Leaving Cape Town, you head North through the wine growing regions and cross the Piketberg pass into the rich fruit growing area of Citrusdal. You will make camp tonight in the area of Citrusdal or Clanwilliam, both towns being shadowed by the beautiful Cederberg Mountain range.

From the Ceres region you travel North through the region known as Namaqualand. This region is well known for its prolific display of Namaqua wildflowers that occurs each spring. After stopping for supplies in Springbok you will continue on to the Orange River, the natural land border between South Africa and Namibia. Tonight you will camp at a beautiful campsite on the South African bank of the river.

This morning you have the option of a half-day canoe trip on the beautiful Orange River. The canoe trip provides the opportunity for some bird watching, as well as a scenic and relaxing ride. After lunch you cross into Namibia and have a short drive to Hobas campsite and the Fish River Canyon, the 2nd largest in the world and reputed to be the most spectacular. 161km long, up to 27km wide and about 550m deep, the outer canyon was formed by tectonic activity whilst the erosion of the Fish River formed the inner canyon. A road running near the eastern rim gives access to several viewing points with spectacular views across the rift.

After a leisurely morning at Fish River Canyon you head North into the southern farming area of Namibia. You will stop for supplies in the small, former missionary town of Bethanie. From there you will choose your camp for the evening - no matter where you camp around here it's an authentic wilderness experience.

Heading North you enter the Namib - Naukluft Park, considered to be one of the oldest deserts in the world, and a major tourist destination. Sesriem is a good place to experience the Namib and its many moods. A short distance away is Sossusvlei, surrounded by a dramatic sea of sand dunes, reputed to be the highest in the world. Magnificent views of the desert can be seen from the top of the dunes, some over 300m high. The afternoon will be spent exploring this amazing area. An optional but 'must do' excursion is a walk in this area with the specialised local guides of Sossus on Foot. The guide will bring the amazing history, geology, flora, fauna and cultural legacy of the Bushman to you. Tonight you will view the sunset from the top of Dune 45 - a truly memorable experience.

After watching the sunrise across this beautiful area you leave the serenity of the dunes and head in a north-easterly direction to meet the Atlantic Ocean at Walvis Bay. Following the coast for some 35km, you arrive at Namibia's prime holiday resort, Swakopmund, where you will enjoy 3 nights of rest and relaxation. Accommodation will be in dormitories. Upgrades are available.

Founded in 1892 during the German colonial rule, the town's distinct colonial character has been well preserved. Swakopmund has several excellent restaurants, bars, coffee shops as well as many arts and crafts shops selling Namibian rural art. There are fine beaches to walk along, a great museum, aquarium and galleries to visit.

Optional excursions include fishing trips, quad biking, sand boarding, skydiving, desert flights, water sports, golf and 4x4 hire.

Your departure from Swakopmund will see you follow the Atlantic Coast North to visit the Cape Cross Seal Colony. Of the 23 breeding colonies of Cape Fur Seals along the coast of South Africa and Namibia, Cape Cross is the largest. Seals are present throughout the year, and numbers fluctuate between 80 000 and 100 000 individuals, rising to around 200 000 during the breeding season. A short drive takes you to Spitzkoppe, the 1728m high rock formation, one of Namibia's most recognised landmarks. There is opportunity to explore the bushman paintings and surrounding area.

Today is a day's drive from the rock paintings to the Cheetah Park, a private farm where you will learn about the conservation of the cheetah population in Namibia, and have a chance to meet the resident cheetahs up at the house - a photo opportunity not to be missed!

Stopping briefly in Outjo to get supplies, then it is on to Etosha. You will game drive your way into Okaukuejo rest camp before setting up camp and heading out for an afternoon game drive. Etosha is the major nature reserve of Namibia, covering over 20 000 sq km, and home to a large variety of animal and bird species. The park is situated around the Etosha Pan, and has an extensive network of gravel roads that enable you to get to remote areas of the park. A feature of the park is the floodlit waterholes at both Okakuejo and Namutoni. Evenings can be spent sitting on the specially constructed viewing benches, watching the game as it comes in to drink.

