Weeks 1-4 : Europe, Morocco, Mauritania
The trip begins in Spain. Crossing the straits of Gibraltar to Morocco, you'll visit the coastal capital city of Rabat and then Casablanca. Meknes, on the high plains, is one of the many ancient walled cities with covered markets and a labyrinth of narrow winding streets that you will see. Visit the ancient Roman ruin of Volubilis, followed by Fes, Marrakech, and the Atlas Mountains. Next, the itinerary passes into the Sahara Desert and follows the Atlantic Coast - this experience is never forgotten; oases with cool water surrounded by palms, stretches of sand as big as a small country, old forts, camel trains following centuries old trading routes, and a night sky undiluted by city lights. Travel over hundreds of miles off-road, sometimes digging the truck out of the soft sands to get through. Weeks 5-10 : Mali, Burkina Faso, Ghana
Today you enter the Sahel; the vast semi-arid desert that separates the Sahara from the forests of black Africa and follows the Niger River, visiting the old mud towns of Mopti and Djenne. On the Bandiagara escarpment you'll trek to the small villages of the Dogon. Burkina Faso is famous for its beautiful lost wax bronze statues. In Ghana you'll cross the jungle, traveling to the beaches of the Gold Coast with visits to the slaving forts.
*Those on the ten-week overland travel expedition from Malaga to Accra finish here. Weeks 11-12: Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon
Togo and Benin are only 50 miles wide. Here the religion is the African tradition of Voodoo. On Nakoue Lagoon, you can take canoes to visit the fishing villages built high above the water on bamboo stilts.
Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa, with 100 million people. You'll visit Lagos, the commercial capital and largest city in West Africa, and then head on to Abuja, the political capital, with time at Wikki Warm Springs to relax for a few days. Leaving the warm springs, you'll then head to Calabar, passing the outskirts of the Cross-River National Park. Week 13: Cameroon
Entering Cameroon, you'll stay on the beach at Limbe. Those who feel adventurous can climb West Africa's largest mountain, Mount Cameroon. From the coast you'll visit the capital, Yaounde. Weeks 14-15: Gabon, Republic of Congo, Cabinda (Angola)
Leaving Yaounde, you'll cross into Gabon and the capital city of Libreville. Gabon is famous for its populations of lowland gorilla, though most people prefer to see the mountain gorillas in East Africa. From the capital there are several excursions you can take into surrounding nature reserves and Africa's largest bush meat market.
Leaving Libreville, the route passes through Lambarene - home to the famous Dr. Albert Schweitzer, Nobel peace prize winner for founding the Lambarene Leprosy Hospital and his work with the downtrodden locals. Next, you'll enter The Republic of Congo.
Driving through bamboo forest tunnels, make your back to the coast reaching Point Noire. Here you can visit the Jane Goodall Chimp sanctuary, or relax on the beach. Next, you'll enter Cabinda - the oil rich exclave of Angola, with the Congo to the East and the Atlantic to the west, where you can watch the flames burning off from the offshore oil rigs. Week 16: Democratic Republic of Congo
Now, you'll enter DR Congo, crossing the mighty Congo River by a massive bridge overlooking Matadi town; a sea port over 100km upriver from the ocean. Weeks 17-18: Angola
Angola only opened up to tourism in 2004. With the closure of the routes through Sudan, African Trails started traveling this way through one of the largest and least visited countries in Africa. The people are friendly and the views astounding. Driving along the red mud roads you'll reach the coast and the capital, Luanda. It is very Portuguese in its architecture and Brazilian in its beach attire, with a line of beach bars and restaurants along the bay. The route follows the coast passing lots of waterfalls on the way to Lubango town, 2000 meters high on a plateau. It is home to one-third of the world's great statues of Jesus; the others being in Rio and Lisbon. Weeks 19-20: Namibia
Entering Namibia, you'll encounter a vast array of environments and cultures. Once occupied by Germany, Namibia produces a blend of German, African, and Afrikaans influences. The Himba peoples of the North are most noted for their red ochre body paint and their traditional lifestyle.
