Birding for Beginners: A Southern African Safari

Courtyard Hotel Eastgate

2 nights  Johannesburg

The Courtyard Hotel, a beautifully appointed, Tuscan-themed hotel, is located only 15 minutes from the Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport in a very secure area. The hotel overlooks a landscaped greenbelt with walking path. The Eastgate Shopping Centre is nearby, hosting many shops and restaurants. There is a complimentary shuttle to the shopping center offered between 7:00pm to 10:00pm each evening.       

The River Club

2 nights  Livingstone

The River Club, set on 50 acres of tranquil gardens along the banks of the Zambezi River, is a full-service lodge located just 11 miles from Victoria Falls and the town of Livingstone. Each of the lodge's 11 private suites are nestled amongst the trees and have open sitting areas offering guests breathtaking views overlooking the Zambezi River and across to Zambezi National Park, home to an array of wildlife and birds. The River Club's small size and commitment to hospitality affords guests an intimate and authentic local experience.         

Imbabala Zambezi Safari Lodge

3 nights  Zambezi National Park

The Imbabala Zambezi Safari Lodge is a beautiful thatched lodge resting by the Zambezi River in Zimbabwe. Due to its border with the Chobe Forest Reserve, Imbabala is a regular stop for elephant herds. The lodge features a lounge, dining room, and bar area but meals are often served outside by a hospitable staff. Rooms are stone and thatch mini-lodges with breathtaking views of the Zambezi River and a watering hole where animals often congregate. During the day guests can take advantage of morning and afternoon game drives, river safaris, walking safaris, fishing safaris, and more. Imbabala has an excellent location for those exploring Southern Africa: the lodge is approximately 30 minutes to Chobe National Park (Botswana), 90 minutes to Livingstone (Zambia) Airport, and 60 minutes to Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe) Airport.    

Ivory Lodge

3 nights  Hwange National Park

With a 6,000 acre conservation parcel of Hwange National Park, visitors at Ivory Lodge enjoy unparalleled access to wildlife. A large watering hole on-site attracts the famed Presidential elephants for daily drinks. These elephants symbolize Zimbabwe’s commitment to elephant protection. During your game drives and foot safaris at Ivory Lodge witness a diverse range of habitat environments (open savannah, forest, semi-desert) that invites a mix of buffalo, zebra, impala, elephant, giraffe, and sable.           

A'Zambezi River Lodge

2 nights  Victoria Falls

Located in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, the A’Zambezi River Lodge is the only hotel in Victoria Falls with a river frontage and jetty site.The imaginative architecture, with its sweeping curve of grass thatch, blends well with the lush green lawns. A'Zambezi is the perfect retreat to relax and unwind in the quiet ambience of the African wildlife and nature, while enjoying renowned service. The majority of the rooms have balconies facing the river and swimming pool whilst the rest face the national park and the gardens.