A&K Sanctuary Botswana and Victoria Falls

Livingstone is the gateway to Victoria Falls, Africa’s most jaw-dropping natural wonder. Just upstream from the falls, the rustic-chic treehouses of Sussi & Chuma Lodge, an A&K Sanctuary occupy a blissfully peaceful spot on a bend in the Zambezi River, where hippos wallow and graze among the jackalberry trees. After your flight touches down in Livingstone, settle into your private tree house and relax before a boat cruise with game viewing this afternoon.

The local Lozi name it the “Smoke that Thunders” — a wholly fitting epithet for Africa’s liquid marvel, where the Zambezi River roars 300 feet down a chasm on its zigzagging course between Zambia and Zimbabwe. Set out on a guided walking tour of the falls, taking in the magnificent rainbows and towers of mist as the Zambezi tumbles into the chasm below, before delving into the wildlife-rich forests of Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park on a shared game drive and visiting Nakatindi Village to see a local project supported by A&K Philanthropy.

Next up is Chobe National Park, a great patchwork of deep, dense forest, sprawling wetlands and zebra-grazed grasslands. Be it at dawn or dusk, wildlife photographers come in the hope of spotting the park’s starry cast of wildlife. Journey overland to your lodge arriving in time for lunch. Settle in and relax before afternoon game viewing. Chobe Chilwero Lodge is a luxurious retreat in the heart of the bush, located on the edge of Chobe National Park, with panoramic views over the Chobe River and floodplain below.

Start your day early with a hot beverage before joining your guide for a morning game drive. Watch as the animals stir to life and start their day. Elephants are the main event here, with over 120,000 roaming the wilds of Chobe, though hippos, impala, African wild dogs and vultures make welcome appearances against the burning orange skies. Return for a late breakfast and a well-deserved siesta. Late in the afternoon, take off on an afternoon game drive ending with a bush sundowner, set to a backdrop of wide-open parkland.

From Kasane Airport, fly by bush plane to Baines' Lodge in the Okavango Delta in time for lunch. Afterward, head out on a game drive for your first encounter with the incredible biological diversity supported by this vast seasonal wetland, the largest inland delta in the world, which attracts species from the entire region. Along with elephants, lions and Cape buffalo, cheetahs and spotted hyenas also make the scene, and your adept expert guide keeps you in the heart of the action.

Venture out on morning and afternoon game drives to watch nature’s drama play out before your eyes. You may opt to swap out one drive for a walking safari or a seasonal mokoro excursion — gliding quietly among the channels of water, watching hippos, frogs and more — or enhance your evening with a night drive followed by some guided stargazing, all activities included with your stay, and in some cases only possible because Baines' Lodge is located on a private concession.

Fly by bush plane to your next stay, extraordinary Chief’s Camp, located on an island in Moremi Game Reserve, possibly the most wildlife-rich region in all of Africa. Widely acknowledged as the “Predator Capital of Africa,” this is one of the best places in Botswana to see big game — lions, leopards, elephants and Cape buffalo. The camp features ten stylish bush pavilions each with a private dining area, tranquil outside seating area and a terrace pool — all perfect for absorbing the surrounding plains and majestic African skies. View game with your experienced guides or watch life unfold from your private viewing deck.

Plenty of activities are at your discretion today, such as embarking on games drives that find you observing a leopard resting calmly on a tree branch or a crocodile slipping quietly from a river bank. Set out on a mokoro ride or stay in camp and pamper yourself with a spa treatment, refreshing and recharging from your many adventures.

Devote the last full day of your safari to exploring this one-of-a-kind ecosystem known for its varied terrains that are home to a vast number of animals, including hippos, lions, elephants, buffalo, wildebeests, cheetahs and many bird species.

Fly to Maun where you connect to your departing flight.