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The Absolute Safari

77 days
From Nairobi to Cape Town
4.6
38 traveler reviews
The Absolute Safari - Absolute Africa
From
US $5,177
+ $1,260 Local Payment
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Price based on per person for departure 20 April 2025

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Plan your adventure:
Fully Guided
An experienced guide will be with you for the entire tour
Guided in English
Group Size 4 - 28
Age range 18 to 80
Image of a map showing the route of the tour

Highlights

  • Spot the wildlife on a game drives in the Masai Mara
  • Visit Kampala and enjoy a barbecue in Arusha
  • View Mount Kilimanjaro and stay on Zanzibar Island
  • Visit the Cape Cross Seal Colony and Cheetah Park
  • Relax at Lake Kariba and camp by the Orange River

Itinerary

Expand All
  1. Introduction
  1. Day 1-9 KENYA
  2. Day 10-17 UGANDA
  3. Day 18-22 UGANDA - RWANDA
  4. Day 23-28 TANZANIA
  5. Day 29-35 TANZANIA
  6. Day 36-41 TANZANIA - MALAWI
  7. Day 42-47 ZAMBIA - ZIMBABWE
  8. Day 48-51 ZIMBABWE
  9. Day 52-54 ZIMBABWE
  10. Day 55-60 BOTSWANA
  11. Day 61-69 NAMIBIA
  12. Day 70-77 NAMIBIA - SOUTH AFRICA
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What's Included

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  • Accommodation
  • Guide
  • Meals
  • Additional Services
  • Transport
  • Optional Extras

What's Not Included

  • Flights
  • Insurance
  • Additional Services

Customer Photos

Operated by

Absolute Africa

4.5
(172 reviews)

Number of tours

46

Age Range

18 to 80 years old

Response time

9 hours

Response rate

100%

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

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Your Peace of Mind Options

Cancellation Policy

A transparent overview of applicable fees.

Travel Insurance

Be covered for any unforseen circumstances.

