Southern Africa Odyssey

Expedition Leader Buli Mathe shares the importance of conservation in Zimbabwe, where safari tourism is growing, wildlife is rebounding, and local communities are reaping the benefit.

Experience Southern Africa's best wildlife reserves on an eco-friendly safari that combines luxury boat-based exploration with classic game drives in Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia.

Embark on a unique safari that combines classic game drives and a private 3-night small-ship cruise through less-traveled landscapes. Expedition Leader Lorraine Doyle shares details of our Southern Africa Odyssey, a journey into Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe that blends luxury and discovery across four national parks. This intimate adventure includes cruising on Lake Kariba, 4x4 safaris in Hwange National Park, and a private boat trip on the Chobe River. Learn about the wildlife we encounter—including Africa’s largest elephant population—and see our secluded safari camps and boutique riverboat, the Zimbabwean Dream.

Every safari-goer hopes to spot Africa's Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo). But did you know Southern Africa also offers a wealth of opportunities for birders to find equally coveted avian sightings? Expedition Leader Lorraine Doyle introduces us to some of the region's diverse birdlife, from colorful lilac-breasted rollers and malachite kingfishers to elegant grey crowned cranes and birds of prey like the African harrier-hawk. Learn about their biology, the roles they play in their ecosystems, and how you can spot them for yourself on our Southern Africa safaris.

With their spiky horns, adorable ears and wrinkled, armor-like hides, rhinos always make us smile. But the threats against them – primarily poaching and habitat loss – also provoke concern. In honor of World Rhino Day, Africa Expedition Leader Richard de Gouveia reveals all things rhino, from their biology and ecology to the measures conservationists and governments are taking to protect these pachyderms. Plus, find out where to see rhinos in the wild and how sustainable tourism can aid conservation efforts.