Victoria Falls to Serengeti: 21 Day Tour (Accommodated)

Day 1. Livingstone, Zambia to Lusaka Highlights. Lusaka, Zambia.

Our holiday starts with a trip to the Mosi oa Tunya National Park to see the Victoria Falls from the Zambian side. From here we take to the road and drive through a number of Zambia's smaller farming communities on our way to Lusaka.

Our camp tonight is situated on the outskirts of the city next to a wildlife sanctuary.

Day 2. Lusaka to Petauke

Leaving the capital behind, we take the Great East Road, which links Zambia and Malawi, crossing over the Luangwa River before reaching our accommodation situated 5km from Petauke.

Day 3. Petauke to South Luangwa National Park Highlights. South Luangwa National Park.

The concentration of animals around the Luangwa River, and its oxbow lagoons, is among the most intense in Africa. There are 60 different animal species and over 400 different bird species inhabiting the area. Hippo’s, elephants, lions, leopards, buffalo, giraffe with many other species flourish in the 20,000 sq miles of savannah woodland watered by this 500 mile–long river. The river itself is the most intact and unaltered major river system in Africa and covers 9059 km2. The changing seasons add to the Park’s richness, ranging from; dry, bare bushveld in the winter, to lush green lands in the summer months.

This afternoon is spent at leisure or book various optional activities including village walks and walking safaris.

3 images South Luangwa National Park

Day 4. South Luangwa National Park to Chipata

In the morning we enjoy an open vehicle game drive with a local ranger in search of some of the animals and birdlife that the park is so famous for. With one of the highest concentrations of leopard for any National Park, we hope that South Luangwa will show us these and many of its other inhabitants.

Following the game drive we head to Chipata where we spend the night.

Day 5. Chipata to Kande Beach, Malawi Highlights. Kande Beach Activities, Malawi.

We continue to the border of Malawi. After border formalities, we drive to Lilongwe, Malawi's Capital where we stop for supplies for the next few days.

This afternoon we arrive at Kande Beach on the shores of Lake Malawi where we'll have the next days free to enjoy the surrounds. Take a dip in the warm fresh water lake, chill out at the open air bar, or head out to explore!

3 images Kande Beach Activities, Malawi

Day 6. Kande Beach Highlights. Kande Beach Activities, Malawi.

Today is a free day to explore the Lake and its many activities. Lake Malawi is home to a number of fresh water tropical fish. Go snorkelling or hire a pedalo.

For the land-dwellers, there's the local village walk where we learn about how the local Malawians live. Alternatively spend the day relaxing on the beach, catching up on your travel journal and simply kicking back.

3 images Kande Beach Activities, Malawi

Day 7. Kande Beach to Chitimba Beach Highlights. Chitimba Beach.

Heading north along the lake we make drive to Mzuzu in northern Malawi. The town is a base for the surrounding farmers who come here for supplies and to sell their wares.

We stock up and visit the local market before continuing to our camp at Chitimba Beach on the northern shores of the lake.

3 images Chitimba Beach

Day 8. Chitimba Beach to Iringa, Tanzania

We bid our farewells to the friendly Malawians and cross the border into Tanzania. Our drive today takes us up onto the higher rift valley plateau and through a number of smaller farming villages as we continue East.

Tonight we set up camp at the Farmhouse in Iringa in the Tanzanian highlands.

Day 9. Iringa to Mikumi National Park area

On this day we descend the Southern Highlands in anticipation of the change of scenery to that of the Mikumi National Park. Known for its landscape of baobabs, black hardwood trees and grassy plains, as well as hosting 4 of the Big 5. Upon reaching the accommodation you may have time for an afternoon optional game drive or simply relax at the lodges swimming pool and restaurant/bar before enjoying an open air fire to end the day.

Day 10. Iringa to Dar es Salaam Highlights. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Mikumi National Park, Tanzania.

Rising early, we transit through the Mikumi National park and if we are lucky we may get to spot the numerous wildlife in the park - leopard, lions, giraffes, elephants, buffalo and antelope species.

We make our way east and down onto the coastal belt we see an increase in villages and businesses as we get closer to Dar.

