East Africa Photography Safaris

• 18 Days-17 Nights-Kenya-Tanzania Best of Cultural Tourism and Wildlife Trail Private Safari
• 17 Days -16 Nights-Kenya Adventure Wildlife Trail Camping Safari
• 14 Days -13 Nights-Kenya Adventure Game Viewing Safari
• 10 Days-9 Nights-Kenya-Uganda Adventurous Wildlife Trail and Gorilla Trecking Safari

Tour Features: This is an eighteen days road safari with lodge and tented camp accommodations which will enable you to have the greatest chance to view a package of the Tanzania richest communities and wildlife as well as sites. The tour starts in Nairobi where you will start your travel by road using shuttle bus and on arrival in Arusha in Tanzania you will change to 4x4 wheel drive. At the end of the trip, you will return to Nairobi by shuttle bus. Serengeti National park in Tanzania is recognized as world famous wildlife sanctuary and has the mast spectacular concentration of game with the spectacular wildebeest migration taking place with the animals moving from Serengeti to Mara. Ngorongoro is a place with unique blend of wildlife, human culture and prehistory. Lake Manyara is tucked away below the majestic rift valley wall,just but a few to mention and all these places having something unique to offer. In all these parks you will have a chance to sight the big five among other animals and birds. Your private safari starts from Arusha from where you will travel alone in a 4x4 tour vehicle. Costs are indicated below.

Itinerary:

Day 1: Arrival - Nairobi:
On arrival at the Jommo Kenyatta International Airport you will be met by our tour manager who will brief you on your safari and thereafter you will be transffered to your Nairobi hotel where you will rest for the night as you prepare to depart for Arusha town the next day. Dinner and overnight stay at Serena Hotel.

Day 2:Nairobi-Arusha;
After breakfast at your Nairobi hotel depart for Arusha town by shuttle bus via Namanga border town for immigration formalities and arrive in time for lunch.After Lunch, you will be taken for a tour of Arusha town till evening. All meals and overnight stay at Impala Hotel.

Day 3:Arusha-Ikiding a Village Visit ;
After breakfast you will depart for Ikiding a village which lies7km north of Arusha town and is a 20 minute drive.Walking is also possible but will take 2 hours to reach the starting point of the tour.You will enjoy a full day tour in the village and get the opportunity to enjoy a traditional meal at the Mainyoito womens group during lunch time.

The village of Ikidinga lies at the foot of Mt. Meru,where the sounds or rivers,birds and people are in harmony.It offers a view into the culture of the Wa-arusha tribe.While at the village you will get to experience a trail through the fields,a visit to Sembeo's Boma and crossing the Ngarenaro river to reach Leloto viewpoint where you will head to the Maasai Craftsmen Group and discover their culture as well.

Dinner and overnight stay at Impala hotel.

Day 4:Arusha-Ilkurot Village;
After breakfast you will depart for Ilkurot village by shuttle bus which is situated about 20km west of Arusha town.You will enjoy a full day tour in the village where you will be able to visit the market and a Maasai womens' handicraft group that makes ornaments from beads and natural products.At Lunch time you will enjoy a traditional Maasai delicacy prepared by the Maasai women that includes nyama choma or barbequed meat,green vegetables,herbal tea,coffee,fresh milk,cassava,sweet potato,bread,eggs and fruits.

A visit to the Ilkurot village will expose you to watching Maasai dances,groups of artisans and their handicrafts,traditional healers and bee keepers.A visit to a Maasai holy tree where the Maasai offer sacrifices as part of rituals and to a Maasai boma to see the traditional houses and lifestyle of the maasai will also be very exciting.

Dinner and overnight stay at Impala hotel.

Day 5:Arusha- Arusha National Park;
After breakfast you will take a drive to Arusha National Park and enjoy a full day game drive.Arusha National Park lies in between the peaks of Kilimanjaro and Meru, an outstandingly beautiful area. The Park has a wide range of habitats, from the string of crater lakes, a habitat for birds, through the highland montane forest up to the impressive summit of Mount Meru.

