African Adventure (Northbound) - 45 days (Johannesburg to Nairobi)

  Botswana

• Other Cities in Botswana: 
Molepolole

  Kenya

• Nairobi: 
Nairobi

  Malawi

• Other Cities in Malawi: 
Northern Malawi

  South Africa

• Other Cities in South Africa: 
Johannesburg,  Gauteng Province

  Tanzania

• Other Cities in Tanzania: 
Dar Es Salaam

  Zambia

• Other Cities in Zambia: 
Livingstone

Duration of Program: 5-8 weeks
Dates: All Year - Please Email Us

Description: Day 1 Johannesburg
Start the adventure in vibrant Johannesburg.

Days 2-3 Kruger National Park
Enjoy the spectacular view of Blyde River Canyon en route to Kruger National Park. Explore the diverse landscape on a full-day game drive.

Days 4-5 Polokwane Game Reserve/ Nata
A dawn safari is the perfect introduction to the area's wilderness.

Day 6 Chobe National Park
View the magnificent Makgadikgadi Pans before enjoying an afternoon cruise along the Chobe River - a great opportunity to look out for hippos, elephants and fish eagles.

Days 7-8 Livingstone/ Victoria Falls
The thunderous roar of Victoria Falls is truly unforgettable.

Days 9-10 Lusaka/ Chipata
A fusion of modern and traditional Africa, Lusaka boasts a welcoming ambience.

Day 11 Luwawa Forest Lodge
Gain an insight into village life with a community visit in the Luwawa Forest.

Days 12-13 Lake Malawi
Relax on one of the beaches or get active with optional water activities.

Days 14-15 Chitimba/ Iringa
Wander the jacaranda-lined streets of highland Iringa.

Days 16-17 Dar es Salaam
Discover Dar es Salaam's enchanting mix of African, Arabic and Indian influences.

Days 18-21 Zanzibar/ Dar es Salaam
Explore the exotic bazaars and winding cobblestone alleyways of Zanzibar, a tropical island paradise.

Days 22-23 Usambara Mountains
Marvel at the natural beauty with a hike into the mountains. A visit to a local cultural and ecological project is a great chance to discover more about the region.

Day 24 Marangu
Experience some local hospitality on a village tour on the slopes of Mt Kilimanjaro.

Days 25-26 Mto Wa Mbu/ Karatu
Meet the inspirational kids from the Amani Children's Home.

Days 27-28 Serengeti National Park
Experience the magic of a safari through the Serengeti.

Day 29 Ngorongoro Crater/ Karatu
Renowned for its ecological diversity, the Ngorongoro Crater provides an excellent chance of spotting some of the Big Five.

Day 30 Nairobi
Explore Kenya's vibrant capital at leisure or unwind at one of the city's many cafes.

Day 31 Lake Nakuru
Lend a hand at the Kariandusi School Trust Project.

Days 32-33 Eldoret/ Jinja
Recharge in the camp's beautiful surroundings.

Days 34-35 Kibale Forest National Park
Observe the park's playful chimpanzees on a guided walking safari and perhaps set off on some optional treks through the lush equatorial rainforest.

Day 36 Queen Elizabeth National Park
Cruise the Kazinga Channel and enjoy the area's wonderful birdlife.

Day 37 Lake Bunyoni
Take the option to hire a traditional canoe for amazing views of picturesque scenery.

Days 38-40 Gorilla Trek
Observe the majestic mountain gorilla in its natural habitat.

Day 41 Lake Mburo
The unique flora surrounding Lake Mburo is home to a wide array of animals including the graceful eland antelope.

Days 42-43 Jinja
Visit the beautiful Bujagali Falls.

Days 44-45 Eldoret/ Nairobi
The trip ends in Kenya's lively capital

Highlights: Survey the great salt expanse of the Makgadikgadi Pans, Cruise past hippos wallowing in the Chobe River, Admire the might of Victoria Falls, Spend a night under the stars in the Serengeti, Experience life in the Luwawa Forest, Rejuvenate in the crystal-clear waters of tropical Zanzibar, Observe Rwanda's noble mountain gorillas, Track playful chimps in Kibale Forest National Park, Lend a hand at the Kariandusi School Trust Project, Spot a shy antelope in acacia woodland, Experience peaceful wilderness in Lake Mburo National Park, Marvel at swirling rapids near Bujagali Falls, Spot the Big Five in the remarkable Queen Elizabeth National Park.

* For application details, please contact us for more information.

Cost in US$: Please Email Us For Latest Pricing

Accommodation
Hotel (4 nts), participatory camping (40 nts)

Our camp sites are in great locations. When we stay in public camp sites the bathroom facilities can be VERY basic (the toilets may be squat style hole in the ground) and not as clean as Intrepid would hope for. There is rarely toilet paper provided and shower facilities can be a hose pipe spurting out cold water.

Once again, the spectacular serenity and chance to sleep inside National Parks so close to nature makes a little inconvenience all worthwhile and part of the African safari experience. Plus not all campsites are as basic as this description, it's just to make sure there are no surprises for you. Accommodation on this trip is mainly in two person dome tents. Please note there may be times when you share a room with passengers travelling on different Intrepid trips than your own at start, finish or joining point hotels.

