Big Five Explorer Safari Northbound - 36 days
Big Five Explorer Safari Northbound - 36 days
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Big Five Explorer Safari Northbound - 36 days
36 Days Starting in Victoria Falls and ending in Nairobi
Visiting:
Zanzibar
,Botswana
,Kenya
,Malawi
,Tanzania
,Uganda
,Zambia
,Zimbabwe
Tour operator:
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians, Please contact On The Go Tours with specific dietary requests
Trip Styles:
Tour code:
173/BFEN
Group size:
2 - 30
Age range:
18 and over.Overland Age Policy:To travel on one of our overland family departure safaris children need to be a minimum age of 6 for Southern Africa safaris (Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa) and a minimum of 8 years old for East Africa safaris (
Tour operated in:
English
Private Available:
Request A Private Tour
Tour Overview
CAMPING SAFARI: Starting at Victoria Falls, Africa's adrenaline capital and finishing in Nairobi this trip goes into adventure overdrive! Go in search of the Big Five on safari, gorilla trek through the jungle, laze on the beach in Zanzibar and cross the Equator on this is the adventure of a lifetime!
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Victoria Falls
Saturday. Welcome to Victoria Falls! Upon arrival you will be met and transferred to our campsite in town. There is a pre-departure meeting at 1700hrs where you will meet your guide and the rest of your group.
Day 2: Victoria Falls
Today we have a free day relaxing and enjoying the myriad of activities available at Victoria Falls. The Falls themselves are 1700 metres wide and 100 metres high - a truly spectacular sight. It is possible to take part in micro flights over the falls or go white water rafting in the Bakota Gorge as well as trying your hand at bungee jumping.
Day 3: Chobe National Park
Meals Included:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Victoria Falls - Chobe NP (Botswana). Today we depart Zimbabwe for Botswana and the town of Kasane. Kasane sits on the banks of the Chobe River This afternoon we head into Chobe National Park for our overnight excursion for lots of game driving and a night in the bush.
Day 4: Livingstone
Meals Included:
Breakfast, Dinner
Chobe NP - Livingstone (Zambia). After our night in the park we cross into Zambia and to the town of Livingstone - on the other side of Victoria Falls. This afternoon we have the opportunity to view The Falls from the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, Zambia or partake in a sunset boat cruise on the Zambezi River. Another fantastic photo opportunity!
Day 5: Lusaka Region
Meals Included:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Livingstone - Lusaka Region. We spend the day slowly travelling through southern Zambia and our campsite this evening is near the capital Lusaka.
Day 6-7: South Luangwa National Park
Meals Included:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lusaka Region - South Luangwa. Departing Lusaka we head to Zambia's premier game park - South Luangwa - home to lots of wildlife, and our home for the night. This breath-taking park is situated on the Luangwa River in the Eastern part of Zambia, and it is the southernmost of three national parks in this region. South Luangwa was founded in 1938 as a game reserve, 1972 was the year it was declared as a national park, and today it covers over 9000 kilometres squared. Animals such as Giraffe, buffalo and Elephants can be found in abundance. The Luangwa river is home to many a hippo and croc.
From Luangwa, we follow the old "East Road" to a lovely campsite in Chipata, close to the Zambia/Malawi border.
Day 8-10: Lake Malawi Beaches
Meals Included:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
South Luangwa - Lake Malawi Beaches (Malawi). Leaving Zambia we enter ‘Warm Heart of Africa’ better know as Malawi. We briefly stop off in the capital, Lilongwe before heading to the beaches at the famous lake.
Lake Malawi is also known as “the lake of stars”, offers an abundance of water activities. With the staggering amount of 500 species of fish, this lake makes for an excellent spot for fresh water diving after meeting and greeting all the welcoming locals. We camp first at the central Lake, and then in the northern area over the next 3 days.
Day 11: Iringa
Meals Included:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lake Malawi Beaches - Iringa (Tanzania). After lots of beach time it is time to leave Malawi as we head through the Tukuyu tea and banana plantations and into Tanzania for our night camping by the beautiful rustic ‘Farmhouse’ campsite famous for its Amarula hot chocolates and its steamy showers!
