Small-Group Journeys · Small-group land journey
Southern and East Africa: A Journey Across Seven Countries · 23 Days
Solid lines: itinerary connections. Dashed lines: air connections. The cross-border air connection includes a ground transfer.
City and protected-area locations are approximate. Lines are schematic, not actual roads or exact flight tracks.
The Southern Africa and East Africa panels use different geographic scales.
Air connection: Maun → Addis Ababa (transit) → Nairobi. Transfer via Ethiopia on 28–29 July 2027. Economy-class airfare is included.
Source: Chuanke July 2027 itinerary. Base map: Natural Earth (public domain).
Journey overview
- Travel dates
- 2027-07-15 to 2027-08-06
- Duration
- 23 days / 22 nights
- Destinations
- South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, Kenya and Tanzania
- Group
- Small group
- Transport
- Ground vehicles, camp light aircraft and flights listed in the itinerary
- Room occupancy
- Two guests sharing one room; single supplement additional
- End of local itinerary
- 2027-08-06; reference flights arrive in China the following day
Destinations and accommodation
Images illustrate the destinations and accommodation; fine details are indicative. Accommodation is subject to final confirmation.
From 15 July to 6 August 2027, spend 23 days travelling through five Southern African countries and two East African countries. See Cape Peninsula penguins, Namib dunes, Victoria Falls and the Okavango wetlands before following migrating wildlife in the Masai Mara and Serengeti. The programme includes a helicopter flight over the falls, a mokoro excursion and several light-aircraft transfers. The Maun–Nairobi economy-class airfare is included.
Solid lines: itinerary connections. Dashed lines: air connections. The cross-border air connection includes a ground transfer.
City and protected-area locations are approximate. Lines are schematic, not actual roads or exact flight tracks.
The Southern Africa and East Africa panels use different geographic scales.
Air connection: Maun → Addis Ababa (transit) → Nairobi. Transfer via Ethiopia on 28–29 July 2027. Economy-class airfare is included.
Source: Chuanke July 2027 itinerary. Base map: Natural Earth (public domain).
Journey highlights
Southern Africa segment · Naturalist tour leader: 王鹤霖
Leads the Southern Africa segment of this journey.
王鹤霖 has extensive experience leading groups through African wilderness and wildlife habitats. He enjoys cross-cultural exchange and explains field observations and ecological knowledge in clear, accessible language.
He holds a master’s degree in marine engineering from the University of Glasgow, with a focus on marine animals and natural ecosystems. He approaches field observation from an animal researcher’s perspective and makes animal welfare a guiding principle of his work. Years of simultaneous interpreting experience help him share local nature and culture with guests from different backgrounds.
His field experience spans grasslands, coasts and desert margins. He has travelled to more than 100 countries and has lived for extended periods in Scotland and southwestern China.
East Africa segment · Naturalist tour leader: 李可莱
Leads the East Africa segment of this journey.
李可莱 is a Chinese American naturalist tour leader, nature education and science curriculum designer, and natural history illustrator.
李可莱 contributes to the academic journals New Phytologist and Sichuan Journal of Zoology. Books include 给孩子的自然博物课——一学就会的视觉笔记 (a children’s natural history course on visual note-taking), 肯尼亚野生动物图鉴 (an illustrated guide to Kenya’s wildlife) and 动物大科学家.
李可莱 has repeatedly led groups to Kenya and Tanzania, as well as Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia and South Africa, and has also led journeys to the Galápagos, Antarctica and the Arctic. The approach combines natural history knowledge with a friendly, unassuming manner.
African penguins at Boulders Beach
Watch African penguins from the boardwalk, then explore the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Point. Chapman’s Peak Drive links coastal views as it winds between cliffs and bays.
Table Mountain and Cape Town neighbourhoods
Weather permitting, take the cable car up Table Mountain to look over the bay and city. Afterwards, visit Bo-Kaap and pass historic places including the Company’s Garden.
Red dunes and Deadvlei
Visit Dune 45 in Sossusvlei, climb Big Daddy with a guide and explore Deadvlei. Continue into Sesriem Canyon to see the traces that flowing water has left in the rock layers.
Walvis Bay wildlife and Sandwich Harbour
Take a boat trip around Walvis Bay and Pelican Point in search of seals, dolphins and seabirds. An afternoon dune excursion at Sandwich Harbour reveals high dunes directly beside the Atlantic. Wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed.
Victoria Falls from both sides
Over two days, explore Victoria Falls from Zimbabwe and Zambia, walking different paths to view the curtain of water, the gorge and the Zambezi River.
