13-Nights Tailor Made Southern Africa: A Grand Safari - Luxury Tailor Made Travel from $31,290

Itinerary Details

Abercrombie & Kent: Tailor Made Southern Africa: A Grand Safari

Day 1 Johannesburg, South Africa

Arrive in Johannesburg, where you are met by your A&K representative and transferred to your hotel. Nestled in the leafy-green suburb of Houghton, Johannesburg, Sanctuary Mandela occupies the former primary residence of Nelson Mandela. This historic venue was converted into a luxury boutique hotel with only nine guest rooms, featuring contemporary interiors accented with small nods to Mandela’s life, such as personal letters and photos.

Set out on a morning trip to Soweto, a diverse township with deep ties to the nation’s recent history. Stop at the Hector Peterson Museum, site of the 1976 uprising, and Vilikasi Street, the former address of Nobel prize winners Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Next, visit the extraordinarily powerful Apartheid Museum to tour exhibits exploring the nation’s former state-sanctioned system of racial discrimination. Pass the former suburban home of Winnie Mandela, pausing to learn about the local economy of Spaza shops, sidewalk markets and corner barbershops. This afternoon, visit the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory; a place dedicated to keeping the memory and the legacy of Nelson Mandela alive, where you can immerse yourself in an archive of his life and times, works, and writings.

Today you are transferred to the airport to board your shared charter flight bound for South Africa’s iconic Sabi Sand Game Reserve, an area renowned for its diversity and concentration of big game. This afternoon, go in search of the Big Five — elephant, lion, rhino, Cape buffalo and leopard — and other wildlife. To enhance your game-viewing experience, each game drive is led by two safari professionals: a driver-guide, trained to safely maneuver you up close to South Africa’s iconic wild residents as well as brief you on any given species’ characteristics, and a tracker, an expert at identifying animals, who follows their signs and predicts where they are likely to be found. Return to camp and settle into your luxury safari camp and enjoy the remainder of the evening at leisure. Hidden on the banks of the Msuthu River in the shade of indigenous riverine trees, the secluded Sabi Sabi Little Bush Camp is an elegant oasis of safari chic. Each of the camp's six thatched-roof suites overlook the riverbed, and are decorated in contemporary African design.

Spend the next two days exploring this storied private reserve as you see fit. Morning game drives in this secluded section of the bushveld often afford particularly frequent sightings. You may also opt to explore the bush on foot with expert guides and trackers, keeping watch for Africa’s famed Big Five.

On your second day at leisure in the reserve, continue to check off your safari sightings list with afternoon and evening game drives, or explore the lodge’s other amenities as you cool off in your private plunge pool, enjoy a glass of fine wine from the lodge’s extensive cellar or keep watch for big game right from your veranda.

Fly to Victoria Falls and transfer to your stunning accommodations. The luxurious Victoria Falls River Lodge, set on the mighty Zambezi River, is so near the falls that you can see their rising mist. This afternoon, take high tea and enjoy a game drive in Zambezi National Park before boarding a sunset cruise on the Zambezi River.

This morning, set out on a privately guided walking tour of breathtaking Victoria Falls, one of the natural wonders of the world. Take in magnificent rainbows and towering clouds of mist as the mile-wide span of the Zambezi tumbles 300 feet down to the frothing chasm below. This afternoon, enjoy a shared game drive into Zambezi National Park, keeping a lookout for the rainforest’s abundant wildlife.

Drive to Kasane, Botswana, where upon arrival you board a flight to the Okavango Delta, a vast riverine habitat supporting a stunning variety of wildlife. Settle into your luxury safari camp. Widely acknowledged as the “Predator Capital of the World,” this area of the Delta offers some of the most exciting game viewing in Africa and is one of the best places in Botswana to see the Big Five — lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and Cape buffalo — drawn here from surrounding regions by the lush delta. Predators include cheetah, spotted hyena and, at the very top of the food chain, large resident prides of lion. This afternoon, take advantage of game-viewing activities led by experienced guides or enjoy the vistas from your own private viewing deck.

Days at Sanctuary Chief's Camp include morning and afternoon drives through the Moremi Game Reserve in custom-built 4x4 vehicles, tracking ostrich, antelope, crocodile, wildebeest, kudu and hippo. Unwind after your safari, perhaps relaxing by the pool or browsing the camp library.

Enjoy your final day in camp with morning and afternoon drives, taking in a birdwatchers’ paradise of over 400 species, or indulging in a rejuvenating spa treatment.

Fly today to Cape Town, a sophisticated city poised on the edge of lush wine country, dramatic mountain peaks and a vast coastal habitat. Transfer to your gracious boutique hotel and enjoy the remainder of the evening at leisure.

With scenic beauty, riveting history, and a lively arts and culinary scene, Cape Town has something for everyone and more. Experience it for yourself with two full days enjoying the activities of your choice, perhaps with a visit to the fishing village at Kalk Bay, a walking tour among the colorful homes and cobblestone streets of the Bo Kaap neighborhood, or a wine tasting at Cape Point Vineyards.

Savor your final day of South African adventure as you see fit, perhaps with a sunrise trek to the scenic peak of Lion’s Head or a day trip to the stunning Cape Winelands.

Transfer to the airport for your international departure.