Kigali to Cape Town Overland Tours

Price
£2635
+ Local Payment US$950
(local payment explained)
What's Included
The Serengeti Ngorongoro Crater
South Luangwa National Park
Matopos
Etosha National Park
Namib Naukluft National Park
The Grumeti Reserve
Great Zimbabwe Ruins
Bushmen visit
Sossusvlei Dunes
Africat Carnivore Care
Cape Cross Seal Colony
Spitzkoppe or similar
Fish River Canyon
Brkfast & dinner whilst travelling on the truck
Some pre-prepared barbecues
Contribution to final group meal
Camping whilst travelling on the truck
3 nights lodge stay, Swakopmund
1 night Ashanti Lodge, Cape Town
Further 5 nights in local lodges
Fully equipped expedition truck incl - fridge, gas, tents, sleep mats
Services of Absolute Crew
Ongoing advice
All road tolls & taxes are paid

Countries Visited
Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa
Kigali to Cape Town Safari Overview
Get with the beat of Africa! Gorilla trek in the Virungas, Safari across the Serengeti and into Ngorongoro Crater. Swim in crystal clear waters off Zanzibar and visit in rural fishing villages by Lake Malawi. White water raft on the grade 5 rapids at Victoria Falls, get up close and personal with a rhino on a trek in Matopos. Lie back as you are poled through the maze of wetlands in the Okavango and trek to the top of Namibia's monumental red-gold dunes. Toast the perfect trip with a glass or two of a crisp South African wine in the wineries at Stellenbosch before arriving into Cape Town!
Kigali to Cape Town Safari Add-ons
Itinerary
Day 1
RWANDA - UGANDA
Meet up in Kigali, Rwanda's capital city, transfer to Kisoro.
Optionals: Coffee tour or Pygmy (Batwa) village visit or Lake Mutande
Days 2 -3
UGANDA - RWANDA
Kisoro, Musanze
Optionals: Mountain gorilla trek Bwindi Impenetrable Forest (Uganda). Or golden monkeys trek or orphanage visit. Batwa (Pygmy) village visit or coffee tour. Lake Mutande. Trek to Dian Fosseys grave. Basket weaving. Banana beer making.
Days 4 - 5
RWANDA
Kigali
Optionals: Basket weaving. Banana beer making. Genocide Museum and Memorial, Nyamata Church Memorial
Days 6 - 11
RWANDA - TANZANIA
Rusomo Falls, Mwanza, Bunda, The Grumeti, Game drives in the Serengeti, with guided game drives in Ngorongoro Crater, evening celebratory barbecue on our arrival in Arusha.
Optionals: Hill walk, Balloon safari, Maasai Village.
Days 12 - 19
TANZANIA
Marangu, Mount Kilimanjaro, Indian Ocean coast, seafood meal at our camp on the Indian Ocean, preparations for the stay on Zanzibar Island.
Optionals: Kilimanjaro day hike, Marangu day tour, four night stay on Zanzibar Island from day 15, returning to the mainland on day 19.
Talk with us as to the special arrangements we can make for your stay on Zanzibar. We reserve accommodation in popular beach accommodation and in a lodge within ancient Stone Town, as well as your other requirements including the ferry bookings, transfers and spice tours.
Other options to budget for include snorkelling and scuba diving on Zanzibar sweeping coral reefs, to Prison Island famous for its giant tortoise population and to Jozani Forest to see the red colobus monkeys.
All accommodation and transfers including a spice tour on Zanzibar Island can be arranged ahead of time.
Days 20 - 24
TANZANIA - MALAWI
Drive west through Mikumi National Park, Lake Malawi beach camps, fishing village visits, curio markets.
Optionals: Water sports, including snorkelling, canoeing, scuba diving and pedalo hire, horse riding, village walk, wood carving lesson.
Days 25 - 30
ZAMBIA - ZIMBABWE
South Luangwa National Park, Lusaka, The Zambezi Valley and a relaxing few days at Lake Kariba.
Optionals: Extra game drive or walk in South Luangwa, A houseboat cruise on the Lake visiting Matusadona and including a game cruise and fishing.
