Explore Africa - The Absolute Safari

only  £1090

The Absolute Safari

Countries:

Zimbabwe Zambia Uganda Tanzania South Africa Namibia Malawi Kenya Botswana

Duration:

only 10 weeks

  

or call:

0845 344 7540

Product Details

Kenya

We head north from Nairobi to camp near Mount Kenya from where we explore the tribal lands of the colourful Samburu in the wild and beautiful National Park where we might spy elephant, giraffe and leopard.

Alternatively we travel to camp at Lake Baringo where we visit the Ngempe fisher people and traditional Pokot.

Uganda

Into Uganda we have time to whitewater raft the White Nile at Jinja amidst lush tropical vegetation in the equatorial sunshine, take out quadbikes, help in a local school or simply relax by the river. We stop at the capital, Kampala, before continuing west towards the densely forested Afromontane habitat of the mountain gorillas where we can advance book permits to trek, either in Rwanda or Uganda. At altitudes of up to 3,500 ft, amidst dense vegetation and active volcanoes, a trek to these magnificent animals, whilst exhausting, is one of the high points of the trip.

We can visit a chimpanzee sanctuary on Ngamba Island in Lake Victoria and in the months we don’t visit the Masai Mara we visit Queen Elizabeth National Park for a game cruise.

Kenya

Returning to Kenya, we head to Lake Nakuru National Park where we have the chance to see both black and white rhino, zebra, giraffe, lion, leopard and the lake pink with greater and lesser flamingo. Then to Lake Naivasha where we can opt to cycle or walk amongst game in Hells Gate National Park.

We have game drives in the world-famous Masai Mara during the months when the migrating herds of zebra and wildebeest have usually arrived. Then to Nairobi for a visit to Sheldrick’s Elephant Orphanage and a night out in a local restaurant.

Tanzania,

Across the border to Tanzania we now enter Serengeti National Park by land cruiser, camping in this 14,000 square kilometre park, home to hyena, lion, leopard and cheetah pursuing the vast herds of zebra, wildebeest and other antelope on their seasonal migrations. Descending 2,000 feet into the Ngorongoro Crater, the world's largest extinct volcano, we can view rhino, hippo, lion, elephant, hyena, buffalo, zebra, impala, wildebeest, cheetah, monkey, ostrich and flamingo. We also visit a traditional Maasai boma (village).

We can view Mount Kilimanjaro at dawn on our way to the bustling city of Dar Es Salaam from where we head over to the exotic spice island of Zanzibar to explore bazaars in Stone Town, sample local spices and fruits fresh off the tree on the Spice Tour and swim in crystal clear coral waters off white powder beaches. Back on the mainland we transit through Mikumi National Park to Malawi.

Malawi

Travelling the length of Lake Malawi, we make regular stopovers at popular bays and beaches. We can fish with the locals, take village walks, horse ride - even taking the horses into the Lake - and enjoy a wide variety of water sports including water skiing and scuba diving.

Zambia

We then stop at Zambia’s capital, Lusaka, on our journey to Lake Kariba where we hire houseboats complete with jacuzzi and dinghy for those who wish to try tiger fishing. The lake with the surrounding Matusadona National Park is also home to a variety of wildlife including elephant, hippo and crocs.

Zimbabwe

We are welcomed at a private game ranch to take a walk through the bush with habituated lion, play with cubs, go on elephant swims and try a casual game of polo cross - the horses can walk you through this! From Bulawayo we go out for a day of guided game drives and rhino trekking in Matopos National Park where we’re likely to see giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, warthog, eland and the beautiful sable antelope.

We arrive at Victoria Falls 'Mosi-Oa-Tunya', 'the smoke that thunders.' Second only to their nearest rival in size, Niagara, over 5 million litres of water per second can flow over the Falls during the rainy season. Whitewater rafting on the Zambezi River, on probably the best rapids in the world, is a Must! For the ultimate rush you can bungee jump from a bridge across the river or try a gorge swing. A sundowner cruise is the perfect way to complete the day, watching hippo loll in the Zambezi as the sun sets.

Botswana

Into Botswana, Chobe National Park is our next stop. Watch giraffes browse the acacia trees and elephants lumber through a park rich with game before taking out mokoros (the traditional dugout canoe of the Delta boatmen) for a safari into the Okavango Delta. We are poled through the tranquil, crystal clear waterways and beds of papyrus reeds, home to some of Africa's finest bird life and unusual flora, camping on small islands to take guided game walks.

Nambia

We enter Namibia for a three-night stay in Etosha National Park. A vast array of animals exists around the Pan, including elephant, lion, gemsbok, zebra, black rhino, giraffe, cheetah and leopard, all of which we can hopefully spot on game drives and at floodlit water holes at night.

Leaving Etosha we visit a Cheetah Park, rock paintings at Twyfelfontein and Cape Cross Seal Colony on the Skeleton Coast. And then to Swakopmund, for optional flights over the Namib Desert, open sea fishing and for the adrenaline junkie there's quad biking, sandboarding and skydiving. We explore thousand foot sand dunes in the Namib desert before traveling down to Fish River Canyon, reputedly the second largest in the world. Our last stop in Namibia is Ai-Ais hot springs, with its weird lunar landscapes where we relax in the thermal pools before camping by the Orange River where we can canoe.

South Africa

Through the wine areas of Cape Province, we come to our journey's end at Ashanti Lodge, Cape Town. The Travel Shop can assist you with all you may now wish to do - including the Garden Route, white shark diving, winery visits, the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, excellent surfing and so much more. We have our last meal together against the extraordinary backdrop of the 1,000 metre high Table Mountain.

Cost Details

only  £1090

Absolute Africa Ltd

Absolute Africa have been running affordable overland camping safaris and adventure trips for 18-35 year olds since the 1980’s. We provide two crew in comfortable, customised overland trucks for trips ranging from 4 days to 10 weeks.

  

or call:

0845 344 7540