Victoria Falls from the air
Take a helicopter flight over the Zambezi as it enters the gorge, viewing the waterfall and the winding canyon downstream. Flights depend on weather and local operating conditions.
Game viewing in the Okavango
Stay two nights at Khwai Lediba or a comparable camp. Join guided game drives or nature walks to look for animals in wetlands, riverbank habitats and woodland. The camp is in the Khwai area, across the river from Moremi Game Reserve.
Wetland waterways by mokoro
Travel through Okavango waterways in a traditional mokoro canoe, observing the wetland from close to water level. The camp sets the activity sequence according to local conditions.
Migration season in the Masai Mara and Serengeti
Travel from Kenya’s Masai Mara into Tanzania’s Serengeti to observe wildebeest, zebras and predators. Consecutive nights at camps in both areas allow several outings in search of migrating animals around the Mara River. Migration patterns vary with grazing and rainfall; river crossings cannot be guaranteed.
The Ngorongoro Crater
Descend to the crater floor, where grassland, lakes, forest and marshes form a patchwork of wildlife habitats. The reference hotel for the night is on the crater rim.
Lake Naivasha and Crescent Island
Take a boat trip of about one hour on Lake Naivasha, followed by a walk on Crescent Island. Look for waterbirds and hippos from the boat, then observe grazing animals on foot.
Birdlife around Lake Nakuru
Travel from Naivasha to Lake Nakuru National Park for a game drive. The lake, lakeside vegetation and woodland offer different bird habitats. Look for waterbirds and other wildlife, then return to Naivasha for the night.
Day-by-day itinerary
Open the tab alongside the daily itinerary.
Arrive in Cape Town
Arrive in Cape Town, South Africa, and transfer to the hotel to rest before beginning the Southern Africa journey.
Cape Town: Table Mountain and city neighbourhoods
Weather permitting, take the cable car up Table Mountain for views of Cape Town, the bay and the Atlantic. Visit Bo-Kaap and pass the Company’s Garden, Parliament and City Hall. In the afternoon, visit the V&A Waterfront if time and traffic permit. If weather closes the cable car, another city attraction will be substituted.
Cape Peninsula: the Cape of Good Hope and African penguins
Visit the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve and Cape Point for coastal views. Watch African penguins from the boardwalk at Boulders Beach, then have lunch in Simon’s Town. Follow Chapman’s Peak Drive past cliffs and bays, returning via Hout Bay, Noordhoek and Camps Bay.
Cape Town → Windhoek
Fly to Windhoek, Namibia’s capital, and transfer to the hotel. Continue with a city tour that includes Christuskirche, the Parliament Gardens and the National Museum.
Windhoek → Sossusvlei
Take a camp light-aircraft transfer to the Sossusvlei desert area, with an indicative flight time of about one hour. Check in and have lunch, then join an afternoon excursion and watch the sunset among dunes and mountains. The camp may adjust the order of activities to local conditions.
Sossusvlei: dunes, Deadvlei and Sesriem Canyon
Enter the Sossusvlei area to view Dune 45, climb Big Daddy with a guide and visit Deadvlei. Continue to Sesriem Canyon to examine the rock walls and layers carved by flowing water. The camp may adjust the order of activities to local conditions.
Sossusvlei → Swakopmund
Fly by light aircraft to Swakopmund on the Atlantic coast, with an indicative flight time of about one hour. Take an afternoon city tour and visit the Swakopmund Museum, then head to the jetty for sunset.
Walvis Bay boat trip and Sandwich Harbour dunes
Travel to Walvis Bay for a boat trip in search of seals, dolphins and seabirds, passing Pelican Point and enjoying oysters, Champagne and local snacks. In the afternoon, take a dune excursion at Sandwich Harbour, where high dunes meet the Atlantic coast. Wildlife sightings depend on conditions on the day.
Swakopmund → Himba community → Windhoek
After breakfast, drive to a Himba community to learn about local customs and daily life. Continue to Windhoek for dinner and an overnight hotel stay.
Windhoek → Victoria Falls → Zambia
Fly to Victoria Falls Airport in Zimbabwe. After lunch, explore the falls from the Zimbabwean side, then cross into Zambia and check into a hotel beside the Zambezi River.
Zambia: waterfall walks and a helicopter flight
Visit Victoria Falls from the Zambian side in the morning, then take a helicopter flight to view the Zambezi, the falls and the gorge from above. In the afternoon, visit a local village to learn about daily life and traditional crafts.
Zambia → Kasane → Okavango
Drive to Kasane Airport in Botswana and take a camp light-aircraft transfer to the Okavango Delta region, with an indicative flight time of about one hour. After lunch and a rest, go on a game drive in search of lions, leopards and wetland wildlife. The camp will set the activity sequence according to local conditions.
