Nairobi to Johannesburg overland tour

country:	Botswana, Kenya, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi
trip type:	A small group adventure
departures:	2009: 5 Dec 2010: 3 Jan, 6 Feb, 6 Mar, 3 Apr, 1 May, 5 Jun
price:	From £840 - £985 (8-10 weeks) excluding flights, plus £450 - £570 local payment. We can help arrange flights from the UK
offers:	5th December 2009 departure: 54 day departure now £720 (£120 off). 71 day departure now £835 (150 off).
vouchers:	Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday

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Overland tours in Africa

Africa safaris & holidays

the amazing things you'll be doing

If you're looking for an adventure in Africa, this is a must do.

You'll have enough time to see some of the best game parks, beaches and places of interest that East and Southern Africa have to offer.

From the tropical coast of Zanzibar to the austere Skeleton Coast on the Atlantic Ocean, the world famous Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Etosha National Parks and the adventure play grounds of Victoria Falls and Swakopmund, this is Africa overland travel at its best.

day-by-day itinerary

Day 1-4:	Our Kenya to South Africa trip begins! We depart Nairobi early morning to begin our Africa overland travel experience and immediately find ourselves in hot savannah grasslands, with thorn trees and acacia providing the only shade. We usually see zebra and giraffe as we head south and cross the border to Tanzania. From the town of Arusha we use a local Tanzania travel safari company to guide us through Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti National Parks. On the crater floor you can spend the day viewing the abundant wildlife including Elephant, Lion, Cheetah, White Rhino, Buffalo, Hippo, Antelope, Crocodile and Pink Flamingos. From here you can choose to go into the Serengeti where vast herds of Wildebeest roam the plains. For those who decide to view Ngorongoro only, there is a free day to visit a local Maasai Village to learn about there culture and way of life.
Day 5-9:	It's a one-day drive to Dar Es Salaam, a must-see on this Tanzania travel leg. We pass through a number of small towns and villages along the way and, if we are lucky, we may see the towering peak of Mt Kilimanjaro. We camp for about 4 nights in a campsite on a beautiful Indian Ocean beach. From here most people take the ferry out to Zanzibar for the full four days and venture into the narrow bustling streets of StoneTown and its exotic spice markets, old slave forts and dungeons. There is also time to indulge yourself on Zanzibar's famous white beaches before returning to Dar Es Salaam.
Day 10-12:	After meeting the Zanzibar ferry, the next leg of our Kenya to South Africa trip begins. We continue our Africa overland travel through the interesting and often mountainous hinterland for which the country is renowned. In the afternoon, after negotiating some appalling roads and 'in God We Trust' drivers we pass through the peaceful Mikumi National Park. We usually see here Elephant, Giraffe, Zebra and Antelope from the roadside. Passing rivers and small waterfalls, our Tanziania travel leg ends as we enter Malawi, dominated by its huge fresh water lake.
Day 13-17:	We spend 2 days at a small laid back campsite on the edge of the lake. We follow the lake shore south and spend a further 2 or 3 nights on one of the campsites equipped for water sports. Here you can windsurf, scuba dive, etc. If you are inclined to just relax during your Africa overland travel experience, there is no better place than the shores of Lake Malawi. Here you have the opportunity to go off for a couple of days and stay in one of the many nearby villages, or visit a school or one of the craft markets where artisans produce some interesting wooden furniture and carvings. From here we continue our Kenya to South Africa trip on to Lilongwe in the south of the country where we stop for two nights. Here we organise our Mozambique visas and possibly visit the local wildlife centre - providing much needed security and shelter for some of Malawi's orphaned and injured wildlife !
Day 18-20:	From Lilongwe we cross into Mozambique and head for Zimbabwe. We follow the infamous 'Tete Corridor' which was well known in the days of Mozambque's long running civil war as the 'Gun Run'. Thankfully these days things are a lot different! We enter Zimbabwe and travel to Gweru.
Day 21-23:	In Gweru we stay at a privately run horse and game ranch where you can go game viewing on elephant and horseback or perhaps on a walking safari with young lion cubs!
Day 24-26:	From Gweru we travel to the Great Zimbabwe Ruins which was once the greatest medieval city in Sub Saharan Africa and where the name 'Zimbabwe' is derived, literally meaning 'house of stone'. Next we enter Matabeleland and the town of Bulawayo.
Day 27-28:	Here you have the option of leaving the truck for a day and a night and using a local safari company to venture into Motobo National Park, where on foot, escorted by an armed ranger, you should see the elusive Black Rhino amongst hordes of other game. There is also the opportunity to visit Cecil Rhodes grave and Ancient Rock Paintings before catching an old style sleeper train (if available) to rejoin the truck at one of the adventure playgrounds of the world - Victoria Falls.
Day 29-32:	For some Mosi oa Tunya - 'The Smoke That Thunders' is the highlight of their Africa overland travel trip. When you arrive it is a surprise to discover the enormity of Victoria Falls. One mile wide and hurling over 5 million cubic metres of water a minute into the Zambezi Gorge this is the setting for the most awesome grade 5 white water rafting in the world. There is something here for everyone from the more sedate canoe trips, Flight Of Angels or Sunset Cruises to one of the highest commercial Bungee Jumps in the world! After your adrenaline has been spent we head into Botswana.
Day 33-34:	Although only a short drive away, once in Botswana you will easily notice quite a contrast in the terrain and vegetation from what we have seen so far in this Kenya to South Africa trip. The arid Kalahari with it's expansive freedom, night sky ablaze with shooting stars and the warm glow of our campfire make it an unforgettable camping experience. We spend the first night in Chobe National Park famous for its hordes of elephants as well as an abundance of other wildlife. There is the opportunity to take a cruise on the Chobe River - a less intrusive way to view the amazing wildlife in this park.
