Southern Africa

May 2015.  Southern Africa safari by rail and river, with bush camps in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Botswana

We began with four days in Cape Town touring the city and traveling to Cape Point and Cape of Good Hope.  We boarded the Rovos Rail Pride of Africa, “the most luxurious train in the world”, for two days and two nights of fine food and extraordinary service.  After disembarking in Pretoria, we flew to Victoria Falls on the Zambezi River.  Next we flew by small plane to Botswana where we boarded the luxury house boat, the Zambezi Queen, a 28-passenger, floating, 5-star hotel with more excellent food and twice-a-day river game drives in small boats on the Chobe River.  Close views of elephants, hippos, lions, crocodiles, buffaloes, impalas, and beautiful birds.  And spectacular African sunrises and sunsets!  Another small plane took us to Chief’s Camp in the Moremi Game Reserve in the Okavango Delta in Botswana.  Two days and two nights with twice-daily game drives with incredibly knowledgeable guides.  More wonderful wildlife sightings, beautiful scenery and sunsets, and delicious food.  Sightings included a white rhino and a leopard with cubs.  Finally, a short flight in a 4-passenger plane to Stanley’s Camp for two more days of game drives.  Because we had five passengers, Cheryl sat in the co-pilot’s seat!  It was the end of the rainy season and the Delta was flooding so many of our roads were underwater; the Land Cruiser handled that although at times the water nearly covered the hood!  More animals - zebras, baboons, giraffes, as well as, more elephants, impalas, warthogs, and others!

A truly wonderful experience.