31 Day South East Overland Adventure - Nairobi to Johannesburg
Highlights of the South East Overland Adventure include: Big 5 Safari's in the Masai Mara and Serengeti. Game drive the famous Ngorongoro Crater - a 2 million year old Volcano explosion. Mix with the robed Masai tribesmen. Spice Tours and bright coral reefs on the tropical Island of Zanzibar. Snorkel the fresh waters of Lake Malawi. Spectacular Victoria Falls and action packed activities in Livingstone. Sunset cruise and sundowners on the Chobe River. Big 5 game safaris in Kruger National Park.
Itinerary
DAYS 1 to 8: Masai Mara, Serengeti Plains, Arusha
From Nairobi we cross the Great Rift Valley and enter the Masai Mara Game Reserve, Kenya's premier safari destination. Our camp beside the park gives us perfect access to afternoon and morning game drives in pursuit of the 'Big Five' and other fantastic wildlife. Situated in the heart of Masailand, we may also see Masai villages and red-robed Masai herdsmen in and around the reserve.
From the 'Mara', we briefly head back to Nairobi before crossing the border into Tanzania, to arrive in Arusha. At the Meserani Snake Park just outside Arusha, view a full range of African reptiles and take a guided walk to a local Masai village. Transfer to 4x4 vehicles for a 3-day excursion to the Serengeti National Park, Olduvai Gorge and the Ngorongoro Crater. Seeing the views of the crater from the top, camping out in the bush in the middle of the Serengeti and listening to the sounds of the African night, are all memorable experiences. We return to Arusha to explore the markets before continuing to the Indian Ocean coast.
DAYS 9 to 14: Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar, Malawi
We rejoin our truck in Arusha and drive in the shadow of Mt. Kilimanjaro, across vast tracts of savannah to the port city of Dar es Salaam. A ferry transports us to Zanzibar to explore tone Town's intriguing alleyways and spice markets, ancient architecture and fabulous seafood. Meanwhile on the northern beaches white sands, leaning palms and coral-filled waters offer perfect east coast relaxation. Back on the mainland, we leave the coast and drive via Mikumi National Park into Malawi.
DAYS 15 to 21: Lake Malawi, Lusaka
Malawi is one of the friendliest countries on tour and home to the third-largest fresh water lake on the continent with over 600 different species of endemic fish. We follow the shore of Lake Malawi and stop at beachside camps along the way. At Kande Beach try scuba diving, snorkelling, sailing and horseback riding. We also take part in a guided village walk. Leaving the lake we enter Zambia, and stop near its capital, Lusaka.
DAYS 22 to 24: Victoria Falls, Livingstone
Livingstone, close to Victoria Falls, is our base for the next few days. This is Africa's adrenaline capital - try white water rafting, jetboating, gorge-swinging, canoeing or even bungy jumping! Alternatively, enjoy elephant back and walking safaris, or simply relax at our riverside campsite. We view the thunderous Victoria Falls from Mosi-Oa- Tunya ('Smoke That Thunders') National Park and then have time in Livingstone at our leisure.
DAYS 25 to 31: Chobe, Kruger National Park
From Livingstone we cross into Botswana to the town of Kasane near Chobe National Park. Here you may like to enjoy an afternoon on the Chobe River on the relaxing Fish Eagle Cruise. We move south, via Nata and Francistown, to South Africa and the famous Kruger National Park. Grab your a final opportunity to see the 'Big Five' in South Africa's largest and best-loved wildlife reserve. Finally, we travel via the scenic escarpments of the Mpumalanga province to Johannesburg, here the tour ends.
