Cape Town to Nairobi Overland Tours
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Price
£ 3745
+ Local Payment US$1100
(local payment explained)
What's Included
• Addo Elephant National Park• Kruger National Park
• Chobe Game Cruise
• Hwange National Park
• South Luangwa National Park
• Ngorongoro Crater
• The Serengeti National Park
• Lake Mburo National Park
• Lake Mburo boat trip
• Nakuru National Park
• The Masai Mara
• Khama rhino reserve
• Ostrich Farm Tour
• Ziwa rhino Sanctuary
• Lake Naivasha hippo cruise
• Grumeti Reserve
• Cape Agulhas
• The Cango Caves
• Winery tour
• Maasai village with bush walk
• The Genocide Museum and Memorial
• Breakfast& dinner while travelling with the truck
• Some pre-prepared barbecues
• Camping whilst with the truck
• Fully equipped expedition truck incl - fridge, gas, tents, sleep mats travelling from Cape Town to Nairobi
• Services of Absolute Crew
• Ongoing advice
• Transport from Cape Town to Nairobi
• All road tolls & taxes are paid
Countries Visited
South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya.
Cape Town to Nairobi Safari Overview
Cape Town to Nairobi - Beginning at the foot of Table Mountain and continuing along the Garden Route, one of the most beautiful stretches of coast line in the world, before heading north to journey to East Africa. You will have every opportunity to spot the big 5 in game park after game park on this overland tour. There is also the chance to trek the endangered mountain gorillas.
Cape Town to Nairobi Safari Add-ons
Itinerary
Day 1 - 3
SOUTH AFRICA
Cape Town
Optionals: Robben Island, Table Mountain cable car, Two Oceans Aquarium, Cape Point, paragliding, kiteboarding, shark diving, whale watching.
Days 4 - 5
SOUTH AFRICA
Cape Agulhas, Cango Caves, Oudtshoorn, Ostrich Farm.
Days 6 - 7
SOUTH AFRICA
Garden Route, Tsitsikamma Forest, Bloukrans Bridge, Storms River.
Optionals: Bloukrans Bungee, Canopy Tour, Black-water tubing, quad biking, flying fox, guided bridge-walk, waterfalls zipline.
Days 8 - 10
SOUTH AFRICA
Port Elizabeth, Addo Elephant Park, Hogsback
Optionals: Addo Elephant Park night drives, Addo National Park horse trails, bushwalks, abseiling, horse riding, village tour
Days 11 - 12
LESOTHO
Malealea, Lesotho
Optionals: pony trek, village tour, hiking, mountain biking.
Days 13 - 14
SOUTH AFRICA
Drakensberg mountains
Optionals: hiking, biking, abseiling, rock climbing
Days 15 - 18
SOUTH AFRICA
Johannesburg, Kruger National park, Blyde River canyon
Optionals: Soweto tour, Apartheid Museum
Days 19 - 23
SOUTH AFRICA - BOTSWANA
Khama rhino reserve, Elephant Sands camp, Chobe National Park game cruise.
Optional: Rhino trek, night game drives in Khama reserve, game drive in Chobe National Park.
Days 24 - 27
ZIMBABWE
Guided game drives in Hwange National Park, visit to Painted Dog Conservation Centre, Victoria Falls
Optionals: Second game drive in Hwange National Park, horse rides, white water rafting, canoeing, 'Flight of the Angels' scenic flights, bungee jump, gorge swing,rap jump, flying fox, sunset cruise and many other activities based around Victoria Falls.
Days 28 - 32
ZAMBIA
Lusaka, the capital of Zambia, Chipata, South Luangwa National Park
Optional:Evening game drive in South Luangwa National Park
Days 33 - 35
MALAWI
Lake Malawi beach camp, village visits including for a traditional meal and curio markets.
Optionals:Water sports, school visit.
Day 36 - 38
TANZANIA
The mountains of the southern Rift Valley, camping over at The Farmhouse at Iringa, Baobab Valley, Mikumi National Park, overnight on the Indian Ocean coast.
Days 39 - 43
TANZANIA
Zanzibar Island
4 nights are allocated for the optional beach stay on Zanzibar Island. For the Zanzibar stay we can reserve accommodation for 3 nights in popular affordable beach accommodation on one of Zanzibar's best beaches, as well as a night within ancient Stone Town. All other requirements including the ferry bookings, a spice tour and transfers can also be arranged.
