Zanzibar, Victoria Falls & Kruger Camping Safari

This Zanzibar, Vic Falls & Kruger Camping Safari takes you on an affordable African adventure through Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana and South Africa.

Highlights on this budget camping trip include game viewing in Botswana's premier Chobe National Park and South Africa's flagship Kruger National Park, as well as exploring Zanzibar Island with its sandy beaches, rich history and intriguing cultures. 

Top Southern African travel destinations featured on the itinerary include the world famous Victoria Falls, where an array of optional adventure activities are available, and Lake Malawi, one of the most scenic lakes in the world.

An exciting exploration of Southern Africa's landscapes, natural wonders and cultures, this memorable camping tour offers an ideal mix of wildlife and beaches! 

Tour Highlights: 

• Visit Tanzania's coastal city of Dar es Salaam
• Explore Zanzibar Island's beaches, history and cultures
• Relax on the shores of Lake Malawi & meet the local people
• See Victoria Falls & choose adventure activities in Livingstone
• Take a sunset river cruise in Botswana's Chobe National Park
• Go on Big Five game drives in the famous Kruger Park

DAY 1 – 3: Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar Island, Tanzania

This African camping safari starts off in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania’s largest city located on the East coast of Africa.

We depart from Dar es Salaam in the morning with the tour guide giving a tour briefing on the ferry across to Zanzibar Island, also known as The Spice Island.

Our first destination, the Zanzibar Archipelago, is a cluster of lush tropical islands in the Indian Ocean, lying about 40 km’s off the coast of Tanzania. The main island is Unguja, also called Zanzibar Island, and the other main island is Pemba.

The Zanzibar Islands are an alluring tourist destination, offering white sand beaches, exotic spices and a rich cultural heritage. Visitors are drawn to Zanzibar for its’ idyllic beaches and interesting history that can be seen in the architecture of places like Stone Town, as well as its’ diverse cultures.

We stay in Zanzibar for three nights, giving you plenty of time to explore this rustic and exotic island paradise. This tour does not follow an itinerary on Zanzibar, so you are free to choose your own activities and enjoy the islands at leisure.

Explore the palm-fringed beaches up north, choosing from the array of activities available. Activities include snorkelling and scuba diving in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean, taking excursions to the smaller off-lying islands and sampling the delicious fresh seafood on offer.

Or you could simply relax on one of the beautiful beaches; sipping on a cocktail and taking a refreshing swim in the sea. Go on a romantic sunset cruise in a traditional Dhow sailing boat or hike one of the trails on the lush forested island of Zanzibar.

Browse the bustling local markets and visit the intriguing mosques, palaces and courtyards of Stone Town, or stroll through the winding lanes of the historic quarter stopping at Arabic-style shops. Treat your senses to a Spice day tour to one of the spice plantations in the area where spices including cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon and pepper are grown - a feast of tastes, scents and colours.

Zanzibar displays a unique blend of Arabic and African cultures having once been a major centre for the trading of slaves and spices. Even today the population of Zanzibar is mostly Sunni Muslim with the strong Arabic influence being evident in Zanzibar’s culture as well as its’ architecture and town design. Some of the 19th century’s great European explorers, such as Richard Burton and David Livingstone, used Zanzibar as a base, with the islands gaining independence from Britain in 1963.

After our Zanzibar Island adventure we take the ferry back to Dar es Salaam, on the mainland. 

Please Note:

Basic tourist class accommodation on Zanzibar is included in the Local Payment, but meals are left for your own account for the sake of flexibility.

We spend one night in Stone Town and two nights in the north of the island at one of the beaches. Your tour leader will be able to assist if you experience any problems but there are no set activities - the time is entirely at your leisure.

DAY 4 – 10: Mukumi National Park & Lake Malawi Beaches, Malawi

We stay in Dar es Salaam for one night, before heading south towards Malawi, known as the Warm Heart of Africa. We drive via Tanzania’s Mikumi National Park, crossing into the northern tip of Malawi.

Once in Malawi we soon reach the vast expanse of Lake Malawi, one of the most scenic lakes in the world. We usually camp at one of the beaches along the shores of the lake, giving us time to relax and explore the area.

There are a variety of activities available at Lake Malawi, including water sports such as snorkeling and diving. We also have the opportunity of visiting some of the local communities to meet the Malawian people, among the friendliest people in Africa.

About Lake Malawi

Lake Malawi, also known as Lake Nyasa, is the southernmost lake in the Great Rift Valley and the third largest lake in Africa. This African Great Lake covers nearly one fifth of Malawi and is the highlight of any trip to Malawi. The vast freshwater lake is surrounded by high mountains in an idyllically setting and is famous for its’ clear, warm waters and welcoming local people.

Lake Malawi is also known for its’ delicious fresh fish, sandy beaches, excellent diving and resident fish eagles.

