Cape Town to Zanzibar

33 DAYS - camping

The Cape to Malawi is the perfect version of the longer Cape to Kenya tour for those who want to spend either a lot or no time on Zanzibar. Covering six countries and unforgettable features like the Botswana: Okavango Delta - Zimbabwe: Victoria Falls and Malawi: Lake Malawi, it will ensure that your African vacation is an epic adventure of a lifetime.

Day 1 South Africa – Cederberg Mountain Region
Leaving Cape Town we make our first stop at Table View and take photos of Table Mountain from across Table Bay. This spot is the most popular angle for Table Mountain photos! We then travel to the Cederberg region for a guided walk after setting up camp. Your guide will give a full briefing on the tour.
Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Day 2 Namaqualand – Gariep (Orange) River
An early start, then we head north via the distant town of Springbok, best known for its diamonds, copper and spring flowers. We then proceed to our camp located right beside the Namibian border. The camp is situated on the riverbank that forms the border between South Africa and Namibia.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3 Namibia – Gariep (Orange) River - Fish River Canyon
This morning there’s the chance to see the beautiful river valley by canoe or just relax at camp. After lunch we cross the border and travel to the Fish River Canyon. After a scenic walk along the edge of the canyon we enjoy our dinner while watching the sunset. This is also a fantastic photo opportunity. Optional Activities: Half-Day Canoe Adventure.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4 Namib-Naukluft National Park
We arrive at the Namib-Naukluft National Park and set up camp, then enjoy a short hike into the Sesriem Canyon. Tonight enjoy the star-studded sky and enduring silence of the Namib Desert, only occasionally interrupted by the call of a Jackal or, a rather unique lizard, the barking gecko!
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5 Sossusvlei Dunes - Namib-Naukluft National Park
This is our earliest morning as we prepare for our hike up Dune 45 to marvel at the sunrise. Later, we join a local expert on a guided hike of the unique desert ecosystem and learn how the bushmen survived in the harsh desert conditions.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6 Swakopmund
After a brief photo stop while crossing the Tropic of Capricorn, we travel onto Namibia’s Atlantic coast and the adventure capital, Swakopmund. Often there are flamingos at the Walvis Bay lagoon, just before we arrive in Swakopmund. You will be briefed on the many optional activities available here. Optional Activities: Dinner out
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 7 Swakopmund
The whole day is free to relax, explore or partake in one of the many activities available here. Most popular are Quadbking in the Dunes or Tandem Skydiving. On a clear day’s skydiving you can see all the way to the next day’s destination! Taking a walk around Swakopmund’s shops and having a leisurely lunch is also a great way to spend your day. Optional Activities: Quad biking, Sand boarding, Sky Diving, Dolphin Cruise, Scenic Flights, Fishing, Dinner out etc.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 8 Spitzkoppe
Leaving the coast we drive through arid landscapes to Spitzkoppe Mountain. The enormous limestone monoliths dominate the otherwise flat landscape and we set up camp in the wild plain at the base. This afternoon there is an included walk to explore the unique rock formations and san rock art.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9 Himba Tribes
After some early morning exploration we continue north and drive towards Kamanjab. Today we have the chance to experience life within a Himba tribe. The Himba are a pastoral people and predominantly breed cattle or goats. They are easily recognisable by their unique style of dress.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 10/11 Etosha National Park
Etosha is the venue for some of the most unique game viewing experiences in Africa. The sparse grasslands allow great opportunities to see animals normally hidden in dense vegetation. You may even see some of the amazing animals crossing the road in front of your truck! We will go on various game drives, and spend our evenings at the abundant water holes for some excellent game photography. Optional Activities: Night or Dawn Drives in safari vehicles
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 12 Windhoek
After an early morning game drive we set off towards Windhoek, the Capital city of Namibia. On the way we stop at a popular craft market where you can barter for handmade gifts to take home. We take a short tour of Windhoek, not only the capital, it is also the cultural, social and economic centre of the Namibia. Optional Activities: Dinner out.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 13 Botswana - Ghanzi
An early start, then we cross into Botswana and drive to Ghanzi. After setting up camp we meet with a local Bushman (San) community and experience some traditional tribal dancing.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 14 Maun
Our journey takes us from Ghanzi towards Maun. Maun is the gateway to the Okavango Delta and this afternoon we will prepare for this excursion, packing small 2-night bags. Optional Activity: Crocodile Farm visit
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 15/16 Maun – Okavango Delta
This morning we board the big 4x4 truck that will take us in to the Delta, in high-water season it is sometimes necessary to take a boat to the poling station where we meet up with the members of a local community who will be showing us their homeland. We spend 2-night bush camping in the wilderness and, if the water level allows, we will take a mokoro (traditional canoe) trip through the waterways. We will also be going on some nature walks in the hope of seeing some wild animals in their natural habitat. Optional Activity: Scenic flight over the Delta (time allowing)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 17 Gweta
We leave the Delta behind us and travel east to Planet Baobab. You can explore the bush around our campsite, lounge by the pool and view some of the region’s oldest Baobab trees.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 18 Botswana - Chobe National Park
We travel to Chobe and this afternoon we take an included sunset river cruise, as the animals are best spotted from the Chobe River. Elephants, Hippo, Crocodiles, Eland and many other creatures reside in Chobe so keep your cameras ready.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 19/20/21 Zimbabwe - Victoria Falls
On arrival in Victoria Falls we have time to plan the next day’s adventure activities before we visit the spectacular Victoria Falls and experience the thundering of the mighty Zambezi. Optional Activities: Chobe morning game drive, Sunset Cruise, Dinner out, White Water Rafting, Bungee Jump, Elephant Excursion, Walking with Lions, Horse Riding and much more...
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch day 19 only

