Tauck Guests To Walk With Lions On New Safari

Guests traveling on Tauck's new "Botswana, South Africa & Zambia" safari next year will be treated to a once-in-a-lifetime experience – the chance to actually walk with and among a pride of juvenile lions as they play, relax and begin to develop the skills they'll use later to survive in the wild. This unique opportunity comes during a visit to a lion research center near Livingstone, Zambia, where young lion cubs orphaned in the wild are nurtured and ultimately prepared for reintroduction into their natural environment.

The chance to walk among lions is just one of many amazing experiences on the new Tauck safari. Guests on this small-group adventure (featuring a maximum of just 20 travelers) will also travel offshore from Cape Town, South Africa, to nearby Seal Island, with the chance to perhaps witness great white sharks dramatically snatching fur seals from the waters surrounding the island. They'll also explore a meerkat colony on Botswana's Makgadikgadi Pan, and get to know the colony's quirky, energetic and entertaining residents. And they'll view wildlife in a range of other settings, ranging from open-top, six-passenger safari vehicles to a lavishly restored Pullman lounge and dining cars during a private steam train journey (complete with gourmet dinner) through Zambia's Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park.

The itinerary will also traverse a variety of landscapes, from the dramatic coast of the Cape of Good Hope to deserts and salt plains, and from rainforests and Victoria Falls to marshlands and savannahs. The natural wonders of Botswana, South Africa and Zambia will be complemented by special Tauck “insider” experiences that reveal the countries' history and culture. For example, in Botswana Tauck travelers will learn about long-held traditions and daily life during a visit to a San Bushmen village. And in South Africa, guests will enjoy a traditional “braai” barbecue dinner at a private home in Cape Town and visit the 17th-century Castle of Good Hope, which dates back to the region's time as an outpost of the Dutch East India Company.

Price for the 12-day journey is from $8,890 per person, double-occupancy, plus international and on-tour air. Included in the price are all safari excursions, guides, most meals, accommodations in five-star hotels and luxury safari camps, airport transfers, luggage handling and much more. Tauck will operate departures from April through November next year. Those interested can visit their local travel professional, call Tauck at 800 468 2825, or go to www.tauck.com.

More information: Tauck