Days 31 - 34
ZIMBABWE
Great Zimbabwe Ruins, Bulawayo and Matopos National Park for a rhino trek and game drives.
Optional: Afternoon visit to rock paintings and Cecil Rhodes’ grave or a Ndebele Village.
Days 35 - 37
ZIMBABWE
Action packed days in Zimbabwe's adventure capital, Victoria Falls.
Optionals: White water rafting, river boarding, bungee jumping, gorge swin, flying fox and zip line, ‘Flight of the Angels’, canoe trip, horse riding, sundowner cruise.
Days 38 - 43
BOTSWANA
Chobe, Makgadikgadi Pans, Maun.
Optionals: Chobe National Park, game drive and game cruise, Okavango Delta guided mokoro safari, Flight over the Delta.
Days 44 - 48
NAMIBIA
Morning and afternoon game drives with entry and two nights camping in Etosha National Park, visit to Africat Carnivore Care, Spitzkoppe or similar.
Optionals: Bushmen visit, night game drive in Etosha
Days 49 - 52
NAMIBIA
Cape Cross Seal Colony, three night lodge stay in Swakopmund.
Optionals: Quad biking, sand boarding, skydiving, go-karting, open-sea fishing, desert tours, township tours, horse riding, seal and dolphin cruise, sea kayaking.
Days 53 - 56
NAMIBIA - SOUTH AFRICA
Sossusvlei in the Namib Desert, Namib Naukluft National Park, Fish River Canyon, Ai Ais, Orange River.
Optionals: Visit to Sossusvlei, Canoeing on the Orange River.
Days 57 - 60
SOUTH AFRICA
Stellenbosch, Cape Town.
Optionals: Wine tour. Robben Island, Table Mountain, shark diving, Cape Point tour, open top bus tour.
Please note safari itineraries are given as a guide only. A safari is a journey and true journeys in Africa unfold and are of an adventurous nature. The unexpected can arise, so do allow for this.
Feel free to give us a call about your safari plans. We look forward to your further enquiries.
African Drums - detailed itinerary
Back to topBudgeting Summary
Kigali to Cape Town Budget
The costs to consider when travelling overland are:
- Safari price £2635 and local payment $950 USD
- Optional excursions
- Personal spending money
- Visas
What's included
Your safari price and local payment covers:
OVER FIVE CORE GAME PARKS & OTHER HIGHLIGHTS including:
* The Serengeti
* Ngorongoro Crater
* South Luangwa National Park
* Matopos game drive and rhino trek
* Etosha National Park
* Namib Naukluft National Park
* Mikumi National Park
* The Grumeti Reserve
* Kigali - Genocide Memorial
* Lake Victoria
* Lake Malawi
* Great Zimbabwe Ruins
* Bushmen visit
* Africat Carnivore Care
* Sossusvlei Dunes
* Cape Cross Seal Colony
* Spitzkoppe rock formations or similar
* Fish River Canyon
- 48 breakfasts and 48 dinners whilst travelling on the truck, including some local meals & pre-prepared barbecues and a contribution to the final group meal.
- 43 nights camping and nine nights in dorm accommodation in a lodge or similar, including three nights in Swakopmund and the final night in Ashanti Lodge in Cape Town.
- A fully equipped and dieselled expedition truck/vehicle including all camping and cooking gear, a fridge, gas cooker, tents, sleep mats
- The services of a driver and safari leader
- The ongoing advice and back up from The Absolute team
- All road tolls and taxes are paid
Optional excursions
A recommended typical budget for your optional excursions that you might pay for once in Africa would be: US$750 - US$1500
Some clients spend more, some less. The above is a typical estimate selecting from the following main choices during this tour. Do re-check your budget looking at what might tempt you. A friendly reminder as well that the below list provides an approximate guide only for the most popular excursions currently available for this tour. Excursions are operated by local operators and authorities and their pricing is out of our control (July 22).
