Day 3: Nakuru to Naivasha We arrive in Lake Naivasha to relax for a couple of days. On the way we stop over at a children s orphanage.

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1 Days 1 2: Nairobi, Kenya to Nakuru On our first day we meet you in Kenya s capital, Nairobi. There is time this morning to visit the Giraffe Centre and the Elephant Orphanage, our first chance to get up close and personal with some of Africa's most loved animals. En route to Nakuru we stop at the Rift Valley Lookout for sweeping views of the Great Rift Valley. You may be tempted by the curio markets here. The following day we enter Nakuru National Park to head out on our first game drives. Nakuru is famous for its flamingo population. Thousands, and at times, millions of greater and lesser flamingos can be found here attracted to the algae and plankton that live in the warm alkaline waters of the lake on which they feed. The park is also a sanctuary for the rare endangered black as well as white rhino, and boasts lion, leopard, Rothschild s giraffe, waterbuck, impala and buffalo. We have a full day game drive in this small treasure of a park. Distance, Day 1: 156 kms Est. Drive Time, Day 1: 4 hours Included wildlife activity: Full days game drive in Nakuru National Park Cheetah Park Skeleton Coast Cape Cross Seals Swakopmund Sossusvlei Equator The Virungas Lake Nakuru Mountain Gorillas DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO Lake Tanganika ANGOLA Masai Mara Lake Victoria Serengeti Ngorongoro Crater TANZANIA Kande Beach Hells Gate South Luangwa MALAWI ZAMBIA Lilongwe Lake Kariba Lusaka Blantyre Livingstone, Victoria Falls Matusadona Game Harare Etosha Chobe Ranch NAMIBIA Hwange ZIMBABWE Ghanzi Okavango Bulawayo Windhoek Delta Matopos BOTSWANA MOZAMBIQUE Namib Desert Johannesburg Fish River Canyon Orange River REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA Lamberts Bay Addo Stellenbosch Cape Town Gansbaai Jeffrey s Bay CAPE AGULHUS Durban Key KENYA Nairobi Kilimanjaro Arusha Mikumi Lake Malawi Mt Kenya Zanzibar Island ferry Dar Es Salaam THE ROUTE ALTERNATE ROUTES GAME PARK FERRY BOLT ON Garden Route to Jo burg Optional excursions: Sheldrick s Elephant Sanctuary, The Giraffe Park. Day 3: Nakuru to Naivasha We arrive in Lake Naivasha to relax for a couple of days. On the way we stop over at a children s orphanage. Naivasha is a freshwater lake and is the highest of the lakes of the central Rift Valley. We have a few choices of activities to enjoy over the next two days including a visit to Crescent Island and taking afternoon tea on the grassy lawns at Elsamere with the resident troop of black and white colobus monkeys. Distance: 100 kms Est. Drive Time: 2 hours Optional excursions: Elsamere for afternoon tea, horse riding, Crescent Island. Day 4: Naivasha Today we have the option of a days hike or to cycle through the red cliffs of Njorowa Gorge in Hells Gate National Park amidst herds of plains game including buffalo, zebra, eland, hartebeest, Thomson s gazelle and baboon. Alternatively a guided walk to the jade green Crater Lake Sanctuary can be arranged. A hippo cruise on the lake can be organised for the afternoon. Optional excursions: Cycling in Hells Gate National Park, guided walk to Crater Lake Sanctuary, hippo cruise. Day 5: Naivasha to Masai Mara After our two nights by Lake Naivasha we head out on the bumpy and dusty road for the remote plateau of the Masai Mara, Kenya s premier game park. The Mara is perhaps best known for being part of the setting for the famous wildebeest migration; a mass movement of up to approximately 1.7 million wildebeest, accompanied by approximately 200,000 zebra and 350,000 Thomson s gazelle. The migration involves a journey covering 3,000 square kilometres, the equivalent to circumnavigating Britain and Ireland. Ever-vigilant predators, particularly lion and hyena, closely follow the herds. Distance: 134 kms Est. Drive Time: 5.5 hours, then game drives through the afternoon Included wildlife activity: Afternoon game drives in the Masai Mara Optional excursion: Visit to a Maasai village. Day 6: Masai Mara This morning we have another early morning game drive using every moment we can in the park. An early morning balloon safari can also be arranged. Regardless of the season there is always plenty to see in this world renowned park, and after lunch we head out for more game drives across the rolling grasslands. The Mara is famous for the large herds of elephant and buffalo that wander its plains and for the fat pods of hippo that wallow in its mudbrown rivers. The park offers as well a wonderful chance to page 1

