Masai Mara to Kruger (Accommodated)

Nairobi - Masai Mara. Early this morning we depart Nairobi and drive to the Masai Mara. We will be travelling in specialised safari vehicles for this part of the tour to enjoy a more intimate wildlife-viewing experience. In the Masai Mara we spend two nights on the edge of the reserve in permanent en suite tents and spot wildlife on morning and afternoon game drives.

Please note: The pre-departure meeting is held at 18:00 on the evening prior to departure. The tour departs at 08:00 on Day 1 so please arrive in Nairobi the day before your tour. Refer to the Joining Instructions in the Trip Notes for more information. We can book accommodation and transfers on request.

We go in search of the Big Five and other wildlife on a morning and afternoon game drive in the legendary Masai Mara today. Between July and October the Masai Mara plays host to The Great Migration, when giant herds of wildebeest, zebra, and other grazing animals migrate from the adjoining Serengeti plains, followed by predators and scavengers. The Masai Mara is excellent for game viewing at any time of year but the enormous congregation of wildlife during The Great Migration is simply spectacular.

Masai Mara - Nairobi. We leave the Masai Mara this morning and travel back across the Great Rift Valley to Nairobi where we spend the night.

Nairobi - Arusha (Tanzania). Bidding farewell to Kenya we board our overland truck and cross the border into neighbouring Tanzania today, travelling on to Arusha. Arriving in Tanzania's 'safari capital' late afternoon we stop to browse the curio markets before heading to our accommodation just outside the city. If time permits we enjoy a walk around a traditional Maasai village to gain an insight into their everyday life and traditions.

Arusha - Serengeti National Park. This morning we set out on an exciting two day Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater excursion in designated safari vehicles. Entering the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, we drive around the rim of the crater and onto the vast, wildlife-rich plains of the Serengeti. Spot an enormous variety of grazing animals, predators and birdlife as we game drive to our unfenced campsite for the evening. Camping in the wilderness, with wildlife roaming nearby, is an experience you'll never forget!

Serengeti National Park - Ngorongoro Crater - Arusha. Game driving out of the Serengeti on day 6, keep your eyes peeled for the Big Five. After lunch we ascend the outer wall of the Ngorongoro Crater. We spend the night camping on the rim of this UNESCO-listed natural caldera, where wildlife roams free.

We wake early the next morning and drive down a steep road into the crater for a game drive in this incredible wildlife haven, which is home to all Africa's major mammals except giraffes. Returning to camp for lunch, we pack up before making the journey back to Arusha.

Arusha - Bagamoyo. It's a long but scenic drive today as we travel to Bagamoyo on Tanzania's Indian Ocean coast. Passing Mount Kilimanjaro en route, if the weather is clear we'll get an excellent of Africa's highest mountain.

The port town of Bagamoyo was founded towards the end of the 18th century and was an important trading port along the East African coast. Today it is a centre for dhow building, with many of the boats being sent to Zanzibar and nearby areas. We stay on the outskirts of the town, near the palm-fringed beaches of the Indian Ocean.

Bagamoyo - Dar es Salaam. We make our way south along the coast to the bustling seaport city of Dar es Salaam today. We stay by the beach just outside the city, there's time to relax and take in the balmy Indian Ocean sea breeze before we travel to Zanzibar tomorrow.

Dar es Salaam - Zanzibar. Leaving our overland truck on the mainland we take the ferry to Zanzibar on the morning of day 10. Idyllic Zanzibar, with its sandy, palm-fringed beaches, romantic winding cobbled alleys and lush tropical forests, is our home for the next three nights.

In Zanzibar we stay in simple hotels, usually spending day 10 in Stone Town and days 11 and 12 at one of the northern beaches. Enjoy free time on the island or choose from a range of optional excursions. Opt for a tour of Stone Town's Slave Markets or a Spice Tour. Go snorkelling, scuba diving or simply relax on the tropical beaches. Please see the Trip Notes for more details about the optional activities available in Zanzibar.

Zanzibar - Dar es Salaam. Enjoy a final swim in the turquoise ocean before we board the ferry back to the mainland and return to our accommodation on the beach.

Dar es Salaam - Mikumi National Park. Leaving the coast we drive inland through Mikumi National Park, where we might be lucky enough to spot forest elephant or giraffe feeding near the side of the road. Our accommodation tonight is a short distance from the park and, if time permits, there will be the opportunity to go on an optional game drive, exploring Tanzania's 5th largest park.

Mikumi National Park - Iringa. Continuing our journey south, we pass through Baobab Valley, home to many of these ancient, swollen baobab trees. Reaching the town of Iringa, we end our journey at the Kisolanza Farm. This family-run business supplies Dar es Salaam with organic meat and vegetables and is a well-known camping spot, located in the scenic Southern Highlands of Tanzania.

Iringa - Mbeya Area. Heading towards Malawi we make a stop at the tranquil Utengule Coffee Lodge nestled amidst the majestic Mbeya range in Southern Tanzania. Enjoy breathtaking views of the East African Rift Valley, relax by the poolside or enjoy the various activities like squash, tennis, pool, table tennis, or volleyball. For those interested in coffee, an optional guided tour through the coffee plantation is available, including a roasting demonstration and a cup of home-grown coffee.

