Itinerary
- Day 1
Kigali to Kisoro
Your African journey starts in Kigali, where you'll get picked up for the drive to Kisoro. This small town sits near the borders with Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the route through the countryside gives you a real sense of the mountain gorilla region you're heading into. The transfer takes a few hours, so settle in and watch the landscape change as you get closer to the highlands.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Coffee tour
- Lake Mutande visit
Landmarks/POIs Kigali Lake Mutande - Days 2 - 3
Kisoro - Musanze
You're based in the Kisoro and Musanze area now, which opens up several options for what you do. Mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest are just across the border in Uganda, and golden monkeys are another draw. Local guides can take you to Batwa villages to learn about their culture, or you might visit Dian Fossey's grave if you're interested in the gorilla research history. Coffee tours and basket weaving workshops give you a sense of how people live here.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner, Breakfast, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Mountain gorilla trek Bwindi Impenetrable Forest (Uganda)
- Golden monkeys trek
- Orphanage visit
- Batwa (Pygmy) village visit
- Coffee tour
- Lake Mutande visit
- Trek to Dian Fossey's grave
- Basket weaving
- Banana beer making
Landmarks/POIs Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Dian Fossey's grave Lake Mutande - Days 4 - 5
Musanze to Kigali
The drive back to Kigali lets you shift gears toward Rwanda's larger story. Once there, the Genocide Museum and Memorial tell you about what happened here and how the country has recovered. You can also spend time checking out local crafts, watching basket weavers work, or learning how banana beer gets made. These activities show the cultural side of Rwanda beyond the natural world.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner, Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Genocide Museum and Memorial visit
Optional Activities
- Basket weaving
- Banana beer making
- Nyamata Church Memorial visit
Landmarks/POIs Genocide Museum and Memorial Nyamata Church Memorial - Days 6 - 11
Kigali to Arusha
This is a big transit day that takes you across into Tanzania. You'll stop at Rusomo Falls and a traditional village to break up the journey, then continue toward Lake Victoria through Mwanza. The route goes through Grumeti Reserve before you hit the Serengeti proper. Game drives happen from your overland truck with windows that let you see well. Later you'll explore Ngorongoro Crater in smaller vehicles, visit a Maasai village, and finish the evening in Arusha with a barbecue celebration.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner, Breakfast, Dinner, Breakfast, Dinner, Breakfast, Dinner, Breakfast, Dinner, Breakfast, Dinner (Evening celebratory barbecue)
Included Activities
- Rusomo Falls visit
- Traditional village stop
- Lake Victoria visit
- Grumeti Reserve transit drive
- Serengeti game drives
- Maasai village visit
- Ngorongoro Crater guided game drives
- Evening celebratory barbecue
Optional Activities
- Hill walk
- Balloon safari
- Morning safari Serengeti in 4x4 vehicle (minimum 5 people) from US$175
Landmarks/POIs Rusomo Falls Lake Victoria Mwanza Grumeti Reserve Serengeti National Park Ngorongoro Crater - Days 12 - 19
Arusha to Indian Ocean Coast
Heading from Arusha toward the coast means stopping at Marangu at Mount Kilimanjaro's base, then continuing to Tanzania's Indian Ocean beaches. You'll have time to relax at camp by the water and try some seafood while you listen to the ocean. Optional walks at Kilimanjaro's foothills are available if you want activity, or you could take a day trip to Zanzibar to explore Stone Town, see spice farms, snorkel on reefs, visit the giant tortoises on Prison Island, or walk through Jozani Forest.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner, Breakfast, Dinner, Breakfast, Dinner, Breakfast, Dinner, Breakfast, Dinner, Breakfast, Dinner, Breakfast, Dinner, Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Seafood meal at camp on the Indian Ocean
- Preparations for stay on Zanzibar Island
Optional Activities
- Guided walks at the foot of Kilimanjaro
- Day visit to Zanzibar Island (returning day 19)
