Days 1 – 2: Johannesburg, South Africa, to Kasane,BotswanaWe depart early from the Backpackers Ritz of Johannesburg forour drive to Botswana crossing the border late on day one. Wetravel through Nata on the edge of the Makgadikgadi Pans,and then head on to Kasane for our first wildlife treat.

Distance over two days: 1,215 kmsEst. Drive Time, Day 1: +/- 9 hours (depending on the border)Est. Drive Time, Day 2: 9 hoursMeals: X1 Breakfast, X2 Dinners

Day 3: KasaneChobe National Park is our first chance to enjoy one of Africa’sspecial game parks as we head out on an afternoon cruise onthe Chobe River, a rich introduction to the beauty of Africa’spristine wilderness reserves. Chobe is famous for its elephantpopulation and during the cruise there can be ample time toenjoy watching elephant messing about in and by the river aswell as wallowing hippo. There is an excellent chance of alsoseeing crocodile and game such as giraffe, zebra, waterbuckand impala down at the water’s edge.

Chobe also has a large lion population, and also packs of theendangered African wild dog. There is also time for a gamedrive during the day.

Distance: 0 kmsEst. Drive Time: 0 hoursMeals: X1 Breakfast, X1 Dinner

Included wildlife activity: Game cruise on the Chobe River

Optional excursion: Game drive, Chobe National Park.

Days 4 – 5: Kasane to Hwange National Park,ZimbabweWe leave Botswana behind us and head to our camp near ournext big highlight - Hwange National Park, the largest gamereserve in Zimbabwe. On arrival we spend some time at thePainted Dog Conservation Centre. The painted dog, or rareAfrican wild dog, is recognisable by its mickey mouse ears.

The following day we head out on a game drive with an expertprofessional guide. Hwange is known for its elephant andhyena population and also boasts many wildlife favourites socameras at the ready! Most people opt for extra game driveswhilst here including an evening drive.

Distance, Day 4: 189 kmsEst. Drive Time, Day 4: +/- 4 hours (depending on the border)Meals: X2 Breakfasts, X2 Dinners

Included wildlife activity: Visit to Wild Dog Conservation Centre,game drive Hwange National Park

Optional excursion: Extra game drives, Hwange National Park.

Days 6 – 8: Hwange National Park to Victoria FallsTravelling to Victoria Falls town, set right by the mightywaterfalls we have a few days to relax and enjoy differentactivities.

The Victoria Falls are one of the wonders of the natural world.The spray from the crashing water can be seen rising into theair from miles around and they are aptly called locally Mosi oaTunya, ‘the smoke which thunders’. This popular, vibrant townoffers a wide range of activities based on both the upper andlower Zambezi River, from canoeing and cruises to white waterrafting, as well as game activities such as walking with lionsand elephant rides. The Falls is an adrenaline junky’s paradisewith the bungee jump, gorge swing, flying fox, zipline, bridgeslide and bridge swing also being popular options. The craftmarkets in town offer the first major chance to practice yourhaggling skills for some souvenirs or gifts.

Distance, Day 6: 87 kmsEst. Drive Time, Day 6: 2 hoursMeals: Day 6, X1 Breakfast, X1 Dinner, Days 7 and 8: none

Optional excursions: White water rafting, river boarding, bungeejumping, gorge swing, rap jump, ‘Flight of the Angels’, canoetrips, lion walks, elephant rides, horse riding, sundownercruise.

Days 9 – 10: Victoria Falls to Chipata, Zambia Crossing into Zambia, we head to the capital city of Lusaka.Here we have a chance to stop to catch up on emails, get tothe bank and stock up on supplies in the supermarket.

The next day we drive on to Chipata the gate way town toSouth Luangwa National park.

Distance over two days: 1,035 kmsEst. Drive Time, Day 9: +/- 8 hours (depending on the border)Est. Drive Time, Day 10: 9 hoursMeals: X2 Breakfasts, X2 Dinners

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ZIMBABWE

ZAMBIA

TANZANIA

DEMOCRATICREPUBLIC OF CONGO

UGANDA KENYA

Johannesburg

Harare

Zanzibar Islandferry

Dar Es Salaam

NairobiKilimanjaro

Mikumi

Lake Tanganika

Lake Malawi

MALAWI

Blantyre

Etosha

Skeleton Coast

Swakopmund

Arusha

Kande Beach

Queen Elizabeth

Sossusvlei

EquatorThe Virungas

Mountain Gorillas

MOZAMBIQUE

ANGOLA

BOTSWANAMatopos

Bulawayo

Cape Town

ChobeLivingstone, Victoria Falls

South Luangwa

LilongweLusakaLake Kariba

Orange River

Kampala

Matusadona

Mt KenyaRuhengeri

Hwange

Namib Desert

NAMIBIA

WindhoekGhanzi

Lamberts Bay KeyTHE ROUTEGAME PARKFERRYBOLT ON Garden Route to Jo’burg

RWANDAMasai Mara

GameRanch

Cheetah Park

Durban

Kigali

Entebbe

Fish RiverCanyon

Ngorongoro Crater

Stellenbosch

REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA

Gansbaai Jeffrey’s BayCAPE AGULHUS

Addo

Serengeti

Lake Victoria

OkavangoDelta

Days 11 – 12: Chipata to South Luangwa National Park We drive into South Luangwa National Park today, one ofZambia’s treasures, and our third national park included inthe price.

