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South Africa · Botswana · Zimbabwe

The Grand Southern Africa Journey

Three Countries, One Uninterrupted Story

Duration10 Days / 9 Nights
Countries3 — SA, Botswana, Zimbabwe
PaceConsidered, Three Bases
StyleLuxury

This is the itinerary I design for people who want to see why Southern Africa is spoken about the way it is — not one country, but three, connected by light aircraft and some of the finest camps on the continent. Cape Town for the city and the wine, the Okavango Delta for wilderness unlike anywhere else on earth, and Victoria Falls for the sheer, thundering scale of it.

Every transfer between camps is arranged before you leave home. You will not see a departures board or carry your own bags between Maun and the Delta. This is the level of planning that lets you actually be present in each place, instead of managing the logistics of getting to the next one.

Day by Day

1Arrive Cape Town

Cape Town, South Africa

A private transfer from the airport to a Royal Portfolio property in the City Bowl or Constantia Valley. Settle in, and if there's time before dark, a first look at the mountain from the hotel terrace.

No meals included
OvernightThe Royal Portfolio, Cape Town
2Table Mountain & the City

Cape Town

Table Mountain by cable car in the cool of the morning, then a private guide through the city's layered history — the Bo-Kaap, District Six, and the V&A Waterfront. Dinner at one of Cape Town's tasting-menu restaurants, arranged in advance.

Breakfast
OvernightThe Royal Portfolio, Cape Town
3La Residence & the Franschhoek Valley

Franschhoek

A day at La Residence in the Franschhoek Valley — one of The Royal Portfolio's most decorated properties. Wine tastings across two or three estates, a long lunch, and time on the equestrian centre's grounds before returning to Cape Town at sunset.

BreakfastLunch
OvernightThe Royal Portfolio, Cape Town
4Into the Okavango Delta

Cape Town → Maun → Okavango Delta, Botswana

A scheduled flight to Maun, then a light aircraft transfer directly onto your camp's private airstrip in the Delta — the moment the trip changes register entirely. Arrive in time for lunch and an afternoon mokoro glide through the reed channels.

BreakfastLunchDinner
OvernightMombo Camp or equivalent, Okavango Delta
5Full Day in the Delta

Okavango Delta

Game drives by day and, where the water allows, a boat safari through the floodplains. Chief's Island holds some of the highest wildlife densities in Africa — this is the day it usually shows.

BreakfastLunchDinner
OvernightMombo Camp or equivalent, Okavango Delta
6Delta at Leisure

Okavango Delta

A slower day by design — an early game drive, then time at camp to simply watch the Delta go by from your deck, followed by a sundowner cruise as the light turns.

BreakfastLunchDinner
OvernightMombo Camp or equivalent, Okavango Delta
7On to Victoria Falls

Okavango Delta → Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

A light aircraft back to Maun and onward to Victoria Falls, with a private transfer to your riverside lodge. If time and energy allow, an introductory walk to the Falls viewpoints before dinner.

BreakfastDinner
OvernightThe Victoria Falls Hotel or equivalent
8The Falls, in Full

Victoria Falls

A guided walking tour of the Falls from the Zimbabwean side, where the views are widest, followed by an optional helicopter flight over the gorge — worth every cent for the scale it reveals. A sunset cruise on the Upper Zambezi closes the day.

Breakfast
OvernightThe Victoria Falls Hotel or equivalent
9Free Day, Optional Adventure

Victoria Falls

An open day for white-water rafting, a Zambezi National Park game drive, or simply time at the lodge. This is also a good day to add on Mana Pools by light aircraft, for those who want the Zambezi's wild elephant herds up close.

Breakfast
OvernightThe Victoria Falls Hotel or equivalent
10Depart

Victoria Falls

A private transfer to Victoria Falls Airport for your onward or homebound flight.

Breakfast

Featured on This Route

La Residence, Franschhoek
The Royal PortfolioCape Town & Franschhoek
Boat safari among elephants, Botswana
Mombo CampOkavango Delta, Botswana
Victoria Falls from above, Zimbabwe
The Victoria Falls HotelVictoria Falls, Zimbabwe

What's Included

Included

  • 9 nights' accommodation as described
  • All light aircraft and scheduled flights between camps
  • All private ground transfers
  • Full board at all safari camps, all game drives, mokoro and boat activities
  • Winelands day at La Residence with tastings and lunch
  • Guided Victoria Falls tour and sunset Zambezi cruise
  • Table Mountain cable car and Cape Town city guide

Not Included

  • International flights
  • Travel insurance
  • Helicopter flight over Victoria Falls (optional add-on)
  • Mana Pools extension (optional add-on)
  • Gratuities for guides and camp staff
  • Visas where applicable

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