Portion 1 — Kenya, Zanzibar & Tanzania (01–08 Nov)
Kenya opens the expedition with a cultural heartbeat: Swahili warmth, bustling Nairobi, and conservation icons like the Giraffe Centre. Gastronomy blends coastal spices with highland staples, while tea and coffee—Kenya’s proud exports—anchor its global identity.
Zanzibar, the Spice Island, layers Omani heritage and Indian Ocean rhythms into a sensory feast. Clove plantations and spice tours echo centuries of trade, while breezy resorts frame turquoise horizons.
Tanzania’s Serengeti delivers the cinematic climax: vast plains, Maasai traditions, and luxe touches like hot-air balloon safaris. Its mineral wealth—especially rare tanzanite—adds a glittering note to this portion’s poetry.
Portion 2 — Rwanda (08–11 Nov)
In the Land of a Thousand Hills, mist curls around volcanic slopes where mountain gorillas dwell. Rwanda’s narrative is one of resilience and renewal—clean cities, vibrant crafts, and a coffee culture that rivals its tea estates. Gorilla trekking here is not just an adventure; it’s a conservation triumph woven into the nation’s social fabric.
Portion 3 — Botswana (11–13 Nov)
Botswana’s Khwai Private Reserve is a sanctuary of waterways and wildlife, where mokoro rides glide through papyrus-fringed channels. Diamonds have long underpinned Botswana’s prosperity, funding education and infrastructure, while ecotourism now leads the charge for sustainable growth. Fireside dining and starlit skies complete this portion’s intimate safari rhythm.
Portion 4 — Zimbabwe (13–15 Nov)
Victoria Falls—Mosi-oa-Tunya, “The Smoke That Thunders”—anchors Zimbabwe’s cultural and culinary stage. Colonial-era elegance meets modern sustainability, with gastronomy initiatives spotlighting local sourcing and heritage recipes. Helicopter flights and sunset Zambezi cruises add drama to a portion propelled in natural wonder and historical resonance.
Portion 5 — South Africa (15–21 Nov)
This finale arcs from Kruger’s lantern-lit game drives to Cape Town’s cosmopolitan hum and the Cape Winelands’ storied terroir. South Africa’s luxe exports—gold, platinum, and world-class wines—frame a narrative of abundance and artistry. Expect Pinotage and MCC tastings, Cape Dutch architecture, and zero-waste culinary innovation—a crescendo of culture, gastronomy, and sustainability.
Each stay isn’t just a night—it’s a chapter in a story of thoughtful curation, ecological integrity, and timeless elegance…
From the moment you land in Nairobi and settle into your Deluxe Room at Hermosa Hotel, you’re enveloped in the elegance of a boutique green haven. Located in Karen, this 30-room retreat is deeply rooted in eco-conscious design, offering a verdant garden sanctuary that nourishes both body and mind—and aligns with the city’s growing movement toward sustainability in upscale hospitality.
A short flight later, the soft sands and horizon-stretching sea greet you at Breezes Resort Zanzibar, where luxury meets local care. An early adopter of solar water heating, wastewater recycling, and community empowerment, Breezes directs 90 percent of its staff from nearby villages and funds health clinics—ensuring every sunset supports ethical tourism.
Stepping onto the sprawling plains of the Serengeti, Serengeti Explorer Lodge raises the bar high—literally and figuratively. Its infinity pool, underground hide, and wellness center offer indulgence paired with purpose. As part of the Elewana Collection, it champions conservation excellence; its position in a prime migration corridor foreshadows a guest experience that’s as responsible as it is breathtaking.
Nestled beneath volcanic peaks near Volcanoes National Park, Amakoro Songa Lodge merges refined forestry charm with grassroots action. Eight cottages are set amid gardens where each guest is invited to plant and name a tree—a gesture echoed by a zero‑plastic policy and a workforce that’s predominantly local, uplifting the surrounding community through employment and craft partnerships.
