Day 1: Kigali to Kisoro, Uganda We meet you at 7 AM on Day One in Rwanda s capital, Kigali. The land of a thousand hills, as it is known, is lush and beautiful and every acre is coveted for farming. Depending on where we are trekking the gorillas we will travel through the hills to Ruhengeri and then currently usually transfer through during the day to Kisoro, Uganda, to camp near Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Meeting up with the rest of the group you can visit a local orphanage or head to visit a local BatwaPygmy village to start to soak up the local world around you. This afternoon too we have a meeting together to get to know everyone in the group and for preparations if you are trekking the gorillas the following day. Distance: 128 kms Est. Drive Time: 2 hours (depending on the border) Meals: x1 Dinner Day 2: Kisoro The endangered mountain gorilla population currently numbers 880 individuals, all living in this mountainous region. Without the incentive of tourism it is hard to see how the species would still survive, the gorilla parks being islands of wilderness in densely populated farmland. Our trek today can last all day or just a few hours. Once found you will get to spend up to an hour with these delightful primates, as they go about their daily routine deep in the thickly forested Virungas. s Optional excursions: Mountain gorilla trek, either in ParcNational des Volcans (Rwanda) or Bwindi Impenetrable Forest (Uganda), golden monkeys trek, orphanage visit,batwa (Pygmy) village visit. Day 3: Kisoro to Musanze, Rwanda We can trek to see the golden monkeys in Maghingatoday, or visit the grave of Dian Fossey in the Rwandan park. Dian dedicated her life to protecting the mountain gorillas. Her life and work is remembered in the film Gorillas in the Mist. We spend the evening enjoying the beats of traditional Rwandan drumming and dancing. Distance: 45 kms Est. Drive Time: 2 hours (depending on the border) Meals: x 1 Breakfast, x1 Dinner Optional excursions: Visit to Dian Fosseys Grave, basket weaving and banana wine making. Day 4: Musanze to Kigali Heading to Kigali we visit The Genocide Memorial and Museum this afternoon. Opened in 2004, ten years after the Genocide, the memorial is a stark, sad reminder of man s inhumanity to man. We spend the night at a hostel overlooking the pretty capital of Kigali. Distance: 90 kms Est Drive Times: 3 hours Optional excursions: Genocide Memorial and Museum. UGANDA KENYA The Virungas Entebbe Kampala Mountain Gorillas Mt Kenya Equator Lake Ruhengeri Victoria Nairobi RWANDA Grumeti Masai Mara Kilimanjaro DEMOCRATIC Kigali Serengeti Arusha REPUBLIC OF CONGO Ngorongoro Zanzibar Lake Tanganika Crater Island ferry TANZANIA Dar Es Salaam Mikumi ANGOLA Kande Beach Lake Malawi South Luangwa MALAWI ZAMBIA Lilongwe Lake Kariba Lusaka Blantyre Livingstone, Victoria Falls Matusadona Chobe Game Harare Etosha Ranch Cheetah Park NAMIBIA Hwange ZIMBABWE Skeleton Ghanzi Okavango Bulawayo Coast Windhoek Delta Matopos Swakopmund BOTSWANA MOZAMBIQUE Sossusvlei Namib Desert Johannesburg Fish River Canyon Orange River REPUBLIC OF Durban SOUTH AFRICA Lamberts Bay Addo Stellenbosch Key Cape Town THE ROUTE Gansbaai Jeffrey s Bay CAPE ALTERNATE ROUTES AGULHUS GAME PARK FERRY BOLT ON Masai Mara ( flight required) BOLT ON Garden Route to Jo burg Day 5: Kigali to Nyakanazi, Tanzania We cross the border into Tanzania, the former German colony previously known as Tanganyika, staying our first night in a small traditional hotel. Our journey takes us off the beaten track and allows us time to experience a little of rural Africa. Staying In a local village we visit en routewe enjoy a game of football with the locals, shop intraditional stalls and the Mama of the local guest house where we spend the night prepares a traditional meal for us. Distance: 270 kms Est. Drive Time: +/- 8 hours (depending on the border) Day 6: Nyakanazi to Mwanza We are now on the back roads travelling through to Mwanza. Mwanza is the gateway to the western Serengeti set on the shores of Lake Victoria, the second largest lake in the world, our journey including a ferry crossing to reach the sprawling city. We camp on the edge of Lake Victoria surrounded by giant rock formations. Distance: 269 kms Est. Drive Time: 7 hours Day 7: Mwanza to Grumeti Camp We leave Mwanza to travel to the Grumeti GameReserve which is situated adjacent to the Serengeti and is part of the Mara- Serengeti eco system. The Grumetiis a special place where we can arrange guided game walks and take a night drive. Here during the migration the large herds of wildebeest, zebra and page 1
