Walk on the Wild Side

Nairobi to Victoria Falls (35 days)

Walk on the Wild Side – 35 days – at a glance

Please note the expedition ‘highlights’ that are included in the price have been clearly marked (included) for easy reference.

The itineraries and other details are published in good faith as statements of intentions only and reasonable changes in the itinerary, vehicle and equipment used etc. may be made where deemed necessary or advisable by the Company.

We recommend that anyone who joins an expedition should arrive 1 – 2 days prior to the expedition departure date in order to allow themselves time to explore the area and its surrounds.  If required, please contact us for information on pre-expedition accommodation and airport shuttles.

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Walk on the Wild Side

Nairobi to Victoria Falls (35 days)

The itineraries and all other details are published in good faith, as statements of intentions only, and reasonable changes in the itinerary, vehicle and equipment used etc. may be made where deemed necessary or advisable by the Company.

We recommend that anyone who joins an expedition should arrive 1 – 2 days prior to the expedition departure date in order to allow themselves time to explore the area and its surrounds.  If required, please contact us for information on pre-expedition accommodation and airport shuttles.

Day 1

The day will start with an early morning pre-departure meeting were we will Welcome you to Africa and provide you an overview of the day to day running of the trip.

After the pre-departure meeting we will visit a Giraffe Centre (included) that was established to protect the endangered Rothschild giraffe and you will have the opportunity to hand feed giraffe from the raised observation platform. We will also visit an Elephant Orphanage (included) run by the pioneering Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, which works in partnership with the Kenya Wildlife Service and offers hope to any orphaned elephant fortunate enough to be found alive.

We will end our first day with a group dinner at The Carnivore Restaurant which boasts an informal indoor/outdoor atmosphere, rhythms of Africa and exceptional snacks.

Day 2

We leave Nairobi early and drive to the Kenya / Tanzania border on our way to Arusha where we will stay at Meserani Snake Park where you will enjoy a spectacular tour of the Masai Cultural Museum (included). The Snake Park provides various activities, one of which is a guided tour where you can learn about some of the most dangerous snakes in the world from the Black and Green Mamba, Egyptian Cobra, Puff Adders and many more. Or for those not fond of snakes you can visit the free education centre where local Masai have the opportunity to learn how to read and write.

Day 3 – 5

We set off early this morning from the Snake Park with a local African Safari Travel Company in 4WD vehicles. The next three days / two nights will be spent on safari (included). You will visit the Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater where you will have the opportunity to view a wide variety of wildlife such as hippos, lions, cheetah, wildebeest, elephants, warthog, hyena, giraffe, impala and many bird species. There is also a chance to visit a local Masai Village where you can learn about their culture and way of life.

The Serengeti region encompasses the Serengeti National Park itself, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Maswa Game Reserve, the Loliondo, Grumeti and Ikorongo Controlled Areas and the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. Two World Heritage Sites and two Biosphere Reserves have been established within the 30,000 km² region. The Serengeti ecosystem is one of the oldest on earth. The essential features of climate, vegetation and fauna have barely changed in the past million years. Some patterns of life, death, adaptation and migration are as old as the hills themselves.

The Ngorongoro Crater is a deep volcanic crater approximately 20 kms across, 600 meters deep and 300 sq kms in area. It is the largest un-flooded and unbroken caldera in the world and is a breathtaking natural wonder.

Day 6 – 7

We leave the Snake Park early and re-stock in Arusha before heading towards Dar Es Salaam. If the weather conditions are right we may get a good view of Mt Kilimanjaro as we pass by.

Mount Kilimanjaro with its three volcanic cones, “Kibo”, “Mawenzi”, and “Shira”, is a dormant volcanic mountain in Tanzania. It is the highest mountain in Africa, and rises approximately 4,877 metres (16,001 ft) from its base to 5,895 metres (19,341 ft) above sea level.

We continue our long drive to Dar Es Salam. When we arrive we will set up in our beach front campsite. You will be able to have your first swim in the African ocean or the beachside pool before packing for 4 day / night adventure on Zanzibar Island.

