Travel to Uganda and Kenya and then journey south through Malawi to Mozambique and Zimbabwe on this world all in one "Apes and Lakes" adventure. The World famous Lake Nakuru, Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater Game Parks, majestic Mountain Gorillas, cultures and beaches of Zanzibar and Lake Malawi, adventure activities at the awe-inspiring Victoria Falls all conspire to make this an unforgettable experience on the African continent.
8th July departure: Guaranteed Gorilla trekking permits!
This departure only, permits cost £250 (normally £300). Contact us for details.
Days 1 - 5 Our tour begins! Travelling through Kenya and Uganda is a unique experience thanks to amazing natural landscapes we'll be able to see this for ourselves as we embark on a short drive north from Nairobi into Africa's greatest natural feature, The Great Rift Valley. Our journey takes us into the valley where we visit Lake Naivasha. We camp near the lakeshore where Hippos sometimes feed at night! Here you can also walk to Elsamere, the house of Joy Adamson of Elsa the Lion and Born Free fame, and enjoy a film of her life - and cream teas! You can also hire mountain bikes and cycle or walk through Hells Gate National Park - the only game reserve in Kenya in which you are allowed to walk. Or for a less active but equably enjoyable game viewing experience visit the Crater Lake Game Sanctuary. Both offer excellent scenery & opportunities to spot hyrax, abundant bird & plant life along with several types of gazelle, impala and eland.
From here a mountainous drive through the spectacular Nandi Hills brings us to our next stop at Eldoret. The following morning, we cross into Uganda and continue onto Kampala, the capital, where we have a free day to spend in local cafes and nightspots, there is also the opportunity to spend the day visiting a local Chimpanzee Sanctuary and rehabilitation centre on one of the islands on Lake Victoria. We then continue west through patches of forest and green fertile countryside and pass a number of small towns and villages along the way where we can see local crafts people at work. We usually have a lunch stop at one of the roadside stalls selling fresh rotisserie meat and vegetables. We also stop at the spot where our route crosses the equator.
Days 6 - 12 Next is the Virunga range of volcanic mountains and the rainforests on these mountain slopes are home to several families of Mountain Gorillas. Getting up close to these amazing creatures is a truly humbling experience and one of the highlights of the trip. We will visit the gorillas in either Uganda or Rwanda. If we view them from Uganda there is the opportunity to paddle out onto Lake Bunyoni in canoes and visit some of the nearby islands or hire mountain bikes to visit nearby villages & schools. From Rwanda there is also the chance to visit the genocide museum in Kigali, which is a moving and interesting experience.
Days 13 - 18 We then return to Kampala and camp near Jinja. We spend the following three nights at Bujagali Falls, just downstream from the source of the Nile. This is a spectacular area, and a superb place to go whitewater rafting. We can also go quad biking or visit a local school. Ending the first stage of our tour and our travel in Uganda, we re-enter Kenya and travel to Lake Nakuru National Park. Lake Nakuru is a soda lake and our game drives here allow us to see its world famous flock of almost a million Pink Flamingos, as well as a wide variety of wildlife including, Black Rhino, Hippo, Lion, Leopard, Hyena and Giraffe. Note: Departures in August & September will visit the Maasai Mara Game Reserve instead of Lake Nakuru Nat. Park giving the opportunity to view the amazing spectacle of the Wildebeest migration.
Days 19 - 24 A half-day drive brings us back to Nairobi for a day, where we visit a Giraffe Centre and where there is the option to visit an Elephant Orphanage as well, before we continue south for the next leg of our journey: travel in Tanzania. We should see zebra and giraffe on the roadside as we head for the town of Arusha, which is where we use a local safari company to guide us through Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti National Parks. In the crater you can spend the day viewing the abundant wildlife including Elephant, Lion, Cheetah, White Rhino, Hippo, Antelope, and Crocodile. From here you can also choose to go into the Serengeti where vast herds of wildebeest roam the plains. There is also the option, for those who wish to visit a local Maasai Village and learn about their culture and way of life.
Days 25 - 31 It's one-day drive to Dar Es Salaam, passing through a number of small towns and villages along the way and, if we are lucky, we may see the towering peak of Mt Kilimanjaro. We camp for about 4 nights in a campsite on a beautiful Indian Ocean beach. From here most people take the ferry out to Zanzibar for the full four days and venture into the narrow bustling streets of StoneTown and its famous spice markets, old slave forts and dungeons. There is also time to indulge yourself on Zanzibar's famous white beaches before returning to Dar Es Salaam. We continue our journey through the interesting and often mountainous hinterland of Tanzania. We pass through the peaceful Mikumi National Park. From the roadside we usually see Elephant, Giraffe, Zebra and Antelope. Passing rivers and small waterfalls we enter Malawi with its huge fresh water lake.
Days 32 - 40 The next few days of travel in Malawi are spent at small laid back campsites on the edge of the lake. You can participate in watersports including windsurfing, water skiing or snorkelling or if you are so inclined just relax on the shores of Lake Malawi. Some of our group may go off and visit one of the nearby villages, the local school or one of the craft markets, where artisans produce some exquisite pieces of furniture and carvings out of ebony and mahogany. We continue on to Blantyre in the south of the country where we organise our Mozambique visas as well as possibly visit the local brewery. From Blantyre we cross into Mozambique and head for Zimbabwe following the infamous 'Tete Corridor' which was well known in the days of Mozambique's long running civil war as the 'Gun Run'. We cross into Zimbabwe, travel to Harare and stay in the capital for a few nights.
Those on the 40 Day trip finish here in Harare, while those on the 50 Day trip carry on to Victoria Falls.
Days 41 - 45 From Harare we travel Zimbabwe's unspoilt landscape and head south to Gweru. Here we visit a privately run horse and game ranch where you can go game viewing on elephant and horseback. Here too it is often possible to go on walking safaris with young lion cubs, which is always a highlight.
We now travel to the Great Zimbabwe Ruins where the name 'Zimbabwe' derives from, literally meaning "house of stone". It was once the greatest medieval city in Sub Saharan Africa. We then continue west to Bulawayo, where you have the option of using a local safari company to venture into Motobo National Park, visit Cecil Rhodes grave and Ancient Rock Paintings, as well as viewing on foot with an armed ranger the elusive Black Rhino, amongst hordes of other wildlife.
Days 46 - 50 If available we will then take an old sleeper style train and meet back up with the truck at one of the greatest adventure playgrounds of the world - Victoria Falls.
For some Mosi oa Tunya 'The Smoke That Thunders' is the highlight of any overland tour. You can see the cloud of spray from 20km away and when you actually get to the Falls, the crescendo of noise coupled with the visual impact is a moment you will always remember. There is something here for everyone, including awesome grade 5 white water rafting, canoe trips, sunset cruises by boat, the Flight of Angels (with breathtaking aerial views of the Falls and the Gorge from light aircraft, microlight or helicopter), abseiling, the Zambezi Gorge swing and one of the highest commercial Bungee Jumps in the world! A great way to end your travel in Zimbabwe and the "Apes and Lakes" tour!
From here you can travel by bus, train or plane to Harare or Johannesburg to connect with international flights. Or why not combine this with our Deserts & Gameparks trip and finish in Cape Town or Jo'burg!
Contact us today to book your place on the Apes and Lakes overland tour - a once in a lifetime experience!
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