A fabulous amount of game concentrates around the LuangwaRiver and sightings regularly include elephant, hippo, giraffe,baboons and monkey to name just a few. This park too boastsstrong lion and leopard populations. A special feature ofSouth Luangwa is the opportunity for an evening game drivewith spotlights to see nocturnal wildlife such as leopard,bushbabies and genet whose stealth makes them a rare treatto spot.

Travelling to such a remote destination this is also awonderful chance to experience rural Zambia. A game offootball with the local kids is always fun. There can beelephants through the campsite at night here as well.

(Please note due to seasonal variations we only visit Luangwaon departures between June and October. Alternatively outsidethese months we instead extend our visit to Hwange whichremains more accessible over these months).

Distance, Day 11: 150 kmsEst. Drive Time, Day 11: 3 hoursMeals: X2 Breakfasts, X2 Dinners

Included wildlife activity: Game drive, South Luangwa NationalPark

Optional excursion: Extra game drives including evening gamedrive, South Luangwa National Park.

Days 13 – 15 : South Luangwa National Park toKande, MalawiLeaving Luangwa behind we travel to Malawi, heading forKande beach to enjoy some down time by beautiful lakeMalawi. The long strip of soft white sand is perfect forsunbathing and volleyball, and the campsite has a lively bar.Trips on the lake can be arranged, from fishing to snorkelingand diving. Horse riding is also popular. The riding trail leadsthrough local forest and traditional villages before finishing onthe beach from where the horses happily head into the lakeallowing us the pleasure of a swim ride. Village visits can bearranged to

Distance, Day 13: 538 kmsEst. Drive Time, Day 13: +/- 10 hours (depending on theborder)Meals: X3 Breakfasts, X3 Dinners

Optional excursions: Horse riding, village walk, snorkeling,diving, boating.

Day 16: Kande to Chitimba Our next beach is Chitimba, for more swimming, snorkeling,volleyball as well as a walk to the local village, whose incomeand livelihood is centered around the lake, like so many othervillages in the area.

You can also browse the markets, Malawi being well known forits wooden crafts, from the massive Malawi chairs and tallwooden giraffes to intricately carved chess boards andglobes.

Distance: 370 kmsEst. Drive Time: 6 hoursMeals: X1 Breakfast, X1 Dinner

Day 17: Chitimba to Iringa, TanzaniaLeaving Malawi behind, we cross the border into our sixthcountry, Tanzania. Our journey takes us through themountainous terrain of the southern end of the 40 million-year-old Great Rift Valley, a geological phenomena thatstretches over 4,000 miles from the Middle East toMozambique.

We camp tonight at a farmhouse. Hot chocolate and browniesare a popular treat tonight to keep us warm.

Distance: 500 kmsEst. Drive Time: +/- 9 hours (depending on the border)Meals: X1 Breakfast, X1 Dinner

Day 18: Iringa to Dar es SalaamNext stop, Dar es Salaam and our camp by the Indian Ocean!On the way we travel through Baobab Valley, past the RuahaRiver and Mikumi National Park where we regularly see giraffe,elephant, zebra and impala.

Dar es Salaam, the largest city in Tanzania, is known as the‘city of peace’. It is also the gateway over to Zanzibar Island.The wind whispers in the coconut palms as the waters lap thewhite sands at our camp tonight, and we get ready for ouroptional trip to Zanzibar.

Distance: 552 kmsEst. Drive Time: 9 hoursMeals: X1 Breakfast, X1 Dinner

Days 19 – 21: Allocated for the optional stay onZanzibar Island This morning there is the option to head to the busy ferry portat Dar es Salaam for the ferry crossing to Stone Town, theancient capital of Zanzibar. On arrival we make our waythrough the winding alleys and can check out the exquisitelycarved doors. We enjoy lunch from the local cafes.

We then head up the beach. Pristine white sand and turquoiseseas offer a postcard perfect view from the bar at our beachbungalows. Massages, manicures, pedicures, henna tattoosand more are available on the beach, while the dive centrenext to the bar has a wide variety of boats trips and divecourses, both scuba and snorkeling.

Trips can be arranged to Prison Island to see the gianttortoise, Jozani Forest, home of the rare red colobus monkey,and to the coral waters of Mnemba Atol.