Dar Es Salaam “the residence of peace” commonly referred to as Dar (formerly Mzizima) is Tanzania’s largest and richest city and the largest city in eastern Africa by population. It is a regionally important economic centre and Tanzania’s most prominent city in arts, fashion, media, music, film and television. It is Tanzania’s leading financial centre and the largest and most populous Swahili speaking city in the world.

Day 8 – 12

Anticipation is in the air as we ride in tuk tuks to the ferry terminal in preparation for our trip to Zanzibar Island. We spend the next 5 days / 4 nights on Zanzibar Island and have time to explore Stone Town before relaxing on the white sandy beaches at the north of the island.

Our first night on Zanzibar is spent in Stone Town where you can lose yourself in the maze of market streets selling brightly coloured paintings, carvings, fabric and many other souvenirs unique to Zanzibar before relaxing at one of the roof top bars and watching the sun go down. The Stone Town food markets are not to be missed, they sell a large variety of freshly cooked seafood, Zanzibar pizzas and freshly squeezed sugar cane juice.

Our second day on Zanzibar starts with a tour of Stone Town and a local Spice Farm where you will learn about local spices and what they are used for before making our way to the northern beaches to enjoy the tranquillity of white sand, cool blue water and very welcoming beach bar.

The third day on Zanzibar is free to do whatever you want to, whether it be relaxing on the beach, swimming, taking a walk to the far end of the beach, sleeping in your hotel room, reading, scuba diving or enjoying a massage. The day is yours to enjoy this wonderful part of Africa.

On the fourth day we make our way back to Stone Town where we spend our last night on Zanzibar. You will have time to visit the Slave Museum or do some last minute shopping. The night is yours to enjoy the tastes and smells of Zanzibar. There are many little cafes and restaurants where you can have dinner or you may choose to visit the food markets again. After breakfast on the fifth day we catch the ferry back to Dar Es Salaam and make our way back to the truck and our mainland beach campsite where we spend the night on a high after our Zanzibar experience.

Day 13 – 15

We leave the coast and head inland through the Tanzanian mountains and will drive through the Mukumi National Park. The park abuts the northern border of Africa’s biggest game reserve – the Selous – and is transected by the surfaced road between Dar Es Salaam and Iringa. We should hopefully be able to see some dwarf elephants, for which the area is renown.

We continue our journey to the Tanzania / Malawi border on our way to Chitimba where we will camp on the northern shore of Lake Malawi. Chitimba is a village, situated 122 km south of the Malawi / Tanzania boarder at Karoga and 143km. Our campsite boasts market stalls outside its entrance – why not try your hand at bartering for a Malawi Chair! You can relax in the open plan bar or cool down in fresh waters of Lake Malawi.

It is well worth starting our mornings at Chitimba by waking early and watching the sunrise over the lake before breakfast. You have the day to relax or there are a number of optional activities you can do including village walks, hikes and woodcarving lessons.

Day 16 – 17

The jewel in the crown of Malawi’s tourist attractions is Lake Malawi, “discovered” by the missionary-explorer Dr David Livingstone just over 150 years ago. Although totally landlocked, Malawi is not denied its “inland sea”. This vast body of freshwater fringed by beaches of golden sand is not only a scenic wonderland but it provides water sport opportunities for those looking for something beyond sun, sand and swimming.

We head to Kande Beach, another great spot on the shores of Lake Malawi.  There are shaded seating areas near the beach, beach umbrellas and hammocks to read or dream your cares away.

There are number of optional water sport activities available at Kande including snorkeling, scuba diving, canoes, pedalos, catamarans, windsurfers and boat trips. You can also go horse riding through the local villages finished off with a swim in the lake. There are also guided walking tours to the nearby traditional Tonga village where you are free to walk around and explore the local village life.

Day 18 – 19

We leave the shores of Lake Malawi and head towards the Zambian border, stopping in Lilongwe, the capital of Malawi along the way. Once we cross the border into Zambia we head to the South Luangwa National Park were we will base camp ourselves at a camp on the side of the Luangwa River.

Here you will do both a morning and night safari drive in the South Luangwa National Park (included). There is no shortage of wildlife in this park and your first encounter will probably be with the baboons which seem to be everywhere. You may also be lucky enough to see African wild dogs one of the rarest animals in Africa!

