Johannesburg to Dar es Salaam Safari (North)

Visit Palapye, Botswana, on the banks of the Lotsane River and Khama Rhino Sanctuary. Fly from Maun into the Okavango Delta. Fly to Gweta and head north to Kasane, on the Chobe River. In Zimbabwe, arrive in Victoria Falls and experience the Zambezi for white water rafting and bungee jumping.

Cross to Lusaka, Zambia, before heading north-east towards Chipata. Drive to the South Luangwa National Park and visit the community-run tribal textile project and a local village.

In Malawi, spend the night at Luwawa Forest and relax on the beaches of Lake Malawi. Travel Tanzania and ascend the Great Rift Valley to Iringa. Pass through Mukumi National Park to Dar es Salaam.

Day 1: Palapye – Botswana

We depart Johannesburg heading north to Botswana. After border formalities we continue towards Palapye, previously known as Phalatswe, where we'll spend our first night. Palapye is located on the banks of the Lotsane River.

Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Day 2: Khama Rhino Sanctuary & Maun – Botswana

This morning we visit the Khama Rhino Sanctuary, a community based wildlife project, established in 1992 to assist in saving the vanishing rhino. We arrive in Maun in the afternoon and prepare for the Okavango Delta. As our transport is in small planes the limit on personal luggage is a maximum of 10kg, for most people this means repacking! Do not forget your cameras! In the late afternoon there is sometimes time to visit a local Crocodile Farm. Optional Activity: Crocodile Farm.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3 - 4: Okavango Delta – Botswana

We leave our truck behind, board our planes, and head into the Delta. After a wonderful scenic flight we arrive at our base for the next two days. During our time in the Delta we enjoy the best nature has to offer. We go on nature walks and If possible will explore the Delta by mokoro. The Delta is the world’s largest inland delta. The Okavango River has no outlet to the sea, so it empties into the sands of the Kalahari Desert, irrigating some 15,000 square km’s. This is a truly spectacular and unforgettable experience where wild animals are not familiar with people.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Gweta – Botswana

We leave the Delta behind us and travel east to Gweta, which is located halfway between Maun and Nata, near the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park. The area is also full of Baobab trees, these large trees are often extremely old and there are many local fables in which they play a part.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: Kasane & Chobe National Park – Botswana

Today we head north to Kasane, on the banks of the Chobe River. Apart from being the 2nd biggest National Park in Botswana, Chobe National Park is renowned for its high population of migratory elephants. The afternoon is spent game viewing on a river cruise, into the renowned Chobe NP. This is an excellent opportunity to view some of Africa’s spectacular wildlife. If you did not see enough animals already there will be time tomorrow morning for an optional game drive in the Chobe NP.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7: Victoria Falls – Zimbabwe

On arrival in Victoria Falls we have time to plan the next day’s adventure activities before we visit the spectacular Victoria Falls National Park and experience the thundering of the mighty Zambezi as it drops over 100m in to the gorge below. The local Batoka tribe named the Victoria Falls ‘Mosi-o-Tunya’ which translated means “The Smoke that Thunders’. In high-water season the plume of spray rising from the Falls can be seen for kilometres.

Optional Activities: Chobe NP Early Morning Game Drive, Zambezi Sunset Dinner Cruise

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 8: Victoria Falls – Zimbabwe

You can choose between relaxing and getting mundane things like laundry out of the way and taking part in some of the amazing adventure activities on offer here. The Zambezi White Water Rafting still boasts the most grade-5 white water to be commercially tackled and this is a serious must-do activity for most people. If braving the white water, or bungy, is not for you then the lion walk or elephant encounter are both amazing options, it’s a totally different experience to meet one of these creatures up close!

Optional Activities: White Water Rafting, Bungy Jump, Elephant Excursion, Walking with Lions, Horse Riding, Micro-light, Flight of the Angels, Skydiving etc.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 9: Lusaka – Zambia

Leaving behind the natural wonder of Victoria Falls we begin our expedition. After Livingstone we journey towards the bustling Zambian capital of Lusaka where we see locals going about their daily business. You will notice the vegetation becoming sub-tropical and the roads a little rougher.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 10: Chipata – Zambia

Today is a long drive through lush country, crossing rivers enroute to Chipata, the gateway to the South Luangwa National Park. Zambia is truly African and an adjustment from the more western ways of Southern Africa. There are many rural villages and farming communities.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 11 - 12: South Luangwa National Park – Zambia

Early in the morning we drive from Chipata to the border of the South Luangwa National Park where we spend two nights at our campsite right on the bank of the Luangwa River. You can often see Hippo and other animals from the campsite bar. The park is known for its high concentration of leopards and hippos. The next day we visit the community run tribal textile project and a local village. Later this afternoon we enjoy a guided afternoon game drive. On occasion, in the rainy season it is impossible or inadvisable to attempt to reach South Luangwa NP, if this happens an alternative itinerary will be chosen. Optional Activities: Morning Game Drive and Game Walk in South Luangwa NP.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 13 - 14: Luwawa Forest – Malawi

We depart from South Luangwa early and cross the border in to Malawi where we begin climbing in to the mountains that border the Malawian shores of Lake Malawi. In these higher areas there is a lot of commercial forestry and the cooler climate can be a very pleasant change from the more humid temperatures below. Luwawa Forest camp are winners of the 2008 'Community Development Work and Sustainable Tourism Award’. Take a hike to the viewpoint to see the Lake form above, or rent a Mountain Bike for some exciting riding. Optional Activities: Mountian Biking, Abseiling, Rock Climbing, Fishing, Canoeing Sailing.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 15 - 16: Central Lake Malawi – Malawi

The road down the mountain from Luwawa to the lake shore is scenic and quite exciting. We take a break from travelling with a couple of relaxing days at Kande Beach Village on Lake Malawi. There is lovely white sand and lots of water sport and leisure activities available. We will also visit a local village for some cultural interaction here.

Optional Activities: Scuba diving, parasailing, windsurfing, fishing, canoeing, horse riding, craft shopping, hiking and more.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 17 - 18: Northern Lake Malawi – Malawi

Leaving Kande Beach we travel north to Chitimba, a small village by the lake with more white sandy beaches. Livingstonia Mission is at the top of the nearby mountains. You can hike up to the village, but be warned, this is not a relaxing stroll… there is a beautiful waterfall and interesting permaculture project on the way and it is possible to spend the night up there. Alternatively spend another 2 relaxing days on the beach.

Optional Activities: Hike to Livingstonia Mission, Abseiling, Water sports etc.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 19: Iringa – Tanzania

Today we leave Malawi and enter Tanzania. We ascend out of the Great Rift Valley through some spectacular mountain passes, passing vast tea plantations in the highlands before arriving at our camp outside Iringa.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 20: Dar Es Salaam – Tanzania

Today we transit through Mikumi National Park, the 4th largest National Park in Tanzania, to the historical port city of Dar es Salaam, gateway to Zanzibar. The city is one of the oldest settled cities in East Africa and, although not the capital, is the chief commercial centre of Tanzania. On arrival in Dar es Salaam your tour is officially over, however, if you wish to continue your travels by joining the rest of the group and visit Zanzibar then this can be arranged. We can also assist you with accommodation bookings Dar es Salaam.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch