Today your overland tour begins, as you leave Nairobi and descend into Kenya's Great Rift Valley. Be sure to greet the locals with 'Jambo!' - meaning 'hello' in Swahili.

Arrive at Lake Nakuru National Park, located on the floor of the valley. Spend time enjoying the huge variety of birdlife, particularly flamingos, which gather in their thousands on the shallow soda lake, forming a striking pink cloud along the shore.

Today you'll continue north-west among the many tea plantations - one of Kenya's biggest exports - to Eldoret, near the Uganda frontier.

Enter Uganda - a country known for its rich vegetation, a land of green hillsides, banana plantations and dense forest. Today you'll camp near the town of Jinja, along the banks of the Nile.

Your camp overlooks a dramatic set of rapids - an ideal rafting opportunity. Other optional activities include volunteering with a local school project, quad-biking, village walks or a 44m bungee jump over the river.

The following day you'll depart Jinja for Kampala - the attractive and vibrant capital city, known for its traders, markets and busy matatu (mini-bus taxi) stands, and where you'll spend the night.

From Kampala, you'll head south-west into the tangled wilderness of Uganda's mountain region. Head deep into the Kigezi Highlands and stop at Lake Bunyonyi - an ancient flooded valley with deep waters and scattered islands.

In the afternoon you'll make your way to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, either from the main gates at Buhome or from the southern Nkuringo area, where you'll camp in the forest.

The next few days are sure to be a highlight as your group begins the trek through the park to view the majestic mountain gorillas. Local guides and trackers will lead small groups through the thick rainforest, often an arduous and demanding hike through rainy conditions and some hilly areas.

But it will all be worth it when you finally glimpse the gorillas and spend time watching them eat, sleep and play - for many this is their most exciting wildlife encounter in Africa.

Each group is only allowed one hour with the gorillas, which means that you may spend up to four days in the area while everyone completes the trek and viewing.

Today you'll leave the gorillas of Bwindi behind you, and begin the journey back into Kenya. This period of the tour is spent mostly on long drives, but enjoy the scenic landscapes of Uganda and Kenya as you stay over in Kampala and Eldoret before arriving in Nairobi.

Enjoy a full day in Nairobi, a cosmopolitan African city known for its mix of traditional markets, tall shiny skyscrapers, shanty towns and great restaurants. Be sure to pick up some authentic curios while you are here.

Today you'll head west into the famous Masai Mara National Reserve via the town of Narok. Be on the lookout for the tall Maasai people, usually enswathed in their striking red blankets.

You'll spend two nights camping on the edge of the park and spend your days trawling the savannah on morning and evening game drives in search of the Big 5 and an inspiring array of other animals and birdlife.

The Mara is well known for its picturesque acacia trees and sweeping grassy plains.

Leave the wildlife of the Mara behind and drive back to Nairobi where you'll stay overnight before finally leaving Kenya to head south into Tanzania.

Your first stop today is Arusha, resting in the shadow of Mt. Meru, a towering 4556m high. Arusha is known as the safari capital of East Africa, as it is the gateway to many of the major parks in the area.

Explore the many markets before heading to your camp on the nearby Masai plains. Here you may like to embark on a camel ride to a local Masai village, visit the local snake park or enjoy Tanzanian hospitality at the lively camp bar.

This morning you'll begin your excursion into the renowned Serengeti National Park - home to the annual wildebeest migration.

The plains here are flatter and larger than those in the Mara, offering fantastic game viewing. Camp wild in an unfenced campsite and enjoy the thrill of having wildlife roam right through camp.

Leave the Serengeti and travel via Olduvai Gorge with its beautiful views to the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater.

You'll camp near the top and enjoy some sweeping views of the crater floor. The following day you'll enjoy a game drive in the crater - one of the richest game areas in Africa, before leaving the Ngorongoro and returning for the night in Arusha.

Today continue past Mount Kilimanjaro - the highest mountain in Africa - to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania's main port, a bustling industry town and the gateway to the Zanzibar islands.

Set up camp on the beach, browse the curio markets and prepare for your trip to Zanzibar - the Spice Island.

Zanzibar is known for its beautiful sandy beaches, numerous palm trees, romantic cobbled alleys and a heady array of spices.

After your ferry over to the island, your time is your own. Explore and experience the island with a number of activities, tours and of course - relaxation.

Wander through the markets and alleyways of historical Stone Town, embark on a popular Spice Tour, or spend time snorkelling, scuba-diving and swimming in the warm Indian Ocean.

Catch the ferry back to the Tanzania mainland and spend a further night in Dar es Salaam, as your guides stock up on supplies for the next stage of your tour.

Today you'll drive towards Malawi, passing through the small Mikumi National Park - an excellent birding park - on the way. Spend the night under the stars in Baobab Valley.

Continue south towards Malawi, but first stop and spend a night in the town of Iringa, located on the Tanzania border. It is set on the slopes of a cliff above the Little Ruaha River, and is a busy little town full of markets.

