Johannesburg to Nairobi Safari

This 30-Day Safari gives you an amazing opportunity to explore the Southern part of Africa   The ultimate experience for the young and really adventurous is an overland camping safari through Africa. With adventure around every corner, and sometimes finding oneself so isolated that the nearest town could be some 300 kilometres away, this trip is certainly not for the faint-hearted. We expect a great deal of participation and flexibility from all passengers on this trip, but the efforts are well worth it! Highlights: Zimbabwe Ruins, Bulawayo and Matobo National Park in Zimbabwe, Hwange, Victoria Falls, Lusaka and the Luangwa National Park in Zambia, Lake Malawi, Dar Es Salaam in Tanzania, Zanzibar, Arusha, Serengeti and the Ngorongoro crater, Nairobi. Type of Safari: Semi-participation camping safari Accommodation: Value for money fully equipped camping Price from £1599.00pp from $3095.00pp from €2595.00pp A local payment of 3000 Rand (Approximately £300/$570/480€) is required to be paid locally. Includes: All transport, accommodation, scheduled entry and park fees, canoeing safari, ferry ride, group equipment, a professional guide, breakfasts, most lunches and all evening meals when not scheduled in a restaurant, coffee and tea. Excludes: Alcohol and soft drinks, curios, tips, visas, airport taxes, transfers, other optional excursions, restaurant meals and harbour taxes. Meals Key: [B] Breakfast [L] Lunch [D] Dinner Tailor-Made Travel: This safari runs on scheduled dates throughout the year. We can tailor-make a private safari to meet your departure date, time period, group size and budget. Contact the office for further information.   or call 0800 043 7942 Day 1 Leaving Johannesburg early, we begin our trek north and head for our rustic bush-camp set on a private game reserve in the Limpopo Valley. We arrive early and familiarise ourselves with the vehicle and equipment, before camping the night. Enjoy a traditional "braai". [D] Day 2 After a morning game walk, we travel the short distance to the border on to the Great Zimbabwe Ruins. The afternoon is spent exploring this massive complex, and delving into the mysteries surrounding their origin. Tonight we enjoy a night of relative comfort, and a catered meal (own expense). [BL] Day 3 After a short drive, we pass through the wide streets of Bulawayo, and on to our camp nestled amongst the precariously balancing boulders of Matobo. This afternoon we enjoy an open vehicle drive into the Matobo National Park in search of animals. Set in a sea of fascinating rock formations, this park contains many historical sites as well as a large number of wild game including some of the more beautiful larger antelope and black and white rhinoceros. Birdlife is prolific and includes the world's largest concentration of black eagles. [BLD] Day 4 This morning we stretch our legs with a climb on one of the "koppies" surrounding our camp before packing up and moving on to Hwange. This afternoon we enjoy an extensive open vehicle drive in search of the animals for which Hwange is so well known. Hwange National Park is one of Africa's finest havens for wildlife and is home to vast herds of elephant, buffalo, zebra and has a very large concentration of giraffe. Tonight we drift off to sleep to the sounds of the wild at our exclusive bush camp in the Hwange area. [BLD] Day 5-6 Leaving our bush-camp, we head for the amazing spectacle of Victoria Falls, and the surrounding tourist village. We spend two days here, at an inn in Victoria Falls. Victoria Falls has been called the greatest known curtain of falling water and it is truly spectacular. There are numerous activities to pursue here, such as bungi-jumping, white-water rafting and aircraft flips (own expense). Clients will have leisure time to explore the town. One evening meal will be at a local restaurant (own expense). [BD] Day 7 We are starting the morning early. You have a view of the falls whilst crossing the historic Livingstone Bridge over the Zambezi Gorge into Zambia. Our journey takes us across southern Zambia to the Kafue River where we set up camp at Gwabi. Relax by the pool and enjoy a hot shower. [BLD] Day 8-10 After a river safety and procedure briefing we begin our canoeing adventure. These days are the highlight of the tour with excellent bird and game viewing opportunities. Hippo and other big game may be encountered at close range. This section does involve a certain amount of effort, and at night we camp wild on certain islands. We end the paddle at the