We are 61 & 59 years old. We want to spend 2 months exploring Africa's wildlife, food, music & traditions between 4/1-6/15/2026. We would like clean, safe, functional & asthetically pleasant places with English speaking & helpful staff. Like to stay where can interact with other guests but we do not need bells & whistles (luxury). Want to experience wildlife & a little culture (music, food, dance) in comfortable beds where temperature is able to be moderated with a/c or fans or blankets/firepit if needed. Beds do not need to be traditional but no hammocks. Like comfortable, not too jolty vehicle transports with low danger risk. Wish to have wi-fi & internet at lodging. Fine with rudimentary showers, out houses, and simple/limited food choices for periods w/ breaks of less rudimentary experiences. We are somewhat athletic but I get ball of foot pain approx every 1.5 - 2 hours & have to get off my feet for 10 minutez for pain to subside. That said we can walk about 5 hours a day. We may need assistance if have to carry bags up lots of steps. Want to see as much wildlife as possible & avoid periods bad weather & hope a place would offer something to occupy us if weather keeps us at a lodging such as a fitness opportunity, cooking class, education about the wildlife, board games or craft activity. Important to us is access to quality healthcare within a 3 hour drive. Open to volunteering at projects where can learn more about the wildlife & help feed, maintain facilities, perform studies, etc. Our budget for 2 persons total is $20,000. Like photos & description of accommodations including restrooms, access to a/c or fan or blankets. Options for food & variety & beverages & ice. Info on comfort level of transport - will there be a/c & shocks & cushioning of seats. What available for medical care & what done in emergency. Will tour be in English only or a multi language tour. What done if poor weather. Any planning we should do regarding planning an extra day stay after tour before fly out in case of a tour hold up? What are the ave rage added expenses to count on?

Most nights you are sleeping on the ground in a tent, or occasionally in shared dorms. Tents need to be put up and down often on a daily basis, and camping conditions can be basic. We do provide three person dome tents (used for two people) and a sleep mat but we can be out in the bush with basic or no amenities on some nights. Meals sometimes need to be prepared in less than ideal conditions, and everyone in the group takes turns in small groups to cook for the whole group. Everyone relies on each member of the group to get involved and work together to keep everything running smoothly.

Is it possible to join the tour if I arrive late on the first day? Are shower facilities and bed options available during the trip?

You can join the tour by flying to Nairobi on the first day. We camp at established campsites with bathroom facilities and showers. Upgrades to rooms/dorms with beds are available at most campsites on a first-come, first-served basis. The only exception is the Okavango Delta excursion where facilities are basic.

Do Filipinos have any trouble getting visas or ETAs for the 8 African countries?

Is bottled water provided on the tour?

Are travelers required to obtain the island's insurance when traveling to Zanzibar?

As per the 1st October 2024 every tourist needs to get a mandatory travel insurance from the Zanzibar Insurance Coorperation (ZIC) before traveling to Zanzibar. This is also the case if they already have travel insurance. Not having this extra insurance can result in them being denied entry to Zanzibar. The cost of this is U$44 per person.

I have two kids age 15 & 17 at time of travel - is that ok? My wife is allergic to eating straight eggs - ( eggs used in baking is ok ) and is gluten intolerant. Is there a way to cater for her dietary needs.

We do not take children on any of our longer tours I'm afraid. We can take children over 12 on a couple of short tours in Kenya only: A Week in Kenya and the Short Safari in Kenya. We do cater for various dietary requirements so this would not be a problem.

Magen it says optionals is that extra things i need to pay for?

The optional activities are extra activities and excursions available during the tour that you can choose to do. These will come at extra cost. There is a list of these on the tour page. You can see which activities are included in the trip price in the inclusions section.

How do the expedition vehicles, tents and sleeping mats look?

The vehicles are large overland trucks fitted with coach style seats with seat belts. The tents are three man dome tents in which we sleep just two people. The sleeping mats are high density foam sleeping mats.

Do we have to be afraid of our safety especially when camping at night? How are bath routines like showering and toilet handled on that trip? If I am booking this trip with my boyfriend, would it be possible to just have a tent for us two?

The areas we travel through are very safe and almost everywhere we stay at proper campsites with bathrooms and restaurant/lounge facilities. The only places where we camp out in unfenced areas are in the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater which are designated camps just unfenced and in the Okavango delta which is a proper bush camp. As long as you listen to what the tour leader tells you in these places there is not really any danger as the animals tend to stay away from the camps. There are washing facilities pretty much every night of the tour. Sometimes the water is not hot and it may not have good pressure, but you can still wash every day in some way. If you are travelling together then you would automatically have a tent just for yourselves to share.

