Description

A close encounter with gentle giants on a gorilla safari in Rwanda is an extraordinary African experience that will always stay with you - and it's just one of the many wildlife experiences this unforgettable African overland adventure has to offer. Roam the verdant plains, rainforests, papyrus-fringed lakes and acacia woodlands of Kenya and Uganda's game parks to spot lions, rhinos, chimps, antelopes, hippos, leopards, flamingos and more in their natural habitats. Also witness some of the most stunning lansdcapes on the planet - the power of Victoria Falls, Malawi's great lake, the sand dunes of Namibia and the beauty of Fish River Canyon are but some. The staggeringly beautiful African countryside and incredible array of animals will provide memories that last a lifetime on this Gorillas to Cape Adventure.

Highlights

• Soak up the atmosphere in Nairobi city.
• Visit the Kariandusi School Trust project.
• Explore Lake Nakuru National Park.
• Spot the Big Five in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
• Take a trip to a Rhino Sanctuary.
• Meet chimpanzees at Budongo Forest Reserve.
• Discover the wilderness of Lake Mburo National Park.

Itinerary

Day 1 Nairobi

Welcome to Nairobi, where this incredible tour of Africa kicks off.

Day 2 Nakuru National Park

Frolic around a flamingo-filled lake and camp overnight outside Nakuru.

Day 3 Kericho

Visit the inspiring Kariandusi School Trust Project before crossing rolling plains to Kericho. Choose to take a tour of a local tea plantation.

Days 4-5 Jinja

Cross the border into Uganda, set up camp near Lake Victoria and prepare for two days of adventure. For adrenaline junkies, why not try some whitewater rafting.

Day 6 Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

Visit Uganda’s Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, an important organisation that helps to reintroduce rhinos back into the wild. Join a local ranger and observe these impressive beasts in their natural habitat.

Day 7 Kaniyo Pabidi Forest

Venture to the Budongo Forest for an afternoon of chimpanzee trekking in Kaniyo Pabidi.

Days 8-9 Murchison Falls National Park

Take an afternoon game drive in the delta – home to plenty of elephants, buffalo, giraffes and antelopes.

Day 10 Bush Camp

Head towards Queen Elizabeth National Park and camp in the heart of the great outdoors.

Day 11 Queen Elizabeth National Park

Descend into the Great Rift Valley and embark on a game drive through this stunning national park. In the afternoon, take a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, well known for its healthy population of hippos.

Day 12 Lake Bunyonyi

Make tracks to Lake Bunyonyi - home to some of the most picturesque scenery in Uganda.

Days 13-15 Kigali/Ruhengeri/Gorilla trek

Cross into Rwanda, stopping at Kigali for a visit to the moving Genocide Memorial. Continue on to Ruhengeri and make a memorable trek into one of the last remaining sanctuaries of the mountain gorilla.

Day 16 Lake Mburo National Park

Camp on the shores of the stunning Lake Mburo, surrounded by an amazing array of wildlife.

Day 17 Jinja

Travel to Jinja, via Kampala, stopping at the equator. Camp overnight by the riverside.

Day 18 Eldoret

Cross back into Kenya and visit Eldoret – a high altitude retreat that is an ideal training ground for Kenya’s endurance athletes.

Day 19 Nakuru National Park

Frolic around a flamingo-filled lake and camp overnight on a dairy farm near Nakuru National Park.

Day 20 Nairobi

Go on an early morning game drive of Nakuru National Park before heading back to Nairobi.

Days 21-23 Nairobi/Masai Mara

Head for the Masai Mara. Keep an eye out for prides of lions, herds of elephants and, if you are lucky, a stealthy cheetah or leopard, all of which call the Masai Mara home. After a couple of days game driving, make your way back to cosmopolitan Nairobi and soak up the lively restaurant and bar scene.

Day 24 Arusha

Enter Tanzania and head for Arusha, Tanzania's safari capital, located at the base of Mt Meru. Stock up on supplies and perhaps enjoy a traditional meal at one of the many eateries before making your way into the wilds of Africa!

Days 25-26 Serengeti National Park/Ngorongoro Crater

Journey into the wide, open plains of the Serengeti National Park, home to thousands of hoofed animals and fierce predators. Try to spot all of Africa's Big Five on game drives and sleep in the midst of nature, letting the nocturnal sounds of this unique African habitat lull you to sleep.

Day 27 Mto Wa Mbu

The famous Ngorongoro Crater is home to more than 30,000 animals including the endangered black rhino, zebras and hippos. Keep cameras handy as you game drive through the heart of this natural wonder. Stop by the small village community of Mto Wa Mbu and get an insight into the traditional African way of life.

Day 28 Marangu

Climb the slopes of Mt Kilimanjaro to reach the small village of Marangu, which is situated by the streams that run down from Mt Kilimanjaro's glaciers. Enjoy fantastic views of the mountain and the surrounding countryside.

Days 29-30 Dar es Salaam

Travel south to Dar es Salaam and camp on the beach by the city's outskirts. Stroll along the bustling ports, people watch from chilled cafes and kick back on the warm sands and relax.

