Tour Code - UOA58

Duration - 58 Days / 57 Nights

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

Start Nairobi   Finish Cape Town

Price Euro €2395 ( Plus Local Payment )

Gorilla Permit  (Sep 04) US$365

Enjoy an audience with a gentle ape in Uganda’s misty mountains, watch the Zambezi River tumble over the Victoria Falls, view the shimmering dunes and deserts of the ancient Namib. Game parks, beaches, deserts and wetlands - from Lake Victoria to Table bay, this is the ultimate overland safari of east and southern Africa!

DAYS 1 - 14
From Nairobi we head west into the Great Rift Valley and spend the night in Lake Nakuru National Park. The Mara is well-known for its wildlife including rhino and birdlife especially flamingos which gather in their thousands on the shores of the lake. Beyond Nakuru we continue west into Uganda and the source of the Nile at Jinja. Here you can try white water rafting or explore the riverside villages on foot. From Kampala there is the opportunity for a boat excursion to the Ngamba Island chimpanzee sanctuary on Lake Victoria. We head to western Uganda to trek in search for the gorillas. Guides lead us through the jungle to view these gentle giants. Viewing Gorillas in their natural habitat is one of Africa’s very special wildlife encounters. We return through the terraced hills of Uganda back to Kenya and bustling Nairobi.

DAYS 15 - 23
From Nairobi we visit Kenya’s best known game park, the Masai Mara Game Reserve. The park is justly renowned for its stocks of wildlife - Africa’s Big 5 - and for its scenery. We retrace our steps briefly 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 abundant here, and taken with Kenya’s Masai Mara you will have visited three of Africa greatest game reserves. Our base for the Serengeti / Ngorongoro is Arusha, sitting in the shadow of Mount Meru. Our camp is adjacent to a Snake Park and close to Masai villages.

DAYS 24 - 29
From Arusha we glimpse snow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro en route to the palm-fringed port city of Dar es Salaam. An important and historic Indian Ocean port, Dar is best known today for its ferry connections to the exotic island of Zanzibar. Spend three days on the island exploring Stone Town soaking up the Arab atmosphere, and enjoy the beaches where snorkelling and diving are excellent, as is the abundant fresh seafood. Returning to the mainland, we continue west via Mikumi National Park towards Malawi.

DAYS 30 - 39
Malawi is dominated by the enormous Lake Malawi. There is 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 freshwater. We pass through Lilongwe and cross into Zambia and continue to Livingstone. This is our base to explore Victoria Falls, one of Africa most exciting and enduring sights. There are various ways to view the Falls - helicopter or light aircraft, but for the more sedate the view from the lookout points in the surrounding national park is equally inspiring. There are numerous ‘adrenaline-pumping’ activities available - White water rafting, bungy jumping, gorge swinging, to name a few. Also enjoy a cruise on the broad upper reaches of the Zambezi and watch the sun set over the African bush. We also keep time to visit one
of the local villages for an informative cultural experience.

DAYS 40 - 50
Leaving Livingstone we cross into Botswana and the Chobe National Park. We enjoy a game drive and game cruise on the Chobe River before continuing to the Okavango Delta. Explore the channels and floodplains on foot and by mokoro (dugout canoe). We cross the border to Namibia, spend two days in Etosha National Park, for more game viewing, where the waterholes are floodlit at night for unique night time animal watching.

DAYS 51 - 58
After Etosha, we visit a Cheetah Park for an ‘up-close’ encounter with these magnificent cats, before visiting the Cape Cross Seal Colony on the Atlantic Coast. Swakopmund, Namibia's seaside resort has a range of desert based activities on offer, as well as good night life. In southern Namibia the eerie and beautiful Namib-Naukluft National Park has giant sand dunes, and the Fish River Canyon offers panoramic views. We cross to South Africa and after a night at Citrusdal, arrive in Cape Town where after a Cultural Township tour our 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...