Overland - Johannesburg to Tanzania
Richard Mullin: "The only man I envy is the man who has not yet been to Africa - for he has so much to look forward to."
Chimhavira bring you an 18 day South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Tanzania Safari from the 28th Dec 2010 to the 15th Jan 2011 (they are also offering a similar safari from Tanzania to Johannesburg from the 20th Jan 2011 to the 15th Feb 2011).
Overland safari enquires - contact cheapflights@southafrica.to |
Nature of the Tour
This trip offers you a crossroads of civilizations, cultures and landscapes, influenced from the early days by nomadic tribes, Arab readers, European colonials, torn apart by civil wars. With new found peace, and a fast growing economy recently reopened to tourism, Southern and Eastern Africa offers the explorer a wealth of treasures in the form of untouched wilderness areas, natural beauty, deserted beaches and unique cultural heritage.
The group will consist of a maximum of 8 participants plus a professional guide whom will drive the back-up vehicle and will meet up with you at the campsites in the evening and be your host.
Participants must be a minimum of 25 years of age.
Safari dates:
Johannesburg – Dar e Salaam
- Arrival/Start – 28th December 2010
- Departure/End – 15th January 2011
Required arrival & departure dates, time, flight carrier and number
Basic Itinerary:
- Day 1 Johannesburg to Mazunga Ranch (SA)
- Day 2 Mazunga Ranch – Gonarezhou (Zimbabwe)
- Day 3 Gonarezhou National Park
- Day 4 Gonarezhou National Park – Bush Camping (Mozambique)
- Day 5 Bush camp - Gorongosa National Park
- Day 6 Gorongosa National Park – Coastal Drive
- Day 7 Coastal Drive
- Day 8 Coastal Drive
- Day 9 Coastal Drive
- Day 10 Coastal Drive
- Day 11 Coastal Drive – North of Pemba
- Day 12 North of Pemba - Masasi
- Day 13 Masasi – Selous National Park (Tan)
- Day 14 Selous National Park
- Day 15 Selous National Park
- Day 16 Selous National Park - Mikadi Beach Lodge
- Day 17 Dar e Salaam
- Day 18 Zanzibar
- Day 19
Safari Cost:
The cost of this Safari is USD 3,600 per person sharing
Our prices include:
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Your fully customised Land Rover and all equipment including fully enclosed roof-top tents
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Support vehicle and team leader costs
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Route planning, itineraries, bookings and travel guidance
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Field guides, maps and documents required for cross-border travel
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Complete introduction to the vehicle, equipment & basic 4x4 driver training where necessary
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Vehicle exchange when serious mechanical breakdown occurs
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Comprehensive insurance cover and unlimited kilometres (full details available upon request)
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Free airport transfers to and from our Johannesburg offices
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Our individual service
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All fuel, toll road and border fees
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An emergency medical kit, and all guides are first aid trained
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Two full meals per day plus snacks
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Drinking water and cordial
Our prices exclude:
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International/regional and domestic airfares to and from collection/departure points
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The optional hire of a satellite phone and/or GPS for navigation
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Visas and personal travel insurance
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Alcoholic beverages, mixers and soft drinks
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All beverages and food out of camp
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Laundry services
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Clothing, toiletries and all other personal items e.g. cameras, sun block etc
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Fees for non-scheduled excursions, activities, entrance fees etc
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Gratuities
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Costs for any upgraded accommodation to that listed above and below
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Zanzibar Ferry Tickets
Passport Visa Requirements:
We will be travelling in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Tanzania:
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South Africa – No visa required for UK/US passport holders
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Zimbabwe – Visa required at the border, it is US$55
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Mozambique – Visas are considered by the Mozambique missions abroad and must be affixed in the applicants' passports before departing for Mozambique . Visas are not issued on arrival at Mozambique ports of entry. Mozambique consulate in London Tel: +44 (0) 71 383 38 00
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Tanzania – All visitors require a visa except citizens of some Commonwealth countries and a few other nations, visa’s can be obtained upon arrival in Arusha or Dar-e-Salaam at a cost of US$ 50 or issued by your nearest Tanzanian High Commission before departure, best to check with your local high commission in the UK.
This information is correct as of today’s date, please double check with the relevant embassy in your home country before you travel. Chimhavira cannot be held responsible to any changes to these requirements that are beyond our control.
