Southern Africa Expedition 2023
April 2 – 10, 2023
Led by Tahuayo Lodge Owner Dolly Beaver & Tour Leader Nelly Pinedo
Group Size: 16 Traveler Limit
Difficulty: Easy
Interested in joining us for this expedition? Let us know here!
Trip Highlights
Throughout this journey, you will get to experience the great diversity of African wildlife and the beautiful vistas.
Some highlights of the trip include:
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Take the path less traveled for several days of safari rides on land and boat alongside lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, and more in the Thanda Game Reserve and the wetlands of Chobe National Park
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Enjoy a sunset cruise on the Zambezi River
Accommodations
During your adventure, you will experience several parts of Southern Africa. Amazonia aims to provide you with the best possible experience and will be traveling to the following locations. Please note that hotels are subject to replacement with equivalent accommodations based on availability.
Full Itinerary
Day 1 - Arrive Johannesburg
Arrive Johannesburg
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- Arrival to O.R. Tambo International Airport. Guests will be met by an English-speaking guide who will assist them with their luggage to hotel.
- Conveniently located at Africa’s busiest airport, O.R. Tambo International Airport, allows both business and leisure travelers a convenient and comfortable place to rest at the end of a long flight. The hotel is in a walking distance to and from the airport terminal buildings.
- Lunch and dinner will be at leisure.
Services Included
Guide services: Meet & Assist at OR Tambo
Meals Included: None
Accommodation: City Lodge O.R. Tambo Hotel | Standard rooms |
Day 2 - Johannesburg to Richard’s Bay
Johannesburg to Richard’s Bay
Guests will enjoy breakfast at the hotel before checking out. You will be met in the lobby of the hotel by your guide who will escort and assist you with check-in for your flight to Richards Bay.
Arrive Richards Bay |
After arriving at Richards Bay Airport, the guests will be met by their English-speaking Driver Guide who will welcome the guests and assist them to their transfer vehicle. Guests will be transferred to their lodge located in the Thanda Private Game Reserve. The road transfer duration is estimated 1 hour 30 minutes.
Thanda Private Game Reserve |
This private game reserve in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, provides a big game experience with sought after Elephant, Lion, Buffalo, Rhino and Leopard amongst the very entertaining Wild Dog, Cheetah, Hyena, Warthog and plains game as well as an abundance of bird life.
Check In |
Arrival and check in at the lodge. Lunch is included depending on time of arrival.
Thanda Tented Camp |
Within Thanda Tented Camp you will encounter minimal lighting and no artifice, with beautiful nature and jaw-dropping scenery enhanced by flickering firelight from the boma and warm paraffin lanterns to guide your feet along the walkway. This is the bush as nature intended: open, inviting, unconstrained. So, if you’re the kind of traveler who values the genuine over the glorified; reality over richness, this is where you want to be. You will encounter unparalleled closeness to the bush and its sounds; views of the night’s millions of stars; and absolute authenticity.
Guests arriving early will join the afternoon game drive that is included on the first day.
Services Included
Coach & guide services: Transfer with an English-speaking driver guide
Entrance fees included: conservation levy at the lodge, afternoon game drive
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner (Excluding Beverages)
Accommodation: Thanda Tented Camp | Luxury Tent | Full Board + 1 Game Drive
Day 3 - Thanda Private Game Reserve
Thanda Private Game Reserve
A truly African experience goes beyond the five senses. It’s felt. An early morning or late afternoon safari is the best way to absorb the sights, smells and sounds of Africa. Encounter the Big Five (lion, leopard, rhino, elephant, and buffalo): the animals that inspire a long-lasting connection with the continent. And, once you’ve found them, go looking for Africa’s other famous five – the Little Five (elephant shrew, rhino beetle, leopard tortoise, ant lion and buffalo weaver).
Morning and Afternoon Game Drives Included
Services Included
Coach & guide services: 2 Game Drives
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner (Excluding Beverages)
Accommodation: Thanda Tented Camp | Luxury Tent | Full Board + 2 Game Drives
Day 4 - Thanda Private Game Reserve
Thanda Private Game Reserve
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Today you have the whole day at the lodge starting with an early morning game drive in an open safari vehicle.
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Return to the lodge where breakfast will be served. You can then sit and relax in the natural environment of the lodge.
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Lunch followed by your afternoon game drive.
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Dinner will be enjoyed at the lodge.
Services Included
Coach & guide services: 2 Game Drives
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner (Excluding Beverages)
Accommodation: Thanda Tented Camp | Luxury Tent | Full Board + 2 Game Drives
Day 5 - Thanda to Johannesburg via Richards Bay
Thanda to Johannesburg via Richards Bay
Morning Game Drive & Check Out |
Guests will enjoy their final game drive before enjoying breakfast at the lodge and checking out.
Transfer
After completing the checkout procedures, guests will be transferred to Richards Bay Airport (for their onward flight back to Johannesburg (Flight not included)
Arrive Johannesburg |
On arrival at O.R. Tambo International Airport, guests will be met by and English speaking guide who will assist them with their luggage to the hotel.
Today Lunch and dinner will be at leisure.
Services Included
Coach & guide services: Transfer with an English-speaking driver guide + Meet & Assist at OR Tambo – English speaking guide
Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: | City Lodge OR Tambo Hotel | Standard rooms |
Day 6 - Johannesburg fly to Kasane – Chobe
Johannesburg fly to Kasane – Chobe
Guests will enjoy breakfast at the hotel before checking out.
You will be met in the lobby of the hotel by your guide who will escort and assist you with check-in for your flight to Kasane.
Arrive Kasane – Chobe |
Upon arrival in Kasane, guests will be transferred in safari vehicles to their lodge.
Chobe National Park |
Aptly and fondly known as ‘The Land of The Giants’, Chobe National Park in the north of beautiful Botswana is home to Africa’s largest elephant population and comprises more than 10,000km2 of rich ecosystems, diverse landscapes and an almost unparalleled abundance of wildlife and birdlife all centred around the stunning Chobe River, and in close proximity to a number of Southern Africa’s other safari must-sees.
Chobe Elephant camp |
Perched on the edge of a rocky ridge overlooking the famous Chobe River, Chobe Elephant Camp presents a unique design as it has been built to take advantage of the incredible views. Chobe Elephant Camp offers a variety of activities that include viewing the regions spectacular wildlife from open safari vehicles, by boat the Chobe River or experiencing life in the village, Canoe excursions along Chobe floodplain.
Lunch |
Dependent on the time of arrival, the guests may enjoy lunch at the lodge.
Afternoon Game Drive |
Game drives in the Chobe National Park offer excellent game viewing opportunities. If you allow yourself adequate time here you will probably see nearly all the major species: giraffe, elephant, zebra, impala, tsessebe, roan, sable, wildebeest, kudu, buffalo, waterbuck, warthog, eland and accompanying predators including lion, hyena, jackal, bat-eared fox and possibly even cheetah and wild dog.
Dinner |
A delicious dinner is enjoyed back at the lodge.
Services Included
Coach & guide services: Road Transfer from Kasane Airport to the lodge
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner (Excluding Beverages)
Accommodation: | Chobe Elephant Camp | Standard rooms | Full Board + Activities
Day 7 - Chobe National Park
Chobe National Park
Today you have the whole day at the lodge starting with an early morning game drive, return to the lodge for your brunch, you can sit and relax by the swimming pool as the day goes by. Lunch and afternoon boat cruise
Afternoon Boat Cruise |
Take to the waters of the Chobe River. Chobe National Park is well-known for its large herds of elephant that frequent the Chobe River on a daily basis. In the dry season an estimate of up to 85,000 elephants can be dispersed within the Chobe National Park, where the majority of them can be found along the river. Apart from the herds of elephants, Chobe also has lots more to offer. The Park has lion, leopard, buffalo and a whole host of antelope like sable, puku, kudu, eland, roan and many others which you can get to see. The river is filled with big pods of hippos and some of the biggest crocodiles in Africa.
Dinner |
A delicious dinner will be served back at the lodge after the boat cruise.
Services Included
Coach & guide services: Transfers to activities
Entrance fees included: Morning Game Drive and Afternoon Boat Cruise including Park Fees
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner (Excluding Beverages)
Accommodation: | Chobe Elephant Camp | Standard rooms | Full Board + Activities
Day 8 - Chobe National Park
Chobe National Park
- Another day just relaxing in the natural environment at the lodge, starting with an early morning game drive, return to the lodge for your brunch, time to sit and relax to the sound of birds.
- Lunch and afternoon boat cruise.
- Dinner | A delicious dinner is enjoyed back at the lodge.
Services Included
Coach & guide services: Morning Game Drive and Afternoon Boat Cruise including Park Fees
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner (Excluding Beverages)
Overnight accommodation: | Chobe Elephant Camp | Standard rooms | Full Board + Activities
Day 9 - Departure
Departure
Morning Game drive and Breakfast at the lodge.
Transfer to Kasane airport for your departure flight.
Services Included
Coach & guide services: Morning Game Drive including Park Fees
Meals Included: Breakfast
DEPART
Reserve Your Expedition Today!
Deposit: $1000/person
$4590 per person (double occupancy)
For a single room + $800
Does NOT include international air flights
Does NOT include internal air flights within Africa
NOTES:
- Prices for park fees may be changed without prior notice. This is beyond our control and any increase levied will be passed to you.
- Passengers should bring only soft sided bags on safaris.
- All the passengers must have an Identification Card/Passport with them
- Itinerary subject to changes only if beyond our control
- Reservation made with
deposit of $1000 per person - Payment can be made by credit card on our PayPal site
- Cancellation Policy: 50% of cost up to 120 days before departure.
- We strongly recommend the purchase of travel insurance. https://buy.travelguard.com/TGI2/proc/stateselector.aspx?br=agentlink&arc=51868&agentlinkasp=yes
This Trip Includes:
- Meet and greet services
- Accommodation in standard rooms at hotels, lodges and camps, unless otherwise indicated in the itinerary.
- Meals as indicated in itinerary.
- Entrance fees as mentioned in the itinerary.
- Porterage for one reasonably sized piece of luggage per person per point.
- All excursions listed in the itinerary
- Services of an English-speaking driver and guides
- All accommodations
- All park fees and government taxes
This Trip DOES NOT Include:
- International or Internal flights
- Visas
- Driver, guide, or local escort tips
- Drinks and dining rooms tips, porterage, personal travel and baggage insurance Telephone bill, laundry and any items of a personal nature
- Medical, evacuation, or travel insurance
Erika
Our time in the jungle was an absolute highlight on our trip to Peru! Truly amazing! …Again, we had the most wonderful time. Almost more than words can say. The jungle and the Tahuayo Lodge hold very special places in our hearts and CAN NOT WAIT to return. Thank you again for offering such an amazing trip.
Renee
Our trip was INCREDIBLE. The lodge was great, the food was amazing, and the staff were all so friendly. We loved our stays at the B&B, the main lodge, and the ARC.
Tia & Paula
It was incredible and a trip of a lifetime Paul! My sister Paula and I had an amazing time and loved everything — your facilities and staff are top notch and I want to come back with my husband and daughters!!
