 Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa
Download and print the relevant pages for this safari from our brochure (PDF)
|
 |
KENYA - TANZANIA
Journeying south from bustling Nairobi, we travel through sweeping and often arid plains, dotted with whistling thorn, to safari in Tanzania's premier game parks, the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. On our drive we can catch a glimpse of snow capped Kilimanjaro, Africa's tallest mountain.
Our first game drives are on the seemingly endless savannah grasslands of the Serengeti, the stage for the famous wildebeest migration. Here, from small hills of rock, the Simba Kopjes, lion nonchalantly oversee the game on the plains.
We then safari to what is known as the 'Noah's ark' of game reserves, the perfectly intact volcanic caldera of Ngorongoro Crater. Descending into the Crater we view the rim of Lake Magadi pink with flamingo, plain's game graze peacefully on the grasslands, hippo loll in the pools and we have the chance to see all 'the big five', lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino.
We are in Maasai lands here. The traditional herdsmen, attired in colourful dress, can be seen grazing their cattle by the road. A visit in the Maasai cultural museum, village and school allows us to experience a little of traditional ways and provides insight into their way of life.
We travel to Dar Es Salaam on the Indian Ocean to cross to Unguja, the exotic spice island of Zanzibar for four days. Explore Stone Town with its ancient architecture. Take a spice tour for some history. Then hire a jeep or motor bike and get away.....snorkel, scuba dive, swim with the dolphins or just enjoy the sun bleached miles of palm-fringed white beaches.
MALAWI
We enter Africa's 'warm heart' transiting via Mikumi National Park. A country of charm, warmth and beauty where we can visit in traditional villages, shop in busy carving markets, hike the extensive plateaux amongst lush scenery - waterfalls, exotic plantations and woodlands - and relax by the lake at beach resorts. Enjoy horse riding or water sports, windsurfing, and water skiing. Take out a pedalow, canoe or sail boat, scuba dive or snorkel.
On departures when South Luangwa is out of season we will explore further off the beaten track to visit extra highlights in this beautiful country such as Vwaza Marsh, Luwawa Forest or Nkhata or Senga Bay enabling us to get a true sense of rural Africa.
ZAMBIA
Into Zambia we travel the bumpy road to South Luangwa National Park (season pending). Luangwa is a park of pristine wilderness of over 9,000 square metres, and home to elephant, lion, waterbuck, Thornicroft giraffe, impala, kudu and zebra. Large pods of hippopotamus and huge numbers of crocodile also inhabit the muddy Luangwa River.
Arriving in Lusaka, the capital, we stock up on stores before some luxury cruising on a houseboat to relax and take time out from camping, the houseboats having an onboard chef, jacuzzi, bar and beds. View elephant, hippo, crocodile and waterbuck from our boat. Take a dinghy out to fish for bream or the ferocious tiger fish and to get up close to view game at the lake's edge. As the sun sets the fossilised hardwood trees stand sentinel in this extraordinary setting.
From here it is four days at Victoria Falls usually in Livingstone. Here we can wander the national park to view the Falls, one of the natural wonders of the world. Victoria Falls and the famous Zambezi River is also the place for adventure........ whitewater rafting, bunji or gorge swing, riverboard, kayak or take 'the flight of the Angels'. A sunset cruise is a perfect way to finish a day, the hippo rising out of the murky waters as the sun sets. Alternatively enjoy a sizzling steak and a beer in one of the many pubs or restaurants. Lion walks, rhino treks, horse riding and elephant rides, as well as interactive drumming are all available.
BOTSWANA
Botswana brings more opportunities to experience Africa's incomparable wilderness areas - Chobe National Park and its large herds of elephant for a game drive and sunset cruise. Then the option of a three day mokoro safari in the remote unspoilt and lush waterways of the Okavango Delta. Here we are poled by mokoro, traditional dug-out canoes, through tranquil waters and take guided game walks viewing elephant, buffalo, hippo and other game as well as the wonderful birdlife of the Delta.
NAMIBIA
After visiting Popa Falls, we continue to the Hoba meteorite, the largest known meteorite in the world, before entering 'the place of dry water', Etosha National Park. Elephant, lion, giraffe, antelope, wildebeest and black rhino, amongst other wildlife, exist around the Pan and may be seen at the floodlit water holes in the evening. Two to three days in the park allow for plenty of game drives, photo opportunities and a swim at the campsite.
From here we visit the Cheetah Park, for an opportunity to get up close to the wild cats. After viewing bushman paintings, we stop at Cape Cross Seal Reserve, home to 200,000 Cape fur seals who flourish in the cold waters of the Benguela Current. Swakopmund, a seaside resort nestled between the desert and the sea, is our next destination offering plenty of action ........skydiving, open sea fishing, quad biking, sandboarding and scenic flights over the Skeleton Coast.Township tours are also available.
Through the Namib Desert to Sossusvlei we camp at Sesriem in the shade of the camelthorn trees. With an early rise to scale the 1,000 foot dunes before the day heats up, we can also photograph the colour transformations of sunrise on the red gold formations. We continue to Fish River Canyon, reputedly second only in size to the Grand Canyon before travelling to Ai Ais, at the far end of the Canyon, for a soak in the hot springs.
SOUTH AFRICA
Across the Orange River and into South Africa we stop over for a lazy afternoon canoeing and to camp amidst wild and dramatic scenery. Travelling through the wine areas of the Cape Province we reach our journey's end in Cape Town where we stay at Ashanti Lodge. Its Travel Centre will advise on any of the activities you may wish to do in South Africa, travelling the Garden Route or onward journeys to Johannesburg.
SAFARI NOTES:
Contact us for bolt on safaris into the Masai Mara (on specified departures) for the chance to see the big herds of wildebeest, zebra and Thomson's gazelle on migration.
VISIT THE MARA! ... click here for details ...
Want to chill down into the groove of Africa before you head out on safari, then unwind on the white sands of the Kenyan Coast.....hakuna matata.....
BEACH STAY ON THE KENYAN COAST.....click here for details
|
|
|
|
