40 Day Serengeti to Cape Town Overland Adventure

The tour begins in Nairobi. Please ensure you have all the necessary visas for your trip. You can arrive any time. Spend some time with your new friends at the hotel bar before tomorrow’s early morning. Spend a chill night getting to know your group and tour guide while you fill your food and drink needs.

Embark on a thrilling shuttle journey across the semi-arid plains of the Maasai people in Kenya, culminating in the vibrant Tanzanian town of Arusha. Witness the awe-inspiring sight of Mount Kilimanjaro looming in the distance while enjoying captivating conversations with fellow travelers. This unforgettable road trip promises a unique blend of cultural immersion, breathtaking scenery, and shared camaraderie

Following breakfast, we start our adventure into the Serengeti National Park and the magnificent Ngorongoro Crater – two of Africa’s leading wildlife regions. Your 3-day and 2-night excursion starts as you hop on the specialised 4×4 safari vehicle which leads us on an incredible game drive through the park by expert driver/guides. The trucks we use have sliding windows and a big, pop-up roof that is ideal for fantastic game viewing.

With an area of 14,763 square kilometres, the Serengeti is incredibly vast. We camp and spend time game viewing in the central Serengeti ‘Seronera’ region, which is situated in the southeast of the park. You can expect to see a variety of wildlife such as buffaloes, lions, zebras, wildebeest, elephants along with many other animals.

Due to the size of the reserve, certain areas will not be available to visit during our stay here. As we travel through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and into the Serengeti National Park, you will begin to realize the enormity of this region, admiring the huge populations of wildlife that roam the acacia-spotted plains.

We will continue to experience the Serengeti on more game drives in the morning. When we return to the campsite we will pack up and journey to the Ngorongoro Crater for spectacular views of the rim populated with a variety of wildlife where we will camp for the night.

Some of you may have pre-booked a Serengeti Balloon Safari in which case this activity will likely take place today. In this case you will miss the morning game drive.

The time has come for you to experience “Africa’s Garden of Eden” up close. A final safari experience awaits the group today on the crater floor. If you want to see wildlife, make sure your camera is charged! Because of the crater walls and the enclosed nature of the crater, its own ecosystem has been created, including grasslands, swamps, acacia forests, and Lake Makat. With full camera rolls the group will exit the crater in the late morning and travel back to Arusha. While cruising along, swap stories, pull out your favorite photos from earlier, or simply sit back and take it all in.

Today we travel through varied landscapes on our way to the warm Indian Ocean Coast. We depart Arusha early to travel to Dar es Salaam. Be sure to look out for Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s tallest mountain! Dar es Salaam is a coastal town and is the largest city in Tanzania.

If you have booked the Zanzibar Express, you will transfer to the airport this morning for your flight to Zanzibar. Upon arrival in Stone Town enjoy a free day of shopping, relaxing or wandering through the markets. Meet with the group again tomorrow.

Following the whirlwind of your recent travels, prepare for a blissful escape to the idyllic paradise of Zanzibar. After waking in the vibrant Tanzanian city of Dar es Salaam, embark on a scenic ferry journey to this enchanting archipelago. Discover pristine beaches that will tempt you to embrace a life off the grid, surrounded by the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean. Few destinations on Earth can rival the captivating beauty and exotic allure of Zanzibar, a long-time haven for backpackers and adventurers. Immerse yourself in the island’s magic, capture breathtaking photos, and indulge in pure relaxation as you soak up the sun on its idyllic shores.

Explore Zanzibar’s heart today in Stone Town. Pass by balconies and huge wooden carved doors in Stone Town’s winding historical alleyways. Spend hours wandering the streets and squares, drinking potent coffee from sidewalk vendors, and buying sweetmeats from tiny cafes. You’ll find tinga-tinga paintings, antique shops, beautiful printed cloths (kangas and kikois worn by locals), carved copper chests, and spices to take home. Join your group for a relaxing few days at Jambiani, a tropical paradise.