Mbeya Area - Chitimba Beach (Malawi). After our last night in Tanzania, we make our way to the Songwe border post and cross into Malawi. Lake Malawi, formerly known as Lake Nyasa, covers nearly a fifth of the country and is a vital source of livelihood for many Malawians. Fishermen, fish traders, and canoe and net makers all rely on the lake, and at dawn, we see fishermen in their Bwato—traditional dugout canoes—casting their nets as the sun rises over the water. The lake is also home to the highest number of endemic freshwater fish species in the world. There's time to relax on the beach, stroll through the village, and explore the local craft market, where we can try our hand at woodcarving and create our own souvenir. We also have the chance to learn the traditional game of Bao or test our bargaining skills while shopping for unique handmade treasures.

Chitimba - Nkhotakota Region. On day 18 we take a nice scenic drive through rubber plantations to Mzuzu - the capital of the northern region and the third largest town in Malawi - where we stop for a short while to grab supplies and check out the markets, before arriving to Ngala Beach Lodge. The following day is free for you to enjoy some of the optional activities, such as hiring a kayak, snorkelling, village walk, waterfall hike, or simply relax and enjoy the warm, fresh waters of Lake Malawi.

Nkhotakota Region - Petauke (Zambia). Saying our goodbye’s to ‘the Lake’, we drive through Nkhotakhota Game Reserve towards the border where we cross into Zambia. After completing the border formalities, we continue our journey to Petauke, a region known for agriculture, producing maize, cotton, sunflower, soya beans, and other crops.

Petauke - Lusaka. Today we leave early and take the Great Eastern Road through lush country and small villages, cross the Luangwa River to Lusaka, Zambia’s capital. Lusaka is Southern Africa’s fastest growing city with approx. 1.7m inhabitants. It is located on Zambia’s southern plateau at an elevation of 1300m with four main highways running north, south, east, and west to different parts of Africa. Our campsite for the evening is set in a tranquil and relaxing setting on a farm.

Lusaka - Livingstone. Heading south we travel to Livingtone on day 22 and our accommodation at the Waterfront on the banks of the mighty Zambezi River, just a few kilometres from Victoria Falls. This will be our home for the next four nights. During your stay in Livingstone a visit Mosi oa Tunya National Park to see the spectacular Victoria Falls is included. Don’t forget your raincoat to keep you and your camera dry!

Spend your time in Livingstone at leisure. There's plenty to keep you entertained! Explore Livingstone and perhaps cross the border to see the Zimbabwe side of the falls. You can also enjoy a whole range of optional activities which are available to book locally, such as rafting, bungee jumping, river cruises, and flights over the falls, to name a few.

Livingstone - Matobo (Zimbabwe). Departing Livingstone, we cross the border to Zimbabwe and pass through Victoria Falls town and head to Matobo. We stop in Bulawayo for supplies before heading to our campsite.

Today we enjoy a half day tour of Matobo National Park. This remarkable reserve has the largest concentration of Black and White Rhino in Africa and it also has the densest population of leopard and black eagle in the world. Knowledgeable guides will take us on a nature drive and wilderness walk, leading us on foot to some of the more concealed places in search of these incredible animals.

After the tour enjoy an afternoon at leisure. Alternatively there's the option to upgrade to a full day tour (optional - pay locally). On the full day tour explore the wind-sculptured Matobo Hills, see the Bushman paintings and visit the grave of Cecil John Rhodes.

Matobo - Tshipise (South Africa). Today we continue our journey south, crossing Tshipise into South Africa at Beitbridge. Then we cross the mighty Limpopo River and travel on to the town of Tshipise, in the northern Limpopo province. Our accommodation for the night is adjacent to Honnet Nature Reserve and there are hot spring in the area, surrounded by dense woodland and Baobab trees.

Tshipise - Hazyview (Greater Kruger). From Tshipise we travel to Kruger National Park, southern Africa's flagship game reserve. Several years ago fences between the national park and surrounding private reserves were removed to form the Greater Kruger where an abundance of wildlife roams free. Almost every major Africa mammal can be found in Kruger including all of the Big Five and there's also prolific birdlife.

We stay at a hotel in Hazyview and enjoy an evening of Shangaan tribal dancing and singing. The following day we wake early, board 4x4 game viewing vehicles with a resident guide and set out on a full day in the national park itself. Going in search of the Big Five and other resident wildlife on a morning and afternoon game drive, with a break during the middle of the day to relax at a rest camp. Late afternoon we return to our hotel in Hazyview for the night.

Hazyview (Greater Kruger) - Pretoria. Bidding farewell to Kruger we make our way to Pretoria where our tour ends late afternoon / early evening.

Please note: We recommend that you spend the night in Pretoria. Pretoria accommodation and a transfer to Johannesburg OR Tambo International Airport can be booked locally or in advance.