools are visited. See the elephants come down to drink, from the water, being in a boat you are able to get closer to them. Watch as huge crocodiles slide into the water as you pass by and witness some spectacular birds not always seen from land. Return to the lodge for lunch.
Later in the afternoon, board the bigger boat for a sunset cruise. The most amazing sunsets are witnessed over the floodplains of this great river. Elephants tend to congregate in their hundreds on the floodplains at this time, a very special way to experience this. Return to Lodge for overnight and dinner.
Chobe Game Lodge (Full Board)

Day 6

OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA
Optional game drive before breakfast, after which you return to Kasane and board a light aircraft for the flight to Delta Camp. Situated in the heart of the Okavango, Delta camp offers superb luxury and service. The lounge and dining area form the central feature of the camp with an extended deck offering spectacular views of the surrounding waterways and wildlife. The en suite chalets are tastefully appointed and set in indigenous island forest.
Activities are conducted by your own personal guide, 2 guests per guide. He is a man of the swamp, he has a mokoro (dug-out canoe) in which he will take you through the many waterways, onto islands where he will escort you on walking safaris and possibly take you to his village and share his customs with you.
Delta Camp (Full Board)

Day 7

OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA
Full day activities; game drives, walks, mokoro excursions or leisure time at the camp.
Delta Camp (Full Board)

Day 8

ETOSHA, NAMIBIA
After breakfast, board a light aircraft for the flight across to Namibia. The first landing will be in Rundu, where customs and immigration formalities are dealt with, there after return to the air and continue to the Mokuti Lodge, situated on the Eastern border of Etosha National Park. Check in and enjoy a light lunch, after which enter Etosha for a afternoon game drive. Return to the lodge for over night and dinner.
Mokuti lodge (Full Board)

Day 9

ETOSHA, NAMIBIA
Full day in Etosha, visit numerous, highly active waterholes. Depending on the time of year, witness the shimmering mirages of the pan. High quantities of springbok and other plains game, the ghostly looking elephants as they are covered in the white Etosha dust as well as a chance to see the various predators. Lunch will be provided at one of the camps. Late afternoon return to the lodge for over night and a traditional BBQ dinner. Various game meats will be available.
Mokuti Lodge (Full Board)

Day 10

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA
Depart Mokuti by light aircraft and fly down to Windhoek, Namibia’s capital city. Connect with the schedule flight down to Cape Town. After arrival, transfer to the hotel, situated near the V&A Waterfront. Evening at leisure.
Cullinan Hotel (BB)

Day 11

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA
Full day tour of the Cape peninsula, drive through the coastal suburbs of Clifton and Camps bay to Hout bay. Using the fabulous Chapman’s peak Drive, continue through to the Cape of Good Hope. After a delightful lunch, visit the penguins at Boulders beach and then on to Kirstenbosch Botanical gardens before returning to the hotel. Evening at leisure.
Cullinan Hotel (BB L)

Day 12

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA
Full day at leisure, your TD will be on hand to suggest and assist with any optional tours you may wish to take, these may include:

  • Winelands tour, either half or full day
  • Robben Island, three and a half hours
  • City tour with Table Mountain, half day
  • Township tour, half day

Cullinan Hotel (BB)

Day 13

CAPE TOWN, JHB, USA
Morning at leisure. Early afternoon, transfer to Cape Town International airport for your flight back to the USA. Fly via Johannesburg and Sol Island to Atlanta.

End of Tour

The above tour can be extended by a couple of days with the following option:

Day 1 - 9

As Per Above Tour

Day 10

WINDHOEK, NAMIBIA
Depart Mokuti lodge by air and fly directly to Windhoek. The rest of the day spent exploring this interesting town.
Kalahari Sands (BB)

Day 11

DESERT EXPRESS, NAMIBIA
After breakfast, transfer to the Windhoek Station and board the Desert Express. The train departs Windhoek and travels westwards towards the desert and coast. Late afternoon the train comes to a stop at a game ranch where passengers disembark and join up for a game drive that ends with a sundowner on a hill overlooking the beautiful surrounding country side. Upon returning to the train, relax with a sundowner in the relaxed atmosphere of the Spitzkoppe lounge where you wait for dinner. Dinner is served in the elegant Welwitschia restaurant as the train makes its onward journey to overnight at a quiet secure siding.

Day 12

DESERT EXPRESS, NAMIBIAEarly this morning, Desert Express leaves the siding and continues on its westbound journey. The train will travel through the Namib Desert past Swakopmund and finally behind the dunes between Swakopmund and Walvis Bay, where you get to disembark for a walk on these really unique dunes. The train will then proceed on to its final destination, the picturesque town of Swakopmund, arriving at approximately 10h00. Rest of the day in Swakopmund. Take a 4x4 or quad bike ride into the dunes, stroll down the remarkable beach which in fact is the desert fringe.
Swakopmund hotel (DBB)

Day 13

Return to Windhoek and connect to Johannesburg for onward flight to Atlanta.

This can be extended to include Cape Town as per the above tour.

Includes:

  • Airfare on schedule flight between Johannesburg and Livingstone
  • All light aircraft transfers
  • Park fees
  • Game drives as specified
  • Delta camp only – drinks and laundry
  • Meals as specified

Excludes:

  • Visa’s (unless specified by Thornveld Safaris)
  • Optional excursions
  • Travel insurance
  • Gratuities and items of a personal nature

Hotels and lodges specified on this itinerary may be substituted for similar properties in the same area, this will depend on availability at time of booking. The content of activities stays as listed. Most flights on this tour are on a special charter basis where a minimum of 4 passengers are required to operate the trip.