Cape to Kenya

Have the experience of your life exploring Africa!

Get under the skin of Africa on this overland adventure. Starting in Cape Town, visit the new Garden Route National Park and the beautiful Tsistikamma wilderness then Addo Elephant National Park with its large population of elephants. Take in Southern Africa’s most famous wildlife reserves, such as Kruger, Chobe, and Serengeti National Parks which offer opportunities to see the Big 5, while Victoria Falls and Zanzibar Island are stand-out highlights of the tour.

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Itinerary / Highlights

Day 1 to 1 - Arrive Cape Town
The first day of your tour is simply an arrival day with no pre-organised activities. In order to allow time to relax and see some of the sights you may wish to add pre tour accommodation. On arrival please ask at the reception for information on when the pre departure meeting will be held.

Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa and the so-called 'mother city' of the 'rainbow nation'. Situated on the south western tip of Africa and set between the Atlantic Ocean and the iconic Table Mountain, Cape Town is recognised as one of the most beautiful cities on Earth.

There are several amazing sightseeing opportunities to enjoy in Cape Town. You can tackle a trek up Table Mountain or take the cable car to the top for spectacular views of the city. If you have a good head for heights you can enjoy the scenery looking over Camps Bay then rather than taking the cable car, abseil 112 metres down again, but obviously this option is not one for the faint hearted!

The V&A (Victoria & Albert) Waterfront is the very epitome of African chic and offers a unique shopping and entertainment environment where you can soak up the cosmopolitan vibe of the city. There are around 400 stores with everything from designer fashion to contemporary African handcrafts plus about 80 bars and restaurants. Be sure to sample some of South Africa's famous wines with dinner and sit back with a hot cup of rooibos herbal tea afterwards.

A must-see during your stay in Cape Town is Robben Island where former South African President and Nobel Laureate Nelson Mandela was incarcerated among other political prisoners. Once a blight on the nation's history, the island is now seen as a national symbol of triumph over adversity and has been recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

Just 60 kilometres away from the centre of Cape Town you can visit Cape Point, which is part of the Table Mountain National Park. The peninsula is a largely unspoilt wilderness and home to several species of antelope, including the eland, as well as many beautiful plants species. There are two lighthouses on Cape Point which can be reached by a funicular known affectionately as the Flying Dutchman.

Day 2 to 5 - Oudtshoorn – Tsitsikamma – Addo Elephant National Park – Hogsback
Enjoy the views as we hit the road and head out along the Garden Route to Oudtshoorn, known as the ostrich capital of South Africa, where you will have the opportunity to visit one of the area's many ostrich farms. We will also have time to discover the spectacular limestone formations of the famous Cango Caves. Also known as Klein Karoo, the caves are a network of tunnels and chambers under a limestone ridge in the foothills of the Swartberg Mountains. Inside the Cango Caves you will find the finest dripstone caverns, with vast halls decorated by magnificent stalactites hanging from the ceiling and columns of stalagmites growing from the floor. In the evening you can try the local ostrich cooked on the 'braai', otherwise known as a barbeque.

Tsitsikamma National Park, located within the Garden Route National Park, is situated on the hilltop overlooking the point where the Storms River and Indian Ocean meet in a turbulent crashing of surf. The park encompasses a marine reserve made up of 80 kilometres of coastline, including scenic walks, a small beach and the famous Storms River suspension bridge which spans the river mouth. The park is known for its abundance of indigenous plants, ancient yellowwood trees and magnificent fynbos plants, as well as prolific birdlife. Keep an eye out for dolphins in the surf and the southern right whale which may be seen migrating along the coastline. You can stretch your legs on a short hike to a viewpoint or a nearby waterfall, so remember to take your swimming suit on a hot day. The area around the park also offers some adrenalin rush activities including the highest bridge bungy jump in the world, mountain biking and blackwater tubing.