Why is it stated that it only covers for 43 nights accommodation? (37 nights camping and 6 nights dorm)

Out of the 53 nights of the tour, 37 nights are included camping, 6 nights in dorms and then the other 10 nights are where we have optional overnight excursions. If you opt to go on the overnight excursion your accommodation is then included in the excursion cost. If you opt not to do the excursion then you just pay camping direct to the campsite where the truck parks up and you will have use of your tent and mats as usual.

How much is local payment for this tour?

The local payment for this tour is 625 USD payable in USD cash on day 1 of the trip to the tour leader.

From

$4,090

US $3,886 per person

The Southern Safari

54 days

•

From Nairobi to Cape Town

4.6

8 traveler reviews

View all
This was without a doubt the trip of a lifetime. Will definitely be going back to Africa with Absolute again soon.
Gráinne, traveled in December
5.0
View all

From

$4,090

-5%

US $3,886 per person

+ $625 Local Payment

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Price based on Shared Room

Price based on Private Single Room

Price based on Private Double Room

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Plan your adventure:

Operator: Absolute Africa
Overland Truck: Off-the-grid adventures with a rugged edge
Group Tour: Join a group and forge lifelong friendships
Fully Guided: An experienced guide will be with you for the entire tour
Medium Intensity: Travelers should be comfortable with somewhat-demanding activities
Guided in English
Group Size 4 - 28
Ages 18+

Image of a map showing the route of the tour

Itinerary

Day 1
Nairobi
Included Activities
- Visit Sheldrick's elephant orphanage
- Visit Giraffe Centre
Landmarks
Sheldrick's elephant orphanage
Giraffe Centre
Days 2 - 5
Arusha
Meals
Breakfast, Dinner (Evening celebratory barbecue)
Included Activities
- Evening celebratory barbecue
Optional Activities
- 3 day/2 night safari: Afternoon and morning guided game drives in smaller safari vehicles in the Serengeti National Park
- Afternoon transit drive through the Ngorongoro Conservation area with morning guided game drives in Ngorongoro Crater
Landmarks
Serengeti National Park
Ngorongoro Crater
Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Days 6 - 12
Marangu to Zanzibar
Meals
Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Seafood meal at the Indian Ocean coast
Optional Activities
- Visit Zanzibar Island (Day 9, returning to mainland on Day 13)
- Snorkelling on Zanzibar sweeping coral reefs
- Scuba diving on Zanzibar
- Prison Island with giant tortoise population
- Jozani Forest to see red colobus monkeys
- Spice tour on Zanzibar Island
- Beach cottage accommodation on Zanzibar
- Lodge stay in Stone Town (ancient capital)
- Ferry bookings and transfers
Landmarks
Mount Kilimanjaro
Zanzibar Island
Stone Town
Prison Island
Jozani Forest
Days 13 - 18
Dar es Salaam to Lake Malawi
Meals
Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Drive through Mikumi National Park
- Village visits
- Curio markets
Optional Activities
- Water sports
- Village walk
- Wood carving lesson
Landmarks
Dar es Salaam
Mikumi National Park
Lake Malawi
Days 19 - 24
South Luangwa to Lake Kariba
Meals
Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided game drive in smaller safari vehicle in South Luangwa National Park
- Visit Lusaka
- Zambezi Valley exploration
- Two days at Lake Kariba
Optional Activities
- Extra game drive in South Luangwa National Park
- Extra game walk in South Luangwa National Park
- Houseboat cruise on Lake Kariba visiting Matusadona with game cruise and fishing
Landmarks
South Luangwa National Park
Lusaka
Zambezi Valley
Lake Kariba
Matusadona
Days 25 - 28
Harare to Matopos
Meals
Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Great Zimbabwe Ruins
- Rhino trek in Matopos National Park
- Guided game drive in smaller safari vehicle in Matopos National Park
Optional Activities
- Extra game drives in Matopos National Park
- Visit rock paintings
- Visit Cecil Rhodes' grave
- Ndebele Village tour
Landmarks
Harare
Great Zimbabwe Ruins
Matopos National Park
Days 29 - 31
Victoria Falls
Meals
Breakfast, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Rainforest walk at Victoria Falls
- Bungee jump
- Gorge swing
- Flying fox
- Zip line
- White water rafting
- Riverboard
- Canoe trips
- Sundowner cruise
- 'Flight of the Angels' scenic flight
- Horse rides
- Entrance to Victoria Falls National Park
Landmarks
Victoria Falls
Victoria Falls National Park
Days 32 - 37
Kasane to Maun
Meals
Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Chobe game cruise
Optional Activities
- Guided game drive in smaller safari vehicles in Chobe National Park
- Okavango Delta two night guided mokoro safari
- Flight over the Delta
Landmarks
Kasane
Chobe National Park
Okavango Delta
Maun
Days 38 - 46
Rundu to Swakopmund
Meals
Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Bushmen visit
- Morning game drive in Etosha National Park
- Afternoon game drive in Etosha National Park
- Two nights camping in Etosha National Park
- Visit Africat Foundation
- Visit Cape Cross Seal Colony
Optional Activities
- Hoba meteorite visit
- Walk with warrior bushmen
- Visit women's village
- Evening game drive
- Walk to see ancient rock paintings
- Quad biking
- Sandboarding
- Go-karts
- Sky diving
- Desert tours
- Township tour
- Seal and dolphin cruise
- Open sea fishing
- Horse riding
Landmarks
Rundu
Etosha National Park
Africat Foundation
Cape Cross Seal Colony
Swakopmund
Days 47 - 54
Sossusvlei to Cape Town
Meals
Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Sossusvlei
- Visit Namib Naukluft National Park
- Visit Fish River Canyon
- Camp by the Orange River
- Drive through Stellenbosch
Optional Activities
- Guided walk on the dunes
- Canoeing
- Wine tour in Stellenbosch
Landmarks
Sossusvlei
Namib Naukluft National Park
Fish River Canyon
Orange River
Stellenbosch
Cape Town

