Safari Legends
FIVE DEPARTURES IN 2025
Iconic Landscapes and Private Reserves
Hello Bushtracks Explorers,
We are pleased to announce our newest 2025 journey: Safari Legends by Private Air. This extraordinary expedition is designed to immerse you in Africa’s most iconic Big Five landscapes and private reserves, all seamlessly connected by private air travel. With a focus on prime wildlife locations during the best game viewing months, this journey promises luxurious accommodations, expert guides, and an intimate group size limited to just 19 guests.
Safari Legends takes you to the heart of Africa’s most celebrated wildlife destinations: South Africa’s MalaMala Game Reserve, Botswana’s Mashatu Game Reserve and the Okavango Delta, and Zimbabwe’s Victoria Falls. Over 11 spectacular days you will encounter the legendary Big Five, alongside a rich diversity of wildlife, including African wild dogs, giraffes, zebras, hippos, and crocodiles. Engage in exclusive activities only available on private reserves, such as walking safaris, off-road game drives, night drives, mokoro excursions, and big game river cruises.
To ensure a stress-free experience, everything you need is included in the cost, from activities to gratuities. Privately chartered planes offer convenience and efficiency, with direct-to-camp flights that reduce travel time, maximize game viewing, and eliminate the need for unnecessary overnight stays or complex customs and immigration processes.
Whether you’re a first-time safari-goer or a seasoned explorer, Safari Legends by Private Air is the perfect adventure. For nearly two decades, this journey was rated one of the best expeditions by National Geographic travelers. With five departures available in 2025, now is the time to secure your place.
We can’t wait to welcome you on this legendary adventure!
David Tett Founder & CEO
FIVE DEPARTURES IN 2025
JUNE 1 - 11
JULY 14 - 24
AUGUST 6 - 16
AUGUST 15 - 25
AUGUST 30 - SEPT 9
Private Air Travel
Essential for Safari Legends
The Safari Legends itinerary covers remote and diverse wilderness areas, making private air travel indispensable. Chartered aircraft ensure efficient and comfortable access to our destinations. Direct flights to MalaMala Game Reserve, bordering Kruger National Park, allow us to maximize exploration time with a timely arrival for an afternoon game drive. In Botswana, Mashatu Game Reserve in the secluded Northern Tuli Private Game Reserve and the Kwara Reserve in the Okavango Delta both require private air to avoid forced overnights and lengthy road transfers. Flying privately to Chobe National Park allows for a flexible departure time and stopover for a river cruise, which scheduled flights can’t accommodate.
Private air travel effortlessly links destinations, controls timing to maximize opportunities, avoids backtracking and overnights to catch early commercial flights, and provides efficient customs and immigration processes. Additionally, it offers enhanced security, comfort, and exclusivity, ensuring a seamless and luxurious safari experience.
MalaMala
GAME RESERVE
SOUTH AFRICA
Begin your safari adventure at MalaMala Game Reserve, situated in the northeastern reaches of South Africa’s Mpumalanga Province. MalaMala shares a 12-mile, unfenced boundary with Kruger National Park and is one of the largest Big Five game reserves in South Africa featuring a long stretch of river frontage. This perennial river acts as a magnet for animals and is the foundation of MalaMala’s unrivaled game viewing and opportunities to see leopard, African wild dogs, elephant, buffalo, and a host of other species. Here, knowledgeable rangers act as hosts, guides and educators to complete the game-viewing experience.
MALAMALA CAMP
Understated luxury, inviting comfort, and superb service combine to make MalaMala Camp one of Africa’s most sought-after safari destinations. Each thatched rondoval - an elegant reimagining of classic round hut-style architecture - boasts an outdoor living space with panoramic views. Spacious, climate-controlled en-suite rooms are decorated with natural materials and traditional African craftsmanship.
Dining at MalaMala Camp is a highlight, with gourmet meals served in a variety of settings, including the traditional African boma under the stars, the dining deck overlooking the river, or in the comfort of your suite. The camp also features a swimming pool, a well-stocked library, a bar, and a safari boutique.