Addo Elephant National Park is an elephant reserve situated close to Port Elizabeth in South Africa and features some of the most beautiful dunes on the country's coastline. The original elephant section of the park was designated in 1931, when only eleven elephants remained in the area. Today this finely tuned ecosystem is sanctuary to over 450 elephants, Cape buffalo, endangered black rhino, a variety of antelope species, Burchell's zebra and warthog. Reptiles include lizards, chameleons, geckos, skinks, tortoise and snakes and there are also plenty of frogs and toads. Keep your eyes peeled for the unique flightless dung beetle which is found almost exclusively in Addo and has right of way on the roads, as you will see on signs within the park. Depending on our travel times we should get the chance to do an afternoon and an early morning game drive before heading on.

Located in the Eastern Cape, Hogsback is said to be the inspiration for JRR Tolkein's Mirkwood Forest in The Lord of the Rings. The village of Hogsback sits on the slopes of the Amatole Mountains above the Tyume Valley in a region dominated by three ridges said to resemble the bristles on a hog's back. We have two nights here to explore the surrounding forest where there is a rich variety of birdlife to see. Cape parrot, lourie and eagles are among the birdlife and you may also hear the chattering of samango monkeys in the canopy overhead. Several rivers flow out of the mountains and create small but spectacular waterfalls such as Madonna and Child, Swallowtail and Kettlespout, which are well worth visiting.

Day 6 to 11 - Lesotho – Drakensberg – Johannesburg
Entering the kingdom of Lesotho, we make our way through this mountainous country to Malealea, situated in a remote part of Western Lesotho that is breathtaking in its beauty. This is a chance to experience the traditional Basotho way of life in the 'Kingdom in the Sky', the only country in the world to be entirely 1,000 metres above sea level. No visit to Lesotho would be complete without a pony trek and from our base at the lodge in Malealea there are ample opportunities to explore the landscape on the back of a sturdy pony. There is also the option to walk to get to know the rolling valleys and mountain trails on foot. During your stay you'll no doubt come to understand the resilience and friendliness of the Basotho people and enjoy the tranquillity of their lands.

Although rare, it can snow in these parts and during the winter months it is always cold so please remember to pack your winter best if you're travelling during this season.

It is a long drive today and we will pass through some spectacular mountain scenery. Leaving the lodge we drive through small farm holdings and towns with dramatic peaks in the background. Making our way back into South Africa and into the province of Freestate we drive through the stunning Golden Gate National Park, with its orange and yellow sandstone cliffs and grasses, and the chance to spot eland, zebra and wildebeest. The Drakensberg Park of South Africa, or uKhahlamba (the Barrier of Spears), is a 200 kilometre long mountainous wonderland and World Heritage site. The mountains also form a barrier separating KwaZulu-Natal province and Lesotho. We will have a night camping in this picturesque landscape with the famous Amphitheatre in the distance on our way to Johannesburg.

The dynamic and cosmopolitan city of Johannesburg is the economic and cultural heart of South Africa with a population of about 2.5 million people. Walking down the street you may hear local people speaking any of the 11 official languages of the city. There are many award winning restaurants, open air eateries and trendy bars to choose from, and plenty of nightclubs to enjoy in the evenings. In your free time you can explore diverse and fascinating museums devoted to subjects as diverse as apartheid, Nelson Mandela, gold, beer and traditional African medicine. There are also plenty of other options, including the Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens, or you could meet the healers at the Mai Mai market, or even have a drink in the world's deepest pub located in a mine shaft. You may also choose to visit the Soweto Township on a professional guided tour.

Day 12 to 16 - Hazyview – Kruger National Park – Palapye – Nata
Located just outside the borders of Kruger National Park, Hazyview is a small town in South Africa's Mpumalanga province. We will make our way to Hazyview via the Blyde Dam Loop with a number of scenic wonders such as God's Window, Bourke's Luck Potholes and the world renowned Blyde River Canyon and Three Rondavels, as well as spectacular waterfalls such as Lisbon Falls, Berlyn Falls and Mac Mac Falls.

An early morning start to get to Kruger National Park will see us leave behind the scenic Drakensberg backdrop.

Kruger National Park is South Africa's premier game reserve, regarded as one of the finest in Africa. Here you'll have the chance to experience the vast diversity of wildlife as we explore some of the two million hectares of the park. The 'Big 5' game animals of Africa are richly represented here -lion, leopard, African buffalo, African elephant and the white rhino in large numbers. If you want a real wildlife-spotting challenge, try to identify how many of the 147 mammal species, 507 birds, 116 reptiles, 34 amphibians, 49 types of fish, 457 types of trees and shrubs, 1,500 plants and countless insects you can see in the park.

