Southern Africa by River and Rail

Marco Polo Club Invitationals: Exclusive trips, accompanied by A&K's most accomplished guides

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Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive Johannesburg, South Africa

On arrival, you are met and driven to your hotel. The remainder of the day at leisure until it is time to gather for your welcome dinner.

Saxon Boutique Hotel, Villas and Spa   |   Meals: D

Day 2: Johannesburg/Kasane, Botswana/Chobe National Park

Fly to Kasane and transfer to the Chobe River and your five-star houseboat, the ‘Zambezi Queen,’ an elegant yet still uniquely African floating home. Glide down the river at sunset while sipping cocktails and sampling canapés as you pass a variety of habitats and rich plant life. Enjoy a delicious dinner on board, prepared by a resident chef who makes sure that the culinary delights are in keeping with the awesome majesty of their surroundings.

'Zambezi Queen'   |   Meals: B D

Day 3: Chobe National Park

Set out to explore the flora and fauna of this wildlife-rich area on a morning game drive. The Chobe plain boasts buffalo, leopards, lions, giraffes, kudus and hippos, as well as Africa’s highest concentration of elephants. Return to ‘Zambezi Queen’ at midday with time to relax, watch the scenery go by and freshen up. After lunch on board, participate in game viewing or a cultural village tour that includes a short mokoro ride (dugout canoe). Enjoy a boma dinner on the shore, accompanied by African music and dancing.

'Zambezi Queen'   |   Meals: B L D

Day 4: Chobe/Okavango Delta(Moremi Game Reserve)

Enjoy breakfast as ‘Zambezi Queen’ cruises along clear, emerald waters. Disembark and climb into waiting vehicles for a short drive to Kasane’s airport and your flight to Khwai River Lodge, nestled on the edge of a forest. Your luxurious tents are built on raised wooden platforms, offering splendid views of the African landscape.

Khwai River Lodge   |   Meals: B L D

Day 5: Okavango Delta

Depart for an early-morning game activity. Game viewing in the Okavango Delta is spectacular due to its large concentrations of elephants, buffalo, red lechwes, giraffes and impalas. Predators include leopards, cheetahs, painted wild dogs, spotted hyenas and a large resident pride of lions. Return for breakfast and then take time to enjoy your camp’s facilities or relax in your room. You may wish to take an optional bush walk with a ranger and stalk cautiously through the landscapes. On your late-afternoon game drive you might hear lions roaring or glimpse small nocturnal animals as they begin their nighttime activity. Along the way, stop for sundowners and enjoy the tranquility of the bush and its wildlife. When you return to your lodge after a busy day of game viewing, you may want to attend a star-gazing presentation.

Khwai River Lodge   |   Meals: B L D

Day 6: Okavango Delta/Livingstone, Zambia

Your early morning game drive comes at a time when the animals are out and about looking for food — ideal for game viewing. Return to camp for breakfast and then board your flight to Kasane and take a connecting flight to Livingstone. From there, travel by vehicle to your lodge, where you stay in a luxury tree house built into the living canapy that borders the Zambezi River. Just before sunset, cruise on the Zambezi River. Spot wildlife as you travel leisurely through the channels; then pick up the pace as you cruise upstream to a location on the beach for a sundowner cocktail.

Sanctuary Sussi & Chuma   |   Meals: B L D

Day 7: Livingstone

Join your guide for a walking tour of roaring Victoria Falls. See the cloud of spray where the mile-wide Upper Zambezi falls 300 feet into the Lower Zambezi. Rainbows constantly form and fade away in the tropical sunlight over the waterfall. Afterward, wander through Falls Market; then take the “Flight of the Angels” by helicopter for a stunning view of the falls from above. Return to earth for your next exciting experience. Gain once-in-alifetime insight into the behavior of elephants when you embark on an elephant-back safari. This eco-friendly method of game viewing gives you the opportunity to interact with these majestic, intelligent animals from an unparalleled viewpoint along the Zambezi River and surrounding bushland of Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Park. Observe trainers who use positive reinforcement to teach the elephants, and watch for the young additions to the elephants as they frolick along with the herd. Later, enjoy sundowners on the pool deck of your lodge.

Sanctuary Sussi & Chuma   |   Meals: B L D

Day 8: Livingstone/Victoria Falls,Zimbabwe/Rovos Rail

Transfer to Victoria Falls Station and recapture the romance of a bygone era as you step aboard the wood-paneled coaches of luxurious Rovos Rail. You are accommodated in a Deluxe Suite that offers a private lounge area with a bar fridge and en suite bathroom with shower. For the first part of your journey, you may have the opportunity to view game through the window as the train travels along the border of the Hwange National Park. Cross into Botswana, and you find yourself looking at the flat, open-scrub cattle ranching territory. Enjoy five-star cuisine in the dining car and five-star views from the Observation Car at the rear of the train. You can also watch the stunning scenery go by from the privacy and comfort of your suite, offering a perfect blend of period ambience and modern features.

Rovos Rail   |   Meals: B L D

Day 9: Rovos Rail

Enjoy the train’s leisurely pace as you travel toward Pretoria, South Africa. This is an ideal time to sit back and relax, converse with your travelling companions and watch the glorious scenery. This evening, the train stops at Mafikeng border. Join your fellow guests for a farewell dinner that celebrates your journey.

Rovos Rail   |   Meals: B L D

Day 10: Rovos Rail/Pretoria, South Africa/Johannesburg

After completing immigration formalities, continue from Mafikeng to Pretoria’s Capital Park Station. Disembark for the drive to your hotel in Johannesburg. The remainder of the evening is at leisure.

Saxon Boutique Hotel, Villas and Spa   |   Meals: B L

Day 11: Depart Johannesburg

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your international flight home.

Meals: B

OPTIONAL PRE-TOUR EXTENSION TO CAPE TOWN

May 9-12, May 23-26, Aug 1-4, Aug 15-18 or Nov 21-24: Presided over by Table Mountain, Cape Town is a breathtaking city that contrasts multicultural urban living with pastoral valleys and fishing harbors. On the Cape Peninsula, visit the Cape of Good Hope, Cape Point Nature Reserve and Boulders Beach to see its famous penguin colony. Travel through the Cape Winelands and enjoy wine tastings, stunning scenery and delectable cuisine. One & Only Cape Town