Gorilla Safari - trek across Kenya & Uganda locating mountain gorilla

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Nairobi to Masai Mara Game Reserve
You will depart from the Boulevard Hotel and leave the hustle & bustle of Nairobi, climbing the escarpment to your first viewpoint that overlooks the Great African Rift Valley. Descending into the Rift Valley you enter Masai land, and these habitual pastoralists are seen quite regularly on the side of the road tending their cattle. You will arrive at your campsite – Acacia Camp - early evening, in time to enjoy the sunset on the Masai Mara.
Meals : HB

Day 2: Masai Mara
Game drives through the Mara find you looking for the infamous Big 5, as well as giving you the opportunity to see this ‘Garden of Eden’ in the state nature has intended it to be: huge plains, rolling hills and an abundance of game matched nowhere else on earth. Elephant, lion, cheetah, giraffe, zebra and waterbuck, to name but a few of the animals that inhabit this wonderland. Sitting around a campfire, watching the sunset is the perfect way to finish a day's game viewing in the Mara.
Meals : FB

Day 3: Masai Mara to Nakuru
Departing the Masai Mara early you will pass through the 3rd largest town in Kenya, Nakuru, where you will stop for the night to re-supply and shop.
Meals : FB

Day 4: Nakuru to Kampala
Today, you cross the border into Uganda and travel via the lakeside town of Jinja (the Source of the Nile) before reaching Kampala, Uganda's capital, for an overnight stay.

Uganda is a small country of striking physical beauty. Its landscapes vary from the fertile green areas around the northern shores of Lake Victoria to the snow-covered Ruwenzori Mountains in the West and the semi-desert parts of the North, facing the border of Sudan.

The political instability that haunted Uganda over a period of years has had the positive effect of leaving the country free from the commercialism so common in other parts of Africa. The current administration under President Museveni has devoted considerable effort and funds to regain Uganda's former glory as one of Africa's most prosperous and, from a tourist's point of view, one of the most appealing and interesting countries to visit.
Meals : FB

Days 5-6: Kampala to Kisoro
After an early morning departure from Kampala you drive further West, into the depths of Uganda, and arrive at your base in Kisoro.

From your Kisoro base, depending on the availability of gorilla permits, and the gorillas' location, you will be viewing them in either the Magahinga or Bwindi National Parks in Uganda, the Virunga National Park in the DRC or at Ruhengeri in Rwanda. Due to the nature of the gorillas and their habits, viewing cannot be guaranteed. The gorillas themselves can tend to move around the locality quite a distance, and the trek can be quite arduous. The cost to track the gorillas differs from park to park, and can range from US$275 to US$375, per 1hr viewing.

There is usually also a park entry fee of approx US$15, as well as a cost for local transport to take you to and from the starting point of the trek. This cost is normally US$10 to US$15 per person. Please note that we are not in control of the price of gorilla permits and therefore cannot be held responsible for any increases in fees levied by the relevant authorities. National parks usually allow clients who fail to see the gorillas, a 2nd chance to re-trek the next day if time and availability allows, or they may refund your trekking fee. This is purely at their discretion. Although this is the general situation, the respective National Parks authorities will not put this in writing to any tour operator. Again, the respective park authorities say that you are paying to trek in the gorilla territory, not view them. Fortunately, we have a very high success rate of getting in and actually seeing these magnificent animals.

Please note: This is an optional excursion and visas to the DRC and Rwanda can be obtained at the border. The mountain gorilla (Gorilla Gorilla Berengei) of whom only about 600 still exist, is one of our closest living relatives, yet, ironically, it is mankind that poses the greatest threat to its survival. To visit these noble creatures in their own environment is an experience you will never forget. Accompanied by a park guide and a bush cutter, you track these gorillas through the rainforest. The gorilla families have been habituated to tourists, and their whereabouts are monitored daily by the guides and park officials.

It may be necessary to trek for quite a while through the dense forest vegetation (up to 5hr) in order to reach the family designated for your visit.

As gorillas are sensitive to human diseases, the park authorities will not allow anyone they consider to be in poor health to visit the gorilla groups, and children under 15 years of age are not allowed to visit.

You need not feel that you are exploiting these animals - for years they have been ruthlessly hunted for their hands and heads, which have been sold as souvenir ashtrays and lampshades. In addition, large numbers have been killed whilst trying to stop poachers stealing babies for sale to zoos, where they have never lived
Meals : FB

Day 7: Kisoro to Lake Bunyoni
A short drive through arguably some of the most picturesque scenery in Africa brings you to Lake Bunyoni. Lake Bunyoni is the deepest crater lake in Africa and is home to a large number of bird and fish species, as well as otters.
Meals : FB

Day 8: Lake Bunyoni
Today you have the whole day at leisure to enjoy the beauty of Lake Bunyoni. There is the option to swim, visit the local villages or just sit back, relax and enjoy the tranquil surrounds. A well deserved rest day!
Meals : FB

Day 9: Lake Bunyoni to Kampala
After enjoying the peaceful surrounds of Lake Bunyoni you drive to Kampala for another overnight stay, and perhaps the chance to sample the nightlife. Today you will cross the Equator for the 2nd time, where there will be ample photo opportunities to commemorate this event.
Meals : FB

Day 10: Kampala to Jinja
Today you have the option either to go white water rafting on the Nile or visit Ngamba Chimpanzee Sanctuary. For the adventurous, you will be collected from Kampala and transferred to Jinja, where you will experience some of the best white water rafting in Africa. For the less adventurous, you will have the morning at leisure or the option to take a full-day excursion to visit Ngamba Chimp Sanctuary before your departure to Jinja.

Your overnight camp is right on the edge of the Nile River where there is an abundance of resident bird life and some truly amazing photo opportunities from right outside your tent.
Meals : FB

Day 11: Jinja to Nakuru
Today will be a full day's driving back towards Kenya. You will cross the border before lunch, and stop for supplies en route. Tonight you will overnight in Nakuru again.
Meals : FB

Day 12: Lake Nakuru National Park DAY 12: Lake Nakuru National Park
Today you move onto Lake Nakuru National Park, famous for the thousands of flamingos that inhabit the lake's edge. The numbers vary, depending on the level of the lake, and are more numerous when the water level is low. The park has also been established as a sanctuary for black and white rhino, which are frequently seen, along with buffalo, giraffe, waterbuck, various antelope, leopard and the occasional hippo. After entering the park in the morning, you will spend the rest of the day game driving.
Meals : FB

Day 13: Lake Nakuru National Park to Lake Naivasha
Moving further East, you drive to Lake Naivasha where you make camp in peaceful surroundings beside the lake. The highest of the Rift Valley lakes, Naivasha lies at about 1880m. Again, the lake is home to a multitude of bird life. Pride of place must go to the magnificent African Fish Eagle. The afternoon is spent at leisure here, and you should have the opportunity (time permitting) to enjoy some optional excursions, such as a boat ride to the Crescent Island Game Sanctuary, Hell's Gate National Park or Elsamere, the retirement home of Joy Adamson ("Born Free").
Meals : FB

Day 14: Lake Naivasha to Nairobi DAY 14: Lake Naivasha to Nairobi
After breakfast, you leave Naivasha and return to Nairobi, arriving in the early afternoon. The truck will stop at the Boulevard Hotel and your campsite, which brings this trip to a close.
Meals : BB