Kenya & Uganda Gorillas & Wildlife Tour 16 days from $7999 Per person twin share including airfares.
GORILLAS & PLAINS HIGHLIGHTS Masai Mara Reserve, Masai tribe, Lake Nakuru, the equator, Muchison Falls, chimpanzees, Lake Bunyonyi, mountain gorillas COUNTRIES : Kenya, Uganda This two week adventure takes you through the magnificent lakes and wildlife parks of Kenya, across Uganda and the Equator, and up into the jungle for some trekking to visit the mountain gorillas and chimpanzees. Starting in Nairobi we first head out to the famous Masai Mara game reserve where we ll have several included game drives to view the wildlife in one of Africa's most iconic game reserves. We then head north, stopping for more game viewing at Lake Nakuru, before crossing the border into Uganda where our next stop is Jinja, famous as the point where the River Nile flows out of Lake Victoria. There are optional Nile cruises and great white water rafting available here. Next we head north towards the Murchison National Park, home of the spectacular Murchison Falls. We'll enjoy another included game drive here, through one of Uganda's best National Parks. Then we take another jungle trek, this time through the Budongo Central Forest Reserve in search of the local chimpanzees. We follow this adventure with a visit to the mountains, stopping at the beautiful Lake Bunyoni which we use as our base for our gorilla trek deep into the Bwindi Impenetrable forest. This experience is a once in a life time opportunity to get up close and personal with man's closest relative. An optional rhino trekking experience is then available as we head back towards Kenya thorugh the Great Rift Valley and Eldoret, before we arrive back in Nairobi to finish the tour. Note: the itinerary below is written with the optional Activity Package included - please check the Options tab for full details. Departs 04, 11 May, 01 June, 27 July, 03, 10 24 Aug, 05, 19 Oct, 02, 16 Nov 2019 Please call for school holiday and Christmas tours. Phone 1300 813391 DI Travel www.ditravel.com.au. Included: Return economy airfares from ALL Australian Capital Cities to Nairobi flying Emirates, Qatar or Etihad airways. Extra $275 form Canberra and Hobart., 16 night's accommodation in hotels/lodges/guesthouses All transport using our 25-seat expedition vehicle All 'included highlights' as mentioned in the itinerary 2 truck crew (driver/guide plus assistant/cook) Local guides for sightseeing tours and activities as per the itinerary
Meals: 13 breakfasts, 13 lunches and 11 dinners Activity Package and optional activities (see itinerary and tour notes) Entrance fees and activities not mentioned above Gorilla permits (allow approx. $630) Gorilla Permit - This permit covers the cost of a one day gorilla trek, is payable in advance, and is non-refundable. Permit prices do vary with discounts offered by the local authorities from time to time. We will adjust your price accordingly at the time of booking Day 1: Depart Australia. Day 2: Arrive Nairobi and overnight Nairobi Hotel Day 3 : Masai Mara National Reserve Those booking the Activity Package will leave the capital of Nairobi and travel to the Masai Mara, world renowned for its endless plains of wild animals and spectacular beauty. This afternoon we will enjoy a cultural experience as we visit and interact with Kenya's native Masaai people. The visit to the Masai Mara is operated in a minibus and then safari type vehicles and not our main truck. For this reason, you are asked to pack a small overnight bag to travel with. You will need your towel, clothes, toiletries and camping essentials. If you do not book the optional Activity Package then you should make your own way to Lake Nakuru to join the tour when we leave in the morning of Day 4. Please contact us for more information. Route: Nairobi to Masai Mara ±240km Activity package: Kenyan Parks Highlights Excursion Permanent Tents: Masai Mara Camp
Lunch, Dinner Gorilla Permit, Extra day in Nairobi - pre-tour, Options available while on tour, Arrival airport transfer in Nairobi, Activity Package 2018 - Gorillas & Plains Day 4 : Masai Mara National Reserve The rolling grasslands of the Masai Mara offer ideal game viewing and photographic opportunities. Some of the other animals that could be found here include elephant, black rhino, buffalo, leopard, cheetah, wildebeest, zebra and gazelle. Hippo and crocodile abound in the muddy brown waters of the rivers, which traverse this reserve. Today we will spend the entire day game driving through the Mara in search of all the animals. Activity package: Kenyan Parks Highlights Excursion Permanent Tents: Masai Mara Camp Activity Package 2018 - Gorillas & Plains Day 5 : Masai Mara - Lake Nakuru We rise early and enjoy our final game drive through the Mara before heading to Lake Nakuru National Park, where we will enjoy an afternoon game drive through the park. Lake Nakuru is home to large flocks of Flamingos and pelicans as well as black & white rhino, leopard, lion and numerous buck. Originally created as a bird sanctuary, Lake Nakuru was upgraded to National Park status in 1968. Route: Masai Mara to Lake Nakuru ±220km Activity package: Kenyan Parks Highlights Excursion Lake Nakuru Lodge OR Kivu Lodge Activity Package 2018 - Gorillas & Plains Day 6 : Lake Nakuru - Jinja Jinja is Uganda's second largest city and more famous as the point where the Nile (officially the Victoria Nile) flows out of Lake Victoria and begins the 6,695km journey to Egypt and the Mediterranean. Note: If you have not booked the Activity Package then you will need to get to Lake Nakuru and be ready to leave there with the group this morning. Optional activities: Nile Cruises, Nile River Rafting Half Day Eden Rock Resort