Meals
While camping on Overland journeys, all meals will be included. You may be required to share in cooking and shopping duties for the group's meals. When you are not camping you will have the freedom to decide where, what and with whom you eat. Please check the itinerary for details of meals included.

Allow USD $450 for meals not included.

Meal Inclusions
All meals while camping (except when in Livingstone)

When travelling on an Overland trip you have chosen a participation camping tour. This means that you will be helping your cook or tour leader prepare meals for the group. You may also get the chance to help with the shopping! Your crew will help you with meal ideas and quantities needed for large groups. This is usually done on a duty roster system with group of 5 or 6 people (depending on group size) having a different camp job each day. If you have any dietary requirements please tell us at the time of booking and also remind your crew at your welcome meeting.

A typical camp breakfast might be toast with spreads, cereal and something hot such as eggs or pancakes as well as tea and coffee. Lunch is almost always a sandwich heaped high with healthy salad and assorted fillings, with fruit to follow.

Dinner might be a BBQ, risotto, pasta dish and there is always the chance to try some African food such as ugali and stew. One thing is sure, you definitely won't go hungry or lose weight on your safari! When you are not camping you will have the freedom to decide where, what and with whom you eat.

Single Travellers
With the exception of our Comfort trips, our group trips are designed for shared accommodation and do not involve a single supplement. Single travellers share with people of the same sex for the duration of the trip, in accommodation ranging from twin to multi-share. Please note some of our itineraries have accommodation booked on a mixed gender share basis - where applicable this will be specified in our Trip Notes. On our Comfort trips you have the choice of sharing or paying a single supplement. Please note that this only applies to accommodation during the tour. Pre- and post-trip accommodation will be booked on a single room basis.

Transport
Overland truck, 4WD, ferry, walking

There are many long hours spent driving on rough roads on all Africa itineraries. While most people love the chance to watch the changing landscape and daily village life, feedback shows that long periods of inactivity does not appeal to all clients. We provide the approximate daily distance covered and how long this normally takes to drive in hours so that you can choose the safari experience which is right for you.

African conditions are extremely tough on vehicles. While we fastidiously maintain our vehicles at our workshops, you should not expect Africa to be your traditional touring experience. While it is certainly our aim to avoid them, it is important that you set off on your trip knowing that the occasional breakdown can happen and are best treated as part of the Africa adventure.

The step up into the overland truck, while not overly high can become tiring and you need to judge yourself to be physically fit enough to haul yourself up and down at least 8-10 times a day, as can the constant setting and packing up of camp.

Our trucks are purpose-built, self contained safari vehicles.

If your tour travels to/from Johannesburg you will travel in a smaller 16 seat vehicle, changing crew and vehicle in Livingstone.(please note, some departures may use vans and luggage trailers subject to group size and vehicle availability)

Activities Included
All other activities are optional and at your own expense. For a list of optional activities and sightseeing available on this trip, contact us for more information. If you choose not to participate in the included activities on this itinerary, the cost will not be refunded.

Optional Activities
They are not necessarily endorsed or recommended by Intrepid nor included in price of this trip. If you do any of them, you do so at your own risk and it must be clearly understood that your participation is your own decision and does not form part of your contract with us.

Please note - some of the above optional activities require you to hire your own means of transport (4 x 4). The prices vary but start from about US$80 per day.

Physical Rating
Be prepared for some serious physical activity. This may be treks of up to 6 hours per day in steep terrain, or extended bike rides of more than one day. The fitter you are, the more you will enjoy your holiday.

Culture Shock Rating
Expect to rough it every now and again, whether it's very simple group-share accommodation at a homestay, a packed public bus where you are forced to stand, the odd cold shower or an encounter with a squat toilet.

Important Notes
1.Please note this trip is co operated by our experienced local partners. Your departure may be run in their vehicle with their crew.

2.This is a combination trip and on day 8 you will change vehicles (from a 16 seater to a 21 seater safari vehicle) and group leader for the to Livingstone to Nairobi sector. The composition of your tour may change again in Nairobi. The Jo'burg to Victoria Falls sector is operated in a purpose built 16 seater safari vehicles. On occassion due to small group size or fleet availability issues, we may run departures in Quantam vans with luggage trailers.

3.In order to ensure permits for the Gorilla and chimpanzee trek an increased deposit will apply at time of booking. The additional deposit paid at time of booking will be credited to the final balance of your booking.

4.Rather than bringing the full amount of your kitty in cash, it is possible to pay half in USD travellers cheques. These must be issued by either American Express or Barclays Bank. Please note, it is important that you are aware that if you decide on this option you are prepared to go with your leader to the bank sometime during the trip for the countersigning necessary to cash the cheques. You will also be asked to cover any exchange or commission fees - ie if you cash a cheque for USD500 your leader needs to receive exactly USD500 (not USD500 minus the commission or charges)

5.The above itinerary is intended as a guide only. While our intention is to adhere to the day to day route published, on any particular departure the distances travelled, driving time and available activities can vary for a variety of reasons weather, road conditions, local restrictions, etc. Overnight stops also may vary on occasions from those suggested.