Day 35-36:	We then organise our 2 day trip into the Okavango Delta (optional). You have the chance to go on a Mokoro (dug out canoe) and explore the extensive waterways of this unique desert wetland. You will also have the opportunity to take several game walks in this huge oasis. Elephant, crocodile and hippo are nearly always seen. The Okavango Delta is the worlds largest inland water way and its serenity and quietness seems to have a calming effect on those that experience it.
Day 37-39:	Heading west we travel on to Namibia and continue north-west toward Etosha National Park, recognised as one of the worlds greatest wildlife viewing areas. We game watch by night at one of the floodlit watering holes, hoping to see some of the wide variety of wildlife that inhabits this amazing park.
Day 40-44:	From Etosha we visit a local Cheetah park before continuing on to the Brandenberg Mountains in Demaraland and the Skeleton Coast. We then visit either the stunning Spitzkoppe Rock formations or the world famous Cape Cross Seal Colony and the sight of thousands of these mammals as well as their accompanying pungent odour is remembered by all! For the next three days we are based in Swakopmund. From here there are a variety of activities and excursions. You can spend a day deep sea fishing for shark and other game fish or head out to the desert and try quad biking and dune sledding. You can also go horse riding or take a flight over the desert and it's dramatic coastline. In Swakopmund itself you can walk along miles of deserted beaches, visit the museum or relax in a café.
Day 45-49:	A one day drive takes us to the Namib-Naukluft Park, a vast expanse of desert which contains some of the highest sand dunes in the world. At Sossusvlei we stop and explore the area and the dunes. Continuing South we enter the semi desert, and wide open countryside of cattle ranching, until we arrive at one of Africa's most sensational natural features, Fish River Canyon. We camp next to this massive gorge, where you can soak up the sun and fabulous scenery.
Day 50-54:	A couple of hours drive away we cross the Orange River, a rich source of diamonds, and into South Africa. We travel south through the Cederburg Wilderness area to Stellenbosch visiting one of the historical Cape Wineries before arriving at the vibrant, cosmopolitan city of Cape Town. Here, we stay at a comfortable backpacker's lodge. Those on the 8 week trip finish here in Cape Town.
Day 55-58:	There is plenty to here in Cape Town and we spend three days here to experience some of them. From taking a cable car up Table Mountain to abseiling down it, shark diving (in cages), a day trip to Robben Island, Whale watching, winery tours, great shopping and nightlife plus a whole lot more!! We then head for the most southern tip of Africa at Cape Agulhas. Here the warm Indian Ocean and the cooler Atlantic Ocean meet, and from August to November Southern Right and Humpback Whales maybe spotted along the coast. From Cape Agulhas we travel inland and camp for the first night close to the picturesque town of Swellendam, one of South Africa's oldest settlements with tree lines streets and white washed Cape Dutch homesteads.
Day 59-62:	Then its through the Outeniqua Mountains to the Little Karoo. We visit the Cango Caves recognised as amongst the worlds finest network of Calcite caves. We also visit an Ostrich farm to learn more about the worlds largest bird. 97% of the worlds population of Ostrichs lives in the Karoo and here we will have the opportunity to ride one! We then spend two days winding our way along South Africa's famous Garden Route and there is a wealth of things to see and do. We travel through the popular resort of Knysna, located on a tranquil lagoon. We visit the Tsitsikamma Forest, where you will be able to hike along the coast and view the crashing waves at the mouth of the scenic Storms River, and maybe spot dolphins and whales in the ocean. Optional excursions in this region include mountain biking, black water tubing, and the mother of all bungee jumps at Bloakrans Bridge - the biggest jump in the world at 216 metres.
Day 63-66:	From the Garden Route we continue along the coast and stop at South Africa's surfing mecca, Jeffrey's Bay, home to the international surfing championships and world renowned supertubes. In the afternoon we reach Addo Elephant National Park which has recently been extended to include part of the coast and is now home to the BIG 7 - lion, rhino, elephant, leopard, buffalo, whale and shark! On our game drive we hope to spot some of the many elephant that the park is famous for, which are the most southerly population in Africa. We then drive to the beautiful and remote Wildcoast, an area of rolling grasslands stretching from East London to KwaZulu Natal. Previously neglected by tourism, it is isolated and wild with great coastal scenery and swathes of long empty beaches. We enjoy 2 nights next to the Indian Ocean, and lazily explore the shell strewn beaches, lagoons and forests.
Day 67-71:	From the Wild Coast we have a day's drive north and out of South Africa into the mountain kingdom of Lesotho. We spend two nights at Malealea Lodge, Lesotho's most famous countryside retreat tucked up high in the mountains. Here there are isolated waterfalls, cool rock pools ideal for swimming, and peaceful hikes in the surrounding hills. This is also a great place to try pony trekking. Then we drive through the lowlands of Lesotho and visit Thabo Bosiu with a local guide (time & weather permitting). We spend the night camping in the Golden Gate National Park on the edge of the Drakensburg Mountains. Continuing into KwaZulu Natal we enter the Drakensburg Mountains where we spend the next couple of days exploring the Royal Natal National Park, a dramatic region of the Drakensburg beneath the famous Amphitheatre - a massive wall of rock with over 4kms of sheer cliff face. The Drakensburg Mountains are known by the Zulu as the 'barrier of spears, and are today a UNESCO world heritage sight for their outstanding natural beauty. We arrive in Johannesburg in the afternoon and spend our final night in a backpackers lodge. A 'must do' activity is a tour of Soweto, where in this sprawling township, modern African culture is at its most vibrant and intense and you can visit one of the local shabeens (pubs), talk to local families and drop into the former home of Nelson Mandela. You can also visit the powerful apartheid museum, take a tour down a 700ft goldmine at Gold Reef City or visit South African breweries.
	Optional extension: 3 day safari into the Kruger National Park (please ask for details).