Day 12: Dar es Salaam
Meals Included:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Iringa - Dar es Salaam. This morning we pass through the Mikumi National Park where it is possible to view a range of wildlife from the roadside. We'll also pass colourful shop-fronts with their sometimes humorous ‘catch phrases’. On arrival in Dar es Salaam, we make our way to our lovely seaside campsite and prepare for our departure to Zanzibar the next morning.
Day 13-15: Zanzibar
Meals Included:
Breakfast
Dar es Salaam - Zanzibar. This morning we take the ferry over to the Spice Island of Zanzibar for 3 nights. Spending our first night in the capital Stone Town before heading north to the beaches for some R&R.
Day 16: Zanzibar
Meals Included:
Breakfast, Dinner
Zanzibar - Dar es Salaam. Leaving Zanzibar in the afternoon, we return to the mainland and another night in Dar es Salaam. Arrival back to camp is usually in the late afternoon, or early evening.
Day 17-18: Arusha
Meals Included:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Dar es Salaam – Pangani - Arusha. Over the next couple of days we continue heading north for the town of Arusha. On the night of day 17 we stop in the coastal town of Pangani. Our campsite in Arusha is at the Maserani Snake Park and is our base for heading into the Serengeti and Ngorongoro tomorrow.
Day 19-21: Serengeti National Park
Meals Included:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Arusha - Karatu. Today we head towards the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater on our included excursion using locally operated 4WD vehicles. These vehicles have been adapted for safari use and allow excellent viewing and photographic opportunities through the opening roof hatches.
Our Ngorongoro/Serengeti excursion takes us via the Masai town of Mtu Wa Mbu (Mosquito River) to Karatu where you will be met with magnificent views over the surrounding hills. Tonight we spend the evening at a campsite in Karatu.
The following morning we depart early for the Ngorongoro Conservation area and head into the wildlife rich Ngorongoro Crater. Comprising of open savannahs, acacia forests and both soda and fresh water lakes, the Ngorongoro Crater is truly a miniature ‘Garden of Eden’. This World Heritage Site boasts some of the best game viewing in Africa – including the elusive Black Rhino.
Day 22: Nairobi
Meals Included:
Breakfast
Arusha - Nairobi (Kenya). Dedparting early - we travel north to the border with Kenya and the small town of Namanga. Once across the border we continue to the capital Nairobi where we overnight.
Day 23-24: Masai Mara
Meals Included:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Nairobi - Masai Mara. Departing the capital we travel through the Great Rift Valley before arriving at our campsite Acacia Camp in the late afternoon. The campsite is on the border of the Masai Mara National Reserve.
The following morning we depart shortly after sunrise for a game drive into the Masai Mara. The Masai Mara is most famous for the Annual Migration, that consists of the impressive herds of over 1 million wildebeest, zebra and Thomson’s gazelle that cross over from the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. We go in search of the ‘Big 5’- elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion & leopard; along with the many other species of animals, reptiles and birds who make call this wilderness home.
After our game drive, we can visit one of the nearby Masai Manyatta’s – this is a traditional hamlet where the Masai still live in their traditional way.
Day 25: Eldoret
Meals Included:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Masai Mara - Eldoret. Leaving the Masai Mara early, we head out of Masai Land pass through the scenic tea plantations of Kericho before descending the Rift Valley Plateau, on our way to Eldoret.
Day 26: Kampala
Meals Included:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Eldoret - Kampala (Uganda). This morning, we cross the border into Uganda for our night in the capital city - Kampala.
Day 27-30: Lake Bunyonyi & Gorilla Trekking
Meals Included:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Kampala - Lake Bunyonyi. This morning we travel to Lake Bunyonyi - our base for trekking to see the mountain gorillas. Lake Bunyonyi is the deepest Crater Lake in Africa and home to a large and varied number of beautiful birds. Depending on where trekking permits are available, we trek in the Magahinga or Bwindi National Parks in Uganda.
Please note: Gorilla permits need to be purchased in advance, please ask your reservations consultant or visit our Gorilla trekking travel guide.
Day 31: Kampala
Meals Included:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lake Bunyonyi - Kampala. After marvelling at the experience of our gorilla encounters and enjoying the peaceful Lake Bunyonyi, we begin our drive back to Kampala. We cross the Equator for the second time and stop for the classic “one foot in each hemisphere” photo opportunity. We overnight in Kampala and have the opportunity to sample its night life!
