8-Week 7-Country 4×4 Overland Safari

This guided 4×4 self drive adventure is designed for those who want to experience the best of Southern and East Africa. Exploring popular highlights from the wine region of South Africa to the desert of Namibia, mingling with locals in the tropics of Malawi, game driving through the most famous wilderness parks in the world.

This is The expedition for the adventurous explorer. It’s an exclusive tour with only 2 departures per year and limited numbers of travelers.

This expedition is also available as a tag-along in your own vehicle.

WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS SAY…

We would definitely recommend Africa Expedition Support for the overall experience, adventure and access to Africa. The whole experience of driving and enjoying 7000kms through 7 countries and the relative independence of a self drive. Thus we achieved a real element of personal freedom with the security of a general convoy arrangement. We were able to experience a number of real adventures that we wouldn’t have achieved on our own without detailed planning and far greater risk. We also made some great friends.

Safari Tour Highlights

• Be thrilled by Africa’s most cosmopolitan city: Cape Town
• Discover world heritage sites. Step back in time and lose yourself in the wide open deserts of Namibia
• 4×4 game drive through wildlife-rich game parks in Namibia, Botswana, Zambia and Kenya
• Explore the beauty of Zambia and the iconic Victoria Falls
• Relax on the shores of Lake Malawi while fishermen haul in their daily catch
• Drive through ever-changing, diverse and breath-taking African scenery
• Escape to the enchanting island of Zanzibar
• Unwind while listening to an authentic African wildlife symphony
• Give way at a real Zebra, Elephant or Giraffe crossing!

Africa Discovered Self Drive Safari Itinerary

(Click here for the full-length safari itinerary.)

Week 1: Cape Town, Stellenbosch and Fish River Canyon

Fish River Canyon in Namibia is an incredible natural masterpiece taking thousands of years to perfect

Our African 4WD expedition starts in the vibrant city of Cape Town, South Africa, where we meet the rest of our group of intrepid travellers and 4×4 expedition vehicles. Explore the world-class wine region of Stellenbosch before bidding farewell to the Cape and making our way to Namibia and the impressive Fish River Canyon.

Week 2: Kolmanskop, Sesrium, Dune 45 and Swakopmund

Namibia is unlike anywhere else in East and Southern Africa, with outstanding sand dunes, dramatic rock formations and tumultuous coastline. We discover the diamond ghost town of Kolmanskop near the coastal town of Luderitz, climb to the top of Dune 45 in Sesriem National Park and explore the old German colonial town of Swakopmund.

Week 3: Cape Cross, Skeleton Coast, World Heritage Sites and Etosha National Park

Cape Cross on the Skeleton Coast is home to over 200,000 Cape fur seals, the noise can be overwhelming as hundreds of thousands of seals bleep and blurt, going about their daily business totally unperturbed by our presence. Visiting the World Heritage sites of Twyfelfontein and the Petrified Forest, we are taken on a journey back through ancient times before a brief stop at the largest meteorite in the World. We then embark on our first independent 4×4 game drive in Etosha National Park.

Week 4: Kavango River, Chobe National Park, Victoria Falls

Continuing our overland 4×4 expedition through Northern Namibia we traverse the less travelled region of the Caprivi Strip toward the tip of the northern Okavango Delta region. We enjoy an afternoon on a motorised platform seeking out bird and aquatic life, with a few hours game driving in search of mammals.

Ever wondered why African women have the best postures? It is still very common to carry goods on their heads, like this woman carrying a washing bowl full of water in Zambia.

Bidding farewell to Namibia we continue on safari to Botswana and the famous Chobe National Park where again we take to the water and land to explore the area. Livingstone is our next self drive stop with Victoria Falls, interesting museums depicting Dr Livingstone’s life, and colourful markets.

Week 5: South Luangwa National Park and Lake Malawi

Travelling across Zambia to South Luangwa National Park, Zambia’s best kept secret and home to a wealth of African wildlife including unique animals only found in this region, the terrain varies from open plains to heavily wooded areas offering ideal habitat for a variety of wildlife not often seen in the same park. We embark on an early morning and evening game drive when the animals are most active. As we cross the border to Malawi the first thing that strikes us is the contrast from Zambia.

Malawi is a small lively country full of vibrant villages, rich lush tropical countryside and plenty of welcoming, smiling faces. Lake Malawi covers 1/3rd of the country and provides vital fresh water to most of the nation.

