Gorillas & Masai Mara - Camping
Gorillas & Masai Mara - Camping
$7500
Tour Overview
Embark on an exhilarating 15-day overland safari adventure through the heart of East Africa with the "Gorillas & Masai Mara - Camping" tour. This journey takes you from Nairobi to Kigali, traversing the breathtaking landscapes of Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda. Experience the thrill of camping under the African sky, with all the logistics handled by our expert crew. Highlights include unforgettable encounters with mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, tracking chimpanzees in Kalinzu Forest, and exploring the vibrant wildlife of the Masai Mara. Engage with the Maasai community in Tepesua village and enjoy game drives in iconic parks like Lake Nakuru and Hell’s Gate. With full-service camping and meals prepared by our dedicated team, this tour offers a perfect blend of adventure and cultural immersion, ensuring a truly memorable African safari experience. ...more ...less
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Start Nairobi; overnight in hotel
Location: Nairobi
Accommodation Name: Kenya Comfort Suites (or similar)
The adventure begins in Nairobi, the capital and largest city in Kenya. This evening’s welcome briefing is the perfect opportunity to meet your tour leader and get to know your fellow travellers.Accommodation: Heron Portico Hotel (or similar)
Day 2 : To Masai Mara; late afternoon game drive
Location: Masai Mara
Accommodation Name: Mountain Rock Camp (or similar) – full-service camping
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After loading our things onto the vehicle, we depart Nairobi and travel approximately seven hours into the Masai Mara, a vast grassland teeming with life. Here wildebeest, gazelles, topis, zebras and buffalo abound in the rolling savannah, and never far away lay the predators: cheetahs, lions and hyenas. Between mid-August and late October, one of the greatest spectacles on Earth takes place in the Mara: the annual migration of thousands of wildebeest, gazelles and zebras trampling across the long grass. Nothing is guaranteed on safari, but with the help of our brilliant guides you should see and learn a huge amount about the Masai Mara wildlife as we drive through the park this afternoon.Accommodation: Mountain Rock Camp (or similar) – full-service camping
Day 3 : Full day in the Masai Mara
Location: Masai Mara
Accommodation Name: Mountain Rock Camp (or similar) – full-service camping
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Enjoy a full-day game drive in the Masai Mara to increase our chances of encountering many of the wildlife species in the reserve. We find a quiet spot inside the park to enjoy lunch by our vehicle, looking out across the plains. There is also an optional hot-air balloon safari at sunrise, which includes champagne and breakfast.Accommodation: Mountain Rock Camp (or similar) – full-service camping
Day 4 : To Lake Naivasha via the Maasai village of Tepesua; afternoon game drive
Location: Masai Mara, Loita Hills, Lake Naivasha
Accommodation Name: KWS Campsite (or similar) – full-service camping
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Depart the Masai Mara after breakfast and drive (about 4hr 40min) to Lake Naivasha. En route, we stop in the Loita Hills to visit the Maasai village of Tepesua, where the community is known for championing Maasai women’s health and education. On arrival, we are welcomed by a traditional warrior song and dance, before our host explains about Maasai warrior training and we take a walk in the village.After arriving at Lake Naivasha, we take a boat onto the waters to see the natural beauty and spot the abundant wildlife. We also head to a hippo pool, where we can see these magnificent creatures swimming.Accommodation: Lake Naivasha Crescent Camp (or similar) – full-service camping
Day 5 : Hike to Crater Lake; visit Joy Adamson’s home for high tea
Location: Crater Lake, Elsamere, Lake Naivasha
Accommodation Name: Green Wood Campsite (or similar) – full-service camping
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lace up your boots for a three-hour hike to Crater Lake, with the chance to see plenty of birdlife en route. Hiking to the top of the hills for a magnificent view over the lake, we may also spot giraffes and zebras, who are also regular visitors.Return to camp for lunch, then leave for Elsamere, the one-time home of naturalist and author Joy Adamson, who wrote the 1960 classic Born Free. The property is a museum to the Adamsons and there are plenty of photos of Elsa the lioness. Later, we enjoy high tea in the grounds, with a scenic lake as our backdrop.Accommodation: Lake Naivasha Crescent Camp (or similar) – full-service camping
