Days
16
Price from
Experience the wilds of Africa on a breathtaking journey through Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.
The feeling of laying eyes on a family of rare mountain gorillas in the wild is a hard one to describe. Crouching in primeval forest as a mother plays with her babies close by is an experience few humans ever get to have, and for good reason. There are only about 700 mountain gorillas left in the world, and half of them can be found in Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Led by a local driver/guide, join a small group of eight travellers on this special expedition into the untouched Ugandan wilderness. Following that, travel to the vast grasslands of East Africa – a place that supports the largest concentration of wildlife in the world. You'll get among the massive herds and their predators in 4WD safari vehicles with our expert local leaders at the helm. Experience the wilds of Africa on this expedition like no other on a breathtaking journey through Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.
- Code
- PFSSC
- Physical rating
- Trip rating
- 1 review
- Ages
- Min 15
- Group size
- Min 1, Max 12
Why you'll love this trip
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Seek out the rare mountain gorilla on a trek through Uganda's steamy jungle, and spend an unforgettable hour in the presence of these majestic creatures.
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Wake up to spectacular views of the forest canopy during a 2-night stay in Chalets at Buhoma Lodge in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
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The Masai Mara National Reserve is filled with iconic vistas and animals, and here you’ll sleep in a permanent tented-camp under a blanket of stars, then wake to the sounds of calming birdsong.
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Pull up in the Serengeti National Park and enjoy a refreshing sundowner and some nibbles before carrying on to you camp.
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Stay in a perfectly located camp in the Serengeti – your Feature Stay, Ang-ata Serengeti Camp lies in the heart of the park but away from the crowds.
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Enjoy panoramic views from the rim of an extinct volcano, then descend into its World Heritage-listed Ngorongoro Crater to be surrounded by wildlife.
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Visit the Maasai, known for their vibrant red dress and elaborate jewellery, and enjoy a fascinating talk, full of insights into this remarkable and ancient culture.
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Enjoy a private dinner under the stars within our permanent tented camp while listening to the sounds of the Serengeti.
Is this trip right for you?
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Tracking gorillas in the dense forest can sometimes be wet, muddy and uncomfortable. The terrain is by no means easy either, so it can be pretty strenuous and often humid. But the sheer thrill in 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 up to 4 hours - up and down hill. Perhaps pack some gardening gloves to assist in any up-hill climbs.
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This itinerary features some long travel days in 4WD safari vehicles, which can be exacerbated by bumpy African roads. It is recommended that you pay close attention to our given approximations of distance and driving hours.
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There will be many early starts either to make use of the better safari time or to beat the morning traffic on long travel days.
Gallery
Itinerary
Welcome to Uganda. This Independent Experience starts at Entebbe airport where you will be met by our local representative and transferred to Lake Mburo National Park. Please make sure that you arrive in time for an 11am departure. If you are planning on staying in Entebbe prior to your Independent Experience you can arrange to be collected today from your nominated hotel (at 10am) instead of the Airport. Drive approximately 5 hours to the park, stopping on the way to stand in both the northern and southern hemispheres at the equator line. After entering the park, you’ll enjoy a game drive on the way to camp, arriving in the early afternoon. Extensive acacia woodland and five lakes make up Lake Mburo National Park, an area that is home to a stunning array of wildlife. It’s the best place in the country to see eland (the largest species of antelope), as well as zebra, topi, impala and several types of birds that gather around acacia trees. This afternoon you’ll take a boat ride on Lake Mburo. The lakes provide a home for hippos, crocodiles and a variety of waterbirds – the swampy fringe region provides a hideaway for secretive species such as sitatunga and red, black and yellow papyrus gonalek. Tonight’s simple but comfortable tented camp is located in the centre of the park. Placed in varied settings, some rooms are situated in a forest, some with a lake view, and some on rocky outcrops. Animals gathering in the valley will give you fantastic game viewing opportunities, and you can relax and watch wildlife at a waterhole below the pool.
Accommodation
- Lake Mburo Mantana or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Lake Mburo National Park - Game Drive
Meals Included
- Dinner
This morning you’ll enjoy an early breakfast, leave the national park and continue on to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest (approximately 6 hours), your base for the next two nights. Your lodge here combines excellent local hospitality with seclusion in this enchanting wilderness area. The forest’s moniker is very apt – this is extremely rugged and dense woodland which dates back over 25,000 years and is one of the most biologically diverse rainforests in the world. If time allows, in the afternoon you’ll take a walk to a beautiful waterfall within the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Look out for the wildlife that will surround you – numerous birds, butterflies, and maybe monkeys. Then return to camp to enjoy a sumptuous dinner this evening.
