A&K Sanctuary Botswana and Victoria Falls

Livingstone is the gateway to Victoria Falls, Africa’s most jaw-dropping natural wonder. Just upstream from the falls, the rustic-chic treehouses of Sussi & Chuma Lodge, an A&K Sanctuary occupy a blissfully peaceful spot on a bend in the Zambezi River, where hippos wallow and graze among the jackalberry trees. After your flight touches down in Livingstone, settle into your private tree house and relax before a boat cruise with game viewing this afternoon.

The local Lozi name it the “Smoke that Thunders” — a wholly fitting epithet for Africa’s liquid marvel, where the Zambezi River roars 300 feet down a chasm on its zigzagging course between Zambia and Zimbabwe. Set out on a guided walking tour of the falls, taking in the magnificent rainbows and towers of mist as the Zambezi tumbles into the chasm below, before delving into the wildlife-rich forests of Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park on a shared game drive and visiting Nakatindi Village to see a local project supported by A&K Philanthropy.

Next up is Chobe National Park, a great patchwork of deep, dense forest, sprawling wetlands and zebra-grazed grasslands. Be it at dawn or dusk, wildlife photographers come in the hope of spotting the park’s starry cast of wildlife. Settle into your lodge and relax before afternoon game viewing. Chobe Chilwero Lodge is a luxurious retreat in the heart of the bush, located on the edge of Chobe National Park, with panoramic views over the Chobe River and floodplain below.

Start your day early with a hot beverage before joining your guide for a morning game drive. Watch as the animals stir to life and start their day. Elephants are the main event here, with over 120,000 roaming the wilds of Chobe, though hippos, impala, African wild dogs and vultures make welcome appearances against the burning orange skies. Return for a late breakfast and a well-deserved siesta. Late in the afternoon, take off on an afternoon game drive ending with a bush sundowner, set to a backdrop of wide-open parkland.

Fly by bush plane to your next stay, extraordinary Chief’s Camp, located on an island in Moremi Game Reserve, possibly the most game-rich region in all of Africa. The camp features ten stylish bush pavilions each with a private dining area, tranquil outside seating area and a terrace pool — all perfect for absorbing the surrounding plains and majestic African skies. Widely acknowledged as the “Predator Capital of Africa,” this is one of the best places in Botswana to see big game — lions, leopards, elephants and Cape buffalo — drawn here by the lush delta. Cheetahs and spotted hyenas also make the scene. View game with your experienced guides or watch life unfold from your private viewing deck.

Devote the last full day of your safari to exploring this one-of-a-kind ecosystem known for its varied terrains that are home to a vast number of animals, including hippos, lions, elephants, buffalo, wildebeests, cheetahs and many bird species.

Fly via Maun to Johannesburg where you connect to your departing flight.