African Trails - 70 Days Africa All The Way

WEEK ONE: KENYA & UGANDA

We meet at the hotel at 9am on the first day of the trip. We recommend you arrive in Nairobi at least the day before, however if you're there with a few days to spare there's lots to see and do around the city. Close to the hotel is the National Museum, there are markets in and around Nairobi or you can venture further afield to Karen Blixen's house, Langata Giraffe Centre or even Nairobi National Park for a first glimpse of African wildlife.

Leaving Nairobi we descend into the Great Rift Valley and stop for a couple of nights at Lake Naivasha, well known for its hippo population that come ashore every night to graze. Close by is Hell's Gate National Park where you can hire bikes to take you around the park and see the herds of zebra, buffalo and antelope. There is some spectacular scenery here, red cliffs, grassy plains and rock towers made of hardened lava, the remains of ancient volcanoes. Also on the lake is Elsamere, once the home of Joy Adamson and Elsa the lion of 'Born Free' fame. Elsamere is now the centre of the Born Free Foundation and you can find out more about their work, see the rare colobus monkeys and take afternoon tea in the gardens.

We travel west out of the rift valley towards Uganda . Before leaving Kenya we stop at the town of Kisumu on Lake Victoria . In its heyday it was a bustling port, nowadays Kisumu is much quieter and a pleasant, laid back town to visit.

Travelling past Lake Victoria , we enter Uganda . Jinja is at the source of the River Nile and we can watch it begin its 4000 mile journey north from Lake Victoria through the Owen Falls Dam. Further upriver at Bujagali Falls you can go whitewater rafting on the White Nile 's tumultuous rapids or, if you're after a more relaxing time, just sit back and watch the local fishermen glide by in their dug-out canoes.

Stage highlights:
Great Rift Valley, Lake Naivasha, Hell's Gate National Park, Elsamere, Lake Victoria, Bujagali Falls,

Stage duration:7 Days

WEEK TWO: UGANDA

Passing through Uganda 's capital, Kampala , we head to the west of the country. This hilly region is characterised by terraced fields on steep slopes and we drive slowly up and downhill along the winding gravel roads. As the landscape changes from agriculture to forest, we reach the habitat of the mountain gorilla on the edge of the Ruwenzori Mountains.

In groups of 6 to 8 people with two guides we trek deep into the forest to find one of the gorilla families. The trek is an experience in itself, following your guides as they cut a path through the thick vegetation. The guides track the gorillas almost every day but even so, sometimes it can take several hours to find them. You will be rewarded though by the sight of these human-like giants playing with their young, feeding, grooming and staring curiously back at you. We spend an hour observing these amazing animals - remember to bring plenty of camera film.

As the groups going to the gorillas are small, it takes a couple of days for everyone to do the trek. Whilst others are searching for the great apes, you can take walks around the surrounding countryside or just chill out with a beer and a book. Leaving the slopes of the Ruwenzoris behind, we return to the farmers and their fields. We stop at Lake Bunyoni where local men in their dug-out canoes glide out of the morning mists.

Stage highlights:
Kampala, Ruwenzori Mountains, Gorilla Trek, Lake Bunyoni

Stage duration:7 Days

WEEK THREE: KENYA

Kampala is a lively city with plenty of places to eat out or have a beer and the open-air nightclubs are an experience not to be missed.

Back in Kenya we stop at Kembu Camp; a working farm in the old settlers area of Kenya From the camp we visit Lake Nakuru National Park which has the largest herd of black rhino in East Africa , over a million pink flamingos and more than 400 other bird species. 'Nakuru' means 'place of the waterbuck' in Swahili and these antelope abound in the park as well as impala, buffalo and warthog.

We spend two days visiting the Masai Mara Game Park , camping on the edge of the park with frequent forays into the park to spot the wealth of wildlife in this Eden on the plains. The sweeping plains evoke a picture of East Africa that most people hold in their minds and they are rarely disappointed when confronted with the real thing. We are likely to see amongst others, zebra, giraffe, wildebeest, impala, buffalo, elephant and of course the big cats - lion, cheetah and if we're lucky, leopard.

En route back to Nairobi we stop at lookouts with some amazing views over the Great Rift Valley.

THIS NIGHT'S ACCOMMODATION DOESN'T COME OUT OF THE KITTY, SO YOU CAN CHOOSE WHERE YOU'D LIKE TO STAY.