Thomson s gazelle can be found spread through this special section of the park stretching all the way up to the Masai Mara in Kenya. Distance: 250 kms Est. Drive Time: 7 hours Optional excursion: Night game drive in the Grumeti. Day 8: Grumeti Camp to Central Serengeti National Park Today we have a the chance to head out on an early morning game walk with our Maasai guide. Maasai tribesmen can be found in this region, practising their traditional semi-nomadic existence, their wealth and livelihood being based around their cattle. With their distinctive red-check blankets, the Maasai are possibly the most well known ethnic group in the region. We head into the 14,000 square Serengeti National Parkat midday for game drives through the afternoon in search of the famous Big Five and the other iconic African game that call Serengeti home on the miles upon miles of sweeping grasslands. The Serengeti is best known for the part it plays with the Mara to stage the world famous wildebeest migration, with the large herds of wildebeest and other plains animals moving seasonally between here and the 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. We set up camp in the heart of the park and enjoy an evening around the camp fire listening to the sounds of the wild. Distance: 81 kms + Est. Drive Time: Game drives through the afternoon Included wildlife activity: Afternoon game drive, Serengeti. Optional excursion: Early morning guided game walk,grumeti. Day 9: Central Serengeti Camp to Ngorongoro Conservation Area We are up early this morning for more game driving as the sun comes up over the vast plains. Wildlife viewingin this game park can be exceptional. Big cats and other predators always capture the imagination and regularly blonde-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 the park. After our morning game drive we stop off for lunch at the Serengeti Gate before continuing our journey through the Ngorongoro Conservation area and up onto the Ngorongoro Crater Rim.This afternoon, we are able to stop and enjoy the traditional dancing and stories of the Maasai people who make this area their home. Tonight we camp up high on the edge of the Crater rim, another night under a blanket of stars. Distance: 143 kms + Est. Drive Time: Game drives and +/- 3 hours to camp Included wildlife activity: Morning and afternoon game drives, in the Serengeti and Conservation Area. Day 10: Ngorongoro Conservation Area to Arusha As the low clouds clear from the Crater rim we take the journey down 2,000 feet to the floor of the ancient Ngorongoro, for the chance to see more wildlife.travelling in customized landcruisers with a local guide,we spend the morning In this perfectly intact calderawhich is the world s largest extinct volcano. In this garden of Eden live rhino, hippo, lion, elephant, hyena, buffalo, zebra, impala, ostrich, flamingo, and many, many more animal species. Following our morning of game drives, we travel to Arusha, the old German settlement town situated in the shadow of Mount Meru. Our journey takes us throughthe village of Mto Wa Mbu on the way. Here Maasai display their ebony carvings, spears and beadworks. Westop in one of the markets stalls for shopping time permitting. Arriving at camp we enjoy a hot shower and group barbecue in Arusha Distance: 164 kms Est. Drive Time: Game drives through the morning. 3 hours to camp in the afternoon Included wildlife activity: Morning game drives, Ngorongoro Crater. Days 11 12: Arusha to Dar es Salaam We head out of Arusha travelling past numerous sisal plantations on our fascinating journey south to the bustling city of Dar es Salaam. This is a two day journey of sweeping panoramic vistas. If we are lucky with the weather we will catch a glimpse of the toweringkilimanjaro, Africa s highest mountain, on the morning of the first day s drive. We arrive into our camp by the Indian Ocean for a barbecue of fresh seafood. Distance over 2 days: 665 kms Est. Drive Time Day 11: 6 hours Est. Drive Time Day 12: 7.5 hours Days 13 16: Allocated for the optional stay on Zanzibar Island You can now have a break from truck life for four days on the exotic spice island of Zanzibar. Explore the ancient capital of Stone Town, with its maze of winding streets, coral brick houses and bazaars. A spice tour provides some historical background on the island s past based in the slave and spice trades. Swim and snorkel in the crystal clear, coral waters, relax on the long white beaches and enjoy the fresh local seafood during our beach cottage stay. 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 will be comfortable staying in popular beach accommodation to the north of the island at Kendwa for three nights, with a night as well in the traditional capital, Stone Town. The tour leader travels over to the island with the group as well to ensure that all runs smoothly. Other excursions available include a snorkelling trip to Prison Island famous for its giant tortoise, as well as Mnemba Atoll, dolphin boat trips, turtle sanctuary, a trek in Jozani Forest to see the red colobus monkeys and fishing. Scuba diving can be arranged from the dive centresnear the beach accommodation. Meals, Day 13: x1 Breakfast Optional excursions: Balloon safari, visit to a Maasai Boma. page 2
