21-Day East African Odyssey Tour

3-week African adventure from Livingstone to Nairobi

A spectacular 3-week wildlife odyssey that takes you through the very heart of the African continent. Starting in Livingstone all the way north to Nairobi, passing along Luangwa National Park, Lake Malawi, Zanzibar and the Serengeti. This is an overland tour, travelling in a fully equipped comfortable expedition truck, with two options available for your accommodation each night, either staying in hotels and lodges or mainly camping. Visit Zambia’s finest game reserve which is the Luangwa National Park, with some of the largest populations of leopards. East you visit Lake Malawi which is the third largest lake in Africa and also the eighth largest in the world. As we head north we travel through Tanzania to stop at the majestic spice island of Zanzibar. This island is best known for its pristine beaches and spice tours. The next northern stops are Arusha and Karatu on the edge of the world famous Serengeti National Park. This great park is known for some of the greatest animal migrations when thousands of wildebeest make their annual cross of the vast grassy plains. The tour includes a full day inside the Ngorongoro crater, a proper wildlife phenomenon on the edge of the park, and game drives in the Seronera region in the heart of the Serengeti National Park. Our final destination is Kenya and our tour ends in the capital Nairobi. The tour is available either based mainly on camping in traditional 2-person tents (which we provide together with camp beds), or as an upgraded 'accommodated' version where you sleep in lodges, hotels, or permanent camps (with proper beds & facilities). Details of each night's stay are given in the Facilities section of the daily itinerary. Pricing shown is based on camping - please contact us for prices to upgrade to the accommodated level.

Day 1: Livingstone to Chirundu Setting off early from the Zambian side of Victoria Falls, we catch a last sighting of the mighty falls before we head off on a long day travelling . W e get our first impressions of East Africa through the window of our truck: c olourful markets, busy villag es and rural scenes form the backdrop of our journey as we travel through Zambia . We enjoy a prepared meal on arrival as our guides brief us on the days ahead You will need to add at least one extra night in Victoria Falls before this tour starts as we leave early this morning and you will want some time to see the Falls and perhaps take advantage of some of the other adventure opportunities available here. Route: Livingstone to Chirundu Facilities - Camping: Campsite with shared ablutions Facilities - Accommodated: Two per Room with en-suite bathroom | MEALS: Lunch, Dinner | EXTRAS: Single room supplement (TAOVAO), Extra day in Livingstone - pre-tour, Arrival airport transfer in Livingstone Day 2: Petauke As our lodge is situated along the banks of the Kafue River, today is free for you to participate in some of the activities o n offer. Fishing on the Zambezi River is one of the most popular activities , or book a full day safari experience in the Lower Zambezi National Park. Other optional activities include a river safari, birding and an excursion to the baobab forest and bat cave Facilities - Camping: Campsite with shared ablutions Facilities - Accommodated: Two per Room with en-suite bathroom | OVERNIGHT: Gwabi River Lodge | MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Day 3: Travel to Petauke This morning we drive through Zambia’s busy capital Lusaka before turning east towards Petauke, our destination for the night . As an important link between Lusaka and neighbouring Malawi, the Great East Road winds through rural Zambia and we will cross the mighty Luangwa River along the way. Dotted with villages and subsistence farms, todays landscapes serve as a stark contrast to the developed countries so ma ny of us call home. W e make a delightful stop at Luangwa Market, a bustling hub where local Zambian vendors showcase their wares. Among the treasures on display are masau and masaku, delectable fruits that are available year - round and renowned for their mouth - watering taste. In addition, other African curios catch our eye, from charming miniature hippos to intricately woven baskets and papyrus carpets, adding to the colourful tapestry of this vibrant marketplace Route: Chirundu to Petauke Included Highlight: Market visit Facilities - Camping: Campsite with shared ablutions Facilities - Accommodated: Two per Room with en-suite bathroom | OVERNIGHT: Chimwemwe Executive Lodge or similar | MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Day 4: Petauke to South Luangwa National Park We travel to the South Luangwa National Park, making a pitstop at a town called Chipata - the home of Chipata Cotton. From March to December, we include an optional activity where you can tour the local workshops crafting these stunning textiles. One of the highlights of our time in South Luangwa are sunsets, which are spectacular from the banks of the Luangwa River. Route: Petauke to South Luangwa National Park Included Highlight: Mulberry Mongoose Curio Visit Facilities - Camping: Campsite with shared ablutions Facilities - Accommodated: Two per Room with en-suite bathroom | OVERNIGHT: Wildlife Camp or similar | MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Day 5: Game drives in the South Luangwa National Park Today is all about exploring the South Luangwa National Park, one of Africa's premier safari