Cape Town to Nairobi Overland Tour

The cape town to nairobi overland tour departs Cape Town heading north. Before leaving the city, we stop to look back at Table Mountain from across Table Bay. Along the way we stop at a local Padstal — roadside stands run by South African farmers selling homemade preserves and baked goods. The Cederberg Region greets us with dramatic sandstone mountains, orange farms, and the Rooibos shrub, source of the famous herbal tea. We gather for a group dinner at our overnight spot and settle in for the days ahead.

The Orange River — also called Gariep, meaning simply "river" in the KhoeKhoe language — marks the border into Namibia. This morning there is an optional canoe trip on the river before we head inland. At Ais Ais you can soak in mineral and sulphur-rich hot springs before we reach our overnight accommodation in the canyon region.

One of the longer driving days of the namibia safari tour, today takes us deep into the Namib Desert. Dusty tracks cross farmland and semi-arid scrub before the landscape transitions to classic red dune country. We camp at the edge of the dune fields and fall asleep to the call of the barking gecko.

A morning desert excursion with a local expert introduces the flora and ecology of the Namib before we stop at the Tropic of Capricorn marker and head west to the coast. Swakopmund is Namibia's adventure capital — colonial German architecture, good restaurants, and the Atlantic Ocean. We have dinner in town tonight.

We drive north along the Skeleton Coast, pausing at Wlotzkasbaken for a photo stop and the lichen fields, where our guide explains how these organisms survive in near-zero rainfall. The Cape Cross seal colony hosts over 200,000 Cape fur seals — the largest colony in the world. Cape Cross marks where Portuguese explorer Diego Cao landed in 1486. We end the day in Khorixas.

A full day of etosha national park safari game drives. The great white pan draws wildlife from across the reserve, and waterholes at Okaukuejo and Halali provide reliable sightings throughout the day. All of the Big Five are present in Etosha. No two days on safari are alike — keep eyes open for black rhino after dark at the floodlit waterhole near camp.

We leave Etosha's white plains and drive east through the Caprivi Strip to Divundu on the Kavango River. The Caprivi is Namibia's narrow corridor bordered by Angola, Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe — a green, game-rich contrast to the dunes behind us. Overnight on the riverbank.

Pack a small bag — the overland truck stays in Maun for two nights. Smaller 4x4 vehicles transfer the group to the Khwai Conservation Area, a community-managed nature reserve at the edge of the Okavango Delta. Early risers can take an optional scenic flight over the delta. In the afternoon, we pole through the delta channels in traditional mokoro dugout canoes on this okavango delta tour.

An early 4x4 game drive out of Khwai before rejoining the overland truck in Maun. The drive to Nata crosses Botswana's vast interior, where the landscape opens into the vast Makgadikgadi salt pans. Wildlife sightings are common on this stretch — keep eyes on the roadside for elephant, giraffe, and oryx.

We cross into Zimbabwe and reach Victoria Falls — locally called "Mosi-oa Tunya" (the smoke that thunders). The falls are among the largest in the world, with the Zambezi plunging into the Batoka Gorge in a constant roar of spray. The afternoon is free for optional activities: bungee jumping, microlight flights, or a sunset cruise on the Zambezi. Craft markets and riverside cafes are available for a quieter afternoon.

We depart the Zambian side of the falls early and head north toward Lusaka. The drive marks the transition into East Africa — roadside markets, village compounds, and open farmland replace the tourist infrastructure of Victoria Falls. Traditional goods and fresh produce line the Great North Road as we make our way to the capital.

We reach the south luangwa national park safari zone on the banks of the Luangwa River. A stop at Mulberry Mongoose lets you browse jewelry and accessories made by local women from organic bush materials. The Chipata area produces cotton and the creative crafts of the region are on show. We watch the sunset from the riverbank with a cold drink in hand.

We cross into Malawi — the Warm Heart of Africa — and drive to the southern shore of Lake Malawi. The lake is the southernmost in the East African Rift system and stretches over 500 km. It holds more fish species than any other lake in the world. We spend the night on the lake shore.

We drive north along the lake shore and overnight again at the water's edge. In the afternoon our guide leads a village walk through a nearby community, providing direct contact with Malawian daily life, local food production, and the traditions of the region. The evening closes with the sunset over the lake from the beach.

Before leaving Mbeya we visit a local coffee plantation to see how beans are grown, processed, and dried. We cross the Great African Rift Valley and continue north to Iringa, a lively market town perched above the Iringa escarpment.

A full optional day in and around Mikumi National Park. Additional game drives can be booked, or join a cultural tour to nearby villages to meet local families and learn about life on the edge of the park. This is one of the quieter safari areas in Tanzania and wildlife sightings are often excellent.

An early ferry crossing brings us to Zanzibar and the historical Stone Town. The town's maze of narrow streets, carved wooden doors, and coral-stone buildings reflect centuries of Arab, Indian, and African trade. We check into our hotel and explore the area on foot in the afternoon.

A free day on Zanzibar's beaches — part of the zanzibar safari tour extension of this overland. Water sports on offer include snorkeling, kite surfing, and dhow sunset cruises. The coral reefs around the island are easily accessible by short boat. Relax, swim, and make the most of this Indian Ocean island stop.

A long drive north through Tanzania brings us to Arusha, the safari capital of East Africa. The city sits at the foot of Mount Meru and is the gateway to the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, and Kilimanjaro. This is the briefing point for the final two-day excursion of this east africa overland tour.

Early pickup from camp in 4x4 safari vehicles for a morning descent into the ngorongoro crater safari tour. The crater floor hosts one of the densest concentrations of wildlife on Earth — lion, elephant, rhino, wildebeest, and flamingo are all reliably seen. In the afternoon we drive into the Serengeti and reach our mobile camp in the Seronera region, the heart of the national park.

We leave the Serengeti National Park in the morning with a final drive through the park before returning the 4x4 vehicles and rejoining the overland truck. We drive back to Arusha and overnight in the city — time to clean up, share photos, and celebrate the near-completion of this cape town to nairobi overland journey.