57 days
   

The Kenya to Capetown tour is designed to run after our 15 day Gorilla Safari making an 10 week trip that doesn't overlap routes.

ITINERARY - APPROX. DAYS

1-7: Camping on the shores of Lake Naivasha in the Rift Valley, hippos often wander through in the evenings and black and white Colobus monkeys come by in the early morning. Our days are spent visiting Elsamere the former home of Joy Adamson; mountain biking in Hells Gate National Park and exploring the Green Crater Lake or Crescent Island. We then head west and spend two nights in the Masai Mara National Reserve where great game viewing is assured all year round, the Mara offers us everything, amazing scenery and abundant wildlife including the ‘big five’. From here we return to Nairobi with the chance to feast at the renowned Carnivores Game Restaurant.

8-17: On leaving Nairobi we travel south across the Athi Plains to the border town of Namanga. Crossing into Tanzania we continue through Masai country to Arusha at the foot of Mount Meru. Arusha is the safari capital of Tanzania, from here can visit world famous Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater. Our next stop is Dar es Salaam, from where you can take a ferry crossing to the historic island of Zanzibar. Known as the spice island, Zanzibar is the world's largest producer of cloves and previously one of the largest slaving ports in Africa. Narrow winding streets, intricately carved doors, mosques and bazaars all attest to the Arab influence on Zanzibar's history. A chance to relax on uncrowded palm fringed beaches, sample cheap fresh seafood, then all too soon back on the road again .

18-25: Passing through the Mikumi National Park we continue south to Malawi. Known as the "Warm heart of Africa" the Malawi people are definitely some of the most hospitable and friendly people you will encounter on this expedition. This combined with the spectacular scenery and the clear waters of Lake Malawi makes for a great visit. You can snorkel in the warm waters of Lake Malawi - the world's first fresh water marine national park was established here. Sailing, canoeing, horse riding and diving are all on hand. There are loads of cheap stalls along the road to Blantyre, selling beautifully carved tables, kings chairs, statues and bowls, all carved by people from the local communities sustainable forests.


Hippo pond 26-35: Reluctantly leaving Malawi we pass through Mozambique to Zimbabwe’s capital Harare. At Gweru’s Antelope Park you can play with lion cubs, swim with elephants and ride on horseback amongst game. We visit Chipangali Animal Orphanage near Bulawayo, and you can visit Matopos National Park with its massive granite rock formations. Sit at the "View of the World" grave of Cecil Rhodes founder of the state of Rhodesia, and approach wild white rhino on foot.

Next is Victoria Falls. Doctor Livingstone was the first European to see these spectacular falls. A mile wide and 360ft deep, no camera can capture the thundering power of "Mosi-o-Tunya” or the smoke that thunders. We spend several days around the falls, where you can white water raft, gorge swing, visit the crocodile farm, fly over the falls, sunset cruise on the Zambezi, go jet boating, skydiving and bungee jumping.

36-42: From Victoria Falls we cross into Botswana and Kasane from where you can discover Chobe National Park with an elephant population estimated at around 120,000. Take in the park from a sunset boat cruise on the Chobe River or from the comfort of a game-driving vehicle. Our journey takes us along the edge of the Kalahari Desert to Maun where you will have the opportunity to visit the Okavango Delta, the largest inland delta in the world. Known as "The Last Eden" an ideal way to explore this fascinating wetland is by "Mokoro" (dugout canoe). We transit into South Africa where the trip comes to an end in Johannesburg. Go on a mine tour, a Soweto tour and hang out in the biggest and most modern city in southern Africa.
G'Day!

43-52: Leaving the lush Delta behind we enter Namibia. The dirt road takes us along the edge of Mahango Game Park and on to Rundu.  Here we spend the night on the banks of the Kavango River, a picturesque divide from the shores of Angola.

Next stop is Etosha Pan National Park. Thousands of years ago this vast saltpan was a lake, until the Kunene river changed its course and deprived the lake of its water source. Now the pan and surrounding bush support large numbers and a wide range of wildlife. We spend a couple of day's game viewing from the truck during the day and spend the evenings around the floodlit water holes at the park's campsites. These water holes provide an excellent opportunity to observe animals that are hard to find during the day, particularly rhino and also smaller animals such as the genet. Elephant, lion, giraffe, zebra, oryx, ostrich, springbok, jackals, hyenas and meercats are also likely to be seen at Etosha.

From wild animals to tame ones, we spend a night at the Cheetah Farm where you can scratch the big cats behind the ears before watching them tuck in to their evening meal.

Namibia is a land of wide open spaces and we pass few inhabited areas as we drive towards the Atlantic Ocean and the Skeleton Coast. We stop at Cape Cross where the first European explorer landed in the 15th century. It is now more famous for the Seal Reserve, a breeding ground for thousands of cape fur seals. They occupy the beaches almost as far as the eye can see and you can watch them suckling their young, resting in the sun and fighting with their neighbours.

We arrive in Swakopmund, an old German colonial seaside resort with plenty of things to do for the energetic and plenty of beerkellers for those after a more relaxing time. Quadbiking or sand boarding on the dunes, deep sea fishing in the Atlantic or scenic flights over the coastline - these are just a few of the activities on offer.

Heading inland, we journey to the Namib Desert, famous for its 300 metre high sand dunes, the highest in the world. It can be hard work climbing to the top but the view is worth all the effort as the dunes stretch before you into the distance and change colour in the rising sun.

We drive south to Fish River Canyon, at 85km long and 400m deep it's second in size only to the Grand Canyon.

52 - 57: Crossing the Orange River which forms the border with South Africa you have the chance to spend a day canoeing downstream. We drive south through mountain valleys and stony semi-desert before arriving in Stellenbosch, the centre of one of the Cape's many wine routes.

We arrive at our journey's end. Cape Town on the last day of the tour. Nestled at the foot of Table Mountain you'll find plenty of café's, pubs, clubs, markets and sights to see. Visit Robbin Island, go shark diving, or cable car to the top the mountain for some wonderful views of the city and the Cape Peninsula.

For our extended trip information click here
Optional prices click here

10/10/05 04/12/05
07/11/05 01/01/06
05/12/05 29/01/06
02/01/06 26/02/06
30/01/06 26/03/06
27/02/06 23/04/06
27/03/06 21/05/06
24/04/06 18/06/06
22/05/06 16/07/06
19/06/06 13/08/06
17/07/06 10/09/06
14/08/06 08/10/06
11/09/06 05/11/06
09/10/06 03/12/06
06/11/06 31/12/06
04/12/06 28/01/07
01/01/07 25/02/07
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