Cape Town, the Makgadikgadi Pan, the Okavango, and the Zambezi
This is the luxury trip for travelers who have done South Africa before and are ready to go deeper. Begin with three nights revisiting Cape Town at the intimate Cape Cadogan, then fly north into Botswana for the surreal Makgadikgadi salt pans at Jack's Camp. Here you'll meet meerkats, Bushman, and some of the clearest night skies you've ever seen. Contrast the salt pans with the fertile waters of the Okavango Delta. There you'll stay at North Island, one of the most luxurious camps in the Delta for mokoro canoe safaris along with excellent birding and elephant viewing. Finish your adventure on the upper Zambezi above Victoria Falls at Royal Chundu, for a few relaxing days on the river, exploring the authentic side of Zambia.
3 nights
Where the mountains meet the sea. Cape Town pairs Table Mountain, the V&A Waterfront and the Camps Bay coastline with world-class dining and the Cape Winelands on its doorstep — a refined, romantic bookend to any Southern Africa honeymoon.
3 nights
One of the largest salt flats on earth — a surreal, shimmering expanse that was once a vast super-lake. In the green season (Dec-Apr) the pans draw Africa's second-largest zebra migration and flamingos; in the dry season the Kalahari comes alive with habituated meerkats, walking safaris with the Zu/'hoasi Bushmen, and quad-biking out onto the crust to sleep under the stars. Jack's Camp and its sister San Camp are the iconic, design-led bases.
4 nights
The water-rich northwest corner of the Okavango Delta — a private concession (NG12, the Mapula–Sekwana area) on Kgao Island, adjoining Moremi Game Reserve. Crystal-clear permanent channels, lily lagoons and leadwood islands make for both water-based safari (mokoro and boat) and classic game drives, in a concession known for some of the Delta's highest lion densities, alongside elephant, leopard and African wild dog.
3 nights
Victoria Falls is one of the natural wonders of the world — a mile-wide curtain of water plunging into the Batoka Gorge. Livingstone, the town on the Zambian side, is the quieter, more refined base compared to its Zimbabwean counterpart. Beyond the Falls themselves, the Zambezi upstream offers sunset cruises, cultural visits to local villages, and a roster of adrenaline activities from bungee jumping to microlight flights over the spray.
Visa — not required. US passport holders don’t need a visa for stays under 90 days. You do, however, now need to complete South Africa’s online customs/traveller declaration before you arrive.
Passport. Valid for at least 30 days beyond your planned departure from South Africa, with 2 consecutive completely blank visa pages per entry (endorsement pages don’t count).
Vaccinations. A yellow-fever certificate is required if you’re arriving from a country the WHO designates as a risk — and the vaccine must be given at least 10 days before arrival.
Currency. You may bring in or take out up to ZAR 25,000, plus unlimited foreign currency if you declare it on arrival. Krugerrand coins can’t be brought in; up to 15 may be taken out with proof they were purchased in foreign currency.
Good to know. Crime is high — stay alert, especially in cities. Traffic drives on the left, and the roads are more dangerous than in the US. On safari, follow your guide’s instructions — the animals are wild, not tame. And expect occasional scheduled power cuts (“load shedding”).
U.S. Embassy, Pretoria: za.usembassy.gov
Visa — not required. US passport holders don’t need a visa for tourist stays of up to 90 days.
Passport. Valid for at least 6 months beyond both your arrival and departure dates, with 3 blank pages (neighboring countries you transit or connect through will want a similar number).
Vaccinations. A yellow-fever certificate is required if you’re arriving from a country where yellow fever is a risk.
Currency. No limit on what you bring in or out, but amounts over 10,000 pula (about US$1,000) must be declared.
Good to know. Much of Botswana’s magic is in remote areas — which means limited medical care, medical evacuation that can be delayed (especially at night), and patchy internet. We strongly recommend travel insurance that includes medical evacuation. Traffic drives on the left.
U.S. Embassy, Gaborone: bw.usembassy.gov
Visa — none needed. US passport holders don’t need a visa to visit Zambia as a tourist. Simply share your itinerary at the port of entry and you’ll be issued a tourist visa on arrival, good for up to 90 days (per calendar year; any extension must be approved by Zambian Immigration). If your trip crosses into Zimbabwe around Victoria Falls, ask for the KAZA UniVisa on arrival — one visa covering both Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Passport. Valid for at least 6 months beyond your arrival date, with 3 blank pages. If you transit through South Africa, you’ll also need 2 consecutive completely blank visa pages (endorsement pages don’t count).
Vaccinations. None required to enter. A yellow-fever certificate is required only if you’re arriving from a country where yellow fever is a risk.
Good to know. No limit on currency in or out. Cannabis and CBD — in any form — are illegal. A departure tax applies when you leave: it’s included in international airfares, but for private or chartered domestic flights you’ll pay a small fee in Zambian Kwacha at the airport gate.
U.S. Embassy, Lusaka: zm.usembassy.gov
Guidance for US passport holders — if you travel on another passport, please confirm the requirements for your nationality.
Every departure runs a similar route with all-in pricing. Prices vary by season.
Inclusions: Safari lodge and camp rates are inclusive of all meals, drinks, and most activities — including game drives — but exclude top-shelf drinks and premium activities like helicopter excursions. City and beach stays follow each property's own board basis, shown on the lodge.
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