Trip Ideas

Day 1-2 Addis Ababa

You will be welcomed by your guide on arrival at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport and transferred to your hotel.

Day 2-3 Bahir Dar

Fly from Addis to Bahir Dar and visit the Blue Nile Falls before lunch. In the afternoon take a boat trip on Ethiopia’s largest water body, Lake Tana (3,600 Km Sq), to visit the island monasteries of Ura Kidane Mihret (14th Century AD) and Azwa Mariam (14th Century AD).

Day 3-4 Gondar

Drive from Bahir Dar to Gondar – the 17th century capital of Ethiopia. In the afternoon you will visit the Imperial Castle Compound of Gondar (UNESCO World Heritage Site), the ‘Bath of Emperor Fasiladas’, the church of Quskuam Mariam (17th century AD), the residence of Empress Mintwab, and the church of Debre Birhan Sillassie which is famous for its magnificent wall and ceiling paintings.

Day 4-5 Simien Mountains

Drive from Gondar to Debark (the headquarter of the Simien Mountain National Park), and proceed 36 km to the Simien Mountains (UNESCO World Heritage Site) to visit the endemic mammal of Ethiopia – the Gelada Baboon, and the breath taking scenery of the Simien Mountains.

Day 5-7 Axum

Today you will drive to Axum, the earliest Capital of Ethiopia, crossing the Tekezze Gorge. Enjoy a sightseeing tour of Axum which includes visiting the Archaeological museum of Axum, the famous stele park (UNESCO World Heritage Site) and the church of St. Mary of Zion which is believed to be the last resting place of the original Ark of the Covenant. You will visit the palace and tomb of King Kaleb and Gebre Meskel (6th Century AD), and the ruin palace of the Queen of Sheba (9th Century BC).

Day 7-8 Lalibela

In the morning, fly to Lalibela – home of the 12th century AD rock hewn churches of King Lalibela. In the afternoon, visit the first group of churches of King Lalibela (UNESCO World Heritage Site).

Day 8-9 Lalibela

In the morning, you will take a mule back ride to the hill top semi monolithic church of Asheton Mariam (13th century AD). Reaching the top of the hill will reward you with unforgettable views of the area. In the afternoon, visit the remaining second and the third group of the churches of Lalibela.

Day 9 Addis

Fly back to Addis and have a half-day city tour of Addis that includes visiting the National Archeological Museum of Addis Ababa and Merkato, the largest open-air market in Africa. Drive to Mt. Entoto (3,200 meters) to have a panoramic view of the capital. In the evening, you will be invited to a fare well dinner party at one of the best traditional restaurants of Addis to see the folkloric dances of the Ethiopian people and to taste the variety of meals of the Ethiopian people.

Day 1-3 Mkulumadzi, Majete

The only place to see the Big 5 in Malawi (and recent reintroduction of cheetah), start on a high. With only 2 lodges in the park, this is the ultimate exclusive safari experience.

Day 3-5 Huntingdon, Satemwe

Enjoy a couple of days at this glamorous colonial house surrounded by a beautiful landscape, the tea estate. Enjoy a different and exciting side of this wonderful country.

Day 5-8 Kuthengo, Liwonde

Gorgeous views over the Shire River, authentic safari tents and top class guiding. The boat safari is one of Malawi’s best kept secrets, a birders paradise and an abundance of wildlife enjoying their days on the river bank (including cheetah and rhino).

Day 8-10 Mumbo Island, Cape Maclear

2 days of digital detox, a small eco friendly boutique camp situated on a gorgeous island in the middle of the lake and surrounded by turquoise waters, stunning bird life and 800 species of tropical cichlid fish endemic to Lake Malawi. Snorkel the crystal-clear lake and experience breathtaking sunset views from Pod Rock.

Day 10-12 Pumulani, Cape Maclear

Time to relax in style, 2 days spent in ultimate luxury with unparalleled views over Lake Malawi, the authentic sunset dhow cruise is one of the best ways to admire the African sunset over Lake Malawi. Learn about the stars with their own stargazer.

Day 12-13 Latitude 13, Lilongwe

A lavish way to end any trip, indulge in delicious cuisine or relax by the pool. Also close enough to the city to enjoy that last bit of Malawi culture.

