Description
Please note that all visa’s must be obtained by the passengers themselves before the day of departure.
A truly superb combination of Southern and Eastern Africa, this 42 day adventure will offer you a taste of all things uniquely African! You will experience the untouched beauty and contrasts of the big sky landscapes in Namibia, the vast wilderness of the Okavango Delta and magnificent thunder of the Victoria Falls. Your adventure will take you to the tropical beaches and historic buildings of Zanzibar, freshwater lake in Malawi and you will experience the most spectacular wildlife on safaris through some of the top National Parks in Africa, including the famous Serengeti National Park. Do not miss out, your adventure awaits!
Our tours come with an Activity Package. This is an optional additional payment that covers what we consider to be ‘essential activities’ on our tours and therefore this itinerary has been written with these items included in the day-by-day itinerary. Ideally we would include all of these, but not everyone can afford this.
South Africa – Cederberg Region
Leaving Cape Town we make our first stop at Table View and take photos of Table Mountain from across Table Bay. We will be heading north towards our stop for the first night, passing through the Cederberg Region. Upon arrival at our overnight stop, we will enjoy a wine tasting, sampling wines from the region. Tonight we will be treated to a traditional South African meal, followed by a full tour briefing from your guides.
Namaqualand – Gariep (Orange) River
After an early start, we continue north via the distant town of Springbok, best known for its diamonds, copper and spring flowers. We then proceed to our camp located right beside the Namibian border. The camp is situated on the riverbank that forms the border between South Africa and Namibia.
Namibia – Gariep (Orange) River – Fish River Canyon
This morning there’s the chance to see the beautiful river valley by canoe or just relax at camp. After lunch we cross the border and travel to the Fish River Canyon. After a scenic walk along the edge of the canyon we enjoy our dinner while watching the sunset. This is also a fantastic photo opportunity.
Namib-Naukluft National Park
We arrive at the Namib-Naukluft National Park and set up camp, then enjoy a short hike into the Sesriem Canyon. Tonight we enjoy the star-studded sky and enduring silence of the Namib Desert, only occasionally interrupted by the call of a Jackal or, a rather unique lizard, the barking gecko!
Sossusvlei Dunes – Namib-Naukluft National Park
This is our earliest morning as we prepare for our hike up Dune 45 to marvel at the sunrise. After our hike, we will have the chance to visit Sossusvlei. Later we join a local expert on a guided hike and learn more about the unique desert ecosystem and how the Bushmen survived in the harsh desert conditions.
Swakopmund
After a brief photo stop while crossing the Tropic of Capricorn, we travel onto Namibia’s Atlantic coast and the adventure capital, Swakopmund. Just before we arrive in Swakopmund, we stop at the Walvis bay lagoon en route, where there are often flamingos to be seen. You will be briefed on the many optional activities available here and there is time to explore the town before dinner out at one of the local restaurants
Swakopmund
Today is your chance to experience the adrenalin filled atmosphere that Swakopmund offers. Taking a walk around Swakopmund’s shops and having a leisurely lunch is also a great way to spend your day if you are not participating in the many activities available on offer here.
Spitzkoppe
Leaving the coast we drive through arid landscapes to Spitzkoppe Mountain. The enormous granite monoliths dominate the otherwise flat landscape and we set up camp in the wild plain at the base of the mountain. This afternoon our guide will take us on a guided walk to explore the unique rock formations. The more adventurous among us may want to try some mountain climbing for some stunning views of the landscape.
Kamanjab – Himba Tribe
We visit a Himba community close to Kamanjab where you will have an opportunity to interact with the people who live there. This is a working village and is only a representation of a larger group of nomadic pastoralists.
The semi-nomadic Himba people are extremely susceptible to Western influence and have lost a large portion of their land to farmers, engineers, miners and many were displaces during the wars that raged in Angola. The dwindling number of pastoralists that still exist in their natural environment are protected as far as possible by creating a “buffer zone”, or an “educational tribe” where tourists who would like to get a better understanding of the way of the Himba, their lifestyle and their traditions, can do so without interfering with those still living in their natural environment.
Visiting the Himba tribe can be a controversial topic that gets discussed at the camp fire, however not so much if the reason for visiting this particular tribe is understood beforehand.
The income that this specific tribe generates from the visits goes towards the education of orphaned Himba children and assists the tribe in giving them a chance to learn about their own culture and heritage.
There is a market at the end of your visit, this is a way for the women to establish a small income, used for their own private expenses, and it is up to you whether you’d like to purchase anything or not.
