The Big Overlander Northbound – 41 Days Cape Town to Nairobi (Self-Launched)

Land at Cape Town International, take the MyCiTi bus or an Uber (~£12-15) into the city centre and check into a hostel in Gardens or the City Bowl. In the afternoon join a community-run walking tour of a Cape Town township (Langa or Khayelitsha) run by a local social enterprise — book direct or via GetYourGuide (~£20-25). Evening: self-catered braai or cheap eats on Long Street.

🚌MyCiTi bus / Uber from airport (~£12-15)

🛏Hostel dorm in City Bowl/Gardens (~£15-20/night)

• →Township walking tour with local guide
• →Bo-Kaap and city centre wander
• →Long Street evening

Pick up supplies, then take a Baz Bus or intercity coach/shuttle north along the N7 toward Citrusdal (~£15-20, 3 hrs). Base yourself in a Cederberg guesthouse or backpackers (Algeria/Citrusdal area). Optional afternoon wine tasting at a Cederberg cellar door (~£6-10).

🚌Baz Bus / intercity shuttle Cape Town–Citrusdal (~£18)

🛏Cederberg backpackers/guesthouse (~£20)

• →Cederberg wine tasting
• →Olifants River valley drive

Take a shuttle to Springbok then a shared taxi/minibus across the Vioolsdrift border to the Orange River (Gariep). Book a riverside campsite or basic guesthouse. Afternoon swim and, if you have energy, a short canoe/kayak trip on the river (~£20). Superb stargazing after dark — the Milky Way is extraordinary here.

🚌Shared taxi/minibus Springbok–Vioolsdrift–Orange River (~£15-20)

🛏Riverside campsite/chalet (~£12-15)

• →Orange River swim
• →Optional canoe trip (~£20)
• →Stargazing

Arrange a shared 4x4 transfer or hitch a lift with a local shuttle to Hobas and the Fish River Canyon rim (~£25-35 return, 2 hrs each way) — the second-largest canyon in the world. Walk the viewpoints and Hell's Corner. Overnight at Hobas campsite or a nearby lodge.

🚌Shared 4x4 transfer (~£30)

🛏Hobas campsite / canyon lodge (~£15)

• →Fish River Canyon viewpoints
• →Hell's Corner hike

A long travel day: shared shuttle or intercity minibus via Keetmanshoop and Mariental toward Sesriem (~£30-40, 7-9 hrs). Book campsite or basic guesthouse at Sesriem, right at the park gate, so you can be at the dunes for sunrise the next morning. Stock up on food in Mariental.

🚌Shared shuttle/minibus (~£35)

🛏Sesriem campsite/basic lodge (~£15)

• →Road-trip day through southern Namibia

Join a shared sunrise 4x4 shuttle from Sesriem into the dunes (~£40-50 including park fee) or self-drive if you've hired a car. Climb Dune 45, walk to Deadvlei's dead camelthorn trees, and stop at Sesriem Canyon on the way back. Pack lunch and lots of water.

🚌Shared 4x4 shuttle into Sossusvlei (~£45)

🛏Sesriem campsite/basic lodge (~£15)

• →Dune 45 climb
• →Deadvlei walk
• →Sesriem Canyon

Take a shared shuttle/intercity minibus via Solitaire and the Kuiseb Pass to Swakopmund (~£30-40, 5-6 hrs). Stop for apple pie in Solitaire. Check into a Swakopmund backpackers — the town is German-flavoured, cool and very walkable.

🚌Shared shuttle to Swakopmund (~£35)

🛏Swakopmund backpackers (~£18)

• →Solitaire stop
• →Swakopmund seafront walk

Book activities direct with Swakopmund operators: sandboarding (~£30), quad-biking the dunes (~£35), skydiving (~£180-200) or a dolphin/marine cruise (~£50). Keep costs down by choosing one activity and spending the rest of the day on the beach and at the craft market.

🚌Walking / local taxi

🛏Swakopmund backpackers (~£18)

• →Sandboarding or quad-biking
• →Optional skydive or dolphin cruise
• →Beach and craft market

Shared taxi to Usakos then a local lift to Spitzkoppe (~£15-20). Pay the community campsite fee (~£10-12) and spend the afternoon among the granite peaks, hunting out the Bushman rock art panels. Sunset from the arch is the highlight.

