A deeply human journey into the heart and soul of Africa and its people.

Mali’s Tuareg and Dogon Peoples • Togo’s Voodoo Markets & Villages • Benin’s Medieval Somba Tribe • The Namibia Coast • Cape Town, South Africa • The Island of Madagascar • Victoria Falls, Zambia • Serengeti Plain, Tanzania • Fez, Morocco

24 Days Africa Private Jet Tour Itinerary

Day 1
Depart U.S.A.
Depart on individual overnight flights to London.

Day 2
London, UK
Meet fellow travelers, lecturers and expedition staff at our deluxe hotel for a welcome reception and dinner.

Africa 2008: Day 3
Mopti, Mali
We board our private jet, bound for our first exotic stop: Mali. Aboard a brightly painted pirogue we explore its waterways, which teem with a colorful profusion of traders in the river markets.

Day 4
Djenné & Timbuktu OR Dogon Country, Mali
Choose from two intriguing options. Follow a jumble of narrow streets to explore Djenné's mud-brick mosques and houses, then visit the remote Saharan outpost of Timbuktu in the afternoon. Or travel to remote Dogon villages of multi-story mud and stone houses built into sheer cliffs.

Day 5
Togo
Enter the birthplace of vodun (voodoo) in Togo. In a village near the capital of Lomé we visit an extraordinary fetish market filled with elaborate statues as well as herbs, skulls, and animal parts used to prepare traditional medicines

Day 6
Benin
Aboard our private jet we take a day trip to Togo's rarely-visited north to see the fortified adobe castle-homes of Tamberma villagers, who honor us with traditional dances. We cross into Benin to visit the Somba people, whose daily lives have changed little since the Middle Ages. Truly off the beaten path, we have a rare chance for cultural exchange with members of both tribes.

Day 7
Coastal Namibia
Namibia harbors a wealth of beauty and history, from the colonial charm of Swakopmund to the hundreds of flamingos in the lagoon of Walvis Bay. Customize your time here with many options.

Day 8
Coastal Namibia
Cruise Walvis Bay, often escorted by dolphins and pelicans, to discover Cape Fur seals; take a sightseeing flight over the great red dunes of the Namib desert; traverse the lunar hills and valleys carved by the Swakop River on a geologist-guided exploration, or search for a fascinating plant that can live for up to 2,000 years.

Day 9
Cape Town, South Africa
One way to explore dramatic Cape Town is via a scenic helicopter flight along the coast to Cape Point to explore the dramatic landscape where two oceans meet, and a visit to an African penguin colony to walk among the nearly 3,000 birds on the shores of the South Atlantic.

Day 10
Cape Town, South Africa
You may prefer to visit the fascinating museum on Robben Island, infamous as the prison where Nelson Mandela was held for 18 years, and ride the cable car to the summit of Table Mountain for an unsurpassed view of the city. As another option, travel into South Africa's world-famous wine country and sample vintages at several wineries.

Day 11
Madagascar
There's nowhere quite like Madagascar. Choose to visit remote Anjajavy with its beautiful beaches, deep-sea fishing, and water sports, where you see Coquerel's sifaka and brown lemurs, baobab trees, unique birds, chameleons, geckos, and frogs.

Day 12
Madagascar
A second option is to trek through the rugged eastern mountain rainforest to see Malagasy wildlife and hear the eerie sound of the Indri, the largest lemur, in Perinet Reserve.

Day 13
Madagascar
Your third option is to explore Berenty Reserve with its profusion of lemurs in the southern spiny desert, taking guided night walks that reveal the tiny mouse lemur, as well as birds, carnivorous plants, and reptiles.

Day 14
Victoria Falls, Zambia
Here on the Zambian border, the mile-wide Zambezi River plunges 350 feet into a narrow chasm, creating one of the world's most magnificent sights. On arrival take a sunset cruise on the Zambezi River.

