Victoria Falls & Serengeti Overland: Lakes & Landos

Arrive at any time. Tonight, head out with your CEO and group to further explore together in Victoria Falls. Sip a drink at Shearwater Village after your welcome meeting. Sit back, relax, enjoy the rushing sound of the falls, down a beer, and get to know your fellow travel mates as the adventure begins. Victoria Falls is great base to kick-off this African adventure, to see both some natural wonders, and take part in some exciting optional activities. Get up close (and wet from the spray) while awing at the immense Victoria Falls, raft the whitewater of the mighty Zambezi, and, for the more adventurous, bungee jump with the Victoria Falls in view.

Included Experiences

• Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group: Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.
• Connect With New Friends: Connect with new friends on your first night out in a new destination. Only available on 18-to-Thirtysomethings tours.

Optional Experiences

• Victoria Falls Helicopter Ride - 25min: You don't want to miss the opportunity to see Victoria Falls from above. Watch the Zambezi River make its way toward the gorge and form the largest waterfall in the world. During your 25 minute ride, you will have time to take in the incredible views over the falls, Livingstone Island, and Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park while snapping as many pictures as you like. This extended ride also includes time flying over the vast and towering walls of the Batoka Gorge. You may be lucky enough to see some giraffes and elephants in the surrounding landscape and even catch a rainbow over the falls. Includes pick-up and drop-off from hotel and a 25min flight. Please note there is a cost for an additional park fee paid for on-site at time of the activity.
• Full Day Excursion to Chobe National Park: Depart Victoria Falls in the morning for a full-day guided tour of Chobe National Park in Botswana - a wildlife-abundant region covering about 11,700km² of the Northern Kalahari. Begin your adventure with a cruise down the Chobe River, taking in the sweeping views and witnessing the wildlife grazing along the riverbank. Enjoy an included lunch on land before boarding 4x4 safari vehicles for an afternoon wildlife safari drive with an expert guide. Keep an eye out for lions, elephants, and buffalos. Transfer back to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, arriving in the early evening. Please note that this activity includes two border crossings between Zimbabwe and Botswana. The ordering of activities is susceptible to change. ** Please note that you need to get a double-entry visa or a Univisa when arriving in Zimbabwe to ensure you can return again without needing to pay an extra visa fee.
• Victoria Falls Helicopter Ride - 15 Mins: You don't want to miss the opportunity to see Victoria Falls from above. Watch the Zambezi River make its way toward the gorge and form the largest waterfall in the world. During your 15-minute ride, you will have time to take in the incredible views over the falls, Livingstone Island, and Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park while snapping as many pictures as you like. You may be lucky enough to see some giraffes and elephants in the surrounding landscape and even catch a rainbow over the falls. Includes pick-up and drop-off from hotel and a 12-15min flight. Please note there is a cost for an additional park fee paid for on-site at time of the activity.
• Microlight Flight over Victoria Falls: Take a 12-15 Microlight flight over the falls to get an unparalleled, unobstructed view of the spectacular gorge that the Zambezi River has carved into the surrounding landscape over thousands of years. Please note that this activity takes place in Livingstone, Zambia and visa fees are not included in the price of this activity.
• Victoria Falls Whitewater Rafting: Take the opportunity to go whitewater rafting on the Zambezi River while Victoria Falls roars above. Depart in the morning and navigate through the canyon that forms the famous falls. The dramatic rapids will fill you with excitement and complete your experience. Includes a full-day of rafting on class III-V rapids, transfers, and lunch. Please note: River conditions and activity pricing vary depending on the seasons. High water season is from about February to July. Low water season generally runs from August to January each year - this is when the Zambezi is at its very wildest. The "closed season" is dependent on the season’s rains, and usually is from March to April; during this time rafting on the river is not permitted. Additionally, this activity requires passengers to hike down and up the Batoka Gorge (approx. 45 minutes each way) to access the river; an average level of fitness is required. This activity price excludes a $10 park entrance fee.
• Canoeing the Zambezi: Opt to canoe above the Falls on the upper Zambezi for a unique and tranquil bird and animal sighting experience.
• Zambezi Bungee Jump: Get the adrenaline pumping with a bungee jump from the Victoria Falls Bridge over the Zambezi River. Hear the rush of Victoria Falls as you enjoy this once in a lifetime experience.