DAY
Mashatu
GAME RESERVE
BOTSWANA
Next we journey to the wild and rugged beauty of Botswana at Mashatu Game Reserve, a vast 104,000-acre privately owned expanse within the conserved Northern Tuli Game Reserve. Known as the “Land of the Giants,” it’s home to some of Africa’s most iconic large species, including the largest population of elephants, towering giraffes, and the massive eland, the world’s largest antelope. Additionally, ostriches, the largest birds, and ancient baobab trees dominate the landscape, further contributing to the reserve’s nickname. These “giants” of the animal and plant world thrive in Mashatu’s vast, diverse ecosystem.
MASHATU LODGE
At Mashatu Lodge, guests experience luxurious bush accommodations designed to blend into the surroundings. Each spacious suite features elegant decor with earthy tones, handcrafted furniture, and expansive glass doors that open onto private decks with stunning vistas. The open-plan layout, thatched roofs, and high ceilings enhance the connection to nature.
Enjoy breakfast and lunch al fresco on the deck and dinners under the stars in a traditional African boma. Each meal is paired with a selection of fine South African wines, chosen to complement the flavors of the cuisine taking inspiration from local flavors and ingredients, reflecting the rich food heritage of Botswana.
DAY 3 – 5
DAY 6 – 7
Private Kwara
RESERVE BOTSWANA
The Private Kwara Reserve, in the heart of the Okavango Delta, offers one of Africa’s most pristine and game-rich environments. Spot lions on the hunt, leopards stealthily stalking through the bush, and cheetahs sprinting across the open plains. The reserve is also home to large herds of elephant, buffalo, and antelope, as well as African wild dogs and hyenas. In the waterways, you’ll find hippos and crocodiles, while the skies above are filled with a vibrant array of birdlife. Kwara offers a truly immersive wildlife experience.
SPLASH CAMP
Nestled within Kwara, eco-friendly Splash Camp offers spacious, elegantly designed tents perched on wooden platforms, with private decks. Inside, a blend of contemporary comfort and rustic charm awaits with en-suite bathrooms and both indoor and outdoor showers.
Dining at Splash Camp is equally captivating whether you’re enjoying breakfast as the sun rises over the delta, a leisurely lunch in the cool shade, or a multi-course dinner under the stars. The intimate atmosphere of the camp ensures personalized service, making every dining experience as memorable as the adventures of the day.
Chobe National Park & Victoria Falls
BOTSWANA + ZIMBABWE
Continue your Safari Legends adventure with a river cruise on the Chobe River and witness elephants, buffalo, hippos, and crocodiles enjoying the water - essential for them during the dry season. Then on to Victoria Falls, known locally as Mosi-oa-Tunya or “The Smoke That Thunders,” one of the most breathtaking natural wonders on Earth. Straddling the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe, this awe-inspiring waterfall is the largest curtain of falling water in the world, stretching over a mile wide and plummeting more than 350 feet into the Zambezi Gorge below.
THE VICTORIA FALLS HOTEL
The Victoria Falls Hotel, dating back to 1904, blends old-world charm with modern comforts, featuring elegant rooms adorned with period furnishings. Relax in the lush gardens, enjoy high tea on the Stanley Terrace, and dine at the hotel’s renowned restaurants. This iconic hotel is more than just a place to stay; it’s a destination, offering a luxurious retreat that perfectly complements the awe-inspiring natural beauty of Victoria Falls.
Curated Experiences
GAME DRIVES
NIGHT GAME DRIVES
NATURE WALKS
MOKORO EXCURSIONS
BUSHTRACKS ZAMBEZI RIVER SAFARI
BUSHTRACKS CHOBE RIVER SAFARI
Expedition Information
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
Participants must be fully mobile, able to climb into and out of private aircraft and safari vehicles without assistance, able to climb up and down stairs without a railing, able to stand unaided and capable of walking moderate distances at an easy pace, at times over uneven terrain, and be able to withstand hard-riding four wheel-drive vehicles that travel over dirt roads and rough, bumpy ground.