Optionals: Free time for the option to visit Zanzibar Island from day 39, returning to the town of Bagamoyo on day 43.
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.
Day 44 - 47
TANZANIA
Arusha, guided game drives in Ngorongoro Crater- a perfectly intact valcanic caldera to spot the 'Big 5' and many more, Afternoon and morning game drives in the Serengeti, camp in the centre of the par, exit the Serengeti, game drive through the Grumeti reserve, Bunda
Optionals: ballooning in serengeti, hill walk
Day 48 -50
TANZANIA
Mwanza, Lake Victoria, Nyakhanazi village stop over.
Days 51 - 53
RWANDA
Kigali, Genocide Memorial and Museum, Ruhengeri.
Optionals:Golden monkey trek, visit to Dian Fossey's grave
Days 54 - 56
UGANDA
Kisoro and the Virungas, Kalinzu Forest
Optionals: Mountain gorilla trek in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest (Uganda), golden monkey trek, orphanage and preschool visit, Batwa (Pygmy) village, coffee tour, Lake Mutande, chimpanzee trek
Day 57 - 60
UGANDA
Lake Mburo National Park, Kampala, Ziwa rhino sanctuary
Optionals: boat ride
Days 61- 63
UGANDA
Jinja and the While Nile and Lake Bujagali
Optionals: White water rafting, village walks, bungee-jumping, kayaking, boat trips, visit a local school, quad biking, horse riding.
Day 64 - 66
KENYA
Eldoret, Nakuru, Guided game drives in Nakuru National Park
Days 67 - 69
KENYA
Lake Naivasha, hippo cruise, Maasai stay at Loita Hills
Optionals: Elsamere for afternoon tea, cycling in Hells Gate National Park, guided walk to Green Crater Lake.
Days 70 - 73
KENYA
The Masai Mara for two days, afternoon and morning game drives, Nairobi
Optionals: Maasai village visit, balloon safari, night out at a Nairobi restaurant, giraffe centre
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.
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Budgeting Summary
Cape Town to Nairobi Budget
The costs to consider when travelling overland are:
- Safari price £ 3745 and local payment $1100 USD
- Optional excursions
- Personal spending money
- Visas
What's included
Your safari price and local payment covers:
OVER TEN GAME PARKS & OTHER HIGHLIGHTS including:
The Masai Mara (two days)
Nakuru National Park
Serengeti National Park
Ngorongoro Crater
South Luangwa
Hwange National Park
Addo Elephant Park
Chobe game cruise
Khama rhino reserve
Kruger National Park
Lake Mburo National Park with game cruise
The Grumeti Reserve
Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
Cape Agulhus
Cango Caves
Ostrich Farm
Winery visit
Lake Naivasha hippo cruise
Bujagali
Lake Victoria
Maasai village visit with bush walk
CAMPING, BREAKFAST & DINNER WHILST TRAVELING ON THE TRUCK
- 63 Breakfasts and 63 dinners whilst traveling on the truck, including some local meals & pre-prepared barbecues and a contribution to the final group meal.
