Itinerary

The itinerary for this tour must remain flexible to allow the best chance of seeing the gorillas.  Please note that the order that highlights are visited in may be different than below.

Days 1-2: Nairobi And Lake Nakuru National Park.
We depart Nairobi at 10.00am to Lake Nakuru National Park. This journey travels via the Masai escarpment, which provides spectacular views of the Great Rift Valley.
Lake Nakuru National Park is famous for its large population of pink flamingos, which featured in the movie “Out of Africa”. As well as flamingos Lake Nakuru boasts a sizeable population of rhinos, both black and white.  The more sociable white rhino is a common sight - often seen grazing on the open plains. However its less sociable cousin, the black rhino, tends to remain hidden in the dense bush. Although not native to this park, rhinos were introduced because the park offers good security from poachers.  The rhnos are being used in a breeding program to maintain and improve the overall population and gene pool.
This park also has lion, leopard, buffalo, plains game (gazelle, antelope, and giraffe) and a large diverse bird population.  The rich birdlife in this area was the reason for the  park being established in 1968.
We camp inside the park, which gives us the thrill of hearing the night sounds of some of Africa’s famous wild beasts!

Days 3-4: Jinja, Source Of  the Nile And Kampala.
Leaving Lake Nakuru behind us we head for Uganda and Kampala, via the Malaba border with its hundreds of transport trucks awaiting customs clearance. Scenery along the way consists of local villages, sugar and tea plantations.  Much of this drive is at altitudes of around 2000 metres above sea level and you will also see fields of pyrethrum, distinguishable by white and yellow flowers. The juice from the pyrethrum plant is a natural insect repellent and is harvested commercially and used to treat materials such as mosquito netting and clothes.
After entering Uganda we cross the Nile River at its source near Jinja, on the shores of Lake Victoria before arriving in Kampala, Uganda’s capital. Kampala is a large modern city that has been rebuilt after its decimation by Idi Amin and the chaos of his rule.

Days 5-6: Kampala-Kibale And Lake Bunyoni.
From Kampala we travel out to the western part of Uganda where we see the gorillas. We set up camp at Lake Bunyoni and use this as a base for the gorilla visits. Lake Bunyoni is a great place to spend a few days swimming, walking and canoeing (in traditional dug out canoes, not as easy as it looks!) whilst looking forward to your trip to the gorillas or reflecting on the time you have spent with them. The fact that permits to see the gorillas are restricted means that it will take a few days for everyone in the group to make a gorilla trek.

Days 7-10: Lake Bunyoni And Gorilla Visit.
From our base at Lake Bunyoni, passengers wishing to trek mountian gorillas will transfer by small vehicle/minibus to the relevant national park.  Please note that the transfers are not included in your gorilla permit, tour cost or local payment.  Depending on the location of the trek, additional visas may also be required.  This transfer will usually take place the night before the actual trek. 
Gorilla permits allow visitors to spend up to one hour with a family of gorillas each day.  In order to safeguard the gorillas, only 6-8 people may visit each day.  In the interests of the gorillas, people with colds, flu or other contagious diseases will not be permitted to trek. 
Gorilla trekking may be very strenuous and walking boots are recommended.  The area is often shrouded in mist and frequent downpours are common at all times of year.  A waterproof jacket can be very useful. 
Accompanied by your guides and trackers you will follow simple pathways into the cloud forest.  The terrain is hilly and can be muddy and slippery, however the views of the Virunga mountain range are spectacular and more than make up for the tough inclines.  As you walk, you may see signs and tracks of other animals as well as enjoying bird, monkey and insect sounds of the jungle.  
Following their spore and night nests, your guides will lead you to a gorilla group. Some gorilla groups may be a 5 hour walk away from base camp, whilst other groups can be located within an hour.  It is difficult to predict where the gorilla group might be and this adds to the excitement and unpredictability of the trek. 
After encountering a gorilla family your guides will settle you down and enable you to watch the group interactions.  Visitors are not allowed to get closer than 5 metres to the gorillas, but sometimes the gorillas themselves forget this and come very close indeed!
Family groups are generally made up of several females, their playful young and one or two mature silverbacks.  Young gorillas are extremely entertaining and enjoy showing off their climbing, tumbling and play-fighting antics.  Mothers watch on and silverbacks generally maintain a respectful distance whilst keeping a protective eye on their family.  Depending on their daily pattern, gorillas may be encountered resting in a sunny or shady spot or on the move as they travel from one feeding patch to another.   Whatever else they are doing, gorillas are usually also eating and it is fascinating to watch them in the giant salad bowls which make up their habitat.
Photographing gorillas is allowed, but flash photography is prohibited.  Anyone wishing to use a video camera must pay for a special permit.
After your time with the gorilla group you will return to base camp and then rejoin the truck at Lake Bunyoni. 
Those who opt not to partake in the Gorilla trek will be based at Lake Bunyoni where, as noted on days 5-6 there are plenty of activities to keep you busy. As well as swimming, walking and canoeing there are village and craft centre tours available, visits to the nearby Pygmy Island, and bird watching, time to soak up the sites and sounds of Uganda.

