The Safari Experience - Nairobi to Victoria Falls

If you are planning a quick getaway, then try an action packed trip in a Classic Dragoman Overland truck. This is great if you have time constraints but still want to see as much as possible

It's also a good introduction to overland life whether staying completely in hotels, a mix of hotels and camping or mainly camping. With two or three crew, (someone even cooks for you in most of Africa) and local guides along the way, this is a great way to see all the highlights if you are pushed for time. It's a holiday package without the packaged holiday. We intend following the route detailed below but exact nightstops cannot be guaranteed. It sometimes happens that we decide to make a change to our basic planned itinerary. This may be for a variety of reasons - climatic, road or bureaucratic conditions may demand it. Or it may be because we find a better, more interesting route. While actually en route, unexpected hospitality, a local festival or a great place to chill out can determine our exact route and itinerary on any given trip

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Itinerary / Highlights

Day 1:
Kenya, Nairobi
Nairobi - a masai word for "Place of Cool Waters" has a cosmopolitan atmosphere. There are plenty of good bars and restaurants. Markets and shops have most things you could need or want, as well as various arts and crafts from the region. We will also try to make a visit to the Langatta Giraffe Sanctuary where you can feed giraffe. It may also be possible to organise a trip to the Celdric Wildlife Trust, but this cannot be guaranteed.

Days 2 - 12:
Tanzania, Arusha
Arusha is Tanzania’s second major city and used to be the capital of the East African community. The town sits in lush countryside near the foot of Mount Meru and enjoys a temperate climate throughout the year. Surrounding it are many coffee, wheat and maize estates tended by the Arusha and Meru people. The town is the centre of Tanzania’s safari business and is thriving and busy. It has excellent souvenir shopping and a very colourful local market We will stop at the Arusha Snake Park, which houses virtually all of East Africa’s snakes, including the most venomous, the boomslang, spitting cobras, puff adders and mambas. From here, we can also organise visits to local Masai villages to meet the tribes’ people and to learn about their pastoralist way of life. Camel trips can be organised to the villages and local traditional dance and music is organised. The Masai are a tribe clinging to their old tribal ways and they still live the life of their forefathers as pastoral cattle herders. A Masai’s major concern in life is the welfare of his beloved cattle. According to their legends, Ngai (God) gave the Masai all the cattle in the world so the moran (warrior) feels that it is his duty to collect all “stray” cattle, even those that actually belong to neighbouring tribes!

Nngorongoro crater
The Ngorongoro Crater is a huge caldera - a volcano which collapsed in an immense explosion. It measures 19 kms in diameter and 265 sq kms in area. The crater walls are so steep and the track so treacherous that we use Landrovers for this excursion. We are almost sure to see just about every major species of wildlife to be found in East Africa, including the Black Rhino. The Landrover drivers know the crater intimately and seem to know exactly where to find game.

Swahili
On the humid Indian coast we find the Swahili people who originate from the East African coast and speak ki-Swahili, which, when written in its classical form, is similar to Arabic in style. The language originated from a mixture of Arabic, Persian and Bantu dating back to 1200AD.

Dar-es-salaam
Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania's old capital, means Haven of Peace. Many of its buildings display Arabian influence and the port area is fascinating to visit with its ocean-going "dhows" and inshore "ngalawas" (out-rigger fishing canoes). We camp on a palm fringed beach on a peninsula.

Zanzibar
We take the hydrofoil from Dar-es-Salaam to Zanzibar and soak up the sun and the Arab culture on this legendary spice island.The Swahili people fought continually for 600 years for supremacy over each other and the Portuguese for control of the Indian Ocean coast. Eventually the Sultan of Oman was called in and the Portuguese were defeated. The Sultan set himself up as overlord and became very unpopular. The Swahili rebelled repeatedly until the Sultan retreated to Zanzibar. Slavery, ivory and the spice trade made Zanzibar one of the richest cities in the world. When the British destroyed the slave trade the Sultan finally lost power. Upon gaining independance from the British in the 1960's Zanzibar united with Tanganyika, and formed the state of Tanzania. There are numerous activities available including a tour around this historic island, a dhow trip, a boat trip to snorkel with dolphins and the opportunity to scuba dive. Alternatively you may choose to wander around and soak up the atmosphere of a city with an amazing past. We return from Zanzibar to the main land and Dar-es-Salaam and if time permits can spend another day on the Indian Ocean by staying at Kipepeo Beach. This beautiful site is idyllic and is a perfect place to kick back. Here you can take the opportunity to relax, ride horses through the bush and along the beach or perhaps to visit a local village and take a Dhow trip along the coast.

Mikumi National Park
Mikumi National Park is situated at the foot of the thickly wooded Uluguru Mountains and is home to large herds of elephant, buffalo and giraffe, together with lions and leopards. It is Tanzania’s third largest national park and we spend a couple of hours travelling through the park on the main route to and from Southern Tanzania. Although we will not make an off road safari into the depth of the park, we usually see a good selection of the wildlife that resides in the park.

