South Africa/Zambia/Botswana
Lions, Hippos & Zebras, Oh My! An African Safari With Your Family
Program No. 20948RJ
Search for amazing animals in their natural habitat, make friends with rescued elephants and learn to track wildlife as you explore South Africa, Botswana and Zambia with your family.
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Protecting the Environment
We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Learn more
14 days
13 nights
33 meals
11B 11L 11D
1
In Transit to Program
In Flight
3
Lesedi Cultural Village, African Beading
Johannesburg
4
De Wildt Cheetah Centre, Bush Skills Course
Plumari Africa Game Reserve
5
Game Drives, Introduction to Predators
Plumari Africa Game Reserve
6
Elephant Interaction, Animal Tracking
Plumari Africa Game Reserve
7
Fly to Botswana, Chobe Boat Safari
Chobe National Park
8
Chobe National Park Safari
Chobe National Park
9
Game Drives, Termites
Chobe National Park
10
Transfer To Livingstone, Free Time
Livingstone (Victoria Falls)
11
Local School; Victoria Falls, Zambia; Sunset Boat Ride
Livingstone (Victoria Falls)
12
Art with Elephants; Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Livingstone (Victoria Falls)
14
In Transit From Program
In Flight
At a Glance
Picture it: Giraffes quietly grazing on leaves. Zebras basking in the warm sun. Cape buffalo staring at you with curiosity. And a wildlife expert teaching you about it all! Talk about the most amazing classroom of all time!! Alongside your family, you’ll step right into the “Lion King,” as you search for big cats on safaris through protected reserves. From experts, you’ll even learn what it takes to survive in the African wild as you get up close to the largest animal that calls this place home – an elephant!
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Walking up to two miles daily over uneven and potentially slippery terrain. Game drives over bumpy, dusty terrain in open safari vehicles. Elevations of 5,575 feet.
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.
Best of all, you’ll…
- Test your tracking skills both on foot and on expert-led game drives as you search for lions, rhinos, leopards and more.
- Grab your binoculars and keep your eyes peeled for wildlife during a sunset boat ride on the Zambezi River.
- Fall in love with Victoria Falls – one of the largest waterfalls on Earth!
General Notes
This is a Family program for participants, their adult children and grandchildren ages 10 and up. Please refer to the “Travel Information” section on the Road Scholar website, the start/end time listed in your first informational packet or contact the provider if you plan on booking your own flights for correct arrival and departure dates. Due to the nature of this program, listening devices are not available.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Lisa Reed
Lisa Reed was born in Zimbabwe, spent her school years in South Africa, and now lives in Botswana. She has worked or visited most Southern and East African safari destinations, and has managed safari camps on her own and with others since being in Botswana. Lisa has a natural affinity with adults and children, and enjoys passing on her years of experience and knowledge to the next generation. She has been leading safaris for Road Scholar for more than 15 years.
Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.
Lisa Reed
View biography
Lisa Reed was born in Zimbabwe, spent her school years in South Africa, and now lives in Botswana. She has worked or visited most Southern and East African safari destinations, and has managed safari camps on her own and with others since being in Botswana. Lisa has a natural affinity with adults and children, and enjoys passing on her years of experience and knowledge to the next generation. She has been leading safaris for Road Scholar for more than 15 years.
Honest Siyawareva
View biography
Growing up, Honest Siyawareva spent much of his life in close proximity to nature, thanks to his family’s passion. Fulfilling his family legacy — his father and uncle were both professional nature leaders — in 2014, Honest qualified as a professional nature leader in Zimbabwe, the only person to pass the extremely onerous examinations that year. Working for Wilderness Safaris in Zimbabwe, he has split his time between camps in Hwange National Park and Mana Pools National Park.
Chris Chiparaushe
View biography
Chris Chiparaushe was born in Zimbabwe and exposed to the bush from an early age when he herded cattle with his grandfather over school holidays. He learned a lot about animals, birds and plants from his grandfather, and knew from an early age that he wanted to work in hospitality. He studied tourism management in Victoria Falls and has been a professional leader since 1998. He is especially passionate about birding and astronomy and loves teaching travelers about Southern Africa’s rich history and culture.
