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A memorable three-week East Africa Overland Tour from Victoria Falls to Nairobi in Kenya.
Travel highlights on this scenic Victoria Falls to Kenya Camping Safari include:
Experience the best of East Africa, from spectacular scenery to superb game viewing and unique cultures - at an affordable price!
__large.jpg "Tanzania giraffe and game by George")
We depart early from Livingstone, situated on the Zambian side of Victoria Falls. With a last glimpse of the spectacular waterfall, we travel through rural Zambia. The vegetation becomes more sub-tropical, the settlements less western and the roads a little rougher. Along the way, we pass bustling markets, small villages, and rustic landscapes.
Our camp for the next 2 nights lies near the village of Chirundu on the banks of the Kafue River, Zambia’s largest river which eventually flows into the great Zambezi River downstream from Victoria Falls. This evening your guides make a hearty dinner and fill you in on the overland tour adventures ahead.
Today is spent at your leisure. Relax on the river front deck admiring the stunning views of the Kafue River. There are also several optional activities on offer: Take a river cruise for a full day adventure with picnic lunch on one of the sandbanks that dot the Zambezi River, or a sunset cruise at the end of the day. Tiger fishing on the Lower Zambezi is a popular excursion. Visit a nearby baobab forest or take a full day safari to the Lower Zambezi National Park for a game viewing adventure.
Serious birders might enjoy a guided birding walk or boat tour - sought after species that appear during the green season include the African Pitta, Livingstone’s flycatcher, and African broadbill. Or you may wish to visit the Local Farao Community who will warmly welcome you and share their local culture.
We make an early start heading east, through Lusaka, the bustling capital city, and onwards along the Great East Road. Watch small villages and subsistence farms pass by as we travel deep into rural Zambia. We cross the Luangwa River, major tributary to the great Zambezi, and pay a visit to the bustling Luangwa Market where traders sell everything from fish to delicious fruit and local crafts.
The Luangwa River is a meandering river running through northeast Zambia which floods in the rainy season (December to March), then subsides leaving a flood-plain several kilometres wide dotted with oxbow lakes. The area is known for the world's largest concentration of hippos who become crowded in by the shrinking river into the remaining pools of water.
In the morning we continue our journey, headed to South Luangwa National Park. Stop in at the Mulberry Mongoose, a project to empower local women, creating beautiful crafts from natural bush materials. They are known for their jewellery range made from wire retrieved from a conservation project where game conservationists clear poaching snares.
We make our way into South Luangwa National Park, a reserve since 1904, home to herds of elephants and buffalo, lions, good populations of giraffe and zebra. It is often referred to as "The Valley of the Leopard" as the leopards here are not as shy as most other places and are more easily spotted. Our safari camp for the next two nights is situated on the banks of the Luangwa River where you can observe at close quarters wildlife moving in and around camp.
We have a full day in South Luangwa on Day 5. Start the day with an optional game drive or walking safari (season dependant) or relax at camp. In the afternoon we will head out on a sunset game drive, stopping for a spectacular sunset and a chance to spot some nocturnal animals on the drive back.
Continuing our Victoria Falls to Kenya Lodge Safari we cross into Malawi, known as the Warm Heart of Africa. Entering Malawi, we take a game viewing drive through Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve keeping a lookout for animals. Our destination is Lake Malawi, third largest of the great lakes of the Africa Rift Valley.
We make our way to historical Ngala Beach in the Nkhotakota Region. Our camp is located on the shores of Lake Malawi and enjoys a pleasant climate for swimming year-round. There are no planned activities for day 6, leaving you free to relax on the sandy shores of Lake Malawi, explore the area and participate in optional activities.
Popular optional activities include waterfall hike, paddle skiing, horse riding and snorkelling - the clear warm waters of this vast African lake make it an ideal destination for snorkelling to spot the brightly coloured cichlid fish found here. Otherwise, embark on an optional motorboat trip or do some bird watching. You can also take a walk along the lake, passing fishing villages along the way for some laid-back exploration. Lake Malawi is known for its friendly locals and fresh fish, in addition to the excellent water activities at this scenic lake.
We head a north following the shores of Lake Malawi. Today your overland guide takes you on a walking tour of a local village. You'll encounter the local Malawians as they go about their daily lives and gain insight into rural life in Africa.