Accommodation
- Buhoma Lodge or similar (1 night)
Meals Included
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
A short morning drive takes you to the park headquarters, where you’ll be briefed on the gorilla trek by the Uganda Wildlife Authorities. The 330 square kilometre Bwindi Impenetrable Forest was declared a World Heritage site in 1994 because of its incredible biodiversity. This small pocket of primeval forest in the Virunga Mountains protects about half of the world's remaining 700 mountain gorillas, as well as providing a home for chimpanzees and several species of monkeys. Gorilla trekking is highly controlled with only 24 gorilla trekking permits available each day. Once a trekking group encounters one of the gorilla families, only one hour is granted in the presence of the great apes before trekkers must leave, however reluctantly. Be aware that the trek can be strenuous and may reach altitudes of almost 2,000 metres above sea level. Depending on weather conditions, some of the paths can be slippery and these paths themselves can change depending on the location of the gorillas. Therefore it is very hard to predict how long you will need to walk for, but a very good level of fitness is recommended for this trek. You can usually get very close to the mountain gorillas, and watching their movements is like seeing a mirror image of yourself. Be mesmerised and feel the emotions as you watch them eat, sleep, groom and play – the giant silverback surveying the scene as the smaller ones laze in the trees or play like children. You’ll enjoy a picnic lunch on the trek. At the end of the day the comforts of the hotel beckon, along with a chance to reflect on a truly memorable experience.
Accommodation
- Buhoma Lodge or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Bwindi National Park - Mountain Gorilla Permit & Trek
Meals Included
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Depart from the great forest on what is set to be a substantially long drive to Entebbe, spanning at around 550kms (approx. 8 hours). The trip will be broken up along the way by a picnic lunch. Once you arrive, spend the night at the hotel in preparation for your adventures to Nairobi tomorrow.
Accommodation
- Laico Lake Victoria or similar (1 night)
Meals Included
- Breakfast
- Lunch
This morning you will be transferred to Entebbe International Airport for your included flight to Nairobi. On arrival in Nairobi, you'll have a day free to do as you please. Maybe visit the Karen Blixen Museum, the Langata Giraffe Centre, or have a meal at the famous Carnivore Restaurant, where meat lovers can taste a variety of barbecued meat.
Accommodation
- Panafric Hotel or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Complimentary Airport Arrival Transfer
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Special Information
You will be unaccompanied on today's included flight.
Depart Nairobi for Elsamere after breakfast and head north, driving along the escarpment of the Great Rift Valley (approximately 4 hours of driving in total). Elsamere is the former home of the writer Joy Adamson, whose 1960 book 'Born Free' helped bring wildlife conservation into the mainstream. The house is a veritable museum that dedicated to the works of Joy and George Adamson, with many photos of Elsa, the lioness that started it all. You'll then embark on a boat trip on Lake Naivasha, the highest of all lakes in the Great Rift Valley and home to many a hippopotamus. Later, enjoy lunch with the lake as a serene backdrop. After lunch, continue to your Lake Nakuru lodge, arriving in the early evening.
Accommodation
- Lake Nakuru Lodge or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Lake Naivasha - Boat trip
- Lake Naivasha - Elsamere Conservation Centre
Meals Included
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
This morning you will visit Lake Nakuru National Park by 4WD. Mornings can be cold so it's important to bring warm clothes. You might see why this great soda lake has been described as the world's greatest ornithological spectacle; it amazingly turns into a sea of pink on occasion. Flooding in recent years has unfortunately caused a decline in birdlife. The park boasts substantial numbers of other species, including waterbuck, reedbuck and gazelle. Leopards are also to be found here, and the chances of sighting one is significant. Keep your eyes peeled too, for one of Africa's most endangered creatures, the elusive black rhinoceros (white rhinos are much easier to spot).
Accommodation
- Lake Nakuru Lodge or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Lake Nakuru - Afternoon Game Drive (4x4)
- Lake Nakuru - Morning 4x4 Game Drive
Meals Included
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Today you will head southwest to the Masai Mara (approximately 6–7 hours), arguably one of the finest game reserves in Africa. Before you arrive, you'll first cross the Great Rift Valley, Africa's immense and spectacular great divide.
Pass by the remote region of Loita Hills, home of the traditional Maasai people known for their vibrant red dress and elaborate jewellery. 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. We then continue on your journey to ‘The Mara’. After checking into the park, take a short game drive on the way to camp. Set in what is considered Kenya's prime wildlife area, Mara Leisure Camp is located along the Talek River, on the northern boundary of the Masai Mara Game Reserve. Facilities at the camp include a swimming pool, gift shop, bar and restaurant.
