Travel Crew
Sign inJoin free
Ultimate Africa Self-Launched: Cape Town to Nairobi Overland

Ultimate Africa Self-Launched: Cape Town to Nairobi Overland

55 days · Southern & East Africa (South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda)

G Adventures charges £6,800

£3,115saved per person (46%)

No-markup version: ~£3,685 per person

Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.

A self-launched, independent version of G Adventures' 55-day Cape Town to Nairobi overland epic — same route through nine countries, same big-ticket experiences (Sossusvlei dunes, Etosha, Okavango Delta mokoro, Victoria Falls, Lake Malawi, Zanzibar, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Masai Mara, Bwindi gorilla trek, chimpanzee tracking in Kalinzu, Jinja). Instead of paying for a Lando truck, crew and camping package, you piece it together with Intercape/Greyhound-style coaches in South Africa, shared 4x4 shuttles and minibuses in Namibia, local safari operators in Botswana/Zambia/Tanzania/Kenya/Uganda, budget hostels, guesthouses and campsite dorm tents. The single biggest fixed cost is the Bwindi mountain gorilla permit (USD 800 in peak season) — book it directly with Uganda Wildlife Authority well in advance. All costs are approximate budget-traveller estimates in GBP.

Day-by-day

Day 1

Arrive Cape Town

Cape Town, South Africa

Land at CPT and take the MyCiTi bus or an Uber (approx. £12) to a hostel in the City Bowl or along Long Street — Carnival Court Backpackers and The Backpack are both good value. Spend the afternoon walking the V&A Waterfront and Bo-Kaap. Meet other travellers over dinner on Long Street; most hostels run free walking tours and sunset hikes up Lion's Head (free, 1.5hrs) which is the easiest way to find a travel buddy.

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

🛏Hostel dorm, City Bowl (~£16/night)

  • →Lion's Head sunset hike
  • →Bo-Kaap walk
  • →V&A Waterfront
~£40
Day 2

Cape Town to Cederberg via !Khwa ttu

Cederberg, South Africa

Book a seat on the Baz Bus or an intercity coach up the West Coast. Stop at the !Khwa ttu San Culture and Education Centre near Yzerfontein (entry ~£8) — the same community project the group tour visits. Continue to a Cederberg guest farm or backpackers (e.g. Alpha Excelsior or Mount Ceder) with camping and self-catering. Wine tasting at a Cederberg cellar door costs £5–10.

🚌Baz Bus / coach Cape Town–Cederberg (~£22)

🛏Cederberg backpackers/campsite (~£14)

  • →!Khwa ttu San Culture Centre
  • →Cederberg wine tasting
~£58
Day 3

Cederberg to Orange River

Orange River (Vioolsdrif), South Africa

Long travel day north past the rooibos plantations. Intercape runs Cape Town–Springbok/Upington coaches; alternatively hop a shared minibus taxi onward to Vioolsdrif on the Namibian border. Overnight at a riverside camp such as Felix Unite or Orange River Rafting Lodge — dorms and campsites are cheap and the late-afternoon swim in the river is free.

🚌Intercape coach + shared minibus (~£28)

🛏Riverside camp/dorm (~£12)

  • →Orange River swim
  • →Optional canoe hire (~£18)
~£55
Day 4

Cross into Namibia: Fish River Canyon

Fish River Canyon, Namibia

Cross the border at Vioolsdrif/Noordoewer on foot or in a shared taxi, then take a minibus to Karasburg or Keetmanshoop and arrange a shuttle to Hobas. Fish River Canyon viewpoint entry is ~£4. Sunset at the rim is the highlight — the canyon is second only to the Grand Canyon in size. Camp at Hobas campsite inside the park (~£10).

🚌Shared taxi + minibus + shuttle (~£25)

🛏Hobas campsite (~£10)

  • →Fish River Canyon viewpoint
  • →Sunset at the rim
~£45
Day 5

Fish River Canyon to Namib Desert

Sesriem / Sossusvlei, Namibia

Head north through Bethanien and Helmeringhausen — this is a rough-road day, so the practical option is a shared 4x4 shuttle or the Namibian intercity minibus network via Keetmanshoop to Sesriem. Alternatively, several Sesriem backpackers (Sossus Oasis, Desert Quiver Camp) run transfers from Windhoek or Keetmanshoop. Arrive late afternoon, set up at the Sesriem campsite just outside the park gate.