Landmarks
Sheldrick's elephant orphanage
Giraffe Centre

Landmarks
Serengeti National Park
Ngorongoro Crater
Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Landmarks
Mount Kilimanjaro
Zanzibar Island
Stone Town
Prison Island
Jozani Forest

Landmarks
Dar es Salaam
Mikumi National Park
Lake Malawi

Landmarks
South Luangwa National Park
Lusaka
Zambezi Valley
Lake Kariba
Matusadona

Landmarks
Harare
Great Zimbabwe Ruins
Matopos National Park

Landmarks
Victoria Falls
Victoria Falls National Park

Landmarks
Kasane
Chobe National Park
Okavango Delta
Maun

Landmarks
Rundu
Etosha National Park
Africat Foundation
Cape Cross Seal Colony
Swakopmund

Landmarks
Sossusvlei
Namib Naukluft National Park
Fish River Canyon
Orange River
Stellenbosch
Cape Town

What's Included

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Accommodation
Guide
Meals
Additional Services
Transport

What's Not Included

Flights
Insurance
Optional
Additional Services

Operated by

Absolute Africa

4.5

(193 reviews)

Number of tours

Age Range

18 to 80 years old

Response time

11 hours

Response rate

92%

With over thirty years of experience running safaris from London to Cape Town...

Cancellation Policy

A transparent overview of applicable fees.

Travel Insurance

Be covered for any unforseen circumstances.

Traveler Moments

Traveler Reviews

4.6

Overall rating based on 8 Reviews

Itinerary
4.5
Transport
4.5
Guide
4.6
Accommodation
4.4
Food
4.6
Tour Operator
4.5

