Serengeti, Gorillas & Beyond

This morning we will make our way into the stunning Lake Mburo NP. This drive will take us across the equator - a prime moment for some photos! The afternoon will include a boat trip on the beautiful Lake Mburo.

We will stay in an incredibile campsite close to the lake where you may be lucky enough to see hippos leaving the water in the evening.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Camping without facilities

Today's approximate drive time (hrs): 5

This morning we travel to the Queen Elizabeth NP, beautifully set between the Great Rift Valley lakes of Lake Edward and Lake George, undertaking a game drive on our way to the campsite. 

After lunch we can go out in the truck to look for some wildlife.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Camping

Today's approximate drive time (hrs): 4

The next morning we are up early to go on a full day game drive making our way to the famous volcanoes and salt mines. We will experience areas of the NP that are impossible to reach without a full days excursion!

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Camping

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Camping

Today's approximate drive time (hrs): 6

Here we will go on what is undoubtedly the highlight of the trip - trekking to see the Mountain Gorillas in their natural forest habitat. 

This region is one of the last remaining sanctuaries for the mountain gorilla. No more than 8 people per day can visit any one habituated family, and visits are strictly controlled to minimise the possibility of disturbance or transmission of disease to the animals. 

Tracking gorillas in the dense forest can sometimes be wet, muddy and uncomfortable. The terrain is by no means easy either, it can be pretty strenuous and often humid; however, the sheer thrill of coming across a habituated group of gorillas, dominated by a great male silverback, more than outweighs any difficulty. You need to be prepared and fit enough to walk at least 4 hours - uphill and downhill. We can usually get very close to the mountain gorillas, who are placid and gentle, and watching their movements is like seeing a mirror image of yourself! Once you find them, you will stay with the gorillas for one unforgettable hour!

When visiting the gorillas you will be assigned a tracking group and time on your permit. The group may be split up into different tracking groups during the day.

In Bwindi we will stay in a campsite that occasinally has some very special visitors, the incredible mountain gorillas!

Please note that the gorilla permits are paid for in full by the trip kitty - however, we have to purchase the permits in advance on the customers' behalf, so a higher deposit is charged on the trip price to protect us from losing this money in the event of cancellation - please see the notes at the end for further detail.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Camping

Border Information: Exit Uganda at Cyahafi, enter Rwanda at Kidaho.

Leaving Uganda behind, we cross the border into the stunning country of Rwanda.

Today we will drive the short distance to Ruhengeri (also known as Musanze), the gateway to the Volcanoes NP, where we will spend the next 1 night. Today we will have time for optional activities such as visiting the Golden Monkeys.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Multishare Hostel

Today's approximate drive time (hrs): 3

Today we head to the lakeside town of Kibuye. We will have the option to do many activities this afternoon in the rural town.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Camping

Today's approximate drive time (hrs): 4

This morning we wil head to Nyungwe NP where we will stay for 2 nights as we have so much to fit in! We start with a visit to a local tea plantation before camping in the NP itself.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Camping

Today's approximate drive time (hrs): 3

This morning we have chimps to hunt for and a breath taking canopy walkway trail to keep us busy for the day!

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Camping

Today we arrive in our final city of this trip, Kigali. After a long drive in the morning we will visit the moving and very thought provoking Genocide Museum in the afternoon.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Multishare Hostel

Today's approximate drive time (hrs): 6

Border Information: If you are joining the trip in Kigali, you will most likely enter Rwanda at Kigali International Airport.

Welcome to Kigali! If you would like to explore Kigali fully, we advise you arrive a day earlier to give yourself the time to see some of the highlights in the city. Please note that many of the options listed below will only be possible for those with extra time in Kigali before the start of your trip with us - please contact the Sales team if you would like to book pre-tour accommodation with us to have extra time exploring Kigali.

There will be a group meeting today at our joining hotel at 18:00 - your tour leader will meet you at the hotel reception or your leader will leave a note at reception telling you where this important meeting will take place.

Accommodation: Multishare Hostel

This morning we leave Kigali to spend three days treking the Congo Nile Trail. 

On the first day the truck will drop us at the start of the trail. We will only need a day pack as the truck will then drive ahead and begin to set up camp for us at the end of the first days walk. There are some stunning views across Lake Kivu so don't forget your camera!

