Day 1Victoria Falls
Arrive at any time.
Tonight, head out with your CEO and group to further explore together in Victoria Falls. Sip a drink at Shearwater Village after your welcome meeting. Sit back, relax, enjoy the rushing sound of the falls, down a beer, and get to know your fellow travel mates as the adventure begins.
Victoria Falls is great base to kick-off this African adventure, to see both some natural wonders, and take part in some exciting optional activities. Get up close (and wet from the spray) while awing at the immense Victoria Falls, raft the whitewater of the mighty Zambezi, and, for the more adventurous, bungee jump with the Victoria Falls in view.
Your accommodation is in Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe) and NOT Livingstone (Zambia). Please make sure you have the necessary visa.
Victoria Falls is frequently used as a base for travellers wishing to participate in the many activities and excursions available in the area. Please contact your booking agent if you would like to book pre-tour accommodation.
Your Welcome Moment: Meet Your CEO and Group
Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don’t forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.
Your First Night Out Moment: Connect With New Friends
Connect with new friends on your first night out in a new destination. Only available on 18-to-Thirtysomethings tours.
Optional Activities – Day 1 Show
Accommodation
Below is an example of the hotel we may use in this city. For the actual hotel your specific departure will be using, please check your voucher or the G Adventures App
Explorers Village Camping (or similar)
Day 2Victoria Falls/Lusaka
Buckle those seat belts, set off early around 6am, and cross the border from Zimbabwe into Zambia. The long journey across rough and bumpy roads will take you to a private farm 29km (18 mi) outside the capital of Zambia and will have you feeling so accomplished because we all know now that driving on rough terrain is no picnic!
Get out, stretch those legs and marvel together at the zebras, buffalo, and antelope that freely roam the property. Then grab a cold drink at the camp’s bar (cheers!) or relax by the pool to celebrate the success of your long journey.
This is an overnight stop in between two long driving days, so we will not have time to explore Lusaka.
Lando
Climb aboard our custom built ride …. overlanding G-style!
Border Crossing (Zimbabwe – Zambia)
Ready for a little more ink in your passport? Grab your bags and get ready to check another country off your bucket list.
Accommodation
Eureka Camping Park (or similar)
Meals included:
Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Day 3Lusaka/South Luangwa
Rise and shine and begin today’s journey. We have a lot of ground to cover so be prepared to set off early and arrive late. Use this time to get to know the members of your group better, swap stories, share some laughs, or even sit quietly and reflect, there’s time for both. The group will travel across the Zambian countryside before arriving at the campsite along the banks of the Luangwa River.
Lando
Climb aboard our custom built ride …. overlanding G-style!
Accommodation
Wildlife Camp (or similar)
Meals included:
Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Day 4South Luangwa
Guess where you’re going today! South Luangwa National Park. The day is yours to spend in this wildlife haven. Choose to go on a walking safari (just remember it’s seasonal), a night drive, or visit a nearby local village. No matter what you decide to do remember to have fun and be in the moment because life’s more fun that way in general and hey, so is travel. Get rid of those expectations and let this place dazzle you for what it is.
Free Time
Do as much or as little as you’d like during a free day.
Optional Activities – Day 4 Show
Accommodation
Wildlife Camp (or similar)
Meals included:
Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Day 5South Luangwa/Chipata
It’s another day in the wilds of Africa so have those cameras at the ready as you head out on an optional morning safari drive. Try to snap some pictures of giraffes, elephants, and Cape Buffalo in this hidden gem of a place that also happens to be home to the largest populations of these creatures. Then the group will stop for lunch and visit the Tribal Textiles Market & Courtyard a G Adventures-supported craft workshop. In the afternoon you will continue onwards to Chipata.
Lando
Climb aboard our custom built ride …. overlanding G-style!
