Nairobi To Kigali (13 Days) Gorillas & Gameparks
Nairobi To Kigali (13 Days) Gorillas & Gameparks
13 Days Starting in Nairobi, Kenya and ending in Kigali, Rwanda
Visiting: Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda
Tour operator:
Tour code:
449
Specialist Group:
Singles Solo
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
1 - 10
Age range:
18-80
Special diets catered:
Please advise requests
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Embark on a thrilling 13-day adventure from Nairobi to Kigali, exploring the diverse landscapes and wildlife of Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda. Experience the wonders of Lake Nakuru National Park, home to black and white rhinos, and listen to the calls of hippos while camping by Lake Naivasha. Cycle through Hells Gate National Park, raft or kayak on the Nile, and navigate the bustling streets of Kampala. Trek through the lush forests to encounter the majestic Mountain Gorillas and pay homage at the Kigali Genocide Memorial. This tour offers a unique blend of safaris, cultural experiences, and unforgettable encounters with nature.
Highlights
Itinerary
After loading the truck with all our gear, we depart Nairobi this morning and head north into one of Africa’s greatest natural features, the East African Rift Valley. Stretching from the Dead Sea in Jordan down to Mozambique in Southern Africa, our first view is from the top of a steep escarpment. Overland trips through East Africa will allow you to experience some of the most dramatic scenery in the world, and the Rift Valley is a definite highlight. The valley floor seems to sweep on forever and is dotted with volcanic peaks, shimmering lakes and countless springs. Our journey takes us into the heart of the Rift Valley to Lake Naivasha. We camp near the lake shore where Hippos sometimes feed at night! Here you can walk to Elsamere, the house of Joy Adamson - of Elsa the Lion and Born Free fame, and enjoy a film of her life - and cream teas! You can also hire mountain bikes and cycle or walk through Hells Gate National Park - the only game reserve in Kenya in which you are permitted to do so.
Or for a less active but equally enjoyable game viewing experience - visit the Crater Lake Game Sanctuary. Both offer excellent scenery and opportunities to spot hyrax, abundant bird and plant life along with several types of gazelle, impala and eland.
Next we head to one of Africa’s most famous wildlife reserves, the Masai Mara. Famous for its dense concentration of animals and birds, and for its important place in the annual wildebeest migration (July to October), you will have a great chance to see lions, elephants, buffalo, leopards, cheetahs and also rhino if you are lucky. We include a morning and afternoon safari, while an additional evening safari may be available to arrange locally on our arrival day if we have made good time.
DAY 4-7: Kakamega Rainforest and Jinja
After leaving the Masai Mara, we drive west to the Kakamega Rainforest, a remnant of the ancient rainforest that stretched across Central Africa. This is a real contrast to other wild areas we’ll visit, and the forest is home to various mammals including colobus and Debrazzar monkeys, pottos, bush pigs and giant forest hedgehogs, as well as a great selection of colourful birdlife. A guided walk in the forest is included here.
Next, we make our first border crossing as we cross from Kenya into Uganda and continue on to camp near Jinja - Uganda's adventure playground. Here, on the edge of Lake Victoria, the Nile begins its 6700km journey to the sea. We spend the next few days a little downstream from the source of the Nile. This is a spectacular area and a superb place to go whitewater rafting or kayaking. You can also organise quad biking, horse riding or a visit to a local education project.
DAY 8-10: Kalinzu Forest Reserve & Queen Elizabeth National Park
A long day’s drive now takes us west through swamps, patches of forest and fertile green countryside. As we travel through Uganda, we'll pass through a number of small towns and villages; Mpigi, where you will see roadside stalls manufacturing and selling traditional musical instruments; Kyazanga, where we can buy fresh rotisserie and roasted meat and vegetables, as well as roasted plantain bananas. We will also be able to make a photo stop where our route crosses the Equator.
Our destination is Kalinzu Forest Reserve. Here we have a great opportunity to take an optional hike into the forest to see some habituated chimpanzee families. Permits need to be booked several months in advance, so please get in touch if you would like to add this experience. Only 12 permits are issued each day to minimize disruption to the animals, and a local guide will take you through the forest to find the group. You then have an hour watching and following them before returning to camp. You should see many other monkeys, birds and other wildlife during the trip too.
