16 Day Best of Kruger & Botswana Honeymoon

Upon arrival at O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, you are met and assisted to a local flight bound for Skukuza. From there it is a road transfer into the Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve and your romantic base at Leopard Hills. This exclusive lodge is celebrated for its Big Five viewing and hilltop position overlooking a busy waterhole, with only a handful of suites to ensure privacy and highly personalized service.

You settle into an ultra-luxurious glass-fronted suite with an en suite bathroom, indoor and outdoor showers, a private deck and plunge pool with sweeping views over the bush. Twice-daily game drives with experienced rangers and trackers bring you remarkably close to leopard, lion and other iconic wildlife, while optional bush walks offer a more intimate look at tracks, birds and plants. Between activities, relax by the pool, enjoy fine dining and share sunsets from the deck as the sounds of the African night rise around you.

Your final morning at Leopard Hills begins with one last game drive in the Kruger wilderness, followed by a hearty breakfast back at the lodge. After check-out, you are transferred to Skukuza Airport for the short flight to Johannesburg. On arrival at O.R. Tambo International Airport, a road transfer takes you to the Peermont D’oreale Grande at Emperors Palace, a five-star hotel conveniently located near the airport and known for its lavish interiors and attentive service.

The remainder of the day is yours to relax after your time in the bush. Unwind at the pool or spa, or take a stroll through the Emperors Palace complex, which offers a variety of restaurants, bars, entertainment venues and a casino under one roof. This overnight stop provides a gentle transition from the wilds of the Kruger area back to city comforts, while still keeping the mood festive and romantic before your onward journey to Victoria Falls and Botswana.

After breakfast at the hotel, you are transferred back to O.R. Tambo International Airport for your flight to Livingstone in Zambia. On arrival, you are met and driven to the Royal Livingstone, a gracious hotel set along the banks of the Zambezi River within easy walking distance of Victoria Falls. From the manicured lawns and riverfront gardens you can often see the spray from the falls rising above the trees, creating rainbows in the afternoon light.

The Royal Livingstone evokes the romance of a bygone era, with colonial-style architecture, sweeping verandas and tranquil riverside lawns where wildlife such as zebra and antelope occasionally graze. During your three-night stay you can enjoy breakfast on the terrace, elegant dinners by chandelier light and special arrangements like private dinners under the stars. Two key activities are included: a privately guided tour of Victoria Falls, exploring different viewpoints in the lush rainforest, and a sunset cruise on the Zambezi River, where hippos, crocodiles and riverine birdlife accompany your cocktails and canapés as the sun sinks into the horizon.

Following a final breakfast in Livingstone, you are transferred across the border into Botswana and onward to Chobe Chilwero, perched on a hill above the Chobe River. This intimate, luxurious lodge enjoys sweeping views over the floodplains and islands below and sits close to one of Africa’s greatest concentrations of elephants, along with large herds of buffalo and plentiful plains game.

Over three nights you will enjoy two safari activities per day, alternating between open 4x4 game drives in Chobe National Park and water-based excursions on the river. Boat cruises often bring you eye-level with elephants coming down to drink, pods of hippo and prolific birdlife along the reeds, while game drives explore the woodland and savanna for lion, leopard and other predators. Back at the lodge, unwind in your spacious cottage or at the spa, savoring fine meals and sundowners as the sky blazes with color over the river.

Your journey continues with a seamless light aircraft flight from Kasane into the heart of Botswana's Okavango Delta, landing near the exclusive Stanley's Camp. This stunning natural marvel, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the world's largest inland delta, offering an unparalleled wetland ecosystem and diverse wildlife. Stanley's Camp lies in a private concession that offers both permanent water and seasonally flooded grasslands, granting access to a full spectrum of safari activities. Over four blissful nights, you will enjoy twice-daily game excursions, ensuring deep immersion into this pristine wilderness and maximizing your opportunity for memorable wildlife encounters.

Days are spent exploring the Delta's unique blend of water and land safaris. You will glide silently through the intricate, clear waterways by traditional mokoro (dugout canoe), spotting aquatic birds and water-adapted antelope. Exhilarating 4x4 game drives, led by expert local guides, take you across the plains in search of predators, including lions, cheetahs, and the elusive wild dog. Optional walking safaris provide an intimate look at the smaller flora and fauna. Evenings are dedicated to romantic dinners under the vast African sky, sharing quiet moments by the campfire as the sounds of the remote Delta wilderness lull you into a state of absolute honeymoon relaxation, concluding the perfect safari segment of your adventure.

Your final morning in the Okavango Delta begins with one last safari activity, savoring the soft dawn light over the floodplains and any final wildlife encounters. After returning to camp, enjoy a leisurely breakfast and say farewell to the team who have hosted your stay. There is time for a last look over the water from the main deck before you board the light aircraft that will carry you out of the delta.

From the airstrip you fly to Maun and connect with an onward flight to Johannesburg, where you are met on arrival at O.R. Tambo International Airport. Depending on your plans, you are either assisted with check-in for your international journey home or transferred to a pre-arranged hotel or address in Johannesburg or Pretoria. As your 16 day Best of Kruger and Botswana Honeymoon concludes, you depart with a collection of vivid memories, from close wildlife encounters to river sunsets and candlelit dinners in the heart of the African wilderness.