Nairobi to Joburg Overland: Craters & Camping

Now's the time to explore Africa on your terms with this tour that's affordable for young travellers. Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro...

Tanzania, South Africa, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Zambia

Nairobi to Joburg Overland: Craters & Camping

DAY 1 Nairobi

Arrive at anytime. Prepare for tomorrow’s early morning by checking out the hotel bar with your newest friends. Travelling can take a lot out of you so sit back, fill those food and drink needs, and spend a chill night becoming familiar with your group and CEO.

Administrative

Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group

Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.

Administrative

Your First Night Out Moment: Connect With New Friends

Connect with new friends on your first night out in a new destination. Only available on 18-to-Thirtysomethings tours.

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Optional Activities - Day 1Show

Accommodation

Below is an example of the hotel we may use in this city. For the actual hotel your specific departure will be using, please check your voucher.

The Heron Hotel Nairobi

Hotel
DAY 2 Nairobi/Arusha

Hop in the Lando and hit the road in style as you cross through the semi-arid lands of the Maasai people en route to Arusha, Tanzania. Marvel at the epic views of mighty Mount Kilimanjaro in the distance and swap stories with your road trip buddies!

Administrative

Border Crossing (Kenya - Tanzania)

Namanga

Ready for a little more ink in your passport? Grab your bags and get ready to check another country off your bucket list.

Bus

Wifi: Lando

Nairobi- Arusha10h286km

Climb aboard our custom built ride …. overlanding G-style!

Accommodation

Meserani Snake Park

Campground
DAY 3 Arusha/Serengeti National Park

Well folks it’s time for the Africa you have all imagined, the experience that has been depicted over and over again in books, movies, and television. So grab those cameras, purchase a quirky bucket hat, and head out on a wildlife safari drive into one of the most famous national parks in Africa; the Serengeti. Get ready for abundant wildlife, vast golden plains dotted with thorny acacia trees, and hippo-filled rivers as you begin a 3-day and 2-night excursion into the park itself and the great Ngorongoro Crater.

Automobile

Pop-up Top: 7-Seat 4x4 Safari Vehicle

Arusha- Serengeti National Park8h320km

Get a better view and take better snapshots aboard this off-road ride with a pop-up top.

Nature

Serengeti National Park Safari

Serengeti National Park

This is the reason you came to Africa. Charge your camera, grab your binoculars, and set out on safari. Your eagle-eyed driver will keep an eye out for wildlife – buffaloes, elephants, lions, wildebeests, zebras, and more. Tanzania’s Serengeti tends to be less crowded than some of Kenya’s reserves, so enjoy the scenery, the vast expanse of the grasslands, the play of light and shadow, and the up-close look at wild Africa.

Accommodation

Seronera Campsite

Campground
DAY 4 Serengeti National Park/Ngorongoro

Grab your buddies and jump aboard for one last morning safari in the Serengeti. As the sun rises higher in the sky watch the animal kingdom come to life in this grassland savannah before returning to break down camp. Then it’s on to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, famous for Africa’s best wildlife viewing. Get ready for epic views from the crater rim and watch as animals meander around below drinking water from the permanent supply on the crater floor. You’ll be setting up camp in the late afternoon at a site near the crater rim and then you can spend the rest of the day enjoying one of the most beautiful wildlife havens on the planet.

Automobile

Pop-up Top: 7-Seat 4x4 Safari Vehicle

Serengeti National Park- Ngorongoro4h160km

Get a better view and take better snapshots aboard this off-road ride with a pop-up top.

Nature

Serengeti National Park Safari

Serengeti National Park

This is the reason you came to Africa. Charge your camera, grab your binoculars, and set out on safari. Your eagle-eyed driver will keep an eye out for wildlife – buffaloes, elephants, lions, wildebeests, zebras, and more. Tanzania’s Serengeti tends to be less crowded than some of Kenya’s reserves, so enjoy the scenery, the vast expanse of the grasslands, the play of light and shadow, and the up-close look at wild Africa.

