Kenya to Cape Town

Jambo! Welcome to Kenya. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm, where you’ll meet your local leader and fellow travellers. If you arrive early, perhaps head out and explore the National Museum of Kenya, the Karen Blixen Museum, or join a local guide on an Intrepid day tour who'll not only show you the sights but also lead you to the perfect lunch spot to try some local cuisine.

Depart early this morning, headed for Mto Wa Mbu in your overland truck. The trip includes a border crossing from Kenya into Tanzania, so be sure to have your passport ready. While you're on the road, there will be a stop at an ATM and a market or shop to stock up on any supplies you might need for the coming days. Arrive in Mto Wa Mbu and familiarise yourself with this delightful small village – it's a fascinating snapshot of small-town African life, situated well off the tourist trail.

Rise bright and early, put your camping and personal gear into a six-person jeep and head out for an excursion into the Serengeti via the Ngorongoro Crater. During your safari through this impressively intact volcanic caldera, watch for black rhinos, lions, leopards, elephants, impalas, zebras and hippos. The crater floor offers excellent wildlife viewing all year round (some 30,000 animals live here!) and the photo opportunities are unparalleled. Next, it's on to the wide open plains of the Serengeti. Green after the rains, brown and burnt in the dry season, this is perhaps the quintessential image of Africa – the home of thousands of hoofed animals and fierce predators. Your campsite is located within the Serengeti itself, so listen out for the sounds of nocturnal animals as you drift off to sleep.

Wake up at dawn and head out on safari at a time when the animals are at their most active. Then, head back to camp for brunch at around 11 am. You’ll have the middle of the day to relax at the campsite, then you’ll head out again as the day begins to cool. You'll return from your second safari in time for dinner. You might also opt to take a balloon safari over the park this morning. If you have booked this activity, you will be picked up before dawn and driven to the launch site. After a safety briefing, take off and glide through the dawn sky, sometimes at tree height, getting some amazing photo opportunities. Sometimes you'll ascend higher, giving you an overview of the vastness of the plains. After landing, celebrate with a glass of champagne before tucking into a special bush breakfast.

Rise with the sun and go out on another game drive. Then, leave the Serengeti behind and jump back into your overland vehicle, bound for Mto Wa Mbu. When you arrive, set up camp, then you’ll take a guided stroll through the local homes and farmlands, getting to know the local community and their way of life. Later, you’ll enjoy a local dinner in town.

Prepare yourself for a long travel day as you head for the Usambara Mountains. Stretch your legs during a brief supply stop in Arusha, then jump back in the vehicle and watch the ever-changing scenery, read your favourite book or take the chance to get to know your fellow travellers better. Your base in the Usambara Mountains will be Lushoto – home to the Wasambaa people. This highland town sits at an elevation of approximately 1400 m. This evening, you'll camp on the grounds of one of the oldest hotels in Africa.

Explore the striking landscapes of the Usambara Mountains today. Unlike the coast and the north, far fewer tourists visit this part of Tanzania. As beautiful as the surrounding mountains and rainforests are, however, the real highlights here are the local people and villages. You'll experience the local hospitality on a visit to a small community. You’ll also take a walk out to the Irente Viewpoint. It's best to pack some water and snacks in a day pack for this trip. On your way back, visit a local cultural project where you’ll also stop for lunch.

Leaving the mountains behind, travel further south to the coastal town of Kipepeo Beach in Dar es Salaam. Your camp is by the beach, so make the most of it – maybe take a stroll along the shore after you arrive and settle in.

Catch a ferry to Zanzibar, Africa’s famous ‘Spice Island.’ On arrival, enjoy some free time to discover Zanzibar City at your own pace. Lose yourself in the maze of cobblestone alleyways in Stone Town, admire the mix of Arabic, African and European architecture, or soak up the bustling atmosphere of Darajani Bazaar. This afternoon, you’ll have another welcome meeting at 2 pm to meet the new travellers joining you on the next leg of your adventure. After your meeting, perhaps head out together for dinner at a local restaurant – your leader will have the best recommendations.