Pass by the remote region of Loita Hills, home of the traditional Maasai people known for their vibrant red dress and elaborate jewellery. 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. We then continue on your journey to ‘The Mara’. After checking into the park, take a short game drive on the way to camp. Set in what is considered Kenya's prime wildlife area, Mara Leisure Camp is located along the Talek River, on the northern boundary of the Masai Mara Game Reserve. Facilities at the camp include a swimming pool, gift shop, bar and restaurant.
Accommodation
- Mara Leisure Tented Camp or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Loita Hills - Cultural talk and village visit
Meals Included
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Explore more of the park by 4WD today with further game drives in the morning and afternoon. Witness the wonderful procession of wildlife that inhabits the area. Wildebeest, zebra and gazelle are plentiful, and you might even spot predators keeping a casual eye on their movements. Elephants, giraffes and elands are also commonly sighted, along with plenty of bird life. The area is known for its rolling green plains and riverine woodlands, and amongst the many species of game, a black-maned lion, leopard or cheetah might appear, with some luck. As dusk falls, a variety of animals might be visible in the vicinity of your camp also.
Accommodation
- Mara Leisure Tented Camp or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Masai Mara - 4x4 Game Drive
Meals Included
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Today is a free day. If you wish to continue your exploration of arguably one of the finest game reserves on the continent there are a number of optional activities that you can choose from including half-day or full-day game drives or walking safaris. A morning game drive involves waking at dawn for a light breakfast followed by an early morning game drive, setting off at sunrise and returning to the camp three to four hours later. An afternoon game drive departs around 4 pm and returns after sunset. On returning to the camp, freshen up before joining other guests around the campfire for a pre-dinner drink. An optional balloon ride over the Masai Mara at sunrise is an unforgettable experience. If you have pre-booked this activity you will be picked up from camp before dawn and driven to the launch site for a safety briefing with your pilot. You then glide through the dawn, sometimes at tree height, making the most of the amazing photo opportunities. Sometimes you'll ascend to get an overview of the enormity of the Masai Mara plains and the early-morning movements of the teeming herds. Upon landing you'll be treated to a bush breakfast before re-joining your group.
Accommodation
- Mara Leisure Tented Camp or similar (1 night)
Optional Activities
- Masai Mara National Reserve - Balloon ride (from price) - USD500
- Masai Mara - Half Day Game Drive - KES8000
- Masai Mara - Full Day Game Drive - KES16000
- Masai Mara National Reserve - Guided Walking Safari - USD30
Meals Included
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Special Information
The balloon ride is offered as a pre-booked service which will guarantee you a place. If you would rather wait and try to get a better price by booking this locally on the ground, you are welcome to, but keep in mind that this is a popular activity and places are limited.
Say goodbye to the Mara and head to Kisii (approximately 5 hours). Once arrived stop for lunch (at your own expense) and visit a local soapstone factory in Kisii. This town is home to the best soapstone carvers on the continent. Their products are quite popular around the world. It's a favourite stopover for travellers seeking a taste of the exquisite Kisii carvings.
Accommodation
- Kamel Park Hotel or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Kisii - Soapstone factory visit and demonstration
Meals Included
- Breakfast
- Dinner
Cross into Tanzania before heading to the Serengeti National Park (approximately 8 hours, not including time spent at the border). These 'Endless Plains' span some 14,700 square kilometres, but their main claim to fame is 3 million or so animals. The game most likely to be seen in the Serengeti are the wildebeest, zebra, gazelle, lion, cheetah, warthog, hyena, hippo and ostrich. You'll take a game drive en route to your camp and watch the landscape change within the park from the vast treeless central plains to thick scrub and forest in the north. Linking these areas is the savannah, dotted with acacia trees and magnificent rock outcrops. Pull up in the park and enjoy a refreshing sundowner and some nibbles before carrying on to you camp. The next two nights are spent at a mobile tented camp, our feature stay on this trip. Meru-style tents are a great place to relax at the end of the day and have large beds, table, clothes rack, sink, 'bucket' showers and a toilet. The eco-friendly camp has a comfortable lounge area, and a cosy mess tent located in the centre of the camp where meals are served. The campfire is ready every evening for appetizers before dinner. This is a unique opportunity to enjoy a real safari camp experience with modern comforts.
Accommodation
- Feature Stay at Ang'ata Serengeti Tented Camp or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Serengeti - Game Drive (Overland Vehicle)
- Serengeti - Sundowner in the Park
Meals Included
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Enjoy a full day of game drives in the truck in the magnificent Serengeti. Pull up in the park and enjoy a refreshing sundowner and some nibbles before returning to camp. Perhaps the ultimate way to go game viewing is on a hot air balloon safari over the great plains of the Serengeti National Park. Hot-air ballooning in East Africa can be an unforgettable experience, an exceptional way to see this part of the world. We strongly recommend booking this extra activity prior to departure if you're interested. Tonight we have a private dinner under the stars within our permanent tented camp while listening to the sounds of the Serengeti.
