Experience the wonders & culture of Africa from the Cape of Africa to the plains of the Masai in this small group expedition with extra comfort & innovative facilities.
Travel from Cape Town via Namibia and Victoria Falls (Livingstone - Zambia) north to Nairobi. With a maximum of 16 passengers in our custom built full size expedition truck giving you over a metre of legroom at each seat. Experience the wonders of the Namibian Desert and Victoria Falls, the peace and tranquility of the Etosha National Park, Okavango Delta, South Luangwa National Park, Lake Malawi, the vibrant island of Zanzibar and the Ngorongoro Crater.
We provide the services of an expert photographer and digital download facility on all our overland tours, a unique feature making us stand out from the others! One of our crew (normally the Tour Leader) is a full-qualified, semi-professional, photographer who will be available to give advice on photographic (and video) techniques; and will organise “workshops/tutorials” on photographic subjects and techniques (eg landscape, wildlife and bird photography, night shots, close-ups and portraits) to assist our guests to improve their photographic technique. We also provide a laptop computer with multi-card reader for those clients with digital cameras to enable you to download your memory cards and burn those special memories to CD or DVD while on tour.
Tour price includes all highlights (inclusive activities worth £695), all ground transport except Zanzibar, all road tolls and vehicle taxes, camping and cooking equipment and services of 3 crew.
Local Payment - US$1080 - Local Payment covers all food (3 meals a day - provided by our now legendary Kenyan Cook) and camping fees/accommodation for the whole tour, including 3 nights on Zanzibar. This is payable to the tourleader at the start of the tour in US dollars only.
ITINERARY
Day 1 After a leisurely departure from Cape Town we head round Table Bay and stop off to buy fresh produce and view Table Mountain from Blaawberg (weather permitting) before heading North and spending our first night at a hot springs resort. CAMPING
Day 2-3 After a quick swim we head for Namibia crossing the border and camping the night on the Orange River. A canoe trip the following morning whets your appetite for the days to come. We then head for the Fish River Canyon and have a sundowner on the canyon's rim. CAMPING
Day 4-5 The next morning we travel to the dramatic red sand dunes of Sossusvlei in the Namib Desert. The two nights we spend here give you the opportunity to see the sun rise over the dunes, to walk up one of the many magnificent dunes and absorb the awe-inspiring landscape. Overnight Sesriem campsite. CAMPING
Day 6-7 After the tranquillity of the desertscape, we increase the pace, heading for the old Germanic town of Swakopmund where sand-boarding, quad-biking and tandem sky-diving feature among numerous activities on offer. Alternatively take a relaxing stroll around the shops and buildings, enjoying the colonial architecture of this seaside holiday town. BEDDED ACCOMODATION
Day 8 Leaving Swakopmund, we travel up the coast and visit the Cape Cross seal colony before heading inland. We spend the night at Brandberg (burning mountain), Namibia's highest peak, and take a short walk in the mountain foothills to see the well-known "White Lady" bushman rock painting. CAMPING
Day 9 Leaving the Brandberg behind us we next travel to a cheetah conservation project where you have the opportunity to interact with these very special mammals. CAMPING
Day 10-12 Next day we leave for Etosha, where we spend the next 3 nights. Here we game drive through the park, relax at the campsite pools and watch the "nightlife" at the floodlit waterholes. CAMPING
Day 13 Heading east from Etosha we make our way to the Caprivi Strip where we camp on the Kavango River. CAMPING
Day 14-16 We then cross the border into Botswana, making our way to the panhandle of the Okavango region. Transfer with 4x4 truck and motorboats. The Delta trip is a true wilderness experience where you are limited to taking only what will fit into your mokoro (dugout canoe) - an exceptional African adventure. CAMPING
Day 17 Leaving the Delta we head to Maun where you have the afternoon to relax or take an optional scenic flight over the Delta, affording you a different perspective on this unique inland waterway. CAMPING
Day 18-19 Leaving Maun we head north to the Chobe National Park and spend 2 nights camping on the banks of the Chobe River. Early the following morning we game drive into the park in search of the big five. In the evening we explore the river on a motorboat, where the sunset frames the wide variety of game and bird life. CAMPING