Items of interest:
- Total driving Distance: Approx 4,600 km (2860 miles)
- Diesel consumption based on 3 vehicles: 1,972 litres (521 UK gallons)
Boarders crossed:
- Johannesburg Airport
- Beitbridge (South Africa into Zimbabwe)
Mount Selinda (Zimbabwe into Mozambique) - Rovuma Border post (Mozambique into Tanzania)
- Dar e Salaam International airport
Suggestions:
African kids love asking tourists for sweets and pens. If you have space in your suitcase bring a couple bags of both with you. The kids will smile and be happy; you will enjoy it for little cost. Old clothes are good for bargaining with adults for curios or local fruits etc.
18 - Day Last Frontier driving safari itinerary through South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Tanzania
Meal Key: B – Breakfast, L – Lunch, D – Dinner
Day 1: Arrive - Johannesburg - Cawoods Mazunga Ranch
This evening we will be staying at a Zimbabwean ranch. The Bristow family run the ranch today and are passionate about their wildlife. Their pets include two lions, a banded mongoose and a giraffe. Look out for the buffalo heard that roams around there farm.
As this is a farm we will also be taken on a tour of the orchard that supplies citrus fruits all over the world.
Driving distance: Approximately 356 km
Accommodation: Cawoods Mazunga Ranch
Meals: L, D
Day 2: Cawoods Mazunga Ranch - Gona-re-zhou
Gonarezhou National Park is a game reserve in south-eastern Zimbabwe. It is situated in a relatively remote corner of Masvingo Province, south of Chimanimani along the Mozambique border. The park is a lowveld region of baobabs, scrublands and sandstone cliffs.
At 5,053 km² Gonarezhou is the country’s second largest game reserve after Hwange National Park. Gonarezhou is a Shona name meaning "elephant's tusk." It forms part of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, a peace park that links Gonarezhou with the Kruger National Park in South Africa and the Limpopo National Park in Mozambique. Animals can move freely between the three sanctuaries.
Driving distance: Approximately 380 km
Accommodation: Chipinda Pools Campsite
Meals: B, L, D
Day 3: Chipinda Pools camp - Chilojo Cliffs camp
The main feature of this Park is the Chilojo Cliffs, which are visible from 50 kilometres away. Morning and evening light give the cliffs a rich hue and dramatically silhouette the distinctive baobab trees. These trees are said to be the source of the famous ‘cream of tartar’. The flowers are pollinated by bats and are a delicacy for antelopes.
Driving distance: Approximately 100 km
Accommodation: Chilojo Cliffs Campsite
Meals: B, L, D
Day 4: Chilojo Cliffs camp - Mount Silinda border post
Today we will travel to the Mount Silinda border post which will enable us to cross into Mozambique. There is not much on the Mozambique side in the way of tourist attractions so for this evening we will be bush camping along a river line.
Driving distance: Approximately 350 km
Accommodation: Bush Camping
Meals: B, L, D
Day 5: Our bush camp - Gorongosa National Park
Gorongosa National Park is at the southern end of the Great African Rift Valley in the heart of central Mozambique. The 3,770 square kilometre park includes the valley floor and parts of surrounding plateaus. Rivers originating on nearby 1863-meter Mount Gorongosa water the plain.
Driving distance: Approximately 273 km
Accommodation: Gorongosa National Park Campsite
Meals: B, L, D
Day 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11: Gorongosa National Park – Coastal Drive – North of Pemba
Mozambique is home to miles of uninterrupted white sand. Best of all, visitors can enjoy it without feeling the pressures of tourism that are sadly found at other more popular stretches of the African coast. Travellers are so few and far between that the local residents are both interested and happy to speak about their culture with those taking a trip. They seem refreshingly unconscious of the European/African divide than regions such as The Gambia – and less keen to extort money from ‘rich’ outsiders at every opportunity.
Driving distance: Approximately 1,600 km
Accommodation: Bush Camping
Meals: B, L, D
Day 12: North of Pemba - Masasi
When putting this itinerary together Masasi was chosen as a logical place to stop so that not too much mileage is done in one day. Masasi is small and nothing really goes on here, well there is a Catholic church and an airport, today we will see if we can find a school or perhaps the church to go and have a look at and see how this village operates which should prove most intriguing.