Polokwane is a major commercial and agricultural hub of the Limpopo region, known for its wide streets, jacaranda and coral trees, colourful parks and sparkling fountains. Impressive art exhibitions and historical buildings can also be found here. The Polokwane countryside is the setting for some of the most prosperous cattle ranches in South Africa. We will rest a night here before continuing onto Botswana.

Nata is a small village at the crossroads for Botswanan routes north and west and will be our stopover point for the night. In the morning we will make our way to the dry savanna of north eastern Botswana where we can find Makgadikgadi Pans National Park which includes a portion of the largest salt flats in the world, the Makgadikgadi Pans. The area was once a superlake covering some 80,000 square kilometres, reaching 30 metres deep. The climate changed and over time the lake dried up, leaving massive salt pans behind. Following the rains which fall mid November to March, the pan fills with a few centimetres of water and becomes an important habitat for migratory wildebeest, springbok, gemsbok and one of Africa's biggest zebra populations, as well as the large predators that prey on them. The wet season also brings migratory birds such as ducks, geese, flamingoes and white pelicans and the pan usually retains its water until April or May. Very little wildlife can exist on the pans during the harsh dry season of June through November, when strong hot winds blow, the pans dry out and the water becomes too salty. Whichever season we travel through this area, the scenery will be spectacular. We then continue on towards Chobe National Park.

Day 17 to 21 - Chobe – Livingstone
As you can never spend too much time here and there is an abundance of wildlife, we return to Botswana's premier game park for your second chance to fill those memory cards with rich game life.

Livingstone is Zambia's adrenaline capital and adventure playground, named after the famous Scottish explorer David Livingstone. Just 10 kilometres south of the pretty colonial town are the Victoria Falls, one of the seven natural wonders of the world. Twice as high as Niagara Falls and several times longer, Victoria Falls are a 1,700 metre-wide water sheet crashing 110 metres into the Zambezi River below. The falls are so impressive that they were known to the local Lozi people as Mosi-oa-Tunya or 'the smoke that thunders'. Even the first European visitor, Scottish explorer David Livingstone wrote "it had never been seen before by European eyes; but scenes so lovely must have been gazed upon by angels in their flight", before he named them in honour of his monarch, Queen Victoria.

One of the most popular adventure activities you can enjoy here is white water rafting on the lower Zambezi River, which has a series of 23 rapids all graded 3 to 5 depending on the time of year and the water level. Please note that this activity is challenging and definitely not for the faint-hearted! Other exciting options include bungy jumping, river boarding, jet boating, canoeing or you can try sitting in the famous Devil's Armchair. You can also take a helicopter ride and admire the raging falls from above.

Please note: All of the activities on the river, including the Devil's Armchair, are subject to the level of the river and may not be available. The Zambezi rafting season is between the beginning of June and the end of January with the best months between August and November. The river usually closes around the end of January or beginning of February and does not reopen until towards the end May.

Day 22 to 25 - Lusaka – Chipata – Kande Beach
We now head north to visit Lusaka, Zambia's bustling capital and largest city. If the opportunity arises, a visit to one of Lusaka's markets is a must. It's an interesting experience and well worth a visit, if just for the colourful and lively atmosphere.

We stop off in Chipata, a busy little town with colourful fruit and vegetable markets and a surprising number of ornate mosques due to its large Indian community before we bid farewell to Zambia and cross the border into Malawi.

Kande Beach is one of the many beautiful beaches situated along Lake Malawi's shoreline. There is a lively atmosphere here and with Kande Beach being one of the big overland havens, you will likely be in for a party or two! You have two full days to enjoy options like diving, snorkelling, windsurfing, kayaking, swimming and horse riding but if you'd prefer to just relax in the sun, the velvety-smooth beach is a perfect spot for sunbathing, munching on mangoes (when they're in season) and soaking up the scenery. You can also visit nearby local villages which are famous for their markets and traditional woodcarvings.

