Uganda’s Gorillas and Kenyan Parks Safari

This safari departs from Kenya's capital city of Nairobi, and heads out to the largest black rhino sanctuary in East Africa as well as the impressive Thompsons Falls. From there you will head on to Uganda in search of  the rare mountain gorillas in their natural habitat.

Your Safari will include Lake Nakuru National Park which is home to abundant rhino and leopard, as well as thousands of pink flamingos that make for an awsome sight!

A major highlight of the trip is a visit to the magnificent gorillas in the misty rain forests on the slopes of the Virunga Volcanoes in Uganda.

The safari ends in Uganda's colourful Capital city, Kampala.

DAY 1: Nairobi to Nanyuki (L / D)

Leaving the hustle and bustle of Nairobi we head north, crossing the equator, before reaching the market town of Nanyuki. Founded in 1907 by English settlers, Nanyuki is home to the main base of Kenya's Air Force. It's popular amongst tourists because of it's proximity to impressive Mount Kenya, Kenya's highest peak at 5199 m. It's also home to the Mount Kenya Safari Club, now a hotel, but in the 60's an exclusive club whose members included Winston Churchill, Bing Crosby and Bob Hope.

DAY 2: Nanyuki (B / L / D)

We spend the day exploring the Ol Pajeta Conservancy, a 750 km²  wildlife sanctuary in the Laikipia district of Kenya. Ol Pajeta is home to the largest sanctuary for black rhinos in East Africa, and a wide variety of other wildlife species including Elephant, Cheetah, Lion and the rare Grevy’s Zebra. We also visit the Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary, a rescue centre for orphaned and abused chimpanzees from across East and Central Africa. 

DAY 3: Thompsons Falls (B / L / D)

Leaving Nanyuki with Mount Kenya at our backs, we head south-west to the foothills of the Abedare Ranges and the Abedare National Park. Setting up our camp at the base of the falls, the afternoon is free to explore the nearby nature trail that takes you through a gorge that provides refuge to the endangered Colobus Monkeys, baboons and a wide variety of colourful birdlife. The Falls themselves are an impressive sight with the column of water stretching up 72m, formed by the Ewaso Narok River plummeting over a ledge of volcanic rock to create a magnificent waterfall. For those seeking refreshment, a dip in the pool at the base of the fall is sure not to be missed.

DAY 4: Thompsons Falls to Nakuru (B / L / D) 

Leaving the Abedare region, we head west towards the Great Rift Valley and the 4th largest town in Kenya and the capital of the Rift Valley Province, Nakuru. We overnight at a lovely farm on the outskirts of town before entering Lake Nakuru National Park tomorrow.

DAY 5: Lake Nakuru National Park (B / L / D)

Today we head into Lake Nakuru National Park, famous for the thousands of lesser and greater flamingos that flock to this soda lake's edge. The numbers vary depending on the water level, and when it's low, the lake almost turns pink. A truly spectacular sight! The park was established as a sanctuary for black and white rhino, which are often seen. We spend the day searching for these pre-historic looking beasts as well as the elusive leopard, encountering buffalo, giraffe, various antelope and the occasional hippo along the way.

DAY 06 & 07: Nakuru via Jinja to Kampala, Uganda (B / L /D)

Today, we cross the border into Uganda and travel via the lakeside town of Jinja (the Source of the Nile) before reaching Kampala, Uganda's capital, for an overnight stay. Uganda is a small country of striking physical beauty. Its landscapes vary from the fertile green areas around the northern shores of Lake Victoria to the snow-covered Ruwenzori Mountains in the west and the semi-desert parts of the north facing the border of Sudan.

Our time in Kampala is for leisure and can be spent exploring the local markets and museums, or taking a trip to the Ngamba chimpanzee sanctuary. The political instability that haunted Uganda over a period of years has had the positive effect of leaving the country free of the over-commercialism so common in other parts of Africa. The current administration under President Museveni has devoted considerable effort and funds to regain Uganda's former glory as one of Africa's most prosperous and, from a tourist’s point of view, one of the most appealing and interesting countries to visit. Please note that some trips may overnight in Jinja instead of Kampala on day 6.

DAYS 08 - 11: Kampala to Lake Bunyoni (B / L /D)

On day eight we depart from Kampala early in the morning heading west into the heart of Uganda.

