Nothing compares with the thrill of a safari, and your game drives and river cruises will be highlights of this African adventure. Here’s a glimpse of what awaits you:

• Kruger National Park: Start your African safari with a game drive through the most famous national park in Africa, stopping for a picnic lunch. Complete your Kruger encounter with another early morning safari drive the next day
• Hwange National Park: Revel in morning, afternoon, and nighttime game drives within Hwange National Park and in our game-rich private concession. You’ll also experience the thrill of a walking safari in big game country, as well as a visit to the Painted Dog Conservation Center
• Chobe National Park: With one of the largest concentrations of wildlife in Africa, this park will fulfill your desire to see animals in great numbers as well as spectacular birdlife on three game drives and two riverboat cruises

Southern Africa’s rich cultural history and the Victoria Falls UNESCO World Heritage Site are all revealed to you on this tour. Here’s what you’ll discover:

• Visit the former home of Nelson Mandela in South Africa’s lively Soweto Township and feel moved at the Hector Pieterson Memorial and Museum, documenting the tragedies of anti-apartheid student uprisings in 1976
• Explore the widest curtain of falling water at magnificent Victoria Falls, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Hear the historic legacy of David Livingstone from a local Zimbabwean on an optional Zambezi River Cruise
• Add the highly recommended Cape Town extension and discover the world’s smallest floral kingdom on Table Mountain, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature

Experience the thrill of big game safari on this adventure across South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Botswana, traveling through breathtaking scenery and untamed landscapes:

• Cruise quietly along the Chobe River with animals untroubled by our presence, seeing crocodiles, hippos, and elephants wading and swimming in the water
• Stay in two deluxe Vantage-exclusive tented camps for an immersive nature experience with a luxurious twist
• Admire the power and magnificence of Victoria Falls, UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Spend time in nature — cruising the rivers, game viewing from vehicle and on foot, and dining under the star-filled Southern Hemisphere night sky

The Cape Winelands are renowned, not only for their fine vintages, but for the jaw-dropping beauty of the scenery. Here’s how you’ll enjoy the fruits of this delightful mountainous region on a Cape Town extension tour:

• Visit the historic town of Stellenbosch, the birthplace of the Cape wine industry
• Drive along pastoral scenic valleys of the Cape Winelands to Franschhoek (French Corner), where every wine estate has a French name and a wine tasting cellar
• Taste the Cape’s unique vintages, like the South African signature variety Pinotage
• Enjoy lunch at a celebrated wine estate, with fabulous views of the Franschhoek Valley
• Buy some wine to take home or have it shipped

The best time of day to take nature photographs is in the golden light of dawn and dusk. We’ll be out and about on safari at those times for you to take precious photographs that will remind you of this trip forever. Here are some things to consider for the best photographic results:

• Invest in a good quality, fast lens for your DSLR, with powerful zooming capabilities and good stability
• Compact cameras and mobile phones these days have powerful cameras, but they don’t do well at full zoom or shooting animals in the distance
• Be patient and wait for that great shot. A dark dot in the distance isn’t going to make a great photo and only you will know what animal it was!  
• Bring extra memory cards as you can get bitten by the photography bug, especially after expert advice on the included photographic cruise along the Chobe River 

Everyone loves the professional photographic cruise on the Chobe in specially adapted boats, where you have use of long-lens cameras on swivel mounts and specialist tuition. You’ll snap some amazing shots that you never thought possible. And, you get to take the memory card home with you, full of accomplished images that you took yourself.

Our journey through southern Africa’s top nature preserves and their numerous habitats provides some of the most brilliant birding opportunities in the world. With 500 recorded species in some areas alone, if you didn’t start out as a birdwatcher, you’ll probably be entranced by them by the end. Here’s a sample of what to look out for:

• Kruger National Park: In addition to the Big Five animals, Kruger has a birding Big Six equivalent: Lappet-faced vulture, saddle-billed stork, martial eagle, kori bustard, Pel’s fishing owl, and the southern ground hornbill. Count yourself extraordinarily fortunate if you see them all
• Hwange National Park: Hwange is a treasure trove of “lifers” for serious birders, such as African hobby, pearl-spotted owl, Cape griffon, and exquisitely colored carmine bee-eaters and crimson-breasted shrikes
• Chobe National Park: With varied terrain and a permanent water source, Chobe attracts all kinds of land and water birds, making birdwatching a constant pleasure. There are so many different herons, kingfishers, waders, raptors, and little tweeters that you won’t know where to look. Twitchers should look out for African marsh harrier, Pel’s fishing owl, half-collared kingfisher, and white-backed night heron

From storytelling under the stars and the history of Nelson Mandela to connecting with locals wherever we go, the splendor of African culture is on full display on this adventure. Here are a few highlights:

• Visit Nelson Mandela’s former home in Soweto Township
• See the Hector Pieterson Memorial and Museum, the memorial to 12-year-old Hector Pieterson, shot and killed during an anti-apartheid march here on June 16, 1976 — now National Youth Day
• Barter at vibrant market stalls in Victoria Falls for traditional Shona stone sculptures and colorful arts and crafts
• Visit a Zimbabwean family home and eat a home-cooked meal with them, while sharing details about each other’s lives
• The children of Chinotimba Primary School will touch your heart during a visit to this school supported by Vantage Cares
• In Hwange, we’ll soak up the campfire atmosphere while listening to Shona and Ndebele tribal tales from a traditional storyteller

Your land adventure has been enhanced with special features catering to independent travelers, including:

• Solo-friendly social activities, including a Solo Connection mixer to get to know your fellow travelers
• Explore and make more intimate discoveries in a small group of just 24 or less like-minded travelers
• The services of a complimentary Destination Manager to enhance your adventure with added sightseeing excursions, hotel stays, restaurant reservations, and more

Customize your adventure in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Botswana with these top Concierge suggestions:

• Shopping trips
• Extend your stay in Cape Town
• Additional excursions in Cape Town and Victoria Falls
• Celebrate an anniversary or occasion with a special meal or event
• Extend accommodations due to early arrival or late departure