Wild Africa: Botswana, Namibia, Zambia & Zimbabwe

My wife and I very much enjoyed the entire trip. The accommodations on the Chobe and Zambezi Rivers were superb. And I will always remember the afternoon I spent alone on the deck of my cabin at the Royal Zambezi Lodge watching nearby wildlife acting wild... including the visit by a fearless elephant who came within a meter or so of me to eat the lodge's vegetation.

Our African safari with Road Scholar was a trip of a lifetime! We enjoyed the small group, our amazing guide, the Land Rover safaris and the boat safaris. We saw so many animals and birds, learned about the habits of the animals and the history of the countries. We were treated (and fed) like royalty at all of our stops along the way. Thank you to Road Scholar for this amazing adventure!

Our trip to Africa was like other great trips we have taken with Road Scholar but even better. Not only was the plan of seeing wild game during our game drives exceeding our expectations but enhanced by the lectures of Keith and timely discussions by his support group of local guides. Yes the game drives were great but the viewings were once again enhanced with the selection of our lodging sites. Each lodging site placed us in a natural setting where game was present and one felt like they were part of the environment. Having a delicious meal (and I mean good) while watching elephant and hippos grazing was a unique experience.

Bring clothes for warm temps even in July when it is winter there. Beware the morning cools and layer up for that. The number and variety of animals and your proximity to them in hard to beat anywhere. Great guides.

Words cannot express how fabulous this trip was! Unbelievable wildlife--both quantity and variety. Plus learning about habitats, people, history, culture, traditions, economics, etc. Excellent guides, great accommodations, awesome food--and a lot of it! Group leader, Khule Ndlovu was wonderful and very capable of leading the 13 of us through a very busy, hectic and sometimes challenging schedule. The mobile tent camp was a hoot! Glamping for sure! The rest were excellent. All locations had animals right outside your door and I loved hearing them at night! Notes to future adventurers: this is truly a "keep the pace" trip. Be prepared to get up before dawn and go, go go until after dark. There are really only a couple of hours of "free time" during the day, one of which you use to take a shower! 3 game drives each day. Plus lectures. Getting in/out of the safari vehicles requires a little effort but the Land Rovers have comfortable seats and excellent suspension and the guides are very careful about bumpy roads. Guides were very knowledgeable and they all work together to ensure an excellent experience. They truly love what they do and it shows. Another note: be sure to check your travel arrangements to ensure you arrive with plenty of time to "recover" from the long flight before the program begins. RS travel folks were very accommodating when our original flight didn't arrive until after the program began. All locations(except Victoria Falls) had laundry service which helps minimize what you bring. And at the end of the trip we arranged to leave clothes, shoes, coats, toiletries with staff at Mfuwe lodge to donate to locals. That left room in our bags for shopping at various locations in the village and at the school which helped support the local community. Most camps/lodges provided bug spray but I recommend spraying your clothes in advance with Permethrin before you go. And checkout Costco's travel vaccination program. Enjoy!

Very impressive..a trip of a lifetime…if you enjoy all types of exotic animals ..24 hours a day… this is the trip for you !!

If you've ever considered a Safari program register for this one. NOW! You will not be disappointed!!

This trip was a life long dream and it met and generally exceeded my expectations.

This trip had been recommended to me by travelers on two other RS trips I was on. They raved about their experience, so my expectations were high, and they were exceeded. Our RS guide, Chris, was knowledgeable not only about the animals and their behaviors but also about the culture and history of the areas we visited and he was also a fun, friendly, positive presence. All of the accommodations were very comfortable with welcoming and friendly staff. My favorite was the mobile camp. For those of you worried about “camping”; The tents were spacious (with a wooden floor), the beds comfortable, they had an attached tent with private bathroom and warm showers available on request. Delicious food (including daily homemade bread) by our camp cook, Pea, sitting out under the clear, starry sky around a campfire, elephants coming down to the water just past our tents and hippos lounging nearby all made it a special experience. As others have mentioned, I saw more wildlife than I expected and natural behaviors I didn’t think I’d see from a vehicle or boat. I can’t say enough about all our drivers/guides/staff that made this trip such a great experience with their smiling, positive, fun, friendly and helpful manner.

