Southern Africa Safari and Rail Adventure

Touch down in Cape Town, a cosmopolitan city perched at the southwestern tip of Africa that is a vibrant tapestry of life, culture and diversity. Trendy restaurants, bars and design studios imbue the atmosphere with a hip, creative vibe, all overlooked by Table Mountain.

Make your way to the top of 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, view other historical landmarks such as the Castle of Good Hope, Cape Town City Hall, and St. George’s Cathedral. Take in the richness of the Constantia Winelands, nestled below Table Mountain, with a visit to one of South Africa’s most celebrated wine estates. Join a sommelier for a guided tasting of their award-winning wines while a captivating storyteller shares inspiring stories of the region. Return to your hotel for your welcome dinner.

Journey across Cape Point past Camps Bay at the base of the Twelve Apostles Mountain Range, along Hout Bay with its bustling fishing harbor and over Chapman’s Peak Drive. Explore the stunning Cape Peninsula and Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, home to bonteboks and chacma baboons. Ride a funicular to the great pinnacle at blustery Cape Point. At Boulders Beach, visit its wild colony of endangered African penguins.

You are joined for breakfast by a special guest speaker — the photographer who captured the iconic image of Nelson Mandela’s release from prison — on an A&K-exclusive experience. Then recapture the romance of a bygone era as you board the wood-paneled coaches of the luxurious Rovos Rail. Settle into your suite and eat lunch. Wind through the mountains and rolling green hills of the Cape Winelands, sipping South African vintages as the sun sets.

In Matjiesfontein, stop to visit its charming Victorian village, museum and vintage rail cars. Roll on into the Great Karoo, an arid expanse that was once an inland sea.

In Kimberley, where diamonds were found in 1871, tour the Diamond Mine Museum and view the Big Hole. Proceed toward the broad grassland plains of the Highveld.

Savor your last day onboard Rovos Rail as your train rolls northeast through the goldfields of the Witwatersrand, perhaps reading or playing games in the lounge and observation cars. Have lunch onboard before disembarking to settle into your hotel in the suburbs of Johannesburg.

Fly to the town of Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe for a guided walking tour of breathtaking Victoria Falls, close enough to feel the power of its plunging cataracts and their mist upon your face. Eat lunch at a local restaurant before driving to your safari lodge, the only one located inside Botswana’s world-renowned Chobe National Park, and settle into your spacious accommodations. Set out on a Chobe River safari, watching as elephants line the water’s edge, hippos congregate in lagoons and predators come down to quench their thirst.

Venture forth on morning and afternoon safaris, either overland or by boat along the Chobe River. Learn how your lodge pioneered the use of electric boats when they launched their first electric powered boat (and game vehicle) in 2014. Today, three of their four electric boats are fully solar powered, while their silent electric land vehicles are ideal for travelling quietly on game drives. Take in the park’s many natural wonders, led by a member of the lodge’s all-female guiding team.

Once again savor morning and afternoon game viewing, starting with an early morning safari in Chobe National Park to see diverse species — perhaps even wild dogs and leopards — at their most active, arriving ahead of most visitors thanks to your lodge’s ideal location. Explore along the Chobe River as your guide interprets the bush signs and tracks resident wildlife such as elephants and hippos.

Fly to the Okavango Delta via Kasane Airport and arrive at amazing Chief’s Camp in the vast Moremi Game Reserve. Often called the “Predator Capital of Africa,” this reserve is home to only a handful of camps, which makes for a unique and highly prized gameviewing experience, free of crowds. Observe how the lush delta draws remarkable birds and wildlife on a late-afternoon game drive capped by a refreshing cocktail.

Rise early for a game drive on the reserve, where the game viewing is magnificent. Afternoon activities include a chef-led experience offering you a taste of traditional local cuisine. 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 lion with a fresh kill or a glimpse of a leopard emerging from the dense foliage. Gather for a special farewell dinner.

Fly to Johannesburg via Maun, where you enjoy access to the Premier Lounge, compliments of A&K, before your departing flight.