Day 15
Victoria Falls, Zambia
You may choose to take a “Flight of the Angels” for a bird's-eye perspective. Or visit a nearby Zambian village to experience daily life. The afternoon brings further options when you may embark upon a river safari, try a game drive or, water levels permitting, venture out to Livingstone Island from where the famous explorer first sighted the falls.

Day 16
Serengeti Plain, Tanzania
Each year with the coming of the rains, millions of wildebeests and zebras gather on the Serengeti Plain to calve and begin their 500-mile seasonal migration north in search of new grazing lands. Vast herds are stalked by lions, cheetahs, leopards, and hyenas.

Day 17
Serengeti Plain, Tanzania
Our time here is filled with game drives to search out and photograph the abundant wildlife on the Serengeti. We also anticipate seeing elephants, hippos, giraffes, buffaloes, gazelles, and many other species.

Day 18
Wildlife of Uganda or Rwanda
Discover the charms of this green, biologically diverse region of Africa on your choice of small-group activities designed to bring you close to remarkable wildlife.

Day 19
Wildlife of Uganda or Rwanda
Go on safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park to see hundreds of hippos as well as pelicans, kingfishers, cormorants, and saddlebill storks. The park encompasses thousands of square miles of untouched wilderness, from low-lying riverine all the way to the otherworldly Mountains of the Moon.

Day 20
Wildlife of Uganda or Rwanda
Or choose to trek through the rain forest in search of magnificent mountain gorillas in Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park or Rwanda's Parc National des Volcans. The very fit travelers who choose this strenuous option will stay in basic, comfortable eco-lodges and spend their days exploring the lovely, mountainous terrain.

Day 21
Imperial City of Fez, Morocco
One of the largest living medieval cities in the world, the vast medina of Old Fez is enclosed within magnificent gates and walls. Labyrinthine streets reveal a rich visual fabric of mosques, medrasas (Islamic seminaries), palaces, and fountains.

Day 22
Imperial City of Fez, Morocco
Depending on your interests, your guided walk through the medina might include the 9th-century Karaouine Mosque and University; fascinating traditional tanneries; the shrine of Fez's founder, Sultan Moulay Idriss II; a traditional pottery co-op; or the Borj-Nord weapons museum near the ramparts of the 15th-century fort.

Day 23
Return to London
After breakfast, depart Fez for London on the last leg of our private jet journey. Arriving in the afternoon, transfer to our deluxe hotel, where we enjoy dinner and overnight.

Day 24
Depart London for Home
Following breakfast at the hotel, return home on regularly scheduled commercial flights.

Accommodations

United Kingdom

Four Seasons Hotel, London
Set back from Park Lane and Hyde Park and a short walk from Mayfair, Bond Street, Piccadilly and Knightsbridge, the hotel features immaculate rooms, impeccable service, a state-of-the-art gym and one of the city's favorite restaurants. Nearby attractions include Buckingham Palace, Churchill's WWII bunker and the Wellington Arch.

Mali

Relais Kanaga, Mopti
Built in 1981, this is Mopti's finest hotel, located on the Niger River near the center of town. Air-conditioned guest rooms are comfortable and all have private bathrooms with shower. The Kanaga features one of the few swimming pools in the country and a very good restaurant.

Togo & Benin

Mecure Sarakawa Hotel, Lome
The hotel sits amid 60 acres of coconut palms and hundreds of tropical flower species. Guests enjoy the Olympic-sized swimming pool, three tennis courts, jogging track and petanque court. All guest rooms are air-conditioned and outfitted with modern amenities.

Namibia

Swakopmund Hotel, Swakopmund
This German-colonial-style hotel is built around a renovated 1907 railroad station and features a rustic German-theme tavern, cinema, small shopping arcade and casino. The courtyard comes complete with a pair of dolphin fountains. Colorful guest rooms are decorated with blond woods, wicker, and blue and yellow accents.

South Africa

The Mount Nelson Hotel, Cape Town
This magnificent, palm-ringed, pink structure at the foot of Table Mountain is one of the world's memorable hotels, rich in colonial elegance and attentive service. Charming lounges, patios, gardens and porches abound. Guest rooms are all air-conditioned and beautifully appointed, and no two are alike. Tennis and squash courts are open day and night.

