Following camp setup, we indulge in some early evening swimming, unwinding and maybe even some river canoeing (optional). Or just sit by the banks and watch the water wind it’s way to some heavy rapids.

the biggest in the continent and the second largest in the world. Take some time to explore the canyon rim and admire the dramatic sunset as it disappears behind the edge of the canyon. After snapping some amazing pics, we head back to camp for the rest of the evening. The Fish River stretches 650 kms in length, making it Namibia’s longest river. It’s source is located in the eastern Naukluft Mountains and runs southwest of Ai-Ais into the Oranje. The canyon itself is situated along the lower area of the Fish River, and is one of the most remarkable natural creations of Southern Africa. It runs 550 metres deep, 27 kilometres wide and is the oldest canyon in the world, formed around 500 million years back, with some of its bottom rocks aging up to about 2,600 million years. Cat fish can be found in the River and survive the arid seasons by digging into the mud and waiting for the water to return. The levels of the water are usually highest from February to April, and the highest known temperature at the Canyon’s floor is 58 degrees Celsius.

Namib’ comes from the Nama culture, with the name referring to a huge savannah located in the Desert. The region is extremely arid, receiving less than 100 millimetres of yearly rainfall. After a long day driving bumpy roads, we arrive at our destination in the late afternoon. Find yourself surrounded by the red sand dunes of Sossusvlei glimmering in the light of dusk as they form the gateway to the Namib Desert. This is a truly remote area, giving you a sense of being alone with nature.

We will be visiting Sossusvlei today which is a clay pan enclosed by the world’s largest sand dunes and surrounding ancient dead trees. The Tsauchab River flows through the Sesriem Canyon every 5 – 10 years, thereby creating the nearby salt and clan pan of Sossusvlei. You can take an optional guided walk around the dunes or explore the area on your own. We will then return to our campsite at lunch time and pack up camp before heading off to our next campsite within the Namib desert.

Prior to your arrival in the adrenaline capital of Swakopmund, you will travel past Walvis Bay – the only town on the Namibian shoreline that contains a deep-sea harbour. We spend two evenings in this region, where you will have time to explore the town drenched in history. Swakopmund is home to spectacular lunar landscapes, vibrant sunsets and strange prehistoric Welwitchia vegetation.

Sandboarding in the Namib Desert 600NAD per person – Grab a board and sail down the dunes for an adrenaline kick of note. Skydiving in Swakopmund 2800NAD per person – Take a plummet into the skies of Namibia with your trusted and skilled instructor. Swakopmund Guided Cultural Tour 500NAD per person – Enjoy a historical guided tour of the back streets of Swakopmund and visit the home of a local ethic Herero woman. Sip on local brews at a ‘shebeen’ (pub).Skeleton Coast Scenic Flight 5000NAD per person – Get a bird’s eye view of the ship wrecks, Damaraland and the unusual Spitzkoppe rock formations

while looking up at the beautiful night’s sky! We will be roughing a bit in the bush tonight with long-drop toilets and no running water.

Around 100,000 Damara people reside in Namibia, all sharing a common language with the Nama, but keeping a distant relationship with each other. Some evidence suggests that the Damara have gathered small herds of stock for thousands of years, as well as grow tobacco and pumpkins (and, more recently, vegetables and corn). We stop a few times for you to browse and shop their local arts before heading to the Damaraland Living Museum where we learn about the lost culture of the Damara People.The region is well-known for its bushmen paintings that can be spotted all over the area and you can go on an optional Pre-historic Rock Engravings Tour (100NAD) exploring Namibia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Once the sun has set, spend some time observing wildlife at the watering holes, located close to the secure camping space that is floodlit. Daytime game drive will be in the overland truck, with an optional open vehicle night game drives on offer with a naturalist guide at 660NAD.

There is again the option of joining in on an Open Vehicle Wildlife Safari Drive (660NAD) with a naturalist guide who will take you in search of wildlife at dusk and into the early evening to view the nocturnal wildlife.

We stop for lunch at Penduka Village Restaurant and Shop where you can stretch you legs and enjoy refreshments. Please note that as this is a combo tour some of your fellow travellers might be ending their journey in Windhoek while you may also be joined by new travellers starting their journey. This evening you can choose to enjoy an optional group dinner with both old and new travellers. Windhoek is Namibia’s capital city, with a population of around 230,000 and an altitude of 1,654 metres. During WW1, Windhoek was taken over by South African troops and was converted into a British dominion. Until Namibia’s independence in 1990, Windhoek was known as the capital of Southwest Africa.

