52 Day Johannesburg to Nairobi [POPULAR]

Located on the edge of the Kalahari Desert, the Khama Rhino Sanctuary has been converted from a former hunting area into a conservation project. Built to protect Botswana’s only remaining populations of black and white rhinos, the sanctuary is home to zebra, giraffe, leopard, ostrich and wildebeest. Spot the wildlife around the many natural waterholes. Your visit to the sanctuary benefits local communities and contributes to the protection of it’s rhinos.

Head out in the late evening on a game drive when the big cat predators are more active.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Camping with facilities(1 night)
Included Activities: Khama Rhino Sanctuary – Sunset Game Drive Open Vehicle
Travel Time: ± 8 – 10 Hours
Please Note: Optional upgrades available at camp (subject to availability)

Get in your vehicle and drive to Maun (it takes about nine hours). If you need any supplies for your journey ahead, you will have the opportunity to get them here. There is no better place to experience the Okavango Delta than Maun, a gateway to one of the world’s most complex ecosystems. The wetlands and waterways here are teeming with wildlife, making this place unlike anywhere else in the world. The animals might be the main attraction, but the waterscapes and shimmering horizons will keep you gazing for days. You might see hippos, crocodiles, elephants, and big cats here.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Camping with facilities(1 night)
Travel Time: ± 8 – 9 Hours
Please Note: Camp is on the outskirts of Maun at a simple campsite with shared facilities, WiFi and optional upgrades.

Welcome to the Okavango Delta, one of the best wildlife destinations in the world. This is an untouched wilderness created by a vast. The river floods seasonally, creating perfect conditions for a proliferation of wildlife. Here the lush vegetation hides an abundance of animals including huge numbers of predators. Everywhere you look the Okavango Delta is a visual feast.

The best way to explore the Okavango is by mokoro, a traditional dugout canoe navigated by local ‘polers’. Spend your time exploring the maze of lagoons, lakes and streams on foot, led by experienced and knowledgeable guides.

Tonight you will camp on a remote island in the heart of the wilderness. Here facilities are non-existent, so expect bush toilets and no shower facilities for an authentic safari experience. At night, fall asleep to the humming and buzzing of the African wilderness.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Bush camp (no facilities) (1 night)
Included Activities: Okavango Delta – Mokoro safari
Please Note: Facilities are almost nonexistent in this far-out camping location, so prepare to dig a bush toilet and forego a shower. Wild African life at its best!

Here in the Okavango, predators are most active in the early morning and late evening. Its best to get an early start for sightings of big cats – Enjoy a sunrise walk. See lions atop termite mounds, or the elusive leopard dragging its prey up a fever tree. Elephant families can be seen teaming up to topple trees over. Return to camp to enjoy some breakfast and reflect on the morning’s events. As it warms up, you’ll have the rest of the day to relax and swim at your camp. In the afternoon take another mokoro trip to spy the wildlife on the river banks.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Bush camp (no facilities) (1 night)
Included Activities: Okavango Delta – Sunrise Walk

As soon as you have taken down your camp, return to the ‘poler’ station by mokoro, and then continue on to Maun by vehicle (approximately 2–3 hours). In today’s tour, we will visit a local brewery that produces beer containing millet grown by small farmers. The brewery rewards them for promoting an inclusive economy and coexisting with elephants. Creating a link between sustainable farming practices and the wildlife economy in the region enhances the benefits of sustainable farming practices. Dinner and a beer tasting will follow the brewery tour.

Spend the night at your camp on the outskirts of town.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Camping with facilities (1 night)
Included Activities: Okavango Delta – Mokoro safari, Okavango Delta – Brewery Tour
Optional Activities: Okavango Delta – Helicopter Scenic Flight – From USD250 – USD280
Travel Time: 2 – 3 Hours
Please Note: Camping on the outskirts of Maun at a simple campsite which has shared facilities. WiFi and optional upgrades are available. Depending on the plane or helicopter’s capacity, scenic flights have different prices. For more information, please contact your group leader.

Thousands of years ago, Lake Makagadikgadi dried up, leaving behind the largest salt pan in the world. A blinding white expanse in the harsh sunlight, these pans stretch as far as the eye can see. In the rainy season, the pans are covered with a thin layer of water reflecting the sky. Zebra and wildebeest can be seen migrating across the pan.

The journey to Nata will take approximately 6–7 hours. An afternoon excursion takes you to the Makgadikgadi Pans as trackers guide you. Its possible to have the rare opportunity to spend some time in the company of the local meerkat colony. Look out for elephants on their way to the watering hole to quench their thirst. Sit out in the wild while enjoying sundowners and snacks with an uninterrupted sunset across the desolate pans.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Camping with facilities (1 night)
Included Activities: Nata – Makgadikgadi Salt Pans 4×4 Excursion
Travel Time: ± 6 – 7 Hours
Please Note: Camp in Nata is on the edge of the pans. It has a restaurant, swimming pool, gift shop, ATM and bar/lounge area. Upgrades are also offered

It’s time to experience the beauty of Chobe National Park where you will discover the highest concentration of elephants. Here the elephant herds swim in the Chobe River alongside hippos and a variety of birdlife. Also spot crocodiles as they catch the sun rays on the river banks, barely flinching for the cheetahs and lions that join them at the water’s edge for a drink.