Enjoy a relaxing morning on this island paradise. Africa meets Arabia and the Indian Ocean is the cherry on top of this great cultural crossroads. Whether you want to go diving, snorkeling, sailing, or just lazing on the beach, the day is yours. Located in the East African Indian Ocean, Zanzibar is known for its tropical setting, unique culture, and active beach-party scene.

We hop on the ferry making our way back to Dar es Salaam. Upon arrival we travel to our next campsite for the tour. Situated on the banks of the Ruaha River, we travel west to the Baobab Valley. Our campsite is situated on the edge of the Udzwungwa Mountains National Park.

We spend another day travelling as we make our way south to Iringa. On the way, we will stop by a crafts centre in Iringa that supports the local community by employing local artists with disabilities. Here, feel free to grab a refreshment or purchase a souvenir to take home.

Today your passport gets yet another stamp! We leave Iringa making our way across the border into Malawi. Chitimba Beach, situated on Lake Malawi, is complete with beautiful views of Tanzania across the lake and mountains in the background. You are free to spend the afternoon exploring.

In the morning, we leave Chitimba and drive south, along Lake Malawi, to Kande Beach, another breathtaking beach also situated on Lake Malawi. The Lake is the primary attraction of Malawi and is around 500 kilometres in length. Lake Malawi houses more fish species than any other lake in the world and has large shoals of Cichlids. Locals depend heavily on the lake for survival – they use mokoros (dugout canoes) to fish from and throw out long nets. There is also a wide variety of diverse ethnic groups here, all speaking their own language.

Take some time today to relax and enjoy Kande Beach. Explore the area by foot, go snorkelling or enjoy a village tour. A traditional dinner cooked by the locals will be enjoyed tonight.

We cross the border into Zambia today, so be sure to once again have your visa ready. We make our way to Chipata – the capital of the Eastern Province. Chipata, formerly known as Fort Jameson, serves as a favoured station for travellers to refuel en-route to South Luangwa National Park.

Today we travel a shorter distance to South Luangwa National Park. En-route, head to the community empowerment Tribal Textiles Market & Courtyard Cafe for lunch and a visit to a craft workshop. Upon arrival in South Luangwa National Park, you have the rest of the afternoon free to do as little or as much as you’d like.

Today you are free to explore the South Luangwa National Park. There are plenty of activities to partake in and enrich your time here such as walking safaris, night drives and a visit to the local village. We highly recommend the walking safari as South Luangwa is the birthplace of walking safaris in Africa and there are loads to see and experience in this park.

Today’s lengthy adventure through rugged roads leads us to an exclusive game farm located 29 kilometres outside of Zambia’s capital, Lusaka. Here, you will be able to admire the many zebra, buffalo and springboks that wander freely around the area. At the campsite you can unwind next to the swimming pool, or at the camp’s bar.

We will cross the border today as we venture into Zimbabwe to see the awe-inspiring Victoria Falls. Please ensure you have the correct visa ready at the border. The Zambezi River has eroded a passage over time which has deepened into an exit gorge forming Victoria Falls. Our accommodation for the night is in the beautiful town of Victoria Falls.

You can spend another day viewing Victoria Falls or take part in the optional activities. Go Whitewater Rafting on the raging rapids of the Zambezi for some thrilling excitement as you navigate your way through grade 5 rapids. Lunch and transfers are included in this activity cost.

Today is our third day in Victoria Falls where you can take part in any other adventures you have not experienced yet such as Ziplining, a Bridge Swing over the Zambezi or a Sunset Cruise.

to get the most out of your tour, the following activities may be pre-booked: Zambezi Whitewater Rafting, Victoria Falls Helicopter Ride or the Zambezi River Sunset Cruise.

Any optional activities listed on this day may be booked upon arrival in Victoria Falls.

