Non-Schedule Tours
41 DAYS BEST OF AFRICA TOUR

Tour Package Overview

A 42 Day tour that traverses the whole of East and Southern Africa on an Overland experience that will build memories for years to come. Get to see th various cultures, people, wildlife and flora tht exists in these diverse regions and get to learn the rich cultural lifestyles from the locals. Enjoy local cuisines, experience the exuberant life of the wild jungles and close proximity to nature.

Tour Package Itinerary

Days 1-2 Maasai Mara:

From Nairobi we head into the Masai Mara, one of Africa’s premier game parks. The Masai Mara has large herds of plains game (gazelles, antelopes, and giraffes etc) which in turn attract large numbers of carnivores (lions, cheetahs, hyenas and the ever elusive leopards). In the Masai Mara we do three game drives, one evening drive, one full day game drive and a morning game drive on our way out. In most national parks it is forbidden to drive at night so all game viewing is done as early and as late as possible to get the best conditions. Looking for game in a National park is not always easy. This is one of the advantages of using a truck, which gives us superior height, making it easier to see over the surrounding terrain

Day 3 Maasai Mara to Arusha:

From the Masai Mara we pass back through Nairobi going into Tanzania for an overnight in Arusha. Arusha is the ‘tourism capital’ of Tanzania and a base for exploring Northern Tanzania, strategically located between Mt.Kilimanjaro and some of Tanzania’s best National Parks like Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara, Lake Natron, Tarangire National Park among other attractions.

Day 4-5 Serengeti National Park:

Leaving Arusha behind us, you will journey through the Tanzanian countryside to the Serengeti National Park, crossing vast plains in search of the Big 5 on our way to our bush camp in the heart of the National Park where we will spend two nights listening to the sounds of Africa. Enjoy morning and afternoon game drives in the Serengeti National park. Expect an early rise in the mornings which give us the best opportunity to view game as they start their day, an unforgettable experience to watch Africa wake up! Afternoon game drives offer their own beauty and give you some amazing photo opportunities

Day 6 Ngorongoro Crater:

One last early morning game drive in the Serengeti on our way as we head for the Ngorongoro Crater escarpment where you will set up camp and prepare for an early start tomorrow morning

Day 7 Arusha:

We descend onto the Crater floor in 4x4 Jeeps for an early morning game drive in one of the most stunning natural wonders of the world. At 19Kms across and 600m deep this is the 5th largest crater in the world. It is a world heritage site and boasts a unique ecosystem. The crater itself reflects a mini rift valley. It has a soda lake with flamingos, fresh water, open plains, and a forest area. There is a high concentration of animals here, and it is also a home to a small population of black rhinos. We spend around 4½ hours game driving around the crater and have our picnic Lunch before we head out of the Park where we meet our Truck again and head out to Arusha again

Day 8 Arusha to Dar es Salaam:

From Arusha our journey takes us to Dar Es Salaam (Swahili for "haven of Peace") on the Indian Ocean. Depending on how clear the skies are, we get a chance to see the Kilimanjaro on our way and will also see a changing landscape en-route to the coast. Tonight we camp on the beach of the Indian Ocean

Day 9-11 Zanzibar:

We travel to Zanzibar by ferry from Dar es Salaam and this journey can take up to 2 or 3 Hours. Conditions are usually smooth but beware the occasional day with rolling seas. Zanzibar is known as the Spice Island, which comes from the many different spices that were grown here by the original Omani settlers. A lot of spices are still grown on the island and make up a large part of the economy of the island. The island does have a more sordid past in that it was once a major slave trading port; and it is still possible to visit the site of the old slave trading markets. The town centre still shows a lot of its Arabic origins in its architecture. It’s fascinating to walk around the labyrinth of old buildings and walled streets. For the beach lovers you can go out of the town and spend some relaxing time on the isolated beaches. There are spice tours that take in all manners of exotic fruits and spices and you can sample many of the tastes and smells first hand. Just off the coast of the old town is Prison Island, where there is a population of giant land tortoises who are happy to share their stretch of beach. We will spend 3 days on the island, generally split between 1 night in Stone Town and 2 nights on the beach where accommodation with breakfast is included however all other meals will be at your own expense during these 3 days. We recommend that you budget around U$200-$300 for your stay on Zanzibar to cover food, transport around the island, optional tours, accommodation upgrades, drinks and souvenirs. Please note that this is a recommendation only as different passengers have widely differing spending patterns

