24
Day Discovery
Code: VN24 Victoria falls to Nairobi
2007 Price: € 1995 pps + local payment US $900
pp
24 day small group participation camping & cabins safari Group
size max 12 people
North bound
Departs Livingstone on Monday at 14:00pm
Ends Nairobi on Wednesday at ±18:00pm
Please note:
Euro (€)
rates are applicable to all sales through European wholesalers & agents
based in the European Union
& Switzerland.
Highlights* Serengeti / Ngorogoro Crater - 4 day 4WD game viewing excursion
* Zanzibar Island - 4 day excursion including ferry
* Lake Malawi - snorkelling & beaches
* South Luangwa NP - game walk & 4WD game drives
* Lower Zambezi - canoeing
* Victoria Falls - natural wonder of the worldIncludes
* 5 nights in cabin / lodge & 18 nights camping
* Entrance fees
* Use of camping equipment (except sleeping bags)
* Transport in safari truck and 4WD
* Meals as per itinerary
* Professional guide
* Zanzibar excursion
* Serengeti NP & Ngorogoro Crater excursionAIRPORT TRANSFERS
Pre / post-tour airport transfers cost € 20 per person per transfer. Please book these with your tour.
PRE & POST TOUR ACCOMMODATION / DEPARTURE POINTS
LIVINGSTONE / VICTORIA FALLS NAIROBI
Zambezi Waterfront Lodge Silver Springs Hotel
Mosi oa Tunya Rd, Livingstone Cnr. Hurlingham and Valley Road, Nairobi
sgl room only € 60 sgl room only € 64
dbl room only € 48 pps dbl room only € 45 ppsAt 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.
Journey through the wild continent from Kenya and Tanzania to Malawi and Zambia. See Africa at its best - a true journey of discovery!
ITINERARY
Day 1 - 2 LIVINGSTONE [camping Bx1--]
The group will meet in Livingstone, in Zambia, at 14:00 where we set up camp and have 2 days to tour Victoria Falls, a natural wonder of the world, plunging into the Zambezi Gorge. Adventure activities abound, white water rafting on mighty the Zambezi, or an 111m bungi jump (own expense).
Day 3 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 4 - 5 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 6 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 7, 8, 9 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 10 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 11, 12, 13 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 14 - 15 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 16, 17, 18 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 19 - 20 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 21, 22, 23 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 24 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: € 1995 pps + local payment US $900 pp
2007 DEPARTURE DATES
CVg 23-Jul-07 15-Aug-07 German
CV 13-Aug-07 05-Sep-07
CV 17-Sep-07 10-Oct-07
CVg 22-Oct-07 14-Nov-07 German
CV 12-Nov-07 05-Dec-07
CVg 10-Dec-07 02-Jan-08 German
* CV: The “Victoria Falls to Nairobi Discovery” can be combined after the “Cape Town to Victoria Falls Explorer”
departures to create a Cape to Kenya epic safari.
* CVg / German: The “Victoria Falls to Nairobi Discovery” can be combined after the “Cape Town to Victoria Falls
Explorer” departures to create a Cape to Kenya epic safari. These tours are lead by a German speaking tour
leader.* CV: The "Victoria Falls to Nairobi Discovery" can be combined after the "Cape Town to Victoria Falls Explorer" departures to create a Cape to Kenya epic safari.
* BT: The "Victoria Falls to Nairobi Discovery" can be combined after the "Botswana Wildside" departures to create a Johannesburg to Kenya safari.
DETAILED TOUR INFO
In a nutshell
A complete trans Africa adventure – discovery route.
All inclusive trip with cultural experience, adventure and wildlife through Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi and Zambia!
Serengeti and Ngorogoro Crater, Zanzibar, Lake Malawi, and Lower Zambezi canoeing– this is the whole hog!Why travellers like this trip
Variety - a tour that discovers the diversity of East and Southern Africa! Tanzania’s famous Serengeti and Ngorogoro game reserves, spectacular Victoria Falls - National Parks. 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 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 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 Lower Zambezi, Luangwa NP and Zanzibar Island. Walks are easy to moderate exertion and optional. Duration from ½ - 4 hours.
Adventure - activities available include: canoe trail, boat excursions, dhow rides, diving, snorkelling, game drives, fishing, horse riding and game walks!
Accommodation
Camping - 19 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 - There is a possibility on this trip that, due to local conditions, we will camp wild. 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.
Guest House - for 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 are en suite.
Transport
On foot – easy to moderate walks throughout the tour.
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!
ShoppingCraft 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 5 dinners and 5 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 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 Zambia, Botswana, Malawi, Tanzania and Kenya. Please note that these can be arranged in advance and cannot always be obtained at the border. (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 Livingstone, Lilongwe, Dar es Salaam and Arusha. 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 on 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.