S
Sean
April 10th, 2025
5
Hands down the best trip of my life. The tour was highlight after highlight, so many different experiences in some of...
Hands down the best trip of my life. The tour was highlight after highlight, so many different experiences in some of the most insanely beautiful places on the planet, all sorts of wildlife and stunning landscapes. I was on the 54-day tour that joined the 77-day tour when they were about a month in. Loved everyone on the tour, and we had such a range of people from all over the world, and from all ages (had a representative from every decade from 1940s to 2000s!!). I could not recommend Absolute Africa highly enough. Researched quite a bit before booking and nailed the choice with Absolute - best price, variety, flexibility and experiences. Pre-tour all the information was explained clearly and any extra queries I had were answered quickly. On tour - these guys were incredible. Wycliffe, Joseph and Hezron to start with, and then switched to Peter, Steve and Emias. Absolute legends one and all. Looked out for us the whole way, went above and beyond on many occasions to keep us safe and entertained, always with a smile and a positive attitude. Most of the campsites were absolutely wicked - and even the ones that were a bit dated were still better than I thought they would be. The unfenced camping nights (especially in the Okavango) were so much fun and experiences I’ll remember forever. It’s an adventure, not a luxury tour, so there are some long and tiring days, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Budget a bit extra and plan to do as many optionals as possible - all totally worth it. Already planning my next Africa trip and will be with Absolute for sure, and got a few mates keen to tag along after my awesome experience. Thanks to all for the spectacular adventure.Show more
Traveled in December 2024
Reply from: Absolute Africa
Hi Sean, thank you for your review. Great to hear what a good time you had on your Southern Safari and we will let your crew know too :) We look forward to helping you and your friends plan your next African adventure!
Show more
Q
Qin
November 25th, 2018
3.5
I did the 52 day Southern Safari trip with Absolute Africa traveling from Nairobi to Cape Town. Highlights include...
I did the 52 day Southern Safari trip with Absolute Africa traveling from Nairobi to Cape Town. Highlights include rafting along the Zambezi river, Spitzkoppe and of course all the amazing animals we saw on safari (Serengeti, endangered rhinos at Matopos, Etosha). Some driving days were long (we covered a lot of countries in 52 days), tent equipment was good quality and food was usually plentiful (unless people in your group want to eat breakfast before breakfast time and they don't save you enough food). For the first 10 days our tour leader Kip/Edmund was great, he had a positive attitude and he was really patient. Then we joined another group and had Martin as our tour leader. Whilst Martin was really informative in the beginning about the daily itinerary, with time i felt he became less informative. It was also clear to some people that Martin favoured certain individuals in the group. I understand that there will be people (even tour leaders) that get on with certain people more than others but as a professional i expected him to treat the group as a whole and listen to us as a whole, taking control of the group during more difficult situations when needed. There were certain situations where Martin acted quite childishly to certain members of the group, a few times he did not respect people's confidentiality by talking to certain members of the group about other people. One particular incident he publicly ridiculed someone in front of the whole group during dinner for not helping cook dinner one night because she was tired. You wouldn't expect this from someone who's been a tour leader for 20 years. Some of the optional activities i did i felt like it wasn't worth the money, for example we spent 3 days in the Okavango Delta and one day had 9 hours of free time where we had to stay in the bush camp or swim in a pond. Our tour leader didn't tell us this so some people didn't bring things like books etc. Absolute claim that they send you the most updated information (itinerary and optional activities list) however they included activities that haven't been running for years or they don't even run. We went to Antelope Park, Zimbabwe a private reserve home to a lion conservation programme with the aim of breeding lion cubs from captured lions in order to release them into the wild. Since 2005 they haven't released a single lion. I read articles by National Geographic and Africa Geographic that questioned the ethicacy of the programme and there was also speculation about whether the park involved itself in Africa's lion industry (look up Blood Lions for more info). Animal conservation should never involve animal-human interaction or breeding and these do/use to do both these things e.g. cub handling and lion walks. Correspondence with Absolute prior and throughout my trip was thorough and professional. After giving feedback about my experiences there was an obvious lack of accountability and ignorance. Overland tours are a great way of traveling to so many African countries and overall i really enjoyed most of the activities i did and the people i traveled with. However there are quite a few African overland tours and I am unlikely to use them again.Show more
Traveled in September 2018
Reply from: Absolute Africa
Thank you for leaving your feedback. We are glad to hear that overall you had an enjoyable tour and got to see all the fantastic wildlife and more that you would hope to see in Africa. At the same time we are disappointed to read your assessment of aspects of your tour and experience overall. The staff of Absolute Africa are a small team that do all work around the clock endeavouring to deliver tours that enable our clients to enjoy and appreciate all the wonderful highlights on the overland route in Africa. In regard to Martin, your tour leader, he has been working for us for a long time. We know that he does care very much about how his trips go and that each client gets the very most from their trip. He can bring a lot to a trip having such an extensive knowledge and experience developed over years. We know that during your tour he was endeavouring to work through some issues arising with the group dynamics on tour, and he was doing what he could to encourage teamwork and good relations. Staff were also looking to support him with this as well. Tour leading though is a very demanding job and we are concerned where his manners and demeanour on tour may not have been as a mature professional tour leader should be. Where Martin’s actions didn’t reflect the caring professional tour leader he can be, this is a real disappointment, and we are looking at how this came about and where we can learn lessons. We continually need to assess how our team are supporting each other to ensure all are able to work to their