The forests a wide variety of birds and other animals, like the stunning bushbuck easily glimpsed in the glades between the ancient cedar trees, or the black and white colobus monkeys on top of the trees. The interesting geology of the area is reflected in the impressive view of the ash cone and cliff face leading to the summit of Mount Meru. Walk in the park with an armed ranger.

All meals and overnight stay at Ngurdoto Mountain lodge.

Day 6:Arusha National Park -Lake Tarangire National Park;
After breakfast, drive to Tarangire National Park, the third largest national park in Tanzania.Have lunch en-route.

Tarangire National Park covers an area of 2,600 sq km and was established in 1970. The park has numerous baobab trees that will primarily catch your attention. The Park derived its name from the Tarangire River that rises in the highlands of Central Tanzania and winds its way through the game sanctuary. The river beguilingly lures the herds of plains migrants from the desiccated surrounding area to its shrunken - but permanent blackish waters during the dry season.

Dinner and overnight stay at Oliver's Camp or Similar..

Day 7: Lake Tarangire National Park;
After breakfast you will enjoy a full day game drive through the park.

Tarangire National park has an atmosphere of remoteness and has fewer visitors than all the other parks in Tanzania, herons can be seen as well as elephants in large herds, cheetah, jackal, fish eagle, marabou stork and hippos

All meals and overnight stay at Oliver's Camp or Similar.

Day 8: Lake Tarangire National Park-Lake Manyara National Park;
After breakfast, you will go for more game viewing drives before departing after lunch for lake Manyara area. You will arrive ready for dinner at your tented camp.

Dinner and overnight stay at Lake Manyara Lodge or Camp.

Day 9: Lake Manyara National Park;
After breakfast you will spend the whole day taking morning and afternoon game drives through the park.

Lake Manyara covers 330 sq. km, 70% of which is occupied by the lake. Its varied ecosystem consists of ground water forests, acacia woodland, and open savannah grassland along the lakeshores and sustains a wealth of wildlife, including the Big Five -Lion, Elephant, Leopard, and Rhino and Buffalo the Park renowned for its climbing lions with no mane.

All meals and overnight stay at Lake Manyara Lodge or Tented Camp.

Day 10: Lake Manyara - Lake Eyasi;
After your breakfast, have another game viewing drive as you depart from the park. You will have your lunch on picnic.After lunch drive towards Ngorongoro Crater. Divert from your route, driving down a track to the remote Lake Eyasi, one of the Soda Lakes that adorned the Rift Valley. It is also the former lands of the elusive Hadzapi tribe, who you hope to meet up with and learn more about their fascinating culture.

Dinner and overnight stay at Kisima Ngeda Tented Camp or Similar.

Day 11: Lake Eyasi;
After breakfast, you will meet a group of the resident people - the Hadzapi, accompanied by your bushman guide who has knowledge of this group of hunters and gatherers. Return to your campsite for lunch. After lunch have your Afternoon at leisure which would be a good idea to take a walk on the lake shore.

The Hadzapi is hunter-gatherers group of people, also known as Bushmen, who speak a click-based language and move their encampments with the seasonal movements of the wildlife. Learn more about their daily routine and their activities such as hunting, wildlife tracking, making fire and harvesting honey from the bee hives and learn more about their customs and their way of life.

Dinner & overnight stay at Kisima Ngeda Tented Camp or Similar..

Day 12: Lake Eyasi - Serengeti National Park;
After breakfast,carry a picnic lunch and depart for Serengeti National Park via stopping en route at Olduvai Gorge. After a visit of Olduvai Gorge continue driving north game viewing en route to your campsite situated in the Nyarboro Hills in the south west of the Serengeti National Park.

The Olduvai Gorge is the site of Dr. and Mrs. Leakey's discovery of Zinjanthropus bosei. The Gorge was discovered accidentally by a German butterfly collector, Professor Kattwinkle, in 1911, but it was not until 1959 that Dr. Mary Leakey unearthed the Zinjanthropus skull believed to be 1.8 million years old.

