Cape Town 2 Zanzibar 44N
By Bob Adams under CC BY-SA 2.0
eSIM Zimbabwe📱N/A
eSIM Zambia📱N/A
5 Countries
Start Cape Town
Africa
Finish Zanzibar
MARKER MAP
FLIGHTS
TRAIN INFORMATION
INSURANCE
.
Itinerary - underlined = tours
SOUTH AFRICA:
Cape Town 4N -
Matjiesfontein - 2N
Train 1N -
Kimberly 2N -
Johannesburg (Now known as Jozi),
Melville 3N -
Legend Golf and Safari Resort 2N -
Sun City 2N -
Jozi, Maboneng 1N = 17N
BOTSWANA:
Gaborone 1N -
Train 1N = 2N
ZIMBABWE:
Bulawayo 2N -
Train 1N -
Victoria Falls (Town) 2N -
(Extra day - 1N - for Chobe day trip or just to stay in Livingstone or both) = 6N
ZAMBIA:
Livingstone 2N - Train 1N - Lusaka 3N - Train (2N Maybe😂) - 8N
TANZANIA:
Dar es Salaam 3N -
Zanzibar Stone Town 3N -
Zanzibar Nungwi Beach 5N = 11N
17N +2N + 6N + 8N + 11N = 44N = 6Weeks
Highlights -
Old Colonial Hotels and Clubs
Matjiesfontein - historical town
Lesser Flamingos - don't worry they're still pink
Safaris - Eight opportunities in three countries
Rhodesian Railways overnight train to Victoria Falls
5 African countries and 4 capitals
Famous -
Cape Town is consistently voted as the best food destination in the world / The Noon Gun - firing an old cannon everyday
Table Mountain - has some really good walks
Robben Island - Nelson's home for18 years & UNESCO Heritage Listed Site
Kimberly Diamond Mine - The "Big Hole" dug by humans and visible from space.
Cecil John Rhodes was one of the first diamond (and gold) moguls in Kimberly and his grave near Bulawayo
Sun City - Famous boycott by musicians back in the Apartheid era with the collaborative protest song - "Aint gonna play Sun City"
UNESCO Heritage Listed Victoria Falls - One of the 7 natural wonders of the World
UNESCO Heritage Listed Stone Town Zanzibar - Freddie Mercury's House and Museum
When -
Because some trains only leave on certain days you'll either have to stick to the schedule, juggle it, or spend 3 - 4 days hanging around for the next one. Or fly or take a bus.
Start the trip in March or April for the weather, fewer crowds, cheaper prices and lots of water flowing over the Victoria Falls. It could be a bit wet in Zanzibar though.
If you like it hot and want to spend time on the beach try starting in January - February.
June to October is a good time for Zanzibar. You could start in May but it might be wet and stormy in Cape Town. February might be best except that it's going to be wet at Victoria Falls. So you'll need to work out where you want good weather and where you can put up with a bit of rain. It might be nice to have some sunshine on the beaches at the end of the trip.
Otherwise you could do this any time that was convenient to you. Just remember in the Southern Hemisphere the seasons are reversed. So it could be a good time to get away from the Northern winter. As you get further north it becomes more tropical.
Lines -
CAPE TOWN TO JOHANNESBURG - 1530 km (298 + 737 + 565)
Leave Cape Town at 9.05 am and arrive Matjiesfontein at 16.19 pm. Leave 2 days later at the same time and arrive Kimberly at 7.04 am the next day. Leave 2 days later at the same time and arrive in Johannesburg at 17.59 pm.
Leave Table Mountain and head through the Cape vineyards, through the Karoo, then grasslands and farmlands on your way into Johannesburg. This train is great value and very comfortable.
GABORONE TO BULAWAYO - 631 km
Depart Gaborone 21.00 pm and arrive Bulawayo 12.30 pm the next day after a transfer at Francistown between 6.11 am and 7.00 am. There is a lounge here for first class passengers. Border formalities are done at Plumtree station in Zimbabwe. New train with first class sleeper and buffet car. Gaborone and Francistown have new stations.
