Southern Africa
David Livingstone's Africa
Begin in Cape Town, where Livingstone first arrived in Africa in 1841, before continuing to the great waterfall that he named. End in the wilderness of Botswana's Okavango Delta, exploring the waterways and landscapes that captivated Livingstone.
9days
Dates, route and final price are confirmed personally.
Trip highlights
What this trip includes.
- 01
Discover Cape Town, where David Livingstone first arrived in Africa before beginning his extraordinary travels into the continent's interior.
- 02
Explore the Cape Peninsula and some of the spectacular landscapes that formed Livingstone's first impressions of southern Africa.
- 03
Continue to Victoria Falls, following in the footsteps of the explorer who became the first European to record the great waterfall.
- 04
Experience Mosi-oa-Tunya, or 'The Smoke That Thunders', from viewpoints, on the river and from the air.
- 05
Fly into Botswana's Okavango Delta and explore one of Africa's last great wildernesses.
- 06
End with three nights on safari, discovering the waterways, wildlife and remote landscapes of the Okavango.
The route
Your route at a glance.
Day by Day
Your suggested itinerary.
Every detail can be adjusted after your planning conversation.
Arrive in Cape Town and meet your private driver for the transfer to your hotel.
David Livingstone arrived in the Cape Colony in March 1841, beginning a relationship with Africa that would define the rest of his life. Over the following three decades, he would travel thousands of miles through parts of the continent then largely unknown to Europeans.
Settle into your hotel and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure, with Table Mountain rising above one of the world's most spectacular cities.
Photo: Marlin Clark
Spend the day exploring the spectacular Cape Peninsula with your private guide.
Travel along the Atlantic coast towards Cape Point, passing through dramatic mountain and ocean scenery before continuing towards the Cape of Good Hope. Stop to explore Simon's Town and the penguin colony at Boulders Beach before returning to Cape Town via Chapman's Peak Drive.
Photo: Martijn Vonk
Spend the day exploring Cape Town with your private guide, beginning with a cable car ride to the summit of Table Mountain for spectacular views across the city, Table Bay and the surrounding mountains.
Return to the city to explore its historic heart, including the Company's Garden, Greenmarket Square and the colourful streets of Bo-Kaap. Depending on your interests, your guide can also incorporate landmarks such as the Castle of Good Hope and District Six, providing a deeper insight into the complex history of South Africa's oldest city.
Photo: Martijn Vonk
Fly north to Victoria Falls, arriving in the town named after the waterfall that made Livingstone famous around the world.
In November 1855, Livingstone reached Mosi-oa-Tunya — 'The Smoke That Thunders' — while travelling down the Zambezi with the support of the Makololo people. The falls were, of course, long known to local communities; Livingstone later named them Victoria Falls after Queen Victoria. Settle into your hotel and enjoy the remainder of the afternoon at leisure.
Photo: Ed Wingate
Spend a full day exploring Victoria Falls and the surrounding Zambezi River.
Walk through the rainforest along the edge of the falls, stopping at viewpoints where the Zambezi plunges into the narrow gorge below. Later, take to the river for a sunset cruise, following the waters that carried Livingstone towards one of the greatest discoveries of his life.
Depending on your interests, the day can also include a scenic helicopter flight for a spectacular perspective of the falls and the Zambezi River.
Photo: Eden Constantino
Transfer to Kasane airport for your flight into the Okavango Delta. Arrive at your remote safari camp and settle into the rhythm of the wilderness. Depending on your arrival time, head out on your first safari activity, perhaps gliding through the channels by mokoro or exploring the surrounding landscape on foot. Return to camp as the sun sets over the Delta.
Photo: Wynand Uys
Wake to the sounds of the African bush and spend a full day exploring the Okavango Delta.
Depending on water levels and the location of your camp, activities may include mokoro excursions through reed-lined channels, guided walks or boat safaris. Keep an eye out for elephants, hippos, crocodiles and the extraordinary birdlife that thrives in this unique wetland wilderness. Between activities, relax at camp and enjoy the sense of complete remoteness.
Photo: Ed Wingate
Enjoy another full day on safari in the Okavango.Set out in the early morning as the bush comes alive, returning to camp during the heat of the day before heading out again in the afternoon. Depending on your camp's location, explore by vehicle, mokoro, boat or on foot.
It is this sense of discovery — travelling slowly through a vast and unfamiliar landscape — that perhaps comes closest to the spirit of Livingstone's great African journeys.
Enjoy a final morning in the wilderness before your light aircraft flight back to Maun and your onward journey.
"People talk of the sacrifice I have made in spending so much of my life in Africa. It is emphatically no sacrifice. Say rather it is a privilege."
— David Livingstone
Ready when you are