Day 6 : Explore Hell’s Gate National Park; afternoon at leisure
Location: Hell's Gate National Park, Lake Naivasha
Accommodation Name: Adrift Camp (or similar) – full-service camping
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Explore Hell’s Gate National Park today, a compact park home to zebras, giraffes, leopards and plenty more. There’s also a Maasai cultural centre to visit, where we learn more about the culture and traditions of the Maasai. We take a game drive in the park, but there’s also the option of hiring bikes (paid locally) to explore on two wheels.This afternoon, there’s free time to relax at the beach or hotel pool; alternatively, take a walk into the local villages.Accommodation: Lake Naivasha Crescent Camp (or similar) – full-service camping
Day 7 : To Lake Nakuru National Park
Location: Lake Nakuru National Park, Great Rift Valley
Accommodation Name: Adrift Camp (or similar) – full-service camping
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Bid farewell to Lake Naivasha and transfer (one hour) to Lake Nakuru National Park. We get into the action with an afternoon game drive, the length of which depends on the movement and activity of the animals, though it takes a maximum of three hours.On the floor of the Great Rift Valley, the park is home to a wide variety of animals, including lions, leopards, giraffes, zebras and buffalos.Accommodation: Lake Nakuru camping (or similar) – full-service camping
Day 8 : To Eldoret
Location: Eldoret, Great Rift Valley
Accommodation Name: Red Chilli Murchison (or similar) – full-service camping
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
We start our journey towards Uganda, transferring (five hours) to Eldoret in Kenya – a city well positioned for our drive to Jinja, Uganda, tomorrow. Along the way, we can enjoy vistas of the Great Rift Valley, which looks particularly spectacular from the Church Rock viewpoint.Accommodation: Greenwood Resort camping (or similar) – full-service camping
Day 9 : To Jinja
Location: Jinja, Lake Victoria
Accommodation Name: Red Chilli Murchison (or similar) – full-service camping
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today there is a drive of about 155mi (250km) to Jinja, which should take about eight hours, including a border crossing into Uganda. The crossing can be slow, but we leave plenty of time for this and you’ll no doubt find the experience interesting!On the shores of Lake Victoria, Jinja is the adventure capital of Uganda. The area is most famous for grade IV and V white-water rafting excursions but there are plenty of other adrenaline-fuelled activities here.Accommodation: Adrift Camp (or similar) – full-service camping
Day 10 : Free day for optional activities
Location: Jinja, Source of the White Nile
Accommodation Name: Red Chilli Murchison (or similar) – full-service camping
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today is free to choose from a range of optional activities. White-water rafting in Jinja is among the best in the world, with a half- or full-day route that varies from quiet pools and forested islands to thunderous rapids and drops. There are several grade V rapids to navigate including Big Brother, Overtime and Silverback. If rafting doesn’t appeal, you can visit the source of the White Nile, one of the two major tributaries of the Nile.Accommodation: Adrift Camp (or similar) – full-service camping
Day 11 : To Mbarara
Location: Mbarara, Equator
Accommodation Name: Irungu Forest Safari Campsite (or similar) – full-service camping
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today, we have a long drive (approximately seven hours) to Mbarara, the ideal location to track chimpanzees tomorrow. En route, we pass over the equator, where we our tour leader can show us some fun experiments.Accommodation: Igongo Hotel Camping (or similar) – full-service camping
Day 12 : Chimpanzee trekking in Kalinzu Forest
Location: Kalinzu Forest
Accommodation Name: Irungu Forest Safari Campsite (or similar) – full-service camping
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Journey deep into Kalinzu Forest for an unforgettable adventure tracking chimpanzees. On this three to four-hour experience, we’re joined by experienced guides, trekking through the forest and listening out for the chimps’ distinctive calls.Other animals we might spot along the way include colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys, olive baboons and plenty of bird species. The terrain can be steep and, at times, muddy; however, the chimpanzees typically stay on the flatter terrain.Accommodation: Igongo Hotel Camping (or similar) – full-service camping