best ability at all times and to help each other as much as we all can to meet the challenges that arise on tour. You also mentioned your issues with some optionals. We provide a list of optional activities in the pre departure information and depending on the length of the tour the list usually provides a good number of choices. The same list is on display in the vehicles tour after tour. As explained with each list, the lists are a guide only, there being many reasons why an excursion may not be available or have changed. We endeavour to keep our information as up to date as possible. Particularly in regard to the core big highlights as well as the pricing we know accuracy is very important for our travellers to really enjoy their trips. Given the number of options that are available en route and the very changeable nature of the places that we visit it is though always a challenge to stay up to date with every option that can arise. To this end we receive reports back from each trip and are in constant contact with each trip as it progresses as well as maintaining regular contact with our operators.That being said, we are looking at instances where there has been some mixed/conflicting information about optionals and/or a serious lag in information coming through or information being assessed after the office receives it, resulting in some changes having slipped through unnoticed. Clearly then we need to work harder to keep communication lines open with operators, and ensure crew and office staff get the time needed to provide detailed feedback after the tours, as well as time to accurately inform clients where changes have occurred where possible. And we do apologise if there was an activity you were considering doing that was not available on your tour. We appreciate this would be disappointing. As mentioned also we are making itinerary changes for 2019. Currently exploratory visits are being conducted to alternative destinations including to replace the visit to Antelope Park. Changes involve taking a fresh look at different aspects of overlanding, with itinerary adjustments being made in direct response to feedback we receive from our clients. These reflect our commitment to creating itineraries that allow clients to get the very most from their tour in Africa. We are sorry if our last email was wanting and if you felt we weren’t wanting to be accountable following your feedback email at the end of the tour. We did attempt to speak to you by phone several times last week, leaving messages to invite you to come back to us to discuss your concerns directly. We do take our obligations as an African tour operator very seriously and wanted to take the time to discuss with you the elements of the tour you were unhappy with in person rather than via emails. Please feel free to get back to us if you would like us to follow up with a call about any aspect of your tour.
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B
Byungjoon
August 12th, 2017
4.5
My wife and I spent wonderful time with Absolute Africa. All of crew and people were nice and kind. I shared every...
Show more
Traveled in June 2017
Reply from: Absolute Africa
Thank you for your review Byungjoon. Its good to hear you both had a great time on the safari with us, and would love to welcome you back again with Absolute Africa should you return to Africa.
Show more
C
Charlotte
November 8th, 2016
5
This trip was incredible from start to finish. I was worried about travelling alone, however there were plenty of...
This trip was incredible from start to finish. I was worried about travelling alone, however there were plenty of other people on the tour who were all lovely and we became like a family during the tour and I have made life long friends from this. Our tour leader was incredible, very prepared, organised and made the trip unforgettable. Each country had a range of activities from safaris to skydives, and you just want to do it all. The price of the tour itself is very cheap in comparison, the optional extras can add up depending on what you decided to do. I took the opportunity and done pretty much every extra thing possible. Between the activities there were some quite long drive days, with the most beautiful countries to gaze at, and animals you can spot along the way the drive days weren't that bad at all. They go a lot quicker than you think! The meals were great as well as the camping, the best experience I've ever had! Show more
Traveled in August 2016
Reply from: Absolute Africa
Thank you for your comments, Charlotte. It's great to hear that you have had such a fab time on your tour and made the most of being in this special continent :)
Show more
Philip
February 25th, 2016
4.5
This was the first African trip my wife and I have done, and what an incredible trip it was! The organisation of...
This was the first African trip my wife and I have done, and what an incredible trip it was! The organisation of absolute africa was fantastic and we enjoyed every single day with no booking issues at all. An extremely exciting tour my favorite one of all so far, we got to see new and exciting things EVERY DAY. The tour guide and driver were first class, very helpful and supportive throughout the whole trip, and the whole group became like family by the end of the tour. I urge everyone to try it, is a life changing experience. And compared to the other companies out there that we crossed paths with, I was glad we choose absolute africa. 5 stars. PhilipShow more
Traveled in November 2015
Reply from: Absolute Africa
Thank you for your comments Philip, its great that you had such an enjoyable trip!
Show more
Gráinne
December 21st, 2015
5
What an absolutely amazing trip I had with Absolute Africa! This was without a doubt the trip of a lifetime. Troy, JB...
Show more
Traveled in September 2015
Reply from: Absolute Africa
Thank you for your comments Grainne and lovely to hear you had such a fantastic time on your trip.
Show more
Neil
May 15th, 2015
4.5
What an incredible trip! Highly recommend the Southern Safari to everyone! Extremely good value for money, and also...
What an incredible trip! Highly recommend the Southern Safari to everyone! Extremely good value for money, and also had amazing drivers and tour leader! Especially JB and Philippa! Both of them were always helpful and positive despite the stress that comes with organising a large group! I can recommed this trip to people of all ages being 17 myself and the oldest on our tour was in their 40's. Everyone got along well and enjoyed themselves! Absolute Africa is a great company!Show more
Traveled in March 2015
Reply from: Absolute Africa
Thank you for your kind words, we are so please to hear you enjoyed yourself!
Show more
Esther
December 13th, 2014
4.5
Our guide was our mentor and friend and always put us first. She was very approachable and knowledgeable of all the...
Show more
Traveled in November 2011
Reply from: Absolute Africa
It's great to hear such kind words about our tour leader Vialet, we're glad she made your trip special!
Show more