By late afternoon we arrive at the lakeside camp in Chitimba where you sit back and watch the sun go down over the lake with a cold drink in hand.
Today we say goodbye to lovely Lake Malawi and travel north into our next African country, Tanzania. Crossing into Southern Tanzania, we head into the Mbeya Mountain range. We will overnight at a scenic camp on a coffee plantation at the foot of the mountains, a region renowned for growing coffee due to the warm summers, fresh winters and seasonal rains.
This morning our Africa Overland Tour sees us sample the delicious coffee beans and learn more about how they are grown and harvested. Then we continue our drive over some spectacular mountain passes, ascending the Great Rift Valley and traveling through rolling tea plantations in the Tanzanian Highlands. Our camp for the night is outside the town of Iringa located on the heights overlooking the Ruaha River Valley.
From Iringa, we drive north, making a quick stop at the Baobab Valley. Here these iconic trees dot the landscape and make a perfect backdrop for a group picture.
We continue to the Mikumi National Park, fourth largest park in Tanzania which forms part of the larger Selous Game Reserve ecosystem. Mikumi Park is home to lion, zebra, wildebeest, impala, buffalo and elephant, among other wildlife and over 400 species of birds. There is an option to take an afternoon game drive in Mikumi Park (own expense), where the open Mkata Floodplains host an abundance of wild animals, particularly large herds of grazing herbivores.
Today our epic East Africa Overland Safari journeys out of the cool highland region of Tanzania and down towards the humid Indian Ocean coastline. We travel to the coastal city of Dar es Salaam, the capital of trade and commerce in Tanzania, where we spend the night in a city hotel. Dar es Salaam, meaning "haven of peace" in Arabic, is a melting pot of cultures and traditions. This evening you are free to sample one of the local restaurants and take in the night-time atmosphere. We catch an early ferry in the morning.
Catch an early ferry to Zanzibar Island - our home for the next three nights. Arriving on the main island of Zanzibar we head to our overnight hotel in historic Stone Town. Stone Town is a captivating blend of cultures, with twisted alleyways, crumbling limestone palaces, mosques, and faded mansions that tell tales of its rich history - it was once a major port on the slave and spice trade routes. Today is yours to explore the town at your own pace.
We take a morning stroll around Stone Town visiting well known landmarks, including the birthplace of one of Zanzibar’s most famous exports, Freddy Mercury.
It is then time to head out of town to our beach resort which will be home for the next 2 nights. We stop to take a guided walking tour of a village and its spice plantations. Learn about the modern spice trade and see farm workers climb trees in search of specific spices. There is even a chance to buy some fresh spices from here.
Then on to the beach hotel. Settle into your room with en-suite bathroom. Laze on the sandy shores, swim in the warm waters, explore the islands on guided trips or rent a scooter and set off on your own. Explore what various water sports and ocean activities are available, from snorkelling and fishing to scuba diving and traditional dhow sailing trips.
This morning we take the ferry back to Dar es Salaam, where our safari truck awaits us. Boarding our overland truck we drive north to Bagamoyo for an overnight stay, where we are back in our tents.
Founded in the late 1700s, the town of Bagamoyo provides insight into the history of Tanzania, particularly the 19th century when it was a major trading port for ivory and slaves. The history of Bagamoyo, the capital of German East Africa, includes interesting German colonial, Swahili, Arabic, and Christian missionary influences. Today dhow sailing boats are built in Bagamoyo, which translates as “lay down your heart” a moniker dating back to the cruel slave trading days in East Africa.
Today we take a scenic drive up the coast, then eventually inland, where the landscape transforms once again – to lush greenery with the majestic Mt Kilimanjaro looming in the distance. We camp overnight in Arusha which is located close to the Kenya-Tanzania border. Arusha lies in the cool foothills of Mount Meru, Africa's fifth-highest peak. It is a bustling city, serving as the starting point for climbers to Kilimanjaro and safaris to Tanzania’s Northern Safari Circuit. There is a vibrant blend of cultures, offering everything from bustling markets to gourmet restaurants.
Leaving Arusha today we drive to Karatu, in the Ngorongoro Highlands area. We stop on the way to visit the market in the village of Mto wa Mbu. Renowned for its lush rice plantations and unique red bananas, this quaint town is a bustling hub situated on the key route to two of Africa's most iconic destinations – the majestic Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area.
