Uganda Gorilla Tour to Vic Falls: 39 Day Tour (Accommodated)

Day 1. Nairobi to Lake Nakuru National Park Highlights. Lake Nakuru, Kenya.

Leaving the bustling city of Nairobi behind, we descend into the ‘Great Rift Valley’, an enormous cleft in the Earth’s surface stretching from the Red Sea to the Zambezi valley and stop at a lookout point to take in the magnificent views.

Our overnight stop is near the quaint Lake Nakuru National Park, a relatively small park (by African standards) however prolific in wildlife. The shallow lake attracts a huge variety of birdlife – especially flamingos and it is also home to buffalo, lion, rhino (black and white), leopard, warthog, baboon, antelope, and a variety of smaller animals.

Experience a delightful introduction to East Africa’s wildlife diversity that we search for in an afternoon game drive making use of local guides and smaller safari vehicles.

3 images Lake Nakuru, Kenya

Day 2. Lake Nakuru National Park to Eldoret

Travelling on, we climb at altitude today as we travel to the town of Eldoret crossing from the Southern to Northern Hemisphere over the Equator. We spend the evening on the outskirts of Eldoret, Kenya's fifth largest town with a population of around 194,000.

Day 3. Eldoret to Kampala, Uganda Highlights. Kampala, Uganda.

We cross into Uganda, Winston Churchill’s ‘Pearl of Africa’, a country with beautiful natural scenery and a rich mosaic of tribes and cultures – and friendly people.

After crossing the busy border with it's whizzing boda-boda taxi's and colourful vendors, we make our way through the countryside dotted with small villages and settlements to the capital city, Kampala.

Our first night we stay outside the capital Kampala, an attractive hilly city, bustling with roadside traders, markets and busy matatu (mini-bus taxi) stands.

3 images Kampala, Uganda

Day 4. Kampala - Chimpanzee Trekking Area Highlights. Equator.

Rising early, we leave Kampala and travel west, crossing the Equator again, through fertile green terraced hillsides and steep mountains. From our adventure vehicle, we should see herds of Ankole cattle with their incredible long curving horns roaming the roads and paddocks.

Upon arriving at our destination you will have the opportunity to enjoy the late afternoon at leisure to explore the area.

3 images Equator

Day 5. Kalinzu Forest or Kyambura Gorge Highlights. Chimpanzee Trek, Kalinzu Forest, Uganda.

We trek for the chimpanzees today. Unlike their larger cousins, the mountain gorilla, chimps live mostly in the trees and so our viewing consists mainly of peering high into the forest canopy. Predictably, the experience of seeing man’s closest relative in the wild is a memorable one.

3 images Chimpanzee Trek, Kalinzu Forest, Uganda

Day 6. Chimpanzee Trekking Area - Lake Bunyonyi Highlights. Lake Bunyonyi, Uganda.

Today, it's off to the lush and stunning Lake Bunyonyi (‘Place of many little birds’). Nestled high up in the volcanic mountainside, this lake is 27km long, 7km wide and at an elevation of 1950 metres above sea level, and is surrounded by undulating hills between 2200m to 2478m high. With a depth of nearly 900m, this lake is the second deepest lake in Africa (the deepest being Lake Tanganyika in Tanzania).

There are many optional activities to do especially boat based activities on the lake.

Over the next two days the group will be split, with one group trekking to the mountain gorillas while the others stay at Lake Bunyonyi to enjoy the many activities on offer.

3 images Lake Bunyonyi, Uganda

Day 7-8. Lake Bunyoni - Gorilla Trek Highlights. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda. Mountain gorillas.

The next couple of days are spent trekking the mountain gorillas or at leisure where you can relax or enjoy the many optional activities on offer - visit local tribes and villages, visiting the local orphanage, as well as bird watching, boat trips and nature walks. Alternatively just relax, catch up on your travel diary or postcards to home, or sorting through your photos of your trip so far.

3 images Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda

3 images Mountain gorillas

Day 9. Lake Bunyonyi to Kampala Highlights. Equator.

Leaving early, we travel through spectacular scenery, crossing the Equator again to Kampala. If time allows this evening, explore the majestic city by night, mingle with the local people, known as the friendliest in Africa and sample some of the local cuisines.

3 images Equator

Day 10. Kampala to Jinja Highlights. Jinja, Uganda.

