Southern Discoverer

Tour Itinerary 

Week 1:            Accommodation:

We head south to Namanga and cross the border to Tanzania. We arrive in Arusha where you can take a side trip to the Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater. The trip is camping for two nights in the parks amidst the animals. If you choose not to visit the park you can wander the markets in Arusha town. A day’s drive from Arusha brings us to Dar es Salaam on the Indian Ocean coast. Over the centuries trade between Africa and Arabia has resulted in the blending of Arabs and Africans into a beautiful Swahili (coastal) culture with wooden sailing dhows crossing the ocean, coconut plantations and fishing villages with mosques on the beaches.

Day 1
We head south from Nairobi through the Masai plains and cross the border at Namanga and cross into Tanzania; we arrive in Arusha late in the day.
Day 2
In Arusha you can take a side trip to the Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater. The trip is camping for two nights in the parks amidst the animals. If you choose not to visit the park you can wander the markets in Arusha town.
Day 3
National Park  - Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater.
Day 4
National Park - Ngorongoro Crater decent and return to Arusha.
Day 5
We head towards the coast past Moshi town the capital city of the Chugga tribe. Skirting the base of snowy Mount Kilimanjaro we camp on the way to Dar es Salaam.
Day 6
We arrive in Dar es Salaam on the Indian Ocean coast.
Day 7
Zanzibar Island - From Dar es Salaam you can take the ferry to Zanzibar Island. Here is the old stone capital of the Omani Sultanate, sandy beaches, spice tours, snorkelling, diving and trips to other nearby islands.  

Week 2:            Accommodation:

South through Tanzania, our route takes us through Mikumi National Park where we may well see giraffe or elephant grazing beside the road.

Day 8
Zanzibar is a fascinating place to visit and you can stay for 4 or 5 days to take it all in. Over a thousand years trade between Africa and Arabia has resulted in the blending of Arabs and Africans into a beautiful Swahili coastal culture with; wooden sailing dhows crossing the ocean, coconut plantations and fishing villages with mosques on the beaches.
Day 9
Zanzibar Island – Nungwe beach resort on the north of the island has the most beautiful beaches in the world.
Day 10
Most people visit Zanzibar Town visiting Stone Town a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the old slave market , the spice growing areas, Jozani Forest with Red Colobus Monkeys and in the evening visit the seafood cafes and have dinner on the wharf
Day 11
Zanzibar Island
Day 12
Return to Dar es Salaam on the early ferry. We head south through Tanzania; our route takes us through Mikumi National Park where we may well see giraffe or elephant grazing beside the road.
Day 13
The road from Mikumi National Park to Malawi takes us through the southern highlands passing Baobab Valley to Iringa  

Week 3:            Accommodation:

Crossing the border into Malawi, we reach the shores of its huge lake. The campsites and small resorts along Lake Malawi offer sandy beaches, swimming and snorkelling, water-skiing, horse riding or walking in the surrounding countryside. You will also find markets selling beautifully carved Malawi chairs, tables and other souvenirs. In Blantyre the old capital of Malawi we get visas for the next leg. We enter Mozambique and spend a the day driving through the bush, passing villages, mud huts and small children who wave at us as they tend their herds of cows and goats. In Zimbabwe we visit the modern capital Harare, then on to Gweru and the Antelope Park. Here is the only place in the world you can walk with lion cubs, also you can swim with elephants and play polocrosse. In Bulawayo town there is Rhodes Matopos National Park, here you can walk near wild white rhino, see bushman rock paintings and see the fantastic view from Rhodes grave, the founder of modern Zimbabwe.

Day 14-15
Crossing the border into Malawi, we reach the shores of its huge lake. We spend the night at Chitimba Beach Camp. The campsites and small resorts along Lake Malawi offer sandy beaches, swimming and snorkelling, water-skiing, horse riding or walking in the surrounding countryside. Markets sell carved Malawi chairs, tables and wood carvings.
Day 16-18
Kande Beach. We head south through the hills and drop down to the lake and Kande Beach resort – very relaxed and just the sort of beach place you need in Africa.
Day 19
Leaving the beach we go inland to spend the night in the capital Lilongwe or camp on route to Zambia.
Day 20
We cross the border into Zambia and head into the country along the Great North Road – a sparsely settled country side with few people or villages for hundreds of miles to South Luangwa National Park.

