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Zimbabwe/Namibia/Botswana

Safari by Water & Land: Zimbabwe, Namibia & Botswana

Program No. 23458RJ
Discover the wildlife and natural gems of southern Africa on this safari by land and water, searching for the “Big Five” as you explore Zimbabwe, Namibia and Botswana.

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Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone? 800-454-5768
Select your type of room
Price will update based on selection
Prices displayed below are based on per person,doubleoccupancy.
DATES & starting prices
PRICES
May 3 - May 17, 2024
Starting at
13,999
Special Offer

OFFER EXTENDED: Enroll by Jan. 31, 2024 for free air from EWR. Ask about low-cost round-trip airfare from other cities!

Filling Fast!
May 31 - Jun 14, 2024
Starting at
13,999
Special Offer

OFFER EXTENDED: Enroll by Jan. 31, 2024 for free air from EWR. Ask about low-cost round-trip airfare from other cities!

Filling Fast!
Aug 16 - Aug 30, 2024
Starting at
14,999
Special Offer

OFFER EXTENDED: Enroll by Jan. 31, 2024 for free air from EWR. Ask about low-cost round-trip airfare from other cities!

Itinerary Note

In Hwange National Park, this departure will be staying at Sable Valley Lodge in place of Khulu Bush Camp; all activities remain the same.

Aug 30 - Sep 13, 2024
Starting at
14,999
Special Offer

OFFER EXTENDED: Enroll by Jan. 31, 2024 for free air from EWR. Ask about low-cost round-trip airfare from other cities!

Sep 20 - Oct 4, 2024
Starting at
14,999
Special Offer

OFFER EXTENDED: Enroll by Jan. 31, 2024 for free air from EWR. Ask about low-cost round-trip airfare from other cities!

Nov 1 - Nov 15, 2024
Starting at
13,999
Special Offer

OFFER EXTENDED: Enroll by Jan. 31, 2024 for free air from EWR. Ask about low-cost round-trip airfare from other cities!

Itinerary Note

In Hwange National Park, this departure will be staying at Sable Valley Lodge in place of Khulu Bush Camp; all activities remain the same.

Feb 14 - Feb 28, 2025
Starting at
12,999
Special Offer

Enroll by March 31, 2024 for free air from EWR. Ask about low-cost round-trip airfare from other cities!

May 9 - May 23, 2025
Starting at
14,499
Special Offer

Enroll by March 31, 2024 for free air from EWR. Ask about low-cost round-trip airfare from other cities!

May 30 - Jun 13, 2025
Starting at
14,499
Special Offer

Enroll by March 31, 2024 for free air from EWR. Ask about low-cost round-trip airfare from other cities!

Aug 15 - Aug 29, 2025
Starting at
15,699
Special Offer

Enroll by March 31, 2024 for free air from EWR. Ask about low-cost round-trip airfare from other cities!

Aug 29 - Sep 12, 2025
Starting at
15,699
Special Offer

Enroll by March 31, 2024 for free air from EWR. Ask about low-cost round-trip airfare from other cities!

Sep 19 - Oct 3, 2025
Starting at
15,699
Special Offer

Enroll by March 31, 2024 for free air from EWR. Ask about low-cost round-trip airfare from other cities!

Oct 31 - Nov 14, 2025
Starting at
14,499
Special Offer

Enroll by March 31, 2024 for free air from EWR. Ask about low-cost round-trip airfare from other cities!

DATES & starting prices
PRICES
May 3 - May 17, 2024
Starting at
16,999
Special Offer

OFFER EXTENDED: Enroll by Jan. 31, 2024 for free air from EWR. Ask about low-cost round-trip airfare from other cities!

May 31 - Jun 14, 2024
Starting at
16,999
Special Offer

OFFER EXTENDED: Enroll by Jan. 31, 2024 for free air from EWR. Ask about low-cost round-trip airfare from other cities!

Filling Fast!
Aug 16 - Aug 30, 2024
Starting at
19,999
Special Offer

OFFER EXTENDED: Enroll by Jan. 31, 2024 for free air from EWR. Ask about low-cost round-trip airfare from other cities!

Itinerary Note

In Hwange National Park, this departure will be staying at Sable Valley Lodge in place of Khulu Bush Camp; all activities remain the same.

Filling Fast!
Aug 30 - Sep 13, 2024
Starting at
19,999
Special Offer

OFFER EXTENDED: Enroll by Jan. 31, 2024 for free air from EWR. Ask about low-cost round-trip airfare from other cities!

Filling Fast!
Sep 20 - Oct 4, 2024
Starting at
19,999
Special Offer

OFFER EXTENDED: Enroll by Jan. 31, 2024 for free air from EWR. Ask about low-cost round-trip airfare from other cities!

Filling Fast!
Nov 1 - Nov 15, 2024
Starting at
16,999
Special Offer

OFFER EXTENDED: Enroll by Jan. 31, 2024 for free air from EWR. Ask about low-cost round-trip airfare from other cities!

Itinerary Note

In Hwange National Park, this departure will be staying at Sable Valley Lodge in place of Khulu Bush Camp; all activities remain the same.