Your G for Good Moment: Tribal Textiles Market & Courtyard Cafe
Take a lunch stop at Tribal Textiles, a community workshop and business that employs and empowers over 100 locals from the area. Most of the unique textiles made at this workshop give back in some way either to education in the community or to various organizations working to conserve the wildlife of South Luangwa National Park. Regular employment at this socially conscious business also keeps poaching of wildlife at bay. After a quick tour to learn about these efforts, you’ll sit down for lunch at The Courtyard Café, run by local chef, Dorica, and her team.
Optional Activities – Day 5 Show
Accommodation
Mama Rula’s Camp (or similar)
Meals included:
Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Day 6Chipata/Kande Beach
Check another country off your travel lists as you pass into Malawi and head to Lake Malawi affectionately known as “Lake of Stars”. The group will spend four nights relaxing on the shores of this massive lake; think clear shimmering waters with schools of colourful cichlid fish swarming in the depths of a place where nature is king and the people are some of the friendliest you’ll ever meet. Beach walks, leisurely swims, and snorkeling are what’s in store for you over the next few days.
The locals depend on the lake for fishing as well as survival by using dugout canoes to fish from and setting out long nets. There are many different ethnic groups all speaking their own language; most are Christians and the rest have traditional beliefs.
Please note that conservative dress is recommended. Shoulders and knees should be covered in public, but inside of camp boundaries, it is ok to wear beach clothes.
Lando
Climb aboard our custom built ride …. overlanding G-style!
Border Crossing (Zambia – Malawi)
Ready for a little more ink in your passport? Grab your bags and get ready to check another country off your bucket list.
Accommodation
Kande Beach Lodge & Campsite (or similar)
Meals included:
Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Day 7Kande Beach
Imagine this; you wake to the sound of birdsong around you, the sun is shining, and the waters of Lake Malawi are calling your name begging to be set upon. Grab your camera and swim suit and head out for some fun. Wander the shore on foot, grab a snorkel and see what life under the shimmering surface is all about, take a leisurely swim, or choose to experience a village walk at the nearby Tonga Village. Then the group will get to take part in a traditional dinner at a local home in the evening before falling asleep under the stars.
Free Time
Kick back and relax on Lake Malawi after a few long travel days.
Your Local Living Moment: Kande Beach Local Dinner
After a day on the beach of Lake Malawi, take a short walk into the Kande Beach village for traditional dinner in a local home.
Optional Activities – Day 7 Show
Accommodation
Kande Beach Lodge & Campsite (or similar)
Meals included:
Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Day 8Kande Beach/Chitimba
It’s off to another beautiful destination along Lake Malawi today. From oceans to mountains to lakes you’re getting to see some of the best scenery that Africa has to offer. The group will head north to picturesque Chitimba Beach where there are gorgeous views of the mountains in the background and you can see Tanzania from just across the lake. Once here you can choose to get out onto the lake or you can hike along the shores and enjoy the scenery that surrounds you.
Free Time
Settle in and enjoy a free afternoon at northern Lake Malawi.
Lando
Climb aboard our custom built ride …. overlanding G-style!
Accommodation
Chitimba Beach Lodge & Camp (or similar)
Meals included:
Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Day 9Chitimba
Enjoy a final day at Lake Malawi. Now that you have gotten a feel for this area take the day to further experience your surroundings and appreciate them. Bask in the sun, take a swim, walk to the local village that you didn’t visit yesterday or hike to Livingstonia along the Nyika Plateau for wonderful views of the lake. Along the way cool off under the Manchewe Falls (we know we would if we were there with you).
In the evening, relax along the lake and rest up as the journey continues tomorrow.
Free Time
Do as much or as little as you’d like on your final day on Lake Malawi.
Optional Activities – Day 9 Show
Accommodation
Chitimba Beach Lodge & Camp (or similar)
Meals included:
Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Day 10Chitimba/Iringa
Another day, another country; you’ll be a pro at border crossings in no time. Today the group will head into Tanzania en route to Iringa. Gaze out the window as the Lando climbs out of the Great Rift Valley through some spectacular mountain passes, viewing tea plantations and highlands as you go. You could also use this time to journal, take a nap, or share inside jokes with the rest of the group (you’re bound to have some by now).