Days 13 - 16: Malawi
Malawi is one of Africa’s smallest and poorest countries, but this is not the impression the traveller gets. As we enter the country it is impossible not to notice the friendliness and hospitality of these people. The country is nicknamed 'The warm heart of Africa' and most visitors come away with exactly that feeling.

Lake malawi
The country centres on its lake, Lake Malawi, the third largest in Africa. It has beaches of fine, yellow sand and comprises two-fifths of Malawi's area. We skirt its shores as we travel through spectacular scenery and spend a few nights relaxing by the lake. The area has developed over the past few years to cater for travellers and there are loads of different activities ranging from relaxing on the beach through to high altitude diving. For lovers of wildlife, various boat trips can be organised to see hippos or fish eagles. For the more active, horse riding through the beautiful countryside along the shores is also an option. Others may prefer windsurfing, snorkelling or diving, but you should be aware, that although most of our passengers do take part in some watersports, the lake does have Bilharzia in it and if you do enter the water you should have a medical check up when you arrive home. Another worthwhile option is to take part in an afternoon's visit either to the local school or to the hospital. Both of these options require a donation to the respective organisations and provide a good insight into some of the less visible aspects of local life.

Days 17 - 23:
Zimbabwe
Next stop is one of the most spectacular archaeological sites in Africa south of the Sahara. The vast ruins of Great Zimbabwe are a reminder of the civilisations that once ruled this area. The city’s exact history is unknown but recent research suggests a gold-rich civilisation flourishing between 1200 and 1450 AD. The site consists of three main groups of stone structures: the Hill Complex, once thought to be the home of the witch doctor but now believed to be the King’s residence; the Great Enclosure; and the Valley Complex. Its splendour is best appreciated at sunrise or sunset. Archaeologists have found fragments of Chinese pottery at the site suggesting that Great Zimbabwe is the end of the Silk Trading Route from the east.

Bulawayo
Bulawayo, the capital of Matabeleland, is rich in historic associations with early white settlers and is home to the Natural History Museum and the Chipangali Animal Orphanage.

Matobo National Park
Matobo National Park is one of Zimbabwe's most fascinating safari destinations. The park is a haven for African wildlife and excellent for game viewing. It is chiefly famous for its rhino populations and is one of the few places where you can almost guarantee seeing both black and white rhino. During the visit to the park, you can take part in a walking safari in search of these huge creatures. You will travel to the park in land rovers with specialist guides. Other wildlife includes giraffe, zebra, giant eland and different antelope species. The Matobo Hills are especially well known for the large numbers of bird of prey, including 32 species of raptors and the world's greatest concentration of black eagles. Visually, the park is stunning with massive granite boulders that have weathered in such a way as to produce balancing rock formations. Mzilikazi the founder of the Ndebele nation, called the balancing rocks amaTobo or "the bald heads". The smooth granite boulders apparently reminded him of a gathering of his old tribal council. He is buried here in a hillside tomb and his possessions, including wagons and furniture, have been sealed for over a century in a cave nearby. Visitors can view this ancient collection through small openings in the rocks. The Matobo Hills are also the final resting place of the controversial and famous British Imperialist, Cecil John Rhodes, who requested that he also be buried here. It is ironic that these two historic figures from two totally different backgrounds should be buried in the same sacred hills. This is very sacred ground to the Ndebele and hidden in the hills is the Ndebele’s rain shrine to Mwari, the god of their ancestors. It is also a traditional home for the San Bushmen who lived in the hills about 2 000 years ago. They left a rich heritage of rock paintings, which are some of the best in southern Africa. What makes these particular paintings so special are their beautiful animations, with images of people playing, running, hunting, dancing lying down and sitting. The wildlife pictures are equally good, and each species is easily identifiable and even the trees, birds, insects and reptiles are portrayed accurately.

Victoria Falls.
The first white man to see Victoria Falls was Doctor Livingstone. He had been told about the “smoke that thunders” by local tribesmen, but even he was overcome by the majesty of this place. His famous words on first seeing the falls were “on sights as beautiful as this angels in their flight must have gazed”. Even these words can only begin to describe the beauty of these waterfalls. We have time to explore the Zambezi River, the falls and the gorges that make up this fascinating area. You can go canoeing on the Upper Zambezi, and if the season permits (February to June may have too much rainfall) it is possible to go whitewater rafting below the falls. Many people also enjoy seeing the falls by aeroplane on the “Flight of the Angels”. Other optional activities include horse riding, elephant back safaris, bungee jumping and scenic cruises.

Final day
This brings our trip to a close, but why not stay with us to continue your journey in this fascinating continent.

Other Details

Accommodation Details

All Acomodation is included in the trip. Mostly Camping ( 15 % hotels )