Day 22 Lusaka
Leaving behind the natural wonder of Victoria Falls we continue our expedition. After Livingstone we journey towards the bustling Zambian capital of Lusaka. You will notice the vegetation becoming sub-tropical and the roads a little rougher.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 23 Chipata
Today is a long drive through lush country, crossing rivers en-route to Chipata, the gateway to the South Luangwa NP. Zambia is truly African and an adjustment from the more Western ways of Southern Africa.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 24 South Luangwa National Park
Early in the morning we drive from Chipata to the border of the South Luangwa National Park where we spend the next two nights right on the banks of the Luangwa River. You can often see hippos and other animals from the camp bar. This afternoon we enjoy an included sunset game drive in the South Luangwa NP.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 25 South Luangwa National Park
In the morning you have the opportunity to take another game drive, the park is known for its high concentration of leopards and hippos. After lunch we visit the community run tribal textile project and a local village. Optional Activities: Morning Game Drive and Game Walk.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 26/27 Malawi – Lake Malawi National Park
Today we enter Malawi and after a short stop in Lilongwe we travel south to Monkey Bay in the Lake Malawi National Park. This area has been designated a World Heritage site and the protected area has an abundance of aquatic life in clear, warm water. Snorkelling and scuba diving are both excellent here.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 28/29 Kande Beach
We take a scenic drive to Kande beach where there are many optional activities available such as horse riding and different water sports. On our second day here we have an included guided village walk in order to meet the local people and learn more about Malawian life. Optional Activities: Water Sports, Horse Riding, Craft Shopping etc.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 30/31 Northern Lake Malawi - Chitimba
We travel further north and spend our last 2 days in Malawi at Chitimba beach. For those that have had enough of beautiful lake views there is an overnight hike to the Livingstonia Mission Station in the highland area. This working mission was set up by Scottish Presbyterian followers of David Livingstone in 1894 and is 900m above the lake. There is also a shorter hike to the Manchawe Falls. Optional Activities: Hike to Livingstonia Mission, watersports, abseiling etc.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 32 Tanzania – Iringa
Today we leave Malawi and enter Tanzania. We ascend out of the Great Rift Valley through some spectacular mountain passes, passing vast tea plantations in the highlands before arriving at our camp outside Iringa. This evening our dinner is in a local Masai Hut where we enjoy a traditional Tanzanian evening.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 33 Dar es salaam
Our journey today brings us out of the cool highland region of Iringa to the humid Indian Ocean coastal city of Dar es Salaam. Meaning ‘house of peace’ in Arabic, Dar es Salaam is the economic and trade capital of Tanzania, but inland Dodoma remains the official capital city. Upon arrival in Dar es Salaam our journey comes to an end.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch