The Southern Cross - Africa

Trip Highlights

From Nairobi to Johannesburg - Experience the wildlife for which Africa is famous in the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. Snorkel with dolphins in the Indian Ocean, spot leopard on evening game drives in South Luangwa National Park and cruise past herds of elephant as they drink from the Chobe River.

Spend magical days on Zanzibar, wandering barefoot on sun drenched beaches, exploring traditional Swahili culture in ancient Stone Town. Snorkel or Scuba dive amongst tropical fish and colourful coral reefs. Visit the giant tortoises of Prison Island and the red colobus monkeys of Jozani Forest.

In Malawi you will have time to visit traditional villages and local schools as well as to shop in the markets, haggling for beaded jewellery and carvings. On Lake Kariba you can view elephant, hippo and waterbuck whilst relaxing on a houseboat. For the avid fisherman Lake Kariba is home to one of the best fighting fish - the tiger fish.

At Livingstone we witness one of the wonders of the natural world - the mighty Victoria Falls where the Zambezi drops a breathtaking 108 meters. Here we can go whitewater rafting, bungee jumping, canoeing, horse riding, take "the flight of the angels" over the falls, or merely wander in the rainforests created by the spray of "Mosi oa Tunya".

We travel through Botswana, taking time for a game cruise on the Chobe River before heading for our final destination Johannesburg - the city of gold.

Price Details

Price

From: GBP680 per person (31 Days)

Price Includes

• Ngorongoro Crater
• Mikumi National Park
• South Luangwa National Park (or alternative)
• Game cruise in Chobe National Park
• A visit to a Maasai village
• Breakfast and Dinner whilst with the truck
• Fully Equipped Overland Vehicle and two crew
• Camping fees, tents and cooking gear
• All diesel, road tolls and taxes for the overland vehicle

Price Excludes

• Group Kitty/Local payment of US$549, Visas £38-£110 (Depending on your nationality), Optional extra activities, Airport Taxes and Transfers, Travel Insurance, Personal spending money, Vaccinations.

Itinerary

KENYA – TANZANIA
Days 1 - 4
We collect you in Nairobi on Day One at 8 am before heading south for the Tanzanian border. On arrival in Arusha we have our safari departure meeting to go through all the routines of life on the road and enjoy a barbecue in the extensive entertainment area of our camp.

Tanzania is the land of the world famous Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater, two of Africa’s premier parks. It is here we spend our first few days on safari with opportunities to see all the game Africa has to offer including the big five and more - lion, leopard, cheetah, giraffe, zebra, buffalo and elephant, the Serengeti also being the stage for the world famous migration of wildebeest, Thomson’s gazelle and zebra. There is time to visit Mto Wa Mbu to browse and shop for jewellery and carvings in the extensive markets and also a Maasai village and museum to find out about traditional ways of life. We can also visit a local school as well as a reptile park.

Optionals: Game drives in the Serengeti National Park, camel safari.


TANZANIA (including 4 nights allotted for Zanzibar Island)
Days 5 - 11
From Arusha we travel to Dar Es Salaam on the Indian Ocean. On a lucky day our drive allows sightings of Kilimanjaro (5,895 metres), the world’s largest free standing mountain. Heading south we cross panoramic scenes of sweeping plains, mountains and rushing rivers. From the truck watch a world of activity coming and going - women cart water, children tend goats and vendors offer everything imaginable for sale from the side of the road - food, fruit, eggs, chickens, samosas, as well as bags of charcoal, jewellery and carvings. Arriving into Dar Es Salaam early evening we park up on the coast to camp for the night listening to the waters of the Indian Ocean lapping nearby.

The next morning the group travels over with the tour leader to Zanzibar Island arriving in the port of Stone Town by ferry. We stay a day to explore traditional Swahili culture in ancient Stone Town, some history on a spice tour and enjoy the evening food markets with sunset drinks at Africa House from where we watch the dhows sail into the harbour.

From here we head north to relax in the sun on the stretches of palm-lined white sand, enjoy fun bars, open air cafes and fresh seafood in the local restaurants on the beach front. Diving and snorkelling at Mnemba Atoll amongst tropical corals is on offer, as well as a visit to Prison Island with its giant tortoises, swimming with the dolphins and walks in Jozani Forest to view the red colobus monkeys. Beach volley ball is always fun, and for some it is time for a massage, and to unwind.

Optional excursion: Free time to travel over to Zanzibar island. Talk with us as to the special arrangements we can make for your accommodation and other arrangements on the Island staying in beach cottages and in the exotic capital, historic Stone Town, with a spice tour.

Other options to budget for include snorkelling excursions to Prison Island, famous for its giant tortoise as well as Mnemba Atoll, dolphin boat trips, Jozani Forest hike to see the red colobus monkeys, scuba diving.

All accommodation and transfers including spice tours on Zanzibar Island can be arranged ahead of time.

TANZANIA – MALAWI
Days 12 - 17
Leaving Dar we travel west for two days across Tanzania transiting through Mikumi National Park and Baobab Valley on our way to Malawi. Into Malawi we take our time stopping off at different camp sites, fishing villages and markets as we travel down the Lake. The carving markets are famous for ornately carved chairs and other items. We also have the option to hike the Livingstonia Plateau. On the lake we can enjoy numerous water sports including scuba and snorkelling. We can water ski, take a pedalow or canoe out on the lake. Horse riding in the Lake is also popular.

The local people of Malawi are some of the friendliest we’ll meet. Visit with a local family to taste traditional foods and experience some local dancing. Time can also be spent in a local school and visiting a witch doctor if you like.

Optionals: Water sports, horse riding in the Lake, Livingstonia hike, school visit.

ZAMBIA
Days 18 - 24
We then travel through Lilongwe to Zambia. We now travel over some true African bush roads to South Luangwa National Park (seasonal), on of Zambias premier parks reknown for the abundance of animals that gather in the area, attracted by the life-giving waters of the Luangwa river. Here we have the opportunity to do night game-drives to see some of the more noctural species such as leopards, genets, civits, nightjars and owls.

After two nights enjoying the wilds of the park we continue to Lusaka, the capital of Zambia. We shop for supplies and get to the bank before proceeding to shores of Lake Kariba to spend a couple of nights on the man-made lake, the houseboats allowing us the luxury of not having to cook or put up a tent, having bedrooms and our food prepared by the houseboat cook. There is also a splash pool on board. Cruising the lake by day we enjoy nature at its best. Relax on the deck under the immense blue skies of Africa. Elephants and antelope can be seen by the water’s edge and hippo and crocodile in the water. The sunsets may well be some of the best you experience on safari. Each boat also has its own motorised dinghy that can take us out fishing or for game rides. At night the kapenta fishing boats’ lights twinkle across the lake and we usually have a party one of the evenings we are on the Lake.

Optionals: Evening game drives in Luangwa (season pending), houseboat cruise including guided game walks.

ZAMBIA
Days 25- 28
On reaching the breathtaking Victoria Falls where raging waters pour over the 100 metre of the Zambezi gorge everyone ventures out to enjoy a range of different adrenalin and adventure activities such as the world famous white water rafting on grade 5 rapids, the bungee jump or gorge swing. Getting up close and personal “walking with lions” is particularly popular in a nearby bush reserve, as are flights over the Falls in an ultra light or micro light on a “Flight of the Angels”. Horse and elephant rides are available as well as rhino trekking. Enjoy the beats at an interactive drumming session which can be enjoyed with a local traditional meal. Leisurely canoe trips are also fun.

Time can be spent in the national park overlooking the Falls, a magical, unspoilt natural wonder made up of 5 separate water falls along a 1,688 metre width. We usually meet up at night for meals in local cheap eating places. One of our last nights is spent on an evening sunset cruise to drift down the Zambezi as the sun sets. Watch out for monkeys in the trees, cavorting hippo as well as crocodile.

Optionals: Lion walks, elephant rides, rhino treks, bungee jump, gorge swing, abseil, flying fox, tandem sky dive, white water rafting, "flight of the angels", breakfast drift canoe, sunset cruise, interactive drumming and many other activities based around the Victoria Falls.


BOTSWANA - SOUTH AFRICA
Days 29 - 31
Leaving the Falls we head into Botswana for a game cruise on the Chobe River to watch elephant bath and drink in and by the shores of the Chobe River. Chobe National Park has large herds of elephant as well as a variety of other game. A bird watchers paradise the park also has lion, leopard, cheetah, zebra, wild dog and numerous antelope species. A cruise and game drive allows us the very best chance for our last glimpse of Africa’s wonderful wildlife.

It is a two day drive into Johannesburg, “the city of gold” at our journey’s end. We finish at the Ritz Backpackers of Johannesburg which is centrally located in a large historic mansion in spacious gardens in a safe and secure suburb in Johannesburg, close to restaurants, shopping malls, markets and other amenities. The kitty pays for our last night stay here and transfers can be arranged to the airport the following day.


OPTIONAL BOLT-ONS
Remember as well with this trip there are some additional highlights and safaris that can be booked in conjunction with the main Southern Cross Safari, either at the end or the beginning of the trip.

AT THE END OF YOUR SAFARI . . . .
1. Okavango Delta Bolt On Safari - Stay on for two extra days to take a mokoro safari into the waterways of the Okavango Delta. The Okavango is a labyrinth of quiet lagoons and hidden channels covering an area of over 17,000 square km. Trapped in the parched Kalahari sands this magical oasis of water-lillies and papyrus reeds, it is a magnet for an abundance of birds and wildlife who depend on its permanent waters.

BEFORE YOUR SAFARI . . .
1. Elephant and Giraffe Sanctuary - Arrive a day early to take a morning excursion to visit the Elephant Sanctuary and Giraffe Park in Nairobi. During a visit to Sheldricks Sanctuary at the feeding and play sessions find out about the pioneering work Sheldricks has done to hand rear orphaned baby rhino and elephant, and then get up close and personal whilst you hand feed giraffe at the Giraffe Park which is set in the grounds of a charming traditional manor house.

2. The Masai Mara - Arrive four to five days early to head out on safari to the Masai Mara, departing early morning 4 days prior to the main Southern Cross departure. The world famous migration of wildebeest, zebra and Thomson’s gazelle can be best viewed at certain times of the year on the plains of the Masai Mara. Join us to visit Kenya’s most famous reserve, home to the big five

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