Day 32: Jinja
Meals Included:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Kampala - Jinja. Today we have the option of visiting the Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary or heading to Jinja for a selection of adventure activities including white water rafting at the source of the White Nile, quad biking or visiting a volunteer and community project. Spend the afternoon relaxing on the banks of the river, or ticking off the wide variety of water birds in this area.
Day 33: Lake Nakuru
Meals Included:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Jinja - Lake Nakuru (Kenya). Today we return to Kenya travelling on to Lake Nakuru - Kenya’s 4th largest town and the capital of the Rift Valley Province, it lies adjacent to the small but wildlife rich Lake Nakuru National Park. We camp in the area of the National Park.
Day 34-35: Lake Naivasha
Meals Included:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lake Nakuru - Lake Naivasha. Today we game drive through Lake Nakuru National Park - an established sanctuary for black and white rhino, which are often seen. We spend the day searching for these and the elusive leopard, encountering buffalo, giraffe, various antelope and the occasional hippo along the way. After our game drive, we head back to our campsite, arriving in the late afternoon.
On day 35 we travel on to Lake Naivasha, which is home to a multitude of bird life, the most magnificent being the African Fish Eagle with his regal cry. We spend the day enjoying optional excursions like Elsamere (former home to Joy & George Adamson of Born Free fame), a boat ride to the Crescent Island Game Sanctuary or a bike ride around Hell’s Gate National Park.
Day 36: Nairobi
Meals Included:
Breakfast
Lake Naivasha - Nairobi. After breakfast, we head back to Nairobi usually arriving by late morning, or early afternoon. On arrival to Nairobi, we exchange addresses and part ways, having just experienced a trip of a lifetime!
What's Included
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Accommodation
Camping
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30 breakfasts, 27 lunches, 29 dinners
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1st night dorm/camping in Victoria Falls and 31 nights camping. Tents and sleeping mats provided
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3 night Zanzibar Excursion including ferry transfer, accommodation, Spice Tour and Dhow Sunset Cruise
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Arrival transfer from Victoria Falls Airport on day 1
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Park entry - Lake Naivasha NP. Park entry and game drives - Ngorongoro NP, Serengeti NP, Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru NP South Luangwa and Chobe NP
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A fully equipped overland truck for transportation and game drives
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Services of 3 person crew (leader, driver, cook)
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All camping fees and appropriate equipment
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All road taxes and tolls
What's Not Included
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Sleeping bag - please bring your own
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International flights and visas
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Tipping - an entirely personal gesture
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Entrance Fees: Gorilla Permit + Transfer USD$720 - 870pp, paid in USD
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Local payment - $2100pp, paid in USD
-
Gorilla Permit and transfer fee: Please note that Gorillas often move across the border, between the national parks in Rwanda and Uganda, therefore itineraries often have to be changed at short notice in order to track the Gorillas in whichever National P
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Entrance Fees: Gorilla Permit + Transfer aprox USD$805pp, paid in USD
-
Entrance Fees: Gorilla Permit & transaction fee approx USD$805pp has to be pre booked, aprox USD$200 transfer costs payable locally
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Gorilla Permit, Transaction fee and ground transfer fee to Gorilla trekking meeting point: Please note that Gorillas often move across the border, between the national parks in Rwanda and Uganda, therefore itineraries often change at short notice in order
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Local payment - 2022 - $2100pp, 2023 - $2200pp paid in USD
-
Entrance Fees: Gorilla Permit & transaction fee approx USD$805pp has to be pre booked, approx USD$200 transfer costs payable locally
-
International flights and visas
-
Entrance Fees: Gorilla Permit & transaction fee approx USD$805pp has to be pre booked, approx USD$200 transfer costs payable locally
Age Policy
18 and over.Overland Age Policy:To travel on one of our overland family departure safaris children need to be a minimum age of 6 for Southern Africa safaris (Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa) and a minimum of 8 years old for East Africa safaris (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Malawi, Zambia). If a safari includes both East and Southern Africa then the minimum age will be 8 years old. Please note that they will be travelling with the normal group. These are not separate family tours. For family dates look for the icon next to the tour date online. IMPORTANT: South Africa and Botswana regulations aimed at fighting child trafficking:'All parents travelling with children into or out of SA and/or Botswana may be asked to show the child’s unabridged (full) birth certificate, and where only one parent is accompanying, parental or legal consent for the child to travel (eg an affidavit from the other parent, a court order or – if applicable – a death certificate). You should travel with these documents in case you’re asked to provide them. There are other requirements for children travelling unaccompanied or with adults who are not their parents.' Tell pax to contact the South African High Commission, South African Department of Home Affairs and/or the Botswana High Commission for further information.