🚌Shared 4x4 shuttle (~£35)

🛏Sesriem campsite (~£12)

  • →Desert drive
  • →Stargazing
~£55
Day 6

Dune 45 & Deadvlei

Sossusvlei, Namibia

Enter the park at dawn (park fee ~£8 plus vehicle fee shared) and climb Dune 45 for sunrise — it is a 45-minute scramble. The 4x4 shuttle to Deadvlei from the 2WD car park is ~£8 each way. Walk Deadvlei's white clay pan among the dead camelthorn trees, then cool off in Sesriem Canyon in the afternoon. Book the shuttle the night before at your camp.

🚌Park shuttle 4x4 (~£10)

🛏Sesriem campsite (~£12)

  • →Dune 45 sunrise climb
  • →Deadvlei
  • →Sesriem Canyon
~£45
Day 7

Namib Desert to Swakopmund

Swakopmund, Namibia

Cross the desert via Kuiseb and Gaub passes — the cheapest reliable option is the daily minibus/shuttle from Sesriem to Swakopmund (~£30) or a seat on the Namibia2Go/Sprinter network. Swakopmund has strong German colonial architecture, cheap seafood and a string of hostels (Swakopmund Backpackers, Amanpuri). Check into a dorm for two nights.

🚌Desert shuttle (~£30)

🛏Swakopmund hostel dorm (~£16)

  • →Colonial town walk
  • →Jetty sunset
~£60
Day 8

Swakopmund adventure day

Swakopmund, Namibia

Sandboarding from ~£30, tandem skydiving from ~£220, or a Skeleton Coast scenic flight from ~£180 — all bookable direct with local operators (Ground Rush Adventures, Swakopmund Skydiving Club). A cheaper alternative is kayaking with seals at Walvis Bay (~£45). Book through GetYourGuide or direct to compare prices.

🚌Walk / local taxi (~£5)

🛏Swakopmund hostel dorm (~£16)

  • →Sandboarding (~£30)
  • →Optional skydive (~£220)
  • →Walvis Bay seal kayak (~£45)
~£70
Day 9

Swakopmund to Spitzkoppe

Spitzkoppe, Namibia

Shared minibus or shuttle south-east to Usakos, then a short taxi to Spitzkoppe (~£25 total). Camp at the community-run Spitzkoppe campsite (~£10) beneath the granite peaks. Scramble up to the rock arch, watch the sun set on the boulders, and stay up for the Milky Way — this is one of Namibia's darkest skies.

🚌Shared shuttle + taxi (~£25)

🛏Spitzkoppe community campsite (~£10)

  • →Rock scrambling
  • →Rock arch viewpoint
  • →Stargazing
~£45
Day 10

Spitzkoppe to Etosha area

Etosha South / Okaukuejo area, Namibia

Shuttle to Omaruru or Outjo and onward to the Etosha gate area. Budget lodges and campsites cluster around Okaukuejo and Andersson Gate. Take a late-afternoon self-drive or join a shared game drive into the park; watching animals at the Okaukuejo floodlit waterhole after dark is free and often the best wildlife viewing of the trip.

🚌Shuttle/minibus (~£30)

🛏Etosha-area campsite (~£12)

  • →Waterhole viewing
  • →Short game drive
~£55
Day 11

Full-day Etosha safari

Etosha National Park, Namibia

Book a full-day guided game drive through your lodge or a local operator (roughly £55–75 per person shared, plus park fee ~£10). Etosha hosts over 100 mammal species and the dry-season waterholes concentrate wildlife. Alternatively hire a car-share 4x4 with other travellers from the campsite and self-drive — cheaper per head for groups of three or four.

🚌Shared safari vehicle (~£65)

🛏Etosha-area campsite (~£12)

  • →Full-day Etosha game drive
  • →Waterhole circuits
~£95
Day 12

Etosha to Waterberg Plateau

Waterberg Plateau, Namibia

Minibus south via Otjiwarongo to Waterberg Plateau Park. Hike the plateau trails (park fee ~£5) looking for buffalo, giraffe and the rare sable antelope; the 4-hour loop to the plateau top is the best walk. Camp at the Waterberg camp, which has a small pool.

