Description

From the east coast of Africa to the southern tip of South Africa, will see you travel through eight different countries so diverse, so different in terrain and custom. The varying hinterland and people will leave an indelible memory with you and an endless source of interest for your friends that were not able to join you and experience what you have. Extensive game viewing, leisurely enjoying the local scene, maybe a bit of diving in Zanzibar, visiting a wildlife sanctuary, poling through the Okavango Delta in a dugout canoe, racing through the sand dunes on buggy's, sky diving in Swakopmund. The choice is yours!

* We offer discounts to ISIC card holders.

Highlights

DAY 1: Nairobi to Arusha (Tanzania) (L / D)
This morning we head out of busy Nairobi and travel south crossing the border into Tanzania at Namanga. Tonight we stay at a campsite in Meserani on the outskirts of Arusha, before heading out on our Optional Excursions to the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater tomorrow.

DAYS 2-4: Arusha / Optional Ngorongoro Crater & Serengeti Excursion (B / L / D)
Arusha is a pleasant town situated at the base of Mount Meru, and is the starting point for safaris into the Serengeti, Tarangire and Lake Manyara National Parks, and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. This morning we have the opportunity to explore this thriving town while we stock up on provisions needed for our excursion. You may chose to wander the vibrant craft markets, stock up on supplies or perhaps catch up on the news back home at one of the small internet cafe available. Heading back to our base camp, Meserani Snake Park, those that are participating in the optional excursions to Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti National Park can start to prepare for their departure this afternoon. The excursion is offered by a local Tanzanian operator who conducts the trip into the Parks in 4WD vehicles (In peak season, there may be a minivan or bus transfer to Karatu), which are adapted for safari use.

For those not opting to visit the Ngorongoro Crater or Serengeti National Park, the next days are spent at leisure enjoying the Meserani reptile park, Masai Cultural Museum and the surrounding villages and craft markets. Alternatively the town of Arusha is close by to explore. The driver and cook remain behind in Dar es Salaam during the excursion.

The Optional Ngorongoro/Serengeti excursion takes us via the Masai town of Mtu Wa Mbu (Mosquito River) that lies adjacent to the Lake Manyara National Park and up the Rift Valley Escarpment to the higher lying village of Karatu. Karatu offers magnificent views over the surrounding hills and has many well established wheat farms that add to the picturesque panoramas. We spend the evening at a pleasant campsite in Karatu. The following morning we depart early for the Ngorongoro Conservation area and head into the wildlife rich Ngorongoro Crater. This World Heritage Site boasts some of the best game viewing in Africa - including the elusive Black Rhino.

After our game drive in the Crater, we continue down the Crater rim and past the "Cradle of Mankind" on our way to the Serengeti National Park. We cross the vast plains as we game drive through the southern and central areas in the park. Tonight we bush camp (no ablutions) in the wild surrounded by the sounds of the African wilderness. In the morning, we head off for another game drive and explore the landscape in search of the resident wildlife. With some luck, we may see some of Africa's "Big 5"!

After our morning drive, we head back across the plains and the lush Crater rim to our truck at Arusha, where we spend the evening musing over our thrilling wildlife experience.

DAY 5: Arusha to Pangani (B / L / D)
We head to Arusha this morning to stock up on supplies before continuing on towards Dar es Salaam.
On the way we drive through the town of Moshi situated at the magnificent Mount Kilimanjaro - Africa's highest mountain. Moshi is the base for Mount Kilimanjaro climbing expeditions, and weather permitting; we may even catch a glimpse of this magical mountain's snowy summit - a photo opportunity not to be missed! We pass through vast sisal plantations surrounded by The Usambara and Pare Mountain ranges, before reaching our lovely campsite nestled between these mountains, midway between Arusha and Dar es Salaam.

DAY 6: Pangani to Dar es Salaam (B / L / D)
Today we continue on to Dar es Salaam. Travelling through lush scenery and palm trees, we near the warm Indian Ocean. Today's drive time is extended due to the heavier amount of traffic heading in to the city, but the sights and sounds of Dar's vibrant outer suburbs are sure to keep you entertained. Look out for the colourful shop-fronts with their sometimes humorous "catch phrases". On arrival in Dar es Salaam we make our way to our lovely seaside campsite and prepare for our departure to Zanzibar the next morning.

DAY 7: Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar (B)
A ferry from Dar es Salaam takes us to the "Spice Island, where we have the option to spend the next 3 nights. Zanzibar is steeped in history and was one of the major starting points for most East African explorers in their quest for new lands. New passengers may join us to replace those that'll leave us at the end of our excursion to Zanzibar.

PLEASE NOTE: Accommodation and Meals are for your own account whilst on Zanzibar, as it is our experience that passengers prefer to explore the island on their own, and in accordance with their own budget. The Trip Leader joins you and can arrange your accommodation, while meals can be enjoyed from a wide selection of restaurants. There are also a wide variety of optional excursions on offer - please see the price guide on the end of this document for more details.