Day 13 : To Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Location: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Accommodation Name: Casa Gorilla Lodge & Campsite (or similar) – full-service camping
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Head to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a World Heritage site and home to mountain gorillas. The journey is 185mi (300km) and takes five to six hours, including stops.Accommodation: Virunga Hotel & Campsite (or similar) – full-service camping
Day 14 : Trek to see mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Location: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Accommodation Name: Casa Gorilla Lodge & Campsite (or similar) – full-service camping
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
You will probably remember today for the rest of your life as we spend a full hour in the company of a family of mountain gorillas! Owing to the terrain and need to explore to find the gorillas, our trek doesn’t follow a path; instead, our guides cut a route through the undergrowth. After a safety briefing, we are assigned to a gorilla family group and begin our trek. Expect a minimum of three hours of walking on irregular terrain; steep ascents and descents over muddy slopes are the norm. Strong footwear is essential, and we recommend hiring a local porter to help you carry your bag/camera equipment and provide a steady, supportive hand (porters are arranged and paid for locally on the day).Seeing wild mountain gorillas in their natural habitat is an experience you will never forget. An adult male can weigh up to 430lb (195kg), a female up to 220lb (100kg), and a male can reach 5ft 7in (1.7m) tall. They are almost exclusively vegetarian and quite destructive eaters, which makes them unpopular with the farmers lower down the mountain as they have been known to wreck a whole field of crops just to eat one plant. For this reason, and poaching, the gorillas are very carefully protected. Gorillas are gentle creatures and are not known to attack unless very severely provoked. The family groups we trek to see are habituated to human presence but to prevent over familiarisation our time with them is limited to one hour. If the permits for gorilla families close to where we stay are unavailable, there may be more permits for other areas of the park, although this will mean a longer drive to the start of the trek.Accommodation: Virunga Hotel & Campsite (or similar) – full-service camping
Day 15 : Early morning departure to Kigali airport
Location: Kigali
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
We depart early morning and transfer to Kigali airport in Rwanda. Our trip comes to an end in the afternoon when we bid our group goodbye.
What's Included
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14 breakfasts, 13 lunches and 13 dinners
The tour includes 14 breakfasts, 13 lunches, and 13 dinners prepared by our chef and crew.
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All accommodation
All accommodation is included during the tour.
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All transport and listed activities
All transport and the activities listed in the itinerary are included.
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Tour leader throughout
A tour leader will accompany you throughout the journey.
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One chimp permit and one gorilla permit
The tour includes one permit for chimpanzee trekking and one for gorilla trekking.
What's Not Included
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Travel insurance
Travel insurance is not included and must be arranged separately.
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Single accommodation
Single accommodation is not included but is available on request.
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Visas or vaccinations
Visas and vaccinations are not included and must be arranged separately.
Food
Virtually all meals are included and will be prepared for you by our chef and crew. They are adept at catering for large groups of hungry travellers!
Breakfasts usually include cereal, toast and hot food such as porridge or eggs. Lunches tend to feature a range of sandwich options plus a fruit selection. Dinners usually feature soup, a main (a mix of local and international cuisine) and dessert (typically fruit salad). All cooking equipment is loaded onto the overland vehicle and so our crew are ready to prepare food wherever we stop – don’t worry about going hungry on this trip! You also have time to stock up on snacks and drinks along the journey.
For meals not included, it would be a good idea to allow a further US$100 to cover these.