 Week 4:            Accommodation:

Finally we reach the Victoria Falls where the Zambezi River plunges 100 metres down a mile wide chasm, creating one of the most incredible natural wonders of the world. The local name for the falls is 'Mosi-oa-Tunya' which means 'the smoke that thunders' and you'll soon find out why. When the river is in full flow, the falling water causes a huge roar and sends a cloud of spray up to 500 metres into the air. We stay in Victoria Falls Town in Zimbabwe above the falls where there is so much to see and do. Adventure activities abound - you can bungee jump, white water raft and go game-viewing on horse back. More sedate excursions include canoeing, light aircraft or helicopter flights over the Falls, and the sunset cruise on the Zambezi. Of course, the Victoria Falls themselves are the main attraction and you can walk through the rain forest along the cliff opposite for an excellent view.

Day 21
South Luangwa National Park is well worth the visit. Recent trips have seen:- wild dogs, leopards, lions, and buffalo. We camp just beside the park and you can game drive into the park. Though the park is open all year during the rains; which are normally from Jan and Feb to March, the road in can be flooded and we can’t visit the park.
Day 22
We leave the park and continue to head west.
Day 23
We reach Lusaka the capital of Zambia.
Day 24
Victoria Falls - the Zambezi River plunges 100 metres down a mile wide chasm, creating one of the most incredible natural wonders of the world. The local name for the falls is 'Mosi- oa-Tunya' which means 'the smoke that thunders' and you'll soon find out why. When the river is in full flow, the falling water causes a huge roar and sends a cloud of spray up to 500 metres into the air. We stay near Victoria Falls in Livingstone above the falls where there is so much to see and do. Adventure activities abound - you can bungee jump, white water raft, and go game-viewing on horse back or walking with lions. More sedate excursions include canoeing, light aircraft or helicopter flights over the Falls and the sunset cruise on the Zambezi. Though the Falls themselves are the main attraction and you can walk through the rain forest along the cliff opposite for an excellent view.
Day 25-28
Victoria Falls.

Week 5:            Accommodation:

We cross into Botswana. We travel along the edge of the Kalahari Desert to Maun. A small town on the edge of the Okavango Delta, Maun is also the starting point for the Mokoro trip. A Mokoro is a traditional dugout canoe and your transport into the Delta. As you glide through the waterways, you will see a fantastic array of wetland wildlife, birds in particular, and you are also likely to come across hippos or elephants taking a drink from the shore. You can go on a walking safari to look for giraffe, buffalo and rare antelope. This overnight stay is a great wilderness experience. Leaving the Delta behind you transfer to the airport to catch the flight to to Johannesburg, South Africa. There are several operators who run excursions to the surrounding area and further afield to Durban and Cape Town. There is an international airport as well as flight, train and bus connections to other South African cities.

Day 29
An early start and a stunning drive through arid land. We cross the Zambezi River by ferry into Botswana and the country becomes lush and forested as we approach Chobe River; the river cruise with excellent game viewing is a must.
Day 30
We travel along the edge of the Kalahari Desert to Maun a small town on the edge of the Okavango Delta, the starting point for the Mokoro trip. A Mokoro is a traditional dugout canoe and your transport into the Delta. As you glide through the waterways, you will see a fantastic array of wetland wildlife, birds in particular, and you will come across hippos in the water and elephants drinking from the shore. You can go on a walking safari to look for giraffe, buffalo and rare antelope – the overnight stay is a great wilderness experience.
Day 31-32
Up early and it’s off walking with the guide, a unique chance to see game on foot; elephants, herds of grazing zebra and pods of hippos.
Day 33-34
Try learning how to pole your mokoro, or try to catch a catfish; the guides make it look so easy. A last swim in the clear water before heading back to the truck and campsite for a shower and cold drinks. Time permitting you could take a scenic flight over the Delta from Maun or other activities.
Day 35
Transfer to Joburg. Tour ends.

NOTE:

Africa is an unpredictable continent. We do not have a fixed itinerary so please treat the information given as a guideline only. Although our information is written in good faith at the time of printing, our route may vary at any time due to weather, politics or road conditions.