| Starts | Nairobi, Kenya |
|---|---|
| Ends | Nairobi, Kenya |
| Region | Uganda |
| Duration | 21 days |
| Tour Operator | Intrepid Travel |
Itinerary
Day 1 - Starting: Nairobi & Finishing: Nairobi
Border Information: If joining the trip in Nairobi, you will most likely enter Kenya at Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (IATA code: NBO). Welcome to Kenya! There will be a group meeting at the joining hotel at 6:00pm. Please do not be alarmed if there is no welcome note, as this will often be a travelling day for the crew who will be joining you. Please note that many of the options listed below will only be possible for those with extra time in Nairobi 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 Nairobi. Hotel for the night: Wildebeest Eco Camp Wildebeest Eco Camp 151 Mokoyeti Road West Karen Nairobi Kenya +254 7347 70733 OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES Visit to the David Sheldrick Animal Orphanage in Nairobi : KES 500 Explore the museum at the site of the former home of Karen Blixen, the author of 'Out of Africa' : KES 1200 Visit the Langata Giraffe Centre in Nairobi : KES 1000 Learn all about the different tribal groups of Kenya at the Bomas of Kenya cultural centre in Nairobi : USD 40 Discover some of Kenya's ancient hominids at the National Museum in Nairobi : KES 1200 About Nairobi: Nairobi is a lively city with a cosmopolitan atmosphere. The Kenyan capital takes its name from the Maasai meaning 'Place of Cool Waters'. Today it is a busy, bustling place that comes alive through it's many markets, shops, bars and restaurants, not to mention its vibrant nightlife. If you have time to explore the city, the National Museum of Kenya and Karen Blixen Museum are both worth a visit, or you can get up close to the giraffes and help to feed them at the Langata Giraffe Centre.Â
Day 2 - Starting: Gilgil, Nakuru National Park & Finishing: Gilgil, Nakuru National Park
After an early breakfast we will make our way to Gilgil, where we will visit the Saidia Children's Home - a Dragoman-supported home for orphaned children from the area. From there, we will make our way to Nakuru, our base for tomorrow's excursion into Nakuru National Park. If we make good time on the drive we may have the opportunity to take a walk around the working dairy farm where our campsite is, and to visit a local women's knitting collective. In Nakuru we will stay at a beautiful and well equipped campsite located on a dairy farm on the outskirts of town. Estimated Drive Time - 4-5 hours (please note that all drive times given here are the approximate number of hours that the truck will be in motion only, and does not include any time taken for coffee or lunch stops, border crossings, photo stops, activities en route, comfort breaks, shopping stops, toilet stops, etc. The times given are approximate estimates only and whilst given with the best of intentions, the drive times are heavily dependent on traffic, road conditions, weather, police roadblocks, and many other factors - flexibility is essential on any overland trip!). INCLUDED ACTIVITIES Visit to the Dragoman-supported orphanage at the Saidia Children's Home in Gilgil : Included in Kitty OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES Walk to explore a colonial dairy farm and visit a local women's knitting collective : USD 5 About Nakuru National Park: Lake Nakuru National Park was established in 1968 to protect the huge flocks of lesser and greater flamingos that live here. At times there are over one million of these spectacular birds roaming around the acrid waters of the soda lake that is the centrepiece of the park. Even if you are not a keen birdwatcher, the sight is inspiring and it is not hard to understand why the lake has become such a favourite for African wildlife documentaries. Nakuru is also where much of the film Out of Africa was shot. The park is located on the floor of the Rift Valley and is a mixture of bushland, forest and rocky escarpment. Each area is an important habitat for many different species of wildlife. Besides the prolific bird life, the park is also well established as one of East Africa's premier parks for big game. Beside the lake, hippo, water buck, warthogs, Bohor's reed buck and zebra can regularly be found. Further up in the forests there's a large population of black and white colobus monkeys, and the ultimate forest predator, the leopard. However, Nakuru's biggest draw is probably it's rhinos. In the late 1980s the Kenyan Wildlife Services used the park as a rhino sanctuary, and it now has a stable black and white rhino population. About Gilgil: Gilgil is home to the Saida Children's Home, a Transported project that works to improve the lives of AIDS orphans and other disadvantaged children in Gilgil and the surrounding area. Mji wa Neema is Swahili for 'house of hope', and is the name of a is a small UK-based charity raising funds to support orphaned children in and around Naivasha and Gilgil in Kenya, and specifically to fund Saidia Children's Home and projects started by Jill Simpson MBE, and Teresa Wahito. Jill sadly passed away in October 2009 after a lifetime of good work, but Teresa continues to work tirelessly on behalf of AIDS orphans and other deprived children in the area. On visits through the area we will make direct donations to help fund the project. Please visit http://www.saidia-gilgil.org.uk/ for more information.Â