If you don’t book the chimp trek, then various other walks are available in the forest to see waterfalls, birds, primates, and other wildlife. The forest has four main paths for nature walks, including the valley trail, the waterfall path, the river trail, and the Palm trail. These can all be arranged when you get there.
After our day in the forest, we take a short drive to Katunguru on the edge of Queen Elizabeth National Park. We have a free morning here to take a wide range of optional village walks, learning about the culture of the Basongara, Bakonjo and Banyabindi who live in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Then in the afternoon, we include a guided boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel, where you can look out for hippos, crocodiles, elephants, buffalos, waterbucks and a huge range of bird species.
Next, we spend the morning on a game drive on our truck, as we drive south through Queen Elizabeth National Park and on to our next stop, Lake Bunyonyi.
DAY 11-12: Gorilla Trekking, to Kigali
We have a whole day set aside today to visit Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park which are home to several families of Highland Mountain Gorillas. Getting up close to these amazing creatures is truly a once in a lifetime experience and one of the highlights of the trip. You have the opportunity to trek to see the Gorillas in Uganda (bookable as an Add on). It is estimated that only around 700 of these gentle giants remain. This mountainous area on the borders of Rwanda, Uganda and Zaire (now renamed Democratic Republic of Congo) is their only natural habitat and they are periodically threatened by poachers and political instability in the area. One permit allows you to spend about 50 to 60 minutes with one of the gorilla families. Trekking to find them in groups of 8 people can take anywhere from half an hour to 5 hours. The organisations and well-trained guides that continually monitor and protect the families are conscientious and responsible. We will base ourselves near the village of Kabale which will give you the opportunity to trek the Mountain Gorillas and visit the beautiful Lake Bunyonyi, where you will have the opportunity to visit a pygmy village.
If permits are limited, we may adjust the itinerary slightly to spend an extra day here to give everyone in the group the opportunity to see the gorillas.
After our latest forest adventure, we pass through mountain ranges and cross the border into Rwanda and continue to the capital, Kigali. Here we can visit the genocide memorial, which is a moving and humbling experience.
DAY 13: Kigali
The trip finishes after breakfast in Kigali today, and your time is free until your flight departs or your other onward arrangements commence.
What's Included
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Accommodation
Accommodation is 100% camping, using roomy three-person tents shared between two people.
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Lake Nakuru National Park
Includes a game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park.
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Lake Naivasha
Visit to Lake Naivasha.
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Meals
Approximately 60% of meals are included.
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Transport
All transport on the Oasis Expedition Truck is included.
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Camping and Cooking Equipment
Camping and cooking equipment are provided.
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Services of Oasis Crew
Services of the Oasis Crew are included.
What's Not Included
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Visas
Visas are not included.
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Local Payment
A local payment of USD 485 (2023-24) is payable at the start of the trip.
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Gorilla Trekking Permit
Gorilla Trekking Permit is bookable as an add-on and not included.
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Optional Excursions
Optional excursions as listed in the Pre-Departure Information are not included.
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Flights
Flights are not included.
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Airport Taxes and Transfers
Airport taxes and transfers are not included.
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Meals
Approximately 40% of meals are not included.
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Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is not included.
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Drinks
Drinks are not included.
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Tips
Tips are not included.
More Info
This trip takes in some of the smaller, but more rewarding East African National Parks. Their soda and fresh-water lakes are abundant in bird and wildlife and there are rare opportunities for walking safaris. An optional highlight of this trip is trekking through the rainforests of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park or Virunga Mountains in search of the protected Mountain Gorilla. For a different type of adrenaline experience you can try your hand at quad biking, kayaking or whitewater rafting in Uganda.