Border Crossing (Malawi – Tanzania)
Ready for a little more ink in your passport? Grab your bags and get ready to check another country off your bucket list.
Lando
Climb aboard our custom built ride …. overlanding G-style!
Accommodation
Kisolanza Farm (or similar)
Meals included:
Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Day 11Iringa/Dar es Salaam
After the jam packed first few days of this trip where you are going next is going to be just what you needed. Wake in Iringa before driving to Dar es Salaam. Watch as the Tanzanian countryside passes by and the blue waters of the Indian Ocean make their debut. The city started as a fishing village in the mid 19th century before becoming a port and trading centre. The group will spend the night here before embarking for the island beaches of Zanzibar.
Lando
Climb aboard our custom built ride …. overlanding G-style!
Meals included:
Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Day 12Dar es Salaam/Zanzibar Beach Resort
Today is the day your group will discover true paradise. Hop on a ferry and transfer to Zanzibar. Get ready for picturesque island beaches that will make you contemplate staying here and living off the grid. Few places on this planet are as entrancing and exotic as this Tanzanian archipelago so get ready to enjoy it, take loads of pictures, and relax in a place that has long lured backpackers and adventurers to it’s sandy shores.
Zanzibar is a Muslim society. Immodestly dressed women or men in shorts will get harassed and cause great offence in Stone Town. At the beach, customs are a little more relaxed, but our travellers are encouraged to be respectful of the island’s culture and still cover up when walking around. Never try to take a photograph without asking permission.
Lando
Climb aboard our custom built ride …. overlanding G-style!
Ferry
Get to the next spot on your route aboard a convenient and efficient ferry boat.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Accommodation
Fun Beach (or similar)
Meals included:
Breakfast
Day 13Zanzibar Beach Resort
Wake up in this island paradise and get ready to seize the day. You’ll be exploring one of the world’s great cultural crossroads… think Africa meets Arabia and add the Indian Ocean into the mix as the cherry on top.
The day is yours to spend as you choose; head out for a diving experience, grab some goggles and go snorkelling, hop aboard a sailing trip, or just lounge on the beach and relax. Zanzibar’s tropical setting, unique culture, and active beach-party scene make this place a very enjoyable East African Indian Ocean experience.
Free Time
Do as much or as little as you’d like on this island slice of paradise.
Optional Activities – Day 13 Show
Accommodation
Fun Beach (or similar)
Meals included:
Breakfast
Day 14Stone Town
Your most difficult task today is going to be pulling yourself away from the beauty that surrounds you in Jambiani. But, if it makes you feel any better you still have one final night to spend on this enchanted island just in a more local spot. Travel back to Stone Town from the other side of the island, enjoy a guided tour of a local spice plantation on the way, and explore the heart of Zanzibar. Wander the winding historic unpaved alleyways of Stone Town passing by balconies and gigantic wooden carved doors along the way.
Get lost and spend hours exploring the streets and squares, drinking potent coffee from pavement vendors and buying sweetmeats from tiny cafes. Keep an eye out for tinga-tinga paintings, antique shops, beautifully printed cloths (kangas and kikois worn by local people), little carved chests with copper inlays, and spices – all beautiful presents or memories to take home.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Spice Plantation Tour
No visit to Zanzibar would be complete without a visit to the spice plantations. Your senses will be aroused as you will receive a detailed description on the assortment of spices (black pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, breadfruit, jackfruit, vanilla, lemon grass) and their various uses. It was the spice plantations that brought the beginnings of Zanzibar’s infamous slave trade that dates back to the 1840’s.
Free Time
Spend a final afternoon wandering the streets of Stone Town.
Optional Activities – Day 14 Hide
Stone Town Walking Tour
20-40USD per person
Enjoy a walking tour along the bustling narrow streets of Stone Town and admire the historical old buildings and homes that are part of a preservation program funded by UNESCO and the Aga Khan Foundation. Also, visit the historical site of the slave market and learn about this dark aspect of history. Continue to the local fruits and vegetable market, fish market, Tip tipu house, and National Museum.
