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If you’re looking for an adventurous backpacker’s trip to Africa, The Coast to Coast is a must do. You’ll have enough time to see some of the best game parks, beaches and places of interest that East and Southern Africa have to offer.

From the tropical coast of Zanzibar to the austere Skeleton Coast on the Atlantic Ocean, the world famous Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Etosha National Parks and the adventure play grounds of Victoria Falls and Swakopmund, this is Africa overland travel at its best.

DAY 1 – 4
The Kenya to South Africa trip begins! Depart Nairobi early morning to begin the Africa overland travel experience and immediately find ourselves in hot savannah grasslands, with thorn trees and acacia providing the only shade. Usually see zebra and giraffe as you head south and cross the border to Tanzania. From the town of Arusha we use a local Tanzania travel safari company to guide us through Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti National Parks. On the crater floor you can spend the day viewing the abundant wildlife including Elephant, Lion, Cheetah, White Rhino, Buffalo, Hippo, Antelope, Crocodile and Pink Flamingos. From here you can choose to go into the Serengeti where vast herds of Wildebeest roam the plains. For those who decide to view Ngorongoro only, there is a free day in Arusha to visit a local Masai Village.

DAY 5 – 9
It’s a one-day drive to Dar Es Salaam, a must-see on this Tanzania travel leg. Pass through a number of small towns and villages along the way and, if we are lucky, we may see the towering peak of Mt Kilimanjaro. Camp for about 4 nights in a campsite on a beautiful Indian Ocean beach. From here most people take the ferry out to Zanzibar for the full four days and venture into the narrow bustling streets of StoneTown and its exotic spice markets, old slave forts and dungeons. There is also time to indulge yourself on Zanzibar's famous white beaches before returning to Dar Es Salaam.

DAY 10 - 12
After meeting the Zanzibar ferry, the next leg of our Kenya to South Africa trip begins. We continue our Africa overland travel through the interesting and often mountainous hinterland for which the country is renowned. In the afternoon, after negotiating some appalling roads and ’in God We Trust’ drivers pass through the peaceful Mikumi National Park. Usually see here Elephant, Giraffe, Zebra and Antelope from the roadside. Passing rivers and small waterfalls, our Tanzania travel leg ends as we enter Malawi, dominated by its huge fresh water lake.

DAY 13 - 17
Spend two days at a small laid back camp site on the edge of the lake. Follow the lake shore south and spend a further 2 or 3 nights on one of the campsites equipped for water sports. Here you can windsurf, scuba dive, etc. If you are inclined to just relax during your Africa overland travel experience, there is no better place than the shores of Lake Malawi. Here you have the opportunity to go off for a couple of days and stay in one of the many nearby villages, or visit a school or one of the craft markets where artisans produce some interesting wooden furniture and carvings. From here we continue our Kenya to South Africa trip on to Blantyre in the south of the country where we stop for two nights. Here we organise our Mozambique visas and possibly visit the local brewery - a highlight on any of our backpacker trips to Africa!

DAY 18 - 20
From Blantyre cross into Mozambique and head for Zimbabwe. Follow the infamous ‘Tete Corridor‘ which was well known in the days of Mozambique’s long running civil war as the ‘Gun Run‘. Thankfully these days things are a lot different! Enter Zimbabwe and travel to Harare, the capital, for a couple of days.

DAY 21 - 23
From Harare head south to Gweru and a privately run horse and game ranch where you can go game viewing on elephant and horseback or perhaps on a walking safari with young lion cubs!

DAY 24 - 26
From Gweru travel to the Great Zimbabwe Ruins which was once the greatest medieval city in Sub Saharan Africa and where the name 'Zimbabwe' is derived, literally meaning ’house of stone’. Next enter Matabeleland and the town of Bulawayo.

DAY 27 - 28
Here you have the option of leaving the truck for a day and a night and using a local safari company to venture into Motobo National Park, where on foot, escorted by an armed ranger, you should see the elusive Black Rhino amongst hordes of other game. There is also the opportunity to visit Cecil Rhodes grave and Worlds End view point before catching an old colonial style sleeper train to rejoin the truck at one of the adventure playgrounds of the world - Victoria Falls.

DAY 29 - 32
For some Mosi oa Tunya - ’The Smoke That Thunders’ is the highlight of their Africa overland travel trip. When you arrive it is a surprise to discover the enormity of Victoria Falls. One mile wide and hurling over 5 million cubic metres of water a minute into the Zambezi Gorge this is the setting for the most awesome grade 5 white water rafting in the world. There is something here for everyone from the more sedate canoe trips, Flight Of Angels or Sunset Cruises to one of the highest commercial Bungee Jumps in the world! After your adrenaline has been spent we head into Botswana.

DAY 33 - 34
Although only a short drive away, once in Botswana you will easily notice quite a contrast in the terrain and vegetation from what we have seen so far in this Kenya to South Africa trip. The arid Kalahari with its expansive freedom, night sky ablaze with shooting stars and the warm glow of our campfire make it an unforgettable camping experience. Spend the first night in Chobe National Park famous for its hordes of elephants as well as an abundance of other wildlife. There is the opportunity to take a cruise on the Chobe River - a less intrusive way to view the amazing wildlife in this park.

DAY 35 – 36
Head out for a 2 day trip into the Okavango Delta (optional). You have the chance to go on a Mokoro (dug out canoe) and explore the extensive waterways of this unique desert wetland. You will also have the opportunity to take several game walks in this huge oasis. Elephant, crocodile and hippo are nearly always seen. The Okavango Delta is the worlds largest inland water way and its serenity and quietness seems to have a calming effect on those that experience it.

DAY 37 - 39
Heading west we travel on to Namibia and continue north-west toward Etosha National Park, recognised as one of the worlds greatest wildlife viewing areas. Game watch by night at one of the floodlit watering holes, hoping to see some of the wide variety of wildlife that inhabits this amazing park.

DAY 40 - 44
From Etosha visit a local Cheetah park before continuing on to the Brandenberg Mountains in Demaraland and the Skeleton Coast. Visit the world famous Cape Cross Seal Colony and the sight of thousands of these mammals as well as their accompanying pungent odour is remembered by all! For the next three days you are based in Swakopmund. From here there are a variety of activities and excursions. You can spend a day deep sea fishing for shark and other game fish or head out to the desert and try quad biking and dune sledding. You can also go horse riding or take a flight over the desert and it’s dramatic coastline. In Swakopmund itself you can walk along miles of deserted beaches, visit the museum or relax in a café.

DAY 45 - 52
A one day drive takes us to the Namib-Naukluft Park, a vast expanse of desert which contains some of the highest sand dunes in the world. At Sossusvlei stop and explore the area and the dunes. Continuing South enter the semi desert, and wide open countryside of cattle ranching, until you arrive at one of Africa’s most sensational natural features, Fish River Canyon. We camp next to this massive gorge for two days, where you can hike and soak up the sun and fabulous scenery. A couple of hours drive away we cross the Orange River, a rich source of diamonds, and into South Africa. We travel south through the Cederburg Wilderness area to Stellenbosch visiting one of the historical Cape Wineries before arriving at our final destination, the vibrant, cosmopolitan city of Cape Town. Here, stay at a comfortable backpacker’s lodge which marks the end of our Kenya to South Africa trip.