🚌Minibus (~£18)

🛏Waterberg campsite (~£10)

  • →Waterberg plateau hike
  • →Wildlife spotting
~£40
Day 13

Waterberg to Windhoek via Penduka

Windhoek, Namibia

Head to Windhoek via Goreangab and stop at the Penduka Craft Centre on the city's edge — a women's cooperative project where you can buy handmade crafts and eat a cheap local lunch (~£6). Stay at a Windhoek hostel such as Chameleon Backpackers or Backpackers Unite, all walking distance from the city centre.

🚌Minibus (~£12)

🛏Windhoek hostel dorm (~£15)

  • →Penduka Craft Centre
  • →Windhoek city walk
~£40
Day 14

Windhoek to D'kar (Botswana)

D'kar, Botswana

Cross the border into Botswana at Buitepos and continue east into the Kalahari to D'kar — the minibus/taxi chain goes Windhoek–Gobabis–Buitepos–Ghanzi. Overnight at the Kuru Family of Organisations' D'kar campsite or a Ghanzi guesthouse; the San cultural walk offered at D'kar Lodge is well worth it if your timing works.

🚌Minibus + shared taxi (~£25)

🛏D'kar camp/guesthouse (~£14)

  • →San cultural experience
  • →Kalahari sunset
~£50
Day 15

D'kar to Maun

Maun, Botswana

Bus/minibus east to Maun, arriving around lunchtime. Set up at a backpacker lodge (Old Bridge Backpackers, Sedia Riverside) — Maun is the launching point for the Okavango. Optional scenic helicopter flight over the delta from ~£150, or a cheaper fixed-wing flight from ~£75. Book your delta mokoro overnight today for tomorrow.

🚌Minibus (~£15)

🛏Maun backpackers dorm (~£14)

  • →Okavango flight (optional ~£75–150)
  • →Riverside evening
~£45
Day 16

Okavango Delta mokoro overnight

Okavango Delta, Botswana

Join a two-day/one-night mokoro excursion with a local poler — roughly £110–150 per person, including 4x4 transfer, camp and food (book direct with Maun operators like Delta Rain or Kalahari Breeze for the best price). Glide into the reeds in a traditional dugout canoe, do a guided bush walk with tracking lessons, and sleep on an island under the stars.

🚌4x4 + mokoro (included in excursion ~£130)

🛏Bush camp in the delta (~£0, included)

  • →Mokoro canoe excursion
  • →Guided bush walk
  • →Island camping
~£140
Day 17

Delta to Nata

Nata, Botswana

Sunrise over the delta, one last bush walk, then back to Maun. Pack up and catch the afternoon minibus to Nata on the edge of the Makgadikgadi Pans. Arrive mid-afternoon at Nata Lodge or a budget camp — swim, shower, photograph the ancient baobabs, and optionally join a sunset 4x4 trip to the pans (~£45).

🚌Minibus Maun–Nata (~£14)

🛏Nata camp/guesthouse (~£12)

  • →Makgadikgadi Pan sunset trip (optional)
  • →Baobab photography
~£45
Day 18

Nata to Kasane

Kasane, Botswana

Minibus north to Kasane on the Chobe River. Book a Chobe River sunset cruise direct at the Kasane waterfront (~£30–45) — elephants come down to drink in the hundreds at dusk. Overnight at a Kasane campsite or backpackers (Chobe Safari Lodge camp, Boma Lodge).

🚌Minibus (~£14)

🛏Kasane campsite/backpackers (~£14)

  • →Chobe River sunset cruise (~£35)
~£65
Day 19

Kasane to Victoria Falls

Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

Optional early Chobe game drive (~£40) before crossing into Zimbabwe at Kazungula — remember to get a double-entry or KAZA Univisa (USD 50) if you plan to return. Shared taxi to Victoria Falls town. Have lunch at the Lusumpuko Women's Club community kitchen (cheap, local, and the same project the tour supports), then check into a hostel — Shoestrings or Victoria Falls Backpackers.