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Optional Activities - Day 4Show

Accommodation

Simba Campsite

Campground
DAY 5 Ngorongoro/Arusha

It’s time to experience “Africa’s Garden of Eden” on a more personal level. Today, venture down to the crater floor where the group will embark on a final safari experience. Have those cameras charged and at the ready because, let’s face it if you are going to see any wildlife this would be the place (and we are so excited for you)! The animals are bound to this area by the crater walls and the enclosed nature of the crater meaning it’s own ecosystem has been created think; rich grasslands, swamps, acacia forests, and Lake Makat so get ready to see some magic. With full camera rolls and even more full hearts the group will exit the crater in the late morning and travel back to Arusha. Swap stories along the way, pick those favourite photos from earlier, or simply sit back and let yourself enjoy the passing scenery as you cruise along.

Automobile

Pop-up Top: 7-Seat 4x4 Safari Vehicle

Ngorongoro- Arusha4h-5h200km

Get a better view and take better snapshots aboard this off-road ride with a pop-up top.

Land Tour

Ngorongoro Crater Wildlife Safari Drive

Ngorongoro Crater

Set the alarm and prepare for an early start to see the wonders of the Ngorongoro Crater. Here you’ll see Maasai herdsmen in the morning mist. Your driver/guide will take you down into the crater and to all the best spots to view wildlife. Spot zebra, gazelles, buffaloes, and warthogs. The swamp and forest are home to hippos, rhinos, elephants, baboons, and monkeys. Keep your eyes peeled and camera ready to capture a pride of lions or a lone leopard walking along the crater floor.

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Optional Activities - Day 5Show

Accommodation

Meserani Snake Park

Campground
DAY 6 Arusha/Bagamoyo

There’s no time to stop and rest in a place as majestic as this. Hit the road early and enjoy the varied landscapes en route to the Indian Ocean. Be on the lookout for the mighty Mt Kilimanjaro in the distance on the road towards Bagamoyo. This town was recently named a World Heritage Site and used to be one of the most important trading ports of the central east African coast in the late 19th century. Stroll through Bagamoyo’s narrow, unpaved streets on your own and feel as if you stepped back in time.

Bus

Wifi: Lando

Arusha- Bagamoyo12h590km

Climb aboard our custom built ride …. overlanding G-style!

Accommodation

Firefly Bagamoyo Campsite

Campground
DAY 7 Bagamoyo/Zanzibar Beach Resort

After the jam packed first few days of this trip where you are going next is going to be just what you needed. Wake in Bagamoyo before driving to Dar es Salaam, then hop on a ferry to the paradise of Zanzibar. Get ready for picturesque island beaches that will make you contemplate staying here and living off the grid. Few places on this planet are as entrancing and exotic as this Tanzanian archipelago so get ready to enjoy it, take loads of pictures, and relax in a place that has long lured backpackers and adventurers to it’s sandy shores.

Bus

Wifi: Lando

Bagamoyo- Dar es Salaam1.5h-2h60km

Climb aboard our custom built ride …. overlanding G-style!

Watercraft

Ferry

Dar es Salaam- Stone Town2h

Get to the next spot on your route aboard a convenient and efficient ferry boat.

Bus

Private Vehicle

Stone Town- Jambiani1.5h60km

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Accommodation

S&S Hotel Jambiani

Hotel
DAY 8 Zanzibar Beach Resort

Wake up in this island paradise and get ready to seize the day. You’ll be exploring one of the world’s great cultural crossroads… think Africa meets Arabia and add the Indian Ocean into the mix as the cherry on top. The day is yours to spend as you choose; grab some goggles and go snorkelling, hop aboard a sailing trip, or just lounge on the beach and relax. Zanzibar’s tropical setting, unique culture, and active beach-party scene make this place a very enjoyable East African Indian Ocean experience.