2 see eland, warthog and giraffe as well as an immense variety of bird life with well over 550 recorded species of bird noted here. There are also a few treasured rhino in the park. Drive Time: Game drives through the day Included wildlife activities: Morning and afternoon game drives Optional excursion: Balloon safari. Day 7: Masai Mara to Nairobi Up early for our last game drives in the Mara we head out one more time wildlife spotting, before departing for the drive back to Nairobi. Distance: 140 kms Est. Drive Time: Early morning game drive, then 7 hour drive to camp in Nairobi Included wildlife activity: Morning game drives in the Masai Mara Day 8: Nairobi to Arusha, Tanzania We head off on the drive across the Athi plains to the border into Tanzania and on to Arusha, the safari capital of northern Tanzania. Over the next three to four days there are different safari options available in what is known as the northern circuit to take us into the world famous Serengeti and/or the Ngorongoro Crater. With prior notice safaris into Tarangire and Manyara can also be added. We have a safari briefing tonight. Distance: 278 kms Est. Drive Time: 6 7 hours (depending on the border) Days 9-11: Time allocated for different optional game drives and activities in the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater Rising early most in the group choose to head to the vast savannah plains of the Serengeti on a three day safari visiting both the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. A balloon safari can also be arranged during this safari. On the three day safari we explore the flat grasslands of the Serengeti plains studded with isolated kopjes over 24 hours. There is an excellent chance to view Africa s renowned wildlife from hyena, lion, leopard and cheetah to elephant, giraffe, wildebeest, zebra, antelope and much more across the 14,000 square kilometre park. The three day safari also includes game drives on the floor of the ancient caldera, Ngorongoro, for the chance to see more wildlife. Ngorongoro is a perfectly intact volcanic caldera and the world s largest extinct volcano. Descending onto the Crater floor we find a garden of Eden full of all the wildlife for which Africa is famous - rhino, hippo, lion, elephant, hyena, buffalo, zebra, impala, ostrich, flamingo, and many, many more. On this safari we spend one night camping in the middle of the Serengeti, with just the canvas of your tent between you and the vast plains that stretch out around us in all directions, and one night camped on the rim above the Ngorongoro Crater, the world s largest extinct volcano. If booking on the shorter Ngorongoro safari, you travel to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area from Arusha to enjoy sweeping views across the Crater, before joining those on the longer safari for the overnight camp on the Crater rim. From there you will travel down into the Crater with everyone for the game drives in the Ngorongoro Crater and a picnic lunch. Across these two parks the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater - wildlife viewing is regularly exceptional. Big cats and other predators always capture the imagination and regularly blond maned lions can be found nonchalantly lazing on the rocky outcrops or lolling in the shade. With a little luck cheetahs can be found pacing the open grasslands and leopards can be located resting up in the buffalo thorns and sausage trees that line the Seronera River of the Serengeti. Spotted hyenas, bat-eared foxes and jackals also roam both parks. The Serengeti is a continuation of the same ecosystem across which the spectacular wildebeest migration travels, the vast herds moving seasonally between here and Kenya s Masai Mara. To encounter one of the countless wildebeest herds in a bleating, snorting dust - kicking motion on the famous migration moving across Siringet the endless plains is an experience of a lifetime. En route between the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro we can arrange to pay a visit to a Maasai boma and time permitting the Olduvai Gorge Museum. The museum records the work of Louis Leakey who uncovered the traces of early man here. The finding of a 1.75 million year old Australopithecus jawbone in 1959 was the first conclusive evidence that hominids had existed for over a million years and that they had evolved in Africa. We travel to the Serengeti and Ngorongoro via the village of Mto Wa Mbu, wheremaasai display their ebony carvings, spears and beadworks and there is time to stop in one of the markets stalls for shopping. If you wish to add on