visiting Cape Town, the Okavango Delta and Chobe National Park, Victoria Falls and riding the legendary Rovos Rail & Blue Train

Own flight arrangements from your home airport to Cape Town.

Arriving in Cape Town in the morning, we transfer to the five-star Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel, where our rooms will be ready for us to occupy. This famous luxury establishment is set amidst some of the most extensive and luxuriant gardens in Cape Town, around 15 minutes’ walk from the city centre. We meet for supper in the evening.

No tour of South Africa is complete without a visit to the Cape of Good Hope, travelling along the coast on the spectacular Chapman’s Peak Drive until we reach the end of the continent. Here, where the Indian and Atlantic oceans meet, we have an almost 360-degree panorama. The impressive rocky landscape extends into the far distance along the coast. As the tides ebb and flow, the rocks stand high above the water and then are almost swallowed up by the waves, in what is a remarkable spectacle of nature. In times gone by, the Cape of Good Hope was feared by seafarers for its treacherous cliffs, but today it is a breathtaking natural paradise. Lunch is included.

Full-day excursion to wine country, with vineyards as far as the eye can see, historic estates, and an opportunity to sample fine wines. South Africa is home to numerous wineries, and the area around Cape Town, where the historical presence of Europeans is especially strong, is particularly famed for its viticulture. Two different climates, one Mediterranean, the other influenced by the cool Atlantic Ocean, make this a fertile region for cultivating a wide range of grape varieties. Lunch is included.

Fly from Cape Town to Botswana. We land in Maun and switch to a light aircraft as we venture further into the famous Okavango Delta. During the flight, we enjoy fantastic views of the countless waterways that make up the world’s largest inland delta. This region is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Okavango Delta is a dream destination. Annual flooding and the rainy season ensure a permanent supply of water, creating the ideal habitat for a wide variety of animal species.

Two days of excursions, by motorboat on the lagoon and mokoro (dugout canoe) in shallow waters. We have the opportunity to visit nearby islands and take a short walk through the bush. There will also be a chance for some birdwatching.

Following an early-morning exploratory tour, we leave the delta and travel by light aircraft to Kasane by the Chobe River. Continue to the lodge.

Today is given over to game drives and boat trips. Chobe National Park is famed for its large elephant population, and our game drives bring us closer to these awe-inspiring pachyderms. We also encounter a wide variety of animals during our boat trips on the Chobe River. Brilliantly-coloured birds, buffalo and various types of monkey throng the river banks. In the evening, there’s time to relax over a refreshing drink.

After our morning game drive, we continue our journey by road. A few kilometres on, we reach the border with Zimbabwe. From there, we proceed to Victoria Falls, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

We stay in the bustling town of Victoria Falls, right next to the railway station and around 10 minutes’ walk from the Falls. The Victoria Falls Hotel is surrounded by well-maintained tropical gardens, water-lily ponds and shady, century-old trees.

In the morning, we visit the magnificent Victoria Falls, one of the seven natural wonders of the world. Locals also call them the “smoke that thunders”, a reference to the roaring sound made by the huge volumes of falling water. In November 1855, the British missionary and researcher David Livingstone became the first European to visit the Falls. At the time, he wrote in his diary: “scenes so lovely must have been gazed upon by angels in their flight”. He named them Victoria Falls in honour of Queen Victoria, the queen of England. The deep gorge and the course of the Zambezi were formed as the river eroded the softer sandstone that had filled in the cracks in the basalt and washed it away.

In the late afternoon, we take a sunset cruise on the Zambezi River above the waterfalls: a thoroughly relaxing and picturesque way to end the day. There are superb photo opportunities while on board the boat. We hope to experience one of Africa’s often spectacular sunsets. Dinner at the hotel.

Free time until the late afternoon. Towards evening, we embark on our rail cruise with Rovos Rail at Victoria Falls’s delightful railway station. We spend a comfortable evening on board, watching the constantly changing landscape slip by outside the windows.

Early morning game drive in Hwange, Zimbabwe’s biggest national park. This is an ideal destination for a safari to observe wildlife and, especially, admire the vast herds of elephants. Between Gwaai and Dete, the railway line achieves an interesting world record, running straight as an arrow for no less than 114 km. The train then heads for Bulawayo, Zimbabwe’s second-largest city and the country’s industrial hub.

Zimbabwe shows us its captivating diversity. With landscapes ranging from fascinating granite hill formations to small reservoirs that act as waterholes for wild animals, Matobo National Park boasts remarkable underground caves and ancient rock paintings. The grave of the British colonialist Cecil John Rhodes is here too, on the summit of Malindidzimu – the “Place of Benevolent Spirits”, also known as “World’s View”.

Today is all about relaxation and enjoyment. Savour the luxurious amenities on board while the African landscape passes by outside. Relax in the comfort of your suite or in the lounge, taking in the panoramic views. On our impressive journey, we pass the Limpopo River and cross the Tropic of Capricorn.

After breakfast, we arrive in Pretoria, to a reception in the gracious Capital Park Station. We then transfer to Fairlawns Boutique Hotel in Sandton, between Pretoria and Johannesburg. Light lunch, followed by free time.

Today, we tour Johannesburg and visit the Apartheid Museum, which documents apartheid in South Africa, from its earliest beginnings and institutionalisation in 1948, through its development and up to its abolition in 1994 and the subsequent appraisal of it. After lunch, we drive through Soweto, South Africa’s most famous township and synonymous with decades of black resistance.

We revisit history in the capital city of Pretoria: the Voortrekker Monument attesting to the birth of the Boer state, and Union Buildings, the seat of government which Nelson Mandela entered in triumph in 1994. The larger than life-sized statue in his honour reflects his importance. Today, the country describes itself as the Rainbow Nation: a place where everyone, regardless of origin and skin colour, can live together in equality. On Church Street, we visit the house of former President Paul Kruger. The railway coach in which he conducted state visits is still preserved in the courtyard.

Excursion to the Sterkfontein Caves. Darwin’s theory, Christian teachings and numerous scientific works have considered the history of human development. Humanity’s origins are still the subject of debate. Against the backdrop of these differing opinions, 1936 witnessed the unearthing near Johannesburg of fossil bones belonging to a pre-human almost three million years old. The slightly hilly landscape is home to important archaeological sites, including the Sterkfontein Caves. This vast area has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site as the “cradle of humankind”. A further important discovery came in 1947, in the form of an almost completely preserved female skull. The Sterkfontein Caves, karst caves of dolomitic limestone, were created around three billion years ago.

In the morning, we transfer to Pretoria railway station for our journey on the iconic Blue Train. As we travel the impressive, 1,600-km line between Pretoria and Cape Town, time slows down and the measured clickety-clack of the train’s wheels supplies the soundtrack to leisurely days. With a rich history dating back to the 1920s, this train has come to symbolise elegance and refinement. 

In the morning, after breakfast, our train arrives in Kimberley. We travel by bus to the Mine Museum and view the famous “Big Hole”, a former diamond mine excavated by human hands. It is a poignant symbol of South Africa’s mining heritage. In the afternoon, we enjoy a fascinating journey past constantly changing landscapes.

The Blue Train first crosses the broad plains of the Karoo and then the famous wine region. We reach Cape Town in the evening. Transfer to the Mount Nelson Hotel.

We enjoy the hotel facilities until we transfer to the airport. Our rooms are available until 6 p.m. Independent return flight to your home airport.

Arrive at your chosen airport.