Days 11-13: Kampala And Bujagali Falls/Jinja.
Leaving Lake Bunyoni and the beautiful hilly terrain and welcoming people of south west Uganda behind us, we journey back to Kampala.  We will also visit Bujagali Falls near Jinja, where clients can enjoy optional white water rafting on the Nile River or quad biking.  This is also an excellent opportunity to get involved with the local community as a volunteer at the Soft Power Education Program. There are also some excellent walks either by the Nile or in the local villages.

Days 14-16: Naivasha.
From Jinja we head back to Kenya towards Lake Naivasha, which was briefly Kenya’s airport as flying boats from southern Africa stopped to refuel on their way north. At Lake Naivasha there are lots of optional excursions you can enjoy. You may wish to visit Elsamere, named after the lioness in “Born Free”. This was the home of Joy Adamson who, along with her husband George, was the inspiration for the movie “Born Free”. You also have the option of going trekking or cycling in Hells Gate National Park, one of the few parks in Africa where it is possible to do walking safaris. For the less energetic, Crescent Island (actually the rim of an old crater still attached to the mainland) is a much more leisurely walk and you are almost certain to come within metres of giraffe, wildebeest and several species of gazelle.
At Naivasha we change trucks and crew. The reason for this is the truck used for the gorilla section of the tour will continue to Victoria Falls and Johannesburg.

Days 17-19: Masai Mara.
Leaving Naivasha we have an early start for our drive to the Masai Mara. The last one and half hours of the journey find us on bumpy, dusty, dirt road as we drive across the Loita Plains.  The scenery is spectacular and makes up for long journey.  Before entering into the game reserve there is the opportunity to visit a Masai village. Not only can you see inside a traditional Masai hut, but also try your hand at the age-old tradition of bartering for souvenirs. The village is slightly commercialised but still gives a good idea of how the Masai people live.
The Masai Mara is the most famous and prolific wildlife area in Kenya.  It covers an area of 1672 square kilometres and is classified as a Reserve as opposed to a National Park since the Masai people are also able to use the area to graze their cattle. A highlight of the Mara is no doubt the annual wildebeest migration around 1.5 million of these beasts meander north from the Serengeti in search of good grass for grazing.   
In most National Parks area, including the Masai Mara, it is forbidden to drive at night so all game viewing is done as early and as late as possible to get the best conditions. Looking for game in a wildlife area is not always easy. However one of the advantages of travelling by overland truck is that its superior height makes it easier to see over the long grass.  Hopefully we should be able to spot prides of lions, elephants, buffaloes, zebra and hippo as well as other more common animals such as wart hog, giraffe and baboon. Almost every conceivable species of East African wildlife can be spotted here.  The Mara is one of those places where the enthusiastic use a lot of camera film so it’s advisable to have some extra and plenty of charged batteries!
We will camp on the edge of the reserve where there are some optional activities to enjoy. In the evening there is the opportunity to learn more about the Masai and their way of life with a talk about their rich culture and a chance to join them in traditional dancing. Early the next morning hot air ballooning is also offer - subject to availability/weather conditions. This truly an amazing experience, as you float above the plains, viewing wildlife for approximately an hour before enjoying a full breakfast with champagne under the shade of a tree.