We leave Victoria Falls and cross the border into Botswana. We make our way to Chobe National Park, home to the biggest population of elephants in Southern Africa. In the afternoon, feel free to embark on an optional game drive through the park, or better yet, an optional Chobe River Sunset Boat Cruise. Either way relish the incredible wildlife inland or along the river’s banks.

Chobe National Park is one of the world’s last remaining large wilderness regions. In terms of size, the Chobe NP is the third biggest reserve in the country, sporting the most diverse and fantastic fauna and flora. The reserve has the biggest elephant population in the continent with the majority forming part of the largest surviving elephant concentrations in the world.

Opt to embark on a final safari drive this morning before we travel south to Gweta where we are treated to the unique experience of camping beneath beautiful old Baobab trees.

The town of Gweta is located between the bigger towns of Nata and Maun, on the Makgadikgadi Pan’s rim. During rainy seasons, the pans fill up bringing life to the dormant aquatic life from the mud. The lush grasslands also boast with life and is home to an abundance of antelope attracting a variety of predators.

We will leave Gweta in the morning and drive across Botswana towards Maun arriving in the afternoon. For those of you who want to have a different view of the Okavango Delta you can take a 1-hour scenic flight over the vast wilderness and waterways with hippos below. Alternatively, you can spend the afternoon at your own leisure or simply unwind at the campsite.

For those that have pre-booked the Okavango Delta Flight, today will most likely be the day for the activity. It is subject to change therefore your guide will give confirm when it will take place.

Maun is the gateway to the Okavango Delta and enjoys the reputation of being the premier town of Botswana. It was initially founded in 1915 by the Batawana, with the name ‘Maun’ meaning ‘place of reeds’. Though officially still a village, Maun is the fifth biggest town in Botswana. It is a diverse combination of contemporary structures and traditional huts. Maun is renowned as the tourism capital of Botswana and the administrative hub of the Ngamiland district. The town has swiftly grown from a rural town, stretching along the Thamalakane River. However, it still manages to maintain a rural atmosphere and local tribesmen continue to lead their cattle to the town to sell.

We pack and prepare for our one night/two-day excursion into the Okavango Delta. We encourage all tavellers to bring along a 5 litre bottle of water to take on the excursion – This should be plenty water for both drinking and cleaning purposes.

We embark on our thrilling adventure into the Delta as we travel in safari vehicles. We then board our mokoros (traditional dugout canoes) that carry us into the depths of the Delta. A few hours later we arrive at our bush camp for lunch and set up our tents. In the afternoon we will set off on a guided walk to spot wildlife in the bush while in the evening we will be joined by the locals for some singing and dancing around the campfire.

Our basic camp has a bush toilet with no shower, but you are surrounded by the beauty of nature, so it is well worth it.

Leaving Maun this morning we travel through the western region of Botswana, the heart of the Kalahari, on our way to D’kar. We arrive at our camp in the early evening in time for an optional Bushman Walk. Don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity to gain insight into the fascinating lifestyle of the San as they share their survival skills and in-depth knowledge of the Kalahari wilderness they call home.

You will also have the option to engage with the Bushmen around the campfire at night and experience their dance rituals, forming an intense spiritual experience. Their celebration of life and intriguing traditions will have you in awe.

We have a long day of driving ahead of us as we cross the border, making our way from D’kar to Windhoek. Windhoek is Namibia’s capital city, with a population of around 230,000 and an altitude of 1,654 metres. During WW1, Windhoek was taken over by South African troops and was converted into a British dominion. Until Namibia’s independence in 1990, Windhoek was known as the capital of Southwest Africa.

Upon arrival in Windhoek, feel free to explore the city centre at your leisure or unwind back at the accommodation.

We stop for lunch at Penduka Village Restaurant and Shop, just outside Windhoek, where you can stretch your legs and enjoy refreshments. After lunch, we make our way to the Waterberg Plateau. Here you have the afternoon to spend at your leisure. The Waterberg Plateau offers scenic hiking trails so feel free to spend the afternoon hiking, alternatively spend your afternoon unwinding next by the pool.

