Yomps, Adventure Travel Experiences

Southern Circle Overland Tour
Full Itinerary

Explore six Southern African countries in vehicles especially designed to access the off-the-beaten track highlights this area has to offer. See desert landscapes in Botswana, lush forests in Zambia, tea plantations in Malawi, the spectacular Victoria Falls, stunning beaches in Mozambique, and a variety of other unique locations and awe-inspiring sites on this impressive overland tour!

South Africa, Botswana & Zimbabwe

Days 1 to 8 - Leave Johannesburg, cross into Botswana, visit the Makgadigadi salt pans, see amazing game viewing in Chobe National Park, see the most famous waterfall in the world (Victoria Falls), enjoy adventure activities such as white water rafting and bungee jumping, cross into Zambia, and canoe the Zambezi River and camp on its river banks.

Day 1 Departing from Johannesburg you will head directly to the Botswana border. Completing all the immigration formalities, you then continue to Nata, an oasis-like camp on the edge of the vast Makgadigadi salt pans. Tonight you can familiarise yourselves with the tour procedures over a catered meal (at own expense) before camping out for the night to get your first taste of the sounds of nocturnal Africa!

Day 2 This morning you travel through the Chobe forest reserves up to the mighty Chobe River and adjoining National Park where huge herds of elephant gather at the water. After an extensive afternoon game drive within the Chobe National Park seeing a variety of wildlife, you cross the border and head for Victoria Falls to spend three nights in comfort at the Drifters Victoria Falls Inn.

Days 3 & 4 During your stay at the Drifters Victoria Falls Inn you will view the spectacular Victoria Falls and range of other highlights found in ‘Africa’s Adventure Capital’! Those seeking an adrenaline rush may wish to try bungee jumping, white water rafting or a variety of aircraft flips (at own expense). One night you will enjoy a “braai” (African version of a barbeque) at the pool before attempting some traditional dancing. On the last night you will eat at a local restaurant (at own expense).

Day 5 Crossing the original railway bridge you will get a last glimpse of ‘The Falls’ before entering Zambia. Your journey today takes you through southern Zambia and then down into the Lower Zambezi Valley to Kafue, where you will camp the night. Relax at the pool this afternoon in preparation for the following days of canoeing.

Days 6 - 8 The mighty Zambezi River winds its way through some of the best wilderness areas in Africa, enabling you to have what can only be described as the finest canoe adventure in the world! What better way to see big game at close quarters than from a canoe? You will spend two nights camping wild on the banks of the river, then on the third day be transferred by boat back to Kafue for a welcome shower and a catered meal (at own expense).

Zambia and Malawi

Days 9 to 15 - Visit Luangwa National Park to see hippos in the wild, cross into Malawi to snorkel in the famous Lake Malawi and camp on its beach, and visit the tea plantations of Mulanje

Day 9 Reunited with the vehicle, you travel through the capital of Lusaka and then traverse along the ‘Great East Road’ to your next overnight camp, covering as much distance as possible today through awe-inspiring scenery.

Days 10 & 11 Your next stop is the Luangwa National Park which is well known for its impressive hippo population, where you will spend two nights camping on the banks of the river. During your stay here you will go on an extensive game drive in search of the elusive leopards and other wildlife that make this park one of Africa’s best. Also get the chance to go on a night drive to see the nocturnal wildlife of the park (at own expense).

Days 12 & 13 Crossing into Malawi today, your first stop is Lilongwe, the capital. After stocking up with groceries and curios, your journey continues to Lake Malawi, an impressive inland freshwater sea. The snorkelling here is a highlight, as are the sandy beaches and friendly locals. You spend two nights here, camping on the beach and sleeping to the sounds of the sea.

Days 14 & 15 Turning south, you head for Mulanje, an impressive mountain of granite rising some 600m above the surrounding forest and lush tea plantations. You will spend two nights camping in the area, and will go on a hike to the plateau from where the views are exceptional.