We leave the bustling capital, Kampala, and travel the short distance to the town of Jinja on the banks of Lake Victoria and the Nile.

It was in 1862 that the British explorer John Hanning Speke recognised Lake Victoria as the ‘source of the Nile'. From his modest monument on the banks, the White Nile begins its 4132-mile course through Uganda, Sudan and eventually Egypt to the Mediterranean Sea.

We spend the next two days here with various optional activities to participate on such as bungee jumping, quad biking, white water rafting, community school project, kayaking, mountain biking and more.

3 images Jinja, Uganda

Day 11-12. Jinja

The next two days are free for you to relax on the banks of the Nile, explore the surrounding community or enjoy the many optional activities available. There is also the opportunity to make some difference to local children at a local school project: ‘Softpower’. This is a locally run volunteer programme aimed at building and improving schools in the area of Jinja.

Day 13. Jinja to Eldoret, Kenya

Leaving Jinja behind, we make our way across the border to Kenya and retracing our footsteps to Eldoret.

Day 14. Eldoret to Nairobi

Travelling south we soak up the magnificent views of the Great Rift valley en-route to Nairobi, Kenya's capital. We spend the next two nights in the city area allowing time to explore the highlights of the city and the many optional activities on offer.

Day 15. Nairobi Highlights. Nairobi.

Today is a free day to explore Nairobi. Visit the bustling markets in the city centre, try local cuisine in the many restaurants and local eateries or make a visit to Nairobi National Park, Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Elephant Nursery and the Giraffe Centre.

3 images Nairobi

Day 16. Nairobi to Maasai Mara National Reserve

We depart the city early and make our way across the Great Rift Valley floor to the Maasai Mara National Reserve. At 1 510 square km, the Maasai Mara National Reserve is a land of endless plains and an abundant wildlife, inhabiting all year-round as well as the two million animals that make up the Great Migration. The Masai Mara National Reserve was named after the Maasai people who inhabit the area, and for the Mara River, which flows through this great reserve.

We spend two nights camping on the edge of the Reserve with time to explore the park on morning and afternoon game drives.

Day 17. Maasai Mara National Reserve Highlights. Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya.

Today we enter the reserve's gates with our eagle-eyed driver at the wheel scanning the surrounding scene in search of the resident wildlife.

With 95 species of mammals including the 'Big 5' - rhino, elephant, leopard, lion and buffalo and over 570 recorded species of birds, we game drive in search for these magnificent animals and birds, pausing for a lunch in between.

3 images Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya

Day 18. Maasai Mara National Reserve to Nairobi

Retracing our steps back across the Great Rift Valley, we head back to Nairobi where we will spend our last evening in Kenya.

Day 19. Nairobi to Arusha, Tanzania Highlights. Maasai Culture Village Walk, Arusha, Tanzania. Meserani Snake Park, Tanzania.

Today we head south and drive to the border, crossing at the Namanga border post into Tanzania. Our first stop is Arusha, situated mid-way between Cape Town and Cairo and known as Tanzania’s ‘safari capital’ - a bustling city with colourful markets and shops to explore.

After a brief stop, we make our way to our accommodation for the night on the open plains to the west of the city. It is from here that we prepare for our two night/three day excursion to the Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Crater. This afternoon we enjoy a walk to one of the local Maasai villages.

3 images Maasai Culture Village Walk, Arusha, Tanzania

3 images Meserani Snake Park, Tanzania

Day 20. Arusha to Serengeti National Park Highlights. Serengeti National Park, Tanzania.

Packed and ready, we transfer to the 4x4 game vehicles and drive west across the Great Rift Valley, passing through Mto Wa Mbo (‘mosquito creek’) and ascending onto the higher plateau.

We enter the Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area and drive around the Crater’s rim and on down onto the Serengeti plains entering the park at Naabi Gate.

Home to an enormous variety of grazing animals, predators, and birdlife, we game drive through the southern section of the park to our designated (but unfenced) camp where we spend the night under canvas for the ultimate wilderness experience.

3 images Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Day 21. Ngorongoro Crater

Rising early, we drive out in search of game - lion, leopard, giraffe, hippo, buffalo, wildebeest and Zebra, just to name a few.

After our game drive we pack up camp and head back to the Crater where we ascend the outer wall of the Ngorongoro Crater to our camp on the rim. Here wildlife is also free to roam and it is not uncommon to have zebra grazing on the grassed campsite.

