Welcome to Victoria Falls - Southern Africa’s most popular tourist destination. We can arrive at one of two airports. VFA is the airport on the Zimbabwe side of Victoria Falls town, while LVI is the airport about 30 minutes away in the Zambian town of Livingstone. Choose the airport most convenient to you and we will be there to meet, greet and transfer you to your hotel (shuttle shared with other travellers – private transfer available at additional cost). Balance of the day is free to relax or explore Victoria Falls town before we jump into our Botswana safari the next day.

Our accommodation is lovely Ilala Lodge, one of the closest hotels to Victoria Falls. Upgrades to the famous Victoria Falls Hotel, a colonial era hotel more than 100 years old, are also available upon request.

Overnight: Ilala Lodge, Victoria Falls (1 night)

It’s no secret that Botswana is blessed with some of the best wildlife viewing on Earth. The country is well known for its exclusive offerings of high calibre safari lodges that seamlessly blend luxury with local landscapes. Chobe National Park is an absolutely iconic safari destination. This park is also known as “Land of the Giants”, as it has the largest single concentration of elephants found anywhere in the world.  We are transferred via road from Victoria Falls (shuttle shared with other travellers – private transfer available at additional cost). After crossing the border into Botswana, we are at Chobe by midday. Our lovely lodge offers a choice of two different activities: a safari drive through Chobe Park in search of the Big 5 animals of lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and Cape buffalo, and a leisurely sunset boat cruise along the Chobe River, where we can see elephants and other animals come to cool themselves down. Take part in one this afternoon to get our first taste of African wildlife!

Want to treat yourself? We also offer upgrades to Chobe Game Lodge (starting at US$ 195 per person sharing Twin/Double room, US$ 195 single room supplement for a 2 night stay), which is the only property located right within Chobe Park itself! Chobe Game Lodge is fully eco-tourism certified.

Overnight: Chobe Safari Lodge (Standard Room), Kasane (2 nights) (B, L, D)

Another day of activity to discover the wildlife wonders of Chobe National Park. Besides its massive elephant population, Chobe is known for its huge herds of buffalo, as well as large prides of the lions that have learned to hunt them. The bird life is also spectacular, so make sure to bring your binoculars! Your activities will be on shared basis with other guests at the lodge. All meals are also included in your stay, along with local beverages. (B, L, D)

After breakfast, transfer back to Victoria Falls (shuttle shared with other travellers – private transfer available at additional cost). Upon arrival, the rest of your day is free. Perhaps you’d like to partake in one of the most sought after activities in this area, a spectacular helicopter ride over the falls, or enjoy a trip to Livingstone Island and Devil’s Pool, right on the edge of the falls! The options abound – contact Bestway for a full list, details and suggestions. Check in at your hotel is from 2:00 PM.

Overnight: Ilala Lodge, Victoria Falls (2 nights) (B)

After breakfast, our exploration starts with a walking tour to experience legendary Victoria Falls at close range (shared with other travellers – private available at additional cost). The mist rising from the water and the sound as it crashes over a chasm 1700 meters wide gave this destination its local name of Mosi-oa-Tunya, “the smoke that thunders”. Our tour explores the Falls from both the Zambian and Zimbabwean sides, ensuring fantastic views from all angles as we are guided through the rainforest and natural parks on each bank of the mighty Zambezi. Throughout our tour, we will learn about the stories of this mythical wonder of the natural world. Ponchos and waterproof coverings for all electronics are advised!

Afternoon, we will embark on a must-do African activity—a sunset cruise (shared with other travellers)! Watch the sun slowly sink over Africa’s mighty Zambezi River from the luxurious decks our boat. We’ll enjoy beautiful views of the river and its islands too. There is game viewing aplenty as wildlife gathers on the riverbanks to quench their thirst. On this cruise, you can expect  superlative service and a range of canapés and beverages. (B, Sn)

After a leisurely breakfast at our hotel, we have the day free until our departure transfer for our flight to Nairobi. Shuttle transfer to the airport is shared with other travellers. Hotel check out is by 11:00 AM. Upon arrival in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, we are warmly received and transferred to our hotel. The Kiswahili language here is often easily understood as many people mix the vernacular with English words. Balance of the day is free to start exploring Kenya’s cosmopolitan heart.

