Some landscapes change the way you think about the world. Southern Africa is one of them.

Over the course of seventeen days, this program traces a deliberate arc across Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe—linking geology, ecology, and human history through direct experience on the ground (and, at times, from the air).
It is designed not simply to “see” wildlife, but to understand the systems that sustain it and the forces—tectonic, climatic, political—that have shaped this region over millennia.

In Namibia, you’re essentially looking at deep time in the flesh. The Namib Desert is often called the world’s oldest, but that’s a clinical way of describing a place that feels completely indifferent to human presence. It’s a study in endurance—dunes shaped by wind, inselbergs rising out of ancient bedrock, and riverbeds that have been dry for longer than we can wrap our heads around.

When you stand in the stillness of Dead Vlei at first light, the "spectacle" of the dunes isn`t really the point. The point is the scale. It forces a realization of just how small we are in the context of geological history. Later, in Etosha and Onguma, the focus tightens. You start to see how waterholes act as the organizing principle for everything else: the dry season’s specific choreography of predator and prey, and the quiet, critical work of protecting species like the black rhino.

Victoria Falls—Mosi-oa-Tunya—adds another dimension. Its thunderous curtain of water is inseparable from the colonial encounters that renamed it and the modern conservation efforts that seek to protect it. A sundowner on the Zambezi is not only beautiful; it is a vantage point on one of Africa’s great river systems and the communities that depend on it.

The Okavango Delta is where the story gets more complicated. It’s a massive inland delta that only exists because tectonic shifts essentially trapped a river on its way to the sea. This creates one of the most biologically dense environments on the continent, but you don`t really feel that until you`re moving quietly through the reeds in a mokoro.
In the Moremi Reserve, you start to connect the dots between flood cycles, the specific types of grasses, and the migratory patterns they dictate. It’s a fragile, intricate ecosystem—the kind of place that rewards you for just sitting still and paying attention.

Accommodations throughout are intentionally small and well-sited places that privilege proximity to the landscape without sacrificing comfort. Light aircraft transfers reduce long overland drives and offer perspective on terrain that would otherwise be abstract on a map. A specialist guide travels with the group, providing continuity and context, while a Yale Alumni Association host ensures the experience remains both collegial and intellectually engaged.

For those who wish to extend their time on the continent, the optional Cape Town pre-extension offers its own layered narrative: the botanical richness of Kirstenbosch, the cultural history of the Bo-Kaap, the architectural legacy of the Cape Dutch, and the agricultural traditions of the Winelands.

• Travel by light aircraft to the towering dunes of Sossusvlei, an ancient desertscape of shifting sands and stark beauty. Your stay at Kwessi Dune Lodge offers unparalleled stargazing in Africa’s first International Dark Sky Reserve


• Venture to Onguma Private Reserve at the edge of Etosha National Park, where thrilling game drives bring encounters with elephants, lions, and the elusive black rhino.


• Continue to Victoria Falls, where the thundering cascade of Mosi-oa-Tunya awaits. Old Drift Lodge, set on the Zambezi River, provides a luxurious base for sunset cruises and immersive wildlife experiences.


• Your adventure deepens in Botswana’s Okavango Delta, starting with water-based safaris at Camp Okavango, where mokoro rides glide through reed-lined channels teeming with birdlife.


• At Camp Moremi, explore the rich wildlife of the Moremi Game Reserve, tracking big cats, elephants, and rare antelope.




Participant Mobility Requirements




• Participants must be able to climb in and out of safari 4x4 vehicles unassisted, as well as into small aircraft. They should also be able to tolerate riding on uneven, bumpy dirt roads for periods of time, as well as some off-road experiences when opportunities allow.


• Participants should also be able to stand and/or walk moderate distances for up to a few hours at a time when visiting villages, towns, or various sites. Some, if not most, of this walking may be on uneven ground, sand dunes, or uphill, often at higher elevations and altitudes that many people are not used to.
Learn more about this trip: Itinerary | Accommodation | Faculty | Add-Ons | Brochure | Terms