Day 12 Dar Es Salaam:

Today the group will travel by ferry back to Dar es Salaam and rejoin the truck which will transfer you to the campsite on the outskirts of Dar es Salaam

Day 13 Dar es Salaam to Iringa:

From Dar es Salaam we cross southern Tanzania into Malawi. The route takes us through the Mikumi National Park. This is not an excursion, but, fortunately for us, the road actually passes right through the centre of the park, and it is possible to see numbers of giraffe, antelope and elephants. It is interesting to note that these elephants are very small in stature, which is attributed to the decimation of their gene pool due to poaching

Day 14-16 Lake Malawi Beaches:

Malawi is a small country in central southern Africa and is dominated by water and mountainous regions. More than 30% of the country’s landmass comprises of Lake Malawi. On our trip through Malawi we visit a number of the small bays along the lakeshore. Snorkelling and diving are available or people can just swim and laze about on the beaches. There is also ample time to visit local villages and the local markets which abound with woodcarvings, the most famous of these being large carved chairs. These chairs have proved very popular with our clients over the years, only to become a problematic purchase when the time comes to send such a large object home. Day 17 Lilongwe: We Soak up Malawian culture in the capital. Tomorrow we have a relaxed morning as we will not have to leave early.

Days 18 Chipata:

Today we cross into Zambia which is a transit country to Vic falls where we will have opportunities for numerous activities. We sleep at Chipata, where we can enjoy some nice drinks and the hot showers.

Day 19 Lusaka:

Today we head to the Capital of Zambia and on the way we cross the Luangwa river, see the vast open lands and the ever changing landscapes. We drive through the City Centre on our way to the Campsite.

Day 20 Livingstone:

Today is an easy drive as we head Southwards to the border town Livingstone where we will spend a night before crossing over to the nearby Zimbabwe. You may decide to watch the Victoria Falls from Zambia side today or visit the Livingstone Museum.

Days 21-23 Victoria Falls:

Finally we cross the border into Victoria Falls town, Zimbabwe. You may want to stay two full days to enjoy the many activities available including the option to do an evening river cruise on the upper (above the falls) Zambezi River, which takes about 3 hrs with drinks included. On the Zimbabwe side there are a wide variety of optional activities, the most famous being White Water rafting on the Lower Zambezi. This excursion takes a full day and has 14 plus rapids none below grade 4 (rapids are graded from 1 to 6). Please note that at certain times of the year the rafting may be restricted or even closed due to high water levels (March – May). Bungy jumping is also an option for all those who wish to throw themselves 111 metres head first off a perfectly good bridge. Another optional activity is Jet Boating, imported and improved on from New Zealand. Various flights are on offer, Including light fixed wing aircraft, helicopter, microlight and ultralight, all offering wonderful viewing of the falls. As well as these, there is horse riding, elephant riding and canoeing, not to mention a walk to the falls themselves. Videos and still photographs are available for purchase of most activities, and are a great reminder of your adrenaline filled visit to the mighty Victoria Falls and Zambezi River. At Victoria Falls some members of the group may be continuing with the tour to Capetown and there may also be new members joining for the remainder of the tour Southwards. NB Please note that entrance (approximately 20 USD) to Mosi oa Tunya (Victoria Falls) National Park is not included in your tour price.

Days 24-25 Kasane:

Leaving the falls we go into Botswana to Kasane and the adjoining Chobe National Park in northern Botswana. At Chobe we usually go on a 3 hour sunset boat cruise drive in open sided 4x4’s and a 3 hour sunrise game drive in open sided 4x4’s. Both the game drive and boat cruise (and the resident 50000+ elephants) give us great game viewing opportunities in one of the largest parks in southern Africa.

