Nairobi to Victoria Falls Overland Camping Safari

Tour Length — 22 days

Max. Group Size 29 Travellers

Departs from Nairobi, Kenya

Ends at Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

Accommodation Standard Camping

Transport Ferry / Large Overland Vehicle / Open 4x4 Game Viewing

Vehicle / Game Viewing Vehicle

Wildlife Big 5, Elephant, Leopards, Lions, Migration Safari

(Seasonal) & More

Quick Itinerary Overview

A 22-day Budget Camping Safari from Kenya's capital, Nairobi to

Victoria Falls, in Zimbabwe.

Heading south from Nairobi we cross into Tanzania for a game

viewing trip to the world-famous Serengeti Park and Ngorongoro

Crater, home to Africa's Big 5 and an abundance of other wildlife. It's

then onwards to Zanzibar Island with its tropical beaches and rich

Arabic-African culture. From Zanzibar, we travel to Lake Malawi

where we relax for a few days along this magnificent freshwater lake.

Then we explore the untamed South Luangwa National Park in

Zambia, before travelling to Livingstone and the mighty Victoria Falls.

Next, we explore the famous Chobe National Park in Botswana,

before returning to Victoria Falls, on the Zimbabwean side, where

you can enjoy some seriously fun optional activities.

Itinerary for this Tour

DAY 1: Nairobi – Kenya

Welcome to Nairobi and the enchanting East African country of

Kenya! Upon arrival, you will be collected from the Jomo Kenyatta

International Airport (NBO) and transferred to your hotel in Nairobi.

Today you are free to rest after your journey or venture out into

bustling Nairobi to experience the vibrant economic and political

capital of Kenya. Greet the locals with a 'jambo!' (meaning 'hello' in

Swahili) and listen out for 'hakuna matata' (no problem) as you

explore. The dynamic city of Nairobi has plenty of sights and

activities for visitors to enjoy from museums to markets and wildlife

centres. Return to the hotel at 17h00 for a pre-departure meeting

with your safari guide and travel companions.

DAY 2: Nairobi to Arusha – Tanzania (L / D)

This Nairobi to Victoria Falls Overland Camping Safari departs from

Nairobi this morning, travelling south into Tanzania at Namanga

border post.

We stay at a lovely campsite in Meserani on the outskirts of Arusha

for the night. Tomorrow we will be setting off on our memorable

Serengeti Park and Ngorongoro Crater trip.

[B = Breakfast / L = Lunch / D = Dinner]

DAY 3: Arusha to Karatu – Tanzania (B / L / D)

Arusha town is located at the foot of Mount Meru and serves as the

gateway for excursions to Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire, Lake

Manyara Park and the Serengeti Park. These game viewing

excursions are run in locally operated 4x4 safari vehicles that have

been adapted for African safari drives.

Explore the thriving town of Arusha in the morning if you like,

browse the vibrant craft markets, go shopping or stop in at the art

gallery near our camp to see the brightly coloured Tinga Tinga

paintings typical of Tanzania. Visit the interesting Masai Cultural

Museum to learn about these tribal people and tour the Meserani

Snake Park to see the snakes and other reptiles up close.

Heading back to our base camp at Meserani we have lunch and

prepare for wildlife adventure to Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti

National Park. This afternoon our Ngorongoro & Serengeti Trip takes

us to Karatu via the Masai town of Mtu Wa Mbu located next to Lake

Manyara National Park. We journey up the Great Rift Valley

Escarpment to Karatu in the Crater Highlands, with spectacular views

over the surrounding hills.

Karatu has many well-established wheat farms adding to its

picturesque scenery. We stay at a pleasant campsite in Karatu

overnight, departing early the following morning for the Ngorongoro

Crater.

Included Activity: Serengeti & Ngorongoro Crater Trip

DAY 4: Ngorongoro Crater & Serengeti Trip – Tanzania (B / L / D)

Driving to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area we head deeper into

the bush of the Ngorongoro Crater teeming with wildlife. This crater

is a World Heritage Site boasting some of the best wildlife viewing in

Africa. Ngorongoro Crater game viewing opportunities include high

concentrations of various wildlife species, from black rhinos to lions

and wildebeest.

We explore the Crater floor on a game drive before ascending out of

the crater and down the crater rim, passing the 'Cradle of Mankind'

en route to the Serengeti National Park. We cross the open African

plains on the game drive through the southern and central areas of

the Serengeti Park. Then we camp in an unfenced area in the heart of

the untamed bushveld surrounded by the sounds of Africa's wildlife

at night.

