Itinerary Details

Abercrombie & Kent: Southern Africa Safari & Rail Adventure

DAY 1 Cape Town, South Africa

Arrive in Cape Town and transfer to one of the country’s most famous hotels, set at the foot of Table Mountain.

Ascend Table Mountain via cable car to take in an inspiring panorama of the city. Proceed to the colorful and distinctive Bo-Kaap neighborhood for a walking tour. After lunch, discover the Castle of Good Hope, built by the Dutch East India Company. Learn its colonial history, and then continue to the District Six Museum, which chronicles Cape Town’s apartheid past in a poignant yet ultimately uplifting way. Receive an overview of key historical role players, including Nelson Mandela. Tonight, savor a relaxing welcome dinner.

Discover Cape Point, the scenic promontory at the southwestern tip of the continent. Journey past the “bikini beaches” at the base of the towering Twelve Apostles Mountain Range, along Hout Bay with its bustling fishing harbor and over the famous Chapman’s Peak Drive. Explore the stunning Cape Peninsula and Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, home to rare bontebok and chacma baboon. Ride the “Flying Dutchman” funicular to the great pinnacle at blustery Cape Point, which presides over treacherous reefs and sandy beaches. At Boulders Beach, visit its colony of endangered African penguin; accustomed to humans, they provide endless photo opportunities. Enjoy the rest of your day at leisure, perhaps exploring the city’s harbor front or dining in one of Cape Town’s world-class restaurants.

Today, take in the richness of the Constantia Winelands, nestled below Table Mountain, starting with a visit to Constantia Glen for a tour of their cellar guided by the winemaker. Enjoy a wine tasting followed by a farm-to-table lunch. Afterward, recapture the romance of a bygone era as you board the wood-paneled coaches of the luxurious Rovos Rail. Depart Cape Town Station as you settle into your suite. Wind through mountains, rolling green hills of the Cape Winelands as the sun sets, and sip South African vintages as the stunning scenery scrolls by.

This morning, stop for a charming look at Matjiesfontein, an authentically preserved Victorian village. Roll on to the Great Karoo, a vast semi-desert region that was once an inland sea, observing its arid beauty.

Arrive in Kimberley to tour the Diamond Mine Museum and view one of the world’s largest hand-dug excavation sites. Proceed into the grasslands of gold-rich Highveld, marveling at the changing landscapes.

After breakfast, arrive at Pretoria Station, where you bid farewell to Rovos Rail. Travel to Soweto, a township just southwest of Johannesburg, for a driving tour that takes in key highlights, such as Vilikazi Street — the only street in the world that has been home to two Nobel prize winners, Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu — and the Hector Peterson Museum. After lunch at a local restaurant, continue to your hotel in the suburbs of Johannesburg for an evening at leisure, resting or enjoying the amenities of your accommodations.

Fly to Victoria Falls, where you transfer to your luxury hotel set on the banks of the Zambezi River, very near Victoria Falls. This evening, before dinner, enjoy hearing from a special guest speaker who shares tales of celebrated Scottish explorer and missionary David Livingstone on an A&K-exclusive experience.

Set out on a guided walking tour of breathtaking Victoria Falls, one of the world’s greatest natural wonders. Afterward, enjoy one of these Design Your Day activities.

Learn About Traditional Zimbabwean Cuisine and enjoy a cooking demonstration at a local restaurant.

Visit a Rural Village for an interactive experience that offers insight into Zimbabwean cultural traditions.

Privately Bike the Area, cycling the town of Victoria Falls and stopping at scenic viewpoints along the way.

Later, drive to your safari lodge, the only one located inside Botswana’s world-renowned Chobe National Park, and settle into your spacious, river-facing accommodations. This afternoon, set out on a Chobe River safari, watching as elephant line the water’s edge, hippo congregate in lagoons and predators come down to quench their thirst. Return to the lodge for dinner.

Today, embark on morning and afternoon game drives, starting with an early morning safari, arriving ahead of most visitors, thanks to your lodge’s ideal location, to see predators at their most active. Explore along the Chobe River as your experienced guide interprets the bush signs and tracks in search of the resident wildlife. Watch for elephant, huge herds of buffalo and plenty of predators such as lion, wild dog and even leopard.

Fly to the Okavango Delta via Kasane Airport. Arrive at your amazing Sanctuary Chief ’s Camp in the Mombo Concession of the vast Moremi Game Reserve. Often called the “Predator Capital of the World,” this reserve is home to only a handful of camps, which makes for a unique and highly prized game-viewing experience, free of crowds. Observe how the lush delta draws remarkable birds and wildlife, including the Big Five, on a late-afternoon game drive capped by a refreshing Scenic Sundowner.

Rise early for a game drive on the reserve, where the game viewing is magnificent. Activities include a seasonal opportunity to Ride Like a Local, gliding on the delta in a mokoro (dugout canoe), as well as a Chef’s Table experience offering you a taste of traditional local cuisine. Later, set out on another safari with your expert guide, whose well-honed tracking skills may lead you off the beaten trail for an up-close look at a cheetah with a fresh kill, a glimpse of a leopard emerging from dense foliage or an encounter with a rhino grazing on lush Okavango grasses. Tonight, gather for a special farewell dinner.

Fly to Johannesburg via Maun, where you connect with your international flight home. Enjoy access to the Premier Lounge before your departure, compliments of A&K.