Suggested Reading List
(13 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Lions, Hippos & Zebras, Oh My! An African Safari With Your Family
Program Number: 20948
It's Trevor Noah: Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood (Adapted for Young Readers)
Adapted for ages 10 and up, Trevor Noah gives a harrowing look at life in South Africa under apartheid and country's lurching entry into a post-apartheid reality. Noah is the most successful comedian in Africa and is the current host of the Emmy and Peabody Award-winning The Daily Show on Comedy Central.
Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood
A harrowing look at life in South Africa under apartheid and country's lurching entry into a post-apartheid reality told through the prism of Trevor Noah and his family. Noah is the most successful comedian in Africa and is the current host of the Emmy and Peabody Award-winning The Daily Show on Comedy Central.
David Livingstone: African Explorer
As one of the greatest explorers who ever lived, Livingstone's exciting exploits in Africa tell a story of unsurpassed courage and determination. Recommended for ages 10 - 14 years.
Cry, the Beloved Country
Considered one of the greatest works in South African literature, Cry, the Beloved Country details the state of racial affairs in South Africa through the story of a Zulu pastor, Stephen Kumalo, and the search for his son in Johannesburg who is accused of murdering the white social reformer Arthur Jarvis. Written before the implementation of the apartheid system, nevertheless, the novel would continue to carry profound resonance as a proxy for lessons concerning apartheid-era South Africa. Cry, the Beloved Country is a cry for South Africa; a cry for its land, people, and the hope for its freedom from hatred, fear, and poverty.
Lonely Planet Southern Africa
This hefty practical guide to the nine nations of southern Africa, including Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Swaziland (Eswatini), Malawi, Mozambique and Lesotho, is ideal for independent travelers on a multi-country tour.
Nelson Mandela: The Authorized Comic Book
The fantastic, heroic life of Nelson Mandela is brought to life in this graphic work. Nelson Mandela's "Long Road to Freedom" electrified the world in 1994 with the story of a solitary man who, despite unbelievable hardships, brought down one of the most despised regimes in the world. Fifteen years after the publication of the "Long Road to Freedom" comes this fully authorized graphic biography, relaying in picture form the life story of the world's greatest moral and political hero. Recommended for ages 10-14 years old.
The Last Elephants
African savanna elephants--among the most magnificent and beloved of our fellow mammals--are an extraordinary, social, and intelligent species. The Last Elephants, an homage to these animals and a clarion call for their preservation, is based upon a shocking finding: savanna elephant populations across Africa are being decimated, with two to three murdered every hour for their ivory. Without action, these elephants soon will vanish from our world. They are a species in imminent danger of extinction, and it is up to us to save them.
The Safari Companion
An encyclopedic guide to the behavior of Africa’s mammals by a noted scientist.
Long Walk to Freedom
An unpretentious tale of an extraordinary life. Mandela recounts the circumstances of his imprisonment and ultimately his successful drive to end Apartheid.
The Big Conservation Lie
This book takes the reader through Kenya’s conservation ‘industry’ and the players therein with all their prejudices, weaknesses and commitment to causes. It is a call to indigenous Africans to claim their place at the table where the management of their natural resources is being discussed, and invites well-meaning donors to look beyond the romantic images and detect the possible role of their money in the disenfranchisement of a people.
Out of Darkness, Shining Light
So begins Petina Gappah's powerful novel of exploration and adventure in nineteenth-century Africa—the captivating story of the loyal men and women who carried explorer and missionary Dr. Livingstone's body, his papers and maps, fifteen hundred miles across the continent of Africa, so his remains could be returned home to England and his work preserved there.
Whatever You Do, Don't Run: True Tales Of A Botswana Safari Guide
These safari stories are entertaining, humorous and educational. Enjoy true tales from top safari guide Peter Allison.
Southern Africa Wildlife, A Visitor's Guide
A popular, photographic guide to the mammals, birds, reptiles and habitats south of the Zambezi. With 300 color photographs and illuminating text.