Finish the day in the park off with a spectacular sunset cruise on the Chobe River. Relish the relaxing afternoon spotting game on the shore as your make your way along the river, a magical way to end your time in Botswana.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Camping with shared facilities (1 night)
Included Activities: Chobe National Park – River Cruise
Travel Time: ± 6 – 7 Hours
Please Note: Camp has wifi access and optional upgrades available (subject to availability). There’s also a supermarket nearby, so you can stock up on supplies.

A game drive in the morning at Chobe National Park is an excellent way to discover the park from a different angle.

Cross the border into Zimbabwe in time to have lunch with perhaps the greatest view in the world, on the banks of the Zambezi.

Victoria Falls is the largest waterfall on earth featuring a staggering curtain of water, cascading 108 metres into the gorge below. During the wet season, the spray from the falls can rise up 400 metres, visible from a distance. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to visit this dream destination in the heart of Africa.

Try some of the adrenaline-fueled activities that are available at the falls: white water raft the Zambezi, bungee jump across the gorge, or swing across them on a gigantic swing. Feel exhausted just thinking about it? Then take time to visit the souvenir shops, take afternoon tea in one of the peaceful hotel gardens, or enjoy a sunset cruise down the Zambezi.

Your leader will take you to a local activity centre where a range of activities will be on offer. Victoria Falls entrance fee is not included in the price of the trip as it is mandatory for tour groups to have a local guide escort. However we feel that seeing these waterfalls for the first time should be an uninterrupted sensory experience.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Camping with shared facilities (1 night)
Optional Activities: Victoria Falls – Victoria Falls Entrance Fee – USD50, Chobe National Park – Open Safari Vehicle Morning Game Drive – BWP580, Victoria Falls – Sunset Cruise – USD50
Travel Time: ± 2 – 3 Hours
Please Note: Camp has wifi, an ATM and optional upgrades (subject to availability)

Today is your free day until your welcome meeting at 4 p.m., where you’ll meet your new leader and travel group. If your campground is centrally located, why not participate in some exciting optional activities before you arrive? You can book experiences for tomorrow at a local activity center after the meeting with your leader.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Camping with facilities (1 night)
Optional Activities: Victoria Falls – Canoe trail (full day) – USD185, Victoria Falls – Flying fox – USD50, Victoria Falls – Helicopter Flight of the Angels (12 mins – Excludes US$25 fuel surcharge and NP fees) – USD150, Victoria Falls – Helicopter Flight (25 mins – Excludes US$30 fuel surcharge and NP fees) – USD284, Victoria Falls – Rafting & river boarding (half day) – USD218, Victoria Falls – Village & township tour – USD61, Victoria Falls – Canoe trail wine route – USD55
Please Note: You can upgrade your accommodation and take advantage of wi-fi. This is a combination trip, so the composition of your group will change at this location. There will be a group meeting to outline the next stage of your tour and meet your new fellow travellers.It is likely that your trip leader and group members will change today due to this being a combination trip. Only those activities listed in Optional Activities have been risk assessed. Our policy prohibits leaders from helping book activities that violate our Responsible Travel ethos and policies. Organizing transportation to these activities is part of this process. In the event that you wish to take an optional helicopter flight (12 minutes or 25 minutes), only Zambezi Helicopters Co CAA Zimbabwe can be endorsed.

Take advantage of your free time to visit the magnificent Victoria Falls One of the Natural Wonders of the World, Victoria Falls is the largest waterfall in the world. A staggering curtain of water that cascades 108 metres into a narrow gorge below. In the wet season, the spray created can rise up an incredible 400 metres and the falls become an impressive raging torrent. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to visit this dream destination in the heart of Africa.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Camping with facilities (1 night)
Optional Activities: Victoria Falls – Victoria Falls entrance – USD50
Please Note:  The Victoria Falls entrance fee is not included in the price of the trip, as it is mandatory for tour groups to have a local guide escort. We feel that seeing these waterfalls for the first time should be an uninterrupted sensory experience. Your leader will take you to a local activity centre where a range of activities will be on offer. We have not risk assessed all activities and only those listed in our trip notes are recommended. It is against company policy for leaders to facilitate the booking of any activities that have not been risk assessed or do not adhere to our company’s Responsible Travel policy and ethos. This includes organising transport to and from these activities in our vehicles.

