Victoria Falls to Gorillas - Itinerary

DAYS 1: Victoria Falls Arrival Day (no meals)
Take advantage of our free airport pickup from Victoria Falls Airport to town. Our campsite is in the center of town, within walking distance of the adventure booking agents, restaurants and shops. A pleasant walk takes you to the entry point to view the falls, between Zimbabwe and Zambia. We have a pre-departure meeting in the evening.

DAYS 2: Victoria Falls (no meals)
Victoria Falls. When the river is in full flow, the falling water causes a huge roar and sends a cloud of spray up to 500 metres into the air. We stay beside Victoria Falls in Victoria Falls town, there is a lot to see and do. Adventure activities abound - you can bungee jump, white water raft, and go game-viewing on horseback or walking with lions. More sedate excursions include canoeing, light aircraft or helicopter flights over the Falls and the sunset cruise on the Zambezi. Though the Falls themselves are the main attraction, you can walk in the rainforest along the cliff opposite for an excellent view.Victoria Falls – Mosi-oa-Tunya – Smoke that Thunders. So named by Dr Livingstone on his explorations, is one of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World.  At 1,700 metres wide and 100 metres high, it is the largest sheet of falling water in the world. After our adventure activities, relax at the camps swimming pool, and looking at the Falls.
Included Activity: Entrance to Victoria Falls Optional Activities - Bungee jump from the Victoria Falls Bridge, abseil down the Gorge. Fly over the Falls. Whitewater raft down the Zambezi. You can float serenely down the river deep below the cliff topped gorge

DAY 3: Victoria Falls to Chobe National Park, Botswana (B/L/D)
Westwards, leaving  Zimbabwe to Botswana to Kasane and Chobe National Park. In Chobe National Park you can take an overnight game drive; a wild experience - excellent game viewing.
Included Activity: Chobe National Park overnight game trip

DAY 4: Chobe, Botswana to Livingstone, Zambia (B/D)
We cross the Zambezi River by ferry into Zambia to Livingstone where we arrive at Victoria Falls
Optional Activity: Sunset Boat Cruise

DAY 5: Livingstone to Lusaka (B/L/D)
We head north through sugar plantations to the capital Lusaka.

DAY 6-7: Lusaka to South Luangwa National Park (B/L/D)
Along the Great East Road to Chipata, a full day’s drive and South Luangwa National Park on the Luangwa River is well worth the visit. Recent trips have seen:- elephants, giraffe, wild dogs, leopards, lions, and buffalo. We camp just beside the park and we game drive into the park. 
Included Activity: South Luangwa National Park

DAYS 8-10: Chipata to Lake Malawi Beaches, Malawi (B/L/D)
We cross into Malawi with a stunning drive to Lake Malawi, past the lake shore to Kande Beach Resort. Kande Beach Resort A full day on the beach to do as little or as much as you want. Loads of things to do - scuba diving, horse riding, canoeing, sailing, snorkelling. A short drive up the lakeshore to Chitimba Beach, on the base of Livingstonia Escarpment.

At night, you’ll see the lights of the fishermen out on the lake. The various beachside campsites along Lake Malawi’s shores offer many optional Excursions including a variety of water sports, horseback rides and a visit to the local village and school

DAY 11: Lake Malawi to Iringa, Tanzania (B/L/D)
An early start to get to the border with Tanzania and head up to Iringa and the Farmhouse Campsite.

DAY 12: Iringa to the Indian Ocean Coast and Dar es Salaam (B/L/D)
The highway takes us through Mikumi National Park, famous for its pygmy elephants, and buffalo beside the main road. The day ends at either Mikumi or Dar es Salaam on a beach with the Indian Ocean lapping the shore.

DAY 13: Dar es Salaam to Ferry to Zanzibar (B)
From Dar es Salaam we take the ferry to Zanzibar and the old stone capital of the Omani Sultanate. Sandy beaches, spice tours, snorkelling, diving and trips to other nearby islands. Zanzibar is a fascinating place to visit and to take it all in. Over a thousand years trade between Africa and Arabia has resulted in the blending of Arabs and Africans into a beautiful Swahili coastal culture with; wooden sailing dhows crossing the ocean, coconut plantations and fishing villages with mosques on the beaches. Nungwe beach resort on the north of the island has the most beautiful beaches.
Included Activity: Zanzibar Excursion, Spice Tour & Dhow Excursion

DAYS 14-15: Zanzibar (No Meals)
You get your own meals while in Zanzibar, as people like to experience here on their own or in small groups and within their own budget. Our tour leader joins you and will arrange your activities, while meals can be taken from a wide choice of restaurants to suit any budget. There are also many optional excursions. 
Stone Town in Zanzibar Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the old slave market, the spice growing areas, Jozani Forest with Red Colobus Monkeys and in the evening the seafood cafes on the wharf side.