a safari in Manyaraand Tarangire this can also be arranged given prior notice. If you don t head out on this set of safaris you can spend time in the extensive Maasai Cultural Centre and Museum, and if you are up for it visit the Snake Park which has a large collection of reptiles as well as a Maasai display. Arusha also has busy markets, a shopping mall, coffee shops and internet. A camel safari can also be arranged to visit a Maasai village. The campsite where we are based has a comfortable entertainment area. Back in Arusha we all enjoy a group barbecue to celebrate. Meals: Day 9 X1 Breakfast, Day 10 none, Day 11: X1 Dinner Optional excursions for Days 9 to 11: Overnight excursion for game drives inngorongoro Crater, Three day/two night safari with game drives in both the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater (incl. X2 dinners, X3 lunches, X2 breakfasts), Add On safaris in Tarangire and Manyara, Camel safari, Balloon safari, Olduvai Gorge Museum,Maasai boma visit. Days 12 13: Arusha to Dar es Salaam Our Tanzanian safaris over, we head to the Tanzanian coast. From Arusha we travel past Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa, to Dar es Salaam, known as the home of peace. Our camp is set on the Indian Ocean. page 2

3 Distance over 2 days: 665 kms Est. Drive Time, Day 12: 7 hours Est. Drive Time, Day 13: 6.5 hours Days 14 17: Allocated for the optional stay on Zanzibar Island You now have the opportunity of a break from camping and life on the truck on the exotic spice island of Zanzibar. Travel with the tour leader to relax and enjoy all there is to offer over the next five days. On arrival we spend time in the traditional capital, Stone Town. Take a spice tour to find out a little about the spice trade that dominated the island s history, as well as the slave trade. Heading north we visit the white sand beaches on the protected western side of the island and swim and snorkel in the crystal clear waters of the Indian Ocean. You can also explore Jozani Forest and see the red colobus monkeys and Prison Island with its giant tortoise during our four days on the island. Further details of arrangements for your optional time on Zanzibar Island: We make core arrangements well ahead of time, so we are assured our groups are comfortable in popular B&B accommodation on the island, for a night in a Lodge in the traditional capital, and then by the beach. The tour leader travels over to the island with the group to ensure that all runs smoothly, and we are well supported by a local guide based on the island. Other excursions available include snorkellingexcursions to Prison Island, as well as Mnemba Atoll, dolphin boat trips, a trek in Jozani forest and fishing. Scuba diving can be arranged from a dive centre near our beach accommodation. Affordable cafes, food markets and restaurants provide options for lunch and dinner including the chance to enjoy fresh seafood. Meals: Day 14 X1 Breakfast, Days 15, 16 and 17 none Day 18: Zanzibar Island to Dar es Salaam We leave Zanzibar Island today and transfer via ferry to the mainland and our campsite in Dar es Salaam for our final night by the Indian Ocean. Est.Drive Time: 0 hours Meals: X1 Dinner Day 19: Dar es Salaam to Iringa Our journey today takes us through Mikumi National Park, where we often see elephant, giraffe, zebra and antelope from the roadside. We pass through Baobab Valley on our way to our overnight campsite at the Old Farmhouse in Iringa. Distance: 552 kms Est. Drive Time: 10 hours Day 20: Iringa to Chitimba, Malawi Moving on through the mountains of the southern Rift Valley we arrive in Malawi known as the warm heart of Africa. Distance: 498 kms Est. Drive Time: +/8 hours (depending on the border) Days 21 23: Lake Malawi We continue south down the third largest lake in Africa, Lake Malawi, created in the chasm of the East African rift from the ancient split of tectonic plates. Known as "the heart of Africa" you will be struck by the warm welcome we receive, despite Malawi being one of the poorest countries en route. We are invited into local villages and schools, so this is the perfect opportunity to immerse yourself into traditional village life. The popular beaches provide great locations for the camps where we stay set beside local fishing villages. We can fish, as well as try a variety of water sports, including snorkelling, windsurfing, canoeing and scuba diving. Try bartering with local craftsmen selling beautiful carvings including the traditional Malawi chairs, and enjoy sharing in a village meal during our stay. Distance, Day 21: 236 kms Est. Drive Time, Day 