Discover the Long Way Down
CAIRO TO CAPE
Fully Guided Self Drive Africa Adventure
16 Weeks, 11 countries
Adventurers take note. Cairo to Cape Town - Ultimate Self Drive 4x4 Africa Adventure is for you. Taking in all the popular highlights from Cairo to Cape Town including the great Pyramids of Egypt and Sudan; monasteries on Lake Tana and Lalibela in Ethiopia; great deserts of Sudan, Kenya and Namibia; and of course, all the most famous game parks in Africa. 16 weeks cruising the diverse African lands overland; meeting new people and making friends for life. The Ultimate fully guided self drive Africa adventure - Cairo to Cape Town. An exclusive tour with limited numbers.
Countries visited: Jordan, Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia and South Africa.
Click here to view Cairo to Cape image gallery
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Click here for dates and prices
Click here to book this safari
ITINERARY
Week 1:
Our fully guided self-drive 4x4 epic adventure begins in Aqaba, Jordan. We meet and greet and spend some time to get to know each other and our vehicles in the calm desert surroundings of Jordan. Together we undergo some driver instruction before boarding the ferry from Aqaba to Nuweiba in Egypt taking us to the African continent.
Our first stop in Egypt is on the beach at Dahab. A quaint tourist town bustling with local restaurants, souvenir stands and diving schools. Situated on the shores of the Red Sea it is the perfect spot to take a snorkeling or diving tour. Mount Sinai overlooks the valley where it is believed God spoke to Moses from a burning bush. The bush is now enshrined in St Catherine's Monastery. A visit to both these locations is a must while based in Dahab.
Week 2:
From Dahab we make our way to Luxor, the home to Valley of Kings and Queens, and Karnak Temple. We leave the vehicles in Luxor and the board the train to Cairo. We stay in central Cairo and have a few days to explore the Pyramids of Ghiza; the Step Pyramid at Saqqara and the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities. Making our way back to Luxor and continuing to Aswan. Here is where we can take a ride up the Nile by Felucca, the traditional boats used for thousands of years to navigate the Nile; visit Philae temple and a Nubian village. It is also possible to take a day trip to the ancient temple of Abu Simbel.
Week 3:
Aswan is also our starting point for a very special adventure: the crossing of Lake Nasser to Sudan and Wadi Halfa. Since all land borders between Egypt and Sudan are permanently closed the only way to continue south into black Africa is by boat. This is definitely one of the major highlights on the fully guided self drive 4x4 Cairo to Cape Town Africa Adventure.
The crossing takes about 3 days plus a day for loading and one day for off loading our vehicles. There are no loading facilities so the sailors run the barges onto the beach and it is up to us to on and off load....
After the Sudanese border formalities we overland into the most eastern part of the Sahara; the Nubian Desert..
Week 4:
This will be our first desert crossing on our fully guided self drive 4x4 Africa adventure. Surrounded by sand dunes for miles the peace and quiet is like nothing else we have experienced and a pleasant change to the hustle and bustle of Egypt. It will take us about 3 days to overland this part of the biggest desert in the world. As we pass small isolated desert villages the local kids come out in droves to welcome us.
Meeting up with the Nile we head for Khartoum, the capital of Sudan. The Blue Nile originating in Ethiopia and the White Nile with its source in Uganda joins here.
We spend a few days on the banks of the Nile exploring the city, check on our 4x4 vehicles and stock up on food and water. Most visitors are surprised by the vibrant city of Khartoum and the warmth and friendliness of the Sudanese people. Shy by nature they watch curiously and shyly from a distance as we make our way through the large city.
Refreshed we continue south to Ethiopia.
Week 5 and 6:
Most images we have of Ethiopia are of starving children and unfertile desert land. A vast contrary to what we will discover on our travels through this mystical land. Queen of Sheeba and King Solomon ruled here and St George killed dragons in this stunning land of gorges and lakes.
As we approach Ethiopia from Sudan the land becomes greener, fertile and mountainous. Wooden huts scattered throughout the countryside next to small fields being ploughed by ox and man. The best way to explore this part of the World is overland in our 4x4 vehicles.
Our first stop not long after the border is Gondar.
Gondar, the "Camelot" of Africa so duly named for its castles and churches. The original capital of Ethiopia from its foundation by Emperor Fasilidas in 1632. A must is a visit to the Royal Enclosure and Daschen Brewery for a completely different experience.
