Safari by Water & Land: Zimbabwe, Namibia & Botswana

After arriving at the hotel and checking in, take some time to freshen up and relax before our welcome dinner.

At the hotel, we’ll have an a la carte welcome dinner including a welcome drink, coffee, tea, and bottled water.

Orientation: The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the schedule and any changes, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. This is a Road Scholar Adventures Afloat program. In addition to Road Scholar exclusive lectures, field trips, and activities, you are invited to take advantage of activities and events offered by the cruise line that are separate from Road Scholar. Routes, field trips, and excursions are subject to change as weather and river conditions including water levels could require altering the itinerary and/or the progress of the riverboat, making it run late and sometimes miss ports if it cannot dock. The cruise itinerary should therefore be regarded as provisional. The operators reserve the right to change the content of field trips and excursions without prior notice. The time available in each port is set by the cruise line. Whenever possible, the Road Scholar daily schedule indicates port arrival and departure times (subject to change by the cruise line). This may mean that free time in port is limited. Regardless of the time in port, Road Scholar delivers a robust educational program. We are fortunate to have as our Group Leader a knowledgeable expert who will also serve as our primary lecturer for most of the program. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. Continue getting to know your fellow participants, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.

At the hotel, the expansive breakfast buffet offers choices such as eggs and omelettes, waffles, bacon, sausage, tomatoes, mushrooms, cold meats, cheeses, cold cereals, fresh fruit, pastries, milk, fruit juices, coffee, tea, water.

We will check out of the hotel and transfer via motorcoach to Johannesburg’s O.R. Tambo Airport where we will board our flight to Victoria Falls Airport in Zimbabwe.

In flight meal.

Arriving at Victoria Falls Airport, we will clear customs and immigration; please be aware that long lines can sometimes cause delays while obtaining a visa. We will then transfer via minibus to our lodge and check in to our rooms. Next, we’ll drive a short distance to see Victoria Falls on the Zimbabwean side. Upon our entrance to the park, we will walk along the path with commentary from the Group Leader about the formation of the falls, as well as the local flora and birdlife seen. Since the waterfall spans the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe, it is visible from both countries, but the majority of the water falls on the Zimbabwean side. Viewing the Falls from this side offers numerous overlooks and truly gives us a feeling for the full majesty of this natural wonder. What we call Victoria Falls is known as Mosi oa-Tunya (the smoke that thunders) in the language of the Lozi people. One of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, this is also considered the largest and most spectacular waterfall anywhere with a height of 360 feet (108 meters) and a width of 5,603 feet (1,708 meters), awesome in size and power as the Zambezi River rushes over an abrupt chasm. Its English name was given by Scottish explorer David Livingstone, the first European known to have visited here in 1855, in honor of Queen Victoria. We will return to the lodge with time to freshen up and relax before dinner.

At the lodge, we will have a 3-course, set menu dinner, plus coffee, tea, water; other beverages available for purchase.

At leisure.

Lodge buffet.

By minibus, we will transfer to the Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust, where we will learn about how the Trust’s local conservation efforts are making a major impact in the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA). The Trust has four main areas of operation: Rescue and Rehabilitation; Wildlife Research; Wildlife Disease and Forensics Laboratory; and Community Outreach. In the company of a local expert, our hour-long visit will incorporate an overview of the Trust and its facilities, including the wildlife rehabilitation area. Then, we will reboard our minibus and drive back into town to visit two community projects in Victoria Falls; visits to these projects are done on a non-commercialized, authentic and interactive basis with a view to a genuine and meaningful interaction. Here, we will have the chance to meet members of the community and see how they live. From the village, we will transfer to our lunch venue.

At a local restaurant in Victoria Falls, we will have a buffet meal featuring traditional Zimbabwean dishes, plus water, tea and coffee. As we interact with our hosts, we’ll learn a bit about life and cooking traditions in this part of Zimbabwe. Other beverages are available for purchase.

Free Time. Take this opportunity for personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most in the town of Victoria Falls. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. In the early evening, we will gather at the lodge with our Group Leader for an overview of Zimbabwe.

Lodge plated meal.

At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

Lodge buffet.

A noted local historian will join us to discuss the story of Scottish explorer Dr. David Livingstone, who first visited Victoria Falls more than 150 years ago, and whose journeys laid the groundwork for the Colonial era that followed. Then, after checking out of the lodge, we will board our minibus and head south to Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe’s premier safari destination. Hwange is legendary for its wonderful array of wildlife, particularly the massive herds of elephant and buffalo. Shallow pans are spread throughout the park, around which wildlife congregate, making for excellent and reliable game viewing. Elephant, Cape buffalo, sable, roan, southern giraffe, blue wildebeest, impala and sometimes even gemsbok (oryx) can be seen here. This park is one of the best for predators. Lion, leopard, wild dog and cheetah are regularly sighted, along with the smaller African wildcat, serval, honey badger, civet and spotted hyena. Bird life in the area is also prolific, with more than 400 species found.

