Nairobi to Victoria Falls - Itinerary

DAY 1: Nairobi Arrival Day (no meals)
Take advantage of your free airport pick/drop off to the departure hotel and dorm bed for the night. On the arrival day you can; just relax after your flight, or get a look at our departure city we depart before getting on the road next morning. No meals are included on the arrival day. In the evening we have a pre departure meeting at the departure hotel to prep you for the trip.

We leave Nairobi at 7am on the second day of the trip. We recommend you arrive in Nairobi the day before the trip departs. If you're there with time to spare there's lots to see and do around the city. In Nairobi town is the National Museum and markets. Also Karen Blixen's house, Langata Giraffe Centre, Sheldrick's Elephant Orphanage and Nairobi National Park for a first glimpse of African wildlife

DAY 2: Nairobi to Arusha, Tanzania (L/D)
We head south from Nairobi, through the Masai plains and cross the border at Namanga into Tanzania; arriving in Arusha late in the day. The country we pass through is sparsely inhabited grassland savannah, inhabited by the Masai. Tonight, we stay in a lovely campsite in Meserani, 20 km to the west of Arusha. Visit the Reptile Rescue Park and Masai Cultural Museum by the campsite, and an art gallery selling the strongly coloured Tinga Tinga paintings.

DAY 3: Arusha to Karatu - Serengeti & Ngorongoro Crater (B/L/D)
100 km to the west, we visit the Serengeti National Park & Ngorongoro Crater. We meet our Tanzanian guides with their locally operated 4WD vehicles adapted for safari use They allow excellent viewing through the opening roof hatches. The trip is camping, away for three days and two nights. One of these nights will be inside the park in the parks amidst the animals. If you choose not to visit the park you can wander the markets in Arusha town.

In our 4x4's we cross the Rift Valley to Mtu wa Mbu (Mosquito River) and then up the Rift Valley Escarpment to the safari town of Karatu to spend the evening at a campsite.
Included Activity: Serengeti & Ngorongoro

Day 4: Ngorongoro Crater & Serengeti  (B/L/D)
An early start to Ngorongoro Crater the largest unbroken caldera (collapsed volcano) in the world. Inside is open grassland and a lot of animals. After our game drive in the Crater, we head down the Crater rim and past the Cradle of Mankind, on our way to the Serengeti National Park. We cross the vast plains as we game drive through the southern and central areas in the park. Tonight we camp in the wild, with no fences between us and the animals, who live as they have for millennia.  

DAY 5: Serengeti National Park to Arusha (B/L/D)
In the morning, we head off for another game drive and explore the park. After our morning drive, we return via the  Crater rim to our safari truck near Arusha. Then drinks at the bar, to talk about the big 5.

DAY 6: Arusha towards Dar es Salaam (B/L/D)
We head towards the coast past Moshi town the capital city of the Chugga people. Skirting the base of snowy Mount Kilimanjaro we camp on the way to Dar es Salaam.

DAY 7: To the Indian Ocean Coast and Dar es Salaam (B/L/D)
We arrive in Dar at our campsite n the beach of the Indian Ocean. If you decide not to go to Zanzibar, the campsite at the beach is an ideal place to have a few lazy days.

DAY 8: Dar es Salaam and ferry to Zanzibar (B)
From Dar es Salaam we take the ferry to Zanzibar and the old stone capital of the Omani Sultanate. Sandy beaches, spice tours, snorkelling, diving and trips to other nearby islands. Zanzibar is a fascinating place to visit and to take it all in. Over a thousand years trade between Africa and Arabia has resulted in the blending of Arabs and Africans into a beautiful Swahili coastal culture with; wooden sailing dhows crossing the ocean, coconut plantations and fishing villages with mosques on the beaches. Nungwe beach resort on the north of the island has the most beautiful beaches.
Included Activity: Zanzibar Excursion, Spice Tour & Dhow Excursion 

DAYS 9-10: Zanzibar (No Meals)
You get your own meals while in Zanzibar, as people like to experience here on their own or in small groups and in accordance with their own budget. Our tour leader joins you and will arrange your activities, while meals can be taken from a wide selection of restaurants to suit any budget. There are also a wide variety of optional excursions.

Stone Town in Zanzibar Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the old slave market, the spice growing areas, Jozani Forest with Red Colobus Monkeys and in the evening the seafood cafes on the wharf side. 

DAY 11: Zanzibar by ferry to Dar es Salaam (No Meals)
Return by ferry to Dar es Salaam on the mainland for another on our beach campsite; late afternoon, or early evening.
Included Activity: Zanzibar ferry to Dar 

DAY 12: Dar es Salaam to Iringa  (B/L/D)
We head south through Tanzania; our route takes us through Mikumi National Park where we may well see giraffe or elephant grazing beside the road. The road from Mikumi National Park to Malawi takes us through the southern highlands, passing Baobab Valley to Iringa.

DAYS 13-14: Iringa to Lake Malawi, Malawi (B/L/D)
Crossing the border into Malawi, we reach the shores of its huge lake. We spend the night at Chitimba Beach Camp. The campsites and small resorts along Lake Malawi offer sandy beaches, swimming and snorkelling, water-skiing, horse riding or walking in the surrounding countryside. Markets sell carved Malawi chairs, tables and wood carvings

Kande Beach. We head south through the hills and drop down to the lake and Kande Beach resort. Very relaxed and just the sort of beach place you need in Africa.

DAY 15-16: Lake Malawi to South Luangwa National Park, Zambia (B/L/D)
Leaving the beach we go inland to spend the night in the capital Lilongwe or camp on route to Zambia after crossing the border. In Zambia we head along the Great North Road – a sparsely settled countryside with few people or villages for hundreds of miles.

DAY 17-18:South Luangwa National Park, Zambia (B/L/D)
South Luangwa National Park is well worth the visit. Recent trips have seen: - wild dogs, leopards, lions, and buffalo. We camp by the park and you can game drive into the park. Though the park is open all year, during the rains; which are normally from Jan and Feb to March, the road in can be flooded and the road can be slow to get to the park.

Included Activity: Game drives in South Luangwa National Park 

DAY 19-21: Luangwa National Park to Lusaka, Zambia's capital (B/L/D)
We leave the park and continue to head west. Passing through the beautiful Luangwa Valley we arrive at the fastest expanding capital city on the continent, Lusaka. At camping Eureka, you may have zebra or antelope grazing by your tents while you sleep.

DAY 22: Livingstone to Victoria Falls (B)
Victoria Falls - the Zambezi River plunges 100 metres down a mile wide chasm, creating one of the most incredible natural wonders of the world. The local name for the falls is 'Mosi- oa-Tunya' -  'The smoke that thunders' and you'll soon find out why.

We cros the bridge to Zimbabwe and over the border to Victoria Falls. When the river is in full flow, the falling water causes a huge roar and mist high above the canyons.