Experience Overview
Dive into a lesser-known Africa on this 19-day trip from the east of Tanzania through Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Begin on the pristine beaches of Zanzibar's northern coastline, then travel through rolling savanna and wide-open plains on a series of game drives and hikes. Get close to incredible wildlife in remote nature reserves and embrace local hospitality in the regional cities and traditional villages. Take on this eye-opening African overland adventure with a local crew to guide you to the best of the region, all shared with a small group of travellers ready to explore.
Highlights
- Join an expert guide to track rhinos on foot in Matobo National Park. Discover black and white rhinos and other game while learning about the cultural and spiritual importance of the many ceremonial sites, San paintings, and rock formations.
- Chill out on the northern beaches of Zanzibar, enjoying the white sand and sparkling blue sea of the Indian Ocean, and spend some time discovering the island's hub at Stone Town.
- Discover the magic of South Luangwa National Park on a morning safari game drive. This park is a highly concentrated arena of noble African beasts and exotic wildflowers.
- Get a chance to explore the largest ruins in sub-Saharan Africa – the World Heritage-listed Great Zimbabwe, thought to be the former palace of an ancient monarch.
- Choose from a range of optional activities at Victoria Falls so you can see the cascades the way you want, and maybe treat yourself to a helicopter ride.
Trip Details
Product Code: 3174
Tour Type: Small Group
Accommodation: Basic
Transport: Overland vehicle,4X4 safari vehicle,Ferry,Minibus
Guide Language: English
Travel Styles: Overland Expedition
Supplier Code: YXORC
Starts: Stone Town, Malawi
Finishes: Victoria Falls, Malawi
Duration: 19 days
Departures: Guaranteed
Physical rating: Light
Includes
Meals: Breakfasts (17), Lunch (11), Dinner (13)Accommodation: Hotel (2 night),Bunglow (2 nights),Camping with facilities (14 nights)
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD 2768 (CAD 146 /day)
Itinerary
Welcome to Zanzibar! Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 2 pm where you'll meet your group leader and fellow travellers. Aside from this important meeting, there are no planned activities for the day and you are free to explore on your own. Filled with pristine white-sand beaches, winding cobblestone alleyways and fragrant bazaars, Zanzibar has had a colourful history – everything from slave traders to Arabian sultans and fruit exporters. The sight of traditional dhows sailing along the coast evokes what the island must have been like in centuries ago. The old part of Zanzibar's main city is known as Stone Town, and the best way to see this is on foot, exploring the markets, shops, mosques, palaces and courtyards. When the sun is setting, why not grab a drink from a bar overlooking the seafront. A seafood curry at a local restaurant is also a great choice. You'll spend the night in Stone Town at a basic inn.
Optional Activities:
- Stone Town Tour - Dharajani Market, Joseph's Cathederal, Palace Museum, Forodhani Food Market (20 USD)
- Zanzibar - Prison Island Tour (25 USD)
- Stone Town - Handicraft & Music Urban Adventure (50 USD)
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Once checked out of your Stone Town accommodation, consider booking in to an optional guided tour of the island's spice plantations, learning all about the history of this town's spice trade. You will have the opportunity to smell and taste various spices, such as cinnamon, vanilla and ginger, plus sample some teas made with these spices too. After lunch, head to the Northern Beaches, where white sands and sparkling blue seas await. This is the Indian Ocean at its best.
Optional Activities:
- Zanzibar - Spice tour (25 USD)
Accommodation:
- Bungalow (Number of Nights: 1)
Enjoy free time in this beautiful archipelago today. There are many ways you can spend your day – perhaps talk to your leader for any recommendations they might have. Snorkelling in search of exotic fish is an excellent option, or you could take a traditional dhow boat on the water. You might also like to feast on a sumptuous lunch of grilled local seafood, or just relax in a hammock underneath a coconut tree with a good book. It's totally up to you!
Optional Activities:
- Zanzibar - Snorkelling (50 USD)
- Zanzibar - Dhow Trip (35 USD)
Accommodation:
- Bungalow (Number of Nights: 1)
Enjoy a sleep in and maybe one last dip in the warm waters of Zanzibar's northern beaches. After check-out at your accommodation, transfer back to Stone Town for a cruisy afternoon of free time. Maybe grab an octopus curry or biryani for dinner with your crew. There’s long day of driving ahead tomorrow, so be sure to relax in the island vibes tonight.
Optional Activities:
- Stone Town - Handicraft & Music Urban Adventure (50 USD)
- Stone Town - Culinary Urban Adventure (29 USD)
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Embrace an early start to catch a 7.30 am ferry to the mainland, then make tracks for Mikumi. It’s approximately an 8-hour drive to your first camp spot, but you’ll get a great look at all that renowned Tanzanian landscape on the way. Gaze out at vast plains dotted with baobab and tamarind trees and maybe catch a glimpse of some of the elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, lions and leopards that call the park home. Once you arrive at your camp spot, your leader will show you the ropes (literally) and help you set up and get comfortable for your night in the tent.
