Day 1 Nairobi: Jambo! Welcome to Kenya.
You can arrive at any time on day 1 as there are no activities planned until the important welcome meeting tonight at 6pm. Your leader will leave a note at reception telling you where this important meeting will take place. Please ask a member of reception for this information. After the group meeting there is the option of joining the group for dinner.
At this meeting, your leader will collect the first part of your kitty money. The second part will be collected in Livingstone. Please bring USD notes/bills printed after 2003 in large denominations.
Please note this is a combination trip. The composition of your group, your group leader and your overland vehicle will change in Livingstone.
Nairobi - a Masai word for 'Place of Cool Waters' has a cosmopolitan atmosphere. There are plenty of good bars and restaurants. Markets and shops have most things you could need or want, as well as various arts and crafts from the region. If you arrive early, head out to explore the National Museum of Kenya or the Karen Blixen Museum (author of Out of Africa), or Bomas which displays the traditional homesteads of several Kenyan tribes in an outdoor village.
Tonight we stay in a simple hotel with swimming pool, restaurant and ensuite rooms.
Day 2-3 Mto Wa Mbu/Karatu: We set off early today, heading for the border with Tanzania. We are able to spend some time in Arusha, before heading to our campsite in the village of Mto We Mbu. We travel about 393km which will take approximately 8 hours.
Tonight we stay at a campsite with flush toilets and hot/cold showers.
The following morning we participate in a local community Mto We Mbu village program. A local guide will take you on a leisurely stroll around the farming areas visiting a kindergarten, milling machine, church, local homes, and farmlands. A great way to have fun and find out more about the life of the locals!
After lunch we head to Karatu, our base for launching into our Serengeti safari (approx. 1 hour).
Days 4-5 Serengeti National Park: This morning we are up very early, leaving our truck behind, putting our camping and personal gear into 6 person jeeps and heading off for our three day excursion.
We arrive into the Serengeti this afternoon and game drive all the way to our camp. We'll be driving about 8 hours total. The following day we enjoy a full day game drive, or you may choose to head out at dawn and dusk when the animals are at their most active and relax during the heat of the day.
The wide open plains of the Serengeti, green after the rains, brown and burnt in the dry season and home to thousands of hoofed animals and fierce predators, is perhaps the quintessential image of Africa. Flat and rolling with long grasses the plains get their name from the Masai word Siringitu, "the place where the land moves on forever". Game viewing in the Serengeti is amazing and as you camp out at night, don't be surprised to hear lions in the distance as you recount your amazing sightings during the day. The Serengeti Plains usually live up to everyone's expectations.
The bush camp where we stay is very simple with only a basic toilet and no running water, but its location in the middle of the plains, surrounded by animals and the nocturnal noises, is something to experience. Your leader will outline the basic safety rules to be followed when camping in an an unfenced location where wild animals are present.
An optional balloon ride over the Serengeti at sunrise is an unforgettable experience. If you have pre-booked this activity (please see Important Notes) you will be picked up and driven to the launch site, receive a safety briefing from your pilot and will help inflate the balloon. You then glide through the dawn, sometimes at tree height providing amazing wildlife photography opportunities, sometimes ascending to get an overview of the enormity of the Serengeti and the teeming herds of early morning wild life movements. Upon landing and before being returned to camp you'll be treated to a five star bush breakfast!
Day 6 Ngorongoro Crater/Karatu: We are up with the sun as we make an early start, exiting the Serengeti and headng for the world famous Ngorongoro Crater. (approximately 3 hour drive)
After a picnic lunch we descend onto the floor of the Crater.
Sometimes called the "Garden of Eden," we make the most of our safari in the crater, spending betwen four and five hours exploring. There is an excellent chance of spotting many of the Big Five as well as many, many other species.
Departing the Crater late in the afternoon, we return to our campsite at Karatu for an evening relaxing at the campsite's bar reliving our safari experience. There may be the opportunity tonight for you to enjoy the option of a traditional dinner accompanied by local dancers and acrobats.
Day 7 Marangu: Another very early start as we make our way back through Arusha and onwards to the town of Moshi on foothills of Kilimanjaro. We travel 293km which will be total driving time of 6 hours over this day.
In Moshi we will meet the very special kids of the Amani Children's Home. Amani supports street children giving them a safe place to stay and educational and emotional support. Check out the new school which has been built with the help of donors and be inspired by this project which is changing these children's lives. For more information on this project visit www.amanikids.org.
Before lunch we climb even higher onto the solopes of Kilimanjaro to reach the village of Marangu where we set up camp before heading off to spend the afternoon with the team at the Village Education Project.