Overnight: Sarova Panafric Hotel/Eka Hotel, Nairobi (1 night) (B)

Upgrade to Nairobi Serena Hotel for US$ 110 per person, per night.

Upgrade to Nairobi Serena Hotel for CA$ 159 per person, per night.

We start with a brief tour of Nairobi the capital city of Kenya. It is also the economic center of Africa and as such hosts many international conferences. We drive through the major sites in Nairobi before driving to Lake Naivasha to be in time for a hot lunch. Balance of the afternoon is free to enjoy on your own. An optional boat safari (details found in our “Notes” section) at Lake Naivasha operated by a local boat company is available. Lake Naivasha is renowned for birding destination, boasting a diverse bird population of over 400 species. The lake's freshwater ecosystem, surrounded by swamps and forests, provides a variety of habitats that support this rich avian diversity. Lake Naivasha is known for its abundant wildlife, particularly its large hippo population and diverse birdlife. Over 1500 hippos reside in and around the lake beside giraffes, buffaloes, and zebras.

Overnight: Lake Naivasha Sopa Lodge, Lake Naivasha (1 night) (B, L, D)

Continue to Lake Nakuru National Park, which lies on the floor of the Great Rift Valley.  Surrounded by wooded and bushy grassland, the park supports a wide ecological diversity including flamingos (Greater and Lesser) and other water birds. The park also boasts a significant rhino population, including both black and white rhinos, and is a haven for other wildlife like Rothschild's giraffes, zebras, and various bird species. Upon arrival, we have a game safari followed by lunch at the lodge. Mid afternoon we have our 2nd half day game safari of the day. The park surrounds Lake Nakuru and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Overnight: Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge, Lake Nakuru (1 night) (B, L, D)

Our destination today is to experience the world’s most well-known game destination, Masai Mara Game Reserve. Masai Mara is actually part of the Serengeti which is 70% in Tanzania. We reach in time for a hot lunch at the Mara before embarking on our first of three Mara game safaris. Mara is a famous for its Big Five and big cats (lion, leopard and cheetah). Scores of predators roam the plains, providing ample opportunities for unforgettable encounters.

Overnight: Mara Serena Lodge/Mara Sarova Camp, Masai Mara (2 nights) (B, L, D)

An adventurous day ahead as we enjoy morning and afternoon game drives in the spectacular Masai Mara Game Reserve. Blessed with permanent water supply, Masai Mara has a year-round population of diverse and abundant game. All of the Big Five animals – elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard and rhino – are quite common on this scenic grassland, as well as cheetah, hippo, zebra and giraffe (rounding out to Mara’s Big Nine). After two extraordinary game drives we drive back to our lodge in time for dinner. An optional early morning hot air balloon safari is also available on this day which needs to be booked in advance. (details found in our “Notes” section). (B, L, D)

Today, we head for Serengeti in Tanzania. It’s a long drive, and as such we will have a box lunch today. However, there is never a dull moment as we see game during the drive to the Kenya and Tanzania boarder of Isebania and Serari. We enter Serengeti National Park via the Ndabaka Gate. The park lies in a high plateau between the Ngorongoro highlands and the Kenya/Tanzania border. Time permitting, we will enjoy a game drive in the Serengeti Western Corridor, an aesthetically pleasing portion of the Serengeti National Park that supports a sizeable spectrum of resident wildlife throughout the year.

Overnight: Serena Kirawira Tended Lodge/Serengeti Serena Lodge (2 nights) (B, L, D)

An exceptional day at the world-famous Serengeti National Park*. This is home to the largest concentration of game in Africa, on a scale which has no parallel anywhere in the world. The abundance of herbivores includes wildebeest, zebra, gazelle, topi, buffalo and hartebeest, to name just a few. Serengeti is also famous for its predator population, including lion, cheetah, leopard and hyena, as well as a wide variety of birdlife, believed to be in the realm of 500 species. The park is well known for its rare views of tree-climbing lions. Serengeti National Park is the largest national park in East Africa (14,763 sq kms). Today is the day when one can avail the incredible Hot Air Balloon Safari. This is an optional activity and has to be reserved much in advance. (details found in our “Notes” section). (B, L, D)

