Tour Gorillas & East Africa Safari

Transport

Overland vehicle,4x4 Safari Vehicle,Plane Our trucks are purpose-built, self contained safari vehicles. Our fleet of vehicles varies depending on your group size, trip route and style. Your vehicle type may differ from those listed above. It is also important to note that our overland vehicles are not air-conditioned, but all vehicles have windows that can be opened to allow for fresh air. Each seat will have access to a power socket to charge your devices. This outlet will use a UK/K: enyan 3 pronged outlet. There are many early starts with long hours spent driving on rough roads on all African itineraries. While most people love the chance to watch the changing landscape and daily village life, feedback shows that long periods of inactivity does not appeal to all clients. We provide the approximate distance covered each day and how many hours this normally takes to drive so that you can choose the safari experience that is right for you. African conditions are extremely tough on vehicles. While we fastidiously maintain our vehicles at our workshops, you should not expect Africa to be your traditional touring experience. While it’s certainly our aim to avoid them, it’s important that you set off on your trip knowing that the occasional breakdown can happen and are best treated as part of the African adventure. Due to wet weather there may be times when we have to take an alternative route which will mean longer travel times.

Accommodation

Accommodation within the Serengeti is in two-person canvas dome tents with sleeping bags and camping mattresses supplied. The campsite does have facilities but they are very basic and are not to the same standard you would find in western countries. There is rarely toilet paper provided and shower pressure is often reduced to a trickle of cold water. If you require a Sleep Apnea Machine to sleep please ensure that it is battery operated. Lodges and Permanent Tented Camps are often powered by generators which are turned off during the night. Hotel (7 nights),Lodge (6 nights),Permanent Tented Basic Lodge (2 nights),Camping with basic facilities (2 nights)

Meals

17 breakfasts, 10 lunches, 9 dinners

Guide

On the Rwanda & Uganda portion of this trip you will have an East African Intrepid Leader and up to 2 drivers from Rwanda. On the Kenya & Tanzania portion of this trip you will be accompanied by three crew members - Group Leader, Cook and Driver who will usually be Kenyan. Your Group Leader’s role involves organizing the overall operation and smooth-running of the trip, managing trip logistics, coordinating the tipping kitty (where applicable) and will form work groups to take turns cooking, cleaning and shopping. (From time to time your leader may drive as well) Your Group Leader will work towards making the trip as safe and enjoyable as possible for all travellers. Intrepid trips are built around the co–operation and participation of all the group members under the supervision of the group leader. The group leader will show the group how to set up and use the equipment. While not being guides in the traditional sense you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the countries visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects. We also use local guides where we think more specific knowledge will add to the enjoyment of the places we are visiting, especially when tracking and identifying game - we think it’s the best of both worlds. Regardless of the country of origin, our Group Leaders are chosen for their leadership skills and are wonderful ambassadors for our company and our beautiful continent and its people. Your Cook is responsible for the cooking and will help to coordinate the work groups for preparing the meals and washing up! Cooks are also responsible for organizing food shopping (they are always happy to have you on board) and most importantly, they make sure high hygiene standards are kept at all times while camping. Your Driver’s main responsibility is to get you to your destination safely; they are also responsible for the maintenance of the vehicles along the way. Everyone is expected participate and carry their share of the workload/duties, making camp chores easier. The duties Rota system is adopted where all members share in general camp duties – cooking, shopping, washing up etc. If the whole group participates it will be quicker, easier, and more fun. We endeavour to provide the services of an experienced leader and crew; however, situations may arise where your leader is new to a particular region or training other group leaders.

Others

Included activities Kigali - City Tour Kigali - Nyamata Memorial Site Kigali - Ntarama Church Kigali - Genocide Memorial Centre Gisenyi - Morning Town Visit Kisoro - Village Visit Bwindi National Park - Mountain Gorilla Permit & Trek Complimentary Airport Departure Transfer Complimentary Airport Arrival Transfer Nairobi - Farm to Feast Community Visit Loita Hills - Maasai Village Visit Masai Mara - Full Day 4x4 Game Drive Serengeti National Park - Overland Vehicle Game Drive Serengeti National Park - Overland Vehicle Game drive Ngorongoro Crater - 4x4 Game Drive

Not included:

Flights

International flights not included.