Mode of Transport
The Oasis truck will be your new home giving you a comfortable, secure base with which to experience your trip. As part of the adventure you will be expected to have an active involvement in the day to day running of the trip, be part of the group and get stuck in and help with various tasks, whether it's cooking meals over open fires, pitching your tent or keeping the truck clean and tidy. All Oasis Overland trucks are fitted with seatbelts. For your own safety and security we recommend that travellers wear these at all times whilst the vehicle is moving. Our overland trucks in Africa also have a 'beach area' which is a chill out zone to be used when the truck is not moving.
Accommodation
Camping - Oasis uses roomy three-person tents but only for two people. They are specially made for us to meet the tougher conditions of an overland trip and have mosquito netting sewn into the door and windows. Tents are shared (between two people of the same sex from your group unless you are a couple). We spend some nights bush or desert camping and the rest of the time in campsites. Facilities and standards at campsites vary, some are well equipped and managed and some are very basic. At bush camps you will be living off the truck, so there will be no showers or en-suite facilities! At certain campsites there is the opportunity to upgrade to a private room at your own expense if you are missing your bed. Lodges / Hostels - At some locations we will stay in lodges and hostels that are small, locally run establishments. The accommodation will vary depending on the rooming available, from dormitory style rooms, to twins/doubles or triple rooms. Upgrades may be available on arrival, but cannot be reliably pre-booked. Please refer to the individual trip inclusions for the percentage break up of your accommodation.
Check out our Q&As
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What kind of accommodation can I expect during the tour?
Accommodation is 100% camping, using roomy three-person tents shared between two people. Some nights will be spent bush or desert camping, while others will be at campsites with varying facilities. There may also be opportunities to upgrade to private rooms at certain campsites at your own expense.
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What kind of involvement is expected from participants during the trip?
Participants are expected to have an active involvement in the day-to-day running of the trip. This includes tasks such as cooking meals over open fires, pitching tents, and keeping the truck clean and tidy.
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What kind of transport will be used during the tour?
The tour will use an Oasis Expedition Truck, which is equipped with seatbelts and a 'beach area' for relaxation when the truck is not moving. All transport on the truck is included in the tour.
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Are meals included in the tour package?
Approximately 60% of meals are included in the tour package. The remaining 40% of meals are not included.
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Is the Gorilla Trekking Permit included in the tour price?
No, the Gorilla Trekking Permit is not included in the tour price. It is bookable as an add-on.
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What activities are available at Lake Naivasha?
At Lake Naivasha, you can walk to Elsamere, the house of Joy Adamson, and enjoy a film of her life and cream teas. You can also hire mountain bikes to cycle or walk through Hells Gate National Park or visit the Crater Lake Game Sanctuary for game viewing.
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What can I do in Jinja, Uganda?
In Jinja, you can go whitewater rafting or kayaking on the Nile. Other activities include quad biking, horse riding, or visiting a local education project.
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What is the significance of the Kigali Genocide Memorial?
The Kigali Genocide Memorial is a moving and humbling experience where visitors can pay tribute to the victims of the Rwandan genocide.
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Are there any optional excursions available during the tour?
Yes, there are optional excursions available as listed in the Pre-Departure Information. These are not included in the tour price.
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What should I expect during the Gorilla Trekking experience?
Gorilla Trekking involves trekking in groups of 8 people to see the Mountain Gorillas. The trek can take anywhere from half an hour to 5 hours, and one permit allows you to spend about 50 to 60 minutes with one of the gorilla families.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Yes, if you are travelling solo. On our Overland Adventures and Ultimate Expeditions, we will pair you up with a tent buddy of the same sex when we camp and the same goes for twin & shared rooms in hostels, so there is no need to go it alone! If you specifically would like to request your own single room whilst on the trip, this may be requested subject to availability and additional fee.
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How many people do you take on your Trips?
On most of our Overland Adventures and Ultimate Expeditions our vehicles can carry a maximum of 24 travellers, the average however is around 16-20 on any one trip. Our Small Group Adventures have a maximum of 18 people per Tour Leader, although again the average is around 10-14 people.
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Low Deposit
Oasis Overland requires a minimum deposit of 200 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 70 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of oasis overland charges.
Up to 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 69 days before tour starts: Forfeit 33% of booking price.
At 45 days before tour starts: Forfeit 70% of booking price.
At 27 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.