South African Wildflowers, Discoveries of the Okavango Delta & Chobe River Cruise

In Cape Town, join your private transfer from the airport to your hotel. Enjoy time to settle in before meeting your fellow travellers during a Welcome Dinner.

Your day begins with a private guide collecting you from your hotel for a half-day exploration of Cape Town’s vibrant cityscape and natural beauty. Weather permitting, we will ascend the iconic Table Mountain for panoramic views, taking a stroll through the colourful Bo Kaap neighbourhood, as well as the serene Company’s Garden park and the bustling Greenmarket Square. Discover history at the Castle of Good Hope and the poignant District Six Museum and enjoy the charm of Adderley Street Flower Market. After a delicious lunch at a local restaurant, immerse yourself in the botanical splendour of Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, where indigenous flora and themed pathways offer a tranquil finale to your Cape Town adventure.

Departing Cape Town in the morning, journey north to West Coast National Park. Our arrival here has been perfectly planned to take advantage of the breathtaking spectacle of vibrant wildflowers carpeting the park’s Postberg Flower Reserve. After a day immersed in nature, we retreat to the historic Lanzerac Wine Estate in Stellenbosch, nestled within the Jonkershoek Valley. Here, old-world charm blends seamlessly with elegant accommodation on a working wine farm, providing us with a tranquil and refined conclusion to our day.

We begin our day at Babylonstoren, a historic working farm near the town of Franschhoek. Wander its expansive and meticulously designed gardens, where fruit orchards, vegetable patches, and indigenous plants are laid out in harmony with the seasons. Enjoy a farm-to-fork lunch surrounded by nature’s bounty before heading to the Dylan Lewis Sculpture Garden on the outskirts of Stellenbosch. Here, more than 60 striking sculptures have been thoughtfully placed along a four-kilometre-long path within grounds flourishing with indigenous plant species. As we explore, the artist invites us to reflect upon the garden’s theme of ‘the wilderness within.’

Departing Lanzerac Hotel and Spa early this morning, transferring by private coach to Cape Town International Airport for a scheduled flight to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. Upon arrival at Victoria Falls International Airport, we then transfer to the iconic Victoria Falls Hotel, a five-star Edwardian-style retreat nestled within lush tropical gardens just a short walk from the thunderous falls. Having settled into our hotel, we then embark on a guided tour of Victoria Falls, including a stop at the legendary ‘Big Tree’, an ancient baobab tree, as well as a visit to the local art and crafts centre. Our day concludes with dinner at the vibrant Dusty Road restaurant, which offers an authentic taste of Zimbabwean cuisine.

Begin the day with a guided nature walk through Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park on the Zambian side of the Zambezi River. The UNESCO World Heritage site is famed for its sweeping views and abundant wildlife, including elephants, buffalo, hippos, and crocodiles. As you explore the park’s rich ecosystem, the thunderous mist of Victoria Falls provides a dramatic backdrop. In the afternoon, visit Mukuni Village, home to the Leya people. Here an ethnobotanical tour offers a meaningful glimpse into traditional rural life and the community’s deep-rooted connection to the land and its medicinal plants.

This morning, travel by private coach to Kasane Airport, just across the Zimbabwe-Botswana border. Here we board a light aircraft for the flight into Botswana’s Camp Okavango, a luxury safari lodge located on a remote island in the heart of Botswana's Okavango Delta and accessible only by boat or plane. Upon arrival, settle into your lodge, before joining guided activities that will introduce you to the area’s botanical richness and abundance of wildlife.

Spend two full days exploring the natural wonders of the region, where the Okavango Delta’s seasonal waters breathe life into a thriving ecosystem. Drift silently through reed-lined channels on a mokoro (a traditional dugout canoe), watching for sitatunga antelope and jewel-toned frogs. Game drives also offer thrilling encounters with elephants, as well as predators such as lions and hyena. A variety of bird species includes dazzling kingfishers and the elusive Pel’s fishing owl. Optional night drives and guided walks offer us a closer look into this remarkable wilderness.

Enjoy another full day of exploration. Observe the daily life of a variety of wildlife species, as they play, hunt and feed within this extraordinary region.

Depart Camp Okavango by light aircraft for Kasane Airport, then transfer to our luxurious houseboat, the Zambezi Queen. The 42-metre-long boutique vessel will transport us along the Chobe River over three nights. We settle into our elegant suites and experience the African wilderness while drifting along this most biodiverse waterway.

The morning light reveals the lush riverbanks of the Chobe River, where papyrus reeds, water lilies, and acacia trees frame the landscape. After breakfast, choose from a range of activities, including water-based wildlife viewing, which also offers glimpses of aquatic plants and the ecosystems they support. You may prefer to visit a nearby village to learn about the traditional uses of local flora in crafts and daily life.

Look for elephants bathing at the water’s edge from your position along the deck of the ship. You may also sight pods of hippos lounging in the shallows, and crocodiles gliding silently through the reeds. Enjoy a sunset dinner aboard the Zambezi Queen this evening, accompanied by a vibrant African performance.

Today, delve deeper into the botanical richness of the Chobe region. Birdwatching offers a chance to spot species nesting among riverine vegetation, from jacanas skimming lily pads to kingfishers darting through reeds. Fishing for tiger fish or bream reveals more of the aquatic life sustained by the river’s plant-filled shallows. While relaxing on the upper deck, keep an eye out for giraffes browsing treetops, antelope grazing along the banks, and the occasional troop of baboons moving through the underbrush.

On our final day, enjoy a leisurely morning aboard the Zambezi Queen before disembarking for a final transfer to Kasane Airport. We then board a scheduled flight, which sees us due to arrive at Johannesburg’s O.R. Tambo International Airport at approximately 4.00 pm, concluding our journey.