Experts have dubbed South Luangwa as one of the greatest wildlife sanctuaries in the world. The concentration of animals around the Luangwa River, and its oxbow lagoons, is among the most intense in Africa. The Luangwa River is the most intact major river system in Africa and is the life-blood of this 9059 km² Park. The Park hosts a wide variety of wildlife, birds and vegetation. There are 60 different animal species and over 400 different bird species in South Luangwa National Park.

Day 20 – 21

We leave South Luangwa and head to Chipata where we have a comfortable overnight stop in a beautiful garden setting before re-stocking supplies and continuing on to Lusaka.

Day 22 – 24

We head from Lusaka to Victoria Falls, crossing the border from Zambia into Zimbabwe. Our border crossing will give us a view of the great Zambezi River, the fourth largest river in Africa, which defines the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe

Once across the border we will set up our base camp for the many optional activities on offer in Victoria Falls. For those seeking adrenalin there is grade 5 white water rafting, bungee jumping and gorge swinging to name a few – please refer to the optional activities page for a more comprehensive list of available activities.

Victoria Falls is one of the greatest attractions in Africa and one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the world. The noise of Victoria Falls can be heard from a distance of 40 kilometers. The spray and mist from the falling water rises to a height of over 400 meters and can be seen from a distance of 50 kilometers. It is no wonder the local tribes used to call the waterfall Mosi-o-Tunya “The smoke that thunders”. You can take a stroll through the Victoria Falls National Park for an exceptional view of these magnificent falls or why not view the falls by helicopter or light aircraft.

For those less adventurous soles, there are many other optional activities such as a Sunset Booze Cruise, canoeing on the Zambezi River or even afternoon tea at the Victoria Falls Hotel. There really is something for everyone in Victoria Falls.

We enjoy a traditional evening at The BOMA restaurant (included) on our final night in Victoria Falls. ‘The Boma’ means ‘Place of Eating’. From the moment guests arrive they are immersed in the vibrant atmosphere. Tantalising aromas of local dishes and game meat on the barbeque fill the restaurant which is partially open to the surrounding forest and the night skies and offers traditional delicacies to guests as they enjoy the warm African evening

Day 25

We leave Victoria Falls and head to the Hwange National Park, which is the largest game reserve in Zimbabwe where we do a safari game drive (included) before camping in the National Parks main camp.

The Park hosts over 100 mammal and 400 bird species, including 19 large herbivores and eight large carnivores. All Zimbabwe’s specially protected animals are to be found in Hwange. The population of African wild dogs to be found in Hwange is thought to be one of the largest surviving groups in Africa today. Other major predators include the lion, leopard, spotted hyena and cheetah.

Day 26

This morning you can have another early morning game drive in the Hwange National Park before we head to Bulawayo. In Bulawayo you can visit the Matobo National Park in the Matopos Hills and track Rhinos on foot, with a guide, while also looking for other game and learning about the different uses for plants in the park.

Matobo National Park occupies a total area of 44 500 hectares and was awarded UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site status in June 2003. The Park includes an Intensive Protection Zone where a large population of Black and White Rhinoceros are successfully breeding. The large concentration of black and white rhinoceros in the Park makes it easy to sight one or more of this endangered species.

The Park is also home to a wide variety of other animal species including: zebra, wildebeest, giraffe, kudu, eland, sable, klipspringer, leopard, hyena, cheetah, hippo, warthog, rock dassies, waterbuck, wildcat, springhare, common duiker, crocodiles, baboons and monkeys.

Within the park there are numerous fine rock painting sites that were once occupied by the San hunter-gatherers. The paintings at Nswatugi Cave are perhaps some of the finest in the country and contain beautiful renditions of giraffe, eland and kudu.

Day 27

We set off early from Bulawayo and drive to the Great Zimbabwe Ruins. These are the largest collection of ruins in Africa south of the Sahara and are testament to a culture of great wealth and great architectural skill.

The granite walls, embellished with turrets, towers, platforms and elegantly sculpted stairways seem to have had no defensive function. But, in the words of archaeologist Peter Garlake, they display “an architecture that is unparalleled elsewhere in Africa or beyond.”