Once checked out of your Stone Town accommodation, consider booking in to an optional guided tour of the island's spice plantations, learning all about the history of this town's spice trade. You will have the opportunity to smell and taste various spices, such as cinnamon, vanilla and ginger, plus sample some teas made with these spices too. After lunch, head to the Northern Beaches, where white sands and sparkling blue seas await. This is the Indian Ocean at its best.

Depart Bulawayo this morning and make the drive towards Victoria Falls. Set up camp and enjoy some free time to relax, freshen up, and plan out your next couple of days in Victoria Falls. Be sure to ask your local leader for their tips and advice.

Spend the day soaking in the sights and sounds of Victoria Falls until your next welcome meeting at 4 pm tonight. Maybe explore the magnificent Victoria Falls – a thundering curtain of water approximately 1.5 km wide, falling 108 m into a narrow gorge below. In the wet season, the spray created can rise an incredible 400 m, and the falls become a raging torrent. In the dry season, the view of the falls is unobstructed by spray, and you can see little islets in the river below. After the meeting, why not grab dinner with your new group and get to know each other.

Today is completely free for you to choose your own adventure! Perhaps take an optional helicopter flight for a breathtaking view of the falls from above, visit one of the local breweries for a taste of the region’s craft scene, or enjoy a sunset cruise along the Zambezi River. However you spend the day, make sure to rest up and get ready for tomorrow’s journey across the border into Zambia.

This morning is free for you to continue enjoying all that Victoria Falls has to offer. Afterwards, travel to Chobe National Park in Botswana via the Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust, one of The Intrepid Foundation’s projects. Here you can learn about the rescue and rehabilitation of wildlife, human-wildlife conflict and the Trust’s role in anti-poaching. There may also be a chance to meet any rescued or orphaned wildlife currently in their care. Continue your journey to Botswana's first national park, which is famous for its high concentration of elephants, so keep an eye out! They can often be seen swimming in the Chobe River.

Rise and shine for an early-morning game drive. Adventuring through the park, you will get the opportunity to get up close to the wildlife – with luck you will spot a variety of animals and any number of exotic birds. As well as the Chobe icon, the elephant, the river also attracts hippos and crocodiles – the latter like to sun themselves by the water's edge. Cheetahs also come down for a drink. The birdwatching is excellent here too – look out for eagles, kingfishers and marabou storks, among hundreds of other species. In the afternoon perhaps take an optional cruise down the Chobe River – one of the best ways to enjoy the park's animals.

Today you will enter Namibia, driving from Kasane to Ngoma Bridge, and on to your camp at Bagani. Enjoy the journey, watching the scenery change with towns, trees and skies rolling past you. Bagani is the homestead of the local Mbukushu kings. You will have the opportunity to stop at an ATM and a market or shop today.

Cross the border into Botswana and travel south along the Okavango Panhandle to Sepopa. Leave the truck behind as you head deeper into the delta. A boat ride will take you to your mokoro team, where you’ll begin your exploration of the Okavango Delta. Each mokoro (a traditional dugout canoe) is expertly poled through the waterways by a local guide. As you glide past reeds and lily pads, the peaceful atmosphere may be interrupted by the grunt of a hippo. On your first night, camp on a secluded island, far from the reach of civilization.

Continue exploring the delta today by mokoro and enjoy a short guided nature walk. Later, return to Sepopa Camp, where you can relax with hot showers, a swimming pool, and a small bar. For a different perspective, you have the option to take a scenic flight over the delta for an unforgettable aerial view.

Cross the border back into Namibia and return to Bagani to camp for the night. Various boat trips and guided hikes are possible from Bagani, so if you're feeling active, get out and make the most of it. Those who are feeling bold might even be able to challenge the local kids to a soccer match – don't expect to win though! Retire to your camp in the evening and enjoy this welcome break from the road.

Drive to your camp situated 50 km outside of Grootfontein. The town of Grootfontein, part of the Otavi Triangle, tends to get very green in the warmer months but dries out markedly in the winter. If it's springtime, you'll likely see jacarandas in bloom.

Head to Cape Town this morning, where your trip will come to an end. With its stunning coastline, modern cityscape, nearby mountains and a plethora of vineyards within reach, this is one of Africa's most exciting cities. There's no accommodation provided for tonight, but this can be arranged – please enquire at the time of booking this trip.