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Since 1998
What policies are in place for Covid-19?
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Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?
With English-speaking tours, it's not a huge surprise that most on our travellers are from English-speaking countries or have English as their second language. Our group tours cater for everyone from 18 years old to 70+
Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of on the go tours charges.
Up to 60 days before tour starts: 100% of deposit.
At 59 days before tour starts: 50% of booking price.
At 30 days before tour starts: 100% of booking price.
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SAFE TOURING
Health and safety protocols have been reviewed in all destinations, and increased hygiene policies are being implemented locally in accordance with new national regulations and recommendations from the World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) Safe Travel Protocols for tour operators.
COVID-19 Vaccination requirements:
To travel with On The Go Tours all travellers over the age of 18 must provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination, unless travelling to the following destinations: Croatia, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Greenland, Iceland, Lithuania, Norway, Poland and Turkey. We recognise any vaccine that has been authorised for use?in the country where the vaccine was administered.?This includes vaccines such as AstraZeneca, Pfizer-BioNtech, Sinopharm, Sinovac, Sputnik, Johnson & Johnson, Moderna, and?Covaxin.
In all cases, you?must be fully inoculated. This means you must receive the full dosage of the COVID-19 vaccine and allow a minimum of 14 days before travelling in order for immunity to take effect. ?Each COVID-19 vaccine has different dosages and time frames for inoculation, so please check the related medical advice associated with your vaccine. We will not accept?travellers?on trips?who have received only a partial dose (for example, one part of a two-dose vaccination) of?a?vaccine.
Children?under 18 years of age are not currently required to provide any COVID-related documentation to travel with On The Go Tours.
If you are unwilling or unable to be vaccinated for medical reasons, you may apply for an exemption. Exemptions will be assessed on an individual basis. To apply, you must provide supporting documentation from a medical professional. In addition, those who qualify for a medical exemption are still required to produce proof of a negative test in the form of written documentation (in English) conducted no more than 72 hours before day 1 of their trip, the details of which need to be emailed to info@onthegotours.com prior to the commencement of your trip.
Traveller health information will be kept securely and only retained in compliance with the retention schedules of privacy laws and regulations. Proof of COVID-19 immunisation must be provided to us no less than 4 weeks prior to travel. We accept COVID-19 digital certificates, vaccination record cards, or COVID passes. Alternatively, vaccination history can be uploaded by travellers directly via our traveller login. The information you will need to upload includes: Administering national authority or government, document No, name of Vaccine, date/s of vaccination.
Failure to provide proof of vaccination 4 weeks prior to travel could result in the cancellation of your booking with no recourse for refund or compensation. The pertinent documentation may also be checked at the welcome meeting on Day 1 of the Tour, and at various intervals during your stay. Our highest priority is the health and safety of our travellers, leaders, crew, suppliers, and local communities. We have a duty of care to ensure our travellers safety. By making the decision that travellers with an elevated risk of serious disease from COVID-19 must be fully vaccinated prior to travel with us, we are reducing the risk of harm to those travellers. In addition, as an ethical tour operator, we have a responsibility to ensure that we are not adding additional and avoidable strain to any country’s healthcare system.
Big Five Explorer Safari Northbound - 36 days
36 Days Starting in Victoria Falls and ending in Nairobi
Visiting:
Zanzibar
,Botswana
,Kenya
,Malawi
,Tanzania
,Uganda
,Zambia
,Zimbabwe
Tour operator:
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians, Please contact On The Go Tours with specific dietary requests
Trip Styles:
Tour code:
173/BFEN
Group size:
2 - 30
Age range:
18 and over.Overland Age Policy:To travel on one of our overland family departure safaris children need to be a minimum age of 6 for Southern Africa safaris (Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa) and a minimum of 8 years old for East Africa safaris (
Tour operated in:
English
Private Available:
Request A Private Tour
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