The next stop is Etosha Pan National Park. Thousands of years ago this vast saltpan was a lake, until the Kunene River changed its course and deprived the lake of its water source. Now the pan and surrounding bush support large numbers and a wide range of wildlife. A couple of days are spent game viewing from the truck during the day with evenings spent around the floodlit water holes at the park's campsites. These water holes provide an excellent opportunity to observe animals that are hard to find during the day; particularly rhino, and also smaller animals such as the genet. Elephant, lion, giraffe, zebra, oryx, ostrich, springbok, jackals, hyenas, and meercats are also likely to be seen at Etosha.
From wild animals to tame ones, you'll next spend a night at the Cheetah Farm where you can scratch the big cats behind the ears before watching them tuck in to their evening meal. Heading for the Atlantic Ocean Coast, you'll visit Africa's largest cape fur seal colony, Cape Cross. Then its on to Swakopmund, an old German colonial seaside resort with plenty of things to do for the energetic and plenty of beer cellars for those after a more relaxing time. The energetic can go horseback riding or sand boarding on the dunes, deep sea fishing in the Atlantic, or enjoy scenic flights over the coastline.
Heading inland, you'll enter the Namib Desert, famous for the 300m high sand dunes. Enjoy sunrise at the top of the most photographed dune, Dune 45, before taking a tour with local guides into the remote parts of Sossusvlei.
After an overnight stay in the desert a drive south brings you to Fish River Canyon; at 85km long and 400m deep this canyon is second in size only to the Grand Canyon. You can trek down to its bottom and, from the viewpoints at the top, watch the setting or rising of the sun. There are seasonal hot springs in the south at Ai Ais. The last stop in Namibia is the Orange River, which forms the border with South Africa. Weeks 21-22: South Africa
Crossing the river, you'll arrive in South Africa and travel south through Namaqualand, South Africa's prime farming areas. Drive through the mountain valleys of the Cederberg and stony semi-deserts before arriving in Stellenbosch, the center of one of the Cape's many wine routes. A wine tour with plenty of tasting makes for a great day out. Week 23: Cape Town
A one-week break from the trip has been scheduled in Cape Town. This is a beautiful city, nestled at the foot of Table Mountain, with plenty of cafes, pubs, clubs, markets, and sights. You can climb the mountain or take the cable car to the top for some wonderful views of the city and the Cape Peninsula and visit Robben Island. Weeks 24-25: Botswana
Departing Cape Town the journey heads north towards Botswana and the Kalahari Desert via Kimberly. You’ll travel along the edge of the Kalahari Desert to Maun, a small town on the edge of the Okavango Delta and the starting point for the Mokoro trip. A Mokoro is a traditional dugout canoe and your transport into the Delta. As you glide through the waterways, you will see a fantastic array of wetland wildlife, birds in particular, and you are also likely to come across hippos or elephants taking a drink from the shore. You can go on a walking safari to look for giraffe, buffalo, and rare antelope such as the tsessebe. This overnight stay is a great wilderness experience.