Filling Fast!
Feb 14 - Feb 28, 2025
Starting at
14,999
Special Offer

Enroll by March 31, 2024 for free air from EWR. Ask about low-cost round-trip airfare from other cities!

Filling Fast!
May 9 - May 23, 2025
Starting at
18,499
Special Offer

Enroll by March 31, 2024 for free air from EWR. Ask about low-cost round-trip airfare from other cities!

Filling Fast!
May 30 - Jun 13, 2025
Starting at
18,499
Special Offer

Enroll by March 31, 2024 for free air from EWR. Ask about low-cost round-trip airfare from other cities!

Filling Fast!
Aug 15 - Aug 29, 2025
Starting at
20,699
Special Offer

Enroll by March 31, 2024 for free air from EWR. Ask about low-cost round-trip airfare from other cities!

Filling Fast!
Aug 29 - Sep 12, 2025
Starting at
20,699
Special Offer

Enroll by March 31, 2024 for free air from EWR. Ask about low-cost round-trip airfare from other cities!

Filling Fast!
Sep 19 - Oct 3, 2025
Starting at
20,699
Special Offer

Enroll by March 31, 2024 for free air from EWR. Ask about low-cost round-trip airfare from other cities!

Filling Fast!
Oct 31 - Nov 14, 2025
Starting at
18,499
Special Offer

Enroll by March 31, 2024 for free air from EWR. Ask about low-cost round-trip airfare from other cities!

At a Glance

Embark on the ultimate African safari by land and water on this incredible learning adventure in the heart of Zimbabwe, Namibia and Botswana. Beginning in Zimbabwe, admire the majesty of Victoria Falls, meet locals at grassroots community projects and explore Hwange National Park in search of lions, leopards, wild dogs and cheetahs. Then, board the luxurious Zambezi Queen in Namibia for a three-night voyage along the Chobe River, offering opportunities to search for wildlife along the water. Conclude your learning adventure in Botswana’s Okavango Delta where you’ll enjoy game drives on land and a chance to explore the delta’s waters by boat and mokoro, a traditional canoe.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Minimal walking. Participants must be able to endure bumpy rides in four-wheel drive vehicles for up to four hours, climb into/out of 4x4 vehicles with 18" step up, and be able to get on/off smaller tinder boats. Elevations up to 5,575 feet.
Small Group
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.

Best of all, you’ll…

  • Float along the Chobe River on a three-day voyage on board the luxurious Zambezi Queen to search for giraffes, zebras and elephants as they come to the river to drink.
  • Search for wildlife in the Okavango Delta as you explore by vehicle, boat and mokoro — a traditional canoe.
  • Marvel in the beauty of Victoria Falls and interact with locals during a field trip to grassroots community projects.
Featured Expert
All Experts
Profile Image
Lisa Reed
Lisa Reed was born in Zimbabwe, spent her school years in South Africa, and now lives in Botswana. She has worked or visited most Southern and East African safari destinations, and has managed safari camps on her own and with others since being in Botswana. Lisa has a natural affinity with adults and children, and enjoys passing on her years of experience and knowledge to the next generation. She has been leading safaris for Road Scholar for more than 15 years.