Customer Reviews

  • Overall Rating
    Excellent
    4.6
  • Itinerary
    Excellent
    4.5
  • Guide
    Excellent
    4.8
  • Transport
    Excellent
    4.7
  • Accommodation
    Excellent
    4.6
  • Food
    Excellent
    4.7
  • 4.5
  • Most Recent
  • Most Popular
  • Highest First
  • Lowest First
  • E
    · December 17th, 2024
    AN INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE!! I had the best time on my 54 day safari with absolute. Travelling overland allowed us to see spectacular scenery every day, and I can’t believe how many unforgettable experiences we had in this amount of time. A few highlights were ; swimming with dolphins in Zanzibar, Lake Malawi’s village tour, rhino trekking, all the game drives ; especially Etosha, Chobe and South Luangwa (night drive), boating through the okovango delta, and climbing sand dunes in Namibia! Bear in mind these are just highlights, and we did much more! I met some lovely people on the tour, who made the experience what it was, and who I now count as good friends. Our tour guide was also fantastic - being kind, organised and detail oriented (which was massively appreciated), as well and knowledgeable about each place we went. Our guide and absolute also dealt very well with two siblings, who were swiftly removed from the tour due to verbal abuse, racist & homophobic comments. This shows that absolute do really enforce a zero tolerance policy for any of these forms of mistreatment. Rest assured that those siblings were an anomaly though, and everyone else on the tour got on which made two months of living, cooking and cleaning together enjoyable. I would highly recommend this tour, and I guarantee you will leave having met amazing people, and having seen the most fab places.
    Show more
    Absolute Africa commented on this review
    Thank you for taking the time to leave your review, Emily, and we are glad to hear you enjoyed your tour with us so much! Happy future travels :)
    Trip date: October 2024
  • The Absolute Safari reviewer 2
    · December 17th, 2024
    If you’re thinking about an overland trip in Africa, I wholeheartedly recommend Absolute Africa. My girlfriend and I wouldn’t usually join a tour when travelling and we were a little nervous about it, but we needn’t have been; it was an amazing experience. Of the companies I researched, I liked Absolute because it’s the most flexible (there are lots of routes, and you only pay for the excursions you want). Booking was really smooth, and they give you lots of info to help you prepare for the trip (thanks Sophie!). On the tour itself, the guides and drivers have been fantastic. Big shout outs to Joseph, David, Marvin, Joe, Hesron and Emias. The buses are really nice, with more legroom than I was expecting! Yes there are some long, bumpy drives but honestly it’s quite fun. And all the campsites were great—almost all have had a bar and most have even had swimming pools! To be honest, the only negative I experienced was two of our fellow passengers, who have left negative reviews below. Their comments are completely unfounded from what I experienced. In fact, they were abusive to other tour members—including a 75 year old woman—as well as to our guides. They also said some pretty shocking things about the locals which I won’t share here. They were given a warning, and then almost immediately became abusive again. I personally see it as a huge positive that Absolute intervened and removed them from the trip and that behaviour like that isn’t tolerated. After being told they were being removed they trashed the bus, cut the wires to our fridge and charging point, and smashed a window. It tells you everything you need to know about them. Anyway, to finish on something more positive, some of the highlights for me were the game drives in the Serengeti, South Luangwa, Chobe and Etosha parks; Lake Kariba houseboat; village tour on Lake Malawi; the Okavango Delta; Spitzkoppe; and Sossusvlei.
    Show more
    Absolute Africa commented on this review
    We are happy to read that you had such a good time on your overland tour, Philip, and we will certainly pass on your thanks to all of your crew members too. Thank you for leaving your comments and if you fancy exploring any more of Africa in the future,... Show more
    The Absolute Safari customer review photo 1The Absolute Safari customer review photo 2The Absolute Safari customer review photo 3The Absolute Safari customer review photo 4The Absolute Safari customer review photo 5
    Trip date: December 2024
  • HM
    · December 13th, 2024
    This tour was just AMAZING! The 77 day tour had countless unreal moments within it, making so many special memories. Going in September, we caught the end of the migration in Kenya and as we travelled south through Africa, it started to become the rainy season which involved some great thunderstorms but only an actual rainy day once or twice. Life on the truck involved long drives, great views out of the windows and new locations to explore as well as daily tasks and pitching tents. I would highly recommend so many of the optional activities, here are a few top choices - Chobe national park morning drive, cultural experiences (especially Ugandan village), devils pool and rafting at Vic falls, night game drives (South Luangwa and Etosha), village tours, exploring Etosha national park in a small jeep rather than the big yellow truck, Motopos full day tour, swimming with dolphins in Zanzibar and of course the gorillas! Our tour guides and drivers were really great and always helpful and each tour guide on our game drives were extremely informative. The only disappointment from this tour was our full day drive through the Serengeti as it felt more of a drive from A to B than trying to find wildlife. This tour is a fantastic way to see so many amazing places in Africa and tick off bucket list moments!
    Show more
    The Absolute Safari customer review photo 1The Absolute Safari customer review photo 2The Absolute Safari customer review photo 3
    Trip date: September 2024
  • J
    · November 15th, 2024
