South East Adventure (21 Days)

Itinerary

Discover the highlights of East Africa on this epic adventure...

Travelling overland from Nairobi to Livingstone taking in the famous parks in Tanzania, the spice island of Zanzibar, beautiful Lake Malawi and the jaw dropping Victoria Falls. Explore the highlights of Tanzania, Malawi and Zambia on this epic adventure safari holiday.

Our 24-day South East Adventure tour option includes a 2 night/3 day safari in the Maasai Mara.

Day 1. Nairobi to Arusha Highlights. Maasai Village Walk, Arusha, Tanzania. Meserani Snake Park, Tanzania.

We leave the hustle and bustle of busy Nairobi behind and head for the open road to the border of Tanzania. Once we've completed formalities, we head on to Arusha - the Safari Capital of Tanzania.

Along the way we pass the towering Mount Meru, and a number of farms and coffee plantations that bring further revenue to this region. After our stop in Arusha, we continue to our camp outside the city.

Meserani has an informative snake park and Masai Cultural Museum on site and we visit these in the afternoon after setting up camp. We also head off to the local village to see the various projects that tourism in this little village assists. 3 images Maasai Village Walk, Arusha, Tanzania 2 images Meserani Snake Park, Tanzania

Day 2. Arusha to Serengeti National Park Highlights. Serengeti National Park, Tanzania.

This morning we meet our local guides and pack our gear onto the specialised safari vehicles and hit the road on safari.

Passing through the Mto Wa Mbo and up the Rift Valley escarpment, you'll see fantastic views of Lake Manyara and the surrounding National Park as we ascend. We enter the Ngorongoro Conservation area and make our way around the steep crater road and on to the Serengeti beyond. From here its easy to see why they are referred to as the 'Serengeti Plains' with an expanse of open savanna grassland to welcome us.

We game drive for the afternoon and seek out resident wildlife. Tonight is spent at our bush-camp in the Serengeti enjoying the night sounds of the wild. 5 images Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Day 3. Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater

Waking early we head out and explore! Let's see if we can find the predators on the prowl...

After our morning drive, we head back to camp to grab our gear and then game drive our way back to the Ngorongoro Crater rim. This afternoon we have a bit of free time to relax at camp and admire the views down into the crater below. Our camp is conveniently located on the rim of the crater with an occasional elephant or buffalo visitor to look out for.

Day 4. Ngorongoro Crater to Arusha Highlights. Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania.

Another early morning awaits as we have a tasty breakfast and head down into the crater. As we descend the steep, winding road, it's easy to see why antelope such as the giraffe can't be found here.

Once on the base, we criss-cross the terrain in search of the herds, hyena and predators that reside here. Look out for black rhino, cheetah, lion and if you manage to spot them - leopard!

We head back to our camp in time for lunch and then its back to our truck at Arusha where we enjoy an evening at the camp bar, regaling our fellow travellers with our thrilling wildlife stories. 7 images Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania

Day 5. Arusha to Bagamoyo Highlights. Bagamoyo, Tanzania. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania.

Leaving the safari capital, we travel around the base of the mighty Kilimanjaro at the town of Moshi as we make our way toward the Indian Ocean coastline. Kilimanjaro is Africa's highest mountain and the world's highest free-standing mountain, and towers over the African plains. With a bit of luck, we'll see the icy glacier at its peak as we travel south toward Bagamoyo.

Our camp tonight is on the Tanzanian coast outside the historic port of Bagamoyo where the explorers of old based themselves before heading inland on their expeditions. 3 images Bagamoyo, Tanzania 6 images Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

Day 6. Bagamoyo to Dar es Salaam Highlights. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Today we head to Tanzania's busiest city - Dar es Salaam. As we drive along from Bagamoyo, we see the villages and population increase the closer we get to the city. Enjoy the quirky signs to shops on the roadside as we travel along.

Dar es Salaam is a large city with a thriving port which processes the bulk of Tanzania's imports and exports. There are also many embassies and business who base themselves here, as well as in the Capital city Dodoma.

We arrive to our camp on the beaches south of the city and have an afternoon free to relax and enjoy the warm waters of the Indian Ocean. 5 images Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Day 7. Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar Highlights. Stone Town, Zanzibar, Tanzania. Zanzibar, Tanzania.

We leave early and make our way to the ferry terminal where we board our fast ferry to Zanzibar. The journey takes approximately 2 hours, and we arrive to Zanzibar's Capital Stone Town.

Once customs formalities are complete, we head to our lodge in the town and after a briefing of available activities, have the rest of the day free to explore! Head out to the historic fort and House of Wonders or get lost in the myriad of winding alleyways of the markets. There are also great shopping opportunities for those in need of some retail therapy! Tonight there is are a variety of restaurants and bars to choose from, each with delicious seafood meals and a range of tasty cocktails. 7 images Stone Town, Zanzibar, Tanzania 5 images Zanzibar, Tanzania

Day 8-9. Zanzibar Highlights. Zanzibar, Northern Beaches, Tanzania.

