Vic Falls to Zanzibar
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Experience Overview
Explore Africa's eastern lands on this 20-day adventure from Zimbabwe to Zanzibar. Search for prides of lions and herds of zebra in South Luangwa National Park, swim in one of Africa’s most tranquil freshwater lakes in Malawi, and relax on the shores of Zanzibar's northern beaches. See the power of Victoria Falls, visit a workshop where local women transform snares into beautiful jewellery and visit a local tea farm to learn about the journey from planting to harvest. If safaris, sea breezes and a zest for exploration are your thing, jump aboard this overland adventure to the wilds of East Africa!
Highlights
- Spot iconic African wildlife, including hippos, buffalo and lions and more on 4WD safaris through three national parks – South Luangwa, Lower Zambezi and Mikumi.
- Visit a workshop where local women transform snares set by poachers into beautiful jewellery inspired by the African landscape, with proceeds supporting conservation efforts.
- Wander around Stone Town’s bustling bazaars and fragrant spice markets, and consider heading on an optional guided tour of the island’s spice plantations.
- Explore the mountain-ringed plains of Mikumi National Park, known for its baobab trees, predators and large herds of buffalo, wildebeest, elephants and zebra.
- Enjoy a free day in Vic Falls to view the falls however you like. Maybe take an optional helicopter ride or sunset boat cruise to see the falls from all angles.
Trip Details
Product Code: 3176
Tour Type: Small Group
Accommodation: Basic
Transport: Overland Vehicle, 4WD Safari Vehicle, Ferry, Minibus
Guide Language: English
Travel Styles:
Overland Expedition, Budget
Tour Operator:
Intrepid Travel
Supplier Code: YXOSC
Starts: Victoria Falls, Malawi
Finishes: Stone Town, Malawi
Duration: 20 days
Departures: Not Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Light
Includes
Meals: Breakfasts (19), Lunch (12), Dinner (13)Accommodation: Camping (with facilities) (16 nights), Hotel (1 night), Bunglow (2 nights)
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $2912 ($146 /day)
Itinerary
Mhoro! Welcome to Zimbabwe. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 4 pm this afternoon in Victoria Falls – a town in western Zimbabwe and the gateway to the massive waterfall of the same name. If you arrive early, you might take a helicopter flight over the Falls, stroll through the town centre, or check out the restaurant and brewery scene. After your meeting, get to know your fellow travellers over dinner at a local restaurant.
Accommodation:
- Camping (with facilities) (Number of Nights: 1)
Today is a free day for you to choose your own adventure! Maybe spend the day exploring the magnificent Victoria Falls. This thundering curtain of water is 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. Be sure to ask your local leader for their tips and advice on what to do in Victoria Falls.
Optional Activities:
- Victoria Falls - Victoria Falls entrance (58 USD)
- Victoria Falls - Rafting & river boarding (half day) (218 USD)
- Victoria Falls - Village & township tour (61 USD)
- Victoria Falls - Canoe trail wine route (55 USD)
- Victoria Falls - Canoe trail (full day) (185 USD)
- Victoria Falls - Helicopter Flight of the Angels (12 mins - Excludes US$29 fuel surcharge and NP fees) (173 USD)
- Victoria Falls - Helicopter Flight (25 mins - Excludes USD39 fuel surcharge and NP fees) (328 USD)
Accommodation:
- Camping (with facilities) (Number of Nights: 1)
After breakfast, you’ll travel to Lower Zambezi National Park – located on the Zimbabwean border and famous for its spectacular Zambezi River valley and abundant wildlife, including fish eagles, buffalo, and elephants. Today is a bit of a long travel day, so it’s the perfect chance to get stuck into a good book or catch up on your favourite podcasts. After crossing the border from Zimbabwe into Zambia, continue to your campsite in the wildlife-rich Chiawa area, surrounded by native bush with animals roaming freely through the camp.
Accommodation:
- Camping (with facilities) (Number of Nights: 1)
Begin your wildlife adventure with a scenic boat cruise to Lower Zambezi National Park. As you glide past lush riverbanks, keep watch for wildlife before arriving at the park entrance. Then set off on a full-day safari through one of Zambia’s best wildlife viewing areas – set along a wide floodplain of the Zambezi River, dotted with acacias and towering trees, and framed by a dramatic slope to the north, covered in thick miombo woodland. Across the river you'll see Zimbabwe’s Mana Pools National Park - the two parks forming one of Africa’s most amazing wilderness areas. Keep your eyes peeled for elephants, leopards, lions, and birds before returning by boat back to camp.
Included Activities:
- Lower Zambezi National Park - Full Day Safari
- Lower Zambezi - Scenic Boat Cruise
Accommodation:
- Camping (with facilities) (Number of Nights: 1)
This morning, travel to Lusaka.Your campsite on a private farm surrounded by the natural bushland, just outside of the city. When you arrive, set up camp, settle in, and spend some time exploring the camp, stretching your legs as you try to spot impala, giraffes, or even zebras wandering through!