DAY 5: Serengeti National Park to Arusha – Tanzania (B / L / D)

In the morning we take an exhilarating game drive in Serengeti Park,

admiring the surrounding landscape as we search for wildlife in the

area. The famous Big Five of Africa (elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion and

leopard) are often sighted on our Serengeti game drives.

After the morning game drive, we retrace our steps crossing the vast

plains and lush Ngorongoro Crater rim.

Back in Tanzania's Arusha, we spend the evening recounting our

thrilling tales of the wildlife encounters on the plains of Serengeti

and in the Ngorongoro Crater.

DAY 6: Arusha to Pangani – Tanzania (B / L / D)

The Budget Nairobi to Victoria Falls Safari takes us into Arusha this

morning to stock up on supplies before driving south towards Dar es

Salaam, on the coast of Tanzania.

We travel through Moshi, a town at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro –

Africa’s highest mountain. Moshi serves as the base for Mount

Kilimanjaro climbing expeditions, and we may be lucky enough to

catch a glimpse of this magnificent mountain’s snowy summit from

the town. The views of towering Kilimanjaro from Moshi offer

fantastic photo opportunities!

Passing through vast sisal plantations flanked by the Usambara and

Pare Mountain ranges we continue south on our safari adventure.

Our lovely overnight campsite tucked between the mountains, lies

halfway between Arusha and Dar es Salaam.

DAY 7: Pangani to Dar es Salaam – Tanzania (B / L / D)

Travelling via lush countryside landscapes with palm trees, we reach

our next safari destination, Dar es Salaam.

The pace of our drive to the warm Indian Ocean slows as we enter

the outskirts of Dar es Salaam, taking in the interesting sights and

sounds of Dar’s vibrant outer suburbs as we go. Keep an eye out for

the brightly coloured shop-fronts decorated with humorous names

and slogans.

Arriving in Dar es Salaam on the east coast of Africa we head to our

pleasant seaside campsite and have time to prepare for our trip to

Zanzibar the following morning.

DAY 8: Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar Archipelago (B)

On day eight we travel to Zanzibar Island where we spend three

nights. From Dar es Salaam we take a ferry across to the Spice

Islands, as Zanzibar Islands are known.

The main Zanzibar Island has a colourful past, as one of the major

departure points for most of the explorations into new territories of

East Africa, in times gone by. The island was an important link in the

old trade route between east and west.

New passengers may join us on our Zanzibar Trip, while some travel

companions might opt to end their tour of Africa back in Dar es

Salaam after visiting the island.

Included Activity: Zanzibar Island Trip

Please Note:

Meal costs and optional activities are for your own account in

Zanzibar, allowing for flexibility and self-guided exploration on the

island. Zanzibar Island hosts a wide selection of restaurants offering a

variety of tasty meals. Your trip leader joins you and can help with

arranging activities and meals in Zanzibar.

DAYS 9 & 10: Zanzibar Island – Tanzania

Zanzibar Island has a great range of activities to offer visitors, from

historical sightseeing to exciting water activities. Zanzibar is one of

Africa's top beach destinations, featuring picture-perfect tropical

beaches lapped by azure waters.

We explore one of the spice plantations, a colourful experience on

Zanzibar, which is famous for its exotic spices. We also embark on a

sunset dhow cruise during our stay on Zanzibar Island.

Spend some time sightseeing and exploring on your own. The quaint

streets of the old Stone Town of Zanzibar reveal traces of the local

Arabic history, from Medina-style shops to the impressive palaces

that once belonged to powerful Sultans.

Other interesting activities on Zanzibar Island include a day trip to

the pristine beaches of Prison Island, to see its giant tortoises. A full

day of scuba diving in Nungwe is well worth it, as is snorkelling,

island hopping and the experience of fishing in a traditional sailing

dhow. There are a variety of restaurants offering a fantastic array of

fresh seafood straight from the ocean, with crayfish being a popular

speciality. You can mingle with the locals at the seafront market of

Forodhani Gardens in Stone Town, where tasty seafood can be

bought at bargain prices.

Included Activity: Zanzibar Spice Tour & Dhow Trip

DAY 11: Zanzibar Island to Mikumi – Tanzania (L / D)

Departing from the tropical Zanzibar Island this morning our exciting

beach trip comes to a close. We return to the shores of Tanzania

feeling rejuvenated, sun-kissed and relaxed. Leaving Dar es Salaam

we drive to Mikumi Park National Park on Tanzania's Southern Safari

Circuit. Keep an eye out for elephants, lions and all kinds of wild

animals as we drive through this wildlife-rich national park. The

wildlife in Mikumi is quite accustomed to the passing traffic, which

makes sighting the animals easier as we drive through the game

park.

DAY 12: Mikumi Park to Iringa – Tanzania (B / L / D)

On the morning of day 12, we set off further south. We continue to

the elevated town of Iringa, our next overnight stop on this Nairobi

to Victoria Falls Overland Camping Safari. The night is spent at a

charming campsite known for its Amarula hot chocolate and piping

hot showers.

DAYS 13 to 15: Iringa to Lake Malawi – Malawi (B / L / D)

We follow the winding road through the Tukuyu tea and banana

plantations admiring this beautiful region of Tanzania as we travel.

Next, we cross into Malawi entering the ‘Warm Heart of Africa’ via

the Songwe border post. Malawi is a long, landlocked country with

20% of its total area covered by the beautiful, fresh-water Lake

Malawi. Over the next few days, we skirt the full length of the

western shores of Lake Malawi, visiting scenic bays along the way.

Our days are spent relaxing on the unspoilt beaches, learning to play

the game of bao from locals or bargain hunting at the markets.

The temperate climate of Malawi is suited to swimming all year

round, so you can always take a dip in the clear blue waters. Explore

the picturesque shores of Lake Malawi meeting local fishermen as

they sort the fresh catch of the day. The fishermen still bring in their

catch using traditional fishing techniques. The ‘fairy’ lights of the

fishermen's boats twinkle out on the lake at night, which is why Lake

Malawi is known as the Lake of Stars.

You can gain insight into the skill involved in handling one of the

fishing boats by trying your hand at paddling a dugout canoe

yourself. Excursions offered at the beachside campsites along Lake

Malawi's shores include options such as water sports, horse riding

and visits to the local school and village.

Optional Activities: Watersports, Outdoor Activities & Village Tours

DAY 16 & 17: Lake Malawi to South Luangwa Nationa Park –

Zambia (B / L / D)

Leaving lovely Lake Malawi and its laid-back people behind, we cross

into Zambia and head for the untamed South Luangwa National Park.

South Luangwa is Zambia's leading game park, known for its wildness

and incredible beauty. Located along the Luangwa River this remote

national park hosts about 60 animal species and 420 bird species.

The game park is home to large elephant herds, as well as an

abundance of buffalo, hippo, crocodile and various antelope species.

The park is also home to good numbers of zebra, giraffe and leopard,

among others.

The most southern of three national parks in the Luangwa Valley,

Luangwa Park covers some 9050 km² of the most fertile part of

Luangwa Valley. Here we are immersed in the wild bush, enjoying

exceptional game viewing.

Included Activity: Game Viewing in South Luangwa National Park

Day 18: Luangwa National Park to Lusaka (B / L / D)

Driving south from Luangwa National Park along the Great East Road

we head to our overnight campsite, not far from Lusaka, Zambia’s

capital city. On our drive, we cross the impressive Luangwa River

Bridge near the Zimbabwe-Malawi border and travel via some rural

villages and towns in Zambia.

Zambia prospered during the copper boom in the 1960s and

established extensive infrastructure in its main mining and farming

communities. After a subsequent decline in the copper industry,

Zambia is once again starting to develop, due to foreign investment

and a resurgence in the mining industry.

Some of the local wildlife such as hippos, crocodiles, vervet monkeys

and monitor lizards can be seen at the safari campsite set along the

Luangwa River.

DAY 19: Lusaka to Livingstone – Zambia (B / L / D)

Continuing our journey south through Zambia, we pass through

farming and agricultural towns en route to Livingstone. The town is

named after explorer David Livingstone who in turn named Vic Falls

after his queen.

Victoria Falls or Mosi-oa-Tunya (the Smoke that Thunders), is one of

the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Vic Falls is the world's

largest sheet of falling water at 1700 m wide and around 100 m high.

Seeing Vic Falls is a highlight of any African Safari!

We can witness this spectacular natural wonder from the Mosi-oa-

Tunya National Park in Zambia - a superb photographic opportunity.

In the evening we can enjoy an optional sunset boat cruise on the

mighty Zambezi River. The sunset cruises offer a relaxing and scenic

journey along the mighty Zambezi River, visited by wildlife and birds.

Optional Activity: Zambezi River Sunset Cruise

DAY 20: Livingstone to Chobe National Park – Botswana (B / L / D)

Saying goodbye to truly African Zambia, we head into one of Africa's

top safari countries, Botswana, at the Kazangula Ferry crossing on

the Zambezi River.