DAY 16: Zanzibar by ferry to Dar es Salaam (No Meals)
Return by ferry to Dar es Salaam on the mainland, for another night on our beach campsite; late afternoon, or early evening.
Included Activity: Zanzibar ferry to Dar

Day 17: Dar Es Salaam towards Arusha (B/L/D)
We travel north towards Arusha and camp on route, on the Pangani River. Skirting the base of snowy Mount Kilimanjaro to Arusha, Tanzania’s safari capital

DAY 18: towards Arusha, Tanzania (B/L/D)
We arriving in Arusha late in the day. The country we pass through is sparsely inhabited grassland savannah, inhabited by the Masai. Tonight, we stay in a lovely campsite in Meserani, 20 km to the west of Arusha. Visit the Reptile Rescue Park and Masai Cultural Museum by the campsite, and an art gallery selling the strongly coloured Tingatinga paintings.

DAY 19: Arusha to Karatu - Serengeti & Ngorongoro Crater (B/L/D)
100 km to the west, we visit the Serengeti National Park & Ngorongoro Crater. We meet our Tanzanian guides with their locally operated 4WD vehicles adapted for safari use They allow excellent viewing through the opening roof hatches. The trip is camping, away for three days and two nights. One of these nights will be inside the park in the parks amidst the animals. If you choose not to visit the park you can wander the markets in Arusha town.

In our 4x4's we cross the Rift Valley to Mtu wa Mbu (Mosquito River) and then up the Rift Valley Escarpment to the safari town of Karatu to spend the evening at a campsite.
Included Activity: Serengeti & Ngorongoro

Day 20: Ngorongoro Crater & Serengeti  (B/L/D)
An early start to Ngorongoro Crater the largest unbroken caldera (collapsed volcano) in the world. Inside is open grassland and a lot of animals. After our game drive in the Crater, we head down the Crater rim and past the Cradle of Mankind, on our way to the Serengeti National Park. We cross the vast plains as we game drive through the southern and central areas in the park. Tonight, we camp in the wild. with no fences between us and the animals - who live as they have for millennia.  

DAY 21: Serengeti National Park to Arusha (B/L/D)
In the morning, we head off for another game drive and explore the park. After our morning drive, we return via the  Crater rim to our safari truck near Arusha. Then drinks at the bar, to talk about the big 5.

DAY 22: Arusha to Nairobi, Kenya (B)
From Arusha we head north across Masai country to Namanga; the border of Kenya, and across the plains to Nairobi and our campsite on the outskirts of the city. The rest of the day is yours at leisure to visit the Langata Giraffe Centre and see the baby elephants at Sheldrick's Elephant sanctuary, where you can view the orphaned baby elephants at feeding time.

DAY 23: Nairobi to Masai Mara (L/D)
Leaving Nairobi we stop at the Rift Valley scenic lookout its 8,000 feet high and overlooks Mount Longonot and Lake Naivasha.  We head south to Narok and on to Masai Mara National Reserve; camping on the edge of the park.

The sweeping plains evoke a picture of East Africa that most people hold in their minds and are rarely disappointed when confronted with the real thing. Great game viewing is assured all year round. The Mara offers us everything, amazing scenery and abundant wildlife including the big five.
Included Activity: Masai Mara Nature Reserve and game drives

DAY 24: Masai Mara (B/L/D)
The sweeping plains evoke a picture of East Africa that most people hold in their minds and are rarely disappointed when confronted with the real thing. Great game viewing is assured all year round. The Mara offers us everything, amazing scenery and abundant wildlife; including the big five.

DAY 25: Masai Mara to Eldoret (B/L/D)
We pass from the dramatic landscape of the Rift Valley to the highlands and spend our first night on the highland route to Eldoret.

DAY 26: Eldoret to Kampala, Uganda (B/L/D)
We enter Uganda; a well run green fertile country, and head on via Jinja on Lake Victoria to Kampala. Its landscapes vary from the fertile green areas around the northern shores of Lake Victoria to the snow-capped Ruwenzori Mountains. Kampala, the capital city is bustling and friendly.

