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Beginning in Cape Town, a beautiful, lively city on the coast of South Africa with stunning beaches, we travel north to glimpse the perfect sunrise at Namib- Naukluft. Then, we enjoy adrenaline sports and the famous Victoria Falls in Livingstone. After an idyllic beach break in Zanzibar we’ll visit many of East Africa’s famous game parks, such as the QE2 and the Serengeti. You have the chance to trek to see the rare Mountain Gorilla before our amazing adventure fi nishes in Kampala.

Day 1 to 2
Cape Town

Day 1 is simply an arrival day with no pre-organised activities, so you will have free time to relax and see some of the sights. Our adventure begins in Cape Town, the third most populous city in South Africa nestled on the seaside. There are many things to do here: explore the townships and wineries, climb Table Mountain and check out some jazz bars. Be sure to allow some extra time before the tour begins to see and do everything you want in Cape Town and the surrounding regions.

Day 3 to 4
Orange River - Fish River Canyon

We leave Cape Town and travel north via Citrusdal to the Orange River, passing some of South Africa's most beautiful areas and wine-growing regions along the way. Orange River forms the border between Namibia and South Africa, and you have the option to go on a canoe safari on the river here.

On day 4 we move on to Fish River Canyon, one of the world's largest canyons, boasting vistas and world class walks. The canyon is 160km long and 500m deep and to walk it entirely takes 5 days and is seasonally dependent. We will park at the viewpoint and from there you can take several short easy walks around the top of the canyon stopping along the way for photos. Descending into the canyon for a day visit is now prohibited. Weather depending we will have lunch or an early sunset supper at the viewpoint.

Day 5 to 6
Sesriem & Namib-Naukluft National Park

Today we have a scenic drive past some beautiful mountainous areas and through the Namib-Naukluft National Park, famous for its giant sand dunes, on our way to Sesriem. Once we've arrived, you can go on a walk through the Seseriem Canyon in the late afternoon. The following morning we have an early start and you have the option to take a hot air balloon ride over the dunes or traveling by truck we head into the national park to watch the sunrise over the famous dunes. Dune 45 is reputed to be the best of the dunes, but they are all magnificent and spectacular to film. After we have exhausted our memory cards on the sunrise we will travel further into the dune field to the two wheel drive truck park. From here you can either walk or take a optional 4 wheel drive or walking tour into Sossusvlei and explore the hot, dry depths of this huge clay pan which is enclosed by giant sand dunes. Some of the spectacular hills of sand are at a height of 300 metres - the highest in the world. Only in the rare event of a heavy rainfall does the vlei (wetland) fill with water. As the clay layers hardly allow any water infiltration, a turquoise lake will remain for quite some time. It can be very hot here and there is no shade, so remember to bring sunscreen, hats, etc. In the afternoon we head back to camp where you can try and beat the heat next to the swimming pool.

Day 7 to 9
Swakopmund

Swakopmund is situated on the Atlantic Ocean and is Namibia's most popular holiday destination. It is an old German colonial town surrounded by desert.

Once in Swakopmund, we have two full days to fuel our thirst for an adrenaline rush with a range of optional excursions, such as sandboarding (stand up or lie down on a waxed hardboard and hurtle down the dunes), quadbiking (suitable for beginners), tandem skydiving, game fishing and many more. The town has a selection of good bars and restaurants, and you can spend the evening watching extreme videos of activities you did during the day over a cold beer or two. It's a great place for a few nights and a lot of fun.

Day 10 to 13
Otjitotongwe Cheetah Park & Etosha National Park

Travelling north, we stop for one night at the famous Otjitotongwe Cheetah Park, where you'll get up close and personal with these beautiful animals. You can hold and stoke the babies and hand reared cheetahs, and watch the owners hand-feed the older ones. The tame cheetahs were abandoned when they were young and consequently can't be set free in the wild as they wouldn't survive. The park itself is 2,000 acres and it is fenced off for obvious reasons. You can watch the cheetah being fed from a truck, and there are tame kudu and meerkats wandering about the place. The park is a great place to see these big cats clearly in an almost wild environment.

On day 11 we make our way to Etosha National Park is one of Africa's largest and is roughly the size of Wales. We have two or three nights here to explore this immense park (and Tucan Travel staff favourite). All of Etosha's campsites have floodlit waterholes, meaning that, when park law restrictions limit us to our campsite in the evenings, it is still possible to view game at all hours - you can stay up all night if you wish, glimpsing wild animals coming down for a drink at the water's edge! Just remember to be quiet for ample viewing opportunities.

We will spend our two nights camping in the park split between two of the three main campsites, Okaukuejo in the South, Halali in the middle or Namutoni in the north depending on where the game is. All the campsites are very well equipped with great facilities and the game drives along with the waterholes make Etosha one of the most memorable places you will visit on this trip. Africa's ‘big five' (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino) can be found in the park as well as zebra, giraffe, gazelle and many different species of Southern African birds. You may notice differences in the animal species here to those you will see in East Africa - pay particular attention to the stripes of the zebras!

Day 14 to 18
Ngepi - Maun & Okavango Delta

Travelling east across Namibia, we head towards Botswana. Tonight we camp on the banks of the Okavango River on our way to the mighty Okavango Delta.

On day 15 our next stop is the town of Maun, where we will prepare for our optional safari into the Okavango Delta, a beautiful wetland.

The Okavango Delta is a huge area of very slow flowing water that comes from the Okavango River, fans out and evaporates over the sands of the Kalahari Desert. There are many fresh water channels that give life to the abundant wildlife of the area. We travel in hand crafted Mokoros (small boats similar to dugout canoes) which glide silently along the river, steered by stealth polers who earn their living transporting tourists along the Delta. There is no better way to explore the tranquil waterways and lily fields, glimpsing the diverse range of birds and amphibians such as speckled frogs which inhabit the papyrus.

We spend two nights camping on small islands in the bush, with our exact camp spot determined by the water level at the time. Returning to dry land and showers, we spend one more night in Maun. From here you also have the opportunity to take a scenic flight over the Delta to see it in all its vastness from above.

Day 19 to 20
Chobe National Park

Leaving Maun, we drive to Chobe National Park. Our campsite is on the river's edge, providing great opportunities to spot wildlife and admire the sounds and sights of the African wilderness. You have free time in the national park to take an optional river cruise or game drive to see crocodiles, hippos, elephants and other wildlife found in abundance here. Chobe is one of the largest game concentrations in southern Africa so the viewing options are definitely plentiful.

Day 21 to 24
Livingstone

Leaving Chobe and crossing the Zambezi River by ferry we head east to Livingstone, Zambia’s adrenaline capital and adventure playground, named after the famous Scottish explorer David Livingstone. The pretty colonial town is our base to visit Victoria Falls just 10 kilometres south, one of the seven natural wonders of the world. Twice as high as Niagara Falls and several times longer, Victoria Falls are a 1,700 metre-wide water sheet crashing 110 metres into the Zambezi River below. Known to the Mosi-oa-Tunya people as ‘the smoke that thunders’, the falls are so impressive that even the first European visitor David Livingstone himself wrote “it had never been seen before by European eyes; but scenes so lovely must have been gazed upon by angels in their flight”, before he named them in honour of his monarch, Queen Victoria. 

One of the most popular adventure activities  you can enjoy here is white water rafting on the lower Zambezi River, which has a series of 23 rapids all graded 3 to 5 depending on the time of year and the water level – please note that this is definitely not for the faint-hearted! Other popular activities include bungy jumping, river boarding, jet boating, canoeing or try sitting in the famous Devil's Armchair. You can also take a helicopter ride and admire the raging falls from above.

Please note: All of the activities on the river, including the Devil's Armchair, are subject to the level of the river and may not be available. The Zambezi rafting season is between the beginning of June and the end of January with the best months between August and November. The river usually closes around the end of January or beginning of February and does not reopen until towards the end May.

Day 25 to 28
Lusaka - South Luangwa National Park

We stop off at Lusaka, Zambia’s bustling capital and then continue on to world renowned wildlife haven South Luangwa National Park, one of the finest animal sanctuaries in the world, famous for its concentration and diversity of wildlife.  As you explore the 9050km2  park you may see large herds of elephants, abundant hippopotami and numerous crocodiles along the banks of the Luangwa River. Thornicraft's giraffe and Crawshay's zebra are both unique to the park. You may also see herds of wildebeest and some of the 14 species of antelope resident in the park, including impala, puku, waterbucks and bushbucks. Numerous lion prides roam savannah, while leopards are present but are shy of vehicles and difficult to spot. Other carnivores such as wild dogs, caracals and side striped jackals can be seen from time to time. You may also see baboons and vervet monkeys, although it is harder to find nocturnal species like the bushbaby and night ape. There are over 400 species of birds in the park, including 47 migratory species and 39 birds of prey.

Day 29 to 35
Lilongwe – Kande – Chitimba – Iringa

Next we spend one night in Lilongwe, the capital of Malawi. In your free time you can go shopping at some of the many craft markets and souvenir shops or catch up on emails. Malawi’s people are renowned for their friendliness and the country is often referred to as ‘the warm heart of Africa’.

Lake Malawi comprises of almost one third of the country’s land mass. It is a fresh water lake, about 560 km long and 75 km wide at its widest point, with a total area of approximately 29,600 km². Kande Beach is one of the many beautiful beaches situated on the shores of Lake Malawi. There is a lively atmosphere here and with Kande Beach being one of the big overland havens, you will be in for a party or two! You have two full days to relax in the sun or go diving, snorkelling, swimming and horse riding. You can also visit nearby local villages and markets famous for their woodcarvings.

Heading away from Kande Beach, we drive up and over the Viphya Mountains, admiring beautiful views along the way. We have a couple of nights at a small but lively lakeside camp called Chitimba beach. Here you can choose to go on a range of fun optional excursions, such as abseiling and hiking in the mountains to the beautiful town of Livingstonia. We also include a guided visit to a local village where you can enjoy the friendly welcome of local people.

We then take to the open road once again and travelling north we leave Lake Malawi behind and enter Tanzania. Heading east towards the coast we pass through the large Sao Hill pine forests before settling in for the night near the town of Iringa. The next day we pass through Mikumi National Park, where it is possible to see elephant, giraffe, zebra and antelope from the roadside.

Day 36 to 42
Dar es Salaam & Zanzibar Island

We now head to the big, noisy, bustling port of Dar es Salaam on the Indian Ocean. Dar es Salaam is our gateway to the exotic island of Zanzibar, which we will spend several days exploring. Known as the ‘Spice Island', Zanzibar is famous for spices and produce, and supposedly boasts the sweetest pineapple in the world! In the nineteenth century it was one of the most important trading centres in the Indian Ocean region. We travel to the island by fast ferry which takes around 2.5 to 3.5 hours depending on what boat we catch, and will spend our days here in Stone Town and also at some of the islands beaches on the Northern or eastern side of the island.

Stone Town is an old city and the cultural heart of Zanzibar; little has changed here over the last 200 years. It boasts a labyrinth of walled streets, winding alleys, bustling mosques and grand Arab architecture. You can spend many idle hours simply wandering the streets, shopping at the bazaars and admiring the intriguing elephant-proof doors. Or sit and watch the sun set over a cold beer and a sumptuous seafood feast. If food is your thing, make sure you also check out the brilliant night market which serves traditional local fare. Females should note that Stone Town has a high Muslim population so remember to cover up and bring appropriate clothing.

To the north and east of Zanzibar Island lie the island's beautiful, isolated beaches with sparkling blue ocean and golden sand fringed with palm trees. There are plenty of options for you at the beaches: relax and take it easy, indulge with a massage, go diving, snorkelling or swimming with dolphins. After around four days in this paradise, we will depart in the morning and head back to Dar es Salaam for one more night.

Day 43 to 47
Arusha / Ngorongoro Crater / Serengeti National Park

Leaving Dar es Salaam behind we travel north stopping for a night at the base of the Usumbara Mountains before making our way to two of the most famous sights in Africa: the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti National Park.

Arusha is our base for several days. It is a busy, bustling town with email, coffee shops, banks and many other modern amenities. During your stay you will have the option to visit the famous Ngorongoro crater and/or the Serengeti National Park. Both excursions are with local operators in 4WD vehicles.

The Ngorongoro Volcano, before it exploded and collapsed 2 millions years ago, was one of the world's tallest mountains. Today, the crater is one of the most stunning natural wonders in the world, and is approximately 610m deep with an enclosed area of about 260km2. There is a soda lake with flamingos as well as open plains and forest areas. Because the sides of the crater are very steep, the area has become a natural enclosure for a wide variety of wildlife which can be seen in their natural habitats. You’ll have the opportunity to get very close to the game here for photos as there are few places for them to hide.

You can choose to do the two day crater only trip with one night camping and then enjoy a couple of free days back in Arusha or go on the three day two night Serengeti and crater trip where you will spend two nights camping, one of which is spent inside the Serengeti National Park, one of the most famous in Africa. Surrounded by the sights and sounds of wild, rugged Africa, you might spot teeming herds of wildebeest, antelopes, zebra, buffalo and big cats such as lion and cheetah. If you are lucky enough to be in the park around the time of the largest mammal migration in the world, that of the Serengeti wildebeest, you’ll see the 1.5 million-strong herd migrating to follow the African rainy season - a truly unbelievable, magical sight.

Day 48 to 49
Nairobi

Leaving Arusha, we cross the border to Kenya and head to Nairobi, the capital of Kenya and the gateway to East Arica. You have a free day here to enjoy the busy city life that Nairobi has to offer. Just on the outskirts of the city you have the chance to visit Daphine Sheldriks elephant orphanage as well as a giraffe centre. The Nairobi museum is also worth a look as well.

Day 50 to 51
Lake Nakuru National Park

In the morning we depart for Nakuru which lends its name to both the lake and the national park that surrounds it. Driving across the top of the Great Rift Valley we admire the spectacular views along the way before dropping down into the valley itself. The Great Rift Valley stretches around 5000km from Lebanon to Mozambique but this is the best place along its entire length to view it.
We arrive in the afternoon with time for you to explore the town and visit the local craft market.
 
The following morning we will take a full day game drive in minivans to view more wildlife than your memory card can handle, including leopards, lions, zebra, buffalo and rhino. Here, black rhinos are used in a breeding program which aims to increase the population of this semi-endangered species.

Day 52 to 53
Eldoret - Kampala

After leaving Nakuru we cross the Equator into the Northern Hemisphere, where we stop for the evening in Eldoret before making our way to Uganda.

Kampala is Uganda's bustling capital city, boasting plenty of markets as well as some lively restaurants and bars. We spend an evening here with free time to get a feel for city life, visit the market, try some typical Ugandan cuisine and catch up on emails.

Day 54 to 55
Queen Elizabeth II National Park

In the morning we travel to the famous Queen Elizabeth II National Park, often referred to as the ‘QE2’. Established in 1954, and situated at the base of the Rwenzori Mountains, this park suffered badly during the years of the Ugandan/Tanzanian war and much of the wildlife there was shot. Today, however, the wildlife has recovered and the Kazinga Channel, which joins Lake Edward and Lake George, is famous for having the world’s largest concentration of hippos that are easily viewed from a boat on the channel. You have the option of spending a full day in the park both game driving and taking the not to be missed boat cruise on the Kazinga channel.

Day 56 to 59
Musanze (formerly Rhuengeri)

Please note: this part of the itinerary may change - if it is not possible to see the gorillas in Rwanda, we will endeavour to see them in Uganda instead, but this will depend upon permit availability and may incur additional costs. See your separate gorilla trekking notes for more information.

Over the next three days we base ourselves in Musanze (formerly Rhuengeri) for the Gorilla Trek and travel into the mountains to trek for the rare mountain gorillas. These gorillas are found in the Virunga Mountains, a range of volcanic mountains and rainforest which covers parts of Uganda, Congo and Rwanda. On the Rwandan side, there are currently five groups of habituated mountain gorillas ranging in number from 7 - 37 individuals. We start our trekking from Kinigi into their mountainous habitat with our guides, who will track their spoor and last movements to find them. The trek can be demanding at times and the weather can be very changeable, but the experience of seeing these magnificent animals in the wild is worth every bit.

It is possible that you may be lucky enough to come within arm’s length of these beautiful creatures if they approach you, but you are required to maintain a distance of 5 metres from the animals at all times. Your time with the gorillas is restricted to around 45 - 60 minutes, to safeguard the families from too much human contact.

Day 60 to 64
Kigali & Lake Bunyoni - Jinja - Kampala

A short drive from Musanze (formerly Rhuengeri) is Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, where we will stop to visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre to learn about the horrific 1994 genocide in which an estimated one million Rwandans died, with twice that number fleeing into exile. If you would like to learn more about the genocide, the film Hotel Rwanda offers a compelling account of the history of the event. From Kigali we head to picturesque Lake Bunyoni where we have an included cruise on the lake and a guided visit to a local pygmy village.

On day 62 we visit Jinja (approx 45 minutes away from Kampala). Jinja is Uganda's extreme sports hub, so it's time to get into some adrenaline-fuelled optional activities like white water rafting on the longest river in the world, quad biking to local villages along riverbanks, and bungy jumping (44m)! You will also have the option to visit an orphanage or do some community work with Soft Power, a local charity committed to improving the educational facilities with Uganda. Your tour leader will be able to give you more information about this. In the evening you will be escorted back to Kampala by the tour leader on local transport before your tour concludes in Kampala on day 64. If you should choose to stay in Jinja until the following day you will be responsible for your own return travel to Kampala.