Optional excursions whilst on Zanzibar: Visit to Jozani Forest and the Red Colobus monkeys, visit to Prison Island and the giant tortoises and walking tour ofstonetown. Scuba diving, snorkelling, sunset cruise at the beach. Day 17: Zanzibar - Dar es Salaam The return ferry brings us back early afternoon to Dar es Salaam for our last night at our camp by the Indian Ocean. Meals: 1x Dinner Day 18: Dar es Salaam to Iringa Heading west across Tanzania through Mikumi National Park, we often see giraffe and gazelle by the roadside, before reaching Baobab Valley. On arrival at The Farmhouse, where we will stay tonight, we can enjoy anamuruhla hot chocolate here, and some fabulous chocolate brownies! Distance: 560 kms Est. Drive Time: 10 hours Day 19: Iringa to Chitimba, Malawi Through the mountains of the southern Rift Valley we arrive in Malawi, known as Africa s warm heart. We camp tonight on the shores of Lake Malawi. If we wish we can stay an extra day for the hike on LivingstoniaPlateau for superb views over the Lake. Distance: 498 kms Est. Drive Time: 8 hours (depending on the border) Meals: x1 Breakfast, 1x Dinner Optional excursions: Village walk, visit to Witch Doctor, hike Livingstonia Plateau. Days 20 22: Chitimba to Kande Travelling south beside the freshwater lake, our next stop is the relaxed and popular campsite, Kande Beach. We can fish with the locals, take village walks, and enjoy a wide variety of water sports including snorkelling and scuba diving. Horse riding is also popular particularly the swim ride in which you can ride bareback in the lake. Enjoy bartering with local craftsmen selling Africanartefacts including traditional Malawi chairs. Distance, Day 20: 235 kms Est. Drive Time, Day 20: 4 hours Meals: x3 Breakfasts, x3 Dinners Optional excursions: Horse riding, snorkelling, scuba diving, village walk, wood carving lesson and canoeing. Days 23 24: Kande to Lusaka, Zambia We leave the shores of Lake Malawi and travel to the border to cross into Zambia. We spend the first night just across the border before heading the next day to the Zambian capital Lusaka. Here we have a chance tostock up on supplies, and then camp in a small private game farm where zebra wander around the camp. Distance over 2 days: 993 kms Est. Drive Time Day 23: 9 hours Est Drive Time Day 24: 7 hours Days 25 26: 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 for all who want to set sail into MatusadonaNational Park to relax for a couple of nights on the boat whilst enjoying nature at its best. Enjoy the wildlife on view as we cruise through the park elephant, waterbuck and zebra, as well as hippo and crocodile. Famous for its tiger fish, the Lake is a wonderful fishing destination too and we can take tender boats out on the lake to fish as well as get up close to wildlife. The houseboats also have bedrooms, a jacuzzi, entertainment areas and the houseboat crew cook our meals, so we enjoy a fun change from camping and life on the road. The sunsets over the Lake are gorgeous, the rich colours spilling across the sky creating a wonderful backdrop for the leadwood trees in the lake. This is an outing always popular with all local Zimbabweans. For those who want to stay back you can relax at the campsite. Distance: 208 kms Est. Drive Time Day 25: 5 hours (depending on the border) Day 27: Kariba to Chinhoyi We disembark from the houseboats and then leave the banks of the reservoir and head into the farmlands of Zimababwe to the bustling town of Chinhoyi for suppliesand to camp. Distance: 249 kms Est. Drive Time: 5 hours Day 28: Chinhoyi to Gweru South-west to Gweru in Zimbabwe s midland we have a warm welcome upon setting up camp at Antelope Park. Here we spend three nights relaxing in the bushveld of this popular private game farm. Distance: 259 kms Est. Drive Time: 5 hours Days 29 30: Gweru Here we can walk with lions, feed the lion cubs and ride on an elephant amongst other activities. Canoeing, horse riding, bush walks, guided bird walks, fishing and carriage rides through the scenic landscape are also available. Optional excursions: Lion walk, elephant rides, night time encounter game drive, lion cub feeding, lion feeding. Day 31: Bulawayo Arriving into Zimbabwe s second largest city, Bulawayo, with its wide tree-lined streets, we organize our safari into Matopos National Park. Distance: 160 kms Est. Drive Time: 3 hours Day 32: Bulawayo, Matopos National Park This is an area of spectacular scenery of large balancing granite boulders, which lead Mzilikazi, founder of the Ndebele nation, to give 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 bothblack and white page 3
