12 days – 11 nights

Day 1, 2 & 3 - Cape Town – the Mother City

Welcome to Cape Town !

On arrival you will be met at the airport & transferred in a private vehicle to a city location hotel of your choosing, for three nights accommodation on a bed & breakfast basis.

Cape Town is without doubt South Africa´s most picturesque city, set at the southern most tip of the African continent where rugged Cape Peninsula separates the wild Atlantic from the Indian Ocean & the ever present moody Table Mountain, looms sentinel above the city.

Cape Town provides for a mix of races, cultures, creeds & skills. It pulses to the rhythm of the Victoria & Alfred waterfront; languishes to the steady surge of ocean currents that come ashore on the white sand of Clifton & Camps beaches & it breathes a heady magic from the hinterlands of wine country & the imposing mountain passes that give way to the famed Garden Route heading north along the eastern cape towards Hermanus, Knysna & Port Elizabeth.

Take a stunning scenic trip to the top of Table Mountain on the cableway to get the full 360 degree vistas from the far northern mountain horizon, Table Bay Robbin Island, Cape Point & Bantry Bay. Or, perhaps a day excursion that includes the much vaunted Robbin Island prison where Nelson Mandela was encarcerated for 18 long years. Still another choice is a day out to the world renown wine estates surrounding Franschhoek & Stellenbosch or a guided excursion over the Four Passes . There is so much to do & see in Cape Town & you have three days to accomplish whatever it is that takes your desire.

Day 4 - Cape Town to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

After an early breakfast, transfer to Cape Town airport for the flight firstly to Johannesburg, then your International connection to Victoria Falls.

On arrival at Victoria Falls you will be met & after clearing Immigration formalities, transferred to your choice of hotel which will be home for the next 2 nights. The remainder of this day is at leisure, to explore your new surroundings. The local arts & craft markets certainly offer a wealth of bargain hunting opportunities & are located a sort walk away, close by to the major central hotels.

(S) Ilala Lodge
(Q) The Kingdom
(D) Victoria Falls Safari Lodge or Elephant Hills Inter-Continental
The Stanley & Livingstone

Day 5 - Victoria Falls activities

After breakfast, a short transfer from the hotel with your guide for a walking excursion along the trails above the Falls on the Zimbabwe side. This walking interpretive excursion will last approximately two hours. Commencing in the interpretation centre, head off towards the bronzed statue of Dr David Livingstone, who is depicted as if he is striding towards his first glimpses of this world wonder. He was the first European to witness & report of the Victoria Falls existence as he witnessed the 650 million litres of water a minute that plunges into the chasm.

Walk the spectacular rainforest canopied trails, pausing at the many viewing vantage points to see Horseshoe Falls, Rainbow Falls, the Boiling Pot, Cataract Island & Livingstone Island. Your guide will bring you up to date with historical facts and features of the Falls as you wander.

Now do bear in mind the spray from Victoria Falls will make it seem as if you have been caught in a tropical downpour, so do take time to wear the plastic rain ponchos you can get at the entrance gate – there is a really practical reason they offer these to visitors.

The afternoon is yours to decide what other activities you wish to undertake. There are many adventure options – the ‘Flight of Angels’ in an ultra-light aircraft over the Falls; white water rafting the mighty Zambezi which is a high risk pursuit NOT recommended for the faint of heart or maybe you would prefer to seek out bargains at the local Victoria Falls craft markets. There are some magnificent wooded carved animals, African artefacts, woven basket ware & bone carved crafts to be found here.

Day 6 - Victoria Falls – Kasane - Savute Safari Lodge, Botswana

After a leisurely breakfast & the opportunity to catch any last minute bargain hunting at the local craft markets, you will be transferred by road to Kasane crossing the Botswana border & required immigration formalities en-route. This is an approximate two hour journey on a good highway.

At Kasane, board a light aircraft for the flight to Savute.