Touching down in Johannesburg, the white-glove experience continues at the airport-adjacent InterContinental O.R. Tambo Hotel. Continuously ranked among Africa’s best airport hotels—including the 2025 Travellers’ Choice and World Airport Awards—it dazzles with a 5-star grading and award-winning service, giving guests refined comfort mere steps from the terminal.
In the heart of Botswana’s Khwai Reserve, Sable Alley offers safari luxury on stilts above a lily‑fringed lagoon. Its sleek architecture and community-driven ethos—where lodge profits fund local schools and infrastructure—have made it a standout within Natural Selection’s award-winning portfolio, earning praise for its fusion of style, sustainability, and impact.
Overlooking thunderous rapids, Victoria Falls Hotel—affectionately the “Old Lady”—blends Edwardian elegance with progressive conservation. Not only has it been voted among Africa’s top resorts by Travel + Leisure, it received the 2024 Environmental Stewardship & Social Impact Award for embedding eco-conscious operations into its storied charm.
On the banks of the iconic Msuthlu River in Kruger, Sabi Sabi Selati Camp evokes the golden age of safari with leather, lanterns, and steam-engine relics. As a member of National Geographic’s Unique Lodges of the World, this seven-suite gem is celebrated not only for its exquisite design but also its responsible stewardship of wilderness and wildlife.
Finally, at Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront, the InterContinental Table Bay positions itself as a future-forward luxury icon. Currently undergoing a multimillion-dollar retrofit to align with InterContinental’s “Journey to Tomorrow” sustainability goals, the hotel is pioneering urban hospitality solutions—like zero‑waste kitchens and recyclable water systems—while maintaining its golden-hued seaside grandeur.
There are currently no extensions for this expedition.
Important Notes & Inclusions
DESIGN YOUR EXPEDITION
Guests may select full expedition or consecutive portions only (e.g., Portions 1–3 or 2–3 or 4–5). Portions cannot be booked out of sequence.
What’s Included
- Luxury accommodations throughout the journey, including:
- Nairobi: Hermosa Hotel (Deluxe Room)
- Zanzibar: Breezes Resort (Deluxe Room)
- Serengeti: Serengeti Explorer Camp (Savanna Suite)
- Rwanda: Amakoro Songa Lodge (Cottage Room)
- Botswana: Sable Alley (Luxury Tented Suite)
- Zimbabwe: Victoria Falls Hotel (Stable Wing Signature Room)
- South Africa: InterContinental Johannesburg, Sabi Sabi Selati Camp, and Table Bay Hotel (Mountain-Facing Room)
- Meals as per itinerary, from Half Board in Zanzibar to all-inclusive safari dining in Serengeti, Khwai, and Sabi Sabi.
- Transfers and touring in air-conditioned vehicles
- Light aircraft flights between safari destinations (as indicated in itinerary)
- Park fees, conservation levies, and scheduled safari activities
- Gratuities for guides, drivers, and lodge staff
- Signature experiences, including:
~Giraffe Centre visit and lunch at Karen Blixen Coffee Garden
~Hot air balloon flight over the Serengeti
~Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park
~Helicopter flight over Victoria Falls
~Sunset Zambezi dinner cruise
~Cape Peninsula and Winelands tours
What’s Not Included
- International and regional commercial flights (unless specified)
- Visa fees and travel insurance
- Personal expenses (e.g., phone calls, shopping)
- Meals and beverages not listed in the itinerary
Portion 1 — Kenya, Zanzibar & Tanzania
Dates: 01–08 Nov 2027
Arc: From Nairobi’s conservation heartbeat to Zanzibar’s spice-scented shores, then into Serengeti grandeur.
01 Nov — Nairobi Arrival
Touch down in Nairobi, where city energy meets savannah expectations. A warm meet-and-greet sweeps you to Hermosa Hotel (Deluxe Room). Unpack, exhale, and sink into the rhythm of East Africa. Tomorrow, we begin—stylish, curious, and ready.
