Nairobi to Cape Town Overland Tours
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Price
£3460
+ Local Payment US$1260
(local payment explained)
What's Included
• The Masai Mara• The Serengeti
• Nakuru National Park
• Queen Elizabeth National Park
• Kazinga Channel game cruise
• Ngorongoro Crater
• South Luangwa National Park
• Matopos
• Etosha National Park
• Namib Naukluft National Park
• Sheldrick's Elephant Orphanage (from Oct 22)
• The Giraffe Park
• Maasai village visit incl. bush walk
• The Grumeti Reserve
• Lake Naivasha
• Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
• Lake Victoria
• Lake Malawi
• 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
Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa
Nairobi to Cape Town Safari Overview
The overland safari that does it all! Game drives across the world famous Masai Mara, a gorilla trek in the Virungas, the magic of Zanzibar's white beaches, the dunes of Namibia, the Serengeti, into Ngorongoro, explore South Luangwa, across the pan of Etosha, mokoros deep into the Okavango, game cruise on the Chobe River and then the madness of white water rafting, bungee, gorge swings and sky diving!!
Nairobi to Cape Town Safari Add-ons
Itinerary
Days 1 - 9
KENYA
Departure meeting, The Giraffe Park, Loita Hills Maasai cultural experience, morning and afternoon game drives over two days in The Masai Mara, The Rift Valley, Lake Naivasha, game drives in Lake Nakuru National Park.
Optionals: Sheldrick's Elephant Orphanage, balloon safari, hippo cruise, Elsamere for afternoon tea, cycling in Hells Gate National Park, guided hike to Green Crater Lake.
Days 10 - 17
UGANDA
Jinja and the While Nile and Lake Bujagali, Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, Kampala, Queen Elizabeth National Park including a game cruise and game drive.
Optionals: Whitewater rafting, bungee-jumping, kayaking, boat trips, volunteer in a local school, quad biking, horse riding, mountain biking, rhino trek, boat ride in Ziwa, forest chimpanzee trekking.
Days 18 - 22
UGANDA - RWANDA
Kisoro and the Virungas, Musanze, Kigali.
Optionals: Mountain gorilla trek in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest (Uganda), trek to the golden monkeys, visit to Dian Fossey's grave, orphanage visit, Batwa (Pygmy) village visit, Lake Mutande, banana beer making, basket weaving, cycling tour, Genocide Memorial and Museum, Nyamata Church Memorial.
Days 23 - 28
TANZANIA
Lake Victoria, game drives in the Serengeti, The Grumeti, guided game drives in Ngorongoro Crater, evening celebratory barbecue on our arrival in Arusha.
Optionals: Hill walk, Balloon safari, Maasai Boma visit (village).
Days 29 - 35
TANZANIA including 4 nights allotted for a stay on Zanzibar Island....
Marangu at the foot of Kilimanjaro, the Indian Ocean coast, seafood meal and preparations for Zanzibar Island on reaching the coast.
Optional free time for a four night stay on Zanzibar Island from day 32, returning to the mainland on day 36.
Talk with us as to the special arrangements we can make for your stay on Zanzibar. We reserve accommodation in popular beach cottages and in a lodge within ancient Stone Town, as well as your other requirements including the ferry bookings, group transfers and spice tours.
Other options to budget for include snorkelling and scuba diving on Zanzibar sweeping coral reefs, a visit 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 are arranged ahead of time.
Days 36 - 41
TANZANIA - MALAWI
Drive from Dar es Salaam south, through Mikumi National Park, Lake Malawi beach camps, village visits and curio markets.
Optionals: Water sports, horse riding in the Lake, village walk, wood carving lesson.
Days 42 - 47
ZAMBIA - ZIMBABWE
South Luangwa National Park, Lusaka, The Zambezi Valley and a relaxing few days at Lake Kariba.
Optional: Extra game drive or game walk, South Luangwa National Park, A houseboat cruise on the Lake visiting Matusadona and including a game cruise and fishing.
Days 48 - 51
ZIMBABWE
Great Zimbabwe Ruins and Matopos National Park for rhino treks.
Optional: Extra game drives and a visit to rock paintings and Cecil Rhodes’ grave or a Ndebele Village.
Day 52 - 54
ZIMBABWE
Action packed days in Zimbabwe's adventure capital, Victoria Falls.
Optionals: Rainforest walk – Victoria Falls, Bungee jump, Gorge swing, flying fox, zip line, white water rafting, riverboard, canoe trips, sundowner cruise, 'Flight of the Angels' scenic flight and horse rides.
Days 55 - 60
BOTSWANA
Kasane, Maun.
Optionals: Chobe National Park, game drive and game cruise, Okavango Delta guided mokoro safari, flight over the Delta
Days 61 - 69
NAMIBIA
Morning and afternoon game drives with entry and two nights camping in Etosha National Park, visit the Africat Foundation and Cape Cross Seal Colony, lodge stay or similar in Swakopmund.