From Gondar we continue our journey to Lalibela. Perched at an altitude of 2630m above sea level Lalibela remains a very isolated place and a centre of pilgrimage. Famous for it 11 rock-hewn churches built in one century by the help of Angels - so is the belief. The churches are maintained and guarded by priests and monks. A guided tour through these churches, religious or not, will leave you in awe.
We bid farewell to Lalibela and overland to Bahir Dar on the shores of Lake Tana. Lake Tana is dotted with islands boasting some of the oldest monasteries in the World. It is possible to visit these monasteries and if lucky enough view ancient biblical books still closely guarded by resident monks.
Lake Tana is the source of the Blue Nile, a visit to Blue Nile Falls brings us into close contact not only with the falls but tens of curios kids.
The route on our fully guided self drive 4x4 Cairo to Cape Town leads us to Addis Ababa "The new Flower" in Amharic.
We spend a few days in the world capital of the Rastafarians to relax and restock our supplies. Lucy, the oldest human remains in the world can be seen at the museum here. The Merkato (local market) is the place to buy intricate religious icons such as Lalibela Crucifix and old style paintings of Mary, Joseph, Moses and St George. Strangely for those with a sweet tooth will be able to satisfy cravings at one of the many pastry shops scattered throughout the city.
Week 7:
Lake Awasa will be our next stop and first opportunity to possibly spot African wildlife - hippos. From here we descend into the Great Rift Valley, stretching from Syria through the African continent to Mozambique, toward Lake Turkana and the border to Kenya.
Crossing the northern district of Kenya overland is one of the more challenging parts of our self drive 4x4 Africa adventure. A very arid area and demanding road conditions for us and the 4x4 vehicles. The crossing will take 2 days, but in that time we will be lucky to have covered 500kms. The going is slow and dusty.
Samburu National Park is our first real taste of East Africa and wildlife and a day or so to game drive through this superb park is a must. Our first glimpse of the big Cats; antelope, giraffe, elephant and zebra will leave a real buzz in the air while we chat about our game drive around the open campfire..
Week 8:
Passing Mount Kenya we cross the equator and make our way to Nairobi, the Capital of Kenya. Once again we take some time to relax and recover, service the 4x4 vehicles and restock.
We stay on the outskirts of Nairobi close to Nairobi National Park, David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage and the Nairobi Giraffe Centre for those wanting to go exploring. A night out at Carnivores restaurant feasting on various meats is often a popular suggestion.
Our fully guided self drive Africa Adventure has reached the very heart of "safari country" and the half way point between Cairo and Cape Town.
Week 9:
Lake Naivasha, a short drive from Nairobi, awaits us with "Elsamere" - the home of Born Free. Indulge in high tea, watch a video about Joy Adamson's life and visit a little museum dedicated to Joy and George. From here we visit Lake Nakuru National Park, famous for its white rhino population and millions of pink flamingos gracefully perched in the shallows of Lake Nakuru. We can drive right to the Lake's edge; but be warned many 4x4s have been bogged doing just this!
If Walt Disney was to build a Game Park he would definitely model it on Lake Nakuru National Park. A small game park, teeming with wildlife, a soda Lake as the centre piece and cliffs drawing the background. A truly stunning setting.
We continue through the Great Rift Valley and up into the western highlands of Kenya. We are blessed with stunning views down into the Valley before descending to the Lake Victoria basin..
Week 10:
We enter Tanzania and the world famous Serengeti National Park. It will take us two days to cross overland through the most documented game park in Africa, before reaching the town of Arusha.
The Serengeti is the most famous game park in all of Africa, and after spending some time there you will know why. The Serengeti is littered with lion, rhino, buffalo, elephant, zebra, and wildebeest - just to name a few. This time of year the wildebeest and zebra are migrating through Seronera, the area we base ourselves for 2 nights.
We overland in the wild savannah plains amongst the African Big 5 wildlife in the most famous game park in Africa. Our days are spent game driving and photographing wildlife like: lion, leopard, wildebeest, rhino, warthog, cheetah, gazelle, zebra, giraffe, elephants, buffalo, hartebeest, reedbuck plus many more. If we are lucky we may also spot the African Little 5. As the sun goes down we make camp amongst the wildlife, eat a hearty meal and fall asleep listening to the sounds of Africa. Your reservation awaits you at the 1000000 star Hotel (the breath taking African skies).