02 Nov — Giraffes & Island Escape (Transition Day)
Breakfast sets the tone, then it’s off to the Giraffe Centre—conservation with charisma, long lashes included. Lunch in the garden at Karen Blixen Coffee Garden Restaurant, channeling Out of Africa elegance. Afternoon flight to Zanzibar (commercial fare quoted separately) and a smooth transfer to Breezes Resort (Deluxe Room, Half Board). Sundowners, sea breeze, and a little island fabulous.
03 Nov — Zanzibar at Leisure
A full day to luxuriate on Zanzibar’s coast. Think dhows on the horizon, spice-scented markets if you wander, and turquoise daydreams if you don’t. Half Board at Breezes keeps things deliciously effortless.
04 Nov — Zanzibar Rhythms Continue
Another beach-bliss day. Optional adventures: Stone Town’s carved doors, a spa ritual, or simply the art of doing nothing in impeccable style. Tonight, let the stars and surf soundtrack your evening.
05 Nov — Into the Serengeti (Transition Day)
Breakfast, then seat-in charter to Seronera airstrip—a runway flanked by acacia and anticipation. Welcome to Serengeti Explorer Lodge (Savanna Suite). All meals and curated game activities are included, alongside teas, soft drinks, select local beverages, and laundry. Tomorrow or the next: a hot air balloon over the Serengeti—sunrise, silence, and the earth waking beneath you. Peak cinematic Africa.
06 Nov — Serengeti Game Drives
A documentary come alive: morning and afternoon drives across open plains where big cats slip through grass like shadows. Your guide reads tracks like poetry; you lean in, captivated.
07 Nov — Serengeti, Chapter Two
Different valley, different light, new characters. Elephants in procession, giraffes against a cobalt sky, and that moment where silence says more than words. Return to the lodge, toast the day, repeat tomorrow’s awe in stories.
08 Nov — Kilimanjaro to Rwanda (Transition Day)
Breakfast, then seat-in charter to Kilimanjaro (included; min 4). Commercial flight to Kigali (not included). Lunch at a local Kigali restaurant before the scenic drive to Volcanoes National Park. Check into Amakoro Songa Lodge (cottage room). Tomorrow: gorillas.
PORTION 2 — Rwanda
Dates: 08–11 Nov 2027
Arc: Mountain magic and close-up conservation.
08 Nov — Kilimanjaro to Rwanda (Transition Day)
Breakfast, then seat-in charter to Kilimanjaro (included; min 4). Commercial flight to Kigali (not included). Lunch at a local Kigali restaurant before the scenic drive to Volcanoes National Park. Check into Amakoro Songa Lodge (cottage room). Tomorrow: gorillas.
09 Nov — Gorilla Trekking
After briefing at Park HQ, set off into the bamboo for a morning gorilla trek. It’s intimate, respectful, and unforgettable—eye contact at arm’s length with the forest’s gentle heavyweights. Return to Amakoro Songa for lunch and a serene afternoon.
10 Nov — Rwanda to South Africa (Transition Day)
Breakfast, then transfer to Kigali for a scheduled flight to Johannesburg (not included; timing per availability). On arrival, you’re met and escorted to the InterContinental Hotel at the airport (Luxury Room, breakfast included). A refined pause before tomorrow’s delta immersion.
PORTION 3 — Botswana
Dates: 11–13 Nov 2027
Arc: Khwai’s private theatre of water, woodland, and predators.
11 Nov — Into Khwai (Transition Day)
Hotel breakfast, then make your way to the terminal for the flight to Maun (not included). On arrival, connect to a light aircraft seat-in charter to Sable Alley in Khwai Private Reserve (included). Check into your Suite; all meals, activities, refreshments, local spirits/wines, laundry, park fees, and levies are included. The lagoon glitters. The bush hums. You belong.
12 Nov — Delta Days
Morning and afternoon game activities—think mokoro gliding through lilies, lions on the move, wild dogs in painterly light. Your ranger and tracker share ecology and folklore; you soak in both, with a dash of safari chic.