At the camp, we’ll have a buffet lunch with a starter, main dish, side dish, and dessert, plus local brand alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages; other beverages available for purchase.

We will have some time during the heat of the day to rest, relax, and enjoy the camp's amenities. Following afternoon tea, we will embark on our first safari game drive of the program. We will move slowly through the plains in open-air 4x4 vehicles, searching for wildlife, birds, and the unique flora resident in the park. Each vehicle will have its own local safari expert. We will take a short break before dusk for drinks and snacks, a tradition referred to as “sundowners.” Upon completion of our game drive, we will return to the camp with time to freshen up before dinner.

At the camp, we’ll have a plated meal with salad or starter, main course with side dish, and dessert, plus local brand alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages included; other beverages available for purchase.

We’ll set out on a short night game drive with a local safari expert in search of nocturnal species that may be active in the area. With luck, we may spot civet, genet, bushbaby, pearl spotted owl, African scops owl, and Verreaux’s eagle-owl.

Very early at the camp, we’ll have a light buffet with cold cereal, fresh fruit, and rusks (South African-style biscotti), plus coffee, tea, water.

In the early hours of the day, we will head out on a game drive in search of elephants, giraffes, zebra, kudu, impala, and big cats such as lion and leopard. During our game drive, we will take a short break for coffee, tea, and rusks before returning to camp midmorning.

At the camp, we’ll have a buffet with hot and cold breakfast and lunch dishes, plus local brand alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages included; other beverages available for purchase.

In the company of a safari specialist, we’ll set out from the camp for a bush walk where we may encounter wildlife and birdlife, as well as explore the little surprises in the bush. You may wish to take some time on your own to rest during the heat of the day and enjoy the camp's amenities. Following tea, we will embark on a late afternoon game drive. Keep an eye out for the diverse birdlife in the area such as Wahlberg's eagle, swallow-tailed bee-eater, crested guinea fowl, and Bradfield's hornbill. Following sundowners, we will return to the camp for dinner.

Camp plated meal.

We’ll set out on a short night game drive in search of nocturnal species that may be active in the area.

Very early at the camp, light buffet.

We will embark on an early morning game drive in the area, exploring tracks not previously driven, searching for the animals and birds that may be active during the morning hours.

Camp buffet.

We’ll set out on a bush walk in the area led by a safari specialist, then some time to escape the heat of the day. We will gather for a teatime lecture by our Group Leader on the importance of termites in the ecosystem. We’ll then board our safari vehicles for a late afternoon game drive in the area, returning to camp at dusk.

Camp plated meal.

We’ll set out for a short night game drive to look for nocturnal species. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

Camp buffet.

We will have time to pack our bags before checking out and transferring the short distance to the Hwange National Park airport, where we will board a private charter flight back to Victoria Falls. Upon arrival in Victoria Falls, we will be transferred to a local restaurant for lunch.

At a restaurant with scenic views of Victoria Falls, we’ll enjoy a set menu, 2-course plated meal with bottled water included; other beverages available for purchase.

There will be several changes of vehicle on our way to the riverboat. We will drive to the Zimbabwe-Botswana border then change vehicles to pass through Botswana immigration. From there, we will board tender boats and ride to the Namibia immigration facility for entry clearance. The tender boats will then take us to the riverboat moored on the Namibian side of the Chobe River, where we’ll settle into our cabins and have light snacks. On one side of the river lies the Caprivi Strip in Namibia, and on the other side, Chobe National Park, Botswana. We may be able to spot wildlife from the riverboat as it cruises along the Chobe River. As the sun sets, the scenery will become washed in a golden glow, and we will look for varied wildlife that may be present, such as some of the estimated 120,000 elephant that live in the area. Before dinner, we will gather for a welcome drink and brief area overview with the boat’s captain.

Aboard the riverboat, we’ll have a 4-course plated meal with a nightly soup and two choices each of starter, main dish, and dessert courses, plus local brand beer, wine and nonalcoholic beverages included; other beverages available for purchase.

At leisure. Enjoy the sounds of the African bush from the comfort of our luxurious suites.

Aboard the riverboat, breakfast will be a buffet featuring cold cereals, fresh fruit, pastries and breads. Hot items such as eggs, bacon, sausage, tomatoes and mushrooms will be cooked to order. Fruit juices, coffee, tea, milk and water provided.

We will have a choice of early morning, pre-breakfast activities provided by the Zambezi Queen: 1) an early morning safari by boat, searching the river's banks for the myriad of birds such as pied kingfisher, sacred ibis, blue heron, goliath heron, saddle-billed storks and little egrets; 2) a visit to a local village on the Caprivi Strip, where interaction with the villagers will provide a glimpse into what life is like in the area; or 3) fishing for a chance to hook and release the mighty tiger fish, as well as African pike, Zambezi yellowfish, or one of the many species of bream. Upon the conclusion of our chosen activities, we will return to the riverboat for breakfast. Mid-morning, as the heat of the day starts to bring the larger mammals down to the river to drink, we will board our tender boats for a boat safari, searching for mammals such as elephant, cape buffalo, impala, kudu, and giraffe. We will return to the riverboat in the early afternoon for lunch.

