36-Day Zanzibar to Cape Town Lodge Overland Tour
Adventure In The Wild Safaris invites you on a thrilling 36-day overland adventure from Zanzibar to Cape Town. This unforgettable journey takes you through the heart of East and Southern Africa, experiencing the best of nature, culture, wildlife, and scenic beauty. Travel from the idyllic beaches of Zanzibar through Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa, ending in the vibrant city of Cape Town. Enjoy comfortable lodge accommodations and immersive experiences along the way.
Quick Itinerary Overview
Begin your tour in Nungwi on Zanzibar Island, exploring its white sand beaches and historic Stone Town. Journey through Tanzania’s Southern Highlands and the Great African Rift Valley, unwind at Lake Malawi, and discover the untamed beauty of South Luangwa National Park in Zambia. Witness Victoria Falls from both Zambia and Zimbabwe, then head to Botswana’s Chobe River, the surreal Makgadikgadi Pans, and the wildlife-rich Okavango Delta. In Namibia, marvel at Etosha National Park, Swakopmund, and the Namib Desert before exploring Fish River Canyon. Cross into South Africa for a scenic drive to Cape Town.
Responsible Travel Note
This safari does not support or promote any form of unethical wildlife interaction, such as walking with lions or riding elephants. We encourage all travelers to respect Africa’s wildlife in their natural environment.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 & 2: Nungwi, Zanzibar Island – Tanzania
Relax on Zanzibar’s northern beaches in Nungwi. Meet your guide and fellow travelers at 4:00 PM for a tour briefing. Spend time at a beachfront resort with optional activities such as dhow sailing, snorkeling, scuba diving, and village tours.
Meals: Day 1 (No meals), Day 2 (Breakfast)
Day 3: Stone Town, Zanzibar – Tanzania
Travel to Stone Town, stopping for a guided Spice Tour. Discover the architecture and history of Stone Town with a walking tour. Visit markets, sample local cuisine, and explore Zanzibar’s heritage.
Included Activities: Spice Tour, Stone Town Walking Tour
Meals: Breakfast
Day 4: Zanzibar to Dar es Salaam – Tanzania
Spend the morning exploring Stone Town before catching a ferry to Dar es Salaam. Enjoy free time in the city or relax at the seaside.
Included Activity: Ferry to Dar es Salaam
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 5 & 6: Dar es Salaam to Mikumi – Tanzania
Travel inland to Mikumi near Mikumi National Park. Enjoy the lodge’s surroundings or take part in optional game drives and cultural tours.
Optional Activities: Mikumi Game Drive, Cultural Tours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (x2)
Day 7: Mikumi to Iringa – Tanzania
Continue through the Southern Highlands, stopping at scenic Baobab Valley before reaching Iringa. Overnight at a working farm lodge.
Included Activity: Baobab Valley Visit
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8: Iringa to Mbeya Mountains – Tanzania
Pass through picturesque mountain terrain to the Mbeya region. Visit a coffee plantation and enjoy a tasting before staying overnight on the farm.
Included Activity: Coffee Plantation Tour
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9: Mbeya to Chitimba (Lake Malawi) – Malawi
Enter Malawi and descend into the Great Rift Valley. Visit a local fishing village before arriving at your lakeside lodge.
Included Activity: Village Walking Tour
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 10 & 11: Chitimba to Ngala Beach – Malawi
Spend two days at Ngala Beach relaxing or taking part in optional water and cultural activities on Lake Malawi.
Optional Activities: Snorkeling, Kayaking, Horse Riding, Waterfall Hike
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (x2)
Day 12 & 13: Lake Malawi to South Luangwa National Park – Zambia
Cross into Zambia and head to South Luangwa National Park. Enjoy riverside camping and an included sunset game drive. Optional walking safaris or early morning game drives available.
Included Activity: Sunset Game Drive
Optional Activities: Morning Game Walk (seasonal)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (x2)
Day 14: South Luangwa to Petauke – Zambia
Visit Mulberry Mongoose to see handcrafted jewelry made from snare wire before heading to Petauke for an overnight lodge stay.
Included Activity: Mulberry Mongoose Visit
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 15: Petauke to Lusaka – Zambia
Travel through the Zambian countryside with a stop at Luangwa Market. Arrive in Lusaka and overnight in a bush camp south of the city.
Included Activity: Luangwa Market Visit
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 16: Lusaka to Livingstone (Victoria Falls) – Zambia
Your epic Africa Overland Safari with Adventure In The Wild Safaris continues as we journey across southern Zambia to the lively town of Livingstone, home of the spectacular Victoria Falls. Tonight, you’ll settle into a comfortable lodge on the Zambian side of the falls.
