Gorillas & Plains tour

Your African adventure begins in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi. We depart from our hotel pick up point at the Sentrim Boulevard at 07.00am so please be there at least 30 minutes early. We’ll then make our way to the famous Masai Mara Game Reserve, one of the wildest and most spectacular safari destinations on the planet.

Stretching for over 1,510 square kilometres (580 square miles) and rising between 1,500 - 2,170 meters (4,920-7,120 feet) above sea level, the Masai Mara is home to all the Big Five wildlife (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhinoceros) as well as the great wildebeest migration for several months of the year.

We'll travel to the Masai Mara in a minibus, before switching over to a game vehicle. For this reason, we request that you only pack a small overnight bag to travel with. You will need your towel, clothes, toiletries and camping essentials. You can leave the rest of your luggage with the expedition truck at the hotel.

Route: Nairobi to Masai Mara
Included Highlight: Masai Mara Excursion
Facilities: Both camping and accommodation options stay in permanent tents with shared ablutions

The vast plains and grasslands of the Masai Mara offer some of the best game viewing opportunities in Africa. If you're lucky enough, you could see the Big Five in the reserve as well as animals such as cheetah, gazelle, zebra and more.

Hippo and Nile crocodile spend hours wallowing in the muddy waters of the Mara River, which from the months of July - September play host to the infamous Mara River crossings, which sees thousands of wildebeest attempt to cross its crocodile-infested waters.

Today we will spend the entire day game driving through the Mara in search of all the animals.

Included Highlight: Masai Mara safaris
Facilities: Both camping and accommodation options stay in permanent tents with shared ablutions

We start our day looking out for more wildlife as we leave the Masai Mara and head towards Lake Nakuru National Park, which we'll reach by the afternoon.

We'll head out later in the day for a game drive through Lake Nakuru National Park, which is home large flocks of flamingos, pelicans and a host of other bird life. In fact, the Lake Nakuru was originally a bird sanctuary before it received national park status in 1968.

Other wildlife that you can see here include leopard, lion, black and white rhino as well as different species of buck.

Route: Masai Mara to Lake Nakuru
Included Highlight: Lake Nakuru NP game drive
Facilities: Both camping and accommodation options stay in rooms with shared ablutions

We say goodbye to Kenya today as we make our way across the border towards Uganda. We'll make a stop along the way to celebrate crossing the Equator before we head towards Jinja - Uganda's second largest city.

Jinja is also famed as being the point where the Nile River flows out of Lake Victoria and begins its 6,700-kilometre journey towards Egypt and the Mediterranean.

Route: Lake Nakuru to Jinja
Included Highlight: Crossing the Equator
Facilities - Camping: Campsite with shared ablutions
Facilities - Accommodated: Rooms with en-suite bathrooms

After spending the night in Jinja, we make our way towards Kampala for a short stopover before we make our way to Murchison Falls National Park which sits on the shore of Lake Albert, in northwest Uganda.

The Murchison Falls, also known as Kabaraga Falls, is a waterfall located on the course of the Nile River. The park is one of the best in Uganda and is home to four of the Big Five species: lion, leopard, buffalo and elephant.

Your guide will help you settle into your accommodation before briefing you on the itinerary for the following day.

Route: Jinja to Masindi Local options: Ziwa Rhino walk
Facilities - Camping: Campsite with shared ablutions
Facilities - Accommodated: Rooms with en-suite bathrooms

Today we make our way to East Africa's biggest mahogany forest, Budongo Central Forest Reserve, which is home to the largest population of chimpanzees in Uganda. It's estimated that between 600-700 chimpanzees call Budongo Forest home.

We'll meet up with our chimpanzee guide this morning, who will take us on a trek through the forest in search of these beautiful mammals. Afterwards, we head out on a game drive to spot the other wildlife in the forest reserve.A boat cruise in the park is also included today.

Note: Chimp trekking is limited to 12 guests per trek. Should there be more than 12 guests on a tour, the trekking will be split into morning and afternoon treks with the other activities adjusted accordingly. Please allow for flexibility.

Included Highlight: Chimp trekking (half day) / Nile River Cruise in Murchison Falls National Park
Facilities - Camping: Campsite with shared ablutions
Facilities - Accommodated: Rooms with en-suite bathrooms

We leave Masindi this morning and transfer through Uganda to the edge of the Queen Elizabeth National Park. We’ll spend the night at our accommodation overlooking Lake Kikorongo.

