Gorillas & Masai Mara - Accommodated
Gorillas & Masai Mara - Accommodated
Gorillas & Masai Mara - Accommodated
15 Days Starting in Nairobi and ending in Kigali
Visiting: Nairobi, Maasai Mara National Reserve, Lake Nakuru National Park, Lake Nakuru National Park Office, Eldoret, Jinja, Nile Village Hotel & Spa, Murchison Falls National Park Uganda, Murchison Falls Uganda, Budongo, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Tour operator:
Tour code:
WYUP
Recommended For:
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
6 - 18
Physical rating:
Leisurely / Moderate
Age range:
16 to 99
Special diets catered:
Please inform Exodus of specific dietary requirements
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
The Masai Mara, a vast grassland teeming with animals, has an astonishing amount and mixture of game, including lions, cheetahs and at certain times of the year, the wildebeest migration. Lake Nakuru National Park has an incredible variety of birds as well as a healthy population of White and Black rhinos while Queen Elizabeth National Park is home to hippos, elephants, buffalo, leopards and the elusive tree-climbing lions as well as a huge variety of birds. Murchison Falls National Park is one of the most impressive parks in Africa, renowned for its scenic beauty, spectacular falls and abundant wildlife, including elephants, buffalo, Ugandan kobs (antelope), leopards, and over 450 different species of birds. The highlight of the trip is undoubtedly an hour with Mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda. This close-up encounter is arguably the most sensational wildlife experience of them all.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Start Nairobi; Overnight In Hotel
Location: Nairobi
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Kenya Comfort Suites or similar
Meals Included: No Meals
The group flight usually arrives into Nairobi this afternoon and will be met
and transferred to the start hotel. Land Only clients should aim to arrive at
the hotel this afternoon. This evening's welcome briefing is the perfect
opportunity to meet your guide and get to know your fellow travellers.
Day 2 : To Masai Mara; Late Afternoon Game Drive
Location: Maasai Mara National Reserve
Accommodation: Camp
Accommodation Name: Mountain Rock or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After loading our things onto the overland vehicle we depart Nairobi and
travel approximately 7 hours into the Masai Mara, one of the most famous
ecosystems in the world. This vast grassland is teeming with life; plains
game including wildebeest, gazelle, topi, zebra and buffalo abound in the
rolling savannah, and never far away lay the predators; cheetah, lion and
hyena. Between mid-August to late October one of the greatest spectacles on
Earth takes place in the Mara - the annual migration of thousands of
wildebeest, gazelle and zebra trampling their way across the long grass.
Nothing is guaranteed on safari, but with the help of our brilliant guides
you should see and learn a huge amount about the Masai Mara's resident
wildlife as we game drive through the park this afternoon.
Day 3 : Full Day In The Masai Mara.
Location: Maasai Mara National Reserve
Accommodation: Camp
Accommodation Name: Mountain Rock or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
A full day game drive in the Masai Mara to increase our chances of
encountering many of the wildlife species found in the reserve. We find a
quiet spot inside the park to enjoy lunch by our vehicle, looking out across
the plains. There is also an optional Hot Air Balloon Safari in time for
sunrise (including champagne and breakfast).
Day 4 : To Lake Nakuru N.P.;Â Afternoon Game Drive
Location: Lake Nakuru National Park
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Alps Hotel Nakuru or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
We depart the Masai Mara in the morning after breakfast and drive to Lake
Nakuru National Park, one of the finest small parks within Kenya, where we
have an afternoon game drive. Protected by an electric fence, the park is
widely known for its impressive population of Black and White rhino which are
relatively easy to spot on game drives in the open savannah. Fever trees line
the park and are a well-known spot for leopards to laze in, whilst one of the
most impressive sights is the vast flamingo population. Owing to flooding the
alkaline content of the lake has changed in recent years and as a result the
flamingos no longer tend to be found in such large numbers, but this can
change depending on the rainfall.
Day 5 : Morning Game Drive In Nakuru N.P.; To Eldoret
Location: Lake Nakuru National Park Office, Eldoret
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Greenwood Resort or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This morning we once again go in search of wildlife on a game drive in Lake
Nakuru National Park. After lunch inside the park, we have a journey of
around 3 hrs as we drive to Eldoret, one of Kenya's larger cities, where we
spend the night.