At 326 square kilometres, the Ngorongoro Crater is Africa’s largest intact caldera and a prized World Heritage Site. If the view from the rim (2400 metres above sea level) is spectacular, the site from the Crater floor (some 600 metres below) is equally enjoyable.

Day 22. Ngorongoro Crater to Arusha Highlights. Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania.

Waking to the majestic views over the crater rim, we board our 4x4 vehicles and descend the steep dirt road into the base of the Crater for a morning of game driving. All of the large mammals are present except giraffe (which cannot manage the steep slopes leading down to the Crater floor).

After our game drive in this spectacular wildlife haven, we ascend the steep side back to our campsite, pack up and have lunch before retracing our steps to Arusha and our campsite at the Meserani Snake Park.

3 images Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania

Day 23. Arusha to Bagamoyo Highlights. Bagamoyo, Tanzania. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania.

We head south via Moshi to Bagamoyo on the Tanzanian coast. If the weather is clear we will be afforded a view of the magnificent snow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak (5895m).

The quaint town of Bagamoyo was founded at the end of the 18th century and was one of the most significant trading ports along the East African coast. Our accommodation for the evening is nestled close by to the palm-fringed beaches of the warm Indian Ocean.

3 images Bagamoyo, Tanzania

3 images Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

Day 24. Bagamoyo to Dar es Salaam Highlights. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

We wake to the sound of the lapping ocean and after breakfast, we take the coastal road south to the bustling port city of Dar es Salaam. Enjoy seeing the many dwellings, shops and settlements along the way each presenting different wares to would be sellers.

Our accommodation is on the beach to the south of the city where we can prepare for our excursion to Zanzibar.

3 images Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Day 25. Dar es Salaam - Zanzibar Island, Stone Town Highlights. Stone Town, Zanzibar, Tanzania.

With our bags packed, we drive to the port and board our ferry to the tropical haven of Zanzibar. This Archipelago Island was the base of the great 19th century explorers such as John Hanning Speke, Richard Burton and David Livingstone and once was a major trading centre of spices. The Arabian influence is evident in the architecture and diverse street stall offerings of the capital, Stone Town. We spend our first in the capital, exploring by foot the unique cobbled alleyways, bazaars, mosques, palaces and sampling traditional Zanzibari cuisine.

3 images Stone Town, Zanzibar, Tanzania

Day 26-27. Zanzibar Island, Stone Town - Nungwi Highlights. Zanzibar, Northern Beaches, Tanzania.

After breakfast, we transfer to the northern beaches from Stone Town for the next two nights and if you wish, join an optional spice tour en-route to sample some of the local fruits, spices, and teas.

Relax on the sun-kissed beaches, take an optional diving trip to the rich colorful reefs or grab a snorkel and goggles to explore these from above. The beach is a great place to try local cuisine, sample a tropical fruit cocktail at one of the beach bars that dot the water's edge or catch up with the locals who will pass by selling their wares, offering henna tattoos and inexpensive massages.

3 images Zanzibar, Northern Beaches, Tanzania

Day 28. Zanzibar Island, Nungwi - Dar es Salaam

We have the morning to do any last minute shopping in Stone Town or enjoy one last swim before catching the ferry back to the African mainland and Dar es Salaam and onwards to our accommodation on the coast for the evening.

Day 29. Dar es Salaam to Mikumi National Park Area Highlights. Mikumi National Park, Tanzania.

We leave the coast and bustling city of Dar es Salaam behind and travel inland through Mikumi National Park. At 3,230 km², this stunning park is the 5th largest park in the country and home to the 'Big 5'- leopard, lion, buffalo, elephant, and rhino together with numerous species of antelope. We may, with luck, spot some of these animals near the side of the road as we drive through the park and to our accommodation for the evening located just outside of the park gates.

3 images Mikumi National Park, Tanzania

Day 30. Mikumi to Iringa

Travelling across the baobab valley on onto the Tanzanian highlands, our destination is the Kisolanza Farm near the town of Iringa. At an altitude of 1600m this stunning farm ensures a pleasant fresh climate in one of the most scenic areas in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania.