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From Tuesday
12 May, 2026
To Saturday
4 Jul, 2026
English
From:
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US $3,886 per person
Local Payment
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T
Teresa
Asked on January 20th, 2026
We are 61 & 59 years old. We want to spend 2 months exploring Africa's wildlife, food, music & traditions between 4/1-6/15/2026. We would like clean, safe, functional & asthetically pleasant places with English speaking & helpful staff. Like to stay where can interact with other guests but we do not need bells & whistles (luxury). Want to experience wildlife & a little culture (music, food, dance) in comfortable beds where temperature is able to be moderated with a/c or fans or blankets/firepit if needed. Beds do not need to be traditional but no hammocks. Like comfortable, not too jolty vehicle transports with low danger risk. Wish to have wi-fi & internet at lodging. Fine with rudimentary showers, out houses, and simple/limited food choices for periods w/ breaks of less rudimentary experiences. We are somewhat athletic but I get ball of foot pain approx every 1.5 - 2 hours & have to get off my feet for 10 minutez for pain to subside. That said we can walk about 5 hours a day. We may need assistance if have to carry bags up lots of steps. Want to see as much wildlife as possible & avoid periods bad weather & hope a place would offer something to occupy us if weather keeps us at a lodging such as a fitness opportunity, cooking class, education about the wildlife, board games or craft activity. Important to us is access to quality healthcare within a 3 hour drive. Open to volunteering at projects where can learn more about the wildlife & help feed, maintain facilities, perform studies, etc. Our budget for 2 persons total is $20,000. Like photos & description of accommodations including restrooms, access to a/c or fan or blankets. Options for food & variety & beverages & ice. Info on comfort level of transport - will there be a/c & shocks & cushioning of seats. What available for medical care & what done in emergency. Will tour be in English only or a multi language tour. What done if poor weather. Any planning we should do regarding planning an extra day stay after tour before fly out in case of a tour hold up? What are the ave rage added expenses to count on?
Accommodation
Age Range
Meals
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Tour Details
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Travel Support
- Absolute AfricaOperator•Written January 2026
  Most nights you are sleeping on the ground in a tent, or occasionally in shared dorms. Tents need to be put up and down often on a daily basis, and camping conditions can be basic. We do provide three person dome tents (used for two people) and a sleep mat but we can be out in the bush with basic or no amenities on some nights. Meals sometimes need to be prepared in less than ideal conditions, and everyone in the group takes turns in small groups to cook for the whole group. Everyone relies on each member of the group to get involved and work together to keep everything running smoothly.
V
Vanessa
Asked on September 24th, 2025
Is it possible to join the tour if I arrive late on the first day? Are shower facilities and bed options available during the trip?
Accommodation
Tour Details
- Absolute AfricaOperator•Written September 2025
  You can join the tour by flying to Nairobi on the first day. We camp at established campsites with bathroom facilities and showers. Upgrades to rooms/dorms with beds are available at most campsites on a first-come, first-served basis. The only exception is the Okavango Delta excursion where facilities are basic.
G
Georgia
Asked on June 27th, 2025
Do Filipinos have any trouble getting visas or ETAs for the 8 African countries?
Visa
- G
  Georgia
  Traveler•Written June 2025
  Is bottled water provided on the tour?
- Absolute AfricaOperator•Written June 2025
  We do not provide bottled water - you will purchase water as you travel which is easily and cheaply obtained. Please bring a personal water bottle so you can decant from larger containers you may buy.
- Absolute AfricaOperator•Written July 2025
  For Filipinos, it appears as though your travel companion will need visas for all 8 countries on the Southern Safari. From what we can tell, it looks as though they will also need to apply online for the ETA for Kenya. For Tanzania, they will need a visa and it appears that they will be able to get this at the border upon arrival. They will also need to apply ahead of time for a visa for Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe. For Botswana too they will need to get a visa ahead of time. For Namibia and South Africa, they will also need visas ahead of time and it seems that these visas must be obtained via an embassy.
D
Dawn
Asked on January 30th, 2025
Are travelers required to obtain the island's insurance when traveling to Zanzibar?
Travel Support
Visa
- Absolute AfricaOperator•Written January 2025
  As per the 1st October 2024 every tourist needs to get a mandatory travel insurance from the Zanzibar Insurance Coorperation (ZIC) before traveling to Zanzibar. This is also the case if they already have travel insurance. Not having this extra insurance can result in them being denied entry to Zanzibar. The cost of this is U$44 per person.
L
Lynne
Asked on September 30th, 2024
I have two kids age 15 & 17 at time of travel - is that ok? My wife is allergic to eating straight eggs - ( eggs used in baking is ok ) and is gluten intolerant. Is there a way to cater for her dietary needs.
