Botswana, South Africa & Zambia 2019

12 days
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USTOA

Small Group Tour
Earth Journeys, created by Tauck and BBC Earth take you on a celebration of Southern Africa's natural world. This is one of our most popular South Africa tours - it features an amazing safari through the national parks of Botswana and Zambia along with three nights in South Africa's Cape Town.

Overview

Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Highlights

    • Earth Journeys
    • crafted by Tauck and BBC Earth... vintage train trip
    • visit to a rhino sanctuary & visit to Victoria Falls in Zambia in Zambia; multiple night stays in Botswana safari camps; game drives by safari vehicle; helicopter sightseeing over the Okavango Delta; meerkat spotting; visit to village of San bushmen; Cape of Good Hope sightseeing
    • traditional braai barbecue and Seal Island boat excursion in Cape Town

What's this trip about?

    Earth Journeys, created by Tauck and BBC Earth take you on a celebration of Southern Africa's natural world. This is one of our most popular South Africa tours - it features an amazing safari through the national parks of Botswana and Zambia along with three nights in South Africa's Cape Town.

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Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeSmall Group - 24 max
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportN/A
Start CityLivingstone, Zambia
End CityCape Town, South Africa

Travel Themes

  • 50 plus
  • Cultural

Destinations

Attractions

  • Livingstone
  • Makgadikgadi Pans
  • Okavango Delta
  • Victoria Falls

Activities

  • Culture

Trip includes

    • Intimate safari groups average just 20 Tauck guests; 6-passenger, safari vehicles with window seats for everyone on game drives led by expert safari guides! On-tour film vignettes custom-made for Tauck by BBC Earth natural history experts Includes four on-tour flights Field equipment may include FLIR® thermal imaging cameras and night vision goggles A welcome dinner rail journey through Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park aboard a vintage 1920s steam train, in elegantly restored Pullman lounge and dining cars, gourmet dinner included Visit to a village of San Bushmen in Botswana for a close-up look at their life and culture Visit to a rhino sanctuary to see rhinos in their natural habitats Visit to a Meerkat colony in the Makgadikgadi Pans Helicopter sightseeing over the Okavango Delta Two nights in a traditional, authentic safari camp in deluxe tents on the Makgadikgadi Pans A traditional braai (barbecue) dinner with drinks and good company at a private home in Cape Town Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted 29 meals (11 breakfasts, 8 lunches, 10 dinners); gratuities to local guides, service charges, admissions fees, taxes and porterage

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Itinerary

Day 1 A rail safari & welcome dinner in Livingstone, Zambia
Tour begins: 3:00 PM, Royal Livingstone Hotel. Transfers are included from Livingstone Airport to the Royal Livingstone Hotel. Check-in time is 2:00 PM - guests wishing to check in prior to this time should arrive the night before. You have the option to arrive at the ho...
Day 2 A rhino walking safari & a Victoria Falls walking tour
A guided walking safari through a rhino sanctuary offers you a chance to see the great horned animals in their natural habitat. Then follow the sound of roaring water on a walking tour to Mosi-oa-Tunya - "The Smoke That Thunders" - which Livingstone named Victoria Falls....
Day 3 Game drives in the Okavango Delta
Drive to the border where a ferry transports you across the Zambezi River to Botswana; transfer by safari vehicle to a lodge for a motorboat safari on the Chobe River. After lunch, a flight takes you to a game reserve on the Okavango River, in the world's largest inland ...
Day 4 More wildlife viewing & dinner under the stars
Between morning and afternoon game drives in the bush for even more exciting wildlife viewing today, return to camp for lunch and leisure. Enjoy the spa, or watch the passing parade of wildlife on the floodplains from the comfort of your own private deck, before embarkin...
Day 5 Eagle Island Camp & a motorboat safari
Begin the day with a game drive and an optional walking safari. Today you'll fly from Khwai further into the Okavango Delta to Eagle Island Camp; situated on remote Xaxaba Island among a web of waterways and lush vegetation, it overlooks a lagoon that attracts a breathta...
Day 6 Okavango Delta by canoe and helicopter
First up this morning - exploring the Okavango Delta by canoe - and helicopter. A mokoro canoe safari aboard a traditional dugout canoe takes you gliding over shallow, clear waters past brilliant water lilies and papyrus grasses to areas inaccessible by boat. Listen to t...
Day 7 Makgadikgadi Pans National Park
Fly from Okavango to Makgadikgadi Pans, the salt plains at the edge of the Kalahari Desert, and arrive at Camp Kalahari. A parched wasteland most of the year, seasonally the plains come alive with water and grass, drawing spectacular herds of wildebeest and zebra, as wel...
Day 8 Meet the Meerkats and a 4-wheel-drive adventure
"Meerkat" is Dutch for "lake cat," which seems odd, since the meerkat is not a cat and it lives in a desert. But you'll find the name somehow suits these hyperactive, charming creatures as you encounter them on their daily routine, digging for termites, frolicking, and s...
Day 9 Fly from Botswana to Cape Town
Fly today from the Makgadikgadi airstrip to Maun, then on to Cape Town, South Africa, where you'll spend three nights at the One&Only Cape Town. Your aptly-named hotel is one of a kind, an urban oasis designed around a series of artificial islands, offering contempor...
Day 10 Spend the day in Cape Town on Africa's southern tip
Cape Town nestles in a setting of spectacular natural beauty, between the crashing tides of an azure sea and towering Table Mountain. But its real fascination is in its contrasts - modern towers beside ornate colonial architecture, and the mix of cultures (Dutch, French,...
Day 11 Seal Island eco-tour & the Cape of Good Hope
This morning, arrive at Cape Point Nature Reserve - home to antelope, zebra, ostrich, baboons, and breathtaking seascapes; later, a funicular will carry you up to the Old Lighthouse that watches over the ironically-named Cape of Good Hope - the Portuguese explorer who fi...
Day 12 Journey home
Tour ends: Cape Town. Fly home anytime. Transfers to Cape Town Airport from One&Only Cape Town are included. Allow at least 3 hours for flight check-in. MEALS : B

