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As we announced in June, we are adding some amazing new destinations to our Cape Town to Cairo 23 weeks Nile Trans overland expedition. Read on to find out more about the Kingdom of Eswatini, Kruger National Park, Maputo and Vilanculos in Mozambique as well as three countries truly off the tourist trail, Burundi, Djibouti and Somaliland.
The Kingdom of Eswatini
This tiny country, formerly called Swaziland, has just about everything Africa offers within its borders including stunning scenery, diverse cultural experiences and wildlife watching. Whilst here, we visit Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary where you can explore on foot, by bike or by horse! A diverse range of wildlife call the sanctuary home, including wildebeest, zebras, hippos and numerous bird species. North of Mbabane, you can hike at Sibehe Rock, one of southern Africa’s most impressive geological features.
Kruger National Park
Most people have heard of Kruger and for good reason. This huge National Park is packed with wildlife and renowned as a place to spot the Big Five - lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino. But there are plenty more species of fauna and flora to look for from bush babies and baobabs to fish eagles and flame lilies.
Maputo to Vilanculos
Whilst Oasis has travelled through Mozambique’s Tete Corridor for many years, other parts of the country have been waiting for us to explore! On our Cape To Cairo adventure, after leaving South Africa, we will visit the lively capital Maputo, which is home to Portuguese colonial architecture, a fortress, cathedral and art museums. Maputo has a reputation as one of the best places to go out in southern Africa so why not see if it’s true and head out to one of the many cafes, salsa bars or nightclubs. Mozambique has incredible beaches and we check these out at Vilanculos. There are lots of activities on offer here too such as dhow cruises or horse riding or markets to explore. Nearby Bazaruto Marine National Park is a haven for dolphins, sharks, turtles and the rare dugong.
Gonarezhou National Park
We love Zimbabwe and this National Park is our newest destination in the country! Little visited but well worth doing so, this park offers stunning scenery and plentiful wildlife, especially the thousands of elephants after which the park is named - ‘Gonarezhou’ means ‘the place of elephants.’
Burundi
On our route between Tanzania and Rwanda is Burundi, small in size but big on culture and natural beauty. Our first stop is Gishora Village, home to the country’s famous drummers. Then it’s on to Burundi’s capital, Bujumbura, a port city on the shores of Lake Tanganyika. You can escape the clamour of the city by taking a boat trip to Rusizi National Park to look for the lake’s wildlife including crocodiles and hippos or head out to explore local villages and beaches.
Somaliland
This autonomous region of Somalia is wedged between Ethiopia and the Gulf of Aden. Hargeisa is the capital, a lively city with traditional markets and friendly residents. One of the country’s most notable sites is Laas Geel where ancient rock paintings of humans, livestock and wild animals adorn cave walls. We also visit the coast to wash off the dust of our recent travels with swimming and snorkelling off the beach, rounded off with fresh seafood at one of the local restaurants.
Djibouti
North of Somaliland is the small country of Djibouti at the southern end of the Suez Canal. It’s capital, Djibouti City is another port city, full of bustle but with opportunities to venture to the quieter islands of Maskali and Moucha where you can swim and snorkel. At Lac Assal we are at the lowest point in Africa, over 150m below sea level! The landscape is dramatic and other worldly with vast salt flats, saline lakes and volcanic terrain. Lac Abbé is also a rather surreal scene straddling Djibouti’s border with Ethiopia. This is a volcanic landscape like no other with limestone ‘chimneys’ and steaming cracked earth.
Additional Trips That Include These New Destinations
You can also do two shorter sections of the Cape Town to Cairo trip:
CAPE TOWN TO NAIROBI (100 DAYS) COAST TO COAST
This section includes Eswatini, Kruger, Mozambique, Gonarezhou and Burundi. This Overland Adventure offers a budget-friendly journey from the Atlantic Ocean to Zanzibar, featuring Serengeti and Ngorongoro wildlife, Victoria Falls, and more.
NAIROBI TO CAIRO (62 DAYS) NILE TRANS
This section includes Somaliland and Djibouti. Enjoy an expedition through Africa’s core, navigating deserts, rivers, and mountains, revealing breathtaking National Parks, thrilling adventure spots, and UNESCO sites—creating an unforgettable experience.