21: +/- 5 hours Optional excursions: Water sports, including snorkelling, windsurfing, and scuba diving, horse riding, village visits, including traditional meal and dancing, Livingstonia hike. Days 24 25: Lake Malawi to Lusaka, Zambia We travel to Zambia today, spending the night at either Chipata or Petauke. The following day we head west for Lusaka, the modern capital of Zambia. Here we have an opportunity to catch up on communications and stock up on supplies. Distance over 2 days: 993 kms Est. Drive Time, Day 24: 9 hours (depending on the border) Est. Drive Time, Day 25: 6 hours Days 26 28: Lusaka to Lake Kariba, Zimbabwe From Lusaka we travel to the Kariba border and cross into Zimbabwe. Arriving at Lake Kariba we hire a houseboat to set sail into Matusadona National Park. We can relax for a couple of nights on the boat and enjoy a sleep in a bed, whilst enjoying nature at its best. This is an outing always popular with the locals. Famous for its tiger fishing, the lake is a perfect spot to throw in a line as well as enjoy the wildlife on view including elephant, hippo and crocs. Watch dawn break through the stark silhouettes of the driftwood trees, the silence only broken by the haunting cry of a fish eagle. The boats have bedrooms, a jacuzzi and the houseboat crew cook our meals so this is a fun change from camping and life on the road. Distance, Day 26: 208 kms Est. Drive Time, Day 26: 5 hours (depending on the border) Optional excursion: Houseboat cruise on Lake Kariba. Days 29 31: Lake Kariba to Gweru We travel south to Antelope Park near Gweru. Antelope Park is a private game park where we have opportunities to interact with wildlife. Here we can walk with lions, feed the lion cubs and ride on an elephant amongst other activities. Canoeing, horse riding and carriage rides through the scenic landscape are also available. Distance, Day 29: 504 kms Est. Drive Time, Day 29: 7 hours Optional excursions: Lion walks, lion cub feeding, cub viewing, elephant riding, elephant swimming, canoeing and horse riding. page 3

4 Days 32 33: Gweru to Bulawayo We head further south into Zimbabwe s second largest city, Bulawayo. From here we visit Matopos National Park. This is an area of spectacular scenery of large balancing granite boulders, to which Mzilikazi, founder of the Ndebele nation, gave the area its name which means 'Bald Heads'. Cecil Rhodes and several other leading early white settlers are buried amongst the rocky outcrops. There are also very special San Bushmen cave paintings found in the hills. The Park is home to both black and white rhino, giraffe, hippo, leopard and has a wonderful amount of birdlife including black eagle. We trek to see rhino here with one of Zimbabwe s most knowledgable professional guides. Distance, Day 32: 168 kms Est. Drive Time, Day 32: 2 hours Included wildlife activity: Rhino trek and game drive in Matopos National Park Optional excursion: Extra game drives in Matopos National Park. Days 34 37: Bulawayo to Victoria Falls Mosi-Oa-Tunya, the smoke that thunders. The Falls provide breathtaking views of sheer drops and raging waters. Mists from the falls rise meters into the air and have given rise to a lush tropical rainforest along the rim. We stay a few days to absorb all that the area has to offer from adrenalin-pumping activities, fun bars and restaurants, a variety of markets, and sunset cruises gliding on the placid waters. You may choose to go white water rafting in the gorge, bungee jump, gorge swing, abseil or take a flight over the Falls known as The Flight of the Angels. Take time to wander the forest, exploring different views of the Falls. Horse riding, and extra elephant riding and lion walks are also all on offer. Distance, Day 34: 438 kms Est. Drive Time, Day 34: 6 hours Meals: Day 34 X1 Breakfast, Days 35 to 37 none Optional excursions: White water rafting, river boarding, bungee jumping, gorge swing and rap jump, Flight of the Angels, canoe trip, lion walks, elephant rides, horse riding, sun downer cruise. Day 38: Victoria Falls to Kasane, Botswana Moving further into Southern Africa we cross into Botswana a country that is often referred to as one of Africa s biggest success stories in terms of good governance and commerce. Botswana certainly has beautiful scenery too and the striking image of an acacia tree on the horizon is sure to stay with you. Soak up the atmosphere on a game cruise on the Chobe River as the colours of sunset break across the sky and elephant come down to drink and mess around in the river. To take full advantage of this park there is also time for an additional game drive to