Accommodation:
- Camping (with facilities) (Number of Nights: 1)
Wake up early this morning to head off on a 4WD game drive into Mikumi National Park with local expert guides. This less touristed park is home to impressive numbers of elephants, hippos, giraffes, zebras, buffalo, warthogs, wildebeest and impalas – and maybe even a predator or two if you're lucky! Afterwards, we'll drive to Iringa (approximately 5 hours) and set up camp on the grounds of a farmhouse on the outskirts of this pleasant settlement. The area is filled with natural bush land which can make it a bird watchers paradise. Make the most of this rural setting by doing some stargazing before you retire for the night.
Included Activities:
- Mikumi National Park - 4x4 Game Drive
Accommodation:
- Camping (with facilities) (Number of Nights: 1)
Enter Malawi and travel to your campsite at Chitimba (approximately 10–12 hours). Malawi, the ‘warm heart of Africa,’ is dominated by its lake, which covers almost a fifth of the country and provides a livelihood for many Malawian people. Fishermen, fish traders and canoe and net makers all ply their trade on Lake Malawi. A common sight is that of a fisherman in a bwato (a dugout canoe made from a hollowed tree trunk) fishing on the still lake at the break of day.
Accommodation:
- Camping (with facilities) (Number of Nights: 1)
Travel from Chitimba to Kande Beach on the shore of Lake Malawi (approximately 6 hours). There will be a chance to stop at a shop or market for any supplies you might need along the way. Enjoy a relaxing getaway from the commercialism and crowds with a few days on the lake’s more peaceful beaches. Your campsite at Kande Beach is right on the shore of Lake Malawi.
Optional Activities:
- Lake Malawi - Guided village walks (15 USD)
Accommodation:
- Camping (with facilities) (Number of Nights: 1)
Enjoy free time today and soak up your idyllic surrounds. As well as chilling out on the lake’s sandy shores, make sure you take the opportunity to meet some local Malawians – easily some of the friendliest people in Africa.
Optional Activities:
- Lake Malawi - Pedalos (25 USD)
- Lake Malawi - Canoe Hire (10 USD)
- Lake Malawi - Bike Hire (25 USD)
Accommodation:
- Camping (with facilities) (Number of Nights: 1)
Journey through southern Malawi and enter Zambia, continuing to South Luangwa National Park (approximately 9–10 hours). There will be border crossing formalities on the way, and a chance to stock up on goods at a shop or market and visit an ATM. The concentration of animals around the Luangwa River and its lagoons is some of the highest in Africa. Take in the beautiful scenery and the abundance of wildlife, watching out for colourful birds and herds of elephants.
Accommodation:
- Camping (with facilities) (Number of Nights: 1)
Rise early for an exhilarating morning game drive in a 4WD with a local guide, then head back to the camp for lunch (as this is the hottest part of the day).
Return to the park for another Game Drive late this afternoon
Alternatively, an optional village walk is another good option, if you'd like a snapshot of daily life in the local community.
Included Activities:
- South Luangwa National Park - 4x4 Dawn Game Drive
- South Luangwa National Park - 4x4 Evening Game Drive
Optional Activities:
- South Luangwa National Park - Game Walk (50 USD)
Accommodation:
- Camping (with facilities) (Number of Nights: 1)
After breakfast, pay a visit to a workshop where local craftswomen take snare wire recovered from poaching traps and transform it into jewellery inspired by the African bush. The women will show you around their purpose-built workshop and give you a chance to try coiling or hammering the wire yourself. For each sale made, a donation is given to anti snare patrols dedicated to the conservation of the region. After your visit, head further south to Petauke (approximately 6 hours).
Included Activities:
- South Luangwa - Anti-Poaching Jewelery Project
Accommodation:
- Camping (with facilities) (Number of Nights: 1)
Head for your camp just south of Lusaka City (approximately 6 hours). Arrive, stretch your legs and take a stroll to discover the town. Though it's fast developing, Lusaka retains a strong African feel, and the locals are usually up for a chat.
Accommodation:
- Camping (with facilities) (Number of Nights: 1)
Travel to Harare today (approximately 8–9 hours). The first part of your journey takes you to the border with Zimbabwe. After crossing, continue to Harare. There will be a chance to explore the town, stock up on whatever you need at a market or shop and use an ATM.
Accommodation:
- Camping (with facilities) (Number of Nights: 1)
Drive to Masvingo (approximately 5–6 hours). This colonial settlement – the oldest in Zimbabwe – makes the perfect base for exploring the ruins of Great Zimbabwe. The ancient city, now a World Heritage site, was first constructed in the 11th century and is believed to have been the seat of power for a monarch. Spend a few hours exploring this intriguing site before heading off to camp.
Included Activities:
- Masvingo - Great Zimbabwe Ruins guided visit
Accommodation:
- Camping (with facilities) (Number of Nights: 1)
Travel to Bulawayo (approximately 5–6 hours). Known locally as the 'City of Kings', Bulawayo is Zimbabwe's second largest city. There is some impeccable colonial architecture to take in here. Enjoy free time this afternoon to explore town. You might like to browse some local markets or chat with the locals. The Natural History Museum and National Art Gallery are also worth checking out.
