12 Day Three Country Safari

Guests are met and welcomed on arrival at O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg and assisted with the short charter or scheduled flight into the Sabi Sand region, where the Three Country Safari begins. On landing at either a nearby airstrip or at Skukuza Airport, a lodge representative transfers you to Lion Sands River Lodge. Transfers from nearby airstrips are conducted in open safari vehicles, while transfers from Skukuza Airport are conducted in closed vehicles.

After settling into your suite and enjoying a relaxed high tea, you depart on an afternoon game drive in search of lion, elephant, rhinoceros, buffalo, and leopard, as well as the many antelope and smaller species that bring the savanna to life. As dusk falls, your ranger uses a spotlight to search for nocturnal wildlife on the way back to camp. Dinner is enjoyed at the lodge, with the sounds of the African night all around you.

Early morning and late afternoon game drives with an experienced ranger-and-tracker team fill your second day in the Sabi Sand. This private reserve, which shares an unfenced boundary with Kruger National Park, is renowned for frequent leopard sightings and close encounters with large herds of elephant, buffalo and other big game that move freely between the two protected areas.

After the morning safari and hearty brunch, you have time to relax on the deck, watch animals come to drink along the river or cool off in the pool. In the afternoon, another game drive explores a different section of the reserve before ending with sundowner drinks at a scenic viewpoint. A short night drive back to the lodge reveals the lesser-known nocturnal creatures that are rarely seen during daylight hours.

The ever-changing moods of this wilderness become more familiar as you spend another day exploring the Sabi Sand by vehicle and, conditions permitting, on foot. Morning drives often reveal predators still active in the cool hours, while plains game such as giraffe, wildebeest and various antelope graze in the open clearings.

Later, you may join a guided bush walk to focus on tracks, plants and birdlife that are often overlooked from a vehicle. Your guide interprets the signs of the bush and explains how each species plays its part in the broader ecosystem. The afternoon is again devoted to a relaxed game drive, ending with a final Sabi Sand sunset before returning to the lodge for a convivial dinner under the stars.

A last morning game drive offers a final opportunity to seek out any animals that have eluded you so far, followed by breakfast at the lodge. Afterwards you are transferred to the nearby airstrip for the flight back to Johannesburg, enjoying a last aerial view of the riverine woodlands and open savannas that characterize the Greater Kruger region.

On arrival at O. R. Tambo International Airport, you are met and transferred by road to Castello Di Monte, an elegant boutique hotel set on a hill in Pretoria. The remainder of the day is spent at leisure, with time to relax on the terrace, enjoy the views over the Jacaranda City or simply unwind in anticipation of the cross-border adventures that lie ahead.

After breakfast in Pretoria, you are transferred back to O.R. Tambo International Airport for the flight to Victoria Falls. On arrival you are met and taken on a guided visit to the world-famous waterfall, where the Zambezi River plunges into a narrow gorge in a dramatic curtain of spray. Depending on water levels, viewpoints offer sweeping vistas of one of Africa’s great natural wonders.

From Victoria Falls, a road transfer of about an hour leads to Matetsi River Lodge, situated in a large private conservation area along the Zambezi River upstream of the falls. Here, an exclusive-use wilderness provides excellent game viewing away from the crowds, with diverse wildlife and prolific birdlife along the riverbanks.

Today is devoted to exploring the Matetsi wilderness on morning and afternoon game drives in open 4x4 vehicles, accompanied by experienced rangers and trackers. The concession’s varied habitats support elephant, buffalo, lion and other large mammals, as well as smaller species that thrive in this protected corner of the Zambezi Valley.

Between drives, there is time to relax on the deck and watch the river flow past, or to join a guided bush walk that reveals the finer details of the environment – from tracks and insects to medicinal plants and bird calls. As night falls, conditions permitting, a drive after dark may offer sightings of nocturnal animals rarely seen by day. A relaxed dinner at the lodge rounds off another memorable day on safari.

After breakfast at Matetsi, you depart by road for the short cross-border journey into Botswana and the Chobe National Park. Formalities at the border are usually quick, and soon you are following the Chobe River toward Chobe Game Lodge, the only permanent lodge located inside the national park along the riverfront. Here, river views and abundant wildlife combine to create an iconic safari setting.

On arrival you settle into your room and enjoy lunch or afternoon tea before heading out on your first Chobe safari. Depending on conditions, this may be a game drive along the riverbank or a boat excursion that allows you to watch elephant, hippo and other animals from the water. As the sun sets over the river, you return to the lodge for dinner and a peaceful night in this renowned wildlife area.

A full day is set aside for game viewing in the Chobe National Park, which is famous for its dense concentrations of elephant and other big game. Morning game drives along the riverfront often reveal large herds of elephant, buffalo and various antelope coming to drink, while predators such as lion may be encountered patrolling the floodplains.

In the afternoon, a leisurely cruise on the Chobe River provides a different perspective, as you watch animals and prolific birdlife from the comfort of the boat. Crocodiles bask on the banks, hippos wallow in the shallows and fish eagles call from the trees. Returning to the lodge at dusk, you enjoy dinner and share stories of the day’s sightings with fellow travelers.

After breakfast, you are transferred to nearby Kasane Airport for a light aircraft flight into the Okavango Delta, one of Africa’s most extraordinary wilderness areas. As you fly over a mosaic of channels and islands, the scale and beauty of this inland delta become clear. On landing at the local airstrip, a lodge representative meets you for the short transfer by open 4x4 vehicle to Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge, set in a private concession bordering the Moremi Game Reserve.

Following a warm welcome and time to settle into your suite, you depart on an afternoon game drive to explore the surrounding woodland and seasonal floodplain habitats. The area supports a wide variety of wildlife, including elephants, lions, lechwe, giraffes, and abundant birdlife. As the sun sets, you pause for a sundowner stop before returning to the lodge for dinner beneath the African night sky.

The day is dedicated to safari activities within the private concession surrounding Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge. Morning and afternoon game drives in open 4x4 vehicles explore a mix of woodland and seasonal floodplain habitats that support a rich diversity of wildlife. Sightings may include elephant, lion, giraffe, lechwe, and a variety of plains game, along with abundant birdlife.

Between activities, time is available to relax at the lodge and enjoy the tranquil setting of the Okavango Delta. The elevated decks and surrounding wilderness provide an ideal vantage point to take in the sights and sounds of this unique ecosystem. As the day draws to a close, a sundowner stop during the afternoon drive offers a classic safari experience before returning to the lodge for dinner.

Your final full day in the Okavango Delta allows for more unhurried exploration of this remarkable ecosystem. Morning and afternoon game drives in open 4x4 vehicles offer excellent opportunities to encounter a wide range of wildlife, including elephant, lion, giraffe, lechwe, and numerous antelope species, as well as prolific birdlife.

A guided bush walk may also be enjoyed, subject to conditions, offering a closer look at tracks, plants, and the smaller details of the environment. As evening approaches, a final game drive and sundowner stop provide a fitting conclusion to your time in the delta. Dinner back at the lodge offers an opportunity to reflect on the highlights of your safari.

After a final morning activity and breakfast at the lodge, you are transferred by open 4x4 vehicle to the local airstrip for your scheduled light aircraft flight to Maun. On arrival, you connect with your onward flight to Johannesburg, where your journey continues.

As you travel onward, you carry with you the sights, sounds, and rhythms of the African bush — from early-morning calls and golden light across the landscape to unforgettable wildlife encounters. These experiences remain lasting and treasured memories, whether you return home or continue your travels in a new direction.