Great African Expedition (Accommodated) - 58 days
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Overview
Highlights
- Uganda - Trek to see chimpanzees and gorillas in Queen Elizabeth and Bwindi National Parks. Admire Lake Bunyonyi and relax by the River Nile in Jinja
- Kenya - Spot incredible wildlife on a game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park and a two-night safari excursion to the legendary Masai Mara, Kenya's premier wildlife destination
- Tanzania - Search for wildlife in the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, and Mikumi National Park and visit the coastal cities of Bagamoyo and Dar es Salaam
- Zanzibar - Spend three days on tropical Zanzibar Island, exploring historic Stone Town and soaking up some sun on the northern beaches
- Malawi - Explore several different points of Lake Malawi, which covers 20% of the country. Swim, visit local villages, play volleyball and opt for a day hike to a waterfall
- Zambia - Visit the border town of Chipata and the capital Lusaka, then head to Livingstone, home to cascading Victoria Falls
- Botswana - Head on safari in Chobe National Park and cruise the Chobe River, then enjoy an overnight excursion into the Okavango Delta
- Namibia - Meet the San Bushmen and visit Windhoek, then explore Etosha National Park, climb Dune 45 in the Namib Desert and see Fish River Canyon
- South Africa - Enjoy optional wine tasting in Cederberg before arriving in captivating Cape Town, where your tour ends
What's this trip about?
Details
Destinations
Attractions
Min Group Size
Max Group Size
Trip includes
- 57 breakfasts, 44 lunches & 44 dinners
- 53 nights simple accommodation (including permanent tents), 4 nights camping in 2-person dome tents - a foam mattress, sleeping bag and pillow is provided on camping nights (please refer to the trip notes for details)
- Escorted by a licensed 2-person crew
- Transportation in a 24-seater overland truck with camping and cooking equipment
- Lake Nakuru National Park game drive in specialized safari vehicles
- Kalinzu Forest chimpanzee trekking with expert guides (subject to payment of permits, see cost below)
- Bwindi National Park gorilla trekking with expert guides (subject to payment of permits, see cost below)
- Masai Mara excursion in a purpose built safari vehicle and game drives with a resident guide
- Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater excursion in a purpose built safari vehicle and game drives with a resident guide
- Maasai Village Walk with a resident guide
- Zanzibar return ferry ticket
- Mosi Oa Tunya National Park, Victoria Falls visit
- Chobe River boat cruise and Chobe National Park game drive in a purpose-built safari vehicle with a resident guide
- Okavango Delta excursion including mokoro and walking safari
- Kalahari Bushman Walk
- Etosha National Park game drives
- Spitzkoppe excursion to see Bushmen paintings
- Sossusvlei guided walk and Dune 45 excursion
- Sesriem & Fish River Canyon visit
- All road tolls and vehicle taxes
Itinerary
Nairobi - Lake Nakuru National Park. We leave Nairobi this morning and descend into the Great Rift Valley, home to some of Africa's most dramatic scenery. We stop at a lookout point to enjoy the view before arriving in Lake Nakuru National Park. Although small by Afri...
Lake Nakuru National Park - Eldoret. Departing Nakuru this morning we journey to Eldoret, Kenya's fifth largest town and a region increasingly important to the country's economy. On our journey today we will cross the Equator, travelling from the Southern Hemisphere t...
Eldoret - Kampala (Uganda). Wave goodbye to Kenya for now as we cross into Uganda, a country once described by Sir Winston Churchill as the 'Pearl of Africa'. On our drive to Kampala you will see lush rolling hills, tribal villages and growing towns and cities. Tonight we stay in the country's capital, Kampala.
Kampala - Chimpanzee Trekking Area. From Kampala, we travel west crossing the Equator again, through fertile green terraced hillsides, lush banana plantations, steep mountains, and tangled forests. From the Acacia vehicle we should see herds of Ankole cattle with thei...
Kalinzu Forest or Kyambura Gorge. Today, we head out in search of chimpanzees. Unlike their larger cousins, the mountain gorillas, chimps primarily lives in the trees, making our viewing experience one of gazing up into the dense forest canopy. Unsurprisingly, witness...
Chimpanzee Trekking Area - Lake Bunyonyi. On day 6 we drive to Lake Bunyonyi, dotted with scenic islands and surrounded by lush forest and rolling hills. Over the next three days everyone in the group will enjoy their mountain gorilla trek, but we will split into smal...
Lake Bunyonyi - Kampala. Leaving the mountain gorillas and Lake Bunyonyi behind, we return to Kampala, skirting around the northern edge of Lake Victoria. There is time this evening for you to head into the city and explore, meet the locals or try some of the local cuisine if you wish.
Kampala - Jinja. It's a short drive today as we make our way to Jinja, a city in southern Uganda on the banks of Lake Victoria, source of the River Nile. From here, the river flows for 5,584km, through 11 countries. It enters the Mediterranean Sea in Egypt, having pro...
