24 day Gorillas, Game Parks & Zanzibar Wildlife Safari Tour, Kenya, Uganda,Tanzania

Day 1: Nairobi to Masai Mara Game Reserve, Kenya

This Kenya safari departs from the Boulevard Hotel in Nairobi and climbs the escarpment to the first lookout point overlooking the Great Rift Valley. You enter Maasai land, where these fascinating people can be seen along the road, tending to their cattle.

You arrive at Acacia Camp, your accommodation for the night, where you will spend your evening chatting and enjoying the sun setting over Masai Mara. Lunch and dinner is included.

Day 2: Masai Mara, Kenya

Your days at Masai Mara during your Kenya safari are spent on extensive game drives in search for the Big Five, Cheetah, Giraffe, Zebra and Waterbuck. Your evenings are spent sitting around the camp fire, discussing the day's sightings. Breakfast, lunch and dinner is included.

Day 3: Masai Mara to Nakuru, Kenya

The tour departs the Masai Mara early, passing through the third largest town in Kenya, Nakuru. You will stay here for the night to re-supply and shop. Breakfast, lunch and dinner is included.

Day 4: Nakuru to Kampala, Uganda

Today the tour crosses the border into Uganda and travels via the town of Jinja before reaching the capital of Uganda, Kampala. What Uganda lacks in size, it makes up in beauty and diversity.

The landscape varies from fertile green areas, to semi desert regions and snow covered mountains in the west. Breakfast, lunch and dinner is included.

Days 5 &6: Kampala to Kisoro, Uganda

After an early morning departure from Kampala, the tour travels to the west into the depths of Uganda to your base in Kisoro. Breakfast, lunch and dinner is included.

Depending on where the Gorilla permits is available, and where the Gorillas are located, the tour will be viewing Gorilla in either Magahinga or Bwindi National Parks in Uganda, the Virunga National Park in the DRC, or at Ruhengeri in Rwanda. Please remember, due to the nature and habits of the Gorilla, viewing is not guaranteed.

Trekking Gorilla is quite difficult, as you travel through dense bush and thickets, and can take up to 5 hours. As Gorillas are highly sensitive to human disease, people of ill health are not allowed to visit the Gorilla groups, as are children under the age of 15 years. Breakfast, lunch and dinner is included.

Day 7: Kisoro to Lake Bunyoni, Uganda

After a short and scenic drive, you arrive at Lake Bunyoni, the deepest crater lake in Africa, and home to an abundance of fish and bird species. Breakfast, lunch and dinner is included.

Day 8: Lake Bunyoni, Uganda

Today, you spend the whole day relaxing and enjoying the beauty of Lake Bunyoni. You have the option of swimming, visiting a local village, or just lounging around, admiring the view. Breakfast, lunch and dinner is included.

Day 9: Lake Bunyoni to Kampala, Uganda

After a few days of peace and tranquility in Lake Bunyoni, you drive to Kampala for another overnight stay and a chance to sample the nightlife. You cross the border for the second time and enjoy plenty of photo opportunities. Breakfast, lunch and dinner is included.

Day 10: Kampala to Jinja, Uganda

Today you have the option of white water rafting down the Nile River, or visiting the Ngamba Chimpanzee Sanctuary. Your overnight camp is situated on the edge of the Nile River, home to a multitude of bird life. Breakfast, lunch and dinner is included.

Day 11: Jinja to Nakuru, Kenya

Today you head back towards Kenya, crossing the border before lunch and stopping en route for supplies. You will overnight in Nakuru. Breakfast, lunch and dinner is included.

Day 12: Lake Nakuru National Park, Uganda

Today you move on to the Lake Nakuru National Park, home to thousands of graceful Flamingo at the water's edge, depending on the water level. The Park is also home to Black and White Rhino, Buffalo, Giraffe, Leopard, Waterbuck and various antelope. After entering the Park in the morning, you spend the rest of the day game viewing. Breakfast, lunch and dinner is included.

Day 13: Lake Nakuru National Park to Lake Naivasha, Kenya

Today you move further east to Lake Naivasha, where you camp in serene surroundings beside the lake. Your afternoon is spent at leisure, or, time permitting, you can enjoy optional excursions like a boat ride to Crescent Island Game Sanctuary, Hell's Gate National Park or Elsamere, the retirement home of Joy Adamson. Breakfast, lunch and dinner is included.