Buckle those seat belts, set off early around 6am, and cross the border from Zimbabwe into Zambia. The long journey across rough and bumpy roads will take you to a private farm 29km (18 mi) outside the capital of Zambia and will have you feeling so accomplished because we all know now that driving on rough terrain is no picnic! Get out, stretch those legs and marvel together at the zebras, buffalo, and antelope that freely roam the property. Then grab a cold drink at the camp’s bar (cheers!) or relax by the pool to celebrate the success of your long journey.

Included Experiences

• Lando: Climb aboard our custom built ride …. overlanding G-style!
• Border Crossing (Zimbabwe - Zambia): Ready for a little more ink in your passport? Grab your bags and get ready to check another country off your bucket list.

Rise and shine and begin today’s journey. We have a lot of ground to cover so be prepared to set off early and arrive late. Use this time to get to know the members of your group better, swap stories, share some laughs, or even sit quietly and reflect, there’s time for both. The group will travel across the Zambian countryside before arriving at the campsite along the banks of the Luangwa River.

Included Experiences

• Lando: Climb aboard our custom built ride …. overlanding G-style!

Guess where you’re going today! South Luangwa National Park. The day is yours to spend in this wildlife haven. Choose to go on a walking safari (just remember it’s seasonal), a night drive, or visit a nearby local village. No matter what you decide to do remember to have fun and be in the moment because life’s more fun that way in general and hey, so is travel. Get rid of those expectations and let this place dazzle you for what it is.

Included Experiences

• Free Time: Do as much or as little as you'd like during a free day.

Optional Experiences

• South Luangwa Wildlife Safari Drive : Have the opportunity to experience one of the true hidden gems in Southern Africa. Opt for a morning or evening wildlife safari drive through South Luangwa National Park. Home to large populations of the Thornicroft's Giraffe, elephants and Cape buffalo.
• South Luangwa Walking Safari: South Luangwa National Park is known as the birth place of walking safaris in Africa. Opt to take a guided walk through the park and experience the wildlife.

It’s another day in the wilds of Africa so have those cameras at the ready as you head out on an optional morning safari drive. Try to snap some pictures of giraffes, elephants, and Cape Buffalo in this hidden gem of a place that also happens to be home to the largest populations of these creatures. Then the group will stop for lunch and visit the Tribal Textiles Market & Courtyard a G Adventures-supported craft workshop. In the afternoon you will continue onwards to Chipata.

Included Experiences

• Lando: Climb aboard our custom built ride …. overlanding G-style!
• Tribal Textiles Market & Courtyard Cafe: Take a lunch stop at Tribal Textiles, a community workshop and business that employs and empowers over 100 locals from the area. Most of the unique textiles made at this workshop give back in some way either to education in the community or to various organizations working to conserve the wildlife of South Luangwa National Park. Regular employment at this socially conscious business also keeps poaching of wildlife at bay. After a quick tour to learn about these efforts, you’ll sit down for lunch at The Courtyard Café, run by local chef, Dorica, and her team.

Optional Experiences

• South Luangwa Walking Safari: South Luangwa National Park is known as the birth place of walking safaris in Africa. Opt to take a guided walk through the park and experience the wildlife.
• South Luangwa Wildlife Safari Drive : Have the opportunity to experience one of the true hidden gems in Southern Africa. Opt for a morning or evening wildlife safari drive through South Luangwa National Park. Home to large populations of the Thornicroft's Giraffe, elephants and Cape buffalo.

Check another country off your travel lists as you pass into Malawi and head to Lake Malawi affectionately known as “Lake of Stars”. The group will spend four nights relaxing on the shores of this massive lake; think clear shimmering waters with schools of colourful cichlid fish swarming in the depths of a place where nature is king and the people are some of the friendliest you’ll ever meet. Beach walks, leisurely swims, and snorkeling are what’s in store for you over the next few days. The locals depend on the lake for fishing as well as survival by using dugout canoes to fish from and setting out long nets. There are many different ethnic groups all speaking their own language; most are Christians and the rest have traditional beliefs.

Included Experiences

• Lando: Climb aboard our custom built ride …. overlanding G-style!
• Border Crossing (Zambia - Malawi): Ready for a little more ink in your passport? Grab your bags and get ready to check another country off your bucket list.

Imagine this; you wake to the sound of birdsong around you, the sun is shining, and the waters of Lake Malawi are calling your name begging to be set upon. Grab your camera and swim suit and head out for some fun. Wander the shore on foot, grab a snorkel and see what life under the shimmering surface is all about, take a leisurely swim, or choose to experience a village walk at the nearby Tonga Village. Then the group will get to take part in a traditional dinner at a local home in the evening before falling asleep under the stars.