Stage highlights:
Kampala, Kembu Camp, Lake Nakuru National Park, Masai Mara Game Park,

Stage duration:7 Days

WEEK FOUR: TANZANIA

Into Tanzania we arrive in Arusha where you take a trip to the Serengeti National Park and Ngorogoro Crater, you can wander the markets or take a boat out on to Lake Duluti.

A days drive from Arusha brings us to Dar es Salaam on the Indian Ocean coast. Over the centuries trade between Africa and Arabia has resulted in the blending of Arabs and Africans into a beautiful Swahili (coastal) culture with wooden sailing dhows crossing the ocean, coconut plantations and fishing villages with mosques on the beaches.

Stage highlights:
Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Dar es Salaam

Stage duration:7 Days

WEEK FIVE: TANZANIA

From Dar es Salaam you can take the ferry to Zanzibar Island. Here is the old stone capital of the Omani Sultanate, sandy beaches, spice tours, snorkelling, diving and trips to other nearby islands. Zanzibar is a fascinating place to visit and you can stay for 3 or 4 days to take it all in.

South through Tanzania, our route takes us through Mikumi National Park where we may well see giraffe or elephant grazing along the roadside.

Stage highlights:
Zanzibar, Mikumi National Park

Stage duration:7 Days

WEEK SIX: MALAWI & ZIMBABWE

Crossing the border into Malawi, we soon reach the shores of its huge lake. The campsites and small resorts along Lake Malawi offer sandy beaches, swimming and snorkelling, water-skiing or walking in the surrounding countryside. You will also find markets selling beautifully carved Malawi chairs, tables and other souvenirs.

In Blantyre the capital of Malawi we get visas for the next leg. We enter Mozambique and spend a the day driving through the bush, passing villages, mud huts and small children who wave at us as they tend their herds of cows and goats.

In Zimbabwe we visit the modern capital Harare, then on to Gweru and the Antelope Park. Here is the only place in the world you can walk with lion cubs, also you can swim with elephants and play polo cross.

In Bulawayo town there is Rhodes Matopos National Park, here you can walk near wild white rhino, see bushman rock paintings and see the fantastic view Rhodes grave, the founder of modern Zimbabwe.

Stage highlights:
Lake Malawi, Harare, Bulawayo, Rhodes Matopos National Park

Stage duration:7 Days

WEEK SEVEN: VICTORIA FALLS

Finally we reach the Victoria Falls where the Zambezi River plunges 100 metres down a mile wide chasm, creating one of the most incredible natural wonders of the world. The local name for the Falls is 'Mosi-oa-Tunya' which means 'the smoke that thunders' and you'll soon find out why. When the river is in full flow, the falling water causes a huge roar and sends a cloud of spray up to 500 metres into the air.

We stay in Victoria Falls Town in Zimbabwe above the Falls where there is so much to see and do. Adventure activities abound - you can bungee jump, white water raft, take a Microlite flight above the falls, sky-dive and go game-viewing on horse back. More sedate excursions include canoeing, light aircraft or helicopter flights over the Falls, and the sunset cruise on the Zambezi. Of course, the Victoria Falls themselves are the main attraction and you can walk through the rain forest along the cliff opposite for an excellent view.

Stage highlights:
Victoria Falls, Adrenaline Sports and various other optional activities.

Stage duration:7 Days

WEEK EIGHT: BOTSWANA

We cross into Botswana. We travel along the edge of the Kalahari Desert to Maun. A small town on the edge of the Okavango Delta, Maun is also the starting point for the mokoro trip. A mokoro is a traditional dugout canoe and your transport into the Delta. As you glide through the waterways, you will see a fantastic array of wetland wildlife, birds in particular and you are also likely to come across hippos or elephants taking a drink from the shore. You can go on a walking safari to look for giraffe, buffalo and rare antelope such as the sessebe. This overnight stay is a great wilderness experience.

Leaving the lush Delta behind we enter Namibia and spend the night on the Kavango River in the tail end on the Caprivi Strip.

Stage highlights:
Chobe, Okavango Delta, Mokoro Trip, Kavango River

Stage duration:7 Days

WEEK NINE: NAMIBIA

Next stop is Etosha Pan National Park. Thousands of years ago this vast saltpan was a lake, until the Kunene River changed course and deprived the lake of its water source. Now the pan and surrounding bush support large numbers and a wide range of wildlife. We spend a couple of days game viewing from the truck during the day and spend the evenings around the floodlit water holes at the park's campsites. These water holes provide an excellent opportunity to observe animals that are hard to find during the day, particularly rhino and also smaller animals such as the genet. Elephant, lion, giraffe, zebra, oryx, ostrich, springbok, jackals, hyenas and meercats are also likely to be seen at Etosha.