Day 6 : To Jinja, Uganda
Location: Jinja
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Nile Village Hotel & Spa or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today there is a long drive of about 250km to Jinja, which should take about
8 hours, including a border crossing into Uganda. The border crossing can be
slow but we leave plenty of time for this and you'll no doubt find the
experience interesting! Located on the shores of Lake Victoria, Jinja is the
adventure capital of Uganda and the source of the River Nile. The area is
most famous for grade IV and V white-water rafting excursions but there are
plenty of other adrenaline fuelled activities here.
Day 7 : Free Day For Optional Activities
Location: Nile Village Hotel & Spa
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Nile Village Hotel & Spa or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today is free to choose from a range of optional activities. White-water
rafting in Jinja is considered to be amongst the best in the world, with a
half or full day route that varies from quiet pools and forested islands to
thunderous rapids and drops. There are several grade V rapids to navigate
including 'Big Brother', 'Overtime' and 'Silverback'. If rafting doesn't
appeal, you can join a village walk, learn about a vibrant community project
known as Soft Power which supports education, or visit the source of the
White Nile.
Day 8 : To Murchison Falls
Location: Murchison Falls National Park Uganda
Accommodation: Camp
Accommodation Name: Sambiya River Lodge or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
We leave Jinja and drive to Murchison Falls National Park, a journey which
should take us 6 hrs. Murchison Falls N.P. is the largest of Uganda’s
national parks and covers an area of 5081 sq kms, with rolling grasslands and
wooded savannah. Tomorrow we visit the top of the falls, where the river
narrows from 50 metres to crash through a 7 metre gorge, falling 45 metres to
the rocks below. A truly impressive sight!
Day 9 : Full Day Murchison Falls
Location: Murchison Falls Uganda
Accommodation: Camp
Accommodation Name: Sambiya River Lodge or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This morning we have an early morning game drive in search of wildlife in
Murchison Falls N.P. We transfer by ferry to the north side of the Nile
where we embark our game drive. Murchison Falls N.P. is home to elephants,
giraffe, buffalo and Uganda kobs, as well as the predators: lions and
leopards. After lunch we travel by boat up the Nile, passing hippos and
crocodiles, searching for elephants and waterbuck that come to the river to
drink. The cruise lasts about 3 hrs, and will travel upstream to the bottom
of the falls, stopping near the ‘Devil’s Cauldron’, the place where the
water bursts through the narrow gorge and creates an outstanding rainbow.Â
Day 10 : Chimpanzee Tracking In Budongo
Location: Budongo
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Sambiya River Lodge or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
We depart early this morning for Budongo Forest, which is home to the largest
numbers of chimpanzees in Uganda; we will go on a trek in search of
chimpanzees and other wildlife. Â The walking is fairly easy due to the
well-maintained trails and reasonably flat terrain. Whilst trekking in the
depths of the lush green forest, you will be surrounded by bird song and hope
to see both Velvet and Colobus monkeys, wild pigs and of course the
chimpanzee. Once a chimpanzee family is found, we will have an hour with
these fascinating creatures, to watch them interact and play with each other.
Day 11 : To Queen Elizabeth National Park
Location: Queen Elizabeth National Park
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Parkview Lodge or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today we a long drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park (QENP). The drive goes
south along the eastern length of the Rwenzori Mountains, where, weather
permitting, we can see the glaciated peaks. We gently descend into The Great
Rift Valley and QENP. The park resides in a fertile, equatorial area and has
beautiful scenery. It is Uganda’s most popular and accessible savannah
reserve, with a total area of 1978 square kilometres. It is primarily
associated with grassy savannah plains, but this impressive park also
includes within its boundaries leafy rainforests, dense papyrus swamps and
natural volcanic crater lakes. As a result it has one of the highest
biodiversity ratings of any game reserve in the world, including a total of
95 recorded mammal species and more than 610 species of birds.
