There are more than 7000 kilometres worth of roads, natural landmarks and adrenaline-inducing tourist attractions between the South African capital Johannesburg and the Kenyan capital Nairobi.
It’s almost impossible to choose one experience over any other as a highlight across the 29 days it takes to travel between the two.
Every day, even the days when we spent more time on the truck than off, gave our group something new to learn and something new to admire about Africa.
Our small group of travellers was able to see the African wildlife at its best, tour the local villages and experience some of the major cities across the six countries.
I chose four places that stick out as being particularly unforgettable.
Kruger National Park, South Africa:
Our full day game drive in Kruger National Park started well before the sun came up on only the second day of our trip. Our driver, who spent the break telling us of his former pet cheetah, pulled up at the park gates as the sun was just peeking over the horizon. We were among a large line of game vehicles waiting to enter the park, but we were quickly left alone once we entering the park itself. Our driver knew where to look and what to search for and we were rewarded almost immediately with a large flock of vultures close by the road. Within no time, we’d also spotted giraffes and elephants munching at vegetation close by the road. A highlight of being in Kruger so early during the trip is the lax attitude most of the animals have towards vehicles. The giraffes and elephants especially seemed to be un-phased by our presence and were happy to munch while we snapped plenty of photos often only metres away. The game drive in Kruger is a fantastic introduction to African wildlife.
By the end of the morning, the only animal that had really eluded us was the leopard. Our group were lucky enough to see two adult rhinos with a baby following along, and several buffalo casually crossing the dirt road in front of us. We were even able to spot a male and female lion lounging in the sand near a small bridge.
We also, of course, spotted plenty of impala.
Elephant Sands, Botswana:
Elephant Sands is another early highlight of the East African Explorer.
Our small group all opted to take part in the bush braai, an optional activity that includes a game drive in the national park surrounding this unique campsite and an incredible meal under the most vivid stars you are likely to see in your life.
The game drive itself allowed us to see some of the smaller details of the wild, such as birds’ nests and animal tracks. It culminates in a stop at one of the many watering holes in the area for a drink and a chance to photograph a sunset absolutely full of colour and light. We eventually had to give up our sunset photo session when a herd of wild elephants came to claim the watering hole we were at.
I thought it was going to be a difficult afternoon to top, but then the braai itself put the afternoon to shame. I have never seen the Milky Way as clear and as bright as I did in the middle of nowhere in Elephant Sands. There’s no experience quite like looking at the universe with a cold drink, a braai steak on your plate and wild elephants drinking within earshot. The Elephant Sands campsite is also pretty unique thanks to a man-made watering hole within shouting distance of the bar. Our visit was during the dry season, so we were privileged to see elephants almost constantly coming and going from the water as we sat back and enjoyed the view.
Chobe River, Botswana:
This is another chance to admire African wildlife and enjoy the sunlight with a drink in hand. The Chobe River is about the last stop before crossing into Zambia and going onto Victoria Falls. It appeared to be a haven for hippos, elephants and buffalos on the day of our cruise. Almost immediately after setting out, a crocodile swam up next to our large boat and made an appearance. It was the first of several sightings of crocodiles, not to be outdone by the elephant herds. Both bachelor herds and mums and babies were spotted throughout the cruise. Several boats had to make way when one bachelor herd decided to cross the river.
The beautiful African sun almost took the spotlight away from the animals. The sunset over the Chobe River is both vivid and precise – the sun sets as a distinct red circle behind silhouetted trees and dugout fishing canoes.
Zanzibar:
The island of Zanzibar truly holds its own identity separately from Tanzania and even separately from the whole of Africa. Stone Town’s famous architecture style, alleyways and bright doors are both familiar and still exotic. It’s an island built on the back of the spice trade, and the spice farm was one of the highlights of our four days there. The spice tour was a highlight thanks in part to our comedic guide Mohammad, who showed off his attempt at a British accent between telling us about the sinus-clearing effects of the cinnamon root and how to effectively apply certain fruit as lipstick.
The island has built a big industry around western tourists looking for a tropical getaway, so the four days on Zanzibar made for a resort-style holiday within a holiday. The drinks are good, the water is crystal clear and the beaches are all white sand. For coffee fans like me, it is absolutely worth it to set aside some time to sit at a Stone Town cafe and drink a cup or three of the spiced coffee. Three of us shared a pot at a combination book store and cafe. The coffee is enjoyed in small doses out of espresso-style cups and comes served in a brass-like coffee pot.
Even if these four highlights don’t catch your eye, there is one thing that is worth braving a long-haul redeye flight for – the African sun. You can’t ignore an African sunset – it demands that you stop what you are doing and enjoy the show. The sunset is worth watching from every single location across the East African Explorer.
Blog and images by: Hannah Busch – Travelled on our East Africa Explorer – 14EAE29 that departed on 11th September 2014