Cape Town To Nairobi 43 Days Overlanding Camping

We head around Table Bay and continue north through the wheat growing ‘bread basket’ of South Africa.  We cross the Piekenierskloof Pass into the rich fruit growing area along the Olifants River, named for the vast Elephant herds that used to roam in this fertile valley.  Tonight we camp at Highlanders camp with shared ablution facilities (or similar), with a view of the surrounding wine farms.  Tonight campers camp under a canvass of stars- the perfect way to begin our African adventure.

From the Cederberg, we travel further north through the region known as Namaqualand, well known for its prolific display of Namaqua wildflowers that occur each spring.  After stopping for supplies in the small mining town of Springbok, we continue on through the desert area of the Richtersveld to the Gariep River, the natural land border between South Africa and Namibia, where we camp at a beautiful campsite called on the South African bank of the river.  

NAMIBIA

This sandy yet spectacular country gained its independence from South Africa in the year of 1990 and its largest city, also the capital city, is Windhoek. This is a country of compelling beauty and wide horizons dominated by the brooding and desolate Namib Desert, which has the highest sand dunes in the world.

Today we cross into Namibia where, after a short drive, we reach the Fish River Canyon.  At 161 km long, 27 km wide and about 550 m deep, it’s the second largest canyon in the world.  The outer canyon was formed by tectonic activity, while the erosion of the Fish River formed the inner canyon.  A road follows the eastern rim, giving us access to several viewing points from where we enjoy the spectacular vistas.  Tonight campers will camp at Canyon Roadhouse (or similar) with shared ablution facilities.

Fish River Canyon

Located in the South of Namibia, the Fish River Canyon claims the title of the largest canyon in Africa and the second largest in the world.  Being approximately 160km long, 27km wide and just over 550m deep only allows for the brave and fit to take on the hikes and walks it has to offer. 

An early start today, heading north we enter the area of the Namib-Naukluft desert, one of the oldest in the world.  We base ourselves at Sesriem, a good place to experience the Namib and its many moods.  A short distance away is Sossusvlei, surrounded by a dramatic sea of sand dunes reputed to be the highest in the world.  Magnificent views of the desert can be seen from the top of the dunes, some over 300 m high.  Make sure you look up at the stars tonight; the desert puts on a show like nowhere else in the world!  Tonight and tomorrow night we camp at Oasis Camp (or similar) with shared ablution facilities.

This morning we enter the Namib-Naukluft National Park where we spend the morning exploring this amazing area.  We take some time to climb to the top of Dune 45 - a truly memorable experience.  Following our once in a lifetime experience you will take the desert shuttles a further 5kms into the desert where you can take a walk to Sossusvlei and explore the surrounding area.  

Sossusvlei – Sesriem Canyon

This salt and clay pan is surrounded by never ending sand dunes which form part of some of the highest dunes in the world. If all these dues had the ability to be jealous, then they would all be jealous of Dune 45, due to its stunning view of the sunrises and sunsets and its photo geniality. Not being one of the largest or most popular canyons, Sesriem Canyon makes up for it with character. The name Sesriem was given to it by the settlers and is Afrikaans, it can be translated into “six belts”. After coming back from their treks, the settlers would have to tie six belts together, attached to a bucket, in order to scoop water from the canyon. 

Solitaire – Tropic of Capricorn – Swakopmund

Consisting of a fuel station, post office, small general dealer and a bakery, Solitaire may be small, but it sure lacks no character. After filling your belly with some of the best apple pie, your next stop is the Tropic of Capricorn. The board marking the tropic may be one of the most photographed boards in Namibia, followed closely by the Namibian border signs (which are technically prohibited), but people manage to sneak one or two in. Swakopmund has become the adventure capital of Namibia, while the city of Windhoek is the Capital. Any adventure junkie will be attracted to Swakopmund, whether they want to jump out of a perfectly good plane or try their luck at sand boarding. 