Route: Masindi to Lake Kikorongo
Facilities - Camping: Camping with shared facilities
Facilities - Accommodated: Rooms with en-suite facilities

We make our way back across the Equator once more today as we travel south towards Lake Bunyonyi - a small lake with an abundance of bird life.

Surrounded by mountain ranges, Lake Bunyonyi boasts a large otter population and is the ideal place to relax before our journey to see the mountain gorillas. We’ll have a briefing this evening on what to expect tomorrow.

Route: Lake Kikorongo to Lake Bunyoni
Facilities - Camping: Campsite with shared ablutions
Facilities - Accommodated: Rooms with en-suite bathrooms

Today, we head out in search of the endangered mountain gorillas. It's estimated that there are only around 650 left in the wild today.

One of the best ways to protect these beautiful animals is by visiting them, as money spent on permits are used to fund their protection.

One of the most important factors in the future conservation of the mountain gorillas lies with in community development - if the attitudes of the local communities' changes towards protecting the wildlife around them instead of poaching - the battle in protecting mountain gorillas can be won.

Permits granting permission to visit the gorillas are limited, so flexibility is required in both the tour itinerary and where we visit them.

The home of the mountain gorillas is completely at odds with man-made borders and so their range encompasses Uganda, Rwanda and the DRC (Democratic Republic of the Congo).

We prefer to make use of the national parks of Uganda, but depending on the availability of the permits, we may travel to Rwanda or the DRC, in which case you will be advised in advance.

During your free time in Bunyonyi there are several optional activites available, including hiking, mountain biking, visiting a Pygmy village or heading into Rwanda.

Route: Lake Bunyonyi National Park to the gorilla trek starting point (using safari or smaller vehicles)
Local Options: Rwanda day trip, Pygmy trip, Gorilla trek (requires advance booking and payment for your Gorilla permit)
Facilities - Camping: Campsite with shared ablutions
Facilities - Accommodated: Rooms with en-suite bathrooms

We allocate two days to gorilla trekking; however, we only spend one day on the trek. The other days are dedicated to providing a large enough window to obtain permits and to allow the entire group to see these beautiful animals.

If you did your gorilla trek yesterday then other options are available today including a visit to Nyombi Village, a Pygmy village which is reached by motor boat from Bunyonyi Resort. Here you have the opportunity to learn about the culture of the Pygmies, giving you great insight into their daily lives.

Local Options: Rwanda day trip, Pygmy trip, Gorilla trek (if not completed yesterday)
Facilities - Camping: Campsite with shared ablutions
Facilities - Accommodated: Rooms with en-suite bathrooms

We say goodbye to Lake Bunyonyi this morning as we cross the Equator for the third time and drive on to Kampala. Your guide will give you a breakdown of the activities available in Jinja, so that you can plan your day ahead.

Route: Lake Bunyonyi to Kampala
Facilities: Both camping and accommodated options stay in rooms with en-suite bathrooms

Kampala is a short distance away from Jinja, which offers plenty of activities to take advantage of, most centred around the Nile River. They include kayaking, river rafting and cruises on Africa's largest river.

For those looking to do something else other than water sports, horse-riding and quad biking are available as well.

Route: Kampala to Jinja Local Options: Quad biking, kayaking, rafting
Facilities - Camping: Campsite with shared ablutions
Facilities - Accommodated: Rooms with shared ablutions

We leave Jinja today and cross from Uganda into Kenya at the Busia/Malaba border post before making our way to Eldoret - Kenya's fifth largest city. The Great Rift Valley is the most prominent geographical feature of this region, with the city rising at 2100 metres above sea level.

Route: Jinja to Eldoret
Facilities - Camping: Campsite with shared ablutions
Facilities - Accommodated: Rooms with shared ablutions

After our time searching for the Big Five and mountain gorillas, the tour comes to an end back in the big city of in Nairobi this afternoon. Groups often arrange a final dinner out tonight to swap stories and exchange contact details.

We strongly recommend that you book at least one more night post-tour rather than flying out late this evening in case of any delays. We can help you in organising extra accommodation if required.

Route: Eldoret to Nairobi

Note: The itinerary for this tour is flexible and may be changed without notice to give the group the best possible opportunities for viewing the Mountain Gorillas. The Permit price to visit the Gorillas can also change without notice.