    Ignore Beth and Luke's reviews. The only homophobia I encountered came straight from these two siblings. They were a black cloud for the few weeks they were with us. They trashed the bus and cut power cables to the fridge on their way out. They took their ozempic and then made fun of children begging for food. I have worked customer service for years and these two are among some of the worst I've ever met. The trip has been wonderful now that they are gone. Joe the tour guide is insightful and organized. Hezron the driver is a boss. This trip can't be beat for the price, and I hope you have a great crew without the fun-sucks. My only criticism is that some of the tours like the turtle sanctuary seem exploiting of animals, but these are offered through 3rd parties and very common throughout East and South africa.
    Show more
    Absolute Africa commented on this review
    Thank you for leaving a review, Jacob. We will pass on your comments to Joe and Hezron and hope you have happy travels ahead!
    Trip date: November 2024
  • The Absolute Safari reviewer 5
    · November 11th, 2024
    AVOID THIS TOUR HOMOPHOBIC ENABLERS I reported homophobia to my tour guide who laughed and didn’t take it seriously so I kept quiet and isolated myself during the trip. Only for other passengers to ask me to apologise to the homophobe on the tour to keep the peace and not allow it to be awkward. I did noT apologise which led to tension throughout the trip and some arguments! Absolute Africa did nothing about this and instead gave a false warning for behaviour for things we did not do and eventually kicked us off the tour with 25 minutes to pack our belongings and be escorted off the premises of the hotel! VILE If you want an enjoyable experience do not go with Absolute Africa!!!! I could write a huge review of the things that were extremely unacceptable but after already privately speaking to Sophie about the issues, it’s clear that this company will never take responsibility for how terrible the tour is. I am actually convinced that not one single person from this company (that’s based in London) has EVER stepped foot in Africa. One of the huge issues was in Mwanza, Tanzania. We arrived at our “camp site” which was actually a car park of a huge night club, we had to pitch our tents in car parking spaces between the locals cars wherever there was space (there was a huge event on here this night so it was really busy). After being promised the music will end at 1am, it was still extremely loud at 5am and then after this locals were physically fighting in the car park around our tents, if this didn’t already wake you up then the police sirens definitely would have. At around 2am with 0 sleep, me and my sister had absolutely no choice but to move into the conference room (that we were forced to pay for) locals had access to this conference room all night and were walking in/out, it was really unsafe and scary. This car park did not have any security measures in place, my sister was actually approached by a local man at night while going to the toilet, which made her feel unsafe. Me and my sister then witnessed him crawling around our tent with his torch on looking for her, luckily he seen I was there and ran off, as you can imagine this was so scary for my sister and who knows what would have happened if I was a single traveller? We told the tour guide this in the morning and like most reactions, he found it amusing and it didn’t come as a shock to him at all. Another terrible day that went so wrong was the drive from Lake Malawi to Zambia, we had to be on the truck to set off at 4:30am, we then travelled this whole day and reached our camp site just before midnight, with NO FOOD or stop to even purchase food as we “had to get to the boarder before it closed”. At this time of night we still had to pitch up our tents, eat food and have a shower/ sort our stuff for the following day as we were expected to be up for 5am latest to go on the game drive. Unfortunately a few of us had no option but to miss out on this included activity because we were extremely sleep deprived and run down. We asked our guide if it was possible to change the park fees to the night optional drive and then pay the rest that’s needed. Again, we got a reply that was extremely rude and aggressive and the answer was strictly a no, you go on the morning one or nothing! The Serengeti “safari” if that’s what you can call it was soooo disappointing, we were all so excited for this but doing it on the huge packed truck was a complete waste of time, we hardly seen any wildlife and it was extremely rushed, very disheartening especially seeing other tours on 4x4 trucks getting close to the wildlife. Because of the ongoing issues that have happened, me and my sister and a couple of other people have decided to completely leave the tour early and solo travel for the rest of it. This obviously comes with a huge extra cost for us and the decision was not taken lightly, our mental health was more important. After voicing all of these concerns directly to Sophie privately, she first of all shared all of our concerns with our tour guide Joe, who vocalised this on the bus with 21 other travellers present, clearly to intimidate us by saying that “if we complain again, we will be removed off the tour”. After receiving this threat and the accusation that Sophie has received emails from other travellers complaining about me and my sister, we have requested this correspondence multiple times for the question to be ignored completely. Which is suspicious to us as none of the other travellers have working sim cards or significant WiFi and this problem was only a reply from our original email of complaints. Tour guides sleeping with the travellers on the truck, days with no real food other than crisps and chocolate, no first aid kit whatsoever on the truck, truck roof falling down (screws were constantly falling out onto people) and when it rained the roof completely leaked leaving all chairs and belongings wet. This tour was hell on earth. I cannot put into words how bad it was. Unfortunately, a lot of the group members had the same feelings but luckily they only stayed for 3/4 weeks. We had 2 different guides Wycliffe and Joe, I would not recommend either tour guides, for completely different reasons, one doesn’t care at all he does it because “his wife likes his full wallet” and Joe who has anger issues and no ability to communicate to customers or receive criticism 😊
    Show more
    Absolute Africa commented on this review
    Hi Luke, We are sorry to receive your review. As a travel company our commitment to diversity and equal opportunities is fundamental. All our customers, staff and crew matter and we endeavour to act in ways to advocate equality and respect on our... Show more
