Gorillas to Victoria Falls - 46 days

Drifters Price: £685.00

RRP: £715.00

Trip Code: AFTGVF

Local Payment: £350.00

We leave the camp at 8am on the first day of the trip. We recommend you arrive in Nairobi at least the day before, however if you're there with a few days to spare there's lots to see and do around the city. Close to the camp is the National Museum, there are markets in and around Nairobi or you can venture further afield to Karen Blixen's house, Langata Giraffe Centre or even Nairobi National Park for a first glimpse of African wildlife.

WEEK ONE

Leaving Nairobi we stop at a scenic lookout 8,000 feet above sea level, overlooking Mount Longonot and Lake Naivasha.  We pass the dramatic landscape of the Rift Valley to the highlands and spend our first night near Nakuru, where you can end your day sipping beer at Kembu Campsite.

We have an early start, crossing the Ugandan border at Malaba or Busia. The scenery changes to tropical rain forests and tea and sugar plantations. We catch our first glimpse of Lake Victoria on route to Uganda’s capital city, our overnight stop.

Stopping for photos as we cross the equator, we continue southwest to Kabale town, gateway to the Mountain Gorilla reserves.  We spend this evening camped on the picturesque shores of Lake Bunyonyi the deepest crater lake in Uganda.

Climbing through lush terraced hills to Kisoro, there are panoramic views of this unique Ugandan landscape on every turn.  From the road we have outlooks over three countries - Uganda, Republic of Congo, Rwanda; and the Virunga Mountains - ‘Mountains of the Moon’ the home of the rare mountain gorillas.

Kisoro is situated under the peaks of the Mufumbiro Mountains, and makes a stunning base for the next two days, which are set aside for trekking the famed mountain gorillas.

In groups of 6 to 8 people with two guides we trek deep into the forest to find one of the gorilla families. The trek is an experience in itself, following your guides as they cut a path through the thick vegetation. The guides track the gorillas almost every day but even so, sometimes it can take several hours to find them. You will be rewarded though by the sight of these human-like giants playing with their young, feeding, grooming and staring curiously back at you. We spend an hour observing these amazing animals - remember to bring plenty of camera film.

As the groups going to the gorillas are small, it takes a couple of days for everyone to do the trek.  Whilst others are searching for the great apes, you can take in the local markets; walk to the nearby mountain lakes, or enter the Mgahinga National park for a day hike up a volcano or a guided nature trail.

Still on a high from our time spent with the gorillas, we meander back to Lake Bunyonyi meaning “place of little birds”.  Known not only for its water birds but also for its fresh water crayfish population.  Lake Bunyonyi is a great place to relax, or for the more energetic you can canoe to one of the many islands dotting the lake, swim, or take in the scenery on mountain bike.

WEEK TWO

We return to Uganda’s capital.  Kampala is a modern bustling city leaving you no shortage of things to see and do. You may wish to visit the National Museum, the Kasubi Tombs of the Baganda people.

Crossing the Owen Falls dam we arrive at Jinja on the shores of Lake Victoria.  Our campsite for the next three days above Bujagali Falls is a welcome reprieve from travelling, and we have a lazy afternoon to put up our tents on the grassy terraces overlooking the Nile River.

Spend an action-filled day white water rafting down the Nile. As well as grade 5’s, this river has a lot of bird and wildlife to view while relaxing between the rapids. The rafting is rounded off with a sunset BBQ and drinks, then back to camp to re-live it on video.

There is no shortage of other activities in Jinja.  Head off on a quad bike, bungee jump, fish on Lake Victoria, take a guided village walk; or give up a day of your holiday to volunteer for the local community education project.

Leaving Uganda, we head back into Kenya and onto Nakuru Town, the capital of the Rift Valley Province.  We spend the next few nights at Kembu Camp, a working farm.  Visit the local weavery and school, take a tour of the farm.

We spend a full day at Lake Nakuru, viewing game in a park famous for its soda lake surrounded by thousands, sometimes millions of pink flamingoes.  The park is home to over 400 species of bird, and we may spot leopard or black and white rhino amongst the zebra, waterbuck, impala, giraffe and many more.