Day 1-2 Windhoek

Arrive at Windhoek International Airport and transfer to your overnight accommodation.

Day 2-3 Okonjima Plains Camp, AfriCat Foundation

You will be collected by your naturalist guide from your accommodation and set off on your private family safari in Namibia which today will take you through Okahandja to Okonjima, the home of the AfriCat Foundation. Activities include leopard tracking by vehicle, a visit to the cheetah welfare project, large carnivore tracking on foot including cheetahs, wild dogs and spotted hyenas, participation in the fun bushman trail and various self-guided walking trails.

Day 3-5 Mushara Bush Camp, Eastern Etosha National Park

Mushara Bush Camp offers a down–to–earth tented bush camp experience which is well suited as an exceptionally affordable base for travellers exploring the Etosha National Park. Enjoy a full day of exciting game viewing within the eastern section of Etosha National Park. As you have the full time services of your own private guide, in your own 4×4, the day’s activities are scheduled around the specific interests of your family and the endurance of your children!

Day 5-6 Etosha Mountain Lodge, Southern Etosha National park

Enjoy game-viewing adventures through the breadth of the Etosha National Park, stopping at selected waterholes to observe the game gathered there along the way. Exit the park through the southern Andersson Gate to arrive at the Etosha Mountain Lodge situated in the Kamanjab Region.

Day 6-9 Huab Under Canvas Camp, Damaraland

Arrive at your exclusively set up Under Canvas Camp in time for sundowners around the camp fire. This is a private camp set up specifically for a family. Activities include tracking desert adapted rhino; exploring the upper and less crowded Huab River in search of desert adapted elephants; nature walks and scenic game drives; as well as the possibility of visiting some nearby prehistoric rock engravings.

Day 9-11 Cornerstone Guesthouse, Swakopmund

The drive today takes you south past Namibia’s highest mountain and onto the coastal town of Swakopmund, a great family friendly destination. Swakopmund is the optimal place in Namibia for both relaxation and fun. This coastal town pushes adrenaline to its limits with extreme sports such as skydiving over the desert or sand boarding on the dunes.

Day 11-13 Desert Homestead Outpost, Sossusvlei

The fascinating drive today takes you south-east through awesome and ever changing desert landscapes via the impressive Gaub and Kuiseb canyons to meet the dunes at the settlement of Solitaire. You then continue south to Sesriem to go on to stay at the Desert Homestead Outpost. Enjoy a full day Sossusvlei dunes excursion with your guide in the Namib Naukluft National Park.

Day 13-14 Galton House, Windhoek

Arrive in Windhoek in the late afternoon to spend the last night of your safari at the Galton House. You enjoy a farewell dinner this evening at the guesthouse with your guide, reminiscing about the adventures just passed.

Day 14 Windhoek

You’ll be transferred to Windhoek International Airport by your guide in time for your international flight.

Day 1-4 Cape Town

On arrival at Cape Town airport, you will be met and transferred to your accommodation in Cape Town. There are many wonderful places to stay in Cape Town & we can make recommendations based on your requirements. We can also recommend a variety of activities from guided walking foodie tours to climbing Table Mountain.

Day 4-6 The Last Word, Constantia

In the morning, your hire car will be delivered to your accommodation in Cape Town and you can self-drive to Constantia.

Day 6-8 Bartholomeus Klip, Riebeek Valley

After breakfast, you will self-drive to north to the Riebeek Valley (approx. 1hr 20min drive) for your 2 night stay at Batholomeus Klip. The staff here are lovely and most have grown up on the farm. The food is exquisite and very locally sourced with good options of suitable wines on offer to go with each course/menu. They serve brunch, after a morning safari appropriate to the area and local conservation projects that they are involved in. Then high tea (absolutely mouth-watering) followed by dinner. There is a beautiful lake with great options for fishing and walking.