Day 20 Leaving Botswana behind we enter Zambia and a short drive brings us to the Victoria Falls. CAMPING
Day 21-22 Next morning we visit the Victoria Falls on the Zambian side Here you have the opportunity to participate in any activities at your leisure. CAMPING
Day 23-24 There is one day free between the two sections of tour for you to relax while your crew organises and greet the new people joining the next section. CAMPING
Day 25 We then head through the heart of Zambia past Lusaka, camping on the banks of the South Luangwa River. CAMPING
Day 26-27 Today we arrive at South Luangwa National Park. This is a less frequently visited game park and there is a better chance of seeing shy leopard here. We spend 2 nights here, camping on the banks of the Luangwa River, where visits by elephant and other wildlife are not uncommon. While here we do a morning and evening game drive in the hope of spotting the elusive leopard and other more common game. CAMPING
Day 28 Leaving this beautiful valley behind we exit Zambia heading for Lilongwe, the capital of Malawi. Spending the night in the capital you have time to do curio shopping at the local ebony market while your crew stock up on provisions for the following days on the shores of Lake Malawi. CAMPING
Day 29-31 For the next three days, soak up the sun, enjoy the water sports and explore the local culture. Participate in various watersports on offer on the Lake. Horse riding also available. Visit a local village and sample the local cuisine. CAMPING
Day 32 Driving north up the lake we leave Malawi and enter Tanzania, spending the night near a small town call Tukuyu and visit a local Tea plantation which is a local community project. CAMPING
Day 33 Up early the next morning we head north to Tanzania. Tonight we camp at a farmhouse in the highlands of Tanzania. CAMPING
Day 34 Another early departure takes us further into Tanzania. We also pass briefly through Mukumi National Park. We head for Dar-es-Salaam and spend the night at a campsite on the seashore. CAMPING
Day 35-37 The following 3 nights are spent on Zanzibar where you have the chance to explore this exotic spice island at your leisure. Discover the intricate streets of Stone Town and its people, take a spice tour and soak up the sun on the northern beaches - diving available. BUNGALOW ACCOMMODATION
Day 38 Returning to the mainland, we camp near Dar again before departing for Arusha. CAMPING
Day 39 Heading north we have a long day passing through many African villages and, if the weather favours us, we may catch sight of snow-capped Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa. Passing Kilimanjaro we head for a campsite outside Arusha affording a great view of Mount Meru. CAMPING
Day 40-41 Next morning we head into Arusha town to do some curio shopping after which we head for the Ngorongoro crater, spending the night at a town near the crater rim. Up early next morning we use local operators for a day's excursion down into the crater in search of game including lion, hyena, rhino and elephant, returning to camp by late afternoon. CAMPING
Day 42 We return to Arusha the next morning, stopping along the way to visit a Masai village. The last night we camp again in the shadow of Mount Meru. CAMPING
Day 43 We spend the final day of our tour crossing the border into Kenya, heading for the capital Nairobi. TOUR ENDS ON ARRIVAL IN NAIROBI.
Included highlights: Orange River Canoeing Fish River Canyon Entry Sossusvlei dunefield 3 hour guided desert walk Namib Desert Entry Cape Cross Seal Colony Brandberg and White Lady walk Etosha National Park Entry with morning and afternoon game drives 3 Night/4 Day Okavango Delta excursion Chobe National Park Entry and morning game drive and afternoon river cruise Zambezi Sunset cruise Victoria Falls National Park South Luangwa National Park Entry and morning game drive and afternoon/night drive Malawi Beaches Tea Plantation tour - Local Community Project Zanzibar ferry Masai tribal village Ngorongoro Crater National Park Entry and all day 4x4 game drive
Not Included: Activities at Victoria Falls Flight over Delta (~US $80) Sand-boarding (~US $30-40) Quad-biking (~US $90) Optional scuba diving and water-sports on Lake Malawi. Optional spice tour, diving/snorkelling, dolphin trip and food/transport while on Zanzibar Visas, travel insurance, vaccinations, flights, airport taxes, sleeping bag, items of a personal nature, curios and alcohol.