Leave Victoria Falls and proceed via the Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust, one of The Intrepid Foundation’s projects, toward Bulawayo (around seven hours). You may find out more about human-animal conflict, wildlife rescue and rehabilitation, and the role trusts play in stopping poaching here. Meet any rescued or orphaned wildlife that is currently in their care may also be an opportunity. We now move on to Bulawayo, Zimbabwe’s second-largest city, which is referred to as the “City of Kings” by the locals and boasts impeccable colonial architecture along with an intriguing past.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Camping with facilities (1 night)
Included Activities: Victoria Falls – Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust Visit
Travel Time: ± 7 hours
Please Note: You will be billeted in a campground with shared restrooms and wifi in Bulawayo. There are other upgrades available, based on availability.

Prepare for tracking rhinos in Matobo National Park by getting up early. home to a sizeable population of foot-tracking black and white rhinoceroses. Keep an eye out for other wildlife, including warthogs, springhares, and leopards, as your knowledgeable guide leads you around the park. Along with learning about the native flora and trees—which include paperbark and wild pear—you’ll also see San art and intriguing rock formations. The Matopos region holds immense spiritual and cultural value for the indigenous population, and numerous locations inside the park continue to host significant rituals.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Camping with facilities (1 night)
Included Activities: Matobo National Park – Rhino Tracking, Park Visit & San Rock Paintings
Optional Activities: Bulawayo – Railway Museum – USD5, Bulawayo – Natural History Museum – USD10

Travel the brief distance by car to Masvingo (about 5 – 6 hours). The Great Zimbabwe Ruins are best explored from this colonial colony, which is the oldest in Zimbabwe. The destroyed city was initially built in the eleventh century and is currently recognized as a World Heritage Site. It is believed to be the previous royal residence of the ruler of Zimbabwe. After spending a few hours visiting this fascinating location, spend the evening at the camp.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Camping with facilities (1 night)
Included Activities: Masvingo – Great Zimbabwe Ruins guided visit
Please Note: Your campground in Masvingo has shared facilities. Wi-fi and upgraded accommodations are offered.

Zimbabwe’s capital city is hip and happening. This city is buzzing with shops, bars and a pumping nightlife. It’s time to hit the streets and explore all that Harare has to offer. Keen for some cultural immersion? Head to the National Gallery, the Harare Museum or the Botanical gardens.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Camping with facilities (1 night)
Optional Activities: Harare – National Archives – USD3, Harare – National Botanical Gardens – USD5, Harare – National Gallery – USD10
Travel Time: ± 5 – 6 hours
Please Note: There are upgrades available (subject to availability)

Experience rural Africa on your drive from Harare to Lusaka. Zambia’s capital gives you another chance to shop it up at one of the many markets. The expat scene is thriving in Lusaka, so there are many places to eat and drink and even a spa to relax in.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Camping with facilities (1 night)
Please Note: Lusaka accommodation has shared facilities, and upgrades are available (subject to availability)

Your journey to Petauke, a small Zambian town near the Luangwa river, will take you through green fields and traditional homesteads and villages. Stalls along the road sell woven baskets, local fruit and vegetable piled high and traditional foods. Cattle are given free access to the roads. Experience Africa as the locals do and get a real insight into the way they live.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Camping with facilities (1 night)
Travel Time: ± 8 hours
Please Note: Camp has facilities, Wi-Fi and accommodation upgrades available (subject to availability)

Following breakfast, travel to South Luangwa to meet local artisans who craft jewelry inspired by the African bush from snare wire recovered from poaching traps. You will be shown around the women’s purpose-built workshop as well as given the opportunity to coil or hammer the wire yourself. As part of every sale, a donation is made to anti-snare patrols dedicated to the conservation of the region. Then, take a two-hour drive through the heartland to South Luangwa National Park. In Africa, the Luangwa River and its lagoons are home to the highest concentration of animals. The area is known to be home to elephants, buffaloes, leopards, Thornicroft’s giraffes, and lions. The area is also home to approximately 400 species of birds. A great way to experience South Luangwa and its beautiful scenery is to take an optional river trip – ask your leader for more details.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Camping with facilities. (1 night)
Included Activities: South Luangwa – Jewellery workshop Project
Travel Time: ± 6 hours
Please Note: Camp has basic facilities

Luangwa has one of the largest numbers of leopards in the. Rise early for an exhilarating morning game drive. Enjoy classic savannah scenery while keeping your eyes peeled for the parks wide ranging wildlife. Midday is the hottest part of the day here, so seek refuge from the sun and return to the camp for lunch, then head out on a village walk for a snapshot of daily life in the local community.