Etosha National Park
The open plains of the Etosha National Park allows for spectacular elevated game viewing from our truck whilst on game drives. Our overnight stops, which boasts floodlit night water holes, are situated inside the park.
Etosha National Park
Etosha is the venue for some of the most unique game viewing experiences in Africa. The sparse grasslands allow great opportunities to see animals normally hidden in dense vegetation. You may even see some of the amazing animals crossing the road in front of your truck! We will go on various game drives and spend our evenings at the abundant waterholes for some excellent game photography.
Windhoek
After an early morning game drive we set off towards Windhoek, the Capital city of Namibia. On the way we stop at a popular craft market where you can barter for handmade gifts to take home. Windhoek is not only the capital; it is also the cultural, social and economic centre of Namibia. On arrival in Windhoek our guide will take us on a short drive through Windhoek in our truck. Joe’s Beer House is an exciting dining experience for our optional dinner out.
Botswana – Ghanzi
After an early start, we say goodbye to Namibia and cross the Botswana border. Later we arrive at our lodge in Ghanzi and this evening we experience some traditional tribal dancing from the local San community.
Gateway to the Delta
Today we journey north towards Etsha and venture into the bush and our overnight camp on the banks of a beautiful lagoon.
Okavango Delta
After a leisurely breakfast we depart on our boat cruise to Seronga via the winding channels of the Delta. A vehicle transfer sees us arrive at our base for the next two nights, where we settle in and prepare for our afternoon mokoro trip that ends with sundowners overlooking the waterways of the Delta. The evening is spent around the campfire.
Okavango Delta
An early start sees us head off on the crystal clear waters of the Okavango. Water lily beds and palm islands make for the most scenic of experiences. We stop at an island for a nature walk, where we have the possibility of seeing wildlife. After breakfast, we return to camp to relax before heading out onto the water for a sunset cruise.
Kasane
Today we bid farewell to the Delta and head north. After being re-united with our truck, we enter Namibia and travel through the Caprivi Strip, crossing three parks enroute to Chobe National Park. This area is an important migration route from Botswana to Angola for many game species. We arrive in the late afternoon where we will set up camp for the next 2 nights.
Chobe National Park
This morning you will have the opportunity to participate in a game drive in Chobe and in the afternoon we enjoy a sunset river cruise in the park where elephants, hippo, crocodile, eland and many other creatures abound. Today is all about game-viewing in this wildlife mecca.
Zimbabwe – Victoria Falls
On arrival in Victoria Falls town, we have time to plan the next day’s adventure activities before we visit the spectacular Victoria Falls and experience the thundering of the mighty Zambezi. An optional dinner out is a friendly way to spend the evening with all the new friends you’ve made along the way.
Victoria Falls
Victoria Falls offers a wide variety of activites from adrenaline, scenic or cultural, from a helicopter flight over the falls to white water rafting down the Zambezi or just take time today to explore this magnificent town or choose to relax around the swimming pool at your accommodation.
Victoria Falls
Today is free for you to relax and explore the magnificent town of Victoria Falls. Take the time to visit the markets to buy some curios or you can participate in one of the many optional activities available here.
Lusaka
Leaving behind the natural wonder of Victoria Falls we begin our expedition. After Livingstone we journey towards the bustling Zambian capital of Lusaka. You will notice the vegetation becoming sub-tropical and the roads a little rougher.
Chipata
Today is a long drive through lush country, crossing rivers en-route to Chipata, the gateway to the South Luangwa NP. Zambia is truly African and an adjustment from the more Western ways of Southern Africa.
South Luangwa National Park
Early in the morning we drive from Chipata to the border of the South Luangwa National Park where we spend the next two nights right on the banks of the Luangwa River. You can often see hippos and other animals from the camp bar. This afternoon we enjoy a sunset game drive in the South Luangwa NP.
South Luangwa National Park
In the morning you have the opportunity to take an optional game drive. The park is known for its high concentration of leopards and hippos. After lunch we visit the community run tribal textile project and a local village.
Lilongwe
Today we depart the South Luangwa National Park and head towards the bustling city of Lilongwe. En route, we will stop at a local market to experience the culture and way of live of the Malawian people.
Nkhotakota Bay
Today we journey from Lilongwe to Nkhotakota Bay which lies on the shore of Lake Malawi and is a town of considerable historical note. We will stay here for the next two nights and you will have time to explore this area and participate in the numerous optional activities on offer here, including the Nkhotakota Pottery Training Workshop where you have the opportunity to make & decorate pots, walking safari into Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve or visit to Mbewa Village.