Accommodation:
- Camping (with facilities) (Number of Nights: 1)
Wake up early and begin your journey to Petauke – a town in the Eastern Province of Zambia. Along the way, watch the ever-changing scenery shift from open plains to rural villages and bustling roadside markets, offering a glimpse into daily Zambian life. Tonight, enjoy a well-earned rest at your camp, under the African night sky.
Accommodation:
- Camping (with facilities) (Number of Nights: 1)
After breakfast, travel to a workshop in South Luangwa where local craftswomen transform snare wire, recovered from poaching traps, into jewellery inspired by the African bush. When you arrive, the women will show you around their purpose-built workshop, then try your hand at coiling or hammering the wire yourself! After, continue your journey through the heartland to South Luangwa National Park.
Included Activities:
- South Luangwa - Anti-Poaching Jewelery Project
Accommodation:
- Camping (with facilities) (Number of Nights: 1)
After breakfast, head out on a morning 4WD safari to try and spot iconic African wildlife, including elephants, buffalo, leopards, Thornicroft’s giraffes and lions with a local guide. Learn about the region’s diverse landscapes and animals. In the afternoon, maybe set out on a game walk or river trip to see South Luangwa’s beautiful scenery as the sun slowly sets – just ask your local leader for more details!
Included Activities:
- South Luangwa National Park - Morning 4WD Safari
Optional Activities:
- South Luangwa National Park - Game Walk (50 USD)
Accommodation:
- Camping (with facilities) (Number of Nights: 1)
Head out on another morning 4WD safari for a second chance to spot South Luangwa’s remarkable wildlife. After, you’ll make tracks to your next camp near Chipata for the night.
Included Activities:
- South Luangwa National Park - Morning 4WD Safari
Accommodation:
- Camping (with facilities) (Number of Nights: 1)
Cross the border into Malawi and continue straight to your camp on the shores of Lake Malawi. The country is dominated by its lake, which covers almost a fifth of the country and provides a livelihood for many local people. Fishermen, fish traders, and canoe and net makers all ply their trade on the water. Your campsite sits right on the shore so you can relax on the beach after todays drive.
Accommodation:
- Camping (with facilities) (Number of Nights: 1)
Enjoy free time today to soak up your idyllic surroundings. As well as chilling out on the lake’s sandy shores, make sure you take the opportunity to meet some local Malawians – easily some of the friendliest people in Africa! You can also hire canoes, bikes or pedalos (paddle boats) to enhance your time here.
Optional Activities:
- Lake Malawi - Bike Hire (25 USD)
Accommodation:
- Camping (with facilities) (Number of Nights: 1)
Drive to your camp in Chitimba, which lies along the coast of Lake Malawi and has lovely beaches, friendly locals and a laidback atmosphere. When you arrive, perhaps take a stroll and acquaint yourself with this different part of the lake. Enjoy the scenery of banana palms, papaya trees and the Livingstonia and Nyika mountains looming nearby.
Accommodation:
- Camping (with facilities) (Number of Nights: 1)
Today you'll cross the border into Tanzania and travel through its southern highlands as you make your way to Tukuyu. Enjoy a guided visit to a local tea farm, hosted by the farm owner. You’ll be taken through each step of tea cultivation – from planting and nurturing the bushes to harvesting the leaves. Learn about the seasonal rhythms of the farm, the processing stages that shape the final product, and the vital role tea farming plays in the local community and regional economy. Gain firsthand insight into daily life on a working tea farm and hear directly from a local producer about the industry and its challenges.
Included Activities:
- Tukuyu - Tea Farm Visit
Accommodation:
- Camping (with facilities) (Number of Nights: 1)
Today you'll head towards Iringa and set up camp on the grounds of a farmhouse situated on the outskirts of this pleasant settlement. The area is filled with natural bush, which makes it a bird watchers paradise. If it's a clear night, make the most of this rural setting by stargazing before you retire for the night.
Accommodation:
- Camping (with facilities) (Number of Nights: 1)
Today you’ll drive to Mikumi National Park. Situated at the foot of the thickly wooded Uluguru Mountains, Mikumi is Tanzania’s fourth‑largest national park. On arrival, join an expert guide for a 4WD safari, where you’re likely to see buffalo, wildebeest, zebra, giraffe and elephants.
Included Activities:
- Mikumi National Park - 4WD Safari
Accommodation:
- Camping (with facilities) (Number of Nights: 1)
Sit back, relax and enjoy the scenic drive to Kipepo Beach, located on the white sandy beaches on the south coast of Dar es Salaam. Once you arrive, set up camp and take some time to unwind – maybe enjoy a stroll along the shore. Your camp for the night is set on the grounds of a hotel right next to the beach, offering the perfect opportunity to unwind and take a refreshing dip in the Indian Ocean.