An optional night time game drive allows you to see all the nocturnal animals; the big cats; lion, leopard and cheetah hunting at night, as well as hyena. Hippos grunt as they come on land and bushbabies leap amongst the trees.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Camping with facilities (1 night)
Included Activities:  South Luangwa National Park – 4×4 Afternoon Game Drive, South Luangwa National Park – 4×4 Dawn Game Drive
Optional Activities: South Luangwa National Park – Game Walk – USD50

Continue straight to your camp near Lake Malawi once you cross the border into Malawi (about 9–10 hours). There are almost five million people living in Malawi who rely on its lake for their livelihood. The lake is a haven for fish traders as well as canoe and net makers. Fishermen often fish in bwatos (duggout canoes made from hollowed tree trunks) on the still lake at dawn. You can relax and rest at Kande Beach since your campsite is right on the water.

Malawi is dominated by its lake, which covers almost a fifth of the country and provides a livelihood for many Malawian people. Standing at the edge of the glittering blue water it feels more like an ocean than an inland body of water. Beaches line its shores, the water is filled with brightly coloured fish and rocky islands offer tempting adventures further out. At night the boats of the fishermen twinkle becomingly, earning Lake Malawi the nickname the Lake of Stars. This is a magical place of calm and respite for the soul.

Take a refreshing dip in the beautiful Lake Malawi today and soak up the idyllic surroundings. In addition to enjoying the sandy shores of the lake, make sure you meet some Malawians – some of Africa’s friendliest people.

Meals: Breakfast x2, Lunch x2, Dinner x2
Accommodation: Camping with facilities (2 nights)
Optional Activities: Lake Malawi – Guided village walks – USD10, Lake Malawi – Bike Hire – USD25, Lake Malawi – Snorkelling – USD25
Travel Time: ± 9 – 10 hours
Please Note: Camp at Kande Beach is right on the shore of the lake. Upgrades available but no wifi available

Imagine soft yellow sand beaches backed by the Livingstonia and Nyika mountains. The coastline dotted with banana palms and papaya trees. Chitimba has a tropical climate and a laid back atmosphere. Spend the day at the beach, go on a boat ride, try your hand at fishing or just grab a beer and chill with the locals.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Camping at Chitimba (with facilities) (1 night) Wifi available
Travel Time: 8 hours

Travel up the side of Lake Malawi marvelling at the incredible scenery. Lake views soon make way for villages with houses of mud and straw and the endless tea plantations. Today you cross into Tanzania and its southern highlands. Sit back, relax and watch as the countryside rolls by. Iringa is a small town with some fantastic views across the valley. Set up camp on the grounds of a farmhouse situated on the outskirts of this pleasant settlement.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Camping in Iringa (with facilities) (1 night) Wi-Fi and upgrades available
Travel Time : ±11 hours (Travel to Tanzania)

Mikumi National Park, situated at the foot of the thickly wooded Uluguru Mountains, is Tanzania’s fourth largest national park. The open flatlands of the Mkata Floodplain are impressive, albeit less well known than the Serengeti. Tanzania’s migratory animals are here; wildebeest, zebra, and many types of herbivore gather in huge numbers, attracting predators. Lion perch on top of termite mounds contemplating their supper. The wide-open vistas are dotted with Baobabs, known as the upside-down tree for its unusual appearance. Spend the day exploring the park before returning to camp.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Camping in Iringa (with facilities) (1 night) Wi-Fi and upgrades available
Included Activities: Mikumi National Park – Afternoon 4×4 Game Drive

Please Note: The optional 4×4 game drive price will depend on the number of travellers joining in on the safari.

Dar es Salaam is Tanzania’s biggest port city, a frenetic, lively place that merges modern living with traditional customs. Kitenge clad mama’s greet dhow fishing boats each morning on the sandy beaches. At the same time the expats and city dwellers head home from trendy bars. It’s tropical climate tempered with cool sea breeze gives it a laid back charm less typical of Africa’s other cities.

Travel to Dar’s Kipepeo Beach, a white sand paradise on the edge of the Indian Ocean.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Camping at Kipepeo Beach (with facilities) (1 night). An upgrade is usually possible (subject to availability)
Travel Time: 7 hours

Zanzibar is Africa’s ‘Spice Island’. There is a colourful history to Zanzibar – it has hosted slave traders, Arabian sultans, fruit exporters and cobblestone alleyways. Traditions such as dhow sailing along the coast remind one of what the island must have looked like centuries ago. On foot, you can explore Stone Town’s markets, shops, mosques, palaces, and courtyards, which make up the old part of Zanzibar’s main city. A seafront bar is a great place to grab a drink when the sun is setting. There are also plenty of local restaurants that serve seafood curries. At a basic inn in Stone Town, you will spend the night.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Night in Stone Town at a basic inn with double/twin-share rooms and access to Wi-Fi. (1 night)
Optional Activities: Stone Town Tour – Dharajani Market, Joseph’s Cathederal, Palace Museum, Forodhani Food Market – USD20, Zanzibar – Prison Island Tour – USD25, Stone Town – Handicraft & Music Urban Adventure – USD50, Stone Town – Culinary Urban Adventure – USD29
Travel Time: 1 hour (Travel to Stone Town by ferry)
Please Note: The composition of your tour group may change based on the nature of this combination trip. A group meeting will be held to discuss the next leg of your itinerary. Please note the Zanzibar portion of your itinerary could have more passengers than the maximum group size of 22 as we have an overlap of trips starting and finishing in Zanzibar.