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Profile Image of Lisa Reed
Lisa Reed was born in Zimbabwe, spent her school years in South Africa, and now lives in Botswana. She has worked or visited most Southern and East African safari destinations, and has managed safari camps on her own and with others since being in Botswana. Lisa has a natural affinity with adults and children, and enjoys passing on her years of experience and knowledge to the next generation. She has been leading safaris for Road Scholar for more than 15 years.
Profile Image of Johann Roscher
Johann Roscher View biography
Johann Röscher was born in South Africa and grew up on State Forestry stations along the coastal belt of the Cape Province. He joined the military and studied at the North West University, earning a bachelor’s degree in political science. After traveling through the Middle East and Eastern Europe, he returned to South Africa to work as a socio-political researcher. Disillusioned with city life, Johann decided to change careers and lead safaris. He’s been taking groups on safaris in Kalahari and Okavango Delta for 17 years, and he’s never been more content with his choice to move to that beautiful and remote region.
Profile Image of Sam Mushandu
Sam Mushandu View biography
Sam was born in a small village in southeast Zimbabwe. Growing up in the village gave him an appreciation for nature, particularly during holidays when he would herd his family’s cattle in the bush. Sam attended Bulawayo Commercial College and is an award-winning safari educator. He has lead learning safaris throughout southern Africa, including top destinations like Hwange and Kafue National Parks. Sam lives with his wife and family in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe and enjoys history and fishing. (Be prepared to hear some fishing stories!)
Profile Image of Honest Siyawareva
Honest Siyawareva View biography
Growing up, Honest Siyawareva spent much of his life in close proximity to nature, thanks to his family’s passion. Fulfilling his family legacy — his father and uncle were both professional nature leaders — in 2014, Honest qualified as a professional nature leader in Zimbabwe, the only person to pass the extremely onerous examinations that year. Working for Wilderness Safaris in Zimbabwe, he has split his time between camps in Hwange National Park and Mana Pools National Park.
Profile Image of Victoria Falls Heritage Tours, David Livingstone Presentation
Victoria Falls Heritage Tours, David Livingstone Presentation View biography
A dynamic storyteller from Victoria Falls Heritage Tours will join your group to discuss David Livingstone's fascinating life and his explorations, which covered more than 28,000 miles of uncharted territory. Dr. Livingstone's unparalleled story is truly an inspiration and will offer new-found perspectives on the African continent.
Profile Image of Onx Manga
Onx Manga was born in Maun, Botswana, the jumping off point for most safari destinations, and was drawn to the safari industry from an early age. He worked at Khwai River Lodge in Moremi Game Reserve and then became assistant camp manager at Savute Elephant Camp in Chobe National Park. He later worked at Disney World’s Animal Kingdom Lodge before returning to Botswana and the bush. Onx is a brilliant combination of real-life experience and studied learning. He is dedicated to nature and its conservation.
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Africa Is Not a Country: Notes on a Bright Continent
by Dipo Faloyin
So often, Africa has been depicted simplistically as a uniform land of famines and safaris, poverty and strife, stripped of all nuance. This book offers stories that bring to life Africa’s rich diversity, communities, and histories.
The Big Conservation Lie
by John Mbaria, Mordecai Ogada
This book takes the reader through Kenya’s conservation ‘industry’ and the players therein with all their prejudices, weaknesses and commitment to causes. It is a call to indigenous Africans to claim their place at the table where the management of their natural resources is being discussed, and invites well-meaning donors to look beyond the romantic images and detect the possible role of their money in the disenfranchisement of a people.
Glory
by NoViolet Bulawayo
Award-winning author follows the fall of the Old Horse, the long-serving leader of a fictional country, and the drama that follows for a nation of animals on the path to true liberation. Inspired by the unexpected fall by coup in 2017 of Robert G. Mugabe, Zimbabwe’s president of nearly four decades, Glory shows a country's imploding, narrated by a chorus of animal voices.
Fodor’s Complete Guide to African Safaris
by Fodor's Travel
This guidebook is packed with maps, carefully curated recommendations, and everything else you need to simplify your trip-planning process and make the most of your time.
Okavango, Africa’s Last Eden
by Franz Lanting
In this handsome volume, master wildlife photographer Franz Lanting captures the wildlife and habitats of the Okavango
Elephant Dawn
by Sharon Pincott
In 2001, Sharon Pincott traded her privileged life as a high-flying corporate executive to start a new one with the Presidential Elephants of Zimbabwe. She was unpaid, untrained, self-funded and arrived with the starry-eyed idealism of most foreigners during early encounters with Africa. For thirteen years - the worst in Zimbabwe's volatile history - this intrepid Australian woman lived in the Hwange bush fighting for the lives of these elephants, forming an extraordinary and life-changing bond with them.
The Safari Companion
by Richard Estes
An encyclopedic guide to the behavior of Africa’s mammals by a noted scientist.
Southern Africa Wildlife, A Visitor's Guide
by Mike Unwin
A popular, photographic guide to the mammals, birds, reptiles and habitats south of the Zambezi. With 300 color photographs and illuminating text.
Whatever You Do, Don't Run: True Tales Of A Botswana Safari Guide
by Peter Allison
These safari stories are entertaining, humorous and educational. Enjoy true tales from top safari guide Peter Allison.
Watch My Tracer
by Keith Chisnall
A third-generation Rhodesian tells the story of his upbringing on a farm and his days learning to track and survive in the bush that would assist him during the Rhodesian Civil War as a part of the clandestine operation unit known as the Pachedu.
The Last Elephants
by Colin Bell & Don Pinnock
African savanna elephants--among the most magnificent and beloved of our fellow mammals--are an extraordinary, social, and intelligent species. The Last Elephants, an homage to these animals and a clarion call for their preservation, is based upon a shocking finding: savanna elephant populations across Africa are being decimated, with two to three murdered every hour for their ivory. Without action, these elephants soon will vanish from our world. They are a species in imminent danger of extinction, and it is up to us to save them.
Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight: An African Childhood
by Alexandra Fuller
A worthy heir to Isak Dinesen and Beryl Markham, Alexandra Fuller remembers her African childhood with candor and sensitivity. Though it is a diary of an unruly life in an often inhospitable place, it is suffused with Fuller's endearing ability to find laughter, even when there is little to celebrate. Fuller's debut is unsentimental and unflinching but always captivating. In wry and sometimes hilarious prose, she stares down disaster and looks back with rage and love at the life of an extraordinary family in an extraordinary time.
The Harmless People
by Elizabeth Marshall Thomas
A classic study of the Bushmen of the Kalahari. It’s an account of the author’s fieldwork, strong on the character of the people.
Out of Darkness, Shining Light
by Petina Gappah
So begins Petina Gappah's powerful novel of exploration and adventure in nineteenth-century Africa—the captivating story of the loyal men and women who carried explorer and missionary Dr. Livingstone's body, his papers and maps, fifteen hundred miles across the continent of Africa, so his remains could be returned home to England and his work preserved there.





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