Gorilla Safari

Tour Itinerary 

Day 1:     Accommodation:              

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. Overnight Silver Springs Hotel. (Accommodated)

Day 2:     Accommodation:      /      (B, L, D)

Depart Nairobi in the morning and drive to Lake Naivasha stopping on the way at the view-point looking over The Great Rift Valley.  This afternoon we take a boat ride on the lake viewing hippos, fish eagles, and lots of birdlife before arriving at Elsamere, the former home of the late Joy & George Adamson.  Joy became world famous for her pioneering conservation work and relationship with the lioness Elsa, as told in her best selling book and subsequent film, Born Free.  After a video presentation on the life of the Adamsons, we’ll spend some time relaxing over a delicious afternoon tea in the gardens.  This is a haven for lovers of nature, set in Acacia forest on the banks of Lake Naivasha. Overnight at Fishermans Camp on the lake-shore.  (Accommodated)

Today is a reasonably long, but interesting, drive into the Masai Mara stopping along the way for lunch.  As we get closer to the park you will see herds of goats & cows wandering the vast plains and dutifully looked over by their Masai owners.   We enter the main gate by mid afternoon and game drive through to Acacia Tented Camp, where we will spend the next two nights.  (Permanent tent with bedding)

We spend the day game driving around the park. You will not be disappointed with the game in the Masai Mara. Vast herds of Zebra, Wildebeest and Antelope and The Big 5 (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo & rhino).  The Masai Mara is quite simply, one of the greatest wildlife attractions in the world and at this time of year we should see the migration which is spectacular.  We have lunch by the Mara River and time to wander around for photo opportunities of whatever animals might be around the river at the time.  In the afternoon we will visit a Masai village to meet the locals and learn about some of their age-old customs and the way they live their semi-nomadic lifestyle.  Overnight Acacia Tented Camp.  (Permanent tent with bedding)

We leave the park this morning and head to Nakuru where we will stay at Kembu Farm Camp.   This camp is located in the Rift Valley and set in a well secured farm with beautiful gardens and excellent facilities. Overnight Kembu Farm Camp. (Accommodated)

Today we enter Lake Nakuru National Park and spend the day game driving.  This park is small by comparison to the Mara and 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.  We will be camping at one of the sites in the park tonight.  (Camping)

Up early for a morning game drive before exiting the park and doing some shopping in Nakuru township.  We then head up  the very picturesque Eldama Ravine to Eldoret. We will be staying at Naiberi River Camp up in the highlands where it is much cooler. The camp is more of a resort and has a pool, shady gardens, great restaurant and a very vibrant bar with unique furnishings. Overnight Naiberi River Camp. (Accommodated in dormitory – upgrade to private room US$40 pp twin share)

After breakfast, we cross in to Uganda and drive through to Jinja where we will spend the night over looking the source of The Nile at Bujagali Falls.  The Falls are stunningly beautiful and distinctive for the sheer volume of cascading water over a series of low rapids.  The luxuriant vegetation covering the river banks and islands, and the diversity of bird life attracted by the multitude of fish, complete the stunning vista.  Overnight (Accommodated)

A short drive brings us to colourful and chaotic Kampala, Uganda’s capital.  Here you have the opportunity to dine out in one of the great restaurants on offer and experience the night life of Kampala.  Dining out & nightlife at your own expense.  (Camping – upgrade to room priced from US$20 per person twin or double).