Day 8-10 Babylonstoren Farm Hotel, Franschhoek

After a leisurely breakfast, you will self-drive to Franschhoek in the winelands (approx. 50min drive). Almost mythical in its beauty, Babylonstoren is a working wine and fruit farm in the glorious Drakenstein Valley of the Winelands. Lovely white-washed Cape Dutch buildings form the exteriors, while the interiors showcase a combination of heritage and modern living. Enjoy gourmet meals lovingly prepared by experienced chefs. Sample local wines and explore the cellars of well-established wine farms. The Winelands is all about stepping back from the hectic pace of modern living, and appreciating the finer things in life in some of the most gorgeous and tranquil locations this country has to offer. The Raptor and Cheetah rehabilitation centre, Butterfly World, and museums and sites of historic import can be explored on your Winelands visit.

Day 10-14 Amakhala Woodbury Lodge, Eastern Cape

You will self-drive back to Cape Town Airport (approx. 1hr 15min drive). Return your hire car. Fly to Port Elizabeth for your safari. Surrounded by bush and set against a cliff face overlooking the Bushman’s River Valley, Woodbury Lodge enjoys panoramic views over the private Amakhala Reserve. Created through a merger of private farms, the 7000 hectare, malaria-free reserve is respected for its rhino and cheetah management and claims a strong conservation ethos. 6 stone and thatch cottages feature the natural, earthy tones of the surrounding bush and boast private decks and scenic vistas. The lodge’s main areas include a dining room, lounge, bar and an outside bbq section. The viewing deck alongside the swimming pool affords sweeping panoramas below. Woodbury Lodge provides morning game drives, guided walks, river cruises and afternoon/evening game drives.

Day 14 Depart Port Elizabeth

After breakfast, you will have a road transfer to Port Elizabeth Airport (approx. 1hr 15min drive) and board your flight to Johannesburg or onward travel.

Day 1-2 Papyrus Guesthouse, Entebbe

Arrive at Entebbe International Airport, be picked up by your driver/ guide to then transfer to your accommodation.

Day 2-4 Nile Safari Lodge, Murchison Falls

With an early morning breakfast, transfer to Ziwa Rhino sanctuary. Enjoy tracking white Rhino, proceed to have lunch at Amuka Lodge and then transfer to Murchison Falls National Park. On Day 3 you will enjoy a boat trip into the Victoria Nile Delta area of the National Park. The delta area is quite spectacular with several endemic mammal species to be seen to include Rothschild’s giraffe and elephant. The Shoebill stork is also to be found in the delta a must see species for the avid bird enthusiast.

Day 4-6 Primate Lodge, Kibale

You will depart via the rift valley escarpment road offering spectacular views over Lake Albert to the DR Congo and West Nile. You will proceed via the towns of Biso, Hoima, Kenjojo and onto Fort Portal to your overnight accommodation venue within KIbale Forest National Park at Primate Lodge. The venue is great starting point for Chimpanzee tracking. En-route to the lodge we will shake off the long drive with a walk to the “top of the world” along crater lakes which this area is also famous for. On Day 5, you will track chimpanzees in the national park. In the afternoon visit the Bigodi community. Bigodi village is situated in the highlands of western Uganda, in the shadow of the Ruwenzori Mountains, the famous “Mountains of the Moon”.

Day 6-8 Kasenyi Safari Camp

After breakfast, transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park. You will proceed directly to the head of the Mweya Peninsular to conduct a launch trip on the Kazinga Channel which is home to one of the largest concentrations of hippopotamus, as well as herds of elephants, buffalo, and other wildlife that come to drink from the river. The Kazinga also attracts a tremendous variety of bird species including the African Eagle, Open-Billed Stork, and Pied Kingfishers. After the boat cruise you will head to your accommodation for the night.

Day 8-9 Ishasha Jungle Lodge

After breakfast you will head for a game drive through Kasenyi sector. Watch out for the Albert endemic birds and Cape buffalos, elephants and different bird species. With packed lunch proceed to Ishasha sector, very famous for the tree climbing lions.

Day 9-11 Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge

After breakfast travel further south to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda´s oldest, largest, magnificent and most diverse rainforests. This “impenetrable” forest is also home to more than 320 mountain gorillas, 400 species of plants, 120 species of mammals and over 350 species of birds. Meet with your Walking Safari guide to transverse this forest. Enjoy a 15km walk to Nkuringo following the Kashasha river and Ivy River trails. This is a full day walk where there would be an opportunity of visiting the Munyaga River falls in the forest. The emphasis of this activity is for your walking guide to share his knowledge of the forest that you come into contact with and not simply an A to B. On Day 10, after breakfast you will transfer to the starting point for briefing on the dos and the don’ts while with the gorillas. You will then continue to the forest for gorilla tracking. This activity can last from a few hours up to a full day, depending on the location of the gorillas as they range freely in the impenetrable forest.