Dinner and overnight stay at Seronera Wildlife Lodge or a tented Camp.

Day 13: Serengeti National Park;
After breakfast enjoy the magnificent views across the Serengeti plains and explore the area in your vehicle while driving south, arrive in time for lunch at Ndutu lodge.

The Serengeti National Park is a continuation of the Maasai Mara game reserve in Kenya. It is one of Tanzanian's largest and most famous national parks covering an area of 14,763sq.km the greatest spectacle of annual wildlife migration in the world happens in the two adjoining parks as about a million Wildebeest cross north and south looking for greener pasture. The Serengeti also boasts of its lions and Cheetahs whereas zebras number about 200,000 other animals include giraffes grant and Thomson's gazelle Impalas, elands, warthogs and klipspringers. It is also rich with bird life.

Dinner and overnight at Seronera Wildlife Lodge or a tented Camp.

Day 14:Serengeti National Park- Ndutu Area;
After breakfast have a full day game viewing in Ndutu Area.

The Ndutu area is in southern Serengeti is the best place to be for the annual wildebeest migration. For up to seven months of the year the huge herds remain in and around this area. A striking characteristic of this area is the stunning acacia woodland, which is immediately surrounded by the short grass plains. Within this wooded area is Lake Ndutu one of the Rift Valley's soda lakes. At the height of the wildebeest migration, and when heavy rains have fallen, often lines of wildebeest can be seen crossing the lake. Accompanying the wildebeest are large numbers of zebra and Thomson gazelles. Other animals that you are likely to see in this area are Elephants, lion, cheetah, leopard, buck, hyena, bat eared fox, African wildcat etc., are here all year round. The woodland provides a wonderful habitat for lots of different bird species.

All meals and overnight stay at Seronera Wildlife Lodge or a tented Camp.

Day 15: Ndutu Area - Ngorongoro Conservation Area;
After breakfast, you will drive to Ngorongoro Conservation Area arriving in time for lunch at your lodge or campsite located on the crater rim. After lunch visit an authentic Maasai village (the enkang) in Ngorongoro area.

The Maasai are well known widely for maintaining their culture. They believe that all cattle in the world belong to them, even though some may have temporarily found themselves in the possession of others. Thus, the Maasai are always justified in raiding their non-Maasai neighbors in order to "return" the cattle to the rightful owners. The Maasai have very elaborate rites of passage traditions. Boys are circumcised in their early teens in a ceremony attended by the entire village. The boy who flinches during this procedure brands himself as a coward and disgraces his family. Once circumcised, the young man becomes a member of the warrior class a Moran and must live apart from the village (the Manyatta) with the other warriors. Eventually, at some point in his late teens or early twenties, a Moran is chosen to become a junior elder, earns the right to marry and returns to live in the village. For centuries the Maasai have hunted the lions on both as a test of manhood and to protect their cattle. The lions have learned to recognize the red robes and instinctively keep their distance. This explains why the Maasai love the red. Starting from the head where they cover it with red ochre up to dressing themselves with red stunning attire.

Dinner & overnight stay at Ngorongoro Wildlife Lodge or a tented Camp.

Day 16: Ngorongoro Crater;
After breakfast, descend into the crater for a full day of game viewing. A picnic lunch will be taken on the crater floor.

Ngorongoro crater supports up to 25,000 large mammals. Grazers dominate, for example, the zebras, wildebeest (accounting for almost half the animals), gazelles, buffaloes, elands, hartebeests and wart hogs. There are examples of some grazers and browsers that they find this environment not suitable such as Giraffes, for example, they stay away because there is insufficient food at tree level; topi because they compete directly with wildebeest. Another interesting characteristic of this conservancy is that almost all of the populations of crater elephants are bulls. Breeding herds comprising large numbers of females and their young with a few attendant older males are probably unable to find sufficient quality food in the crater. Ngorongoro has carnivores in quantity, drawn by the large herds of prey. It has probably the densest population of large predators, mainly lions about 100 and more and 400 spotted hyenas, living in eight clans of up to eighty individuals. Both lions and hyenas will scavenge from each other, depending on weight of numbers and lack of enough food

Dinner & overnight stay at Ngorongoro Wildlife Lodge or a tented Camp.

