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South Africa/Zambia/Botswana/Zimbabwe

Iconic Africa: Journey Across South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe & Zambia

Program No. 25639RJ
Explore UNESCO Sites where you’ll encounter the remarkable wildlife, natural wonders and cultures of Southern Africa. Safaris, Victoria Falls, Cape Town — one adventure after the next!
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Start
Small GroupHistoryAnimals & WildlifeNew
Length
16 days
Rating
New
Activity Level
Starts at
13,499
Itinerary
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. Read More.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
16 days
15 nights
What's Included
38 meals ( 13B, 1BR, 12L, 12D )
8 expert-led lectures
17 expert-led field trips
6 flights during the program
2 hands-on experiences
An experienced Group Leader
13 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
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Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 12 miles, approximately 20 minutes. Hotel check-in from 2:00 p.m.
Afternoon:
After arriving at the hotel and checking in, take some time to freshen up and relax before our welcome dinner.
Dinner:
At the hotel, we’ll have a set menu welcome dinner including coffee, tea, and bottled water; additional beverages available for purchase.
Evening:
Orientation: The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the schedule and any changes, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. We are fortunate to have as our Group Leader a knowledgeable expert who will also serve as our primary lecturer for most of the program. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. Continue getting to know your fellow participants, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.
Activity Note
Choice of different length paths to follow on top of Table Mountain, however minimal walking is required. Drive time to the Winelands is 1 hour each direction; 35 miles. Getting on/off motorcoach.
Breakfast:
Breakfast will be an expansive buffet at the hotel, with a variety of cereals, breads, fruits and hot breakfast items like eggs, ham and sausage. Coffee, tea, fruit juice, water, milk provided.
Morning:
After breakfast, we will head to Table Mountain where a cable car ride up the steep granite slopes (weather permitting) will give us splendid views of the city and peninsula; it is perhaps one of the most magnificent views in the southern hemisphere. Upon descending the mountain by cable car, we will board our motorcoach and head to the Cape Winelands.
Lunch:
We will enjoy lunch today at a wine estate near Stellenbosch. Our 2-course plated meal will consist of dishes curated by the executive chef, made with seasonal ingredients sourced from local farms and artisanal suppliers. Lunch will include 1 glass of wine per person and water; additional beverages available for purchase.
Afternoon:
We will spend the afternoon exploring the Cape Winelands. The wine-producing region around Stellenbosch and Franschhoek is not only the most important wine growing region in South Africa, but Stellenbosch is also one of the oldest, most beautiful and well-preserved towns in South Africa. The vineyards form a patchwork in the fertile valleys and seem to be overshadowed by dramatic mountains. There is an almost European atmosphere with beautiful Cape Dutch architecture seen everywhere. We will partake in a wine tasting and hear a lecture on the area’s architecture, history and viniculture from our Group Leader.
Dinner:
Dinner will be a set menu taken at a local restaurant. Water provided with additional beverages available for purchase.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Walk around the botanical garden can be up to 1.5 miles in length on paved paths, with small inclines/declines encountered. Getting on/off funicular at Cape Point, with set of steep stairs to reach the Cape Point lighthouse; spectacular views can still be had without climbing to the lighthouse. At Boulders Beach, the coach must park in a parking lot that requires about a 15-20 minute walk to get to the entrance to Boulders; the walk is on flat, paved surfaces.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will visit Kirstenbosch Gardens, one of the world's leading botanical gardens. Few gardens can match the sheer grandeur of its setting, against the eastern slopes of Table Mountain. Kirstenbosch was established in 1913 to promote, conserve and display the extraordinarily rich and diverse flora of southern Africa, and it was the first botanic garden in the world to be devoted to a country’s indigenous flora. On display in the gardens is a wide variety of the unique Cape Floristic Region plant life, as well as plants from all the diverse regions of southern Africa; there are over 7,000 species in cultivation at Kirstenbosch, including many that are rare and threatened. In 2004, the Cape Floristic Region, including Kirstenbosch, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We will walk around the garden in the company of our Group Leader and a local specialist, who will talk about the different plants seen. Afterwards, we will depart toward Cape Point via the coastal route passing through the famous beach resort town of Camps Bay, past the Twelve Apostle Range, through Hout Bay, and along Chapman’s Peak Drive, one of the most spectacular coastal roads to be found in Africa, finally arriving at the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve. Cape Point, the southwestern-most point of the African continent, is one of the world’s most beautiful places – a stretch of rocky mountain jutting southward into the sea. We will board the funicular, which will bring us up to a viewpoint walkway on the peak, the lower station; the upper station, where the lighthouse is located, is accessible by stairs from here. At Cape Point we will find a myriad of pristine beaches, sheltered bays and coves, as well as a rich array of indigenous flora. The fynbos reserve (a unique vegetation type of the Cape Floral Kingdom) is home to a variety of wildlife and bird species. Whales (dependent on season), penguins and seals may be spotted from this point. Lecture: Biodiversity of the Cape.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant specializing in seafood, enjoy a 3-course plated meal, plus coffee, tea, water; other beverages available for purchase.
