Highlights
* Fish River Canyon – walking
* Namib Desert – Sossusvlei dunes
* Swakopmund – dune boarding & quad biking
* Twyfelfontein – rock engravings
* Etosha NP – game drives
* Okavango Delta – mokoro excursion
* Victoria Falls – white water rafting
* Lower Zambezi - canoeing.
* South Luangwa NP - game walk & game drive
* Lake Malawi - snorkelling & beaches
* Zanzibar Island - 4 day excursion
* Serengeti / Ngorogoro Crater - 4 day excursion
Includes
* 9 nights in permanent tent / guest house / cabin & 33 nights camping
* Entrance fees
* Use of camping equipment (except sleeping bags)
* Transport in safari truck & 4WD
* Meals as per itinerary
* Professional guide
* Okavango Delta mokoro excursion
* Zanzibar excursion
* Serengeti NP & Ngorogoro Crater excursion
OPTIONAL ACTIVITY PRICES
Below is a list of approximate prices,
in US$, for the optional activities available on the various tours:
SOUTH AFRICA
Table Mountain cable car 10
Robben Island cruise 25
Seal Island cruise 10
Abseiling Cape Town 30
Diving 50
Shark cage diving 125
AIRPORT TRANSFERS
Pre / post-tour airport transfers
cost € 20 per person per transfer. Please book these with your tour.
PRE & POST TOUR ACCOMMODATION
/ DEPARTURE POINTS
CAPE TOWN
NAIROBI
Lion’s Head Lodge
Silver Springs Hotel
319 Main Road, Sea Point, Cape Town
Cnr. Hurlingham and Valley Road, Nairobi
sgl room only € 45
sgl room only € 64
dbl room only € 25 pps
dbl room only € 45 pps
At departure there will be short
meeting to discuss final arrangements of tour & inform you about the
days activities. Please bring your travel voucher & insurance policy.
PLEASE NOTE:
All cabin tours
are twin share basis and exclude: sleeping bag, visas, drinks, personal
insurance, optional excursions.
Journey through the wild continent, from South Africa to Namibia, Botswana,
Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania and Kenya. See Africa at its' best - a true journey
of discovery!
ITINERARY
Day 1 CAPE TOWN [Lion’s Head Lodge ---]
Departing, after a tour briefing, from Cape Town at 08:00am we visit
the African Penguin colony en route to Cape Point Nature Reserve and spend
the rest of the day relaxing on Hout Bay beach. We sample some of Cape
Town’s culinary wonders at a local restaurant in the Victoria & Alfred
Waterfront (own expense).
Day 2 CEDARBERG [camping BLD]
The Cedarberg is a massive rocky wilderness where giant sandstone boulders
have been sculpted by wind and rain into bizarre and artistic shapes. In
the afternoon we explore the rugged landscape on foot.
Day 3 - 4 GARIEP RIVER [camping BLD]
We make our way into the more arid regions and entering Namibia, we
camp at the Gariep River. Time free for swimming and relaxing or you can
adventure down the river in canoes (own expense).
Day 5 FISH RIVER CANYON [camping BLD]
We make our way to Fish River canyon, the second largest canyon in the
world. In the afternoon we watch as a spectacular sunset slips over the
canyon’s rim.
Day 6 - 7 NAMIB DESERT [camping BLD]
Towering red sand dunes of Sossusvlei form the gateway into the Namib
Desert. We will walk to Sossusvlei, explore Sesriem Canyon and watch dramatic
sunsets over the world’s highest sand dunes.
Day 8 - 9 SWAKOPMUND [guest house Bx2 Lx1 -]
Lunar landscapes and the prehistoric Welwitchia plants surround the
coastal town of Swakopmund. Day free to explore the town or try quad biking
/ dune boarding (own expense). We enjoy evening restaurant meals (own expense)
and overnight in a guest house.
Day 10 - 11 DAMARALAND [camping BLD]
Two days of beautiful desert landscapes. We move north along the arid
coast to the Cape Cross seal colony before heading inland to set up camp
under the Spitzkoppe, huge granite domes rising out of the desert. Enjoy
a magnificent sunrise the next morning before heading to the Brandberg
where we camp on the Ugab River, home to the rare desert elephants. We
explore the area, which is adorned with rock art.
Day 12, 13, 14 ETOSHA NP [camping BLD]
Etosha National Park, "the great white place of dry water", in the game
rich northwest corner of Namibia offers a variety of wildlife. We take
game drives around the huge dry pan to find the elephants, herds of antelope
and lions around the waterholes before we camp at Okaukuejo with its flood-lit
waterhole. (Subject to animal movements we may use any of the 3 camps in
Etosha.)
Day 15 WINDHOEK [guest house BL-]
The charm of the city of Windhoek lies in its harmonious blend of African
and European cultures and the friendliness of its people. We visit the
cosmopolitan capital and enjoy a restaurant meal (own expense).