travellers' tales

Most memorable was definitely horse riding in and around Lake Malawi. It was soo much fun. Or maybe bush camping in the Serengeti. (more)

small group adventure holiday

Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-20 like minded travellers (depending on the trip, operator and how many others are booked on the trip) and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends its good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting new people as well as seeing new places.

how this holiday makes a difference

On this trip we stay at small, locally run campsites and where possible buy our food in local markets, thereby directly supporting local communities. We use local companies to run all our excursions; for example our trips to the Serengeti and Ngorongoro crater are run by a company based in Arusha, Tanzania. They employ local drivers and guides.

We try to stay at campsites that also have a commitment to the communities they inhabit and we do what we can to further support their initiatives; for example the Meserani Snake Park in Tanzania started as a campsite but has become an integral and important part of the local Masai community.

The campsite organises guided walks to local Masai villages-the Masai villagers themselves are the guides and all the profits go to the villages. The campsite has also established a medical centre for the local Masai community and this is partly funded by the profits from an on-site shop selling local Masai crafts. We have donated basic medical supplies to the medical centre.

In Namibia we stay at the Otjitongwe Cheetah Preservation Park which seeks to preserve the local cheetah population.

Before commencing the tour all our clients are provided with detailed pre-departure info which includes information on Responsible Travel. This information is re-emphasised by our Tour Leader at the start of the trip-clients are, for example, advised about respecting local customs particularly in terms of dress and behaviour; water conservation; respecting and conserving wildlife and their habitats; purchasing of endangered species products and so on.

Charities supported on this trip:
We sponsor two charities in this region of Africa. In Nairobi, we sponsor a baby elephant, Kamboyo, through the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. We visit this impressive education and conservation project on our trip.

In Zimbabwe, we have become involved with the Hupenyu Hutsva Children’s Home in Harare, assisting this locally funded children’s home with regular donations of food. We came upon this Home by accident-during a visit to Zimbabwe 7 years ago. One of our Directors was taking some supplies to a nearby childrens home and got a bit lost! He ended up at Hupenyu Hutsva by mistake and was impressed by what he saw, in terms of the staffs dedication and commitment.

The Home receives virtually no outside support as the children are older and not as cute and attention grabbing as the babies and toddlers of the Home nearby. We are very proud of our involvement with this Home as we can see the small differences we have made and we know that it has been important to the Home to just know that someone outside even cares about what is happening there. We have donated educational materials, bedding, clothing, sports equipment and computers to the Home.

In 2008 we also funded the installation of a borehole at the Home-enabling them to be far more self sufficient in food production and enabling the children to learn valuable horticultural skills (our generous travellers donated seeds and gardening tools.) Most recently, three of our crew, using one of our trucks spent a week taking the children out on a series of day trips, finishing the week with a big party. The week was a great success. Many of the children rarely leave the compound they live on so it was a big adventure! Whenever possible our trips visit the Home. The children enjoy challenging our groups to a game of cricket and then winning, convincingly!

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