After breakfast, we head off in a north-westerly direction to meet the Atlantic Ocean at Walvis Bay. Our drive takes us across the Tropic of Capricorn – the ‘imaginary line’ that shows the southernmost point of direct sun, and signals the southern hemisphere’s mid-summers day. From Walvis Bay, we follow the coast for some 35 km to arrive at Namibia’s prime holiday resort - Swakopmund where we enjoy 2 nights of rest, relaxation and a little bit of adrenalin for those that are keen! Accommodation will be at Amanpuri Lodge (or similar) in dorm rooms with shared bathroom facilities for the next 2 nights.

Founded by the Germans in 1892, their colonial influence is still evident today.  Swakopmund has a selection of excellent coffee shops, restaurants & bars as well as many arts and crafts shops selling Namibian curios.  There are fine beaches to walk along as well as a great museum, aquarium and galleries to visit.  Alternatively, the lovely beach and promenade make for a great relaxing walk – though bathing in the ocean waters may be somewhat chilly!

Optional Activities: Sky diving, quad biking, sand boarding, scenic desert flights, dolphin cruises, fishing trips, golf, horse riding and more. An activity briefing will be held on arrival in Swakopmund.

Our departure from Swakopmund takes through the ‘Matterhorn of Namibia’ – Spitzkoppe (day trip).  The 1728m high rock formation, one of Namibia’s most recognised landmarks, is well known as an ancient San sacred site. Explore the surrounding area and its San rock paintings or simply enjoy the magnificent views.  After our visit to Spitzkoppe we head off to our next destination – Brandberg.  Tonight campers camp at Brandberg Rest Camp (or similar) with shared ablution facilities. 

Today’s drive takes us further north through the Namibian countryside to our campsite, located in the vicinity of the National Park. Covering 22 700 km2, Etosha is Namibia’s premier nature and wildlife reserve. Situated around the Etosha Pan with a large variety of animal and bird life, the extensive network of gravel roads affords us the opportunity of accessing even the most remote areas of the park.  For the next three nights campers will camp at Etosha Village (or similar) with shared ablution facilities.

We spend the day exploring the park’s southern area. Keep an eye out for the striking Oryx and Springbok as these are endemic to desert National Parks! 

Today we make our way across the park, keeping a look out for the many different mammals, reptiles, birds and insects in the various regions. As the vegetation types change, so does the animal and bird life that relies on it, and so different sections of the Park offer a variety of different game options. 

After our breakfast, we head out of the park while doing a game drive. Today’s drive will take us through small rural towns and scenic landscapes. Nestled between the hills, Windhoek is a rather small capital city but has many places of historical interest. This afternoon is spent at your leisure with time to visit the local museum or haggling at the street side markets. There are also many shops for those in need of a bit of retail therapy.  Tonight we stay in twin-share rooms at Avani Hotel (or similar) with en-suite bathroom facilities.

BOTSWANA

The size of this successful country can be compared to countries such as Kenya or France, and fairly smaller than Texas. Botswana is a landlocked country with borders such as South Africa, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe which can all be crossed overland. For such a small country, it boasts an array of spectacular game viewing opportunities such as, hundreds of elephants splashing in the Chobe River and the Okavango Delta and its maze of lagoons. 

This morning we depart early as we prepare to leave Namibia behind us as we enter into the beautiful Botswana. Ghanzi is a town in the middle of the Kalahari Desert. Optional activities include a number of activities to interact with the San / Bushman, and to discover how they survived in the Kalahari.  Tonight campers camp at Tautona (or similar) with shared ablution facilities. 

OKAVANGO DELTA

The Delta is a huge expanse of water, which has travelled from the Angolan highlands, spreading out to form the largest inland delta in the world.  Studded with exotic islands, The Delta is renowned for its incredible variety of bird life and animals and is unique to Southern Africa. 

All you have to do is sit back, relax and have your camera as you get guided through the dozens of mazes. The Okavango Delta is a bird lover’s paradise enjoyed by all, best explored by foot and mokoro. With over 400 species of birds, 70 species of fish and an abundance of wildlife, your experience in the delta will leave you wanting to explore the whole of Africa. 