This was a fabulous trip! Lions, leopards, crocodiles, elephants, warthogs, buffalo, hyenas, giraffes, zebras, antelope, variety of birds--oh my! Do not let the tented mobile camp deter you. I was most anxious about this thinking some lion or hyena was going to come through the material! I know animals walked around the camp at night, but never felt threatened. Waking up and seeing elephants and hippos right out your front door more than made up for any inconvenience. The rooms were spacious and the commode was nicer than the one in the picture. Due to the time of year we went, the mornings were cold, but the tents were not as bad as I feared. Having my wardrobe for the next day picked out, it was quick to dress warmly. At night, the tent was comfortable--even without the hot water bottle! I actually wrapped my next-day clothes around the hot water bottle and that made the morning dressing much more enjoyable. We saw so many animals it felt like they blew a whistle and they arrived. I was awed by the natural animal habits and the information I learned about them. You will not be disappointed!

Wild Africa: Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe was an amazing experience. I choose this trip based on the itinerary and the wildlife. I saw every animal that was on my wishlist plus more that I didn’t expect to see. I was impressed by the visits we made to a village and the school. All accommodations were stellar and I did not expect the mobile tenting to be so luxurious. That was my favorite place. The guides everywhere were knowledgeable and friendly. The food was excellent. I highly recommend this trip for anyone who has an “African Safari’ trip on their bucket list.

We saw more wildlife during our trip than I imagined we would, and that was my main reason for going. I expected to see lots of animals, but not this variety or in these numbers, or so close up. Our guides kept us safe, pointed out much we might otherwise have missed, and provided important insights into the history, geography and cultures of the areas we visited.

This was the trip of my lifetime and all my expectations were met. If you want to have an experience with wild African animals up close & personal this is the trip for you. I loved every moment of the trip, learned so much new information & met wonderful new friends!

This trip was at the top of my bucket list and it exceeded my expectations. Our guide, Keith, was extremely knowledgeable and his love of Africa was contagious. I highly recommend this trip.

The program far exceeded my expectations. I never in my wildest dreams thought I would get so close to wild animals that continued on with their daily routines as if we, the tourists, didn’t exist. It was an amazing experience.

More than met my expectations and I was able to make lifelong friends especially with the group leader. Immediately upon returning home I scheduled another African trip for 2025.

Amazing entrée into Africa. Almost all time is spent in nature. Great if you are looking for a non-urban look at this part of the world.

My trip to Africa was truly a phenomenal experience, a lifelong dream trip. Traveling over sections of this vast continent, morning and evening game drives, wildlife in abundance, great accommodations at every stop, excellent staff/guides. The incredible planning and logistics required was evident, smooth traveling at all times without inconvenient problems or delays. This Road Scholar experience was far beyond all expectations and I would recommend this trip to all that wish to see part of beautiful Africa.

Wild Africa!! Face to face with most of the animals one wants to see!

It is a program that will take you beyond your expectations.

Just returned from our trip to Wild Africa. What an experience! We saw the Big Five and so much more. Our guide, Keith Chisnall, was wonderful. He was so informative and made sure that everything ran smoothly. There were so many highlights...the painted dogs, the leopards, the elephants swimming across the Chobe River, an elephant walking through the lobby at Mfuwe Lodge, just to name a few. This is a trip I will never forget. It has sparked a desire in me to return to Africa!

Wow! This program opened my eyes into the lives of others and into the diversity of the world we live in. I thank Road Scholar for providing that opportunity.

Of all the trips I have made abroad., This one is at the top of my list I recommended highly

The Wild Africa: Botswana, Namibia, Zambia & Zimbabwe trip exceeded my expectations. On our very first afternoon game drive in Botswana, we saw hippos, elephants, zebras, warthog, impala, lechwe, and a rare wild cat sighting.

