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A close up of a gorilla sitting chewing a leaf in the Bwindi National Park

Home > Tour > Gorillas & Game Parks - Intrepid

GORILLAS & GAME PARKS - INTREPID

From €2,850pp | 16 days / 15 nights | Kenya

OVERVIEW
Gorillas & Game Parks - Intrepid

Guided Small Group Adventure Tour

16 days / 15 nights | Kenya

A close encounter with gentle giants on a gorilla safari in Uganda is an extraordinary experience that will always stay with you. On this 16-day overland African camping adventure, you’ll roam the verdant plains, rainforests, papyrus-fringed lakes and acacia woodlands of Kenya and Uganda’s game parks, from Queen Elizabeth National Park to the Maasai Mara Reserve. Spot lions, rhinos, antelopes, hippos, leopards and more in their natural habitats. If you’re looking for a trip that has it all when it comes to African wildlife, this is the trip for you! Take an adventure with a knowledgeable local leader and get the best chance to spot the Big Five, the Small Five, the Ugly Five and all your favourites from the Lion King!

Tour Route Map
PRICE & INCLUSIONS
Guide Price
€2,850pp

* We negotiate new offers daily, from discounted flights, tours and vehicle hire, to free upgrades, added value and unique inclusions.

What's Included
  • included

    Camping (with facilities) (13 nights), Hotel (1 night), Hotel with shared facilities (1 night)

  • included

    15 breakfasts, 11 lunches & 14 dinners

  • excluded

    International Flights

ITINERARY
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Day 1 - Nairobi
Jambo! Welcome to Kenya. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm in Nairobi. If you arrive early, why not head out and soak up the cosmopolitan atmosphere of the city. There are plenty of good bars and restaurants, as well as markets and shops packed with arts and crafts from the region. After the meeting tonight, maybe join your new travel companions for a welcome dinner and get to know each other.

Day 2 - Lake Nakuru National Park
Take in the spectacular views of the Rift Valley, Lake Naivasha and Elementaita on the drive north-west to Lake Nakuru National Park – situated in the heart of the Great Rift Valley. You’ll arrive in time for a short evening game drive along the shore of the lake. Lake Nakuru National Park is a small and compact area based around a lake that makes a great location for spotting wildlife. Along with the other members of the Big Five, Lake Nakuru is home to many rhinos and will therefore be the best chance to get a snap of these magnificent beasts.

Day 3 - Eldoret
Rise early, have some breakfast, break up camp and head out on an overland game drive as you leave the park. Eat lunch at the gate before driving northwest to Eldoret – one of Kenya's fastest-growing cities. Tonight, enjoy a traditional dinner at your campsite located just outside Eldoret.

Day 4 - Kampala
Today, you’ll leave Kenya behind and cross the border into landlocked Uganda, travelling on to its capital city, Kampala. With a population of over 45 million, Uganda is a country of great cultural diversity and is one of the five countries that make up the East African Community. As today is a long travel day, take a break from setting up camp with a stay at a hotel tonight. After your long drive, sit down for a dinner prepared by the hotel before settling in for a good night’s rest.

Day 5 - Queen Elizabeth National Park
Travel to Queen Elizabeth National Park today. On arrival, look out for elephants, buffalo, Ugandan kobs and waterbucks on an overland vehicle game drive before making your way to camp. This evening there's an option to take a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel – well-known for pelicans, eagles and other birdlife, as well as a healthy population of hippos.

Day 6 - Kalinzu Forest
This morning, enjoy a second leisurely overland vehicle game drive through Queen Elizabeth National Park before the short drive to Kalinzu Forest National Park. Some of its inhabitants include chimpanzees, black and white colobuses, baboons, red-tailed monkeys, both blue and red duikers, bushbucks, waterbucks, giant forest hogs, buffalo and elephants. You'll have the option to trek to spot the chimpanzees of Kalinzu Forest. More closely related to humans than any other living creature, the chimpanzees are a delight to watch as they squabble and play in fruiting trees. You can also choose to soak in the sounds of the forest from the comfort of your tent.

Day 7 - Kisoro
This morning, make your way to the southwest tip of Uganda, where the border touches Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. You’ll spend the night in Kisoro at a camp on the shore of Lake Mutanda, with views of the Virunga Mountain range. Tonight, relax and soak up the views, go for a swim off the small dock or go hunting for a glimpse of local weaver bird nests and African clawless otters.

Day 8 - Gorilla Trek
Joined by a local ranger and gorilla trackers, you’ll climb through the rugged mountain terrain of Bwindi (translating to ‘dark’) Impenetrable National Park for the rare and exciting opportunity to encounter the gorilla families that live here. No more than eight people per day can visit any one habituated family and visits are strictly controlled to minimise disturbance. The terrain here can be quite strenuous, but the sheer thrill of coming across a group of gorillas dominated by a great male silverback more than outweighs the difficulty. Watch them eat, sleep, groom and play as the giant silverback surveys the scene and the smaller ones laze in the trees or play and be struck by the similarities between gorillas and humans.

Day 9 - Gorilla Trek
If you didn’t get to complete your gorilla visit yesterday, you’ll head out today. With your free day, your leader will provide you with options and ideas on how you can spend your time in the area around Kisoro. You can head out on more rainforest hikes to see monkeys, take some nature walks, or perhaps take a day excursion over the border to Rwanda to visit the genocide memorial, art museum and Nyamirambo women’s center. However, please ensure you have a Rwanda or East Africa visa.

