Cape Town to Nairobi Overland Safari & Participation Camping

Touch down in eight different countries on this truly epic overland adventure. Visit the world’s highest sand dunes, float through the Okavango in a traditional “mokoro” canoe, and meet the San people living in the Kalahari Desert. From jaw-dropping scenery to incredible wildlife this 40-day trip will provide you with a deeper understanding of this incredible slice of the world.

Day 1: Cape Town
Arrive at any time. Tonight, after a brief welcome meeting, attend an optional group dinner for your first night in Cape Town.
Day 2: Cape Town/Cederberg
Hit the road in the Lando and view the stunning Western Cape scenery on the way to the G Adventures-supported !Khwa ttu San Culture and Education Centre. Learn about the history and culture of the ancient San people. Arrive to the campsite in the afternoon and enjoy free time in the area.
Day 3: Cederberg/Orange River
Travel north past large plantations of rooibos tea. Camp at the scenic Orange River and arrive at the site with enough time to enjoy a late afternoon swim in the river.
Day 4: Orange River/Fish River Canyon
Travel to Fish River Canyon today, the largest canyon in Africa. Hop out of the Lando to watch sunset over the canyon’s rim. Set up camp nearby and sit around the campfire.
Day 5: Fish River Canyon/Namib Desert
Sit back in the Lando and travel north along long, bumpy roads to the Namib Desert. Arrive and set up camp in the late afternoon, and admire the towering red sand dunes of Sossusvlei seeming to rise up towards the sky in the middle of nowhere.
Day 6: Namib Desert
Begin the day at dawn and watch sunrise from atop the iconic Dune 45. Later, venture to the surreal Deadvlei for an optional excursion to this mesmerizing clay pan before slipping into the shadier areas of Sesriem Canyon to learn about its formation and ability to sustain wildlife with hidden pools.
Day 7: Namib Desert/Swakopmund
Cross over the dry mountain passes and vast empty region of the Namib Desert en route to adrenaline capital; Swakopmund. The group will spend two nights here with plenty of time for the many optional activities in the area.
Day 8: Swakopmund
Spend a free day in Swakopmund. Try activities like skydiving and sand boarding. For an even bigger adventure, hop on a scenic flight over the Skeleton Coast.
Day 9: Swakopmund/Spitzkoppe
Jump in the Lando and travel toward the granite peaks of Spitzkoppe. Dubbed the Matterhorn of Namibia, this is the perfect place for epic outdoor adventures. Enjoy free time here upon arrival.
Day 10: Spitzkoppe/Etosha National Park
Soak in the strangeness of this unique landscape before moving on to Etosha National Park for some prime wildlife viewing. Enjoy a safari drive in the park on the way to your camp.
Day 11: Etosha National Park
Embark on a full-day wildlife safari drive in Etosha National Park. Search for more than 100 different mammals that call this park home. During the dry season (May through October) the animals all gather around the waterfalls creating some of the densest wildlife viewing in the world.
Day 12: Etosha National Park/Waterberg Plateau
Move on from Etosha today and travel further south to the Waterberg Plateau. Spend free time exploring the trails in this national park in search of more wildlife, or choose to relax at camp.
Day 13: Waterberg Plateau/Windhoek
Travel south through the Namibian countryside to Windhoek. Lunch will be had along the way at the G Adventures-supported Penduka Village Restaurant & Shop. There will be free time in Windhoek upon arrival.
Day 14: Windhoek/D'kar
Cross the border from Namibia into Botswana and travel east into the heart of the Kalahari to D’kar. Catch a glimpse of how the local San Bushmen adapted to this difficult landscape on an optional bushman walk. Later, enjoy the warm hospitality of the San Bushmen as the group will be staying at the G Adventures-supported Dqae Qare San Lodge & Camp.
Day 15: D'kar/Maun
Climb in the Lando and continue towards Maun. In the afternoon, there will be free time to unwind before setting up camp with the group.
Day 16: Maun/Okavango Delta
Dive right into nature today for an overnight excursion in the Okavango Delta. Do some birdwatching and travel in a traditional mokoro (dugout canoe) to the basic bush camp. Set up camp and head out for a wildlife walk in the area. Gather around the campfire for a sundowner in the evening.
Day 17: Okavango Delta/Gweta
Set out on a morning safari walk before returning to Maun via the mokoro. Then, get back inside the Lando and travel to the ancient baobab trees of Gweta. There will be free time upon arrival.
Day 18: Gweta/Kasane
Venture north from Gweta to Kasane. There will be time for an optional river cruise through Chobe National Park before setting up camp under a sky full of stars.
Day 19: Kasane/Victoria Falls
Choose to go on an early safari drive in the morning before travelling with the group from Botswana across the border to Zimbabwe. Sit down for a traditional lunch at the G Adventurers-supported Lusumpuko Women's Club. Continue on to the town Victoria Falls, a great base to see the falls, and take part in some exciting activities.
