South Africa • Zimbabwe •Botswana

Join Sober Vacations for 15 unforgettable days exploring Southern Africa’s wild landscapes by land and water. From thundering Victoria Falls to the serene Chobe River, every day offers a new adventure.
October 1-15, 2026

Included:
15 day / 14 night trip
33 meals / 13 breakfasts / 10 lunches / 10 dinners
VERY active tour!
*does not include transfers, airfare, visas, or taxes.
October 15-29, 2026

Included:
15 day / 14 night trip
33 meals / 13 breakfasts / 10 lunches / 10 dinners
VERY active tour!
*does not include transfers, airfare, visas, or taxes.
October 29- November 12, 2026

Included:
15 day / 14 night trip
33 meals / 13 breakfasts / 10 lunches / 10 dinners
VERY active tour!
*does not include transfers, airfare, visas, or taxes.
ITINERARY
DAY 0
Travel day to starting destination
Arrive in your destination - info on where to fly in coming soon.
DAY 1
Overnight Flight
Depart for Southern Africa! Your journey begins as you head toward the adventure of a lifetime.
DAY 2
Johannesburg, South Africa
Arrive in South Africa’s largest city. Transfer to your hotel and relax after your flight. Dinner is on your own tonight.
DAY 3
Johannesburg → Victoria Falls → Chobe National Park, Botswana
Fly to Victoria Falls, meet your Tour Manager, and continue to your beautiful lodge in Botswana. Enjoy leisure time before a welcome dinner.
DAY 4
Chobe National Park - Game Drive & River Safari
Start with an early-morning game drive in open-air vehicles. After lunch, take a private boat along the Chobe River to spot elephants and exotic birds.
DAY 5
Morning River Cruise & Evening Game Drive
Begin with a sunrise cruise on the Chobe River, then enjoy lodge leisure time before an afternoon game drive. End the day with a magical dinner cruise.
DAY 6
Chobe → Victoria Falls → Hwange National Park
Enjoy a final Chobe morning before heading to Victoria Falls for lunch with a view. Continue to Hwange for a late-afternoon game drive.
DAY 7
Full-Day Hwange Safari
Explore the park’s vast bushland and wildlife on a full-day game drive with a picnic lunch in the field.
DAY 8
Safari Your Way
Choose a morning game drive or a guided game walk to spot wildlife up close. Enjoy tea, pastries, and another afternoon adventure in the park.
DAY 9
Hwange → Lake Kariba
Travel to the world’s largest artificial lake and board your safari boat for a 3-night floating adventure.
DAY 10
Lake Kariba Exploration
Cruise upriver in a tender boat, try fishing, and watch the sunset paint the lake in red and orange hues.
DAY 13
Chinotimba Township Visit
Shop at a local market, share a home-cooked meal with a local family, and enjoy the evening at leisure (optional Zambezi River cruise available).
DAY 11
Lake Kariba Leisure & Stargazing
Enjoy a relaxed morning on the water, afternoon fishing or wildlife viewing, and a magical starlit dinner.
DAY 14
Elephant Sanctuary & Wildlife Trust
Walk alongside elephants, meet their caretakers, and learn about conservation efforts. Celebrate your journey with a farewell dinner under the stars.
DAY 12
Lake Kariba → Victoria Falls
Return to Victoria Falls and visit the mighty waterfall - one of the world’s largest natural wonders.
DAY 15
Victoria Falls → Johannesburg → Home
All of Amboseli is at your feet today during your game drives. This unique corner of Kenya is one of the best places in Africa to see hundreds of elephants up close. Wildebeests and zebras are ever-present. Perhaps you'll spot cheetah or hyena. Today is your last full day on the continent and your last chance to spot some more members of the elusive “Big 5.”
THE HOTELS
Radisson Hotel & Convention Centre, OR Tambo, Johannesburg
Start your journey in style at the Radisson Hotel & Convention Centre, conveniently located just minutes from Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport. This modern property offers spacious rooms, a full-service spa, and multiple dining options to ease you into the adventure ahead. It’s the perfect place to rest and recharge before heading into the wild.
Chobe Bush Lodge, Kasane
Set on the doorstep of world-famous Chobe National Park, Chobe Bush Lodge is a haven of comfort surrounded by nature. Guests enjoy spacious rooms overlooking the bush, a sparkling pool, and easy access to unforgettable game drives and river safaris. It’s the ideal base for exploring one of Africa’s greatest concentrations of elephants and other wildlife.
Iganyana Tented Camp, Hwange
Nestled along the treeline just outside Hwange National Park, Iganyana Tented Camp combines the romance of the wilderness with boutique luxury. Each spacious safari tent is beautifully appointed with modern amenities and private decks that open onto sweeping views of the bush. Expect star-filled skies, campfire evenings, and close encounters with some of Zimbabwe’s most iconic wildlife.
Zambezi Cruise & Safaris, Lake Kariba
Experience the magic of Lake Kariba aboard an intimate Zambezi Cruise & Safaris vessel. By day, watch hippos, crocodiles, and elephants along the shoreline; by night, savor gourmet meals while the sun sets over endless waters. This unique water-based safari offers both adventure and tranquility, making it a highlight of the journey.
Ilala Lodge - Victoria Falls
Located just minutes from the entrance to Victoria Falls National Park, Ilala Lodge blends colonial charm with modern comfort. Surrounded by lush gardens, the property offers serene spaces to relax, fine dining on the terrace, and even the distant roar of the Falls themselves. It’s the perfect finale to your safari, where adventure meets elegance.
WE GET IT
It can be difficult to decide where to spend your vacation dollars when every travel company claims to be the best. So don’t just take our word for it. Check out just of few of the reviews that demonstrate why Sober Vacations International is unsurpassed in the business:
