The Perfect Luxury African Safari Itinerary

OUTLINE ITINERARY FOR A LUXURY AFRICAN SAFARI VACATION

Day 1

Depart from London Heathrow Airport to Johannesburg's OR Tambo Airport. On arrival at make your way through the terminal to the Intercontinental Airport Hotel where you stay for one night (bed and breakfast).

The Johannesburg Airport Sun Intercontinental Hotel is situated just minutes' walk away from the international airport building. The bedrooms are comfortable with en suite facilities, air-conditioning, television, radio and coffee and tea-making facilities. The hotel has a first class restaurant with an informal atmosphere, offering modern cuisine from breakfast through to late night á la Carte dining. The hotel also has a cocktail bar and its own health and fitness centre, as well as an indoor pool.

Days 2 and 3

After breakfast make your way back through the terminal where you board a scheduled flight departing at 0935 to Livingstone. On arrival at 1125 you will be met and transferred to the David Livingstone Lodge and Spa to stay for two nights in an executive suite (bed and breakfast)

The David Livingstone Lodge and Spa is beautifully located overlooking the half mile wide Upper Zambezi River about four miles upstream from Victoria Falls on the Zambian side.

The lodge is constructed in safari style yet with a high degree of comfort with spacious airy rooms with fine views across the gardens to the river, all under sweeping thatched roofs. Each room faces the river and includes a private patio or terrace, telephone and internet facilities, hairdryer, satellite TV, and separate en-suite bath and shower.

The lodge is the perfect place to relax after a day exploring Victoria Falls or enjoying one of the many activities in the area which include canoeing, boating, fishing, white water rafting and flights over the falls, as well as elephant back safaris. There is a large tropical pool and an excellent restaurant, a gift and curio shop and the Camelot Spa gym and Wellness centre where you can enjoy a variety of treatments and activities.

The David Livingstone Lodge and Spa is an ideal out of town base for visiting Victoria Falls and enjoying the adventures and activities such as rafting, canoeing and flights over the waterfall. You can also visit Livingstone, while from the lodge you can enjoy boat rides, nature walks and birding. Elephants are normally seen on the river islands in front of the lodge, as are hippopotamus and the region supports over three hundred and fifty species of birds including fish eagles, malachite kingfishers and many raptors, rollers and sunbirds.

Days 4 to 6

In the morning you will be returned to Livingstone Airport to board a scheduled flight departing at 1215 to Johannesburg. Arrive at 1405 and connect with a scheduled light aircraft flight to Londolozi where you stay for three nights in the Granite Suites (inclusive of meals and activities).

Londolozi is one of the longest established safari lodges in Africa, and the private reserve adjoining the Kruger National Park is eighty years old. Throughout this time this beautiful reserve of fertile grassland, seasonal rivers and woodland has been lovingly nurtured so that it supports an amazing array of wildlife in natural unspoilt surroundings. The reserve is 22,000 hectares and while you are here you stand an excellent chance of seeing almost all the main kinds of African plains game including black and white rhinoceros and exceptionally good numbers of lion. Even though the lions are the dominant cats in the area, leopard and cheetah are also able to thrive.

This is a place where you can follow the wildlife with some of the most expert guides in South Africa on fascinating bush walks, and you might spend half an hour standing next to seven foot high termite mound as he explains its intricate workings, all operated by literally millions of these tiny creatures which operate ten to fifteen feet below ground. For the main big game sightings however, the open vehicles are best and you can admire the impressive herds of elephant, big groupings of buffalo, zebra and many types of antelope. You can have just as much fun watching the antics of a family of baboons or any of the three hundred and fifty species of beautiful birds.

Part of Londolozi is known as Tree Camp where you find six glorious suites, each fully air conditioned with stylish décor in natural wood browns and cream with photographs and old prints on the walls, a super king sized bed, armchairs, writing table and en-suite luxury bathroom. Outside you have your own private game viewing deck with its own private pool and "contemplation deck" where you can relax and watch the birds and wildlife in the surrounding bush.

When you are not on safari or relaxing in your luxurious accommodation, you can enjoy a massage or other spa treatment, or even a work out in Londolozi's well equipped gym, followed by a dip in the main pool. There is also a spacious lounge where you can relax. If the accommodation at Londolozi rivals anything you will find in a world class five star hotel, the cuisine matches the best that you would find in a restaurant in London or New York. Londolozi's highly trained chefs prepare delicious healthy meals with local fruit, organic vegetables, free range meats and herbs from their own garden. Sometimes you can enjoy your meals in the spacious dining lodge or under a star filled sky around the boma camp fire. Sometimes you will be surprised to find a bush breakfast set out for you in some beautiful spot towards the end of a morning game drive. Londolozi is full of surprises!

Days 7 to 9

You will be returned to the airstrip to board a scheduled flight to Camp Jabulani. On arrival at Eastgate Airport you will be met and transferred to Camp Jabulani where you stay for three nights (inclusive of meals and activities).

Camp Jabulani is an amazing place; a luxury lodge surrounding by African bush teeming with wildlife, where you can enjoy an unforgettable experience on an elephant back safari.

Twelve magnificent elephants, from eleven to twenty six years of age that were orphaned as babies, have over the years become accustomed to tolerating the presence of people and you can now ride the sensitive and immensely powerful creatures through their own African bush environment; encountering zebra, rhino, giraffe, antelope, wildebeest, big cats and many more wild animals.

Each elephant has been gently and sensitively reared and looked after by twenty grooms who "know" each of their elephants intimately and will be able to explain their character, personality and habits as you get to know the elephants during the course of your stay. You can move silently through the African bush, enjoying the elephants eye view of the world and can also watch them swimming and frolicking in Jabulani's own lake. You can participate in their feeding and enjoy a night time elephant ride under the stars.

In addition to the elephant rides you can enjoy walking safaris and open vehicle safaris during the day and at night with Camp Jabulani's expert guides, encountering a marvellous array of wildlife.

The lodge is one of the most luxurious in South Africa, accommodating the guests in six magnificent suites, each with a thatched roof and each beautifully furnished with a huge bed, elegant safari furniture and luxurious en-suite bathrooms.

Outside you have your own private game viewing deck from where you might see animals at any time of the day and set into this is a private plunge pool. Each suite has its own personal "butler" and in between exciting safaris you can enjoy delicious cuisine, both in the dining lodge and the camps traditional semi-circular "boma". Although you are in the heart of the African bush, the standard of cuisine and presentation is superior to that you would encounter in a restaurant in London or New York.

In addition to safari activities, guests also have the opportunity to visit the Hoedspruit endangered species centre where valuable work is going on to save and protect endangered species.

If you like the idea of having an eagle's eye view of this beautiful reserve you can also take an optional hot air balloon ride as the sun begins to rise, floating silently over hippopotamus, bush buck, antelope and elephant.

Day 11

Arrive into London Heathrow Airport