Day 1 Botswana – Palapye We depart Johannesburg heading north to Botswana to cross the border and spend our first night in Palapye, located on the banks of the Lotsane River.
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Day 2 Khama Rhino Sanctuary - Maun This morning we visit the Khama Rhino Sanctuary, a community based wildlife project, established in 1992 to assist in saving the vanishing rhino. We arrive in Maun in the afternoon and prepare for the Okavango Delta. In the late afternoon there is often time to visit a local Crocodile Farm. Optional Activity: Crocodile Farm
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3/4 Okavango Delta During our time in the Delta we enjoy the best nature has to offer. We go on nature walks and if possible will explore the Delta by mokoro. The Delta is the world’s largest inland delta. The rivers leading to the Okavango Delta have no passage to the ocean and irrigate instead some 15,000 square km’s of Kalahari Desert. This is a truly spectacular and unforgettable experience where wild animals are not familiar with people. We travel into the Delta on a large 4x4 vehicle - in high water season boats will be used. We join up with some of the local people and set up our bush camp for the next 2 nights.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5 Gweta We leave the Delta behind us and travel east to Planet Baobab, which is located halfway between Maun and Nata, near the Makgadikgadi Pans. You can explore the bush around our campsite and view some of the oldest Baobab trees in the area. Optional Activity: Flight over the Delta
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6 Kasane - Chobe National Park Today we head north to Kasane, on the banks of the Chobe River. The afternoon is spent game viewing on a river cruise, into the renowned Chobe NP. This is an excellent opportunity to view some of Africa’s spectacular wildlife.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7/8 Zimbabwe - Victoria Falls On arrival in Victoria Falls we have time to plan the next day’s adventure activities before we visit the spectacular Victoria Falls and experience the thundering of the mighty Zambezi as it drops over 100m in to the gorge below. Optional Activities: Chobe National Park Early Morning Game Drive, Zambezi Sunset Dinner Cruise,
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch day 7 only
Day 9 Lusaka Leaving behind the natural wonder of Victoria Falls we continue our expedition. After Livingstone we journey towards the bustling Zambian capital of Lusaka. You will notice the vegetation becoming sub-tropical and the roads a little rougher.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 10 Chipata Today is a long drive through lush country, crossing rivers en-route to Chipata, the gateway to the South Luangwa NP. Zambia is truly African and an adjustment from the more Western ways of Southern Africa.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 11 South Luangwa National Park
Early in the morning we drive from Chipata to the border of the South Luangwa National Park where we spend the next two nights right on the banks of the Luangwa River. You can often see hippos and other animals from the camp bar. This afternoon we enjoy an included sunset game drive in the South Luangwa NP.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 12 South Luangwa National Park In the morning you have the opportunity to take another game drive, the park is known for its high concentration of leopards and hippos. After lunch we visit the community run tribal textile project and a local village. Optional Activities: Morning Game Drive and Game Walk.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 13/14 Malawi – Lake Malawi National Park Today we enter Malawi and after a short stop in Lilongwe we travel south to Monkey Bay in the Lake Malawi National Park. This area has been designated a World Heritage site and the protected area has an abundance of aquatic life in clear, warm water. Snorkelling and scuba diving are both excellent here, but there are many other water activities, such as kayaking, to enjoy while not relaxing.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 15/16 Kande Beach We take a scenic drive to Kande beach where there are many optional activities available such as horse riding and different water sports. On our second day here we have an included guided village walk in order to meet the local people and learn more about Malawian life. Optional Activities: Water Sports, Horse Riding, Craft Shopping etc.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 17/18 Northern Lake Malawi - Chitimba
We travel further north and spend our last 2 days in Malawi at Chitimba beach. For those that have had enough of beautiful lake views there is an overnight hike to the Livingstonia Mission Station in the highland area. This working mission was set up by Scottish Presbyterian followers of David Livingstone in 1894 and is 900m above the lake. There is also a shorter hike to the Manchawe Falls. Optional Activities: Hike to Livingstonia Mission, watersports, abseiling etc.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 19 Tanzania – Iringa Today we leave Malawi and enter Tanzania. We ascend out of the Great Rift Valley through some spectacular mountain passes, passing vast tea plantations in the highlands before arriving at our camp outside Iringa. This evening our dinner is in a local Masai Hut where we enjoy a traditional Tanzanian evening.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 20 Dar es Salaam Our journey today brings us out of the cool highland region of Iringa to the humid Indian Ocean coastal city of Dar es Salaam. Meaning ‘house of peace’ in Arabic, Dar es Salaam is the economic and trade capital of Tanzania, but inland Dodoma remains the official capital city. Upon arrival in Dar es Salaam our journey comes to an end.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
≈AFRICA ADVENTURE TOURS (AAT)'Since 2002.