Day 16 KALAHARI [camping BLD]
Crossing into Botswana we overnight in the heart of the Kalahari. We
take a walk with the local San Bushmen to learn fascinating bush skills
(Local guide may not be San due to nomadic lifestyle of San Bushman).
Day 17,18, 19 OKAVANGO DELTA [camping BLD]
We camp in Maun for a night in preparation before journeying deep into
the Okavango Delta on Makoro (dugouts) - an experience not to be missed.
We camp wild on remote islands for 2 nights and enjoy game walks, swimming,
the birdlife and game viewing in this pristine wilderness area.
Day 20 MAKGADIKGADI PANS [camping BL-]
Feel the vastness of Africa under a big sky sunset. After the rains
the pans fill with water and attract thousands of water birds and herds
of zebra, wildebeest and springbok.
Day 21, 22, 23 ZAMBIA / VICTORIA FALLS [camping Bx3--]
Tour Victoria Falls, a natural wonder of the world, plunging into the
Zambezi Gorge. White water rafting on mighty Zambezi or, for the adventurous,
a 111m Bungi Jump (own expense).
Day 24 LAKE KARIBA [camping BLD]
We camp on the tranquil shores of Lake Kariba, home to hippo, crocodile
and a wide range of bird life. A sunset cruise on the lake is a photographers
dream.
Day 25 - 26 LOWER ZAMBEZI CANOEING [lodge BLD]
We drive down into the Lower Zambezi Valley and spend two nights at
our lodge on the banks of the river. Enjoy a full day canoeing down the
Zambezi River, home of the tribal mythical god – Nyami Nyami. The river
attracts elephants and other wildlife from the surrounding wilderness.
After a day highlighted by bird watching and game viewing, relax around
the campfire in the evening.
Day 27 LUSAKA [camping BLD]
After a morning relaxing on the banks of the Zambezi we head towards
the capital Lusaka. We stock up on supplies in the bustling markets and
visit a community craft market.
Day 28, 29, 30 SOUTH LUANGWA NATIONAL PARK [camping BLD]
Make our way down into "the valley" of the Luangwa River, South Luangwa
National Park is wild and remote. It has an abundance of wildlife that
is rarely seen in other game reserves and is one of the finest wildlife
sanctuaries in the world, full of hippo, crocodiles, elephants, lion and
leopard. We camp on the banks of the Luangwa River for 2 nights and explore
the area on game walks and open 4WD game drives. A night drive with spotlights
to see nocturnal animals is a highlight. In the midday heat, the camp has
a wonderful entertainment area and swimming pool.
Day 31 LILONGWE [camping BLD]
Malawi "the warm heart of Africa". We head to the Capital, Lilongwe
were we restock with fresh supplies in the markets. The old city centres’
vibrant markets, cafes, shops and restaurants are worth visiting.
Day 32, 33, 34 LAKE MALAWI [camping BLD]
We spend 3 days relaxing on the shores of "the lake of Stars". Beach
walks, swimming in the crystal clear water, and snorkelling among the tropical
fish. We visit various lakeside camps as we travel north along the shores
of Lake Malawi.
Day 35 - 36 TANZANIA [camping BLD]
From Karonga, the site of one of the early battles of world war one,
we cross the border into Tanzania. We camp wild as we transit to the capital,
Dar Es Salaam. The city started as a fishing village in the mid 19th centaury
before becoming a port and trading centre.
Day 37, 38, 39 ZANZIBAR [guest house B--]
Zanzibar Island "the spice island" has a rich history and culture. It
was the centre of the slave & spice trade in the 1800s. We visit the
beaches, explore Stone Town, tour the spice plantations, visit the slave
pits, and view the ruins of the Sultan’s Palace.
Day 40 - 41 DAR ES SALAAM - ARUSHA [camping Bx2 - Dx1]
We catch the ferry back to Dar Es Salaam and then we pass Mt Kilimanjaro,
Africa’s highest mountain as we head towards Arusha where we browse the
craft markets and absorb the mix of cultures.
Day 42, 43, 44, 45 SERENGETI NP / NGOROGORO CRATER [camping Bx4 Lx4
Dx3]
Serengeti NP and Ngorogoro Crater are typical Africa, wide-open plains,
thorn trees, prolific wildlife …the perfect dream of Africa. Massive herds
of Wildebeest and Zebra migrate annually on the plains. We spend 4 days
on our 4WD excursion to these famous National Parks where you will see
the Masai people herding their cattle amongst the wild game. We camp in
Arusha on the final night.
Day 46 NAIROBI [- B--]
The afternoon is spent doing a little curio shopping before dinner at
a restaurant to celebrate your true African Discovery (own expense). Tour
ends.