Tonight we camp in the grounds of the family run Marangu Hotel, a wonderful old German colonial hotel with beautiful gardens.
Days 8-9 Usambara Mountains/Lushoto: We spend this morning with the team at the Village Education Project.
Beginning with a walking tour of Mshiri Village, the base for the Village Education Project, we can witness the day-to-day life of the Chagga people, long established as crop-growers on the fertile slopes of Mt Kilimanjaro. We visit their homes, walk around the shamba (farm), visit the primary school as well as the other institutions where local young people are taught various skills. Lunch provides more opportunity to sample the local Chagga food, which is very filling. We also visit nearby waterfalls and stop to admire the view of the plains below.
Then it's time to get off the well beaten track and head into the remote Tanzanian Mountains. Our travel distance from Marangu to Lushoto is 265km which will take around 4 hours.
We have a two night stop in the beautiful Usambara Mountains to explore this lovely unspoilt area of Tanzania. Unlike the coast and the north, very few tourists visit this area and so it has a freshness that can be hard to find elsewhere. The mountains are located in the north east of Tanzania between Kilimanjaro and the Indian Ocean and overlook the vast Masai steppe. They are wonderfully lush and green and the area has been dubbed the Galapagos of the plant world. The forests stretch across the mountains and are ideal for easy hikes and guided walks. As beautiful as the place is, its real jewels are the local peoples and villages. The area has a reputation for gentle hospitality and we will visit some of the small communities. From our base we will organise a short day's walking trip out to the beautiful Irente viewpoint. On our way back we visit a local village cultural and ecological project based at Irente farm where we will have a picnic lunch.
We base ourselves at the old German colony of Lushoto where we stay in the grounds of one of the earliest hotels in Africa.
Day 10 Dar es Salaam: Today is a long travel day as we head to Dar es Salaam. If the weather is clear, then on our drive we may get a view of Kilimanjaro, the magnificent snow-capped mountain and Africa's highest peak at 5,895m (19,340ft). Approximate distance driven today is 380km which will take around 8 hours.
The port city of Dar es Salaam is Tanzania's commercial heart and a hot, humid, bustling city. We set up camp on a balmy beach just outside of the city centre.
Days 11-13 Zanzibar: Today we catch a ferry to the "Spice Island" of Zanzibar (approx. 1.5-2 hours), filled with idyllic beaches, winding cobblestone alleyways and fragrant bazaars. Zanzibar's rich history involves everything from slave traders to Arabian sultans and fruit exporters. The sight of traditional dhows sailing along the coast makes it easy to imagine what the island was like back in the days of Livingstone.
Our first night is spent in the exotic port town of Stone Town.
The best way to see Stone Town is on foot exploring the bazaars, shops, mosques, palaces, courtyards and myriad intricate alleyways. When the sun is setting, why not enjoy a sundowner from a bar overlooking the seafront, before trying one of the Island's local seafood curries for dinner at one of the town's many restaurants.
The famous spices are grown in plantations outside of Stone Town and we head out on a Spice Tour where you can dazzle your senses by touching, tasting and smelling them. This will include a local meal, a tour around the sites of Stone Town, including some history on its former slave market. Next will be the drive to the spice plantations where you will receive a guided tour and the opportunity to touch, smell and taste various spices such as cinnamon, vanilla and ginger, and teas made with these spices. At the end of the day there will also be an opportunity to buy some of the locally grown spices.
On our second and third days here we head to the northern beaches and enjoy white sand and sparkling blue sea - the Indian Ocean at its best. Try snorkelling and diving, eat sumptuous seafood, or simply relax in a hammock underneath a coconut tree with a good book.
Our accommodation on these nights is in twin share rooms with ensuites.
Day 14 Dar es Salaam: After spending a final morning in Zanzibar, we jump back on board the ferry (approx. 1.5-2 hours) to return to the mainland where we will camp once again at our palm fringed beach on the outskirts of Dar es Salaam.
Days 15-16 Iringa/Chitimba: Heading for Malawi, we head through Mikumi National Park. The journey today is 503km which will take approximately 11 hours of drive time.
Situated at the foot of the thickly wooded Uluguru Mountains, Mikumi is home to large herds of elephant, buffalo and giraffe, together with lions and leopards. It is Tanzania's third largest national park and we spend a couple of hours travelling through the park on the main route to and from Southern Tanzania. Although we will not make an off road safari into the depth of the park, we usually see a good selection of the wildlife that resides in the park enroute to the southern Tanzanian highland town of Iringa where we set up camp on the grounds of a farmhouse on the outskirts of this pleasant settlement.