Go to Africa with Road Scholar. You will not be disappointed. This is my sixth trip to various parts of Africa. Each unique and wonderful. The sights, sounds, animals, lodges, food had been fabulous. RS does not disappoint.

A great program with a wonderful staff. They were all local, very knowledgeable, pleasant, proud, reliable people. Tour took me out of my comfort zone and I learned a lot.

The trip “Wild Africa” to Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Zambia exceeded all my expectations. I had wanted to go to Africa since I was a little girl; this program was a huge leap for me and the most memorable adventure I’ve ever had. We went on 17 safari outings in land rovers and pontoon boats (more than any offered in comparable tours I had looked at). We saw all the animals we could have hoped for, including lions and leopards as well as spectacular birds. We had the most brilliant, kind, organized, multi-lingual, and patient group leader (thank you, Johann) and wonderful local guides/drivers who knew how to respectfully track the animals in a variety of their stunning habitats. The accommodations were all very comfortable and and provided us with a variety of experiences, which is what I had wanted. The food was excellent throughout. We had only 9 participants in our very compatible group. Although the emphasis was always on the animals, we had important opportunities to visit a local village and a school, and in an optional activity most of us visited an elephant refuge where we were able to touch and feed the elephants. The presentations we had were informative about the countries we were visiting and animals we were seeing. Somehow Johann managed to make even the one about “termite mounds” seem fascinating! Road Scholar as an organization did a great job of sending us preparatory materials and answering all our questions, and Johann did an amazing job of getting us in/out of all the countries with ease. I must add that my husband went along on this trip with great hesitation. “Not interested.” Now he can’t say enough about all that he saw and learned. It was like being on an other-worldly planet you don’t want to leave. Sign up right away; you will never regret it!

This is the trip of a lifetime. An amazing variety of wildlife in great quantities, up close. The trip leader, guides and staffs are skilled, attentive and experienced. Their friendliness added to the enjoyment. Immerse yourself in the sights, sounds and smells of various African habitats.

This was a dream come true trip. Our guide was exceptional in his knowledge of Africa, animal behavior and ability to lead. I was very impressed at how well Keith worked with the local guides. He has a welcoming, knowledgeable and friendly manner towards everyone.

The best biology/ecology lesson ever

Wild Africa is an adventurous and enriching program, with wall-to-wall fun and learning. The pace was comfortably busy and our time was used very efficiently. Everything in the program description was fulfilled and MORE; there were frequent lovely surprises along the way. The lectures and presentations from local experts were extremely informative. Lisa, the Road Scholar Program Leader, was a rock star. She had all of the best leadership qualities (enthusiasm, organizational skills, confidence and wisdom) and I really appreciated her her "can-do" attitude. She shared so much knowledge about the places we visited; she was always eager to answer questions and help participants get the most out of this wonderful experience. I highly recommend this program!

This is the trip of a lifetime.Not to be missed. Beautifully organized. Lodging and food were excellent. Guide was fantastic. And the animals breathtaking.

Wild Africa was an AMAZING trip! Our leader and guide was Sam Mushandu who was knowledgable(he knew every animal and every bird), had perfect English, great lectures and SO pleasant and fun! We saw lions, elephants,leopards, giraffes, zebra, hyena, rhinos, cape buffalo, monkeys, baboons and lots more! The staff at all the locations were helpful and kind. The accomadations and food were excelent! A trip of a lifetime!

The entire program was first class in every respect. The group Leader Sam Mushandu was fantastic, accommodations were great, guides were very knowledgeable and the whole experience couldn't have been better. We saw all of the animals we had hoped to see and much more. Through the lectures and visits we gained a much better understanding of the history and culture of the countries we visited. We will not hesitate to recommend Road Scholar to friends and family and look forward to more trips with Road Scholar in the future.