🚌Shared taxi + border crossing (~£12)

🛏Victoria Falls backpackers dorm (~£16)

  • →Chobe game drive (optional)
  • →Lusumpuko Women's Club lunch
~£60
Day 20

Victoria Falls — the falls

Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

Walk the Victoria Falls Rainforest Trail (entry ~£25) — budget 2–3 hours and go early to dodge the crowds. In the afternoon, choose white-water rafting on the Zambezi (~£120 including park fee), a 15-minute helicopter flip (~£160), or the gorge swing. Book direct with the operators at the falls entrance to save on agent commissions.

🚌Walk

🛏Victoria Falls backpackers dorm (~£16)

  • →Rainforest Trail
  • →Optional white-water rafting (~£120)
  • →Optional helicopter flight (~£160)
~£55
Day 21

Victoria Falls — free day

Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

Second free day. Options include a sunset cruise on the Zambezi (~£45), a village cultural tour (~£25), or crossing to the Zambian side for the Livingstone view. Cheap and worthwhile: rent a bike and ride to the falls viewpoint at sunset.

🚌Local taxi (~£6)

🛏Victoria Falls backpackers dorm (~£16)

  • →Zambezi sunset cruise (optional)
  • →Village tour (optional)
~£40
Day 22

Victoria Falls to Lusaka

Lusaka, Zambia

Cross into Zambia at Victoria Falls (or Kazungula) and take the early bus to Lusaka — the Mazhandu/Jonda coach takes around 7–8 hours (~£15). Overnight at a Lusaka guesthouse or a farm camp outside the capital (Eureka Camping Park is ~£8). Eat nshima and relish at a local restaurant for ~£3.

🚌Coach (~£15)

🛏Lusaka guesthouse/camp (~£12)

  • →Border crossing
  • →Lusaka market walk
~£40
Day 23

Lusaka to South Luangwa

South Luangwa, Zambia

Long day on the road east via Chipata to Mfuwe — the bus runs daily and costs ~£15, or share a minibus. Arrive late at a riverside camp on the Luangwa (Flatdogs Camp, Marula Lodge, Croc Valley — all have budget tents and dorms).

🚌Coach + minibus (~£18)

🛏Luangwa budget camp (~£15)

  • →Road journey
  • →River camp evening
~£45
Day 24

South Luangwa National Park

South Luangwa, Zambia

Book a walking safari or night drive direct with your camp or the park's licensed operators (shared game drive ~£45 + park fee ~£20; walking safari from ~£55). South Luangwa is the birthplace of the walking safari and has one of Africa's densest leopard populations. A village visit on foot costs a few pounds and supports the local community.

🚌Safari vehicle (included in drive)

🛏Luangwa budget camp (~£15)

  • →Walking safari (~£55)
  • →Night drive (~£45)
  • →Village visit
~£105
Day 25

South Luangwa to Lilongwe

Lilongwe, Malawi

Optional morning game drive, then stop at the Tribal Textiles workshop at Mfuwe (free entry, hand-painted fabrics) — the same craft project the tour visits. Continue to the Malawi border at Mchinji and on to Lilongwe by minibus (~£12). Cheap guesthouses in Lilongwe's Area 43 or Old Town run £12–18.

🚌Minibus + shared taxi (~£14)

🛏Lilongwe guesthouse (~£15)

  • →Tribal Textiles workshop
  • →Border crossing into Malawi
~£45
Day 26

Lilongwe to Kande Beach

Kande Beach, Lake Malawi

Minibus north along the lake shore to Kande Beach (~£8). Check into a beach lodge dorm or campsite (Kande Beach Lodge, Mufasa) right on the sand. Lake Malawi is warm, clear and full of colourful cichlids — snorkelling gear hire is a couple of pounds and the sunsets are spectacular.

🚌Minibus (~£8)

🛏Kande Beach lodge dorm/camp (~£12)

  • →Lake swim
  • →Beach sunset
~£35
Day 27

Kande Beach

Kande Beach, Lake Malawi

Swim, snorkel and walk the shore. A village walk to the nearby Tonga community takes a couple of hours and costs only a small donation through your lodge. In the evening, arrange a home-cooked dinner with a local family through your lodge (typically £6–8) — the same style of local living moment the tour includes.