Okavango: game viewing and a mokoro excursion
Join a local guide for a game drive or nature walk, looking for wildlife among wetlands and woodland. Travel through the waterways in a traditional mokoro canoe to observe the water channels and their plants and animals. The camp may adjust the order of activities to local conditions.
Okavango → Maun → Nairobi
Fly by camp light aircraft to Maun, then connect via Addis Ababa to Nairobi. The reference flight arrives at 01:40 on 29 July, followed by an airport transfer and hotel check-in to rest. The Maun–Nairobi economy-class connecting airfare is included in the tour price.
Nairobi → Lake Naivasha
After breakfast, visit the Giraffe Centre to observe Rothschild’s giraffes. Continue to Lake Naivasha for a boat trip of about one hour, followed by a walk on Crescent Island to look for birds and grazing animals. Return to the hotel for time at leisure.
Naivasha → Lake Nakuru → Naivasha
After breakfast, drive to Lake Nakuru National Park for a game drive and birdwatching. The lake, grassland and woodland provide different wildlife habitats. Return to Naivasha after the visit.
Naivasha → Masai Mara
Fly by light aircraft to the Masai Mara, settle into camp and have lunch. In the afternoon, join a guided game drive to look for lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo and rhinos, then explore the Mara River area in search of migrating animals.
A full day on safari in the Masai Mara
Spend the day on game drives in the Masai Mara, looking for big cats, wildebeest, zebras, elephants and other grassland wildlife. Continue searching for migrating herds around the Mara River. Whether a crossing occurs depends on the animals’ movements at the time.
Masai Mara → northern Serengeti
Take a Kenyan light-aircraft flight to the border, cross by shuttle vehicle, then board a Tanzanian light aircraft for the northern Serengeti. After settling into camp, go on safari and look for migrating animals around the Mara River.
Safari in the northern Serengeti
Continue exploring the northern Serengeti, watching grazing herds and predators and searching for migrating animals around the Mara River. Animal locations and river-crossing times cannot be scheduled; the guide will plan sightings around conditions on the day.
Northern → central Serengeti
After breakfast, travel to the central Serengeti, continuing game viewing en route. With your guide, look for lions, leopards and other wildlife in this big-cat viewing region. Stay at Serengeti Explorer in the evening.
Central Serengeti → Ngorongoro
Drive to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and descend to the crater floor on arrival. Grassland, forest, lakes and marshes meet within the crater, offering wildlife viewing across different habitats.
Ngorongoro → Arusha → Kilimanjaro Airport
After breakfast, drive to Kilimanjaro Airport, stopping in Arusha for a Chinese lunch. Transfer to the airport for the international flight home, ending the local itinerary. The reference flights arrive in Beijing or Shanghai on 7 August.
Dates refer to the local itinerary; arrival in China depends on the selected international flights. Wildlife sightings, migration routes and river-crossing times cannot be guaranteed. Camps may adjust the order of activities to local conditions.
Transport and accommodation
Land arrangements · hotels and camps
Stay in city hotels, hotels in natural settings and safari camps along the route. The properties below are reference accommodation and may be replaced by comparable alternatives. Room types and final hotels are subject to confirmation.
- Cape Town
- The Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa or comparable
- Windhoek
- Windhoek Country Club Resort or comparable
- Sossusvlei
- Le Mirage Resort & Spa or comparable
- Swakopmund
- Strand Hotel Swakopmund or comparable
- Victoria Falls area, Zambia
- The Royal Livingstone Hotel by Anantara or comparable
- Okavango
- Khwai Lediba or comparable
- Nairobi
- JW Marriott Nairobi or comparable
- Naivasha
- Lake Naivasha Sawela or comparable
- Masai Mara
- Governors’ Camp or comparable
- Northern Serengeti
- Ole Serai Luxury Camps - Kogatende or comparable
- Central Serengeti
- Serengeti Explorer by Elewana or comparable
- Ngorongoro
- Ngorongoro Lodge member of Melia Collection, The Leading Hotels of the World or comparable
The Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa or comparable
Cape Town reference accommodation
At the foot of the Twelve Apostles mountains beside the Atlantic coast, this is the reference hotel for three nights in Cape Town.
Windhoek Country Club Resort or comparable
Windhoek reference accommodation
A hotel on the southern outskirts of Windhoek, with guest rooms set within landscaped grounds.
Le Mirage Resort & Spa or comparable
Sossusvlei reference accommodation
Near the Sossusvlei dunes, with stone castle-style buildings. Some rooms face the open desert.
