Cairo to Cape Town

112 days (Cairo)

Destinations visited: Malawi, Kenya, Namibia, Tanzania, South Africa, Sudan, Zambia, Botswana, Egypt, Cairo, Ethiopia

Grading:

Discovery and Cruising

Grading Definitions

Discovery & Cruising

These are our least demanding trips. These journeys of discovery and cruises involve little or no extended activity and are suitable for people with a basic level of fitness and good health. The itinerary may take place in remote areas (with basic facilities) and may involve long travel days on various types of transport. Sightseeing may be conducted on foot and all participants should be capable of carrying their own luggage from vehicle to hotel rooms. These adventures do not go above 2500m and rarely involve camping.
Suggested preparation: Once or twice a week, we recommend you walk on undulating terrain for an hour, for at least 2 -3 months prior to departure.

Adventure Touring

Suggested preparation: Two or three times a week, we recommend you walk on undulating terrain for an hour or more, for at least 3 months prior to departure.

Introductory

These trips involve trekking or walking, cycling, rafting or sea kayaking for up to five or six hours a day at a slow but steady pace and should never be misinterpreted to mean they are easy trips. These trips do not spend time at altitudes above 4000m and are usually a week in duration. You will need a reasonable level of fitness and good health.
Suggested preparation: 30 minutes of aerobic type exercise, (either cycling or jogging) three times a week for three months leading up to your trek. For trekking, hill walking with a daypack in variable weather conditions is also recommended. For a cycling adventure, road cycling twice a week for three months prior to departure is recommended.

Introductory to Moderate

These trips involve a combination of what is described in our INTRODUCTORY and MODERATE levels. The emphasis is on introductory activity with several moderate stages

Moderate

These adventures involve trekking, cycling, rafting or sea kayaking for up to 6 or 7 hours a day at a steady pace. These trips may spend successive days at altitudes not generally exceeding 5,500m and are usually between 10 and 15 days in duration. You will need a good level of fitness and be in good health.
Suggested preparation: 45 minutes of aerobic type exercise, three to five times a week for the three months leading up to your trek. Hill walking with a pack in variable weather conditions or road cycling is also recommended depending upon the activity you plan to undertake.

Moderate to Challenging

These adventures involve trekking, cycling, rafting or sea kayaking for up to 6 or 7 hours a day at a steady pace. These trips may spend successive days at altitudes not generally exceeding 5,500m and are usually between 10 and 15 days in duration. You will need a good level of fitness and be in good health. Suggested preparation: 45 minutes of aerobic type exercise, three to five times a week for the three months leading up to your trek. Hill walking with a pack in variable weather conditions or road cycling is also recommended depending upon the activity you plan to undertake.

Challenging

These adventures involve trekking, cycling or rafting in remote areas in variable weather conditions for up to 8 to 10 hours a day (possibly more subject to weather conditions and altitude). This may include spending successive days at altitudes not generally exceeding 6000m. These trips may often be over three weeks in duration. You will need an excellent level of fitness, be prepared to carry a daypack weighing up to 8kgs (and in some cases a full pack) and be completely comfortable in adverse weather conditions.
Suggested preparation: One hour of aerobic type exercise, four to five times a week for three to six months prior to departure. Hill walking with a pack in variable weather conditions or on/off road cycling is also recommended.

Entry Mtn/Exploratory Treks

These adventures are classed as expeditions. They involve either extreme trekking and or basic mountaineering. Expect remote and poorly defined trails in variable weather conditions for up to 12 hours a day (possibly more subject to weather conditions and altitude). This may include a number of demanding high pass crossings and evacuation may be difficult from remote areas. Suitable for first time mountaineers wishing to take the step from trekking into the realm of mountaineering. Prior experience trekking at altitude is preferable but not essential and you should be comfortable in adverse weather conditions. Prior technical mountaineering experience is not necessary. Terrain will involve low angle snow slopes. Ropes may be used during treks for glacier travel and steeper sections of ice and snow. When mountaineering, basic mountaineering instruction is given by our mountaineering guides.
Suggested preparation: For grade 8-10 mountaineering expeditions you will need to be very fit and healthy. A minimum of 1 hour of aerobic exercise per session, four to five times a week is essential. Running and cycling in hilly areas is particularly beneficial as are multi day walks on the weekends. This is the ideal time to try out your boots and other gear to make sure you are prepared and ready for your expedition. If you are considering Intermediate or advanced level trips, you will need to discuss your preparation leading up to the trip with our expert staff.

