Excursions in Southern Africa

We'll leave for our visit of a South African National Heritage Site as well as a UNESCO World Heritage Site: Robben Island. Used for the isolation of political prisoners during Apartheid, this infamous island was where three former inmates served time before becoming President of South Africa, including Nelson Mandela. The prison closed in 1996. We'll have a guided tour of the island and its cells given by one of its former prisoners before returning to Cape Town for lunch on the waterfront.

Afterwards, we’ll visit the Groot Constantia wine estate, the oldest in South Africa. In 1685, the grounds of the estate were granted to Simon ven der Stel, the Governor of the Cape of Good Hope. The estate became famous in the 19th century for its expensive dessert wine which was sold to many enthusiasts throughout Europe, including Charles Baudelaire. Legend has it that Napoleon even used to order 30 bottles a month during his exile on Saint Helena island! We’ll visit the cellar followed by a tasting.

PLEASE NOTE

• Times are approximate and the order of the visits can change.

We’ll set out for the legendary Cape of Good Hope riding along Chapman’s Peak Drive, a panoramic road located on the Atlantic coast of the southwestern tip of South Africa. Listed as a national monument, this is one of the most spectacular routes of the country. The Cape of Good Hope was discovered by Portuguese explorers in 1488 and became a nature reserve in 1938 due to its extraordinarily diverse and unique fauna and flora. We'll take the famous Flying Dutchman funicular to the summit to relish panoramic views of the beautiful valleys, bays and beaches dotted all over this narrow stretch of land. After lunch, we'll set out to discover the penguin colony near Simon's Town: settled on the soft white sand between the large granite boulders or going for a dip in the turquoise blue seas, these little crowd-pleasers will surely catch your attention!

PLEASE NOTE

• Times are approximate and the order of the visits can change. 

We’ll journey out on a safari to discover the area around Matusadona National Park. Bordered by the Sanyati and Ume Rivers, this 1,400km²/540 sq mi-large untouched area is home to numerous animal species such as elephants, hippos, crocodiles, buffalos as well as thousands of birds. We might be lucky enough to cross paths with a big cat or two! The history of the park is closely linked with that of the lake: during the construction of the dam, the rising floodwaters affected the native wildlife although the damage was mitigated by Operation Noah, an initiative which saved the lives of over 6,000 animals. This rescue operation allowed for large mammals, big cats, impalas and more to be moved to Matusadona where hunting is strictly prohibited.

PLEASE NOTE

• Times are approximate and the order of the visits can change. 

We’ll set out to discover the gigantic Kariba Dam which was created in 1955 to form Lake Kariba. Today, the dam serves as a source of electric power for 70% of Zimbabwe. You’ll get to discover the story and legends surrounding the creation of the lake, including the tale of NyamiNyami, the river god. Reaching over 140mi/200km in length and spanning a distance of approximately 25mi/40km at its widest point, the lake flooded flatlands, hills and forests alike, creating unique and emblematic landscapes where drowned trees reach skywards from the depths of the reflecting water.

PLEASE NOTE

• Times are approximate and the order of the visits can change. 

We’ll leave for a panoramic tour of the city. Cape Town is a meticulously preserved city with modern towers in the center, cobblestone roads and a bounty of historical monuments in Edwardian and Victorian architecture. We'll visit the Castle of Good Hope, the 1905 Cape Town City Hall and more before taking the Table Mountain Cableway to soak up the 360-degree views of Table Bay and the nearby peaks of the surrounding mountains (depending on suitable weather conditions).

PLEASE NOTE

• Times are approximate and the order of the visits can change.

Victoria Falls were discovered by David Livingstone in 1855 and named in honor of Queen Victoria of Britain, but the indigenous Tonga name--"The Smoke That Thunders"--continues in common usage and suits the falls well: we’ll leave for a guided tour on foot along a path from where the views are among the most exceptional in the world, namely where the Zambezi River plunges over the cliff to become the widest waterfall in the world. The changing viewpoints and the grandeur of this natural spectacle will unfold as we walk along.

PLEASE NOTE

• Times are approximate and the order of the visits can change. 

Join us for a full-day's adventure exploring Chobé National Park. We'll journey out on a safari in Jeeps through what is known as the most biologically diverse national park in Botswana. Stretching over 11,000 km² (4,500 sq mi), it is home to more than 250 different animal species and over 1/4 of the total elephant population in Africa. Enjoy lunch in our "floating restaurant" in the middle of the river where the views of the surrounding nature and wildlife are unparalleled. Afterwards, we’ll board small private boats for a water safari on Chobé River all the way to Sedudu Island and its marshes. For several months each year, the island is submerged by floods, making it an ideal location to witness touching scenes of wildlife at the very heart of the Chobe National Park.

PLEASE NOTE

• Times are approximate and the order of the visits can change. 

Impalila Island is a small Namibian island on the Caprivi Strip protruding into the northern territory of Botswana, Southern territory of Zambia and Western territory of Zimbabwe and surrounded by the Chobe River. Our walk will be guided by locals who were born and raised on this very island. They will lead you to a village whose inhabitants will give you a first-hand account of their daily lives, jobs and how the different villages of the island come together. You will also get a chance to visit a school and the surrounding bush (provided conditions are met - unavailable during weekends and school vacations). This school is where your guides have studied themselves, and is still very much active with over 400 pupils who will be glad to share moments of exchange with us along with their teachers. Guests are welcome to support the students by bringing supplies such as pens and notebooks.

PLEASE NOTE

• Times are approximate and the order of the visits can change.

We’ll visit the Apartheid Museum which opened in 2001. It is famous the world over for being the first museum centering on South African history in the 20th century, and more particularly on Apartheid. Afterwards, we’ll set off for a panoramic tour of the city. In addition to being South Africa’s financial capital, Johannesburg is also the city of superlatives. It is indeed the richest town in Africa, with the tallest buildings and widest social discrepancies, but is also infused with one of the best atmospheres you’ll ever come across.

PLEASE NOTE

• Times are approximate and the order of the visits can change.

The Zambezi is a legendary 2,574-km-long river which rises in Zambia and flows through Angola, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique where it crosses the country to empty into the Indian Ocean. We'll board small private boats for our safari along the banks of the Zambezi that surround your lodge. Albeit wide and powerful, this river is home to a vast semi-aquatic wildlife such as hippos and crocodiles.

PLEASE NOTE

• Times are approximate and the order of the visits can change. 

We've specially booked small private planes to access Lake Kariba, Zimbabwe where you'll be boarding the ship. Each flight lasts for about 1 hour and 40 minutes and is a true opportunity to admire stunning panoramas over the lake and its numerous islets as well as the changing landscapes of the wilderness from above.

PLEASE NOTE

• Times are approximate and the order of the visits can change.

We’ll set out on a small private boat to discover the small waterways going into the Matusadona National Park and their unique wildlife. Gliding along their meanders, large bends and small, unspoiled inlets, you’ll be amazed by the magical atmosphere all around.

PLEASE NOTE

• The order of the visits can change.
• Times are approximate.

Soar over Victoria Falls in a helicopter for spectacular views over this true wonder of nature known as the "Smoke That Thunders". You'll also get to see from above where the Zambezi River plunges over the cliff to become the widest waterfall in the world, as well as the city of Victoria Falls and the surrounding nature.

PLEASE NOTE

• The flight lasts for about 12 minutes.
• Times are approximate and the order of the visits can change.