Maun is the starting point for travel into the Delta and it is from here that we set off to explore the Okavango Delta. Your trip leader will brief you fully on what is needed, and what to expect prior to your trip to the Delta. For the next 2 nights campers will be camping at Situtunga (or similar) with shared ablution facilities.

Here we have the opportunity to take the included excursion into the Delta.  From Maun we drive north for a couple of hours to reach the mokoro poler’s station.  The Delta region is studded with many local villages where many families live in a traditional way. Some of the villages are very remote and can only be reached by the traditional mode of transport – the Mokoro. Mokoros are dugout canoes manoeuvred through the waterways by local guides who “pole” them through the reeds. At the Mokoro station, we meet our ‘Polers’ and pack our supplies before heading out into the waterways. After a couple of hours along the waterways, we arrive in the heart of the Okavango.  

We leave this beautiful part of Botswana behind us this morning as we depart to the lush campsite called Elephant Sands (or similar) with shared ablution facilities. The drive will take you through a very unpopulated landscape where the donkeys roam freely. Once we have arrived at our campsite you will have the option of partaking in a game drive or a bushwalk. Your crew will provide you with more information.

We travel north to the town of Kasane where we set up camp on the banks of the Chobe River.  The Chobe River forms a border between Botswana and Namibia and Zambia and is the main water source to the Chobe National Park.  Elephant, hippo and many bird species can be viewed from the campsite while we watch another glorious African sunset.  Listen out for the resident hippos!  Tonight campers will be camping at Thebe River Lodge (or similar) with shared ablution facilities.

ZIMBABWE

This landlocked country is situated in the southern part of Africa, between the mighty Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers. The word Zimbabwe is believed to have two meanings, 1) it is believed the word Zimbabwe is derived from dzimba-dza-mabwe, which means “large house of stone” in the Shona (Karanga Dialect) language. 2) It is also believed to be derived from the word dzimba-hwe which means venerated houses in the Zezuru dialect of Shona. 

Once returning to camp, we get back on our truck and continue to the border of Zimbabwe. Once we’ve completed border formalities, we have a short drive to the nearby Victoria Falls. Named after the famous World Heritage site and Water Falls, the town of Victoria Falls is situated on the Zambezi River and surrounded by the Victoria Falls National Park. Our accommodation is conveniently situated in the centre of town, and within walking distance of the adventure booking agents, restaurants and shops. A short walk down the main road takes you to the entry point to view the falls, which are situated between Zimbabwe and Zambia. Victoria Falls, or Mosi-oa-Tunya (the Smoke that Thunders), was named by David Livingstone on his explorations, and is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. At 1700 m wide and around 100 m high, this is the world's largest sheet of falling water and a memorable sight on any African Safari! Entry to Victoria Falls National Park is included in your trip. After our adventure activities briefing, the afternoon is spent relaxing at our accommodation, viewing the Victoria Falls, or exploring the many sights and delights of this town!  

The next 4 night’s campers will be camping at Shearwater Lodge (or similar) with shared ablution facilities.

The next days are spent relaxing or participating in a myriad of Optional Excursions.  Some of our fellow passengers will leave us in Vic Falls, to be replaced by new passengers joining us for the next leg of our trek.

Optional Activities: Adrenalin junkies can bungee from the Victoria Falls Bridge connecting Zimbabwe and Zambia or abseil down the Batoka Gorge - neither activity is for the faint hearted!  All year round, flights in fixed wing, micro light and ultra light aircraft or helicopters provide an aerial perspective over this magnificent World Heritage Site.  White water rafting on the Zambezi is world class.  Beside the excitement of the Grade 5 rapids, there are the "floats," where there is time to admire the scenic cliffs and the occasional wildlife on the riverbanks. 

We get back on our truck and continue to the town of Lusaka. Tonight campers are camping at Eureka camp (or similar) with shared ablution facilities.

An early morning start sees us head north through southern Zambia. As we drive, we pass through a few of the villages and towns of Zambia along the way. Prosperous during the copper boom in the 60’s, Zambia was able to build infrastructure at the main mining and farming communities. After the fall of the copper industry, the country was left virtually bankrupt and existing infrastructure was left to fall to ruin. Due to foreign investment and a rise in the mining industry, Zambia is today once again starting to prosper. The difference is evident in the cities with the availability of foreign stores, banks and imported cars, while the villages and smaller towns are still to catch up. Tonight campers camp at Chimwende Camp (or similar) with shared ablution facilities.

