East Africa’s finest scenic savannah, top wildlife areas, chimpanzee & gorilla, cultural immersion- unrivalled anywhere in the world.; fully escorted but booked on a custom basis this safari – highlights will be the Masai Mara, the Serengeti and Ngorongoro and gorrila safari, all by road – 3 &4 stars lodge accommodation option.
Day 1: Day 1: Arrive in Nairobi: Arrive in Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (time to be advised). Meet and assist by Charis Uganda Safaris airport representative and later transferred to your city hotel for the evening. Overnight at Sarova Panafric Hotel or Boma Inn Nairobi or Eka Hotel booked on Bed and Breakfast
DAY 2: NAIROBI-ABERDARE (THE ARK): After breakfast, depart for the Aberdare club arriving by lunchtime, transferred to the Ark. This is a tree lodge in the heart of the Aberdare forest. The saltlick here attracts animals such as elephant and buffalo among many others. Full board at The Ark Lodge booked on full board.
DAY 3: THE ARK-SAMBURU: After breakfast, return to the base, Aberdare club where you will be picked by your guide travel further north to Samburu Game Reserve , lunch en-route – arriving late afternoon in time for a game drive in search of the rarely found species of wild game like the rare reticulated giraffe, grevy’s zebra, the long necked gerenuk antelopes, Beisa Oryx, blue flanked Somali ostrich, vulturine guinea fowl and also braving lions on the grass, leopards in the trees and plenty of other plains game. Dinner and Overnight at Samburu sopa lodge or a similar lodge booked on full board.
DAY 4: SAMBURU Game Reserve: Early morning breakfast then enjoy a full day of African game viewing and bird watching, arguably Kenya’s greatest – and least changed – encounter with the wild Africa of yesteryear. This harsh, savagely beautiful wilderness depends on the steady flow of the Uaso Nyiro River for its existence. The river waters house a wide variety of animal species not found south of the Equator including the majestic Beisa Oryx, the reticulated giraffe, the thin-striped Grevy’s zebra, and the ‘giraffe-necked’ gerenuk antelope, which stands on its hind legs to feed. Elephant, buffalo, lion and leopard can all be seen along the river. The 400-plus species of birds complete the perfect experience in Samburu. This is the home of the Samburu tribe, cousins of the Maasai, who share the same nomadic, cattle-herding existence, and an even stricter adherence to their age-old rites and customs. Packed lunch,dinner and overnight at Samburu sopa lodge or a similar lodge booked on full board.
DAY 5: SAMBURU-SWEETWATERS: After early morning breakfast, depart for Mount Kenya, Arrive at the Sweetwater’s Tented Camp in time for lunch. Afternoon at owl leisure. Evening game drive- lunch box. In this private park, you will have the chance to see the endangered species of the chimpanzees. Dinner and overnight at Sweetwater’s Tented Camp.
DAY 6: SWEETWATERS-LAKE NAKURU: After breakfast, depart for the scenic drive to Lake Nakuru National Park, a World Heritage Site. Arrive by lunchtime. Leaving the city behind us, we travel north, continually climbing to the lip of the escarpment from where we will enjoy a fantastic view of the Great Rift Valley. We then descend into the valley and enter Lake Nakuru National Park where we game drive in search of rhino, leopard, lion, buffalo and many other species that inhabit the park. We will also spend time taking in the breath taking view of the vast flocks of flamingo that gather here. After lunch, depart for a game drive in the park. Dinner and Overnight at Flamingo hill camp or a similar lodge booked on full board.
DAY 7: Lake Nakuru National Park / Masai Mara Game Reserve: Traverse through some of Kenya’s finest wilderness, – The jewel in Africa’s crown, Masai Mara using lesser known roads. Meet a host of spectacular array of wildlife such as Lions, elephant, Cheetah, leopard, Rhinos, giraffe, gazelle, and zebras among others. Game viewing is never dull in the Mara and patience is often rewarded with unique sightings: a pride of lion stalking their prey; a solitary leopard retrieving its kill from the high branches of an acacia tree; a male wildebeest sparring to attract females into their harem; a herd of elephant protecting their young from opportunistic predators. Dinner and Overnight at Mara Sopa Lodge booked on Full Board.