🚌Walk

🛏Kande Beach lodge dorm/camp (~£12)

  • →Snorkelling
  • →Tonga village walk
  • →Local family dinner (~£7)
~£35
Day 28

Kande Beach to Chitimba

Chitimba, Lake Malawi

Minibus north to Chitimba (~£5) at the foot of the Misuku hills, with views across to Tanzania. Stay at Chitimba Camp or Hakuna Matata — both on the beach with cheap dorms. Hike along the shore or hire a kayak for a couple of hours.

🚌Minibus (~£5)

🛏Chitimba beach camp (~£11)

  • →Shore hike
  • →Kayak hire (~£8)
~£30
Day 29

Chitimba to Iringa (Tanzania)

Iringa, Tanzania

Cross into Tanzania at Karonga/Kasumulu and take the bus down out of the Great Rift Valley via Mbeya to Iringa — long day, roughly £14 in total. Tea plantations and mountain passes the whole way. Stay at a cheap Iringa guesthouse or the Riverside Campsite just outside town (~£10).

🚌Bus + shared taxi (~£14)

🛏Iringa guesthouse/camp (~£10)

  • →Border crossing
  • →Rift Valley scenery
~£35
Day 30

Iringa to Baobab Valley

Ruaha River / Baobab Valley, Tanzania

Minibus northeast to the Ruaha River valley and camp among the baobabs — Baobab Valley camp is the classic budget stop on this stretch. Set up in the late afternoon, watch the sunset light up the river and count shooting stars after dark.

🚌Minibus (~£10)

🛏Baobab Valley camp (~£10)

  • →Baobab Valley camp
  • →Sunset over Ruaha River
~£30
Day 31

Baobab Valley to Dar es Salaam

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Bus to Dar es Salaam (~£10, 6–7 hrs) via Morogoro. Check into a budget hotel or hostel in the city centre (e.g. Mikadi Beach or Transit Motel). Eat at a local mama lishe stall for £2–3 and get an early night before the ferry.

🚌Bus (~£10)

🛏Dar es Salaam budget hotel (~£14)

  • →Indian Ocean arrival
  • →Local food stalls
~£32
Day 32

Ferry to Zanzibar

Jambiani / Paje, Zanzibar

Take the morning Azam or Kilimanjaro ferry from Dar es Salaam to Stone Town (~£25–30, 2 hours; book online in advance). Then a dalla-dalla (shared minibus, ~£1) south to Jambiani or Paje. Beach bungalows and hostels on the east coast cost £15–25 a night — Jambiani is quieter and cheaper than Nungwi.

🚌Ferry + dalla-dalla (~£28)

🛏Jambiani beach bungalow/hostel (~£18)

  • →Ferry crossing
  • →Beach afternoon
~£55
Day 33

Zanzibar beach day

Jambiani / Paje, Zanzibar

Snorkelling trip to the reef from ~£20, a dhow sailing sunset cruise from ~£18, or just walk the white sand at low tide and watch the seaweed farmers. Kayak hire ~£8. Book activities direct with beach operators or on Klook for slightly better rates than hotel desks.

🚌Walk / local taxi (~£4)

🛏Jambiani beach bungalow/hostel (~£18)

  • →Reef snorkelling (~£20)
  • →Dhow sunset cruise (~£18)
~£50
Day 34

Spice farm & Stone Town

Stone Town, Zanzibar

Transfer back west, stopping at a spice plantation on the way (entry ~£10 with a guide and tasting). Spend the afternoon exploring Stone Town's alleyways — the Old Fort, the House of Wonders, the Darajani market and the Freddie Mercury house are all free or nearly free. Drink spiced coffee from a pavement vendor for pennies and eat at Forodhani night market (~£4).