Others

Other activities and services not included

Insurance

Travel Insurance is not included

Optional

Other activities and services not included

Start planning your experience

Day 1 Day 1: Kigali
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: Kigali

Welcome to Kigali, the capital of Rwanda since it gained independence in 1962. Most associate Rwanda with the horrific genocide that took place in 1994, but this is a country that has been striving to rebuild its economy for years and offers so much to the intrepid traveller. And though the past won’t, and shouldn’t, be forgotten, the future of Rwanda’s tourism is looking bright thanks to its welcoming people, an abundance of lakes and the beautiful Virunga Mountains. Your adventure begins by meeting your fellow travellers and local leader at 6pm.
Day 2 Day 2: Kigali
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Kigali

After breakfast this morning, visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre, which was opened in 2004 to mark the 10th commemoration of the genocide against the Tutsi people. It serves as both a museum, detailing the history and consequences of Rwanda’s genocide, and a place for people to grieve for lost friends and family. This afternoon, take some time out from the devastating history with a local lunch and an afternoon city tour, including a trip to the craft market. Explore the Nyamirambo neighbourhood, one of the liveliest parts of Kigali. Home to most of the city’s Muslim population, there are several beautiful mosques to discover here, and in a city that mostly shuts down after dark, the colourful streets of Nyamirambo are alive long into the night.
Day 3 Day 3: Gisenyi (Lake Kivu)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Gisenyi (Lake Kivu)

Say goodbye to Kigali and drive on to Gisenyi, located on Lake Kivu’s northern edge. Kivu is one of of Africa’s Great Lakes – Rwanda’s largest and Africa’s sixth-largest – and is a natural border between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda. Take a boat cruise around the lake spotting birdlife and visiting some of the small islands. After your leader can help you choose how to spend the rest of the afternoon, maybe take a trip to Napoleon Island to go hiking and encounter birds and its large colony of fruit bats. Alternatively, spend the afternoon getting to know Gisenyi and the colonial-era mansions and bars that sit by the lake.
Day 4 Day 4: Queen Elizabeth National Park
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Queen Elizabeth National Park

Your journey continues as you drive on to the Queen Elizabeth National Park. Named after the Queen of England in 1954 following her visit, the park is home to 618 bird species which is the 6th highest diversity in the world and the highest in Africa, in addition to 10 primate species including Chimpanzees and 95 mammals including big game. Game Drive en-route to our accommodation – keep your eyes open in search of the varied wildlife within the park. A little patience is sure to reward you with some memorable sightings! Stay in a simple safari lodge located within the Park overlooking the Kazinga Channel
Day 5 Day 5: Queen Elizabeth National Park
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Queen Elizabeth National Park

Wake up for another exciting day in Queen Elizabeth National Park with another 4x4 Game Drive. Be on the lookout for any sightings you may have missed yesterday, and if you’re really lucky you might be able to spot leopards or lions. This afternoon you have opportunity to see the park from a different perspective with an optional cruise down the Kazinga Channel, linking Lake Edward to Lake George. You’ll be joined by local guides who will fill you in on everything you could want to know about the landscape and the animals who live within it – be on the lookout for hippos basking on the shore, as well as crocodiles, herds of elephants and abundant birdlife.
Day 6 Day 6: Queen Elizabeth National Park (Ishasha Sector)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: Queen Elizabeth National Park (Ishasha Sector)

This morning we make our way to Ishasha, the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Here you meet some local residents to learn more about rural life in Uganda. Visit a local organic farm, medicine garden and homestead and learn how its owner is tackling human-wildlife conflict with his anti-crop raiding techniques. You’ll also meet a local Mukiga woman who will share her story while showing you how to sort, pound and grind millet to make porridge and other Bakiga meals. This part of the park is famous for its tree climbing lions, so be on the look out as you make the game drive towards our ecolodge in the northern sector of the park frequented by herds of elephants, buffaloes and antelopes!
Day 7 Day 7: Kisoro
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: Kisoro