- Zanzibar accommodation in popular beach accommodation or lodge in Stone Town with spice tour from £295
- Snorkelling on Zanzibar coral reefs from U$15
- Scuba diving on Zanzibar coral reefs from U$65
- Prison Island visit with giant tortoise population
- Jozani Forest red colobus monkey visit from U$40 (not including transport)
Landmarks/POIs Mount Kilimanjaro Marangu Zanzibar Island Stone Town Prison Island Jozani Forest - Days 20 - 24
Indian Ocean Coast to Lake Malawi
The drive west takes you through Mikumi National Park and then to Lake Malawi's scenic camps. Time here is fairly open, so you can wander through fishing villages, look around local markets for curios, and just soak in the peaceful lakeside setting. Water sports and cultural activities are options if you want to do more than simply relax by the water.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner, Breakfast, Dinner, Breakfast, Dinner, Breakfast, Dinner, Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Mikumi National Park drive
- Lake Malawi beach camp stay
- Fishing village visits
- Curio market visits
Optional Activities
- Water sports including snorkelling, canoeing, scuba diving, and pedalo hire
- Village walk
- Wood carving lesson
Landmarks/POIs Mikumi National Park Lake Malawi - Days 25 - 30
Lake Malawi to Lake Kariba
You cross into Zambia and South Luangwa National Park is your next wildlife focus. Small safari vehicles get you closer to the animals than bigger trucks do. After your game drives, you'll head through the Zambezi Valley to Lake Kariba for a couple relaxed days. Swimming or a houseboat cruise are both possibilities if you want to continue spotting wildlife from the water.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner, Breakfast, Dinner, Breakfast, Dinner, Breakfast, Dinner, Breakfast, Dinner, Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- South Luangwa National Park guided game drives
- Lake Kariba stay
Optional Activities
- Extra game drive in South Luangwa
- Extra walk in South Luangwa
- Houseboat cruise on Lake Kariba visiting Matusadona with game cruise and fishing from U$170
Landmarks/POIs South Luangwa National Park Zambezi Valley Lake Kariba Matusadona - Days 31 - 34
Lake Kariba to Bulawayo
Zimbabwe's history takes center stage as you see the Great Zimbabwe Ruins, which show off ancient stone building techniques and are protected as a UNESCO site. From there Bulawayo leads into Matopos National Park where small vehicle game drives and rhino treks let you get close to what lives here. The afternoon can include rock painting sites and Cecil Rhodes' grave, or you might visit an Ndebele village to see how people live and create art.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner, Breakfast, Dinner, Breakfast, Dinner, Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Great Zimbabwe Ruins visit
- Matopos National Park rhino trek
- Matopos National Park guided game drives
Optional Activities
- Afternoon rock paintings visit
- Cecil Rhodes' grave visit
- Ndebele Village visit
Landmarks/POIs Great Zimbabwe Ruins Matopos National Park Cecil Rhodes' grave - Days 35 - 37
Victoria Falls
Victoria Falls marks your entry into Zimbabwe's adventure zone, and these days are packed with options. Rainforest walks are the calm option, but the falls also offer white water rafting, bungee jumping, zip-lining, helicopter flights, and other high energy activities. The roar and mist of the falls provides the backdrop for whatever you choose to do.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner, Breakfast, Dinner, Breakfast, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Rainforest Walk
- White water rafting the Zambezi from U$140
- River boarding
- Bungee jumping from U$168
- Gorge swing (1 jump) from U$172
- Combo deal half day adrenaline gorge swings, zip line, flying fox from U$174
- Flying fox
- Zip line
- Flight of the Angels helicopter over Victoria Falls from U$150
- Canoe trip
- Horse riding
- Sundowner cruise from U$55
- Entrance and rainforest walk Victoria Falls National Park from U$50
Landmarks/POIs Victoria Falls Victoria Falls National Park Zambezi River - Days 38 - 43
Victoria Falls to Maun