allow you access further into the park. Distance: 87 kms Est. Drive Time: 2 hours (depending on the border) Optional excursions: Chobe National Park game drives and game cruise. Day 39: Kasane to Maun We now travel to Maun, which will be the base for excursions into the Okavango Delta. A safari into Moremi can also be arranged with prior notice. Our route is a scenic one taking us via the Makgadikgadi Pans. Distance: 666 kms Est. Drive Time: 9 hours Days 40 42: Allocated for an optional safari into the Okavango Delta and other activities In a landlocked country the Delta is an imposing sight. On arrival in Maun there are a number of options available. Safaris in the Delta in a mokoro, the traditional dugoutcanoe of the Delta boatsmen are very popular. On a mokoro safari lie back as youare poled through the waterways between reeds and water lilies to reach designated islands where we bush camp for the duration of the safari. Late afternoon and early morning game walks are on the agenda and even the chance to learn how to steer amokoro. The local boatsmen entertain with traditional singing during our time in this pristine wilderness. At over 15, 000 sq km the true scale of this wilderness area can only be appreciated from the air and we can arrange flights over the Delta too. With prior notice we can also head into Moremi National Park for game drives in the eastern side of the Delta, Moremi offering superb game viewing across a range of different environments having expanses of wetland lagoons, woodland and savanna. Optional excursions: Okavango Delta mokoro safari, flights over the Delta, game drives in Moremi Reserve. Days 43 45: Maun to Etosha National Park, Namibia Experiencing a dramatic shift in scenery, we enter Namibia and travel the Caprivi Strip. We stop to see the Hoba meteorite, the world s largest meteorite, before driving into Etosha National Park to camp within Namibia s most famous game park for two nights. On our journey we often visit a Bushman village. Distance over 3 days: 932 kms Est. Drive Time, Day 43: +/- 8 hours including border crossing Est. Drive Time, Day 44: 5 hours Est. Drive Time, Day 45: 3 hours, then game drives through the afternoon Included wildlife activity: Afternoon game drive in Etosha National Park Optional excursions: Hoba meteorite, Bushman village visit. Day 46: Etosha National Park The local Owambo people call Etosha the place of dry water. The Pan s blinding white surface covers an area the size of Switzerland and in summer violent squalls transform it into a vast shallow lake, providing a breeding ground for thousands of flamingos. A vast array of animals exist around the Pan, including elephant, lion, gemsbok, zebra, black rhino, giraffe, cheetah and leopard. page 4

5 Game drives find us out early this morning, so we can make the most of our two night stay in Etosha. Optional evening drives are also available, following the regular afternoon game drives. And to savour the last of the game parks in our itinerary at night we can take our hot chocolate and sit and wait by the floodlit water holes as a multitude of animal gradually arrive to drink. Est. Drive Time: Game drives through the day Included wildlife activities: Morning and afternoon game drive, Etosha National Park Optional excursion: Evening game drive, Etosha National Park. Day 47: Etosha National Park to Cheetah Sanctuary, Otjititongwe We have our last game drives in Etosha this morning. Passing through Outjo we come to a Cheetah Park where we will camp tonight. On arrival we can interact with these beautiful but potentially ferocious cats and get some up close photographs that would be almost impossible to obtain in the wild. Distance: 182 kms Est. Drive Time: Morning game drive, then 2.5 hours to camp Included wildlife activities: Morning game drive, cheetah visit and feeding Days 48 49: Otjititongwe to Swakopmund In the morning there is the chance to meet with the local Himba learning something of their ways of life, means of survival and traditional beliefs. This night we camp between the beautiful rock formations of Spitzkoppe where there is the option to do a guided walk to see ancient rock paintings. The sunset is truly amazing here with the rocks changing colours every minute. The next day we visit the Cape Cross Seal Colony, a breeding colony of 200,000 Cape fur seals. We will have time to get up close to the seals and their pups before continuing on to Swakopmund where we will check into lodge accommodation. Distance over 2 days: 624 kms Est. Drive Time, Day 48: 8 hours Est. Drive Time, Day 49: 3 hours Meals: X2 Breakfasts, X1 Dinner