Frequently Asked Questions
Once you make a booking with Africa Adventure Tours (AAT) we will send you a Tour Dossier and a Pre-Departure Information document. This is a brief overview of the information contained in these documents
Food and Meals. Included are three hearty meals a day, (unless otherwise specified). Vegetarians are easily catered for and they're always impressed by our varied menu. Our guides can produce miracles on a camp-stove. Special dietary requirements can be catered for, but only by special request. In East Africa it is more difficult to cater to certain requirements.
Accommodation. On our camping tours you will be staying in two-man dome tents. We supply a mattress and you supply your own sleeping bag. The accommodated tours stay in traditional huts, permanent tented camps and hostel-style rooms.
Health. All people who join an adventure tour need to be in good health. Medical facilities are not always available. If you have a specific medical condition it is compulsory for you to advise us before departure.
Malaria. Malaria is a real concern in many areas of Africa, especially during the rainy season. Our advice is simple, prevent getting bitten by using an insect repellent and use an effective prophylactic. Speak to your doctor before selecting your Malaria medication.
Vaccinations. Please ensure you have the relevant vaccinations. Proof of inoculation is required on certain tours.
Terms & Conditions. All travellers will be required to sign our indemnity form on departure. Any person refusing to do so will not be allowed on the tour.
Currency, Money and Banking. This is covered comprehensively in the pre-departure dossier. South African Rand and Credit Cards work in Southern Africa. In East Africa (incl. Zimbabwe and Zambia) USD cash is best.
Age Restriction. Passengers under the age of 18 must have signed permission from a parent or guardian. Passengers over the age of 65 require a medical clearance certificate from their doctor stating they are fit enough to travel.
What to Bring? A sense of fun and a flexible attitude! A full checklist of essential items is included in the pre-departure info document.
What to Leave Behind. Your watch, cell phone, laptop, work, stress, concept of time, pre-conceptions about anything and any attitude that is not pure adventure.
Changes to Routes/Schedules. Although we will do our best at all times to ensure that the tour remains on schedule we want to make it very clear that this is not always possible. There is always something unexpected on a tour, sometimes the truck gets stuck in mud, or sand, sometimes it rains... Anything can happen, but nothing that a good sense of humour cannot overcome.
How to Make a Booking. You need to complete our booking form and pay a 25% non-refundable deposit to secure your seat. Full payment is due 28 days prior to departure.
Do I Need Travel Insurance? YES! Make sure your insurance covers being airlifted in case of serious illness/injury as good hospital facilities are often a long way from where our tours travel. Free credit card insurance is often insufficient, so a separate policy is recommended. As travel insurance is compulsory, you will be asked for the policy number before being allowed to board our vehicle.
How Many People Can Go On This Tour? The average number of passengers on a tour is 18. On the camping tours there is a maximum of 24 and minimum of 4. On the Accommodated tour the minimum is 4 and the maximum is 18. The maximum number on Gorillas, Serengeti and Masai Mara tours is 18. Single Supplements are limited to 4 per tour on all tours.
Do I Have To Help With Camp Chores? Of course not, but you will not make many friends! On our tours our guides do most of the work. On a camping tour your participation in camp chores is limited: taking turns to assist with washing-up duties, putting up and taking down your tent and loading your bags. On some of our accommodated tours we include a camp assistant.
Who Is Responsible For My Visas? You are responsible for your own visas. Please check the itinerary of your tour carefully and if you need a multiple entry visa be sure to get one. Your passport needs to be valid for 6 months after your departure date from Africa and you must have at least 3-4 blank pages available. Some countries will not allow you to enter without 2 blank pages in your passport.
What Are Local Payments (LP) For? The Local Payment is a USD cash portion of the tour payment that needs to be paid directly to your guide in Africa. This payment covers fluctuating expenses such as flights, National Park Fees, entrance fees etc. and also ensures that we have a reliable amount of hard currency on each tour. Our Local Payment is not a kitty, your food and accommodation are included in the tour price. All Local Payment amounts are subject to change without notice. Changes are very rare and are normally due to a sudden or unexpected price increase by a local service provider or National Park.
What Is a Single Supplement? All of our tours are priced on twin share accommodation. The single supplement is not compulsory on our camping tours but if you want your own tent you need to pay the single supplement. If you are booking one of our accommodated tours alone you have to pay the single supplement. There are a maximum of 4 single supplements available on all tours.