Driving distance: Approximately 420 km
Accommodation: Masasi camping
Meals: B, L, D
Day 13: Masasi - Selous River Camp
We will be travelling to the Selous National Park today. The Selous is the largest National Park in Africa. Four times the size of Serengeti - covering more than 5% of Tanzania's total area and larger than Switzerland, it possesses a diverse landscape from hot volcanic springs, sporadic lakes, channels from the Great Rhaha and Rufiji rivers'
Driving distance: Approximately 590 km
Accommodation: Selous River Camp
Meals: B, L, D
Day 14, 15: Selous National Park
As the Selous is so vast we cannot see anything in one day so today we will spend exploring. Ensure you are looking out for the elephant in the park, approximately 70 % (60 000) of Tanzania's elephants are found in this reserve. Other well known animals include the hippo (40 000 inhabit the river systems), depleted numbers of the black rhino, large herds of buffalo (over 160 000), the this area is famous for wild dogs, lets hope we see at least one of the 5 000 lion that patrol the Reserve.
Driving distance: Approximately 200 km
Accommodation: Selous River Camp
Meals: B, L, D
Day 16: Selous National Park - Mikadi Beach Lodge
Today we will make our way back towards the Indian Ocean. Just south of Dar es Salaam lies Mikadi Beach Lodge. Mikadi derives its name from the Mikadi Tree, which thrives along the beautiful Tanzanian coastline and is ideally located for us to visit Zanzibar.
Driving distance: Approximately 280 km
Accommodation: Mikadi Beach Lodge campsite
Meals: B, L, D
Day 17: Dar e Salaam
Today we will spend our time at Mikadi Beach or take a ride into Dar e Salaam, we will spend the day relaxing, swimming and exploring the beach in front of the lodge.
Driving distance: N/A
Accommodation: Mikadi Beach Lodge Campsite
Meals: L, D
Day 18: Zanzibar
How about a visit to Zanzibar Island it is famous for its clove production and its channels offer some of the best diving experiences in East Africa.
Zanzibar is an archipelago consisting of two main Islands of Unguja (commonly referred to as Zanzibar Island), Pemba and about 51 other surrounding small islets. Zanzibar is a partner state in the United Republic of Tanzania with the Mainland. The name Zanzibar is derived from a combination of two Arabic words, 'Zenj', meaning black, and 'bar', being the Arabic word for land, resulting in the ancient title 'Land of the Blacks'. As Zanzibar absorbed peoples from as far as the Orient and Iberia, Assyria and India. Pemba is the second largest island of the Archipelago, named Al-khudra "The Green Island” by the Arabic mariners.
Driving distance: N/A
Accommodation: Mikadi Beach Lodge Campsite
Meals: B
Day 19: Day of Departure
You will be transferred to the airport where you say goodbye to the guides and the group…
Meals: B
– End Of Services –
Arrival:
You will be met at the airport and transferred to your accommodation (where required).
Departure:
If you require an airport transfer this will be arranged for you.
Transport:
Chimhavira Overland Safaris CC use fully equipped 4x4 Land Rover Defender vehicles.
Accommodation:
Accommodation will be in your vehicle roof top tents.
Spending money:
Clients are advised to bring enough money to cover the purchase of curious and personal items. The currency in Botswana is Botswana Pula, in Zambia it is best to pay with US$ and in Namibia with Namibian Dollar although the South African Rand is also widely accepted.
Meals:
All meals are organized by the guide and are prepared by our cook. Meals are nutritious and filling, drawing on fresh local produce where possible. We buy groceries along the way, so our clients have a say in what type of meals are eaten. Please advise us of any special dietary requirements before tour commencement.
First Aid:
Our guides are trained in basic first aid, Chimhavira Overland Safari guides are trained to level III St John’s standards, our vehicles is equipped with a comprehensive medical aid kit. Preventative Malaria medication should be taken before the trip and throughout its duration, although it is advisable to consult a doctor prior to departure.
Luggage:
Maximum baggage allowance: 15 kg. Chimhavira Overland Safaris stipulates this luggage allowance, as an overloaded vehicle is a danger to both the clients and the guide. This does not include photographic equipment and a small daypack. Please bring a backpack or soft barrel bag, not a suitcase. Please adhere to the allowance specified as space for luggage is limited.
Sleeping bags:
Chimhavira Overland Safaris can provide sleeping bags and pillows, please advise us if this is required at your time of booking. If you prefer to bring your own please feel free to do so.