Free Time

Jambiani

Do as much or as little as you'd like on this island slice of paradise.

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Optional Activities - Day 8Show

Accommodation

S&S Hotel Jambiani

Hotel
DAY 9 Stone Town

Your most difficult task today is going to be pulling yourself away from the beauty that surrounds you in Jambiani. But, if it makes you feel any better you still have one final night to spend on this enchanted island just in a more local spot. Travel back to Stone Town from the other side of the island and explore the heart of Zanzibar. Wander the winding historic unpaved alleyways of Stone Town passing by balconies and gigantic wooden carved doors along the way. Get lost and spend hours exploring the streets and squares, drinking potent coffee from pavement vendors and buying sweetmeats from tiny cafes. Keep an eye out for tinga-tinga paintings, antique shops, beautifully printed cloths (kangas and kikois worn by local people), little carved chests with copper inlays, and spices – all beautiful presents or memories to take home.

Bus

Private Vehicle

Jambiani- Stone Town1.5h60km

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Land Tour

Spice Plantation Tour

Zanzibar2h

No visit to Zanzibar would be complete without a visit to the spice plantations. Your senses will be aroused as you will receive a detailed description on the assortment of spices (black pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, breadfruit, jackfruit, vanilla, lemon grass) and their various uses. It was the spice plantations that brought the beginnings of Zanzibar’s infamous slave trade that dates back to the 1840’s.

Free Time

Stone TownAFTERNOON

Spend a final afternoon wandering the streets of Stone Town.

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Optional Activities - Day 9Show

Accommodation

Spice Palace Hotel

Hotel
DAY 10 Stone Town/Baobab Valley

It’s time to kiss this underrated paradise good-bye and head further inland back towards the mountains. Start by catching the ferry back to Dar es Salaam and watch as the islands get smaller and smaller, then hop in the Lando again to continue west to the group campsite in the Baobab Valley along the banks of the Ruaha River. Set up camp and look to the skies as the light begins to fade and enjoy a spectacular sunset in the lush, fertile lands of Tanzania. Then search the sky for shooting stars and make some wishes before drifting off to sleep.

Watercraft

Ferry

Stone Town- Dar es Salaam2h200km

Get to the next spot on your route aboard a convenient and efficient ferry boat.

Bus

Wifi: Lando

Dar es Salaam- Baobab Valley6h360km

Climb aboard our custom built ride …. overlanding G-style!

Accommodation

Tan-Swiss Lodge Campsite

Campground
DAY 11 Baobab Valley/Iringa

Pack up camp and spend another day together on the road. Use this time to journal, take a nap, or swap inside jokes with the rest of your group (because let’s face it you’re bound to have some by now). You will be journeying south to Iringa today, once there the group will visit a crafts centre that supports the local community. Buy a souvenir to take home and wander through town in search of cool overlooks.

Exhibit

Iringa Craft Centre

Iringa

Stop by a crafts centre that employs local artists with disabilities. Grab a coffee at the café or pick up a souvenir to bring home.

Bus

Wifi: Lando

Baobab Valley- Iringa5h180km

Climb aboard our custom built ride …. overlanding G-style!

Accommodation

The Old Farm House - Kisolanza

Campground
DAY 12 Iringa/Chitimba

Get ready to check another country off your travel lists as you pass from Tanzania into Malawi. The group will stop at Lake Malawi in Chitimba where the beach has gorgeous views of the mountains in the background and you can see Tanzania from just across the lake. Think clear shimmering waters with schools of colourful cichlid fish swarming in the depths in a place where nature is king and the people are some of the friendliest you’ll ever meet.

Administrative

Border Crossing (Tanzania - Malawi)

Kasumulu- Songwe

Ready for a little more ink in your passport? Grab your bags and get ready to check another country off your bucket list.

Bus

Wifi: Lando

Iringa- Chitimba9h235km

Climb aboard our custom built ride …. overlanding G-style!

