Southern & Eastern Africa- proposed trip

Having lurked around several of the overland in forums, we are in the final phase of organising our 6 month S & E African overland trip.
We hope to set off at the end of April 2017.
As nothing has been prebooked, we have no specific destination in mind. The idea is to travel, see, experience and be. Take the road less travelled, but our only condition is to be back for the kids final term that starts in October.
Optimistically... we want to cover the eastern corridor of ZIMBABWE including Gonarezhou NP, Save valley conservancy, Chimanimani, Honda Valley, Rhodes NP and Mana Pools.
ZAMBIA - Lower Zambezi NP, Lusaka, Kafue NP, North to Ndola, Bengweulu Wetlands, south Langwathby NP, cross into MALAWI near Chipata.
Lilongwe and then slowly drive up the shore of Lake Malawi possible stopping at Kaningina Forest and Nyika NP end route to TANZANIA.
First to Ruaha NP then we hope to drive the Mbeya to Mtwara corridor to the Indian ocean . Up to the Selous NP and on to Dar. R&R for a few nights in Zanzibar. Head to Tanga in the north, , Tarangire NP, Ngorongoro Conservancy, and head around Lake victoria to UGANDA
(We will not be travelling to Kenya)
Kampala, entebbe, Jinga, Mt Elgon NP, Aroubd lake Kyoga to Murchison Falls NP, down the shore of Lake Albert to Fort PortAl, and Queen Elizabeth NP. we hope to go see the Gorrilla''s here. Bwindi Impenetrable NP
Next to RWANDA to Kigali, - no fixed plans.
We plan to avoid Burundi, but will decide closer to the time
Back in Tanzania and drive along Lake Tanganika passing Muhale Mtn NP and Katavi NP into Zambia.
Again driving the North West regions lakes and waterfalls.
The possibility exists to entry southern Angola and Namibia and return home via Cape Town. However this is dependant on available time. Alternatively a more direct route may be necessary.
We may or may not get through all the countries and are happy to chop and change our route.
We can only plan to travel a MAX of 400 km per day on the days we do travel, as speed is a problem for us. ( The mog only get up to 80km/h)
We intend to camp 80% of the time however are open to stay at luxury camps occasionally.
If anyone has any suggestion of "of the beaten track, must see places" in the above countries, please let us know. Or any other suggestions....
Hope to see you on the road.
Anyone heading in the same direction at the same time. .... get in touch.
Nihal.shah71@gmail.com

Sounds like a really amazing trip! I have done some of the areas you have planned, but over ten years ago so not sure any advice would still be applicable. In Zim I would try to stay off the main tar highways as the number of police checkpoints has hit stupid levels. Mana pools has to be one of my favorite places on the planet. I always used to camp at Chitake but apparently that area is now closed for camping. Ngorongoro is also one of the world's wonders in my opinion. If you have never watched the movie 'Hatari' with John Wayne I suggest it before you go...it shows the crater and the Serengeti the way it was back in the 1960s.

I think you have the right attitude though. Too much planning and a fixed itinerary you feel under pressure to keep to just ruins a trip. Hope you keep a blog or something to let us know how the trip goes.

Bon voyage!

Tx Tembo
Will try , as much as possible, to keep of the black top, esp in Zim. I'm trying to put a blog together. ... hope the kids can help me there.
Excited, and a little nervous .... hope to get everything sorted by the DOD.

Good luck with the trip, I also agree too much planning and keeping to schedules can spoil things. Adventure is often spontanious, getting lost being a prime example.

You're welcome to post a blog or travel updates in the CURRENT - Overland Trips & Expeditions section.

Hi Tom Mc
Thanks. Hope to leave by the 1st of May. So much to do..... so little time.
Tc