Day 3 - Starting: Nakuru National Park, Kericho & Finishing: Nakuru National Park, Kericho
This morning we head into Nakuru National Park for an included half-day game drive in local safari trucks. Nakuru is a beautiful park with a large lake and many forested areas - it is teeming with wildlife and there is an excellent chance to see both black and white rhinos. We will most likely have lunch in the area before driving on to Kericho this afternoon, where there is an optional tour around a nearby tea plantation. In Kericho we will stay at a well equipped campsite. Estimated Drive Time - 3-4 hours. OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES Head out on a guided walk of a tea plantation in Kericho in Western Kenya : KES 200 INCLUDED ACTIVITIES Take a safari in 4x4 vans in the beautiful Lake Nakuru National Park : Included in Kitty About Kericho: Kericho is one of the larger towns in the western highlands of Kenya. Its location in the highlands of the Rift Valley next to the Mau forest gives it a warm and temperate climate, that makes it perfect for agriculture and specifically the cultivation of tea.Â
Day 4-5 - Starting: Jinja & Finishing: Jinja
" Day 4 to 5 " Border Information: Exit Kenya at Busia, enter Uganda at Busia. Today we have a full day's drive across the border into Uganda as we travel to Jinja, the adventure capital of East Africa! Estimated Drive Time - 9-10 hours. On the following day we will have a free day to get involved in the many optional adventure activities available here, such as white water rafting, bungee jumping and boat trips on the White Nile! In Jinja we will stay at a well equipped campsite. OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES Activity Approximate Cost Head out for a full day of white water rafting on the White Nile near Jinja : USD 125 Go bungee jumping above the Nile at our campsite in Jinja : USD 115 Go on a boat trip to discover the source of the Nile where the river outflows from Lake Victoria : USD 15 Head out on an adventure activity day of rafting, jet boating and bungee jumping : USD 240 Explode up the rapids of the Nile in a 12-seater jet boat : USD 75 Head out for a full day of quad biking at the Bujagali Falls near Jinja USD 160 Head out horse riding along the banks of the White Nile : USD 75 About Jinja: Jinja is one of the highlights of any visit to Uganda. This is a place for the adventurer, the adrenaline junkie and the eco-conscious traveller. The area is beautiful and is located at the source of the White Nile as it leaves Lake Victoria. The most popular activity here is the spectacular and hair raising white-water rafting trip down the Nile. Our base in Jinja is perched spectacularly on a cliff-top 30 metres above the swirling currents of the river! Â
Day 6 - Starting: Nakitoma & Finishing: Nakitoma
Today we continue our journey and head north to the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary close to the town of Nakitoma. Here we will have the chance to track rhinos on foot with a local ranger! In Nakitoma we will stay in a well equipped campsite within the Rhino Sanctuary. Estimated Drive Time - 6-7 hours. OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES Rhino tracking at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary : USD 40 About Nakitoma: The Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary near Nakitoma was created to reintroduce the rhinoceros to Uganda, which had previously been extinct there since 1982. The 70 square-kilometre sanctuary in pristine bush country is currently home to the only wild rhinos in Uganda. The sanctuary's long-term goal is to build a sustainable rhino population and relocate rhinos back to their original habitat in Uganda's protected areas. In addition to the rhino-breeding program, Rhino Fund Uganda also runs community upliftment and education programs in the surrounding villages. During our stay, one of the trained rangers will introduce you to the sanctuary and provide you with information about the rhinos. Depending on where our rhinos happen to be when you arrive, you can take to the opportunity to go out with the guide by vehicle and then approach the rhinos up close on foot. This is a fantastic opportunity to observe the rhinos in their habitat at a very close, and very safe, distance. The animals are magnificent and the opportunity to see them up close is truly one not to be missed!Â
Day 7 - Starting: Kaniyo Pabidi, Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary & Finishing: Kaniyo Pabidi, Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
Today we continue to Kaniyo Pabidi in the Budongo Forest, in the southern part of the Murchison Falls National Park. Here we will head out for our included chimpanzee tracking walk in the afternoon! Please note that for conservation reasons the maximum group size to track the chimpanzees is 12 people, so if we have a large group we will split in half, one half going on the walk this afternoon and the other half going tomorrow morning. In Kaniyo Pabidi we will stay in basic dorm rooms in a small lodge in the Budongo Forest. Estimated Drive Time - 3-4 hours. INCLUDED ACTIVITIES Trek on foot in the Budongo Forest in search of habituated chimpanzees : Included in Kitty OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES Bird watching tour in Ziwa searching for shoe bills  : USD 35 About Kaniyo Pabidi: Kaniyo Pabidi is an eco-tourism site within the Budongo Forest Reserve in the southern section of Murchison Falls National Park. The terrain of the Budongo Forest is flat, allowing for good on-foot travelling conditions for the average tourist to trek out to try and spot the resident chimpanzees. Our basic lodge is located on the edge of the chimpanzees’ home range, significantly diminishing the risk of a long trek before contact is made with the group - the habitat consists of primary forest with medium under story vegetation-density allowing for good visibility of the canopy (and thus of the chimpanzees) and the presence of savanna and grassland areas neighbouring the primary forest present an interesting opportunity for viewing of different ecosystems. There is an extensive (115km in total) and well-maintained trail system that further facilitates visitor accessibility.
Day 8-9 - Starting: Murchison Falls National Park & Finishing: Murchison Falls National Park
" Day 8 to 9" If we had to split the group for chimpanzee tracking, the other half of the group will head out for the walk this morning. When we are ready to continue, we will drive to the central region of Murchison Falls National Park to reach our campsite. Estimated Drive Time - 2-3 hours (to the campsite). On the next day, we will head out early in the truck for a included morning of game driving around the northern area of the National Park - we will take a local vehicle barge to get over the Nile and pick up a ranger to show us around in search of wildlife! We will return to our campsite for lunch, and then embark on an included launch cruise on the Nile to spot wildlife from the water and to see the spectacularly-powerful Murchison Falls. In Murchison Falls National Park we will stay in a well equipped campsite at Paraa on the southern banks of the River Nile in the heart of the park. Please note that the roads leading into and around Murchison Falls are very poor and can be hazardous in wet conditions. If there has been heavy rain recently, it may not be possible to go into the National Park beyond Kaniyo Pabidi - this is firstly for safety reasons on the drive in, and secondly due to the risk of extreme bogging that will cause us to miss the gorilla treks in Rwanda. We will always endeavour to reach the National Park as per the itinerary; but when this is occasionally not possible, please respect the tour leader's decision in this matter. On these occasions we will be able to utilise this time with spending longer in Lake Bunyonyi and Ruhengeri. INCLUDED ACTIVITIES Launch cruise on the River Nile to the mighty Murchison Falls : Included in Kitty Head out game driving in our overland truck in Murchison Falls National Park : Included in Kitty About Murchison Falls National Park: Muchison Falls National Park is Uganda's largest reserve and is bisected by the mighty White Nile river. It is named after the dramatic Murchison Falls - where the world's longest river explodes violently through a narrow cleft in the Rift Valley escarpment to plunge into a frothing pool 43m below. The falls are often described as the most dramatic thing to occur along the entire length of the Nile, and are best seen from a boat cruise along the river! Wildlife populations have largely recovered from the poaching of the 1980s - in the lush grassland to the north of the Nile, elephants, buffaloes, giraffes and a variety of antelope are regularly encountered on game drives, while lions are seen with increasing frequency. The Nile itself hosts one of Africa's densest hippo and crocodile populations, and an incredible variety of waterbirds.
Day 10 - Starting: Kampala & Finishing: Kampala
Today we have a full day's drive back south to Kampala, where we will have a night stop in a well equipped campsite in the southern suburbs of the city. Estimated Drive Time - 8-9 hours. About Kampala: Kampala is the capital of Uganda. This city was practically destroyed in the civil wars and political disturbance in the 1980s, but it is now rebuilt and reorganised. It is a friendly city, with a lively buzz and a bustling centre.