Day 17: Ngorongoro Conservation Area;
After breakfast have walk to Empakaai Crater, the views along the trail downwards to the crater soda lake of Empakaai are spectacular at every point. You will guided by an armed ranger. Look out for buffaloes, bushbucks, blue monkeys and birds such as flamingoes.

All meals and overnight stay at Ngorongoro Wildlife Lodge or a tented Camp.

Day 18: Ngorongoro Conservation Area-Arusha -Nairobi - Departure;
After breakfast drive to Arusha arriving in time for lunch.After lunch you shall then continue to Nairobi using a shuttle bus arriving in the evening at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in time to catch your flight to your next destination.

End of safari.

Package Cost Includes:

- All Park entrance fee
-All Airport transfers
- Full board accommodation on safari
- Service of an English speaking driver guide
- Transport based on a 4x4 with pop up roof for game viewing
- Driver allowances and park fees for vehicle and driver
- Game drives as per the Itinerary
- Government taxes.

Package Cost Excludes:

-Hot air Balloon flight in Serengeti US$ 499 per person extra
- Extras at the lodges i.e. drinks, telephone, laundry etc.
- International flight Fares
- Visa fees of US$ 100 into and out of Tanzania @ US$ 50.
- Departure tax
- Tips to porters and drivers.

Safari features: This is a budget camping adventure which starts from Nairobi and ends in Nairobi. You will be able to visit the 7Th wonder of the World the Maasai Mara Game Reserve,the most popular visited game parks in Kenya and the Spectacular Mombasa city. You will stay in campsites at the various parks and in a hotel in Mombasa.You will travel in a shared minibus together with our driver/guide.

Itinerary:

Day 1: Arrival- Nairobi-Mount Kenya;

On arrival at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport you will be met by our tour manager who will welcome and brief you on your safari.You will then drive to Mount Kenya Safari Club. The Club is built on the equator facing Mount Kenya surrounded by hundreds of acres of magnificent gardens. There is a wide choice of facilities including heated swimming pool, tennis courts, golf course, horse riding, trout fishing, a fully appointed health and beauty club. Your luxury room even has a fireplace and a log fire will lit while you are at dinner. Spend the afternoon enjoying the many facilities at the Club.

Dinner and overnight at Mt Kenya safari lodge.

Day 2: Mount Kenya Safari Club-Sweet Waters;

After breakfast, drive to sweetwaters a paradise in an arid area. Watch the game in an upclose view. Sweetwaters is a paradise to the Maasai given the name sweetwaters as it was a well watered place why their animals came to drink water. Have lunch at sweet water Serena. After lunch visit the adjacent animal sanctuary, the Olpejeta Conservancy where you can only see the chimps in Kenya. The chimps were once captives in their indigenous countries of Burundi, Rwanda and Congo.

Dinner and overnight at Sweetwaters Serena Tented Camps.

Day 3: Sweetwaters-Mount Kenya National Park;

After breakfast drive to Mount Kenya national park passing meandering through the valleys of Nyambene hills and arrive at mountain lodge in good time for lunch. After lunch have view game from the tree lodges balcony and take a nature walk guided by an experience naturalist.

Mt Kenya national park is very different from all others. For one thing, the protected area only starts at a height of 3,300meters above sea level and because of the rough mountain country is unsuitable for a motor safari. For another, although many animals live here (e.g. Elephants, Buffaloes) you do not see many of them except at the water hole by the mountain lodge where particularly at night many animals can be observed. The unique vegetation and fantastic scenery attract mountaineers and botanists who can plunge through mountain forests draped with lianas, bamboo and fields of giant heather before coming to the Alpine moorland, bizarre volcanic formations and finally, the eternal ice and glaziers of the summit region.