Today, drive out of the Queen Elizabeth National Park on your way to the southwest tip of Uganda (approximately 6 hours). The journey is like a game drive in itself, with the chance to spot zebras, antelopes, baboons and monkeys out the window. When you arrive at the corner of Uganda, where the border touches Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, you’ll be based in Kisoro, which provides access to seven different gorilla groups located in Mgahinga, Nkuringo, Rushaga and Nshongi.
Day 8 Day 8: Kisoro (Gorilla Trek)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 8: Kisoro (Gorilla Trek)

Join a local guide and trackers as you climb through the rugged, mountainous terrain of Bwindi National Park in search of mountain gorillas. A quick lock of eyes with these creatures is a truly primal moment and visits are strictly controlled to minimise disturbance. Make no mistake, tracking gorillas is no walk in the park – it’s called Bwinidi Impenetrable National Park for a reason. It can be wet, muddy, strenuous and uncomfortable, but the indescribable elation at coming across a group of gorillas is worth the effort. Spend a mesmerising hour with the gorillas as they eat, sleep, groom and play as the male silverback watches over them, then return to the lodge for dinner and to reflect on this incredible experience.
Day 9 Day 9: Nairobi
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 9: Nairobi

After breakfast this morning, it’s time to make the journey back to Kigali (approximately 4 hours). You will be dropped off at Kigali Airport for your short flight to Nairobi this evening (approximately 1.5hrs). On arrival at Nairobi Airport you will be met and transferred to your Nairobi hotel. Check-in, freshen up and get a good nights rest before meeting your group in the morning.
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 10 Day 10: Masai Mara National Reserve
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 10: Masai Mara National Reserve

Transfer from Nairobi to the famous Masai Mara, one of the best game reserves in all of Africa. On the way you’ll stop in Loita Hills, a remote region that’s home to the traditional Maasai people. This is one of the key places where the Maasai people still practice their traditional way of life, with little influence from the western world. Make a stop at Tepesua Village, which is known for championing Maasai women’s health and education. You’ll be welcomed by Maasai Warriors by way of traditional song and dance. Meet your Maasai hosts and enjoy a fascinating talk, full of insights into this remarkable and ancient culture. Take a walk to the community village which was founded for widows who had lost their cows due to drought, and can never remarry. The village offers support, safety and economic growth through the ‘Tepesua Widows Income Project’. Here the women are engaged in making handicrafts and sewing eco-friendly handbags, washable sanitary pads, and backpacks to sell to visiting travellers and locals. Learn about village life and be shown around a traditional Maasai home, and their cattle enclosures. Continue to the outskirts of the Masai Mara, where your permanent tented camp can be found.
Accommodation: Permanent tented camp
Day 11 Day 11: Masai Mara National Reserve
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 11: Masai Mara National Reserve

Explore the Masai Mara in 4WD safari vehicles with game drives in both the morning and the afternoon. This is the quintessential African experience and with sparse open plains, dramatic skies and some of the world’s most impressive animals, one you won’t soon forget. Keep your eyes peeled for wildebeest, lions, leopards, antelope and giraffes, to name but a few.
Accommodation: Permanent tented camp
Day 12 Day 12: Lake Victoria
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 12: Lake Victoria

Prepare for a long travel day as you head towards the border separating Kenya and Tanzania, then on to the small town of Musoma on the shores of Lake Victoria. Not only is this the largest lake in Africa, it’s also the largest tropical lake in the entire world and shares its shores with Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. The next three days will be spent in the wilderness, so make the most of your afternoon and evening by stocking up at the local market, grabbing cash from the town’s ATM and kicking back with a beach side cold drink as the sun goes down.
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 13 Day 13: Serengeti National Park
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 13: Serengeti National Park

Travel on from Lake Victoria to Serengeti National Park and enjoy a picnic lunch at the entrance to the famous expanse. Continue to your campsite on your first Serengeti game drive, keeping an eye out for the hoofed animals and predators that call this place home. Tonight you’ll have a true African safari experience, camping in an unfenced site within the national park, right in the heart of the animal action. Your leader will give you a full safety briefing once you arrive.   
Accommodation: Camping (with basic facilities)
Day 14 Day 14: Serengeti National Park
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 14: Serengeti National Park