rhino, giraffe, hippo and leopard. The park also has a wonderful amount of birdlife including black eagle. We trek to see rhino here with one of Zimbabwe s most knowledgable professional guides. For many this is one of the most thrilling highlights of the trip. Included wildlife activity: Rhino trekking and game drives, Matopos National Park Optional excursions: Morning visit to San Bush painting and a Ndebele Village. Days 33 36: Bulawayo to Victoria Falls Today we head to Victoria Falls - Mosi-Oa-Tunya, the smoke that thunders. The Falls provide breathtaking views of sheer drops and raging waters. Mists from thefalls rise metres 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 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 in the rainforest fordifferent views of the Falls. Horse riding, elephant riding and lion walks are also all on offer. Distance: 440 kms Est. Drive Time. Day 33: 6 hours Meals Day 33: x1 Breakfast Optional excursions: White water rafting, river boarding, jet boating, bungee jumping, gorge swing and rap jump, Flight of the Angels, canoe trip, lion walks, elephant rides, horse riding, sundowner cruise. Day 37: Victoria Falls to Kasane, Botswana Travelling south into Botswana, Chobe National Park is our next stop where we can take a gentle cruise down the river particularly to view elephant on the shoreline, as well as much more of Africa s wildlife. Giraffes browse the acacia trees and elephants lumber through a park rich with game. There is time to explore further if you wish to go on a game drive. Distance: 91 kms Est. Drive Time: 2 hours (depending on the border) Optional excursions: Morning game drive, Afternoon game cruise. Day 38: Kasane to Maun Leaving Chobe, we travel via the Makgadikgadi Pans to Maun. We keep an eye open for elephants and giraffes along the way. Distance: 614 kms Est. Drive Time: 8 hours Days 39 40: Time allocated for the Okavango Delta We now have the option of a two or three day safari into the Okavango Delta in a mokoro, the traditional dugout canoe of the Delta boatsmen. We are poled through tranquil, crystal clear waterways and beds of papyrus reeds, home to some of Africa s finest bird life and unusual flora. There is a chance to see elephant, hippo, crocodile and the special sitatunga and lechwe. We camp on small islands to take guided game walks during our stay. A sunset mokoro ride is a very special treat. Optional excursions: Okavango Delta mokoro safari. Day 41: Maun We return from our bush camping adventure to Maun, where we head into town for shopping and there is the option to head up into the skies for an amazing flight over the Delta. Optional excursion: Flight over the Delta. Day 42: Maun to Divundu, Namibia We cross the border into Namibia today and spend the night on the banks of the Okavango River- look out for otters, giant African kingfishers and hippos. Distance: 425 kms Est. Drive Time: 7 hours (depending on the border) Days 43 44: Divundu to Etosha National Park We visit the Hoba meteorite today, the world s largest, before driving into Etosha National Park. Etosha isnamibia s most famous game park. It was first declared a game reserve in 1907 and was one of the first game reserves in Africa. Distance over 2 days: 615 kms Est. Drive Time Day 43: 7 hours Est. Drive Time Day 44: 2 to 3 hours to Etosha entrance. Then afternoon game drive Included wildlife activity, Day 44: Afternoon game drive Optional excursion: Night game drive, Etosha National Park. Day 45: Etosha The local Owambo people call Etosha the place of dry water. The blinding white surface of the salt pan desert 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 live around the Pan, including elephant, lion, gemsbok, zebra, black rhino, giraffe, cheetah and leopard. We take an early morning game drive, to make the most of our two night stay in the park. An optional evening drive is also available, following the regular afternoon game drives. Visiting the floodlit water holes at night is also a special treat in this park. Distance: N/A Est. Drive Time: Game drive Included wildlife activity: Full day of game drives. Optional excursion: Night game drive page 4
