31 Days | Six countries + thousands of animals + 31 days = countless memories





If you’re going all the way to Africa, you want to do it right. This 32-day journey through Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe offers a mixture of safari and wildlife spotting, mingling with people in villages and nomadic tribes, canoe cruising down the Okavango Delta, relaxing on white-sand beaches and sipping local beers in Vic Falls. This rugged adventure won’t just turn you into a master camper (though that’s bound to happen too). The landscapes, local stories and animal encounters will leave you changed forever.
Trip overview

- Start
- Nairobi, Kenya
- Finish
- Johannesburg, South Africa
- Theme
- 18 to 29s
- Destinations
- Namibia, Botswana, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Kenya
- Physical rating
- Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
- Style
- Basix
- Ages
- Min 18 - Max 29
- Group size
- Min 1 - Max 22
- Trip code
- YGYSC
Tick off all the popular spots and enjoy unique local experiences
Affordable trips with the freedom to choose how you spend your time
You book, we donate to help support local communities
- Ge ready to spot lions, cheetahs, zebras, elephants, hippos, gazelle, giraffes, ostriches, wildebeest – pretty much every character from the opening scene of the Lion King.
- Hang with the red-clad Maasai folk. A local elder will explain to you what the tribe is all about, and they'll even show you around their house.
- The rolling plains of the Masai Mara and Serengeti are quite simply epic. They also make for fairly unique environments in which to pitch a tent.
- Ever helped save a Rhino? Make that a yes during a visit to Botswana’s Khama Rhino Sanctuary, where the last of the world’s black and white rhinoceros live.
- There's nothing more relaxing than feeling the sun on your face as you lie back in a mokoro (dugout canoe) while your expert poler propels you through the Okavango Delta.
- Loita Hills is a proper adventure – you'll be in a bush camp with no showers as the Maasai guard you from the animals.
- Similarly, camping in the Serengeti means, well, camping in the Serengeti. It's very cool but remember there's no fence between you and the animals. Your expert leader will brief you on safety guidelines.
- While the trucks don’t have air conditioning, they do have sliding windows which let in the breeze and make it even easier to take spectacular snaps of the local wildlife. The drive days can be long, but half the fun is the camaraderie. For detailed info on this style of travel, see our Africa overland page: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/au/africa/overland
- Sometimes the going is slow – these roads aren't exactly a German autobahn. Patience is key! And a music player, preferably.
- This is a participatory trip – a fancy way of saying you’re not just along for the ride, you are part of a team! Be prepared to roll up your sleeves and help out with camp activities like food prep and washing up. Plus, everyone knows there’s nothing worse than trying to put up a tent on your own!
- The African wild comes alive at sunrise, so there will be some early starts. The thrill of spotting your first lion or rhino is well worth any loss of sleep.
- You will be unescorted for the Zanzibar and Johannesburg sections of this itinerary, but our local representatives will be on hand to look after you if you need advice or assistance.
Itinerary
Inclusions
27 breakfasts, 11 lunches, 21 dinners
Overland vehicle, Plane, Private Vehicle, Open Safari Vehicle, Mokoro
Camping with facilities (19 nights), Camping with basic facilities (4 nights), Hotel (5 nights), Bungalow (2 nights)
- Loita Hills - Maasai Village Visit
- Masai Mara National Reserve - Full Day 4WD Game Drive
- Serengeti National Park - Overland Vehicle Game Drive
- Ngorongoro Crater - 4WD Game Drive
- Johannesburg - City Walking Tour
- Khama Rhino Sanctuary - Entrance
- Khama Rhino Sanctuary - Sunset Game Drive Open Vehicle
- Okavango Delta - Mokoro Safari
- Ngepi - Village visit
- Victoria Falls - Brewery Tour and Tasting
- Hwange National Park - 4x4 Game drive
- Victoria Falls - Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust Visit
- Kruger National Park - Overland Vehicle Game drive
- Masai Mara National Reserve - Balloon ride (from price) - USD500
- Serengeti National Park - Balloon Ride (from price) - USD745
- Mto wa Mbu - Village bike ride and lunch - USD32
- Mto wa Mbu - Village walk and lunch - USD20
- Stone Town Tour - Dharajani Market, Joseph's Cathederal, Palace Museum, Forodhani Food Market - USD20
- Zanzibar - Prison Island Tour - USD25
- Zanzibar - Spice tour - USD25
- Zanzibar - Snorkelling - USD60
- Zanzibar - Dhow Trip - USD60
- Johannesburg - Apartheid Museum - ZAR100
- Johannesburg - Art Gallery - ZAR60
- Johannesburg - Gold Reef City And Heritage Mine Tour - ZAR360
- Johannesburg - Museum Africa - ZAR40
- Okavango Delta - Helicopter Scenic Flight - From USD250 - USD280
- Okavango Delta - Cook-led Cooking Class - Free
- Mukolo Camp - Sunset Cruise (excluding park fees) - NAD700
- Chobe National Park - River Cruise - BWP580
- Victoria Falls - Victoria Falls Entrance Fee - USD50
- Victoria Falls - Bridge Tour - USD68
- Victoria Falls - Standard Sunset Cruise (excludes USD10 NP Fee) - USD45
- Victoria Falls - Traditional Village Tour - USD55
- Victoria Falls - Flying Fox / Bridge Slide / Zipline - USD48
- Victoria Falls - Bridge Swing - USD168
- Victoria Falls - Jet Boat (Seasonal - excludes USD10 NP Fee) - USD110
- Victoria Falls - Whitewater rafting (Seasonal - excludes USD10 NP Fee) - USD126
- Victoria Falls - Helicopter flight (12 mins - excludes USD25 Fuel & NP Fee) - USD150
- Victoria Falls - River Song Sunset Cruise (excludes USD10 NP Fee) - USD75
- Victoria Falls - Helicopter flight (25 mins - excludes USD30 Fuel & NP Fee) - USD284
- Matobos National Park - Cook-led Cooking Class - Free
- Matobo National Park - Rhino Tracking - USD140
- Kruger National Park - Night Game Drive - ZAR290
- Kruger National Park - Sunset Game Drive (from) - ZAR380
Dates and availability
Important notes
1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement excludes Days 2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30 (Camping) and Days 11,12 (Bungalow) where you will be in shared accommodation and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
2. Days 10-15 in Zanzibar and Johannesburg are unescorted.
3. All flights are included in the price of the trip.
4. This trip finishes upon arrival in Johannesburg on Day 31. Please do not book any flights until after 10 pm this evening.
5. An optional sunrise balloon ride in the Masai Mara National Reserve and Serengeti National Park are possible on this itinerary. Please see days 6 & 9 in the itinerary for full details of this activity. As the balloon only holds 16 people, places are limited and we recommend that you book in advance. Please inquire when booking your trip to book this optional activity.
6. On occasion, especially during the peak months of May to September and December we are not able to secure campsites within the Kruger National Park. In this instance we will camp at a backpackers outside the park.
8. Border crossing delays in the region have been sporadic and difficult to predict. What takes an hour one day may take four hours the next. This may affect the order of activities in the itinerary. We understand this uncertainty can be frustrating, and we strongly recommend packing a bit of patience and flexibility.
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