Day 26 to 29 - Chitimba – Iringa – Dar es Salaam
Heading towards the head of Lake Malawi, we travel along the shoreline until we reach our small lakeside camp of Chitimba. Lake Malawi, also known as Lake Nyasa, is a freshwater lake about 560 kilometres long and 75 kilometres wide at its widest point, with a total area of approximately 29,600 square kilometres and covers about 25% of Malawi's land area. From Chitimba you can choose to go on a range of fun optional excursions, such as abseiling and hiking in the mountains in the beautiful area near Livingstonia, and enjoy an included visit to a local village, where you enjoy the friendliness of the people who gave Malawi its reputation as the 'warm heart of Africa'.

Next we take to the open roads for two long driving days -with a relaxing, exotic island break on Zanzibar in sight to get us through! On the road between Iringa and Dar es Salaam, the gateway to Zanzibar Island, we pass through Mikumi National Park where it is possible to see elephant, giraffe, zebra and antelope from the roadside.

Dar es Salaam is a bustling port on the Indian Ocean and our gateway to the exotic island of Zanzibar. There is plenty to see and do in this largest and richest city of Tanzania including the National Museum, Village Museum, and many colourful markets. There are also numerous historical landmarks to see, including St. Joseph's Cathedral, the White Father's Mission House, the Botanical Gardens, and the old State House which make for an interesting walking tour around the waterfront and city centre.

Day 30 to 33 - Zanzibar – Dar es Salaam
The 'Spice Island' of Zanzibar is famous for spices and produce, and supposedly boasts the sweetest pineapple in the world. In the nineteenth century it was one of the most important trading centres in the Indian Ocean region trading cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, and pepper. Zanzibar was also a hub of the African slave trade and later played a key role in its demise. It takes around 2.5 to 3.5 hours to travel to the island, also known as Unguja, by fast ferry, depending on which boat we catch. We will spend our days on Zanzibar Island in Stone Town and also at some of the island's beaches on the northern or eastern side of the island.

Stone Town is the oldest city and cultural heart of Zanzibar. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, little has changed here over the last 200 years. Stone Town boasts a labyrinth of walled streets, winding alleys, bustling mosques and grand Arab architecture. The Old Dispensary, Scottish explorer and abolitionist David Livingstone's house, the Peace Memorial Museum, the Palace Museum and Arab Fort are all worth visiting. You can spend many idle hours simply wandering the streets, shopping at the bazaars and admiring the intriguingly decorated elephant-proof doors before sitting down to watch the sun set over a cold beer and a sumptuous seafood feast. If food is your thing, make sure you also check out the excellent night market which serves traditional local fare. Women should note that Stone Town has a high Muslim population so please remember bring appropriate clothing and cover up.

The most beautiful, isolated beaches in Zanzibar lie to the north and east of the island. Boasting sparkling blue ocean and golden sands fringed with palm trees, these beaches are nothing short of paradise. There are plenty of options available here. Relax and take it easy, indulge with a massage or go diving, snorkelling or swimming with dolphins. After several days in this delightful location we will depart in the morning and head back to Dar es Salaam.

Day 34 to 38 - Arusha – Serengeti National Park (or free time) – Arusha – Nairobi
Arusha is a busy, bustling town with email, coffee shops, banks and many other modern amenities. During your stay you will visit the famous Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Crater . Both excursions are run by local operators in 4WD vehicles.

The Serengeti National Park is one of the most famous wildlife reserves in Africa and is a premier safari destination. If you are lucky enough to be visiting around the time of the largest mammal migration in the world, you'll see over a million-strong herd of wildebeest and about 200,000 zebra thundering down from the northern hills to the southern plains to follow the short African rainy season. Known as the Great Migration, this mass movement of herds takes place every year around July or August. The instinct to move is so strong that no crocodile infested river, gorge or plain can hold them back and it makes for a truly astonishing, magical sight.

Even when the migration is not happening, there are massive numbers of different animals to see. You may spot charismatic predators such as cheetah as well as dramatic birds of prey. Keep your eyes peeled for the 'Big 5', namely lions, leopards, Cape buffaloes, rhinos and elephants as you explore the park. Meanwhile, jackals, foxes, mongoose, snakes, lizards and skinks are also present in impressive numbers. Dung beetles, grasshoppers, ants and butterflies are among the insect species you may see around you.