Day 11-12 - Starting: Kabale, Mbarara, Lake Bunyonyi & Finishing: Kabale, Mbarara, Lake Bunyonyi
" Day 11 to 12 " Over the next 2 days we will continue travelling south through Uganda to reach Lake Bunyonyi, home to some of the most picturesque scenery in the whole of the country, where we will hopefully get the opportunity to explore the lake by boat and admire the surrounding landscape. En route we will split the drive with a night stop in either Mbarara or Kabale, which both have decent campsites that we can use. We will also cross the Equator and stop for the mandatory photos en route! In Lake Bunyonyi we stay in a well equipped campsite. Estimated Drive Times - 7-8 hours each day. OPTIONAL ACTIVITIESÂ Take a trip in a motorboat to explore the scenery of Lake Bunyoni : UGX 12000 Head out on a guided walk around the scenic Lake Bunyoni, or to local villages in the area : USD 10 Hire a dugout canoe to explore Lake Bunyoni : USD 12 About Lake Bunyonyi: Lake Bunyonyi is a spectacular lake nestled in the mountains of southern Uganda, near to the Rwandan border. A serene lake surrounded by beautiful hills, you can take dugout canoes out onto the lake to visit the nearby Muko Forest and some of the local communities. One community, the Batwa tribe, is indigenous to the Great Lakes Region and found throughout Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda and the eastern region of the Congo.Â
Day 13-14 - Starting: Ruhengeri & Volcanoes National Park, Kigali & Finishing: Ruhengeri & Volcanoes National Park, Kigali
" Day 13 to 14 " Border Information: Exit Uganda at Katuna, enter Rwanda at Gatuna. Leaving Uganda behind, we cross the border into the stunning country of Rwanda. We will first travel to the capital city of Kigali, where we will have an included visit to the incredibly moving Genocide Memorial. After this we will drive the short distance to Ruhengeri (also known as Musanze), the gateway to the Volcanoes National Park, where we will spend the next 2 nights. Estimated Drive Time - 10 hours (allowing for 5 hours driving, 2 hours at the border and 3 hours at the Kigali Genocide Museum). On the next day, 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, so 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 silver back, 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 trekking group and time on your permit. The group may be split up into different trekking groups during the day. In Ruhengeri we will stay in dorms at a local church mission, or camp in their grounds. Please note that the gorilla permits are paid for in full by the trip kitty - however, Dragoman has 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. Please also note that there is some flexibility in the itinerary depending on the circumstances of the trip and the weather, as such we sometimes may have extra time in Ruhengeri, in which case we will have time for some other activities here (your leader can detail some of these if you have the time available). INCLUDED ACTIVITIES Learn all about the tragic 1994 Rwanda genocide at the extremely moving Genocide Memorial in Kigali : Included in Kitty Trek in the forests of Rwanda's Volcanos National Park in search of the mighty mountain gorillas - an unforgettable experience! : Included in Kitty About Kigali: The small Rwandan capital of Kigali is one of Africa's pleasant surprises - it is majestically located in the mountains of central Rwanda, and is one of the cleanest cities in the whole continent and even has a dedicated day each month where businesses close and all the locals come out to help clean the streets! We stop by Kigali to visit the incredibly moving memorial and museum to the victims of the brutal and heartbreaking genocide of 1994 - although a difficult and upsetting place to visit, it is a vital stop to understand the tragic events that happened here, the lead up to it, and life in Rwanda since the events of that terrible summer. About Ruhengeri & Volcanoes National Park: The town of Ruhengeri (also known as Msanze) is the gateway to the famed Volcanoes National Park. The region is incredibly beautiful, with stunning verdant mountains cascading down the shores of Lake Kivu on the Congolese border. The park itself protects an area which is part of a chain of eight volcanoes running along the western branch of the Great Rift Valley. These spectacular mountains and the nearby Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda are the last refuge of the mighty mountain gorilla. A trek out into the park in search of the gorillas is the experience of a lifetime. The pungent aromas of wet mountain vegetation will fill your senses as you trek through the forest following the local trackers, the sides of the mountains often shrouded in mist. The muddy and wet terrain is by no means easy, so it can be pretty strenuous and it's often very humid too - but the sheer thrill of coming face to face with a group of gorillas, dominated by a great male silverback, more than makes up for the difficulties of the trek. The animals are surprisingly placid and gentle, and having the privilege of being able to watch their movements at close range is the ultimate wildlife experience. There are several habituated groups ranging from around 10-35 gorillas in size, each group inhabiting a different area of the forest and involving different lengths of trek to typically find them - depending on the group you are aiming for, you could be walking for 2 to 7 hours.Â