Afternoon:
We will continue to Boulders Beach to view the resident African penguin colony. Our Group Leader will lead us to the beach, which is nestled in a sheltered cove between Simon's Town and Cape Point, and introduce us to the penguins. Boulders has become world famous for its thriving colony of African penguins and magnificent wind-sheltered beaches. Boulders is one of the few sites where this vulnerable bird (Spheniscus demersus) can be observed at close range, wandering freely in a protected environment. In the late afternoon, we will return to the hotel with time to freshen up before dinner.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant featuring traditional African dishes. Water, coffee, tea will be provided with additional beverages available for purchase.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
City exploration will be done on motorcoach with chance to explore on foot in certain locations; walking up to 1 mile on paved paths, some inclines/declines encountered. Periods of standing at the museum.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
This morning we will explore prominent sites around the city. Sites visited include: the Bo Kaap, a colorful and predominantly Muslim neighborhood; the Company Gardens, a lovely garden in the heart of city center that is surrounded by the Houses of Parliament; the Anglican Cathedral of South Africa, where Desmond Tutu was bishop; Greenmarket Square, an historic, and vibrant, meeting place in the business district; the Castle of Good Hope, a former fort that is the oldest building in South Africa; and the Iziko South African Museum, where we will explore the exhibit on the San (Bushmen) in the company of a docent. The San are recognized as one of the oldest continuous cultures on earth, having once lived throughout southern Africa but now being concentrated in the Kalahari Desert, where their survival techniques are renowned. At the end of our visit, we will return to the hotel; those wishing to remain longer in the museum to explore on their own are welcome to do so.
Lunch:
This meal has been excluded from the program cost and will be on your own to enjoy what you like.
Afternoon:
Free Time. Take this opportunity for personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most in the city of Cape Town. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. There is a multitude of activities offered in the area, or you may wish to explore the hotel's walking trails through their expansive gardens. Transportation will be provided to the V&A Waterfront for self-exploration.
Dinner:
This meal has been excluded from the program cost and will be on your own to enjoy what you like.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Flight time from Cape Town to Maun is 2.5 hours. Flight from Maun to Khwai airstrip is approximately 1 hour. Getting on/off 12-passenger aircraft and 4x4 vehicles. Game drives throughout southern Africa are in open air, 4x4 vehicles; each vehicle can take up to 9 people in three rows of three seats each. Game drives typically last 3 to 4 hours in the early mornings and late afternoons, when the animals are most active.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will check out of the hotel and board the motorcoach, transferring to the Cape Town airport for our commercial flight to Maun, Botswana.
Lunch:
Snack in flight and snacks provided in camp upon arrival.
Afternoon:
Upon an early afternoon arrival in Maun, we will clear Botswana border formalities. After immigration, we will be escorted to our small aircraft charter for the flight into the Khwai Concession's dirt airstrip. Our flight path will include a scenic pass over the Okavango Delta, a World Heritage Site, so we may appreciate the scope of the Delta with its myriad of waterways and channels. From the airstrip, we will board our open-air, 4x4 safari vehicles for our drive through typical Botswana woodlands to our campsite; we will likely see wildlife along the way. Upon arrival at our private mobile tented camp, we will settle in. Afterward, we will board our 4x4 safari vehicles for the first game drive of the program. Game drives throughout the program will be conducted in open-air safari vehicles, each vehicle with its own local safari specialist who provides insight on the flora and fauna seen. Located on the eastern edge of the Okavango Delta, the Khwai River area abounds with wildlife. It is particularly well-known for its predators, especially one of the most endangered carnivores in Africa, the wild dog. Lion and leopard are commonly found, as well as herds of buffalo, elephant and hippo. Game in Khwai is abundant and varied, and includes tsessebe, lechwe, wildebeest, impala, waterbuck, sable and giraffe. We will return to camp at dusk with time to freshen up before dinner.
