OVC04 - 21 Day Zambia, Malawi & Mozambique Trade Route Camping Tour

Journey through the heart of the wild continent, from Zambia through Malawi and down the Mozambique coast to South Africa. A diverse and fascinating journey along the old trade routes!

          
Snorkelling in Lake Malawi.

The Route
Livingstone - Kafue River - Lower Zambezi - Lusaka - Luangwa River - South Luangwa National Park - Lilongwe - Lake Malawi - Tete - Vilanculos - Margaruque Island - Inhambane - Bilene - Kruger National Park - Johannesburg

Departures
Tours depart Livingstone on Sunday at 14:00. Tour ends in Johannesburg on Saturday at 18:00. Scheduled departure dates can be found below.

Guests
Minimum 4 - Maximum 12 

Days 1-2 of the tour
The group will meet in Livingstone, in Zambia, at 14:00 where we have 2 days to explore Victoria Falls, a natural wonder of the world, plunging into the Zambezi Gorge. Adventure activities abound, white water rafting on the mighty Zambezi, or an 111m bungi jump (own expense).

Distance/ Time:     N/A

Overnight:     Camping - Livingstone (Lunch, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast)

Day 3 of the tour
A long drive takes us across the rolling Miomboforested hills of southern Zambia to the Kafue River where we camp for the night.

Distance/ Time:     505km, +/- 8 hours, excludes stops for sightseeing and lunch

Overnight:     Camping - Kafue River (Lunch, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast)

Days 4-5 of the tour
We drive down into the Lower Zambezi Valley and spend two nights at our lodge on the banks of the river. Enjoy a full day canoeing down the Zambezi River, home of the tribal mythical god - Nyami Nyami. The river attracts elephants and other wildlife from the surrounding wilderness. After a day highlighted by bird watching and game viewing, relax around the campfire in the evening.

Distance/ Time:     50km, +/- 1½ hours (subject to raod conditions), excludes stops for sightseeing and lunch

Overnight:     Lodge - Lower Zambezi (Lunch, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast)

Day 6 of the tour
We head to Lusaka where we stock up on supplies in the bustling shops and markets of the Zambian capital. Taking the Great East Road we drive this afternoon until sunset. 

Distance/ Time:     380km, +/- 6½ hours (subject to road conditions), excludes stops for sightseeing and lunch

Overnight:     Camping - Luangwa River (Lunch, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast)

Days 7-9 of the tour
Make our way down into “the valley” of the South Luangwa National Park. This wild and remote sanctuary is one of Africa's finest wildlife sanctuaries, full of hippo, crocodiles, elephants, lion and leopard. We camp on the banks of the Luangwa River and explore the area on 2 game walks and an open 4WD game drive, wth spotlights, to see nocturnal animals. (In the green season, Dec-April, walks may not be possible in which case we'll do extra game drives).

Distance/ Time:     500km, +/- 8 hours (subject to raod conditions), excludes stops for sightseeing and lunch

Overnight:     Camping - South Luangwa National Park (Lunch, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast)

Days 10-11 of the tour
Malawi “the warm heart of Africa”. We restock with fresh supplies in the markets of Lilongwe before heading to our camp on the beach at Lake Malawi. We'll take a boat out to the islands to explore the fantastic bays and coves in the area.

Distance/ Time:     510km, +/- 7 hours (subject to road conditions), excluding border formalities and stops for sightseeing

Overnight:     Camping - Lake Malawi (Lunch, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast)

Days 12-13 of the tour
Heading south again we enter Mozambique at Zobue border post. Making our wayback over the Zambezi we travel through the Tete region, camping en-route in this remote part of Mozambique.

Distance/ Time:     800km, +/- 6-7 hours(subject to road conditions), excludes stops for sightseeing and lunch

Overnight:     Camping - Tete Region (Lunch, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast)

Days 14-15 of the tour
Upon reaching the Indian Ocean we stay overnight in Vilankulos. We take a full day to explore Magaruque Island on a local dhow, a traditional ocean going trade vessel. Beautiful blue sea, expansive white beaches and some excellent seafood available - what a day!

Distance/ Time:     530km, +/- 6 hours (subject to road conditions), excludes stops for sightseeing and lunch

Overnight:     Casitas - Vilanculos (2 x Lunch, Bed & Breakfast, 1 x Dinner)

Days 16-17 of the tour
Arab influences are strong in Inhambane dating back to when slaves, ivory, gold and spices were traded. Explore Inhambane and its 200-year-old cathedral. We overnight in casitas, simple structures made from thatch, brick and reeds, under the palms next to the beach. Dhow rides and scuba diving on coral reefs are available (own expense).

Distance/ Time:     330km, +/- 4½ hours, excludes stops for sightseeing and lunch.

Overnight:     Casitas - Inhambane (2 x Lunch, Bed & Breakfast, 1 x Dinner)



Day 18 of the tour
We travel further south along the coast to the town of Bilene situated on the shores of the Uembje lagoon. The lagoon is 8km wide and 27km long with clean water and white sandy beaches. We spend the afternoon exploring the lagoon with options of kayaking and snorkelling (own expense), and swimming in the shallow calm waters. 

Distance/ Time:     375km, +/- 5 hours (sometimes!)

Overnight:     Camping - Bilene (Lunch, Bed & Breakfast)

Days 19-20 of the tour
We travel through the Transfrontier Limpopo Park into the Kruger National Park - visiting big game country! Exciting game drives to spot lions, giraffe and the mighty elephant. Relaxing in the tranquil bush we experience a land forgotten by time, a true African wilderness.

Distance/ Time:     340km, +/- 6 hours, excluding border formalities and lunch stop (a long day!)

Overnight:     Camping - Kruger National Park (Lunch, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast)

Day 21 of the tour
After an early morning game drive we return to Johannesburg in the evening, sun-tanned, laid-back and ready to rejoin life. Tour ends at 18:00. Transfers to local airports are available. 

Distance/ Time:     480km, +/- 6½ hours, excluding stops for sightseeing, lunch and game drives 

• This tour is operated as a Scheduled Tour. Departure dates can be found below.
• There are only two single tents available for this tour, which attracts the single supplement charge. On the nights that the camping tours stay in Guest Houses or Chalets the single travellers will be roomed with another same sex single traveller. Should there be no single tents available single guests will pay the sharing rate and then be accommodated in a twin share tent with another traveller of the same sex.
• Please feel free to add on to this tour with any of the other possible tours we offer in the area.
• The accommodation specified in the itinerary is a guide only and subject to availability. Alternatives will be of a similar standard if required.
• The Euro rate is just an indication of the price at the current exchange rate, it cannot be guaranteed until a confirmed booking is made.

Important Medical Note
In May 2011 the World Heath Organisation (WHO) revised the Yellow Fever vaccination recommendations for Africa. The South African Department of Health has subsequently issued a statement that as of 01 October 2011 all travellers from Zambia going to South Africa, and travellers that have recently visited Zambia, will now require proof of a yellow fever vaccination. Previously, this was not required. All in-transit passengers between the two destinations, irrespective of the time period in transit, will also require proof of yellow fever vaccination.

Scheduled Departure Dates 2012