booking now open · Small group · luxury lodges · led by rachel mcdowell
wild + indulgent africa
July 5 - 13, 2027
Adventure and luxury. No apologies.
Only 16 Spots Available · 2 Family Suites Remaining
wild
+
indulgent africa
JULY 5 - 13, 2027
Adventure and luxury. No apologies.
Only 20 Spots Available
2 Family Suites Remaining
wild + indulgent
Wild + Indulgent Africa isn't just a trip. It's the bucket list experience done completely, outrageously right.
You've been taking care of everyone else for so long that you forgot to put yourself on the list. The kids. The career. The mental load of being the person who holds it all together. Somewhere in the middle of all of it, you started saying "someday" to the things that are just for you. Someday I'll go to Africa. Someday when things slow down. Someday when I've earned it.
Here's what I need you to know: someday is now. And you don't have to earn it.
Picture this. You arrive in Victoria Falls and within hours you're standing at the edge of one of the seven natural wonders of the world, mist soaking your jacket, the thunder of the falls so loud you can't hear yourself think. Over the next three days you'll cruise the Zambezi at sunset with a drink in your hand, come face to face with rescue elephants at a lunch experience that has been rated the number one restaurant in Zambia since 2016, and take a guided tour through the rainforest path at the falls — yes, you will get wet, and no, you will not care.
Then you board a private charter flight and land in the Greater Kruger. For four nights, Kapama Southern Camp is yours. Think private villas with personal patios looking straight out into the bush, a wellness massage included, all meals and drinks handled, and morning and evening game drives with expert rangers who have spent their lives learning this land. You will see lions. You will see elephants. You will sit around a boma under more stars than you have ever seen in your life and wonder why it took you this long to get here. One evening we close it all out with a private bush dinner - just our group, the sounds of the African night, and a meal you will talk about for years.
This is wild AND indulgent in equal measure. Adventure during the day, complete luxury at every turn, and slow beautiful moments in between where you actually get to exist inside all of it.
Led by Rachel McDowell of The Unfiltered Traveler, who has been to Africa, who knows these lodges, and who has spent months building every detail of this experience so you don't have to think about a single thing except showing up.
Bring yourself. Bring your person. Bring your best friend or your teenager. However you arrive, there is a place for you here.
This trip will sell out. We have 24 spots and they will go. Secure yours with a $1,818 deposit per person. Final balance due April 1, 2027.
Wild
+
Indulgent
Wild + Indulgent Africa isn't just a trip. It's the bucket list experience done completely, outrageously right.
You've been taking care of everyone else for so long that you forgot to put yourself on the list. The kids. The career. The mental load of being the person who holds it all together. Somewhere in the middle of all of it, you started saying "someday" to the things that are just for you. Someday I'll go to Africa. Someday when things slow down. Someday when I've earned it.
Here's what I need you to know: someday is now. And you don't have to earn it.
Picture this. You arrive in Victoria Falls and within hours you're standing at the edge of one of the seven natural wonders of the world, mist soaking your jacket, the thunder of the falls so loud you can't hear yourself think. Over the next three days you'll cruise the Zambezi at sunset with a drink in your hand, come face to face with rescue elephants at a lunch experience that has been rated the number one restaurant in Zambia since 2016, and take a guided tour through the rainforest path at the falls. Yes, you will get wet, and no, you will not care.
Then you board a private charter flight and land in the Greater Kruger. For four nights, Kapama Southern Camp is yours. Think private villas with personal patios looking straight out into the bush, a wellness massage included, all meals and drinks handled, and morning and evening game drives with expert rangers who have spent their lives learning this land. You will see lions. You will see elephants. You will sit around a boma under more stars than you have ever seen in your life and wonder why it took you this long to get here. One evening we close it all out with a private bush dinner - just our group, the sounds of the African night, and a meal you will talk about for years.
This is wild AND indulgent in equal measure. Adventure during the day, complete luxury at every turn, and slow beautiful moments in between where you actually get to exist inside all of it.
Led by Rachel McDowell of The Unfiltered Traveler, who has been to Africa, who knows these lodges, and who has spent months building every detail of this experience so you don't have to think about a single thing except showing up.
Bring yourself. Bring your person. Bring your best friend or your teenager. However you arrive, there is a place for you here.
This trip will sell out. We have 24 spots and they will go. Secure yours with a $1,818 deposit per person. Final balance due April 1, 2027.
this trip is for you if...
You’ve been saying “someday” to Africa and someday keeps getting pushed
You want luxury AND adventure and refuse to choose between them
You’re ready to stop planning everyone else’s experiences and finally invest in your own
You want to travel with people who get it, without having to explain yourself
You’ve never been on safari and honestly that’s completely fine
You don’t need prior safari experience.
