Travel to Johannesburg, South Africa
Jul 25
Depart from home and travel to Johannesburg, South Africa.
Travel to Namibia, South Africa, and Zambia to capture remarkable moments on your camera with professional photographer Scott Davis. Visit some of the best sites to photograph southern Africa’s quintessential wildlife and its iconic landscapes. Explore regions with incredibly accessible biodiversity including Africa’s Big Five (lions, elephants, rhinos, leopards, and buffalo) and many beautiful birds in South Luangwa National Park in Zambia and Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve (part of the Greater Kruger National Park system) in South Africa. Discover the picturesque red sand dunes and salt pans of Sossusvlei in the Namib Desert of Namibia. Encounter nocturnal wildlife and stargaze during evening game drives. This safari will provide you with opportunities to capture quality images of unique African wildlife and beautiful landscapes.
HIGHLIGHTS
Itinerary Updated: July 2022
Date | Description | Lodge | Meals |
---|---|---|---|
Jul 25 | Travel to Johannesburg, South Africa. | ||
Jul 26 | Arrive in Johannesburg. | City Lodge Hotel, Johannesburg | |
Jul 27-30 | Fly to Mfuwe, Zambia and transfer to Kaingo Camp for three full days of game-viewing in South Luangwa National Park. | Kaingo Camp, South Luangwa National Park | B, L, D |
Jul 31 | Transfer to Mfuwe and fly to Johannesburg. | City Lodge Hotel, Johannesburg | B, L, D |
Aug 1-3 | Fly to Sossusvlei, Namibia. Spend two-and-a-half days taking guided walks and driving through enchanting desert scenery. | Sossus Dune Lodge, Sossusvlei | B, L, D |
Aug 4 | Take a scenic flight to Windhoek and then fly to Johannesburg. | City Lodge Hotel, Johannesburg | B, L, D |
Aug 5-8 | Fly to Sabi Sand where you will enjoy early morning and evening game drives and midday safari walks. | Ulusaba Rock Lodge, Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve | B, L, D |
Aug 9 | Fly to Johannesburg for connecting flights homeward. | B | |
Aug 10 | Arrive home. |
Scott is a professional photographer specializing in wildlife, nature, and travel. Originally trained as a wildlife and marine biologist, his research and photo assignments have taken him to the far corners of the globe and all seven continents. National Geographic, BBC, Animal Planet, NY Times, and renowned magazines have used his photography. His patience for teaching and love of capturing the essence of his subjects make him one of our most popular tour leaders.
Depart from home and travel to Johannesburg, South Africa.
Arrive in Johannesburg where you will be greeted at the airport and transferred to your hotel.
Fly to Mfuwe, Zambia and then drive to Kaingo Camp at South Luangwa National Park. You’ll have game-viewing opportunities on foot, by private vehicles during daytime and nighttime, and from observation blinds. The camp’s network of photography blinds is perfectly situated for wildlife observation and photography. They include a hippo hide and an elephant hide that offer great views of the wildlife within this pristine environment.
South Luangwa is touted by many travel experts (e.g. Lonely Planet, Fodor’s, TripAdvisor) as being one of the greatest wildlife sanctuaries in Africa. The Luangwa River is the most intact major river system in Africa and supports life within the park's 9,050km2. More than 60 mammal species and 400 bird species reside along the river. You’ll encounter local and incredibly varied fauna, including lions, leopards, zebras, giraffes, wild dogs, and many charismatic birds like the carmine bee-eaters.
During night drives in the Luangwa, you’ll have opportunities to see leopards and many other nocturnal animals. You may encounter African civets, common (or small-spotted) genet, spotted hyenas, nightjars, honey badgers (ratels), and lions. On most nights you may hear hyenas and their plaintive, eerie cry ¬–very characteristic of the African bush.
Fly from Mfuwe to Johannesburg.
Fly mid-morning from Windhoek to an airstrip near Sossus Dune Camp to begin exploring the Namib Desert. Enjoy daytime nature drives through the famed Sossusvlei region of the desert, known for its red sand dunes and salt pans. You’ll visit iconic landmarks of this region including taking a guided walk in the Sesriem Canyon, photographing and hiking up Dune 45, and exploring the Petrified Dunes where sand has turned to stone. The landscapes here vary, including canyons with narrowly carved corridors, salt pans with old acacia trees, and vast seas of red sand dunes, making this region a natural marvel with excellent photography opportunities at every turn!