PAID BEFORE DEPARTURE | |
Mountain gorilla trekking permit, (not including transfers), from | £650 to £680 |
Zanzibar including return ferry, 4 nights B&B shared accommodation, transfers from Stone Town to the beach and return, and a Spice Tour | £295 |
PAID IN AFRICA | |
Visit to a local orphanage (transport) | US$10 |
Lake Mutande incl. canoeing | US$10 |
Scuba diving (single dive) off Kendwa | US$65 |
Snorkelling (3 hours) off Kendwa | US$15 |
Jozani Forest, half day excursion to see the red colobus monkeys incl entry and transfers, from | US$40 |
Prison Island with the aldabra tortoises | US$25 |
Horse riding through Malawi village (1 hour) | US$35 |
Horse riding through the village and in Lake Malawi (2 hours) | US$70 |
South Luangwa Extra Game Drive | USD45 |
Houseboats on Lake Kariba incl. Matusadona National Park (2 nights) | US$170 |
Victoria Falls National Park - Entrance and Rainforest Walk to see Victoria Falls | US$50 |
Bungee jump at Victoria Falls | US$160 |
Combo deal, half day adrenaline (gorge swings, zip line, flying fox) | US$158 |
Gorge Swing - (1 jump) | US$103 |
White water rafting The Zambezi | US$120 |
Helicopter flight over Victoria Falls (15 minutes) | US$150 |
Sunset cruise on the Zambezi | US$55 |
Chobe National Park (3 hour guided game cruise) | US$50 |
Chobe National Park - combo game drive and game cruise | US$90 |
Flights over the Delta, 1 hour (min 5 people) | US$125 |
Okavango Delta guided mokoro safari (two nights) | US$185 |
Tandem sky dive, Swakomund | US$260 |
Sandboarding (approx 5 hours) | US$50 |
Quadbiking 60km route (approx 2 hours) | US$46 |
Township tour, a guided tour visiting the homes 3 local tribes (4 hours Incl. lunch & refreshments) | US$40 |
Open sea fishing in the Atlantic waters (5 hours Incl. licenses, lunch, refreshments & whatever you catch) | US$115 |
Desert tour, a guided tour discovering the secrets of the local dune belt (5 hours Incl. lunch) | US$57 |
Canoeing on the Orange River | US$34 |
Wine tour, Stellenbosch,visit 4 local wineries and a cheese farm (7 hours Inc. wine tasting, cheese tasting and lunch) | US$28 |
ALSO TO CONSIDER DURING YOUR TOUR | |
Balloon safari in the Serengeti | £455 |
TO CONSIDER AT THE END OF YOUR TOUR | |
Special discounted offer: Add-On Garden Route Tour when booked with this tour | £1380 |
Table Mountain, return cable car | US$27 |
White Shark Cage Diving - day trip inc. transport | US$185 |
Robben Island boat transfer & guided tour | US$40 |
Spending Money
You will need spending money to cover drinks, lunch, souvenirs and some small incidental costs whilst on tour such as cheap excursions costing under U$20. Other costs to note are for those times where meals and/or accommodation are not covered, as well as money for tips, extra transfers and accommodation upgrades.
Be aware during the trip there are times we dont cover meals and/or accommodation when some of the group are away from camp doing their own thing on excursions, and it becomes impractical to cover. In general in regard to meals when the truck parks up for a few days at specific activity locations, do budget to cover your meals for these days. For the African Drums tour you should budget to cover for the days we are in Victoria Falls, Swakopmund and Stellenbosch, as well as for the overnight excursions listed below including meals whilst on Zanzibar Island. In particular be aware that spending money is needed to cover accommodation and some meals on the off-chance you choose to stay back and not participate in any of the overnight excursions. The overnight excursions on this tour are: the Zanzibar Island break (x4 nights), the houseboats on Lake Kariba (x2 nights) and the mokoro safari into the Okavango Delta (x2 nights).
Note for some excursions extra transport occasionally is needed to get to the start point of the excursion too eg to the gorillas, and so do have some aside for these times.
Tipping is customary in Africa, so budget for gratuities if you wish for guides or drivers who provide good service such as for the gorilla trek, for the guide who takes you down into Ngorongoro, and on the houseboat tour. And again whilst tips are at your discretion, your tour leader and driver also appreciate a tip to acknowledge their hard work during your tour.
And lastly remember some campsites en route have simple huts or chalets on site. If you think you might like a break from camping and youd like to upgrade to have a bed at some point during the trip, it is well worth having money for this so again budget accordingly.