BULAWAYO TO VICTORIA FALLS - 472 km
Depart at 19.30 pm and arrive at 8.00 or more likely 9 - 10 am. The classic way to travel to Victoria Falls. Very cheap. Take your own supplies which you can pick up in Pick and Pay in Bulawayo. The train is old and basic but the scenery more than makes up for this.
LIVINGSTONE TO LUSAKA - 497 km
Catch the Friday train and get off in Lusaka as you have 3 nights before the next train arrives and Kapiri Mposhi isn't that exciting. Departs 20.00 pm and arrives 13.20 pm. Sleepers and dining car with beers.
KAPIRI MPOSHI TO DAR ES SALAAM - 1852 km
TAZARA - Tanzanian and Zambian Railway Authority
Book at least a month in advance. Book the whole compartment - this is the only way mixed sexes can travel together. It can often run a day or two late. So be flexible and just take them off of your time in Zanzibar.
This train leaves on Tuesdays 16.00 and Fridays 14.00. Tuesday is the better train. Catch the bus early to Kapiri Mposhi, you will need to be at the station by14.00 pm and it is a 3 hour trip from Lusaka. It is a 2 night trip with some good scenery along the way. Leave at 16.00 pm Tuesday and arrive 12.10 pm Thursday. The scenery changes as you go along with the Tanzanian Highlands the highlight. There is a restaurant car and bar car. A great way to see the countryside.
Classes -
· There are 3 classes for the first leg.
the most luxury and the highest price by a long way. Take it if you can afford it but you will miss the stops at Matjiesfontein, Kimberly and Joburg.
Premier Classe -
good value but doesn't run as often and you will miss Matjiesfontein.
Shosholoza Meyl -
great value and you won't miss a thing.
· For all of the next legs just book the best you can. Prices are cheap. Go for First Class Sleepers and book the whole compartment out. Especially for mixed sexes who want to travel together on the last leg to Dar es Salaam.
History -
aka the "Mother City" and the "Cape of Storms". The Dutch and the English played ping pong with the city for hundreds of years. Dutch 1692 - British 1795 - Dutch 1803 - British 1806. In the 1970's the government forcibly removed the 60,000 residents in District 6 to areas outside the Whites only city and demolished all of their houses.
was founded in 1884 by legendary Scottish railway man James Douglas Logan. It became a fashionable Victorian Health Spa. He built the hotel you will be staying in 15 years later. During the Boer War it was used as a hospital and a lookout post. Churchill's father and Rudyard Kipling came here to use the spa.
The first authenticated diamond was found at Hope Town in 1866. 3 years later the 83.5 carat the Star of South Africa triggered a diamond rush. The Kimberly mine was discovered in 1871 and would become the world's richest mine for nearly 100 years. At the beginning of the second Boer War Kimberly was held siege and the mine was closed for 124 days. The outbreak of WWI in 1914 caused mining operations to cease and the Kimberly mine never opened again.
aka Joburg / Jozi / "the City of Gold"and eGoli is the financial powerhouse of South and Southern Africa. Gold was found here in 1886 and it is now a world class city. it has the largest stock exchange in Africa and more than 70 % of South African companies have their headquarters here. Some of the rougher parts of the city are becoming gentrifried.
In response to German and Dutch annexation the leaders of Botswana did a deal with the British government and became a British Protectorate for 80 years. it was known as the Bechuanaland Protectorate and in 1966 they became the independent Republic of Botswana.
settlement goes back around 100,000 years. It was the home of many great kingdoms until the 1880's when it became a British colony called Southern Rhodesia. in 1965 the white minority declared independence and it became Rhodesia. A civil war ensued and lasted until 1980 when Robert Mugabe took control. In the nearly 40 years he held power he went from being a liberator to a brutal tyrant. He was ousted in a military coup in 2017.
was originally populated by tribes of hunter gatherers. in the 4th century AD farmers from the north moved in and introduced slash and burn agriculture. They lived in villages and kept animals. When the soil was exhausted they moved on to a new area. They cohabited peacefully with the bushmen for centuries. The first European in this area was David Livingstone in 1851. He was the first European to see Victoria Falls. He tried to develop trade in cotton and ivory to replace the slave trade but was unsuccessful. Cecil Rhodes got mining rights here in 1888 and by 1899 it was a British Protectorate which eventually became known as Northern Rhodesia. In 1964 it became the independent Republic of Zambia.