The lake serves as a major food source for Malawians, as well as providing many with a source of livelihood trading fish and making canoes and fishing nets.

DAY 11 – 16: Lusaka to Livingstone & Victoria Falls, Zambia

We leave the shores of Lake Malawi continuing our journey to Livingstone in Zambia. On our way to Livingstone we cross the Luangwa River and travel through Lusaka, Zambia’s capital city.

Our next campsite is located on the banks of the mighty Zambezi River, a few kilometers from the famous Victoria Falls on the Zambian side.

Vic Falls, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, is considered the largest sheet of falling water at 1 708 m’s wide and 108m’s high.

During our stay at Victoria Falls there are plenty of exciting activities to choose from, including white water rafting, scenic flights, bungee jumping, canoeing, game viewing, elephant back safaris, Zambezi River cruises and more.

When you witness the impressive spray rising from the Zambezi as it plummets over 100 m’s at Victoria Falls, you will understand why it is called the “Smoke that Thunders” or “Mosi oa Tunya”, as Vic Falls is called locally. When the Zambezi is flowing strongly the spray at Vic Falls can be seen from as far as 20 km’s away.

Our time at Vic Falls is free for you to explore Livingstone town, participate in some of the thrilling adventure activities or simply relax beside the Zambezi River, keeping an eye out for hippos and crocodiles.

Please note:

During our stay in Livingstone only breakfast is included in the tour price, allowing for flexibility with your other meals while you are on the move. Our overnight camp in Livingstone features a reasonably priced restaurant overlooking the Zambezi River and many of the full and half-day activities include lunch. A budget of between US$30 and $40 per day is recommended for your other meals.

DAY 17 – 22: Chobe National Park & Greater Kruger National Park to Johannesburg, South Africa

We depart from Livingstone after breakfast, leaving Zambia and crossing into Botswana to visit Chobe National Park, Botswana's premier game park. 

The game-rich Chobe National Park boasts one of the highest concentrations of wildlife in Africa, covering 12 000 sq km’s of unspoiled wilderness in northwest Botswana.

Famous for its large elephant populations, estimated at around 40000 strong, Chobe Park is an excellent place for sighting elephants among other wildlife. Chobe is also home to lion, zebra, buffalo and a variety of antelope species, as well as an abundance of birdlife, including the African fish-eagle.

In the late afternoon we embark on a Chobe River sunset cruise keeping an eye out for the hippo, buffalo, elephant and birds found along the river’s edge.

Next our journey takes us via the small town of Nata, situated on the edge of the expansive Magkadigkadi Pans, and Francistown as we travel through the sprawling grasslands fringing the Kalahari Desert.

We then cross into South Africa making our way to the world-renowned Kruger National Park in the Mpumalanga Province. We spend two nights camping within the Greater Kruger area, which covers over 24 000 sq km’s of savannah and bush.

The Greater Kruger area was recently formed when fences between Kruger National Park and the private game reserves bordering the park were removed. The establishment of the Greater Kruger enables the diverse wildlife found in these wilderness areas to move freely between Kruger Park and its neighbouring game reserves.

Kruger is South Africa’s flagship game park and top travel destination, boasting an unrivalled diversity of plants and animals, ranging from the dwarf mongoose to Africa’s Big Five - elephant, rhino, leopard, lion and buffalo.

Our game drives in Kruger Park take us in search of the Big Five of Africa and a variety of other wildlife, such as giraffe, zebra, cheetah, hyena and various antelope species. With around 507 bird species, 147 mammal species and 114 reptiles game drives in Kruger Park offer excellent photographic opportunities. In addition to its abundance of wildlife, the untamed Kruger Park is also rich in archaeological and historical sites.

While at Kruger Park there is also the opportunity of taking an optional cultural excursion to one of the local villages in the evening.

On the final day of our camping safari through Southern Africa we depart from Kruger Park, driving west through one of the most scenic parts of South Africa to our last stop, Johannesburg.

We arrive in the bustling city of Johannesburg, the economic powerhouse of Southern Africa, in the evening bringing our African adventure to an end.

Tour Transport

Transport on this tour is in a 24-seater, custom-built safari truck. The self-contained truck is fitted with onboard tables, individual lockers (70-litre) and a freezer, as well as safety features. The safari truck also features plug sockets, a library and an i-pod jack.

Meals on this Tour

The following meals are included: 

• Breakfast (B) x 18
• Lunch (L) x 13
• Dinner (D) x 14

The group prepares the included meals in camp and help with preparation is invited. Most dietary requirements can be catered for on the road, upon request at the time of booking. Please note that meals in Zanzibar are not included in the tour price.

Game Park Visits

Some of our National Park visits and game viewing drives are conducted using local services, to ensure the best quality game driving and to comply with local authority rulings. Using local African guides and service providers also adds to our safari experience and allows us to contribute to the local communities. These local services are included in the Local Payment of the tour.