Day 26-28 Okavango Delta:

From Chobe we head to Maun where we will be based for the magical bush experience in the Okavango Delta. We will drive along the edge of the Makgadikgadi pans to the town of Maun. We stop in town to restock and prepare for our trip into the Okavango Delta tomorrow. The Okavango Delta is formed by the Okavango River, which flows into the desert and disappears as it fans out to form the Delta. We go into ‘the Delta’ for 3days (2 nights) and camp in the bush usually on the banks of one of the many fresh water channels that give life to the flora and fauna. Our method of transport is 4 wheel drive vehicles and Makoro (meaning ‘dug out canoe’ in Setswana). The Makoros are traditionally made of wood but as they come to the end of their serviceable life, fiberglass canoes are now replacing them. These are not quite as authentic but building the old canoes uses a whole tree and the environment is beginning to suffer. Each makoro is piloted by a ‘poler’, who helps set up camp & take guided bush walks. He/she will always be ready for a chat and a cup of tea with you around the Fire. This is a wonderful opportunity to spend an extended amount of time with people who were born and grew up in this part of the world. We take all our own equipment and food and bring it all back out (including the rubbish), showing our understanding of the fragility of the Delta. The Okavango Delta region is one of the world’s last remaining true wilderness areas and is home to a vast amount of animals. It is possible to take some walks to try to see them or, if you are lucky, they will wander pass close to camp. As you retire to your tent for the night, the sounds and smells of the African bush will leave an indelible mark on your senses like no other.

Days 29-33 Ghanzi, Windhoek, Etosha National Park and Spitzkoppe:

Leaving the delta we head for Namibia, transiting through Ghanzi and the capital Windhoek before heading to Etosha National Park. This Park is one of Africa’s largest (roughly the size of Wales). It has some very good facilities, very good roads and waterholes which enable good game viewing. One of the more famous features of Etosha is that the campsites also have waterholes. This means that once the days game driving is over and parks laws restrict us to the camping areas it is still possible to view animals. The holes are floodlit and people can sit and watch all night if they wish, the only restriction being noise. We use two areas, Namutoni and Okaukeujo, with the latter being the more established so it attracts more animals. Photography is permitted and, if using fast film, good results can be achieved. Okaukeujo is famous for attracting Black Rhino, and although nothing is guaranteed with animals, they are frequent visitors to this waterhole. The park itself has a wide variety of game and they are different to the animals seen in East Africa; there are different types of Zebra (it’s all in the stripes), Impala (black faced), and the Wildebeest (blue). Aside from these different types of animals there are elephant, giraffe (the park has been referred to at times as “Giraffic Park”), lion, bird life and gazelle.

Days 34-36 Swakopmund:

From Etosha and Spitzkoppe we go to the small coastal town of Swakopmund. Our route to this town takes us to the Cape Cross seal colony. This colony varies in number from 20,000 to 100,000 in breeding season. Regardless of the season it is always possible to get a close look at lots of seals. Seals eat a lot of fish and so getting close to so many of them does mean that the smell is quite strong. Stench withstanding it is well worth a visit, but we do lunch further down the road. The town of Swakopmund is situated on the Atlantic Ocean and is a German colonial town in the middle of a desert. It has some wonderful old German buildings of which one of the most beautiful is the prison (it is still used as a prison). The town itself is generally cool as a mist created by the cold air off the Atlantic mixing with the hot air of the desert, which is why the Germans chose this area to build the town, covers it. There are lots of optional excursions to do in Swakopmund including dune biking on quad bikes over the sand dunes, sand boarding, scenic flights, and game fishing. The town itself proves popular on our tours as it has lots of clubs, restaurants, casino and even an authentic German bakery.

Days 37-39 Naukluft National Park And Fish River Canyon:

From Swakopmund we go to the Namib-Naukluft National Park. This park has one main feature, which is sand, large mountains of sand. These dunes are the highest in the world reputed to be as high as 300 metres. The ones we will see have been measured by altimeter on our previous trips and are about 200 metres high. Our day here begins before sunrise as the best time to photograph the dunes is when the sun is low on the horizon and shadows define the contours clearly. The other reason for the early start is that it is too hot to walk up the dunes once the sun has fully risen. There is also the chance to go on a brilliant and informative early morning walk amongst the Sossusvlei/Dead Vlei sand dunes getting up close and personal with the expertly adapted resident flora and wildlife. Our next stop is Fish River Canyon, which is arguably the world’s second largest canyon. There is a spectacular viewpoint over the canyon and the sunset never fails to impress.

Days 40-41 Orange River And citrusdal:

On the border with South Africa is the Orange River where we have the option of doing a four-hour canoe safari from our oasis-like campsite. Our journey then takes us to Citrusdal via the serene Cederberg mountain region. This is via South Africa’s wine growing region. From Citrusdal we take a short drive to Capetown where our trip finishes on arrival.

