15 Day Best of Southern Africa Safari

Guests are met and welcomed on arrival at O. R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, or at any other pre-arranged location in Johannesburg or Pretoria. From there, they are assisted with check-in for a flight bound for Maun in Botswana, followed by a light aircraft transfer into the heart of the Okavango Delta – the first destination on your Best of Southern Africa Safari. This vast inland delta, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the most remarkable wilderness areas on Earth, with seasonal floodwaters spreading out into a fan of channels, lagoons, and islands that can cover over 15,000 square kilometers at peak.

At the safari lodge, two guided activities are typically offered daily by experienced rangers and trackers. Depending on water levels, these may alternate between land-based open 4x4 game drives and water-based explorations along the Okavango’s reed-lined channels by motorboat or traditional mokoro canoe. The delta supports an incredible diversity of wildlife, including elephant, hippo, red lechwe, and an impressive array of birdlife. Your guides share insights into the behavior of the animals, the complex flood cycle that sustains this oasis, and the region’s ecology and conservation challenges, ensuring your first days on safari are both exciting and deeply informative.

A final morning safari activity in the Okavango Delta is followed by breakfast and a charter flight to the remote Linyanti region, north of the delta. Here the Linyanti River and its associated wetlands form a wild mosaic of floodplains, riverine forest, and mopane woodland along the northern boundary of Chobe National Park. During the dry season, when much of northern Botswana is parched, the Linyanti’s permanent water becomes a lifeline and attracts large concentrations of elephant, buffalo, and other plains game to its banks.

At your lodge, two guided activities are conducted daily by experienced rangers and trackers. Game viewing typically alternates between open 4x4 drives across the savanna and water-based excursions by boat along the Linyanti channels, where hippo, crocodile, and prolific birdlife thrive. This little-visited corner of Botswana is renowned for its sense of exclusivity and excellent predator viewing, with lion, leopard, and African wild dog all occurring in the area. The combination of remote wilderness, low vehicle density, and expert guiding makes Linyanti a genuine highlight of any safari in Botswana.

A morning game activity and breakfast are followed by a light charter flight to Kasane in the far northeastern corner of Botswana. On arrival, guests are met and transferred by road via the Kazungula border post into Zambia and onward to the town of Livingstone. This historic settlement, named after the explorer David Livingstone, serves as Zambia’s gateway to the mighty Victoria Falls and sits just upstream on the Zambezi River from one of the world’s most famous waterfalls.

After check-in at your lodge, the remainder of the afternoon is at leisure. You might choose to relax on the riverbank with a view of the Zambezi, explore the hotel grounds, or simply unwind after several days of intensive safari activities. Optional activities in the area range from scenic helicopter flights over the falls to gentle river cruises and nature walks, ensuring a soft landing into this new phase of your Southern African journey.

The morning is devoted to visiting the falls section of the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park. The traditional name, meaning “The Smoke That Thunders”, refers to the towering columns of spray that rise from the chasm when the Zambezi River plunges more than 100 meters into the gorge below. A network of footpaths and viewpoints offers spectacular perspectives of this UNESCO World Heritage Site, which is often described as one of the largest and most dramatic waterfalls in the world by combined height and width.

After time to enjoy the vistas and perhaps browse the adjacent African curio market, guests return to the lodge around midday. Later that afternoon, a leisurely sunset cruise is enjoyed on the Zambezi River. As you glide along the river, keep an eye out for hippo, crocodile, elephant, and prolific birdlife along the banks, while savoring snacks and sundowners as the sky glows with the last light of day. The combination of golden light, tranquil waters, and rich wildlife activity makes this one of the most memorable evenings of the trip.

The morning is devoted to an immersive elephant encounter in a wilderness area not far from Livingstone. On arrival, guests receive a detailed introduction to the elephants, their individual histories, and broader conservation efforts in the region. Instead of riding, you’ll spend time on foot alongside these gentle giants, observing their natural behavior as they move through the bush, and under careful supervision you may have the opportunity to feed and interact with them. The focus is on learning about elephant biology, social structure, and welfare while enjoying responsible, low-impact contact that respects the animals’ needs.

After your encounter, a late breakfast or early lunch is served before returning to the lodge for some rest and relaxation. In the afternoon, you’ll visit a nearby village and craft market. Here you can gain insight into the customs and traditions of the local Leya people, who have lived around Victoria Falls for centuries, and learn how daily life is shaped by the mighty Zambezi. The visit also offers an opportunity to support local artisans by purchasing hand-crafted souvenirs before returning to your accommodation for the evening.

A final glimpse of Victoria Falls or the Zambezi River is followed by a transfer to Livingstone Airport for your flight to Johannesburg in South Africa. On arrival at O. R. Tambo International Airport, guests are met and transferred to their overnight hotel in the upmarket Sandton area, north of central Johannesburg. This modern district has become the country’s primary financial hub, home to the Johannesburg Stock Exchange as well as the headquarters of numerous multinational companies.

Once settled in, the remainder of the day is at leisure. Sandton offers a wealth of dining options, sophisticated shopping malls, and high-end boutiques, plus easy access to theaters and cinemas for those wishing to experience some of the city’s urban culture. Whether you choose to relax at the hotel, enjoy a spa treatment, or explore the neighborhood, the stay provides a comfortable pause between your wilderness adventures in Zambia and South Africa.

Breakfast is followed by a transfer back to O. R. Tambo International for a flight to the Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve. This renowned reserve shares an unfenced boundary with Kruger National Park, forming part of the greater transfrontier ecosystem that protects one of Africa’s largest wildlife areas. Sabi Sand is particularly famous for its high density of big game and remarkably frequent leopard sightings, thanks to decades of careful conservation and sensitive ecotourism practices.

At Lion Sands Ivory Lodge, two open 4x4 safaris are conducted daily by professional local rangers and trackers, with optional guided bush walks often available between drives. The morning safari departs shortly after sunrise and returns to the lodge for a hearty breakfast approximately three hours later. After a restful day enjoying the lodge’s facilities and riverside views, you’ll embark on an afternoon game drive that stretches into the evening, giving you the chance to encounter nocturnal species and observe predators like lion and leopard when they are most active. The combination of expert guiding, diverse habitats, and the comfort of your luxury lodge makes these final safari days a fitting climax to your journey.

A last morning game drive in the Sabi Sand, followed by breakfast at the lodge, provides a final opportunity to savor the sights and sounds of the African bush. After check-out, guests are transferred to the local airstrip for the flight back to Johannesburg. On arrival at O. R. Tambo International, your Best of Southern Africa Safari officially draws to a close.

From here, you will either connect with your onward international flights or be transferred to a location of your choice in Johannesburg or Pretoria, as pre-arranged. As you leave Southern Africa behind, you do so with a wealth of memories – from the waterways of the Okavango and the elephant-rich Linyanti to the thundering Victoria Falls and the game-rich Sabi Sand – that will linger long after your journey ends.