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Accommodation
Experience the wilds of East Africa with 13 nights of full-service camping, where tents are set up and taken down by the crew. Enjoy two-person tents with provided mattresses, though a sleeping bag and pillow are needed. Facilities vary, and upgrades to rooms are available locally.
Mode of Transport
Travel through East Africa in an overland vehicle, with all transport and listed activities included. The journey includes long drives, such as a seven-hour trip to Masai Mara and an eight-hour drive to Jinja, Uganda, with a border crossing.
Check out our Q&As
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What type of accommodation is provided during the tour?
The tour provides a back-to-basics camping experience with full-service camping for 13 nights. The crew sets up and takes down the tents, and two-person tents with mattresses are provided. However, you need to bring your own sleeping bag and pillow. In Nairobi, accommodation is in a small hotel. ...more ...less
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Are there any optional activities available during the tour?
Yes, there are several optional activities available during the tour. In the Masai Mara, you can opt for a hot-air balloon safari at sunrise. In Jinja, you can choose from activities like white-water rafting, visiting the source of the White Nile, or exploring the area on a bike. ...more ...less
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What kind of meals are included in the tour?
The tour includes 14 breakfasts, 13 lunches, and 13 dinners. Meals are prepared by the chef and crew, with breakfasts typically including cereal, toast, and hot food like porridge or eggs. Lunches feature a range of sandwich options and fruit, while dinners include soup, a main course, and dessert, often a fruit salad. ...more ...less
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What wildlife can I expect to see during the tour?
During the tour, you can expect to see a variety of wildlife including mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, elephants, leopards, lions, rhinos, zebras, giraffes, and buffalo. The Masai Mara is known for its abundance of wildlife, including the annual migration of wildebeest, gazelles, and zebras. ...more ...less
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What is the highlight of the gorilla trekking experience?
The highlight of the gorilla trekking experience is spending a full hour in the company of a family of mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. The trek involves walking on irregular terrain with steep ascents and descents, and the gorillas are habituated to human presence, making it a memorable experience. ...more ...less
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Is there any special equipment needed for the tour?
While most equipment is provided, you will need to bring your own sleeping bag and pillow for the camping experience. Strong footwear is essential for the gorilla trekking due to the steep and muddy terrain. It is also recommended to hire a local porter to help carry your bag and provide support during the trek.
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
If you wish to make any changes to your booking, particularly if you need to alter any flights booked through us, please let us know as soon as possible. There is a booking or flight amendment fee of £40 per change and flight amendments often incur extra airline costs depending on the changes to be made and if the ticket has been issued or not.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Exodus has been trading since 1974
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Your final joining instructions and flight details, if booked with us, will then be sent out 2 to 3 weeks before departure. If you would like a hard copy posted, or if you require these any earlier, please contact the customer operations team. We advise that if you are booking connecting travel before receiving these, please ensure you leave plenty of time.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Travellers are welcome to opt to share a room with a tour member of the same gender for no additional charge. If you'd like your own room, we can request a single supplement so that you will have your own room throughout.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
You are welcome to meet the group after the tour has departed however there is no reduction in rate for joining a tour after the departure date.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Exodus Adventure Travels allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform exodus adventure travels, 43 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Exodus Adventure Travels requires a minimum deposit of 25% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of exodus adventure travels charges.
Up to 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
Gorillas & Masai Mara - Camping
15 Days Starting in Nairobi, Kenya and ending in Kigali, Rwanda
Visiting: Nairobi, Masai Mara, Loita Hills, Lake Naivasha, Crater Lake, Elsamere, Hell's Gate National Park, Lake Nakuru National Park, Great Rift Valley, Eldoret, Jinja, Lake Victoria, Source of the White Nile, Mbarara, Equator, Kalinzu Forest, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Kigali ...more ...less
Tour operator:
Tour code:
WYU
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
6 - 18
Age range:
16-99
Special diets catered:
Please inform Exodus of specific dietary requirements