Sebastian S.
The Camping Lodge Safari in Kenya offers an interesting group dynamic, as the maximum group size of 20 people enables close interaction. During the first day's...
ADVENTURE-TOURS · KENYA
Experience a journey like no other. Travel to the jewels of Kenya and Uganda, Bwindi and the Masai Mara National Park, which offers the opportunity to meet the majestic mountain gorillas and traverse the heart of Africa.
The Journey
Kenya and Uganda hold some of Africa's greatest wildlife. On this journey you reach two of the continent's most iconic destinations — Bwindi and the Masai Mara. In the Masai Mara, the Big Five roam across open grassland. In Bwindi, you go face to face with mountain gorillas. It's the kind of trip that stays with you.
We leave the capital Nairobi and travel to the Masai Mara, which is known worldwide for its endless plains with wildlife and spectacular beauty. The visit to the Masai Mara takes place in safari-style vehicles and not in a truck. For this reason, you are asked to bring a small overnight bag for traveling. You will need your towel, clothes, toiletries, and camping utensils.
The gentle grasslands of the Masai Mara offer ideal opportunities for wildlife observation and photography. The animals found here include elephant, black rhino, buffalo, leopard, cheetah, wildebeest, zebra, and gazelle. Hippopotamus and crocodile can be found in the murky brown waters of the rivers that run through this reserve. Today we will be out in the Mara all day searching for all the animals.
This morning we said goodbye to the Mara before heading to Lake Nakuru National Park, where we will enjoy a game drive through the park in the afternoon. Lake Nakuru is home to large flocks of flamingos and pelicans as well as black and white rhinos, leopards, lions, and numerous antelopes. Originally established as a bird sanctuary, Lake Nakuru was designated as a national park in 1968.
This morning we cross the border into Uganda and make our way to Jinja. Jinja is Uganda's second-largest city and is best known as the point where the Nile (officially the Victoria Nile) flows out of Lake Victoria and begins its 6,695-kilometer journey to Egypt and the Mediterranean.
After a short stop in the city of Kampala, we head towards Murchison Falls National Park. Also known as Kabaraga Falls, Murchison Falls is a waterfall located along the great Nile and is situated in the Murchison National Park. The park is recognized as one of the best national parks in Uganda. After we arrive at our accommodation in Masindi, your guide will inform you about the activities for the following day.
The Budongo Forest is the largest mahogany forest in all of East Africa and is home to the largest number of chimpanzees in Uganda. It is believed that there are between 600 and 700 chimpanzees in Budongo, and this morning we will meet our chimpanzee guide who will accompany us on our trek through the forest in search of the chimpanzees. We will also enjoy a boat ride in the park. Note: Since the chimpanzee trek is limited to 12 guests per trek, if there are more than 12 guests on a tour, the trek will be split between the morning and the afternoon. Therefore, you may do the game drive activity first and then the chimpanzee trek or vice versa. Please understand the need for flexibility.
This morning we leave Masindi and drive towards the edges of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Our accommodation for the night is located on a hill overlooking Lake Kikorongo.
After crossing the equator again, we travel south to the beautiful landscape of Lake Bunyonyi. Full of anticipation, we prepare for the upcoming gorilla tracking excursion, and this evening we will receive a briefing on what to expect.
Questions about the tour itinerary?
Our tour guide is happy to answer any questions about the day-by-day route, stops, and details.
The mountain gorilla is critically endangered and although the exact numbers vary, it is generally believed that there are only about 650 left. Visiting the gorillas is a great way to support their future on Earth, as the money spent on permits is used for their protection. An extremely important part of the future conservation of the remaining gorillas depends on the development of communities – when local communities change their attitudes towards wildlife and start to protect rather than hunt, the future of the mountain gorilla is secured. Since the permits for visiting the gorillas are extremely limited, we need flexibility both in the itinerary and in where we actually visit them. The home of the mountain gorillas is in stark contrast to man-made borders and their range includes Uganda, Rwanda, and the DRC (Democratic Republic of the Congo). Whenever possible, we choose the national park in Uganda, but this depends on the availability of permits. Should we not receive permits for visiting the mountain gorillas in Uganda, we will inform all passengers in advance that the tour will travel to Rwanda or the DRC. On your free day in Bunyonyi, you will have the opportunity to participate in certain optional activities. You can also hike or explore the area with a mountain bike.
Although 2 days are scheduled for gorilla trekking, you will only spend one day on the trekking tour. The other days serve to provide a sufficiently large time window for obtaining permits and to give the entire group the opportunity to trek, in case more than 6 of you participate in the tour.
We leave the beautiful Bunyonyi Lake for another of Uganda's beautiful waters – Lake Mburo. Lake Mburo is located in Uganda's Ankole subregion, near the town of Mbarara, and covers an area of about 260 square kilometers, surrounded by gentle hills, open grasslands, and forested areas. With over 350 recorded bird species, Mburo National Park is a paradise for bird watchers. The park's diverse ecosystems, which include acacia forests, savannas, and wetlands, provide optimal habitats for numerous bird species, including the rare and oddly shaped shoebill.
This morning we leave the Ankole region and begin our return journey to Jinja. Jinja offers many exciting optional activities centered around the waters of the Nile, including rafting, kayaking, and a variety of boat trips on the largest river in Africa. Meanwhile, those who are less interested in water sports can enjoy horseback riding or a quad adventure on land.
Jinja offers many optional activities for the adventurous and for the less adventurous. Today you have time at your leisure, and your guide will help you plan this day.
Upon our return to Kenya, we visit Eldoret, the fifth-largest city in the country. The Great Rift Valley remains the dominant geographical feature of this region and the elevation in Eldoret is 2100 meters above sea level.
Upon returning to Nairobi in the afternoon, we think of many memories we have collected together and prepare for the return to the bustling streets of Nairobi. Your tour ends with the arrival in Nairobi.
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Verified Reviews
The Camping Lodge Safari in Kenya offers an interesting group dynamic, as the maximum group size of 20 people enables close interaction. During the first day's...
The Camping Lodge Safari in Kenya offers, with a group size of up to 20 people, a challenging experience. The encounters with mountain gorillas in Uganda requir...
The organization of the Camping Lodge Safari in Kenya is clearly structured, starting in Nairobi and followed by a well-planned transfer to the Masai Mara Natio...
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