Gorilla Encounter

Highlights

• 13 Nights Camping
• Fully equipped safari vehicle
• Camping and cooking equipment
• All road tolls and vehicle taxes
• Transport
• Sleeping mattress
• Services of two crew
• Meals as indicated (13 Breakfasts, 14 Lunches, 13 Dinners)

Itinerary

DAYS 1 - 2, Nairobi, Great Rift Valley
Our safari begins in Kenya, one of Africa’s most welcoming countries, where the first words you hear are the Swahili greeting, jambo! (hello!), often followed by hakuna matata! (no problem!) From Nairobi we cross the Great Rift Valley, an enormous cleft in the Earth’s surface stretching north to the Red Sea and south to Mozambique. After stopping to admire the spectacular valley below us, we continue to Lake Nakuru National Park. Nakuru is best known for its wealth of birdlife, especially flamingos which feed in such numbers in the shallows that they form a pink fringe around the lake shore! Rhino, leopard, warthog, baboon and numerous other animals also inhabit the park and may wander through our camp during the night! Journeying on, we travel north through the highlands of Eldoret to the lush hills of Uganda.

DAYS 3 - 6, Uganda, Kampala
Uganda, nicknamed the ‘Pearl of Africa’ is a friendly and surprisingly green country. Our first stop is at Jinja, near the famed source of the Nile River. Time permitting, there are various activities available including white water rafting, guided walks, quadbiking and bungy-jumping! Alternatively, relax and admire the world’s longest river and the dramatic white water of Bujagali Falls from our camp. While here there is a chance to take part in a charity project involved in building and improving local community schools. Roll up your sleeves for the afternoon and make a difference! Further along the north shore of Lake Victoria we stay in Kampala.

DAYS 7 - 11, Gorilla Trek
Continuing into rural south-western Uganda, we pass through Mbarara and Kabale, and arrive at our camp beside Lake Bunyonyi, a picturesque lake in the Kigezi Highlands. After relaxing here we continue on, through valleys of banana plantations and tiny villages, to the dense forest of south-west Uganda for the most exciting part of our trip: a trek to see the mountain gorillas. This region is home to approximately half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas and is one of only two forests in the world where they live in their natural habitat. Local guides lead us through thick mountain jungle and trekking can be hard going, but all the effort is forgotten when we finally come face to face with these magnificent creatures. Gorillas are very sociable and live in families of 12-20 individuals, led by a dominant male (the so-called ‘Silverback’) together with several adult females and numerous young. We have a one-hour audience with these gentle giants which promises to be a truly memorable experience. Group sizes on trek are kept small to minimise the impact on the sensitive natural habitat so we may spend several days here allowing all members of the group to view the gorillas. Community visits and forest walks can be taken around the area when not trekking for gorillas.

DAYS 12 - 14, Kenya
From Uganda we return to Kenya, crossing the equator and the Rift Valley to the bright lights and bustle of Nairobi, where our tour ends.

Destination Information

South Africa is a land of beauty rich in minerals, with abundant wildlife and spectacular scenery. The country has three capitals - the Administrative (Pretoria), the Legislative (Cape Town), and the Judicial (Bloemfontein). Having the most developed and sophisticated economy on the continent, South Africa is essential to many of its neighbours as an avenue for exports and a provider of electricity and high-tech products. An excellent network of roads and an abundance of high quality campsites makes travelling in and around South Africa a rewarding experience.

Pricing

With over 2,000 stores in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, USA, Canada, India and the UK, our people have seen the world and are the best in the business meaning we can offer you expert advice in planning your next trip.

For further information on any of our holidays and for a more extensive range of travel dates and prices, please contact one of our Adventure Specialists on 0800 707 6010.

• Availability: 11 Sep 10 - 26 Feb 11 Adult Price from £895