Realm of the Original African Animal Safari
Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Zanzibar and Mombasa
Wild, adventurous and wonderful. Immense concentrations of wildlife, amazing birdlife, rich and diverse cultures…places like no where else on earth: Mount Kilimanjaro, Ngorongoro Crater, Masai Mara, Serengeti plains, Murchison Falls - source of the great River Nile, the long, timeless white-sand beaches of Zanzibar…East Africa, the home of safari.
Prices effective:
01 January 2012 - 31 December 2012
Package: CAD $1154.00 (Per Person - single occupancy)
Local Payment: USD $460 (incl community school project)
Gorilla Permit: USD $510
LP and gorilla permit must be USD cash
Call for departure dates
14 Day Gorilla Encounter and Uganda Lakes
Game parks, landscapes and culture. This safari gives a glimpse of East Africa’s enormously diverse scenery and some of its friendliest people. From the Great Rift Valley dotted with lakes, to the terraced hillsides of fertile Uganda, and a very special wildlife encounter - the opportunity to trek and view the magnificent gorillas in their fragile habitat is an unforgettable experience.
This is an "Overland Adventure". What is Overlanding?
Day 1 & 2
Our safari begins in Kenya, one of Africa’s most welcoming countries, where the first words you hear are the Swahili greeting, Jambo! (Hello!), often followed by Hakuna matata! (no problem!) From Nairobi we cross the Great Rift Valley, an enormous cleft in the Earth's surface stretching north to the Red Sea and south to Mozambique. After stopping to admire the spectacular views over the Valley we continue to Lake Nakuru National Park, our first night’s camp. Rhino, leopard, warthog, baboon and numerous lesser animals inhabit the park, but Nakuru is best known for its wealth of birdlife, especially flamingos which feed in such numbers in the shallows that they form a pink 'fringe' around the lake shore. Rhino, leopard, buffalo, warthog, baboon and numerous antelopes also inhabit the park and may wander through our camp during the night! Leaving Nakuru we travel north through the highlands of Eldoret to the lush green hills of Uganda.
Days 3 to 6
Uganda (Winston Churchill’s 'Pearl of Africa') is a friendly and surprisingly green country. Our first stop is Jinja, near the source of the Nile River. Time permitting there are various activities available including white water rafting, guided walks, village visits - or simply admire the world’s longest river and the dramatic Bujagali Falls from the camp. While here there is the chance to help a charity project involved in building and improving local community schools. Roll up your sleeves for the afternoon and make a difference! A little further along the Lake Victoria shoreline we arrive in Kampala.
Days 7 to 11
After a night in the capital we continue to rural southwestern Uganda. We pass through the towns of Mbarara and Kabale, and stop at Lake Bunyonyi, a picturesque highland lake in the Kigezi highlands. After relaxing here we continue on, through valleys of banana plantations and tiny villages, to the dense forest of south-west Uganda for the most exciting part of our trip: a trek to see mountain gorillas.
This region is home to roughly half of the world's remaining mountain gorillas, and is one of only two forests in teh world where they survive in their natural habitat. Local guides lead us through thick mountain jungle. The trekking can be hard going at times but the hard work is forgotten once we finally come face-to-face with these magnificent creatures. We then have a one hour ‘audience’ with these gentle apes. It is a truly memorable experience. Gorillas are very sociable creatures and live in families of 12-20 individuals, led by a dominant male (the so-called 'silverback') together with several adult females and numerous young. (NB: group sizes on trek are kept small to minimize the impact on the sensitive natural habitat, we may therefore spend several days here to allow all members of the group to view the gorillas. Community visits and forest walks can be taken around the area when not trekking for gorillas.)
Days 12 - 14
From Uganda we return to Kenya, crossing the equator and passing down the Rift Valley to the bright lights and bustle of Nairobi where our tour ends.
Notes And Ideas
Gorillas are a rare species indeed, to ensure you have the best chance of seeing them, gorilla permits must be booked well in advance. Got time in Nairobi before or after your tour? Discover Kenya’s bustling city on a 3-day Nairobi City Stay, or the 3-day Masai Mara Safari
Highlights
Flamingo and a variety of birdlife at Lake Nakuro
Making a difference in community projects in Jinja
Kampala, capital of Uganda; Jinja, source of the Nile
Gorilla Trekking in the the African jungle
Picturesque Lake Bunyonyi
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