Day 20: Victoria Falls
Spend a free day in Victoria Falls. For the adventurous, there are activities like whitewater rafting or a scenic helicopter flight over the falls. The choice is yours!
Day 21: Victoria Falls
Spend a full free day on your own exploring the Victoria Falls area. Opt to try activities in the area like whitewater rafting, a scenic helicopter flight over the falls, or bungee jumping with the thundering falls in sight.
Day 22: Victoria Falls/Lusaka
Rise early and get on the road around 6am to cross the border from Zimbabwe into Zambia. Towards the end of the day, the group will arrive at a private farm about 29km (18 mi) outside of Zambia’s capital and enjoy free time to relax and marvel at the wildlife on the property.
Day 23: Lusaka/South Luangwa
While today’s travel day might be long, there will be plenty of time to socialize on the Lando as the group is driven across the Zambian countryside to the campsite along the banks of the Luangwa River. There will be free time to enjoy your surroundings upon arrival.
Day 24: South Luangwa
Spend a free day doing as you please in South Luangwa National Park. Choose a walking safari (it’s seasonal), a night drive, or visit a nearby local village.
Day 25: South Luangwa/Chipata
Rise early and choose to head out on an optional morning safari drive. Bring your camera to try and photograph some of the resident wildlife. Stop for lunch and for a visit to the Tribal Textiles Market & Courtyard, a G Adventures-supported craft workshop. Afterwards, continue travelling in the Lando to Chipata.
Day 26: Chipata/Kande Beach
Cross the border into Malawi today and travel to Lake Malawi affectionately known as, “Lake of Stars”. Spend four nights relaxing on the shores and during the day take beach walks, leisurely swims, and snorkel in this beautiful paradise.
Day 27: Kande Beach
Take advantage of a free day to explore Lake Malawi. In the evening the group will take part in a traditional dinner at a local home before camping under the stars.
Day 28: Kande Beach/Chitimba
Soak in another free day along Lake Malawi. From oceans and mountains to lakes and vast skies, you’re seeing some of the best scenery in Africa. Travel north to Chitimba Beach and try to spot Tanzania from across the lake. Free time activities here include getting out on the lake or hiking along the shores in the picturesque landscape.
Day 29: Chitimba
During this final free day at Lake Malawi you can opt for activities further away like hiking to Livingstonia along the Nyika Plateau, or you can relax in the sand and listen to the lake lapping the shoreline.
Day 30: Chitimba/Iringa
Travel into Tanzania during the journey to Iringa. The Lando will climb out of the Great Rift Valley offering humbling views through some of the mountain passes and tea plantations in the highlands. Spend the ride journaling, reading, taking a nap, or chatting with other members of the group.
Day 31: Iringa/Dar es Salaam
Leave Iringa in the morning for Dar es Salaam. Cruise in the Lando through the Tanzanian countryside and watch as the blue waters of the Indian Ocean make their debut. The group will spend the night here before setting off to Zanzibar.
Day 32: Dar es Salaam/Zanzibar Beach Resort
Catch a ferry and travel to the island beaches of Zanzibar.
Day 33: Zanzibar Beach Resort
Spend a full free day in Zanzibar’s alluring tropical setting. Choose from an array of optional activities in the area like snorkelling, sailing, or beach lounging.
Day 34: Stone Town
Travel back to Stone Town from the beach property on the other side of the island and set out on a guided tour of a local spice plantation before seeing the heart of Zanzibar for yourself.
Day 35: Stone Town/Bagamoyo
Take the ferry from Stone Town back to the mainland and drive north in the Lando to the coastal town of Bagamoyo. During a free evening walk the unpaved streets and get to know this recently named World Heritage Site.
Day 36: Bagamoyo/Arusha
Jump on the road in the Lando and cross varied landscapes all the way to Arusha. Keep an eye out for views of Mt Kilimanjaro on the way.
Day 37: Arusha/Serengeti National Park
Today begins your 3-day and 2-night excursion into Serengeti National Park and the wildlife-dense Ngorongoro Crater.
Day 38: Serengeti National Park/Ngorongoro
Enjoy a morning safari in the Serengeti and watch the wildlife come to life. Break down camp before travelling to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, famous for Africa’s best wildlife viewing. Set up camp near the crater rim and enjoy your surroundings for the remainder of the day.
Day 39: Ngorongoro/Arusha
Venture down to the crater floor for a final wildlife experience in the area. In the late morning the group will travel back to Arusha and enjoy a free evening.
Day 40: Arusha/Nairobi
Leave Arusha in the morning and travel in the Lando to Nairobi; Kenya’s capital city. The tour will end upon arrival. Please book ongoing travel from Nairobi in the evening. Not ready to go home just yet? That’s ok, stay for a few extra days to explore more of Kenya and beyond.