15 day gorillas & masai mara

We leave the capital of Nairobi and travel to the Masai Mara, world-renowned for its endless plains of wild animals and spectacular beauty. The visit to the Masai Mara is operated in safari-type vehicles and not the Nomad truck. For this reason, you are asked to pack a small overnight bag to travel with. You will need your towel, clothes, toiletries, and camping essentials.

• Route: Nairobi to Masai Mara
• Meals: Lunch, Dinner
• Included Highlight: Masai Mara Excursion

The rolling grasslands of the Masai Mara offer ideal game viewing and photographic opportunities. Some of the animals that could be found here include elephants, black rhinos, buffalo, leopards, cheetahs, wildebeests, zebras, and gazelles. Hippos and crocodiles abound in the muddy brown waters of the rivers, which traverse this reserve. Today we will spend the entire day game driving through the Mara in search of all the animals.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Included Highlight: Masai Mara Excursion

This morning we bid the Mara farewell before heading to Lake Nakuru National Park where we will enjoy an afternoon game drive through the park. Lake Nakuru is home to large flocks of flamingos and pelicans as well as black and white rhinos, leopards, lions, and numerous buck. Originally created as a bird sanctuary, Lake Nakuru was upgraded to National Park status in 1968.

• Route: Masai Mara Reserve to Lake Nakuru National Park
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Included Highlight: Lake Nakuru NP Game Drive

This morning we cross the border into Uganda and make our way to Jinja. Jinja is Uganda’s second-largest city and most famous as the point where the Nile (officially the Victoria Nile) flows out of Lake Victoria and begins the 6,695-kilometer journey to Egypt and the Mediterranean.

• Route: Lake Nakuru to Jinja
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Border Post: Kenya: Busia +254 20 2649524; Open 24 hours; Uganda: Busia; +256 414 423 2645; Open 24 hours

After a quick stop in the city of Kampala, we head in the direction of The Murchison Falls National Park. Also referred to as the Kabaraga Falls, Murchison Falls is a waterfall found on the course of the great Nile and is located within the Murchison National Park. The park is recognized as one of the best National Parks in Uganda. After settling into our accommodation in Masindi, your guide will brief you on the activities for the following day.

• Route: Jinja to Masindi
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Optional Activity: Ziwa Rhino Walk

Budongo Forest is the biggest Mahogany forest found in the whole of East Africa and is home to the largest number of chimpanzees throughout Uganda. It is believed that there are between 600 – 700 chimpanzees in Budongo and this morning we will meet up with our chimp guide who will take us on our trek through the forest in search of the chimps. We will also enjoy a boat cruise in the park. Note: As the chimp trekking is limited to 12 guests per trek, should there be more than 12 guests on a tour, the trekking will be split between the morning and the afternoon. Therefore, you may find that you will first do the game drive activity followed by the chimp trekking or vice versa. Please allow for flexibility.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Included Highlight: Chimp trekking (half day) / Nile River Cruise

This morning we depart Masindi and transfer towards the edges of the Queen Elizabeth National Park. Our accommodation for the night is nestled atop a hill overlooking Lake Kikorongo.

• Route: Masindi to Lake Kikorongo
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Crossing the Equator once more, we travel south to the beautiful scenery of Lake Bunyonyi. With eager anticipation, we prepare for the upcoming Gorilla trekking excursion, and tonight we will receive a briefing on what to expect.

• Route: Kampala to Lake Bunyonyi
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

The mountain gorilla is extremely endangered, and while exact numbers vary, it is widely assumed that there are only around 650 left. Visiting the gorillas is a great way to support their future on earth as the money spent on permits is used for their protection. An extremely important part of the future conservation of the remaining gorillas rests in the community development work – as local communities change their attitudes towards wildlife and start to protect rather than poach, the future of the mountain gorilla is assured.

As permits granting permission to visit the gorillas are extremely limited, we require flexibility in both the tour itinerary and where we actually visit them. The home of the mountain gorillas is completely at odds with man-made borders, and so their range encompasses Uganda, Rwanda, and the DRC (Democratic Republic of the Congo). Whenever possible, we choose to make use of the National Park in Uganda, but this depends on the availability of permits. Should we not obtain permits to visit the mountain gorillas in Uganda, then we will inform all passengers beforehand that the tour will travel to Rwanda or DRC. On your free day in Bunyonyi, you will have the opportunity to participate in certain optional activities. You can also go hiking or explore the area on a mountain bike.

• Route: Lake Bunyonyi National Park to the starting point of the gorilla trek (in safari or smaller vehicles)
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Optional Activity: Gorilla Trekking, Pygmy visit, Rwanda day tour

Although there are 2 days allocated to Gorilla Trekking, you will only spend one day on the trek. The other days are there to provide a large enough window in which to obtain permits and to allow the entire group to trek if there are more than 6 of you on the tour.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Optional Activity: Gorilla Trekking, Pygmy visit, Rwanda day tour

We depart the beautiful Lake Bunyonyi for another of Uganda’s beautiful water bodies – Lake Mburo. Lake Mburo is situated in the Ankole sub-region of Uganda, near the town of Mbarara, and spans an area of approximately 260 square kilometers and is surrounded by rolling hills, open grasslands, and patches of woodland. With over 350 recorded bird species, Lake Mburo National Park is a paradise for birdwatchers. The park’s diverse ecosystems, which include acacia woodlands, savannahs, and wetlands, provide optimal habitats for numerous bird species, including the rare and odd-looking shoebill stork.

• Route: Lake Bunyonyi to Mburo
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning we leave the Ankole region and set off on our return journey to Jinja. Jinja offers many exciting optional activities which are focused around the waters of the Nile, and these include rafting, kayaking, and a variety of cruises on Africa’s largest river. While those who may be less inclined to water sports can enjoy horse riding or a quad bike adventure on dry land.

• Route: Mburo to Jinja
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Included Highlight: Crossing of the Equator
• Optional Activity: Quad biking, kayaking, rafting (time dependent, could happen the following day)

Jinja offers many optional activities for the adventurous and for the not-so-adventurous. Today you’ll have at your leisure, and your guide will assist you to plan for this day.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Optional Activity: Quad biking, kayaking, river rafting, source of the Nile Cruise

Returning to Kenya, we visit Eldoret, the country’s 5th largest city. The Great Rift Valley is still the dominant geographical feature of this region, and the altitude at Eldoret is 2100 meters above sea level.

• Route: Jinja to Eldoret
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Border Post: Kenya: Malaba +254 20 2649524; Open 24 hours; Uganda: Malaba; +256 779 201 347; Open 24 hours

Returning to Nairobi this afternoon, we reflect on many memories that we have gathered together and brace ourselves for a return to the busy streets of Nairobi. Your tour ends upon arrival in Nairobi.

• Route: Eldoret to Nairobi Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

The itinerary is flexible and can be changed without notice to accommodate the best possible viewing of the Mountain Gorillas. The permit price to visit the Gorillas can also change without notice.