Day 10 - Mbarara
This morning, you’ll turn back towards the capital of Kampala and embark on a bit of a travel day. You’ll break up the journey at the pit-stop town of Mbarara for the night. There’s not much to do around Mbarara, so tonight’s a great opportunity to recharge, get stuck into a book or relax at the camp.

Day 11 - Jinja
Today you'll continue your journey inland, travelling towards Jinja. The Jinja region is one of the highlights of any visit to Uganda – a riverside retreat at the source of the Nile that’s also the adventure capital of the country. Tonight, you’ll camp at a scenic riverside site and enjoy a good night’s rest ready for tomorrow's adventures.

Day 12 - Jinja
Located at the source of the Nile as it leaves Lake Victoria, Jinja is a place for the adventurer, the adrenaline junkie and the eco-traveller. Enjoy a full free day here to explore at your own pace, with a bunch of optional activities to choose. Maybe get active with some whitewater rafting or float along the river on a kayak. You can also opt for a boat cruise to the source of the Nile, to enjoy the river from a new perspective.

Day 13 - Kericho
Farewell Uganda and begin the journey back to Kenya and Nairobi, stopping overnight at the town of Kericho – one of Kenya’s most popular towns due to its tranquil surroundings, blanketed by thick tea plantations and evergreens. Sitting at the edge of the South-Western Mau National Reserve and is known for its vast tea estates. When you arrive, visit a tea plantation and learn about the tea farming process from the locals themselves.

Day 14 - Maasai Mara National Reserve
This morning, drive to the famous Maasai Mara National Park. Stop in Loita Hills on the way, home of the traditional Maasai people, and visit Tepesua Village. You’ll be welcomed by Maasai warriors through traditional song and dance. Meet your Maasai hosts and listen to a talk full of insights into the remarkable ancient culture. The Tepesua Community was formed with the aim of promoting education, empowering women (including widows and vulnerable women in the community) as well as promoting community development. There are multiple projects that aim to educate boys and girls and support women’s development and empowerment, focusing especially on the village mamaas (widows). Learn how the community creates job opportunities for the youths in the village and meet the women who make eco-friendly handbags and backpacks to sell to visiting travellers and locals. Travel on to the Maasai Mara – with sparse open plains, dramatic skies and the world's most iconic animals living within its boundaries, this is the quintessential African experience. Explore this diverse environment and view a multitude of wildlife on an early evening 4WD game drive with expert local driver guides.

Day 15 - Maasai Mara National Reserve
This morning, you’ll venture into the Maasai Mara National Reserve with expert local driver guides for a day-long 4WD safari. You'll explore this diverse environment and most likely see a multitude of wildlife. You also have the option to take a balloon safari over the Mara at sunrise. If you’ve booked this activity, you’ll be picked up before dawn and driven to the launch site for a safety briefing from your pilot. You’ll then glide through the skies, sometimes at tree height, for some amazing photo opportunities. After landing, you'll be treated to a bush breakfast before meeting up with the rest of the group.

Day 16 - Nairobi
Return to the bustling metropolis of Nairobi today. When you arrive, you'll be dropped off at your finishing point hotel, where your trip ends. If you'd like to extend your stay, just speak to your booking agent.

FLIGHTS
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Flights

As we can offer you such a flexible choice of flights, we don't include international airfares with our tour prices. The price you pay will be determined by the time of year you travel, your departure airport, airline and availability.

Your Trailfinders Travel Consultant will be able to find the best flights to suit you and your choice of tour.

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What visas (if any) will I need?

We will advise entry requirements for any destination/countries booked through Trailfinders and this will be shown on the ViewTrail app. For information and assistance with entry requirements and travel visas, our team of visa experts offer fast and friendly service. Take a look at our visa pages, email visas-ireland@trailfinders.com or call on 01 881 4949 for more information.
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Where can I get government advice about travelling abroad?

For advice about travelling abroad, including the latest information on safety and security, entry requirements, local laws, travel warnings and more, visit the DFA's Travel Advice page.
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What vaccinations will I need?

This depends on where you are heading. For all the latest information on health risks and vaccinations you require for your trip, visit the DFA's Travel Insurance & Health page.
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What different travel styles do you offer?

  • Travel Pass: Explore at your own pace, with unbeatable flexibility. Our travel passes are a fun and budget-friendly way to explore a destination!
  • Small Group: Travel with a small and sociable group of like-minded travellers, with an expert guide to take care of all the details so you can focus on the fun.
  • Group: Don’t fancy going it alone? Join a sociable group tour for young travellers. Led by knowledgeable local leaders, these tours give you the chance to meet new people, see new places and have exciting new experiences.
  • Local Add on: Bring a destination to life with our selection of exciting local experiences.
  • Hostel Pass: Whether you’re backpacking in Australia or interrailing in Europe, Trailfinders recommends using Hostelworld.com for your accommodation – it’s a fast and easy booking system with over 16,000 hostels in 180 countries to choose from.
  • Working Holiday: Forget ‘living like a local’ and actually become a local! Working abroad is by far the best way to really get to know a place, to make new friends and fund more travelling. We have arrival packs in Australia and New Zealand to get you started.
  • Gap Year: The ultimate post-uni or career break! Spend up to a year travelling, embarking on exciting new experiences, meeting new people, making new memories, and having the time of your life!
  • Mini Gap: Wanting to travel but can’t stretch your time or budget to a full gap year? Our selection of Mini Gap’s are just what you need!
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