The flight to Savute Safari Lodge is of approximately 50 minutes duration, initially crossing the marshlands & channels of the Okavango, then the landscape will change into savannah flat lands, which during the dry winters especially, the waterholes become a magnet for animals big & small as the Savute Channel - which goes through mysterious cycles of dry and wet - is currently dry. It stopped flowing in 1980, so that which was then hippo & crocodile territory, is now home to ‘plains’ game.

The Lodge is set in ancient camelthorn trees on the shores of the channel. In any season this is a glorious setting, with a large viewing deck. The sunsets especially mesmerize guests as the golden orb descends to the horizon, followed by brilliant fiery hues that turn slowly pink, then fade as dusk becomes African night. The swimming pool is a popular retreat by day & in the evenings, an outdoor fireplace is a wonderful venue for safari ‘yarns’ to be recalled over a after dinner drink.

Game drive activities offer a rich variety of animal experiences. Equally fascinating is an excursion to the Gubasta Hills to view the ancient bush people ( Sans ) Rock Art which dates back thousands of years.

The accommodation suites here are unique, being of solid design, thatched roof & large glass sliding doors that provide for stunning panoramic views, even from your bed.

Day 7 - Savute Safari Lodge

An early morning wake up call, snacks, drinks and then you’ll head off on the morning game drive activities.

By now you’ll have become accustomed to the routine, which will deliver breakfast on your return, followed by relaxation time, lunch if you wish to indulge & the afternoon game drive activities that commence around 1530hrs. At Savute, you will have the opportunity to take a guided walking expedition if you’d wish to, rather than another 4 x 4 game drive. It is an excellent way to safely get a very different perspective of the bush & savannah landscape accompanied by a professional Ranger into the domain that the animals survive in. That choice is yours to make, but it is one which we recommend for added value.

Dinner will be served approximately an hour after returning from the late afternoon- early evening safari activity. How long you choose to languish afterwards, is up to you entirely. A Camp escort will walk you back to your safari suite when you choose to retire for the evening.

Day 8 - Savute – Camp Moremi

After breakfast & dependant upon flight transfer schedules you will depart Savute by light aircraft for Camp Moremi which is located on Chiefs Island in the Okavango Delta.

Camp Moremi is an all –inclusive luxury tented camp which provides the absolute best of service standards in an atmosphere it is impossible not to relax & unwind in. Each of the spacious tents are built on a hardwood raised deck, set in a bush location with the best of privacy. There is a large double bed, vanity, wardrobe & bedside tables with 12v lighting for nighttime reading. A verandah at one end of the tent has two directors chairs & a small table for sitting out in the afternoons with a book or favorite beverage & at the other end, there is a very generous en-suite bathroom with wonderful shower, basin & flush toilet.

Game activities are both land & water based – you have the choice of a 4 x 4 safari vehicle experience hosted by a professional ranger, or either a mokoro canoe or powerboat experience accompanied by a professional ranger. Game viewing is offered in the early mornings & again late afternoon. In addition, rangers take guests out on game walks by power boat to the many islands that dot the lagoon or for those who so desire, on sport fishing excursions seeking out the much vaunted Tiger Fish who live up to their name &/ reputation when hooked. Those you catch are welcomed by the chef & will be prepared for dinner in a manner that has to be seen to be believed.

Day 9 - Camp Moremi

Another morning wake-up call followed by snacks & drinks before the morning game drive activity commences. You will no doubt be taken in an entirely different direction from that which you followed the previous evening, as the Rangers know where best to find certain animal species in the early mornings. Dependant upon what you have already encountered, or wish to try to find, they ensure game drive opportunities are maximized.

Breakfast will be ready & served upon your returning to camp, then you have time to relax during the heat of the day (aside from a pause for lunch if you so desire) prior to the afternoon game drive activities which commence approx 1530hrs. When you return from the afternoon game drive, freshen up & relax prior to dinner, then maybe a post dinner relaxation before it is time to turn in for the night.

After the generator is turned off, quite frequently animals wander through the camp. Hyena especially are easily identified by their mournful ‘whoooop’ calling & you will have no trouble picking out lion, as when they roar, the very ground all around reverberates. Should this occur, it is an awesome reminder just who is the ‘boss’ in this wilderness.

