Southern Africa Riverboat Safari

Limited to ~14 Travelers
A very important feature of our Southern Africa adventure is the small group size, as African safaris are best experienced with fewer travelers in order to enhance intimate encounters with wildlife and nature, and to maintain a light environmental footprint.

We use open 4x4 Toyota Hilux vehicles with a suspension system custom-designed for safari terrain, and an open-top, open-sided, tiered seating arrangement designed to maximize game-viewing opportunities and passenger comfort. Typically, each vehicle has one seat in front next to the driver, followed by three rows of two seats each. Each row is raised slightly higher than the one in front of it, allowing for unobstructed views of scenery and wildlife. A cooler box is stocked with cold drinks and each custom-built vehicle sports front bull bars and runner boards, as well as a full recovery kit, including spare tires and a high-lift jack. Vehicles are updated or replaced as needed and meticulously maintained to provide our guests with an unmatched safari experience.

• Trip price includes: Accommodations, services of Nat Hab's professional Expedition Leader(s), local guides and camp staff, all meals from dinner on Day 1 through breakfast on final day, some alcoholic beverages, most gratuities, airport transfers on Day 1 and final day, all activities and entrance fees, most taxes, all permits and service fees.
• Internal air cost includes: Light aircraft flights within the itinerary (this will be listed separately on our invoicing).

Travel to and from the start and end point of your trip, some alcoholic beverages, some gratuities, passport and visa fees (if any), optional activities, items of a personal nature (phone calls, laundry, Wi-Fi, etc.), airline baggage fees, airport and departure taxes (if any), required medical evacuation insurance, optional travel protection insurance.

Easy to Moderate
To participate in this trip, you must be able to walk unassisted at a steady pace for at least one mile over uneven terrain, climb steps to get into and out of our raised safari vehicles, and be able to tolerate daily outdoor excursions that may last 4-5 hours or even a full day at a time, sometimes in hot, windy and/or dusty conditions. Wildlife drives pose a particular type of physical demand on the body, as they require long hours of sitting and take place over terrain that is often very rough and bumpy, including dirt roads with many ruts and potholes. Travelers with back or neck problems, or other health issues that could be exacerbated by such conditions, should take this into consideration. While any walking safaris are considered optional, travelers must be able to walk unassisted to and from the vehicle to our camp accommodations, sometimes walking over uneven ground or on boardwalks. Days spent on safari are often long, as mornings typically start before daybreak and evening meals are served after sundown. Safari accommodations and vehicles are not climate-controlled and, depending on the season, temperatures can range from quite cold to extremely hot, so it is critical that travelers come prepared.

On custom or private departures with smaller groups, our ability to accommodate varying levels of physical abilities or interests is limited, since these trips are staffed with a single Expedition Leader who may be assisted, pending availability, by local guides.

Mana Pools Route: Please plan to arrive in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe by 1 pm on Day 1. You are free to depart Harare, Zimbabwe anytime after 11:30 am on the final day (we suggest between 11:30-3 pm).

Chobe Route: Please plan to arrive in Kasane, Botswana by 1:30 pm on Day 1. You are free to depart Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe anytime on the final day.

We can best serve you if our Natural Habitat Adventures Travel Desk makes your reservations, as our staff is intimately familiar with the special requirements of these programs and can arrange the most efficient travel. Please call us at 800-543-8917. Note that while we offer you the best possible rates available to us on airfare and additional nights' accommodations, you may find special web rates or better fares online.