Day 20: Nairobi.
After a final morning watching wildlife we will return to Nairobi for the night.  In Nairobi there is the opportunity to visit Karen Blixons House, the giraffe centre or the animal orphanage. This is also a good time to persuade your tour leader to take you to the famous Carnivores restaurant (optional)

Days 21 – 22: Amboseli National Park & Arusha.
In Nairobi, we will have met up with new  travellers who will be joining us for the start of their adventure.  With the truck restocked with food and fuel we will travel south towards Tanzania. 
Our destination today is Amboseli National Park.  On a clear day the park gives stunning views of Mount Kilimanjaro which make a wonderful backdrop for photographs.  Kili measures 5895m and is Africa's highest mountain.  
Amboseli is very much elephant country and huge herds, many still with relatively large tusks, can be seen at most times of year.  Also present in the park are small numbers of lions, hyenas and jackal as well as abundant populations of zebra, giraffe and many species of plains antelope.
The following day we cross over the border into Tanzania. When we arrive at the border be ready to be swamped by Masai ladies selling jewellery, you can pick up some great bargains from them whilst we clear customs and immigration formalities.
Our route to Arusha takes us through the Masai tribe lands and along the western slope of Mt Meru. Arusha is situated on the southern slopes of Mt Meru and was originally a coffee town. Today safaris have taken over as the town's primary industry and it is now the gateway to the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti National Park. In town you will find an excellent market and bakery, along with a post office, banks and e-mail facilities and we will have an opportunity to indulge in some curio shopping here.

Days 23-25: Serengeti National Park And Ngorongoro Crater.
It is not possible to take large trucks into the Ngorongoro Crater, so for the next few days we will be using a local operator with four wheel drive vehicles.
Starting early we begin our journey to the Serengeti, en route stopping at the village of Mto Wa Mbu (Mosquito Creek), where there is a good curio market for more purchases.  Prices here are quite expensive so be prepared to haggle for a good deal. Further along the road we pass Lake Manyara, the largest soda lake in East Africa, where we will stop briefly to enjoy the magnificent views from the escarpment. Driving through the Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area we skirt our way around the rim of the crater itself, before heading down onto the short grass plains, arriving at the gate to the Serengeti National Park mid-afternoon. The Serengeti is the oldest and largest National Park in Tanzania, its name coming from the Masai word meaning “endless plains”. The landscape here varies from the long and short grass plains in the south, to the central savannah, the hilly wooded areas in the north, and extensive wooded areas in the west. This park is world renowned for its immense concentration of game, in particular its lion and zebra populations and the annual wildebeest migration which commences in July.  July is generally the beginning of the dry season and the time when the wildebeest herds and some Zebra move north towards the Masai Mara in  search of better pasture.  The migration is a time when you will see the full circle of life for these animals sometimes called “the clowns of the plains”.  The migration journey is hazardous and many of the older and weaker animals will lose their lives to predators such as lions and crocodiles. The migration also coincides with the annual rutting season, the calves being born at the beginning of the rains when there is plenty of fresh grass for feeding.
After crossing into the park, we game drive through the long grass plains to our campsite in the Seronera Valley at the very heart of the national park. Campsite facilities here are very basic.  
The following morning an early start finds us game driving in search of big game. There is also an opportunity to experience a hot air balloon ride over the fabled Serengeti plains. After approximately an hour ballooning, smartly dressed waiters serve a full English breakfast, together with continental pastries, accompanied by champagne and fruit juice on long white clothed tables in the middle of the plains.
We return to camp for lunch before making our way back across the plains to the Ngorongoro Crater. Tonight we camp right on the rim of the Crater, where, weather permitting, we enjoy a spectacular view into this ‘Garden of Eden’. Camping facilities are again basic.
Early the next day we descend onto the crater floor for a morning game drive in one of the most stunning natural wonders of the world. Measuring 19kms across and 600m deep this is the 5th largest crater in the world. It is a World Heritage site and boasts a unique eco system. The crater itself reflects a mini Rift Valley. It has a soda lake with flamingos, fresh water, open plains and a forest area. There is a high concentration of animals here and it is also a home to a small population of black rhino. We spend around 4½ hours game driving around the crater, before heading back to camp for lunch. Watch out for the black kites - renowned for stealing many a Kumuka passenger's lunch!
In the afternoon we journey back to Arusha for the final journey to Nairobi.

