Group Trip · South Africa
Gay Group Trip: Cape Town to Botswana Safari
Fixed departures
Dates and itinerary set, organised end to end. Tailor-made available too.
Your own specialist
One named person and a 24-hour number while you travel.
Hundreds of five-star reviews
Rated Excellent on Trustpilot across ten years of LGBTQ+ luxury travel.
At a glance
Experience the headline-act version of Southern Africa on this tailor-made nine-day LGBTQ+ safari itinerary, moving from Cape Town through Victoria Falls into Botswana's Chobe National Park and the Okavango Delta. Three countries, four distinctly different stops and a hotel collection that anchors the trip at the right level for a couple ready to spend on the right places.
You'll start in Cape Town, which is also Africa's most LGBTQ+ progressive city, with three nights at The Victoria & Alfred Hotel on the V&A Waterfront. Time for Table Mountain, the Cape Peninsula, Boulders Beach and a private Cape Malay cooking evening in Bo-Kaap.
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Next, a flight to Victoria Falls and one night at The Victoria Falls Hotel, the 1904 Grand Old Lady that has held its place as the region's iconic property for over a century. A private sunset cruise on the Zambezi aboard the Ra-Ikane closes the day.
Two nights follow in Chobe National Park, on the banks of the Chobe River. The park holds the largest elephant population in Africa, around 120,000 animals, and the sunset river safaris are one of the great wildlife scenes anywhere.
The trip closes with two nights deep in the Okavango Delta, accessible only by light aircraft, at Mapula Lodge: twelve safari suites on a private island, with game drives, mokoro canoe excursions, walking safaris and the kind of silence that the rest of the trip has been building toward.
- Days 1–4: Cape Town
- Days 4–5: Victoria Falls
- Days 5–7: Chobe National Park
- Days 7–9: Okavango Delta
Day by day
Group departures follow a set route so everyone travels together. The nights and the order are fixed, but your specialist can add time either side. Prices are an entry-level guide; your quote will be exact.
Days 1–4: Cape Town
Your African adventure begins in Cape Town. You’ll be met at Cape Town International by a private transfer to The Victoria & Alfred Hotel, set in a converted 1904 warehouse on the V&A Waterfront and freshly refurbished in 2024. The location puts you steps from the Waterfront’s restaurants and the launch point for Robben Island and Table Mountain.
Cape Town is the most LGBTQ+ progressive city in Africa. South Africa was the first country in the world to constitutionally protect sexual orientation in 1996, and the fifth to legalize same-sex marriage in 2006. The gay neighborhood is De Waterkant, a short walk uphill from the Waterfront, with established bars, restaurants and the annual Pride event each February.
Two full days here cover the headlines. A private full-day Cape Peninsula tour with an English-speaking gay-friendly guide takes in Chapman’s Peak Drive, the Cape of Good Hope, and the African penguin colony at Boulders Beach. Another day is yours: Table Mountain by cable car, the V&A Waterfront, the Zeitz MOCAA museum at The Silo, or Robben Island. The evening of day three is a Cape Malay cooking experience hosted in a local home in Bo-Kaap, with the spice-led cuisine of the historically Cape Malay community and dinner with your hosts.
Days 4–5: Victoria Falls
A morning flight north brings you to Victoria Falls, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, known locally as Mosi-oa-Tunya: The Smoke That Thunders. One night at The Victoria Falls Hotel, the Edwardian colonial property that opened in June 1904 and has held its place as the region’s grand hotel for over a century. The afternoon high tea on the terrace, with the spray from the Falls visible in the middle distance, is a tradition worth holding to.
A private guided morning at the Falls covers the Zimbabwean-side viewpoints: the Main Falls, Horseshoe Falls, Rainbow Falls, and the gorges below. Expect to get misted; bring a light waterproof.
The afternoon is a private sunset cruise on the Zambezi aboard the Ra-Ikane, a luxury boat named after one of the local guides who first led David Livingstone to the Falls in 1855. Period decor, high tea, drinks served on board, and the riverbanks are reliably busy with hippos, crocodiles, elephants and birdlife as the light drops.
Days 5–7: Chobe National Park
A short drive across the Botswana border brings you to Chobe National Park, the country’s first national park and home to around 120,000 elephants, the largest concentration anywhere in Africa. You’ll stay for two nights at Chobe Safari Lodge on the banks of the Chobe River, in a river-facing room placed front and center for the wildlife along the bank.
The setting allows for both land and water safaris on the same day. Mornings are typically game drives in the park (elephant, buffalo, lion, giraffe, hippo, crocodile and a long bird list). Afternoons are boat safaris along the river, when the elephants come down to drink and bathe in numbers that justify every safari cliché. The sunset river safari is the headline experience here and one of the iconic scenes in African travel.
We can also build in fishing, guided walks, or a quiet afternoon at the pool with sundowners if you’d rather not be on a vehicle every minute of every day. Botswana decriminalized same-sex relationships in 2019, and the safari industry across the country is professional, internationally trained and accustomed to welcoming LGBTQ+ travelers.
Days 7–9: Okavango Delta
A light aircraft flight from Kasane delivers you into the Okavango Delta, a UNESCO World Heritage Site accessible only by air. Unlike any other delta, the Okavango flows inland rather than to the ocean, fanning across the Kalahari sands into a labyrinth of lagoons, channels and palm-fringed islands. By any measure, this is the most distinctive landscape on the trip.