- 57 nights Camping and 12 nights dorm accommodation whilst traveling on the truck
- A fully equipped and dieseled expedition truck/vehicle traveling from Cape Town to Nairobi 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$600 - 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 24)
| PAID BEFORE DEPARTURE | |
| Zanzibar including return ferry, 4 nights B&B shared accommodation, transfers from Stone Town to the beach and return, and a Spice Tour | £295 |
| Mountain gorilla trekking permit, (not including transfers), from | £625 to £690 |
| PAID IN AFRICA | |
| White shark cage diving - day trip inc transport | U$185 |
| Table Mountain - Return Cable Car | U$27 |
| Robben Island boat transfer and guided tour | U$40 |
| Bungee - Bloukrans Bridge | U$100 |
| Tsitsikamma Forest - Treetop canopy walk | U$50 |
| Storms River - Black Water Tubing | U$85 |
| Tsitsikamma - Waterfall Zip Lining | U$30 |
| Addo - Night Drives | U$32 |
| Drakensberg mountains day hike | £from US$62 |
| Pony trek Lesotho | £from US$30 |
| Chobe National Park - game drive | U$50 |
| Victoria Falls National Park - Entrance and Rainforest Walk to see Victoria Falls | U$50 |
| Helicopter flight over Victoria Falls (15 minutes) | U$150 |
| Bungee jump at Victoria Falls | U$160 |
| Combo deal, half day adrenaline (gorge swings, zip line, flying fox) | U$158 |
| Gorge Swing - (1 jump) | U$103 |
| White water rafting The Zambezi | U$120 |
| Sunset cruise on the Zambezi | U$55 |
| Horse riding through Malawi village (1 hour) | U$35 |
| Horse riding through the village and in Lake Malawi (2 hours) | U$70 |
| Scuba diving (single dive) off Kendwa | U$65 |
| Snorkelling (3 hours) off Kendwa | U$15 |
| Jozani Forest, half day excursion to see the red colobus monkeys incl entry and transfers, from | U$40 |
| Prison Island with the aldabra tortoises | U$25 |
| Lake Mutande incl. canoeing | U$10 |
| Rhino trek | U$30 |
| Chimpanzee trek | U$130 |
| White water rafting The White Nile | U$140 |
| Sunset cruise, The White Nile | U$45 |
| Quad biking, Jinja (1 hour) | U$49 |
| Hells Gate National Park (half day) incl entry, bike hire, guide and transfers | U$55 |
| 1 hour hippo cruise across Naivasha | U$30 |
| ALSO TO CONSIDER DURING YOUR TOUR | |
| Balloon safari in the Serengeti | £455 |
| Balloon safari in the Masai Mara | £425 |
Spending Money
You will need spending money to cover drinks, lunch and souvenirs and different small incidental costs whilst on tour such as cheap excursions costing under U$20
Other costs to note are those times we dont cover meals or accommodation on the tour, as well as tipping, extra transfers and upgrades.
Be aware during the trip tour there are busy times where we dont cover meals and/or accommodation as during these sections most people are away from camp doing their own thing on different excursions. It is then impractical to cover meals or accommodation.
The times to note on the Northern Trails tour are when the truck parks up for a few days at specific activity locations - Victoria Falls, Zanzibar and Jinja - so please ensure you have enough money to cover meals during these times. And note as well spending money is needed to cover camping on the off-chance you chose to stay back on the overnight excursions. The overnight excursion on this tour is the Zanzibar Island break (x4 nights).
Tipping is customary in Africa, so budget for gratuities if you wish for guides or drivers who provide good service such as on game drives or guided tours. Again it is at your discretion, but your tour leader and driver will appreciate a tip to acknowledge their hard work during your tour.
For some excursions extra transport is needed to get to the start point such as to the gorillas, and lastly some campsites en route also have simple huts or chalets on site. If you feel like a break from camping and youd like an upgrade at some point it is well worth having a little bit of money budgeted accordingly.
The recommended spending money for Northern Trails is: US$1420 - US$1680
Visa
Your passport needs to be valid for at least 6 to 9 months after your trip finishes. Ensure also that you have enough pages in your passport for each country you visit. As a guide then, for the Northern Trails you will want 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. More information can be found 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.
For this tour for most passport holders including British, Australian, Irish, South African, German, French, Dutch, Canadian and American, visas for Zimbabwe and Tanzania can be arranged in Africa en route.
For those passport holders that require a visa for Rwanda, you can purchase the East Africa Tourist visa at the border and this will give you entry to Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya.
For those passport holders that do not require a visa for Rwanda, you will need to apply for a Ugandan visa in advance and this can be done online. Irish nationals do not require a visa for Uganda.
If you do not have an East Africa Tourist visa, you will need to apply for an ETA to Kenya in advance online. This is instead of the former tourist visa.
Visas are not usually required for Malawi, Zambia, Botswana or South Africa for most passport holders.
If your passport is not detailed please don't hesitate to contact us for further details of your requirements.
Be aware that visa requirements can change without prior notice. This information is given as a guide only.