The quantity and quality of the up-close wildlife is extraordinary. So is the knowledge and helpfulness of every guide. And the staff at every place we stayed sets a standard for friendliness and hospitality the rest of the world should emulate.

I have been on dozens of safaris in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. This was my first time to Southern Africa. Our guide Johann Roscher is fantastic. He has superb knowledge of the wildlife and countries we visited. He was always available and willing to assist in every way. Everyone was delighted with Johann. The accommodations were in excellent locations with each having exemplary staff. The scenery in each country was beautiful. However, for me, I travel to Africa to see wildlife and that aspect was disappointing according to my other safari experiences. It could be due to the winter season. I was delighted to see Wild Dogs but otherwise the safari drives were interrupted in mid morning and at sunset with long stops for snacks and drinks where the time would have been better spent seeking out wildlife in my opinion. So depending on what you desire on your Wild Africa adventure you may be delighted with all of it. You may be disappointed as I was. In any instance it is a blessing to experience Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia.

I just returned from Wild Afria: Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia (program #3645). It was fabulous. We stayed away from the cities and concentrated on viewing the wildlife. I highly recommend everyone take advantage of this adventure.

This is a trip not to be missed! Early morning safari with tea and snacks along the way and an elephant challenging your safari vehicle if you’re lucky! Evening drives with sunset drinks! If you are able, travel with Keith as your RS guide; he is outstanding: knowledgeable, fun, makes the trip run smoothy and creates a sense of community with the group and our various hosts. You will be connected to local guides who are so highly trained, caring and fun. You will not feel like you are just an observer. Your perspective of these African countries will be expanded. You’ll be cared for with food and concern. It’s all a bit hard to describe so just sign up!

Five stars! Our small group was the first to return on this itinerary, post-COVID. We were warmly welcomed everywhere, and saw an amazing variety of animals, watched fascinating wildlife behavior, and were lucky enough to spot a stealthy leopard at night in Zambia. Learning about the different countries we visited, and seeing the changing landscape as we moved around, was tremendous. The logistics of this trip are complicated, especially with frequent COVID tests. However, the pre-trip planning by EXPLORE (Road Scholar's contractor) and the exceptional leadership of our guide, Lisa Reed, eased our way. Lisa is a phenomenal person, with unlimited knowledge of the flora and fauna, and an interesting life story. She is the best. The quality of the lodging varied, and no one in our group was thrilled with the rustic accommodations at the mobile tent camp. There are better options in the area, although the food at the camp was surprisingly good. The briefing materials were super-helpful, and they should be studied carefully to fully enjoy your adventure. I was able to add some pre/post-travel around this program, to take advantage of being in this part of the world. The Road Scholar travel department put together efficient flight arrangements, in spite of the current turmoil in schedules. This is definitely a trip of a lifetime, and you should not hesitate to go. You will not regret it.

Go to Africa. Learn, be inspired, be affected and get out of your comfort zone. You will regret not going earlier in your life. I promise you will appreciate the time spent and you will be a better person for it.

If you feel reluctance when reading about the first camp, pay attention to that! It is NOT better in reality; it is worse when you are tired & jet lagged. The privations detract from the experience-which is Africa & its marvelous animals. All except one of our group were miserable there. The game drives are also lacking as the guide is the group leader who does not live there & does not know the area as all the guides in the lodges do. Local guides know the animals of the area & where the kills were the night before. The area is game-rich but we saw very little in 3 days. If RS can't find a better place with local guides, they should change the venue entirely-which would be a shame. COVID testing was very well-handled. Everywhere we stayed except the first camp was fine. Food was very heavy-carbs galore, but plentiful. Not sure why we all bussed 30-40 mins from Jo'burg airport for the first night instead of staying near the airport for the early AM flight out. Not sure why we had 1 night at River Club which featured a lecture duplicated by our visit to Livingstone Museum. Royal Livingstone Hotel has much better location, better food & less pretension. You can walk to the Falls through a giraffe/zebra sanctuary from there. Our leader was very knowledgeable about the animals & birds. She did not understand how any mention of politics at all is not advisable in the current polarized climate among US citizens. It just needs to be avoided. Concentrated too much on birds for me; I was there for the animals. African birds are gorgeous, but just how many vultures can you stop to stare at for 10 minutes at a time? The areas visited were the best! If the first camp problem were solved, it would be amazing. A very busy & rewarding trip. We saw glorious wildlife & animal interactions.