Optional Activities:
- Balawayo - Natural History Museum (10 USD)
- Bulawayo - Railway Museum (5 USD)
Accommodation:
- Camping (with facilities) (Number of Nights: 1)
Get ready for the experience of a lifetime – tracking rhinos on foot with an expert guide! Matobo National Park, known for its black and white rhinos, is also home to other wildlife like klipspringers, leopards, warthogs, and springhares. You'll learn all about these unique animals from your guide. You'll also gain insights into the local plants and trees, including wild pear and paperbark and discover San paintings and the fascinating rock formations.
Matobo National Park is an important site of spiritual and cultural significance for the local people, and there are many places in the park where important ceremonies still take place.
Included Activities:
- Matobo National Park - Rhino Tracking, Park Visit & San Rock Paintings
Accommodation:
- Camping (with facilities) (Number of Nights: 1)
Depart Bulawayo and make the 6-hour drive towards Victoria Falls. Stretching 1.6 kilometres wide and falling 108 metres into a narrow gorge below, the falls for which the area is named are a sight to behold. Although a visit to the falls themselves is optional, it is highly recommended. The entrance fee to the falls is not included, as groups that book ahead are required to tour the site with a local guide, and we feel that seeing these waterfalls should be an uninterrupted sensory experience. In the wet season, the spray created from this feat of nature can rise 400 metres and can often be seen from kilometres away. It’s no wonder that the local name for Victoria Falls is Mosi oa Tunya, or the 'Smoke that Thunders'. Though dry season travellers should not despair! You’ll get an unobstructed view of the falls and the chance to see the islets in the river below. Your leader will take you to a local activity centre where a range of activities will be on offer.
Optional Activities:
- Victoria Falls - Victoria Falls entrance (50 USD)
Accommodation:
- Camping (with facilities) (Number of Nights: 1)
With no activities planned for today, you are free to leave the camp at any time. That being said, you may like to try some of the optional activities on offer here, and so, we recommend that you schedule any flights for later in the day. If you would like to spend more time in Victoria Falls, we’ll be happy to organise additional accommodation (subject to availability).
Optional Activities:
- Victoria Falls - Canoe trail (full day) (185 USD)
- Victoria Falls - Flying fox (50 USD)
- Victoria Falls - Gorge swing (103 USD)
- Victoria Falls - Helicopter Flight of the Angels (12 mins - Excludes US$25 fuel surcharge and NP fees) (150 USD)
- Victoria Falls - Helicopter Flight (25 mins - Excludes US$30 fuel surcharge and NP fees) (284 USD)
- Victoria Falls - Rafting & river boarding (half day) (218 USD)
- Victoria Falls - Village & township tour (61 USD)
- Victoria Falls - Whitewater rafting (full day) (130 USD)
- Victoria Falls - Whitewater rafting (half day) (130 USD)
Tour Operator
Intrepid Travel
Intrepid Travel is a global adventure travel company, dedicated to providing sustainable, experience-rich travel opportunities. They’ve been the leader in ethical, small-group travel since 1989 - taking people around the world for more than 30 years. They’re the world’s largest travel B Corporation - dedicated to being the best travel company for the world. In 2002, they established The Intrepid Foundation so their travellers could make a lasting impact on the communities they had visited. Although Intrepid Travel absorbs all administrative costs of The Intrepid Foundation, they are separate legal entities, allowing The Intrepid Foundation to grow independently. Intrepid Travel is made up of a collection of tour operator brands and 28 destination management companies all united by one vision: To change the way we all see the world.
In Business Since 1989
Reviews
Danni - Traveled, November 2023
Very well-organised trip takes the hassle out of planning yourself and allows you to be safe wherever you go! Would highly recommend it.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/02/2023
Courtney - Traveled, November 2023
My friend and I had a great time travelling through Eastern Africa with intrepid. The guides MJ and Paul had great local knowledge, the tour was very well organised, we felt safe the entire time. Our driver was great in getting us to our destinations safely and in good time. Our cook was amazing too! Always providing filling wholesome meals!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/29/2023
Jake - Traveled, October 2023
The trip was amazing, from the start to finish. I had no complaints about the route or crew. Would highly recommend anyone to use Intrepid!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/27/2023
Sol - Traveled, October 2023
Not only was the actual trip so good, the experience of travelling in the group is amazing. You build life long friendships and are very well taken care of. The tour leader, chef and driver were excellent and they just made the whole trip better. The activities you do on the trip are incredible as well, you’re always blown away. Even on the long bus drives you won’t be bored, you will find great way to entertain yourself along the way. Don’t forget playing cards!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/20/2023
Anne - Traveled, July 2023
I loved this trip, great game drives, visiting the Great Zimbabwe ruins & tracking rhinos. Mambo, Kawaya & Charlo have been an amazing crew!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/19/2023
Lili - Traveled, June 2023
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/05/2023
Lauren - Traveled, June 2023
I chose to travel with Intrepid for my first international trip and loved it! It’s a great way to meet people from all over the world and experience travel differently than you would alone
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/04/2023
Nicola - Traveled, October 2022
So much to see and do in such short time. A great way to see part of Africa. MJ our leader was just the best. He organised everything perfectly for the little time we had in vic falls
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/23/2022
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