Our next base is located at the scenic Lake Bunyoni, “place of many little birds”. Around 200 bird species have been recorded at this tranquil lake dotted with islands. From Lake Bunyoni we have the option of participating in exciting Gorilla Trekking excursions. The gorilla treks take place in the Magahinga or Bwindi National Parks (Uganda), Virunga National Park (Democratic Republic of Congo), or Ruhengeri National Park (Rwanda); depending on the availability of trekking permits.

The prices of the trekking permits change, sometimes without prior notice.  The price is currently at US$500 depending on which National Park we are gorilla trekking in. A local transport fee is charged, at between US$25 to US$45 per person (this includes the return transfer). When trekking takes place in the DRC or Rwanda, we will also need to pay for the additional visa for either country, as well as renewing our Ugandan visa when we re-enter the country. Please take these costs into account when budgeting for the gorilla trekking excursions.

Gorilla Trekking Procedures:

With only about 700 mountain gorillas remaining, gorilla trekking is an extraordinary opportunity to encounter these gentle primates in the wild. On these unforgettable treks we get to watch the mountain gorilla (Gorilla Gorilla Berengei), one of our closest living relatives, in its natural habitat – a rare and unique wildlife experience. The gorillas are monitored on a daily basis giving the rangers a good idea of where to find these endangered primates at any given time. This said, sightings of the mountain gorillas cannot be guaranteed, as they are still free roaming wild animals. In the unlikely event of not sighting the gorillas, the authorities usually allow for a second opportunity to trek them. This is however completely at their discretion and subject to the availability of trekking permits, and they will not confirm this second trekking opportunity in writing. We bring frequent visitors to each park and as such have a high success rate in obtaining gorilla permits, markedly increasing the chances of seeing these beautiful animals.

These mountain gorillas share much of our DNA, therefore anyone with even the mildest cold or any transferable disease will not be permitted on the gorilla treks. There is an age restriction of a minimum of 16 years of age for trekking. The number of daily visitors allowed on the gorilla treks is limited, thus we depart from our Lake Bunyoni base in smaller groups over the next few days, depending on the size of our entire group. 

We depart for gorilla trekking early in the morning, completing border formalities if trekking is in the DRC or Rwanda en route, and transferring to a ranger’s station - the starting point for our trek.
The rangers lead you through cultivated lands and onwards into the dense rain forest in search of a family of gorillas. Gorilla trekking can take anything from 45 minutes to 8 hours depending on how easy the gorillas are to locate. Trekking can be fairly strenuous; therefore it is necessary for participants to be reasonably fit.

We get to spend a maximum of one hour with the mountain gorillas, to ensure that the animals do not get too accustomed to humans and to protect them from any of our diseases. The visit allows for ample time to observe the gorillas from close range and take photographs of them as they go about their daily activities. Your ranger will be able to give you the background on the particular gorilla family that you encounter. When your visit comes to an end you trek back through the rain forest to the meeting point, from where you are transferred back to our Lake Bunyoni base.

The increase in daily trekking plays a vital role in the conservation of these endangered mountain gorillas! After years of being ruthlessly hunted for their hands and heads, to be sold as ashtrays and lampshades, tourism from gorilla trekking is helping to ensure the survival of this threatened species. Large numbers of these apes have also been killed while attempting to stop poachers from stealing baby gorillas to sell to zoos, where their lifespan is never long. The National Park authorities use the entire cost of the trekking permits to protect the gorillas. The permit fee is used to fund patrolling, key to protecting the gorillas from poachers and deadly snares, as well as to promote awareness of these unique animals.

Lake Bunyoni:

Lake Bunyoni, a nature lover’s delight, is the deepest Crater Lake in Africa. There are a number of activities for you to enjoy at Lake Bunyoni, on the days that you are not gorilla trekking.

These activities include: hiking in the hills of this beautiful area, canoeing on the lake or going on a bird watching walk in this birding paradise. Or you can experience the local culture by visiting a local village or church or exploring the local markets of Kabale. You could also choose to take it easy, simply relaxing on the tranquil shores of Lake Bunyoni or taking a dip in the lake.

DAY 12 - From Lake Bunyoni to Kampala, Uganda (B / L)

After the gorilla trek of a lifetime and soaking up the serenity of Lake Bunyoni, we start driving back to Kampala.  We then cross the Equator for the second time on our safari and stop to capture the must-have "one foot in each hemisphere" classic photo. Back in Kampala we exchange addresses and part ways, having just experienced the safari of a lifetime! 

Note: B - Breakfast / L - Lunch / D - Dinner

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