A fantastic, affordable trip from coast of Tanzania to the mighty Victoria Falls in Zambia.
From Dar es Salaam travel to Mikumi National Park and through beautiful mountain scenery of Tanzania’s scenic Southern Highlands. Descent into the Great Rift Valley and spend time on the sandy shores of serene Lake Malawi with clear water and beautiful fish. Then into Zambia to explore the untamed South Luangwa National Park teeming with wildlife, before continue along the lush Zambezi River basin to Livingstone.
This Budget Camping Safari ends on the Zambia side of Victoria Falls, one of the world's seven natural wonders, where you can enjoy optional adventure activities galore.
During this trip, you are likely to come across activities that encourage tourists to participate in lion, elephant or other wildlife interaction. This includes walking with lions, riding elephants and any other tourist operation putting travelers in close contact with animals that would normally live wild and separate from human contact.
We absolutely do not encourage or endorse this type of wildlife interaction operation. For more information on why this is not good for Africa's wild animals, please see our detailed blog post on the subject.
Our epic Overland Africa Tour begins in Dar es Salaam, vibrant port of Tanzania and its largest city.
Today is free to explore Dar es Salaam, which translates as "haven of peace”. The city is home to many diverse cultures, with influences from Arabic, Indian, and African traditions. This diversity is reflected in the local cuisine, architecture, and the people. Go shopping, visit the National Museum, or take a boat ride to Bongoyo Island, a marine reserve offering pristine beaches, and clear waters ideal for snorkeling.
Meet up with your guides and fellow travelers at 4pm when you are checked into your hotel and briefed on the adventures ahead. Dar es Salaam offers a wide variety of restaurants serving delicious local dishes, including grilled meats and beautiful fresh seafood. End the day near the slipway sipping cocktails, enjoying live music, and taking in the sea views.
We board our overland truck this morning and head inland. City landscapes gradually give way to rural settings, as we pass small villages, roadside stalls selling fresh produce, and locals going about their daily lives. As we get closer to our destination for the night, the town of Mikumi, the landscape becomes wilder, with vast grassy plains, baobab trees, and black hardwood forests. Keep a lookout for the Uluguru Mountains in the distance, part of the Eastern Arc Mountains stretching from Kenya through Tanzania.
Our camp for the night is a campsite on the doorstep of Mikumi National Park, which forms part of the largest wildlife area in Tanzania and is home to an impressive diversity of animals including lion, zebra, wildebeest, impala, buffalo, and elephant, and over 400 species of birds. There is an option to take an afternoon game drive in Mikumi National Park.
On Day 3 of our Overland Africa Tour, we continue inland through the mountains to the charming historic town of Iringa. En-route we stop at Baobab Valley, a valley dotted with iconic baobab trees, celebrated for their remarkable size and extraordinary longevity. The scene provides a striking backdrop for a group photograph.
We camp overnight just outside the town of Iringa, perched gracefully on the mountain slopes of the Southern Tanzania Highlands with breathtaking views of the Ruaha River Valley. Iringa boasts a delightful blend of old German colonial architecture, a bustling market, and a touching memorial dedicated to the brave soldiers who laid down their lives in local battles during the world wars.
We continue further into Tanzania’s Southern Highlands that border the Great Africa Rift Valley. Our journey takes us through beautiful mountain passes, past terraced fields of maize, potatoes, beans, and sweeping tea and coffee plantations.
We are headed towards the Mbeya Mountains, a captivating volcanic range of peaks covered in lush greenery forming a distinctive arc to the north the town of Mbeya. The cooler and more temperate climate makes the Mbeya region the major coffee-growing region of Tanzania and this afternoon we visit a coffee plantation to see how coffee is grown and harvested. You also get to sample brews of these delicious coffee beans. Our next campsite is at a scenic coffee plantation just past Mbeya.
Leaving Tanzania behind, we descend the Great Rift Valley and cross the border into Malawi, fondly known as the “Warm Heart of Africa”. Our destination is Lake Malawi, called "the Lake of Stars" due to the enchanting sight of the lights of fishing boats twinkling on the expansive lake at night. Third-largest Lake within Africa's Great Rift Valley, Lake Malawi stretches an impressive 580 kilometers (360 miles) from its northern to southern shores. The shoreline is peppered with numerous fishing villages, and we'll stop at one of them. Your guide will lead a walking tour through the village, providing an opportunity to meet local residents and gain insight into their way of life.
This afternoon, we will arrive at our campsite in Chitimba, on the shore of Lake Malawi’s serene northern region. As the sun sets, take a leisurely stroll and watch the play of light as the sun descends over the water.