You don’t need a travel partner.
You just need to say yes.
This trip welcomes all ages 12+ - bring your person, your teen, or come solo
this trip is for you if...
You’ve been saying “someday” to Africa and someday keeps getting pushed
You want luxury AND adventure and refuse to choose between them
You’re ready to stop planning everyone else’s experiences and finally invest in your own
You want to travel with people who get it, without having to explain yourself
You’ve never been on safari and honestly that’s completely fine
You don’t need prior safari experience.
You don’t need a travel partner.
You just need to say yes.
This trip welcomes all ages 12+ - bring your person, your teen, or come solo
What This Experience Feels Like
You’ll stand at the edge of Victoria Falls and feel the mist before you see it.
You’ll watch a pride of lions at sunrise from an open-air game drive vehicle.
You'll fall asleep to sounds that don’t exist anywhere else on earth.
Some moments will take your breath away.
Some will make you laugh so hard your stomach hurts.
Every single one is intentional.
This isn’t escaping your life.
This is expanding it.
What This Experience Feels Like
You’ll stand at the edge of Victoria Falls and feel the mist before you see it.
You’ll watch a pride of lions at sunrise from an open-air game drive vehicle.
You’ll fall asleep to sounds that don’t exist anywhere else on earth.
Some moments will take your breath away.
Some will make you laugh so hard your stomach hurts.
Every single one is intentional.
This isn’t escaping your life.
This is expanding it.
the experience
inclusions + exclusions
WHAT'S INCLUDED
1 Night · InterContinental O.R. Tambo Airport, Johannesburg
5-star hotel
Steps from the arrivals hall
Heated indoor pool
Camelot Spa
Quills Restaurant
WiFi
Soundproofed rooms
Espresso machine
3 Nights · Pamarah Lodge, Victoria Falls
Boutique luxury lodge
Outdoor pool
Garden gazebo bar
Air-conditioned ensuite rooms
Daily housekeeping
Complimentary WiFi
Private patios
4 nights · Kapama Southern Camp, Greater Kruger
Five-star safari lodge
Private patios with bush views
Lavazza coffee machines
Personal minibars
Air conditioning
Electronic safes
international plugs
Main pool deck
Wine cellar
Boma
Boutique shop
Access to Karula Spa & Wellness Centre
VIP meet and greet at JNB on arrival; escorted through immigration, luggage collection, and hotel check-in
VIP departure assistance July 6; escorted from hotel through check-in, customs clearance, and to your departure gate
Flight from Johannesburg (JNB) to Victoria Falls (VFA) - July 6
Breakfast daily at InterContinental O.R. Tambo
Breakfast daily at Pamarah Lodge
Welcome snack pack with dry snacks and fresh fruit in your room at Pamarah Lodge
All Victoria Falls transfers by air-conditioned private vehicle with driver-guide
Guided tour of Victoria Falls including park fees
Jetboat transfer through National Parks in Zimbabwe and Zambia - navigate rapids and spot hippos, crocodiles, and game along the Zambezi
Elephant encounter at the Elephant Café - meet a herd of rescue elephants before your riverside dining experience
Lunch at Elephant Café
Gourmet 4-course sunset dinner cruise on the Zambezi River with selected beverages
Group dinner at The Eatery on the banks of the Zambezi - set menu with wine and water per table
Flight from Victoria Falls (VFA) to Kruger Mpumalanga (MQP) - July 9
Light aircraft charter from Nelspruit to Hoedspruit
All ground transfers throughout Zimbabwe and South Africa
Luggage road transfer from Nelspruit to Kapama; delivered directly to your villa
All meals at Kapama Southern Camp: breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily
Soft drinks and selection of local beverages at Kapama
Teas, coffees, and refreshments on all game drives
Morning and afternoon game drives daily in open 4x4 safari vehicles with expert guides and trackers
Daily guided bush walks with experienced armed trackers
One 60-minute Kapama wellness massage per person
Stargazing experience
Conservation fees at Kapama Southern Camp
Porterage at Victoria Falls airport and Pamarah Lodge
Gratuities for drivers, guides, game rangers, and lodge staff
Pre-trip preparation support and group community access
NOT INCLUDED
International airfare (US → JNB → home)
KAZA visa fees (~$50)- required for Zimbabwe and Zambia, obtainable on arrival at Victoria Falls
Travel insurance (required)
Meals on arrival and departure days
Dinner on July 7
Lunch on July 8
Optional activities
white water rafting ($192),
helicopter flight over the Falls ($210),
guided town and local market visit ($56),
shuttle to town ($25 return)
Personal expenses and souvenirs
Credit card processing fee (2.9%)
Not quite ready to go home? neither are we
Interested in extending your trip? South Africa has no shortage of ways to keep the magic going. Reach out and we'll build something custom just for you.
Totally optional. Completely worth it.
the experience
your investment
Double occupancy
Two guests sharing a villa or standard room — bring your person.
$11,818
per person
solo traveler
Your own villa or room. Single supplement included. No roommate required.
$15,483
per person
youth (ages 12-17)
Sharing a family villa with two paying adults. Minimum age is 12.
$8,517
per person
payment schedule
A $1,818 deposit secures your spot.
Your remaining balance is split into three equal installments (amounts vary by traveler type).
Upon booking: $1,818 deposit (non-refundable)
October 1, 2026: Installment 1
January 15, 2027: Installment 2
April 1, 2027: Final balance
A $1,818 deposit per person secures your spot.
Traveling solo but don't want to pay the single supplement? Tell me when you book and I'll personally play matchmaker. Some of the best trip friendships start exactly this way.
Deposit is non-refundable and secures your spot. International airfare not included. Travel insurance required.
the journey
From your front door to the heart of Africa - we handle everything in between.
inclusions
+
exclusions
INCLUDED
1 Night · InterContinental O.R. Tambo Airport, Johannesburg
5-star hotel
Steps from the arrivals hall
Heated indoor pool
Camelot Spa
Quills Restaurant
WiFi
Soundproofed rooms
Espresso machine
3 Nights · Pamarah Lodge, Victoria Falls
Boutique luxury lodge
Outdoor pool
Garden gazebo bar
Air-conditioned ensuite rooms
Daily housekeeping
Complimentary WiFi
Private patios
4 nights · Kapama Southern Camp, Greater Kruger
Five-star safari lodge
Private patios with bush views
Lavazza coffee machines,
Personal minibars
Air conditioning
Electronic safes
International plugs
Main pool deck
Wine cellar
Boma
Boutique shop
Access to Karula Spa & Wellness Centre
VIP meet and greet at JNB on arrival; escorted through immigration, luggage collection, and hotel check-in
VIP departure assistance July 6; escorted from hotel through check-in, customs clearance, and to your departure gate
Flight from Johannesburg (JNB) to Victoria Falls (VFA) - July 6
Breakfast daily at InterContinental O.R. Tambo
Breakfast daily at Pamarah Lodge
Welcome snack pack with dry snacks and fresh fruit in your room at Pamarah Lodge
All Victoria Falls transfers by air-conditioned private vehicle with driver-guide
Guided tour of Victoria Falls including park fees
Jetboat transfer through National Parks in Zimbabwe and Zambia - navigate rapids and spot hippos, crocodiles, and game along the Zambezi
Elephant encounter at the Elephant Café - meet a herd of rescue elephants before your riverside dining experience
Lunch at Elephant Café
Gourmet 4-course sunset dinner cruise on the Zambezi River with selected beverages
Group dinner at The Eatery on the banks of the Zambezi - set menu with wine and water per table
Flight from Victoria Falls (VFA) to Kruger Mpumalanga (MQP) - July 9
Light aircraft charter from Nelspruit to Hoedspruit
All ground transfers throughout Zimbabwe and South Africa
Luggage road transfer from Nelspruit to Kapama; delivered directly to your villa
All meals at Kapama Southern Camp: breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily
Soft drinks and selection of local beverages at Kapama
Teas, coffees, and refreshments on all game drives
Morning and afternoon game drives daily in open 4x4 safari vehicles with expert guides and trackers
Daily guided bush walks with experienced armed trackers
One 60-minute Kapama wellness massage per person
Stargazing experience
Conservation fees at Kapama Southern Camp
Porterage at Victoria Falls airport and Pamarah Lodge
Gratuities for drivers, guides, game rangers, and lodge staff
Pre-trip preparation support and group community access
NOT INCLUDED
International airfare (US → JNB → home)
KAZA visa fees (~$50) - required for Zimbabwe and Zambia, obtainable on arrival at Victoria Falls
Travel insurance (required)
Meals on arrival and departure days
Dinner on July 7
Lunch on July 8
Optional activities
white water rafting ($192),
helicopter flight over the Falls ($210),
guided town and local market visit ($56),
shuttle to town ($25 return)
Personal expenses and souvenirs
Credit card processing fee (2.9%)
Not quite ready to go home?
neither are we
Interested in extending your trip? South Africa has no shortage of ways to keep the magic going. Reach out and we'll build something custom just for you.
Totally optional. Completely worth it.
your investment
double occupancy
Two guests sharing a villa or standard room - bring your person.
$11,818
per person
solo traveler
Your own villa or room. Single supplement included. No roommate required.