Included Experiences

• Free Time: Kick back and relax on Lake Malawi after a few long travel days.
• Kande Beach Local Dinner: After a day on the beach of Lake Malawi, take a short walk into the Kande Beach village for traditional dinner in a local home.

Optional Experiences

• Snorkelling: Discover some of the best freshwater snorkelling in Africa at Lake Malawi, which generally has clear visibility and boasts a plethora of brightly coloured fish. Don a snorkel and hop in!
• Village Walk: Set off on a village walk to visit a nearby traditional Tonga village to learn more about daily village life in the area.

It’s off to another beautiful destination along Lake Malawi today. From oceans to mountains to lakes you’re getting to see some of the best scenery that Africa has to offer. The group will head north to picturesque Chitimba Beach where there are gorgeous views of the mountains in the background and you can see Tanzania from just across the lake. Once here you can choose to get out onto the lake or you can hike along the shores and enjoy the scenery that surrounds you.

Included Experiences

• Free Time: Settle in and enjoy a free afternoon at northern Lake Malawi.
• Lando: Climb aboard our custom built ride …. overlanding G-style!

Enjoy a final day at Lake Malawi. Now that you have gotten a feel for this area take the day to further experience your surroundings and appreciate them. Bask in the sun, take a swim, walk to the local village that you didn’t visit yesterday or hike to Livingstonia along the Nyika Plateau for wonderful views of the lake. Along the way cool off under the Manchewe Falls (we know we would if we were there with you). In the evening, relax along the lake and rest up as the journey continues tomorrow.

Included Experiences

• Free Time: Do as much or as little as you'd like on your final day on Lake Malawi.

Optional Experiences

• Swimming in Chitimba Bay: Immerse yourself in the clear refreshing waters of Chitimba Bay. Take a leisurely swim, explore the untouched beaches, and relax in the pristine natural surroundings.
• Village Walk through Chitimba: Stroll through the heart of Chitimba, engaging with vibrant local life and traditions. A walk where every step tells a story.
• Carving Skills Workshop: Learn from a local master and carve your own piece of Malawi to keep forever. A hands-on dive into traditional artistry. (25-35 USD per person)
• Kayaking Chitimba Bay: Kayak along the serene waters of Chitimba Bay, visiting hidden gems, fishermen, and Madala's beach tavern. A serene adventure awaits.
• Explore Livingstonia: Journey to the historic village of Livingstonia. Explore its heritage and stories on motorbike or foot, amidst stunning scenery. Discover the awe-inspiring Manchewe Falls. A blend of adventure, biodiversity, history, and natural beauty awaits.

Another day, another country; you’ll be a pro at border crossings in no time. Today the group will head into Tanzania en route to Iringa. Gaze out the window as the Lando climbs out of the Great Rift Valley through some spectacular mountain passes, viewing tea plantations and highlands as you go. You could also use this time to journal, take a nap, or share inside jokes with the rest of the group (you’re bound to have some by now).

Included Experiences

• Border Crossing (Malawi - Tanzania): Ready for a little more ink in your passport? Grab your bags and get ready to check another country off your bucket list.
• Lando: Climb aboard our custom built ride …. overlanding G-style!

After the jam packed first few days of this trip where you are going next is going to be just what you needed. Wake in Iringa before driving to Dar es Salaam. Watch as the Tanzanian countryside passes by and the blue waters of the Indian Ocean make their debut. The city started as a fishing village in the mid 19th century before becoming a port and trading centre. The group will spend the night here before embarking for the island beaches of Zanzibar.

Included Experiences

• Lando: Climb aboard our custom built ride …. overlanding G-style!

Today is the day your group will discover true paradise. Hop on a ferry and transfer to Zanzibar. Get ready for picturesque island beaches that will make you contemplate staying here and living off the grid. Few places on this planet are as entrancing and exotic as this Tanzanian archipelago so get ready to enjoy it, take loads of pictures, and relax in a place that has long lured backpackers and adventurers to it’s sandy shores.

Included Experiences

• Lando: Climb aboard our custom built ride …. overlanding G-style!
• Ferry: Get to the next spot on your route aboard a convenient and efficient ferry boat.

Wake up in this island paradise and get ready to seize the day. You’ll be exploring one of the world’s great cultural crossroads… think Africa meets Arabia and add the Indian Ocean into the mix as the cherry on top. The day is yours to spend as you choose; grab some goggles and go snorkelling, hop aboard a sailing trip, or just lounge on the beach and relax. Zanzibar’s tropical setting, unique culture, and active beach-party scene make this place a very enjoyable East African Indian Ocean experience.