Day 46: Etosha National Park to The Cheetah Park Leaving Etosha we travel via Outjo to visit a cheetah park, for some close-up photos with this endangered cat. Distance: 160 kms Est. Drive Time: 3 hours Included wildlife activity: Cheetah feeding and interaction. Days 47 48: Cheetah Park to Swakopmund Today we head into Damaraland to spend time with the local semi-nomadic, pastoral Himba group, who herd sheep, goats and cattle and maintain traditional beliefs in ancestor worship and sacred fire rituals. This night we camp between the beautiful rockformations of Spitzkoppe where we stretch can our legs on a guided walk and can view ancient Bushman rock paintings in this extraordinary landscape. We make a visit to the Cape Cross seal colony, a breeding colony of 200,000 Cape fur seals on our way to Swakopmund, home to some of the finest open-sea fishing in the world, where we check in to a lodge to give us a break from life on the truck and camping. Distance over 2 days: 460 kms Est. Drive Time. Day 47: 7 hours Est. Drive Time Day 48: 3 hours Meals: x2 Breakfasts, x1 Dinner Included wildlife activity: Cape Seal colony. Optional excursions: Himba visit, Bush walk. Days 49 50: Swakopmund On the Atlantic coast at Swakopmund we have options of flights over the Namib Desert and the Skeleton Coast. For the adrenalin junkie there s quad biking, sand boarding and skydiving. Go-karting is popular as are the township tours, horse riding and of course fishing. Meals: none Optional excursions: Quad biking, sand boarding, skydiving, gokarting, open-sea fishing, township tours, horse riding, balloons and flights over the Desert. Day 51: Swakopmund to Sesriem The Namib is a desert wonderland. Sossusvlei within the Namib Naukluft National Park, offers thousand-foot sand dunes to explore. In the afternoon we can go to sesriem canyon for a walk. Distance: 350 kms Est. Drive Time: 6 hours Meals: x1 Dinner Days 52 53: Sesriem to Fish River Canyon/ Ai Ais 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 vlei pan and see more of this harsh but beautiful landscape. We travel on to the Fish River Canyon, reputedly the second largest canyon in the world over two days. This region is a spectacular setting for enjoying the natural hot springs. Distance over 2 days: 524 kms Est. Drive Time Day 52: 5 hours Est. Drive Time Day 53: 3 hours Included activities: visit to Dune 45, visit to Fish River Canyon. Optional excursion: Visit to Sossusvlei. Day 54: Fish River Canyon to Orange River We camp near the Orange River that marks the border between Namibia and South Africa and are able to enjoy a relaxed canoe ride as the sunset over the river. Distance: 122 kms Est. Drive Time: 2 hours Optional excursions: Canoeing the Orange River. Day 55: Orange River to Trawal/Citrusdal, South Africa Today we cross into South Africa the last country we visit. We drive through the Cedarburg mountain region of the Western Cape, famed for its vineyards. Distance: 513 kms Est. Drive Time: 7 hours (depending on the border) Days 56 57: Citrusdal to Stellenbosch We travel into the wine areas of Cape Province for a two night stay in the historic university town of Stellenbosch. Here we have the opportunity to taste the region s finest produce on a wine tour. Distance, Day 56: 172 kms Est. Drive Time: 3 hours Meals: x1 Breakfast Optional excursion: Wine tour. Day 58: Stellenbosch to Cape Town Our final day s travel is from Stellenbosch to Ashanti Lodge, in Cape Town, our journey s end. We have our last meal together against the extraordinary backdrop of the 1,000- metre high Table Mountain. Cape Town is a wonderful place to relax with plenty of attractions, shopping and cocktail bars. The Travel Shop at Ashanti can assist you with bookings in Cape Town including a visit to the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve or exploring further including pony trekking in Lesotho, hikes in the Drakensberg Mountains, a safari in Kruger National Park, and travelling through to the KwaZuluNatal coast for some excellent surfing. Distance: 50 kms Est. Drive Time: 1 hour Meals: x1 Dinner Optional excursions: Robben Island, Table Mountain, shark diving, Cape Point tour, open top bus tour. Please note safari itineraries are given as a guide only. A safari is a journey and true journeys in Africa unfold and are of an adventurous nature. The unexpected can arise, so do allow for this.
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