The next two days are completely free for you to unwind by the Nile. Enjoy some of the optional activities available, go for a long walk beside the river or simply relax at the campsite with a good book - the choice is yours!
Jinja - Eldoret (Kenya). Say goodbye to Jinja as we cross the border back into Kenya and return to Eldoret. Here we spend the night.
Eldoret - Nairobi. This morning, we cross the Equator and make our way south to Nairobi and to our accommodation in the city.
Today is free for your to spend at leisure, explore the city or simply relax! Alternatively book one of the optional excursions available, including a visit to the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Elephant Nursery, the Giraffe Centre or the Karen Blixen Museum in the nearby town of Karen.
Nairobi - Masai Mara. We depart the Kenyan capital early this morning and travel overland across the dramatic Great Rift Valley. Arriving at our camp on the edge of the Masai Mara Reserve, we will have time for an afternoon game drive in search of wildlife. In the Masai Mara we will use specialized safari vehicles instead of our overland truck, for a better game-viewing experience.
Today we explore the Masai Mara on morning and afternoon game drives. Forming part of the Serengeti ecosystem and adjacent to Tanzania's Serengeti National Park, the Masai Mara is perhaps Africa's most iconic wild place. Home to the Great Migration, it is possible to ...
Masai Mara - Nairobi. From the Mara we trace our steps back across the Great Rift Valley to Nairobi. Here we spend the night.
Nairobi - Arusha (Tanzania). Say goodbye to Kenya as we board our overland truck and cross into neighbouring Tanzania. Our destination is the country's safari capital of Arusha, located near the Serengeti and in the shadow of Mount Meru. We'll browse the local markets before arriving at our accommodation for the night. There may also be time to visit a Maasai village.
Arusha - Serengeti National Park. This morning, we transfer to smaller, more ‘game park friendly’ vehicles and drive west across the Great Rift Valley, passing through Mto Wa Mbo (‘mosquito creek’) and enter the Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area. We drive around the...
Serengeti National Park - Ngorongoro Crater - Arusha. Day 21 sees us game-driving back out of the Serengeti and into the nearby Ngorongoro Conservation Area. This UNESCO-listed site is dominated by the Ngorongoro Crater, Africa's largest caldera. It is also home to so...
Arusha - Bagamoyo. After a week of safari, it's time for some downtime! We head first to the port city of Bagamoyo, which is located on the Indian Ocean coast. It's a long drive, but we will be afforded views of snow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro if the weather is clear. Our accommodation for the night is near the beach, and you are more than welcome to head out to explore.
Bagamoyo - Dar es Salaam. We continue our journey down the Tanzanian coast to Dar es Salaam, the country's most important port. It's a relatively short drive of just 2 - 3 hours, and there should be time for you to head into the city independently. There is a wealth o...
Dar es Salaam - Zanzibar. On the morning of day 25 we board the ferry to Zanzibar, a tropical, semi-autonomous island off the coast of the Tanzanian mainland. Our overland truck will remain in Dar es Salaam. Our time in Zanzibar is not structured, and there is ple...
Zanzibar - Dar es Salaam. There's time for a final swim this morning before we check out after breakfast and catch the ferry back to the mainland. We stay by the coast again tonight, and you'll be able to head back into Dar if you choose.
Dar es Salaam - Mikumi National Park area. Climb aboard our overland truck once more as we make our way back inland, heading for the Malawian border. Today we are driving through Mikumi National Park, and will stop if we see any exotic wildlife, such as a forest eleph...
Mikumi National Park - Iringa. Today's drive takes us through the spectacular Southern Highlands of Tanzania. We'll be staying at a local family-run farm around 50km from Iringa. The farm has been managed by the Ghaui family for more than 70 years and produces organic crops and meat for the local community and Dar es Salaam.
Iringa - Mbeya ~Region. As we head towards Malawi, we make a stop at the tranquil Utengule Coffee Lodge, nestled amidst the majestic Mbeya range in Southern Tanzania. We take in breathtaking views of the East African Rift Valley, unwind by the poolside, or enjoy activ...
Mbeya Region - Chitimba Beach (Malawi). After our last night in Tanzania, we make our way to the Songwe border post and cross into Malawi. Lake Malawi, formerly known as Lake Nyasa, covers nearly a fifth of the country and is a vital source of livelihood for many Mala...
Chitimba - Nkhotakota Region. Lake Malawi is too much of a highlight for us to only visit one location along its never-ending shore! Today we take a nice scenic drive through rubber plantations to Mzuzu - the capital of the northern region and the third largest town ...
Nkhotakota Region - Petauke (Zambia). Saying our goodbyes to ‘the Lake’, we drive through Nkhotakhota Game Reserve towards the border where we cross into Zambia. After completing the border formalities, we continue our journey to Petauke, a region known for agriculture, producing maize, cotton, sunflower, soya beans, and other crops.
