Northbound and Gorillas
Tour Itinerary
Week 1: Accommodation: 
Day 1 - Leaving Johannesburg we head to Botswana over the border to Palapye where we camp the night. This day includes the border crossing, so passports at the ready.
Day 2 – Next day on to Maun, a dusty outpost
community and the centre for the Okavango Delta which is on the edges of the
Kalahari Desert, to prepare for the wilderness experience to come.
Day 3 – For the trip into the Delta pack; an overnight bag,
food, cooking and camping equipment and you’re off. A short truck ride to the
dugout canoes, called Mokoros and you punt out into the delta along reed lined
waterways. The guides find an island for the night and set up camp. For those
not going into the Delta; relax by the pool, visit town or go to the crocodile
farm.
Day 4 – Up early and it’s off walking
with the guide, a unique chance to see game on foot; elephants, herds of grazing
zebra and pods of hippos.
Day 5 – Try learning
how to pole your mokoro, or try to catch a catfish, the guides make it look so
easy. A last swim in the clear water before heading back to the truck and
campsite for a shower and cold drinks.
Day 6 – An early start and a stunning drive through arid land. One turn to the
left and the country becomes lush and forested as we approach Chobe River; a
river cruise, excellent for game viewing is highly recommended.
Day 7 – Today we take the ferry across the Zambezi River
into Zambia and short drive to Livingstone town by the splendid Victoria
Falls.
Week 2: Accommodation:
Day 8 – We spend the day at the Falls; white water rafting, Bungy jumping, gorge swings, booze cruises, fishing, good restaurants, curio markets to get you bartering.
Day 9 – A second day at the Falls.
Day 10 – We head north through sugar plantations to the capital Lusaka to shop and camp.
Day 11 – Along the Great East Road to Chipata, a full days drive.
Day 12 – A 4 hour drive on dirt roads to South Luangwa Valley on the edge of the Luangwa River, the afternoon been spent under the trees in the camp watching the animals in the park. The park is well worth the visit; recent trips have seen; wild dogs, leopards, lions, and buffalo.
The road up to South Luangwa Valley is dirt and the park is part of vast swamp system, generally from January up to March as the road is flooded we can’t get in until the water recedes and the road is rebuild and graded. In these times we spend more time at the Falls and on Lake Malawi.
Day 13 – Game driving in South Luangwa Valley Park.
Day 14 – We cross the border into Malawi to the capital city Lilongwe.
Week 3: Accommodation:
Day 15 – A stunning drive to Lake Malawi, past the
lake shore to Kande Beach Resort.
Day 16 –
Kande Beach Resort A full day on the beach to do as little or as much as you
want. Loads of things to do - scuba diving, horse riding, canoeing, sailing,
snorkelling. The lake is home to over 500 different types of colourful Cyclid
fish.
Day 17 – A short drive up the lakeshore
to Chitimba Beach, on the base of Livingstonia escarpment.
Day 18 – An early start in order to get to the border with
Tanzania and head up to Iringa and the Farmhouse Campsite.
Day 19 – The highway takes us through Mikumi National Park,
famous for its pygmy elephants, and buffalo beside the main road. The day t ends
at Dar es Salaam on a beach with the Indian Ocean lapping the
shore.
Day 20 – You can take the ferry to the
Spice Island of Zanzibar. First stop in Stone Town or Zanzibar City, then make
your way across the island to Nungwe village on the northern Beaches – a
tropical island at its best.
Week 4: Accommodation:
Day 21 – Zanzibar Island
Day 22 – Zanzibar Island
Day 23
– Return to Dar es Salaam by ferry.
Day 24 – An early start thru town before the traffic starts and inland and north
skirting the base of snowy Mount Kilimanjaro to Arusha, Tanzania’s safari
capital.
Day 25 - 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 26 - Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater
Day 27 – Return to Arusha late in the day to Snake Park Camp
site
Day 28 – From Arusha we head north across
Masai country to Namanga; the border of Kenya, and across the plains to the
leafy suburb of Karen on the outskirts of Nairobi.
Week 5: Accommodation:
Day 29 – Leaving Nairobi we stop at the Rift Valley
scenic lookout at 8,000 feet high, overlooking 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 30 – We have an early
start, crossing over 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 31 – 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 32 – Climbing through lush terraced hills to Kisoro, there are panoramic views
of this unique Ugandan landscape 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 33 – 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 enter the Magahinga National park
for a day hike up a volcano or a guided nature trail.
Day 34 – Looking for the Mountain Gorillas.
Week 6: Accommodation:
Day 35 – 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. Lake Bunyonyi is 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.
Day 36
– We return to Uganda’s capital. Kampala is a modern bustling city
leaving you no shortage of things to see and do. You may wish to visit the
National Museum, the Kasubi Tombs of the Buganda people.
Day 37 – 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, and we have a lazy afternoon to put up
our tents on the grassy terraces overlooking the Nile River.
Day 38 – 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; head off on a
quad bike, 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 39 – On to Sipi Falls if time
permits on the edge of the Mt Elgon.
Day 40 –
Leaving Uganda, we head back into Kenya to El Dorat town.
Day 41 – 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 42 – 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 may spot leopard or black
and white rhino amongst the zebra, waterbuck, impala, giraffe and many
more.
Week 7: Accommodation:
Day 43 – Not far from Nakuru in the Rift Valley is Lake Naivasha. We camp on the shores of the lake where hippos often come to graze in the evenings and black and white Colobus monkeys turn up in the early morning.
Day 44 – 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 45 –We head south towards Narok on the way to Masai Mara.
Day 46 – 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 47 – Masai Mara National Reserve.
Day 48 – 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.
Day 49 – The end of your trip.
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