Nairobi to Cape Town Overland Tours
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Price
£4100
+ Local Payment US$1260
(local payment explained)
What's Included
• The Masai Mara• The Serengeti
• Nakuru National Park
• Mburo National Park
• Lake Mburo boat cruise
• Ngorongoro Crater
• South Luangwa National Park
• Matopos Incl.rhino trek
• Chobe National Park cruise
• Etosha National Park
• Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
• Africat Carnivore Care
• Cape Cross Seal Colony
• The Giraffe Park
• Sheldrick's Elephant Orphanage
• The Grumeti Reserve
• Namib Naukluft National Park
• Sossusvlei Dunes
• Spitzkoppe or similar
• Fish River Canyon
• Maasai village visit incl. bush walk
• Bushmen visit
• Lake Naivasha
• Lake Victoria
• Lake Malawi
• Great Zimbabwe Ruins
• Genocide Museum
• 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
• 3 nights Ashanti Lodge, Cape Town
• Further 3 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, Sheldrick's Elephant Orphanage, 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: 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, the While Nile and Lake Bujagali, Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, Kampala, Lake Mburo National Park including a boat cruise and guided game drives. Kalinzu Forest
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, 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.
Chobe National Park - game cruise
Optionals: Chobe National Park - game drive, 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.
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Budgeting Summary
Nairobi to Cape Town Budget
The costs to consider when travelling overland are:
- Safari price £4100 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
Lake Mburo National Park including a boat cruise
Ngorongoro Crater
South Luangwa National Park
Matopos game drive and rhino trek
Chobe National park game cruise
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.
- 65 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 three nights 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 2024).
| PAID BEFORE DEPARTURE | |
| Mountain gorilla trekking permit, (not including transfers), from | £705 |
| 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 |
| White water rafting The White Nile | US$140 |
| Kalinzu Forest guided chimpanzee trek | US$130 |
| Lake Mutande incl. canoeing | US$25 |
| Morning safari Serengeti in 4x4 vehicle ( min 5 people) , from | US$170 |
| 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 |
| 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$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 - game drives | US$50 |
| Flights over the Delta, 1 hour (min 5 people) | US$150 |
| Okavango Delta guided mokoro safari (two nights) | US$234 |
| Tandem sky dive, Swakomund | US$260 |
| Sandboarding (approx 5 hours) | US$50 |
| Quadbiking 60km route (approx 2 hours) | US$46 |
| Township tour (4 hours) | US$40 |
| Open sea fishing in the Atlantic waters (5 hours ) | US$115 |
| Living desert tour (5 hours) | US$57 |
| Canoeing on the Orange River | US$30 |
| Wine tour from Cape Town | US$108 |
| ALSO TO CONSIDER DURING YOUR TOUR | |
| Balloon safari in the Masai Mara | £450 |
| Balloon safari in the Serengeti | £480 |
| TO CONSIDER AT THE END OF YOUR TOUR | |
| Special discounted offer: Add-On Garden Route Tour when booked with this tour | £1900 |
| 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.
At present please note that all travellers must apply for an eTA (electronic travel authorization) for Kenya prior to arrival. This is 30 USD.
Most passport holders will then need to apply to Uganda for a visa online. This is 50 USD. Irish nationals do not require a visa for Uganda.
For those nationalities that need to pay for a visa to Rwanda, this can be purchased at the border with USD cash and is currently costed at 30 USD.
Visas for Tanzania and Zimbabwe can be organised on arrival at the border for most passport holders. Visas on the ground can only be paid for in US dollars cash.
Visas are not normally required for most passport holders for Malawi, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia and South Africa.
If your passport is not detailed please do not hesitate to contact the office if you would like further details of your visa requirements.
Be aware that visa requirements can change without prior notice. This information is given as a guide only.