Further details of arrangements for your optional time onZanzibar Island: We make core arrangements well ahead oftime so we are assured our groups will be comfortable inpopular beach accommodation on the island. The tour leadertravels over to the island with the group as well to ensure thatall runs smoothly.

Other optional excursions available on the island include spicetours, snorkeling trip to Prison Island famous for its gianttortoise, as well as Mnemba Atoll, dolphin boat trips, a trek inJozani forest to see the red colobus monkeys and fishing.Scuba diving can be arranged from the dive centre near thebeach accommodation.

Distance: 0 kmsEst. Drive Time: 0 hoursMeals, Day 19: X1 Breakfast, Days 20 and 21: none

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Day 22: Zanzibar Island to Dar es SalaamWe say our farewells and catch the ferry back to Dar. Arrivingat camp there is time for one last swim in the ocean.

Distance: 0 kmsEst. Drive Time: 0 hoursMeals: X1 Dinner

Days 23 – 24 : Dar es Salaam to ArushaA two days drive takes us to Arusha, the large market townwhich is a few hours away from the northern circuit gameparks as well as the Kenyan border. We are based in Arushafor our last highlight, Tanzania’s world famous Serengeti andNgorongoro Crater – quite simply two of the best gamereserves on the planet.

Distance over two days: 665 kmsEst. Drive Time, Day 23: 8 hoursEst. Drive Time, Day 24: 6 hoursMeals: X2 Breakfasts, X2 Dinners

Days 25 – 27: Time allocated for safaris in theTanzanian game parks and other activitiesThree days are allocated to allow time for the different gamedrive options in Tanzania’s world famous game parks – TheSerengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. Most opt for a threeday/two night safari..

Further details: Rising early most in the group choose to headto the vast savannah plains of the Serengeti on a three daysafari visiting both the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater.

We have lunch at the top of the Ngorongoro Crater, after achance to take some photos at the lookout of the Crater floorstretching out in front of us. On clear days you can see rightacross to the other side.

We then drive to the entry gate of the Serengeti, a place ofendless plains of gold-brown grasses. Giraffe, wildebeest andzebra become more common as we approach the gate. Thefields surrounding the game parks are dotted with traditionalMaasai villages or ‘bomas’, with their small bee-hive huts laidout around a central holding pen and all surrounded by a tallfence. Maasai farmers can be seen herding their cows andgoats, highly recognizable wrapped up in their brightly colouredtraditional attire. We can arrange a visit in a village to learnsomething of Maasai ways, traditions they defiantly upholdtoday. A traditional march past and dance is also performedfor us.

We game drive through the afternoon before our camp in thecentre of the park. Those on safari in the Serengeti haveanother morning of game drives in the four by fours in theSerengeti. Binoculars and cameras at the ready, as we rangethrough the park, scanning for sightings of lion, leopard,elephant, hippo, baboon, giraffe, zebra, buffalo and more.

We leave by lunchtime to then make our way through thebeautiful Conservation Area to camp above the Crater. Zebraand other wildlife wander in camp tonight and we wrap upwarmly as we are camping at altitude. The following morningwe then game drive in the ancient Ngorongoro Crater on ourfinal day in the game parks.

If you don’t head out on this set of safaris you can spend timein the extensive Maasai Cultural Centre and Museum, and ifyou are up for it visit the Snake Park which has a largecollection of reptiles as well as a Maasai display. Arusha alsohas busy markets, a shopping mall, coffee shops andinternet. A camel safari can also be arranged to visit a Maasaivillage.

The campsite where we are based has a comfortableentertainment area.

On everyone’s return by early evening Day 27 to Arusha we allenjoy a group barbecue for our last evening together.

Distance: 0 kmsEst. Drive Time: 0 hoursMeals, Day 25: X1 Breakfast, Day 26: none, Day 27: X1 Dinner

Optional excursions for Days 25 to 27: Overnight excursion forgame drives in Ngorongoro Crater, Three day/two night safariwith game drives in both the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater(incl. X2 dinners, X3 lunches, X2 breakfasts), Balloon safari,Olduvai Gorge Museum, Maasai boma visit, Camel safari.

Day 28: Arusha to Nairobi, KenyaThis morning you are transferred on to the shuttle for thejourney from Arusha to Nairobi, Kenya’s capital city. Theshuttle will drop you in town or alternatively at Jomo Kenyatta,Nairobi’s international airport.

Overnight accommodation and transfers can be arranged inNairobi. The following morning we can also assist with amorning excursion in Nairobi to visit two special reserves,Sheldrick’s Elephant Orphanage and the Giraffe Park.

Distance: 278 kmsEst. Drive Time: +/- 6.5 hours (depending on the border)Meals: X1 Breakfast

Please note safari itineraries are given as a guide only. A safari is a journey and true journeys in Africa unfold andare of an adventurous nature, the unexpected can arise, sodo allow for this.

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