Spend two days on the white sands and sparkling blue seas of the northern beaches. This is the Indian Ocean at its best, whale watch from the shore or take to the sea for an indescribable underwater world of tropical fish, brightly coloured coral and large pelagics. ‘Pole Pole’ as the locals say, ‘slowly slowly’, nothing is rushed on Zanzibar, you are as welcome to spend the day watching dhows bob across the ocean or snooze the day away in a hammock.

During this time there is an optional tour of the spice plantations. Zanzibar has grown spices such as cinnamon, ginger and vanilla for 100’s of years. Learn all about the history of the trade that made Zanzibar such a hot commodity over the centuries. Sample tea made with spices.

Meals: Breakfast x 2
Accommodation: Bungalow (2 nights)
Optional Activities: Zanzibar – Spice tour – USD25, Zanzibar – Dhow Trip – USD60, Zanzibar – Snorkelling – USD60

Catch the midday ferry to Dar es Salaam, then hop in the overland vehicle (and meet your driver and cook) for the short drive to your camp in Bagamoyo.

Bagamoyo is an ancient port and trading town, its history evident in its faded buildings and crumbling ruins. It’s a place with bags of character so take a walk through the town and check out some of the local craft shops. Your accommodation is located right on the beach.

Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Camping at Bagamoyo  with facilities (1 night) Upgrades are available no Wi-Fi, and showers are cold only
Included Activities: Stone Town – Culinary Urban Adventure – USD29, Stone Town – Handicraft & Music Urban Adventure – USD50

A trip to Bagamoyo’s historical slave markets is an optional excursion if you are up early. We then travel into the remote Usambara Mountains after visiting that sombre but important site (if you wish).

The Usambara Mountains define the term ‘off the beaten track. This unspoilt area of Tanzania attracts very few tourists. Million-year-old mountains are covered in dense virgin rainforest, crashing waterfalls and offer panoramic views. The forests are home to a diverse range of flora and fauna. The misty rain-swept mountains are completely different from anything you have seen so far.

Your base is the old German colony of Lushoto, in the grounds of one of the earliest hotels in Africa.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Camping  with facilities (1 night) (flush toilets and showers, and upgrades available.
Travel Time: ±7 hours

Get a taste of this area’s gentle hospitality when you visit some of its small communities in the picturesque Usambara Mountains. As beautiful as this place is, its real jewels are the local people and villages. From your base, you will take a walk out to the gorgeous Irente viewpoint. It’s best to pack some water and snacks in a day pack for this trip. On your way back, visit a local cultural project based at Irente farm and enjoy a picnic lunch.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Camping at Lushoto with facilities (1 night) Flush toilets and showers, and upgrades available
Included Activities: Irente – Lushoto hike and local lunch

The day will be filled with travel as you board the truck once again and travel to the country’s national parks. Arusha is the sprawling gateway to Kilimanjaro, Africa’s tallest mountain, which dominates Arusha’s landscape. Arusha is an energetic city surrounded by coffee farms and filled with cafes, shops and restaurants.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Camping on the outskirts of Arusha with facilities (1 night) Flush toilets and showers and a bar
Travel Time: ±10 hours

Travel to Karatu, the Ngorongoro Crater’s entrance gate, after breakfast. During this hike, we’ll explore Elephant Caves and Endoro waterfalls in the Ngorongoro Reserve Forest. It is known that elephants would break off rocks in these caves and eat the dust to obtain important minerals. The Elephant Caves are rich in calcium. As you stretch your legs after a few days of overland travel, you will be accompanied by an expert local guide and an armed ranger on today’s trek. Your guide will point out interesting animal tracks and footprints as you hike through Ngorongoro rainforest. You can spot beautiful birdlife while walking through the wild landscape.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Camping at Karatu (with facilities) (1 night)
Included Activities: Ngorongoro Forest – Elephant Cave Trek

The Ngorongoro Crater is a natural miracle of geographic splendour, the virtually inaccessible crater of an extinct volcano has formed its own ecosystem. Plantlife not seen elsewhere feeds large and small African animals in their thousands. The crater interior is a mixture of savannah, forest and swamp. Herds of zebra and antelope stroll the plains in huge numbers. The views both within the crater and from the rim are exceptional.

Enjoy a safari in the crater, spending between three and four hours exploring this incredible, perfectly intact volcanic crater. Look out for black rhinos, lions, leopards, elephants, impalas, zebras and hippos. The crater floor offers excellent game viewing all year round (some 30,000 animals live here) and the photo opportunities here are unrivalled.

