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: Our crew can organise accommodation for you whilst on Zanzibar, although from our experience our clients have preferred to explore the island independently. 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 for an overnight in Dar es Salaam. There may be an opportunity to visit one of the craft markets offering an extensive range of exquisite ebony products (prices depend on your bargaining skills!), and the goods are made on-site. It is possible to observe the carvers at work and understand the skill which has gone into making even the simplest trinket.

Leaving Dar es Salaam you head for Iringa, passing through Mikumi National Park. It is possible to view a range of wildlife from the roadside, totally unperturbed by humans and their vehicles. Tonight you camp at the Old Farmhouse, a beautiful rustic campsite in rural Tanzania. Try one of the signature Amarula hot chocolates.

The next morning you head for Malawi passing through the beautiful tea plantations of Tikuku before exiting Tanzania. You enter Malawi through the border post of Songwe and head to Chitimba Beach campsite in Malawi for the night.

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 wander 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 cross the border into Zambia, heading to a precious little campsite just 10km before the Zambia/Malawi border, where you spend the night.

The landlocked country of Zambia is quickly crossed, passing through the capital, Lusaka, for one night. The campsite is home to local wildlife, and has beautiful facilities.

This morning you pack up camp early and travel south for Lake Kariba. You head to the western waters of the lake and your base camp for the next 2 nights. Lake Kariba is one of the largest manmade lakes in the world and home to a wide variety of African game, birdlife and unique flora and fauna.

Here you have the option of a 2-night trip on a house boat. Alternatively, you can take part in the many activities 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-nights/2-days: You board the house boats at approximately 1pm, settle yourself in and enjoy lunch on board. You depart the harbour at around 2pm and sail out to the Maaze River. In the evening you can relax and marvel at one of the spectacular sunsets which Lake Kariba is famous for, followed by a night's peaceful sleep on the boat.

The next day you can relax the entire day on the deck and enjoy the onboard Jacuzzi. These house boats are truly one of the most relaxing ways to spend a few days on the lake. If you're feeling a bit more active, in the early morning you can enjoy a fishing/game cruise on tender boats, or you have the option of a game walk on the island in the Maaze area. This gives you the opportunity to see plains game and many different species of birdlife. After lunch you head to Maaze Island where you do a tour of the Crocodile Farm. Dinner is prepared on the boat while you sit back and enjoy your sundowner over the lake

Today you cross the border into the town of Victoria Falls. 1700m wide and around 100m high, Victoria Falls is one of the most memorable sights on your African safari. A few days are spent here to enable you to experience the sights and the many activities available. All year round, flights can be taken in fixed wing planes, micro lights or helicopters, which give you a panoramic view of the Falls, Batoka Gorge and the islands above the falls. Back on the ground, the falls can be seen from the Victoria Falls Park (entrance US$20) with its many viewing points, or from the Zambian side. All offer fantastic photographic opportunities.

Bungee jumping enthusiasts can take the plunge from the Zambezi Bridge, which connects Zambia and Zimbabwe. The leap into the Batoka Gorge is certainly not for the fainthearted. White water rafting in the Batoka Gorge is considered to be world class. Besides the excitement of the grade 5 rapids, there are "floats" where there is time to admire the scenic cliffs and occasional wildlife on the riverbanks.

Other optional activities around Victoria Falls include day trips into the Zambezi National Park, horse riding safaris, visiting the Crocodile Ranch and Snake Park, golf at Elephant Hills Hotel, parachuting, the Falls Craft Village and the Sunset Cruise

The next couple of days are at your own leisure to explore the town of Victoria Falls and partake in the many activities available.

This morning you depart Victoria Falls after breakfast and cross the border of Zimbabwe into Botswana. You set up camp for the night and prepare for your afternoon game drive in Chobe National Park. Chobe is one of Botswana's premier game parks, renowned for the large herds of elephant around the Chobe River.

An early morning start sees you travelling in south-westerly direction to Maun, your base camp before you start your Optional Excursion into the Okavango Delta. Today is a long day's drive with lunch on the roadside.

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.

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

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!

There is 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.

Today is a long day's drive to Francistown, originally a gold-mining centre, but nowadays the town has expanded into a retail and wholesale shopping mecca. We stock up with supplies for the next few days.

A night is spent in Johannesburg before you head for the Lowerveld region and the famous Kruger National Park.

Departing Johannesburg you head towards the Lowveld and the renowned Kruger National Park. Your camp for the next 2 nights is 8km from Kruger Park's Numbi Gate. Spoilt by a swimming pool and good hot showers you spend the evening around the campfire anticipating your game drive the next day.

Kruger National Park is one of the most famous wildlife parks in the world. Covering an area of 21 497 sq km - 60km wide and over 350km long, this conservation area has been recorded to have more than 500 bird species, 114 reptile, 49 fish, 33 amphibians, 146 mammals and over 23 000 plant species. Today is spent in the park on a full day game drive to see how many of the species can be found. This evening there is the option of a night drive in the park.

After a delicious campfire breakfast you journey through diverse scenery on the way to the bustling city of Johannesburg, where this trip finishes.