Home to the Ghaui family for over 70 years, Kisolanza remains a working farm providing organic produce to the surrounding markets as well as Dar es Salaam. The farm house is a well-known spot to stay and is the overnight near our mid-way point for our journey from the ocean to the Malawi border.

Day 31. Iringa - Mbeya Region

Heading towards Malawi we make a stop at the tranquil Utengule Coffee Lodge nestled amidst the majestic Mbeya range in Southern Tanzania.

Enjoy breathtaking views of the East African Rift Valley, relax by the poolside or enjoy the various activities like squash, tennis, pool, table tennis, or volleyball.
For those interested in coffee, an optional guided tour through the coffee plantation is available, including a roasting demonstration and a cup of home-grown coffee.

Day 32. Mbeya Region - Chitimba (Lake Malawi), Malawi

After our last night in Tanzania, we head to the Songwe border post into Malawi. Lake Malawi formerly ‘Lake Nyasa’ covers almost a fifth of the country’s area and provides the source of livelihood for many of the Malawi people. Fishermen, fish traders, canoe and net makers all ply their trade, and a common sight is that of a fisherman in his Bwato, (dugout canoe made from hollowed out tree trunk) fishing on the lake at the break of day. The lake also has the highest number of endemic freshwater fish species of any in the world.

Relax on the beach, take a leisurely village walk, visit the local craft market where you can enjoy learning the ins and outs of woodcarving your own souvenir, learn to play the game of Bao or haggle for some souvenirs.

NB: Although it is our intention to adhere to the campsites described, a certain amount of flexibility is built into our time in Malawi and the crew may make alterations to the published itinerary. Please therefore treat the Malawi section of the dossier as a guideline only.

Day 33. Chitimba - Nkhotakota Region (Lake Malawi)

Today we take a nice scenic drive through rubber plantations to Mzuzu - the capital of the northern region and the third largest town in Malawi - where we stop for a short while to grab supplies and check out the markets, before arriving to our destination.

Day 34. Nkhotakota Region (Lake Malawi) Highlights. Lake Malawi, Malawi.

Today you’ll have some free time to try some of the optional activities, such as hiring a kayak, snorkelling, village walk, waterfall hike, or simply relax and enjoy the warm, fresh waters of Lake Malawi.

3 images Lake Malawi, Malawi

Day 35. Nkhotakota Region (Lake Malawi) - Petauke, Zambia

Saying our goodbyes to ‘the Lake’, we drive through Nkhotakhota Game Reserve towards the border where we cross into Zambia. After completing the border formalities, we continue our journey to Petauke, a region known for agriculture, producing maize, cotton, sunflower, soya beans, and other crops.

Day 36. Petauke - Lusaka Highlights. Lusaka, Zambia.

We take the Great Eastern Road travelling through the bushveld dotted with Mopane woodland, small villages and across the Luangwa River to Lusaka, Zambia’s capital. Lusaka is Southern Africa’s fastest growing city with approx 1.7m inhabitants, located on Zambia’s southern plateau at an elevation of 1300m.

Our accommodation for the evening is set in a tranquil and relaxing setting on a farm outside the main city center.

Day 37. Lusaka to Livingstone Highlights. Victoria Falls - Mosi oa Tunya National Park, Zambia.

Leaving the capital behind, we head south to Livingstone and our accommodation at the Victoria Falls Waterfront, set on the banks of the Zambezi River, just a few kilometers from the Victoria Falls of which we visit.

At various times of year the spray from the ‘Falls’ can be seen from up to 20 or 30 kilometers away, hence the local name Mosi oa Tunya – the ‘smoke that thunders’.

The accommodation management provides information on all activities available in the area (typically these include rafting, canoeing, bungee, abseiling, gorge swinging, horse riding, scenic flights, river cruises), allowing you to plan your time accordingly over the next few nights.

3 images Victoria Falls - Mosi oa Tunya National Park, Zambia

Day 38. Livingstone Highlights. Livingstone Activities, Zambia.

We have a free day in Livingstone today to explore the town, pop over to neighbouring Zimbabwe or enjoy the many optional activities on offer such as rafting, bungee jumping, river cruises, flights over the falls, just to name a few.

3 images Livingstone Activities, Zambia

Day 39. Livingstone

Today our tour ends after breakfast. We suggest booking post-tour accommodation to stay an extra couple of days to explore the town of Livingstone and to partake in the many activities on offer.