Zanzibar to Cape Town

Welcome to Zanzibar! Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 2 pm where you'll meet your group leader and fellow travellers. Aside from this important meeting, there are no planned activities for the day, and you are free to explore on your own. Filled with pristine white-sand beaches, winding cobblestone alleyways and fragrant bazaars, Zanzibar has had a colourful history – everything from slave traders to Arabian sultans and fruit exporters. The sight of traditional dhows sailing along the coast evokes what the island must have been like centuries ago. The old part of Zanzibar's main city is known as Stone Town, and the best way to see this is on foot, exploring the markets, shops, mosques, palaces and courtyards. When the sun is setting, why not grab a drink from a bar overlooking the seafront? A seafood curry at a local restaurant is also a great choice. You'll spend the night in Stone Town at a basic inn.

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.

Ease into the day with the sound of gentle waves and soft ocean breezes. With a full day free to enjoy Zanzibar’s coastline, you might choose to take a refreshing swim, stretch out on the beach beneath the palms, or savour the flavours of the island with a seafood dinner by the water. However you spend it, today is all about slowing down and letting the rhythm of island life take over.

Spend a final morning relaxing on the sandy northern beaches before returning to Stone Town for an afternoon and evening at leisure. Maybe ask you leader where to grab a urojo, a unique and delicious street treat made from potatoes and noodles stewed in a stock of tumeric, mango, flour and more. Or maybe grab a sugarcane juice and have a wander. You've got a long day of driving ahead tomorrow so make the most of your free time while you can!

Embrace an early start this morning with a 7.30 am ferry to the mainland, then make tracks for Mikumi. Watch the Tanzanian landscape pass you by along the way, as this long drive is a great chance to soak up the scenery. Gaze out at vast plains dotted with baobab and tamarind trees and maybe catch a glimpse of some of the elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, lions and leopards that call the park home. When you arrive at your camp, your leader will show you the ropes (literally) and help you set up and get comfortable for your night in the tent.

Wake up early this morning to head off on a 4WD game drive into Mikumi National Park with local expert guides. This less touristed park is home to impressive numbers of elephants, hippos, giraffes, zebras, buffalo, warthogs, wildebeest and impalas – you may even spot a predator! After, you'll drive to Iringa and set up camp on the grounds of a farmhouse on the outskirts of the settlement. The area is filled with natural bush land and native birds. Make the most of this rural setting with some stargazing before you retire for the night.

Enter Malawi this morning and travel to your campsite at Chitimba. Malawi, the ‘warm heart of Africa,’ is dominated by its lake, which covers almost a fifth of the country and provides a livelihood for many Malawian people. Fishermen, fish traders and canoe and net makers all ply their trade on Lake Malawi. A common sight is a fisherman in a bwato (a dugout canoe made from a hollowed tree trunk) fishing on the still lake at the break of day.

Depart Bulawayo this morning and make the drive towards Victoria Falls. Stretching 1.6 km wide and falling 108 m into a narrow gorge below, the falls are a sight to behold. Although a visit to the falls themselves is optional, it's highly recommended. In the wet season, the spray created from this feat of nature can rise 400 m and can often be seen from far in the distance. It’s no wonder that the local name for Victoria Falls is Mosi oa Tunya, or the 'Smoke that Thunders'. If you’re travelling in the dry season, you’ll get an unobstructed view of the falls and the chance to see the islets in the river below. Your leader will take you to a local activity centre today, where a range of activities will be on offer.

Today is a free day to enjoy the many activities on offer. If you are interested in the optional helicopter flight (12 minutes or 25 minutes) we endorse the following operator only: Zambezi Helicopter co CAA Zimbabwe. Your local leader can help you arrange this, so feel free to ask them or find out more information at the activity centre.

Today you have the option of visiting the magnificent Victoria Falls. Spanning about a mile wide across and falling 108 m into a narrow gorge below, the spray from the falls can sometimes be seen from kilometres away. In the dry season, the view of the falls is unobstructed by mist, and it's possible to see little islets in the river below. To fully understand the sheer force of this staggering curtain of water, it needs to be experienced in person. It's no wonder that the local name Mosi oa Tunya means the 'smoke that thunders'. Alternatively, your leader will be able to recommend a range of other activities that are available.

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.