Intermediate Mtn Expedition

Participants should be competent and self sufficient in the outdoors and have experience in multi day trekking at altitude. Prior experience on an entry level mountaineering expedition is highly recommended. The terrain will involve low to moderate angle snow slopes and traveling on crevassed glaciers. Experience using ice axe and crampons is preferred but not essential.
Suggested preparation: For grade 8-10 mountaineering expeditions you will need to be very fit and healthy. A minimum of 1 hour of aerobic exercise per session, four to five times a week is essential. Running and cycling in hilly areas is particularly beneficial as are multi day walks on the weekends. This is the ideal time to try out your boots and other gear to make sure you are prepared and ready for your expedition. If you are considering Intermediate or advanced level trips, you will need to discuss your preparation leading up to the trip with our expert staff.

Advanced Mtn Expedition

These are our most challenging expeditions. Clients must have prior mountaineering experience. Most are participatory expeditions & involve load carrying, setting up of camps, cooking and campcraft. Altitude is generally greater than 6500m. Some of these expeditions also involve “technical” climbing and are for experienced alpine climbers / mountaineers only. Technical expeditions involve steep climbing at high altitude (including rock climbing). Participation on one of these expeditions is subject to acceptance by one of our high altitude mountaineering guides.
Suggested preparation: For grade 8-10 mountaineering expeditions you will need to be very fit and healthy. A minimum of 1 hour of aerobic exercise per session, four to five times a week is essential. Running and cycling in hilly areas is particularly beneficial as are multi day walks on the weekends. This is the ideal time to try out your boots and other gear to make sure you are prepared and ready for your expedition. If you are considering Intermediate or advanced level trips, you will need to discuss your preparation leading up to the trip with our expert staff.

from
USD$23,200

Book now

The ultimate guided self drive 4WD adventure traversing Africa from north to south

Many dream of taking a few months off to embark on a big adventure. This is your opportunity to do just that and to thoroughly immerse in an overland expedition which traverses 10 countries on the African continent from north to south. Starting in Cairo we drive through the Nile Valley where you'll enjoy the exquisite culture and the awe-inspiring ancient Egyptian wonders, before our vehicle ferry takes us to Sudan and deep into the beautiful Nubian Desert. In Ethiopia the fascinations of Gondor, Lalibela and Bahir Dar provide an intriguing historic interlude. Descending into the Great Rift Valley our journey continues to Lake Naivasha and Lake Nakuru for some wildlife viewing; a great entree to the vast Serengeti National Park being our next destination. A serene break at Zanzibar to admire Stone Town and the picturesque coastline paves the way for the onward journey to Zambia where the south Luangwa National Park has on parade scores of lion, leopard, giraffe and other big game. From Livingstone we marvel at the majestic Victoria Falls and enjoy a range of optional tours. Further on we enjoy Chobe and the famous waterways where huge herds of elephant, buffalo and hippo congregate before crossing into Namibia to the famous Etosha National Park and to Sesriem to climb the largest sand dune in the world. Finally, we skirt south to Cape Town where this incredible adventure concludes.