Included Experiences

• Free Time: Do as much or as little as you'd like on this island slice of paradise.

Optional Experiences

• Swahili Cultural Tour: Take a couple of hours to get to know the life of a Zanzibarian by being immersed in the local culture. Follow a guide through a rural village to see elements of day to day life, sit with men of the village to see how they weave palm fronds to make the thatch roofs for their huts, opt to play a game of Bao (Zanzibar favorite game past time), and enjoy a traditional dance performance. (70-200 USD per person)
• Safari Blue - Sailing Day Trip: Enjoy a full day of sailing on a dhow, including opportunities to snorkel in the clear blue waters. Dock on a remote sandbank and enjoy a traditional dish made with the catch of the day. Later, glide out on the waters in a canoe carved of a single mango tree and opt to swim, snorkel, or just relax. Snorkelling equipment is included. (60-100 USD per person)
• Snorkelling: Enjoy a day of snorkelling in the safety of an experienced snorkel guide in the area of one of Zanzibar's most well-known reefs surrounding Mnemba island. Lifejackets, short wetsuits and buoyancy aids available. Price is dependent on pick-up location.
• Scuba Diving: Take a boat to Mnemba, a small island surrounded by a circular reef boasting an an abundance of colourful coral and marine life. Suit up and enjoy the excellent visibility allowed by the turquoise waters of this region. If you are lucky, you just might be able to spot the bottlenose dolphins that are known to visit this area.

Your most difficult task today is going to be pulling yourself away from the beauty that surrounds you in Jambiani. But, if it makes you feel any better you still have one final night to spend on this enchanted island just in a more local spot. Travel back to Stone Town from the other side of the island, enjoy a guided tour of a local spice plantation on the way, and explore the heart of Zanzibar. Wander the winding historic unpaved alleyways of Stone Town passing by balconies and gigantic wooden carved doors along the way. Get lost and spend hours exploring the streets and squares, drinking potent coffee from pavement vendors and buying sweetmeats from tiny cafes. Keep an eye out for tinga-tinga paintings, antique shops, beautifully printed cloths (kangas and kikois worn by local people), little carved chests with copper inlays, and spices – all beautiful presents or memories to take home.

Included Experiences

• Spice Plantation Tour: No visit to Zanzibar would be complete without a visit to the spice plantations. Your senses will be aroused as you will receive a detailed description on the assortment of spices (black pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, breadfruit, jackfruit, vanilla, lemon grass) and their various uses. It was the spice plantations that brought the beginnings of Zanzibar’s infamous slave trade that dates back to the 1840’s.
• Free Time: Spend a final afternoon wandering the streets of Stone Town.

Optional Experiences

• Stone Town Walking Tour: Enjoy a walking tour along the bustling narrow streets of Stone Town and admire the historical old buildings and homes that are part of a preservation program funded by UNESCO and the Aga Khan Foundation. Also, visit the historical site of the slave market and learn about this dark aspect of history. Continue to the local fruits and vegetable market, fish market, Tip tipu house, and National Museum.

It’s time to kiss this underrated paradise good-bye as you catch the ferry back to the mainland and head north to the historic coastal town of Bagamoyo. This town was recently named a World Heritage Site and used to be one of the most important trading ports of the central east African coast in the late 19th century. Stroll through Bagamoyo’s narrow, unpaved streets on your own and feel as if you stepped back in time.

Included Experiences

• Ferry: Get to the next spot on your route aboard a convenient and efficient ferry boat.
• Lando: Climb aboard our custom built ride …. overlanding G-style!

Optional Experiences

• Zanzibar Express Northbound: Road trips can be exciting but sometimes you just want to get to your destination. Treat yourself with a flight from Zanzibar to Arusha and avoid two days of road travel time. You’ll have an extra night to experience Zanzibar and then arrive in Arusha the next day, ready and refreshed to meet the rest of your group. Includes all transfers, local flight, and one additional hotel night in Zanzibar.

Hit the road for a long day of driving. Enjoy the varied landscapes on the way to Arusha. Be on the lookout for views of Mt Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest mountain. Consider yourself lucky if you are able to see the mountain as it is hidden behind a veil of clouds most of the time. Arusha sits at the foot of rugged Mt Meru, Africa's fifth highest mountain.

Included Experiences

• Lando: Climb aboard our custom built ride …. overlanding G-style!