Day 10 & 11 - Camp Okavango

This morning you are in for one of the world’s best transfers – by power boat up the maize of channels, across large lagoons to Camp Okavango. You’ll receive an early wake up call, have drinks & a light snack prior to departing at 0700 just as the sun is above the horizon & likely the air is still. It’s a three hour trip in a canvass topped, open aluminum craft powered by a large outboard motor & piloted by an experienced professional guide who knows their way in this marsh wetland.

On your transfer south & west with the current, you are highly likely to see hippo in the deeper channels. When surprised - as often you will come upon them they either submerge or if in shallows - they rush headlong into the deep. You’ll no doubt also get up close to many species of birds perched in the overhanging branches of trees seeking a meal of frog, snake or fish. Fish eagles especially stay close to the river & opportunities of excellent close up photographs are to be had.

Roughly halfway to Camp Okavango, your guide will make a stop on a small island mid-stream for coffee, tea & snacks. Likely too, another boat from Camp Okavango will meet up here & both guides exchange passengers, with the Camp Okavango vessel & crew taking you onward & the Camp Moremi vessel & crew returning to its origin.

The closer you get to Camp Okavango, the narrower the channel becomes until ahead, on a tree covered island, your destination for the next two nights comes into view. On arrival, you will be met by hosts, provided a camp briefing & taken to your tented accommodation. Time to freshen up, unpack & settle in before a cooked breakfast is served, which is timely given your having started out early.

Your stay at Camp Okavango includes all meals, all local brand drinks & alcohol, two scheduled ranger guided game viewing experiences a day by foot or in a mokoro canoe or powered river craft. The area has abundance of lion, elephant, hippo, leopard & boasts rare & elusive species such as the Sitatunga antelope.

In addition, it is a fisherman’s paradise with excellent tiger fish, pike & bream most times of the year.

The remainder of this day, interrupted only by lunch at approximately 1300hrs, is yours to settle in & look around the grounds of Camp Moremi. The swimming pool is a wonderful spot, so too the guests lounge, where many of the historic & pictorial books on this region can be found. At 1530hrs guests assemble in the outdoor bar – dining area for drinks & snacks before heading out on the afternoon safari experience hosted by your ranger who poles the mokoro canoe.

Herds of elephant frequent the region, as do red lechwe antelope. Here too you are likely to find baboon, velvet monkeys & perhaps leopard as the shores of the lagoons & the densely covered marshlands are ideal leopard habitat. For bird watchers, this is paradise. The abundance of indigenous & migratory species who inhabit the wetlands is world renown. All manner of species from waders & water fowl to raptors – fish eagles, bateleur eagles, brown & snake eagles & vultures as well as the rare Pel’s fishing owl, make this a truly special place.

If you have never raised a crystal glass filled with your favorite fine wine, champagne or perhaps a ´short´ in a river mid-stream accompanied by the soft gurgling of the pure waters & cries of birds heading to roost for the night, be prepared to be spoilt as ´sundowner´ drinks at Camp Okavango will make other ´sundowners´ never feel the same again.

Back to camp at or shortly after dark for dinner, which inevitably requires an after dinner relax in the lounge & maybe a post dinner drink with the other guests before you head off to bed.

Day 12 - Camp Okavango – Maun – Johannesburg

Dependant upon aircraft transfer schedules, you are likely to have an early breakfast then fly out from Camp Okavango to Maun to connect to the nonstop Air Botswana flight to Johannesburg.

For those guests who have an International same day connection, if a day room is required, Sundance Spirit can easily arrange this at one of three hotels within easy walking distance of the International Terminal at JNB.

For those who wish to stay over in Johannesburg, we suggest that you consider staying in Sandton, some 40 minutes transfer from the International Airport where the facilities & security is excellent & the huge Sandton Mall offers as wide a range of shopping opportunities as you will find. Sundance Spirit will certainly provide recommendations depending upon your preferences.

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