Nairobi to Cape Town Overland Tours
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Price
£3300
+ Local Payment US$900
(local payment explained)
What's Included
• The Masai Mara• Nakuru National Park
• South Luangwa National Park
• Matopos National Park Incl. rhino trek
• Chobe National Park game cruise
• Etosha National Park
• The Giraffe Park
• Sheldricks Elephant Orphanage
• Africat Carnivore Care
• Cape Cross Seal Colony
• Namib Naukluft National Park
• Maasai village visit incl. bush walk
• Lake Naivasha
• Lake Malawi
• Great Zimbabwe Ruins
• Bushmen visit
• Sossusvlei Dunes
• 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 2 nights in a local lodge
• 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, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa
Nairobi to Cape Town Safari Overview
A Classic Safari - from Kenya to Cape Town, with every opportunity to see the big five and more in game park after game park from the Masai Mara to the Serengeti to Etosha. On the way experience the cultures and stunning geography of East and Southern Africa - The Rift Valley, the vast savannah plains, Zanzibar's white beaches, Lake Malawi, Victoria Falls, Okavango Delta and the dunes of Namibia. With the opportunity for an adrenalin rush or two - sky dive, gorge swing and white water rafting on the Zambezi's grade 5 rapids!
Nairobi to Cape Town Safari Add-ons
Itinerary
Days 1 - 9
KENYA
Departure meeting, Loita Hills Maasai cultural experience, morning and afternoon guided game drives in small safari vehicles over two days in The Masai Mara, The Rift Valley, Lake Naivasha, guided game drives in Lake Nakuru National Park in small safari vehicles. Nairobi, Sheldricks Elephant Orphanage, The Giraffe Park.
Optionals: Hells Gate National Park, Crater Lake Sanctuary, Elsamere for afternoon tea, balloon safari, hippo cruise.
Days 10 - 13
TANZANIA
Drive through to Arusha, with evening celebratory barbecue on our return from the game parks.
Optionals: 3 day/2 night safari: Afternoon and morning game drives in the Serengeti National Park, afternoon drive through the Ngorongoro Conservation area, morning game drives in Ngorongoro Crater.
Days 14 - 20
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.
Optionals: Guided walks at the foot of Kilimanjaro. Free time for the option to visit Zanzibar Island day 17, returning to the mainland on day 21.
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 the ancient capital, Stone Town as well as your other requirements including 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 tours on Zanzibar Island can be arranged ahead of time.
Days 21 - 26
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 27 - 32
ZAMBIA - ZIMBABWE
South Luangwa National Park for a guided game drive in smaller safari vehicles, Lusaka, The Zambezi Valley and a relaxing couple of 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 33 - 36
ZIMBABWE
Great Zimbabwe Ruins and Matopos National Park for rhino trek and guided game drives in smaller safari vehicles.
Optional: Extra game drives and a visit to rock paintings and Cecil Rhodes’ grave or a Ndebele Village.
Days 37 - 39
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 40 - 45
BOTSWANA
Kasane, Chobe National Park for a game cruise, Maun.
Optionals: Chobe National Park, game drive, Okavango Delta guided mokoro safari, flight over the Delta
Days 46 - 54
NAMIBIA
Rundu, Bushmen visit. Morning and afternoon game drives incl. entry and two nights camping in Etosha National Park in our large overland truck with elevated all round windows and the assistance of our trained tour leader. A visit to the Africat Foundation. Stop over at Spitzkoppe. 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 55 - 62
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 £3300 and local payment $900 USD
- Optional excursions
- Personal spending money
- Visas
What's included
Your safari price and local payment covers:
Over five core game parks and other highlights including:
The Masai Mara
Nakuru National Park
South Luangwa National Park
Matopos game drive and rhino trek
Chobe National Park for a game cruise
Etosha National Park
Sheldricks Elephant Orphanage
The Giraffe Park
Africat Carnivore Care
Cape Cross Seal Colony
Namib Naukluft National Park
Lake Naivasha
Lake Malawi
Great Zimbabwe Ruins
Maasai village visit - overnight bush experience
Bushmen visit
Sossusvlei Dunes
Spitzkoppe rock formations
Fish River Canyon
- 47 breakfasts and 47 dinners whilst travelling on the truck, including some local meals & pre-prepared barbecues
- 46 nights camping and 6 nights dorm accommodation in a lodge or similar in Swakopmund and Stellenbosch 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 services of a cook in East Africa
- 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$800 - US$2000
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 2022)
| 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 |
| PAID IN AFRICA | |
| Hells Gate National Park (half day) incl entry, bike hire, guide and transfers | US$55 |
| Visit to a local orphanage (Donation only) | £0 |
| 1 hour hippo cruise across Naivasha | US$30 |
| Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater game drives 3 days/2 nights, from | US$645 |
| 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 |
| 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 on The Zambezi | US$120 |
| Helicopter flight over Victoria Falls (15 minutes) | US$150 |
| Sunset cruise on the Zambezi | US$55 |
| Chobe National Park - combo game drive and game cruise | US$90 |
| Flights over the Delta, 1 hour (min 5 people) | US$150 |
| Okavango Delta guided mokoro safari (two nights) | US$228 |
| Tandem sky dive, Swakomund | US$260 |
| Sandboarding (approx 5 hours) | US$50 |
| Quad biking 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$95 |
| ALSO TO CONSIDER DURING YOUR TOUR | |
| Balloon safari in the Masai Mara | £425 |
| 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 | £1550 |
| 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, 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 Classic Safari 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 Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater excursion (x2 nights), 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 Hells Gate, 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 on your Nakuru game drive 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 Classic Safari to cover the above is: US$1300-US$1500
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 Classic Safari you will want to have a minimum of 9 blank pages (sides).If you have dual nationality you can only use one passport for the entire trip, but bringing both is wise as a back up strategy. You can find more information on 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 trip 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. This includes the Kenyan visa, which for most passport holders can be easily arranged upon arrival in Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. Visas 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.
Visas can only be paid for in US Dollars cash.
This information is given as a guide only. Visa requirements can change without prior notice.
Budget for all visas US$255 - US$305 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 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Canadian | $50 | - | - | $50 | $75 | $50 | $75 | - | - | - |
| American | $50 | - | - | $100 | $75 | $50 | $30 | - | - | - |
| British | $50 | - | - | $50 | $75 | $50 | $55 | - | - | - |
| German | $50 | - | - | $50 | $75 | $50 | $30 | - | - | - |
| Dutch | $50 | - | - | $50 | $75 | $50 | $30 | - | - | - |
| Irish | $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
Back to topDates
Nairobi to Cape Town
| Start Nairobi | Finish Cape Town | Price | Local Payment | Departure details | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat 5 Oct 2024 | Thu 5 Dec 2024 | £3300 | US$900 | 4+ Seats available
Note: 64 day tour |
|
| Thu 19 Dec 2024 | Tue 18 Feb 2025 | £3300 | US$900 | 4+ Seats available
Christmas in the Masai Mara. New Years Eve at the Snake Park Arusha on leaving the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater |
Book Now |
| Mon 3 Feb 2025 | Sat 5 Apr 2025 | £3300 | US$900 | 4+ Seats available | Book Now |
| Thu 5 Jun 2025 | Tue 5 Aug 2025 | £3300 | US$900 | 4+ Seats available | Book Now |
| Sat 5 Jul 2025 | Thu 4 Sep 2025 | £3300 | US$900 | 4+ Seats available | Book Now |
| Sun 10 Aug 2025 | Fri 10 Oct 2025 | £3300 | US$900 | 4+ Seats available | Book Now |
| Tue 9 Sep 2025 | Sun 9 Nov 2025 | £3300 | US$900 | 4+ Seats available | Book Now |
| Sun 5 Oct 2025 | Fri 5 Dec 2025 | £3300 | US$900 | 4+ Seats available | Book Now |
| Fri 19 Dec 2025 | Wed 18 Feb 2026 | £3300 | US$900 | 4+ Seats available
Christmas in the Masai Mara. New Years Eve at the Snake Park Arusha on leaving the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater |
Book Now |
| Wed 4 Feb 2026 | Mon 6 Apr 2026 | £3300 | US$900 | 4+ Seats available | Book Now |
Before You Go
Nairobi to Cape Town
Excited about the Classic Safari? When you start to prepare for your trip you will probably have a lot of questions!