Dinner and overnight at Mountain Serena Lodge.

Day 4: Mount Kenya National Park;

After breakfast, have a full day hiking the second highest mountain in Africa. This is an average hiking place for every one. Picnic lunch.

Dinner and overnight at Mountain Serena lodge.

Day 5: Mount Kenya National Park-Samburu;

After breakfast leave for Samburu National Park as you enjoy your last game drive in the Park.You will have Lunch and late afternoon game drive in the Samburu Game Reserve, home to the rare and unusual reticulated giraffe, gerenuk, Gravy’s zebra and beisa Oryx.

Dinner and overnight at Ashnil Samburu camp.

Day 6: Samburu;

A full day of game viewing in the Samburu Game Reserve. Herds of elephant gather at the river to drink while crocodile bask on nearby sandbanks. You may be lucky to spot the very elusive leopard in a nearby acacia tree. Samburu is also an ornithologist's paradise, with numerous species migrating during the northern winter. A visit to the Samburu cultural village can also be arranged.

Samburu national reserve is a wild life haven. Here you will sport Africa's big cats-lions, cheetahs and the elusive leopard. Some animals are unique to this northern Kenya Park; gravy's zebra, reticulated giraffe, kudus and gerenuk. The Ewaso Nyiro River, the boundary with the neighbouring buffalo spring s national reserve, is where the elephants buffalo and other animals species gather for a drink. You will find the scenic semiarid landscape quite dramatic. The reserve is located within the lands of the colorful semi-nomadic Samburu tribesmen.

Dinner and overnight at Ashnil Samburu camp.

Day 7: Samburu-Lake Nakuru;

Breakfast at Samburu and depart for Lake Nakuru , Kenya's greatest bird watchers paradise hosting thousands of pink flamingos and other bird species and an armchair in the Rift Valley Lakes stopping at Thomson Falls ,arriving in Nakuru for lunch. Afternoon game drive.

Dinner and overnight at Lake Nakuru campsite.

Day 8: Lake Nakuru;

Morning and afternoon game viewing in the park moving to the baboon rocks for a spectacular view, see thousands of birds feeding in the alkaline water, look for waterbucks and warthogs as you return to the campsite.

Lake Nakuru is a sea of flaming pink as far as the eye can see. These are the millions of flamingoes seeking for their food in the salty deep green waters of Lake Nakuru. The protected area is primarily for birds of which 400 to 500 species can be found here including cormorants and pelicans. However visitors to be Lake Nakuru may also catch a glimpse of Thomson gazelles, impala, waterbucks, giraffes, buffaloes or even black rhino and leopards.

Dinner and overnight at Lake Nakuru campsite.

Day 9: Lake Nakuru-Maasai Mara;

After breakfast depart for Maasai Mara Game Reserve crossing the loita plains and arriving in time for lunch.Enjoy an afternoon game drive till dusk.

Dinner and overnight at Big time campsite.

Day 10: Maasai Mara;

After breakfast enjoy the sunrise over the open grassland which signals the start of a full day on the game-filled plains; photograph the stately black maned Lion, Cheetah, or Leopard, stocking defenseless herds of Wildebeest and other herbivores.

The Masai Mara is famous for its black maned lions, elephants and buffalo that make three out of the big five though luck is essential for spotting the other two namely parks animal concentration and abundance is second to none. We will cater for a picnic lunch at the hippo pool where with luck you may spot crocodiles basking on the rocks. Numerous plains game including antelopes, wildebeest, zebra, and Maasai giraffe can be seen as well as scavengers like hyena and vulture. In the late afternoon (at an extra cost), go for optional activities like having a nature walk, visiting Maasai villages to see the nomadic lifestyle or swimming in the nearby lodges.

OR Optional Hot Air Balloon Safari (On one of the days)

Take the opportunity to fly over the Mara in a Hot air Balloon provided at an extra cost. The balloon package includes a champagne breakfast in the wild! If you can spare the money, viewing abundant game afloat a balloon is an unforgettable experience.