It is believed that we humans originated in the Rift Valley of East Africa and they have found Africa's oldest human remains in Tanzania. By 800 AD Arab and Persian traders had settled in Zanzibar. By the 1700's Zanzibar had become a centre for slave trading. In 1891 the colony of German East Africa was created and Zanzibar had become a British Protectorate. After WWI the British took over the colony and called it Tanganyika. The opposition to their rule achieved independence in 1961. Zanzibar won independence in 1963 and 5 months later merged with Tanganyika to form the United Republic of Tanzania.
About -
Fly into Cape Town and spend a few days looking around the "Mother City". Stay near the action in Kloof Street.
First train trip up to Matjiesfontein on the edge of the Great Karoo. Step back in time to the 1800's in this historical little village.
Next stop Kimberly and the famous Diamond Mine. In 1866 a 15 year old kid picked up an unusual rock that would have a lot of consequences. Stay at the old Kimberly Club which has had many famous people through its doors over the years.
Off to the big city - Jozi. Plenty to see here including Soweto, a town famous throughout the world and synonymous with apartheid. Stay in the pleasant neighbourhood of Melville with lots of restaurants and bars to choose from.
If you're not a golfer you could skip the next few days or do the last half. Although you could do it just for the safari side of things and even non golfers could play the replica par 3 course. And there are Game Drives, Quad bikes, Mountain bikes and a swimming pool to keep you entertained.
(4 or 5 days depending on how long you want to stay in Sun City) early and drive to the Legend Golf and Safari Resort. Play the Par 3 Replica course of the world's most famous par 3 holes. Next day play the signature course where each hole is designed by a golfing legend. Capped off by a helicopter flight to the extreme 19th the longest par 3 in the world. A 600m par 3 with a 400m level change from tee to green, which is in the shape of a map of Africa.
Head off to Sun City for a couple of days of relaxing, more golf (8 courses) and just hanging by the pool. Or you could head off for another Safari.
Back to Jozi, have a look at Pretoria on the way through and have lunch at Afroboer. Drop the car off and one last night in South Africa in Maboneng.
Have a hearty breakfast nearby then off to the bus station to go to the capital of Botswana, Gaborone. There's not a lot to do here. You could get straight on the train and leave or spend the night. Apart from the train this will be your only night in Botswana. Get a nice hotel near the train station and enjoy a little pool time. You could go shopping and pick up a souvenir of your short time you were in the country. Or pick up a car head out to the Gaborone Nature Reserve to cross a few more animals off of your list. Pick up some meat and have a BBQ picnic lunch while you're there. There are no dangerous animals in this value for money park.
Take the overnight train to Bulawayo and spend a couple of nights in this pleasant town. Old pubs and clubs, some railway history and the UNESCO listed Matobo National Park complete with Cecil Rhode's grave.
Another overnight train will see you arriving at one of the 7 wonders of the world, Victoria Falls. Spend a couple of nights on either side of the Zim Zam Bridge. In Zambia stay at fantastic riverside accommodation. Plenty of time to see the falls and the associated activities. Everything is expensive here and a lot of it, adrenalin inducing.
Use the extra day to go to the Chobe National Park, one of the best.
Now for some African train adventures. You'll need to be flexible because things don't always run on time around here. Fares are cheap so get First Class sleepers. They are same sex only unless you book the complete compartment . Take some food and water aboard as well. There is a bar and a dining car but it doesn't hurt to have some back up. There are no shops near the station so buy them before you go out. Also your money wil be no good when ypou leave the country so make sure you don't have too much. You might want a bit for the bar and the dining car.
Catch the overnight train from Livingstone to Lusaka and spend 3 nights there taking in the culture. Plenty of nearby attractions as well as nightlife.
Head of early to Kapiri Mposhi and get to the New train station 2 hours before departure time, which is 16.00 pm.
Two or more days later you'll be arriving in the capital of Tanzania - Dar es Salaam. It's worth a few days here before heading out to the island. If your train was overtime just chop a couple of days off here or in Zanzibar.
