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7 days - Cape Town, then Victoria Falls

Cape Town and the Cape Peninsula then Victoria Falls

Seven days from Cape Town and the Cape Peninsula to Victoria Falls for a helicopter flight, a Zambezi sunset cruise and a Chobe National Park day trip.

2 Countries
2 Stops
6 Nights
Medium to Luxury Service level
  • The storyThe headline tells the journey in a few lines, one after another.
  • At a glanceThe figures beneath it are the essential facts of the trip.
  • The legsRead the images left to right: each panel is one leg, in the order you travel it, and each is set out in full below.

The journey

When to go

Cape Town weather
Victoria Falls water
Chobe game viewing
Cape Town weather Victoria Falls water Chobe game viewing Avoid
March Primary window

Warm, calm days and thinner crowds, one of the best months for the Peninsula. Close to peak flow with heavy spray; the rains ease. Rains linger and the park is green, with birdlife at its best.

Birding season Settled weather

The route

Cape Town Victoria Falls
01

South Africa

Cape Town and the Cape Peninsula, with a private city tour and a full-day Cape Point drive.

Upon arrival in Cape Town, an Iconic Expeditions representative will greet you at the airport and take you to your city accommodation. You’ll have the afternoon and evening to spend at your leisure, with our team only too happy to make restaurant recommendations and reservations.

Breakfast. Private Morning or Afternoon City Tour – Pick up from your hotel for a private half-day guided tour of Cape Town, a city rich in history and multiethnic culture. Explore City Hall, the Castle of Good Hope (South Africa’s oldest surviving building), Company’s Garden, and Signal Hill with panoramic city views. Take the aerial cableway up Table Mountain for spectacular vistas of Table Bay, Robben Island, Lion’s Head, and the Atlantic coast. Marvel at the mountain’s biodiversity, spot rock hyrax (dassie), enjoy a bite at the summit restaurant, or browse the curio shop. The cableway only operates when the weather permits.

Breakfast. Private Cape Peninsula Tour – Pick up from your hotel for a full-day, privately guided tour exploring the dramatic Atlantic and Indian Ocean coastlines. Your first stop is at the charming fishing village of Hout Bay, set in a picturesque valley on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. Then continue along the Atlantic coast to the Cape of Good Hope Reserve and Cape Point, the southwesternmost tip of Africa and the mythical meeting place of the two great oceans. On the return trip, pass through the naval base of Simon's Town and then traverse the fishing port of Kalk Bay and the lush suburb of Constantia. The day will end with a visit to the renowned Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens before returning to your hotel.

02

Zimbabwe

Victoria Falls, with a helicopter flight, a sunset cruise and a Chobe day trip into Botswana.

Breakfast. Transfer Hotel to Airport for flight to Victoria Falls (not included, but we can book). Flight Cape Town – Victoria Falls and transfer to a hotel. An afternoon cruise on the Zambezi River. A sunset cruise on the Zambezi is the only way to end the day in Victoria Falls. On River Song, you can enjoy the scenery and the wildlife of the Zambezi in the lap of luxury. Relax on one of our sofas or comfortable chairs as the sunsets on one of the most beautiful and picturesque rivers in the world. Sightings of hippos, elephants, and crocodiles are common on the river. With a bar on each deck and attentive waiting staff, you will never have to wait for a drink. The staff will also serve you a selection of delicious hor oeuvres throughout the cruise.

Breakfast.

Victoria Falls Guided Tour (approx. 2.5 hours) – Feel the power and majesty of Victoria Falls, a true natural wonder.

Flight of Angels (12–13 min) – Take a helicopter flight for stunning aerial views of the Falls, Batoka Gorge, Victoria Falls Bridge, and Zambezi National Park. Every seat has an uninterrupted view.

Royal Livingstone Express – Watch the sunset over the Falls from the Victoria Falls Bridge, followed by a gourmet 5-course dinner.

Chobe Day Trip Starting from Victoria Falls a Chobe day trip takes you into one of the most impressive National Parks in the world. Chobe National Park, only an hour from Victoria Falls and Livingston, offers a unique opportunity to view some of the best games in Africa. Home to the world’s largest elephant population the park is also known for its large pride of lions and huge buffalo herds, you might also be lucky enough to see the elusive leopard. For birders, Chobe is a delight and is home to over 460 bird species. Interestingly the Chobe River is one of the only rivers in the world that flows in two directions, in the dry season the river flows east but in the rainy season, the Zambezi River pushes upstream to reverse the flow of the river west. The trip is divided into two parts: A morning boat cruise, with game viewing from the Chobe river, and an afternoon game drives through the national park. Each activity lasts for 3 hours and in between clients get a buffet lunch at a local hotel.
Breakfast. Transfer to Victoria Falls Airport. End of our service.

The detail

About this trip

This 7-Day South Africa tour includes the most interesting activities. The programme is so intense that every day is set to be a great experience. You will begin your journey by exploring Cape Town's sights and visiting the most extreme point of South Africa at the meeting point of the spirit of the oceans. Then the spectacular adventure awaits you at Victoria Falls. You will have the opportunity to see the most beautiful angles of this wonder of the world, as well as add a little extreme to your holiday. At the end of the trip, the scenery changes to savannah, and you spend the day watching the wildlife of Africa in Chobe National Park.