Next, it’s on to the wide open plains of the Serengeti. Green after the rains, brown and burnt in the dry season, this is perhaps the quintessential image of Africa – the home of thousands of hoofed animals and fierce predators. As you drift off to sleep in the Serengeti, keep an ear out for nocturnal animals.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Camping in the Serengeti (with basic facilities) (1 night) (basic with limited running water and no upgrades or Wi-Fi available)
Included Activities: Ngorongoro Crater – 4×4 Game Drive, Serengeti National Park – 4×4 Game Drive
Please Note: Our camp within the Serengeti National Park does not have a fence to separate the camp from the animals. This is quite the experience as animals such as buffalo and hyenas often come close to camp after sundown. On arrival at the camp your leader will give a detailed safety briefing on what is required to ensure the safety of the group.

The Serengeti is most famed for its mass migration of animals towards the Maasai Mara in Kenya. Whatever time of year you arrive here you can expect to see animals in huge numbers. The Serengeti has one of the largest numbers of cats; leopards, lions and cheetahs in the world.

Dawn and dusk game drives are the order of the day, the cat’s come out when the sun fades. The females drive the hunt, seeing a lion kill is a rare experience but nowhere are you more likely to witness the survival of the fittest than in the Serengeti.

There’s also the option of a balloon ride over the park today (in place of the morning game drive). If you have pre-booked this activity (please see the ‘Important Notes’ section)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Camping in the Serengeti (wuth basic facilities) (1 night) basic with limited running water and no upgrades or Wi-Fi available
Included Activities: Serengeti National Park – 4×4 Game Drive
Optional Activities: Serengeti National Park – Balloon Ride (from price) – USD745
Please Note: Pre-booking is required for the balloon ride, so you are guaranteed a place. Please note that places are limited for this popular activity, so you may want to book locally on the ground to get a better price. The morning half of the included game drive will be missed if you participate in this activity.

Enjoy another game drive as you leave the Serengeti with the sunrise. Return to Mto Wa Mbu in your overland vehicle. Discover how to prepare a Swahili dish and take part in a craft session with local women. Get to know the local farmers’ and artisans’ co-op. Lunch is the perfect time to enjoy your food creations.

Mto Wa Mbu, deep in Tanzania near Lake Manyara, has a diverse gathering of tribes and tourist. A mecca for tour-weary travellers; the town has a wealth of places to eat, shop and drink. Take a stroll and acquaint yourself with this delightful small village.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Camping at Mto Wa Mbu with facilities  (1 night) Flush toilets, showers and upgrades available
Included Activities: Serengeti National Park – 4×4 Game Drive, Mto wa Mbu – Cooking class, crafts & village walk

Nairobi is Kenya’s capital city, the third largest in Africa. This former colonial outpost has boomed in recent years with a flurry of buildings being raised to accommodate the huge number of people that travel here looking for work. Fine dining restaurants, hip bars and international brand shops sit side by side with wildlife sanctuaries and parks that form an integral part of the modern city.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel (1 night)
Optional Activities: Nairobi – City Experience Urban Adventure – USD55
Travel Time:  9 – 10 hours
Please Note: As this is a combination trip, your group leader and the composition of your group may change at this location. There will be a group meeting to discuss the next stage of your tour and meet your new fellow travellers.

Experience spectacular views of the Great Rift Valley, Lake Naivasha and Elementaita on the drive north-west to Lake Nakuru National Park.

The Lake Nakuru National Park is a small, compact area centered around a lake that is a good place to spot wildlife. This great soda lake located on the floor of the Rift Valley is populated by millions of flamingo’s. The lakeshore is densely wooded and filled with all the Big Five and large numbers of rhino.

Arrive in time for a short evening game drive along the shore of the lake.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Camping at Lake Nakuru National Park (Flush toilets and showers. Accommodation upgrades and WiFi are not available) (1 night)
Included Activities: Lake Nakuru – Overland Vehicle Game Drive
Travel Time: ± 3 – 4 hours

Enjoy a dawn game drive at Lake Nakuru National Park before heading north towards Eldoret.

Eldoret is the 5th largest city in Kenya. Enjoy the cool climate of the highlands. This high altitude city is famed for its Olympic and marathon winning runners. If you are lucky you may see them pounding the trails. The Kerio valley in Eldoret is a 4000-metre deep valley filled with semi-tropical vegetation and plenty of big game. Spend the day exploring Eldoret and its surrounds.

Your campsite is located just outside the town of Eldoret, so you can enjoy a traditional dinner tonight.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Camping at Eldoret town (with facilities) (1 night) Flush toilets and showers, upgrades available
Included Activities: Lake Nakuru – Morning Overland Vehicle Game Drive
Travel Time: ± 5 – 6 hours

Leave Kenya behind today and travel on to Kampala, the capital of Uganda, a landlocked country. Uganda, one of the five members of the East African Community, has a population of over 30 million and is a country with great cultural diversity. After a long day of travel, stay at a hotel tonight instead of setting up camp. Before settling in for a good night’s rest, enjoy a dinner prepared by the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Kampala with shared facilities (1 night)
Travel Time: ± 10 hours

Kalinzu National Forest is a dense thicket of forest famed for its chimpanzees. Over 300 chimps call this forest home, but they aren’t alone. Black and white colobus, baboon, red-tailed monkey, both blue and red duiker, bushbuck, waterbuck, giant forest hog, buffalo and event elephants live in this jungle. Not forgetting many species of moth and butterfly. You can settle into your camp and perhaps explore the surrounding area with the rest of your group as soon as you arrive.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Camping at Kalinzu Forest (with facilities) (1 night) Basic facilities with no upgrades available
Travel Time: ± 9 hours

This morning, you can visit the Chimpanzees of Kalinzu Forest or simply relax in your tent listening to the sounds of the forest. As they squabble and play in fruiting trees, chimpanzees are the closest living creatures to humans.

Queen Elizabeth National Park is Uganda’s top tourist destination. The Kazinga River cuts a lazy path through savannah and bush that is the foreground to the staggering Rwenzori Mountains. Volcanic craters watch over rolling hills and the Ishasha plains which shelter Uganda’s famous tree-climbing lions. All the big game are here in large numbers. Take a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, filled with crocodiles and hippos, whilst its banks are visited by elephant and buffalo. The bird life along the river is exceptional, look out for pelicans and eagles.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Camping at Queen Elizabeth National Park (with facilities) (1 night)
Optional Activities: Kalinzu Forest – Chimp trek – USD100, Queen Elizabeth National Park – Kazinga Channel boat cruise – USD30

Your drive to Kisoro takes you through Queen Elizabeth National Park. Stay alert for the Ugandan kobs, the national animal of Uganda.

There are seven gorilla groups in Mgahinga, Nkuringo, Rushaga and Nshongi that you can access from Kisoro, which sits just across the border from Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Kisoro’s proximity to the Mufumbiro Mountains makes it the perfect stop off point for seeing mountain gorillas. One of the most beautiful areas of Uganda, Kisoro has mountain scenery, the placid lake Mutanda, patchwork hillsides and bright bustling markets. It’s a delightful destination that offers many outdoor activities from volcano climbing to canoeing on the lake.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Camping at Kirsoro (with facilities) (1 night) Flush toilets and showers, upgrades available
Included Activities: Queen Elizabeth National Park – Overland Vehicle Game Drive
Travel Time: ± 7 hours

Seeing the Gorillas of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is a bucket list goal that few achieve. These gentle gorilla families are one of only a few on earth that live within Uganda, Rwanda and the DRC. At Bwindi, you can usually get very close to the mountain gorillas, who are placid and gentle. Be mesmerised as you watch them eat, sleep, groom and play – the giant silverback surveying the scene as the smaller ones laze in the trees or play like children. Your visit with the gorillas will last one unforgettable hour.

Your 3 – 4 hour hike takes you into the primeval forest. Great stands of bamboo and dense hardwood trees give the forest its name. Your hike will take you high into the volcanic mountains where the gorillas live. You may well see forest elephants, buffalo and many species of monkey and mountain antelope.

No more than eight people per day can visit any one family and visits are strictly controlled to minimise the possibility of disturbance or transmission of disease to the animals. There is sometimes wetness, mud, and discomfort involved with tracking gorillas in dense forests. Make sure you are prepared for the tough terrain.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Camping at Kisoro (with facilities) (1 night) Flush toilets and showers, upgrades available
Included Activities: Bwindi National Park – Mountain Gorilla Permit & Trek

Spend your free day in the area around Kisoro. Travel into the rainforest to see monkeys, go on a nature walk to learn about vegetation and animals in the area, or hike up Mt Sabinyo – one of five volcanoes located in the Parc National des Volcans.

You can also visit the genocide memorial, the art museum, and Nyamirambo women’s center in Rwanda for a day trip. If you intend to travel to Rwanda or East Africa, you will need a visa. The day is yours to explore or rest as you wish.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Camping at Kisoro (with facilities) (1 night) Flush toilets and showers, upgrades available
Optional Activities: Kisoro – Virunga Hike – USD50, Kisoro – Trek With Golden Monkeys Permit & Guide (from price) – USD100, Kisoro – Sabinyo Trek / Mgahinga hiking – USD90, Kisoro – Lake & Famstead Bicycle Tour – USD50, Kisoro – Rwanda Day Excursion – From – USD45
Please Note: Optional activities require additional transport costs of approximately USD$100 that can be shared between up to 5-8 travellers. You must pre-book a place for the Golden Monkeys Trek in order to guarantee your spot. If you prefer to wait and book it later, keep in mind that this is a popular activity and there are a limited number of spots.