Optionals: Hoba meteorite, walk with warrior bushmen, visit women’s village, Evening game drive, walk to see ancient rock paintings, quad biking, sandboarding, go-karts, sky diving, desert tours, township tour, seal and dolphin cruise, open sea fishing, horse riding.
Days 70 - 77
NAMIBIA - SOUTH AFRICA
Sossusvlei, Namib Naukluft National Park, Fish River Canyon, Ai Ais, camp by the Orange River, Stellenbosch, drive through to spend the final evening at Ashanti Lodge, Cape Town.
Optionals: Guided walk on the dunes, canoeing, wine 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.
The Absolute Safari - detailed itinerary
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Budgeting Summary
Nairobi to Cape Town Budget
The costs to consider when travelling overland are:
- Safari price £3460 and local payment $1260 USD
- Optional excursions
- Personal spending money
- Visas
What's included
Your safari price and local payment covers:
OVER EIGHT GAME PARKS & OTHER HIGHLIGHTS including:
The Masai Mara
The Serengeti
Nakuru National Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park including a game cruise on the Kazinga Channel
Ngorongoro Crater
South Luangwa national Park
Matopos game drive and rhino trek
Etosha National Park
Namib Naukluft National Park
Mikumi National Park
The Giraffe Park
Maasai village visit
The Grumeti Game Reserve
Lake Naivasha
Bujagali
Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
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
CAMPING, BREAKFAST & DINNER WHILST TRAVELLING ON THE TRUCK i.e.
- 63 breakfasts and 62 dinners whilst travelling on the truck, including some local meals & pre-prepared barbecues
- 69 nights accommodation - 60 nights camping and 9 nights dorm accommodation in a lodge or similar incl. three nights in Swakopmund and the final night in Ashanti Lodge in Cape Town.
AS WELL AS.......
- 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$1000 - US$1700
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 (June 2019).
| PAID BEFORE DEPARTURE | |
| Mountain gorilla trekking permit, (not including transfers), from | £670 to £710 |
| 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 | |
| Hells Gate National Park (half day) incl entry, bike hire, guide and transfers | US$55 |
| Ziwa Rhino Trek | US$30 |
| Visit to a local orphanage (Donation only) | £0 |
| White water rafting The White Nile | US$140 |
| Kalinzu Forest guided chimpanzee trek, from | US$50 |
| 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 |
| 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 | US$45 |
| 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$30 |
| 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 Masai Mara | £410 |
| 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 |
| White Shark Cage Diving - day trip inc. transport | US$185 |
| Table Mountain, return cable car | US$27 |
| Robben Island boat transfer & guided tour | US$40 |
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 like the visit to the Maasai in the Masai Mara
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 Absolute Safari are when the truck parks up for a few days at specific activity locations - Zanzibar, Victoria Falls, Swakopmund and Stellenbosch - 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 excursions on this tour are the Zanzibar Island break (x4 nights), the houseboat (X2 nights) and the Okavango Delta mokoro safari (x2 nights).
Tipping is customary in Africa, so budget for gratuities if you wish for guides or drivers who provide good service such as on the houseboat tour. 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 The Absolute Safari to cover the above is US$1500 - US$1800
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 Absolute Safari 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.
For this tour visas for most passport holders including British, Australian, Irish, South African, German, French, Dutch, Canadian and American passport holders can be arranged in Africa en route.
The East Africa visa which covers Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda is available upon arrival in Kenya for U$100
If your passport is not detailed please do not hesitate to contact the office if you would like further details of your visa 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.