Dinner and overnight at Big time campsite.

Day 11: Maasai Mara-Amboseli;

After breakfast leave for Amboseli National Park as you enjoy your last game drive in the Park arriving in time for lunch.After lunch enjoy an afternoom game drive into the park till dusk.

Dinner and Overnight at Tortilis campsite.

Day 12: Amboseli;

A cup of coffee or tea and you are ready to set off on your dawn game viewing drive.Wildlife is most active at this time of the day and you can see Mount Kilimanjaro as your photo background. Return to your safari lodge for a late breakfast, and spend the rest of the morning relaxing by the swimming pool. Another game viewing drive this afternoon. Plant your own acacia tree as part of the Amboseli Reforestation project, and receive a special certificate.

Amboseli sits on the lower slopes of mighty Mount Kilimanjaro Africa's highest mountain whose peak lies across the boarder in Tanzania. It is quite an experience to see Kilimanjaro hovering above the clouds in an early morning. The animal pictures arising against the dramatic backdrop of the mountain will thrill the photography enthusiast. Amboseli national park is renowned for its huge elephant herds. You will also see buffalo, black rhinos zebras, wildebeest and other plain animals.

Dinner and overnight at Tortilis campsite.

Day 13: Amboseli-Tsavo West;

After breakfast, drive via Chyullu hills to Tsavo West National Park, arriving in time for lunch. Afternoon game viewing drive and a visit to Mzima Springs; (The source of drinking water for Mombasa).

Dinner and overnight at Ngulia camp.

Day 13: Tsavo West - Tsavo East;

After breakfast, drive to Tsavo East National Park which is renowned for its large numbers of Elephants and the famous Man Eating Lions (during the building of the Kenya / Uganda Railway in 1890). Lunch on arrival. Game viewing drive follows after lunch till dusk.

Dinner and Overnight at Tsavo safari camp.

Day 14: Tsavo East-Mombasa;

After breakfast and your final game drive, proceed to Mombasa for further vacation at the coast.Enjoy a tour of the city of Mombasa which includes a visit to Fort Jesus, Mamba Village or Crocodile farm, "Haller's Park" - a masterpiece in environmental conservation while having lunch en-route.

Dinner and overnight at Serena Beach Hotel.

Day 15: The Mombasa Arabuko-Sokoke Forest Tour;

After breakfast enjoy a tour to Arabuko-Sokoke Forest which is a four hours excursion from your hotel or beach resort ending by mid day before lunch at your hotel. For those less keen on "twitching" and ornithology the forest is also lovely for a walk, and exciting too, considering there is a resident herd of elephant and buffalo!

This forest covers an area of over 400 square kilometers, it is the last large piece of indigenous coastal forest left in Kenya followed by Kakamega Forest in Western Kenya.. It is a key site for the global survival of six bird species and three mammal species.

Dinner and overnight at Serena Beach Hotel.

Day 16: The Mombasa Watamu Marine National Park Tour;

After breakfast visit the Watamu Marine National Park which is possibly the finest Marine National Park in Kenya. The coral gardens are merely 300 metres from the shore and are home to a vast number of fish (over 600 species) and other weird and wonderful sea-creatures.Return to your hotel at for lunch then continue with your excursion at the park in the afternoon.

This is a full day marine excursion sailing in a transparent base boat and a quiet sea to reach the ideal place for snorkeling and admiring the colors of the coral reefs. A white sandy neck in the Indian Ocean.

Dinner and overnight at Serena Beach Hotel.

Day 17: Mombasa-Nairobi;

After Breakfast,depart for Nairobi having lunch en-route and arriving in Nairobi in the evening.You will have dinner at the Carnivore Restaurant before proceeding to the airport for your flight to your next destination.

End of safari.