Victoria Falls, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is known locally as Mosi-oa-Tunya—”The Smoke that Thunders.” Witness the mighty Zambezi River plunge 350 feet into the gorge below, creating the largest curtain of falling water in the world. Your afternoon is free to explore this natural wonder, take breathtaking photos, or dive into adrenaline-pumping activities like white-water rafting, bungee jumping, and gorge swinging.
Optional river cruises and scenic helicopter flights offer stunning views of the falls and surrounding rainforest. Don’t miss the chance to dine at one of the many restaurants in this adventure capital.
- Optional Activities: Victoria Falls Visit, Bungee Jumping, Helicopter Flights, White Water Rafting, Zambezi Cruises, Gorge Swing, Boma Dinner Experience
- Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Day 17: Livingstone to Victoria Falls Village – Zimbabwe
Today, your safari takes you across the border into Zimbabwe where you’ll stay in a safari lodge in Victoria Falls Village. Choose between a morning or afternoon transfer based on your adventure plans. This is your second opportunity to experience the awe-inspiring Victoria Falls from a new perspective and indulge in more thrilling activities or relax in the scenic surroundings.
- Optional Activities: Victoria Falls Visit, Bungee Jumping, Helicopter Flights, White Water Rafting, Zambezi Cruises, Gorge Swing, Boma Dinner Experience
- Meals: None
Day 18: Victoria Falls to Kasane & Chobe National Park – Botswana
After a final morning at Victoria Falls, we cross into Botswana and arrive in the riverside town of Kasane, gateway to Chobe National Park. This evening, enjoy a scenic boat cruise along the Chobe River where you’ll spot elephants, hippos, crocodiles, and a variety of antelope and birdlife from a unique water-level perspective.
- Included Activity: Chobe River Boat Cruise
- Optional Activities: Victoria Falls Visit, Bungee Jumping, Helicopter Flights
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 19: Kasane to Nata (Makgadikgadi Pans) – Botswana
Leaving the lush Chobe River behind, our Africa Overland Safari heads into the heart of the Kalahari Desert to the surreal salt pans of Nata. Explore the expansive Makgadikgadi Pans in the afternoon and witness seasonal birdlife including pelicans and flamingos during the rainy months.
- Included Activity: Afternoon Pans Drive
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 20: Nata to Maun & Khwai River (Okavango Delta) – Botswana
Our adventure continues to Maun, the gateway to the Okavango Delta. Optional scenic flights (at own cost) provide a bird’s-eye view of this waterlogged paradise. We then transfer to 4×4 safari vehicles for a two-night wilderness experience in the Khwai River region. Enjoy a sunset mokoro (dugout canoe) trip through reed-lined channels followed by a guided nature walk.
- Included Activity: Sunset Mokoro Trip & Nature Walk
- Optional Activities: Okavango Delta Scenic Flight
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 21: Moremi Game Reserve – Botswana
Today we explore Moremi Game Reserve, one of Africa’s most renowned wilderness areas. Search for the Big 5 and other iconic wildlife during a full-day game drive. Moremi’s diverse habitats—from woodlands to lagoons—make it a haven for elephants, lions, leopards, antelope, and prolific birdlife.
- Included Activity: Full-day Game Drive
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 22: Khwai to Maun – Botswana
After a hearty breakfast, we leave the Okavango Delta and return to Maun. The afternoon is yours to relax by the lodge pool or take an optional flight over the Delta to see its intricate waterways from above.
- Optional Activity: Okavango Delta Scenic Flight
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 23: Maun to Divundu – Namibia
We journey west through Botswana, cross into Namibia, and follow the Kavango River to our riverside lodge near Divundu. Enjoy a peaceful boat cruise on the Kavango River, spotting birds and animals in this pristine wilderness.
- Included Activity: Kavango River Boat Cruise
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 24: Divundu to Etosha National Park – Namibia
Today we enter the famed Etosha National Park, a premier wildlife destination in Namibia. Enjoy an afternoon game drive en route to our rest camp inside the park. Each camp has a floodlit waterhole, offering incredible nighttime wildlife viewing.
- Included Activity: Afternoon Game Drive
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Days 25 & 26: Etosha National Park – Namibia
We spend two full days exploring Etosha’s diverse ecosystems, from the salt pans to open savannah. Game drives reveal a wide range of wildlife including elephants, lions, rhinos, giraffes, zebras, and hundreds of bird species. Stop at waterholes and enjoy the unique opportunity to spot animals in the open landscapes of this arid park.
