The tour begins in Kenya's bustling capital, Nairobi.
We've organised a day filled with diverse experiences to give you a varied start to your tour.
Kenyan coffee is renowned worldwide, and you'll start with a visit to one of the country's famous coffee farms located just on the outskirts of the city. After lunch at a 'hip' street-food market in downtown Nairobi, you'll visit Nairobi National Park, where we can almost guarantee you'll see rhinos.
After a wonderful day of both city and nature experiences, the journey continues to Amboseli National Park. Here, you'll spend two nights with views of Kilimanjaro. The days are spent on safari in the national park, where you can see elephants, lions, buffaloes, zebras, and many other fascinating animals.
From Kenya, you will continue to Uganda and the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, one of the few places in the world where you can come face-to-face with wild mountain gorillas. The gorilla permit is, of course, included in the tour price.
The tour concludes in Lake Mburo National Park. This small national park is one of the only places in Uganda where you can go on both evening and guided walking safaris.
Today you will fly towards Kenya, with connecting flights along the way.
Upon arriving in Nairobi, you will be met at the airport by our local partner. You’ll be transferred to your hotel, where you’ll stay for two nights.
Depending on your arrival time, you have the option today to book an additional excursion if time allows. Alternatively, you may wish to simply relax after your journey, preparing for the experiences of tomorrow.
Most travellers to Kenya spend only one night in Nairobi – if at all. And it’s a shame because the city offers many exciting attractions that provide a wonderful introduction to Kenya.
Today we’ve curated a day of thrilling experiences in and around Nairobi, giving you not only an introduction to the city but also a taste of the safari adventures to come.
After breakfast, you’ll be picked up and head towards the Kiambu area, about a half-hour drive from Nairobi’s bustling centre. Here, the coffee plantations enjoy the fertile soil found around the Great Rift Valley. You’ll be given a tour of one of the region’s renowned coffee plantations, walking amongst the coffee plants, learning about the different bean varieties, how they’re planted and harvested, and seeing the roasting process. Naturally, there’s also a coffee tasting session, where you’ll learn just how much roasting affects the flavour. It’s both a fascinating and educational start to the day.
From the coffee fields, the journey heads back to the city centre. You’ll have lunch at the trendy Nairobi Street Kitchen, a charming and modern street food market in the heart of the bustling metropolis. It offers an excellent selection of street food stalls, cosy dining spots, and a few charming little souvenir shops where local artists can sell their creations.
The final stop on today’s “tour-de-Nairobi” is the renowned Nairobi National Park. The highlight here is the fantastic chance to see both black and white rhinos, and you may also spot your tour’s first lions, giraffes, zebras, and more. The only thing you won’t see here in the national park are elephants.
By late afternoon, you’ll return to the hotel after a day filled with exciting and diverse activities.
After yesterday’s introduction to both the city and safari, it’s time to head to one of Kenya’s smallest – but in our opinion, best – national parks, Amboseli National Park.
The wildlife is incredible, and the stunning views towards Kilimanjaro are unparalleled anywhere else.
Already this afternoon, you’ll embark on your first game drive in Amboseli. At midday, Kilimanjaro is often cloaked in clouds, but in the late afternoon, the cloud cover usually clears, allowing for fantastic photos of elephants heading towards the forests at the mountain’s base, where they spend the night. Amboseli is particularly famous for its large elephant herds, many of which have impressively large tusks.
By the end of the day, you’re back at the lodge, where dinner awaits.
Look forward to a full day of game drives in the national park. If you didn’t see the numerous elephants yesterday, you’ll have another chance today.
The sparse vegetation in Amboseli makes it easier to spot the wildlife, and besides elephants, you’ll see plenty of zebras, antelopes, giraffes – and most likely lions as well.
If you’re a bird enthusiast, Amboseli won’t disappoint you either, as parts of the park remain swamp areas almost year-round, attracting a variety of bird species.
You’ve got a packed lunch today, so the entire day can be spent in Amboseli National Park.
If you feel like it, you can start the day in the most magical way: with a sunrise balloon ride overlooking Kilimanjaro. Alternatively, you can enjoy a peaceful morning with views of Kilimanjaro before heading back towards Nairobi later in the morning.
The afternoon is yours to enjoy in Nairobi. You can choose to relax at the hotel or opt for an extra excursion if you haven’t finished exploring Nairobi the other day.
You’ll have a single overnight stay in Nairobi.
In good time before departure, you’ll be picked up from the hotel and driven to the airport in Nairobi. From here, you’ll fly to Entebbe in Uganda. Upon arrival, our local partner will greet you and drive you to your hotel in Entebbe, where you’ll have a single overnight stay.
Today, you will drive to the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. The journey takes you through beautiful landscapes and local villages, so although the trip lasts most of the day, there’s plenty to take in.
There’s time for lunch along the way, and you’ll arrive at your lodge late in the day. The lodge you stay at depends on where you can obtain a gorilla permit.
Today you’ll embark on a trek in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park in search of mountain gorillas. Almost half of the world’s remaining wild mountain gorillas are found in Uganda, including here in Bwindi.
You’ll need to rise early today, and we recommend starting the day with a hearty breakfast before driving to the park’s headquarters. You’ll need energy and a reasonable level of fitness to make the most of today’s experience. It’s not predetermined which group of mountain gorillas you’ll visit, so it’s uncertain how far you’ll need to walk to find “your” group.
While you’re being registered and briefed on how the trek will proceed, local scouts are sent out to look for the gorillas, so you don’t have to scour the entire forest to find them. Thanks to the scouts, the chances of actually seeing a group of gorillas are very good.
From the rangers’ headquarters, you will venture out with guides through thick vines and undergrowth in search of the gorillas. The densely forested landscape is incredibly lush but crisscrossed by numerous animal trails that aid access. Remember to enjoy your trek through the forest and keep an eye out for other animals and birds.
When you reach “your” family, you’ll have an hour with the troop. You mustn’t get too close to them, but it’s not uncommon for the gorillas to approach you – and if they do, it’s important to remain completely still. They are harmless, but can be quite large, strong, and heavy! It’s truly amazing to sit right next to these gentle giants, observing and photographing them while listening to them grunt and mutter to each other. It’s an extraordinary feeling to be in the company of these beautiful yet endangered creatures.
When your visit to the gorillas is finished, you’ll trek back through the forest and drive back to the lodge. The rest of the day is yours to absorb the experience and review your camera for those great shots.
It’s time to bid farewell to Bwindi. The journey continues eastward to Lake Mburo National Park. It is Uganda’s second smallest park at just 260 square kilometres, but it’s a true gem with beautiful scenery and abundant wildlife. You’ll have a packed lunch to enjoy along the way.
In the evening, an evening safari awaits. It’s one of the only places in Uganda where this is possible, and naturally, the focus is on the nocturnal animals.
Lake Mburo National Park is one of the few national parks in Uganda where you can go on a walking safari, and this is naturally included in today’s experiences. It’s a completely different way to go on safari, focusing more on tracks, scents, and plants rather than getting up close to the animals. However, there is a good chance you’ll also see some wildlife – for example, you’re often quite close to the zebras on the walk.
From Lake Mburo, the journey takes you back to Entebbe, where there’s an opportunity to freshen up and change clothes before dining with the guide. You’ll be driven to the airport when it’s time to begin the journey home.
You will arrive at your chosen airport after an adventurous tour in East Africa.
Children under 12 years from £3509
Single room supplement from £989
Catriona is passionate about helping other people fulfill their travel dreams, as she knows how much travel has only improved her life for the better!