Included wildlife activity: Cape Cross seal colony visit Optional excursions: Himba tribe visit, a guided walk incl. viewing of rock paintings. Days 50 51: Swakopmund Your tour leader will arrange for an activity presentation so you know what is on offer in the so called adrenaline capital of Namibia. The options are too numerous to list but some of the most popular include quad biking, sand boarding and skydiving. As well as these extreme sports you can also take in the views of the Namib desert by helicopter, take a township tour, sample the fresh seafood and head out on open water fishing. Meals: none Optional excursions: Quad biking, sandboarding, skydiving, guided desert tour, go-karting, open-sea fishing, township tours, horse riding and flights over the Desert. Day 52: Swakopmund to Sesriem The Namib Desert is an impressive and beautiful expanse whilst a harsh and unforgiving environment. In the afternoon we can visit the Sesriem gorge, where you can go for a walk in the gorge. Distance: 230 kms Est. Drive Time: 5 hours Meals: X1 Dinner Days 53 54: Sesreim to Fish River Canyon In the morning we get up before sunrise to climb the famous Dune 45 for sunrise views. After this there is the option to go to Sossusvlei by 4x4 to visit the Dead Vleipan and see more of this harsh but beautiful landscape. Then it s on to Fish River Canyon, second only to The Grand Canyon in size. Take in the view, and schedule permitting, experience the sun setting over this vast crack in the Earth s surface. There is also the possibility of taking a soak in Ai-Ai s hot springs. Our final night in Namibia is spent in this eerie lunar like landscape. Distance over 2 days: 508 kms Est. Drive Time, Day 53: 5 hours Est. Drive Time, Day 54: 4 hours Included activities: Visit to Dune 45, visit to Fish River Canyon Optional excursions: Visit to Sossusvlei pan, ballooning. Day 55: Fish River Canyon to Orange River We travel today to camp on the banks of the Orange River, which marks the borderbetween South Africa and Namibia. Gazing across from our campsite it almost seems you could swim between the two. Distance: 210 kms Est. Drive Time: 3 hours Optional excursion: Canoe the Orange River. Days 56 to 58: Orange River to Stellenbosch, South Africa We enter South Africa, the rainbow nation, the last country of our journey from Kenya. Our travels today take us via Citrus Dale to Stellenbosch. The university town of Stellenbosch has a slightly continental air and is set against the mountainous backdrop of South Africa s wine lands. Taking a wine tour not only allows you to taste the region s produce but also to learn about the wine making process. The wine routes are exceptionally picturesque and offer great photographic opportunities. We spend two nights in Stellenbosch so you can enjoy all Stellenbosch has to offer including a range of affordable cafes and restaurants. Distance over 2 days: 627 kms Est. Drive Time, Day 56: 6 hours (depending on the border) Est. Drive Time, Day 57: 6 hours Meals: Day 56 X1 Breakfast, X1 Dinner, Day 57 X1 Breakfast, Day 58 None Optional excursion: Wine tour. page 5

6 Day 59: Stellenbosch to Cape Town Our last drive is an easy one and takes us to the foot of Table Mountain where Ashanti Lodge, our final stop, is located. After check in we have some chill out time before our final evening together to celebrate our experiences in Africa at one of Cape Town s famous restaurants. Cape Town is a buzzing city with a lot to see and do so it is well worth leaving yourself a few days at the end of your trip to take it all in. If you wish as well explore further afield along the Garden Route with us to finish in Johannesburg. Our 10 day Garden Route Safari departs three days after our arrival in Cape Town, visits highlights along the coast, including the beaches of Jeffrey s Bay, the famous Bloukrans bungee, Addo Elephant Park and finishes in Johannesburg, the City of Gold The Travel Shop at Ashanti can also assist with bookings in Cape Town and exploring further including pony trekking in Lesotho, hikes in the Drakensberg Mountains, a safari in Kruger National Park, and travelling through to the KwaZulu- Natal coast for some excellent surfing. Distance: 40 kms Est. Drive Time: 1 hour Meals: X1 Dinner (contribution to the final restaurant meal) Please note: Itineraries are given as a guide only. A safari is a journey and true journeys unfold. They are of an adventurous nature. The unexpected can arise, so do allow for this. Feel free to give us a call about your safari plans. We look forward to having you onboard absaf@absoluteafrica.com phone + 44 (0) page 6