*Accommodation: Parkview Lodge or similar*
Day 12 : Game Drive In Queen Elizabeth National Park
Location: Queen Elizabeth National Park
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Parkview Lodge or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This morning we will explore QENP on a game drive in search of wildlife
including elephants, lions, buffalo, leopard, hyena, jackal, topi, kob, bush
buck and various others. In the afternoon there is an optional boat trip of
about two hours along the Kazinga Channel to view some of the largest
concentration of hippo in the world (reported to be about 30,000) and other
game with excellent birding. The game drive will continue in the afternoon
for those who do not join the boat trip.
Day 13 : To Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Location: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Mulehe Gorilla Lodge or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
We have a final early morning game drive in QENP and depart after breakfast,
heading for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, which is a UNESCO World
Heritage site and home to the Mountain gorillas. The journey is 300kms and
takes 5-6 hours including stops along the way.
Day 14 : Trek To See Mountain Gorillas In Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Location: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Mulehe Gorilla Lodge or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
You will probably remember today for the rest of your life as we spend a full
hour in the company of a family of Mountain gorillas! Owing to the nature of
the terrain and the need to explore to find the gorillas, our trek doesn't
follow a path and instead our guides will cut a route through the
undergrowth. After a safety briefing, we are assigned to a gorilla family
group and begin our trek. You should expect a minimum of three hours walking
on irregular terrain in order to find the gorillas; steep ascents and
descents over muddy slopes are the norm. Strong footwear is essential and we
recommend hiring a local porter to help you carry your bag/camera equipment
and provide a steady, supportive hand (porters will be arranged and paid for
locally on the day).
Seeing wild Mountain gorillas in their natural habitat is an experience you
will never forget. An adult male can weigh up to 195kg, a female up to 100kg,
and a male can reach 1.7m in height. They are almost exclusively vegetarian
and quite destructive eaters, which makes them unpopular with the farmers
lower down the mountain slopes as they have been known to wreck a whole field
of crops just to eat one plant. For this reason, and also because of
poaching, the gorillas are very carefully protected. Gorillas are gentle
creatures and are not known to attack unless very severely provoked. The
family groups that we trek to see are habituated to human presence but to
prevent over familiarisation our time with them is limited to one hour. The
minimum distance that we must keep is 8 metres - we are not permitted any
closer because gorillas are very susceptible to human disease. Please note
that anyone with a cold or any similar ailment may not be permitted to join
the trek.
Day 15 : Early Morning Departure To Kigali Airport
Location: Kigali International Airport
Meals Included: Breakfast
We depart early in the morning and transfer to Kigali airport. Our trip comes
to an end in the afternoon when we bid our group goodbye.Â
What's Included
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1 chimp permit and 1 gorilla permit
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Flights from London (if booking incl. flights)
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All accommodation (see below)
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All transport and listed activities
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Tour leader throughout
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14 breakfasts, 13 lunches and 13 dinners
What's Not Included
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Visas or vaccinations
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Travel insurance
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Single accommodation (available on request)
Food
Virtually all meals are included; most will be provided by the various hotels and lodges we use while some will be provided by our well trained cook who is adept at catering for large groups of hungry travellers! Breakfasts will usually include cereal, toast and hot food such as porridge or eggs. Lunches tend to feature a range of sandwich options as well as a selection of fruit. Dinners usually feature soup, main (a mix of local and international cuisine) and dessert (typically fruit salad). You will have time to stock up on snacks and drinks along the journey. For meals not included, it would be a good idea to allow a further US$100 to cover these.
Accommodation
Check out our Q&As
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What is the maximum group size?
11
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
If you wish to make any changes to your booking, particularly if you need to alter any flights booked through us, please let us know as soon as possible. There is a booking or flight amendment fee of £40 per change and flight amendments often incur extra airline costs depending on the changes to be made and if the ticket has been issued or not.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Exodus has been trading since 1974
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Your final joining instructions and flight details, if booked with us, will then be sent out 2 to 3 weeks before departure. If you would like a hard copy posted, or if you require these any earlier, please contact the customer operations team. We advise that if you are booking connecting travel before receiving these, please ensure you leave plenty of time.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Travellers are welcome to opt to share a room with a tour member of the same gender for no additional charge. If you'd like your own room, we can request a single supplement so that you will have your own room throughout.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
You are welcome to meet the group after the tour has departed however there is no reduction in rate for joining a tour after the departure date.
Reviews from Travellers on this Tour
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of exodus charges.
Up to 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
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