We travel through the eastern portion of Namibia today, entering Botswana and making our way into the centre of the Kalahari. Take this chance to embark on a San Bushmen Walk (10USD) with a local San Bushmen guide to be educated about plenty of interesting bush skills.Ghanzi, situated in the western side of Botswana on the northern edge of the Kalahari Desert, is the administrative hub of the Ghanzi District and is also referred to as the ‘Capital of the Kalahari’. Ghanzi is a fascinating town, focused on farming that provides the Botswana Meat Commission with majority of the required beef produce. Ghanzi is mostly made up of a wide range of ethnic cultures, including the Bushman, Batawana and Afrikaners.

Maun is the gateway to the Okavango Delta and enjoys the reputation of being the premier town of Botswana. It was initially founded in 1915 by the Batawana, with the name ‘Maun’ meaning ‘place of reeds’. Though officially still a village, Maun is the fifth biggest town in Botswana. It is a diverse combination of contemporary structures and traditional huts. Maun is renowned as the tourism capital of Botswana and the administrative hub of the Ngamiland district. The town has swiftly grown from a rural town, stretching along the Thamalakane River. However, it still manages to maintain a rural atmosphere and local tribesmen continue to lead their cattle to the town to sell. This community is presently peppered along the broad Thamalakane Riverbanks, where red lechwe can still be spotted grazing near local donkeys, goats and cattle.

A few hours later we arrive at our bush camp for lunch and set up our tents. In the afternoon we will set off on a guided walk to spot wildlife in the bush while in the evening we will be joined by the locals for some singing and dancing around the campfire. Our basic camp has a bush toilet with no shower, but you are surrounded by the beauty of nature so it is well worth it. The water rushing into the delta is extremely pure, mostly because of the lack of agriculture and industry along the Okavango River. It runs through the sand aquifers of the various delta islands and evaporates, leaving massive amounts of salt remaining. The Okavango Delta experiences seasonal flooding, which starts every mid-summer in the north and six months later in the south. During the peal floods, the islands of the Delta can completely hidden beneath the water, making an appearance again at the end of the season.

We hop back on the Overland truck and head to Gweta where we are treated to the unique experience of camping beneath beautiful old Baobab trees. On arrival at our campsite, you can take a walk around and relish a nice shower or swim in the pool after a night in the bush. The town of Gweta is located between the bigger towns of Nata and Maun, on the Makgadikgadi Pan’s rim.

. In the afternoon, feel free to embark on an optional game drive through the Park (50USD), or better yet, an optional Chobe River Sunset Boat Cruise (50USD). Either way relish the incredible wildlife inland or along the river’s banks. Chobe National Park is one of the world’s last remaining large wilderness regions. In terms of size, the Chobe NP is the third biggest reserve in the country, sporting the most diverse and fantastic fauna and flora. The reserve has the biggest elephant population in the continent with the majority forming part of the largest surviving elephant concentrations in the world.

. The Zambezi River has eroded a passage over time which has deepened into an exit gorge forming Victoria Falls. On arrival we sit down to enjoy a traditional meal courtesy of the Lusumpuko Women’s Club. Enjoy a farm-to-table style meal with local seasonal produce while supporting the local community. You have the option of going on a Zambezi River Sunset Cruise (50USD) to enjoy a picture-perfect sunset while sipping on cold drinks with a festive atmosphere – the perfect way to end a day. Or take a Helicopter flip (160USD) to see Victoria Falls in all its beauty from above as the river makes its way to the gorge and plummets to the depth below. You will possibly also be able to spot giraffes and elephants in the surrounding area.

while looking up at the beautiful night’s sky! We will be roughing a bit in the bush tonight with long-drop toilets and no running water.

As this is a combo tour, you may be saying goodbye to some friends made and hello to other new travel partners today. For this reason there is also a welcome meeting today to brief you on the next leg of your travels.

Here, you will be able to admire the many zebra, buffalo and springboks that wander freely around the area. At the campsite you can unwind next to the swimming pool, or at the camp’s bar.Note: As this is an overnight stop alongside two long travel days, you will unfortunately not have time to explore Lusaka as your camp is 29km outside of the town

on the banks of the Luangwa River.

We highly recommend the walking safari as South Luangwa is the birth place of walking safaris in Africa and there is loads to see and experience in this park

We later head to the community empowerment Tribal Textiles Market & Courtyard Cafe for lunch and a craft workshop. The day ends when we arrive at camp in Chipata.

Beach strolls, swimming in the sparkling water and snorkelling among exotic fish are all part of your incredible stay here. Pay a visit to a range of lakeside camps as we drive northward along Lake Malawi’s shores. For the most part, Malawi is very conservative so please show your respect by remaining covered in public without exposing shoulders and knees outside of camp boundaries. The Lake is the primary attraction of Malawi, and is around 500 kilometres in length. Lake Malawi houses more fish species than any other lake in the world and has large shoals of Chichlids. Locals depend heavily on the lake for survival – they use mokoros (dugout canoes) to fish from and throw out long nets. There is also a wide variety of diverse ethnic groups here, all speaking their own language

A traditional dinner cooked by the locals will be enjoyed tonight

You are free to spend the afternoon exploring.

