Day 1 to 1 - Arrive Livingstone

The first day of your tour is simply an arrival day with no pre-organised activities. In order to allow time to relax and see some of the sights you may wish to add pre tour accommodation. On arrival please ask at the reception for information on when the pre departure meeting will be held.

Welcome to Livingstone! As well as a gateway to the majestic Victoria Falls, the town, named after the great 19th century Scottish explorer David Livingstone, is also a haven for adrenalin-pumping, heart-stopping adventure activities.

One of the most popular adventure activities you can enjoy here is white water rafting on the lower Zambezi River, which has a series of 23 rapids all graded 3 to 5 depending on the time of year and the water level. Please note that this activity is challenging and definitely not for the faint-hearted! Other exciting options include bungy jumping, river boarding, jet boating, canoeing or you can try sitting in the famous Devil's Pool. You can also take a helicopter ride and admire the raging falls from above.

Please note: All of the activities on the river, including the Devil's Armchair, are subject to the level of the river and may not be available. The Zambezi rafting season is between the beginning of June and the end of January with the best months between August and November. The river usually closes around the end of January or beginning of February and does not reopen until towards the end May.

Day 2 to 5 - Lusaka – Chipata – Kande Beach

We now head north to visit Lusaka, Zambia's bustling capital and largest city. If the opportunity arises, a visit to one of Lusaka's markets is a must. It's an interesting experience and well worth a visit, if just for the colourful and lively atmosphere.

We stop off in Chipata, a busy little town with colourful fruit and vegetable markets and a surprising number of ornate mosques due to its large Indian community before we bid farewell to Zambia and cross the border into Malawi.

Kande Beach is one of the many beautiful beaches situated along Lake Malawi's shoreline. There is a lively atmosphere here and with Kande Beach being one of the big overland havens, you will likely be in for a party or two! You have a full day to enjoy options like diving, snorkelling, windsurfing, kayaking, swimming and horse riding but if you'd prefer to just relax in the sun, the velvety-smooth beach is a perfect spot for sunbathing, munching on mangoes (when they're in season) and soaking up the scenery. You can also visit nearby local villages which are famous for their markets and traditional woodcarvings.

Day 6 to 9 - Chitimba – Iringa – Dar es Salaam

Heading towards the head of Lake Malawi, we travel along the shoreline until we reach our small lakeside camp of Chitimba. Lake Malawi, also known as Lake Nyasa, is a freshwater lake about 560 kilometres long and 75 kilometres wide at its widest point, with a total area of approximately 29,600 square kilometres and covers about 25% of Malawi's land area. From Chitimba you can choose to go on a range of fun optional excursions, such as hiking in the mountains in the beautiful area near Livingstonia, and enjoy an included visit to a local village, where you enjoy the friendliness of the people who gave Malawi its reputation as the 'warm heart of Africa'.

Next we take to the open roads for two long driving days -with a relaxing, exotic island break on Zanzibar in sight to get us through! On the road between Iringa and Dar es Salaam, the gateway to Zanzibar Island, we pass through Mikumi National Park where it is possible to see elephant, giraffe, zebra and antelope from the roadside.

Dar es Salaam is a bustling port on the Indian Ocean and our gateway to the exotic island of Zanzibar.

Day 10 to 13 - Zanzibar – Dar es Salaam

The 'Spice Island' of Zanzibar is famous for spices and produce, and supposedly boasts the sweetest pineapple in the world. In the nineteenth century it was one of the most important trading centres in the Indian Ocean region trading cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, and pepper. Zanzibar was also a hub of the African slave trade and later played a key role in its demise. It takes around 2.5 to 3.5 hours to travel to the island, also known as Unguja, by fast ferry, depending on which boat we catch. We will spend our days on Zanzibar Island in Stone Town and also at some of the island's beaches on the northern side of the island.

Stone Town is the oldest city and cultural heart of Zanzibar. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, little has changed here over the last 200 years. Stone Town boasts a labyrinth of walled streets, winding alleys, bustling mosques and grand Arab architecture. The Old Dispensary, Scottish explorer and abolitionist David Livingstone's house, the Peace Memorial Museum, the Palace Museum and Arab Fort are all worth visiting. You can spend many idle hours simply wandering the streets, shopping at the bazaars and admiring the intriguingly decorated elephant-proof doors before sitting down to watch the sun set over a cold beer and a sumptuous seafood feast. If food is your thing, make sure you also check out the excellent night market which serves traditional local fare. Women should note that Stone Town has a high Muslim population so please remember bring appropriate clothing and cover up.

The most beautiful, isolated beaches in Zanzibar lie to the north and east of the island. Boasting sparkling blue ocean and golden sands fringed with palm trees, these beaches are nothing short of paradise. There are plenty of options available here. Relax and take it easy, indulge with a massage or go diving, snorkelling or swimming with dolphins. After several days in this delightful location we will depart in the morning and head back to Dar es Salaam.

Day 14 to 18 - Arusha – Serengeti National Park – Arusha – Nairobi

Arusha is a busy, bustling town with email, coffee shops, banks and many other modern amenities. During your stay you will visit the famous Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Crater . Both excursions are run by local operators in 4WD vehicles.

The Serengeti National Park is one of the most famous wildlife reserves in Africa and is a premier safari destination. If you are lucky enough to be visiting around the time of the largest mammal migration in the world, you'll see over a million-strong herd of wildebeest and about 200,000 zebra thundering down from the northern hills to the southern plains to follow the short African rainy season. Known as the Great Migration, this mass movement of herds takes place every year around July or August. The instinct to move is so strong that no crocodile infested river, gorge or plain can hold them back and it makes for a truly astonishing, magical sight.

Even when the migration is not happening, there are massive numbers of different animals to see. You may spot charismatic predators such as cheetah as well as dramatic birds of prey. Keep your eyes peeled for the 'Big 5', namely lions, leopards, Cape buffaloes, rhinos and elephants as you explore the park. Meanwhile, jackals, foxes, mongoose, snakes, lizards and skinks are also present in impressive numbers. Dung beetles, grasshoppers, ants and butterflies are among the insect species you may see around you.

The Ngorongoro Volcano, before it exploded and collapsed 2 million years ago, was one of the world's tallest mountains. Today, the crater is one of the most stunning natural wonders in the world, approximately 610 metres deep with an enclosed area of about 260 square kilometres and is an important part of the World Heritage-listed Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The sides of the crater are very steep, which creates a natural enclosure for a wide variety of wildlife, although zebra and wildebeest are able to move through it. There is also a dense population of lions in the area, as well as a soda lake inhabited by flamingos and other wading birds. You'll have the opportunity to get very close to the game in the open plains and take excellent photos of the animals in their natural habitat.

Day 19 to 19 - Depart Nairobi

Nairobi takes its name from a small stream known by the Masai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which means "the place of cool waters". The capital and largest city of Kenya, Nairobi was founded in 1899 but the area the city was built on was little more than a swamp land until the East Africa railways built a small camp by the Nairobi River. The town quickly developed into the administrative nerve centre of the Uganda Railway and is now a busy, modern metropolis with a thriving cultural scene.

During your stay in Nairobi you can visit some of the markets -City Market, Village Market, Masai Market (on Tuesdays), perhaps visit the Arboretum, Kenya Railway Museum or Karen Blixen Museum, then take a moment to visit the National Museum. You'll find the city comes to life at night with a lively music scene, while there are many cafés and international restaurants to choose from.

Your adventure of a lifetime comes to an end today, please confirm with the reception the check out time. If you have a late flight or have lengthened your stay by adding post tour accommodation you will have more time to explore the sights.