Cape Town + Botswana Wildlife Safari + Victoria Falls
April 2-12, 2012
Trip Highlights
- Immerse yourself in an unforgettable 5-night wildlife safari in Botswana
- See what the fuss is about in the Okavango Delta and Chobe National Park
- Witness the majesty of stunning Victoria Falls
- Enjoy beautiful day trips around Cape Town, South Africa — including the Cape of Good Hope and the Winelands
- Repose in lovely, upscale accommodations throughout
- Savor delicious meals and a wine tasting along the way
- Download Detailed Itinerary
INTRODUCTION
For a fourth consecutive year Venture Out is pleased once again to offer our very popular tour that blends a splendid sampling of African culture, incredible wildlife, other outdoor activities, great food and wine, and gorgeous scenery — beginning in Cape Town, one of the world’s most beautiful cities. We will cover a vast, majestic land, and this is sure to be the trip of a lifetime!
Cape Town is certainly one of the world’s most scenic cities — and the gay capital of Africa. We will visit the environs of the city: the lovely Winelands area that produces most of South Africa’s excellent vintages and home to some acclaimed restaurants, as well as the fantastically scenic Cape Peninsula down to the Cape of Good Hope at the “bottom of Africa.”
Being a natural wonderland, the country of Botswana is exceedingly rich in wildlife, and its vast expanses of nature are filled with a wide variety of fauna and flora to see and experience. This means that safari tours in Botswana are exciting and will leave you awestruck. Botswana is home to one of the world’s great natural phenomena, the tranquil Okavango Delta, a 6,000-square-mile inland flood plain that fans out in the northwestern corner of the country, creating a paradise of palms, papyrus, crystal-clear channels, and backwaters. Set in a massive sea of Kalahari Desert sand, this fragile wonderland of waterways, islands, and forests is an oasis for wildlife, drawn to its life-giving waters from the surrounding thirsty lands. The evening air is filled with the sounds of birdcall, frogs, and antelope rustling in the reeds. Wildebeest, buffalo, and zebra roam the islands; elephants wade across channels under the watch of hippopotamus and crocodiles; and predators like lion and leopard rule the night. You will never forget our luxury safari “camps” in the midst of the Delta with its beautiful accommodations, very warm staff, and delicious cuisine.
In northern Botswana lies Chobe National Park, a 5,000-sq.-mile home to some 100,000 elephants – the largest population of elephant in the world! This area offers extreme contrasts and a varied wildlife viewing experience. The Chobe River is the only major source of water north of the Okavango, so the animals travel here from great distances, and that, in turn, ensures a large lion population. The area is alive with birds, too — more than 460 different species, in fact.
Straddling the western border between the countries of Zimbabwe and Zambia, Victoria Falls is justifiably called one of the Wonders of the Natural World, and spans a little more than a mile, making it the largest show of its kind on earth. The sight of more than 2 million gallons of water per second from the Zambezi River crashing 300 feet down (twice the height of Niagara) is one not easily forgotten. On a clear day, the veil of roaring spray can be seen from up to 20 miles away, and the rain forest that clings to the cliffs opposite the falls in the Victoria Falls National Park is nourished by this constant spray. It is this phenomenon that gave the falls its local name: Mosi-Oa-Tunya — literally, “the smoke that thunders.”
ACCOMMODATIONS
Following is a description of the lodgings we intend to use on this tour. We reserve the right to make changes to these accommodations.
Cape Town
We’ve selected a beautiful boutique guest house just a few blocks from the Atlantic boardwalk. The lodge was built back in the 1880s which explains the underlying Victorian design, spacious interiors, high ceilings and wooden floors, but it’s been renovated and enhanced with touches of eclectic African charm and style. Service is personalized in this 10-room guest house; the decor is very pretty; and the garden and pool area is a perfect place to relax. The feeling is very much a home away from home. The scrumptious homemade breakfasts are served overlooking the garden and include quiches and muffins. The stylish rooms are air conditioned and come with extra-length beds, wifi capability, a well-stocked minibar, satellite TV, telephone, and tea/coffee making facilities. There’s also a computer in the guest study. The location is excellent for reaching the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, the Atlantic seaboard, the city center, good beaches (should you choose to arrive a day or two early), and many restaurants as well as a good gym nearby.
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Botswana – Okavango Delta
Set in an amphitheatre of ebony trees amidst 260,000 acres of untamed African bush our guest accommodation consists of eight classically styled safari tents, cooled by ceiling fans. The delicately appointed tents exude traditional Africa: handcrafted beds dressed with the finest linen, antique furniture individually selected, and oriental carpets that transport you to early 19th-century Africa. Each unit offers en-suite facilities and a private balcony. Hammocks and Morris chairs on the balcony are perfect for relaxation in the African sunshine. The main building is raised on decking and offers expansive views over the surrounding floodplains. This lovely camp is carefully blended into the existing tree line, its main support being a large sausage tree. There’s also a pool for cooling off during the hot afternoons.
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Botswana – Chobe
Our selected lodge is an utterly enchanting place and has appeared on the Conde Nast Traveler Gold List and Readers’ Choice Awards for several recent years, as well as on Travel + Leisure‘s top accommodations in Africa. With gorgeous, breathtaking vistas as a backdrop, you’ll come face-to-face with the abundant creatures of the bush, and some of the most spectacular sunsets. The situation is on a gentle hill overlooking the Chobe River with panoramic views across the islands and flood plains as far as Namibia. Each of the 15 bungalows measures 650 square feet and has its own en-suite bathroom with sunken handcrafted tub, indoor and outdoor showers, private garden with hammock, private balcony overlooking the Chobe River, ceiling fans, air-conditioning, and minibar. Our lodge also boasts a full spa offering a range of spa and hydrotherapy treatments as well as a swimming pool.
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Victoria Falls
Only 10 minutes from Victoria Falls this is the newest safari-style accommodation in the area having opened just in 2010. It’s a luxury camp located on a private concession within the Victoria Falls National Park, enjoying an elevated position. It has been cleverly designed so that each tent is private, yet each one has its own spectacular view across unspoiled bushveld towards the Zambezi gorges. From the central area there’s also an excellent view of the spray from the Falls in the distance. With an emphasis on exclusivity, the nine tented suites all have private decks with views and plunge pools. The suites are also equipped with indoor and outdoor showers, huge baths, private lounges, mini bar and tea/coffee stations, and overhead fans plus air conditioning. The camp overlooks a waterhole that is fed by natural streams in the rainy season that rush down to meet the Masuwe River and the Zambezi gorges below the Falls. Many species of game roam the property.
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