Day 15 - Starting: Kabale & Finishing: Kabale
Border Information: Exit Rwanda at Cyanika, enter Uganda at Cyanika. Today we have a free morning in Ruhengeri before heading out of Rwanda, crossing back into Uganda to camp in the town of Kabale. In Kabale we will stay in a well equipped campsite. Estimated Drive Time - 4-5 hours.Â
Day 16 - Starting: Queen Elizabeth National Park & Finishing: Queen Elizabeth National Park
This morning we travel to the Queen Elizabeth National Park, 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 will take an included boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, well-known for pelicans, eagles and other wonderful bird life as well as its healthy population of hippos. During our time in the park we also hope to see elephants, lions, leopards, buffaloes, Ugandan kobs and water bucks. In Queen Elizabeth National Park we will camp at a basic campsite with drop toilets inside the park. Your leader will explain the basic safety aspects of camping in an unfenced area amongst the wildlife upon arrival. Estimated Drive Time - 5-6 hours. INCLUDED ACTIVITIES Take a boat trip through the Kazinga Channel in Queen Elizabeth National Park : Included in Kitty Head on a game drive around Queen Elizabeth National Park in our overland truck, in search of wildlife : Included in Kitty About Queen Elizabeth National Park: The magnificent Queen Elizabeth National Park lies across the Equator in the southwest of Uganda, bordering the Rift Valley lakes of Edward and George. The animals that make their home here include many hippos, tree-climbing lions, elephants, buffaloes, Ugandan kob, water buck, bush buck and topi. Uganda's wildlife took a terrible hammering from poaching and war after the military coup of the 1970s and beyond, but in recent decades the government and wildlife authorities have done a great deal to eradicate poaching and the wildlife is once again on the increase. Elephant numbers have increased substantially, with an influx from the Congo where they are still being poached. Queen Elizabeth National Park contains the most astonishing number of different fauna, including 100 different types of mammal and over 600 species of birds. We also take a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel between the park's two lakes, which is well-known for pelicans, eagles and other wonderful bird life as well as its healthy population of hippos.Â
Day 17-18 - Starting: Mbarara, Jinja & Finishing: Mbarara, Jinja
" Day 17 to 18 " Over the next 2 days we will travel back to the east through Kampala to Jinja. We will take a short game drive through Queen Elizabeth National Park on our way out in the morning. We will most likely split the drive with a night stop in Mbarara, but if the road conditions improve on a different road then we may go via the western town of Fort Portal instead. Both Mbarara and Fort Portal have decent campsites to stay in. Either way, we will reach Jinja by the second evening and enjoy a night relaxing at the same campsite as earlier in the trip. Estimated Drive Times - 6-7 hours each day.Â
Day 19 - Starting: Eldoret & Finishing: Eldoret
Border Information: Exit Uganda at Malaba, enter Kenya at Malaba. Today we travel back into Kenya and visit the town of Eldoret, where we will stay in an excellent campsite at Naiberi River just outside of town. There will be the possibility of an Indian buffet meal at our campsite tonight. Estimated Drive Time - 7-9 hours.Â
Day 20 - Starting: Nairobi & Finishing: Nairobi
Today we will make our way back to the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, where we will stay again in our well equipped campsite situated in the suburb of Karen. Estimated Drive Time - 6-7 hours.Â
Day 21 - Starting: Nairobi & Finishing: Nairobi
Border Information: if you are leaving the trip in Nairobi, you will most likely exit Kenya at Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (IATA code: NBO). Today is this is the final day of this section - if you are leaving here (or continuing northbound with us to Ethiopia) you will have a free day in Nairobi. If you are continuing your trip with us southbound to wards Tanzania then there will a new group meeting at 10:00am for the next section of your journey, before heading away from Nairobi - your leader will give you detailed instructions about this. 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 Dragoman Sales team if you are interested in booking extra nights of accommodation in order to fully explore and take part in some of the optional activities listed below.Â
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