Another full day of game driving as you make your way over the 150km across the park, from West to East. After a full day of game driving you will have another opportunity to spend the evening watching the game at Namutoni's floodlit waterhole.

Departing Etosha, you head in a north-easterly direction towards the lush Kavango region of northern Namibia. You will stop at Rundu for supplies before reaching your nearby campsite. This campsite is spectacularly located right on the banks of the Kavango River, complete with 'open air' facilities, and the occasional hippo grazing on the lawn.

Continuing along the Kavango River, you enter Botswana and travel East along the course of the Okavango River to the southern reaches of the Okavango Delta and your destination of Maun. It is from here that you set off to explore the Okavango Delta.

Here you have the opportunity to take an optional, 3-day/ 2-night, drive-in mokoro excursion into the delta.

The delta is a huge expanse of water, which has travelled from the Angolan highlands, spreading out to form the largest inland delta in the world.Studded with exotic islands, the delta is renowned for its incredible variety of birdlife as well as many other animals unique to southern Africa.

This drive-in trip to the Okavango Delta takes you approximately 1-2hr North to the mokoro polers' station. From there you hire mokoros, local dug-out canoes, which are poled along the winding waterways by local guides. Your guides will select a place to set up camp and an afternoon game walk will allow you to experience the delta wilderness.

A day of rest, relaxation and Delta experiences await. Today you will have the opportunity to partake in a number of activities, including game walks, mokoro cruises, swimming and even a chance to try your hand at poling your own mokoro!

A final opportunity for a morning game walk before packing up camp and setting off back to Maun. After arriving back in the early afternoon you have the opportunity to complete your picture of the Okavango Delta by taking an optional sunset scenic flight over the Delta region.

You travel East and then North through Botswana to the town of Kasane where you set up camp on the banks of the Chobe River. The Chobe River forms a border between Botswana & Namibia, as well as Botswana & Zambia. Listen out for the resident hippos.

This morning you depart on an early-morning game drive into Chobe National Park. Chobe is one of Botswana's premier game parks, renowned for the large herds of elephant around the Chobe River. After your game drive you return to camp for lunch. There is opportunity, for those who wish, to partake in a boat cruise along the Chobe River in the afternoon (optional), or you can relax on the banks of the Chobe River and watch the renowned Chobe sunset from your campsite.

You pack up camp and depart for Victoria Falls. Leaving Botswana you enter Zimbabwe and drive to the nearby Victoria Falls where you set up camp in the municipal town campsite. The afternoon is at leisure to explore the many sights and delights of this town!

The Victoria Falls constitutes one of the most spectacular natural wonders of the world. 1700m wide and around 100m high, this is the world's largest sheet of falling water and a memorable sight on any African Safari. All year round, flights can be taken in fixed wing aircrafts, micro lights, ultra lights or helicopters. On the ground, the falls can be seen from the Victoria Falls National Park's many viewing points, or from the Zambian side. Each offers fantastic photographic opportunities.

Bungee jumping enthusiasts can take the plunge from the Zambezi Bridge, which connects Zimbabwe and Zambia. There is also the optional abseil in the Batoka Gorge. Neither activity is for the fainthearted! White water rafting on the Zambezi is considered to be world class. Besides the excitement of the Grade 5 rapids, there are the "floats", where there is time to admire the scenic cliffs and the occasional wildlife on the riverbanks.

The other optional activities around Victoria Falls include trips into the Zambezi or Hwange National Parks, horse riding, a visit to the crocodile ranch, golf at Elephant Hills Hotel, parachuting, elephant safaris, the Falls craft village and the sunset cruise.

The next 2 days are at your own leisure to partake in activities or relax at the campsite swimming pool. You will also have some new clients joining you for the 2nd part of the tour.

This morning you will pack up camp and depart Victoria Falls. Exiting Zimbabwe, you cross the Victoria Falls Bridge and the Zambezi River to enter into Zambia at the town of Livingstone. You head to the western waters of Lake Kariba, your base camp for the next 2 nights. The lake is one of the largest manmade lakes in the world, boasting a wide variety of African game, birdlife and unique flora and fauna.