Package Includes:

- All park entrance fees
- Full board accommodation on safari
- Service of a French speaking driver/guide
- Transport based on a safari minibus with pop up roof for game viewing
- Driver allowances and park fees for vehicle and driver
- Game drives as per the Itinerary
- Government taxes

Package Excludes:

- Extras at the lodges i.e. drinks, telephone, laundry etc.
- International flight
- Departure tax
- Tips to porters and drivers.

Tour features: This is a budget camping adventure which starts from Nairobi and ends in Nairobi. You will be able to visit the 7Th wonder of the World the Maasai Mara Game Reserve,the most popular visited game parks in Kenya and the famous Bwindi impenetratable national park home to the Mountain Gorillas in Uganda where you will discover and interact with the close cousins of man, the Gorillas. This is one of the most adventurous safaris with unforgettable experience.

Itinerary:

Day 1: Nairobi - Maasai Mara;

On arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport Nairobi, you will be met by our tour manager and tour/driver how will brief you on your tour, and then start your journey to Maasai Mara through the flow of Great Rift Valley arriving on time for lunch. Have lunch at Mara Serena lodge. Then afternoon game drives till dusk.

Dinner and overnight at Sopa lodge or Keekorok Lodge.

Day 2:Maasai Mara;

After breakfast, have full game drive in Masaai Mara National Reserve. Drive back to the lodge for your lunch, then afternoon game drive till dusk.

The Maasai Mara , now the 7th wonder of the world and 4th preferred tourist destination in the world is a home to wildlife in such abundance ad variety that it is difficult to imagine The annual migration of the wildebeest and the zebras from the Serengeti in such of water and pasture while being followed on their heels by the predators of the savannah; Lion, cheetah, wild dog, jackal, hyena, and vultures. It hosts over 450 species of animals which includes lions, rhinos, hippos, crocodiles, giraffe, wildebeests, zebras, buffalo, leopard, many kinds of antelopes and elephants.

Dinner and overnight at Sopa lodge or Keekorok Lodge.

Day 3: Maasai Mara;

Sunrise over the open grassland signals the start of a full day on the game-filled plains; photograph the stately black maned Lion, Cheetah, or Leopard, stocking defenseless herds of Wildebeest and other herbivores.

The Masai Mara is famous for its black maned lions, elephants and buffalo that make three out of the big five though luck is essential for spotting the other two namely parks animal concentration and abundance is second to none. We will cater for a picnic lunch at the hippo pool where with luck you may spot crocodiles basking on the rocks. Numerous plains game including antelopes, wildebeest, zebra, and Maasai giraffe can be seen as well as scavengers like hyena and vulture. In the late afternoon (at an extra cost), go for optional activities like having a nature walk, visiting Maasai villages to see the nomadic lifestyle or swimming in the nearby lodges.

OR Optional Hot Air Balloon Safari (On one of the days)

Take the opportunity to fly over the Mara in a Hot air Balloon provided at an extra cost. The balloon package includes a champagne breakfast in the wild! If you can spare the money, viewing abundant game afloat a balloon is an unforgettable experience.

Dinner and overnight at Sopa lodge or Keekorok Lodge.

Day 4: Maasai Mara;

Whole day in Maasai Mara with morning and afternoon game drives.
The Mara offers wildlife i9n such variety and abundance that it is difficulty to believe: over 450 species of animals have been recorded here.

Don't forget your check-list and look out for the lion, rhinos, hippos, crocodiles, giraffe, buffalo, warthogs, hyenas, jackals, wild dogs, leopards, elephant, many kinds of antelopes, birds and shrubs…and of course the wildebeests and zebras-the migration hordes!

Dinner and overnight at Sopa lodge or Keekorok Lodge.

Day 5: Maasai Mara-Nairobi;

Pre breakfast game drive followed by heavy breakfast at the campsite and depart for Nairobi with game viewing en-route as you leave the park. Arrive Nairobi in the afternoon.

Dinner and overnight at Serena Hotel.