Day 16 is another travel day as we enter Malawi, the "warm heart of Africa", covering the 667km (approx. 9 hours travel time including the border crossing) to our lakeside campsite at Chitimba.
Days 17-18 Chinteche Beach/Lake Malawi: Today we travel from Chitimba to Chinteche beach on the shore of Lake Malawi, approximately 4.5 hours (210km) drive.
Malawi is dominated by Lake Malawi which covers almost a fifth of the country. The lake provides a source of livelihood for many of the Malawian people. Fishermen, fish traders, canoe and net makers all ply their trade, and a common sight is that of a fisherman in his bwato (a dugout canoe made from a hollowed out tree trunk), fishing on the still lake at the break of day.
We head away from the commercialism and crowds and enjoy a few days on the lake's more peaceful beaches. As well as chilling on the beach and participating in the many optional water activites on offer, make sure you take the opportunity to meet some local Malawians, easily some of the friendliest in Africa.
Our campsite is right on the shore of Lake Malawi, at Chinteche beach.
Days 19-20 Luwawa Forest Lodge: Part of what makes travelling with Intrepid special is that we get you off the well beaten beach track and give you the opportunity to meet the people of Africa.
We travel for approximately 4 hours/180km today from Chinteche to our lodge in Luwawa Forest.
Luwawa Forest is in the Viphya Mountains of Malawi at about 1200m above sea level. The forest has claim to be the largest man made forest in Africa and is made up of conifers and native trees of Malawi. There are many options to choose from here - mountain biking, canoeing and fishing or taking forest walks.
We will enjoy a village community visit with the option of overnighting in the village or you may choose to return to our lodge.
Here we stay in the Luwawa Forest Lodge, situated at 1650m above sea level, nestled in amongst the wooded mountain side, in one of the most tranquil and beautiful scenic locations in the north of Malawi.
Days 21-22 Chipata/Lusaka: Departing Malawi, today we cross into Zambia. Travelling through rural villages, we cross the mighty Luangwa River and by passing Luaska we camp near by.
These are long travel days with a total over the two days of 871km and 15 hours of driving time.
In Chipata and in our campsite near Lusaka we stay in campsites with flush toilets and hot/cold showers.
Days 23-24 Livingstone/Victoria Falls: Another long driving day on day 23 as we push on to Livingstone near the Victoria Falls where we set up camp in the late afternoon (approx. 8 hours driving time for the 490km from Lusaka).
The following morning we head off for one of our journey's highlights - a visit to the magnificent Victoria Falls. The falls are an enormous curtain of water, about a mile wide, falling 108m into a narrow chasm below. In the wet season, the spray created can rise up an incredible 400m and the falls are an impressive raging torrent. The spray from the falls can sometimes be seen from kilometres away. It's no wonder the local name Mosi oa Tunya, means the "smoke that thunders". In the dry season, the view of the falls is unobstructed by spray and it's possible to see little islets in the river below.
After lunch the remainder of our time in Livingstone is free to allow you to participate in some of the many optional activities on offer. There are various activities and excursions to choose from both on the water, on land or high above it all. Choose from white water rafting and canoeing, or go horse riding, abseiling or gorge swinging. You could also take a ride in a helicopter or small plane for a bird's eye view of the falls.
As this is a combination trip the composition of your group and your group leader may change today. There will be a group meeting to meet your new travelling companions and for your new leader to give you some information about the next leg of your journey. Your leader will collect the second part of your local payment at this meeting. Please note this kitty payment must be in cash and travellers cheques are not accepted for this sector of your itinerary.
Our camp ground is centrally located on the Zambezi River only four kilometres from the Falls, the perfect place to use as a base for the vast array of adventure activities on offer in the area. It has clean ablution blocks, comprising hot and cold showers and toilets.
Meal plan- no meals included.
Day 25 Chobe National Park: From Livingstone, we have a drive of around 70 kms to reach the Zambezi river which we will cross by ferry to reach Botswana.
Once we have completed border formalities it is a short drive of approximately 15 minutes to the village of Kasane, our base for exploring Chobe National Park.
There will time here for you to change money before we head to our campsite on the edge of Kasane town.
Nestled in the northern corner of Botswana amid lush forest, Chobe covers a huge area of 12,000 sq km and is home to some of the largest elephant populations in Africa as well as lions and a flurry of bird life, including the famous African fish-eagle.
After settting up camp and having our lunch in the late afternoon, we will enjoy a fish-eagle cruise on the Chobe River, a very relaxing way to see hippos in the shallows and maybe even a herd of elephants coming down to the river's edge for bath time.