Budget for all visas US$305 - US$355 depending on nationality
| VISA CHART | Kenya | Rwanda | Uganda | Tanzania | Malawi | Zambia | Zimbabwe | Botswana | Namibia | South Africa |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PASSPORT | ||||||||||
| Australian | $100 | - | - | $50 | $75 | $50 | $30 | - | - | - |
| New Zealand | $100 | - | - | $50 | $75 | $50 | $30 | - | - | - |
| South Africa | - | $30 | $50 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Canadian | $100 | - | - | $50 | $75 | $50 | $75 | - | - | - |
| American | $100 | - | - | $100 | $75 | $50 | $30 | - | - | - |
| British | $100 | - | - | $50 | $75 | $50 | $55 | - | - | - |
| German | $100 | - | - | $50 | $75 | $50 | $30 | - | - | - |
| Dutch | $100 | - | - | $50 | $75 | $50 | $30 | - | - | - |
| Irish | $100 | - | - | $100 | - | - | $55 | - | - | - |
Other exciting ADD-ONs
We recommend
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
Nairobi to Cape Town
| Start Nairobi | Finish Cape Town | Price | Local Payment | Departure details | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon 17 Apr 2023 | Sun 2 Jul 2023 | £3460 | US$1260 | 8+ Seats available | Book Now |
| Fri 26 May 2023 | Thu 10 Aug 2023 | £3460 | US$1260 | 1 Seats available | Book Now |
| Sun 25 Jun 2023 | Sat 9 Sep 2023 | £3460 | US$1260 | 0 Seats available | Fully Booked |
| Tue 25 Jul 2023 | Mon 9 Oct 2023 | £3460 | US$1260 | 1 Seats available | Book Now |
| Mon 21 Aug 2023 | Sun 5 Nov 2023 | £3460 | US$1260 | 8+ Seats available | Book Now |
| Wed 20 Sep 2023 | Tue 5 Dec 2023 | £3460 | US$1260 | 8+ Seats available | Book Now |
| Mon 16 Oct 2023 | Sun 31 Dec 2023 | £3460 | US$1260 | 8+ Seats available
Christmas at Orange River and New Years in Cape Town. |
Book Now |
| Mon 4 Dec 2023 | Sun 18 Feb 2024 | £3460 | US$1260 | 8+ Seats available
Christmas in Kigali and New years upon coming from the Tanzanian parks |
Book Now |
| Sat 20 Jan 2024 | Fri 5 Apr 2024 | £3460 | US$1260 | Book Now | |
| Sun 18 Feb 2024 | Sat 4 May 2024 | £3460 | US$1260 | Book Now |
Before You Go
Nairobi to Cape Town
Click on the link below to download the predeparture dossier for this overland trip "The Absolute Safari" - to Cape Town.
The Absolute Safari - pre departure packThe 77 Day Absolute Safari is our longest tour and a great adventure. With over 30 years overlanding experience, we hope you will find the information that we have compiled helpful to assist with preparing for your trip.
There are details on how to book flights, pre-tour accommodation and transfers in Nairobi, as well as information on the arrangements for our arrival in Cape Town at the end of your trip.
In Nairobi we offer a choice of accommodation to stay either at the Heron Hotel, or alternatively at Wildebeest Eco Camp. For this tour we can collect you on day one at either.
The Heron Hotel is a well appointed secure hotel where you can enjoy some home comforts before you head out on your big adventure, or alternatively the Wildebeest is competitively priced with a good range of different accommodation styles from dorms to deluxe tents.
Remember when considering your plans for the end of the trip, Cape Town has plenty to see and do. Many really enjoy staying a few extra days to get the most out of the 'mother city'.
On The Absolute Safari most of the big game parks are included from the Masai Mara to the Serengeti to Etosha National Park. At the same time there are many exciting optional activities and this pack has information on the these including details on gorilla trekking, the four days on Zanzibar Island, and adventure activities in Victoria Falls and Jinja, as well as the houseboat cruise on Lake Kariba.
Personal updates are issued before departure by email to all participants, with final confirmations of pre safari transfers and accommodation and other details relating to your specific travel arrangements so you can check all is as you need.
We recommend once booked on a Nairobi to Cape Town 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. And if you are not excited enough about heading to Africa already, check out our facebook page, listen out for our tweets and keep up to date with our blog to stay up in touch with all that is happening on the road on the trucks.
An overlanding trip in Africa is a very different style of tour from your usual package holiday, so whatever your question please don't hesitate to ask. We are here to help, and happy to advise to ensure you get the most from your big trip! Give us a call, or skype or email. We look forward to planning your trip to Africa with you.
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Book your Nairobi to Cape Town Safari
| Start Nairobi | Finish Cape Town | Price | Local Payment | Departure details | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Book Now | Mon 17 Apr 2023 | Sun 2 Jul 2023 | £3460 | US$1260 | 8+ Seats available |
| Book Now | Fri 26 May 2023 | Thu 10 Aug 2023 | £3460 | US$1260 | 1 Seats available |
| Fully Booked | Sun 25 Jun 2023 | Sat 9 Sep 2023 | £3460 | US$1260 | 0 Seats available |
| Book Now | Tue 25 Jul 2023 | Mon 9 Oct 2023 | £3460 | US$1260 | 1 Seats available |
| Book Now | Mon 21 Aug 2023 | Sun 5 Nov 2023 | £3460 | US$1260 | 8+ Seats available |
| Book Now | Wed 20 Sep 2023 | Tue 5 Dec 2023 | £3460 | US$1260 | 8+ Seats available |
| Book Now | Mon 16 Oct 2023 | Sun 31 Dec 2023 | £3460 | US$1260 | 8+ Seats available
Christmas at Orange River and New Years in Cape Town. |
| Book Now | Mon 4 Dec 2023 | Sun 18 Feb 2024 | £3460 | US$1260 | 8+ Seats available
Christmas in Kigali and New years upon coming from the Tanzanian parks |
| Book Now | Sat 20 Jan 2024 | Fri 5 Apr 2024 | £3460 | US$1260 | |
| Book Now | Sun 18 Feb 2024 | Sat 4 May 2024 | £3460 | US$1260 |