Accommodation

Chitimba Camp

Campground
DAY 13 Chitimba/Kande Beach

It’s off to another beautiful destination along Lake Malawi today. From oceans to mountains to lakes you’re getting to see some of the best scenery that Africa has to offer. The group will head to the picture-perfect enclaves of Kande Beach. Once here you can choose to get out onto the lake or you can hike along the shores and enjoy the scenery that surrounds you.

Bus

Wifi: Lando

Chitimba- Kande Beach5h

Climb aboard our custom built ride …. overlanding G-style!

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Optional Activities - Day 13Show

Accommodation

Kande Beach Resort

Campground
DAY 14 Kande Beach

Imagine this; you wake to the sound of birdsong around you, the sun is shining, and the waters of Lake Malawi are calling your name begging to be set upon. Grab your camera and swim suit and head out for some fun. Wander the shore on foot, grab a snorkel and see what life under the water is all about, take a leisurely swim off the shore, or choose to experience a village walk at the nearby Tonga Village. Then the group will get to take part in a traditional dinner at a local home.

Free Time

Kande BeachFULL_DAY

Kick back and relax on Lake Malawi.

Cuisine

Your Local Living Moment: Kande Beach Local Dinner

Kande BeachEVENING

After a day on the beach of Lake Malawi, take a short walk into the Kande Beach village for traditional dinner in a local home.

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Optional Activities - Day 14Show

Accommodation

Kande Beach Resort

Campground
DAY 15 Kande Beach/Chipata

Another day another adventure! Today the group will cross the border from landlocked Malawi into Zambia. From there the Lando will take the group to the capital of the Eastern Province, Chipata. This town used to be called Fort Jameson and today is a popular refuelling station for overlanders heading to South Luangwa National Park.

Bus

Wifi: Lando

Kande Beach- Chipata7h400km

Climb aboard our custom built ride …. overlanding G-style!

Administrative

Border Crossing (Malawi - Zambia)

Mchinji- Mwami

Ready for a little more ink in your passport? Grab your bags and get ready to check another country off your bucket list.

Accommodation

Wildlife Camp

Campground
DAY 16 Chipata/South Luangwa

Guess where you’re going today! South Luangwa National Park for some wildlife viewing. But first the group will stop for lunch and visit the Tribal Textiles Market & Courtyard Cafe a G Adventures-supported craft workshop. Then you can choose to do an afternoon, or night, wildlife safari drive in the national park. Have those cameras ready to capture images of giraffes, elephants, and Cape Buffalo in this hidden gem of a place. Please note that the South Luangwa Wildlife Safari Drive is an optional activity that is not included and will be an additional cost on tour should you choose to partake.

Bus

Wifi: Lando

Chipata- Mfuwe2.5h150km

Climb aboard our custom built ride …. overlanding G-style!

Planeterra

Your G for Good Moment: Tribal Textiles Market & Courtyard Cafe

Mfuwe

Take a lunch stop at Tribal Textiles, a community workshop and business that employs and empowers over 100 locals from the area. Most of the unique textiles made at this workshop give back in some way either to education in the community or to various organizations working to conserve the wildlife of South Luangwa National Park. Regular employment at this socially conscious business also keeps poaching of wildlife at bay. After a quick tour to learn about these efforts, you’ll sit down for lunch at The Courtyard Café, run by local chef, Dorica, and her team.

Free Time

MfuweAFTERNOON

Do as much or as little as you'd like during your free afternoon.

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Optional Activities - Day 16Show

Accommodation

Wildlife Camp

Campground
DAY 17 South Luangwa

The day is yours to spend as you please in the wildlife haven of South Luangwa NP. Choose to go on a walking safari (just remember it’s seasonal), or a night drive, or visit a nearby local village. No matter what you decide to do remember to have fun and be in the moment life’s more fun that way in general and hey, so is travel. Get rid of those expectations and let this place dazzle you for what it is. Please note that the South Luangwa Wildlife Safari Drive and the South Luangwa Walking Safari are optional activities that are not included and will be an additional cost on tour should you choose to partake.

