Tauck Botswana, South Africa & Zambia

TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – On-tour film vignettes custom-made for Tauck by BBC Earth natural history experts plus other select BBC Earth touches

A welcome dinner rail journey through Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park aboard a vintage 1920s steam train, in elegantly restored Pullman lounge and dining cars, gourmet dinner included

• Intimate safari groups limited average just 20 Tauck guests; 6-passenger, safari vehicles with window seats for everyone on game drives led by expert safari guides!
• On-tour film vignettes custom-made for Tauck by BBC Earth natural history experts plus select BBC Earth touches
• Includes four on-tour flights
• A welcome dinner rail journey through Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park aboard a vintage 1920s steam train, in elegantly restored Pullman lounge and dining cars, gourmet dinner included
• Visit to a village of San Bushmen in Botswana for a close-up look at their life and culture
• Visit to the a rhino sanctuary to see rhinos in their natural habitat
• Visit to a Meerkat colony in the Makgadikgadi Pans
• Helicopter sightseeing over the Okavango Delta
• Two nights in a traditional, authentic safari camp in deluxe tents on the Makgadikgadi Pans
• A traditional braai (barbecue) dinner with drinks and good company at a private home in Cape Town
• Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted
• 29 meals (11 breakfasts, 8 lunches, 10 dinners); gratuities to local guides, service charges, admissions fees, taxes and porterage

Day 1 Rail safari & welcome dinner in Zambia

Tour begins: 3:00 PM, Royal Livingstone Hotel. Transfers are included from Livingstone Airport to the Royal Livingstone Hotel in Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park in Livingstone, Zambia, named for 19th-century missionary and explorer, Dr….

Day 2 Rhino sanctuary & a Victoria Falls walking tour

A guided walking safari through a rhino sanctuary offers you a chance to see the great horned animals in their natural habitat. Then follow the sound of roaring water on a walking tour to Mosi-oa-Tunya – “The Smoke That Thunders”…

Day 3 Game drives in the Okavango Delta

A ferry transports you across the Zambezi River from Zambia to Botswana this morning, where you’ll embark on a motorboat safari on the Chobe River. After lunch, hop a flight to a game reserve on the Okavango River, in the world’s largest inland…

Day 4 More wildlife viewing & dinner under the stars

Between morning and afternoon game drives in the bush for even more exciting wildlife viewing today, return to camp for lunch and leisure. Enjoy the spa, or watch the passing parade of wildlife on the floodplains from the comfort of your own private…

Day 5 Eagle Island Camp & a motorboat safari

Begin the day with a game drive and an optional walking safari. Today you’ll fly from Khwai further into the Okavango Delta to Eagle Island Camp; situated on remote Xaxaba Island among a web of waterways and lush vegetation, it overlooks a lagoon that…

Day 6 Okavango Delta by canoe and helicopter

First up this morning – exploring the Okavango Delta by canoe – and helicopter. A mokoro canoe safari aboard a traditional dugout canoe takes you gliding over shallow, clear waters past brilliant water lilies and papyrus grasses to areas…

Day 7 Makgadikgadi Pans National Park

Fly from Okavango to Makgadikgadi Pans, the salt plains at the edge of the Kalahari Desert, and arrive at Camp Kalahari. A parched wasteland most of the year, seasonally the plains come alive with water and grass, drawing spectacular herds of wildebeest…

Day 8 Meet the Meerkats & 4-wheel-drive adventure

“Meerkat” is Dutch for “lake cat,” which seems odd, since the meerkat is not a cat and it lives in a desert. But you’ll find the name somehow suits these hyperactive, charming creatures as you encounter them on their daily…

Day 9 From Botswana to Cape Town

Fly today from the Makgadikgadi airstrip to Maun, then on to Cape Town, South Africa, where you’ll spend three nights at the One&Only Cape Town. Your aptly-named hotel is one of a kind, an urban oasis designed around a series of artificial…

Day 10 Spend the day in Cape Town on Africa’s southern tip

Cape Town nestles in a setting of spectacular natural beauty, between the crashing tides of an azure sea and towering Table Mountain. But its real fascination is in its contrasts – modern towers beside ornate colonial architecture, and the mix…

Day 11 Seal Island eco-tour & the Cape of Good Hope

This morning, arrive at Cape Point Nature Reserve – home to antelope, zebra, ostrich, baboons, and breathtaking seascapes; later, a funicular will carry you up to the Old Lighthouse that watches over the ironically-named Cape of Good…