Budget for all visas up to US$160 depending on nationality
| VISA CHART | Kenya | Rwanda | Uganda | Tanzania | Malawi | Zambia | Zimbabwe | Botswana | Namibia | South Africa |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PASSPORT | ||||||||||
| Australian | $30 | - | $50 | $50 | - | - | $30 | - | - | - |
| New Zealand | $30 | - | $50 | $50 | - | - | $30 | - | - | - |
| South Africa | $30 | - | $50 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Canadian | $30 | - | $50 | $50 | - | - | $75 | - | - | - |
| American | - | $100 | - | $100 | - | - | $30 | - | - | - |
| British | $30 | - | $50 | $50 | - | - | $55 | - | - | - |
| German | - | $100 | - | $50 | - | - | $30 | - | - | - |
| Dutch | - | $100 | - | $50 | - | - | $30 | - | - | - |
| Irish | $30 | $30 | - | $100 | - | - | $55 | - | - | - |
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
Cape Town to Nairobi
| Start Cape Town | Finish Nairobi | Price | Local Payment | Departure details | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue 31 Dec 2024 | Thu 13 Mar 2025 | £3745 | US$1100 | 4+ Seats available | Book Now |
| Sun 6 Jul 2025 | Wed 17 Sep 2025 | £3745 | US$1100 | 4+ Seats available
This departure is a 74 day tour. With a free day break in Johannesburg |
Book Now |
| Wed 6 Aug 2025 | Fri 17 Oct 2025 | £3745 | US$1100 | 4+ Seats available | Book Now |
| Fri 5 Sep 2025 | Sun 16 Nov 2025 | £3745 | US$1100 | 4+ Seats available | Book Now |
| Sat 11 Oct 2025 | Mon 22 Dec 2025 | £3745 | US$1100 | 4+ Seats available | Book Now |
| Sat 6 Dec 2025 | Mon 16 Feb 2026 | £3745 | US$1100 | 4+ Seats available
New Years Eve in Victoria Falls |
Book Now |
| Thu 1 Jan 2026 | Sat 14 Mar 2026 | £3745 | US$1100 | 4+ Seats available | Book Now |
Before You Go
Cape Town to Nairobi
Check the link below to download the Predeparture Booklet for the Northern Trails tour.
This tour is ideal for those that want to start in Cape Town and experience so many of the big highlights from Cape Town through to Nairobi
Northern Trails - pre departure packHaving run overland trips through Africa for over 30 years, we understand the desire to have as much information about your chosen tour as possible. An overland trip in Africa is a very different style of travel from any you might have done before.
In order to help you plan, we have put together this predeparture pack filled with tips and advice for your trip
The pack contains answers to the most frequently asked questions including what to bring, how to budget, arrange airport pick up and pre and post safari accommodation and there are details of all the optional excursions you can do along the way as you travel from Cape Town up to Nairobi.
Cape Town is a great city with lots to see and do, and we find many people like to arrive a few days early to get the most out of the 'mother city'. Nairobi also has lots to offer, and many people like to stay a few days to explore Kenya's capital.
We will also send you a personal update about 10 days before departure containing all the latest information as well as final confirmations of your transfers, accommodation and other details relating to your specific travel arrangements so you can check all is in order for your trip of a lifetime.
There is always one of our friendly and passionate team around to help you with any queries or concerns you may have at any stage of your booking. Just give us a call, email or skype and we will be more than happy to help.
The booklet is also regularly updated so check back here periodically. It is also worth keeping an eye on the news section of our website, as well as checking out our Facebook page, twitter updates, Instagram and blog to see what adventures are currently occurring out on the road.
We look forward to helping you plan your Northern Trails Safari.
Book your Cape Town to Nairobi Safari
| Start Cape Town | Finish Nairobi | Price | Local Payment | Departure details | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Book Now | Tue 31 Dec 2024 | Thu 13 Mar 2025 | £3745 | US$1100 | 4+ Seats available |
| Book Now | Sun 6 Jul 2025 | Wed 17 Sep 2025 | £3745 | US$1100 | 4+ Seats available
This departure is a 74 day tour. With a free day break in Johannesburg |
| Book Now | Wed 6 Aug 2025 | Fri 17 Oct 2025 | £3745 | US$1100 | 4+ Seats available |
| Book Now | Fri 5 Sep 2025 | Sun 16 Nov 2025 | £3745 | US$1100 | 4+ Seats available |
| Book Now | Sat 11 Oct 2025 | Mon 22 Dec 2025 | £3745 | US$1100 | 4+ Seats available |
| Book Now | Sat 6 Dec 2025 | Mon 16 Feb 2026 | £3745 | US$1100 | 4+ Seats available
New Years Eve in Victoria Falls |
| Book Now | Thu 1 Jan 2026 | Sat 14 Mar 2026 | £3745 | US$1100 | 4+ Seats available |