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Camping

Today's approximate drive time (hrs): 4

This morning we are up early to continue the trail, winding through the local villages and coffee plantations along the lake and soaking up the wonderful Rwandan culture and hospitality. The truck will once again be there to meet us at the end of the day at camp.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Camping

At the end of our third day on this beautiful trail our crew will collect us from our finishing point and we will return to the comforts of Kigali for the evening.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Multishare Hostel

This morning we are up early for a long drive day across to Bukoba in Tanzania.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Camping

Today's approximate drive time (hrs): 10

Today we have time to enjoy the multitude of activities that Bukoba has to offer.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Camping

Today we will be heading to Mwanza for two nights. We are going to be camping in the grounds of the local Yacht Club, famous for its Seafood restaurant. You can even become a member of the club!

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Camping

Today's approximate drive time (hrs): 9

Today we will have the whole day free to explore the town and participate in all the activities on offer.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Camping

This morning we will head up into the hills of Bunda. This afternoon we will take a guided walk on which we will experience the vistas of Lake Victoria as well as the Serengeti! There are also oportunities for bird watching and canoeing.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Camping

Today's approximate drive time (hrs): 4

Today we will be met by our fleet of 6-person 4x4 jeeps - we will load the jeeps with our camping and personal gear, and then head out for our 4-day excursion to the Tarangire NP, Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater, leaving our truck behind.

We will also be leaving our large bags behind (where they will be stored in a secure location), and advise you to bring along a smaller daypack for your personal gear for this trip that will need to be packed soon after the group meeting before we set off. You should pack clothing for 4 days (including a warm jumper or fleece and long trousers), a waterproof jacket, toiletries (including sun screen and insect repellent), your camera and charger, a small towel, a head torch, a water bottle, books and personal snacks, etc.

We will have safety talk with our safari guides and then we will make our way down into the plains of the Serengeti. We will take an game drive around the savanna before heading to our campsite - the area is one of the world's premier spot for wildlife viewing and we hope to able to find elephants, lions, leopards, giraffe and other big game during our time here!

Tonight we will stay at a campsite within the Serengeti NP. The camp where we stay is very basic (with showers and flush toilets, but no other facilities) but is located right in the middle of the plains, surrounded by animals and their nocturnal noises! Your leader will outline the basic safety rules to be followed when camping in an unfenced location where wild animals are present.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Camping

This morning we will get up very early and we set off in our jeeps for an early morning game drive in the heart of the Serengeti plains. The early morning is the best time of day for wildlife viewing, as many of the animals are at their most active while it is still cool.

There is an option this morning for to take a hot air balloon flight over the Serengeti instead of the game drive - demand is high for this activity, so this must be pre-booked at the time that you booked your trip with us.

We will return to our campsite for lunch, and then aim to exit the Serengeti early afternoon. We will head back through the conservation area to our next campsite, on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater, where we will arrive in the early evening.

Again, the campsite tonight is very basic and unfenced. It can often be quite cold on the crater rim so it is recommended that you take some warm clothes for this night.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Camping

This morning we will have another early start to descend into the world-famous Ngorongoro Crater for a morning game drive. Again, the Ngorongoro Crater is an outstanding area for wildlife spotting, often described as a 'natural wildlife enclosure'. This is the best chance on the excursion to spot black rhinos as well as a myriad of other big game.

We will spend as long as our entry tickets allow in the Ngorongoro Crater before departing, which will usually give us about 3-4 hours of game driving.

Then on to a drive within Tarangire NP. You should have many oportunities for photographs so remember your cameras!

Once we make it into our camp site for the evening will will have our evening meal before the opportunity for a night game drive to Lake Manyara.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Camping

On our final day of this excursion we have an optional bike ride or bush walk along the shore of Lake Manyara. Then we will experience the view from the birds perspective with a tree top walkway followed by a traditional Swahili buffet for lunch.  We will then be dropped off at our campsite back in Mto Wa Mbu, where we are re-united with our truck.

We will have a well-deserved free afternoon to relax at our excellent campsite or to do some of the optional activites on offer here.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Camping

Today we will cross into Kenya and make our way into Nairobi, the last stop on this trip. We should arrive in time to enjoy a range of optional activities such as the Langata Giraffe Centre, Karen Blixen Museum and The David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Camping

Today's approximate drive time (hrs): 7

Border information: If you are finishing in Nairobi, you will most likely exit Kenya at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

Today is the end day for passengers finishing their trip in Nairobi. Please note, there is no accommodation included on the trip tonight - please contact the Sales Team if you are interested in booking an extra night of accommodation in order to fully explore the area.

Meals: Breakfast