2007 Price: € 3470 pps + local payment ZAR1900
pp in Cape Town
and US $900 pp in Livingstone
DETAILED TOUR INFO
2007 DEPARTURE DATES
Same as Cape To Vic Falls
SA: The "Cape to Kenya Explorer" can be combined after all "South Africa
Scenic Route" departures to create a complete circular safari in Southern
Africa.
DETAILED TOUR INFO
In a nutshell
This is the ultimate trans Africa adventure – discovery route.
All inclusive trip with cultural experience, adventure and wildlife
through South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania and Kenya!
Namib Desert, Swakopmund, Etosha NP, Okavango Delta, Victoria Falls,
Lower Zambezi canoeing, Lake Malawi, Zanzibar, Serengeti and Ngorogoro
Crater – this is the whole hog!
Why travellers like this trip
Variety - a tour that discovers the diversity of East and Southern Africa!
Spectacular Victoria Falls - a natural wonder of the world, Namib Desert
and Etosha, Botswana Makgadikgadi Pans and National Parks, Zambian wilderness,
Tanzania’s famous Serengeti and Ngorogoro game reserves. From the wildlife
areas and cultural interaction to historical sites all set in beautiful
landscapes!
National Parks and wildlife areas - We visit the world famous Namib
Nauklauft NP, Etosha NP in Namibia, Okavango Delta in Botswana, South Luangwa
NP in Zambia, Serengeti and Ngorogoro Crater in Tanzania as well as other
lesser known wildlife areas. This trip covers a huge variety of African
wildlife from Southern to East Africa.
Culture and history - for example the history of the slave trading on
the "Spice Island" Zanzibar, the friendly people of Malawi and the proud
Masai tribes people of Tanzania.
Scenery - You can’t ask for more than this trip, from Victoria Falls,
the Namib Desert and Cape Town to the Ngorogoro Crater and everything in
between!
Small group - travelling in groups of up to 12 people creates a friendly,
holiday atmosphere.
Walking - every opportunity to get out and walk in the areas such as
Cedarberg, Gariep River, Fish River Canyon, Namib Desert, Victoria Falls,
Lower Zambezi, Luangwa NP and Zanzibar Island. Walks are easy to moderate
exertion and optional. Duration from ½ - 4 hours.
Adventure - activities available include: canoeing on the Gariep River,
rafting the mighty Zambezi! Bungi jumping, sky diving, canoe trail, boat
excursions, dhow rides, diving, snorkelling, game drives, fishing, horse
riding and game walks!
Accommodation
Camping - 37 nights on safari we stay at designated campsites in national
parks, on private land and in towns. Campsite facilities are at best basic
but generally clean. There are hot, but sometimes only cold, showers, washing
facilities at some of the campsites. Some camps in Zambia have simple reed
enclosures for showers but do have flush toilets!
Your operator supplies all the camping equipment with the exception
of your sleeping bag and pillow. The dome tents we use are 2.2 x 2.2 x
1.8 metres and putting them up or down takes only 5 minutes. Tents have
built-in insect nets. We supply mattresses, which are about 5 cm thick,
warm and comfortable. The camp chairs have a backrest.
Wild camping – We will wild camp for 2 nights in the Okavango Delta
and there is a possibility on this trip that, due to local conditions,
we will camp wild further north too. Wild camps have no facilities; we
will need to take our own water and all equipment. Wild camping can be
very enjoyable but please remember that we leave no trace of our stay and
take all rubbish away with us. Toilets will be of the "dig and bury" variety.
Hotel - 1 night in a metropolitan area of Cape Town near the V&A
Waterfront. All rooms are twin with en suite facilities.
Guest House - for 2 nights in Swakopmund, 1 night in Windhoek and 3
nights on Zanzibar Island we will stay in guesthouses. Basic rooms, twin
and multi sharing rooms with shared ablutions.
Permanent Tented Lodge - on the Lower Zambezi River we spend 2 nights
at a river side permanent tented camp. Tents are twin sharing and have
beds with mattresses and insect nets and shared ablutions.
Transport
On foot – easy to moderate walks throughout the tour.
Boat – a day on a 16 seater launch or pontoon cruiser on Lake Malawi
Ferry – ferry to Zanzibar.
Canoe – a full day canoeing down stream on the Lower Zambezi River on
flat water. Two-man Indian canoes provided which are stable and easy to
paddle. An experienced river guide will accompany the group and no previous
paddling experience is required.
Open Game drives – for game viewing activities in South Luangwa NP we
use open game viewing 4WD vehicles. This allows us the opportunity to really
feel part of the bush, the smells, sounds and of course great views!
Serengeti and Ngorogoro – for the 4 day excursion to these NPs we use
6-9 seater Land Rovers with pop up roofs for best game viewing.
Safari Truck – custom built safari truck with 12 forward facing seats.