This breath-taking park is situated on the Luangwa River in the Eastern part of Zambia, and it is the southernmost of three national parks in this region. South Luangwa was founded in 1938 as a game reserve, 1972 was the year it was declared as a national park, and today it covers over 9000 kilometres squared. Animals such as Giraffe, buffalo and Elephants can be found in abundance. The Luangwa river is home to many a hippo and croc. Tonight campers are camping at Croc Valley Camp (or similar) with shared ablution facilities.

MALAWI

A variety of attractions can be found in this exquisite country such as, forest, mountains and many a rural village, but there is one major attraction – Lake Malawi. There are many small rustic resorts along this fresh water lake where you can kick back on the sand, and enjoy the perfect sunset over this lake. Malawi will offer you the perfect sub-tropical climate, allowing you ample time to soak up the sun and work on that tan. Lilongwe is the largest city in Malawi, as well as the capital city. Malawi plays host to just over 12 million people, with English and Chichewa being the main languages. 

Lake Malawi

Most your time in Malawi will be spent enjoying the white beaches and warm waters of Lake Malawi. Lake Malawi is also known as “the lake of stars”, offering an abundance of water activities. With the staggering amount of 500 species of fish, this lake makes for an excellent spot for fresh water diving after meeting and greeting all the welcoming locals. 

We cross into Malawi, the ‘Warm Heart of Africa’. Malawi is a landlocked country with 20% of its total area made up of beautiful Lake Malawi.  We camp first at the central Lake, and then in the northern area over the next 3 days.  These two nights we camp at Kande beach lodge (or similar) with shared bathroom facilities.

Spend the days learning the game of bao from the locals, scour the markets for a bargain or simply relax on the pristine beaches.  Malawi’s temperate climate allows for swimming in the clear blue fresh-water lake all year round.  Explore the beautiful shore where you’ll happen upon the local fishermen sorting their catch.  Traditional fishing techniques are still practiced and to appreciate their boating skills, try to paddle a dugout canoe yourself!  At night, you’ll see the ‘fairy’ lights of the fishermen out on the lake. The various beachside campsites along Lake Malawi’s shores offer many optional Excursions including a variety of water sports, horseback rides and a visit to the local village and school.  Tonight we camp at Chitimba Camp (or similar) with shared bathroom facilities.

TANZANIA

Tanzania’s natural environment and geographical features have made it one of the best tourist destinations in Africa. Being the biggest country in east Africa, Tanzania has heaps to offer her visitors, including 13 game reserves and national parks. Tanzania also forms part of the world’s largest animal’s movements, the great migration. Inland are the vast Serengeti National Park and the animal-packed Ngorongoro Conservation area, and thousands of people every year fulfil their lifetime achievement of climbing to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro, which is the highest mountain in Africa. On the coast, Zanzibar is exotic, intriguing and steeped in the unique Swahili culture.

After a relaxing 3 days, we leave Malawi, entering Tanzania through the border post at Songwe.  Winding our way through the beauty of the Tukuyu tea and banana plantations, we head towards Iringa where campers spend the night camping at Utengule Coffee Lodge (or similar) with shared ablution facilities. 

From Mbeya we travel to Iringa and camping clients camp at the beautiful rustic ‘Farmhouse’ campsite (or similar) with shared ablution facilities.

This morning we head off early passing through the Mikumi National Park where it is possible to view a range of wildlife from the roadside, totally impervious to the passing traffic. Look out for the colourful shop-fronts with their sometimes humorous ‘catch phrases’.  Tonight we camp at Tan-swiss Lodge (or similar) with shared ablution facilities.

Tonight we camp at Kipepeo Beach Village (or similar) with en-suite bathroom facilities.

A ferry from Dar es Salaam takes us to the "Spice Island,” where we spend the next 3 nights.  Zanzibar is steeped in history and was one of the major starting points for most East African explorers in their quest for new lands. 