Leaving Victoria Falls, you head into Botswana for wildlife and landscape variety. Chobe National Park comes first with a game cruise spotting elephants and other animals along the river. Then you move across the Makgadikgadi Pans, which are massive salt flats that seem to stretch forever. Maun is your next stop as the entry point to the Okavango Delta. Game drives, mokoro canoe trips, and scenic flights over the delta are all possible here.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner, Breakfast, Dinner, Breakfast, Dinner, Breakfast, Dinner, Breakfast, Dinner, Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Chobe National Park game cruise
Optional Activities
- Chobe National Park game drive from 580 Pula
- Okavango Delta two night guided mokoro safari from U$236
- Flight over the Okavango Delta from U$625 per plane
Landmarks/POIs Chobe National Park Makgadikgadi Pans Okavango Delta Maun - Days 44 - 48
Maun to Etosha National Park
Crossing into Namibia brings you to Etosha National Park and its raw desert landscape. You'll start with a visit to a Bushmen village to understand their history and way of life. Then you settle in for two nights of camping in the park itself, doing morning and afternoon game drives from your overland truck. Lions, zebras, elephants, and many other species show up if the timing is right. A visit to the Africat Foundation shows what's being done to protect big cats in the region.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner, Breakfast, Dinner, Breakfast, Dinner, Breakfast, Dinner, Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Bushmen village visit
- Etosha National Park two night camping stay
- Etosha National Park morning game drives
- Etosha National Park afternoon game drives
- Africat Foundation visit
Optional Activities
- Bushmen guided tour
- Evening game drive in Etosha National Park from 750 Namibian $
Landmarks/POIs Etosha National Park Africat Foundation Rundu - Days 49 - 52
Etosha to Swakopmund
The route takes you through Namibia's desert toward Swakopmund on the coast. Cape Cross Seal Colony is where you'll see thousands of seals gathered in their natural setting. Three nights in Swakopmund itself put you in a town full of optional activities like quad biking, sand boarding, water sports, desert tours, and wildlife cruises. The energy here is quite different from the national parks.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner, Breakfast, Dinner, Breakfast, Dinner, Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Cape Cross Seal Colony visit
- Three night Swakopmund lodge stay
Optional Activities
- Quad biking from 890 Namibian $
- Sand boarding from 600 Namibian $
- Skydiving from 5750 Namibian $
- Go-karting
- Open-sea fishing from 2200 Namibian $
- Desert tours
- Township tours from 900 Namibian $
- Horse riding
- Seal and dolphin cruise
- Sea kayaking
Landmarks/POIs Cape Cross Seal Colony Swakopmund - Days 53 - 56
Swakopmund to Orange River
Heading south means moving through desert landscapes toward Sossusvlei, where you'll find some of Africa's tallest sand dunes. Namib Naukluft National Park sprawls across this area with vast open space to explore. Later you'll reach Fish River Canyon, one of the continent's most dramatic gorges, and finish at the Orange River which marks the border with South Africa.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner, Breakfast, Dinner, Breakfast, Dinner, Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Sossusvlei Namib Desert visit
- Namib Naukluft National Park visit
- Fish River Canyon visit
Optional Activities
- Sossusvlei visit
- Canoeing on the Orange River from 480 Rand
Landmarks/POIs Sossusvlei Namib Desert Namib Naukluft National Park Fish River Canyon Orange River Ai Ais - Days 57 - 60
Orange River to Cape Town
Crossing into South Africa means driving through wine country near Stellenbosch before you get to Cape Town. Your final three nights are at Ashanti Lodge or similar in the city. Cape Town has no shortage of options, from hiking Table Mountain and visiting Robben Island to shark diving, wine tastings, and open top bus tours. The journey ends where it really opens up to whatever draws you most in this coastal city.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner, Breakfast, Dinner, Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Stellenbosch drive through
- Three night Cape Town lodge stay
Optional Activities
- Wine tour Stellenbosch from 1980 Rand
- Robben Island
- Table Mountain
- Shark diving
- Cape Point tour
- Open top bus tour
Landmarks/POIs Stellenbosch Cape Town Table Mountain Robben Island Cape Point
