Private jet tour of Southern Africa

Touch down in Johannesburg following your overnight flight from the UK. After disembarking from your private jet, transfer to your home for the night, the Saxon Hotel. This boutique property, which has a fascinating connection to Nelson Mandela, is set amid four hectares of manicured gardens in the exclusive Sandhurst suburb. Settle in and rest up ahead of your exciting Southern Africa adventure. 

Fly by privately chartered aeroplane to Livingstone in Zambia. Continue on to Sanctuary Sussi and Chuma, where you will stay in a luxury tree house built into the riverside canopy. Each of the 12 treetop suites boasts a private viewing deck, air conditioning, mosquito nets and en-suite facilities, along with the little luxuries one would expect. At twilight, cruise the Zambezi River, sipping cocktails as you glide past pods of hippo for a most memorable sundowner. Gather this evening for a welcome dinner. 

Begin today with a guided walk on the Zambian side of Victoria Falls. One of the largest waterfalls on Earth, this spectacular destination is considered one of the seven wonders of the natural world. Afterwards, peruse a local craft market before enjoying a chef’s table experience as part of lunch. Appetites sated, your next stop is a school and clinic supported by A&K Philanthropy (AKP) in Nakatindi Village. Here you can gain insight into the local culture. While in Nakatindi, meet with local women entrepreneurs at an AKP-supported bike shop and bead-making enterprise. Return to camp for a cocktail followed by dinner. 

Fly by private charter to Maun, Botswana, transferring on arrival by light aircraft to the Okavango Delta, and continuing overland to Sanctuary Chief’s Camp. This luxury safari camp is situated in the Mombo Concession of the famous Moremi Game Reserve, nicknamed the “predator capital of the world” and one of the best places in Botswana to see the Big Five — the lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and Cape buffalo. Relax in your camp ahead of a thrilling afternoon safari drive.

Explore the reserve for the next two days, rising early for a safari drive through countryside where elephant, buffalo and impala, as well as lion and other predators, roam free. Each afternoon, set out to marvel at the incredible wildlife. On one of the days, you may wish to embark on a cruise aboard a mokoro – a traditional dug-out canoe. Glide quietly through tranquil delta waters, observing aquatic residents both large and small, from the frog to the hippo. Learn how this unique inland delta does not flood during the rainy season and how termites played a role in the formation of its islands, preventing it from becoming one vast lake. 

Return by light aircraft to Maun and board your private charter flight to Windhoek, Namibia. On arrival, transfer by light aircraft to Sossusvlei and continue to your luxury lodge for the night – andBeyond Sossusvlei. This collection of contemporary suites, each with a private plunge pool, promises a relaxing stay amid the stark drama of the Namib desert. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure. After dark, join the resident astronomer in the lodge’s state-of-the-art observatory and marvel at the sky’s stellar wonders. 

Today, discover renowned Sossusvlei, a place of otherworldly beauty. The salt-and-clay pan is surrounded by towering dunes that, together with the sky, make up the palette of burnt oranges and vivid blues that are so distinctive to the region. After an opportunity to climb ‘Big Daddy’ — the tallest of the dunes — return to your lodge for an afternoon at leisure. 

Rise early to explore the fascinating NamibRand, one of Southern Africa’s largest nature reserves. This landscape of inselbergs, dunes, mountains and sandy plains plays host to a variety of eye-catching creatures, including Burchell’s zebra, bat-eared fox, leopard, gazelle, caracal and Cape fox. Observe its unique desert-adapted plants and wildlife alongside experts, and learn about the efforts to conserve its four distinctive ecological habitats. This afternoon, you may opt to venture out for a guided trail-ride over the stark desert terrain by ATV. 

Fly by light aircraft to Windhoek, and then on to Cape Town via privately chartered aircraft. Upon arrival, check in to Ellerman House, a landmark boutique hotel within walking distance of Clifton beach, and enjoy the evening at leisure. The next day – weather permitting – visit Robben Island where the anti-apartheid leader and eventual president Nelson Mandela was imprisoned. Privately explore this moving UNESCO World Heritage Site, and view the cell in which Mandela was held. After lunch, drive to Table Mountain and, if the weather permits, ascend to its soaring plateau by cable car for spectacular views over the city and out to sea. 

Today is yours to spend as you wish. Perhaps enjoy the flavours of the nearby Winelands with a visit to Stellenbosch, where you can partake in wine and craft beer tastings. Alternatively, return to the Table Mountain area for an active hiking and biking experience; ascend Lion’s Head mountain on foot, breaking for lunch on trendy Bree Street, before cycling along the Sea Point Promenade. Or take in a little culture with a tour of Cape Town’s art scene, moving from the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa, to the colourful Bo-Kaap district, and finishing at a graffiti art project engaging local artists.  

Discover rugged Cape Point, the mountainous promontory at the southern tip of Africa. Venture beyond the ‘bikini beaches’ at the base of the Twelve Apostles Mountains, past Hout Bay with its bustling fishing harbour, and over Chapman’s Peak Drive. Explore the Cape Peninsula and Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, home to rare species. Ascend by funicular to the pinnacle at Cape Point for some stunning views. At Boulders Beach, visit the colony of endangered African penguins.

Spend the morning at leisure, before boarding your private transfer to the airport. Embark on your overnight return flight by private jet.