Cape Town to Zanzibar

Itinerary

Days 1-2 Cape Town, South Africa to Gariep River.

We begin our adventure in gorgeous Cape Town, bordered by the Atlantic and overlooked by Table Mountain. We start with a cultural township tour, before heading north to camp beside the beautiful Orange (Gariep) River.

 

Day 3 Gariep River to Fish River Canyon, Namibia.

It’s on to Namibia where we enjoy amazing views over the dramatic Fish River Canyon, a 160km gorge up to 500m deep.

 

Days 4-5 Fish River Canyon to Namib Naukluft Park.

Next we visit the ancient Namib Desert, where we can climb some of the world’s highest sand dunes to see an incredible sunrise over the vast sand sea.

 

Days 6-7 Namib Naukluft Park to Swakopmund.

Sandwiched between desert and ocean, Swakopmund is a popular coastal resort where we can sample adventure activities such as skydiving and quad biking.

 

Day 8 Swakopmund to Spitzkoppe.

We continue through eerie Damaraland and camp amongst the mysterious granite formations at Spitzkoppe, home to some fascinating ancient Bushmen paintings.

 

Days 9-10 Spitzkoppe to Etosha National Park.

Our next stop is Etosha National Park. We usually make camp near a floodlit waterhole where night visitors may include elephant, giraffe, zebra, and perhaps even lion and hyena.

 

Day 11 Etosha National Park to Windhoek.

There is a distinct German influence in Namibia’s pleasant capital Windhoek, and it’s a fine place to sink a beer at a local tavern!

 

Day 12 Windhoek to Ghanzi, Botswana.

We move on to Botswana and take a cultural Bushmen walk to learn about life in the Kalahari.

 

Days 13-15 Ghanzi to Okavango Delta.

An unforgettable wilderness experience awaits us as we explore the tranquil islands and watery channels of the Okavango Delta. By day we view game on foot and from mokoro canoes, and on one night we camp in the heart of nature, listening to the nocturnal sounds of the African bush as we drift off to sleep.

 

Days 16-17 Okavango to Chobe National Park.

Travelling onwards we reach Kasane, gateway to Chobe National Park. After arriving we can relax on a sunset Chobe River Cruise, seeking to spot the African fish eagle and possibly some of the ‘Big Five’ coming to drink. The following morning we game drive through the picturesque reserve.

 

Days 18-21 Chobe National Park to Livingstone, Zambia.

Entering Zambia, we arrive at our camp on the banks of the Zambezi near Livingstone. During our stay we visit the incredible Victoria Falls. Optional activities include white water rafting, bungee jumping and scenic flights.

 

Days 22-23 Kafue River to Lusaka.

From Livingstone we drive north, spending the night at the Kafue River where we take a cruise and pay a cultural visit to a local village, before moving on to the capital Lusaka.

 

Days 24-25 Lusaka to Lilongwe, Malawi.

Entering Malawi, we head for the capital of this famously friendly country, Lilongwe.

 

Days 26-28 Lake Malawi.

Malawi is dominated by the vast lake of the same name, and we get to spend a day or two relaxing on the beaches along its shoreline.

 

Days 29-30 Lake Malawi to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Leaving Malawi we cross the border and climb into the hills of western Tanzania, then through the small Mikumi National Park, before reaching the Indian Ocean and the port city of Dar es Salaam.

 

Days 31-33 Zanzibar.

From ‘Dar’ we catch a ferry to the ‘Spice Island’ of Zanzibar. Once a thriving trading centre for spices, it is now renowned as a true gem of East Africa. Time here is ours to enjoy as we wish – whether you choose to stay in ‘Stone Town’ and explore its intriguing alleys and markets, or venture to the north in search of picture-perfect beaches, the choice is yours!

 

Day 34 Dar es Salaam.

We leave Zanzibar behind and return to our beachside campsite in ‘Dar’, where our memorable African journey comes to an end.  

 

Note: The HTZTC34 trip follows the reverse itinerary.