What is included

  • Cape Town City Tour – Discover the multicultural charm of the Mother City.
  • Kirstenbosch Gardens – Stroll through lush botanical landscapes.
  • Guided Victoria Falls Tour – Experience the sheer power and beauty of one of the world’s great waterfalls.
  • Helicopter “Flight of Angels” – Get spectacular aerial views of the Falls, Batoka Gorge & Victoria Falls Bridge.
  • Chobe National Park Day Trip – Game viewing from a boat and a 4×4 drive through Africa’s elephant-rich wilderness.

What is not included

  • International flights (From/ home)
  • Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
  • Tips (Tipping guideline US$10.00 pp per day)
  • Personal items (Souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
  • Increase in taxes and/or fees for parks set by the government
  • Some meals (As specified in the day-by-day section)

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

When is the best time for Cape Town and Victoria Falls?
March and April score highest: the Cape has warm, calm days, and the falls are at or close to peak flow with heavy spray. For Chobe game viewing alone, June to October is strongest, but Cape Town is wettest and coolest from June to August and the falls run lower from September.
What is the Victoria Falls day like?
Day 5 has a guided falls tour of about two and a half hours, the Flight of Angels helicopter flight of 12 to 13 minutes, and the Royal Livingstone Express with a sunset view from the Victoria Falls Bridge and a five-course dinner. Spray is heaviest in the high-water months, so carry a rain jacket and a dry bag for your camera.
What is included in the Cape Town and Victoria Falls trip?
The trip covers a Cape Town city tour, Kirstenbosch Gardens, a guided Victoria Falls tour, the Flight of Angels helicopter flight and a Chobe National Park day trip. Not included are international flights, extra accommodation before or after, tips, personal items such as souvenirs and travel insurance, and some meals as set out day by day.
Do I need a visa for the Chobe day trip?
You enter South Africa, then Zimbabwe, and cross into Botswana for Chobe, so carry your passport. Some travellers can use a KAZA UniVisa, where offered. Rules differ by nationality, so check current requirements with the embassy or your travel clinic.
Can you combine more than one country in a single trip?
Yes. Many of our journeys cross borders, for example Botswana with Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, or Cape Town with a safari and the Falls. Tell us the places you have in mind through the enquiry form and we will plan the route and transfers as one itinerary.
What meals are included on safari?
Meals depend on the camp or lodge and are set out in your itinerary. On safari they are usually taken at camp, with a picnic or packed meal on some days. Tell us about any dietary needs when you enquire.
Do I need vaccinations or medication before an African safari?
Health requirements depend on where you are travelling from and where you are going, and they change. Check your country's official travel health advice or TravelHealthPro (travelhealthpro.org.uk), and see a travel clinic well before you depart. Ask about malaria prevention early.
What should I pack for an African safari?
Lightweight, breathable clothing that covers your arms and legs helps against sun and insects, in neutral colours. Bring comfortable closed shoes (boots if you will walk), a hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, binoculars and a camera with spare batteries and memory cards. Your itinerary lists any luggage limits for charter flights.
How do I stay safe on safari?
Your guides brief you on how to behave around wildlife. Follow their instructions, stay in the vehicle or camp area as told, and never approach or disturb animals. Conditions differ by country and change over time, so check your government's current travel advice before you book and again before you travel.
What is a typical day on safari?
A safari day usually has an early game drive, time to rest at camp in the heat of the day, and an afternoon activity before sundowners and dinner. Some camps add walks, boat trips or cultural visits. Your itinerary sets out the plan for each day.

On this trip

Photographs from the route, not stock library scenery.

7-Day South Africa: Cape Town & Victoria Falls
Historic harbourfront building and sailing boats under a pink sunset sky with a Ferris wheel

Book it in this order

Work down the list. Each step depends on the one above it.

Field notes

The practical detail that decides whether a trip runs smoothly.

Table Mountain

The cableway runs only when the weather allows. If it is closed on day 2, we try to move the visit to another day.

Cape Point day

The full-day tour follows both coasts: Hout Bay, Cape Point, Simon’s Town, Kalk Bay and Constantia. It ends at Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens.

Zambezi sunset cruise

The afternoon cruise on day 4 serves drinks and canapés, and hippos, elephants and crocodiles are often seen. Bring a layer for the breeze on the water.

The falls and the helicopter

The guided tour takes about two and a half hours and the helicopter flight 12 to 13 minutes. Spray is heaviest in the high-water months, so carry a rain jacket and a dry bag for your camera.

Chobe day trip

Day 6 combines a morning river cruise with an afternoon game drive. The park is about an hour from Victoria Falls, and you cross a border, so carry your passport.

Tipping

Tip your guides and drivers at the end of each service. Your final documents include a general guide.

Plan this journey

Make this trip your own

Every journey is planned around your dates and your party. Tell us who is travelling and when, and a specialist will come back with a tailored itinerary and a quote. Payment is by invoice.

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