No fully guided self drive 4x4 Africa adventure would be complete without the thrill of driving through the most famous game park in Africa.
We leave the Serengeti continuing through Masai Land to Meserani, a Masai Village. Here we visit a Masai Village and Cultural Centre.
Week 11:
A day's drive takes us to the coast and Dar es Salaam or "Haven of Peace" in Kiswahili. It is here where we leave the 4x4 vehicles and catch a ferry to the spice island of Zanzibar with its ancient Arab architecture, tropical beaches and crystal clear waters.
The ferry arrives in Stone Town - a classic Arabic old city, with narrow cobble stoned streets, sweet smell of spices floats through the air, and the local mosque hums in the background. At sun-down the plaza changes form and as the sun disappears over the Indian Ocean, the Plaza comes alive with the smell of barbecuing fresh seafood, colorfully dressed women mix dough in preparation to make Zanzibar pizzas and the men stand around talking politics. For the true Zanzibar experience a visit and a meal in the plaza is an absolute must. A visit to Zanzibar would not be complete without taking one of the many spice tours on offer and a couple of days relaxing on the tropical beaches and swimming in crystal clear waters. For those wanting to partake in aquatic activities Zanzibar will not disappoint - snorkeling, scuba diving, swimming with dolphins, sailing and windsurfing are all on offer.
We spend a few days to relax and enjoy.
Week 12:
Leaving Dar es Salaam behind us we head west through Mikumi National Park and reach the border of Malawi. We follow the lake shore and enjoy the laid back atmosphere of this beautiful country. Lake Malawi with its beautiful beaches and coves not only gave the country its name it also covers one third of the county's surface. We make our way along the Lake stopping at idyllic spots for some time to chat to the locals and watch local craftsmen carve Malawi chairs..
Week 13:
Heading further south we cross into Zambia and visit South Luangwa national park, one of the best kept secrets of African game parks. Not many travellers know about this outstanding park hidden in the Luangwa valley.
Overlanding on some particularly bad roads we arrive at our "home" for the coming 2 nights – Croc Valley Campsite. The campsite is situated on the banks of the Luangwa River - a natural fence separating the campsite from South Luangwa National Park. It is not unusual for Elephants to wander into camp at breakfast time to check-out the breakfast menu; be warned Kellogg's Cornflakes are one of the favorite foods and they are not shy in helping themselves! The campsite has several platforms high in the tress - a perfect spot to lay out your mattress under a mosquito net and listen to the wild African sounds.
South Luangwa National Park is famous for leopard, lion, giraffe, hippos, crocodiles, hyena and aardvark. It is one of the few parks where night game drives as well as walking safaris are possible. A spectacular park situated in a spectacular part of Africa.
Passing through the capital Lusaka on our fully guided self drive 4x4 Africa adventure we reach the world famous "smoke that thunders" renamed to Victoria Falls by David Livingstone.
Week 14:
Long before we reach Livingstone we can see the mist coming from the famous Victoria Falls. The mist becomes more pronounced as we arrive in the centre of Livingstone, Zambia. The Zambezi River with its Victoria Falls is a natural border line separating Zambia from Zimbabwe; the Falls leaves many speechless with her sheer size and power; 1 mile long and pumps an incredible 4.5 million cubic meters of water every second into the Zambezi Gorge.
Livingstone is the perfect base to enjoy the many activities on offer including a sunset cruise down the Zambezi; white water raft; abseil and gorge swing in the Zambezi Gorge, bungee jump 111m with Victoria Falls providing the perfect backdrop; take an afternoon stroll with Rhinos; or photograph the Falls from great heights in a micro light, helicopter or light aircraft - the options are endless.
Our next destination is Botswana. We spend some time on the banks of the Chobe River taking time to cruise along the river watching animals playing in the shallows. A game drive through Chobe National Park famous for large Elephant population in a custom built open safari vehicle with a local safari guide gives us insight into the unique population home to this region.
Week 15:
Overlanding into northern Namibia we visit the northern Okavango Delta; an amazing 15,000 sq km water maze of lagoons, estuaries, streams and islands form this incredible haven for birds and African animals alike. The best way to explore the Delta is by Mokoro - local dug-out canoes, we spend a few hours exploring the region with local polers.
From here we make our way to the world's biggest meteorite before entering Etosha National Park.
