Great African Expedition Northbound - 56 days

56 days
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CAMPING SAFARI: Embark on a 56-day overland safari, travelling north through eight countries, from Cape Town to Nairobi. Encounter incredible wildlife on safari in some of Africa's best game reserves, including Etosha, Chobe, the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. Scale Namib Desert dunes and glide through the Okavango Delta in mokoro canoes. Experience Victori...
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Overview

Trip type
Operator does not provide
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Highlights

    • South Africa - Set off from Cape Town and enjoy optional wine tasting in the Cederberg region
    • Namibia - Take in Fish River Canyon, climb Dune 45 in the Namib Desert, game drive in Etosha National Park and explore Windhoek
    • Botswana - Enjoy an overnight excursion into the Okavango Delta, cruise the Chobe River and head on safari in Chobe National Park
    • Zambia - See mighty Victoria Falls, search for wildlife in South Luangwa National Park and stop in the border town of Chipata
    • Malawi - Explore several different points along the shore of Lake Malawi, which covers 20% of the country. Relax on beautiful sandy beaches, swim in the clear blue waters, visit local villages and enjoy optional activities
    • Zanzibar - Spend four nights on tropical Zanzibar Island, exploring historic Stone Town and soaking up some sun on the northern beaches
    • Tanzania - Visit the coastal cities of Dar es Salaam and Bagamoyo, and discover the wildlife of Mikumi National Park, the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater
    • Kenya - Pose for photos at the Equator in Eldoret, spot wildlife on a game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park
    • 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

What's this trip about?

    CAMPING SAFARI: Embark on a 56-day overland safari, travelling north through eight countries, from Cape Town to Nairobi. Encounter incredible wildlife on safari in some of Africa's best game reserves, including Etosha, Chobe, the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. Scale Namib Desert dunes and glide through the Okavango Delta in mokoro canoes. Experience Victoria Falls, swim in Lake Malawi and unwind on a three-day Zanzibar beach break. End your adventure with an unforgettable gorilla trek in Uganda's Bwindi National Park.

Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeSmall Group - max of 16 people
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportAll internal ground transport included
Start CityCape Town
End CityEldoret

Destinations

Attractions

  • Arusha
  • Cape Town
  • Chobe National Park
  • Dar es Salaam
  • Etosha National Park
  • Kampala
  • Lake Malawi
  • Livingstone
  • Lusaka
  • Maun
  • Nairobi
  • Ngorongoro Crater
  • Okavango Delta
  • Queen Elizabeth National Park
  • Serengeti National Park
  • South Luangwa National Park
  • Windhoek
  • Zanzibar

Min Group Size

  • Min Group Size: 16

Max Group Size

  • Max Group Size: 16

Trip includes

    • 55 breakfasts, 45 lunches & 43 dinners
    • 48 nights camping in 2-person dome tents, 2 nights in dorm accommodation in Swakopmund, 1 night permanent tented camp in the Okavango Delta & 4 nights simple twin share accommodation in Zanzibar (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
    • Cape Town Township Tour
    • Sesriem & Fish River Canyon visit
    • Sossusvlei shuttle, guided walk and Dune 45 excursion
    • Spitzkoppe excursion to see Bushmen paintings
    • Etosha National Park game drives
    • Kalahari Bushman Walk
    • Okavango Delta excursion including mokoro and walking safari
    • Chobe River boat cruise and Chobe National Park game drive in a purpose-built safari vehicle with a resident guide
    • Mosi Oa Tunya National Park, Victoria Falls visit
    • South Luangwa National Park game drive in a purpose-built safari vehicle with a resident guide
    • Zanzibar return ferry ticket
    • Maasai Village Walk with a resident guide
    • Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater excursion in a purpose built safari vehicle and game drives with a resident guide
    • Lake Nakuru National Park game drive in specialized safari vehicles
    • Queen Elizabeth National Park 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)
    • Sleeping mattress (you will need to bring your own sleeping bag)
    • All road tolls and vehicle taxes

Itinerary

Travel Map

Day : 1 Cape Town

Cape Town - Cederberg. Our African adventure begins today with a tour of the Cape Flats, to the east of the city. Visiting a local township, we'll meet local people and discover some of the community projects in the area. Then it's time to climb aboard our overland tr...

Day : 2 Orange River

Cederberg - Orange River (Namibia). Continuing north, we pass through drier, rockier territory until we reach the Namibian border, crossing at Vioolsdrift. Tonight's campsite is beside the Gariep (AKA Orange) River, which marks the border between South Africa and Nami...

Day : 3 Fish River Canyon

Orange River - Fish River Canyon. There is time for the optional canoe safari this morning, if we didn't have time yesterday. Then we drive north to Fish River Canyon, second only in size to the Grand Canyon in the USA. More than 500 metres deep and scarring the land ...

Day : 4 Namib Naukluft National Park

Fish River Canyon - Namib-Naukluft National Park. We have a long drive today as we journey to the edge of Namib-Naukluft National Park, which protects great swathes of the Namib Desert and the Naukluft mountains. We'll camp on the edge of the park, ready to explore tomorrow.

Day : 5 Namib Naukluft National Park

Namib-Naukluft National Park - Solitaire. It's time to explore the Namib Desert! Our first stop is mighty Dune 45, one of the tallest sand dunes in the region. It's a dazzling sight, and the reward for climbing to the top is incredible views over the surrounding area....

Day : 6-7 Swakopmund

Solitaire - Swakopmund. On day 6 we drive to Swakopmund, a German colonial town located on Namibia's famous Skeleton Coast. We'll be staying in simple dormitory accommodation in Swakopmund, rather than camping. The rest of day 6 and the following day are free for y...

Day : 8 Spitzkoppe

Swakopmund - Spitzkoppe. Leaving coastal Swakopmund, we head into the Damaraland region and our destination - Spitzkoppe. At this mountain peak, you can see incredibly well-preserved bushmen paintings and spectacular rock formations reaching 1800 metres above sea leve...

Day : 9-10 Etosha National Park

Spitzkoppe - 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....

Day : 11 Windhoek

Etosha National Park - 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 is locat...

Day : 12 Gobabis

Windhoek - Gobabis. Say goodbye to Windhoek as we travel east to the city of Gobabis, near the Botswanan border. Today we meet some of the local San Bushmen. The San culture is one of the oldest surviving cultures in Southern Africa and we'll enjoy a bush walk and lea...

Day : 13 Maun

Gobabis - Maun (Botswana). Today sees us travelling to Maun in Botswana, 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 15 instead.

Day : 14-15 Okavango Delta

Maun - Okavango Delta - Maun. On day 14 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...

Day : 16 Nata Region

Maun - Nata region. Today's drive takes us through a wildlife corridor between the desolate Nxai and Magkadigkadi pans. We'll stop en route to admire some of the region's towering baobab trees and arrive at our unfenced campsite in the afternoon. If you're lucky, you could see all sorts of wildlife, including elephants and antelope, come right up to camp.

Day : 17 Chobe National Park

Nata Region - Kasane. We make the journey to Kasane in Botswana's north. Kasane is the gateway to Chobe National Park and we'll enjoy a cruise on the Chobe River today. Chobe is home to huge herds of elephants, which we may be able to see down at the water's edge. Other species to look out for include hippo, crocodiles, buffalo and the rare African fish eagle.

Day : 18 Chobe National Park

Kasane - Chobe National Park - Livingstone (Zambia). This morning we transfer to specialized safari vehicles for a game drive in Chobe National Park, which is home to all of the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, buffalo), although rhinos are very rare here. ...

Day : 19-20 Livingstone

The next two days are completely free for you to explore Livingstone and join some of the optional activities available. Abseiling, bungee jumping, scenic flights over Victoria Falls, rafting on the Zambezi River and fishing trips are just some of the options - see th...

Day : 21 Lusaka

Livingstone - Lusaka. After a relaxing break in Livingstone, we get back on the road today, crossing Zambia to reach Lusaka, the country's rapidly growing capital city. The city is something of a hub in southern Africa, with four main highways running in all direction...

Day : 22 The Great East Road

Lusaka - Petauke. Leaving early this morning, we take the Great East Road, linking Zambia with neighbouring Malawi. We drive through lush countryside and small villages, crossing the Luangwa River before reaching our accommodation situated 5km from Petauke.

Day : 23 South Luangwa National Park

Petauke - South Luangwa National Park. We make our way to South Luangwa National Park today. This is Zambia's premier wildlife destination, home to elephants, lions, leopards, giraffes, and more than 400 bird species. After setting up camp, there is free time to embark on optional game walks or game drives.

Day : 24 South Luangwa NP game drive

South Luangwa National Park - Chipata. This morning we embark on an open vehicle game drive in South Luangwa National Park, with a local ranger. The concentration of animals around the Luangwa River and its oxbow lagoons, is among the most intense in Africa. There are...

Day : 25-26 Lake Malawi

South Luangwa National Park - Kande Beach, Lake Malawi (Malawi). Leaving Zambia behind, we cross into Malawi and head to the shore of Lake Malawi, which covers more than one-fifth of the entire country. Our campsite is right on the shore of the lake, and you'll have t...

Day : 27 Lake Malawi

Kande Beach - Chitimba Beach, Lake Malawi. This morning we take a scenic drive through rubber plantations to the town of Mzuzu, where we pick up some supplies and visit the market before travelling on to our beach-side camp at Chitimba Beach. Spend the afternoon at leisure. Relax by the beach, play volleyball or browse the local craft markets.

Day : 28 Iringa

Chitimba Beach, Lake Malawi - Iringa (Tanzania). Today we have a long but scenic drive as we cross into Tanzania. Climbing through the Southern Highlands, we arrive at Kisolanza Farmhouse, a family-run working farm in a spectacular location. 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.

Day : 29 Mikumi

Iringa - Mikumi National Park area. Heading east, we travel to Mikumi National Park, the fifth-largest reserve in Tanzania. Our campsite is located on the very edge of the park, and we'll enjoy an evening around the campfire. If time permits you can book an optional game drive to see some of the resident wildlife, including lion, buffalo, elephant, hippo and crocodile.