Dinner:
Our camp cook will prepare appetizers and a dinner feast that we will enjoy in the open air under the stars. Dinners at camp will be buffets with a starter, main entree with side dishes, and a dessert; bottled water, soft drinks and local brand alcohol will be included.
Evening:
Following dinner, we will have the opportunity to join together around a campfire.
Activity Note
Safari drives in open air, 4x4 vehicles for 3 to 4 hours in the early morning and late afternoon. Getting on/off 4x4 vehicles.
Breakfast:
Served prior to the early morning game drive, breakfasts in camp will be buffets with cold cereals, bread, fresh fruit and rusks (South African style biscotti); coffee/tea, fruit juice and bottled water will be provided.
Morning:
Searching for plains game and other species, we will take a morning game drive through a large variety of different vegetation types, down winding tracks, through mopane forests and across lush grasslands. The scenic beauty of the area adds to our experience of Botswana’s verdant Garden of Eden, the Okavango Delta. We will return to camp mid-morning, for a chance to freshen up and rest during the heat of the day.
Lunch:
Camp lunches will be buffets with a mix of hot and cold breakfast and lunch items, such as salad, egg dishes, sausage, cold meats and cheeses, and pasta dishes, with dessert. Bottled water, soft drinks and local brand alcohol will be included.
Afternoon:
During afternoon tea time, our Group Leader will give an Overview of Botswana. Afterward, we will embark on a game drive, where lion and leopard, and herds of buffalo, elephant and hippo are commonly found. We will return to camp just after dusk.
Dinner:
In camp under the stars.
Evening:
If the skies are clear tonight, we will discover the constellations of the Southern Hemisphere.
Activity Note
Safari drives in open air, 4x4 vehicles for 3 to 4 hours in the early morning and late afternoon. Getting on/off 4x4 vehicles.
Breakfast:
In camp.
Morning:
This morning, we will head out on a game drive to search for wild dog and other endangered carnivores. We will return to camp mid-morning and have a few hours at leisure to rest, read, freshen up and relax in the heat of the day.
Lunch:
In camp.
Afternoon:
During our afternoon tea-time lecture, we will learn about the Okavango Delta's hydrology and geology from our Group Leader, and how it has changed over time. Afterward, we will take one last afternoon game drive in Khwai, keeping our eyes open for tsessebe, lechwe, wildebeest, impala, waterbuck, elephant, sable and giraffe. We will return to camp just after dusk.
Dinner:
In camp.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Flight time to Kasane is approximately 1 hour. Boat safari lasts 2 hours. Getting on/off small airplane, boat and 4x4 vehicle. Drive time Chobe to Victoria Falls approximately 2.5 hours, including border crossing; 55 miles. In order to see all viewpoints at the Falls, approximate length of walk is 2 miles. It is possible to walk less and see some, but not all, viewpoints. Paths may be slick from mist but are mostly flat.
Breakfast:
In camp.
Morning:
After breakfast, we will transfer to a nearby dirt airstrip with game viewing en-route. We will take a small aircraft charter flight from the airstrip to the town of Kasane, the gateway to Chobe National Park. Upon arrival in Kasane, we will be met and driven in a minibus a short distance to the jetty for our late morning boat safari. We will explore the Chobe River by motorboat with a local safari expert, where we may come face to face with the elephant, buffalo and other wildlife that gather on the banks of the river to drink and bathe. We'll find ourselves immersed in the unique environment, viewing numerous birds including sacred ibis, blue heron, goliath heron, saddle-billed storks, marabou storks and little egrets. Chobe National Park remains one of Africa’s prime game-viewing areas. Here, one finds all of the “Big Five,” except for rhino. This is elephant country, home to the largest population of elephants in the world…many of these great grey giants can be seen at this time of year. (Note: seasonality makes a big difference in how much game you will see. If it’s dry you will see larger herds; if it has recently rained the animals will be more dispersed). The park forms part of Botswana’s northern-most border and is a contrast of desert aridity and flood plains. The Chobe region is best known for its vast magnificent river and floodplains filled with grazing herds of big game. Buffalo, sable, lion, leopard, hippo, hyena, and many species of antelope find safety in this huge national park. Chobe is one of Africa’s most pristine ecosystems and greatest wildlife refuges. At the conclusion of our boat safari, we will be taken to a local lodge for lunch.
Lunch:
We will enjoy an expansive buffet lunch at a lodge near Chobe National Park, with numerous salad, main dish and dessert options. Bottled water will be provided, with other beverages available for purchase.