Accommodation
Tausi Palace Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:
Breakfast
Day 15Stone Town/Bagamoyo
It’s time to kiss this underrated paradise good-bye as you catch the ferry back to the mainland and head north to the historic coastal town of Bagamoyo. This town was recently named a World Heritage Site and used to be one of the most important trading ports of the central east African coast in the late 19th century. Stroll through Bagamoyo’s narrow, unpaved streets on your own and feel as if you stepped back in time.
If you have booked the Zanzibar Express, you will stay in Stone Town when the group heads for the ferry. You have a free day in Stone Town for shopping, relaxing or seeing the sights. (Ask your CEO if you want to book any tours) Tomorrow you fly to Arusha to meet the group. Included: transfers, flight, one night Stone Town (Tausi Palace, or similar). Only breakfast included.
Ferry
Get to the next spot on your route aboard a convenient and efficient ferry boat.
Lando
Climb aboard our custom built ride …. overlanding G-style!
Optional Activities – Day 15 Hide
Zanzibar Express Northbound
Road trips can be exciting but sometimes you just want to get to your destination. Treat yourself with a flight from Zanzibar to Arusha and avoid two days of road travel time. You’ll have an extra night to experience Zanzibar and then arrive in Arusha the next day, ready and refreshed to meet the rest of your group. Includes all transfers, local flight, and one additional hotel night in Zanzibar.
Accommodation
Firefly Bagamoyo Campsite (or similar)
Meals included:
Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Day 16Bagamoyo/Arusha
Hit the road for a long day of driving. Enjoy the varied landscapes on the way to Arusha. Be on the lookout for views of Mt Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain. Consider yourself lucky if you are able to see the mountain as it is hidden behind a veil of clouds most of the time.
Arusha sits at the foot of rugged Mt Meru, Africa’s fifth highest mountain.
Use the afternoon to prepare a small day-pack for the three-day excursion to the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. Take something warm for the night on the crater rim and enough insect repellant, sunscreen, and water. Bedding is provided, but you can take your sleeping bag along to make sure you’re warm enough at night.
Zanzibar Express; transfer this morning from your Stone Town hotel to the airport for the flight to Arusha. Arrive in Arusha and transfer to the camp to meet back up with the group. Only breakfast and dinner included.
Lando
Climb aboard our custom built ride …. overlanding G-style!
Accommodation
Meserani Snake Park (or similar)
Meals included:
Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Day 17Arusha/Serengeti National Park
Well folks it’s time for the Africa you have all imagined; the experience that has been depicted over and over again in books, movies, and television. So grab those cameras, purchase a quirky bucket hat, and head out on a wildlife safari drive into one of the most famous national parks in Africa; the Serengeti.
Get ready for abundant wildlife, vast golden plains dotted with thorny acacia trees, and hippo-filled rivers as you begin a 3-day and 2-night excursion into the park itself and the great Ngorongoro Crater.
Changing to specialized 4×4 7-seater safari vehicles, we are met by experienced safari driver/guides, who will ensure us wonderful wildlife encounters. Our safari vehicles each have sliding windows and a large pop-up roof, perfect for wildlife viewing. They are smaller than the Lando and will allow us to maneuver easily through the wildlife areas. As the vehicles are smaller than the Lando, our group will split up among several vehicles.
7-Seat 4×4 Safari Vehicle
Get a better view and take better snapshots aboard this off-road ride with a pop-up top.
Serengeti National Park Safari
This is the reason you came to Africa. Charge your camera, grab your binoculars, and set out on safari. Your eagle-eyed driver will keep an eye out for wildlife – buffaloes, elephants, lions, wildebeests, zebras, and more. Tanzania’s Serengeti tends to be less crowded than some of Kenya’s reserves, so enjoy the scenery, the vast expanse of the grasslands, the play of light and shadow, and the up-close look at wild Africa.
