12 day Gorillas and Kenya overland safari - Overland Trip

Accommodation

This is a camping safari with two man dome tents being supplied. All dome tents are waterproof and have built in mosquito netting

Kitty Notes

Kitty/Local Payment covers your food, accommodation and included park entrance fees en-route, this is paid in U$ to your trip leader on day of departure

Itineraries

This trip begins in Nairobi, Kenya and travels through Uganda before ending in Kampala, Uganda.

This trip departs from Nairobi early on Sunday morning. Should you wish to explore Nairobi, an earlier arrival should be planned and accommodation booked through your agent

Pre Departure Meeting: Held at the Departure Point at 17h00 the day before your departure.
Departure Point: Hotel Boulevard, Harry Thuku Road, Nairobi.
Check-In Time: 08h45
Departure Time: 09h30

Local Payment: US$275

Please Note:
This itinerary should be used as a guide only and may vary from day to day depending on road & weather conditions, political situations and group decisions.
All prices & Local Payments are subject to change with prior notice.
Due to Tourism Laws in some of the countries we visit, there may be a truck and crew change during the trip.



DAY 1: Nairobi to Nanyuki (L / D)
Leaving the hustle and bustle of Nairobi we head north, crossing the equator, before reaching the market town of Nanyuki. Founded in 1907 by English settlers, Nanyuki is home to the main base of Kenya’s Air Force. It’s popular amongst tourists because of it’s proximity to impressive Mount Kenya, Kenya’s highest peak at 5199 m. It’s also home to the Mount Kenya Safari Club, now a hotel, but in the 60’s an exclusive club whose members included Winston Churchill, Bing Crosby and Bob Hope.

DAY 2: Nanyuki to Samburu National Reserve (B / L / D)
Leaving this old frontier town, we head north-west through the Kikuyu area around Mt Kenya to the Samburu National Reserve. We’ll encounter the Masai’s distant relatives, the semi-nomadic proud Samburu, tending their cattle along the way. The Samburu National Reserve is a relatively small reserve at just 104 km2. It is a remote, hence unspoilt, reserve and attracts a wide range of animals because of the Ewaso Ng’iro River (brown water) that runs through it.

DAY 3: Samburu National Reserve (B / L / D)
The Samburu National Reserve is made up of a mixture of scrub, desert and open Savannah plains interspersed with small rugged hills. It is home to most of the Big 5 (except the rhino, which has been decimated by poachers). What makes this reserve unique is its populations of Grevy’s Zebra, Beisa Oryx, Reticulated Giraffe and Somali Ostrich and we’ll spend the day searching for these unique animals.

DAY 4: Samburu National Reserve to Nakuru (B / L / D)
Leaving the unique Samburu National Reserve, we head west towards the Great Rift Valley and the 4th largest town in Kenya and the capital of the Rift Valley Province, Nakuru. We overnight here before entering Lake Nakuru National Park tomorrow.

DAY 5: Lake Nakuru National Park (B / L / D)
Today we head into Lake Nakuru National Park, famous for the thousands of lesser and greater flamingos that flock to this soda lake’s edge. The numbers vary depending on the water level, and when it’s low, the lake almost turns pink. A truly spectacular sight! The park was established as a sanctuary for black and white rhino, which are often seen. We spend the day searching for these pre-historic looking beasts as well as the elusive leopard, encountering buffalo, giraffe, various antelope and the occasional hippo along the way.

DAY 06: Nakuru to Kampala (B / L /D)
Today, we 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.

DAYS 07 & 08: Kampala to Kisoro (B / L /D)
After an early morning departure from Kampala we drive west into the depths of Uganda to our base in Kisoro.

Kisoro is the base from which the optional Gorilla trek takes place. Dependant on where trekking permits are available, we trek in the Magahinga or Bwindi National Parks in Uganda, the Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo, or the Ruhengeri National Park in Rwanda. The prices of trekking permits fluctuate and may change without prior notice – currently they are priced between US$375 and US$500 depending on where we trek. There is a local transport fee of US$20 to US$25 per person. For trekking in the DRC or Rwanda, we will also have to purchase an additional visa to enter either country, as well as renewing our Ugandan visa upon re-entry. Please budget accordingly.