- Included Activities: Etosha Game Drives
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner (x2)
Day 27: Etosha to Brandberg – Namibia
Today we leave Etosha behind and head toward the rugged Brandberg Mountains, Namibia’s highest peaks. Here, we embark on a guided hike to the famous White Lady rock painting, believed to be over 2,000 years old. Depending on timing, this hike may take place the next morning.
- Included Activity: White Lady Hike (timing dependent)
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Zanzibar to Cape Town Safari: Days 30–36 Itinerary
Day 30: Swakopmund to Sesriem – Namib Desert, Namibia
We journey south along the scenic Namibian coastline, stopping en route at the Tropic of Capricorn for a memorable photo opportunity. Leaving the Atlantic coast behind, we head inland to the vast red-orange dunes of the Namib Desert—the world’s oldest desert. For the next two nights, we stay near Namib-Naukluft National Park at a desert lodge.
In the afternoon, embark on a guided desert walk led by a knowledgeable local expert who will introduce the fascinating flora and fauna of this harsh yet beautiful ecosystem. End your day stargazing under the vast desert sky.
- Included Activities: Tropic of Capricorn photo stop, guided desert walk with a local guide
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 31: Sossusvlei Dunes – Namib-Naukluft National Park
Rise before dawn and enter the heart of the Namib Desert to experience the dunes at sunrise. Climb the famous Dune 45 for panoramic views of the landscape bathed in golden light. After breakfast at the dune’s base, we board 4×4 vehicles to explore deeper into the park, visiting the iconic Sossusvlei dunes and the hauntingly beautiful Deadvlei pan, dotted with ancient, skeletal camel thorn trees.
- Included Activities: Dune 45 sunrise hike, Sossusvlei & Deadvlei exploration
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 32: Namib Desert – Leisure Day
Enjoy a free day to relax and soak up the striking desert scenery or take self-guided walks around the lodge area. This is the perfect moment to unwind during your overland Zanzibar to Cape Town Safari.
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 33: Namib Desert to Keetmanshoop – Namibia
Today we travel across the desert to Keetmanshoop, stopping to explore the remarkable Quiver Tree Forest—home to roughly 250 aloe trees, some over 200 years old and designated a national monument. We then visit Giants Playground, a surreal site filled with massive, ancient dolerite rock formations. Spend the night in Keetmanshoop after exploring this otherworldly terrain.
- Included Activities: Quiver Tree Forest, Giants Playground
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 34: Keetmanshoop to Fish River Canyon & Orange River – Namibia
Our Zanzibar to Cape Town Safari continues to the breathtaking Fish River Canyon, the second-largest canyon in the world. We walk along the canyon’s rim before driving south to the Orange River on the Namibia-South Africa border. Optional canoe trips are available in the afternoon—an excellent way to spot birds and enjoy the rugged riverside landscape. Overnight on the Namibian side of the Orange River.
- Included Activities: Fish River Canyon viewpoint walk
- Optional Activity: Half-day canoe trip on the Orange River
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 35: Orange River to Citrusdal – Cederberg Mountains, South Africa
Cross into South Africa and drive through Namaqualand, famous for its colorful spring wildflowers (July–September). Arrive in the picturesque Cederberg Mountains near Citrusdal, renowned for hiking trails and rooibos plantations. Tonight, enjoy a traditional South African dinner as you reflect on the incredible experiences of your journey with Adventure In The Wild Safaris.
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 36: Citrusdal to Cape Town – South Africa
As our Zanzibar to Cape Town Safari comes to a close, we travel through lush farmland towards Cape Town. On approach, stop to admire the breathtaking views of Table Mountain across Table Bay. The adventure officially ends upon arrival in Cape Town, one of the world’s most stunning cities.
- Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Overland Safari Notes
We recommend arriving in Zanzibar at least one day prior to departure and booking your departure flight from Cape Town a few days after the safari ends. This allows time for potential travel delays and the opportunity to explore both destinations further.
This southbound Zanzibar to Cape Town Safari can also be done in reverse as the Cape Town to Zanzibar Tour – North. Additionally, a camping version of this tour is available as the Zanzibar to Cape Town Overland Camping Safari, offering a similar route with tented accommodation instead of lodges.
Contact Adventure In The Wild Safaris to add pre- and post-tour accommodation to your booking or for more information on safari options across Africa.