This morning there is an opportunity to enjoy a tour of the local spice and fruit plantations, or head out on one of the other exciting excursions before we take our transfer to the north of the island.

The northern beaches offer idyllic white powdery sand, azure waters and the perfect opportunity to head out and explore the underwater marine life on the colourful reefs surrounding the island.

Whether you're here to lay back and relax, or head out and explore - the northern beaches offer the perfect island lifestyle for you. 9 images Zanzibar, Northern Beaches, Tanzania

Day 10. Zanzibar to Dar es Salaam

We spend our final morning on the island catching up on some last minute shopping or simply enjoying a lazy morning before boarding our ferry back to the mainland where our truck awaits us back at our camp.

Day 11. Dar es Salaam to Mikumi Highlights. Mikumi National Park, Tanzania.

With the Indian Ocean at our back, we travel inland through the villages and through the northern end of the Mikumi National Park, to the town of Mikumi.

Here we have the option to enjoy an afternoon game drive in the Mikumi National Park, which forms the northern part of the great Selous Game Reserve - Africa's largest reserve. 5 images Mikumi National Park, Tanzania

Day 12. Mikumi to Iringa

Heading further west, we pass through the Baobab Valley with its odd looking swollen trees before we make our way from the coastal plateau, up to the Tanzanian highlands.

Tonight we sleep near the town of Iringa in the highlands and enjoy an evening on higher altitude, with the warm farm hospitality of the Farmhouse.

Day 13. Iringa to Chitimba Beach, Malawi Highlights. Lake Malawi, Malawi.

We drive to the mining town of Mbeya before heading back down off the highland plateau and cross the border to Malawi. It's not long till we reach the shimmering Lake Malawi and our camp for the next 2 nights. 4 images Lake Malawi, Malawi

Day 14. Chitimba Beach Highlights. Livingstonia Day Hike, Malawi.

Today we have a free day to enjoy the beach, lake and surrounds.

For those who are feeling active, there is an option to hike to the Livingstonia Mission in the surrounding mountainside stopping off at a waterfall along the way. This is a great way to see the surrounds and get some meet some local Malawians along the way.

For those who are not feeling energetic, there is a local village tour to the school and clinic or simply the opportunity to walk around and chat with the locals.

Day 15. Chitimba Beach to Kande Beach

We pack our gear and head south once more, this time passing through the town of Mzuzu - a hub for the surrounding farms. We stock up on supplies, explore the local market and then head on through the rubber plantations and on to the lakeside once more.

Day 16. Kande Beach Highlights. Kande Beach Activities, Malawi.

If you are a scuba diver, you'll no doubt know that Lake Malawi is top on the diver's list to explore the variety of fresh water tropical fish that are home here. The Aquanuts dive centre is fully equipped and licensed to take you on a variety of dives to explore the underwater world of the lake.

For horse lovers there is an opportunity to head out on a ride to see the villages and surrounds ending with a refreshing swim on horseback.

Alternatively you can try your hand at sailing, or simply chill out in a hammock watching the shimmering lake and the fisherman as they head out in their dug-out canoe boats. 4 images Kande Beach Activities, Malawi

Day 17. Kande Beach to Chipata

We bid our farewells to the smiling lakeside community and head first to Malawi's Capital Lilongwe before making our way to the border and crossing over to Zambia.

We stop off for the night at Chipata near the Malawian border.

Day 18. Chipata to Lusaka Highlights. Lusaka, Zambia.

Today we have a long driving day in the truck to the Capital city Lusaka. Along the way there are many rural villages that we pass through where we can see how the majority of the Zambian population lives. We also cross the Luangwa River bridge spanning the great Luangwa River.

Our camp tonight is on a farm on the outskirts of the Capital with some free roaming antelope.

Day 19. Lusaka to Livingstone Highlights. Victoria Falls - Mosi oa Tunya National Park, Zambia.

We head further through Zambia's farming towns and make our way to the town of Livingstone on the banks of the Zambezi River. It is here that we base ourselves for the last days of our adventure.

On the afternoon of our arrival we head to the Mosi oa Tunya National Park where we view the Victoria Falls from the Zambian side and get to see the great ledge and rocky gorge that the water's of the Zambezi plummets over and into on its journey. 4 images Victoria Falls - Mosi oa Tunya National Park, Zambia

Day 20. Livingstone Highlights. Livingstone Activities, Zambia.

Today is a free day to enjoy some of the fantastic activities on offer in this adventure capital. Choose from adrenaline activities like white water rafting or bungee jumping; to scenic activities like flights over the falls and boat cruises on the Zambezi. For the active is horse riding, canoeing or fishing on offer and for those who wish to relax, the camp has a lovely pool and viewing deck looking out onto the waters of the Zambezi. 5 images Livingstone Activities, Zambia

Day 21. Livingstone

Our final morning of our adventure ends in a tasty breakfast, after which our tour comes to an end.

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