🚌Dalla-dalla + taxi (~£8)

🛏Stone Town guesthouse dorm (~£16)

  • →Spice plantation tour (~£10)
  • →Stone Town walking tour
  • →Forodhani night market
~£45
Day 35

Stone Town to Bagamoyo

Bagamoyo, Tanzania

Ferry back to Dar es Salaam (~£25), then a dalla-dalla north to Bagamoyo (~£1). This UNESCO-listed old slave-trade port is atmospheric and almost tourist-free — wander the narrow streets, the old German boma and the Catholic mission museum (entry ~£3). Cheap guesthouses from £10.

🚌Ferry + dalla-dalla (~£27)

🛏Bagamoyo guesthouse (~£12)

  • →Bagamoyo historic town walk
  • →Mission museum
~£45
Day 36

Bagamoyo to Arusha

Arusha, Tanzania

Long bus day southwest to Arusha (~£15, 8–9 hrs via Chalinze and Moshi). If the clouds allow, Kilimanjaro appears on the horizon near Moshi. Stay at a cheap Arusha guesthouse or hostel (Arusha Backpackers, Snake Park) and book your Serengeti/Ngorongoro safari this evening for the best price.

🚌Bus (~£15)

🛏Arusha hostel dorm (~£12)

  • →Road journey
  • →Kilimanjaro views
~£35
Day 37

Arusha to Serengeti

Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Join a shared 3-day/2-night camping safari (roughly £420–550 per person with a good budget operator such as a Tanzania Association of Tour Operators member — this covers park fees, 4x4, guide, cook and camp). Drive through the Ngorongoro highlands into the Serengeti for an afternoon game drive on the golden plains.

🚌Shared 4x4 safari vehicle (included ~£480)

🛏Serengeti public campsite (included)

  • →Serengeti game drive
  • →Camping safari
~£480
Day 38

Serengeti to Ngorongoro rim

Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania

Sunrise game drive in the Serengeti — hippos in the rivers and big cats on the plains — then break camp and drive to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Camp on the crater rim at Simba or Ngorongoro campsite; the views down into the caldera at sunset are extraordinary.

🚌Safari 4x4 (included)

🛏Ngorongoro rim campsite (included)

  • →Sunrise game drive
  • →Crater rim sunset
~£30
Day 39

Ngorongoro Crater to Arusha

Arusha, Tanzania

Descend into the crater floor at dawn for a final game drive — with walls keeping the animals in, this is one of the best places in Africa to see black rhino. Exit late morning and drive back to Arusha, arriving evening. Stay at your Arusha hostel.

🚌Safari 4x4 (included)

🛏Arusha hostel dorm (~£12)

  • →Ngorongoro Crater game drive
  • →Black rhino spotting
~£30
Day 40

Arusha to Nairobi

Nairobi, Kenya

Take the morning shuttle bus Arusha–Nairobi (~£22, 6–7 hrs) via Namanga, with views toward Kilimanjaro. Land in Nairobi and check into a hostel in Kilimani or Westlands (e.g. Wildebeest Eco Camp has dorms). Grocery shop and plan the Kenya leg.

🚌Shuttle bus (~£22)

🛏Nairobi hostel dorm (~£14)

  • →Cross into Kenya
  • →Nairobi evening
~£40
Day 41

Nairobi free day

Nairobi, Kenya

Options: the David Sheldrick elephant orphanage (£15 for the public visiting hour), the Giraffe Centre (£12), or Nairobi National Park on a half-day shared tour (~£45 plus park fee). The Nairobi National Museum is ~£8. Eat at a local nyama choma joint for £5–7 and enjoy Nairobi's excellent coffee scene.

🚌Matatu/local taxi (~£6)

🛏Nairobi hostel dorm (~£14)

  • →Elephant orphanage (~£15)
  • →Giraffe Centre (~£12)
  • →Nairobi National Museum (~£8)
~£45
Day 42

Nairobi to Masai Mara

Masai Mara, Kenya

Take a shared shuttle from Nairobi to the Mara (roughly £40–60 one way, 5–6 hrs) or join a 3-day budget camping safari from Nairobi (~£280–350 including park fees, game drives, food and camp). Late afternoon game drive to look for the Big Five — with luck, a lion kill or a leopard in a tree.