Accommodation:
- Camping (with facilities) (Number of Nights: 1)
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.
Optional Activities:
- Stone Town Tour - Dharajani Market, Joseph's Cathederal, Palace Museum, Forodhani Food Market (20 USD)
- Zanzibar - Prison Island Tour (25 USD)
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
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.
Optional Activities:
- Zanzibar - Spice tour (25 USD)
Accommodation:
- Bungalow (Number of Nights: 1)
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.
Accommodation:
- Bungalow (Number of Nights: 1)
After checking out of your accommodation this morning, you will make your way back to Stone Town, arriving at a centrally-located hotel around 11 am. With no activities planned for today, you are free to leave at any time. That doesn't mean your adventure has to come to an end! If you wish to stay on in Zanzibar, either at the Northern Beaches beach resort or in Stone Town, we'll be happy to organise additional accommodation (subject to availability).
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Tour Operator
Intrepid Travel
Intrepid Travel is a global adventure travel company, dedicated to providing sustainable, experience-rich travel opportunities. They’ve been the leader in ethical, small-group travel since 1989 - taking people around the world for more than 30 years. They’re the world’s largest travel B Corporation - dedicated to being the best travel company for the world. In 2002, they established The Intrepid Foundation so their travellers could make a lasting impact on the communities they had visited. Although Intrepid Travel absorbs all administrative costs of The Intrepid Foundation, they are separate legal entities, allowing The Intrepid Foundation to grow independently. Intrepid Travel is made up of a collection of tour operator brands and 28 destination management companies all united by one vision: To change the way we all see the world.
In Business Since 1989
Reviews
Darcey - Traveled, December 2023
I booked vic falls to Gorillas as a trip, and this Vic falls to Zanzibar section was a small part of it. I wouldn’t book this section of trip by itself, as it includes lots of long drive days and a small number of activities, however if you have come from the Cape Town to vic falls leg, or are continuing on from Zanzibar as I am, it is is a great trip to see lots of Zimbabwe. Zambia and Malawi you otherwise would miss. Be prepared for the longndrive days but be expected for the beach days in Malawi and Zanzibar. My chef Simon was an absolute god in the kitchen, I hope he quits soon to open his own restaurant because I got fed sooo well on this trip. All staff are wonderful and overall a great relaxing Leg!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 01/08/2024
Lucy - Traveled, December 2023
If you're thinking of doing this trip just do it you'll never regret it and it's the most amazing experience.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/19/2023
Shirley - Traveled, December 2023
Don't think twice - book it ! I was jealous of those doing longer trips that connected up to this one. From having never camped before I am a complete convert - mainly because we were so incredibly well looked after by our crew. This is definitely a "journey" rather than a typical "holiday" - fantastic to visit less visited national parks - our sittings felt very special and unique.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/19/2023
Chelsea - Traveled, November 2023
I really enjoyed this trip. Tip: make sure you purchase a Kaza Visa for Zimbabwe if you plan on viewing the Vic falls from both sides! Our group leaders were excellent, as was our group. I so enjoyed my first Africa trip, and I know I will be returning.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/25/2023
Ashleigh - Traveled, October 2022
I’ve loved this trip, the office staff and the crew have been amazing. I can’t recommend it enough
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/30/2022
Andrew - Traveled, October 2022
Mambo, Jackson, and Dan were a fantastic crew from Vic falls to Zanzibar. Would highly recommend this trip!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/31/2022
Michael - Traveled, August 2022
Excellent trip where we saw a bunch of big cats, elephants and zebras. Was also fortunately enough to have a special performance by the top Kenyan dancer.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/17/2022
Pearson Jacob - Traveled, December 2023
Fun times, kind people, unforgettable experiences. Would be nice if the truck had air conditioning. Driver, cook and guide made for a great trip!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/20/2023
Alexandra - Traveled, August 2023
Fantastic way to experience africa!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/26/2023
Bosco - Traveled, May 2023
This trip gives a good blend of culture and history. Watch out for the landscapes too
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/22/2023
Robert - Traveled, July 2022
In my opinion: Ground staff served needs of participants beyond the call of duty. Do NOT depend upon Intrepid office staff in New York, London, or Australia to provide accurate, up-to-date information. Expect contradictory info from time to time. Ground personnel: Outstanding. Corporate personnel: Incompetent. Caveat emptor!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/20/2022
Michaela - Traveled, May 2024
Excellent trip that open your eyes to the world if you allow it. Offers everything from scenery to cultural experiences and of course some amazing animal viewing.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/15/2024
Charlotte - Traveled, June 2024
The driving days are (very) long but so worth it! The game drives were phenomenal, as were our wonderful crew of Mambo, Chalo and Ken. Amazing food, amazing company, amazing trip through some largely unvisited spots in Africa.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/11/2024