Afternoon:
Following lunch, we will transfer to the Kazungula border to clear Zimbabwe immigration formalities. Then, our transfer will continue on to Victoria Falls, where we will see the waterfall on the Zimbabwean side. Upon our entrance to the park, we will walk along the path with commentary from the Group Leader about the formation of the falls, as well as the local flora and birdlife seen. Since the waterfall spans the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe, it is visible from both countries, but the majority of the water falls on the Zimbabwean side. Viewing the Falls from this side offers numerous overlooks and truly gives us a feeling for the full majesty of this natural wonder. What we call Victoria Falls is known as Mosi oa-Tunya (the smoke that thunders) in the language of the Lozi people. One of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, and a World Heritage Site, this is also considered the largest and most spectacular waterfall anywhere with a height of 360 feet (108 meters) and a width of 5,603 feet (1,708 meters), awesome in size and power as the Zambezi River rushes over an abrupt chasm. Its English name was given by Scottish explorer David Livingstone, the first European known to have visited here in 1855, in honor of Queen Victoria. Afterward, we will be driven a short distance to our lodge, where we will check-in and settle into our rooms.
Dinner:
At the lodge, we will have a 3-course, set menu dinner, plus coffee, tea, water; other beverages available for purchase.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting in/out of a mini-bus; driving about 30 miles round-trip, approximately 1 hour total. Walking approximately 1/2 mile; uneven terrain; periods of standing; potentially hot temperatures.
Breakfast:
Breakfast at the lodge will be a buffet with a selection of cereals, pastries, fruit and yogurt; hot breakfast items cooked to order. Coffee, tea, fruit juices, milk and water will be provided.
Morning:
Following breakfast, we will gather with our Group Leader at the lodge for an Overview of Zimbabwe. Then, boarding our minibus, we will transfer to the Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust, where we will learn about how the Trust’s local conservation efforts are making a major impact in the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA). The Trust has four main areas of operation: Rescue and Rehabilitation; Wildlife Research; Wildlife Disease and Forensics Laboratory; and Community Outreach. In the company of a local expert, our hour-long visit will incorporate an overview of the Trust and its facilities, including the wildlife rehabilitation area. From the Trust, we will reboard our minibus and drive back into town to visit two community projects in Victoria Falls; visits to these projects are done on a non-commercialized, authentic and interactive basis with a view to a genuine and meaningful interaction. Here, we will have the chance to meet members of the community and see how they live. From the village, we will transfer to our lunch venue.
Lunch:
At a restaurant with scenic views of Victoria Falls, we’ll enjoy a set menu, 2-course plated meal with bottled water included; other beverages available for purchase.
Afternoon:
Free Time. Take this opportunity for personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most in the town of Victoria Falls. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. In the early evening, we will regroup at the lodge for our transfer to the dinner venue.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant in Victoria Falls, we will have a buffet meal featuring traditional Zimbabwean dishes, plus water, tea and coffee. As we interact with our hosts, we’ll learn a bit about life and cooking traditions in this part of Zimbabwe. Other beverages are available for purchase.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Drive time to Livingstone Airport is approximately 1.5 hours, including border crossing; 12 miles. Flight time from Livingstone to Royal Airstrip is approximately 2 hours. Drive from airstrip to lodge is 10 minutes, done in open-air safari vehicles.
Breakfast:
Lodge buffet.
Morning:
Following breakfast, we will be joined at the lodge by a noted local historian to discuss the story of Scottish explorer Dr. David Livingstone. Dr. Livingstone first visited Victoria Falls over 150 years ago and his journeys laid the groundwork for the Colonial era that followed. Upon conclusion of the lecture, we will board our minibus and transfer over the Zambian border via the stunning bridge that spans the Batoka Gorge just downstream from the Falls. After clearing immigration, we will transfer to the Livingstone Airport and depart on a private charter flight to the Royal Airstrip, located on the edge of the Lower Zambezi National Park.
Lunch:
Snacks upon arrival at the lodge.
Afternoon:
Upon an early afternoon arrival at the airstrip, we will be met by our local safari specialists and driven in open-air, 4x4 safari vehicles to Royal Zambezi Lodge. We will have time to settle into our rooms before afternoon tea is served. Following tea, we will embark on a boat safari on the Zambezi River, searching for elephant, hippo, buffalo, crocodile, waterbuck and the myriad of kingfishers, herons and wading birds fishing for their suppers. The Zambezi River forms the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia, so as we float along we will be able to view Mana Pools National Park on the Zimbabwean side of the river, a World Heritage Site. Sundowner drinks and snacks will be served as we witness one of Africa’s beautiful sunsets, then we will return to the lodge with time to freshen up before dinner.