For those not opting to visit the island of Zanzibar, the next 3 days are spent at leisure at the beach campsite in Dar es Salaam. There are various optional excursions available from the camp including diving, snorkelling and fishing trips. The driver and cook remain behind in Dar es Salaam during the excursion.

DAYS 8 & 9: Zanzibar
History aside, Zanzibar offers a wealth of experiences for the visitor. Today the quiet streets of the old Stone Town still retain their Arabic influence

DAY 10: Zanzibar to Dar es Salaam (D)
Leaving Zanzibar in the afternoon, we return to the mainland and another night in Dar es Salaam.

DAY 11: Dar es Salaam to Iringa (B / L / D)
This morning we leave Dar es Salaam and head south. We pass through the Mikumi National Park where it is possible to view a range of wildlife from the roadside, totally impervious to the passing traffic. We travel towards Iringa where we spend the night in a beautiful rustic campsite famous for its Amarula Hot Chocolates and its steamy showers!

DAYS 12 to15: Iringa to Lake Malawi (Malawi) (B / L / D)
Winding our way through the beauty of the Tukuyu tea and banana plantations, we head towards Malawi entering the "Warm Heart of Africa" through the border post at Songwe. Malawi is a landlocked country with 20% of its total area made up of beautiful Lake Malawi. We travel the length of the western side of the lake, stopping off at various bays and inlets over the next 4 days.

DAY 16: Lake Malawi to Chipata (Zambia) (B / L / D)
We head away from Lake Malawi, and stop off in the capital, Lilongwe, a small city distinctively divided into the old town and the new administrative centre, to stock up on supplies before crossing into Zambia where we spend the night in a beautiful little campsite just 10 km after the Malawi/Zambia border.

DAY 17: Chipata to Lusaka (B / L / D)
From Chipata, we head south-west via the Great East Road to our campsite on the outskirts of Zambia's capital city, Lusaka. While today is mostly spent driving, we do cross the impressive Luangwa River Bridge which is heavily guarded due to its close proximity to the Zimbabwean & Malawian borders.

DAY 18: Lusaka to Livingstone (B / L / D)
Heading further south, we journey through the southern Zambian towns mostly supporting local agriculture and farming on our way to Livingstone.

DAY 19: Livingstone to Chobe National Park (Botswana) (B / L / D)
We leave Zambia and cross the border into Botswana at the Kazangula Ferry. Once we've completed the border formalities, we continue to the town of Kasane, situated on the banks of the Chobe River. The Chobe River forms a border between Botswana and Namibia and Zambia and is the main water source to the Chobe National Park. After lunch, we take a boat cruise along the Chobe River. Once we return and are packed and prepared, we leave for our Chobe National Park Overnight Mobile excursion - an overnight experience in the wilds of the Chobe National park. Chobe is one of Botswana's premier game parks, renowned for its large elephant herds.

DAY 20: Chobe National Park to Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe) (Brunch)
Once returning to camp, we get back on our truck and continue to the border of Zimbabwe. Once we've completed border formalities, we have a short drive to the nearby Victoria Falls. Named after the famous World Heritage site and Water Falls, the town of Victoria Falls is situated on the Zambezi River and surrounded by the Victoria Falls National Park.

DAYS 21 - 22: Victoria Falls (B)
The next 2 days are spent relaxing or participating in a myriad of Optional Excursions. Some of our fellow passengers will leave us in Vic Falls, to be replaced by new passengers joining us for the next leg of our trek.

DAY 23: Victoria Falls to Chobe National Park (Botswana) (B / L / D)
We head out from Victoria Falls to the border crossing to Botswana. Once we've completed the border formalities, we continue to the town of Kasane, situated on the banks of the Chobe River. Here we have the opportunity again to take part in the Chobe Overnight Mobile Excursion. For those who'd prefer to stay behind at the campsite in Kasane, there is an option to do an early morning game drive on the morning of day 24 instead.

DAY 24: Chobe National Park (B / L / D)
Once returning to camp, we have a bit of free time to relax and after lunch; we head off on a boat cruise along the Chobe River.

DAY 25: Chobe National Park to Maun (B / L / D)
Heading out early, we cross the western end of the Chobe National Park area along the main route in a south-westerly direction to the southern reaches of the Okavango Delta and our destination, Maun. On our route, we have routine stops to at Botswana's "meat" borders - check points that were set up to protect its thriving beef export industry from the spread of disease.

DAY 26: Maun to Okavango Delta (OPTIONAL) (B / L / D)
Here we have the opportunity to take the optional 3 Day / 2 Night Drive in Mokoro Excursion into the Delta. After an early rise, we pack our expedition vehicle and from Maun we drive north for a couple of hours to reach the mokoro poler's station. The Delta region is studded with many local villages where many families live in a traditional way. Some of the villages are very remote and can only be reached by the traditional mode of transport - the Mokoro. Mokoros are dugout canoes maneuvered through the waterways by local guides who pole them through the reeds. At the Mokoro station, we meet our "polers" and pack our supplies before heading out into the waterways. After a couple of hours along the waterways, our guides find us a place to camp, and later in the afternoon we set off on an afternoon game walk, allowing us to experience The Delta wilderness. The camp is situated in an open wilderness area with no ablution facilities.