🚌Shared taxi + local transfer (~£18)

🛏Spitzkoppe community campsite (~£12)

• →Bushman rock art
• →Sunset over Spitzkoppe arch

Long transfer day by shared minibus via Karibib and Outjo to Okaukuejo (~£30-40, 6-7 hrs). Pay the Etosha park fee (~£20/day) and camp at Okaukuejo, whose floodlit waterhole is one of the best night-time wildlife spots in Africa — black rhino and elephant wander in after dusk.

🚌Shared minibus (~£35)

🛏Okaukuejo campsite (~£18)

• →Etosha park entry
• →Night waterhole wildlife watching

Join a shared game drive with a local guide at the camp (~£50-60) or split a car hire with travellers and self-drive the gravel loop roads (hire ~£35/day + fuel). Excellent chance of lion, giraffe, elephant and rhino at the waterholes. Move to Halali or Namutoni camp for the night.

🚌Shared game drive or shared car hire

🛏Halali/Namutoni campsite (~£18)

• →Etosha game drive
• →Waterhole watching

Shared minibus/shuttle south to Windhoek (~£25-30, 5 hrs). Check into a city backpackers, then explore the colonial-era centre and grab dinner at Joe's Beerhouse (budget ~£15).

🚌Shared minibus (~£28)

🛏Windhoek backpackers (~£16)

• →Windhoek city walk
• →Joe's Beerhouse dinner

Local minibus east to Gobabis (~£12-15, 3 hrs). From town arrange a San/Bushman cultural walk with a local guide or community project (~£20-25) — a bush skills and tracking walk with members of the Kalahari San community. Overnight in a Gobabis guesthouse.

🚌Local minibus (~£13)

🛏Gobabis guesthouse (~£15)

• →Kalahari San Bushman walk
• →Kalahari sunset

A big travel day: shared taxi to the border at Buitepos/Mamuno, then shared transport via Kang to Maun (~£30-40, 8-10 hrs). If short on time or daylight, break the journey overnight in Ghanzi. Book Okavango activities on arrival in Maun — the town is full of mokoro operators.

🚌Shared taxi + minibus via Buitepos/Kang (~£35)

🛏Maun backpackers (~£16)

• →Border crossing into Botswana
• →Maun town evening

Take a 1-2 day mokoro and walking safari with a local poler-run operator booked direct in Maun (~£80-110 including food, camping and transfers). Being poled through the reeds with a guide pointing out birds, hippo and elephant tracks is the classic Delta experience. Optional scenic flight over the Delta ~£90.

🚌4x4 transfer + mokoro canoe

🛏Bush camp in the Delta (included in trip)

• →Mokoro trip
• →Walking safari
• →Delta bush camp
• →Optional scenic flight (~£90)

Return from the Delta in the morning. Afternoon free: pool time at the hostel, laundry, and resupply. Popular budget options include horse riding (~£40) or a boat cruise if you skipped the scenic flight.

🚌4x4 transfer back to Maun

🛏Maun backpackers (~£16)

• →Rest and laundry
• →Optional horse riding or boat cruise

Local bus/shared minibus east to Nata (~£15-20, 3-4 hrs). Visit the Makgadikgadi Pans and baobab trees on an afternoon excursion with a local guide (~£25-30) — Nxai Pan's ancient baobabs are worth the detour. Overnight in a Nata campsite or guesthouse.

🚌Shared minibus (~£18)

🛏Nata campsite/guesthouse (~£14)

• →Makgadikgadi Pans excursion
• →Baobab viewing

Shared minibus north to Kasane (~£15, 3 hrs). Book a sunset Chobe River boat cruise direct at the waterfront (~£25-30) — huge elephant herds come down to drink and you'll see hippo and crocodiles close up. Overnight in a Kasane backpackers.

🚌Shared minibus (~£15)

🛏Kasane backpackers (~£18)

• →Chobe River sunset cruise

Morning open-vehicle game drive in Chobe National Park with a resident guide (~£40-50 including park fees). Then cross by the Kazungula border into Zambia and take a shared taxi to Livingstone (~£10-15). Note the new Kazungula Bridge replaced the old ferry. Check into a Livingstone backpackers.