There is also a hike along the Nyika Plateau all the way up o Livingstonia where you can have a great view of Lake Malwai (5USD).

During our journey we are spoilt with beautiful scenery of the massive tea plantations in the highlands as we head through to Iringa, where we set up camp.

Dar Es Salaam, or ‘Abode of Peace’ in Arabic, is Tanzania’s biggest city, with a population of more than 2.5 million. It is also the country’s wealthiest city, and a significant economic hub.

Women are asked to cover up and men should refrain from wearing shorts. Please always ask before taking photographs.

Explore the sealife of Mnemba island and relish the turquoise coastline. The locals here get very excited about seeing visitors and will offer you a plethora of activities to partake in. Try not to be overwhelmed by their enthusiasm!

Prick your senses as you familiarize yourself with black pepper, cardamon, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla and lemon grass.Have the rest of the day free to explore the cobble streets of Stone Town. Marvel at Arabic buildings while getting lost in narrow lanes exploring local artworks, antique shops and traditional printed fabrics.

If you have booked the Zanzibar Express you will remain in Stone Town where you can enjoy a free day of shopping, relaxing or wandering through the markets. Tomorrow you will fly to Arusha to meet the group.

This region is often referred to as the ‘safari capital’ of Tanzania. Arusha offers up plenty of protected national reserves and mountains, while being a picturesque contemporary town. In the afternoon you will have time to pack a day-pack for our three-day excursion to the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. Be sure to pack warm clothing for the evenings and insect repellent, sunscreen and water for the hot days. Zanzibar Express: You will be transferred this morning from Stone Town to the airport for a scenic flight to Arusha. From Arusha you will be taken to the camp where you will meet up with the group.

Your 3 day and 2 night excursion starts a you hop on the specialised 4×4 safari vehicle which leads us on an incredible game drive through the Park by expert driver/guides. The trucks we use have sliding windows and a big, pop-up roof that is ideal for fantastic game viewing.With an area of 14,763 square kilometres, the Serengeti is incredibly vast. We camp and spend time game viewing in the central Serengeti ‘Seronera’ region, which is situated in the southeast of the Park. You can expect to see a variety of wildlife such as buffaloes, lions, zebras, wildebeest, elephants along with many other animals.Due to the size of the reserve, certain areas will not be available to visit during our stay here. As we travel through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and into the Serengeti National Park, you will begin to realise the enormity of this region, admiring the huge populations of wildlife that roam the acacia-spotted plains.

When we return to the campsite we will pack up and journey to the Ngorongoro Crater for spectacular views of the rim populated with a variety of wildlife where we will camp for the night. Some of you may have pre-booked a Serengeti Balloon Safari in which case this activity will likely take place today. In this case you will miss the morning game drive.

Following our last safari we make our way back to Arusha.

There will be a border crossing so get your passports ready.

relax, before heading off to Uganda.

We enjoy the afternoon on a game drive in search of the Big Five. We arrive at camp for the evening in the afternoon. Once settled in, we embark on another game drive in the park.

Enjoy the variety of game viewing today as we cross the plains and rivers of the Masai Mara National Reserve.

Our afternoon is spent game driving through the national park in search of the many animals such as the black rhino, buffalo, impala and the elusive leopard

Enjoy a welcome meeting to connect with your new travel companions.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the home to approximately half of the world’s population of mountain gorillas, the world’s most endangered ape. One of Africa’s major highlights, a close encounter with these amazing animals is simply breathtaking. The terrain is rough and at times muddy and slippery. It can rain at a moment’s notice; hence waterproof clothing is essential along with protective bags for your camera and film. We also suggest dressing in ‘layers’ as often it’s chilly at first until you start trekking. We also suggest long sleeves and long pants to protect you from stinging nettles found in the forests. The trek can last up to 6 hours, exceeding altitudes of 2500m. It is essential to keep hydrated at all times. About 98% of the trekking is successful but we cannot guarantee that there will be gorillas seen as they are always moving around. For the remainder of your time here, you have the chance to participate in optional activities. You will be sub-divided into groups of 8 to protect the Gorillas from too much exposure or disruption.

Motorboat Tour of Lake Bunyonyi (25-80USD) Enjoy a relaxing boat trip along the Lake as you spot wildlife and learn about the surrounding islands. Rwanda Day Tour (40-250USD) There is plenty of culture and history in the ‘land of a thousand hills’. An East African visa will need to be purchased for this section

of tea and the farming process before making our way to Lake Mburo. Enjoy an optional boat cruise on the lake in the afternoon.