🚌Shared 4x4 (included)

🛏Mara budget tented camp (included ~£310)

  • →Afternoon game drive
  • →Arrival at the Mara
~£310
Day 43

Masai Mara full day

Masai Mara, Kenya

Two game drives today — early morning and late afternoon — with your guide sweeping the plains for big cats and wildebeest herds. If you want to do the balloon safari (~£380 direct), book in advance; otherwise, the driving safari is where the value is. Optional Maasai village visit (~£15) with a local guide.

🚌Safari 4x4 (included)

🛏Mara budget tented camp (included)

  • →Morning & afternoon game drives
  • →Optional balloon (~£380)
  • →Maasai village visit (~£15)
~£25
Day 44

Masai Mara to Lake Nakuru

Lake Nakuru National Park, Kenya

Leave the Mara and pass through the Great Rift Valley to Lake Nakuru. Stop at the Café Ubuntu social enterprise for a farm-to-table lunch (~£8) — the same community project as the tour. Afternoon game drive in the park (~£45 plus ~£25 entry) for flamingos, white rhino and Rothschild giraffes.

🚌Shared shuttle (~£20)

🛏Nakuru guesthouse/bandas (~£15)

  • →Café Ubuntu lunch (~£8)
  • →Lake Nakuru game drive (~£45)
~£90
Day 45

Lake Nakuru to Eldoret

Eldoret, Kenya

Optional morning game drive, then the bus north to Eldoret (~£10, 4 hrs). Cheap guesthouses cost £10–15. Stock up on supplies — Uganda's Bwindi permit payment should already be arranged, but bring your printed confirmation.

🚌Bus (~£10)

🛏Eldoret budget hotel (~£13)

  • →Morning game drive (optional)
  • →Road journey
~£35
Day 46

Eldoret to Kampala

Kampala, Uganda

Cross the border at Malaba and continue to Kampala by bus (~£15 total). Kampala is a lively, chaotic capital — check into a hostel in Kololo or Ntinda (e.g. Bushpig Backpackers, Fat Cat). Try a Rolex (Ugandan street wrap) for £1.50.

🚌Bus (~£15)

🛏Kampala hostel dorm (~£12)

  • →Border crossing into Uganda
  • →Kampala evening
~£35
Day 47

Kampala to Lake Bunyonyi

Lake Bunyonyi, Uganda

Cross the equator at Kayabwe (photo stop obligatory) and take the bus south to Kabale (~£12), then a shared taxi to Lake Bunyonyi. The lake is croc and hippo free so you can swim freely. Stay at a lakeside lodge such as Bunyonyi Overland Resort or Byoona Amagara (~£15 including breakfast).

🚌Bus + shared taxi (~£14)

🛏Bunyonyi lakeside lodge (~£15)

  • →Equator crossing
  • →Lake Bunyonyi swim
~£40
Day 48

Bwindi gorilla trek

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda

The big one. Ensure your mountain gorilla permit is booked directly with the Uganda Wildlife Authority in advance (USD 800 in peak season, USD 600 in low season) — this is the fixed cost of the trip and cannot be avoided. Early start with a ranger and trackers into the misty jungle, one hour with a gorilla family. Trek length varies from 1 to 6 hours. Return to Lake Bunyonyi in the evening.

🚌4x4 transfer to trailhead (~£20 shared)

🛏Bunyonyi lakeside lodge (~£15)

  • →Mountain gorilla trek (~£630 permit)
  • →Ranger-guided jungle hike
~£665
Day 49

Lake Bunyonyi free day

Lake Bunyonyi, Uganda

Canot/canoe hire (~£5), island boat tour (~£10), or a hike to one of the terraced hillsides. There is also the option of a day trip across the Rwandan border to Kigali (~£35 with visa), but it's easier to relax by the lake. Swap gorilla stories with other travellers over dinner.

🚌Walk/local boat (~£10)

🛏Bunyonyi lakeside lodge (~£15)

  • →Canoeing (~£5)
  • →Island boat tour (~£10)
  • →Hill hike
~£35
Day 50

Lake Bunyonyi to Kalinzu Forest

Kalinzu Forest Reserve, Uganda

Bus north via Kabale and Mbarara toward Bushenyi, then a shared taxi to Kalinzu Forest Reserve (~£14 total). Stay at a nearby community campsite or guesthouse. Kalinzu sits beside Queen Elizabeth National Park and is one of Uganda's best chimpanzee-tracking forests.