destinations. We can spend most of the day searching for wildlife, which is in abundance here. First, you have an option to participate in a morning safari. During the dry season months of April to December, you also have an option to try a walking safari - an authentic African safari experience like no other. Later this afternoon, we'll enjoy a sunset game drive - giving you the opportunity to spot the nocturnal wildlife which are rarely seen during the day. Included highlight: Sunset Game Drive in South Luangwa National Park Optional Activity: Safari Walk (seasonal) or Morning Game Drive in South Luangwa Facilities - Camping: Campsite with shared ablutions Facilities - Accommodated: Two per Room with en-suite bathroom | OVERNIGHT: Wildlife Camp | MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | EXTRAS: Options available while on tour Day 6: Travel to Lake Malawi We leave early this morning as we cross the Zambian border into Malawi. We'll head to one of Africa's Great Lakes - Lake Malawi - the eighth largest on the planet. Its estimated that Lake Malawi boasts more fish species than that of any other body of freshwater on the planet. Route: South Luangwa National Park to Lake Malawi Facilities - Camping: Campsite with shared ablutions Facilities - Accommodated: Two per Room with en-suite bathroom | OVERNIGHT: Ngala Beach Lodge or similar | MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Day 7: Free day at Lake Malawi We'll start the day today by visiting a local village near our lodge.You then have the rest of the day free to do as you please - spend some time relaxing on the shores of Lake Malawi or participate in the activities on offer. Included Highlight: Malawi village tour Facilities - Camping: Campsite with shared ablutions Facilities - Accommodated: Two per Room with en-suite bathroom | OVERNIGHT: Ngala Beach Lodge or similar | MEALS: Breakfast, Dinner Day 8: Northern Lake Malawi We travel to the northern shores of Lake Malawi today, which offers spectacular sunset views. Our guide will give us a break down of what activities are on offer over the next few days or you can choose to simply relax. Route: Central Lake Malawi to North Lake Malawi Facilities - Camping: Campsite with shared ablutions Facilities - Accommodated: Two per Room with en-suite bathroom Included Highlight: Village walk with tour leader | OVERNIGHT: Chitimba | MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Day 9: Cross into the Mbeya Region of Tanzania We leave the lake this morning and head north, crossing the border into Tanzania and heading for the Utengule Coffee Lodge where we'll spend the night. Facilities - Camping: Campsite with shared ablutions Facilities - Camping: Campsite with shared ablutions Facilities - Accommodated: Two per Room with en-suite bathroom | OVERNIGHT: Utengule Coffee Lodge or similar | MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Day 10: Coffee plantation, Great Rift Valley We'll spend a little time today at a local coffee plantation, where we can see the process of growing and harvesting the coffee beans, and be able to enjoy some samples. We then head up the Great Rift Valley into Tanzania, passing the northern extremes of Lake Malawi before heading east to Iringa, which sits on a cliff overlooking the Ruaha River Valley. Route: Northern Lake Malawi to Iringa Included Activity: Coffee plantation visit Facilities - Camping: Campsite with shared ablutions Facilities - Accommodated: Two per Room with en-suite bathroom | OVERNIGHT: Kisolanza Farm or similar | MEALS: Breakfast, Dinner Day 11: Iringa to Mikumi National Park We start the day early as we travel to Mikumi National Park, Tanzania's fourth largest national park and part of the huge wilderness centred on Selous, the largest game reserve in Africa. An optional game drive in the park is available this afternoon, searching for the wildlife - if you're lucky enough you may see three of the Big Five species - lion, elephant and buffalo. Route: Iringa to Mikumi Optional Activity: Mikumi National Park Game Drive Facilities - Camping: Campsite with shared ablutions Facilities - Accommodated: Two per Room with en-suite bathroom | OVERNIGHT: Camp Bastian or similar | MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | EXTRAS: Options available while on tour Day 12: Mikumi to Dar es Salaam We overnight in Dar es Salaam before an early start the following morning to catch our ferry to Zanzibar Island. Route: Mikumi to Dar es Salaam Facilities - Camping: Two per Room with en-suite bathroom Facilities - Accommodated: Two per Room with en-suite bathroom | OVERNIGHT: Kariakoo Sleep Inn | MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch Day 13: Ferry to Zanzibar We have another early start today to catch the ferry to Zanzibar island from Dar es Salaam. After arriving at the ferry port we transfer to our hotel in Stone Town. Route: Dar es Salaam to Stone Town Included Highlight: Zanzibar Excursion Facilities - Camping: Two per Room with en-suite bathroom Facilities - Accommodated: Two per Room with en-suite bathroom | OVERNIGHT: Paradise Inn | MEALS: Breakfast Day 14: Zanzibar Beaches Boasting a rich history this busy port was once a landmark on both the Slave and Spice trade routes . Our morning begins with a walking tour of Stone Town to discover the more well known landmarks, including the birthplace of Freddy Mercury . After our city tour, we travel by road to our base for the next 2 nights. Before our arrival, we will stop along the way to enjoy a