Dar es Salaam is a port city and major hub for commerce in Tanzania. We make our way to our camp to the south of the city where we make ready for our trip to Zanzibar.

3 images Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

3 images Mikumi National Park, Tanzania

Day 11. Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar Highlights. Stone Town, Zanzibar, Tanzania.

Heading out early we take the ferry across the channel to Zanzibar. After customs formalities we proceed to our lodge in Stone Town.

The rest of the day is free to explore Stone Town and its shops, markets, sights and restaurants. Tonight the Forodhani Market is worth seeing with its fresh seafood and local delights.

3 images Stone Town, Zanzibar, Tanzania

Day 12-14. Zanzibar Highlights. Zanzibar, Northern Beaches, Tanzania.

In the morning there is the opportunity to head out on a Spice Tour to learn about and taste the various fruits and spices farmed on the island. Later we drive north to the tip of the island where we settle at our beach location for the next few days.

Browse markets or enjoy hanging in a hammock with a cocktail and a good book. The beach is a great place to catch up with the locals who will pass by selling their wares, offering henna tattoos and inexpensive massages. Round the day off with a sunset dhow cruise or chilling to the tunes from the nearby beach bars.

3 images Zanzibar, Northern Beaches, Tanzania

Day 15. Zanzibar to Bagamoyo Highlights. Bagamoyo, Tanzania.

We head back to Stone Town and have a bit of time to do some last minute shopping before catching our ferry back to the mainland.

We join our Acacia vehicle and make our way to Bagamoyo for the night.

3 images Bagamoyo, Tanzania

Day 16. Bagamoyo to Marangu Highlights. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. Marangu, Moshi Area, Tanzania.

Departing the coast in the early morning, we head inland and continue north. On our drive today we hope to catch a glimpse of the mighty Kilimanjaro towering over the African landscape.

This afternoon we reach Marangu at the base of Kilimanjaro where we will spend our next night.

3 images Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

3 images Marangu, Moshi Area, Tanzania

Day 17. Marangu to Arusha Highlights. Maasai Culture Village Walk, Arusha, Tanzania. Meserani Snake Park, Tanzania.

Arusha is Tanzania’s ‘safari capital’, a city of some 2 million people, a bustling melting pot of markets, vehicles and people – all nestling in the shadow of the brooding Mt Meru (4556 m). With time to explore town we head out to our camp just outside the city at the edge of the Masai plains.

This afternoon we enjoy a walk to one of the local Masai villages, a local school and clinic, a small but highly interesting Masai Museum, and the snake enclosure at the Meserani Snake Park.

3 images Maasai Culture Village Walk, Arusha, Tanzania

3 images Meserani Snake Park, Tanzania

Day 18. Arusha to the Serengeti National Park Highlights. Serengeti National Park, Tanzania.

This morning we meet our resident guides and pack our gear for our excursion into the Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater.

As we drive, we pass into the park and drive around the ‘Crater’s rim and down onto the Serengeti plains. Green after the rains, brown and burnt in the dry, this is home to an enormous variety of grazing animals, predators, and birdlife. Flatter and larger than the Masai Mara the Serengeti is simply huge - indeed the name derives from the Masai word Siringitu – ‘the place where the land moves on forever’. We game drive to our designated (but unfenced) campsite for the evening where lion and hyena roam nearby for an unforgettable experience.

3 images Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Day 19. Serengeti NP to Ngorongoro Crater Highlights. Serengeti National Park, Tanzania.

We game drive this morning seeking out the animals we've not yet seen and those that remain active in the cooler morning hours.

On return to our camp, we pack up and head back via the plains to the Ngorongoro Crater rim where we set up camp for the night.

The crater rim looks down into the intact caldera - once a super volcano and now filled with rich fertile grazing for the resident wildlife.

3 images Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Day 20. Ngorongoro Crater to Arusha Highlights. Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania.

Waking early we board our 4x4's and head down the steep crater wall into the base. It is here that we observe the buffalo, cheetah, lion, hyena and other mammals and birdlife that make this wildlife wonderland their home.

3 images Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania

Day 21. Arusha to Nairobi, Kenya

We head out on our final journey and cross the border to Kenya. Driving through the countryside we soon reach the Capital city Nairobi where our adventure comes to an end.