Trekking Procedures: The mountain gorilla (Gorilla Gorilla Berengei), of which there are still only about 700 remaining, are one of our closest living relatives. A visit to these gentle giants in their natural environment is a unique and wonderful experience - one you’ll never forget. The park rangers monitor the gorillas on a daily basis and have a fairly good idea of where they are. However, they are free roaming animals, and their sighting can not be guaranteed. In the unlikely event of these creatures managing to completely elude us, the authorities usually allow us a second opportunity to trek them. However, this is purely at their discretion and subject to the availability of permits, and they will not confirm this in writing. Africa Travel Co is a major supplier of gorilla trekkers to each park and as such have a high success rate of procuring gorilla permits and then of actually seeing these beautiful animals. As the gorillas share much of our DNA, anyone with even the slightest cold or transferable illness will not be permitted to trek. Trekking is also only open to people over 16 years old. We depart from our camp in the early morning and after border formalities are transferred to a ranger’s station where the trek commences. Your rangers will lead you through the cultivated lands and then into the dense rain forest and on to a gorilla family. Trekking can take anywhere from 45 minutes to 8 hours and it can be quite strenuous, so a reasonable level of fitness is required. To ensure the gorillas do not get too used to the presence of humans and because they share many of our genes (and therefore able to catch our diseases), the maximum time permitted to spend with them is 1 hour. You will have plenty of time to watch their activity and to take photographs. The rangers will be able to provide you with a background to the family you are visiting. Once your hour is up, you trek back out of the rain forest to your meeting point.

You needn’t feel like you’re exploiting these animals. The ever-growing number of tourists trekking them each day play a vital role in their survival. For years they have been ruthlessly hunted for their hands and heads, which have been sold as ashtrays and lampshades! In addition, large numbers have been killed whilst trying to stop poachers stealing the babies for sale to zoos, where they have never lived long. 100% of the gorilla permit cost is used to by the parks authorities to finance patrols that are instrumental in protecting the gorillas from poachers and their lethal snares and on promoting these wonderful animals.

DAY 09: Kisoro to Lake Bunyoni (B / L /D)
A short drive through arguably some of the most picturesque scenery in Africa brings us 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.

DAY 10 & 11: Lake Bunyoni (B / L /D)
The next two days are spent at leisure to enjoy the beauty of Lake Bunyoni. There are the options to swim, canoe, hike, visit the local villages or just sit back, relax and enjoy the tranquil surrounds. Well deserved rest days!

DAY 12: Lake Bunyoni to Kampala (B / L /D)
After enjoying the peaceful surrounds of Lake Bunyoni we drive to Kampala. Today we will cross the equator for the second time and there will be ample opportunity for photos at the Equator crossing. On arrival we exchange addresses and part ways, having just experienced a trip of a lifetime!



OPTIONAL EXCURSIONS

Below is a selection of Optional Excursions available on this trip.
Please Note - these prices are approximate and are subject to change
- where activities occur away from your base, there may be an additional transfer cost.

Uganda, Jinja - Softpower Community Project US$ 25
Uganda, Jinja - White Water Rafting on The Nile US$ 95
Uganda, Jinja – Quad Bike (2 Hour) US$ 60
Uganda, Kampala - Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary US$ 50
Uganda, DRC or Rwanda - Gorilla Trekking Permit Between US$375.00 & US$ 500

FREE TRIP

When you book this trip, you are entitled to receive a FREE 3 Day Masai Mara Safari the Thursday before your trip begins. The Local Payment is still applicable for the trip. This fantastic offer must be taken up at the same time you book this trip. Conditions apply.


The staff and management look forward to welcoming you aboard and trust that you will enjoy your trip with us.

“Safari Njema”