Nkhotakota Bay
For much of the 19th century, it was the busiest slave-trading centre on Lake Malawi By the 1850s, Nkhotakota had become the main terminus from which as many as 20,000 slaves annually were shipped across the lake from present-day Malawi to the Indian Ocean port of Kilwa Kivinje (Tanzania). Today you will have the opportunity to experience the Slave Trade & Historical tour, gaining insight where Arab Traders organised the slave trade to Zanzibar. The tour includes the trees where Livingstone negotiated with the slave traders, the Church built by the first missionaries and the pool in the hills where enemies of the Arabs magically escaped.
Nkhata Bay – Malawi
Leaving Nkhotakota Bay, we journey north to Nkhata Bay and our accommodation stop for the night is situated on the shores of Lake Malawi. Here you will have the afternoon free to snorkel in the crystal clear waters or try out the traditional dug out canoe and have fun in trying to master it.
Tanzania – Iringa
Today we leave Malawi and enter Tanzania. We ascend out of the Great Rift Valley through some spectacular mountain passes, passing vast tea plantations in the highlands before arriving at our camp outside Iringa. This evening our dinner is a traditional Kihehe dinner in a Kihehe hut (local tribe) or dinner in the famous Mud Ruins restaurant.
Mikumi
We leave Iringa today and head north to the Mikumi National Park. Mikumi is home to lion, zebra, wildebeest, impala, buffalo and elephant. Here we have the opportunity to enjoy an optional afternoon game drive through the park.
Dar es Salaam
Our journey today brings us out of the cool highland region to the humid Indian Ocean coastal city of Dar es Salaam. Meaning ‘house of peace’ in Arabic, Dar es Salaam is the economic and trade capital of Tanzania, but inland Dodoma remains the official capital city.
Zanzibar Excursion
A local ferry will take us from Dar es Salaam (where we leave the truck) to Zanzibar. We take a transfer to the northern part of the island where we will spend our time relaxing on the beach.
Zanzibar Excursion
Enjoy your time on Zanzibar by relaxing at the beach or exploring, snorkeling, scuba diving or taking a sunset boat cruise through the waters. Today is for relaxing.
Zanzibar Excursion
On the 3rd day, we head south to Stone Town, the capital of Zanzibar, where we will spend the night. Here we have time to explore the historical and unique architecture. There are also spice and seafood markets to be explored.
Dar es Salaam – Bagamoyo
Today we leave Zanzibar early and catch a ferry back to Dar es Salaam and return to our truck. It is a fairly short drive to reach our next destination, Bagamoyo, who’s name goes back to the days of slavery and means “lay down your heart”. We settle into our overnight spot which is situated on the beach. Here you will have the afternoon free to step into the inviting Indican Ocean or laze on the beach and enjoy the timeless views across the ocean. The town of Bagamoyo is a short walk away and you can explore this vibrant town on foot.
Arusha
The city of Arusha is surrounded by some of Africa’s most famous landscapes and national parks. Situated below Mount Meru on the eastern edge of the eastern branch of the Great Rift Valley, the city is close to Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara, Tarangire National Park, and Mount Kilimanjaro and The Arusha National Park. The following day we will prepare for our journey into the Serengeti.
Serengeti & Ngorongoro Crater Excursion
The following days are set aside for the 3-night optional camping excursion into the Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater. This area has one of the most densely inhabited large animal populations in Africa. The Serengeti excursion is in open topped 4×4 safari vehicles in order to tackle the challenging side roads in the parks. We leave our accommodation in the morning and drive to the Serengeti. On arrival we will start with our first game drive.
Serengeti & Ngorongoro Crater Excursion
We spend the entire day game driving through the Serengeti. Our route is depending on the movement of the game and sightings.
Serengeti & Ngorongoro Crater Excursion
Today we explore more of the Serengeti and make our way to the famous Ngorongoro Crater. We drive down to the bottom of the Crater, where we try and see as many animals as possible.
Arusha
Today the group meets up again and we have the chance to exchange stories of the various adventures that we participated in over the past few days. In the afternoon we visit the local Masai Mara Museum.
Kenya – Nairobi
After crossing the border into Kenya we continue to travel towards Nairobi. Founded by the British in 1899 as a simple rail depot, the town quickly grew to become the capital of British East Africa and eventually the capital of Kenya in 1963. Usually we enjoy a group meal out at one of Nairobi’s excellent restaurants. Your tour ends upon arrival in Nairobi.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.