Free Time

MfuweFULL_DAY

Do as much or as little as you like on your free day.

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Optional Activities - Day 17Show

Accommodation

Chimwemwe Hotel - Campsite

Campground
DAY 18 South Luangwa/Lusaka

Rise and shine and begin today’s journey. We have a lot of ground to cover so be prepared to set off early and arrive late in the afternoon in your next destination. The long journey across rough and bumpy roads will take you to a private farm 29km (18 mi) outside the capital of Zambia and will have you feeling so accomplished because we all know now that driving on rough terrain is no picnic! Get out, stretch those legs and marvel together at the zebras, buffaloes, and the antelope that freely roam the property. The grab a cold drink at the camp’s bar (cheers!) or relax by the pool.

Bus

Wifi: Lando

Mfuwe- Lusaka12h750km

Climb aboard our custom built ride …. overlanding G-style!

Accommodation

Eureka Camping Park

Campground
DAY 19 Lusaka/Victoria Falls

Buckle those seat belts and cross the border from Zambia into Zimbabwe; home of the epic Victoria falls. Get ready to feel the mist in the air as you enter the town of Victoria Falls and choose to get up close and personal with one of the largest waterfalls in the world on an optional falls visit.

Bus

Wifi: Lando

Lusaka- Victoria Falls7h543km

Climb aboard our custom built ride …. overlanding G-style!

Administrative

Border Crossing (Zambia - Zimbabwe)

Livingstone- Victoria Falls

Ready for a little more ink in your passport? Grab your bags and get ready to check another country off your bucket list.

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Optional Activities - Day 19Show

Accommodation

Explorers Village Camping

Campground
DAY 20 Victoria Falls

Get up close and personal with one of the largest waterfalls in the world on this free day in Victoria Falls. Feel the strength of the water splashing your skin on the observation deck, taking in the sound of tons of water thundering in over the edge of the falls in the distance, and make your day as relaxing or hair-raising as you like. Opt to try whitewater rafting. Maybe take a scenic helicopter flight over the falls (epic selfies anyone?), or take the plunge (literally) while bungee jumping with Victoria Falls in sight.

Free Time

Victoria FallsFULL_DAY

Get out and explore.

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Optional Activities - Day 20Show

Accommodation

Explorers Village Camping

Campground
DAY 21 Victoria Falls/Matobo National Park

Rise early to the sounds of Victoria Falls thundering in the distance before the group heads out on the long, but scenic drive to Matobo National Park. Take this time to enjoy the scenery, get to know your group more, and reflect on what you hope to gain from taking this trip.

Bus

Wifi: Lando

Victoria Falls- Matobo National Park6h475km

Climb aboard our custom built ride …. overlanding G-style!

Accommodation

African Wanderer Campsite

Campground
DAY 22 Matobo National Park

Huge granite masses, land that has been walked on for forty thousand years, and a peaceful quiet that will have you wondering why you would ever want to return to the hustle and bustle of the modern world are what await you on this visit to Matobo National Park in Zimbabwe. Hop aboard an open wildlife safari vehicle and have an immersive experience in the park focussing on edible plants, visit a Khoisan cave with historic cave paintings, and enjoy close encounters with wildlife, while learning about rhino conservation efforts.

Nature

Guided Rhino Walk

Matobo National Park- Bulawayo

Set off on foot into the bush and enjoy a guided walk while tracking white rhinos.

Land Tour

Open Vehicle Wildlife Safari Drive

Matobo National Park

Set off in an open safari vehicle and be on the lookout for wildlife, particularly the white rhinos this national park is known for -- it's one of the best places to see these magnificent animals in the world.