Aboard the riverboat, the lunch buffet offers choices such as meat dishes, vegetable salads, pasta, a cheese board, breads, dessert, plus local brand beer, wine and nonalcoholic beverages included; other beverages available for purchase.

We will have the hottest part of the day to rest, relax, and enjoy the boat's amenities. In the midafternoon, we will gather with our Group Leader for a lecture on elephant behavior and social structure. We will then board tender boats for a late afternoon safari, looking for wildlife and birdlife along the river's banks. Returning to the boat at dusk, we will have time to freshen up and relax before dinner.

Riverboat plated meal.

At leisure.

Riverboat buffet.

We will again have a choice of early morning, pre-breakfast activities provided by the Zambezi Queen: 1) an early morning birding-focused boat safari; 2) fishing on the Chobe River. Upon completion of our chosen morning activity, we will return to the riverboat for breakfast. Mid-morning, we will re-board our tender boats for a safari searching for the larger wildlife along the river, returning in the early afternoon for lunch.

Shipboard buffet.

The midday will be ours to rest, relax, and enjoy the boat's amenities. Midafternoon, we’ll join our Group Leader for a lecture on human-wildlife conflict and how it is being managed in the area. In the late afternoon, we will board tender boats for a safari along the river's banks, looking for wildlife that may have eluded us thus far. We will return to the riverboat at dusk.

Riverboat plated meal.

At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

Riverboat buffet.

We will look for animals along the banks as the riverboat cruises to its final mooring spot. Upon disembarking the Zambezi Queen, we will transfer via tender boat and vehicle back through Namibian and Botswana immigration formalities, making our way to Kasane Airport in Botswana. From Kasane, we will board our light aircraft charter flight bound for the private Kwara Reserve, in the heart of the Okavango Delta. Upon landing at the reserve's dirt airstrip, we will be met by our local safari experts and transferred in open-air safari vehicles to the camp, arriving in time for a late lunch.

At the camp, we will have a buffet meal with hot and cold dishes, salads, a cheese board, and breads plus local brand alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages included; other beverages available for purchase.

We will have the midday to settle in to our rooms and enjoy the camp's amenities. The camp has been built around an open area, known as a "pan," that attracts animals year-round, so animal viewing may be possible from the comfort of our private decks! Over afternoon tea, we will gather with our Group Leader for a discussion of Botswana's history, politics, and local cultures. We will then board open-air safari vehicles for a game drive in the private reserve, in the company of our local safari specialists. We will seek out the vast herds of animals resident in the area, including predators such as wild dog, leopard, lion, and cheetah. Just before sunset, we will make a rest stop of snacks and sundowners. Continuing our drive after dusk, we will use a spotlight to search for nocturnal animals that may be in the area before returning to camp for dinner.

In camp, we will have a 3-course meal with plated appetizer and dessert and main course buffet, plus local brand alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages included; other beverages available for purchase.

At leisure.

At the camp, we will have a light buffet with choices such as hot porridge, cold cereals, fresh fruit, rusks, milk, fruit juice, coffee, tea, water.

We will embark on a bush walk in the reserve with a local safari specialist. We will learn to identify tracks, spoor, and other signs to discern the small creatures in the bush, while also looking for the plentiful bird life in the area. We will return to camp for brunch.

At the camp, the substantial brunch buffet will offer hot and cold breakfast and lunch dishes plus local brand alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages included; other beverages available for purchase.

We will rest, relax, and enjoy the camp's amenities during the midday heat. Over afternoon tea, our Group Leader will give a lecture on the geology and hydrology of the Okavango Delta. In the late afternoon, we will embark on a safari by mokoro, the local, traditional dug-out canoe. Each mokoro can take two riders. A local safari specialist will stand at the back and push the mokoro with a long pole, providing commentary on what we see. We will keep an eye out for the Angolan painted frog, one of the smallest residents in the Delta, as well as the plentiful bird life in the area. We will disembark from the mokoros at dusk, enjoying sundowners in a scenic location before returning to camp with time to freshen up before dinner.

Camp meal.

At leisure.

Camp light buffet.

We will board our safari vehicles to explore more of the reserve in the company of our local specialists, returning to camp midmorning.

Camp buffet.

The midday will be free to rest, relax, and enjoy our last full day in Africa. Following afternoon tea, we will head out on our last afternoon safari game drive of the program, seeking out wildlife that may have eluded us thus far. Our safari will continue past dusk, allowing the chance of seeing any nocturnal animals active in the area. We will return to camp for dinner.

At camp, share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.

At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure tomorrow.

Camp buffet.

We will have one last safari game drive this morning, returning in time to freshen up at the camp and have brunch before starting the journey home.

Lodge buffet.

Following brunch, we will be transferred to the local airstrip for our light aircraft charter flight to Maun. We will then board a commercial flight from Maun to Johannesburg, South Africa. This concludes our program. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!

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