MINIMUM AGE REQUIREMENT
6 years of age or older (some activities subject to age restrictions).
COST INCLUDES
All accommodations, meals, park fees, community fees, tours, and private air travel as indicated in the detailed itinerary; the services of a Bushtracks expedition staff and local guides; all group activities and excursions; drinking water (bottled water not always available), coffee and tea throughout the journey; local brand alcoholic beverages at group meals, laundry at MalaMala Camp, Mashatu Lodge and Splash Camp; all airport departure taxes; all gratuities during group activities; porterage of one softsided checked bag.
COST DOES NOT INCLUDE
International air to Johannesburg, South Africa and from Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe and any other commercial flights that are not part of the program; excess baggage fees; travel and personal insurance; porterage of carry-on luggage; items of a personal nature such as curios, spa and room service, minibar charges, and laundry at Victoria Falls Hotel; premium brand drinks; communication costs; costs of obtaining passports, visas, or other travel documents; inoculation fees; extra beverages, meals, or gratuities when not with the group; extra tours and activities.
HOW TO JOIN US
1. Call us toll free at 800 995 8689 or +1707 433 4492, or contact your professional travel advisor to obtain our reservation package which contains all the information you need to get started. You may also email our Private Air team: safariexperts @bushtracks.com
2. A deposit of $3,500 per person, a completed Reservation Form, and a signed Participation Agreement are required to confirm your registration. Final payment is due 98 days before departure, upon receipt of invoice, and is payable by check or wire transfer only. For your protection, funds will be placed in a trust account and used exclusively to fund deposits and final payments to suppliers required to secure your place on the expedition.
3. Get ready for an incredible adventure!
The Bushtracks Difference
A Bushtracks private air expedition is an exhilarating adventure - an authentic, personalized experience that transports you into pristine wildlife habitats and remarkable landscapes. Planned by experts, and accompanied by dedicated naturalists, you’ll discover a uniquely wild world and vibrant communities.
• 1% of your private air expedition cost is donated to conservation, to help ensure wildlife and wild lands are preserved for future generations.
• With six generations of African heritage, we’ve designed high-quality expeditions since 1989 that deliver an authentic and wild safari experience.
• Our personalized expeditions have earned us a referral rate of over 60% and the trust of partners like National Geographic Expeditions.
• We are private air specialists. With 35 years of experience in aviation, we can design efficient flight routes that save travel time and allow more time exploring each destination.
• We are a family-owned travel operator that has long-standing relationships with premier camps and lodges, and a team of planners with insider knowledge who thoughtfully construct each private air expedition.
• As a U.S. registered company, your travel investment is protected in a U.S. Traveler’s Trust account with FDIC insurance. We also eliminate currency fluctuations and monitor your trip from start to finish.
Carbon Neutral
We are proudly a carbon-neutral safari company. To mitigate our carbon footprint, we have partnered with South Pole, and invested in a portfolio of leading certified projects to offset carbon emissions.
Trusted Travel Partners
Lindblad Expeditions
National Geographic Expeditions
Smithsonian Journeys
Stanford Travel/Study
Bushtracks: Six Generations of African Heritage
Bushtracks was founded by the Tetts, whose family goes back six generations in Africa. This means each Bushtracks safari is an authentic experience, planned by African insiders who are closely connected to the places, camps, and guides of Africa. These are wild places they know intimately - natural ecosystems with safari camps set in the best wildlife locations, and true to their African roots and traditions. Traveling with Bushtracks means you are introduced to hosts, guides and African personalities the Tetts have known for decades, who have a passion for living amongst wildlife, a dedication to conservation, and a spirit of sharing Africa’s magic.
QUESTIONS?
A Bushtracks Journey Expert is available to speak with you Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. U.S. Pacific Time (PT).
DATES DON’T WORK?
Call us, or contact your professional travel advisor, and we can craft a customized travel experience around your preferred dates.