$15,483
per person
youth (ages 12-17)
Sharing a family villa with two paying adults. Minimum age is 12.
$8,517
per person
payment schedule
A $1,818 deposit secures your spot.
Your remaining balance is split into three equal installments (amounts vary by traveler type).
Upon booking: $1,818 deposit (non-refundable)
October 1, 2026: Installment 1
January 15, 2027: Installment 2
April 1, 2027: Final balance
A $1,818 deposit per person secures your spot.
Traveling solo but don't want to pay the single supplement? Tell me when you book and I'll personally play matchmaker. Some of the best trip friendships start exactly this way.
Deposit is non-refundable and secures your spot. International airfare not included. Travel insurance required.
your journey
From your front door to the heart of Africa - we handle everything in between.
What You Leave With
The quiet thought of "I cannot believe that was real life."
A phone full of photos you'll never stop scrolling through.
The sunset you'll measure every other sunset against.
A new standard for what a trip should feel like.
A little swagger. Because you went to Africa and most people just talk about it.
And a new group chat full of people who were there for all of it and won't let you forget a single moment.
What You Leave With
The quiet thought of "I cannot believe that was real life."
A phone full of photos you'll never stop scrolling through.
The sunset you'll measure every other sunset against.
A new standard for what a trip should feel like.
A little swagger. Because you went to Africa and most people just talk about it.
And a new group chat full of people who were there for all of it and won't let you forget a single moment.
meet your hostess
Hi, i'm Rachel
I am your hostess for Wild + Indulgent Africa and I recently went to South Africa and felt so much unexpected peace and joy that I knew immediately I needed to come back and bring all my favorite people. That was actually my second trip to South Africa. The first was in 2013, and while it was wonderful, it was not this trip. What I've built for Wild + Indulgent is special.
I'm at a point in my life where I want it all. I still want the adventure of up close elephant encounters, white water rafting the Zambezi, and sundowners in the bush watching the African sky turn every shade of gold while the animals settle in for the night. AND I want to give myself full permission to be completely indulgent about it. Picture soaking in a giant tub, glass of South African cabernet franc in your hand, totally alone with your thoughts, staring out at the most stunning bush landscape. I want the bucket list experience with beautiful luxury lodges, incredible food, and slow moments where you actually get to exist inside all of it.
That's exactly what this trip is. A little wild. A little slow. A lot of beautiful.
Whether you're bringing yourself, your bestie, your partner, or your whole family - I cannot wait to show you the Africa I know and love. You just have to show up.
See you in Africa. 🌍
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do I need safari experience?
Nope. Zero. Safari is the most beginner-friendly adventure travel there is. You sit in a vehicle. Expert guides do the rest. All you have to do is look.
Q: What fitness level do I need?
This is not a physical challenge trip. If you can walk comfortably and get in and out of a vehicle, you are more than qualified.
Q: What if I don’t know anyone?
Most people don’t. Connection starts before departure through group communication and pre-trip support. By the time you arrive, you won’t feel like you’re stepping into a room of strangers. And honestly? Some of the best travel friendships start exactly this way.
Q: Can I bring my kids, partner, or a friend?
Yes! This trip is open to all ages 12+. Bring your person, your teen, or come completely solo.
Q: Do I have to share a room?
Shared rooms are standard. A limited number of single supplement rooms are available.
Q: Is airfare included?
Yes and no! You are responsible for securing your own international airfare from home to Johannesburg (JNB) and back. We'll give you full guidance on arrival timing and flight options, and we can help you book for an additional fee.
Once you land in JNB - all three of your Africa flights are included and handled. All you have to do is show up for those. Oh, and pack light!
Q. Is travel insurance required?
Yes. Non-negotiable. It protects you and it protects the group. We’ll help you find the right policy.
Q. What if I need to cancel?
See full Terms + Conditions. Terms & Conditions
Q: What is the KAZA UniVisa?
The KAZA UniVisa covers entry to both Zimbabwe and Zambia (and allows day trips across the border). We’ll walk you through exactly how to get it before departure.
Q: Do I need vaccines or special medications?
We recommend consulting your doctor or a travel medicine clinic at least 6–8 weeks before departure. Common recommendations for Zimbabwe and South Africa include malaria prophylaxis and a Hepatitis A vaccine, though requirements vary based on your personal health history and where you're coming from.
Yellow fever vaccination is only required if you're arriving from a yellow fever endemic country; most US travelers will not need it.
We'll send you a full pre-trip health and preparation guide well in advance so you have everything you need to get ready with zero stress.
Before booking, please review our full Terms & Conditions for Wild + Indulgent Africa 2027
Ready to join us?
South Africa & Victoria Falls | July 5 - 13, 2027
If Africa has been living rent free in your head, this is your sign.