Accommodation
Seronera Campsite (or similar)
Meals included:
Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Day 18Serengeti National Park/Ngorongoro
Grab your buddies and jump aboard for one last morning safari in the Serengeti. As the sun rises higher in the sky watch the animal kingdom come to life in this grassland savannah before returning to break down camp. Then it’s on to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, famous for Africa’s best wildlife viewing.
Experience epic views from the crater rim and watch as animals meander around below drinking water from the permanent supply on the crater floor. You’ll be setting up camp in the late afternoon at a site near the crater rim and then you can spend the rest of the day enjoying one of the most beautiful wildlife havens on the planet.
Please note: if you have pre-booked the Serengeti Balloon Safari, today’s likely the day for this activity! Your CEO will give you final confirmation when it will take place, as it is subject to change. You will miss the included morning wildlife safari drive with the group, but you will have a much better view from above! If you have not yet pre-booked, add it to your checkout page, or ask your GCO or travel agent for assistance.
Please note that due to the high-altitude location of our camp, temperatures can drop at night. We recommend bringing extra layers to wear during the evening and following morning.
Serengeti National Park Safari
This is the reason you came to Africa. Charge your camera, grab your binoculars, and set out on safari. Your eagle-eyed driver will keep an eye out for wildlife – buffaloes, elephants, lions, wildebeests, zebras, and more. Tanzania’s Serengeti tends to be less crowded than some of Kenya’s reserves, so enjoy the scenery, the vast expanse of the grasslands, the play of light and shadow, and the up-close look at wild Africa.
7-Seat 4×4 Safari Vehicle
Get a better view and take better snapshots aboard this off-road ride with a pop-up top.
Optional Activities – Day 18 Hide
Serengeti Balloon Safari
599USD per person
Spirited aloft in a hot-air balloon, view the wildlife and terrain of the Serengeti that only the birds see. Enjoy a champagne breakfast and keep that shutter-finger good and limber—you’ll be using it plenty over the course of your hour in the air.
Accommodation
Simba Campsite (or similar)
Meals included:
Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Day 19Ngorongoro/Arusha
It’s time to experience “Africa’s Garden of Eden” on a more personal level. Today, venture down to the crater floor where the group will embark on a final safari experience. Have those cameras charged and at the ready because, let’s face it if you are going to see any wildlife this would be the place (and we are so excited for you)!
The animals are bound to this area by the crater walls and the enclosed nature of the crater means that its own ecosystem has been created think; rich grasslands, swamps, acacia forests, and Lake Makat; so get ready to see some magic.
With full camera rolls the group will exit the crater in the late morning and travel back to Arusha. Swap stories along the way, pick those favourite photos from earlier, or simply sit back and let yourself enjoy the passing scenery as you cruise along.
7-Seat 4×4 Safari Vehicle
Get a better view and take better snapshots aboard this off-road ride with a pop-up top.
Ngorongoro Crater Wildlife Safari Drive
Set the alarm and prepare for an early start to see the wonders of the Ngorongoro Crater. Here you’ll see Maasai herdsmen in the morning mist. Your driver/guide will take you down into the crater and to all the best spots to view wildlife. Spot zebra, gazelles, buffaloes, and warthogs. The swamp and forest are home to hippos, rhinos, elephants, baboons, and monkeys. Keep your eyes peeled and camera ready to capture a pride of lions or a lone leopard walking along the crater floor.
Accommodation
Meserani Snake Park (or similar)
Meals included:
Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Day 20Arusha/Nairobi
Depart Arusha as the sun rises in the morning and travel overland to Nairobi; Kenya’s capital city. The tour ends upon arrival to Nairobi at the Hotel Boulevard. In order to avoid any unnecessary issues with timing, please book ongoing travel from Nairobi in the evening.
Not ready to go home just yet? That’s ok, stay for a few extra days to explore more of Kenya and beyond.
There is no included accommodation for this night in Nairobi. You may choose to pre-reserve post-tour accommodation through G Adventures.