Itinerary

Days 1-3: Nairobi, Naivasha And Masai Mara.
Departing Nairobi at 10.am, we head to Lake Naivasha. From here we head into the Masai Mara, one of Africa’s premier game parks. The Masai Mara has large herds of plains game (gazelle, antelope, and giraffe), which in turn attract large numbers of carnivores (lion, cheetah, hyena and the ever elusive leopard). In the Masai Mara we do two game drives, one evening drive and one early morning. Early morning and evenings are the best times, apart from night, to see animals. In most national parks it is forbidden to drive at night, so all game viewing is done as early and as late as possible to get the best conditions. Looking for game in a National park is not always easy. This is one of the advantages of using a truck, which gives us superior height, making it easier to see over the surrounding terrain. Game parks are places where the enthusiast tends to use a lot of film so it’s advisable to have some extra on hand.

Days 4-5: Nairobi And Arusha.
From the Masai Mara we pass back through Nairobi. We depart Nairobi and enter Tanzania and the town of Arusha. Our route to Arusha takes us through more Masai tribal lands and along the western slope of Mt Meru. On this route it is also possible to see Mt Kilimanjaro. Be warned, Kilimanjaro is regularly covered by cloud.

Days 6-7: Arusha And The Ngorongoro Crater.
Arusha is situated on the southern slopes of Mt Meru and was originally a coffee town. Safaris have now taken over as the town’s big earner. In Arusha we transfer into smaller 4 wheel drive vehicles to transfer to Karatu, where we spend the night.
Karatu is a small trading town on the edge of the Ngorongoro Conservation area. The following morning we head into the Ngorongoro Crater National Park. We descend onto the Crater floor for an early morning game drive in one of the most stunning natural wonders of the world. At 19Kms across and 600m deep this is the 5th largest crater in the world. It is a world heritage site and boasts a unique ecosystem. The crater itself reflects a mini rift valley. It has a soda lake with flamingos, fresh water, open plains, and a forest area. There is a high concentration of animals here, and it is also a home to a small population of black rhino. We spend around 4½ hours game driving around the crater. We use smaller vehicles to visit the park, as the walls of the extinct volcano that form the crater are too steep to be negotiated by large vehicles. After the Game drive we head back to Arusha.

Days 8-9: Arusha And Dar-Es-Salam.
From Arusha our journey takes us to Dar es Salaam (Swahili for “haven of peace”) on the Indian Ocean. The trip will either be one big day on the truck or broken down into 2 shorter drives. Whichever way it is done, we get another chance to Kilimanjaro and will also see a changing landscape en-route to the coast.

Days 10-14: Dar-Es-Salam And Zanzibar.
We travel to Zanzibar by ferry from Dar es Salaam and this journey can take up to 3 or 4 hours. Conditions are usually smooth but beware the occasional day with rolling seas.
Zanzibar is known as the Spice Island, which comes from the many different spices that were grown there by the original Omani settlers. A lot of spices are still grown on the island and make up a large part of the economy of the island. The island does have a more sordid past in that it was once a major slave trading port; and it is still possible to visit the site of the old slave trading markets. The town centre still shows a lot of its Arabic origins in its architecture. It’s fascinating to walk around the labyrinth of old buildings and walled streets. For the beach lovers you can go out of the town and spend some relaxing time on the isolated beaches. There are spice tours that take in all manners of exotic fruits and spices and you can sample many of the tastes and smells first hand. Just off the coast of the old town is Prison Island, where there is a population of giant land tortoises who are happy to share their stretch of beach.
We generally spend 3 to 4 days on the island. We recommend that you budget around U$250-300 for your stay on Zanzibar to cover food, transport around the island, drinks and souvenirs. Please note that this is a recommendation only as different passengers have widely differing spending patterns.