    Trip date: September 2024
  • The Absolute Safari reviewer 6
    · November 10th, 2024
    Please do not waste any of your money on this TERRIBLE COMPANY!!!!!
    Absolute Africa commented on this review
    Hi Beth, We are sorry to receive this review. At the same time we cannot accept our crew being insulted while they are working hard to deliver a tour, nor can we allow rudeness, including offensive language being used, towards other travellers on the... Show more
    Trip date: November 2024
  • KC
    · November 4th, 2024
    The trip from Nairobi to the gorillas is a 5-star trip. Absolutely amazing! I would recommend it to everyone. However, I would not see the Serengeti with Absolute Africa. They simply drive you through the park on the bus. Little jeeps were running all around us, but we had to stay on the main road because of our size. One couple joined for the first time in the Serengeti, but opted for a jeep tour on the same day that we toured in the bus. (This option was not offered to us) They stayed two nights and continued on the bus with us when we left the Serengeti. Their experience in the Serengeti was amazing. The animals they saw and the photos they took were incredible. Just as our trip in the Masai Mara had been when we did our safaris in the jeep instead of the bus. One of the reasons is because the jeep drivers communicate with one another. When an animal is sighted, they let all the other drivers know, and then all of the jeeps flock to that spot. It is so much fun! But in the bus, there was no communication, and we only stayed on the main road. The day was long and boring and we saw very few animals. If I were to do it again, I would arrange with Absolute Africa to spend two nights in the Serengeti and pay extra for a jeep tour. (I didn't know I could do that but the couple that joined us did) Then I would pay for a private transfer to catch us back up to the group. Or I would just end my tour at the Serengeti. Everyone on our bus was so disappointed. I reached out to the admin of Absolute Africa with my concerns. My hope was to have them offer a jeep tour for an extra cost to future travelers so that other travelers do not have to go through what we went through. The lady in the office told me that jeep tours in the Serengeti were too expensive and that the majority of travellers do not want an extra day with a jeep tour. I know that is not true because there was not one person on our bus that was happy with our Serengeti tour. Everyone was very disappointed and a few other people sent emails as well. Another item I feel that is important to point out is the cooking responsibilities. It was advertised that we would assist in the cooking, but that was not true. Our group had to decide what to fix, find all of the items to be purchased in the grocery store, and cook the entire meal. The guide did not help us cook. This is quite different than with other companies such as Entrepid and The Drifters. With these companies the menu is planned and you simply help the cook as needed. Again I want to point out that Nairobi through the gorillas could not have been more perfect and I highly recommend this part of the tour. If you opt to do this part of the tour with another company please verify that their safaris are done in jeeps and not in the bus because it makes a huge difference.
    Show more
    Trip date: June 2024
  • A
    · November 6th, 2023
    What an absolute adventure 77 days from Kenya to South Africa! Safaris, lakes, lions, beaches, historical sites, village visits, camping, long drives with windows down, gorillas, family style cooking, washing dishes, early mornings, hippos, boat safaris, peeing on the side of the road, cold showers, card games, photos, are some of the words that instantly come to mind from thinking about the last 3 months. Memories for a lifetime. Originally I was booked from just Nairobi to Zanzibar and I’m so glad I ended up extending all the way to South Africa! Our group was on the larger side as it was during the busy season July-Oct and we had about 20-25 people on the bus during the 3 months. The amount of people can vary as there are smaller sections of the absolute overland trips where people will be with you for different legs of the trip. (Ex: some people started and finished Zanzibar or started Vic Falls to Cape town, etc.) The best thing I can write for a review would be a recommendation for those wanting to go on the trip. To have an enjoyable trip is all about having the right expectations & mindset as these overland trips are definitely not for everyone. After the 3 months I believe I met around 40 different people on the safari who had stayed for a section or the whole safari and I could tell that most absolutely loved the overland trip, however, there were a few people that struggled as they did not have the right expectations. As I already mentioned, flexibility is key for this trip. I believe they make this very clear on their website but somehow some people still show up with a very rigid mindset. Some days go as planned, some days go better, and some go worse. But that is all part of the African experience. People on these trips are from all different backgrounds, with different personalities, work ethics, and ways of doing things. Just roll with it and it will be an amazing time. FOOD. Family style & simple. Please be flexible. You must remember that if there is a group of 20-25 everyone has to be catered to for their dietary needs. Most lunches you are on your own. There will be a supermarket stop and you can get as you wish. But for dinner there will be a cooking team for that specific night so depending on the dietary restrictions there might have to be 3 different meals if you have vegetarians, vegans, and meat eaters. So I would definitely recommend being flexible when it comes to preferences. I wouldn’t recommend this trip for strict dietary restrictions (vegetarian ok but vegan, etc. not so much). Remember you are in Africa and there are weeks where the food options and supermarkets are limited. Staff. We had an amazing guide Peter for the 77 days and 1 driver for the first 3/4 of the trip and then last 1/4 a different driver. Our guide and both drivers were from different parts of Africa and all had 15+ years experience doing these tours. They are all very knowledgable & such helpful resources. They all speak multiple languages and handled the borders crossings and logistics very professionally. At times things were a bit up in the air but like I said it is the nature of Africa as things change very frequently. They are the first people you see up in the morning and last people to bed making sure everything is in order. Our guide did a really good job at balancing all the different preferences of food, itinerary, etc. We had some unique characters in our group which made it pretty difficult for him to handle but he did a great job at balancing it for everyone. A great sense of humor, always had a positive outlook, and always enjoyed telling us the history of local areas. Truck. There are several trucks with some being newer and some being older. Our first truck Kifaru was a bit older, could use some cosmetic repair on the interior but worked like a charm. The seats were comfy and there were plenty of outlets to charge electronics. The fridge wasn’t ideal as it was smaller especially after the group food was in put in but did all was needed. Good variety of 8 seats facing backwards with tables & 20 seats facing forwards. Money. This is by far the most budget friendly overland tour I saw when doing research. Plan to spend more than you think though. You can do this trip with just doing the minimums but when everyone is going on an extra safari or an extra activity, you are going to want to do it as well. Easy to say you won’t do something at home but different story when you are there. Maintain a positive attitude & energy. Although you don’t need to be “physically fit” this trip is demanding especially if you are doing the 77 days. There aren’t any necessary physically fit needs, but there are many early wake up calls, tearing down & setting up your tent everyday, and some nights you will be on cooking / cleaning duty, etc. It all adds up and you’re constantly on the move for months. That is all part of the adventure. You are going to meet tons of different people so you can imagine positive attitude is key. Some may look at how busy it is and see it as a negative but you can also see how some of those things also are a highlight of the trip for others. All about the outlook. If you want a vacation to sit and chill on the beach this isn’t the trip for you. If you are ready to have an adventure of a lifetime and one of the most unique experiences traveling on an overland truck through Africa with people from all around the world, you won’t be disappointed. Best advice have a flexible and positive outlook and you will have a great time! So glad I did it! Hindsight I would 100% recommend Absolute Africa especially knowing what I know now. Rushing down to South Africa or rushing the itinerary like some of the other tour companies isn’t something I wanted to do & I am glad I chose AA. Unforgettable memories! Hope that helps!
    Show more
    Absolute Africa commented on this review
    Hi Anthony, Thank you for taking the time out to write a review and we are so glad to hear you had an adventure of a lifetime! We have passed on your comments to all your crew. We totally agree with the need for flexibility above all else on any... Show more
    Trip date: July 2023
  • A
    · October 28th, 2023
    What an absolute adventure 77 days from Kenya to South Africa! Safaris, lakes, lions, beaches, historical sites, village visits, camping, long drives with windows down, gorillas, family style cooking, washing dishes, early mornings, hippos, boat safaris, peeing on the side of the road, cold showers, card games, photos, are some of the words that instantly come to mind from thinking about the last 3 months. Originally I was booked from just Nairobi to Zanzibar and I’m so glad I ended up extending all the way to South Africa! Our group was on the larger side as it was during the busy season July-Oct and we had about 20-25 people on the bus during the 3 months. The amount of people can vary as there are smaller sections of the absolute overland trips where people will be with you for different legs of the trip. (Ex: some people started and finished Zanzibar or started Vic Falls to Cape town, etc.) The best thing I can recommend for an enjoyable trip is having the right expectations & mindset as these overland trips are definitely not for everyone. After the 3 months I believe I met around 40 different people on the safari who had stayed for a section or the whole safari and I could tell that most absolutely loved the overland trip, however, there were a few people that struggled as they did not have the right expectations. As I already mentioned, flexibility is key for this trip. I believe they make this very clear on their website but somehow some people still show up with a very rigid mindset. Some days go as planned, some days go better, and some go worse. But that is all part of the African experience. People on these trips are from all different backgrounds, with different personalities, work ethics, and ways of doing things. Just roll with it. FOOD. Please be flexible for the sake of everyone. You must remember that if there is a group of 20-25 everyone has to be catered to for their dietary needs. Most lunches you are on your own. There will be a supermarket stop and you can get as you wish. But for dinner there will be a cooking team for that specific night so depending on the dietary restrictions there might have to be 3 different meals if you have vegetarians, vegans, and meat eaters. So I would definitely recommend being flexible when it comes to preferences. I wouldn’t recommend this trip for strict dietary restrictions (vegetarian ok but vegan, etc. not so much). Remember you are in Africa and there are weeks where the food options and supermarkets are limited. Staff. We had the same guide for the 77 days and 1 driver for the first 3/4 of the trip and then last 1/4 a different driver. Our guide and both drivers were from different parts of Africa and all had 10+ experience doing these tours. They are all very knowledgable & such helpful resources. They all speak multiple languages and handled the borders crossings and logistics professionally. They are the first people you see up in the morning and last people to bed making sure everything is in order. Our guide did a really good job at balancing all the different preferences of food, itinerary, etc. We had some unique characters in our group