Day 42 Capetown:

From Citrusdal we take a short drive to Capetown where our trip finishes on arrival. No accommodation is included on this day however we strongly recommend that you do not book onward flights as our arrival time cannot be guaranteed. We are more than happy to assist with post-tour accommodation requirements. Please Note: Generally we do not arrive into Capetown until about 5pm on Day 42. We strongly recommend that you do not arrange onward flights until the following day, but stay overnight in Capetown. If you do need to fly out on the final day, we suggest that you do not book a flight before 9pm at the earliest, in case of any unexpected delays.

What you get and what you do not get in your safari expedition

Tour Inclusions

  • Twin /Single accommodation as specified on the Itinerary
  • Greeting and assistance at airport
  • Meals as specified in the itinerary
  • Scheduled domestic flights as specified in the itinerary
  • Scheduled road transportation as specified in the itinerary
  • Scheduled game activities as specified itinerary
  • Park Entrance Fees
  • Emergency medical evacuation insurance
  • Tour Exclusions

  • Gratuities and all items of a personal nature
  • Meals and drinks not specified in the itinerary
  • Champagne, cognacs, cellar wines, cigars and cigarettes
  • Laundry
  • Sightseeing and excursions other than those specified in the itinerary
  • All International flights and Taxes
  • Visa fees (if required)
  • Travel & Personal accident insurance cover
  • Night drives, guided walking trails, a Maasai community visit, sundowners overlooking the Mara and hot air ballooning are available at an additional cost.
  • Kindly take note of the following

    How it works:

    This is a group participatory trip whereby you are more than just a passenger. You’re part of the crew, pitching in to set up camp, shop for food, cook and generally help out. We operate a rota system, dividing the group into smaller units, so that these duties are shared equally amongst the group. These jobs will include things like loading the back locker, sweeping the truck, food stores etc. Even though we have a cook on board the truck who will organize and supervise the cooking, you will still be required to help prepare meals. The more you put into your tour the greater the experience you will get from your trip. It is all about participation and mucking in with your fellow passengers! Participation is a key factor on a tour of this nature and everyone is expected to pull their weight and get involved with the daily duties. The most successful trips are those where people become involved. Naturally, amongst any group of people you will find a multitude of personalities, just remember that this is YOUR trip of a lifetime and don’t let other people’s quirks and habits bother you too much – take home your happy memories of Africa. On the flipside you may find your tent partner will become a lifelong friend, which is one of the joys of the internet & social networking sites! A typical camp breakfast might be toast with spreads, cereal and something hot such as eggs or pancakes as well as tea and coffee. Lunch is almost always a sandwich heaped high with healthy salad and assorted fillings, with fruit to follow. Dinner might be a BBQ, risotto, pasta dish and there is always the chance to try some local cooking. Generally our passengers find the more they put into a trip, the more they benefit for it. All passengers are required to obey all laws of the countries through which we pass. This particularly applies to the smuggling of contraband and possession of narcotic drugs, firearms, antiquities and ivory. Any passenger found contravening such laws or customs may be required to leave the trip immediately with no refund of the trip price.

    NOTE: - The longer Jambo African Adventures trips are combinations of shorter tours. Passengers on our longer tours might therefore change crew and vehicles at either Nairobi, Lake Naivasha or Victoria Falls. These and other destinations are also pickup and drop-off points for passengers so new faces and personalities will join the tours.

    Overland travel and security

    One of the real advantages of overland travel is that the vehicle provides a very real level of security when traveling. There is no doubt that a properly equipped overland vehicle, with safes, fully lockable doors and windows is an obvious advantage when traveling in much of the world. We recommend the use of a neck wallet or money belt whilst traveling for the safe-keeping of your passport, air tickets, cash and other valuable items (although most of these can be locked in the safe whilst you are on the trip) and advise passengers to leave any valuable jewellery, watches etc at home. Generally speaking, you will not be traveling on local public transport and will have the added security of traveling in a group with experienced crew on hand to offer advice. Please note: Any personal effects that are left on the truck, even if they are stored in the safe, are left at your own risk and Jambo African Adventures cannot be held responsible for any damage or theft that may occur. The safety of our passengers, leaders and operators is a major priority of Jambo African Adventures.

    Issues on the trip

    While we always endeavor to provide the best possible holiday experience, due to the nature of travel and the areas we visit sometimes things can and do go wrong. Should any issue occur while you are on your trip it is imperative that you discuss this with your group leader or our local partner straight away so that they can do their best to rectify the problem and save any potential negative impact on the rest of your trip.



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