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Dates & Availability

Price From $12,990
Price per day$1,083
Last Updated: 0/8/2019

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Tauck.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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May 2024

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My husband and I booked the Yellowstone tour with Tauck expecting so much more with the accommodations, food, and tour director based on the price point. We were sa...

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Susan

Jun 2023

Written on

Nine Tours and Done

Sad to see a once good tour company stumble and fall into mediocrity. That’s Tauck post-Covid. My May 2023 tour of Normandy, Brittany and the Loire Valley was done o...

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Cougess

Jan 2023

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Skip this cruise - not worth it

My husband and I went on the Treasures of the Mediterranean Isles Trip jn October 2022. This was our third Tauck cruise with Ponnant but our first post covid and the...

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It's easy to see the world's sights. To stand in long lines, push through the crowds, and generally have the same standard-issue vacation as everyone else. But that's not good enough for us, and it's not good enough for you. We believe that travel should be easy. It should be fun. It should be worth your time and the price you paid. It should re-energize and transform. And above all else, it should be beyond the ordinary. Because how you see the world matters.

In 1882, Herman Tauck arrived in New York City from Germany in search of the American dream. His determination and values were passed on to his son, Arthur Tauck, who would realize that dream. With ingenuity and an innovative spirit, Arthur started Tauck Motor Tours, a travel company that would give birth to a new industry. The first tour, through the back roads of New England, was created by this 27-year-old in 1925. It embodied the same successful formula used by Tauck today: do the right thing. Craft a life-enriching travel experience; provide it at a single all-inclusive price; ensure there is great value for money; and rely on recommendations of satisfied customers to build a following and grow the business.

Two elements that did change over the next 90+ years – and three generations of Taucks – were the scope of destinations served and the variety of modes of travel used. Today Tauck delivers life-enriching travel experiences to every corner of the globe, incorporating small cruise ships, premium riverboats, trains, helicopters and more. What started as a New England motor coach tour company has truly evolved into an extraordinary global travel company. The fourth generation of Taucks is now involved in the company. While remarkable in any business, this seamless continuity across generations speaks to shared vision and values.

Throughout its history, the concept of “family” at Tauck has gone far beyond those sharing the surname to include hundreds of valued employees, and hundreds of thousands of loyal guests. The story of Tauck is the story of a unique American family company celebrating a passion for travel – a story that will continue to inspire generations to come.

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Fun group tours and cruises that are culturally-focused and great for families and seniors on vacation.

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Logistics

Accommodation

Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
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Age Requirements
No age restrictions
Additional Information
Trip ID
tauck-BW2019

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