which made it pretty difficult for him to handle but he did a great job at balancing it for everyone. A great sense of humor and always had a positive outlook & willing to help. Truck. A bit older but honestly fit the 77 day across Africa vibe. The seats were comfy and there were plenty of outlets to charge electronics. The fridge wasn’t ideal as it was smaller especially after group food was in there. Facilities. Most camps we stayed were great and had what you needed. Wifi was kind of a joke, don't plan on much. Most campsites there "was" wifi but it rarely worked, especially when you have 25 people rolling up and wanting to get on. So a sim is a must if you care to be online, etc. 95% campsites had showers probably about 50-50 with hot water. Tents were surprisingly very comfortable. Plenty of space and sleeping pads were nice. Money. Plan to spend more than you think. You can do this trip with just doing the minimums but when everyone is going on an extra safari or an extra activity, you are going to want to do it as well. So many unique once in a lifestime opportunities, its hard to pass when in person. Maintain a positive attitude & energy. Although you don’t need to be “physically fit” this trip is demanding especially if you are doing the 77 days. There aren’t any necessary physically fit needs, but there are many early wake up calls, tearing down & setting up your tent everyday, and some nights you will be on cooking / cleaning duty, etc. It all adds up and you’re constantly on the move for months. That is all part of the adventure. You are going to meet tons of different people so you can imagine positive attitude is key. If you want a vacation to sit and chill on the beach this isn’t the trip for you. If you are ready to have an adventure of a lifetime and a unique experience meeting people from all around the world, seeing so many aspects of Africa from wildlife, villages, and hearing about the history and local customs you won’t be disappointed! Best advice have a flexible and positive outlook and you will have a great time! So glad I did it! Hindsight I would still recommend Absolute Africa especially knowing what I know now. Rushing down to South Africa or rushing the itinerary like some of the other tour companies isn’t something I wanted to do & I am glad I chose AA. Hope this helps!
    Show more
    Trip date: July 2023
  • The Absolute Safari reviewer 10
    · October 20th, 2023
    I spent over a year researching tour companies that specialized in Overland Africa. I originally booked with Intrepid but then Covid shut down the world and I had a chance to review my choice. In the end Absolute Africa (AA) won. The itinerary is the same but with a slower pace, more two-night stays and several thousands of dollars cheaper. Spending 77 days on The Absolute Safari was magical. I arrived at the Wildebeest lodge in Nairobi with a sense of trepidation and excitement. Within a few days we were learning how to be Masai warriors and driving through the Masai Mara to see the Great migration. The fun never stopped as we travelled through ten countries ending in Cape Town. The trucks are small, old and falling apart, the charging stations would come loose on major bumps and the seats were uncomfortable. Some camps had limited or no water, cool showers or rocky terrain to pitch tents. others were like spas. While the AA program is great the issues start with the local guides. Many of the local guides AA use are incompetent. Our guide in Uganda for the Gorilla trek was 30 minutes late and didn't communicate to us to bring our passports leading to stressful moments and the possibility of not trekking at all. Our local guide in Zanzibar did not produce activities that he personally described and ran. The combined snorkel and dolphin swim trip was a disappointment. I highly recommend that AA use the tour company next door to the Sunset Bungalows in the future. The houseboat in Lake Kariba was even worse. How can you offer fishing but leave the poles behind, suggest early morning boat cruises when the animals are more active in the afternoon and how can you offer swimming in a pool when the pool is empty. I have solo travelled on many escorted tour companies. Two things I expect from my tour leader is good communication skills and patience / compassion. Both were lacking with the tour leader I had. Communication was an issue from the beginning. As a client I need to know when to be on the truck, how many lunches to pack, what the daily schedule is and what to pack for the day. Several times our tour leader forgot to mention to bring hiking boots, passport and money. Description of optional activities were confusing and misleading. What's worse is that you were made fun of when asking follow up questions. Not professional. Whenever something went wrong and it was his fault, he never owned up to it and blamed it on TIA (This is Africa). I highly suggest that AA provide each truck with a small white board where the tour leader can write down the day's agenda. At some point, illness strikes when travelling and camping through Africa. Infections, food/water poisoning, heat exhaustion were common occurrences on our trip. When these occur, I expect the tour leader to step up. Make sure we are all right, provide extra water or first aid if necessary. But our tour leader singled you out for being ill and not contributing. When I slipped off the truck ladder, many in my group rushed to my side to make sure I was okay except the tour leader. And the truck didn't have a proper first aid kit that included the hand crush ice packs. Absolute Africa runs many trips but only 5 trucks, so clients are hopping on and off in different countries. Many stated how they had an amazing tour leader on their previous trek but were surprised at the incompetence of the current tour director. Covid hit the travel industry hard and many tour companies folded or produce a subpar product. Changes are ahead for Absolute Africa and hope they look at the product they currently offer and make the necessary changes.
    Show more
    Absolute Africa commented on this review
    Hi Helene, Thank you for taking the time to write a detailed review of your Absolute Safari with us. We are glad to read that overall you had a great time on your tour making fantastic memories and that you found our trip to offer good value for money... Show more
    Trip date: September 2023