6.Please note the minimum age for this trip is 18 years old and bookings for minors, even if accompanied by a parent, are not accepted. There is a maximum age of 70 for this tour.

7. An optional sunrise balloon ride in the Serengeti National Park is possible on this itinerary. Please see days 19-21 for full details of activity. As the balloon only holds 16 people, places are limited and must be booked in advance. T Please enquire when booking your trip to book this optional activity.
This is only applicable for the portion of your kitty from Victoria Falls to Nairobi (and gorillas). The kitty payment for the Johannesburg to Victoria Falls sector must be paid in cash.
Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is compulsory for all our trips. We require that, at a minimum, you are covered for medical expenses including emergency repatriation. We strongly recommend that the policy also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage and personal effects.

When travelling on a group trip, you will not be permitted to join the group until evidence of travel insurance and the insurance company's 24 hour emergency contact number has been seen by your leader.

If you have credit card insurance your tour leader will require details of the participating insurer/underwriter, the level of coverage, policy number and emergency contact telephone number rather than the Bank's name and credit card details. Please contact your bank for these details prior to arriving in-country.

Visas
Please note that visas are the responsibility of the individual traveller. The visa requirements for your trip vary depending on where you are from and where you are going. We keep the following information up to date as much as possible, but rules do change. It is important that you check for yourself.

Kenyan visas are required by most nationalities. Visas are available at point of entry (ie airports and land borders) to most nationalities, although we do recommend you obtain your visas prior to departure. Some nationalities require visas to be purchased in advance - you MUST check before departure. If you plan to purchase your visas on arrival, you will need new, clean American dollars cash and the cost is around US$50 for each visa. All nationalities should check with the Kenyan Embassies for more information.

Ugandan visas are required by most nationalities, including from the EU, US and Australia. All nationalities should check with the Ugandan Embassy for more information. Ugandan visas are available at point of entry but we do recommend you obtain your visas prior to departure if possible. If you plan to purchase your visas on arrival, you will need American dollars cash.

Please note that you need a Double Entry Visa for Uganda. If a multi entry is not possible to obtain when obtaining your visa in advance, you can easily get another entry on re entry from Rwanda.

Rwandan visas are required by all nationalities. For all applicants holding national passports from USA, Germany, Canada, South Africa, Great Britain, Sweden and Hong Kong there is no charge and they can be issued at the border. This is due to the bilateral agreement that Rwanda has with these countries.
All other nationalities require a visa and we recommend obtaining this in advance. It costs approximately US$60. However for those coming from a country where there is no Embassy or Diplomatic Mission they can be obtained at the border as long as passengers have pre-arranged their Entry Facility. They must print this Entry Facility out to present at the border.

Please make sure you check to see if there is an embassy in your country because if this is the case you MUST obtain your visa beforehand eg France and Belgium.

This tour requires a double entry visas to Uganda and Kenya. This can be easily purchased on re entry from Rwanda and Uganda for nationalities which qualify for 'visa on arrival". Please allow USD50 per country .All other nationalities must arrange in advance.

Health
All travellers need to be in good physical health in order to participate fully in the group travel experience. If, in the opinion of our group leader, any traveller is unable to complete the itinerary without undue risk to themselves and/or the rest of the group, the tour company reserves the right to exclude them from all or part of a trip without refund. We therefore ask that you read the itinerary in these trip notes thoroughly and then realistically self-assess your physical ability to complete the trip as described. Please consult with your doctor if you have any doubts.

A valid international certificate of vaccination against Yellow Fever is required if arriving within 6 days from or via an infected area. You may be required if asked to present this on arrival at the airport.

Other vaccinations including Hepatitis A, Typhoid and Polio are recommended but we advise you to discuss this with your doctor. Consult your doctor for up-to-date information and prescriptions for vaccinations, anti-malarial requirements and any reasonably foreseeable illnesses whilst travelling in Africa. We recommend that you carry a first aid kit as well as any personal medical requirements (including a spare pair of glasses).

Please be aware that for legal reasons our leaders/guides are prohibited from administering any type of drug including headache tablets and antibiotics. Please ensure that you are adequately prepared.

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work in Groups of Maximum Group size 24 (Minimum 1)

Application Process Involves:

• Online Application plus Application Assessment
• Other
• Written Application

FYI Travel's Mission Statement: Travel is a life-changing experience and FYI Travel will assist those who wish to, providing important information, giving peace of mind and support throughout their journey. FYI Travel is a link between traveller's and ground operators/service providers. We empower those in South Africa and Africa who offer extraordinary experiences. Our goal is to be instrumental in assisting individuals in making their trip a memorable one, being part of the traveller's life experience. We firmly believe that South Africa and Africa have so much to offer. The beauty and character of these countries are unique and should be experienced by everyone on this planet.

Year Founded: 2007