Overnight:Tonight we camp in 2 man dome tents at a campsite in the town of Kasane. There are hot showers and flush toilets at our campsite as well as a bar to enjoy a couple of cold drinks and perhaps a relaxing swim in the pool.
Distance travelled: We travel 90km from Livingstone to our campsite in Kasane.
Time travelled: 3 - 4 hours depending on how much timespent at the border post or crossing the Zambezi River by ferry.
Notes: We cross the Zambezi River by Ferry today. In normal circumstances the crossing is quite smooth and quick if both ferries are running. Sometimes only one ferry is operational and there might be some delays in these circumstances.
Day 26 Nata region: This morning there is the chance to start the day with an optional dawn game drive into Chobe National Park.
(Please see optional activities section of these trips notes for approximate prices)
We then begin our drive, heading towards South Africa through the Chobe Forest extension towards the town of Nata. There may be the chance for some great wildlife viewing on our drive. We arrive at our camp in time for lunch before heading out on a exiting afternoon game drive on a private concession. This area is famous for its big Elephant populations as well as other big game such as buffalo. It he buffalo moves into the area it will most certainly lures the cats as well.
Overnight: Tonight we camp in 2 man dome tents at Elephant Sands Campsite. Our campsite has a swimming pool as well as a fully stocked bar and the chance to see bush babies (also known as Nagapies- which translates as 'little night monkeys') up close!
Distance travelled: We travel 260km from the town of Kasane to our camp at Elephant Sands.
Time travelled: 3 - 4 Hours from Kasane to Elephant Sands. The afternoon game drive from Elephant Sands will take around 3 hours.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 27 Polokwane Game Reserve: On day 4 it's time to enter South Africa and a long driving day as we head to Polokwane with a border crossing out of Botswana and into South Africa at Martin's Drift. We arrive at our campsite in Polokwane in the late afternoon.
Overnight: We camp in 2 man dome tents at a campsite in Polokwane.Tonight's campsite has a hot water ablution block and washing facilities.
Distance travelled: Today we travel 770km from our camp in Botswana to Polokwane in South Africa.
From Elephant Sands to the border post is 520km. Once throughthe border post we drive another 250km to the town of Polokwane.
Time travelled: It is a long driving day and will take us 10 - 12 hours depending on how much time we spend at the border post.
Meals included: Breakfast & Dinner.
Days 28-29 Kruger National Park: This morning we begin the day with a dawn game drive(of around two hours) in Polokwane Game Reserve. There is the chance to see white rhino, eland and sable-quite rare antelope species.
After breakfast we continue to southern Africa's most famous premier game reserve, Kruger National Park, where we spend the next two nights. Entering Kruger through one of the central gates we immediately begin game driving en-route to our campsite.
Overnight: Camping in two man dome tents in Kruger National Park. Our campsite for these nights in Kruger has hot water and flush toilets.
Distance travelled: On day 5 we travel a distance of 280km to Kruger National Park.
Time travelled from Polokwane to Kruger will take 3 - 4 hours on a scenic mountain road. Once in Kruger we do an afternoon drive to our camp. The duration of this drive depends on where we are staying in Kruger as well as animal sightings.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
The following day we explore the diversity of the Kruger landscape during a full day game drive. In the evening, there is the option to take an additional night drive with park authorities to spot nocturnal animals and perhaps even night-time predators.
(please refer to optional activites section of trip notes for price guide)
Overnight: Camping in two man dome tents in Kruger National Park. Our campsite for these nights in Kruger has hot water and flush toilets.
On day 6 we travel around 250km on game drives in Kruger.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Please note that the trip departing on the 30th of June 2009 will camp in a bordering game reserve rather than within the national park.
Day 30 Johannesburg: Leaving Kruger behind ,we head for the bright city lights of Johannesburg. There's plenty of time to stop and explore along the way as we stop at the awesome Blyde River Canyon and take in amazing views over the region.
Meal plan: Breakfast.
Distance travelled. Once out of Kruger National Park we travel 600km to Johannesburg
Time travelled: 9 - 10 Hours including stops.
Our tour ends in Johannesburg in the early evening (usually between 6 and 7pm) of day 7. You can be dropped off either at Jo'burg airport or return to Amadwala Lodge. Please do not book your departing flights until after 9pm on departure day if you wish to leave tonight.
Overnight: Please note accommodation is not provided to tonight- additional post tour accommodation is available at Amadwala Lodge, please ask at time of booking.Why not stay an extra day or two and enjoy relaxing at our lodge and maybe check out the township of Soweto on a day tour.
We are able to help arrange a variety of day tours from our base at Amadwala Lodge- please ask your tour leader for more information.
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