DAY 8: Full Day in the Masai Mara Game Reserve: Early this morning we enter the park to enjoy a full day of extensive game driving, exploring this natural wonder Mara River, the biggest draw card is the wildebeest migration when vast hordes of Wildebeest roar through the park bringing in its trail a wake of mighty predators; follow the seasonal migrations, and watch enraptured as crocs and lions compete to pick-off stragglers from the clattering herds of wildebeest. Lunch today will be a picnic on the banks of the Mara River, known for its huge crocodile and hippo population. Optional Maasai Mara Balloon Ride: Enjoy early morning ballooning over the plains, getting a bird’s eye view of the game below as the sun creeps slowly over the horizon. After approximately one hour aloft, the balloon lands while a breakfast is being prepared for us nearby. The smell of bacon, sausages and eggs drift on the breeze as we sample exotic Kenyan fruits and homemade pastries and, if you wish, glasses of bubbly to toast our flight, a tradition initiated by the Montgolfier brothers. Cost Per Person: $ 500 Advance booking advised. Dinner and Overnight at Mara Sopa Lodge booked on Full Board.
DAY 9: Masai Mara – LAKE VICTORIA: Leaving the Masai Mara behind us very early in the morning, today we enter Tanzania and then descend toward the shores of Africa’s largest lake, Lake Victoria. We will have packed lunches which we will eat on the way. This lake forms part of the Great Rift Valley and provides a livelihood for the many locals that fish its waters. Here we will spend time relaxing, exploring the markets, and trading with the local fishermen. Dinner tonight will be own expense at the Peninsula Hotel.
DAY 10: LAKE VICTORIA – SERENGETI: Today we enter what is arguably the world’s most acclaimed wildlife sanctuary, the Serengeti National Park. This park, with its huge concentrations of plains game, numerous predators and prolific birdlife all resident on the seemingly endless grass and acacia covered plains, epitomizes Africa’s game parks. We will traverse the park west to east doing extensive game drives, and will spend a night at the active Ikoma luxury tented camp – full board.
DAY 11: SERENGETI: Full day in Serengeti with early morning and late afternoon game drives in the vast Serengeti Plain. The term Serengeti means endless plains in Maasai language. In the central plains there are carnivores like leopard, lion, hyena and cheetah. This park is normally the scene of the annual migration of wildebeest and zebra that occurs between the Kenyan Mara and the Serengeti. Varied bird species can be seen here including eagles, ducks, geese, egrets, vultures, secretary birds, ibis, stork, herons, kites, pelicans, cranes and guinea fowl. Dinner and overnight at the camp ikoma tented camp.
DAY 12: SERENGETI – NGORONGORO: After breakfast we leave the Serengeti and enter the Ngorongoro Conservation area, then to Olduvai Gorge, site of Louis and Mary Leakey’s renowned archaeological discoveries. Their findings include some of the man’s earliest known ancestral remains. Have a lunch box ; descend over 600 metres to the floor of the crater for a day crater tour. Explore the forest areas that are inhabited by monkey and elephant, the lake area, where you may see the flamingos and the open savannah where the lions hunt for food. Picnic lunches will be served in the crater, breakfast, packed lunch, dinner at a lodge overnight in the luxury Acacia farm lodge overlooking the Ngorogoro forest. Upgrade to Ngorogoro Sopa Lodge is optional. – Overnight in the Country Inn, outside the park with a luxuriant courtyard. Meal plan- breakfast, packed lunch, dinner.
Day 13: Ngorongoro Crater: Early morning a game drive in the Ngorongoro Crater! UNESCO World Heritage Site; the crater offers a unique biosphere which has remained virtually unchanged since the dawn of time. It’s one of the parks with a large population of wildlife throughout the year. Deep within the crater, enclosed by towering walls, have a good chance of spotting ‘The Big 5’: Lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino and leopard. Approximately 30,000 animals live on the crater floor! Drive back to your Lodge. After this great experience you drive back to Country Inn Lodge- overnight in the luxury Acacia farm lodge overlooking the Ngorogoro forest. Upgrade to Ngorogoro Sopa Lodge is optional. – Overnight in the Country Inn, outside the park with a luxuriant courtyard. Meal plan- breakfast, packed lunch, dinner.