🚌Shared 4x4 game drive + shared taxi to Livingstone (~£15)

🛏Livingstone backpackers (~£15)

• →Chobe open-vehicle game drive
• →Kazungula border crossing

Walk to Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park and the Zambian side of Victoria Falls (~£18 entry). Optional adrenaline: bungee jump (~£110), white-water rafting the Zambezi (~£110), or abseiling (~£60) — book direct with operators on the ground. Cheaper option: just enjoy the falls and the mist-soaked rainforest trail.

🚌Walking / local taxi

🛏Livingstone backpackers (~£15)

• →Victoria Falls walk
• →Optional bungee, rafting or abseil
• →Zambezi sunset

Long-distance bus from Livingstone to Lusaka (~£20-25, 7 hrs — Mazhandu or similar). Overnight in a Lusaka budget hotel or hostel near the bus station and eat at the local market.

🚌Intercity bus (~£22)

🛏Lusaka budget hotel (~£15)

• →Lusaka market food

Local bus east on the Great East Road to Petauke (~£10-12, 5 hrs), crossing the Luangwa River. Overnight in a simple guesthouse. Prepare cash — ATMs thin out from here east.

🚌Local bus (~£11)

🛏Petauke guesthouse (~£12)

• →Great East Road journey

Shared minibus to Mfuwe (~£10), then a local transfer to the park gate. Book into a budget bushcamp or the campsite outside the gate (~£15-20). Afternoon walking safari with a local guide (~£45) — South Luangwa is the home of the walking safari.

🚌Shared minibus + local transfer (~£12)

🛏South Luangwa budget camp (~£18)

• →Walking safari
• →Park entry (~£20)

Early morning open-vehicle game drive (~£45) — leopard and wild dog are possible. Then shared minibus to Chipata (~£10, 3 hrs) and overnight near the Malawi border.

🚌Shared minibus (~£10)

🛏Chipata guesthouse (~£13)

• →Morning game drive
• →Chipata market

Cross at Mchinji, shared taxi/minibus to Lilongwe then north to Kande Beach on Lake Malawi (~£15-20 total, 6-7 hrs). Check into a lakeside backpackers — the water is warm, clear and full of colourful cichlids.

🚌Shared taxi + minibus via Lilongwe (~£18)

🛏Kande Beach backpackers (~£12)

• →Lake Malawi swim
• →Beach sunset

A genuine rest day. Arrange a guided village walk with a local community guide (~£8-10) to see daily life, a school and the fishing boats. Afternoon swimming, volleyball, and craft market browsing. Optional snorkelling or kayak hire ~£10.

🚌Walking

🛏Kande Beach backpackers (~£12)

• →Guided village walk
• →Swimming and kayaking
• →Craft market

Shared minibus north through rubber plantations to Mzuzu market (~£6), then on to Chitimba Beach (~£5). Chitimba sits beneath the Rift Valley escarpment with the Livingstonia mission hike on its doorstep — a spectacular 4-5 hr walk (~£15 with a guide).

🚌Shared minibus via Mzuzu (~£11)

🛏Chitimba Beach backpackers (~£12)

• →Mzuzu market
• →Optional Livingstonia hike

A hard travel day: cross at Songwe/Kasumulu border and take buses/minibuses via Mbeya to Iringa (~£20-25, 9-10 hrs). Overnight in a simple Iringa guesthouse in the Southern Highlands.

🚌Shared bus/minibus via Mbeya (~£22)

🛏Iringa guesthouse (~£12)

• →Border crossing into Tanzania
• →Southern Highlands scenery

Bus to Mikumi (~£8, 3-4 hrs). Book a budget camp outside the park gate (~£18) and an afternoon game drive (~£40-50 including park fees) — Mikumi is a great-value safari with elephant, buffalo and lion on the Mkata floodplain.

🚌Local bus (~£8)

🛏Mikumi budget camp (~£18)

• →Mikumi game drive

Bus through the park corridor to Dar es Salaam (~£10, 4-5 hrs). Overnight in a Dar hostel or Kariakoo budget hotel; explore the market and eat cheap chipsi mayai.