Well folks it’s time for the Africa you have all imagined; the experience that has been depicted over and over again in books, movies, and television. So grab those cameras, purchase a quirky bucket hat, and head out on a wildlife safari drive into one of the most famous national parks in Africa; the Serengeti. Get ready for abundant wildlife, vast golden plains dotted with thorny acacia trees, and hippo-filled rivers as you begin a 3-day and 2-night excursion into the park itself and the great Ngorongoro Crater.

Included Experiences

• 7-Seat 4x4 Safari Vehicle: Get a better view and take better snapshots aboard this off-road ride with a pop-up top.
• Serengeti National Park Safari : This is the reason you came to Africa. Charge your camera, grab your binoculars, and set out on safari. Your eagle-eyed driver will keep an eye out for wildlife – buffaloes, elephants, lions, wildebeests, zebras, and more. Tanzania’s Serengeti tends to be less crowded than some of Kenya’s reserves, so enjoy the scenery, the vast expanse of the grasslands, the play of light and shadow, and the up-close look at wild Africa.

Grab your buddies and jump aboard for one last morning safari in the Serengeti. As the sun rises higher in the sky watch the animal kingdom come to life in this grassland savannah before returning to break down camp. Then it’s on to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, famous for Africa’s best wildlife viewing. Experience epic views from the crater rim and watch as animals meander around below drinking water from the permanent supply on the crater floor. You’ll be setting up camp in the late afternoon at a site near the crater rim and then you can spend the rest of the day enjoying one of the most beautiful wildlife havens on the planet.

Included Experiences

• Serengeti National Park Safari : This is the reason you came to Africa. Charge your camera, grab your binoculars, and set out on safari. Your eagle-eyed driver will keep an eye out for wildlife – buffaloes, elephants, lions, wildebeests, zebras, and more. Tanzania’s Serengeti tends to be less crowded than some of Kenya’s reserves, so enjoy the scenery, the vast expanse of the grasslands, the play of light and shadow, and the up-close look at wild Africa.
• 7-Seat 4x4 Safari Vehicle: Get a better view and take better snapshots aboard this off-road ride with a pop-up top.

Optional Experiences

• Serengeti Balloon Safari: Spirited aloft in a hot-air balloon, view the wildlife and terrain of the Serengeti that only the birds see. Enjoy a champagne breakfast and keep that shutter-finger good and limber—you’ll be using it plenty over the course of your hour in the air. Please note, additional fees will apply for passengers exceeding the 120 kg (265 lbs) weight limit.

It’s time to experience “Africa’s Garden of Eden” on a more personal level. Today, venture down to the crater floor where the group will embark on a final safari experience. Have those cameras charged and at the ready because, let’s face it if you are going to see any wildlife this would be the place (and we are so excited for you)! The animals are bound to this area by the crater walls and the enclosed nature of the crater means that its own ecosystem has been created think; rich grasslands, swamps, acacia forests, and Lake Makat; so get ready to see some magic. With full camera rolls the group will exit the crater in the late morning and travel back to Arusha. Swap stories along the way, pick those favourite photos from earlier, or simply sit back and let yourself enjoy the passing scenery as you cruise along.

Included Experiences

• 7-Seat 4x4 Safari Vehicle: Get a better view and take better snapshots aboard this off-road ride with a pop-up top.
• Ngorongoro Crater Wildlife Safari Drive: Set the alarm and prepare for an early start to see the wonders of the Ngorongoro Crater. Here you’ll see Maasai herdsmen in the morning mist. Your driver/guide will take you down into the crater and to all the best spots to view wildlife. Spot zebra, gazelles, buffaloes, and warthogs. The swamp and forest are home to hippos, rhinos, elephants, baboons, and monkeys. Keep your eyes peeled and camera ready to capture a pride of lions or a lone leopard walking along the crater floor.

Depart Arusha as the sun rises in the morning and travel overland to Nairobi; Kenya’s capital city. The tour ends upon arrival to Nairobi. In order to avoid any unnecessary issues with timing, please book ongoing travel from Nairobi in the evening. Not ready to go home just yet? That’s ok, stay for a few extra days to explore more of Kenya and beyond.

Included Experiences

• Border Crossing (Tanzania - Kenya): Ready for a little more ink in your passport? Grab your bags and get ready to check another country off your bucket list.
• Departure Day: Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with any onward travel arrangements you require.
• Lando: Climb aboard our custom built ride …. overlanding G-style!