Dates & Availability

77 days
The Absolute Safari
From Nairobi to Cape Town

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    English
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    From:
    $5,177
    Local Payment
    $1,260
  • From Friday
    20 Jun, 2025
    To Thursday
    4 Sep, 2025
    English
    Filling Fast
    From:
    $5,177
    Local Payment
    $1,260
  • From Saturday
    26 Jul, 2025
    To Friday
    10 Oct, 2025
    English
    Filling Fast
    From:
    $5,177
    Local Payment
    $1,260
  • From Monday
    25 Aug, 2025
    To Sunday
    9 Nov, 2025
    English
    Filling Fast
    From:
    $5,177
    Local Payment
    $1,260
  • From Saturday
    20 Sep, 2025
    To Friday
    5 Dec, 2025
    English
    Filling Fast
    From:
    $5,177
    Local Payment
    $1,260
  • From Tuesday
    14 Oct, 2025
    To Monday
    29 Dec, 2025
    English
    Filling Fast
    From:
    $5,177
    Local Payment
    $1,260
  • From Thursday
    4 Dec, 2025
    To Wednesday
    18 Feb, 2026
    English
    Filling Fast
    From:
    $5,177
    Local Payment
    $1,260
  • From Saturday
    24 Jan, 2026
    To Friday
    10 Apr, 2026
    English
    Filling Fast
    From:
    $5,177
    Local Payment
    $1,260
  • From Monday
    23 Feb, 2026
    To Sunday
    10 May, 2026
    English
    From:
    $5,177
    Local Payment
    $1,260