Highlights

The wonders of Ancient Egypt
Lakes Naivasha and Nakuru
Serengeti National park
Zanzibar
Etosha and Sesriem
Luangwa National Park
Victoria Falls

Itinerary

Days 1-7 Cairo, Giza and Black and White Desert

Our epic adventure begins in Cairo, the bustling vibrant capital of Egypt. We stay in the central city for the first few days allowing ample time to explore the fascinating historical sites. In particular we explore the Pyramids of Giza, the Step Pyramid at Saqqara, the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities, the Citadel and the colorful markets of Khan El Khalili. From Cairo we will head south west into the Black and White desert, where we will find impressive limestone rock formations, oases, sand dunes and hot springs . We will enjoy a mixture of hotels and camping under a blanket of stars.

Days 8-15 Nile Valley, Luxor, Nile Cruise, Aswan, Abu Simbel

We arrive in Luxor; the home of the Valley of the Kings and Queens and Hatshepsut’s Temple. Learn about the amazing history which stamps the region with the knowledge of an Egyptologist guide, exploring these ancient sites including the world-renowned Karnak and Luxor Temples. We will then board our cruise for an unforgettable cruise down the majestic Nile River. We will sit back and watch the world pass us by, giving us a rare insight into life on the Nile for local Egyptians - kids swimming in the tepid waters, farmers ploughing their fields and irrigating crops using ancient techniques. We will stop along the way to explore the many historic sites including Edfu and Kom Ombo Temples. After a couple of relaxing days we arrive in Aswan where we will visit Philae Temple and Aswan High Dam which are iconic engineering achievements of both the ancient and modern worlds.

Days 16-22 Cross Lake Nasser to Wadi Halfa, Sudan; Nubian Desert

Our final highlight in Egypt before departing for Sudan is a visit to the Great Sun Temple of Abu Simbel; the entire temple was relocated in the 1960s to prevent the temple being lost to rising waters of Lake Nasserr. We bid farewell to Egypt and start a very special adventure: the crossing of Lake Nasser to Wadi Halfa, Sudan by an enjoyable passenger ferry. Stepping off the ferry in Sudan will feel as though you have entered a completely different World. It is here we meet our expedition vehicles, have time to get acquainted, load them up and head into the Nubian desert. This will be our first desert crossing on our guided self drive 4x4 Africa adventure. Surrounded by sand dunes for miles, the peace and quiet is like nothing else we have experienced, and is a pleasant change to the hustle and bustle of Egypt. For three days, enjoy the tranquility of traversing through what is the biggest desert in the world, visiting small rural townships on the way and being greeted by the hearty smiles of local kids.

Days 23-29 Khartoum, cross to Ethiopia

Discover the heart of Sudan as we travel through its capital, Khartoum. Here you will be amazed by the vibrant city life and the warmth and friendliness of the Sudanese people. Refreshed, we continue south to Ethiopia. Most images we have of Ethiopia are of starving children and unfertile desert land - A vast contrary to what we will discover on our travels through this mystical land. Queen of Sheeba and King Solomon ruled here; St George killed dragons in this stunning land of gorges and lakes. As we approach Ethiopia from Sudan the land becomes greener, fertile and mountainous. Wooden huts scattered throughout the countryside next to small fields being ploughed by ox and man. The best way to explore this part of the World is overland in our 4x4 vehicles. Our first stop not long after the border is Gondar. Gondar, the "Camelot" of Africa so duly named for its castles and churches. The original capital of Ethiopia from its foundation by Emperor Fasilidas in 1632. A must is a visit to the Royal Enclosure and Daschen Brewery for a completely different experience.

Days 30-43 Lalibela, Bahir Dar, Lake Tana and Blue Nile, Addis Ababa, Lake Langano

From Gondar we continue our journey to Lalibela. Perched at an altitude of 2630m above sea level, Lalibela remains a very isolated place and a centre of pilgrimage. It is famous for its 11 rockhewn churches, built in one century with the help of Angels - so is the belief. A guided tour through these churches, religious or not, will leave you in awe. We bid farewell to Lalibela and overland to Bahir Dar on the shores of Lake Tana. Lake Tana is dotted with islands boasting some of the oldest monasteries in the World. It is possible to visit these monasteries and if lucky enough view ancient biblical books still closely guarded by resident monks. Lake Tana is the source of the Blue Nile; a visit to Blue Nile Falls brings us into close contact not only with the falls but tens of cheerful local kids. The route on our fully guided self drive 4x4 Cairo to Cape Town leads us to Addis Ababa "The new Flower" in Amharic. We spend a few days in the world capital of the Rastafarians to relax and restock our supplies. Lucy, the oldest human remains in the world can be seen at the museum here. The Merkato (local market) is the place to buy intricate religious icons such as Lalibela Crucifix and old style paintings of Mary, Joseph, Moses and St George. Strangely, those with a sweet tooth will be able to satisfy cravings at one of the many pastry shops scattered throughout the city. Lake Langano will be our next stop and is the first opportunity to spot African wildlife including hippos. From here we descend into the Great Rift Valley, stretching from Syria through the African continent to Mozambique, toward Lake Turkana and the border to Kenya.

Days 44-50 Mt Kenya region to Nairobi

Crossing the northern district of Kenya overland is one of the more challenging parts of our self drive 4x4 Africa adventure. A very arid area and demanding road conditions for us and the 4x4 vehicles. The crossing will take 2 days, but in that time we will be lucky to have covered 500kms. The going is slow and dusty. Passing Mount Kenya we cross the equator and make our way to Nairobi, the Capital of Kenya. Once again we take some time to relax and recover, service the 4x4 vehicles and restock. We visit the fascinating Nairobi National Park, David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage and the Nairobi Giraffe Centre for those wanting to go exploring. Spending your evening at Carnivores Restaurant feasting on various meats is often a popular outing.

Days 51-57 Lake Naivasha, Lake Nakuru

Our guided self drive Africa Adventure has reached the very heart of "safari country" and the half way point between Cairo and Cape Town. Lake Naivasha, a short drive from Nairobi, awaits us with "Elsamere" - the home of the British drama 'Born Free'. Indulge in high tea, watch a video about Joy Adamson's life and visit a little museum dedicated to Joy and George. From here we visit Lake Nakuru National Park, famous for its white rhino population and millions of pink flamingos gracefully perched in the shallows of Lake Nakuru. We can drive right to the Lake's edge and take in the small game park, teeming with wildlife, with a soda Lake as the centre piece and cliffs drawing the background. A truly stunning setting.

Continue reading ...

Days 58-64 Kenya to Serengeti

We continue through the Great Rift Valley and up into the western highlands of Kenya. We are blessed with stunning views down into the Valley before descending to the Lake Victoria basin. We enter Tanzania and the world famous Serengeti National Park. It will take us two days to cross overland through the most documented game park in Africa, before reaching the town of Arusha. The Serengeti is the most famous game park in all of Africa, and after spending some time there you will know why. The Serengeti is littered with lion, rhino, buffalo, elephant, zebra, and wildebeest - just to name a few. This time of year the wildebeest and zebra are migrating through Seronera, the area we base ourselves for 2 nights. We overland in the wild savannah plains amongst the African Big 5 wildlife in the most famous game park in Africa. Our days are spent game driving and photographing wildlife like: lion, leopard, wildebeest, rhino, warthog, cheetah, gazelle, zebra, giraffe, elephants, buffalo, hartebeest, reedbuck plus many more. As the sun goes down we make camp amongst the wildlife, eat a hearty meal and fall asleep listening to the sounds of Africa. No guided self drive 4x4 Africa adventure would be complete without the thrill of driving through the most famous game park in Africa.

Days 65-71 Meserani Masia village, Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar

We leave the Serengeti continuing through Masai Land to the colourful township of Meserani; a Masai Village where we visit a Masai Village and Cultural Centre. A two-day drive takes us to the coast of Dar es Salaam or "Haven of Peace" in Kiswahili. We leave the 4x4 vehicles and catch a ferry to the spice island of Zanzibar known for its ancient Arab architecture, tropical beaches and crystal clear waters, allowing you to kick back and take in the picturesque setting.