DAY 27: Okavango Delta (B / L / D)
A day of rest, relaxation and Delta experiences await.

DAY 28: Okavango Delta to Maun (B / L / D)
This morning affords us a final opportunity for a game walk before packing up and setting off back to Maun. After our Mokoro ride and vehicle transfer, we arrive back in the afternoon and have the chance to complete our picture of the Okavango Delta by taking an optional scenic flight over The Delta (dependent on weather conditions & availability).

DAY 29: Maun to Rundu (Namibia) (B / L / D)
Following the Kavango River, we enter Northern Namibia. We stop at Rundu for supplies before heading to our spectacular campsite located on the banks of the Kavango River.

DAY 30: Rundu to Etosha National Park (B / L / D)
From Rundu, we head to the Etosha National Park. Covering 20 000 km2, Etosha is Namibia's premier nature and wildlife reserve.

DAY 31: Etosha National Park (B / L / D)
Today we make our way 150 km across the park, keeping a look out for the many different mammals, reptiles, birds and insects in the various regions.

DAY 32: Etosha National Park to Cheetah Park (B / L / D)
After stopping briefly in Outjo to get stock up on supplies, today's drive is to the Cheetah Park - a private farm dedicated to conserving Namibia's cheetah population.

DAY 33: Cheetah Park to Spitzkoppe (B / L / D)
Our departure from the Cheetah Park takes us south to the "Matterhorn of Namibia" - Spitzkoppe.

DAY 34: Spitzkoppe to Swakopmund (B)
Today we head for Swakopmund. Founded by the Germans in 1892, their colonial influence is still evident today. Swakopmund has a selection of excellent coffee shops, restaurants & bars as well as many arts and crafts shops selling Namibian curios.

DAYS 35 & 36: Swakopmund (B on both days)
The next 2 days are spent relaxing or participating in a myriad of Optional Excursions. Some of our fellow passengers may leave us in Swakop, to be replaced by new passengers joining us for the final leg of our trip.

DAY 37: Swakopmund to Sesriem (B / L / D)
Leaving Swakopmund, we head south to the industrial Walvis Bay before turning inland and toward the desert. Continuing our journey, we enter the Namib-Naukluft Park in one of the oldest deserts in the world. We base ourselves at Sesriem, a great place to experience the Namib and its many moods.

DAY 38: Sesriem to Fish River Canyon (B / L / D)
Heading out early, we see the sunrise over this beautiful area and we leave the serenity of the dunes to head south to the Fish River Canyon. At 161 km long, 27 km wide and about 550 m deep, it's the second largest canyon in the world.

DAY 39: Fish River Canyon to Gariep River (South Africa) (B / L / D)
This morning we continue south, where, after a short drive, we reach the Gariep River - the natural land border between Namibia and South Africa.

DAY 40: Orange River to Cederberg (B / L / D)
An early morning start see us travel south through the Richtersveld and the mining town of Springbok, before reaching the region known as Namaqualand.

DAY 41: Cederberg to Cape Town (B)
We leave the scenic Cederberg area and travel south towards Cape Town.

DAY 42: Cape Town (NM)
This morning we exchange addresses and part ways, having just experienced a trip of a lifetime!

Travel Types

• BackPacking Abroad
• Birdwatching
• Camping
• Canoeing
• Climbing
• Eco Tours
• Nature Tours
• Overland Tours
• Paragliding
• Photography
• Rafting
• Safari
• Sailing
• Scuba
• Snorkeling
• Student Tours
• Tours
• Vacation Packages
• Water Skiing
• Windsurfing/Windsailing

Cost in US$:

USD 1,990 + local payment of USD 865

Program Fees Include:

* Fully equipped overland safari truck with all camping and cooking equipment (tents, chairs, cutlery & crockery)

* 3 crew members on all safaris, Trip Leader, Driver and Safari Cook.

* Meals as detailed in the trip dossier

* Game park entrance fees and excursions as outlined in the trip dossier

Please ask us for the optional excursion price list so you can budget prior to your trip departing.

This Program is open to

Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel

in Groups

Typically Participants Work

in Groups of 28 max

Africa Travel Co's Mission Statement

Africa Travel Co is one of the continents leading operators for adventure overland travel and are completely African based. We operate a fleet of specially built safari vehicles, in ten eastern and southern African countries, and each year sees us introduce new and innovative itineraries. We started in 1990 and after 20 years of hard work, commitment and a professional approach, we now have operations and retail offices, backed by maintenance centers in Nairobi (Kenya), Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe), while our head office and main workshop are in Cape Town (South Africa). There is no other company that has this level of support in the overland safari industry. We believe that our success and growth has been due to the fact that 90% of the people who work with us as road crew, workshop and office staff are African. These are the people of Africa showing you their Africa.

Year Founded

1990