Wake to another glorious day in the Serengeti. Start the day with an early morning game drive to search for animals when they’re at their most active, then return to the campsite for a relaxed brunch. Spend the hottest part of the day relaxing in camp – don’t stress, the animals will be doing the same – then head off again in the afternoon for another drive through the park. Return to the campsite for dinner and another night under the Serengeti’s stars. Note: there’s also an option of an early hot air balloon ride here. Please ask your leader at the start of your trip if you’re interested. 
Accommodation: Camping (with basic facilities)
Day 15 Day 15: Karatu
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 15: Karatu

Enjoy a final game drive through the Serengeti as you exit the park this morning and cross over to the Ngorongoro Conservation area where you’ll descend to the Ngorongoro’s crater floor for a 4WD excursion. If all goes to plan, you’ll see some or maybe even all of the Big Five animals that reside here and better yet, the vehicle has an open roof so you can really feel like a part of the action. The animals here are less wary of humans and vehicles and as a result it’s easier to watch them from up close. Take in the spectacular views from the rim of the crater as you make your way to the bottom, where animals roam the lakes, rivers, woodlands and hills. Keep an eye out for wildebeest, lion, zebra, cheetah, buffalo, gazelle and the endangered black rhino, as well as the colorfully dressed Maasai people who often water their cattle at the lake here. In the afternoon, we leave the Ngorongoro Crater and drive to Karatu, a small town on its outskirts and your base for the next two nights.
Accommodation: Lodge
Day 16 Day 16: Karatu
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 16: Karatu

After breakfast this morning, you’ll make your way to Lake Eyasi, a huge seasonal soda lake. Lake Eyasi has been home to the Hadzabe people for more than 10,000 years and is one of the few places in Africa where traditional tribal life continues without modern influence. Today’s visit to the Hadzabe lands offers incredible insight into this ancient culture and a chance to learn about their way of life today. You’ll have the opportunity to meet members of the community and join in on daily activities like hunting, gathering and traditional dance. You’ll also learn about their unique ‘click’ language, which is thought to be one of the oldest languages still in use today. Return to your lodge in Karatu later in the day for a chance to put your feet up and relax.
Accommodation: Lodge
Day 17 Day 17: Arusha
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 17: Arusha

Today is a free day to relax or choose from the various optional activities available from your base in Karatu. You might like to head to a local coffee plantation or take a Game Drive in Lake Manyara National Park. Perhaps opt for a hike through the Ngorongoro Reserve Forest to Elephant Caves accompanied by an expert local guide and armed ranger. It’s the perfect way to stretch your legs after a few days of overland travel. You’ll hike through the Ngorongoro rainforest as your local guide explains the ins and outs of the area here and points out interesting animal tracks and footprints. Marvel at the wild landscape and spot beautiful birdlife as you walk. In the afternoon, we head to Arusha, where we will spend our last night.
Day 18 Day 18: Arusha / Nairobi
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 18: Arusha / Nairobi

Your adventure comes to an end after breakfast today. A departure transfer can be booked, at an additional expense, to either Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO) or Arusha Airport (ARK). Alternatively, you can continue on with our crew to finish in Nairobi. Please see ’Special Information’ below for more details.

+15

18 days tour

Gorillas & East Africa Safari

This tour includes:

Not included:

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Gorillas & East Africa Safari

Day 1: Kigali

Day 2: Kigali

Day 3: Gisenyi (Lake Kivu)

Day 4: Queen Elizabeth National Park

Day 5: Queen Elizabeth National Park

Day 6: Queen Elizabeth National Park (Ishasha Sector)

Day 7: Kisoro

Day 8: Kisoro (Gorilla Trek)

Day 9: Nairobi

Day 10: Masai Mara National Reserve

Day 11: Masai Mara National Reserve

Day 12: Lake Victoria

Day 13: Serengeti National Park

Day 14: Serengeti National Park

Day 15: Karatu

Day 16: Karatu

Day 17: Arusha

Day 18: Arusha / Nairobi

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