Day 28 – 30

We leave the Great Zimbabwe Ruins area and drive to Gweru. Our destination, Antelope Park, home to the world famous African Lion and Environmental Research Trust (ALERT) lion rehabilitation programme which is a multi-phase lion conservation initiative featured in the hit UK TV documentary “Lion Country”. It is Africa’s first genuine programme working to ethically re-introduce the offspring of captive-bred African lions back into the wild.

Set in over 3,000 acres of open savannah grassland, Antelope Park is a unique game reserve and a haven of tranquillity set in the African bush. Here there are many optional activities you can do including walking with lions, riding through the wilderness on elephant or horseback, viewing the abundance of wildlife in the Park or canoeing on the scenic lake.

Day 31

We continue our journey through Zimbabwe and head to the capital city, Harare. Tonight we will stay at the Kuimba Shiri Bird Park is situated on the shores of Lake Chivero, in a National Park boasting over 460 species of indigenous birds in the wild. Kuimba Shiri Bird Park is the only bird park in Zimbabwe and is home to orphaned, injured and abandoned birds. Kuimba Shiri meaning ‘Singing Bird’ boasts the first free flying bird display in Africa.

You can also fish for carp, bream and bass to name a few or enjoy game viewing by boat.

Days 32 – 33

We leave early today and drive to Lake Kariba. Along the way we will stop at Chinhoyi Caves which are a group of caves in Zimbabwe. The cave system is composed of limestone and dolomite, and the descent to the main cave with its pool of cobalt blue water is very impressive.

The Caves consist of a system of tunnels and caverns. This system is a dying one (in geological time spans), in that they are slowly collapsing. These collapses can be noticed by the sink holes and depressions within the surrounding area. The Wonder Hole, which is the main feature of the Caves, is in fact a “swallow hole” or a large cavern with a collapsed roof.

The walls or sides of the Wonder Hole drop vertically down for 150 feet to the Sleeping Pool. The pool is unbelievably blue and crystal clear which reflects great depth and non-flowing water.

We continue our drive to Lake Kariba, which is one of the four largest man-made lakes in the world and the second largest in Africa. Lake Kariba is a unique place of outstanding beauty and unforgettable scenery and is surrounded by excellent national parks – it really is a special place to take a safari by houseboat, relax, fish and view wild game.

The lake was created when a dam was built across the Zambezi River in the early sixties to provide hydro-electric power. The building of the dam was controversial as many people lost their homes and thousands of animals had to be rescued in something called Operation Noah organized by a man called Rupert Fothergill. Animals of all sorts were saved from drowning with many having to be rescued literally as the waters rose around them.

Now, the lake, which covers an area of 5,000 square kilometers is a wildlife paradise both in the water with crocodile, hippo and some of the world’s best fishing, especially the tiger fish, which fisherman have to really fight to catch, and on the shores where the Matusadona Wildlife Reserve has the highest number of lion per square kilometre of any reserve in the African continent. The most iconic image of Lake Kariba is of the fish eagles, who sit in the fossilized trees in the lake hunting for fish and whose haunting cry is a sound you will never forget.

Here we will relax on a houseboat, just drifting along enjoying the spectacular scenery and watching the wildlife come down to the shores to drink and for those keen anglers there is every opportunity to ‘throw a line in’.

Day 34

We leave Lake Kariba and drive to Lusaka (Zambia) where we will spend the night.

Day 35

We leave Lusaka and drive back to Victoria Falls completing our loop of Zimbabwe and your African adventure. Arriving back in Victoria Falls is the perfect way to wrap up a fantastic expedition through Zimbabwe.

We hope you enjoyed your African adventure with us and we look forward to seeing you on another adventure in the future.

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Walk on the Wild Side

Nairobi to Victoria Falls (35 days)

Hand feed the giraffe at the Giraffe Sanctuary

Walk with lions at Antelope Park

Experience the wide range of wildlife the Zimbabwe has to offer

Take a different view of the might Victoria Falls by microlite

Take a leisurely stroll on Zanzibar Island

Marvel at the wildlife on safari

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