You’ll stay two nights at Mapula Lodge, set on a private island in the northern Delta. The lodge has just reopened in March 2027 following a full restoration: twelve safari suites, each with a private viewing deck and en suite bathroom, a pool, fire pit and an elevated bar. The concession balances wetland and woodland in equal measure, which gives the wildlife experience a diversity most Delta camps cannot match.
Activities run morning and afternoon: motorized boat safaris, mokoro (traditional dugout canoe) excursions through the channels, guided walks and game drives. Elephants, lions, leopards, wild dogs and the full Delta bird list are all in play. The flight out to Maun on the morning of day nine connects to your international flight home.
Departures
Prices are per person sharing. A single supplement applies to solo travellers and your specialist will confirm it with your quote.
Further information
Frequently Asked Questions
Is South Africa gay-friendly for LGBTQ+ travelers?
Yes. South Africa is the most LGBTQ+ progressive country on the African continent and one of the most legally progressive in the world. It was the first nation globally to constitutionally protect sexual orientation in 1996, and the fifth to legalize same-sex marriage in 2006. Cape Town has an established community centered around the De Waterkant neighborhood, with bars, restaurants and an annual Pride event.
Is it safe to safari as a gay couple in Botswana and Zimbabwe?
Yes. Botswana decriminalized same-sex relationships in 2019 and the safari industry is professional, internationally trained and accustomed to welcoming LGBTQ+ travelers. Zimbabwean cultural attitudes are more conservative, but the tourism environments we use, including The Victoria Falls Hotel and the Ra-Ikane cruise, have hosted same-sex couples for decades. The lodges themselves are private spaces where you’ll be entirely at home.
When is the best time to go on safari in Southern Africa?
May to October is the dry season and the prime safari window. Wildlife concentrates around shrinking water sources, which makes for exceptional game viewing. May and June offer cooler temperatures and lush post-rainy-season landscapes; September and October are the headliners, with the highest wildlife density and reliably warm days. Cape Town is best from November to March, when its weather peaks; if you’re combining both, the May to early June or September to early October windows work best.
How much does a luxury gay African safari cost?
A tailor-made Out Of Office Africa itinerary at the level described here starts at around $9,900 per person, excluding international flights. Safari is one of the higher-cost travel categories anywhere, and the Okavango Delta in particular drives a meaningful share of the total. We give you a fixed price after a Trip Concierge call.
Our Experts
There's no better way to appreciate the natural world than by taking part in a South African safari. You'll have the chance to see the Big Five whilst never compromising when it comes to luxury.
The cosmopolitan hub of Cape Town is often overlooked as a fantastic travel destination. It has a palpably vibrant character and a flourishing food scene. I'd recommend it to anyone wanting to experience something completely different.
Stellar service. Stellar products. Stellar people and it gets so much better when you pick up the phone and call.
Anthony S.
Super client centred service. From first contact I have had warm, efficient, friendly and flexible service.
John
I’m confident in giving Out Of Office a 5-star review! They are one of the leaders in this space without a doubt.
Tiberiu
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Frequently asked questions
What does Out Of Office do?
Out Of Office is a luxury LGBTQ+ travel company specialising in tailor-made holidays and extraordinary journeys around the world. We create bespoke luxury holidays, LGBTQ+ honeymoons, safaris, cruises, beach escapes, private tours and group trips, with every itinerary designed around you. Our travel specialists combine global expertise, first-hand destination knowledge and trusted local partners to create seamless, highly personalised experiences.
Is Out Of Office a gay travel agency?
Out Of Office is an LGBTQ+ owned and run luxury travel specialist, with particular expertise in gay and LGBTQ+ travel. We understand the additional considerations that can come with travelling as an LGBTQ+ person or couple, from local laws and customs to finding genuinely welcoming hotels and experiences.
We welcome every traveller, including friends, families and allies. Many of our clients are not members of the LGBTQ+ community, but choose Out Of Office for our luxury travel expertise, personalised service and discretion.
Do you create tailor-made LGBTQ+ holidays?
Yes. Every tailor-made trip with Out Of Office is designed from scratch around your interests, travel style, budget and the way you want to experience a destination. We can arrange luxury hotels, private transfers, flights, guides, excursions, cruises and special experiences as part of one personalised itinerary. The journeys shown on our website are there to inspire you rather than restrict you; only clearly identified group departures operate as fixed itineraries.
How do you choose LGBTQ+ friendly hotels and destinations?
We combine first-hand destination knowledge with trusted local expertise to recommend luxury hotels, resorts and experiences where LGBTQ+ travellers can feel informed and welcome. We also consider the laws, customs and attitudes of each destination, because LGBTQ+ rights and experiences differ around the world. Our team regularly visit many of the properties we work with and where a destination requires greater awareness, we give you clear and considered advice so that you can make an informed decision about where and how you travel.
We plant trees for every booking
For every booking made with Out Of Office we commit to planting trees in your name to help reduce the impact of travel on future generations. You'll even get a link to see where your trees are planted in the world via our partner Ecologi.
We donate to Rainbow Railroad with every booking
Rainbow Railroad helps LGBTQ+ people escape state-sponsored violence and persecution. A donation goes with every trip we sell, funded by us and never added to your price.
Speak To Us About This Group Trip
Tell us which departure interests you and one of our LGBTQ+ travel specialists will confirm availability and talk you through the trip, including any tailor-made extensions you would like to add before or after the group dates.
One named specialist, first enquiry to homecoming. No call centre, and nothing is charged until you decide to book.