Tour Itinerary 

Week 1:            Accommodation:

Day 1 – Leaving Nairobi we stop at the Rift Valley scenic lookout its 8,000 feet high and overlooks Mount Longonot and Lake Naivasha. We pass from the dramatic landscape of the Rift Valley to the highlands and spend our first night near Nakuru, where you can end your day sipping beer at Kembu Campsite.

Day 2 – An early start, crossing the Ugandan border at Malaba or Busia. The scenery changes to tropical rain forests and tea and sugar plantations. We catch our first glimpse of Lake Victoria on route to Jinja or Kampala city, our overnight stop.

Day 3 – Stopping for photos as we cross the equator, we continue southwest to Kabale town; gateway to the Mountain Gorilla Reserves. We spend this evening camped on the shores of Lake Bunyonyi the deepest Crater Lake in Uganda.

Day 4 – Climbing through lush terraced hills to Kisoro, there are panoramic views of the Ugandan hills on every turn. From the road we have outlooks over three countries - Uganda, Republic of Congo, Rwanda; and the Virunga Mountains - Mountains of the Moon, the home of the rare mountain gorillas.

Day 5 – As the groups going to the gorillas are small it takes a couple of days for everyone to do the trek.  Whilst others are searching for the great apes, you can take in the local markets; walk to the nearby mountain lakes or go to Magahinga National park for a day hike up a volcano or a guided nature trail.

Day 6 – Looking for the Mountain Gorillas.

Day 7 – We head back to Lake Bunyonyi meaning “place of little birds”. It is known, not only for its water birds, but also for its fresh water crayfish population. It’s a great place to relax, or for the more energetic you can canoe to one of the many islands dotting the lake, swim, or take in the scenery on mountain bikes.

Week 2:            Accommodation:

We return to Uganda’s capital. Kampala is a modern bustling city.

Day 9 –  Jinja - Crossing the Owen Falls dam we arrive at Jinja on the shores of Lake Victoria. Our campsite for the next few days above Bujagali Falls is a welcome break from travelling; we have a lazy afternoon to put up our tents on the grassy terraces overlooking the Nile River.

Day 10 – Jinja - You can spend an action-filled day white water rafting down the Nile. As well as grade 5 rapids this river has a lot of bird and wildlife to view while drifting between the rapids. The rafting is rounded off with a sunset BBQ and drinks, then back to camp to re-live it on video. There is no shortage of other activities in Jinja; quad biking, bungee jump, fish on Lake Victoria, take a guided village walk or give up a day of your holiday to volunteer for the local community education project.

Day 11 – On to Sipi Falls if time permits; on the edge of the Mt Elgon.

Day 12 – Leaving Uganda, we head back into Kenya to El Dorat town.

Day 13 – We spend the next two nights at Kembu Camp, a working farm. You can visit the local weavers and school or take a tour of the farm.

Day 14 – You take the side trip for the day to Lake Nakuru, viewing game in a park famous for its soda lake surrounded by thousands, sometimes millions of pink flamingoes. The park is home to over 400 species of bird, and we should spot leopard or black and white rhino among the zebra, waterbuck, impala and giraffe.

Week 3:            Accommodation:

Day 15 – We cross the floor of the Rift Valley to camp under the fever trees on the shore of Lake Naivasha, with hippos grazing on the shore in the evening.

Day 16 – Close by is Hell's Gate National Park where you can hire bikes to take you around the park and see the herds of zebra, buffalo and antelope. You can also wander in the predator free reserve amongst African game. There is spectacular scenery here; red cliffs, grassy plains and rock towers made of hardened lava and the remains of ancient volcanoes. Also on the lake is Elsamere; once the home of Joy Adamson and Elsa the lion of 'Born Free' fame. Elsamere is now the centre of the Born Free Foundation and you can find out more about their work, watch a video on Joy’s life and take afternoon tea in the gardens.

Day 17 – We head south towards Narok on the way to Masai Mara.

Day 18 – Masai Mara National Reserve, camping on the edge of the park. The sweeping plains evoke a picture of East Africa that most people hold in their minds and are rarely disappointed when confronted with the real thing. Great game viewing is assured all year round. The Mara offers us everything, amazing scenery and abundant wildlife including the big five.

Day 19 – Masai Mara National Reserve

Day 20 – We return to Nairobi a chance to see and do around the city. In Nairobi town is the National Museum and markets. Close to the camp are; Karen Blixen's house, Langata Giraffe Centre or a day at the races or a round of golf.

Day 21 – We spend the day in Nairobi.

Week 4:            Accommodation:

**PLEASE NOTE:

The Zanzibar section of this tour is an optional excursion. Passengers continuing South on longer overland tours will have 4 days on Zanzibar and will then travel back to the mainland (Da es Salaam) to re-join the truck for the continued journey to either Vic Falls, Jo-berg or Capetown. Passengers on this tour (the East African Focus) can opt to stay in Zanzibar for longer, or travel back with the group on the finish date to continue their own travels.

Africa is an unpredictable continent. We do not have a fixed itinerary so please treat the information given as a guideline only. Although our information is written in good faith at the time of printing, our route may vary at any time due to weather, politics or road conditions.