Day : 30 Mikumi

Mikumi National Park area - Dar es Salaam. Our journey to the Indian Ocean coast city of Dar es Salaam takes us through the heart of Mikumi National Park. We will probably see some wildlife on this drive, and will stop if we see anything of note, such as forest elepha...

Day : 31-34 Zanzibar

Dar es Salaam - Zanzibar. On the morning of day 31, we take the ferry to Zanzibar, leaving our overland truck on the mainland. Evocative and exotic, Zanzibar conjures up images of idyllic, sandy, palm-fringed beaches, romantic winding cobbled alleys, and lush tropical...

Day : 35 Bagamoyo

Zanzibar - Bagamoyo. We have the morning to do any last-minute shopping or enjoy one last swim before catching the ferry back to the African mainland, Dar es Salaam and onwards to Bagamoyo for the evening. The quaint town of Bagamoyo was founded at the end of the 18th...

Day : 36 Mount Kilimanjaro

Bagamoyo - Marangu. Departing early from Bagamoyo, we head north past the Usambara and Pare Mountains in the Eastern Arc Mountain Range to Marangu, nestled at the base of the famed Kilimanjaro. If the weather is clear you will be able to enjoy magnificent views of the mountain from our campsite and the surrounding area.

Day : 37 Arusha

Marangu - Arusha. This morning we drive past the town of Moshi to Arusha, Tanzania's safari capital and our base for exploring the Serengeti and famed Ngorongoro Crater. With time to explore the town we head out to our camp just outside the city at the edge of the Mas...

Day : 38 Serengeti National Park

Arusha - Serengeti National Park. Today we embark on our excursion to the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. Leaving our overland truck behind we transfer to designated safari vehicles. Entering the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, we drive around the rim of the crater and...

Day : 39-40 Ngorongoro Crater

Serengeti National Park - Ngorongoro Crater - Arusha. Game driving out of the Serengeti on day 39, we can search for any species we have not managed to spot so far. We travel back to the Ngorongoro Crater, camping on the rim of this UNESCO-listed natural caldera, one ...

Day : 41 Nairobi

Arusha - Nairobi (Kenya). After a last night in Tanzania, we make our way across the Masai Steppe to the Kenyan frontier. Completing formalities at Namanga border post, we drive the last stretch of road to Nairobi, Kenya’s capital and to our camp for the evening.

Day : 42 Nairobi

Today offers you the freedom to explore both the city and its surrounding areas. Alternatively, the following optional excursions are available to book locally. Enjoy close encounters at the the Daphne Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage and the Giraffe Centre, or discover ...

Day : 43 Nairobi

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...

Day : 44 Lake Nakuru

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...

Day : 45 Eldoret

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. Our campsite tonight is in the country's capital, Kampala.

Day : 46 Kampala

Kampala - Queen Elizabeth National Park. Departing Kampala, we cross the Equator again and pass through fertile green hills, tangled forests and rugged mountain ranges to the edge of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Originally Named Kazinga National Park on its inceptio...

Day : 47 Queen Elizabeth National Park

Today we are heading into Queen Elizabeth National Park, admiring the mountain views and stopping whenever we see something of interest. As well as the charismatic larger animals, the reserve is home to more than 500 bird species. Reaching Kyambura Gorge we head out o...

Day : 48-50 Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park - Lake Bunyonyi. On day 48 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 int...

Day : 51 Lake Bunyonyi

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.

Day : 52 Kampala

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...

Day : 53-54 Jinja

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!

Day : 55 Jinja

Jinja - Eldoret (Kenya). Say goodbye to Jinja as we cross the border back into Kenya and return to Eldoret. Our final evening is spent around the campfire, sharing our favourite memories from the last two weeks, and exchanging contact details with the rest of the group!

Day : 56 Eldoret

Eldoret - Nairobi. We complete our drive south through Kenya, arriving back in Nairobi in the late afternoon. Here our tour arrangements come to an end.

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Dates & Availability

Price From $6,855
Price per day$122
Last Updated: 1/6/2025
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Departures are guaranteed to operate when there are 6 persons booked on the tour. 'Twin' prices are per person when there are 2 people on the same booking sharing a tent. 'Shared' prices are applicable to solo travellers, who will share a tent with another traveller of the same sex.

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with On The Go Tours.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Logistics

What's excluded

    • Non refundable Gorilla & Chimpanzee Permit: USD $935pp (or equivalent in your currency) - pay at time of booking in addition to the deposit
    • International flights and visas
    • Airport transfers - can be booked on request
    • Tipping - an entirely personal gesture
    • Sleeping bag - please bring your own
    • Optional activities (prices listed in Trip Notes)
    • Local payment - US$1500pp, paid on arrival in USD

Accommodation

Camping
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Age Requirements
No age restrictions
18 and over. Anyone over 65 to complete a Tour Suitability Form.Maximum age 75.
Additional Information
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Trip ID
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