What our customers ask about this tour

    The content in our FAQ section is subject to change.
    • Can the locally paid portions of the tour use credit cards?

      It depends on the location, but generally, the local payment should be made in cash.

    • Are there options for pre-post nights in Nairobi?

      Accommodation options in Nairobi include various rooms and tents at different prices, all prices include breakfast.

    • How are visas handled for travelers from different countries?

      Visa requirements can vary, with certain visas able to be obtained at the border depending on the traveler's nationality.

    • What should I do if I have trouble with an online payment?

      If online payments aren't processing, it's advised to try again later or confirm if the payment link is correctly set up.

    • How is the booking process for the gorilla permit handled?

      Invoices for the gorilla permit are sent out about 4 months prior to departure, and payment secures the permit.

    • What is the duration of the Week in Kenya tour?

      The Week in Kenya is a 9-day tour that includes all the major highlights that would be a part of the Absolute Safari.

    • Are there any pre-tour health requirements?

      Travelers are advised to consult a health clinic for the most up-to-date health requirements, including vaccinations.

    • Can bookings be transferred to another person?

      Bookings can be transferred to another person with a transfer fee through the official website.

    • What are the local payment policies for tours?

      A local payment, to cover part of tour expenses, needs to be made in USD cash directly to the tour leader on day one.

    • What are the best wildlife spotting opportunities?

      The best dates for wildlife spotting can be discussed upon inquiry as they can vary.

    Can’t find the answer to your question?
    Reach out to the experts at Absolute Africa with your enquiry, they usually respond within 9 hours.

    Good to Know

    Tour ID: 276

    • Currencies
      P
      Pula
      Botswana
      Sh
      Kenyan Shilling
      Kenya
      MK
      Malawi Kwacha
      Malawi
      $
      Namibia Dollar
      Namibia
      Fr
      Rwanda Franc
      Rwanda
      R
      Rand
      South Africa
      Sh
      Tanzanian Shilling
      Tanzania
      Sh
      Uganda Shilling
      Uganda
      $
      US Dollar
    • Plugs & Adapters

      As a traveler from USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand you will need an adaptor for types D, M, G, C, E, F, J. As a traveler from England you will need an adaptor for types D, M, C, E, F, J. As a traveler from South Africa you will need an adaptor for types G, C, E, F, J.

      Type D
      Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe
      Type M
      Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe
      Type G
      Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe
      Type C
      Rwanda and Zambia
      Type E
      Rwanda and Zambia
      Type F
      Rwanda and Zambia
      Type J
      Rwanda
    • Vaccines
      • These are only indications, so please visit your doctor before you travel to be 100% sure.
      • Typhoid - Recommended for Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Ideally 2 weeks before travel.
      • Hepatitis A - Recommended for Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Ideally 2 weeks before travel.
      • Tuberculosis - Recommended for Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Ideally 3 months before travel.
      • Hepatitis B - Recommended for Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Ideally 2 months before travel.
      • Rabies - Recommended for Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and 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, Uganda and Zimbabwe. Yellow fever - Recommended for Kenya. Yellow fever - Required for entrance into the country for Rwanda. Ideally 10 days before travel.
      • Cholera - Recommended for Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Ideally 2 weeks before travel.
      • Meningococcal meningitis - Recommended for Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and 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 April 29th, 2025 a full payment is necessary. For tours departing after April 29th, 2025, 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
    • 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.