Age Range
Meals
- Absolute AfricaOperator•Written September 2024
  We do not take children on any of our longer tours I'm afraid. We can take children over 12 on a couple of short tours in Kenya only: A Week in Kenya and the Short Safari in Kenya. We do cater for various dietary requirements so this would not be a problem.
H
Helen
Asked on July 7th, 2024
Magen it says optionals is that extra things i need to pay for?
Price / Availability
Tour Details
- Absolute AfricaOperator•Written July 2024
  The optional activities are extra activities and excursions available during the tour that you can choose to do. These will come at extra cost. There is a list of these on the tour page. You can see which activities are included in the trip price in the inclusions section.
V
Vicky
Asked on April 11th, 2023
How do the expedition vehicles, tents and sleeping mats look?
Accommodation
Transport
- Absolute AfricaOperator•Written April 2023
  The vehicles are large overland trucks fitted with coach style seats with seat belts. The tents are three man dome tents in which we sleep just two people. The sleeping mats are high density foam sleeping mats.
E
Edward
Asked on January 28th, 2023
Do we have to be afraid of our safety especially when camping at night? How are bath routines like showering and toilet handled on that trip? If I am booking this trip with my boyfriend, would it be possible to just have a tent for us two?
Accommodation
Travel Support
- Absolute AfricaOperator•Written January 2023
  The areas we travel through are very safe and almost everywhere we stay at proper campsites with bathrooms and restaurant/lounge facilities. The only places where we camp out in unfenced areas are in the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater which are designated camps just unfenced and in the Okavango delta which is a proper bush camp. As long as you listen to what the tour leader tells you in these places there is not really any danger as the animals tend to stay away from the camps. There are washing facilities pretty much every night of the tour. Sometimes the water is not hot and it may not have good pressure, but you can still wash every day in some way. If you are travelling together then you would automatically have a tent just for yourselves to share.
- E
  Edward
  Traveler•Written January 2023
  As we are currently planning our trip we would appreciate if there was a list of hotels or accomdations that could be booked as an upgrade (for example the hotel on Zanzibar island).
- Absolute AfricaOperator•Written January 2023
  There are no options to book alternative accommodations such as campsites where we stay. But most of the campsites we stay do have the option to upgrade to a room along the way, however this will need to be arranged on the spot and is subject to availability., it cannot be prebooked. Prices range from U$10 to U$100 for a room per night depending on the accommodation. On Zanzibar we don't camp but stay at Sunset bungalows in Kendwa and All Season hotel in Stone Town, if you prefer to stay elsewhere then you can make your own arrangements and we can also just book the ferry only for you.
- E
  Edward
  Traveler•Written February 2023
  What offers the 'Masai mara' add-on compared to the 'Southern safari'? We will see wildlife on our journey in the southern safari anyway right?
- Absolute AfricaOperator•Written February 2023
  The Masai Mara add on is a 6 day pre tour which allows you to see some of Kenya before the Southern Safari. This pre tour visits the Masai Mara National Park for two days of morning and afternoon game drives, as well as the elephant sanctuary and giraffe park in Nairobi, a hippo cruise on Lake Naivasha, and an overnight stay at Maasai run camp with bush walk. You will have the chance to see wildlife during the Southern Safari as there are the included game drives in South Luangwa and Etosha, and the rhino trek in Matopos, as well as the optional excursions to the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater and Okavango Delta, and optional game drives in Chobe and Matopos.
K
Kevin
Asked on September 17th, 2022
Why is it stated that it only covers for 43 nights accommodation? (37 nights camping and 6 nights dorm)
Accommodation
Tour Details
- Absolute AfricaOperator•Written September 2022
  Out of the 53 nights of the tour, 37 nights are included camping, 6 nights in dorms and then the other 10 nights are where we have optional overnight excursions. If you opt to go on the overnight excursion your accommodation is then included in the excursion cost. If you opt not to do the excursion then you just pay camping direct to the campsite where the truck parks up and you will have use of your tent and mats as usual.
- K
  Kevin
  Traveler•Written September 2022
  What's the exact starting point of this trip and is it possible to request transfers to and from the airport?
- Absolute AfricaOperator•Written September 2022
  We pick up from both The XO Heron Hotel and the Wildebeest Eco Camp on the morning of departure. We can book accommodation for you at either of these (depending on availability) and also organise an airport transfer to collect you from your flight. Both are payable out in Africa.
S
Scott
Asked on September 7th, 2022
How much is local payment for this tour?
Payments
Tour Details
- Absolute AfricaOperator•Written September 2022
  The local payment for this tour is 625 USD payable in USD cash on day 1 of the trip to the tour leader.

