Day 1 - Arrive Johannesburg, South Africa
Arrive in Johannesburg and transfer to your hotel. Meet your
fellow guests tonight at a welcome dinner.
Day 2 - Swakopmund
This morning, fly to Walvis Bay, where you are met and
transferred to Swakopmund. Tour this historic small town
with its timeless German village feel. Spend the rest of the
day at leisure.
Day 3 - Walvis Bay
Explore the coastal area of Walvis Bay. Start the day with a
dolphin and seal cruise on a catamaran in the outer lagoon.
Cross to Pelican Point to see large colonies of Cape fur seals up
close, as well as pelicans, flamingos and bottlenose dolphins.
Come ashore for a guided tour of Sandwich Harbour via 4x4
vehicle, seeing giant sand dunes run straight into the sea. Enjoy
the dune drive before returning to Swakopmund for an evening
at leisure.
Day 4 - Sossusvlei
Fly to Sossusvlei and your luxurious desert lodge. Situated
in the private NamibRand Nature Reserve, the andBeyond
Sossusvlei Desert Lodge offers 10 air-conditioned stone and
glass villas that capture the splendor and solitude of the desert.
Enjoy an afternoon at leisure, taking advantage of the lodge’s
many activities, including ATV rides, hiking and stargazing.
Day 5 - Sossusvlei
No Namibian safari is complete without a visit to world-renowned
Sossusvlei, a place of awe-inspiring beauty. Rarely filled with water,
the salt and clay pan is surrounded by magnificent terra cotta sand
dunes that rise nearly a thousand feet into the vast, blue sky. A climb
to the top of one of these dunes — among the highest in the world —
is an unforgettable experience. Return to your lodge for an afternoon
at leisure.
Day 6 - Sossusvlei
Start the morning with a nature drive to explore the fascinating
NamibRand Nature Reserve, observing its unique desert-adapted
plants and wildlife, as well as beautiful landscapes of
dunes and bright blue skies. Return to the lodge for breakfast.
Later in the afternoon when it is cooler, venture out for a trail
ride over the dunes and rocky outcrops on an ATV, led by an experienced guide. Return to the lodge for dinner. Spend
the evening at leisure, with time to reflect on your day spent
exploring the stunning, stark desert panorama.
Day 7 - Windhoek
Fly to Windhoek and check in to your hotel, a restored castle set
on top of a picturesque hill. Relax for the rest of the day, perhaps
around the swimming pool. Enjoy dining this evening at the
hotel restaurant.
Day 8 - Okavango Delta
Set off for Maun via Johannesburg, continuing on to Sanctuary
Chief’s Camp in the Okavango Delta. The camp is situated in the
Mombo Concession of the Moremi Game Reserve, the “predator capital of the world” and one of the best places in Botswana to
see the “Big Five” — the lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and Cape
buffalo. This is primarily because the lush delta draws a fantastic
concentration of wildlife. White and black rhinos are also found
here, the latter of which is among Africa’s fastest-disappearing
species. Settle into your luxurious camp, with 12 secluded and
spacious bush pavilions set along natural pathways frequented
by the local wildlife, and enjoy your first game drive this
afternoon.
Day 9 - Okavango Delta
Game viewing in the Okavango Delta area is nothing short
of spectacular. This area is renowned for its large population
of elephants, buffalo, giraffes and of course predators, such as
leopards, cheetahs, spotted hyenas and a large resident pride
of lions. Enjoy a seasonal mokoro (dugout canoe) ride for a
rare safari opportunity across deceptively quiet marshlands
alive with crocodiles; bathing hippos; birds; and tiny, red reed
frogs. On your afternoon game drive, listen for roaring lions
on the hunt or spy nocturnal animals as they start out for the
night. Visit an area that is now home to 20 endangered black
rhinos relocated for their safety. Learn how Abercrombie &
Kent Philanthropy and Sanctuary Retreats partnered with the
Botswana Defense Force and Wilderness Safaris to protect these
precious animals from poachers. After an exciting day of game viewing, return to your camp to relax, dine and enjoy more of
the activities on offer.
Day 10 - Kalahari Desert
Depart the delta this morning for the Makgadikgadi Pans and
your accommodations at Jack’s Camp. A series of large salt pans
left over from a vast ancient lake, the Makgadikgadi Pans are an
unforgettable destination, with a silence unlike anything you’ve
experienced. After settling into your tent, join your guide for
tea before driving into the grasslands and the beautiful evening
light.
Day 11 - Kalahari Desert
Set off in the morning to visit some of the Kalahari’s most
fascinating inhabitants, the meerkats. Thanks to an ongoing
habituation program, it’s possible to get up close and personal with these captivating creatures. On chilly mornings, you might
find a meerkat snuggling up to you for warmth, or in the absence
of a termite mound or tree, using your head as a handy lookout
post. Leave the meerkats to visit a remote cattle post, where
you learn about the traditional culture of the Batswana people.
Later today, take off across the pans on an ATV ride; with no
landmarks to gauge distances, the terrain scrolls endlessly under
your tires, making for a perspective-shattering experience. End
your ride as the stars begin to emerge from the vast overhanging
sky.
Day 12 - Kalahari Desert
Early in the morning, comb the edge of the extinct lakeshore to
hunt for stone tools and fossils left behind by human ancestors.
In the afternoon, head off in search of some unique desert
species, such as aardvarks, bat-eared foxes, aardwolves and the
elusive brown hyena, one of the rarest carnivores in Africa.
Day 14 - Chobe National Park
Rise for an unforgettable walk with the Zu’hoasi Bushmen
trackers, an extraordinary group of men who share a rare
glimpse of the land and their means for survival, along with
an opportunity to interact with a unique — and quickly
disappearing — culture. Depart Jack’s Camp for Sanctuary Chobe Chilwero in Chobe National Park. This exquisite lodge
sits above the Chobe River and offers unparalleled panoramic
views across the islands and floodplains. Enjoy lunch and time to
relax on your first night. Begin the next day with a sunrise game
drive. Chobe National Park covers a diversity of landscapes
ranging from riverine forests to floodplains and periodic
marshlands. The area is home to the largest concentration of
elephants in Africa, as well as an abundance of hippos, buffalo,
antelopes and lions. You may also embark on a boat safari and
photographic cruise on the Chobe River. Back at camp, enjoy a
Chef’s Table experience offering you a taste of traditional local
cuisine.
Day 15 - Depart Johannesburg
Return to Johannesburg for your flight home. The Premier
Lounge is available for you while awaiting your departure.