Accommodation
- Feature Stay at Ang'ata Serengeti Tented Camp or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Serengeti - Game Drive (Overland Vehicle)
- Serengeti - Private Dinner
Optional Activities
- Serengeti National Park - Balloon Ride (from price) - USD599
Meals Included
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Special Information
The balloon ride is offered as a pre-booked service which will guarantee you a place. If you would rather wait and try to get a better price by booking this locally on the ground, you are welcome to, but keep in mind that this is a popular activity and places are limited.
After an early morning game drive, it's time to leave the park and travel to the Ngorongoro Crater (approximately 5 hours). It's one of Africa's most beautiful nature reserves and the world's largest intact caldera. Upon arrival you will check into your accommodation, which is located just outside of the crater. This small and exclusive lodge faces the Oldeani Volcano and is located approximately 15 kilometres from the Ngorongoro Lolduare gate.
Accommodation
- Farm of Dreams Lodge or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Serengeti - Game Drive (Overland Vehicle)
Meals Included
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
In the morning, climb aboard the 4WD for your descent to the crater floor. Hopefully you'll see some, or all, of the 'big five' creatures that rule here. Animals within the Ngorongoro Crater are less shy of people and safari vehicles, so it's easier to see them up close. Views from the rim of the crater are sensational. On the crater floor, grassland blends into swamps, lakes, rivers, woodlands and hills. The Masai are permitted to water their cattle at the permanent lake and can be seen leading their animals in and out of the crater. The most commonly seen animals are the lion, wildebeest, zebra, eland, bushbuck, cheetah, jackal, buffalo, Grant's gazelle, Thompson's gazelle and black rhinoceros. The afternoon is yours to spend as you please, perhaps with optional walking activities or a coffee tour.
Accommodation
- Farm of Dreams Lodge or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Ngorongoro Crater - 4x4 Game Drive
Meals Included
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Drive to Arusha (approximately 3 hours) where your East African adventure comes to an end at the finishing point hotel. Any flights out of Arusha should not be booked to depart prior to 3pm. Alternatively, you can continue on to finish in Nairobi (approximately another 6 hours). Please see 'Special Information' below for more details.
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Special Information
There is also an option of continuing back to Nairobi with your crew. Any flights out of Nairobi should not be booked to depart prior to 10pm. We highly recommend you book a post nights accommodation and depart the following day. Post nights accommodation can be booked through your sales agent.The drop of point in Nairobi is the Hotel Panafric:
Cnr Kenyatta Ave/Valley Road
Nairobi
KENYA
Phone: +254 202720822
Meals
15 breakfasts, 12 lunches, 13 dinnersTransport
4WD safari vehicles, Private vehicle, Boat, PlaneAccommodation
Hotel (3 nights), Lodge (4 nights), Feature Stay Lodge (2 nights), Permanent tented camp (3 nights), Feature Stay camp (3 nights)Included Activities
- Lake Mburo National Park - Game Drive
- Bwindi National Park - Mountain Gorilla Permit & Trek
- Complimentary Airport Arrival Transfer
- Lake Naivasha - Boat trip
- Lake Naivasha - Elsamere Conservation Centre
- Lake Nakuru - Afternoon Game Drive (4x4)
- Lake Nakuru - Morning 4x4 Game Drive
- Loita Hills - Cultural talk and village visit
- Masai Mara - 4x4 Game Drive
- Kisii - Soapstone factory visit and demonstration
- Serengeti - Game Drive (Overland Vehicle)
- Serengeti - Sundowner in the Park
- Serengeti - Private Dinner
- Ngorongoro Crater - 4x4 Game Drive
Important notes
ARRIVAL TIME:
Please arrange to arrive in Entebbe before 10am – if your flight does not arrive before that time then you need to arrive one day earlier.
COMPULSORY SINGLE SUPPLEMENT:
Single travellers must pay a single supplement for the Uganda portion (nights 1 to 4) of this trip. A single supplement is available to purchase for the entirety of the trip, but only the Uganda portion is compulsory.
COMBINATION TRIP:
This is a combination trip and the composition of your group may change after Uganda.
FINISH POINT:
On the final day you can end the tour in Arusha or Nairobi.
GORILLA PERMIT:
This trip requires an additional non-refundable deposit ( AUD1000, USD1000, EUR800, NZD1250, GBP650, CAD1000, ZAR8000, CHF900 ) in order to secure a gorilla permit. We also require passport details at time of booking. Please see trip notes (Important notes) for more details.
INTERNAL FLIGHT:
The flight from Entebbe to Nairobi on Day 5 is included in 2020.
Essential trip information
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