As we enter the park, we embark on a game drive through Etosha’s massive arid pan in search of elephant, hippo, antelope herds and lions gathered around the waterholes. Once the sun has set, spend some time observing wildlife at the watering holes, located close to the secure camping space that is floodlit. Daytime game drive will be in the overland truck, with an optional open vehicle night game drive on offer with a naturalist guide at 750NAD.

Today is a full day of driving in the park in search of wildlife such as lions, rhinos, elephants, giraffes, blue wildebeest, springbok, zebra, and hyenas. There is again the option of joining in on an Open Vehicle Wildlife Safari Drive with a naturalist guide who will take you in search of wildlife at dusk and into the early evening to view the nocturnal wildlife.

In the morning, we make our way south to the granite rocks of Spitzkoppe. You can explore on foot and spend the evening relaxing while looking up at the beautiful night’s sky! We will be roughing a bit in the bush tonight with long-drop toilets and no running water.

Leaving Spitzkoppe we travel through the coastal region on our way to Swakopmund – the adrenaline capital. We spend two evenings in this region, where you will have time to explore the town drenched in history. Swakopmund is home to spectacular lunar landscapes, vibrant sunsets and strange prehistoric Welwitchia vegetation.

Today is free for you to explore Swakopmund and its many activities on offer.

A long day of travelling awaits as we make our way to our camp on the edge of the Namib Desert, arriving in the afternoon. This is a truly remote area, giving you a sense of being alone with nature. You have the option of a desert walk with a local expert and learn about the desert and its mysteries.

This morning, we explore Sesriem Canyon before continuing onto the desert dunes where we climb the famous Dune 45. Find yourself surrounded by the red sand dunes of Sossusvlei glimmering in the light of dusk as they form the gateway to the Namib Desert.

We will be visiting Sossusvlei today which is a clay pan enclosed by the world’s largest sand dunes and surrounding ancient dead trees. The Tsauchab River flows through the Sesriem Canyon every 5 – 10 years, thereby creating the nearby salt and clan pan of Sossusvlei. You can take an optional guided walk around the dunes or explore the area on your own.

The Fish River stretches 650 kms in length, making it Namibia’s longest river. Its source is located in the eastern Naukluft Mountains and runs southwest of Ai-Ais into the Oranje. The canyon itself is situated along the lower area of the Fish River and is one of the most remarkable natural creations of Southern Africa. It runs 550 metres deep, 27 kilometres wide and is the oldest canyon in the world, formed around 500 million years back, with some of its bottom rocks aging up to about 2,600 million years. Catfish can be found in the river and survive the arid seasons by digging into the mud and waiting for the water to return. The levels of the water are usually highest from February to April, and the highest known temperature at the Canyon’s floor is 58 degrees Celsius.

Take some time to explore the canyon rim and admire the dramatic sunset as it disappears behind the edge of the canyon. After snapping some amazing pics, we head back to camp for the rest of the evening.

Making our way south, we cross the border into South Africa travelling to the banks of the Orange River where we will set up camp.

Following camp setup, we indulge in some early evening swimming, unwinding and maybe even some river canoeing (optional). Or just sit by the banks and watch the water wind its way to some heavy rapids.

Witness the large plantations of natural rooibos tea and marvel at the beautiful Western Cape scenery. We travel south to our camp on a local farm in the Cederberg Mountain area. Here, we visit a local vineyard, do some wine tasting and spend time exploring the camp surrounds in this stunning area of South Africa. There is also a swimming pool at the campsite where you can chill out.

Before making our way to the cosmopolitan Cape Town, we visit !Khwa ttu San Culture and Education Centre where you have the rare opportunity to interact with the young San women and men while learning about their fascinating history and cultural traditions.

Upon our early afternoon arrival in Cape Town, enjoy the majestic views of Table Mountain and opt to go on a final night out with the group.

Our tour comes to an end after breakfast today however, we encourage you to spend an extra night in Cape Town to experience everything that the beautiful city has to offer.