Options available while on tour Day 7 : Kampala - Masindi - Murchison Falls National Park After meeting your guides in Kampala you are off to to the Murchison Falls NP. The Murchison Falls, also referred to as the Kabaraga Falls, is a waterfall found on the course of the great Nile and are located within the Murchison National Park. The park is recognized as one of the best National Parks in Uganda. After settling into our accommodation, your guide will brief you on the activities for the following day. Optional activities: Murchison Falls Boat Cruise Incl. Park Fees Kabalega Resort Hotel Options available while on tour Day 8 : Masindi - Budongo Central Forest Reserve Budongo Forest is the biggest Mahogany forest found in the whole of East Africa and is home to the largest number of chimpanzees throughout Uganda. It is believed that there are between 600 & 700 chimpanzees in Budongo and this morning we will meet up with our chimp guide who will take us on our trek through the forest in search of the chimps. In 2017 we will also enjoy a game drive through the park in search of the great diversity of wild animals. Note: As the Chimp trekking is limited to 12 guests per trek, should there be more than 12 guests on a tour the trekking will be split between the morning and the afternoon. Therefore you may find that you will first do the game drive activity followed by the Chimp trekking or vice versa. Please allow for flexibility. Activity package: Chimpanzee Trekking Kabalega Resort Hotel Options available while on tour, Activity Package 2018 - Gorillas & Plains Day 9 : Kampala This morning is set aside to participate in any activities, should we not have been able to participate in them in the previous days. It then onto Kampala where you will have the afternoon free to take in the atmosphere of this bustling city. Optional activities: Dinner out - Kampala Activity Package: Ziwa Rhino Walk
Sky Hotel Breakfast Options available while on tour Day 10 : Gorillas (Lake Bunyoni) Lake Bunyonyi is a small but attractive lake with steep sides and abundant birdlife. Gorilla Permit, Options available while on tour Day 11 : Gorillas (Lake Bunyoni) The mountain gorilla is extremely endangered and while exact numbers vary it is widely assumed that there are only around 650 left. Visiting the gorillas is a great way to support their future on earth as the money spent on permits is used for their protection. An extremely important part of the future conservation of the remaining gorillas rests in the community development work as local communities change their attitudes towards wildlife and start to protect rather than poach, the future of the mountain gorilla is assured. As permits granting permission to visit the gorillas are extremely limited we require flexibility in both the tour itinerary and where we actually visit them. The home of the mountain gorillas is completely at odds with man-made borders and so their range encompasses Uganda, Rwanda and the DRC (Democratic Republic of the Congo). Whenever possible we choose to make use of the National Park in Uganda, but this depends on the availability of permits. Should we not obtain permits to visit the mountain gorillas in Uganda then we will inform all passengers beforehand that the tour will travel to Rwanda or DRC. On your free day in Bunyoni you will have the opportunity to participate in certain optional activities. You can also go hiking or explore the area on a mountain bike. Lake Bunyonyi Overland Resort
Gorilla Permit Day 12 : Gorillas (Lake Bunyoni) Although there are 2 days allocated to Gorilla Trekking you will only spend one day on the trek. The other days are there to provide a large enough window in which to obtain permits and to allow the entire group to trek if there are more than 6 of you on the tour. Today we will enjoy a visit to the Nyombi Village, a Pygmy village which is reached by motor boat from Bunyonyi Resort. We will have the opportunity to learn about the culture of the Pygmies and how they live. Activity Package: Pygmy Village Visit Lake Bunyonyi Overland Resort Gorilla Permit, Activity Package 2018 - Gorillas & Plains Day 13 : Lake Bunyonyi - Kampala Today we say farewell to the Gorillas and make the long journey back to Uganda s capital, Kampala. Optional activity: Dinner out - Kampala Sky Hotel Breakfast, Lunch Options available while on tour Day 14 : Jinja We depart Kampala early to arrive at Jinja just before lunch. This afternoon you will have time to relax and enjoy the various activities available here including swimming, quad biking, kayaking and rafting. Eden Rock Resort Day 15 : Kenya - Eldoret Returning to Kenya we visit Eldoret, the countries 5th largest city. The Great Rift Valley is still the dominant geographical feature of this region and the altitude at Eldoret is 2100 metres above sea level.
Naiberi River Camp Day 16 : Nairobi Returning to our final destination Nairobi, the largest city in the East Africa region, there is an optional dinner, where we can swap stories and exchange contact details. Note - Your tour will come to an end once you arrive into Nairobi Overnight Nairobi. Optional activities: Dinner out - Nairobi N/A Breakfast, Lunch Extra day in Nairobi - post-tour, Options available while on tour, Departure airport transfer in Nairobi Day 17 : Return to Australia You will be transferred to the airport today for your flights home to Australia. Included: Return economy airfares from ALL Australian Capital Cities to Nairobi flying Emirates, Qatar or Etihad airways. Extra $275 form Canberra and Hobart., 16 night's accommodation in hotels/lodges/guesthouses All transport using our 25-seat expedition vehicle All 'included highlights' as mentioned in the itinerary 2 truck crew (driver/guide plus assistant/cook) Local guides for sightseeing tours and activities as per the itinerary Meals: 13 breakfasts, 13 lunches and 11 dinners Activity Package and optional activities (see itinerary and tour notes) Entrance fees and activities not mentioned above Gorilla permits (allow approx. $630) Excluded: Visa fees if required Activity Package and optional activities (see itinerary and tour notes) Travel Insurance (compulsory, available on request) Meals not indicated in the itinerary Drinks, snacks and other personal expenses (e.g. laundry) Tips for guides & drivers
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