On Day 6 of our overland camping adventure, we continue around the shoreline of Lake Malawi, ninth-largest lake in the world covering a vast area of Africa's Great Rift Valley. Our next stop is a campsite located on the central shores of Lake Malawi at beautiful Ngala Beach. Here, your days are free to enjoy the tranquil lake and the optional activities on offer. Stroll along the beach, soak up the sun, and swim in the crystal-clear waters.
Day 7 of our Overland Africa Tour allows for some downtime with no scheduled activities. This gives you the opportunity to enjoy the optional activities for those seeking adventure. Explore the waters on a kayak, go snorkeling, or take a motorboat trip. The lake has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage site for the exceptional diversity of its freshwater fishes. Most famous are the endemic colorful cichlid fish popular in freshwater aquariums around the world. You can also take a hike to the nearby forest reserve and waterfall or stroll along the lakeshore past local fishing villages.
On Day 8 of our Africa Overland Tour, we watch one last sunrise over the tranquil waters of Lake Malawi before our journey continues towards Zambia, where the next chapter of our adventure awaits. After border formalities are complete, we drive to the town of Chipata for a brief stop before heading to the wilds of South Luangwa National Park. For the next two nights we camp along the picturesque banks of the Luangwa River with sweeping views over the plains beyond. Enjoy the sight of animals passing by as you relax at camp with a cool drink.
On Day 9, early risers have the chance to join an optional Game Drive in South Luangwa, or for those visiting during the dry season (April to December), you can join one of the legendary walking safaris that the park is known for, accompanied by a knowledgeable guide and armed ranger.
Later in the day we embark on a sunset game drive, exploring the diverse habitats of South Luangwa National Park, from lush riverbanks and woodlands to open plains and seasonal lagoons. Hippos and crocs can be seen lazing in the river, while on the banks you may spot elephants, buffalo, giraffe, the endangered African wild dog, and various antelope species, including puku, impala, kudu, and waterbuck, among other animals. The park is home to a healthy population of lions, spotted lounging in the shade during the heat of the day, or on the prowl during the cooler evenings and mornings.
We stop for sundowners to enjoy the Zambian bush and the play of light with the setting sun, before continuing our game drive into the night when we hope to spot the elusive nocturnal animals. South Luangwa is often called the "Valley of the Leopard" due to its high density of these elusive big cats, while we may also spot civets, genets, hyenas, and the shy serval cat. You may also encounter owls and other night birds.
Leaving the Luangwa Valley this morning, we take a relatively short drive to the town of Petauke. En route, we visit Mulberry Mongoose, a unique handcrafted jewelry business based in Zambia's South Luangwa Valley. The accessories are hand crafted by local ladies using organic materials sourced locally. We continue our journey, passing numerous rural villages and farming communities to the town of Petauke, where we will spend the night at a comfortable campsite.
Our Dar es Salaam to Vic Falls Camping Safari continues west along Zambia’s Great East Road. We cross the bridge over the Luangwa River, built during Zambia's colonial era and a key engineering challenge due to its location and size. We stop at vibrant Luangwa Market located close to the bridge, bustling with traders selling everything from fresh produce to beautiful basketware and other local crafts.
Our riverside campsite for the next two nights is located near the town of Chirundu on the banks of the Kafue River. Here you are free to try a range of exciting optional activities during your stay. The Kafue River flows into the great Zambezi River at Chirundu and this is a popular destination for fishing the legendary Tiger Fish. Otherwise, go bird watching, take a full-day game drive in the remote Lower Zambezi National Park, go on a river safari, or hike to a nearby baobab forest or bat cave for sweeping views over this lovely valley.
Our journey continues across the southern reaches of Zambia as we make our way to the town of Livingstone and the magnificent Victoria Falls. This afternoon you can get your first sighting of the great natural wonder, Victoria Falls, or as the Zambian locals call it, “Mosi oa Tunya” – the Smoke that Thunders. Livingstone is a base for many exciting activities and excursions in and around the falls, and these can be booked on arrival.
Your tour comes to an end upon arrival in Livingstone.
We recommend booking a few extra days in Livingstone after this safari ends in order to enjoy the sights and exciting adventure activities available.
We recommend booking your incoming and onward flights at least one day before and after this Dar es Salaam to Vic Falls Overland Camping Safari is scheduled. It is advisable to arrive the day before departure from Dar es Salaam and fly out the day after the overland tour ends in Livingstone to allow for delays and changes.
Simply ask your friendly travel advisor to add pre-tour and post-tour accommodation to your safari booking.
This southbound Tour is also available in the opposite direction, starting in Victoria Falls and ending in Dar es Salaam.
This Camping Overland Tour is also available as a Lodge Overland Tour which follows the same itinerary and stays at comfortable lodges instead of camping.
For more details contact African Budget Safaris
For up-to-date and confirmed pricing info for optional items, please drop us an enquiry.
This tour does not take children.
1. Mizingani Road, Zanzibar Town, Tanzania
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