Days 72-78 Zanzibar to Mikumi National Park to Malawi

The ferry arrives in Stone Town - an old, classic Arabic city, with narrow cobble stoned streets, teeming with sweet smells of spices which drift on the gentle breeze, with the local mosque humming in the background. At sun-down the plaza changes form and as the sun disappears over the Indian Ocean, the Plaza comes alive with the smell of fresh seafood BBQ and colourfully dressed women mixing dough in preparation of traditional Zanzibar pizzas. For a true Zanzibar experience, a visit and a meal in the plaza is an absolute must. A visit to Zanzibar would not be complete without taking one of the many spice tours on offer and a couple of days relaxing on the tropical beaches and swimming in crystal clear waters. For those wanting to partake in aquatic activities Zanzibar will not disappoint - snorkeling, scuba diving, swimming with dolphins, sailing and windsurfing are all on offer. We spend a few days to relax and enjoy. Leaving Dar es Salaam behind us we head west through Mikumi National Park and reach the border of Malawi. Driving through Mikumi National Park, it is not uncommon to have to stop on the main highway to give way to herds of Elephants crossing.

Days 79-85 Lake Malawi, optional visit to Livingstonia

We follow the lake shore and enjoy the laid back atmosphere of this beautiful country. Lake Malawi with its beautiful beaches and coves not only gave the country its name - it also covers one third of the county's surface. We make our way along the Lake stopping at idyllic spots for some time to chat to the locals and watch local craftsmen carve Malawi chairs. An optional visit to Livingstonia – a mission from 1894 – perched 800m above Lake Malawi offers some of the most spectacular views of Africa in Malawi.

Days 86-92 To Zambia, South Luangwa National Park, Lusaka, Victoria Falls

Heading further south we cross into Zambia and visit South Luangwa National Park, one of the best kept secrets of African game parks. Not many travelers know about this outstanding park hidden in the Luangwa Valley. We arrive at Croc Valley Campsite where we will stay for the coming two nights. The campsite is situated on the banks of the Luangwa River with a natural fence separating the campsite from South Luangwa National Park. It is not unusual for Elephants to wander into camp at breakfast to check-out the menu; be warned Kellogg's Cornflakes are one of their favorite foods and they are not shy in helping themselves! The campsite has several platforms high in the trees - a perfect spot to lay out your mattress under a mosquito net and listen to the wild African sounds. South Luangwa National Park is famous for leopard, lion, giraffe, hippos, crocodiles, hyena and aardvark. It is one of the few parks where night game drives as well as walking safaris are possible. A spectacular park situated in a stunning part of Africa. Passing through the capital Lusaka, we reach the world famous "smoke that thunders" renamed to Victoria Falls by David Livingstone.

Days 93-99 Livingstone, Zambezi River and Gorge, Chobe River Botswana

Long before we reach Livingstone we can see the mist coming from the famous Victoria Falls. The mist becomes more pronounced as we arrive in the centre of Livingstone, Zambia. The Zambezi River with its Victoria Falls is a natural border line separating Zambia from Zimbabwe; the sight of the Falls is breath-taking leaving many speechless with her sheer size and power, which stretches one mile long pumping an incredible 4.5 million cubic meters of water every second into the Zambezi Gorge. Livingstone is the perfect base to enjoy the many activities on offer including a sunset cruise down the Zambezi; white water rafting; abseil and gorge swing in the Zambezi Gorge, bungee jump 111m with Victoria Falls providing the perfect backdrop; take an afternoon stroll with Rhinos; or photograph the Falls from great heights in a micro light, helicopter or light aircraft - the options are endless. Our next destination is Botswana. We spend some time on the banks of the Chobe River taking time to cruise along the river watching animals playing in the shallows. A game drive through Chobe National Park famous for large Elephant population in a custom built open safari vehicle with a local safari guide gives us insight into the unique population home to this region.