Below, you will find a link to the pre departure pack for the Classic Safari which is full to the brim of useful information relating to your trip.
The Classic Safari - pre departure packWith our 30 yearsÂ’ experience in overlanding Africa, we have put together this departure booklet specifically with you in mind to covers all sorts of frequently asked questions such as how to arrange your flights, what you should pack, how do I organize airport transfers and where is the best place to stay pre and post safari?
If you need assistance with accommodation before the tour in Nairobi do take a look at the information for the Heron Hotel, or alternatively at Wildebeest Eco Camp. For this tour we can collect you on day one at either the Heron or Wildebeest Camp.
A well-appointed secure hotel in Nairobi, you might like to treat yourself and enjoy some home comforts at The Heron 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.
We include many of the highlights in the price of the Classic Safari. At the same time during this 58 day tour there are many different and exciting optional activities. The pack has information on the optional extras available along the way from Kenya all the way to South Africa including a four night Zanzibar Island, adventure activities in Victoria Falls and the houseboat cruise on Lake Kariba.
When planning the end of your trip, it is worth noting that Cape town is a very beautiful city with lots to see and do, we find many people like to stay at least a few extra days to get the most out of the 'mother city'.
Remember to 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.
Also, be sure to check out our Facebook page, listen out for our tweets and keep up with our blogs to stay up to date with all that is happening on the trucks. We are also on Instagram
Overlanding in Africa is something completely different to any other form of holiday - this aint another big bus tour!! So if there are any queries or concerns please do get in touch, we are more than happy to help - just give us a call, skype or email.
We look forward to helping you plan the trip of a lifetime!
Book your Nairobi to Cape Town Safari
| Start Nairobi | Finish Cape Town | Price | Local Payment | Departure details | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat 5 Oct 2024 | Thu 5 Dec 2024 | £3300 | US$900 | 4+ Seats available
Note: 64 day tour |
|
| Book Now | Thu 19 Dec 2024 | Tue 18 Feb 2025 | £3300 | US$900 | 4+ Seats available
Christmas in the Masai Mara. New Years Eve at the Snake Park Arusha on leaving the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater |
| Book Now | Mon 3 Feb 2025 | Sat 5 Apr 2025 | £3300 | US$900 | 4+ Seats available |
| Book Now | Thu 5 Jun 2025 | Tue 5 Aug 2025 | £3300 | US$900 | 4+ Seats available |
| Book Now | Sat 5 Jul 2025 | Thu 4 Sep 2025 | £3300 | US$900 | 4+ Seats available |
| Book Now | Sun 10 Aug 2025 | Fri 10 Oct 2025 | £3300 | US$900 | 4+ Seats available |
| Book Now | Tue 9 Sep 2025 | Sun 9 Nov 2025 | £3300 | US$900 | 4+ Seats available |
| Book Now | Sun 5 Oct 2025 | Fri 5 Dec 2025 | £3300 | US$900 | 4+ Seats available |
| Book Now | Fri 19 Dec 2025 | Wed 18 Feb 2026 | £3300 | US$900 | 4+ Seats available
Christmas in the Masai Mara. New Years Eve at the Snake Park Arusha on leaving the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater |
| Book Now | Wed 4 Feb 2026 | Mon 6 Apr 2026 | £3300 | US$900 | 4+ Seats available |