The Ngorongoro Volcano, before it exploded and collapsed 2 million years ago, was one of the world's tallest mountains. Today, the crater is one of the most stunning natural wonders in the world, approximately 610 metres deep with an enclosed area of about 260 square kilometres and is an important part of the World Heritage-listed Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The sides of the crater are very steep, which creates a natural enclosure for a wide variety of wildlife, although zebra and wildebeest are able to move through it. There is also a dense population of lions in the area, as well as a soda lake inhabited by flamingos and other wading birds. You'll have the opportunity to get very close to the game in the open plains and take excellent photos of the animals in their natural habitat.

Day 39 to 39 - Depart Nairobi
Nairobi takes its name from a small stream known by the Masai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which means "the place of cool waters". The capital and largest city of Kenya, Nairobi was founded in 1899 but the area the city was built on was little more than a swamp land until the East Africa railways built a small camp by the Nairobi River. The town quickly developed into the administrative nerve centre of the Uganda Railway and is now a busy, modern metropolis with a thriving cultural scene.

During your stay in Nairobi you can visit some of the markets -City Market, Village Market, Masai Market (on Tuesdays), perhaps visit the Arboretum, Kenya Railway Museum or Karen Blixen Museum, then take a moment to visit the National Museum. You'll find the city comes to life at night with a lively music scene, while there are many cafés and international restaurants to choose from.

Your adventure of a lifetime comes to an end today, please confirm with the reception the check out time. If you have a late flight or have lengthened your stay by adding post tour accommodation you will have more time to explore the sights.

The itinerary listed above is to be used as a guide only. Occasionally we may need to update this document and it may be different to the information printed in our current brochure. Tour leaders may need to make adjustments due to unforeseen circumstances during the tour. It is very important that you visit our website and review a copy of this dossier as close as possible to your departure date in case of changes that may affect your plans. Any last minute changes may also be posted in the latest news section of our website.

Departure Dates, Options & Prices

Tour Availability

Sun 30 Oct 2011 Wed 07 Dec 2011 USD 3,329.50
Wed 07 Dec 2011 Sat 14 Jan 2012 USD 3,910.00
Wed 11 Jan 2012 Sat 18 Feb 2012 Closed
Wed 15 Feb 2012 Sat 24 Mar 2012 USD 3,910.00
Sun 29 Apr 2012 Wed 06 Jun 2012 USD 3,910.00
Thu 07 Jun 2012 Sun 15 Jul 2012 USD 3,910.00
Mon 16 Jul 2012 Thu 23 Aug 2012 USD 3,910.00
Fri 24 Aug 2012 Mon 01 Oct 2012 USD 3,910.00
Tue 02 Oct 2012 Fri 09 Nov 2012 USD 3,910.00
Sat 10 Nov 2012 Tue 18 Dec 2012 USD 3,910.00
Wed 19 Dec 2012 Sat 26 Jan 2013 USD 3,910.00


Tour Prices

Tour Price Per Person $3,910.00

Discounts

Without Serengeti NP Deduct: $-380.00Without Carbon Offset $-40.00
You can combine any two of the following rewards to get up to 10% off the price of your tour.

5% 3+ Person Offer - 3+ people on same tour $-193.50
5% 2+ Tour Offer - One clients books two tours or more $-193.50
5% Early Booking Discount - Book 6 months in advance $-193.50
5% Loyalty Reward - Repeat Client $-193.50

Supplements

No supplements.
Additional Prices (Optional)

Pre-tour Accommodation Price Per Person Per Night (Single Room) $72.00
Pre-tour Accommodation Price Per Person Per Night (Twin Room )$48.00
Pre-tour Accommodation Price Per Person Per Night (Dormitory Bed) $22.00
Post-tour Accommodation Price Per Person Per Night (Single Room) $70.00
Post-tour Accommodation Price Per Person Per Night (Twin Room) $44.00
Post-tour Accommodation Price Per Person Per Night (Dormitory End) $15.00
Arrival Transfer Price Per Booking Per Unit $112.00
Departure Transfer Price Per Booking Per Unit $53.00

+44 0208 689 1600