Days 26:Arusha to Nairobi.
Departing Arusha we transfer back to Kenya via shuttle, arriving into Nairobi approximately mid-afternoon where your tour ends. If you wish to depart on this day it is recommended flights are booked only departing after 2100hrs to allow for any delays.
Accommodation is not included on Day 26

Included

Tour Leader and Driver, All Activities, Sightseeing and Entrance Fees as Per Itinerary, All Meals Whilst Camping, National Parks and Reserve Entrance Fees as Per Itinerary, All Tolls and Taxes

Accommodation: Camping (25 Nights)

Transport: Overland Truck, Safari Vehicle, On Foot

Max Group Size: 20 pax

 

Excluded

All optional excursions, visas and meals unless otherwise stated in the itinerary.

Optional Activities
Kenya
Masai Mara - Masai Dancing & Cultural Talk - $10
Masai Mara - Masai Village - $10
Masai Mara - Hot Air Ballooning - $425
Lake Naivasha - Crescent Island Boat - $35
Lake Naivasha - Horse Riding - $5
Hells Gate National Park - Entrance Fee - $35
Nairobi - David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Visit - $65
Nairobi - Langatta Giraffe Centre Entry - $15

Tanzania
Serengeti - Morning Hot Air Balloon - $500
Zanzibar - Spice Island Tour - $25
Zanzibar - Prison Island Snorkelling - $25
Zanzibar - Swimming with Dolphins - N/A
Zanzibar - Transport to North/East Beaches - $15
Zanzibar - Accommodation costs on Zanzibar Approx - $35pp/pn
Zanzibar - Budget for Zanzibar option - $300pp

Uganda
Uganda - Gorilla Trek - $520
Uganda - Transfer to Gorillas - $50
Uganda - Whitewater Rafting (Nile) - $130
Uganda - Quad Biking - $60
Uganda - Soft Power Community Donation - $20
Uganda - Source of Nile Visit - $5
Uganda - Bungee Jump - $55
Uganda - Horse Riding - $50

Departures

Starts: Nairobi - Finishes: Nairobi

Sun 15 Jan 12    -    Thu 09 Feb 12
Sun 05 Feb 12    -    Thu 01 Mar 12
Sun 26 Feb 12    -    Thu 22 Mar 12
Sun 08 Apr 12    -    Thu 03 May 12
Sun 22 Apr 12    -    Thu 17 May 12
Sun 13 May 12    -    Thu 07 Jun 12
Sun 03 Jun 12    -    Thu 28 Jun 12
Sun 15 Jul 12    -    Thu 09 Aug 12
Sun 29 Jul 12    -    Thu 23 Aug 12
Sun 19 Aug 12    -    Thu 13 Sep 12
Sun 09 Sep 12    -    Thu 04 Oct 12
Sun 07 Oct 12    -    Thu 01 Nov 12
Sun 28 Oct 12    -    Thu 22 Nov 12
Sun 25 Nov 12    -    Thu 20 Dec 12
Sun 16 Dec 12    -    Thu 10 Jan 13

2013
Sun 06 Jan 13    -    Thu 31 Jan 13
Sun 13 Jan 13    -    Thu 07 Feb 13
Sun 03 Feb 13    -    Thu 28 Feb 13
Sun 03 Mar 13    -    Thu 28 Mar 13
Sun 24 Mar 13    -    Thu 18 Apr 13
Sun 14 Apr 13    -    Thu 09 May 13
Sun 21 Apr 13    -    Thu 16 May 13
Sun 12 May 13    -    Thu 06 Jun 13
Sun 09 Jun 13    -    Thu 04 Jul 13

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