Day 12 Homeward bound

This most extraordinary of South Africa tours ends: Cape Town. Tauck’s South Africa tours conclude this morning with a transfer from the One&Only Cape Town to Cape Town Airport for your journey home. Fly home anytime. Allow…

Nights 1-2 The Royal Livingstone

Named for explorer Dr. David Livingstone, The Royal Livingstone reflects the elegance of days past with its African architectural style. The hotel property includes 17 colonial-style buildings with large verandahs. Spacious guest rooms all have private verandahs, air conditioning, satellite TV, minibar, a small safe and coffee and tea making facilities. During leisure time, take a dip in the outdoor swimming pool, keep up with your workout routine or enjoy a little pampering in the spa. The Lounge is a lovely place to relax over some light refreshments, teas, coffees and pastries. Enjoy lunch on The Verandah or on The Sun Deck, also a popular place for evening cocktails, built over the Zambezi River. The elegant Livingstone Bar features rare whiskies, cognac and a wide range of cocktails.

Nights 3-4 Belmond Khwai River Lodge

Belmond Khwai River Lodge is set at the edge of a forest overlooking the floodplains of the Moremi Wildlife Reserve, which is home to an exceptional range of big game, which are often visible from the private deck of your luxury tent. Sitting on raised platforms and shaded by traditional thatch roofs, tents feature an en suite bathroom, fully stocked minibar, a four-poster beds complete with mosquito netting, air conditioning and a small safe. A dip in the 20-meter swimming pool is the perfect way to cool off between game drives and the fully equipped spa offers the opportunity to relax and refresh. The Observation Deck overlooking the river and the game reserve beyond has a high-power telescope for an up-close look at the breathtaking wildlife as they go about their business. The Restaurant, offering both open-air and covered dining areas, features delicious meals set against the most dramatic backdrop imaginable. After dinner, head to the bar and lounge areas or gather around the campfire to relive the incredible day you’ve had with your fellow travellers.

Nights 5-6 Eagle Island Camp

Belmond Eagle Island Lodge in Botswana’s Okavango Delta is the ultimate luxury safari paradise. Situated on remote Xaxaba island among a web of waterways and lush vegetation, it overlooks a lagoon that attracts a breathtaking variety of big game and exotic birds. A wonderful secluded retreat, Belmond Eagle Island Lodge offers a safari holiday that brings together the excitement of discovery and an experience of the real Africa. Accommodation is everything you would expect of a luxury safari experience… you’ll find one of the most romantic bars in the world* located on its own private island away from the main camp… and dining is a pleasure with an al fresco dining area overlooking the surrounding lagoon.

Nights 7-8 Camp Kalahari

Located in central Botswana on the mysterious Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, Camp Kalahari takes you back in time to the style the traditional safari experience of the explorers of yesteryear. Your tented accommodations include an en suite bathroom with a flush toilet and solar-heated, open-air showers that provide “the hottest, wettest showers in the Kalahari.” Furnished in classic old-time safari style, your tent features comfy beds with crisp sheets and colourful African blankets; gas lanterns provide illumination at night. The “specialty of the house” is “Pilli-Pilli Ho-Ho,” a spicy concoction of sherry-and-gin-marinated chilies, which the chef suggests that you put on your breakfast eggs to start the day with a bang! The raw majesty of nature that surrounds you at Camp Kalahari with is something you’ll never forget. Please note: Air conditioning, Internet and cell phone service are not available in this traditional safari camp; there are no electrical outlets in the tents, but a charging station is available in the main reception area.

Nights 9-11 One&Only Cape Town

Nestled in the heart of the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront where views of Table Mountain abound, the One&Only Cape Town lives up to its name in every detail. Spacious, well-appointed guest rooms and oversized baths recall the muted tones and splashes of color found in Africa’s savannas. Award-winning cuisine – and a 5,000 bottle Wine Loft – tempt your taste buds like no other… and a full service fitness center and spa, the most expansive and comprehensive in Cape Town, pamper with be-kind-to-you-body-and-soul services that effectively send your cares on holiday!

Please note, prices listed are guide prices only and are based on 2 people sharing and don’t include any additional supplements. Holiday prices are fluid and dynamic and may be changed at a moment’s notice, prior to booking, at which point they are confirmed. Please call the team free on 0800 707 6229 for more departure dates available and a quote.