DAYS 27-30: Kampala to Lake Bunyoni (B/L/D)
Stopping for photos as we cross the equator, we continue southwest to Kabale town; gateway to the Mountain Gorilla Reserves. Climbing through lush terraced hills to Kisoro, there are panoramic views of the Ugandan hills on every turn. From the road, we have outlooks over three countries - Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda; Virunga Mountains; Mountains of the Moon, home of the rare Mountain Gorillas.

Trekking to the mountain gorillas; The park rangers monitor the gorillas on a daily basis and know pretty much where they are each day. As the gorillas share much of our DNA, anyone with cold or flu cannot trek. Trekking is also only open to people over 16 years old. Due to the restrictions on the daily numbers of visitors, we depart from our base in Bunyoni in small groups over a few days. Whilst others are searching for the great apes you can; see the local markets, walk to the nearby mountain lakes,  go to Magahinga National Park to hike up a volcano, or go on a guided nature trail.

Dependant on where permits are available, we may spend a night in either Kisoro or in Rwanda. The following morning, after packing our picnic lunch, we transfer to a ranger’s station where the trek commences. Your rangers will lead you through the cultivated lands and villagers of subsistence farmers, into the dense rainforest and on to find a gorilla family.

Trekking can take from one to eight 8 hours walking past the terraced farms into the forests and the hills with the guides sometimes cutting a path through the forest undergrowth. On finding a gorilla family visiting time is just one hour  Watch them, while the ranger guides give you the background of the family you are visiting.

The prices of trekking permits fluctuate and may change.  There is a local transport & handling fee which covers the return public transfer and the Wildlife Authority’s booking fee. We normally visit the gorillas in Uganda, but depending on conditions, we may see them in Rwanda.
Optional excursion Gorilla Trekking

Day 31:  Lake Bunyoni to Kampala (B/L/D)
We return from the Mountain Gorillas to cross the Equator for the second time and stop for the classic - one foot in each hemisphere photo opportunity. We spend the night in Kampala, and have the opportunity to try its nightlife.

Day 32: Kampala to Jinja (B/L/D)
Crossing the Owen Falls dam we arrive at Jinja on the shores of Lake Victoria. Our campsite for the next few days above Bujagali Falls is a welcome break from travelling; we can have a lazy afternoon to put up our tents on the grassy terraces overlooking the Nile River. - You can spend an action-filled day white water rafting down the Nile. As well as grade 5 rapids this river has a lot of bird and wildlife to view while drifting between the rapids. The rafting is rounded off with a sunset BBQ and drinks, then back to camp to re-live it on video. There are no shortages of other activities in Jinja; quad biking, bungee jump, fish on Lake Victoria, take a guided village walk or give up a day of your holiday to volunteer for the local community education project.

Day 33:  Jinja to Nakuru, Kenya (B/L/D)
Leaving Uganda, we head back into Kenya, stopping for lunch and stocking up with supplies on the way. We camp near Nakuru at a campsite on a local farm. Nakuru is Kenya’s fourth largest town and sits in the Rift Valley, beside Lake Nakuru National Park.

Day 34: Lake Nakuru National Park (B/L/D)
At Lake Nakuru, viewing game in a park; famous for its soda lake surrounded by thousands, sometimes millions of pink flamingos. The park is home to over 400 species of bird, and we should spot leopard or black and white rhino among the zebra, waterbuck, impala, giraffe and tree climbing lions. Leaving the park we return to our camp.
Included Activity: Lake Nakuru National Park

Day 35: Lake Nakuru to Lake Naivasha (B/L/D)
To Naivasha, we camp beside the lake. Close by is Hell's Gate National Park where you can hire bikes to take you around the park and see the herds of zebra, buffalo and antelope. You can also wander in the predator free reserve amongst African game. There is spectacular scenery here; red cliffs, grassy plains and rock towers made of hardened lava and the remains of ancient volcanoes.  

By the lake is Elsamere; home of Joy Adamson and Elsa the lion of 'Born Free' fame. Elsamere is now the centre of the Born Free Foundation and you can find out more about their work and take afternoon tea in the gardens. Lake Naivasha, camping under the fever trees on the shore of Lake Naivasha, with hippos grazing on the shore in the evening

Day 36: Lake Naivasha to Nairobi (B)
We climb out of the Rift Valley, hopefully with a mist free view of the valley below from the escarpment. We return to Nairobi, arriving by early in the afternoon.