Say farewell to the lands of the Gorilla as we turn back towards the capital, Kampala.

Mbarara is known as the land of milk and honey. A well used stop off on the way through Uganda, it’s an oasis in an area of stunning beauty. This urban centre is surrounded by four national parks. Your stop at Mbarara will give you the chance to stock up on supplies and spend some downtime at the camp.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Camping at Mbarara (with facilities) (1 night)
Travel Time: ± 5 – 6 hours

Jinja is one of the highlights of any visit to Uganda, a riverside retreat at the source of the Nile. An old town full of colonial buildings and wide leafy streets. The Nile River runs through the town, placid in places before turning into rapids that have gained fame globally.

Jinga is the adventure capital of Uganda. The white water rapids are a must for any adrenaline junkie. Rather stay on land? Then take a gentle horse ride through the green countryside or tear up the dirt roads on a mountain or quad bike.

Meals: Breakfast x2, Lunch x1, Dinner x2
Accommodation: Camping at a scenic riverside site (with facilities) (2 nights) (Showers, flush toilets, WiFi and ATM access, and upgrades available)
Optional Activities: Jinja – River Nile whitewater rafting (full day) – USD140, Jinja – Nile Boat Cruise – USD40, Jinja – Source of River Nile tour – USD45

Travel to the lush green fields of Kericho. Kericho sits at the edge of South – Western Mau National Reserve and is known for its vast tea estates. Everywhere you look is the bright green of tea fields; lush crops with only stands of evergreen trees to break them up. Kericho is a placid town with a temperate climate and a relaxed vibe. Explore a tea plantation on arrival and sample some tasty tea.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Camping at Kericho on the grounds of a hotel, upgrades available. (1 night)
Included Activities: Kericho – Tea plantation visit
Travel Time: ± 9 hours

This morning drive to the famous Masai Mara National Park.

Visit Tepesua Village en route in Loita Hills, home of the traditional Maasai. Maasai Warriors will welcome you with traditional song and dance. During a fascinating talk with your Maasai hosts, you will gain insights into this remarkable and ancient culture. You can take a walk to the community village founded by widows who cannot remarry because of drought. With the Tepesua Widows Income Project, the village provides economic growth, safety, and support. Visitors and locals can purchase eco-friendly handbags and backpacks made by the women here.

The flat landscapes of the Masai Mara are unforgettable in their grandeur. This is the cliché of Africa. Land of The Lion King, of great herds of animals crossing savannah dotted with acacia trees. Of sunsets that paint the sky purple, pink and orange. It’s the place of the great Migration. Witness millions of wildebeest and zebra leaping into a crocodile-filled river in order to reach the fertile pastures of the Mara. This is the home of the predator, more cats per acre than anywhere else in the world. Bones litter the plains, vultures circle, hyenas skulk. This is a safari, a fitting end to your trip. Explore this diverse environment and view a multitude of wildlife on an evening 4×4 game drive.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Camping at the Masai Mara National Reserve (with facilities) (1 night)
Included Activities: Masai Mara – 4×4 Game Drive
Travel Time: 7 hours

Take the entire day to venture into the Masai Mara National Reserve on a 4×4 game drive.

An optional balloon ride over the Mara at sunrise is an unforgettable experience. When you pre-book this activity (see ‘Important Notes’ section), you will be picked up early in the morning and driven to the launch site for a safety briefing. Your next step is to glide through the dawn, sometimes at tree height, which provides an amazing opportunity to take pictures. It’s not uncommon for you to ascend, so that you can see the vastness of the plains and the teeming herds in the early morning hours. As soon as you land, you’ll enjoy a bush breakfast before returning to your campsite.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Camping at the Masai Mara National Reserve (with facilities) (1 night)
Included activities: Masai Mara – Full Day 4×4 Game Drive
Optional Activities: Masai Mara National Reserve – Balloon ride (from price) – USD500
Please Note: Pre-booking is required for the balloon ride, which ensures your seat. Please keep in mind that this is a popular activity and places are limited, so we encourage you to book locally on the ground. As a result of participating in this activity, you will not be able to enjoy the morning half of the included game drive.

Say goodbye to the open expanses of the African bush and return to the bustling metropolis of Nairobi. On arrival in Nairobi, you’ll be dropped at your finishing point hotel, where your tour will finish.

Meals: Breakfast
Travel Time: ±4 – 5 hours
Please Note: Please don’t book any international flights until after 6:30pm this evening.  You will not have accommodation tonight, but we are able to book you additional accommodations in Nairobi. During the booking process, please ask. Consider booking the Nairobi by Night Urban Adventure if you’re staying on a bit longer.

Onward Travel Plans

Due to circumstances beyond our control while on tour (such as border crossings, traffic, breakdowns and delays, etc), the end time on the last day cannot be guaranteed. Therefore we strongly recommend you stay the night and fly out the next day. Please consult with your booking consultant.