Wings Over Botswana

On arrival in Johannesburg, an Abercrombie & Kent representative transfers you to your hotel. Later, attend a welcome dinner, where a professional photographer offers advice for the days ahead.

Spend two full days at Sanctuary Stanley’s Camp, a small property tucked beneath a canopy of ebony and sausage trees on the southern tip of Chief’s Island. Activities ranging from seasonal mokoro (dugout canoe) rides to night game drives and bush walks provide countless wildlife viewing options.

Fly to Chief’s Camp, set deep in the Mombo Concession of the Moremi Game Reserve. Known as the “predator capital” of Botswana, it offers some of the finest game viewing in the region. In addition to the predators, see ostrich, antelope, wildebeests and kudu, along with bathing hippos and crocodiles silently patrolling the waters. Embark on an exciting afternoon game drive or relax in camp.

Spend the day on game drives in open vehicles, on the lookout for cheetahs, spotted hyenas and, resting firmly at the top of the predatory pyramid, a large pride of lions. The nocturnal leopard is also found here, as well as both white and black rhinos; the latter is among Africa’s fastest-disappearing species.

After breakfast, fly northeast to Chobe National Park, passing over forests, floodplains and marshlands en route. Your exquisite lodge sits above the Chobe River, with expansive views across the islands and landscape as far as Namibia. The lounge and dining room connect to spectacular outdoor viewing patios, where you may glimpse Chobe elephants; the park is home to one of the largest concentration of elephants in Africa, with a population reaching a staggering 60,000. Take time to unwind with a dip in the split-level swimming pool, book a Vichy shower treatment at the spa or grab a book from the library.

Set out on a game drive when the sun begins to rise and animals start searching for breakfast. You may see lions, hippos, crocodiles, warthogs and possibly a colony of carmine bee eaters. Later, board a motorized boat for a water safari, keeping an eye out for hippos, buffalo, antelope, waterbucks and lions.

Drive across the Zimbabwe border to visit awe-inspiring Victoria Falls, its roar yielding up to 120 million gallons of water per minute. Imagine what David Livingstone, the first known European to see the falls, must have thought when he set eyes upon the thundering, crashing waters. Continue to your accommodations at Sanctuary Sussi & Chuma in Zambia, where you stay in a luxury tree house, built into the living canopy that lines the bank. An on-site spa provides revitalizing treatments, while an elevated lounge offers a place to unwind. As twilight sets in, take a sunset cruise, savoring Africa’s beauty while sipping traditional cocktails.

Begin the day with a guided walking tour of Victoria Falls from the Zambian side — a different perspective on the timeless, ever impressive natural wonder. Gaze at the mighty Zambezi as it flows, broad and placid, to the edge of a 5,600-foot-wide basalt lip, where it takes a headlong plunge into the frothy chasm of the gorge.

Fly to Johannesburg to connect with your international flight. The Premier Lounge is offered to you, compliments of A&K, as a place to relax before your homebound flight.

Enhance your journey with a pre-tour small-group extension. 4 days; priced from $2,100. Available on Jun 12, Aug 14, Sep 18 and Oct 02 departures. Please call A&K or speak to your travel professional to reserve this special extension with this journey. Presided over by Table Mountain, Cape Town is a breathtaking city that contrasts multicultural urban living with pastoral valleys and fishing harbors. On the Cape Peninsula, visit the Cape of Good Hope, Cape Point Nature Reserve and Boulders Beach to see its famous penguin colony. Travel through the Cape Winelands and enjoy wine tastings, stunning scenery and delectable cuisine. Mount Nelson Hotel

Enhance your journey with a post-tour small-group extension. 5 days; priced from $4,245. Available on the Jun 12, Sep 18 and Oct 02 departures.Please call A&K or speak to your travel professional to reserve this special extension with this journey. Day 1: Arrive in Johannesburg, where you are assisted to your hotel. Spend the afternoon at leisure. Intercontinental O.R. Tambo Airport Hotel Day 2: This morning, board a light aircraft to Mala Mala Game Reserve. Your afternoon is at leisure to enjoy the game viewing activities available at your camp. Mala Mala Main Camp | Meals: B L D Day 3-4: Spend the next two days searching for wildlife in Mala Mala, the first private game preserve in South Africa and renowned as one of the best places to spot the “Big Five” (leopards, lions, elephants, buffalo and rhinoceros). This prolific wildlife area also harbors cheetahs, packs of wild dogs, hippos and a stunning variety of birds. Your luxurious camp offers twice-daily game drives as well as guided walks through the bush — a chance to learn about local flora from an expert. Unwind between wildlife viewing with a dip in the pool or a stroll through the gardens. Mala Mala Main Camp | Meals: B L D Day 5: Board a flight to Johannesburg. On arrival, you are transferred to your airport hotel for lunch and a chance to freshen up. Afterward, join jewelry designer Jenna Clifford at her studio and showroom in Sandton. You have a chance to have a cup of tea, look at her beautiful collections and purchase items to take home. You are then assisted with check in for your international flight home. Intercontinental O.R. Tambo Airport Hotel (dayroom) | Meals: B L