Petauke - Lusaka. It's an early start today as we have a long drive to the Zambian capital, Lusaka. The scenery en route is stunning though: we'll take the Great Eastern Road, passing through lush countryside and crossing the rushing Luangwa River. Our campsite is at a tranquil farm outside Lusaka, which is Southern Africa's fastest-growing city.
Lusaka - Livingstone. On day 37 we drive south to Livingstone. Named after famed explorer David Livingstone, this is the Zambian base for exploring Victoria Falls, one of the African continent's finest natural wonders. There is an included visit to the falls, which ar...
Livingstone - Kasane (Botswana). Say goodbye to Zambia as we cross into Botswana today and make the short journey to Kasane, gateway to Chobe National Park. Botswana's premier game reserve is home to all of the Big Five as well as abundant bird life, including the rar...
Chobe National Park - Nata. This morning we enjoy an open vehicle game drive in Chobe National Park, where we hope to spot not only elephants that are so prolific in the park, but also lion and different antelope species. Bidding farewell to Chobe, we travel south ...
Nata - Maun. Today sees us travelling to Maun, our base for exploring the famed Okavango Delta. If time allows, there is the opportunity for you to take a scenic flight over the delta - if we haven't got time today then this opportunity will be offered on day 45 instead.
Maun - Okavango Delta - Maun. On day 44 we enjoy our overnight excursion in specialized safari vehicles into the Okavango Delta. The delta is a natural wetland spread out over more than 1.6 million hectares, home to an incredible diversity of life. Reaching the mokoro...
Maun - Omaheke Region, near Gobabis, Namibia. Boarding our overland truck, we travel to the Namibian border via Ghanzi, skirting the edge of the barren Kalahari Desert. Having crossed the border, we reach our accommodation and there is an included bush walk with the l...
Omaheke Region, near Gobabis - Windhoek. Today we arrive in Namibia's charming capital. Windhoek is a tiny capital by global standards, with a population of just 470,000 people. It has lots of German architecture, a reminder of Namibia's early colonial past. Our camp ...
Windhoek - Etosha National Park. The next two days will be spent exploring Namibia's iconic Etosha National Park. This 20,000 square kilometre reserve is dominated by a salt pan, which floods seasonally but is also home to a select few watering holes all year round. W...
Etosha National Park - Spitzkoppe. We game drive out of Etosha and head into the Damaraland region to our destination - Spitzkoppe. At this mountain peak, you can see incredibly well-preserved bushmen paintings and spectacular rock formations reaching 1800 metres abov...
Spitzkoppe - Swakopmund. On day 51 we drive to Swakopmund, a German colonial town located on Namibia's famous Skeleton Coast. The rest of day 51 and the following day are free for you to explore Swakopmund as you see fit. Wander around the town and indulge in the rela...
Swakopmund - Solitaire Area. Continuing south, we cross over the Tropic of Capricorn, stopping for a photo opportunity en-route to our stunning desert campsite in the Khomas region of Namibia.
Solitaire Area - Namib Naukluft National Park - Sesriem Area. This morning we head into Namib-Naukluft National Park, arriving at the desert's most famous landmark - Dune 45. This towering sand dune is more than 300 metres high - you are welcome to try to climb the du...
Sesriem Area - Fish River Canyon. If you thought Sesriem Canyon was impressive, you're in for a treat today! It's a long drive south through desert scenery to reach Fish River Canyon, second only in size to the Grand Canyon in the USA. More than 500 metres deep and sc...
Fish River Canyon - Gariep (Orange) River. Travelling south we reach the Orange River, also known as the Gariep. For much of its length, the Orange River marks the border between Namibia and South Africa. Our accommodation is located on the Namibian side, and there is an optional canoe safari for those who want to see some of the surrounding scenery.
Gariep (Orange) River - Cederberg Region (South Africa). Crossing the border this morning we enter the seventh and final country of our adventure: South Africa. Driving south through the Namaqualand region, we will be treated to the sight of beautiful wildflowers if t...
Cederberg Region - Cape Town. Today we complete our eight-week journey to Cape Town, South Africa's 'Mother City', where our tour comes to an end. Home to Table Mountain, the V&A Waterfront, and some of the world's most spectacular scenery, we strongly recommend booking post-tour accommodation to further explore this iconic city. We can arrange this accommodation for you.
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Logistics
What's excluded
- International flights and visas
- Non refundable Gorilla & Chimpanzee Permit: USD $995pp (or equivalent in your currency) - pay at time of booking in addition to the deposit
- Airport transfers - can be booked on request
- Tipping - an entirely personal gesture
- Optional activities (prices listed in Trip Notes)
- Local payment - US$1415pp, paid on arrival in USD
Accommodation
18 and over. From departures starting in Jan 2026, the minimum age will be changing to 16 if accompanied an adult or legal guardian. Anyone over 65 to complete a Tour Suitability Form.Maximum age 75.
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