13 Nov — Khwai to Victoria Falls (Transition Day)
One last morning activity and breakfast before the light aircraft transfer to Kasane and onward to Victoria Falls (included). A private transfer delivers you to the historic Victoria Falls Hotel (Stable Wing Signature Room, 2 nights, breakfast). Late afternoon guided tour of the Falls—mist, rainbows, and the thunder that named them.
PORTION 4 — Zimbabwe
Dates: 13–15 Nov 2027
Arc: Aerial grandeur, river romance, colonial charm.
14 Nov — Helicopters & Zambezi Sunset
Lift off for a 25-minute helicopter flight over Victoria Falls, tracing gorges like a ribbon in stone. Lunch at the Lookout Café, then luxury sunset & dinner cruise—all local wines, beers, and cold drinks included. River reflections and the kind of glow that pairs perfectly with linen and laughter.
15 Nov — To Kruger & Sabi Sabi (Transition Day)
Breakfast and check-out. Commercial flight to Nelspruit (not included). Meet-and-greet to a seat-in charter bound for Sabi Sabi. Rangers greet you at the airstrip and whisk you to Sabi Sabi Selati Camp (Suite, 3 nights). All meals, teas/coffees, snacks, select beverages, limited laundry, morning and afternoon game drives, and optional walking safaris after breakfast are included. Selati’s vintage glamour sets the mood—yesterday’s romance with today’s finesse.
PORTION 5 — South Africa
Dates: 15–21 Nov 2027
Arc: Classic safari to coastal sophistication—Kruger to Cape Town.
16 Nov — Selati Safari Day
Dawn drive for golden light on leopard rosettes and elephant silhouettes. Midday repose, then an afternoon game drive that lingers into starlight. Selati’s lanterns and stories seal the evening.
17 Nov — Walk the Bush, Ride the Plains
Optional walking safari after breakfast—slower, closer, sharper. Afternoon drive revisits favorite waterholes. Tonight: fireside conversation and a toast to good company.
18 Nov — Kruger to Cape Town (Transition Day)
Morning game activity and breakfast. Transfer to Skukuza Airport for the flight to Cape Town (not included). VIP-style meet-and-transfer to your hotel. Priority tickets to Table Mountain in the afternoon—clouds permitting, it’s a balcony over the Cape. Check into Mountain-Facing Rooms at Table Bay for 3 nights (breakfast included). Dinner at leisure—Cape Town’s culinary scene awaits.
19 Nov — Cape Peninsula Day
08:30 departure for a full-day circuit: Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, funicular to the summit, Boulders Beach for penguin charm, and a set-menu lunch at Two Oceans Restaurant. Return by late afternoon. Evening at leisure—think cocktails with ocean views.
20 Nov — Winelands & Drums
09:00 departure to Stellenbosch and Franschhoek. Morning private tasting at a small estate, picnic lunch at Boschendal, and an afternoon tasting or meander through Franschhoek’s galleries. Evening cultural crescendo: interactive drumming and dinner at Gold Restaurant—rhythm, spice, and celebratory flair.
21 Nov — Departure
Breakfast, hugs, and airport transfers for outbound flights. The expedition concludes, but the stories travel home with you.
Bookings for our Ultimate Africa 2027 expedition are now open at:
Portion Pricing:
- Portion 1 (Kenya, Zanzibar & Tanzania): $10,995 per person, double occupancy
- Portion 2 (Rwanda): $8,995 per person, double occupancy
- Portion 3 (Botswana): $5,595 per person, double occupancy
- Portion 4 (Zimbabwe): $2,695 per person, double occupancy
- Portion 5 (South Africa): $12,995 per person, double occupancy
Full Expedition (all five portions):
- $41,275 per person, double occupancy.
Single supplement: Please inquire.
Important:
- Portions must be booked consecutively (e.g., Portions 1–3 or 2–3 or 4–5).
- Final pricing varies by portion selection, dates, and room category. Taxes, fees, flights between portions, and optional experiences may be additional.
- All of our Exclusive Trips are quoted as a discounted cash rate. Credit card payments will incur a service charge of approximately 4%.
- Please contact us directly at [email protected] or (+1) 713.661.2117 for reservations.
