Zimbabwe to Kenya Overland Safari & Participation Camping

Arrive at any time. Tonight after a brief welcome meeting at the hotel, choose to experience Victoria Falls with the group and attend an optional group dinner at a local spot. 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.

Your accommodation is in Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe) and NOT Livingstone (Zambia). Please make sure you have the necessary visa. Victoria Falls is frequently used as a base for travellers wishing to participate in the many activities and excursions available in the area. Please contact your booking agent if you would like to book pre-tour accommodation. Please note, the Full Day Excursion to Chobe National Park begins at 7am and a booking a pre-night is required.

Included Experiences

• 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.

Optional Experiences

• 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 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.
• 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.

Rise early and get on the road around 6am to cross the border from Zimbabwe into Zambia. Towards the end of the day, the group will arrive at a private farm about 29km (18 mi) outside of Zambia’s capital and enjoy free time to relax and marvel at the wildlife on the property.

This is an overnight stop in between two long driving days, so we will not have time to explore Lusaka.

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.

While today’s travel day might be long, there will be plenty of time to socialize on the Lando as the group is driven across the Zambian countryside to the campsite along the banks of the Luangwa River. There will be free time to enjoy your surroundings upon arrival.

Included Experiences

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

Spend a free day doing as you please in South Luangwa National Park. Choose a walking safari (it’s seasonal), a night drive, or visit a nearby local village.

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.

Rise early and choose to head out on an optional morning safari drive. Bring your camera to try and photograph some of the resident wildlife. Stop for lunch and for a visit to the Tribal Textiles Market & Courtyard, a G Adventures-supported craft workshop. Afterwards, continue travelling in the Lando to Lilongwe crossing the border into Malawi.

Included Experiences

• 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.
• 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 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.

Travel to Lake Malawi affectionately known as, “Lake of Stars”. Spend four nights relaxing on the shores and during the day take beach walks, leisurely swims, and snorkel in this beautiful paradise.

Please note that conservative dress is recommended. Shoulders and knees should be covered in public, but inside of camp boundaries, it is ok to wear beach clothes.

Included Experiences

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

Take advantage of a free day to explore Lake Malawi. In the evening the group will take part in a traditional dinner at a local home before camping 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

• 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.
• 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!

Soak in another free day along Lake Malawi. From oceans and mountains to lakes and vast skies, you’re seeing some of the best scenery in Africa. Travel north to Chitimba Beach and try to spot Tanzania from across the lake. Free time activities here include getting out on the lake or hiking along the shores in the picturesque landscape.

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!

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.

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!

Continue northeast in the Lando to the group campsite in the Baobab Valley along the banks of the Ruaha River. Set up camp and look to the skies as the light begins to fade and enjoy a spectacular sunset in the lush, fertile lands of Tanzania. Then search the sky for shooting stars and make some wishes before drifting off to sleep.

Included Experiences

• Lando: Climb aboard our custom built ride …. overlanding G-style!
• Free Time: Enjoy free time at your campsite in the Baobab Valley.

Wake in Baobab Valley 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 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!

Catch a ferry and travel to the island beaches of Zanzibar.

Zanzibar is a Muslim society. Immodestly dressed women or men in shorts will get harassed and cause great offence in Stone Town. At the beach, customs are a little more relaxed, but our travellers are encouraged to be respectful of the island's culture and still cover up when walking around. Never try to take a photograph without asking permission.

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!

Spend a full free day in Zanzibar’s alluring tropical setting. Choose from an array of optional activities in the area like snorkelling, sailing, or beach lounging.

Included Experiences

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

Optional Experiences

• 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)
• 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)
• 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.
• 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.

Travel back to Stone Town from the beach property on the other side of the island and set out on a guided tour of a local spice plantation before seeing the heart of Zanzibar for yourself.

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.

Take the ferry from Stone Town back to the mainland and drive north in the Lando to the coastal town of Bagamoyo. During a free evening walk the unpaved streets and get to know this recently named World Heritage Site.

If you have booked the Zanzibar Express, you will stay in Stone Town when the group heads for the ferry. You have a free day in Stone Town for shopping, relaxing or seeing the sights. (Ask your CEO if you want to book any tours) Tomorrow you fly to Arusha to meet the group. Included: transfers, flight, one night Stone Town (Spice Palace, or similar). Only breakfast included.

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.

Jump on the road in the Lando and cross varied landscapes all the way to Arusha. Keep an eye out for views of Mt Kilimanjaro on the way. Arusha sits at the foot of rugged Mt Meru, Africa's fifth highest mountain.

Use the afternoon to prepare a small day-pack for the three-day excursion to the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. Take something warm for the night on the crater rim and enough insect repellant, sunscreen, and water. Bedding is provided, but you can take your sleeping bag along to make sure you're warm enough at night. Zanzibar Express; transfer this morning from your Stone Town hotel to the airport for the flight to Arusha. Arrive in Arusha and transfer to the camp to meet back up with the group. Only breakfast and dinner included.

Included Experiences

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

Today begins your 3-day and 2-night excursion into Serengeti National Park and the wildlife-dense Ngorongoro Crater.

Changing to specialized 4x4 7-seater safari vehicles, we are met by experienced safari driver/guides, who will ensure us wonderful wildlife encounters. Our safari vehicles each have sliding windows and a large pop-up roof, perfect for wildlife viewing. They are smaller than the Lando and will allow us to maneuver easily through the wildlife areas. As the vehicles are smaller than the Lando, our group will split up among several vehicles.

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.

Enjoy a morning safari in the Serengeti and watch the wildlife come to life. Break down camp before travelling to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, famous for Africa’s best wildlife viewing. Set up camp near the crater rim and enjoy your surroundings for the remainder of the day.

Please note: if you have pre-booked the Serengeti Balloon Safari, today's likely the day for this activity! Your CEO will give you final confirmation when it will take place, as it is subject to change. You will miss the included morning wildlife safari drive with the group, but you will have a much better view from above! If you have not yet pre-booked, add it to your checkout page, or ask your GCO or travel agent for assistance. Due to the high-altitude location of our camp, temperatures can drop at night. We recommend bringing extra layers to wear during the evening and following morning.

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.

Venture down to the crater floor for a final wildlife experience in the area. In the late morning the group will travel back to Arusha and enjoy a free evening.

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.

Leave Arusha in the morning and travel in the Lando to Nairobi; Kenya’s capital city. The tour will end upon arrival. 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.

There is no included accommodation for this night in Nairobi. You may choose to pre-reserve post-tour accommodation through G Adventures. Please do not book onward travel before 9pm.

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!