Comfortable touring and good for game viewing. Large, sliding windows and
viewing hatches give everyone a great view. There are a couple of long
days of travelling but the vehicles have a comfortable cruising speed and
these countries lend themselves to the pace of African travel. The emphasis
of the trip is "getting out and doing things".
Local Payment
A local payment is required on this safari and this will be collected
by ther tour leader on departure. This covers a portion of the local operational
costs including entrance and park fees. This ensures that a major portion
of your tour price goes directly into the country you are visiting, benefiting
local communities and contributing to the conservation of the area.
Participation
An essential part of your safari is participation – from putting up
your tent (while camping) or packing away in the morning to helping with
meal preparation and cleaning up – it’s all part of your adventure and
when everyone puts in a little effort the trip will run smoothly. Your
tour leaders will do all the meal preparation but we do ask the clients
to help with the washing up. Team spirit is part of the fun!
Shopping
Craft shopping for curios en route is diverse and rewarding. Remember
- if you see something you like, it is best to buy it because it is unlikely
that you will see something similar further along.
Food
We pride ourselves on giving very good healthy meals to our clients
and will provide three meals per day, except 13 dinners and 11 lunches
en route, where we try out local restaurants.
The tour leaders do the shopping and meal planning for each group. He/she
will always try to obtain fresh produce wherever possible. A rough idea
of what these will consist of is: Breakfast - cereals or coffee and toast
or the occasional fried breakfast, Lunch - cheese, cold meats, salads on
bread or rolls, Dinner - braais (local barbecue), potjies (stews), stir
fries etc. We use regular plates, cups and cutlery. All cooking and eating
utensils will also be provided.
We do cater for special dietary requirements (e.g. vegetarian or allergies.)
We will supply fruit squash served with breakfast and tea or coffee
served with breakfast and dinner. All other beverages will be for your
own expense. We will not supply bottled drinking water although it is available
at many shops on tour.
Difficulty
Anyone who is generally active and in good health should enjoy this
trip. Simple campsites are enjoyed by the outdoor enthusiast, you will
get dusty on occasion; but this is Africa!
This is a long distance trans Africa safari - there is a lot of distance
to be covered and so there will be some long travelling days. Due to local
conditions, border crossings, road detours and weather, the trip may alter
route / schedule - please remember that this continent has its own time
scale and things work differently here. Keep an open mind and a sense of
humour - it’s all part of the adventure!
Everyone is asked to help out with the running of camp on tour. In other
words if everyone spends a little time setting up camp, preparing meals
and cleaning up then the tour will run smoothly and everyone will have
a good time. Participation is the name of the game.
Things you should know
Includes Namib Nauklauft NP, Etosha NP, Mosi oa Tunya (Victoria Falls)
NP, South Luangwa NP, Ngorogoro Crater and Serengeti NP park entrances
and canoeing in the Lower Zambezi River!
Includes ferry to Zanzibar and accommodation on the island, 4 day excursion
to the Ngorogoro Crater and Serengeti from Arusha.
Your client will need a valid passport and visas for entry into South
Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania and Kenya. Please note
that these must be arranged in advance and cannot be obtained at the Malawi,
Tanzania or Kenyan borders. (Please check visa requirements with your travel
agent)
There is a visa waiver service available through your operator for Zambia
– please enquire at the time of booking.
Because of limited banking facilities and tour schedule clients will
only be to change travellers cheques in Cape Town, Maun, Livingstone, Lilongwe,
Dar es Salaam and Arusha. Please note that as we travel through Zambia,
Malawi and Tanzania the exchange rate received for travellers cheques deteriorates.
We recommend that you bring US$ for personal expenses on this trip.
Common questions about this trip
What do I need to bring? A warm sleeping bag, comfortable clothes for
warm days and cool evenings, walking shoes, a raincoat, hat and sunglasses,
swimsuit, a water bottle and a small pair of binoculars also comes in very
handy and most importantly - a sense of adventure!
Is it safe? Africa and the route we follow is relatively safe and your
guide knows the countries intimately and will endeavour to show you the
best parts while looking after you. We do not enter Zimbabwe on this trip.
In the cities keep a careful eye on your belongings and don’t leave anything
lying about - petty theft is rife. In the wild areas your guide will brief
you on the necessary precautions, follow this advice and you will be fine.
Be aware of your personal belongings and you will have a great trip!
Do I need malaria tablets? Yes, the trip passes through malaria areas
and prophylactics are recommended.
Can I buy camera film? Film and other accessories are not readily available
on tour - we suggest you bring all the film and everything else you expect
to need. A camera with a zoom lens from wide angle to telephoto, 35-200mm,
is advisable to capture both scenic and wildlife shots.
Can I wash my clothes on tour? There are facilities for hand washing
your clothes along the way.