Day 14: Lake Naivasha to Nairobi, Kenya

After breakfast, you leave Naivasha to Nairobi, arriving in the early afternoon. The truck will stop at the Boulevard Hotel for those clients staying there, and continues to your campsite for the night. Breakfast is included.

Day 15: Nairobi to Arusha, Tanzania

Today you depart Nairobi and head south, crossing the border into Tanzania at Namanga, then continuing to Arusha for a Tanzania safari. This lovely town is situated at the base of Mount Meru, and is the starting point for your optional excursion to Ngorongoro Crater and/or the Serengeti.

These trips are conducted locally in specially adapted safari Land Rovers. Depending on your chosen excursion, you will be away from camp for one or two nights. Lunch and dinner is included.

Day 16: Serengeti (Optional), Tanzania

If you take the 2 night/3 day option, you depart Arusha in the morning with vehicles and guides. Your journey to Arusha takes you through the Maasai town of Mtu Wa Mbu and up into the Ngorongoro Reserve, before descending down onto the Serengeti plains.

This area is home to an astounding amount of plains game. Your afternoon is spent game viewing, before setting up camp in the heart of the Park. Breakfast, lunch and dinner is included.

Day 17: Serengeti National Park to Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania

After a full morning of game drives in the Serengeti on day 17 of your Tanzania safari, you return to camp and head towards Ngorongoro. You travel up to Ngorongoro Crater's edge where you camp for the evening. It is suggested that you pack in warm winter clothes as it can get quite cold on the rim of the Crater at night.

For those taking the one night/two day option, you will be collected from Arusha today and transferred to Karatu for the evening. Breakfast, lunch and dinner is included.

Day 18: Ngorongoro Crater to Arusha, Tanzania

This morning you descend into the Ngorongoro Crater, a natural wonder offering the most spectacular views from the rim. The Crater is home to nearly every species of African animal, including Elephant, Rhino, Buffalo, Hippo, Lion and plains game.

After a full morning in the Crater, you return to your campsite near Arusha for another night. Both optional excursions will follow the same schedule today. Breakfast, lunch and dinner is included.

Day 19: Arusha to Pangani, Tanzania

Today you leave Arusha and travel towards the Indian Ocean. You travel through the town of Moshi, crossing the southern slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa.

Depending on the weather, you have the opportunity to view the snowy summit. Your tour continues south, passing the Usambara Mountains on your way to Dar Es Salaam. Breakfast, lunch and dinner is included.

Day 20: Pangani to Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania

Today is dedicated to your long drive through stunning scenery and lush palm trees. You set up camp for the night. Once you arrive in Dar Es Salaam, you spend a lovely night at a beach hotel/campsite situated to the north of the city and prepare for your journey to the Spice Island of Zanzibar the following morning. Breakfast, lunch and dinner is included.

Day 21: Dar Es Salaam to Zanzibar

A ferry from Dar Es Salaam takes you to Zanzibar, where 3 unforgettable nights will be spent during your Zanzibar tour. Zanzibar is an island steeped in history, and was one of the major starting points for East African explorers in the journey to find new land. Breakfast is included.

Please Note: Accommodation and food is on the client's own account during their stay in Zanzibar, however, the trip leader will accompany clients to the island, and book accommodation and tours for them.

Days 22 & 23: Zanzibar

Zanzibar offers a host of activities and experiences for all to enjoy. Visit the quiet streets of Stone Town, which still retain its Arabic influence. The Island is exceptionally famous for its spices, hence the name 'Spice Island', and tours around the spice plantation can be organised. Other options include trips to the nearby Prison Island, or hire a motorbike and explore the more remote areas of the island.

Zanzibar boasts some the freshest and best seafood in Africa, with numerous restaurants offering a great variety of dishes to tantalize your taste buds, giant lobsters being a popular favourite. The market stalls on the island also offers a unique dining experience, with an unusual selection of African style fast food at reasonable prices.

Day 24: Zanzibar to Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania

You leave Zanzibar via ferry back to the mainland, and Dar Es Salaam in Tanzania where your Zanzibar tour ends.

Optional Excursions:

Free Trip:

This trip entitles you to a free 3 day Masai Mara Safari. The Local Payment is still applicable for the trip. This offer must be taken up when booking your main trip. Please enquire by your Siyabona Africa consultant. Conditions apply.