DAY 14: NGORONGORO – ARUSHA: After an early start we make our way toward Arusha, the town at the foot of the beautiful Mount Meru. Here we will spend the afternoon exploring this lively town and its local markets. Tonight we will enjoy an own expense meal at a local restaurant. Mount Meru Game Lodge/Impala Hotel
DAY 15: ARUSHA – AMBOSELI NATIONAL PARK: After breakfast leave the hotel for Namanga border post for immigration formalities and arrive in to Amboseli National Park for lunch at Kibo camp, followed by afternoon game drive. Dinner and overnight at the Kibo camp.
DAY 15: AMBOSELI NATIONAL PARK: Full day of game viewing in the Park. Amboseli National Park is located at the foot of Mt. Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain. The snows of the mountain form a majestic backdrop to one of Kenya’s most popular spectacular displays of wildlife – lion, elephant, leopard, rhino, cheetah, buffalo and host of plains game, creating Kenya’s most sought after photographer’s paradise. Meals and overnight at Kibo camp.
DAY 16: AMBOSELI – NAIROBI: After breakfast early morning game drive followed by early lunch at the camp, we will proceed to Nairobi for dinner and overnight in Sarova Panafric Hotel or Boma Inn Nairobi or Eka Hotel meridian court / Sarova Panafric Hotel or Boma Inn Nairobi or Eka Hotel.
DAY 17. NAIROBI – UGANDA GORRILA SAFARI: After breakfast, we will be taken to the airport to catch our plane to Uganda arriving after one hour. Upon arrival, you will be met by our staff in charge of Client Welfare to welcome you to the Pearl of Africa, and the driver guide you will have all through your safari. Drive to Kampala 47km away, passing through the beautiful quaint lake side Entebbe town and the busy business centre of Katwe. Overnight in Serena Kampala, African Hotel, Holiday Express/ Cassia Lodge The rest of the afternoon touring the city.
DAY 18: KAMPALA –TRAVEL TO MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK (4-6HRS): Have breakfast at your hotel in Kampala and set off to Murchison falls wildlife park. The journey goes through the famous Luwero triangle, Budongo forest on the western arm of the Great Rift Valley, exposing your to great sceneries that are picturesque to reach the park in the afternoon. Lunch in Masindi town, visit the top of the great Murchison falls where the Nile perfects its beauty!! Here you will see the calm Nile forcing its self through a narrow gorge (7meters wide) to fall a distance of about 47 meters down producing a thunderous roar of white water! What an incredible scenery?! Proceed to Paraa safari lodge, Murchison River Lodge, Nile safari Lodge or Red Chilli Rest camp for dinner and overnight.
DAY 19: GAME VIEWING DRIVE AND FANTASTIC BOAT CRUISE: Wake up early for a cup of tea / coffee and embark on our 4WD safari vehicle for a game drive before dawn to catch up with predators and early risers. Expect an encounter with some of the BIG FIVE such as the African Lion, Elephants, Buffaloes and Leopard. Among other animals include jackals, hyenas, giraffe, antelopes and the Uganda kob among others. Retire for late / full breakfast. After lunch, gather your strength for a fantastic boat cruise on the Victoria Nile to the bottom of the falls where you will see animals like the buffaloes, hippos, crocodiles, elephants quenching their thirst, and over 450 bird species like fish eagles and rare shoebills among others. Dinner and overnight at Paraa safari lodge, Murchison River Lodge, Nile safari Lodge or Red Chilli Rest camp for dinner and overnight.
DAY 20: TRAVEL TO FORT PORTAL, KIBALE DISTRICT: This morning have breakfast to transfer to Fort portal in Kibale district that lies amidst the great mountains of the moon (Rwenzori). The drive is almost 8hours but will provide you with splendid views as you pass small African villages, trading centers and banana plantations. Dinner and overnight at Rwenzori View Guesthouse with excellent view over the Rwenzori Mountains, or Kyaninga Lodge and Mountains of the moon hotel.