Week 6: Livingstonia and Zanzibar

As we drive through Malawi, it is not unusual to spot monkeys stealing mangos from high in the trees while donkeys cart water from the lake’s edge to nearby subsistence farms, as hundreds of primary school children come streaming out of the classrooms at the end of day in bright pink pristine uniforms. We explore Lake Malawi, local villages and the age-old town of Livingstonia.

Amboseli National Park has some of the most dramatic scenery due to its close proximity to Mt Kilimanjaro, here the morning mist is just starting to lift over the hills.

Our overland safari takes us through the heart of Tanzania before spending a few days on the enchanting island of Zanzibar.

Week 7: Masai Culture, Diamonds and Game Parks

We take some time to learn about the fascinating Masai culture and how they have successfully blended the traditional and modern into their unique way of life. We seize the opportunity to shop for rare blue diamonds before departing for the Kenyan side of Mt Kilimanjaro and Amboseli National Park. We game drive through Amboseli National Park, famous for large herds of Elephant, before being hosted by the owners of Africa Expedition Support in their home on the edge of the rift valley, followed by a game driving search for near extinct black and white rhino in Lake Nakuru National Park.

Week 8: Masai Mara National Reserve and Nairobi Giraffe Centre

This lioness in the Masai Mara National Reserve is immensely enjoying her meal. The circle of life continues.

As we near the end of our incredible African odyssey we are treated to high tea and a tour of the original home of Joy and George Adamson, better known as the first wildlife conservationists, who successfully hand raised and then released the lion Elsa back to the wild in the 1960’s. The movie Born Free was made depicting this first-ever achievement. In true African spirit, we enjoy a walking safari before continuing to the incredible Masai Mara National Reserve for extraordinary 4×4 game viewing.

Entering Nairobi we complete our expedition with a visit to the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage to meet orphaned elephants on the road to release, and handfeed rare Rothschild giraffes at the Nairobi Giraffe Centre.

This expedition can be started in Nairobi and finish in Cape Town. Email Debs at info@africaexpeditionsupport.com for the full itinerary.

Email Debs at info@africaexpeditionsupport.com for more information

Prices are per person based on 2 people sharing 1 vehicle. The trips costs are split into 2 sections, Land Price and Local Payment.

Land Price: Is payable in full 90 days prior to departure. This is payable in United States Dollars (USD$).
Local Payment: Is payable on day 1 of your expedition directly to the crew. This is payable in post-dated 2009 USD$ Cash only.

Please note there is a bond of USD$1,500 per vehicle, this will be added to the invoice to be paid with the final payment. Once the vehicle and equipment has been inspected at the end of the expedition, and should there be no unreasonable damage, or claim from a third party the bond will be refunded.

Africa Discovered Safari Package includes:

• 4×4 overland Land Rover vehicle (max 2 people per vehicle or 2 adults and 2 children)
• Fuel, Road tolls, spare parts, international vehicle paperwork, ferries as per the itinerary
• Camping equipment (tent, camp bed, director camping chair)
• Kitchen and cooking equipment
• Guide/lead vehicle
• Experienced expedition crew
• Meals while camping
• 

  Spending the evening dining and dancing with local communities in Malawi adds that something special to the overall African safari experience.

  Accommodation – 20% hotels, 80% camping

• Maps and local information
• Return ferry to Zanzibar
• Spice Tour, Zanzibar
• Wine tour Stellenbosch, South Africa
• Entrance fees
• Fish River Canyon, Namibia
• Kolmanskop Diamond Ghost Town, Namibia
• Sesriem National Park, Namibia
• Twyfelfontein guided tour, Namibia
• Petrified Forest guided tour, Namibia
• Etosha National Park, Namibia
• Northern Delta, Namibia
• Boat trip Chobe River, Botswana
• Game drive Chobe National Park, Botswana
• 

  The desert of Namibia seems to go on forever as we will find out on our guided self drive expedition

  Victoria Falls National Park, Zambia

• South Luangwa National Park, Zambia
• Mikumi National Park, Tanzania
• Masai village, Tanzania
• Amboseli National Park, Kenya
• Masai Mara Game Reserve, Kenya
• Nakuru National Park, Kenya
• Kenana Knitting Project, Kenya
• Walking safari, Green Crater Lake, Kenya
• High Tea Elsamere, Naivasha, Kenya

Africa Discovered Safari Package excludes:

• 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

BOOK THIS SAFARI NOW!