Gorillas, Game & Orphanage
Tour Itinerary
Day 1: Accommodation: 
(D)
Fly in to Nairobi, You will be picked up from the airport and taken to the Silver Springs Hotel in the city centre. This deluxe property offers exceptional facilities and service. Relax in your room after your long flight. This evening, get to know your group and guide.
Day 2: Accommodation: (B, L, D)
You leave Nairobi this morning driving north to Nanyuki, a market town in the central-east Rift Valley area. You will have the opportunity to visit the wildlife sanctuary at The Mt Kenya Safari Club in the afternoon before stopping at the Mountain Rock Lodge for the night. You will most certainly enjoy the tranquil surroundings of this unique country lodge tucked away in the woods on the lower slopes of Mt Kenya. (Accommodated).
Day 3: Accommodation: 
(B, L, D)
Next stop is Sweetwaters Game Reserve, situated between the foot hills of the Aberdares and the magnificent snow-capped Mount Kenya. It boasts an astounding variety of animals including the non-indigenous chimpanzees and the Big 5. The combination of amazing wildlife and stunning views across the open plains of Ol Pejeta guarantees you a great day out as we game drive for most of the day. Tonight you are bush camping out in the middle of the park under the African sky. (Camping).
Day 4: Accommodation: (B, L, D)
After a morning game drive, you exit the park and continue through to Nyeri and the Aberdare’s stopping enroute at a lookout over the Great Rift Valley. You’ll stop in the town of Nakuru for supplies – this is a good place for souvenir and handicraft shopping. A short drive brings you to the entrance of Nakuru National Park where you spend the afternoon on a Game Drive. This small park is packed with wildlife. The soda lake has over 400 species of birdlife, including thousands of pink flamingos – an ornithologists paradise. It is also home to both the black and white rhino, and where many of the scenes from the movie “Out of Africa” were filmed. You will be camping at one of the sites in the park tonight. (Camping)
Day 5: Accommodation: (B, L, D)
Up early for a morning game drive, before exiting the park and driving up the very picturesque Eldama Ravine to Eldoret. You will be staying at Naiberi River Camp up in the highlands where it is much cooler. The camp is more of a laid-back resort and has a pool, shady gardens, great restaurant and a very vibrant bar with unique furnishings. (Accommodated in Dormitory – upgrade to Private Room from US$40 per person)
Day 6: Accommodation: 
(B, L, D)
After breakfast, you cross in to Uganda and drive through to Sipi Falls. The afternoon will be spent walking the trails around the Falls with a local guide. Spend the night here overlooking the scenic waterfalls with the foothills of Mt Elgon in the background – a great place for a sundowner. (Camping)
Day 7: Accommodation: (B, L, D)
After breakfast it is an easy drive through to Jinja where you spend the night over looking the source of the Nile at Bujagali Falls. The luxuriant vegetation covering the river banks and islands, and the diversity of bird life attracted by the multitude of fish, are a stunning vista. The camp has a great bar overlooking the river and bungy jump. (Permanent tent with bedding)
Day 8: Accommodation: (B)
A short drive brings you to colourful, chaotic Kampala - Uganda’s capital. You’ll stop at a large, modern shopping centre for supplies and you can stock up on personal items, have lunch in a café etc. The afternoon is free for you to explore the city at your leisure. This evening take a minibus taxi in to the central city and dine out in one of the great restaurants on offer. Partygoers might also like to stay out and experience the night life of Kampala. Lunch and dinner at your own expense. (Camping – upgrade to room priced from US$20 per person)
Day 9: Accommodation: (B, L, D)
Leaving Kampala in the morning you drive west to Fort Portal and on to Kibale Forest. Your base for the next 2 nights is the CVK Lodge, located right on a tranquil crater lake. 'Nyabikere' means lake of frogs and there are thousands of these elusive amphibians singing around the lake, along with cheeky monkeys swinging from trees right in front of your room. (Accommodated)
Day 10: Accommodation: (B)
Free day. You have the opportunity to do a chimpanzee walk and see these primates in their natural habitat, take a hike around the surrounding crater lakes nearby or just spend a relaxing day swimming in the lake. (Accommodated)
Day 11: Accommodation: (B, L)
Uganda is often dubbed 'the Pearl of Africa or ‘the Switzerland of Africa'. Your destination is Queen Elizabeth National Park which is especially scenic, with two lakes connected by a channel overlooked by a high peninsula. You arrive here after lunch and game-drive through to Mweya Lodge and your camp for the evening. The camp is basic but is in a fantastic location overlooking the Kazinga Chanel. If you feel like some luxury tonight, you can upgrade to a room at Mweya Lodge (subject to availability). Tonight you dine at the Lodge (own expense). (Camping – upgrades from US$150 per person).
Day 12: Accommodation: (B, L, D)
This morning you cruise The Kazinga Chanel by boat with a guide to see the many Hippo, abundant bird life and busy fishing villages. This afternoon is a particularly scenic drive through Uganda’s lush tea and banana plantations, to the town of Kabale where you’ll stop briefly for supplies before driving on to Lake Bunyoni. The Lake is reputed to be one of the deepest in Africa and is fantastic for swimming in. The surrounding hills are the home of the Bakiga people who are cultivators by tradition. (Accommodated)
Day 13: Accommodation: (B)
Free day. Guided walks, visiting an orphanage and canoeing are just some of the optional activities on offer in Lake Bunyoni. You’ll spend a leisurely afternoon cruising by boat around the islands and visiting a boarding school. (Accommodated)
Day 14: Accommodation: (B, L, D)
Today you cross into Rwanda and drive through the mountains to Ruhengeri - your base for the next few days. Stay at The Pastoral Centre of Our Lady Fatima which has a lively rooftop bar, and is only five minutes walk from the town centre. (Accommodated)
Day 15: Accommodation: (B, L, D)
Gorilla Trekking Day! You will be picked up early in the morning and taken up to the Park entrance headquarters. From here you'll be split into groups of 8 with a Guide and Park Rangers and driven to the Parc National des Volcans to begin your hike in to see the awesome Mountain Gorillas. Expect to trek anything from 1 to 4-hours around and up a thickly forested volcano with overhanging vines, moss covered trees and giant Lobelias that thrive in the tropical climate. Depending on where the Gorillas are, you may have to go off the track and climb steeply through thick bush. After all the effort of your climb, your heart will be in your throat when you finally come across a family of Gorillas. There are only around 700 Gorillas left in the world and nothing could be more of a privilege than to spend an hour watching them as they go about their daily routine of feeding, playing, cleaning and resting in their own territory. An unforgettable experience! (Accommodated)
Days 16 & 17: Accommodation: (B, L, D)
Over the next couple of days you will spend time at the Orphanage closely associated with The Safari. Approx 40-50 children live in the orphanage and they survive on donations from visitors. There is always work to be done – painting, building, clearing land, cleaning etc. The children are always keen to learn English, play games and have stories read to them. You will find these 2 days very rewarding! (Accommodated)
Day 18: Accommodation: (B, L, D)
Leave Ruhengeri in the morning and drive through the mountains to Kigali, Rwanda’s capital city. A visit to the Genocide Museum this morning will be a sobering reminder of the atrocities that occurred in Rwanda in 1994. After lunch visit the carving and curio markets. You spend the last night at Chez Lando Hotel, a quaint garden-like hotel, with a popular bar and rooftop restaurant on the outskirts of the city. (Accommodated)
Day 19: Tour End (B)
You will be transferred to the airport today.
NOTE:
Africa