Budget for all visas US$80 - US$240 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 | $30 | $30 | $50 | $100 | - | - | $30 | - | - | - |
| British | $30 | - | $50 | $50 | - | - | $55 | - | - | - |
| German | $30 | $30 | $50 | $50 | - | - | $30 | - | - | - |
| Dutch | $30 | $30 | $50 | $50 | - | - | $30 | - | - | - |
| Irish | $30 | $30 | $50 | $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
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Nairobi to Cape Town
| Start Nairobi | Finish Cape Town | Price | Local Payment | Departure details | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 20 Apr 2025 | Sat 5 Jul 2025 | £4100 | US$1260 | 4+ Seats available | |
| Wed 21 May 2025 | Tue 5 Aug 2025 | £4100 | US$1260 | 4+ Seats available | Book Now |
| Fri 20 Jun 2025 | Thu 4 Sep 2025 | £4100 | US$1260 | 4+ Seats available | Book Now |
| Sat 26 Jul 2025 | Fri 10 Oct 2025 | £4100 | US$1260 | 4+ Seats available | Book Now |
| Mon 25 Aug 2025 | Sun 9 Nov 2025 | £4100 | US$1260 | 4+ Seats available | Book Now |
| Sat 20 Sep 2025 | Sat 5 Dec 2026 | £4100 | US$1260 | 4+ Seats available | Book Now |
| Tue 14 Oct 2025 | Wed 31 Dec 2025 | £4100 | US$1260 | 4+ Seats available
Christmas Eve at the hot springs, Xmas day by the Orange River. New Years in Cape Town Note: 79 day tour |
Book Now |
| Thu 4 Dec 2025 | Wed 18 Feb 2026 | £4100 | US$1260 | 4+ Seats available
Xmas in Kigali. New Years Snake Park, Arusha |
Book Now |
| Sat 24 Jan 2026 | Fri 10 Apr 2026 | £4100 | US$1260 | 4+ Seats available | Book Now |
| Mon 23 Feb 2026 | Sun 10 May 2026 | £4100 | US$1260 | 8+ Seats available | Book Now |
| Sun 19 Apr 2026 | Sat 4 Jul 2026 | £4100 | US$1260 | 8+ Seats available | Book Now |
| Sat 30 May 2026 | Fri 14 Aug 2026 | £4100 | US$1260 | 8+ Seats available | Book Now |
| Mon 29 Jun 2026 | Sun 13 Sep 2026 | £4100 | US$1260 | 8+ Seats available | Book Now |
| Fri 24 Jul 2026 | Thu 8 Oct 2026 | £4100 | US$1260 | 8+ Seats available | Book Now |
| Sun 23 Aug 2026 | Sat 7 Nov 2026 | £4100 | US$1260 | 8+ Seats available | Book Now |
| Sun 20 Sep 2026 | Sat 5 Dec 2026 | £4100 | US$1260 | 8+ Seats available | Book Now |
| Wed 14 Oct 2026 | Thu 31 Dec 2026 | £4100 | US$1260 | 8+ Seats available
Christmas by the Orange River. New Years in Cape Town. 79 day tour |
Book Now |
| Fri 4 Dec 2026 | Thu 18 Feb 2027 | £4100 | US$1260 | 8+ Seats available
Christmas celebrations in Kigali. New Years at the Snake Park in Arusha after game drives in Ngororongoro Crater |
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 20 Apr 2025 | Sat 5 Jul 2025 | £4100 | US$1260 | 4+ Seats available | |
| Book Now | Wed 21 May 2025 | Tue 5 Aug 2025 | £4100 | US$1260 | 4+ Seats available |
| Book Now | Fri 20 Jun 2025 | Thu 4 Sep 2025 | £4100 | US$1260 | 4+ Seats available |
| Book Now | Sat 26 Jul 2025 | Fri 10 Oct 2025 | £4100 | US$1260 | 4+ Seats available |
| Book Now | Mon 25 Aug 2025 | Sun 9 Nov 2025 | £4100 | US$1260 | 4+ Seats available |
| Book Now | Sat 20 Sep 2025 | Sat 5 Dec 2026 | £4100 | US$1260 | 4+ Seats available |
| Book Now | Tue 14 Oct 2025 | Wed 31 Dec 2025 | £4100 | US$1260 | 4+ Seats available
Christmas Eve at the hot springs, Xmas day by the Orange River. New Years in Cape Town Note: 79 day tour |
| Book Now | Thu 4 Dec 2025 | Wed 18 Feb 2026 | £4100 | US$1260 | 4+ Seats available
Xmas in Kigali. New Years Snake Park, Arusha |
| Book Now | Sat 24 Jan 2026 | Fri 10 Apr 2026 | £4100 | US$1260 | 4+ Seats available |
| Book Now | Mon 23 Feb 2026 | Sun 10 May 2026 | £4100 | US$1260 | 8+ Seats available |
| Book Now | Sun 19 Apr 2026 | Sat 4 Jul 2026 | £4100 | US$1260 | 8+ Seats available |
| Book Now | Sat 30 May 2026 | Fri 14 Aug 2026 | £4100 | US$1260 | 8+ Seats available |
| Book Now | Mon 29 Jun 2026 | Sun 13 Sep 2026 | £4100 | US$1260 | 8+ Seats available |
| Book Now | Fri 24 Jul 2026 | Thu 8 Oct 2026 | £4100 | US$1260 | 8+ Seats available |
| Book Now | Sun 23 Aug 2026 | Sat 7 Nov 2026 | £4100 | US$1260 | 8+ Seats available |
| Book Now | Sun 20 Sep 2026 | Sat 5 Dec 2026 | £4100 | US$1260 | 8+ Seats available |
| Book Now | Wed 14 Oct 2026 | Thu 31 Dec 2026 | £4100 | US$1260 | 8+ Seats available
Christmas by the Orange River. New Years in Cape Town. 79 day tour |
| Book Now | Fri 4 Dec 2026 | Thu 18 Feb 2027 | £4100 | US$1260 | 8+ Seats available
Christmas celebrations in Kigali. New Years at the Snake Park in Arusha after game drives in Ngororongoro Crater |