Accommodation

African Wanderer Campsite

Campground
DAY 23 Matobo National Park/Tshipise

Another day, another slice of adventure! Make the most of your day getting to know the people in your group. Share past travel stories, take backseat bus selfies, and watch as the African scenery passes you by on your way across the border into South Africa. In the evening sit back, relax, tip your head to the sky and bask in the warm water of the mineral pool at our campsite.

Bus

Wifi: Lando

Matobo National Park- Tshipise7h600km

Climb aboard our custom built ride …. overlanding G-style!

Administrative

Border Crossing (Zimbabwe - South Africa)

Beitbridge

Ready for a little more ink in your passport? Grab your bags and get ready to check another country off your bucket list.

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Optional Activities - Day 23Show

Accommodation

Tshipise a Forever Resort Campsite

Campground
DAY 24 Tshipise/Kruger National Park

Welcome to wildlife country! Kruger is the kind of place that you’ll visit, but still want to return to over and over again. With nearly 5 million acres this park offers some of the best access to wild animals in Africa, so prepare for an epic time… (but you already knew that!) Keep those cameras at the ready and experience your ultimate African safari fantasy become a reality. Search for lions, elephants and many other animals on a full-day wildlife safari drive. Word of advice? Remember that it’s not all about the animals. This sprawling sanctuary is home to much more; think giant baobab, fever, and marula trees towering over the savannah in a place that feels older than time itself. Stop at prime viewing areas like Hippo Pool, the Kruger Tablets, and the Red Rocks, while you simply revel in your primitive surroundings as nature moves around you.

Bus

Wifi: Lando

Tshipise- Kruger National Park1h-1.5h

Climb aboard our custom built ride …. overlanding G-style!

Land Tour

Kruger Wildlife Safari Drive

Kruger National Park6h

Jump into our touring vehicle and get ready to spot elephants, hippos, giraffes, zebras, lions, and many other species in one of Africa's greatest wildlife areas.

Accommodation

Satara Rest Campsite

Campground
DAY 25 Kruger National Park/Greater Kruger Area

Yesterday was only a taste of the beauty that resides in the National Parks of South Africa. Today, you will head out into Kruger NP again on another wildlife safari drive in the Lando. (Upgrade alert! You can choose to embark on this experience in a 4x4 safari vehicle instead.) Take your gaze to the sky today and try to search for all of the things you didn’t get to yesterday. In the evening fill your bellies with a traditional dinner together, then grab someone’s hand and work up a sweat with some local dancing as the night settles around you.

Land Tour

Kruger Wildlife Safari Drive

Kruger National Park6h

Jump into our touring vehicle and get ready to spot elephants, hippos, giraffes, zebras, lions, and many other species in one of Africa's greatest wildlife areas.

Bus

Wifi: Lando

Kruger National Park- Hazyview7h200km

Climb aboard our custom built ride …. overlanding G-style!

People

Traditional Dinner and Local Dancing

Hazyview

Enjoy a cultural evening with the local community. Dive into local fare with a delicious traditional dinner, then watch a local dance performance.

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Optional Activities - Day 25Show

Accommodation

Aan De Vliet Holiday Resort

Campground
DAY 26 Greater Kruger Area/Johannesburg

While you may be leaving the bush behind today, the memories will stay with you forever. So don’t despair, instead look ahead with excitement as you journey back to Johannesburg, South Africa’s largest city and economic heart.

Bus

Wifi: Lando

Hazyview- Johannesburg8h407km

Climb aboard our custom built ride …. overlanding G-style!

Accommodation

Hotel Sky Sandton

Hotel
DAY 27 Johannesburg

Depart at any time. Alas, it’s time to go home, but not before giving "Jozi" some love! Perhaps you’ll extend for a few days and enjoy this vibrant, up and coming South African city? Wander through important cultural spaces like the Apartheid Museum and the Mandela House, soaking in the history that shaped Johannesburg. Sample food, music, and art in the city’s trendy neighbourhoods like Melville and give yourself time to relax and unwind before returning home.

Day
chat