Days 100-106 North Namibia; Okavango Delta, Etosha

Overlanding into northern Namibia, we visit the northern Okavango Delta; an amazing 15,000 sq km water maze of lagoons, estuaries, streams and islands form this incredible haven for birds and African animals alike. The best way to explore the Delta is by Mokoro - local dug-out canoes; we spend a few hours exploring the region with local polers. From here we make our way to the world's biggest meteorite before entering Etosha National Park. Etosha is Namibia's draw card. A vast game park situated in classic African savannah surroundings. The well located watering holes often mean we do not have to travel far to see wild life. The well equipped campsites situated near a flood lit watering hole are a pleasant surprise for everyone who has travelled north to south. A perfect setting to open a few bottles of Southern Africa's finest wines and enjoy a platter of cheeses, olives, and fresh fruit as we watch the animals come in to drink. Sitting by the watering hole, peacefully watching wild-life is a vast contrast to the hustle and bustle of Cairo and Egypt - you will begin to wonder if you are still on the same continent!

Days 107-112 Swakopmund, Luderitz, Sesriem, conclude Cape Town

The German colonial towns of Swakopmund and Luderitz are well worth a visit as well. Swakopmund appropriately labeled as the desert adventure capital of Southern Africa, is home to a number of activities including quad biking, sky diving and deep sea fishing. For those looking for a more relaxed time there are plenty of excellent restaurants serving famous Namibian seafood and traditional German food and beer. Luderitz, an old Bavarian style German colonial town, is a true step back in time. On the icy shores of the South Atlantic Ocean it is home to seals, penguins, flamingos and assorted marine life. Not far from Luderitz is the diamond ghost town of Kohlmanskop. Once a bustling diamond mining town is now a mere reminder of what life was like pre WW1. Sesriem National Park provides us with the chance to climb Dune 45, the largest sand dune in World. A visit to Fish River Canyon and the hot springs of Ai Ais are also a must in this part of the Africa. South Africa is our last country and final destination on our fully guided self drive 4x4 Cairo to Cape Town adventure. Leaving the arid landscape of Namibia we soon hit the green Mediterranean-like wine region of the Western Cape and our final destination of Cape Town. A wine tour around Stellenbosch is a civilised way to wind down our epic journey across the African continent. As we arrive in Cape Town and enjoy a final meal together we reminisce over the previous 4 months; remembering our overland adventures we toast to our experiences, the interesting people we have met along the way and more importantly to us; for turning our dreams into a reality. It is here we conclude our Guided Self Drive 4x4 Africa Adventure - Cairo to Cape Town.

Additional Information

Inclusions

112 Breakfasts - 75 Lunches - 89 Dinners
4x4 Expedition land Rover (max. 2 p/vehicle)
fuel, road tolls, spare parts, international vehicle paperwork, ferries
Camping equipment; tent, camp bed, director camping chairs, kitchen and cooking utensils
National Park fees
2 crew - mechanic & tour leader/cook
maps and information
Pyramids and history museum, Cairo
Return ferry to Zanzibar and spice tour
High tea Elsamere, David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage, Nairobi Giraffe Centre Kenya
Green Crater Walking Safari
wine tour of Stellenbosch
Boat trip to Chobe River
additional entry fees and visits as per itinerary

Summary

112 day trip
Guided Self Drive
22 nights hotels/hostels
89 nights camping

Trip Main Activities

Adventure Touring
Wildlife Safari - Self Guided Drive

Group Size Min

Group Size Max

Accommodation Summary

Equipment Required

Specialist gear required includes walking boots and day pack (a comprehensive gear list is provided in the pre-departure information provided on booking).

What You Carry

In your daypack you will need to carry extra warm clothing (it is very cold on Mt Sinai in winter with temperatures below freezing at night and early morning), a rainjacket, water bottle, camera gear, valuables and personal items such as sunscreen, lip-eze etc.

Check dates and prices
Book this trip with World Expeditions on their site