WEEK THREE

Not far from Nakuru in the Rift Valley is Lake Naivasha. We camp on the shores of the lake where hippos often come to graze in the evenings and black and white Colobus monkeys turn up in the early morning.

Close by is Hell's Gate National Park where you can hire bikes to take you around the park and see the herds of zebra, buffalo and antelope. There is some spectacular scenery here, red cliffs, grassy plains and rock towers made of hardened lava, the remains of ancient volcanoes.

Also on the lake is Elsamere, once the home of Joy Adamson and Elsa the lion of 'Born Free' fame. Elsamere is now the centre of the Born Free Foundation and you can find out more about their work, watch a video on Joy’s life and take afternoon tea in the gardens

Wander the predator free reserve amongst African game with a guide on Crescent Island.  Take a boat onto Niavasha or explore the Green Crater Lake.

We head South to the Masai Mara National Reserve, camping on the edge of the park . The sweeping plains evoke a picture of East Africa that most people hold in their minds and they are rarely disappointed when confronted with the real thing. Great game viewing is assured all year round here, the Mara offers us everything, amazing scenery and abundant wildlife including the ‘big five’.

From here we return to Nairobi with the chance to feast at the renowned Carnivores Game Restaurant.

THIS NIGHT'S ACCOMMODATION DOESN'T COME OUT OF KITTY SO YOU CAN CHOOSE WHERE YOU'D LIKE TO STAY.

WEEK FOUR

Into Tanzania we arrive in Arusha where you can take a side trip to the Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater. The trip is camping for two nights in the parks amidst the animals. If you choose not to visit the park you can wander the markets in Arusha town.

A days drive from Arusha brings us to Dar es Salaam on the Indian Ocean coast. Over the centuries trade between Africa and Arabia has resulted in the blending of Arabs and Africans into a beautiful Swahili (coastal) culture with wooden sailing dhows crossing the ocean, coconut plantations and fishing villages with mosques on the beaches.

WEEK FIVE 

 

From Dar es Salaam you can take the ferry to Zanzibar Island. Here is the old stone capital of the Omani Sultanate, sandy beaches, spice tours, snorkelling, diving and trips to other nearby islands.  Zanzibar is a fascinating place to visit and you can stay for 3 or 4 days to take it all in.  South through Tanzania, our route takes us through Mikumi National Park where we may well see giraffe or elephant grazing beside the road.

WEEK SIX

Crossing the border into Malawi, we soon reach the shores of its huge lake. The campsites and small resorts along Lake Malawi offer sandy beaches, swimming and snorkelling, water skiing or walking in the surrounding countryside. You will also find markets selling beautifully carved Malawi chairs, tables and other souvenirs.

In Blantyre the capital of Malawi we get visas for the next leg. We enter Mozambique and spend a the day driving through the bush, passing villages, mud huts and small children who wave at us as they tend their herds of cows and goats.

In Zimbabwe we visit the modern capital Harare, then on to Gweru and the Antelope Park. Here is the only place in the world you can walk with lion cubs, also you can swim with elephants and play polo cross.

In Bulawayo town there is Rhodes Matopos National Park, here you can walk near wild white rhino, see bushman rock paintings and see the fantastic view Rhodes grave, the founder of modern Zimbabwe.

We reach the Victoria Falls where the Zambezi River plunges 100 metres down a mile wide chasm, creating one of the most incredible natural wonders of the world. The local name for the Falls is 'Mosi-oa-Tunya' which means 'the smoke that thunders' and you'll soon find out why. When the river is in full flow, the falling water causes a huge roar and sends a cloud of spray up to 500 metres into the air.

We stay in Victoria Falls Town above the Falls, where there is so much to see and do. Adventure activities abound - you can bungee jump, white water raft, take a Microlite flight above the falls, sky-dive and go game-viewing on horse back. More sedate excursions include canoeing, light aircraft or helicopter flights over the Falls, and the sunset cruise on the Zambezi. Of course, the Victoria Falls themselves are the main attraction and you can walk through the rain forest along the cliff opposite for an excellent view.

Africa is a very unpredictable continent and it is impossible to pre-plan anything. We do not have a fixed itinerary so please treat the information given as a guideline only. Although our brochure was written in good faith as the time of printing our route may vary at any time due to weather, political or road conditions.

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