Day 6: Nairobi-Entebbe- Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park;

After an early breakfast you will depart your hotel for Jommo Kenyatta International Airport for your trip to Entebbe by air where you will board the Kenya Airways flight.The plane takes off at 09.30 hrs. So you must be at the Airport 2 hours before the departure time.On arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be met by our tour manager who will brief you on your safari then depart from Entebbe by road and head south-West to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. You will have a short stop for photographic opportunity. Another stop for lunch. Your drive will take you through Uganda rolling green hills through the highlands; your road will then head even higher to where you can see the triangular peaks of the Virunga volcanoes of Rwanda and the Congo. We then drop down into a valley, to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, home of the Mountain Gorilla.

Dinner and overnight at Buhoma homestead or Gorilla Forest Camp.

Day 7: Entebbe- Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park;

After breakfast you will set off for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park the home of Mountain Gorillas or Mgahinga national park depending where permits will be available. It is estimated half of the world's surviving population of mountain gorillas -300 live within Bwindi and Mgahinga boundaries. Cross the Equator and continue southwards passing through Ankole grassland, stop for long horned Ankole cattle viewing along the road. The drive is long but enjoyable with lunch stop on the way arriving in the evening.

Bwindi National Park is located in the southwestern part of the country at the edges of Kigezi Highlands once known as Switzerland of Africa before the drop of the Western Rift Valley. Both National Parks offer a dramatic steeply forested landscape and are incredibly dense, but crisscrossed by numerous animal trails allowing access to tourists.

Dinner and overnight at Buhoma homestead or Gorilla Forest Camp.

Day 8: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park-Gorilla Trecking;

Early morning breakfast and head for gorilla trecking with a guide together with
Other tourists group. The trek is strenuous but enjoyable. This is the major tourist attraction in Bwindi. Carry packed lunch with you have it at a picnic site in the forest. The thrill of your encounter with these gentle giants will erase your difficulties of the potentially strenuous trek. Spend time in awe watching gorillas go about their activities. Each encounter is different and has its own rewards. You are likely to enjoy a close view of adults feeding, grooming and resting as the youngsters frolic from vines in a delightfully playful display. Return from tracking gorillas.

Among the gorilla families that live in this forest have been habituated for tourism and although trekking may be strenuous the viewing of the gorillas in their natural habitat is an experience long to be savored. Apart from the gorillas, there are a variety of primates to be seen including the blue monkeys, red tailed monkeys, and black & white colobus monkeys. The great blue turaco is often seen and even for anon bird watcher they are marvelous sight.

Dinner and overnight at Buhoma homestead or Gorilla Forest Camp.

Day 9: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park-Gorilla Trecking;

After breakfast you will gather for guidance at the entry point into the gorilla sanctuary. The guide will take you through the bush cutting away thickets of rain forest. The tracking may take between 2 and 6 hours with Park Guides interpreting the flora and fauna and the lifestyle of the gorillas. Once spotted you will have maximum of 1 hour to sit and take photographs of the gorillas.

The thrill of spending time and observing the gorillas is a rare moving, awesome and exciting adventure. The gorilla is a shy and peaceful animal and it is an unforgettable experience to watch and photograph them as they interact. If you will have an afternoon you will a guided village walk (optional)

Dinner and overnight at Buhoma homestead or Gorilla Forest Camp.

Day 10: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park- Entebbe;

After breakfast drive to Entebbe via Mubende stopping at interesting forest and swamp spots with lunch on the way.You will arrive in the evening at Entebbe International Airport for your departure to your next destination.

End of safari.

Package Includes:

-Gorilla permit per person @US$ 500.
- All airport transfer to/from Airport on arrival and departure date.
- Park entrance fee.
- All meals and accommodations on safari.
- Service of an English speaking driver guide.
- Transport based on a 4X4 safari vehicle with pop up roof for game viewing.
- Driver allowances and park fees for vehicle and driver.
- Game drives as per the Itinerary.
- Any applicable taxes.

Package Excludes:

- Extras at the lodges i.e. drinks, telephone, laundry etc.
- International flight.
- Tips to porters and drivers.