There are numerous fast ferries to Zanzibar that will get you there in a couple of hours or less. Spend a couple of nights in Stone Town the UNESCO Heritage listed old part of the city in a fabulous hotel by the beach. Have a look at the Fort, the old buildings and bazaars. Head over to Changuu or Prison Island for the day. Wander back in time through the maze of alleyways in the old town. You'll amuse yourself for hours with a new discovery around each corner.
Head up the coast to Nungwi Beach. It will take about an hour depending on whether you take a private car, shared minivan or the chicken bus. Great beach, stunning sunsets, lots of food and nightlife, enjoy a few days here winding up your trip.
It is almost as cheap to fly as to take the ferry, plus the trip back on the boat can get quite rough. Also there are direct international flights from the local airport. So when it's time to go fly out. See Airports for more information.
Budget -
Fluctuation is the name of the game. You will have different options, but to enjoy this trip properly you should be prepared to spend up big every now and then. At other times there won't be any luxury options available. If you can't afford something just skip it and move on to the next stage. But if you can afford it splurge out on some of these luxuries. You only live once!
Airports -
Cape Town International Airport (CPT) -
Has direct flights to Eurpoe, New York, Atlanta, Dubai and Doha. You may have to fly via Johannesburg.
Johannesburg - OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) -
There are direct flights to Sydney / Perth / Singapore / Hong Kong / Sao Paulo / Atlanta / New York / Washington / Africa / Middle East and 8 countries in Europe.
Dar Es Salaam Airport (DAR) -
Has direct flights to Amsterdam, Istanbul, Cairo, Bangkok, Mumbai, Hanoi, UAE and Doha. It may be easier to connect through Johannesburg or Nairobi.
Zanzibar's Kisauni Airport (ZNZ) -
Has direct flights from Europe, Doha, Dubai and Johannesburg. You could probably get return flights from your home to Johannesburg as it is a major hub for South Africa.
Stay @ or near -
CAPE TOWN 4N - near Kloof Street -
Stay at the Mount Nelson *****
if you can afford it
otherwise the Kloof Street Hotel ****
MATJIESFONTEIN 2N -
(A National Heritage Site) with the coldest swimming pool in Africa - built in the 1890's and staff still attired appropriately for that period - Matjies Mews - cheaper rooms in the gardens
KIMBERLY 2N -
The Kimberly Club Boutique Hotel **** -
not on Booking.com
JOHANNESBURG 3N -
Melville, Jozi
MONOMOTAPA VILLAGE 2N -
SUN CITY 2N -
The Cabanas Hotel at Sun City Resort ***
JOHANNESBURG 1N - trendy apartment in Maboneng, Jozi -
GARBORONE 1N -
BULAWAYO 2N -
The Bulawayo Club *** -
also the Selborne Hotel ***½
Colonial gem around the corner with pool and pub and great balconies - not on Booking.com
VICTORIA FALLS 2N +1N - at the historical
Victoria Falls Hotel *****
but you won't get much change out of a thousand - not on Booking.com. Otherwise just go for afternoon tea or a look around and stay at the
N1 Hotel & Campsite Victoria Falls
LIVINGSTON 2N -
Victoria Falls Waterfront ***,
riverfront with a pool, restaurant, bar BBQ, great views, cruise boat (Recommended) - not on Booking.com
Otherwise the Ngoma Zanga Lodge ***
in town - not on Booking.com
LUSAKA 3N -
Outdoor pool, garden, restaurant, bar, 10 minute walk to shopping mall
Hilton Garden Inn Society Business Park ****
In the centre of town nect door to a shopping centre, outdoor swimming pool, restaurant, bar, great views from the higher floors
DAR ES SALAAM 3N -
at Masaki (not the city centre)
ZANZIBAR (STONE TOWN) 3N -
Splurge
NUNGWI BEACH 5N -
See -
Sunset from Signal Hill - Cape Town - BYO sundowners
District Six Museum - Apartheid
UNESCO World Heritage Site Robben Island - Where Nelson was jailed - many ex prisoners lead the tours - book ahead
Have a look at the Mount Nelson Hotel if you're not staying there
The Cape of Good Hope
Matjiesfontein - Stargazing / Museums
The world's largest hand dug hole -
Kamfers dam and 80,000 lesser Flamingos
(If you're lucky)
one of the oldest townships in South Africa
The Apartheid Museum - Jozi
secret headquarters of the ANC
Constitution Hill
with Cecil Rhode's private railway car
UNESCO Heritage Listed Matobo National Park and Cecil Rhode's grave
open air museum
Miniature Zambia at
Nembo Scenic Park - Lusaka
Safari day trip to Chaminuka Game Reserve -
72 species of mammals and reptiles and over 300 species of birds. See lions, cheetahs, ostriches, hyenas, giraffes and elephants. The cheetahs are the main attraction and will amaze you with their abilities. Also get a meal of Zambian specialties. Only 25 kms from the city.