The recommended typical spending money for The African Drums to cover the above is: US$1160-US$1400
Visa
Your passport needs to be valid for at least 6 -9 months after your trip finishes. Ensure also that you have enough pages in your passport for each country you visit. Up to 2 consecutive blank pages can be required when you enter South Africa at the end of your trip. As a guide then, for the African Drums you will need to have a minimum of 10 blank pages (sides).If you have dual nationality you can only use one passport for the entire trip, but bringing both passports is a wise back-up strategy. You can find more information in the different country listings on the FCOs website (www.fco.gov.uk) under entry requirements. Do be aware it can be illegal to travel in Africa on two passports.
Visas for most passport holders can be arranged in Africa en route with the exception of the East African visa. Rwandan immigration require you to pre apply and pay for the visa online, you will be sent instructions on how to apply.
Visas bought on the ground can only be paid for in US dollars cash.
Below is an estimation of current visa requirements and their costs. If your passport is not detailed please don't hesitate to contact us for further details of your requirements.
Visas are not normally required for most passport holders for Botswana, Namibia and South Africa.
Be aware that visa requirements can change without prior notice. This information is given as a guide only.
For all visas budget US$255 - US$355 depending on nationality.
VISA CHART | Kenya | Rwanda | Uganda | Tanzania | Malawi | Zambia | Zimbabwe | Botswana | Namibia | South Africa |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PASSPORT | ||||||||||
Australian | - | - | $50 | $50 | $75 | $50 | $30 | - | - | - |
New Zealand | - | - | $50 | $50 | $75 | $50 | $30 | - | - | - |
South Africa | - | $100 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Canadian | - | - | $50 | $50 | $75 | $50 | $75 | - | - | - |
American | - | $100 | - | $100 | $75 | $50 | $30 | - | - | - |
British | - | - | $50 | $50 | $75 | $50 | $55 | - | - | - |
German | - | $100 | - | $50 | $75 | $50 | $30 | - | - | - |
Dutch | - | $100 | - | $50 | $75 | $50 | $30 | - | - | - |
Irish | - | $60 | - | $100 | - | - | $55 | - | - | - |
Other exciting ADD-ONs
Pre and post safari please click here.
Remember you then need to budget for flights, insurance, vaccination costs and any equipment you might need such as a sleeping bag.
Any queries? Call our office on +44 (0) 208 742 0226, email us at absaf@absoluteafrica.com or skype us on skypeabsoluteafrica
Back to topDates
Kigali to Cape Town
Start Kigali | Finish Cape Town | Price | Local Payment | Departure details | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mon 12 Jun 2023 | Thu 10 Aug 2023 | £2635 | US$950 | 0 Seats available | Fully Booked |
Wed 12 Jul 2023 | Sat 9 Sep 2023 | £2635 | US$950 | 0 Seats available | Fully Booked |
Fri 11 Aug 2023 | Mon 9 Oct 2023 | £2635 | US$950 | 0 Seats available | Fully Booked |
Thu 7 Sep 2023 | Sun 5 Nov 2023 | £2635 | US$950 | 8+ Seats available | Book Now |
Sat 7 Oct 2023 | Tue 5 Dec 2023 | £2635 | US$950 | 8+ Seats available | Book Now |
Thu 2 Nov 2023 | Sun 31 Dec 2023 | £2635 | US$950 | 8+ Seats available
Christmas at Orange River and New Years in Cape Town. |
Book Now |
Thu 21 Dec 2023 | Sun 18 Feb 2024 | £2635 | US$950 | 8+ Seats available
Christmas in Kigali and New years upon coming from the Tanzanian parks |
Book Now |
Tue 6 Feb 2024 | Fri 5 Apr 2024 | £2635 | US$950 | 8+ Seats available | Book Now |
Wed 6 Mar 2024 | Sat 4 May 2024 | £2635 | US$950 | 8+ Seats available | Book Now |
Wed 8 May 2024 | Sat 6 Jul 2024 | £2635 | US$950 | 8+ Seats available | Book Now |
Mon 10 Jun 2024 | Thu 8 Aug 2024 | £2635 | US$950 | 8+ Seats available | Book Now |
Wed 10 Jul 2024 | Sat 7 Sep 2024 | £2635 | US$950 | 8+ Seats available | Book Now |
Before You Go
Kigali to Cape Town
Heh! Find below a link to the African Drums Pre-Departure booklet. This contains a whole heap of information to help you prepare for the trip of a life time from Kigali to Cape Town.