Days 15-16: Southern Tanzania & Mikumi N.P.
From Zanzibar we cross southern Tanzania into Malawi. The route takes us through the Mikumi National Park. This is not an excursion but the road actually passes right through the centre of the park, which is a bonus, and it is possible to see numbers of giraffe, antelope and elephants. It is interesting to note that these elephants are very small in stature, which is attributed to the decimation of their gene pool due to poaching.

Days 17-21: Malawi And Lake Malawi Beaches.
Malawi is a small country in central southern Africa and is dominated by water and mountainous regions. More than 30% of the country’s landmass comprises of Lake Malawi. On our trip through Malawi we visit a number of the small bays along the lakeshore. Snorkelling and diving are available or people can just swim and laze about on the beaches. There is also ample time to visit local villages and the local markets which abound with woodcarvings, the most famous of these being large carved chairs. These chairs have proved very popular with our clients over the years, only to become a problematic purchase when the time comes to send such a large object home.

Days 22-23: Lilongwe And Lusaka.
This period is spent travelling from Lilongwe, the capital city of Malawi, to Livingstone, stopping off in Lusaka, Zambia, en-route. Livingstone is a small town on the Zambian side and not surprisingly was named after David Livingstone, the man who discovered Victoria Falls.

Days 24-29: Livingstone And Victoria Falls.
Victoria Falls known locally as “Mosi oa Tunya”, “the smoke that thunders”, is one of the world’s natural wonders, though they are neither the highest nor the widest of the world’s waterfalls. They do, however, create a visual spectacle as they cut a massive gorge in the earth and crash 111 metres to the river below. This gorge actually forms the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia and the initial part of our stay we spend on the Zambian side. Here we have the option to do an evening river cruise on the Upper (above the falls) Zambezi River, which takes about 3 hrs with drinks included.
On the Zimbabwe side there are a wide variety of optional activities, the most famous being White Water rafting on the Lower Zambezi. This excursion takes a full day and has 14 plus rapids none below grade 4 (rapids are graded from 1 to 6). Please note that at certain times of the year the rafting may be restricted or even closed due to high water levels (March – May). Bungy jumping is also an option for all those who wish to throw themselves 111 metres head first off a perfectly good bridge. Jet Boating, imported and improved on from New Zealand. Various flights are on offer, including light fixed wing aircraft, helicopter, microlight and ultralight, all offering wonderful viewing of the falls. As well as these there is horse riding, elephant riding and canoeing, not to mention a walk to the falls themselves. Videos and still photographs are available for purchase of most activities, and are a great reminder of your adrenaline filled visit to the mighty Victoria Falls and Zambezi River.

Days 30-31: Bulawayo.
Departing from the adrenaline capital of Africa, Victoria Falls, we head towards Zimbabwe’s second largest city of Bulawayo, where, depending on our time of arrival we may have a chance for craft shopping before we set up camp. There’s more game watching in Matopos National Park, home to a large population of white rhino and the site of Cecil Rhodes grave.

Days 32-33: Antelope Park, Gweru.
We then head to the Antelope Park where you will have the rare opportunity to take a walk with some lion cubs, go horse riding, take a boat cruise, or even ride and swim with an African elephant.

Days 34-35: Lake Chicamba And Vilanculos.
Heading westward across Zimbabwe to exit the country near Mutare we camp on the shores of picturesque Lake Chicamba en route to Mozambique, before arriving at the beautiful coastline of Vilanculos.

Days 36-37: Vilanculos.
For the next two days we will be based in Vilanculos in order to enjoy a Dhow safari to the islands of the Bazaruto Archipelago – classed as a World Heritage Site for its outstanding natural beauty.

Days 38-39: Inhambane And Tofu Beach.
Next we head further south down the palm-fringed coast to Inhambane – a small town with a colourful market and friendly atmosphere. We camp at the idyllic Tofu Beach for a couple of nights and enjoy relaxing on the beach, or walking along the peninsular where there are more opportunities for snorkelling or scuba diving.