Mozambique & South Africa

Days 16 to 24 - Enter Mozambique, visit vibrant and bustling villages, relax on the beaches and scuba dive if you wish, soak up the culture of the capital of Maputo, cross the border into South Africa and visit the world-famous Kruger National Park

Day 16 Travelling via Blantyre, today you enter Mozambique. The journey takes you through the Tete corridor, across the Zambezi River and alongside the mountains that form the border with Zimbabwe before you camp wild in the remote region of Chimoio.

Day 17 Leaving the wilderness behind, today you pass through a variety of vibrant and bustling villages en-route to the coast. Your next stop is Vilanculos, which sits on the shores of the warm azure Indian Ocean overlooking the idyllic Bazaruto Archipelago. You spend the night here in casitas, situated literally on the beach and enjoy a meal at a local restaurant (at own expense).

Days 18 – 20 Moving south along the coast, your next stop is the ancient trading port of Inhambane, where you can spend some time exploring and visiting the bustling local market. You then continue on to the Drifters Barra Beach Camp which sits under coconut palms on the beach, where you will enjoy three nights of relative comfort staying in casitas. During your time here you can relax, snorkel and soak up the sun whilst exploring the deserted beaches that Mozambique is so well known for, and anyone who wishes to can scuba dive or horse ride on the beach (at own expense). On the last night you can enjoy a catered meal (at own expense).

Day 21 Today you cross vast coastal floodplains and drive through forests of cashew nuts towards your last stop in Mozambique – the capital, Maputo.

Day 22 Maputo boasts an interesting, almost Latino culture of street cafes and markets, and you can spend time the morning driving through and viewing these and the other attractions of this once-grandiose city. In the afternoon you cross back into South Africa and make your way to the Kruger National Park to camp the night.

Day 23 No visit to Africa would be complete without a trip to Kruger National Park , the largest game reserve in South Africa that boasts a variety of wildlife including the ‘Big Five’ (lions, elephants, rhinos, leopards and buffalo). You can spend the entire day viewing animals in this premier National Park, and in the late afternoon travel the short distance to the Drifters Hazyview Inn.

Day 24 After a leisurely start today enjoying a walk on the property, you make your way back to Johannesburg, arriving back at the Drifters Inn in the late afternoon.

Meals Included - The following meals are included in the price during the tour

• Day 1 None
• Day 2 Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
• Days 3 & 4 Breakfast and Dinner
• Days 5 – 16 Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
• Day 17 Breakfast and Lunch
• Days 18 – 20 Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
• Day 21 Breakfast and Lunch
• Days 22 & 23 Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
• Day 24 Breakfast

Optional Activities (at own expense) -

• Elephant back safari
• White water rafting
• Bungee jumping
• Scuba diving
• Luangwa night drive
• Deep sea fishing

Important Information -

• For this tour an open and flexible mind is essential to deal with the detours, delays and other inconveniences you may encounter in developing countries.
• Visas are required by all nationalities for Mozambique, and by some for Malawi, Zimbabwe and Zambia - these are the client's responsibility.
• Seasonal precautions against malaria are advisable and are locally obtainable.
• A small daypack is advisable for the hike on Mulanje.
• The recommended currency for this tour is the US Dollar, in small denominations.
• Our price includes all transport, accommodation, entry fees and permits, game drives and walks, Victoria Falls entry, canoe trip, group equipment, professional guides and most meals.
• Alcohol, soft drinks, curios, tips, visas, taxes, and optional excursions are at the client's own expense.

- Malaria Awareness

Travelling to long-haul destinations can be a wonderful and exciting experience. Before you go, make sure you take the right travel advice about visiting Malaria risk countries. At Yomps we are committed to stopping traveller deaths from malaria which is why we support the campaign being run by Malariahotspots.com. Click here to download our free guide about Malaria Awareness (opens in a new window).