Wings Over Africa Safari to Tanzania, Zambia & Botswana
In Africa, the sky’s the limit, so why not wing your way across it in small planes for a bird’s eye-view of the magnificent landscape and wildlife below? Flying not only gives you a unique perspective, but enables you to make the most of your time on the ground with exciting wildlife viewing across East Africa’s Serengeti plains and Ngorongoro Crater – Africa’s “Garden of Eden.” Then it’s on to Southern Africa to see awesome Victoria Falls in Zambia and to experience exciting wildlife viewing in open Land Rovers and by mokoro (dug-out canoe) in beautiful Botswana where adventure is wrapped in the luxury of exclusive, tented camps.
Days 1/2 - New York/Amsterdam/Arusha, Tanzania
Board your KLM/Northwest Airlines overnight flight to Amsterdam. The next morning, connect with your flight to East Africa. Upon arrival in Arusha in the evening, your Classic Escapes representative will escort you to your lodge with views of snow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro and the rugged peaks of Mount Meru. SERENA MOUNTAIN VILLAGE. (Meals Aloft)
Days 3/4 - Serengeti National Park
Your safari begins as you fly to the Serengeti National Park. To the local Maasai who have grazed their cattle on the vast grassy plains for generations, it is Siringitu – "the place where the land moves on forever." Home to the greatest and most varied collection of terrestrial wildlife on earth, it has one of the last great migratory systems still intact. Every year, more than a million wildebeest, accompanied by hundreds of thousands of zebras and other herbivores, cross the Serengeti in search of fertile grasslands, followed by the predators who prey on them. In between exciting wildlife viewing, relax poolside and enjoy your lodge’s beautiful views of the sweeping grasslands. SERENGETI SERENA SAFARI LODGE. (B,L,D Daily)
Days 5/6 - Ngorongoro Crater
Drive to Olduvai Gorge, one of the world’s most important paleoanthropological sites. In 1959, Mary and Louis Leakey found 1.7-million-year-old Australopithecus Boisei (Zinjanthropus) and in 1960, fossil remains of Homo Habilis (Handyman) were found by their son Jonathan. In the adjacent museum, see many of the stone tools and extinct animal fossils found at Olduvai. Outside a Tanzanian guide will explain the geological features of the gorge and the work of the Leakey’s. Continue to Ngorongoro Crater, a World Heritage site where you descend 2,000 feet by Land Rover. The mist which often obscures the crater floor of this extinct volcano from the surface only adds to the sense of wonder where the floor reveals elephant lumbering through the primeval forest, lion resting in the tall grass and black rhino grazing. Your lodge is built into the rim of the crater. Your room has private terraces so your first and last glimpse of the day will be the magical crater below. NGORONGORO SERENA SAFARI LODGE. (B,L,D Daily)
Days 7/8 - Arusha/Livingstone, Zambia
Return to Arusha and board your flight to Livingstone, Zambia, on the Northern side of Victoria Falls. The falls, almost twice the size of Niagara Falls, are known by Zambians as Mosi-oa-Tunya – The Smoke that Thunders – a name derived from the towering column of spray when the Zambezi River runs high. The masses of water plunging down the Falls and into the gorge below originate from the mighty Zambezi River that meanders through more than 1,700 miles of African countryside. Tour the falls on the Zambian side and visit Chief Mukuni’s village. Escorted by your English-speaking village guide, see a culture and ways of life that remains virtually unchanged through the ages. As the sun sets, glide along the Zambezi River on a private boat, watch hippos snort, elephants drink from the lush riverbank, or monkeys jump from branch to branch as you toast the setting sun. Your magnificent hotel overlooks the falls. ROYAL LIVINGSTONE. (B Daily)
Days 9/10 - Chobe National Park, Botswana
Drive to Chobe National Park, renowned for its vast numbers of elephants. The Chobe elephants comprise part of what is probably the largest surviving continuous elephant population, covering most of northern Botswana and northwestern Zimbabwe. Chobe’s diversity of habitats also supports a wide variety of wildlife, ranging from water animals such as hippo, crocodile, and fish, to forest and dryland species such as buffalo, giraffe, puku, zebra and eland. In all areas, predators abound – lion, leopard, cheetah and hyena are plentiful. Birders will delight in Chobe’s over 400 different species including eagles, kingfishers, Marabou Storks and bee-eaters. Your lodge is on the banks of the river within the national park. Each evening enjoy a sundowner cruise on the Chobe River. CHOBE GAME LODGE. (B Daily)
Days 11/12 - Kasane/Okavango Delta/Moremi Game Reserve/Chitabe Camp
Board your light aircraft flight to one of the world’s most distinctive regions, the Okavango Delta – the earth’s largest inland water system. Two days will be spent at Chitabe Camp, on one of the most beautiful islands in the Okavango Delta. The area is made up of a variety of habitats, which include waterways and marshlands, dry acacia and mopane woodland, riverine areas, open grasslands and seasonally flooded plains. This makes for wonderful wildlife viewing in open 4x4 vehicles and nature walks in search of elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard, cheetah, and the endangered African wild dog. Dr. Tico McNutt, head of the Botswana Wild Dog Project, or one of his researchers, will share their latest insights. Experience the magic of night drives before returning to your luxurious tents built on elevated teak decks, under a lush canopy of indigenous trees. CHITABE CAMP. (All Meals Daily)
Days 13/14 - Johannesburg/Amsterdam/New York
After your morning wildlife viewing, fly to Johannesburg. Relax in the Premier Lounge before boarding your overnight flight to Amsterdam. The next morning connect with your flight to New York. (B, Meals Aloft)
Your Safari Includes:
- Round trip air transportation between New York and Africa
- Domestic flights within Africa as specified.
- Superior accommodations as specified.
- All meals as specified.
- All wildlife viewing by either safari minibus with pop-up roof hatch, or private landrover, 4x4 open-air vehicles, or by boat. Walking safaris may also be available in the Okavango Delta.
- A maximum of 6 travelers per minibus in East Africa. A window seat is guaranteed.
- Complimentary bottled water.
- Gratuities for luggage handling, hotel tips and taxes.
- All game park entry fees.
- Complimentary backpack, baggage tags and passport wallet.