American breakfast (B) daily, 12 lunches (L), and 12 dinners (D); services of experienced driver/guides in each destination in Kenya; private safari vehicle and experienced driver/guide throughout Uganda; sightseeing and game drives as outlined in the day-by-day itinerary (inside visits and special features are shown in UPPERCASE).
Itinerary:
Day #1 Arrive in Nairobi, Kenya. Welcome to Africa! Hotel rooms are available for mid-afternoon check-in.
Day #2 Nairobi–Amboseli National Park Area. Take a short flight to AMBOSELI NATIONAL PARK. Enjoy a GAME DRIVE this afternoon. (B,L,D)
Day #3 Amboseli. Today features MORNING AND AFTERNOON GAME DRIVES. Be sure to watch for Cape buffalo, zebra, wild dog, and other animals. (B,L,D)
Day #4 Amboseli–Samburu National Reserve Area. Today, fly to SAMBURU NATIONAL RESERVE, home to a diverse population of animals. Enjoy a GAME DRIVE this afternoon where you have the chance to see animals unique to this part of Kenya. These animals are referred to as the Samburu “Special 5” and consist of the Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, Somali ostrich, Beisa oryx, and the gerenuk, a long-necked antelope that feeds while standing on its hind feet. (B,L,D)
Day #5 Samburu. Today, enjoy MORNING AND AFTERNOON GAME DRIVES. You have a great chance to see the mighty Nile crocodile and lions along the Ewaso Ng’iro River. The park is also home to cheetah, leopard, and over 300 species of birds, so keep your cameras ready! Between game drives, take advantage of leisure time to relax. (B,L,D)
Day #6 Samburu–Maasai Mara National Reserve Area. Today, fly south to the famed MAASAI MARA NATIONAL RESERVE, Kenya’s most famous game area. The Maasai Mara is part of the Serengeti ecosystem and boasts a strong permanent population of game. During the months of July and August, the Great Migration of zebra, gazelle, and wildebeest enlarges the population by almost 2 million. This provides a great food source for predators such as lion, cheetah, leopard, and hyena. Enjoy a GAME DRIVE before settling in for the evening. (B,L,D)
Day #7 Maasai Mara. Enjoy MORNING AND AFTERNOON GAME DRIVES both days. Keep your eyes out for elephant, rhino, Cape buffalo, gazelle, and many others. (B,L,D daily)
Day #8 Maasai Mara. Enjoy MORNING AND AFTERNOON GAME DRIVES both days. Keep your eyes out for elephant, rhino, Cape buffalo, gazelle, and many others. (B,L,D daily)
Day #9 Maasai Mara–Nairobi. Fly back to Nairobi this morning. Overnight at the Ole Sereni Hotel close to the airport. (B,L)
Day #10 Nairobi–Kibale Forest National Park Area, Uganda. Rise early this morning for your flight to KIBALE FOREST NATIONAL PARK AREA via Entebbe. At Entebbe, a Local Host will meet you to assist in transferring between flights. Upon arrival near Kibale, transfer to your lodge and enjoy some time at leisure before dinner this evening. (B,D)
Day #11 Kibale. This morning, visit Kibale Forest National Park for a HALF-DAY CHIMP TREK. You have a good chance of seeing chimpanzee along with several other primate species, including the rare red colobus monkey, grey-cheeked mangabey, and bush babies. Other animals you may see along the way include leopard, buffalo, giant forest hog, and rare forest elephant. After lunch at your lodge, go on a walk through BIGODI SWAMP for a glimpse of rare and beautiful flora and fauna. Return to your lodge for dinner. (B,L,D)
Day #12 Kibale–Queen Elizabeth National Park. Today, drive to QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK. After lunch, enjoy a bit of free time before your late afternoon WATER SAFARI on the Kazinga Channel, including drinks and hors d’oeuvres. Along the way see hippo, elephant, and massive Nile crocodile. (B,L,D)
Day #13 Queen Elizabeth–Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Rise early for a GAME DRIVE and a chance to see lion, leopard, waterbuck, and more. Return to your lodge for breakfast. Afterward, depart for BWINDI IMPENETRABLE FOREST with a picnic lunch. Arrive at your lodge with time to spare before dinner this evening. (B,L,D)
Day #14 Bwindi. Today is set aside for GORILLA TREKK ING, a truly memorable experience. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to almost half of the world’s population of mountain gorillas. With an experienced guide, you will trek through the forest in search of one of the “habituated” family groups. This process takes several years of dedicated work before gorillas will allow people to get close to them. Finding the gorillas can take a few minutes or several hours but once they are located, you are allowed a maximum of one hour with them. (B,L,D)NOTE: The forest terrain is difficult—and often wet—with steep slopes and dense vegetation, so a certain level of physical fitness is required. Also, there are a limited number of permits issued on a daily basis, so booking early is recommended.
Day #15 Bwindi–Entebbe–Homebound Flight. This morning, fly back to Entebbe. Upon arrival, transfer to your day room at the Laico Lake Victoria Hotel. Later, transfer back to Entebbe International Airport for your late-evening flight. Book homebound flights after 3 pm. (B)