As you enter Malawi, you'll be struck by its welcoming people, peaceful beaches and diverse vegetation.

Follow the shoreline of Lake Malawi until you reach Chitimba, a tiny village situated on a beautiful long, white and sandy beach. Enjoy a swim in the warm waters before camping out for the night.

Kande Beach is an idyllic campsite on the shores of Lake Malawi and has long been a popular stopover for overlanders and backpackers.

Enjoy the relaxed and social atmosphere at the bar or restaurant, or hire a pedalboat, catamaran, canoe, windsurfer or snorkelling equipment and hit the water.

Continue through the Malawi countryside until you reach the capital city of Lilongwe, a laid-back and friendly city with a number of good restaurants and nightclubs.

Here you will restock on supplies before arriving in Zambia. Spend the night on Livingstonia Beach.

Leave Malawi behind and cross the border into Zambia, where you'll arrive in the town of Chipata, an important and busy little town acting as the gateway to South Luangwa.

Enjoy some different surroundings with the surprisingly high number of beautiful old mosques and temples.

Today you'll journey through Zambia and arrive in its capital city, Lusaka. Sprawling, chaotic and energetic, Lusaka is full of life, and gives one the experience of a real African city in the modern world.

Head south to Livingstone near Victoria Falls, where you'll set up camp on the banks of the mighty Zambezi River.

For the next few days enjoy free time to do what you like, from adrenaline-inducing activities like whitewater rafting, bungee-jumping and scenic helicopter or micro-light flips, to enjoying spectacular views of the Falls - the 'Smoke that Thunders'.

From Livingstone you'll head to the renowned Chobe National Park in Botswana, home to some of the largest elephant herds in Africa.

In the late afternoon enjoy a cruise on the Chobe River where hippo grunt and crocodile rest silently in the shadows. The following day you can enjoy a morning and evening game drive through the park.

Leave the elephants of Chobe behind you and head south through the central Kalahari to Maun, known as the gateway to the Okavango Delta.

The Okavango Delta is a natural wetland system spread across northern Botswana, and the largest inland delta of its kind in the world.

Spend the day exploring the islands and channels on foot and in mokoros (dug-out canoes) in search of hippo, elephant, lion and a variety of birds among the lush vegetation. Experience the exhilaration of camping wild as you spend a night on a remote river island.

Leave the Delta and spend one more night in Maun before stopping in Ghanzi in the Kalahari, where you'll meet with some of the Bushmen and learn how the indigenous people of the area live and survive in the harsh, hot climate.

Continue on to Windhoek, the capital city of Namibia, full of German-inspired architecture, beers and cuisine.

Spend the morning exploring Windhoek before heading north to the renowned Etosha National Park, a vast reserve surrounding a central salt-encrusted depression.

Spend the next two days enjoying the dry air, endless landscapes and abundant wildlife in your journey through the park. The pan is a seasonal water-source, but specially managed year-round waterholes sustain some 114 mammal and 340 bird species.

Etosha is particularly known for its large herds of elephants, coloured white with the dust from the pan, as well as a large number of predators.

Enjoy some spectacular night game viewing right in your camp; each rest camp in the park has its own floodlit waterhole, offering some amazing nocturnal activity.

Pass through the unique Spitzkoppe area with its jutting rock formations and see some ancient rock art and engravings, before making your way to the Atlantic coast to visit the impressive Cape Cross Seal Colony situated on the Skeleton Coast, and home to a staggering 80 000 seals.

Today you'll travel a few miles south to the colonial town of Swakopmund and spend 2 days there.

Swakopmund is well-known as being Namibia's adrenalin capital, as some unique desert-based activities are available. Enjoy quad-biking, sand-boarding, horse-riding or even sky-diving, or just relax and enjoy the town's great cafe culture.

Arrive at the Namib Naukluft Park, the world's oldest desert with the highest sand dunes.

The next day you'll head out early to appreciate a beautiful red sunrise across the landscape before heading deeper into the park to enjoy nature walks across the saltpans and flat valley floors. Climb the red dunes of Sossusvlei and marvel at the majestic desert views.

Today you'll head south to admire the beauty of the Fish River Canyon. This canyon is the second largest in the world and one of the natural wonders of Africa. At approximately 600m deep and over 160km long, it really is an awesome sight.

Today you'll leave Namibia behind and embark on the final leg of the tour. Enter South Africa and stop for a night next to the desolate yet striking Orange River, the natural border between South Africa and Namibia.

Enjoy the peace and quiet before continuing south the next day into the Western Cape province, where you'll pass through the scenic Namaqualand region in the Northern Cape.

As you near Cape Town, you'll visit some of the local townships and learn about the rich culture and history of the people who live there.

This is your last stop before ending the tour in cosmopolitan Cape Town, one of the world's most beautiful cities.

If your time allows, try to spend a few days exploring the city and the surrounds; ascend Table Mountain via cable car, shop at the V&A Waterfront and go wine tasting in Paarl or Stellenbosch.