guided walking spice tour, which passes through villages and spice plantations. You will be able to witness first - hand how spice farm workers climb the trees and seek out specific plants and will have the opportunity to purchase fresh spices directly from these farms. Route: Stone Town to Marumbi Included Highlight: Stone Town walking tour / Spice tour Facilities - Camping: Two per Room with en-suite bathroom Facilities - Accommodated: Two per Room with en-suite bathroom | OVERNIGHT: Zanzibar Bay | MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Day 15: Free time in Zanzibar You have the day to do as you please. Relax on Zanzibar's white sand beaches or take advantage of the variety of water sport activities on offer such as fishing, snorkelling, scuba diving and more. Optional Activities: Fishing, Snorkelling, Scuba Diving, Turtle Sanctuary Visit, Village Tours, Scooter rental and more Facilities - Camping: Two per Room with en-suite bathroom Facilities - Accommodated: Two per Room with en-suite bathroom | OVERNIGHT: Zanzibar Bay | MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Day 16: Back to Bagamoyo We say farewell to the island of Zanzibar today and take the ferry back to Dar es Salaam where we rejoin our truck and drive to Bagamoyo this afternoon, where we'll spend the rest of the evening preparing for our journey to Arusha tomorrow. Route: Zanzibar to Dar es Salaam by ferry; Dar es Salaam to Bagamoyo Facilities - Camping: Campsite with shared ablutions Facilities - Accommodated: Two per Room with en-suite bathroom | OVERNIGHT: FireFly Lodge | MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Day 17: Through rural Tanzania to Arusha We head north today towards the town of Arusha, which is often seen as the gateway to Tanzania's top attractions - the Serengeti National Park, the Ngorongoro Crater as well as Mount Kilimanjaro. Route: Bagamoyo to Arusha Facilities - Camping: Campsite with shared ablutions Facilities - Accommodated: Two per Room with en-suite bathroom | OVERNIGHT: Njiro Legacy | MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Day 18: Karatu Arusha might be close to Karatu, but we'll spend most of the day getting close to the wildlife-rich Ngorongoro Crater. Once we arrive in Karatu, our guide will brief us on the full day trip into the crater. Karatu is conveniently situated to allow you the opportunity to participate in various optional activities in the coming days. If you have booked the Serengeti excursion, you will be collected from Arusha this morning to start your safaris. Route: Arusha to Karatu Facilities - Camping: Campsite with shared ablutions Facilities - Accommodated: Two per Room with en-suite bathroom | OVERNIGHT: Kudu Camp or similar | MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Day 19: Ngorongoro Crater & Serengeti National Park (Seronera) We'll be collected early from our camp today in 4x4 vehicles and head into the Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO world heritage site and the home of the world’s largest unbroken caldera. More than 25,000 wildlife call the crater home and it's also one of Africa's top birding destinations, supporting over 500 bird species including ostriches, kori bustards, secretary birds and much more. We spend the majority of the day exploring the crater before arriving at our overnight camp in the Seronera region in the heart of Serengeti National Park. Surrounded by abundant wildlife and spectacular views, the camp features meru style tents and we'll enjoy a meal and drinks here this evening with the sights and sounds of nature passing right by us. Route: Karatu to Seronera via Ngorongoro Crater Included Highlight: Full day 4x4 excursion to Ngorongoro Crater and drive to Seronera Facilities - Camping: Two per Permanent Tent with en-suite bathroom Facilities - Accommodated: Two per Permanent Tent with en-suite bathroom | OVERNIGHT: Seronera Private Tented Camp | MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Day 20: Serengeti Game Drive We start early this morning for another game drive through Serengeti National Park, searching for more of the abundant wildlife, and targetting species we may not have seen yet. We'll arrive back into Karatu late in the afternoon ready to reminisce on some amazing wildlife encounters. Included Highlight: Game Drive through Seronera, Serengeti National Park Facilities - Camping: Campsite with shared ablutions Facilities - Accommodated: Two per Room with en-suite bathroom | OVERNIGHT: Seronera Private Tented Camp | MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Day 21: Karatu to Arusha We leave Karatu today and drive back to Arusha. The rest of the evening will be spent relaxing, listening and sharing stories of your experience in the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. Route: Karatu to Arusha Facilities - Camping: Campsite with shared ablutions Facilities - Accommodated: Two per Room with en-suite bathroom | OVERNIGHT: Njiro Legacy | MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Day 22: Arusha to Nairobi We cross the border into Kenya this morning as we make our way to Nairobi, where our journey ends on arrival. No accommodation is included in Nairobi tonight, but is available on request. Flight departures should not be planned until tomorrow in case of delays on the drive to Nairobi. Route: Arusha to Nairobi | OVERNIGHT: N/A | MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch | EXTRAS: Extra day in Nairobi - post-tour, Departure airport transfer in Nairobi