Tour Code - UAAJ46

Duration - 46 Days / 45 Nights

Country - Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana, South Africa

Start Nairobi   Finish Johannesburg

Price Euro €2075 ( Plus Local Payment )

Gorilla Permit  (Sep 05) US$365

This tour explores famous game reserves, mighty rivers, misty mountains, and golden beaches. Encounter wildlife from gorillas to the Big 5, and meet diverse cultures from the red-robed Masai to the warm-hearted Malawi people. From the source of the Nile to Kruger, from Zanzibar to Victoria Falls, this is the Ultimate African Adventure!

DAYS 1 - 14
From Kenya’s capital of Nairobi head west into the Great Rift Valley and spend a night camping out in Lake Nakuru National Park, particularly well-known for its large population of rhino and wealth of birdlife including flamingos that gather on the shores of the shallow soda lake in their thousands. Beyond Nakuru travel westward through the verdant tea plantations around Eldoret, before crossing into Uganda and heading for the source of the Nile at Jinja. Here you can get wet and wild on a white water rafting trip on the longest river in Africa, or the more sedate can quad-bike or walk through the surrounding villages. From Kampala, Uganda’s capital city, there’s an opportunity to take a boat ride to a unique chimpanzee sanctuary on Ngamba Island in Lake Victoria, before heading to western Uganda to trek gorillas in the mist. Guides lead you through the tangled forests to where they were last seen, and finding and watching a family of rare Mountain Gorillas in their natural home is a very privileged experience and one of the most special wildlife encounters in Africa. A return drive through the terraced hills of Uganda brings us back to Kenya and the bustling capital of Nairobi.

DAYS 15 - 23
From Nairobi visit Kenya’s best known game park, the Masai Mara Game Reserve, and spend a couple of days pursuing the Big 5 across the vast plains shared by the Masai herdsmen. Spend a night on the shores of the picturesque and hippo-infested lake Naivasha, before crossing into Tanzania for a 3-day excursion to the Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti National Park and Olduvai Gorge by 4x4 vehicle. Game viewing opportunities are unsurpassed here and with luck you will see some of Africa’s best known animals. Our base for the game park excursion is Tanzania’s safari capital of Arusha, where you can play with some snakes at a Snake Park, haggle over curios in the local markets, and go on an informative guided walk to
a Masai village.

DAYS 24 - 29
From Arusha you might get a glimpse of the snow-capped Mt Kilimanjaro if the weather is clear on the way to the palm-fringed port city of Dar es Salaam. An important and historic Indian Ocean port, Dar is best known today for its fast ferry connections with the exotic island of Zanzibar. Spend three days on the island exploring the romantic winding cobbled alleys, soaking up the Arabian atmosphere, and enjoying the fabulous beaches where the snorkelling and diving are excellent, as is the abundant fresh seafood. Returning to the mainland, visit the ebony carving market for curio shopping before driving southwest via Mikumi National Park towards Malawi.

DAYS 30 - 39
Malawi is a small friendly country dominated by the enormous Lake Malawi, and there’s an idyllic lakeshore to explore of high escarpments and stunning swathes of deserted beach. One popular stop is Kande Beach, a lakeside resort where you can swim, snorkel or scuba dive in the lake's clear sparkling freshwater. Alternatively go horse-riding along the beach and even take the horses swimming in the lake. Leaving Malawi, drive through rural Zambia to Livingstone, our base from which to enjoy activities around the Victoria Falls. There’s a range of adrenaline-pumping ways to see the falls themselves, by helicopter, microlight or by impossibly small plane, but for the more sedate the view from the lookout points over the falls is tremendous. Alternatively enjoy a cruise on the broad upper reaches of the mighty Zambezi River with a few sundowners in hand to watch the sunset over the African bush. One activity included while we are in this area is a visit to a local village for an informative cultural experience. Those on the 39 day tour to Livingstone end here.

DAYS 40 - 46
From Livingstone head into neighbouring Botswana and to the Chobe National Park, Botswana's premier game reserve, and an area with a large concentration of elephant. Camp close to the tranquil Chobe River and glide towards families of elephant and pods of hippo on the edge of the river on a gentle game cruise. Continue east past the Makgadigadi Pans, via the small Botswana towns of Nata and Francistown, and enter the northwest of South Africa to the Greater Kruger National Park, Spend two nights within the Kruger area where you will catch your last glimpse of Africa's diverse wildlife in what is Africa’s most popular game park. The last leg of the journey is via the Panorama region to modern Johannesburg, South Africa’s largest and most vibrant city, where the tour ends.

Travelling ‘overland’ is an adventurous and exciting way to see the sights, meet the cultures, and feel the soul and rhythm of Africa. In a self-sufficient vehicle, we carry everything with us including camping and cooking equipment and get off the beaten track to the real Africa. Travel with like-minded people in a relaxed, easy-going atmosphere and make life-long friends. Add this to special wildlife encounters, evocative landscapes, thrilling adventure activities, and nights camping out in the African bush, and you’ll have a memorable overland tour through Africa with Acacia...