Once in Botswana, we drive to the northern town of Kasane, located

on the banks of the Chobe River. Chobe River forms a natural border

between Botswana, Namibia and Zambia and serves as the major

source of water in Chobe National Park.

From Kasane, we make our way into this famous Botswana game

reserve for our overnight camping trip in the wild. In the afternoon

we explore Chobe Park on a game drive en route to our safari camp

inside the scenic wilderness area. On the wildlife viewing drives rare

sable and roan antelope are often sighted, along with impalas, kudu,

elephants, giraffes and more. We also see a variety of birds, from

raptor and plover to lilac-breasted roller, as we drive!

We spend the evening musing over our wild encounters in Chobe

Park, taking in the quiet and listening to the night sounds of nearby

wildlife.

Included Activity: Chobe National Park Camping Trip

DAY 21: Chobe National Park to Victoria Falls – Zimbabwe (Brunch)

Getting up early after our night in the Botswana bush, we set off on a

morning game drive in search of Chobe's varied wildlife. After our

rewarding game drive, we pack up camp and travel back to the town

of Kasane. Back at the Kasane camp we transfer to our safari truck

and take the short drive to the Zimbabwe border. Border formalities

behind us, we cover the last bit of ground to nearby Victoria Falls in

Zimbabwe.

Today we visit the famous Vic Falls waterfall, a World Heritage Site

and natural wonder. Viewing the spectacular Victoria Falls, falling

between Zimbabwe and Zambia, is an awe-inspiring and memorable

experience!

Your guide briefs you on the adventure activities available and the

remainder of the afternoon is free for you to unwind at the

campsite’s swimming pool, do adventure activities at Victoria Falls,

or explore the highlights of Victoria Falls town! Our safari campsite is

conveniently situated in the centre of Victoria Falls town, within

walking distance of the local restaurants, shops and booking agents

for adventure activities.

Included Activity: Victoria Falls National Park Entry

DAY 22: Victoria Falls – Zimbabwe (B)

After breakfast in Victoria Falls town, we exchange addresses and say

goodbye to our fellow travellers, having experienced the African

Safari Trip of a lifetime!

We recommend that you book a few extra days in Victoria Falls, after

your tour to take advantage of the thrilling optional adventure

activities at Victoria Falls. Optional activities include trips to

Livingstone Island, horseback safaris, sunset boat cruises and

swimming in Devil's Pool. Adrenalin junkies can bungee jump from

the Victoria Falls Bridge connecting Zimbabwe and Zambia, or abseil

down the Batoka Gorge - neither for the faint-hearted!

All year round, flights in fixed-wing, microlight and ultralight aircraft

or helicopters provide an aerial perspective over this magnificent

World Heritage Site. White water rafting on the Zambezi River is

some of the best in the world. In addition to the excitement of the

Grade 5 rapids, there are more placid sections for admiring the

towering cliffs and occasional wildlife on the riverbanks.

Please Note:

This Budget African Safari starts in Nairobi, Kenya and travels south

through Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia and Botswana, before ending in

Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. Should you wish to spend more time in

Nairobi or an extra few days at Victoria Falls after your safari,

accommodation in Nairobi or Victoria Falls can be booked through

Weaver Safaris.

This itinerary should be used as a guide only and may vary from day

to day depending on road & weather conditions, political situations

and group decisions. All prices & Local Payments are subject to

change. Due to Tourism Laws in some of the countries we visit, there

may be a truck and crew change during the camping safari trip.

Please note this tour or a portion of this tour may coincide with a

family departure, in which case, children from 6 years old may be

included in the tour. Please contact Weaver Safaris to confirm.

Optional Extras and Excursions

For up-to-date and confirmed pricing info for optional items, please

drop us an enquiry.

TANZANIA:

Masai Village Visit

Olduvai Gorge

ZANZIBAR:

Prison Island Snorkeling Trip

Diving, Snorkeling & Fishing

Motorbike/ Car Hire + local drivers license / insurance

MALAWI:

Freshwater Diving at Kande Beach

Horse Riding at Kande Beach (Bush, Beach & Swim)

Village Walk & Meal at Kande Beach

Village Walk at Chitimba Beach

Traditional Healer Visit

Livingstonia Mission Hike

Carving Lessons & Local Fishing

ZIMBABWE:

VICTORIA FALLS:

White Water Rafting

River Boarding combo Raft & Board

Zambezi Canoeing

Gorge Swing, Zip-line & Flying Fox

Bungee Jumping

Tandem Bungee Jump

Micro Light over Vic Falls

Helicopter Flights over Vic Falls

Trip T-Shirt

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“Safari Njema”