Central Explorer
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:
Day 8 – 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:
Day 22 – We head south from Nairobi across the Masai
plains and cross the border at Namanga and cross into Tanzania, we arrive in
Arusha late in the day.
Day 23 – In Arusha you
can take a side trip to the Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater. The
trip is camping for two nights in the parks amidst the animals. If you choose
not to visit the park you can wander the markets in Arusha town.
Day 24 – Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro
Crater.
Day 25 – Return to Arusha
Day 26 – We head towards the coast past Moshi town the
capital city of the Chugga tribe. Skirting the base of snowy Mount Kilimanjaro
we camp on the way.
Day 27 – We arrive in Dar
es Salaam on the Indian Ocean coast.
Day 28 –.
Zanzibar Island - From Dar es Salaam you can take the ferry to Zanzibar Island.
Here is the old stone capital of the Omani Sultanate, sandy beaches, spice
tours, snorkelling, diving and trips to other nearby islands.
Week 5: Accommodation:
Day 29 – Zanzibar is a fascinating place to visit and
you can stay for 3 or 4 days to take it all in. Over a thousand years trade
between Africa and Arabia has resulted in the blending of Arabs and Africans
into a beautiful Swahili coastal culture with; wooden sailing dhows crossing the
ocean, coconut plantations and fishing villages with mosques on the beaches.
Day 30 – Most people spend the first day in
Zanzibar Town visiting Stone Town a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the old slave
market , the spice growing areas, Jozani Forest with Red Colobus Monkeys and in
the evening visit the seafood cafes and have dinner on the wharf.
Day 31 – Zanzibar Island – Nungwe beach resort on the north
of the island has the most beautiful beaches in the world.
Day 32 – Return to Dar es Salaam by ferry.
Day 33 – South through Tanzania; our route takes us through
Mikumi National Park where we may well see giraffe or elephant grazing beside
the road.
Day 34 – The road from Dar es Salaam
to Malawi is 850 kilometers long; through the southern highlands passing Baobab
Valley, Iringa and Mbeya to the border of Malawi.
Day
35 – Crossing the border into Malawi, we reach the shores of its huge
lake. We spend the night at Chitimba Beach Camp. The campsites and small resorts
along Lake Malawi offer sandy beaches, swimming and snorkelling, water-skiing,
horse riding or walking in the surrounding countryside. Markets sell carved
Malawi chairs, tables and wood carvings.
Week 6: Accommodation:
Day 36 –.We head south along the beach to Kande Beach
resort – very relaxed and just the sort of beach place you need in
Africa.
Day 37 - Kande Beach.
Day 38 – Kande Beach.
Day 39 – Leaving the beach we go inland to spend the night in the capital
Lilongwe.
Day 40 – We cross the border into
Zambia and head into the country along the Great North Road – sparsely settled
country side with few people or villages for hundreds of miles.
Day 41 – South Luangwa National Park is well worth the
visit; recent trips have seen; wild dogs, leopards, lions, and buffalo. We camp
beside the park; from where you can game drive into the park. The road up to the
park is dirt and the park been part of vast swamp system, so from January up to
March as the road can be flooded we can’t get in until the water recedes and the
road’s rebuilt and graded.
Day 42 – South
Luangwa National Park.
Days 43 to 46: Accommodation:
Day 43 – We leave the park and continue to head west.
Day 44 – We reach Lusaka the capital of Zambia.
Day 45 – Victoria Falls - the Zambezi River plunges 100 metres down a mile wide chasm, creating one of the most incredible natural wonders of the world. The local name for the falls is 'Mosi-oa-Tunya' which means 'the smoke that thunders' and you'll soon find out why. When the river is in full flow, the falling water causes a huge roar and sends a cloud of spray up to 500 metres into the air.
We stay in Victoria Falls in Livingstone above the falls where there is so much to see and do. Adventure activities abound - you can bungee jump, white water raft, and go game-viewing on horse back. More sedate excursions include canoeing, light aircraft or helicopter flights over the Falls and the sunset cruise on the Zambezi. Though the Falls themselves are the main attraction and you can walk through the rain forest along the cliff opposite for an excellent view. Here you can walk with lion cubs.
Day 46 – Victoria Falls and the end of your trip.
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.
NOTE:
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.