See baby elephants at the
White Lions
Dar es Salaam - learn about the local culture
Off shore islands are popular on the weekends
Slave Museum / Palace Museum / House of Wonders - Stone Town Zanzibar
Nungwi
Do -
Cape Town - Cable car up Table Mountain
Hop on Hop off Wine Trams - 4 routes
Matjiesfontein -
Kimberly
around it - see the Old Town and peek in the Diamond Vault.
Visit the Freddie Tait Golf Museum and have a round at the Kimberly Golf Club that was established in 1890.
Sunset cruise on DaRiva
Have a BBQ at the Gaborone Game Reserve
Ride on horseback through
Tshabalala Game Sanctuary - Bulawayo
Go to the pool at the Deck bar at the Banff Lodge - Open air thatch bar and restaurant with good food, pool and a lawn
walk through the National Park on a path at the top of the gorge, Cataract View is a highlight. Around full moon the park opens at night to see the Lunar Rainbow.
Bungee jump / Bridge swing / Bungee swing / White water rafting / Helicopter flights / Micro light flights / Hire wire activities / the Devil's Pool (mid August to mid January) / the Angel's Pool / Skydiving / Abseiling - or you could just stand there and look at it.
Also there is Horse riding / Jet Boat / Canopy Walks / Canoeing and Sunset cruises (Hippos and almost unlimited bar)
The World renowned Chobe National Park
day trip from Victoria Falls - River cruise, Game drive and lunch at Cresta Mowana Lodge. It is home to one of the largest game concentrations in Africa.
and Horse Riding - Livingstone
Play golf at the Lusaka Golf Club -
"Zambia's most prestigious sporting facility"
Dar es Salaam - historical walking, cycle and nightlife tours
Dhow trips with snorkelling and lunch on a deserted beach
Coco beach for street food, concerts, and beach parties - check the guide
Day trip to Prison Island and Nakupenda Beach -
see 200 year old giant tortoises, snorkelling on the reef and the amazing sand bar.
Cooking Class with market visits
Spice Tour - Stone Town Zanzibar
and check out the island - Nungwi Beach
Snorkelling or diving with coral and marine life
Play the 9 hole Sea Cliff Golf Course
spectacular views along the coast and the only course on the island
Dhow sunset cruise - hire your own boat
Horseback riding along the beach
Volleyball and soccer on the beach each day before sunset out the front of the Nungwi Inn Hotel
Eat -
Cape Town
at the Mount Nelson Hotel
All of the pubs in Matjiesfontein and Kimberly have good authentic food
Melville -
in Jozi - lots of al fresco cafes and restaurants
Lunch at the Bulawayo Club
Dinner at the Selborne Hotel
around the corner
Dinner and drinks at
and Dragons Den Pub Bulawayo
at the Victoria Falls Hotel - stick around for sunset
The Lookout Cafe / The Three Monkeys
on various routes - sunset on Zim Zam Bridge
High Tea at the Royal Livingstone
Curry at the Bombay Lounge -
Lusaka
Gelato at GigiBonta
Sunday Brunches in Dar - Salt Restaurant in Oyster Bay and Karambezi Cafe in the Sea Cliff Hotel
Mishkaki - meat on a stick
from the famous trees, considered a super food
for seafood and sundowners
Addis in Dar - Ethiopian
The Rock Restaurant for lunch -
pre book / 2 seatings 12 pm and 2 pm
in Stone Town -
(Seafood)
for sundowners and street food - avoid the reheated seafood
Food tours
- not your average pizza
(Skewers), Curry, BBQ
Biryani / Chips Mayai - Chip omelet
Lukmaan Restaurant & Passing Show are local institutions
Nungwi Roundabout at night for local food
has good Indonesian food
Drink -
Cape Town
Kloof and Long Streets
Matjiesfontein
Kimberly, uninterrupted service since 1870
Bar and Beer Garden
at the Mine Museum
Jozi
The Anti Social Social Club and Tiny Tiki Bar - 7th St
Live music - 7th
Rooftop Bar Maboneng
Bulawayo - Cocktails at the