African Drums - pre departure packWe hope you will find the information we have compiled through 30 years of experience overlanding helpful.
There is information regarding flights in to Kigali, Rwanda’s capital, as well as pre tour accommodation options.
When planning the end of your tour, it is worth noting that Cape Town is a city with lots to see and do. We arrive in to Cape Town to stay at Ashanti Lodge on the last night which is included in the price. Ashanti Lodge is a fun and friendly backpackers - set at the foot of Table Mountain and within walking distance of the city centre. We tend to find that most people like to stay at least a few extra days to get the most out of the ‘mother city’ and we are happy to extend your booking at Ashanti.
African Drums will give you the chance to really get into the vibe of Africa. Experience gorilla trekking in the Virungas or Bwindi, the savanna plains of the Serengeti and the tropical paradise of Zanzibar.
Many of the highlights of the tour are included from game drives in Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti, through to rhino trekking in Matopos, and two nights in Etosha National Park in Namibia.
There is also a good range of exciting optional activities for you to get involved with on the tour from the gorilla trek, to adrenaline pumping adventure activities at Victoria Falls and Swakopmund. And if you want to try some actual drumming to get some African beats try interactive drumming on a night out in Victoria Falls!
We are here to help you through all stages of the booking and planning of your trip, so please feel free to give us a call, skype or email at any stage.
We recommend once booked on a trip that you periodically check back here as this information is regularly updated.
It is also a good idea to keep an eye on the news area of this site. Touch base with other travellers on the trips in the ‘meet others section’ @ on Facebook. Check out our Facebook page, listen out for our tweets and stay in touch with the day to day world on the road with the big yellow trucks through our blog posts.
Overlanding in Africa is a very different experience from your usual package holiday, so if you have any questions or concerns then please do get in touch, we are more than happy to help.
We look forward to planning your African Drums Safari with you. Get with the beat of the African continent!
Book your Kigali to Cape Town Safari
Start Kigali | Finish Cape Town | Price | Local Payment | Departure details | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fully Booked | Mon 12 Jun 2023 | Thu 10 Aug 2023 | £2635 | US$950 | 0 Seats available |
Fully Booked | Wed 12 Jul 2023 | Sat 9 Sep 2023 | £2635 | US$950 | 0 Seats available |
Fully Booked | Fri 11 Aug 2023 | Mon 9 Oct 2023 | £2635 | US$950 | 0 Seats available |
Book Now | Thu 7 Sep 2023 | Sun 5 Nov 2023 | £2635 | US$950 | 8+ Seats available |
Book Now | Sat 7 Oct 2023 | Tue 5 Dec 2023 | £2635 | US$950 | 8+ Seats available |
Book Now | Thu 2 Nov 2023 | Sun 31 Dec 2023 | £2635 | US$950 | 8+ Seats available
Christmas at Orange River and New Years in Cape Town. |
Book Now | Thu 21 Dec 2023 | Sun 18 Feb 2024 | £2635 | US$950 | 8+ Seats available
Christmas in Kigali and New years upon coming from the Tanzanian parks |
Book Now | Tue 6 Feb 2024 | Fri 5 Apr 2024 | £2635 | US$950 | 8+ Seats available |
Book Now | Wed 6 Mar 2024 | Sat 4 May 2024 | £2635 | US$950 | 8+ Seats available |
Book Now | Wed 8 May 2024 | Sat 6 Jul 2024 | £2635 | US$950 | 8+ Seats available |
Book Now | Mon 10 Jun 2024 | Thu 8 Aug 2024 | £2635 | US$950 | 8+ Seats available |
Book Now | Wed 10 Jul 2024 | Sat 7 Sep 2024 | £2635 | US$950 | 8+ Seats available |