From

$4,090

-5%

US $3,886 per person

+ $625 Local Payment

Price based on Cheapest Room

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Price based on Private Single Room

Price based on Private Double Room

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Good to Know

Tour ID: 273

Currencies
P
Pula
Botswana
Sh
Kenyan Shilling
Kenya
MK
Malawi Kwacha
Malawi
$
Namibia Dollar
Namibia
R
Rand
South Africa
Sh
Tanzanian Shilling
Tanzania
$
US Dollar
Plugs & Adapters
As a traveler from USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand you will need an adaptor for types D, M, G. As a traveler from England you will need an adaptor for types D, M. As a traveler from South Africa you will need an adaptor for type G.
Type D
Botswana
Type M
Botswana
Type G
Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe
Vaccines
- These are only indications, so please visit your doctor before you travel to be 100% sure.
- Typhoid - Recommended for Botswana.Kenya.Malawi.Namibia.South Africa.Tanzania.Zambia.Zimbabwe. Ideally 2 weeks before travel.
- Hepatitis A - Recommended for Botswana.Kenya.Malawi.Namibia.South Africa.Tanzania.Zambia.Zimbabwe. Ideally 2 weeks before travel.
- Tuberculosis - Recommended for Botswana.Kenya.Malawi.Namibia.South Africa.Tanzania.Zambia.Zimbabwe. Ideally 3 months before travel.
- Hepatitis B - Recommended for Botswana.Kenya.Malawi.Namibia.South Africa.Tanzania.Zambia.Zimbabwe. Ideally 2 months before travel.
- Rabies - Recommended for Botswana.Kenya.Malawi.Namibia.Tanzania.Zambia.Zimbabwe. Ideally 1 month before travel.
- Yellow fever - Certificate of vaccination required if arriving from an area with a risk of yellow fever transmission for Botswana Malawi Namibia South Africa Zimbabwe Yellow fever - Recommended for and Kenya. Ideally 10 days before travel.
- Cholera - Recommended for Kenya.Malawi.Namibia.South Africa.Tanzania.Zambia.Zimbabwe. Ideally 2 weeks before travel.
- Meningococcal meningitis - Recommended for Kenya.Tanzania.Zambia. Ideally 3 weeks before travel.
Visa
- Unfortunately we cannot offer you a visa application service. Whether you need a visa or not depends on your nationality and where you wish to travel. Assuming your home country does not have a visa agreement with the country you're planning to visit, you will need to apply for a visa in advance of your scheduled departure.
- Here is an indication for which countries you might need a visa. Please contact the local embassy for help applying for visas to these places.
Payment information
- For any tour departing before May 16th, 2026 a full payment is necessary. For tours departing after May 16th, 2026, a minimum payment of 20% is required to confirm your booking with Absolute Africa. The final payment will be automatically charged to your credit card on the designated due date. The final payment of the remaining balance is required at least 60 days prior to the departure date of your tour. TourRadar never charges you a booking fee and will charge you in the stated currency.
- Some departure dates and prices may vary and Absolute Africa will contact you with any discrepancies before your booking is confirmed.
- The following cards are accepted for "Absolute Africa" tours: Visa, Maestro, Mastercard, American Express or PayPal. TourRadar does NOT charge you an extra fee for using any of these payment methods.
Cancellation Policy
- Your money is safe with TourRadar, as we only pay the tour operator after your tour has departed.
- TourRadar is an authorized Agent of Absolute Africa. Please familiarize yourself with the Absolute Africa payment, cancellation and refund conditions.
Accessibility
Some tours are not suitable for mobility-restricted traveler, however, some operators may be able to accommodate special requests. For any enquiries, you can contact our customer support team, who are ready and waiting to help you.
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The Southern Safari

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