Zimbabwe's oldest attached to the Selborne Hotel around the corner
Victoria Falls
Sundowners at Vic Falls
party on weekends
Lusaka
Skybar -
Dar es Salaam -
sundowners
The famous Masaki Strip
for bars and clubs and live music
Konyagi -
sugar spirit try it in a Dawa with honey, lime, sugar and ice
seafood restaurant
The Waterfront Restaurant and Beach Bar
for seafood and sundowners
Zanzibar
for cardamom spiced Arabic coffee - Stone Town
6 Degrees South / Africa House -
for sundowners
Beach side bars and lounges
Full Moon Party - Kendwa Rocks
+ overnight beach party every Saturday from 10 pm till morning
Nungwi Beach - happy hour, sundowners, food and live music at good prices
for reggae and dancing - Wednesdays and Sundays
for sundowners, ex-pats and parties
for sundowners and Dawas
Don't Miss -
Johannesburg
The Apartheid Museum
Souvenirs -
Zambia
Kabwata Cultural Village, Lusaka -
see craftsmen at work. Over 80 artists from all 9 provinces. Live performers and a traditional restaurant.
Dar es Salaam / tanzanian coffee
The Tinga Tinga Arts Co-operative Society
Zanzibar - Spices / Oils / Arts and crafts
Visa -
SOUTH AFRICA -
Nationals of 49 countries don't need a visa for South Africa for a stay of up to 90 days. Check with your Embassy.
BOTSWANA -
Over 100 countries don't need a visa for a stay of 90 days in Botswana. Those that do can get an e-visa online rather than lining up at the border. Your passport should have 6 months validity.
ZIM-ZAM -
The best visa for both Zimbabwe and Zambia is the Kaza Univisa. It will save you money and save you time when you go back and forth across the border between these two countries. Also you will be able to go to Botswana for the Chobe trip. You can pick it up online or get it upon entry.
ZIMBABWE -
40 countries can visit for 90 days visa free but these don't include the usual ones. More likely your one of the 55 nationalities who can get a 3 month e-visa online. It's a simple process and the e-visa is e-mailed to you. Much easier than waiting in line at the border. Check with your Embassy.
ZAMBIA -
Most countries will need a visa which you can either get online or at the border. Once again it's probably much easier to do online than mucking around when you get there.
TANZANIA
Most people will need to get an e-visa which takes 10 working days to receive and gives you 90 days when you arrive.
Tips -
Book everything ahead that you can, most of the accommodation is on booking.com where you get free cancellation and no deposit.
You will need a Yellow fever vaccination for this trip.
Take some US$ cash with you. Always a good idea anyway. US$300 in a range of denominations. Will be useful for visas, the ferry to Zanzibar and the airport tax out.
Border crossings are straight forward and they come aboard the train so you don't even have to get up.
Take an international drivers license with you
Don't carry food around the falls or the baboons will harass you
Give warthogs a wide berth
Zanzibar is semi-autonomous so you will need your passport to get through immigration. No separate visa required.
Image by Albrecht Fietz from Pixabay
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This website is aimed at providing inexperienced, or any other travellers with easy to follow itineraries to help make their journeys hassle free and fun. Making independent travel both doable as well as being more economical and rewarding. It endeavours to provide the necessary information in a simple and easy to follow manner as well as educating and entertaining. It hopes that seasoned and armchiar travellers will also find much of interest and inspiration. Finally the more people we can get travelling the more chance we will have of all getting along together.
