Serengeti to Victoria Falls: 21 Day Tour (Accommodated)

Day 1. Nairobi, Kenya to Arusha, Tanzania Highlights. Maasai Culture Village Walk, Arusha, Tanzania.

Our journey starts by leaving Kenya's capital, Nairobi and cross the border into Tanzania. We make our way to Arusha - a bustling city with colourful markets, shops, vehicles and people, all nestling in the shadow of the brooding Mt Meru (4556m). Arusha is situated exactly halfway between Cairo and Cape Town and you can view a sign post in the city centre with all the directions and kilometres.

After exploring the curio markets, we head to our accommodation just outside Arusha on the open plains to the west of the city. If time allows here, we enjoy a walk to one of the local Maasai villages for an insight to the culture and prepare for our two night/three-day excursion to the Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Crater.

3 images Maasai Culture Village Walk, Arusha, Tanzania

Day 2. Arusha to Serengeti National Park Highlights. Serengeti National Park, Tanzania.

Transferring into smaller 'game park friendly' vehicles, we make our way across the Great Rift Valley entering Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area. We drive around the crater's rim, viewing its remarkable formation and down onto the Serengeti plains. Green after the rains, brown in the dry, the Serengeti is home to an enormous variety of grazing animals, predators, and birdlife and our eagle-eyed local guide will be stopping along the way to view these. We game drive to our designated (but unfenced) campsite for the evening where lion and hyena roam nearby, for an unforgettable wilderness experience.

3 images Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Day 3. Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater

Rising with the morning light, we pack up our gear and game drive out of the plains. We ascend the outer wall of the Crater and spend the night on the crater rim at an open wilderness campsite.

At over 2000m high, tonight can be quite cool despite our location near to the equator. Our campsite is open to wildlife and elephant, zebra and monkeys are often seen crossing by the camp.

Day 4. Ngorongoro Crater to Arusha Highlights. Meserani Snake Park, Tanzania. Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania.

This morning we wake early and descend the 600m down the steep crater walls and into the Ngorongoro Crater floor. Declared a World Heritage Site due to the prolific wildlife and various habitats found in the Crater, today we explore one of nature's finest wildlife areas.

After our game drive, we have lunch and pack up our camp before making our way back to our vehicle at Arusha for the night.

3 images Meserani Snake Park, Tanzania

3 images Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania

Day 5. Arusha to Bagamoyo Highlights. Bagamoyo, Tanzania. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania.

Leaving the Safari capital Arusha, we travel via the foot of the great Kilimanjaro making our way first to the busy town of Moshi, and then south and to the coast to Bagamoyo.

We hope to catch a glimpse of Kili on our drive today as the morning cloud over its peak disperses. At 5895m high, Kilimajaro towers over the surrounding Tanzanian countryside.

3 images Bagamoyo, Tanzania

3 images Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

Day 6. Bagamoyo to Dar es Salaam Highlights. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Waking to the gentle sea breeze and the sound of the Indian Ocean lapping the shoreline, today we head to Tanzania's main port city - Dar es Salaam.

Our camp is located to the south of the city on a stretch of coastline offering a lovely beach to enjoy alongside the warm ocean. Take a swim, stretch your legs on a walk or simply lay back and relax this afternoon.

3 images Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Day 7. Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar Island, Stone Town Highlights. Stone Town, Zanzibar, Tanzania. Zanzibar, Tanzania.

This morning we leave our adventure vehicle behind and head to the busy ferry port to catch our ride to Zanzibar. Crossing the channel takes about 2 hours by fast ferry and we arrive at Stone Town in the late morning.

Once checked in and settled, the rest of the day is at leisure to explore! Whether you want to see Stone Town's bazaars, mosques, palaces, courtyards, alleyways or markets - there's plenty to do. Alternatively, relax at one of the many rooftop bars and delightful restaurants with delicious fresh seafood and fruity cocktails on offer.

3 images Stone Town, Zanzibar, Tanzania

3 images Zanzibar, Tanzania

Day 8-9. Zanzibar Island, Nungwi Highlights. Zanzibar, Northern Beaches, Tanzania.

Our first full day on the island offers the option to head out to a local spice and fruit plantation. See the locals scurry up the coconut palms and savour the taste of fresh coconut water; learn about the interesting spice trade and taste the divine fresh fruit straight from the plant.