A night is spent by the banks of the Chobe River, in Kasane. Here hippo, buffalo, and crocodiles share the riverbank and occasionally pay a visit through the night. Here you can take a sunset cruise on the river or take an afternoon game drive through the park, and see some of Africa's largest elephants and big cats. Week 26: Zambia, Malawi
Entering Zambia, we reach the Victoria Falls where the Zambezi River plunges 100 meters down a mile wide chasm, creating one of the most incredible natural wonders of the world. The local name for the falls is “Mosi-oa-Tunya” which means “the smoke that thunders” and you'll soon find out why. When the river is in full flow, the falling water causes a huge roar and sends a cloud of spray up to 500 meters into the air. Stay in Victoria Falls Town in Zimbabwe, located above the falls where there is so much to see and do. Adventure activities abound - you can bungee jump, whitewater raft, and go game-viewing on horseback. More sedate excursions include canoeing, light aircraft or helicopter flights over the Falls, and the sunset cruise on the Zambezi. Of course, the Victoria Falls themselves are the main attraction and you can walk through the rainforest along the cliff opposite for an excellent view. Crossing the border into Malawi, you reach the shores of its huge lake. The campsites and small resorts along Lake Malawi offer sandy beaches, swimming and snorkeling, waterskiing, horseback riding, or walking in the surrounding countryside. You will also find markets selling beautifully carved Malawi chairs, tables, and other souvenirs. Weeks 27-29: Tanzania, Kenya
Heading north through Tanzania, the route takes you through Mikumi National Park where you may see giraffe or pygmy elephants grazing along the roadside. At Dar es Salaam on the Indian Ocean coast, you can cross to Zanzibar Island. Here is the old stone capital of the Omani Sultanate and away from the town are stunning beaches and World Heritage Listed buildings, forests, and ruins. You can take a spice tour of the island, go diving, swimming with dolphins, or visit remote islands by the traditional dhow boats. Heading inland you’ll pass Africa’s highest peak, Mt Kilimanjaro. From Arusha, travel by Landrovers to visit the Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti National Park, which has the heaviest concentration of plains game found all over East Africa. From Tanzania you’ll cross into Kenya by way of the Athi Plains, passing gazelle, giraffe, and troops of baboons on your way to Nairobi. Weeks 30-31: Uganda, Kenya
Leaving Nairobi, pass the dramatic landscape of the Rift Valley on the way to the highlands of Kenya. Crossing the border at Malaba, the drive takes you through rainforests and tea and sugar plantations to Uganda’s capital, Kampala. Crossing the equator, you’ll camp on the shores of Lake Bunyonyi - the deepest crater lake in Uganda. Climb through lush terraced hills to Kisoro, from where you’ll trek in search of the famed mountain gorillas or you could visit Mgahinga National Park for a day hike up a volcano or a guided nature trail. Then meander back to Lake Bunyonyi to relax, canoe, mountain bike, and swim.
In the modern bustling city of Kampala you may wish to visit the National Museum, the Kasubi Tombs of the Buganda people. Crossing the Owen Falls dam you'll arrive at Jinja, on the shores of Lake Victoria. Your campsite for the next few days above Bujagali Falls is a welcome break from traveling, and you'll have a lazy afternoon to put up tents on the grassy terraces overlooking the Nile River. You can spend next spend an action-filled day whitewater rafting down the Nile. As well as Grade V rapids, this river has a lot of bird and wildlife to view while drifting between the rapids. The rafting is rounded off with a sunset BBQ and drinks, before returning back to camp to re-live it on video.
There is no shortage of other activities in Jinja: head off on a quad bike, bungee jump, fish on Lake Victoria, take a guided village walk, or give up a day of your holiday to volunteer for the local community education project.