Here you have the option to take a 2-night trip on the house boats on Lake Kariba. For those of you who do not want to partake in the house boats, there are many activities you can do at the campsite, such as fishing, canoeing, hiking, exploring the local village or just relaxing on the tranquil banks of Lake Kariba. The campsite also has a swimming pool where you can enjoy soaking up the sun.

House Boat option 2-night/2-day: You board the house boats at approx 1pm and have lunch after you have settled yourself in. You depart the harbour at approx 2pm and sail out to the Maaze River for a beautiful sunset, and overnight on the house boats. Lake Kariba is famous for its spectacular sunsets.

The next day you can relax the entire day on the deck of the house boat and enjoy the onboard Jacuzzi. For those of you feeling a bit more active in the early morning you take a Fishing/Game Cruise on tender boats or you have the option of doing a game walk on the island in the Maaze area. There is opportunity to see plains' game and many different species of birdlife. After lunch you head to Maaze Island where you tour the Crocodile Farm. Dinner is prepared on the boat while you sit back and enjoy sundowners over the lake.

After everyone has reunited you bid goodbye to Lake Kariba and head North through southern Zambia to a camp just before the capital city of Lusaka. The campsite is home to some local wildlife and has beautiful facilities.

From Lusaka you cross the north-eastern region of Zambia, heading to a beautiful little campsite just 10km before the Zambia/Malawi border. Here you spend the night under the stars before heading into Malawi the following day.

Leaving Zambia you cross the border into Malawi, the 'Warm Heart of Africa'. You visit the capital, Lilongwe, a small city distinctively divided into the old town and the new administrative centre. The newly democratic Malawi is a landlocked country with 20% of its total area composed of the beautiful Lake Malawi. The country's temperate climate allows for swimming in the clear blue fresh-waters all year round.

You travel the full length of the western side of the lake, stopping off at various bays and inlets for the next 4 days - this is the time for rest and relaxation. Lake Malawi offers a variety of water sports from various beachside campsites. Alternatively, you can go wandering along quieter shorelines where you can see the fishermen, who still use traditional methods, sorting their daily catch. You have the chance to appreciate their boating skills by trying to paddle in your own dug-out canoe.

Visit the nearby villages and schools, dine in the local village, haggle for a bargain at the local markets, learn the game of bao with some locals - or simply relax on the pristine white beaches.

You depart Malawi via Karonga and enter Tanzania through the border post of Songwe. Continue your journey through the Tanzanian countryside, and take in the beauty of the Tukuyu tea plantations and banana plantations. Just before Iringa is the Old Farmhouse, a beautiful rustic campsite in rural Tanzania, where you spend the night. Try one of the signature Amarula hot chocolates.

The next morning you proceed to Dar es Salaam, passing through Mikumi National Park where it is possible to view a range of wildlife from the roadside, totally impervious to humans and their vehicles. On arrival in Dar es Salaam, you spend the night at a beach hotel/campsite that is situated to the North of the city, and prepare for your departure to Zanzibar the next morning.

A ferry from Dar es Salaam takes you to the "Spice Island", where you will spend 3 nights. Zanzibar is steeped in history and was one of the major starting points for most East African explorers in their quests for new lands.

Please note: We can organise accommodation for you whilst on Zanzibar, although from our experience our clients have preferred to explore the island on their own. Therefore, accommodation and food is for your own account whilst on Zanzibar.

History aside, Zanzibar offers a wealth of experiences for the visitor. Today the quiet streets of Stone Town retain their Arabic influence, from the Medina-like shops to the palaces of the Sultans, who founded their vast empires on the spoils of the slave and ivory trade. The island is still famous for its spices, and tours around a spice plantation can be organised. Other options include a trip to the nearby Prison Island with its giant tortoises, and beautiful beaches. Or perhaps you would enjoy the opportunity to hire a motorbike and explore the more remote areas of the island.

Zanzibar is a seafood lover's paradise. Numerous restaurants offer a great variety of the freshest catch from the ocean - giant lobsters being a popular specialty. Alternatively, joining the locals for dinner in the waterfront market is an experience not to be missed. The market stalls offer an unusual selection of fast food, African style at a very reasonable cost.

Leaving Zanzibar you take the ferry back to the mainland of Dar es Salaam where your safari finishes.