This afternoon we arrive in the north of the island to our beach location where we will relax for the rest of our stay on Zanzibar.

Chill out on the beach or partake in some optional activities such as scuba diving, snorkelling and a sunset cruise.

3 images Zanzibar, Northern Beaches, Tanzania

Day 10. Zanzibar Island, Nungwi to Dar es Salaam

Today we journey back to Stone Town and in the afternoon, we take the ferry back across to the mainland to Dar es Salaam where we overnight.

Day 11. Dar es Salaam to Mikumi National Park Area Highlights. Mikumi National Park, Tanzania.

Leaving the busy city behind, we travel along the main highway west with the interesting shops, stalls, villages and homesteads to see along the way. From barber shops to butcheries - there certainly are some interesting shop-fronts to see.

We drive through the northern section of the Mikumi National Park where we may get to spot elephant or giraffe feeding at the side of the road before stopping outside the town of Mikumi for the night.

3 images Mikumi National Park, Tanzania

Day 12. Mikumi National Park Area to Iringa

Today we head to the town of Iringa in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania. Our drive takes us through the baobab valley with its quirky trees peppered around the countryside.

We spend the evening at the Kisolanza Farm House - a family run farm providing fresh produce to surrounding markets and Dar es Salaam for over 70 years.

Day 13. Iringa to Mbeya Region Highlights. Lake Malawi, Malawi.

Heading towards Malawi we make a stop at the tranquil Utengule Coffee Lodge nestled amidst the majestic Mbeya range in Southern Tanzania.

Enjoy breathtaking views of the East African Rift Valley, relax by the poolside or enjoy the various activities like squash, tennis, pool, table tennis, or volleyball.

For those interested in coffee, an optional guided tour through the coffee plantation is available, including a roasting demonstration and a cup of home-grown coffee.

3 images Lake Malawi, Malawi

Day 14. Mbeya Region to Chitimba (Lake Malawi), Malawi Highlights. Lake Malawi, Malawi.

After our last night in Tanzania, we head to the Songwe border post into Malawi. Lake Malawi formerly ‘Lake Nyasa’ covers almost a fifth of the country’s area and provides the source of livelihood for many of the Malawi people.

Relax on the beach, take a leisurely village walk, visit the local craft market where you can enjoy learning the ins and outs of woodcarving your own souvenir, learn to play the game of Bao or haggle for some souvenirs.

3 images Lake Malawi, Malawi

Day 15. Chitimba to Nkhotakota Region (Lake Malawi)

Today we take a nice scenic drive through rubber plantations to Mzuzu - the capital of the northern region and the third largest town in Malawi - where we stop for a short while to grab supplies and check out the markets, before arriving to Ngala Beach Lodge.

Day 16. Nkhotakota Region (Lake Malawi) Highlights. Lake Malawi, Malawi.

Today you’ll have some free time to try some of the optional activities, such as hiring a kayak, snorkelling, village walk, waterfall hike, or simply relax and enjoy the warm, fresh waters of Lake Malawi.

3 images Lake Malawi, Malawi

Day 17. Nkhotakota Region (Lake Malawi) to Petauke, Zambia

Saying our goodbye’s to ‘the Lake’, we drive through Nkhotakhota Game Reserve towards the border where we cross into Zambia. After completing the border formalities, we continue our journey to Petauke, a region known for agriculture, producing maize, cotton, sunflower, soya beans, and other crops.

Day 18. Petauke to Lusaka Highlights. Lusaka, Zambia.

Leaving early we travel along the Great Eastern Road to Zambia's capital, Lusaka. We cross the impressive Luangwa River bridge and see many rural settlements and villages along the way.

Day 19. Lusaka to Livingstone Highlights. Victoria Falls - Mosi oa Tunya National Park, Zambia.

We travel south from the capital today to Livingstone where our accommodation is on the banks of the Zambezi River. We make a visit to Victoria Falls today where you can feel the spray from the thundering falls.

3 images Victoria Falls - Mosi oa Tunya National Park, Zambia

Day 20. Livingstone Highlights. Livingstone Activities, Zambia.

Today is a free day in Livingstone where you can explore the town, visit neighbouring Zimbabwe or go rafting, bungee jumping, river cruising, flight over the falls.

Our accommodation has an adventure desk making bookings for any activities easy to do. Whether you wish to see the falls from above on a helicopter flight or explore the national park on a horse back safari - there's plenty to keep busy with today.