Date
Oct 14, 2025 - Oct 29, 2025
Trip Type
By River

Group Size: 18 to 25 participants
Price: Starting from $12,795 per person double occupancy, $19,490 single occupancy
Co-sponsored with: Harvard Exclusive

Activity Level
3

Trip Overview

This South African adventure features culture, wildlife, natural history, and a three-night Chobe River cruise in Namibia and Botswana, offering uninterrupted views of Chobe National Park. Explore Victoria Falls, one of the Seven natural wonders of the world. Spend two nights at the acclaimed MalaMala Private Game Reserve, an unforgettable five-star African safari experience. Discover the rich natural and cultural heritage of Cape Town.

Schedule by Day

Overnight flight to Johannesburg, South Africa.

Arrive Johannesburg, remainder of the day is at leisure.

Overnight: Fairlawns Boutique Hotel

Meals: R

See Nelson Mandela’s home, Hector Pieterson Memorial, Apartheid Museum. Dinner, with hotel credit, at leisure at hotel.

Overnight: Fairlawns Boutique Hotel

Meals: B, L, D

Fly to Kasane, Botswana, then transfer to the Chobe River, entering Namibia. Board the Zambezi Queen and enjoy game viewing.

Overnight: Zambezi Queen

Meals: B, L, D

Enjoy river-based safaris for game viewing.

Overnight: Zambezi Queen

Meals: B, L, D

Enjoy river-based safaris for game viewing.

Overnight: Zambezi Queen

Meals: B, L, D

Transfer to Chobe National Park, then transfer to Zimbabwe and Victoria Falls.

Overnight: Victoria Falls Hotel

Meals: B, L

Morning excursion to Victoria Falls, remainder of day at leisure.

Overnight: Victoria Falls Hotel

Meals: B, D

Fly to Cape Town. Afternoon discussion and introduction to Cape Town with David Bristow.

Overnight: V&A Waterfront Hotel

Meals: B

Discover the history of Robben Island and enjoy spectacular views from Table Mountain.

Overnight: V&A Waterfront Hotel

Meals: B

Visit Boulders Beach in Simonstown, explore Cape Point.

Overnight: V&A Waterfront Hotel

Meals: B, L, D

Travel the Stellenbosch Wine Route. Enjoy winetasting, special arranged lunch with wine pairings.

Overnight: V&A Waterfront Hotel

Meals: B, L

Fly to Skukusa Airport, transfer to Mala Mala Private Game Reserve. Afternoon game viewing.

Overnight: Mala Mala

Meals: B, L, D

Morning and afternoon game drives.

Overnight: Mala Mala

Meals: B, L, D

After morning game drive, transfer to Skukusa Airport. Depart for Johannesburg, then transfer to international flights.

Meals: B

Arrive in the U.S.

Pricing

Category

Double Occupancy

(Per Person)

Single Occupancy
Category A Suite, Main Deck (27) $12,795 N/A
Category B Suite, Lower Deck (12, 13) $12,995 $19,490
Category B Suite, Main Deck (22, 23, 24, 26, 28, 29) $12,995 $19,490
Category C Luxury Suite, Lower Deck (10, 11) $14,595 N/A
Category C Luxury Suite, Main Deck (20, 21) $14,595 N/A

*On-tour flights are priced separately and are estimated at $1,250 per person (subject to change)

Accommodations

  • Two nights at Fairlawns Boutique Hotel
  • Three nights aboard Zambezi Queen
  • Two nights at Victoria Falls Hotel
  • Four nights at V&A Waterfront Hotel
  • Two nights at Mala Mala

What to Expect

Activity Level 3

This is a full, moderately strenuous program that is at times physically demanding and busy and requires you to be in good health and able to keep up with the group without assistance from tour staff. In order to make the most of what each locale has to offer, days will generally be long, with the daily program often beginning early in the morning and continuing into the early evening. We will cover rugged terrain and walks on daily excursions can range from one to two miles, often on uneven terrain in the warm sun, where handrails are not available. During the time in Johannesburg and Cape Town, travel will be by modern, air-conditioned motor coaches on paved roads. Land-based game drives will be by open-air safari vehicles, which can be dusty and bumpy, and that travelers will need to climb in and out of. The time spent at the game park includes early morning and late afternoon game drives, but there will be time midday to relax and enjoy a slower pace. Water-based game drives will be from small watercraft with chair-style seating; you will need to be able to get into and out of small watercraft with the assistance of tour staff and crew. Aboard the Zambezi Queen, there is no elevator, and you should feel comfortable walking on a rocking surface at times.


We will use commercial aircraft for the four on-tour flights: Johannesburg/Kasane, Victoria Falls/Cape Town, Cape Town/Skukuza, and Skukusa/Johannesburg.


Anyone with a serious medical condition or who has difficulty walking should not consider this trip. Please let us know if you have mobility issues that need special accommodation.


This promises to be a memorable journey, but as with all travel, a flexible attitude, a spirit of adventure, and a willingness to explore new areas will enhance your enjoyment of this program. You do not have to participate in all scheduled activities, except when traveling to the next destination. We are sure you will be pleased with the exciting educational program provided, but we want you to be aware of the pace and activity level.

Study Leader(s)

Monique and Philip Lehner Professor for the Study of Latin America; Former Director of the David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies; Curator of Entomology in the Museum of Comparative Zoology

Mode of Travel

The Zambezi Queen offers a truly intimate, sophisticated and elegant small river ship experience while retaining the essence of all that is distinctively African.

For More Information

Please email haatravels@harvard.edu or call our office at 800-422-1636 or 617-496-0806.