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This trip is a combination of 3 journeys: Chimps, Gorillas & Gameparks (ZNN), East Africa Overland & Zanzibar (ZND), and Tanzania & Zambezi Zigzag (ZDL). Overlanding takes you to the places that others can't reach, and on this phenomenal trip we'll experience the best of East and Southern Africa. We'll encounter magnificent wildlife while camping on the great plains of the Serengeti, explore the unspoiled game parks of Uganda, and have the unforgettable experience of coming face to face with mountain gorillas in Rwanda. There's time to discover the exotic spice island of Zanzibar, we'll get to experience village life on a community project in Malawi and then overland across Zambia to end our trip at one of the great natural wonders of the world, the awe-inspiring Victoria Falls.

what's included?

Week 1: Nairobi, Lake Nakuru & Kibale Forests

• Overnight in Kenya's capital city, Nairobi
• Get involved: hands-on work at Kariandusi School Trust Project
• Safari in Lake Nakuru National Park
• Venture overland across the highlands of Western Kenya
• Journey through the Ugandan landscape
• 2 nights at a Kibale tea plantation to visit the Kibale Forest and for walks in the hills
• Forest walking expedition in search of chimps
• Big game safari in QEII National Park including boat trip on Kazinga Channel

Week 2: Lake Bunyonyi, Gorilla Trekking & Jinja Region

• 1 night stay at the stunning and remote Lake Bunyonyi
• Visit to the genocide memorial in Kigali
• 3 night visit to the forests and mountains of northern Rwanda
• Mountain gorilla trek in Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park
• Overnight camping and walking safari in Lake Mburo National Park
• Time at the campsite in Jinja spectacularly located on a cliff-top thirty metres above the swirling currents of the White Nile

Week 3: Rift Valley, Serengeti NP & Ngorongoro Crater

• Overland through northern Tanzania via Arusha
• Arrive back in Nairobi
• Overland through western Kenya and the Rift Valley
• Visit to the Mto Wa Mbu Cultural Tourism Programme.
• 2 day Jeep Safari and wildcamp in Serengeti National Park
• Jeep safari in Ngorongoro Crater Reserve

Week 4: Kilimanjaro, Usambara Mountains & Zanzibar

• Overnight stay at Mt Kilimanjaro with time for an easy hike up to the gate of the national park
• Visit to the Amani street children's orphanage
• Visit Marangu Village Educational Project
• 2 night stay in the stunning Usambara Mountains with time for local community visits and hikes
• Half day moderate/easy hill trek to Irente Lookout and community visit to Irente villages
• Overnight on the white sand beaches of the Indian Ocean near Dar es Salaam
• 3 nights on the Spice island of Zanzibar
• Guided tour of Spice Plantations and local lunch

Week 5: Dar es Salaam, Lake Malawi & Luwawa Forest

• Return to Dar by hydrofoil
• Transit through Mikumi National Park en route to Malawi
• 2 or 3 nights on the stunning beaches of Lake Malawi
• 1 or 2 nights for outdoor adventures and community visit at the Luwawa Forest Lodge

Week 6: Lusaka, Livingstone & Victoria Falls

• Overland through rural Zambia
• Visit Lusaka, Zambia's capital
• Overnight stay at Livingstone to experience the amazing Victoria Falls

what can I do on the way?

(Activities available at extra costs)

• Forest trekking for golden monkeys or community treks around Volcanoes National Park
• Go quad biking, white-water raft the White Nile at Jinja, horseriding also available.
• Balloon flight over the Serengeti National Park
• Scuba, snorkel and dolphin boat trips off Zanzibar
• Rafting, bungee jumping, horses, boats and elephant riding around Victoria Falls in Livingstone

General Notes:

The likelihood of seeing gorillas is virtually guaranteed. However, they are wild animals and the chances of seeing them are not 100%.
To track gorillas you need a permit. In order to obtain this, we require a non refundable deposit payment at the time of booking.

The Balloon Safari in the Serengeti must be pre-booked through the UK and is not always possible.

Trips in 2010 start or finish in Livingstone. Trips in 2011 and beyond start or finish in Vic Falls.

This itinerary is liable to change at any time before or during the journey, due to the nature of the environment we will be traveling in.

Kitty does not cover food while staying in hotels and hostels or in Livingstone or Vic Falls

Please note: South of Nairobi, Dragoman Overland runs this trip in conjunction with Intrepid Overland. Intrepid share our ethos for overlanding and have many years' expertise in adventure travel. Our departures are codeshared, with certain departures run by Dragoman in one of our vehicles, others by Intrepid (Intrepid Guerba Kenya) in one of theirs. This allows us to run many more departures so you have more choice when you want to travel.
You'll get the same itineraries, activities and accommodation on both Dragoman and Intrepid departures, and the vehicles of both fleets have been standardised to a common specification, so you won't be compromising on quality. All departures have three crew, including an African camp master. The only difference is that the Intrepid crew will all be African.

Alternative routes starting from Nairobi: