GAMEPARKS AND GORILLAS ADVENTURE

ITINERARY

We meet at the hotel at 8 am on the first day of the trip. We recommend you arrive in Nairobi at least the day before, however if you're there with a few days to spare there's lots to see and do around the city. In town is the National Museum, there are markets in and around Nairobi or you can visit Karen Blixen's house, Langata Giraffe Centre or even Nairobi National Park for a first glimpse of African wildlife.

DAY 1 Leaving Nairobi we stop at a scenic lookout 8,000 feet above sea level, overlooking Mount Longonot and Lake Naivasha.  We pass the dramatic landscape of the Rift Valley to the highlands and spend our first night in Eldoret, you can end your day sipping beer in a tree house at Naiberi River Campsite.

DAY 2 We have an early start, crossing the Ugandan border at Malaba. The scenery changes to tropical rain forests and tea and sugar plantations. We catch our first glimpse of Lake Victoria on route to Uganda’s capital 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 picturesque shores of Lake Bunyonyi the deepest crater lake in Uganda.

DAY 4 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 5-6 Kisoro is situated under the peaks of the Mufumbiro Mountains, and makes a stunning base for the next two days, which are set aside for trekking the famed mountain gorillas.

In groups of 6 to 8 people with two guides we trek deep into the forest to find one of the gorilla families. The trek is an experience in itself, following your guides as they cut a path through the thick vegetation. The guides track the gorillas almost every day but even so, sometimes it can take several hours to find them. You will be rewarded though by the sight of these human-like giants playing with their young, feeding, grooming and staring curiously back at you. We spend an hour observing these amazing animals - remember to bring plenty of camera film.

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 Mgahinga National park for a day hike up a volcano or a guided nature trail.

DAY 7 Still on a high from our time spent with the gorillas, we meander back to Lake Bunyonyi meaning “place of little birds”.  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 bike.

DAY 8-9 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 Baganda people, or arrange a day trip via Entebbe, to Lake Victoria’s Ngamba Island, sanctuary for rescued chimps.

DAY 10 Crossing the Owen Falls dam we arrive at Jinja on the shores of Lake Victoria.  Our campsite for the next three days above Bujagali Falls is a welcome reprieve from travelling, and we have a lazy afternoon to put up our tents on the grassy terraces overlooking the Nile River.

DAY 11 Spend an action-filled day white water rafting down the Nile. As well as grade 5’s, this river has a lot of bird and wildlife to view while relaxing between the rapids. The rafting is rounded off with a sunset BBQ and drinks, then back to camp to re-live it on video.

DAY 12 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 13-15 Leaving Uganda, we head back into Kenya and onto Nakuru Town, the capital of the Rift Valley Province.  We spend the next few nights at Kembu Camp, a working farm.  Visit the local weavery and school, take a tour of the farm and put your order in for farm fresh milk.

We spend a full day at 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.

DAY 16-18 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.

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. There is some spectacular scenery here, red cliffs, grassy plains and rock towers made of hardened lava, 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

Wander the predator free reserve amongst African game with a guide on Crescent Island.  Take a boat onto Niavasha or explore the Green Crater Lake.

DAY 19-20 We head west to the 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 they are rarely disappointed when confronted with the real thing. Great game viewing is assured all year round here, the Mara offers us everything, amazing scenery and abundant wildlife including the ‘big five’.

DAY 21 From here we return to Nairobi with the chance to feast at the renowned Carnivores Game Restaurant.

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