Leaving Kampala in the morning we drive west to Fort Portal and on to Kibale Forest. We spend the next two nights at CVK Lodge. The lodge sits on the tranquil crater Lake Nyabikere (meaning lake of frogs), facing the Rwenzori Mountains. You have the opportunity on the second day 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 and watching the cheeky monkeys in the trees in front of your room. Overnight CVK Lodge. (Accommodated)

Uganda is often dubbed 'the Pearl of Africa'. Our destination is Queen Elizabeth National Park which is especially scenic, with two lakes connected by a channel overlooked by a high peninsula. You will also find volcanic craters, grassy plains and tropical forest. As a result it has one of the highest biodiversity ratings in the world.   We arrive here after lunch and take an afternoon boat cruise on The Kazinga Channel. It is well worth the trip to see the thousands of Hippo, the abundant bird life and busy fishing village.  Also we have the opportunity to dine at the beautiful Mweya Lodge.  Overnight Camping. (Camping – upgrade to lodge room from US$150 pp twin share)

Leaving Queen Elizabeth National Park in the morning, we head to the town of Kabale 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. Guided bird walks, visiting the orphanage, canoeing and a trip to the islands on the lake by motorboat are just some of the activities on offer here.  (Accommodated)

Today we cross into Rwanda and drive through to Ruhengeri where we base ourselves for the next few days. We will be staying at The Pastoral Centre of our Lady Fatima which has a rooftop bar, a great restaurant and only five minutes walk from the town centre.  Later this afternoon, visit the orphanage which we have close affiliations with.  Overnight The Pastoral Centre of our Lady Fatima. (Accommodated)

Gorilla Trekking day! You will be picked up early in the morning by land rovers and taken up to the park entrance headquarters. From here you will be split into groups of 8 with a guide and park rangers to begin your hike into see the amazing Mountain Gorillas. A gorilla visit can entail anything from a 1 to 4-hour trek through the forest, led by experienced trackers who have spent their lives living in or close to the forest. Your trek through the forest will be enchanting as you weave through overhanging vines, moss covered trees and giant Lobelias that thrive in the tropical climate of the forest. You will spot golden monkeys swinging from the bamboo and a wide variety of birdlife. Then of course, nothing could be more of a privilege than to spend an hour watching the gorillas as they go about their daily routine, feeding, playing and resting.  You will most definitely question your primeval existence.  An unforgettable experience!  Overnight The Pastoral Centre of our Lady Fatima. (Accommodated)

Today is a long day on the road as we cross into Tanzania and drive around the bottom of Lake Victoria. Lake Victoria is the second-largest freshwater lake in the world and the main reservoir for theNile River.  It is known for its abundance of fish which are exported by local fisherman, making a major contribution to the economy. (Accommodated)

Today we pass through Mwanza - stopping for supplies then onto Ndabaka Gate, the entrance into The Serengeti. We will spend the night outside the park at The Serengeti Stop Over Point.  (Camping - Upgrade to a room at USD$40.00 pp Twin Share)

We head into the park just after lunch and game drive through to Seronera where we will be pitching our tents at one of the camping sites. Overnight Camping. (Camping)

Morning game drive before heading out across the plains to Naabi Hill and into the Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area. After lunch we drive to Olduvai Gorge and then up to the crater rim where we will be staying the night. The gorge has a geology that fossil-hunters love. A river cuts through several layers of strata with four distinct beds. The oldest, is about 2 million years old and famous for the first fossil ape skulls to be found, including the 25-million-year-old primate found by Louis & Mary Leakey. Later we drive up to the crater rim where we will be staying the night. You will not be disappointed with the wildlife and scenery we encounter here. This is the world’s largest unbroken, unflooded volcanic caldera.  The Crater, which formed when a giant volcano exploded and collapsed on itself a mere 2-3 million years ago, is 610 m deep and its floor covers 260 km2.  (Accommodated)

Half day game drive in the crater before heading to Arusha where we will be staying at The Snake Park campsite. The Snake Park provides various activities, and you can learn about some of the most dangerous snakes in the world, from the Black and Green Mamba, Egyptian Cobra, Puff Adders and many more.  Overnight The Snake Park. (Camping)

Today we cross back into Kenya at the Namanga border and journey on to Nairobi and Silver Springs Hotel. Last group get-together tonight over dinner.  Overnight Silver Springs Hotel.  (Accommodated)

After check out you will be dropped of at the airport for your flight home.