Perhaps It’s The Company:"The places are always beautiful and the activities, room, food, and meetings are always great,
in my heart and soul it’s the wonderful people you meet who become lifelong friends!
Without question, best thing about SVI are the people. The attendees were full of love, life and
sober fun. Everything else; the beach, the food, the entertainment and the meetings/speakers
were all secondary. It could have rained all week and I’d have had just as much fun.
Once again thank you for the opportunity of spending quality time with wonderful, SOBER,
spiritual people. Can’t tell you how much these trips mean to me. I get energized for many
months both before and after."
Or Maybe The Atmosphere:"Its all great.... just so grateful to be part of this experience and you guys have made it better
each year.
SVI isn't just a vacation, it's a feeling of absolute safety.
This was a life changing experience and I was in awe of every second. I even had the thought
once or twice wondering why I EVER thought I needed to drink or drug to have fun when I can
feel like I felt this week."
The Incredible Gratefulness:"It was so great…No words for this much gratitude…Rock on…
I came back from our week at Club Med Turquoise with my heart full of gratitude
and wonderful memories. What a way to celebrate my 30 th year of sobriety!
Thanks for a wonderful week – it is now a new bright spot in my year."
Or The Extraordinary Impact:"These vacations have become one of the many joys of my life!
A trip like this for me has had a huge ripple effect. I was able to recharge from my busy life, meditate daily and completely immerse myself in AA in a beautiful, relaxing setting.
What a great vacation I had; beyond my wildest dreams."
A trip like this for me has had a huge ripple effect. I was able to recharge from my busy life, meditate daily and completely immerse myself in AA in a beautiful, relaxing setting.
What a great vacation I had; beyond my wildest dreams."
These are just a few of the reasons that over 98% of our recent travelers would recommend a SVI vacation to a friend. Discover for yourself what makes Sober Vacations so special.
Contact us today to book your next vacation!
FAQs
As we are a sober travel agency, we can offer trips that other travel agencies cannot – specifically trips that are geared towards the sober traveler.
You are absolutely allowed to bring your spouse/partner if they are not sober. We are not the alcohol police, and have not yet had an instance where someone’s drinking caused a problem for the group.
We have two different types of trips – Sober Vacations and Sober Villages. Sober Vacations are most of our trips – where we are a smaller group within the resort/cruise and people will be around us that are not in program. We have daily AA meetings and stick together for excursions and meals. Our Sober Villages happen yearly (usually in the beginning of the year during the winter) and these are full buyouts- meaning you will be at a resort with 500-600 fellow sober people. All bars/mini bars are wiped clean of alcohol and instead replaced with juice, soda, coffee, tea, and energy drinks. Our Sober Villages have daily jam packed schedules with AA meetings, al-anon meetings, attitude adjustment workshops, recovery yoga, trivia, scavenger hunts, and more! So, depending on what you prefer, you should choose what vacation suites you and your sobriety the best.
You do not. We ask for a deposit when you make your reservation. Once confirmed, you’ll receive an email with a personalized link to your reservation. At any point, you can make payments to your account, or you can pay it all off at once. As long as the trip is paid off 90 days before your departure, you can pay at whatever pace you are comfortable with.
Usually. If it is an All-Inclusive trip, we will indicate such.
All-inclusive means food, drinks, activities and entertainment are included in the cost of your trip. Gratuities are not included, however.
We’ve been in operation as a sober travel agency since 1987.
Los Angeles Dodgers! Is there any other?
For most trips, yes.
You arrange your flights yourself and bear in mind that most destinations/hotels have standard check-in times of between 3p – 4p and check out between 10a – 11a.
Sadly, we cannot book your flights. Your flights are your responsibility.
That’s okay. We have been successfully matching roommates using our patent-pending roommate matching technology since 1987. In 35 years, we’ve only had eight fatalities out of over 8,000 matches. Which translates to over a 99% satisfaction rate!
We do not control the culinary options on any of our trips. So, each vacation will be different, but we generally choose resorts and experiences that offer a wide range of quality food. That usually includes options for people with even the most restrictive diets.
Yes! We describe our trips as a vacation…with meetings. On our Sober Village there are 5 scheduled meetings each day. On other trips, there are usually between 1-3 meetings a day. If you are on a trip, and you want to start a meeting, you are free to do so. We just ask that it not conflict with any of our scheduled meetings.
Absolutely not! Meeting attendance is at your discretion.
Depends on the trip. Our Sober Villages have between 450-700 people! Some trips are smaller, more intimate experiences.
We adhere to the policies of the destination to which we are traveling – if it is their policy that incoming travelers be vaccinated then we adhere to those recommendations. We do not set the policies for each destination, that is determined by their individual governments.
We highly recommend purchasing travel insurance especially in this new travel landscape with Covid-19. We have a partnership with Allianz Travel Insurance. Please visit their website to sign up www.allianztravelinsurance.com – our ACCAM Number is: F019519