Leaving Uganda, the route heads back into Kenya and on to Nakuru Town, the capital of the Rift Valley Province. Spend the next few nights at Kembu Camp, a working farm. You can visit the local weavers and school, or take a tour of the farm. Next, visit Lake Nakuru, viewing game in a park famous for its soda lake surrounded by thousands, sometimes millions of pink flamingoes. Then, move on to camp on the shores of Lake Naivasha where hippos come to graze in the evenings. Close by is Hell's Gate National Park and Elsamere, once the home of Joy Adamson and Elsa - the lion of “Born Free” fame. From here you’ll return to Nairobi with the chance to feast at the renowned Carnivores Game Restaurant. Week 32: Layover in Nairobi, Kenya
This week will be used to restock the truck and get all the washing done, readying for the next leg of the journey which will be taking you up to the Middle East and finishes in Europe. Some people choose to take the train down to Mombasa and the coast for a few days on the beach. Weeks 33-34: Kenya
Visit Samburu Park and the base of Mount Kenya. Then, continue north through the "Northern Frontier District" of Kenya, a restricted area; semi arid with a spectacular diversity of people, wild game on the roadside, and a pleasant dry climate. Weeks 35-36: Ethiopia
The tour enters Ethiopia and climbs the mountains into the highlands, following the Rift Valley Lakes to Addis Ababa. Take boats to visit Bahir Dar Monasteries, located on islands on Lake Tana, the source of the Blue Nile, with hippos and crocs at the outflow of the river. Tissisat Falls is the source of the Blue Nile. Then, visit Gondar; a city of castles and churches. You can travel by Landrover to visit the Simien Mountains where you can horse trek and see grazing Gelada Baboons. Weeks 37-38: Sudan
Enter the Sudan following the Blue Nile to Gedaref, and then Khartoum where the Blue and White Nile join, watch dervish dancing or even joining in the Nubian wrestling – but it’s safer just to watch. Visit the Pharonic Pyramids of Meroe in an unspoilt, little visited desert setting. Then drive across the Bauda Desert sands through friendly villages on the Nile. From Wadi Halfa you’ll take a ferry across Lake Nasser to Aswan in Egypt. Weeks 39-40: Egypt, Cairo - Pyramids and Sphinx
In Aswan you’ll visit the High Dam and Philae Island Temple. In Luxor, you’ll visit Karnak Temple, the Colossi of Memnon, the Valley of the Kings, and Tutankhamen's Tomb on donkeys. From Luxor, take the overnight train to Cairo where you’ll spend a few days looking at the great pyramids in Giza and the immense collections of the Cairo Museum. Next, cross the Sinai Peninsular to Dahab with a few days to relax on the beach of the Red Sea. This is one of the best places in the world to go scuba diving. Weeks 41-42: Egypt, Jordan, Syria
An overnight ferry brings you to Jordan and into Wadi Rum, with memories from "Lawrence of Arabia," and then a quick dip in the Dead Sea before heading up to Petra' then across the border to Syria. Here you'll see crusader castles and the myriad of things to buy in the many souks of Damascus and Aleppo. Head out of Aleppo and leave Syria. Week 43: Turkey
Enter Turkey with its olive groves and sweet baklava. Heading into Cappadocia you'll visit the fairytale land carved by the weather into the volcanic ash. Try a Turkish bath and some belly dancing while you’re here. Then head to Olympus to visit the Chimera Eternal flame and the Turquoise Coast at Kas. It’s now off past the limestone curtain of Pamukkale and to Selcuk and the ancient city of Ephesus, before spotting the wooden horse at Troy. From here you'll cross to Europe and stop at Gallipoli to pay your respects, before ending the trip in Istanbul, not Constantinople! From Istanbul why not experience the original Orient Express train back to London. |
What's Included with the Trans Africa:
Transport from London to your destination. Entrance to Etosha National Park. You will be flown from London to Malaga to join the truck.
Highlights:
Gibraltar, Riff Mountains, Sahara Desert, Niger River, West African Coast, the Sahel, River Nile, Mountain Gorillas, Mountains of Ethiopia, wonders of ancient Egypt.
Extras:
Visas from £550, personal Insurance, flights, restaurant meals, optional side trips, flights is case an unforeseen border closure or blocked route due to politics, in this case you will be collected at a chosen place to continue your trip.
Counties Visited - 30:
Spain, Morocco, Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, Congo, DR Congo, Angola, Namibia, South Africa, Botswana, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Sudan, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Turkey
What's it like?
As you will be camping and traveling for an extended period of time, you must be prepared for an adventurous challenge. It can be hot and dusty, and you will sometimes be out of contact from the rest of the world. This means no telephones, shops, or any other modern conviences. You will need to participate and work with all members of the expedition. Sturdy, purpose-built vehicles will be used as transport in these rugged off-road conditions.
Trip Notes:
Full trip notes available on enquiry. |
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