Days 31-33 Zanzibar

Sail to the 'Spice Island' of Zanzibar to explore the winding cobblestone alleyways and fragrant bazaars. Try a deliciously fresh seafood curry and take a guided tour of the inland spice plantations to see where the mouthwatering flavours come from. Spend free time sipping cocktails at seaside bars or relaxing on idyllic sands.

Day 34 Dar es Salaam

Take the ferry back to the African mainland and the cultural hub of Dar es Salaam.

Day 35 Iringa

Journey through the rolling plains of Mikumi National Park to Kisolanza Farm in Iringa, a town set into the slopes of a cliff overlooking Little Ruaha River. Wander through the markets, full of colourfully dressed locals. If you are feeling game try the legendary Dabaga chilli sauce.

Days 36-38 Lake Malawi

Enter Malawi and head straight for the lake that covers almost a fifth of the country. Spot fisherman aboard their dugout canoes, floating on the still waters at the break of day.

Day 39 Lilongwe

Travel to Lilongwe, Malawi's capital. With a vibrant atmosphere, the city is a hub for the country's cultural output and boasts a lively restaurant and bar scene.

Days 40-41 South Luangwa National Park

Cross the border into Zambia to game drive through South Luangwa National Park. The Luangwa River is home to vast numbers of crocodiles and hippos, while the plains of the park contain many species of buck, kudu and gazelle. Perhaps visit Kawaza village to see a local dance performance and try a traditional Kunda midday meal.

Day 42 Luangwa River

Camp on the banks of the river, under a blanket of stars in the African night sky.

Days 43-45 Lower Zambezi

Canoe down the gentle Lower Zambezi River. Float through a stunning natural landscape, keeping an eye out for wildlife stopping to drink at the river banks. Camp on islands dotted throughout the waters.

Day 46 Choma/Livingstone

Journey through the rolling African landscape and lose yourself in the vast expanse of this wild continent.

Days 47-49 Victoria Falls

Get an early start in Zimbabwe and make a bee-line for the awesome power of Victoria Falls. This curtain of water stretches almost a mile across and falls over 100 metres into a narrow gorge below. The spray created from this powerful raging torrent can reach up to 400 metres in the air!

Day 50 Hwange National Park

Enjoy a game drive on the former royal hunting grounds of a Ndebele warrior-king.

Days 51-52 Bulawayo/Matobo National Park

Explore the second largest city in Zimbabwe before heading out on foot to track rhinos in Matobo National Park.

Days 53-54 Makgadikgadi Pans

Cross into Botswana and traverse the magnificent Makgadikgadi Pans – one of the largest salt pans in the world.

Day 55 Maun

Travel to Maun, a modern African town with a rural heart.

Days 56-57 Okavango Delta

Explore the expansive waterways of the Okavango Delta in a traditional mokoro canoe.

Day 58 Maun

Return to Maun and perhaps enjoy a meal in one of the local restaurants.

Day 59 D'Kar

Head south and camp at the Dqae Qare Game Reserve, a community project located in the Kalahari Desert.

Day 60 Windhoek

Make tracks to the German colonial town of Windhoek, a curious mixture of African and European culture.

Days 61-62 Etosha National Park

Get an up-close look at some of Southern Africa’s most iconic wildlife, and some truly unique species, in the world renowned Etosha National Park.

Day 63 Spitzkoppe

Bush camp in the shadow of Spitzkoppe and witness a golden sunset over this remote region.

Days 64-65 Swakopmund

Get a further sense of Namibia’s German colonial roots in Swakopmund. After checking out the European architecture, why not indulge in a range of adrenaline pumping activities in this action sports Mecca.

Day 66 Sesriem

Use Sesriem as a base for exploring the incredible Namib Desert – home to some of the world's tallest sand dunes.

Day 67 Bethanie

Witness a sunrise over the vast plains of the desert before escaping the heat of the desert in riverside Bethanie.

Day 68 Fish River Canyon

Explore the incredible Giant’s Playground, a collection of magma formations that have to be seen to be believed. Then, arrive at the Fish River Canyon and be treated to some phenomenal views.

Day 69 Noordoewer

Camp on the scenic banks of the Gariep River.

Day 70 Citrusdal

Cruise into South Africa to explore the rock art of Citrusdal or take an optional winery tour.

Day 71 Cape Town

The journey comes to an end in the coastal haven of Cape Town.

Group Size

Maximum of 22 travellers per group

Accommodation

Bungalow, Bush camp (no facilities), Camping (with facilities), Hostel, Hotel

Transport

Ferry, Mokoro, Overland vehicle

Important notes

1. This trip requires an additional non-refundable deposit ( AUD1000, USD1000, EUR800, NZD1250, GBP650, CAD1000, ZAR8000, CHF900 ) in order to secure a gorilla permit. We also require a scanned copy of your passport at time of booking. Please see trip notes (Important notes) for more details.2. Please note that this trip requires minimum numbers to depart, and may be cancelled up until 56 days prior to departure. The places showing on the dates and availability page are an indication only so please contact Intrepid to check if your preferred date will depart before making any final arrangements, such as booking non-changeable flights.