Dinner:
Taken at the lodge, dinner will be a 3-course, set menu meal. Water, coffee, tea will be included with additional beverages available for purchase.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Walking approx. 1 mile on the morning bush walk; about 1 hour; uneven, sandy terrain. Safari drives in open air, 4x4 vehicles for 3 to 4 hours in the early morning and late afternoon.
Breakfast:
Early morning cereal, toast and fruit will be served at the lodge.
Morning:
This morning, we will divide to participate in a guided bush walk with our safari expert and an armed guard, or go on a game drive in the Lower Zambezi National Park with a safari expert. During the bush walk, our local expert will provide insight into tracking, local flora, and any wildlife seen, as well as pointing out the smaller residents in the bush. We will return to the lodge mid-morning to freshen up and relax.
Brunch:
Brunch at the lodge will consist of a full cooked breakfast with choices of bacon, sausages, poached eggs, mushrooms, tomato and baked beans. Water, fruit juice, coffee and tea will be provided, with additional beverages available for purchase.
Lunch:
At the lodge, lunch will be a 2-course, set menu meal. Water, coffee, tea will be included with additional beverages available for purchase.
Afternoon:
During the heat of mid-day, we will have a chance to enjoy the lodge's amenities, or view game from the private deck of our suite as the animals come to drink from the river. During afternoon tea, our Group Leader will give us an overview of Zambia. Afterward, we'll embark on a day-into-night game drive, where leopard, hyena, porcupine, civet, genet and honey badger are commonly sighted. After dark, our local safari expert will use a spotlight to find animals in the bush. We will return to the lodge in the late evening, just before dinner.
Dinner:
At the lodge.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Walking approx. 1 mile on the morning bush walk; about 1 hour; uneven, sandy terrain. Safari drives in open-air, 4x4 vehicles last 3 to 4 hours in the early morning. Boat safari approximately 3 hours in late afternoon.
Breakfast:
Early morning continental breakfast at the lodge.
Morning:
Again this morning, we will divide and have the choice of a game drive or a bush walk with our safari specialist and armed guard that will emphasize spoor, vegetation, birds, insects and bush lore. We will return to the lodge mid-morning, after the safari activity.
Lunch:
At the lodge.
Afternoon:
The heat of the day will be spent at the lodge, at leisure. Over tea, our Group Leader will give a lecture on elephant social structure and behavior. Following tea, we will board our motorboat for a river safari. Sundowner beverages and snacks will be served as we enjoy a beautiful sunset. We will return to the lodge at dusk with time to freshen up before dinner.
Dinner:
At the lodge.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Transfer to local community approximately 1 hour each direction, done by motorboat. Transportation within local community done in 4x4 vehicle. Periods of standing in the village in potentially hot temperatures.
Breakfast:
At the lodge.
Morning:
We will board our motorboats for the cruise up the Zambezi River to the Mugurameno community. Wildlife may be spotted along the river’s banks en-route. Upon arrival in Mugurameno, we will disembark the boats and climb aboard vehicles for visits to the local school, clinic and various other projects in the community. We will be shown around the school and learn about the school’s projects, as well as have the opportunity to interact with the children when school is in session. Our participation in this Road Scholar program helps fund the school and projects we will visit. In the late morning, we will reboard our boats for the cruise back downriver to the lodge, watching for elephant, hippo and buffalo along the way.
Lunch:
Lodge meal.
Afternoon:
The heat of the day will be at leisure. This afternoon we will have our choice of safari activity to participate in, including a game drive, boat safari, fishing or bush walk. All activities will return to the lodge in the late afternoon, with time to freshen up before dinner.
Dinner:
At the lodge.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off small charter aircraft. Flight time Lower Zambezi to Lusaka 30 minutes. Flight time Lusaka to Johannesburg 2 hours.
Breakfast:
Lodge meal.
Morning:
We will have time to relax and pack our bags before checking out of the lodge for a mid-morning transfer to the nearby airstrip, where we will board our small aircraft flight to Lusaka. In Lusaka, we will connect to our early afternoon commercial flight to Johannesburg.
Lunch:
In flight snack.
Afternoon:
Board the early afternoon commercial flight to Johannesburg. Arrive in Johannesburg and connect to your international return flight. This concludes our program. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Please join our Facebook page and share photos of your program. Visit us at www.facebook.com/rsadventures. Best wishes for all your journeys!
Morning:
Arrive North America.
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