DAY 21: CHIMPANZEE TRACKING AND TRAVEL TO QUEEN ELIZABETH WILD GAME PARK: Early morning breakfast and then trek the Kibale Forest in search for Man’s closet cousins the Chimpanzees. The forest is also home to other primates like grey cheeked mangabeys, Olive baboons, L’hoest’s Monkeys and vervet monkeys among others. In the afternoon, you will transfer to Queen Elizabeth wildlife Park, following the foot hills of the Rwenzori Mountains with some game viewing enroute. Dinner and overnight at Mweya Safari Lodge / Enganzi Lodge / Kingfisher lodge / Kyambura game lodge / Bush Lodge.
DAY 22: GAME DRIVE AND A BOAT CRUISE ON KAZINGA CHANNEL: Take a cup of coffee/tea to go for a game drive before Dawn to catch up with some of the predators and early risers before they return to their hide outs. Expect as encounter with the African Elephants, Defassa Waterbucks, hyenas, Uganda Kobs, Lions, Giant Forest Hogs, Leopards, Cape Buffaloes, Topi and Bush bucks and much more. Retire from the game drive for full breakfast and relax as we wait for lunch. In the afternoon, proceed for a boat ride on the Kazinga channel that connects lakes Edward and George. This is the highest concentration of Hippos in Africa with hundreds of them, huge Nile crocodiles, herds’ buffaloes and Elephants are seen basking along the shores, also waterbirds such as the fish eagle, African kingfisher, white pelicans and many more. Dinner and overnight at Mweya Safari Lodge / Enganzi Lodge / Kingfisher lodge / Kyambura game lodge / Bush Lodge.
DAY 23: ISHASHA TREE CLIMBING LIONS, TRANSFER TO BWINDI N.P Breakfast followed by another game drive along mweya peninsular, later transfer to Bwindi Gorilla Park through the Ishasha sector in southern Queen Elizabeth N.P. This sector offers one an opportunity to spot tree climbing lions alongside other wild animals such as elephants, Buffaloes and antelopes among others. You will reach the park in the late afternoon to dine and spend the night at Mahogany Springs Lodge / Gorilla Mist Camp / Gift of Nature Lodge.
DAY 24: MOUNTAIN GORILLA TRACKING: Heavy breakfast at the lodge followed by briefing at the park headquarters before setting off to the forest in search for gorillas. The time you will take searching these humble apes in unpredictable however it ranges between 1-7 hours depending on their movement in their natural habitat! Mountain gorilla trekking goes through steep and slippery jungle grounds, climbing up and down before meeting them camouflaged in thick vegetation, however, the thrill of encountering these gentle giants erases the poor memories you went through in searching for them. Return to your lodge for late lunch, evening cultural entertainment, dinner and overnight at Mahogany springs lodge, Gorilla Mist Camp, Gift of Nature Lodge.
DAY 25: BWINDI IMPENETRABLE FOREST – KAMPALA :Leave Bwindi in the morning (08:00hrs) after breakfast and transfer back to Kampala, en- route lunch in Mbarara town, stop at the Equator for photographs and craft shopping, arrive in Kampala by early evening, connect direct to the airport for your scheduled departure flight or at your hotel for dinner and overnight.
END OF YOUR TOUR
Inclusions: All airport transfers, tour driver / guide fee throughout your safari, accommodation and meals transport in a private fully equipped safari vehicle (either minibus or 4×4) with open roof,All picnic lunches where applicable and bed & breakfast while in Nairobi, All park entry fees and game drives in Kenya and Tanzania as mentioned, Flying doctors emergency evacuation insurance, Applicable government taxes and service charge
Exclusions: International or local flight fares and departure taxes, Items of personal nature such as phone calls, laundry, email, etc., Personal travel insurance, Optional activities such as balloon safari, guided nature walks, cultural tours, etc., Drinking water while on safari, Tipping for guides / any other person, Visa entry fees, Beverages, soft drinks or alcoholic drinks, e.t.c, Optional activities not included or specified in the program