After breakfast, we enjoy a game drive in Serengeti National Park with picnic lunch. Our safari guide will explore various areas Moro kopjes and Gol kopjes. The extensive grasslands are interspersed with Kopjes rocky outcrops like islands in the flat plain, each with their own wildlife communities. Discover the Seronera rivers flow through the park, providing habitats for a variety of birds, mammals and reptiles. Afternoon, proceed to Nabi Hill gate where we proceed to the Malanja depression after entering Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Overnight is at the Ngorongoro Serena Lodge. With clouds rolling over the rim like a misty waterfall, the setting is dreamy. Our unique deluxe safari lodge fits into the contours of the Ngorongoro crater rim, and is built of volcanic rock. It offers a spectacular view of the Ngorongoro Crater floor, yet is virtually invisible when you are down on the crater floor the following day.

Overnight: Ngorongoro Serena Lodge/Ngorongoro Lions Paw, Ngorongoro Crater (1 night) (B, L, D)

Today after breakfast, prepare yourself for Africa's Eden, our 6-hour safari of Ngorongoro Crater. We descend 2,200 feet for a thrilling day among Africa's Big Five: lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino and leopard. The concentration of animals means that we are likely to see several lions in a short period of time. After our tour, drive to our next safari destination – the serene Lake Manyara. En route, we will have the opportunity for an optional visit to a Masai village. After dinner at our lodge, there is an optional Night Game Drive (for both optional activities, details can be found in our “Notes” section).

Overnight: Lake Manyara Serena Lodge/Moonbow Lodge, Lake Manyara (2 nights) (B, L, D)

Lake Manyara National Park is another leading park in East Africa and we will enjoy two game drives today. We will also visit the village of Mto wa Mbu and Great Rift Valley, then proceed to our unique safari lodge, which offers a spectacular view of Lake Manyara National Park.  Lake Manyara is popular for unique nighttime safari experience, allowing us to witness the park's nocturnal wildlife activity. These drives usually start around 8:00 PM, after sunset, and lasts for a couple of hours, utilizing spotlights to illuminate the animals. Expect to see animals like bush babies, genets, porcupines, civets, and possibly even lions and leopards hunting, as well as hippos grazing near the hippo pools (details found in our “Notes” section). (B, L, D)

We are now coming to the end of the Tanzanian portion of our game safari. With picnic lunch we drive to Arusha which is the exact centre between Cairo in the north and Cape Town in the south of the African continent. We are now proceeding to our return journey to Kenya for our last safari in yet another part of the country. We cross the Tanzania/Kenya border at Namanga and change to Kenyan vehicles, meeting our team who will look us for the Kenyan portion. Drive to Amboseli National Park, situated at the foothills of Mt. Kilimanjaro (19,430 ft). Amboseli is famous for its vast herds of elephants with stunning views of Mount Kilimanjaro on clear days. If time permits, we will have a bonus game drive en route to our lodge. Tomorrow will be the last opportunity to experience an early morning balloon safari – this time with a view of Mount Kilimanjaro. Advance booking is highly advisable (details found in our “Notes” section).

Overnight: Amboseli Serena Lodge/Amboseli Oltukai Lodge (1 night) (B, L, D)

Our last game drive and that too at the Amboseli National Park renowned for its large elephant herds, stunning views of Mt. Kilimanjaro and the colourfully dressed Masai. The park is a relatively small at 392 square kilometers but is part of a larger 8,000 square kilometer ecosystem that also extend from Tanzania. It boasts a diverse range of wildlife, including lions, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, buffaloes and over 600 species of birds. Lots of opportunities to get so unique photo shots. After our morning game drive, we have a hot lunch before proceeding to Nairobi. Upon arrival at Nairobi we are transferred to the International Airport for our flight to our onward destination. Anticipated arrival time is 6 PM. Any flight departures on this day should be after 9 PM.

Continue your adventures and Join us to Zanzibar, Uganda, Rwanda, Victoria Falls, etc. Ask your Bestway agent to help you set up this. (B, L)