🚌Bus + shared taxi (~£14)

🛏Kalinzu guesthouse/camp (~£12)

  • →Countryside journey
  • →Evening in the forest reserve
~£35
Day 51

Chimpanzee tracking & Lake Mburo

Lake Mburo National Park, Uganda

Early morning chimpanzee tracking with a Uganda Wildlife Authority ranger (~£60 permit) — chimps in Kalinzu are habituated and sightings are frequent. Afterwards visit a tea plantation, then transfer to Lake Mburo National Park (~£14). Optional afternoon boat cruise on the lake (~£20) for hippos, crocs and shoebills.

🚌Shared taxi (~£14)

🛏Lake Mburo camp (~£12)

  • →Chimp tracking (~£60)
  • →Tea plantation visit
  • →Lake Mburo boat cruise (~£20)
~£110
Day 52

Lake Mburo to Jinja

Jinja, Uganda

Bus back north across the equator to Jinja (~£14), stopping at the AidChild Equation Café and Gallery at Kayabwe for lunch (~£6) — a social enterprise supporting children affected by HIV. Jinja is Uganda's adventure capital; check into a hostel (Nile River Explorers, Adrift) right on the Nile.

🚌Bus (~£14)

🛏Jinja riverside hostel dorm (~£12)

  • →Equator crossing
  • →AidChild Café lunch
  • →Nile riverside
~£35
Day 53

Jinja adventure day

Jinja, Uganda

White-water rafting on the Nile is the headline act (~£100 for a full day including lunch, book direct with Adrift or Nile River Explorers). Alternatives: kayaking (~£40), quad biking (~£35), or a source-of-the-Nile boat trip (~£10). Relax in the evening at the hostel bar overlooking the river.

🚌Local taxi (~£5)

🛏Jinja riverside hostel dorm (~£12)

  • →Nile white-water rafting (~£100)
  • →Optional kayaking (~£40)
  • →Sunset over the Nile
~£115
Day 54

Jinja to Eldoret

Eldoret, Kenya

Cross back into Kenya and bus west via Mbale and Bungoma to Eldoret (~£16, 7–8 hrs). A low-key travel day — catch up on sleep, sort photos, and enjoy a last night in a cheap Kenyan guesthouse.

🚌Bus (~£16)

🛏Eldoret budget hotel (~£13)

  • →Border crossing
  • →Road journey
~£32
Day 55

Eldoret to Nairobi

Nairobi, Kenya

Final bus leg to Nairobi (~£10, 5 hrs). Arrive at River Road or the city bus station, transfer to the airport or extend your stay. Optional: a final meal at a Nairobi nyama choma grill before your flight.

🚌Bus + airport transfer (~£12)

🛏Optional final night Nairobi hostel (~£14)

  • →Return to Nairobi
  • →Farewell meal
~£30

Self-launched vs. G Adventures

 This itinerary (self-launched)G Adventures
Price per person~£3,685£6,800
Duration55 days55 days
Who books itYou and your group, directTour operator, guided group
Savings£3,115 per person (46%)

Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.

Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.

~£3,685

estimated per person

You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.

Launch a departure with this itinerary

This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.

Customise with Tour Buster
Share:FacebookUltimate Africa Self-Launched: Cape Town to Nairobi Overland

Frequently asked questions

How much does Ultimate Africa Self-Launched: Cape Town to Nairobi Overland cost?+

Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £3,685 per person for 55 days in Southern & East Africa (South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda). This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.

Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+

Yes — G Adventures charges around £6,800 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £3,685 — a saving of roughly £3,115 (46%) per person.

How long is the Southern & East Africa (South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda) trip?+

This itinerary runs 55 days, covering 55 day-by-day stops through Southern & East Africa (South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda).

How do I join this trip?+

You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.

Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+

Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.

Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+

Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.

What kind of trip is this?+

This is a adventure, wildlife, backpacker trip through Southern & East Africa (South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda), self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.

Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?

Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.

No comments yet — be the first to share your take.

Sign in to leave a comment.