History aside, Zanzibar offers a wealth of experiences for the visitor.  Today the quiet streets of the old Stone Town still retain their Arabic influence, from the Medina-like shops to the palaces of the Sultans, who founded their vast empires on the spoils of the slave and ivory trade.  The island is famous for its spices and an excursion around a spice plantation is always a fascinating experience.  Other options include a trip to the beautiful beaches and giant tortoises of Prison Island, a full day scuba dive in Nungwe or a fishing trip in a traditional dhow.  Mopeds are available for hire if you’d like to explore the more remote areas of the island. These two nights we stay in twin-share rooms at Amaan Hotel (or similar) with en-suite bathroom facilities.

PLEASE NOTE:  Meals are for your own account whilst on Zanzibar, as it is our experience that passengers prefer to explore the island on their own, and in accordance with their own budget.  The Trip Leader joins you and will arrange your activities, while meals can be enjoyed from a wide selection of restaurants. Zanzibar is a seafood lover’s paradise.  Numerous restaurants offer a great variety of the freshest catch from the ocean - crayfish being a popular speciality.  Alternatively, mingle with the locals for dinner at the Forodhani Gardens seafront market, where delicious, inexpensive seafood is on offer. There are also a wide variety of optional excursions on offer.

Today we travel back to the main town & tonight we stay in twin-share rooms at Swahili House (or similar) with en-suite bathroom facilities.

Leaving Zanzibar in the afternoon, we return to the mainland and another night in Dar es Salaam. Arrival back to camp is usually in the late afternoon, or early evening. Tonight campers will again camp at Kipepeo Beach village (or similar) with shared bathroom facilities.

This morning we leave early and leave the hustle and bustle of this major Tanzanian city, and head towards the farmlands of this beautiful country. Today is used as a transit day to get us closer to Serengeti. Campers will be camping tonight at the Lawns Hotel (or similar) with shared ablution facilities.

From Dar es Salaam we have a long day’s drive through vast sisal plantations and African bushveld to Arusha.  On the way, we pass The Pare and Usambara Mountain ranges before driving through the town of Moshi.  Moshi is the base for Mount Kilimanjaro climbing expeditions and weather permitting; we may even catch a glimpse of this magical mountain’s snowy summit - a photo opportunity not to be missed!  Tonight we stay in twin-share rooms at the Outpost Hotel (or similar) with en-suite bathroom facilities, before heading out on our excursions to the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater tomorrow. 

This morning we depart early and transit through the Ngorongoro Conservation area and on into the Serengeti National Park. We cross the vast plains as we game drive through the southern and central areas in the park. Tonight and tomorrow night we stay in twin-share rooms at the Golden Safari with en-suite bathroom facilities (or similar) surrounded by the sounds of the African wilderness. 

In the morning, we head off for another game drive and explore the landscape in search of the resident game. With some luck, we may see some of Africa’s ‘Big 5’! Following our morning drive, we retrace our journey back across the plains and along the lush Crater rim. 

The Ngorongoro Crater is the largest unbroken, unflooded caldera in the world. Comprising of open savannahs, acacia forests and both soda and fresh water lakes, the Ngorongoro Crater is truly a miniature ‘Garden of Eden’. This World Heritage Site boasts some of the best game viewing in Africa – including the elusive Black Rhino.

We spend the evening musing over our thrilling wildlife experience, camping at Kudu camp (or similar) with shared ablution facilities.

We set off early this morning and make our way to the Tanzania/ Kenyan border and the small border town of Namanga.  After completing the border formalities, we continue on our journey to the Capital City Nairobi where our trip ends.

The rest of the day is yours at leisure to enjoy some of the many options available in this bustling city; visit The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, where you can view the orphaned baby Elephants at feeding time, or head to the Giraffe Centre in Langata, if you haven’t had your fill of game viewing, then Nairobi National Park offers some great day trips or if you haven’t quite got all those souvenirs you wanted, take a “Matatu” to the local curio markets close by the campsite.  This evening why not try the fair on offer at the famous Carnivores restaurant.