From wild animals to tame ones, we spend a night at the Kaminjab Cheetah Farm where you can scratch the big cats behind the ears before watching them tuck in to their evening meal.

Namibia is a land of wide, open spaces and we pass few inhabited areas as we drive towards the Atlantic Ocean and the Skeleton Coast. This area derives its name from the numerous ships and men that met their end on the treacherous coastline.

We stop at Cape Cross where the first European explorer landed in the 15th century. It is now more famous for the Seal Reserve, a breeding ground for tens of thousands of cape fur seals. They occupy the beaches almost as far as the eye can see and you can watch them suckling their young, resting in the sun and fighting with their neighbours.

Stage highlights:
Etosha National Park, Skeleton Coast, Cape Cross Seal Colony,

Stage duration:7 Days

WEEK TEN: NAMIBIA & SOUTH AFRICA

Swakopmund is an old German colonial seaside resort with plenty of things to do for the energetic and plenty of beerkellers for those after a more relaxing time. Horse-riding or sand boarding on the dunes, deep sea fishing in the Atlantic or scenic flights over the coastline - these are just a few of the activities on offer.

Heading inland, we journey to the Namib Desert, famous for its 300 metre high sand dunes, the highest in the world. It can be hard work climbing to the top but the view is worth all the effort as the dunes stretch before you into the distance and change colour in the setting sun.

After an overnight stay in the desert we drive south to Fish River Canyon, at 85km long and 400m deep it's second in size only to the Grand Canyon. You can trek along the rim of the canyon and, from the viewpoints at the top, watch the setting or rising of the sun. There are hot springs in the south at Ai Ais (seasonal). Our last stop in Namibia is the Orange River, which forms the border with South Africa. You can spend an afternoon canoeing here.

Crossing the river we arrive in South Africa and follow the Atlantic coast south through the sparsely populated areas of the Western Cape. We drive through mountain valleys and stony semi-desert before arriving in Stellenbosch, the centre of one of the Cape's many wine routes. A wine tour with plenty of tasting makes for a great day out.

Finally we arrive at our journey's end. Cape Town is a beautiful city, nestled at the foot of Table Mountain and you'll find plenty of café's, pubs, clubs, markets and sights to see. You can climb the mountain or take the cable car to the top for some wonderful views of the city and the Cape Peninsula. Nearby are several beaches where you may find yourself whale-watching from the shore or sharing your towel with a jackass penguin.

When we arrive in Cape Town on the last day of the tour, we take you to a hostel where you can book a dorm or a room, or you can arrange your own accommodation at one of the many other hostels or hotels. There are several operators who run excursions to the surrounding area and further afield to the Garden Route and beyond. There is an international airport as well as flight, train and bus connections to other South African cities.

Stage highlights:
Swakopmund, Sossusvlei, Fish River Canyon, Orange River, Stellenbosch, Cape Town

Stage duration:7 Days

Cost includes:-
The tour cost includes transport in fully equipped expedition truck, road taxes and tolls, ferries, services of the driver-leader, use of camping and cooking equipment, and entrance to gameparks as specified.

Cost Excludes:-
The price does not include flights, visas, personal insurance, side trips, lunches and meals out. There are a number of optional side trips that you can choose from and pay for on the way.

Departure dates:-
16/02/2004, 15/03/2004, 12/04/2004, 10/05/2004, 07/06/2004, 05/07/2004, 02/08/2004, 30/08/2004, 27/09/2004, 25/10/2004, 22/11/2004, 20/12/2004, 17/01/2005

Baggage Limits:-
One backpack and one daypack.

Age Limits:-
Minimum Age:- 16 Maximum Age:- 45

Passenger Limit:-
20

What to bring along:-
A full list of items will be issued on receipt and confirmation of your reservation. We suggest you travel light. Please pack warm clothes for the winter months of June to September. Further items should include a torch, water bottle, spare film and camera batteries, binoculars, suntan lotion, comfortable walking shoes and any prescription medication.

Price:-
The cost of the 70 Days Africa All The Way is GBP 900.00

Local Payment:-
US$ 850.00
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70 Days Africa All The Way