🚌Bus (~£10)

🛏Dar es Salaam hostel (~£14)

• →Kariakoo market
• →Dar waterfront

Book a fast ferry Dar–Stone Town (~£18-22, 2 hrs). Wander the alleys of Stone Town, the old slave market and Forodhani night food market. Budget guesthouse in Stone Town (~£18).

🚌Ferry (~£20)

🛏Stone Town guesthouse (~£18)

• →Stone Town walking exploration
• →Forodhani night market

Book a spice plantation tour direct (~£20-25) — vanilla, cloves, cinnamon and nutmeg growing in situ, with a tasting. Afternoon in Stone Town or a beach on the north coast.

🚌Local dala-dala

🛏Stone Town guesthouse (~£18)

• →Spice plantation tour

Dala-dala north to Nungwi or Kendwa (~£4). Beach day, swimming at any tide, plus optional snorkelling safari (~£25) or scuba intro dive (~£55). Budget beach guesthouse (~£20).

🚌Dala-dala (~£4)

🛏Nungwi/Kendwa beach guesthouse (~£20)

• →Beach day
• →Optional snorkelling or dive

Morning beach or a guided snorkel trip; afternoon return to Stone Town for the night before the ferry. Buy spices and crafts at Darajani market.

🚌Dala-dala back to Stone Town (~£4)

🛏Stone Town guesthouse (~£18)

• →Darajani market shopping
• →Final beach swim

Ferry back to Dar es Salaam (~£20), then shared minibus or taxi north to Bagamoyo (~£3-5, 1.5 hrs). Bagamoyo is a historic Swahili trading town with a sobering slave-trade history and Kaole ruins — walk the old town in the afternoon.

🚌Ferry + shared minibus (~£25)

🛏Bagamoyo guesthouse (~£13)

• →Bagamoyo old town walk
• →Kaole ruins

Bus to Moshi/Arusha direction and alight at Marangu (~£10-12, 6-7 hrs) beneath Kilimanjaro. On a clear day the peak is visible over the coffee and banana farms. Overnight in a Marangu guesthouse.

🚌Bus via Moshi (~£11)

🛏Marangu guesthouse (~£15)

• →Kilimanjaro views
• →Coffee farm wander

Shared minibus to Arusha (~£5). In the afternoon join a Maasai village visit with a resident guide, including a local school/clinic visit and the Meserani Snake Park (~£20-25 total). Overnight in an Arusha hostel and sort out your Serengeti/Ngorongoro safari booking.

🚌Shared minibus (~£5)

🛏Arusha hostel (~£15)

• →Maasai village walk
• →Local school/clinic visit
• →Meserani Snake Park

Join a budget 3-day camping safari booked direct with an Arusha operator (~£450-550 all-in including park fees, guide, cook, camping and vehicle share — this is the single biggest cost of the trip). Drive to the Serengeti via the Ngorongoro Conservation Area with game drives en route. Night in a Serengeti public campsite.

🚌Safari 4x4 with group

🛏Serengeti public campsite (included in safari)

• →Serengeti game drives

Sunrise game drive and a full day tracking wildlife across the plains — lion, cheetah, elephant and, depending on the season, the wildebeest migration. Return to campsite for dinner.

🚌Safari 4x4

🛏Serengeti public campsite (included in safari)

• →Serengeti game drives
• →Sunrise drive

Descend into the Ngorongoro Crater for the classic game drive — dense wildlife including black rhino, flamingo, lion and buffalo on the crater floor. Then climb out and drive back to Arusha.

🚌Safari 4x4 back to Arusha

🛏Arusha hostel (~£15)

• →Ngorongoro Crater game drive

Shuttle bus Arusha–Nairobi across the Namanga border (~£20-25, 6-7 hrs). Arrive Nairobi in the afternoon, then onward flight or transfer to the airport. Trip ends.

🚌Arusha–Nairobi border shuttle (~£22)

🛏None (or a Nairobi hostel if staying on, ~£15)

• →Namanga border crossing
• →Arrival in Nairobi