After breakfast, enjoy your last day in Namibia with a scenic flight to Windhoek, and then fly to Johannesburg.
In the morning, you’ll fly to Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve, part of the Greater Kruger National Park. Sabi Sand was once agricultural land where farmers bored holes into the ground for water wells. Those water wells now serve as watering holes, bringing the resident wildlife together to congregate en-mass and providing you with an excellent place to watch for predators hunting their thirsty prey.
Sabi Sand is well-known for its leopards – these particular animals are accustomed to the vehicles and so many of their behaviors, including hunting, are more easily observable here than in other regions. You may also photograph cheetah, Burchell’s zebra, giraffe, common wart-hog, and honey badger. You will also have the opportunity to see birds such as the ostrich.
Take early morning game drives to see zebras grazing in the open plains, elephant herds gathering near the water, giraffes pacing across the landscape, and lions resting in the shade. You’ll also have opportunities to get up close and personal with the animals during walking safaris guided by armed rangers and experienced trackers. In the evening, after dinner at the lodge or in the bush, join game drives in search of the elusive nocturnal wildlife and enjoy the magnificent stargazing that these remote skies offer.
Fly back to Johannesburg in the morning and continue on your flights homeward.
Experience the incredible beauty of southern Africa’s wildlife and stunning desert landscapes.
-22.957640, 18.490410
Type | Cost Per Person |
---|---|
Trip Cost, double occupancy | $16,850 |
Single Supplement | Contact us |
Costs are per person, double occupancy, not including airfare (except for seven internal flights), singles extra. See Included and Not Included sections for more details.
If you are a single traveler, we will find a roommate for you, but if we cannot find you a roommate, we may charge you a single supplement.
Payment | Due Date | Amount Per Person |
---|---|---|
Deposit | Due now to reserve your space | $500 |
Second | September 15, 2021 | $5,000 |
Final | February 15, 2022 | Remaining Balance |
Payments are due based on the schedule above. All reservations require a deposit to confirm reservation of your space.
Until the Final Payment due date, deposits are refundable except for a cancellation fee of $150 per person, which can be applied toward another tour if reserved within six months of the cancelled trip’s departure date. Cancellations are non-transferrable. No refunds are given after the Final Payment due date.
Daily temperatures in July and August vary from below freezing (32°F, 0°C) up to about 85°F (29°C) during the day with the possibility of some rain. In the last five years, the dynamics of climate change have impacted the area with an increase in temperatures, so dress in layers.
Minimal fitness level is required. Our game drives require good energy levels, as some days are long. Most travel is in open-air safari vehicles on sometimes dusty and bumpy roads. You will have opportunities for short, relaxed hikes, usually less than one mile over varied terrain (sand dunes, flat areas, hilly and grassy areas, or rocky slopes) and, at times, uphill for about 20 to 30min. Please contact us if you have any health concerns that may make this trip challenging.
Unless listed as included, airfare is not included in trip costs. Detailed logistical information and the contact information for our recommended flight-ticketing agent are included in the Trip Materials we will send you. Please let us know if you are arriving earlier or staying later as we are happy to assist you with any extra overnights that you might want to arrange.
Flights you (or a travel agent) book: Arrive in Johannesburg, South Africa (JNB) by July 26. Depart from Johannesburg, South Africa (JNB) late in the afternoon on August 9 (your flight to Johannesburg arrives at about 1:00pm).
Flights we book for you: Seven internal flights are included in the tour cost.
The lodging ranges from modern to luxurious. For multi-night stays, you stay at very high-end camps and lodges where stunning views, modern amenities, excellent food, and extreme comfort are all prioritized. The lodges have restaurants, internet access, and laundry service. The rooms have en-suite bathrooms, private outdoor seating, as well as outdoor showers/baths – after a long day in the bush, you may appreciate a warm bubble bath with a sunset view.
Our company ethos has always regarded conservation as inseparable from responsible tourism. We struggle with the dilemma that traveling worldwide expends climate-changing carbon. However, we wholeheartedly believe that traveling with us will cultivate your passion for conserving our beautiful world, while stimulating each destination’s local economies.
We take you to amazing destinations, navigating far and wide, and when we do, we recognize that the world pays a steep price. Taking this into account, we have made each trip carbon neutral.
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