Etosha is Namibia's draw card. A vast game park situated in classic African savannah surroundings. The well located watering holes often mean we do not have to travel far to see wild life. The well equipped campsites situated near a flood lit watering hole are a pleasant surprise for everyone who has travelled north to south. A perfect setting to break open a few bottles of South African finest wines and enjoy a platter of cheeses, olives, and fresh fruit as we watch the animals come in to drink. Sitting by one of watering holes peacefully watching wild life is a vast contrast to the hustle and bustle of Cairo and Egypt - you will begin to wonder if you are still on the same continent!
The German colonial towns of Swakopmund and Luderitz are well worth a visit as well. Swakopmund appropriately labeled as the desert adventure capital of Southern Africa, there are many activities to had including quad biking, sky diving and deep sea fishing. For those looking for a more relaxed time there are plenty of excellent restaurants serving famous Namibian seafood and traditional German food and beer. Luderitz, an old Bavarian style German colonial town, is a true step back in time. On the icy shores of the South Atlantic Ocean it is home to seals, penguins, flamingos and assorted marine life.
Week 16:
Not far from Luderitz is the diamond ghost town of Kohlmanskop. Once a bustling diamond mining town until the slump in diamond prices after WW1 and richer deposits discovered further south left Kohlmanskop a mere reminder of what life was like pre WW1.
Sesriem National Park provides us the chance to climb to Dune 45, the largest sand dune in World. A visit to Fish River Canyon and the hot springs of Ai Ais are also a must in this part of the Africa.
South Africa is our last country and final destination on our fully guided self drive 4x4 Cairo to Cape Town adventure. Leaving the arid landscape of Namibia we soon hit the green Mediterranean like wine region of the Western Cape and our final destination of Cape Town.
A wine tour around Stellenbosch is a civilised way to wind down our epic journey across the African continent.
As we arrive in Cape Town and enjoy a final meal together we reminisce over the previous 4 months; remembering our overland adventures we toast to our experiences, the interesting people we have met along the way and more importantly to us; for turning our dreams into a reality.
It is here we conclude our Fully Guided Self Drive 4x4 Africa Adventure - Cairo to Cape Town.
For those wanting to spend more time exploring the Southern Cape we can assist in car hire and great destinations to visit.
Click here to view Cairo to Cape image gallery
Click here for more information
Click here for dates and prices
Click here to book this safari
INCLUDED
- 4x4 overland vehicle (max 2 people per vehicle)
- Fuel, road tolls, spare parts, international vehicle paperwork, ferries
- Camping equipment (tent, camp bed, director camping chair)
- Kitchen and cooking equipment
- Guide/lead vehicle
- 2 experienced expedition crew (mechanic and tour leader/cook)
- Meals while camping
- Accommodation - 10% hotels/hostels 90% camping
- Maps and local information
- Return ferry to Zanzibar
- Spice Tour, Zanzibar
- Entrance fees:
- Pyramids, Cairo, Egypt
- Valley of Kings and Valley of Queens, Egypt
- Karnak Temple, Egypt
- Royal Enclosure, Gondar, Ethiopia
- Lalibela, Ethiopia
- Monasteries Tours, Lake Tana, Ethiopia
- Samburu National Park, Kenya
- High Tea Elsamere, Naivasha, Kenya
- Nakuru National Park, Kenya
- Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
- Mikumi National Park, Tanzania
- South Luangwa National Park, Zambia
- Victoria Falls National Park, Zambia
- Boat trip Chobe River, Botswana
- Game drive Chobe National Park, Botswana
- Okavango Delta, Nambia
- Etosha National Park, Namibia
- Sesriem National Park, Namibia
- Kolmanskop Diamond ghost town, Namibia
- Fish River Canyon, Namibia
- Wine tour Stellenbosch, Cape Town, South Africa
EXCLUDED
- International driving permit
- Meals while in hotels, lunches while in same campsite for more than 1 day
- Visas
- Sleeping bag
- Flights
- Personal comprehensive travel insurance
- Personal spending money
- Minor or adventure activities en-route (white water rafting, walking with lions, ballooning Serengeti etc); drinks and snacks, meals while staying in hostels/hotels
This expedition is also available as a tag-along in your own vehicle - email Debs for more information info@africaexpeditionsupport.com
Click here to view Cairo to Cape image gallery
Click here for more information
Click here for dates and prices
Click here to book this safari
2008 expedition underway
Sue
and Russ indepedent blog