Chongwe River, and camp here on the last night. The next day we conduct a short game walk before transferring back to Gwabi camp by boat, for a hot shower and a catered meal (own expense). Camp the night. [BLD] Day 11 We continue north via the capital city, Lusaka. Lusaka is a city whose bustling chaos has a certain charm that is just Zambia. Here we stock up on provisions, before moving along the Great East Road to our camp in the Luangwa District. [BLD] Day 12-13 Our journey takes us along the banks of the Luangwa River to our camp where we overnight for two nights just outside the Luangwa National Park. An excellent way to get close to animals in their natural habitat as the bush reveals its real secrets. We enter the southern park for some spectacular game viewing with excellent opportunities of Leopard sightings. [BLD] Day 14-15 Today we enter Malawi, and after replenishing stocks and spending some time at the curio stalls in Lilongwe, we continue down to the lake where we spend two nights literally camping on the beach. The days are spent simply relaxing and soaking up the sun, or for the more energetic, the crystal clear waters offer excellent snorkelling and lovely beach walks. [BLD] Day 16 Following the winding road along the lakeshore, we continue north and again camp on the beach, and enjoy Lake Malawi, one of Africa's jewels. Lake Malawi is the ninth largest lake in the world. It is 560km, 80km wide and 700m deep and forms most of the eastern border between Malawi and Mozambique. It is a fresh water lake. Many Malawian villages are located on the lake shore. The lake serves as an important source of food, providing local fishermen with an abundant source of fish. A most popular dinner in Malawi is chambo (a type of fish) and nsima (a corn or cassava porridge). [BLD] Day 17 Entering Tanzania, we begin our journey across this vast country. Tonight we will camp in the remote village of Mikumi. [BLD] Day 18 We arrive in Dar Es Salaam, the capital of Tanzania, around noon. Dar es Salaam is a fascinating rabbit warren of a tropical port, often surprising the unwary wanderer with scenes of breathtaking beauty. While Dodoma has been (somewhat absurdly) appointed as the new capital of Tanzania, Dar is the real capital, a hustling, bustling seaport that straddles some of the most important sea routes on earth. We will spend some time in this bustling city, before moving to the North Coast where we will camp the night on the beach. [BLD] Day 19-22 This morning we head directly to the harbour where we embark on a ferry ride across to Zanzibar. Exploring the island thoroughly, we spend time at the remote villages and sandy beaches of the north. Visit the slave pits and participate in a spice tour - the food and fruit market is not to be missed. Sample the local cuisine one night (own expense). [BLD] Day 23 Leaving the island behind, we board the night ferry for our journey back to the mainland. We camp the night north of Dar Es Salaam. [BLD] Day 24-25 Moving inland we head for Arusha where we spend two nights camping in this bustling town. We enjoy a full day of curio shopping and exploring the numerous markets etc. At this stage it is possible to view Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest point in Africa, if the clouds oblige. [BLD] Day 26 Travelling from Arusha to Serengeti we are bound to witness the impressive Masai herdsmen, herding their cattle amongst the game. Most of the day is a game drive with exceptional game viewing potential, and we arrive at the Seronera camp in the late afternoon to camp the night. [BLD] Day 27 Rising early we continue game viewing for the entire day, before exiting the park and making for Simba Camp to camp the night on the lip of the Ngorongoro crater. [BLD] Day 28 We descend into the crater on the steep dirt track cut into the crater wall. The diverse habitats of lake, swamp, grassland and acacia forests bring with them an equal diversity of game, with everything one can imagine, from Flamingo to Elephant and the ever-present Masai herdsmen. We finally exit the crater after lunch to return to Arusha for the night. [BLD] Day 29 After a final hopeful glimpse of Kilimanjaro we head due north to enter Kenya and to travel directly to Nairobi. We overnight in a simple hotel with an evening farewell meal (own expense). [BL] Day 30 After breakfast we bid farewell to our fellow travellers and depart on our separate ways. Clients may join or leave this tour at certain stages of the itinerary, and this can be arranged prior to booking. [B]