Madagascar

Hilton Hotel, Antananarivo
One of the finest hotel properties in the city, the Hilton overlooks Lake Anosy. Guest rooms are air-conditioned and feature warm colors with Malagasy accents. Each room has a view of Lake Anosy or the outdoor pool – Tana’s largest. Leisure facilities also include tennis and a fitness club with whirlpool, sauna, massage and Turkish bath.

AND

Anjajavy-l’Hôtel
Built on a peninsula over a wide bay and backed by more than 1,000 acres of nature reserve, this resort blends into its beautiful surroundings. Each of the solid rosewood, palm-roofed villas has a large patio overlooking the sea. The Oasis, a garden designed by a famous Parisian landscaper, features a wide variety of Malagasy plants and animals.
 
OR

Vakona Forest Lodge
Accommodations at the Vakona Lodge consist of comfortable bungalows with mini bar and en suite bathroom with hot water. The lounge/game and open restaurant are built around a fireplace. Board games, snooker table, swimming pool, horse riding and table tennis are available.

 OR

Gite de Berenty Lodge
Spacious wooden chalets dot the landscape in Madagascar’s most famous reserve. Each chalet has its own bathroom. The lodge has a lovely tea garden where guests relax, enjoy lunch and watch the activity of several lemur species including ringtails, browns and Verreaux’ sifakas. 

Zambia

The Royal Livingstone Hotel, Victoria Falls
A new 5-star luxury hotel, the Royal Livingstone is minutes away from Victoria Falls. Featuring refined colonial architecture inspired by the grand estate houses still found in Zambia, its large shaded verandahs are cooled by swirling fans and floor-to-ceiling shutters. Each guest room is air conditioned with a private balcony or terrace.

Tanzania

Serengeti Sopa Lodge
This game lodge in the southwestern section of the park is nestled into a wooded hillside. Large public areas with murals and double-height windows face the plains and provide many wildlife-viewing areas. Accommodations include sitting areas, bedrooms with two queen beds and views out to the plains.

Uganda/Rwanda

Serena Hotel, Kampala (Uganda)
Each of the Serena’s guest rooms, individually re-styled in 2005, features a unique blend of colors, décor and artifacts. Serene public areas showcase the skills of Uganda’s celebrated wood-carvers with the inspiration of her weavers. A state-of-the-art health spa offers a wide range of relaxation options.

AND

Mweya Lodge, Queen Elizabeth National Park (Uganda)
Mweya Lodge commands beautiful views of Queen Elizabeth National Park and the Ruwenzori Mountains. The lodge has been completely renovated with spacious air-conditioned guest rooms with balconies, as well as a restaurant and bar area. From the infinity pool, guests can watch buffalo, antelope, and elephant drinking from the channel.
  
 OR

Virunga Lodge, Parc National des Volcans (Rwanda)
The Virunga Lodge, opened in 2004, is set on the tallest hill overlooking Bulera Lake, the Virunga volcanoes and terraced farmlands. Guests stay in comfortable bandas with modern amenties. The lodge offers gorilla tracking in the park where Dian Fossey conducted her research.

OR

Gorillas Nest Lodge, Ruhengeri
Gorillas Nest Lodge, nestled in a clearing of eucalyptus trees in the green hills of northern Rwanda, is just a few kilometers from a rare mountain gorilla park. The rustic but well constructed lodge has Rwandan grass thatched roofs. Comfortable guest rooms are set amid gardens, and feature original artwork and en-suite bathrooms. The grounds include a volcano-view golf course and clubhouse.

Morocco

Sofitel Palais Jamai, Fez
This opulent 1879 property, once the palace of the Grand Vizier, towers above the medina inside the walls of the old city. Public rooms are distinguished by carved wood, elaborate plasterwork, mosaics and ornate painted ceilings. Guest rooms have richly painted furniture and handsome mosaic-tiled baths with full amenities.