Days 40-42: Maputo, Kruger National Park And Johannesburg.
Our last stop in Mozambique is in the lively capital of Maputo, a city of wide tree lined streets and colonial architecture. We overnight in Maputo. Leaving Mozambique we drive into South Africa and the world-renowned Kruger National Park, home to a staggering amount of wildlife and birds. We camp for the night within the park and on our final morning take an early game drive when the animals are at their most active.
We end this trip on the last day in the cosmopolitan city of Johannesburg; we will arrive into Johannesburg between 5-6 p.m. NO accommodation included on Day 42

Included

Fully Escorted Tour - Tour Leader and Driver, All Activities, Sightseeing and Entrance Fees as Per Itinerary, All Meals Whilst Camping, National Parks and Reserve Entrance Fees, Zanzibar Ferry, All Tolls and Taxes, Dhow Safari to Bazaruto Archipelago

Accommodation
Camping (37 Nights)
Hostel on Zanzibar (4 Nights)

Transport
Overland Truck - no more than 20 passengers
Safari Vehicle
Dhow
On foot
A smaller vehicle in Mozambique

Excluded

All optional excursions, visas and meals unless otherwise stated in the itinerary.

Optional Activities
Kenya
Masai Mara - Masai Dancing & Cultural Talk - $10
Masai Mara - Masai Village - $10
Masai Mara - Hot Air Ballooning - $425
Lake Naivasha - Crescent Island Boat - $35
Lake Naivasha - Horse Riding - $5
Hells Gate National Park - Entrance Fee - $35
Nairobi - David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Visit - $65
Nairobi - Langatta Giraffe Centre Entry - $15

Tanzania
Serengeti - Morning Hot Air Balloon - $500
Zanzibar - Spice Island Tour - $25
Zanzibar - Prison Island Snorkelling - $25
Zanzibar - Swimming with Dolphins - N/A
Zanzibar - Transport to North/East Beaches - $15
Zanzibar - Accommodation costs on Zanzibar Approx - $35pp/pn
Zanzibar - Budget for Zanzibar option - $300pp

Malawi
Lake Malawi - Kande Beach Water Sports from - $25
Lake Malawi - Scuba Diving - Single Dive from - $35
Lake Malawi - Scuba Diving - PADI Course from - $170
Lake Malawi - Village Walk - $5
Lake Malawi - Horse Riding - $50

Zambia
See under Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe - Elephant Ride 30 Mins - $30
Zimbabwe - Sunset Cruise - $25
Zimbabwe - Horse Ride - $25
Victoria Falls - Rafting Full Day - $140
Victoria Falls - River Boarding Half Day - $125
Victoria Falls - Flight of Angels Helicopter Ride 30 mins - $220
Victoria Falls - Flight of Angels Fixed Wing - $80
Victoria Falls - Bungy Jumping - $130
Victoria Falls - Jet boating from - $100
Victoria Falls - Gorge Swing / Abseil - $115
Victoria Falls - Sky Dive (Tandem) - $305
Victoria Falls - Game Walks - $90
Victoria Falls - Lion Walk - $100
Victoria Falls - Canoe Safaris from - $85-110
Victoria Falls - Kayaking - $165
Victoria Falls - Interactive Drumming - $30
Victoria Falls - Elephant Ride - $100
Victoria Falls - Horse Riding from - $50-100

Mozambique
Mozambique - Scuba Diving Single Dive - $120
Mozambique - Quad Biking - $50
Mozambique - Deep Sea Fishing - $150
Mozambique - Horse Riding - $40

South Africa
Johannesburg - Soweto Township Tours from - $50
Johannesburg - Apartheid Museum Tour - $50

Departures

Starts: Nairobi - Finishes: Daily

Sun 11 Mar 12    -    Sat 21 Apr 12
Sun 22 Apr 12    -    Sat 02 Jun 12
Sun 06 May 12    -    Sat 16 Jun 12
Sun 27 May 12    -    Sat 07 Jul 12
Sun 17 Jun 12    -    Sat 28 Jul 12
Sun 02 Sep 12    -    Sat 13 Oct 12

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