I can't believe I had not submitted a review before now. I certainly have "reviewed" it so many times to family and friends. It was life changing for me. Seeing these animals up close in the wild can change one's perspective dramatically--looking into the eyes of an elephant, watching a sleepy leopard high in a tree, being entranced by wild dogs bathing in a mud puddle and laughing at warthogs trying to jump a stream. Every single day was a barrage of new experiences and new sites. The local people everywhere were incredible. Going to Africa in November at the start of the rainy season can be hot, very hot. So be prepared with sunscreen and cool clothing. I traveled solo but made several new friends from around the USA. We had so much fun and enjoyed the adventure so much we are meeting in 2021 to do the Kenya/Tanzania trip!

5 STARS. Best “Nature” trip I have ever been on. We saw the Big 5 (Elephant, Cape Buffalo, Lion, Rhino and Leopard) in large numbers (rhino excepted – saw two well-guarded) as well as Giraffe, Zebra, Hyena, Baboons, Wildebeest, Hippos, Crocodiles and many types of antelope such as Impala, Water Buck, Kudu, Puku, etc. We also saw numerous species of birds – enough to delight any birder. All accommodations, including the tent camp, were first class. The meals were fantastic - Michelin star quality. However, our guide, Keith Chisnall, was the glue that brought the trip/experience together. His knowledge of the three countries (Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe) history, politics, flora and fauna was unparalleled. When necessary, he was able to deal with the local bureaucracy to keep us on schedule. Lastly, all the guides were top notch and the hotel support personnel very professional and attentive to our needs. If this trip is not on your bucket list, put it on and go. You won’t be disappointed.

This was my second trip to Africa and, again, with Road Scholar. As if it were even possible, this topped my previous one. "Wild Africa" is a totally immersive journey into the wonders and awe of the best of southern Africa's natural world. Every accommodation, from the mobile tent camp outside of Maun, Botswana to Mfuwe Lodge in Zambia was fabulous. Although heat played a role in making this a somewhat-challenging trip at times (107F one day!), I would take this trip again in a heartbeat. From group leader-extraordinaire Johann Roscher to our game driver guides Mike, Curt, Richard, Alec and others including the amazing chefs and staff at every place we stayed....there are simply no adequate words for expressing my gratitude. On our last night of the trip which was at Mfuwe, we saw an elephant walk through the lobby! It's true...It does happen this time of year. It was the icing on the very best African cake! Take this trip...Meet the people...See the splendors of Africa. Your only regret will be if you don't go. Thank you to Road Scholar and Johann for feeding my heart and soul and bringing together a most lovely group of people to travel with.

This program was outstanding in every respect. If you want to maximize your time on safari drives, seeing magnificent animals and learning about them, their habitats, and the countries, this is a great program to consider.

Don't hesitate to take this journey! It was beyond expectations! We saw all kinds of wildlife and learned so much about it all!!

Am I still dreaming? OMGosh, It was a thrill to journey Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Zambia to spot all the Big Five during game drives - Cape buffalo, rhinos, elephants, leopard and lion! This was my first trip to Africa and I walked away enlightened...thank you Sam Mushandu, for showing us such a wonderful time! This was a trip of a lifetime!

Wonderful trip to see the wild animals of Africa in three different countries. Sam, our group leader was fun, knowledgeable, experienced and organized.

What an exceptional trip! Our lodgings were more than spectacular, the guides exceptional and the banquets served out in the bush fantastic. This safari was exceptionally good value for money and I highly recommend this Road Scholar safari.