16 Day Gorillas, Chimps & Game Parks - East Africa Overland Safari
A close encounter with the gentle gorillas of the Rwandan rainforest is an extraordinary African safari experience that will stay with you a lifetime - and it's just one of the many wildlife spottings this unforgettable African overland safari has to offer.
Roam the verdant plains, rainforest, papyrus-fringed lakes and acacia woodlands of Kenya and Uganda to spot lions, rhinos, chimpanzees, antelope, hippos, leopards, flamingos and more in their natural habitats. This beautiful countryside will provide memories that last a lifetime.
Brief Itinerary
Day 1: Nairobi
Get ready for an animal-spotting adventure. For those who arrive early, be sure to visit Kenya's National Museum.
Day 2: Lake Nakuru
Lake Nakuru is a favourite spot for birdlife. See a pink-feathered sea of flamingos and try to spot rhinos on a game drive.
Days 3 & 4: Eldoret / Kampala
Meet local children and their families at the Kariandusi School Trust project. Lend a hand with construction or teaching. Cross the border into Uganda and camp near Kampala.
Days 5 & 6: Kibale Forest National Park
This equatorial rainforest is home to the highest concentration of primates in the world, the ideal place to go chimp spotting. Watch the resident chimpanzees squabbling and playing. Wander through the surrounding tea plantations to visit villages or simply kick back at the camp in the grounds of an old colonial bungalow.
Day 7: Queen Elizabeth National Park
Set between the Edward and George lakes in the Great Rift Valley, the Queen Elizabeth National Park is home to a wide array of wildlife. Embark on game drives to try to spot elephants, lions, buffaloes and antelope. Cruise the Kazinga Channel where pelicans and eagles soar and hippos wallow.
Day 8: Lake Bunyonyi
Hire a traditional dugout canoe and glide across the lake to enjoy the amazing scenery, which is some of the most picturesque in Uganda.
Days 9 to 11: Gorilla Trek
Make tracks across the border into Rwanda and set up camp at Ruhengeri, gateway to the gorilla adventure. Accompanied by a local guide and trackers, hike through rugged terrain to come face-to-face with rare mountain gorillas - the sight of these gentle mountain giants is unforgettable. Head out on rainforest hikes to glimpse some of the forest's other inhabitants and pay a visit to the moving Kigali Genocide Memorial.
Day 12: Lake Mburo
Back over the border in Uganda, head to Lake Mburo, home to the giant eland antelope. Discover plenty of other magnificent animals on walking safaris through this secluded park.
Days 13 & 14: Jinja
Stop at the equator en route to this thrillseekers' paradise. Camp at a scenic riverside retreat and perhaps try white-water rafting.
Days 15 & 16: Eldoret / Nairobi
Pass through Eldoret once more on the way back to the busy streets of Nairobi, where the adventure ends.