Day 11-13 Mount Gahinga Lodge

This morning after your hearty breakfast, proceed to Rubuguri junction with vehicle, and then start the walk of 9kms, taking about 3 hours or more depending on your speed. Pass through villages and local community; this gives you an opportunity to experience village life. You will then meet your canoe team at Rwenjeje landing site to embark on canoe excursion for 2 ½ hours across Lake Mutanda exploring a few islands up to Sheba’s campsite, where you rendezvous with your vehicle and transfer to Mgahinga National Park.

Day 13-15 Mihingo Lodge

After an early breakfast, meet with your driver / guide and proceed to Lake Mburo National Park. Pass via town of Kabale through Mbarara town to stop at Igongo Cultural Centre for lunch. You will have a boat trip on the lake and later after dinner enjoy a night game drive in the company of a ranger guide.

Day 15 Depart Entebbe

Enjoy a morning game drive and later proceed to Entebbe for your flight back home.

Day 1-3 Ursula’s Camp, Victoria Falls

On arrival into Victoria Falls Airport, you will be met and transferred to Ursula’s Camp where you will spend the next 3 nights. Ursula’s is an unassuming camp set on the Vic Falls Private game reserve about 20 minutes outside of town. The Camp is situated on a 6,000 acre private game reserve just 10 minutes from the Victoria Falls and Zambezi River. The reserve is a host to black rhino, making it the only one of its kind in the Victoria Falls area to treat you to this extraordinary Big 5 Experience and a great place to start your holiday in Zimbabwe.

Over the next two days you will explore The Victoria Falls and the surrounding area

Day 3-7 Bomani Tented Lodge, Hwange National Park

Today you will depart after breakfast on your scheduled road transfer from Ursula’s Camp to Mpofu Siding (Hwange). You will connect with your scheduled tram transfer on the Elephant Express to Bomani Tented Lodge. Bomani is located within the Ngamo Forrest region on the edge of Hwange National Park within a 5,000-acre remote private reserve. Tourism to this area has a major impact on sustaining local villages, schools and many ecological projects. During the next two days you will have the opportunity to experience a range of activities including guided walks, game drives, night drives, pump runs, school visits and village visits.

Day 7-11 The Hide Safari Camp, Hwange National Park

You will depart on your scheduled intercamp transfer through the National Park from Bomani Tented Lodge to The Hide Safari Camp. This award winning safari camp is located on the eastern boundary of the famous Hwange National Park on a small private concession. Accommodation is in spacious ensuite thatch over canvas chalets overlooking their central waterhole which is frequented by wildlife in the area. Over the next two days, you can experience up to 4 activities/excursions per day at the Hide Safari Camp including guided walks, morning and afternoon game drives, night drives with a spotlight and “hide sits‟ around the pan. We can also arrange an overnight sleep-out in the “Dove’s Nest” tree house for 2 people.

Day 11-13 Changa Safari Camp, Kariba Dam

Today you will depart after your morning activity by small plane charter flight from Umtshibi to Fothergill Island – approximately a 1.5 hour flight. You will be met here by Changa Safari Camp and transferred the rest of the way (approx. 20 mins) to camp by boat. Changa Safari Camp, the Hide’s sister camp, is located on a private concession on the Lake shores of Kariba within the Matusadona National Park. Here you will spend 3 nights in spacious deluxe East African style tented suites – each with its own private deck offering stunning views of mysterious Matusadona Mountains across the inland of the Lake Kariba. During your stay at Changa Safari Camp, you can experience up to 3 activities per day. There is excellent game viewing and activities involve all modes of safaris including guided walks, game drives, fishing and boat cruises.

Day 13 Depart Harare

You will depart after breakfast on a short boat trip for Fothergill Island where you will get your small plane charter flight to Harare before catching your connecting flight home. Or if you’d prefer to spend more time exploring Africa, we can make suggestions for onward travel.