Karatu is a small town between Lake Manyara and the Ngorongoro Crater and serves as our base for exploring the Tanzania Northern Safari Circuit. Once in Karatu, your guide will tell you more about our 2-night excursion to the renowned Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti Park, planned for the following day.
Rise and shine early this morning for an action-packed day of 4x4 game viewing in the Ngorongoro Crater. You are collected from the camp and set off for the wildlife rich Ngorongoro Crater where most of your day is spent exploring. The Ngorongoro Crater is the world's largest intact volcanic caldera, its 26,400 hectares serving as a sanctuary for over 30,000 wild animals living inside. It hosts one of the densest animal populations in Africa, so a wide range of wild animals is usually spotted on the day safari.
After a memorable day of game viewing in the Ngorongoro Crater, we drive on to the Serengeti National Park. We make our way to the heart of Serengeti National Park, called Seronera. Keep your eyes open for wildlife on our game drive en route to Seronera where we spend the next 2 nights in a tented camp.
Day 20 of our Africa Overland Tour is an early start for a full day exploring the Seronera region of Serengeti National Park, one of Africa's favoured safari destinations. Seronera is famous for its outstanding predator sightings, earning it the title of the 'Big cat capital of Africa'. You’re likely to encounter the park's most diverse wildlife, with everything from herds of wildebeest and zebra grazing on the vast plains, to lions and leopards stealthily stalking their prey. The area's abundant acacia trees provide a perfect habitat for cheetahs, while the Seronera River attracts a myriad of bird species, making it a haven for bird watchers. As the day ends, there's nothing quite like the sight of the sun setting over the Serengeti, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple before we return to camp.
We return to Arusha, enjoying beautiful views of the Great Rift Valley en route. This evening we relax around the campfire and recount our incredible wildlife adventures in Serengeti Park and the Ngorongoro Crater.
Today we cross the border into Kenya, the last country on our Africa Overland Tour. We drive across rural Kenya to Nairobi. This action-packed Victoria Falls to Kenya Lodge Safari finishes in here, Nairobi, Kenya's capital city.
This northbound Victoria Falls to Kenya Camping Safari is also available in the opposite direction - Kenya to Victoria Falls Overland Tour, starting in Nairobi and ending in Livingstone, Victoria Falls. This overland camping safari is also available as a Lodge Safari - the Victoria Falls to Kenya Lodge Safari.
Please note that the Wildebeest Great Migration is seasonal. As a natural wildlife phenomenon, it is fluid and unpredictable. For this reason, seeing the Great Migration cannot be guaranteed.
The wildebeest and other wild herbivores migrate between Masai Mara in Kenya and Serengeti in Tanzania. These herds move in a massive circular route covering some 1200 miles (1931km). It is a continuous movement of wildlife that can be seen in different areas at different times of the year. During certain phases of this annual trek the animals disperse or slow down, whilst at other times the migration picks up speed, with the herds becoming larger and denser. Not only does the Wildebeest Great Migration vary from place to place and season to season but the movement of these large wildlife herds varies from year to year.
Please talk to a travel expert from African Budget Safaris about seeing the Wildebeest Great Migration on your safari to find out more. Also, check out our detailed article about the Great Migration in Serengeti and Masai Mara.
For up-to-date and confirmed pricing info for optional items, please drop us an enquiry.
This tour does take children.
There is a minimum age limit of 12 years of age, for travellers on scheduled departure dates.
A maximum of 4 children, aged between 12 - 15 years, will be allowed on any scheduled tour departure date.
Should there already be 4 children confirmed on a tour, any further children requests will be dealt with on a request basis only.
Age restrictions may apply to certain items listed in the respective tour activities and it is important that you are aware of these restrictions prior to confirming children on tour.
Please contact African Budget Safaris for further information.
A budget Africa Overland Tour the Nairobi to Victoria Falls Camping Safari visits Tanzania's Ngorongoro, Serengeti & Zanzibar, Lake Malawi & Zambia's Luangwa Valley
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Our team has the destination knowledge to help you plan an unforgettable African adventure. We're based in Cape Town and ready to help.
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