Strand Hotel Swakopmund or comparable
Swakopmund reference accommodation
On the Swakopmund waterfront, this is the reference hotel for the coastal part of the journey.
The Royal Livingstone Hotel by Anantara or comparable
Victoria Falls area, Zambia reference accommodation
Beside the Zambezi River in Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, with rooms in two-storey buildings.
Khwai Lediba or comparable
Okavango reference accommodation
In the Khwai concession northeast of the delta, across the river from Moremi Game Reserve. Tents stand on raised wooden platforms among riverside trees.
JW Marriott Nairobi or comparable
Nairobi reference accommodation
The reference city hotel for the Nairobi stop. The connecting flight arrives early on 29 July; transfer to the hotel to rest, then continue to Naivasha as scheduled that day.
Lake Naivasha Sawela or comparable
Naivasha reference accommodation
A hotel beside Lake Naivasha, with rooms set among gardens. Some rooms have viewing terraces.
Governors’ Camp or comparable
Masai Mara reference accommodation
A camp in woodland beside the Mara River, with tents set among the trees and no perimeter wall.
Ole Serai Luxury Camps - Kogatende or comparable
Northern Serengeti reference accommodation
Located in the Kogatende area, with tents arranged along the contours of the grassland and individual viewing terraces.
Serengeti Explorer by Elewana or comparable
Central Serengeti reference accommodation
The hotel has a viewing hide reached through an underground passage. It overlooks a waterhole where guests can wait and watch animals coming to drink.
Ngorongoro Lodge member of Melia Collection, The Leading Hotels of the World or comparable
Ngorongoro reference accommodation
A Melia Collection hotel on the southwestern rim of the Ngorongoro Crater.
Fares and inclusions
Journey fares
| Occupancy | Details | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Shared-room rate | 23 days / 22 nights; two guests sharing one room | CNY 251,700 per person |
Included
- Visa fees for Namibia, Zimbabwe and Botswana; South Africa ETA, Kenya electronic travel authorisation (ETA) and Tanzania e-visa fees. The proposal states visa-free entry for Zambia.
- Economy-class regional flights within Southern Africa on the Cape Town–Windhoek–Zimbabwe routing. Business class is not available on these Southern Africa regional sectors. The Maun–Nairobi economy-class connecting airfare is also included.
- Camp light-aircraft transfers: Windhoek–Sossusvlei, Sossusvlei–Swakopmund, Kasane–Okavango Delta and Okavango Delta–Maun. Also included: Lake Naivasha–Masai Mara and Masai Mara–Serengeti light-aircraft transfers.
- Hotels and camps listed in the itinerary, based on two guests sharing one room.
- Breakfasts and main meals marked in the itinerary.
- Listed admission fees, camp game drives and other experiential activities.
- Chinese-speaking tour escort.
- Local off-road vehicles, professional drivers and Chinese-speaking guides, including their gratuities.
- Travel insurance: Allianz “Around the World” Marco Polo plan, as specified in the product proposal.
- Travel adapter and luggage strap as gifts.
Not included
- Passport application fees.
- International airfares.
- The business-class upgrade supplement for the Southern Africa–East Africa connecting flight, at the airline’s fare at ticket issuance.
- Yellow-fever vaccination costs.
- Single supplement for the whole itinerary.
- Additional chargeable experiences offered by the camps.
- Personal expenses such as mobile communications, satellite telephone use and laundry.
- Driver or guide overtime resulting from personal requests; meals during international flight connections or airport waits; meals marked as at guests’ own expense; and additional expenses arising from force majeure.
Booking terms and travel notes
Price and room occupancy
The price is per person, based on two guests sharing one room. A single supplement applies; international airfares are not included. The Maun–Nairobi economy-class connecting airfare is included. A business-class upgrade costs extra, at the airline’s fare at ticket issuance. Availability, room types and the written quotation are subject to adviser confirmation and the signed contract.
Wildlife viewing
Safaris seek animals living freely in their natural habitats. Species, sighting locations and river crossings cannot be guaranteed.
Reference flights and entry requirements
Flight times are indicative and must be reconfirmed before ticketing. Visa and travel-authorisation fees are included as specified in the proposal; application requirements depend on the rules in force at travel time and each guest’s circumstances.
Activity conditions
The Table Mountain cable car depends on weather. If it is closed, another city attraction will be substituted. Camps may adjust activity sequences to local conditions.
Connecting Southern and East Africa
Depart Maun via Addis Ababa on 28 July. The reference flight arrives in Nairobi at 01:40 on 29 July, followed by hotel check-in. Continue towards Naivasha on 29 July. The economy-class connecting airfare is included; a business-class upgrade costs extra.