A Bucket List Journey Through Wild Landscapes & Remarkable Wildlife
This trip was the adventure of a lifetime—four countries, iconic landscapes, world-class birding, and unforgettable wildlife encounters and experiences.
We began in Cape Town South Africa exploring botanical gardens, coastal drives, and a mountain hike. From there we traveled to Victoria Falls Zimbabwe where we got to experience one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. And finally, we safaried in Botswana and Namibia, capturing close-up photographs of countless wildlife on the Chobe River, Okavango Delta and the Kalahari Desert.
Across two weeks, we added 155 new birds to our Life List, checked off the Big Five, and were awed by Africa’s natural beauty and wildlife.
Cape town South Africa - 3 Days
Our time in Cape Town blended botanical wonders, rugged coastlines, wildlife encounters, and an iconic hike. Over three packed days, we explored UNESCO World Heritage sites, discovered new bird species, and soaked in some of South Africa’s most unforgettable landscapes.
Cape Town – Day 1
Our first day in Cape Town began with a visit to the world-renowned Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. Recently featured in The New York Times article “25 Gardens You Must See,” the gardens exceeded every expectation.
Kirstenbosch is part of the Cape Floral Region, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its remarkable biodiversity and plant species found nowhere else on Earth. We wandered through its trails and canopy walkways, taking in the spectacular diversity of South African flora.
In the evening, we drove to Muizenberg Beach to watch the sunset, where we also had our first encounter with Cape Town’s “self-employed” parking attendants—a quirky and common feature of local Cape Town life. We later learned that these parking attendants have a reputation to provide little protection and even to be in on car beak-in crimes.
Day 2 took us down the scenic Cape Peninsula, where wildlife and coastal beauty stole the show.
Morning – Boulders Beach
We visited Boulders Beach, one of the few places in the world where you can stand just feet away from African penguins in their natural habitat. Watching them waddle along the sand and dive into the waves was unforgettable.
We visited Boulders Beach, one of the few places in the world where you can stand just feet away from African penguins in their natural habitat. Watching them waddle along the sand and dive into the waves was unforgettable.
Midday – Cape Point
At Cape Point, dramatic cliffs and sweeping ocean views created a feeling of standing at the edge of the Earth. We also logged our first sightings of baboons and ostriches for the trip.
At Cape Point, dramatic cliffs and sweeping ocean views created a feeling of standing at the edge of the Earth. We also logged our first sightings of baboons and ostriches for the trip.
Afternoon – Chapman’s Peak Drive
The day ended with a drive along Chapman’s Peak Drive, often described as one of the world’s most scenic coastal routes. It lived up to the hype, though California’s Pacific Coast Highway still remains a top contender on my list.
The day ended with a drive along Chapman’s Peak Drive, often described as one of the world’s most scenic coastal routes. It lived up to the hype, though California’s Pacific Coast Highway still remains a top contender on my list.
Cape Town – Day 3
Our final day in Cape Town started with the iconic Lion’s Head hike, a trail famous for its panoramic views of the city, Table Mountain, and the Atlantic Ocean. The final scramble to the summit was just challenging enough to make it exciting without being too intimidating.
After a relaxing lunch in town, we made one last stop at Rondevlei Nature Reserve, hoping to add to our birding count before leaving for Victoria Falls.
Victoria Falls - 2 days
Africa 2025 - Days 4 and 5: Victoria Falls Zimbabwe
2 Wonderful sunsets, one from our private sunset river cruise
2 Great diners, one with some great table side a cappella singing
1 Unesco/Wonder of the Natural World (Victoria Falls)
1st Hippo and Warthog sightings for the trip as well as an exciting vulture feeding at our hotel.
29 New birds
Taking in the power and grandeur of Victoria Falls
Soaked by the mist of Victoria Falls and loving every minute!
Our first viewpoint of Victoria Falls
Bridge between Zimbabwe and Zambia. We probably should have crossed it to get credit for a 5th country but we stayed on the Zimbabwe side of the falls.
The mist of Victoria Falls in the background with our first Hippo sightings of the trip
We lucked into our own private sunset boat tour
Little Bee-eaters
Sunset on the Zambezi River
Southern Cordonbleu
Vulture feeding at the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge
Dinner on our first night in Victoria Falls was capped by table-side a cappella singing—an unexpected and memorable experience.
Chobe River - 3 days
From Victoria Falls we joined six others for our www.pangolinphoto.com safari. The safari began with a shuttle to Botswana where we took a boat over to Namibia to board our Pangolin Houseboat for the next three nights. Each day we were up and out on the Chobe River before sunrise for a morning safari. We would come back to the houseboat for lunch and some downtime and then back out on the river to catch the Golden Hour and sunset. The special boats Pangolin had for photography and having a pro photographer with us really made it hard not to come home without great pictures.
Watching the sunset on the Chobe River next to elephants with thousands of dragonflies was surreal.
You could almost reach out and pet the elephants
The African Jacana chicks were so fun to watch as they ran across the water lilies and hid under the wings of the Male Jacana's.
Okavango Delta - 4 days
After our time on the Chobe, we took a short flight from Kasane airport to the Okavango Delta where we had our first dirt runway landing. Highlights of the Okavango were crazy water crossings, a doors off helicopter ride at sunrise, being woken by Hippos eating right outside our tent, and amazing wildlife everywhere.
Adorable juvanile Spotted Hyena
The Okavango Delta was starting to flood so we had some really exciting water crossings. I was amazed at what the heavily modified land cruisers could handle.
You can actually see a second galaxy below the Milky Way in this photo. Based on my research, I'm pretty sure its the Large Magellanic Cloud LMC.
Our last sunset and dinner in the Okevango Delta. We could hear hippos eating just out of sight and a baboon was just chased out of camp after trying to steel the table sugar.
Kalahari Desert - 2 days
Our guides found a pair of lions at dusk and the sound of this lion calling out to the other after waking up from his nap was bone shaking. The power and awe of Lions is so much greater when you have very little separating you from them and you know how vulnerable you are.
