Gorilla Safari & the Masai Mara
| country: | Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda |
| departures: | 2008: 4 Jul, 11 Jul, 25 Jul, 1 Aug, 15 Aug, 22 Aug, 5 Sep, 12 Sep, 26 Sep, 3 Oct, 17 Oct, 24 Oct, 14 Nov, 19 Dec, 26 Dec 2009: 9 Jan, 30 Jan, 20 Feb |
| price: | From £1199 - £1565 (17 days) including flights from UK, from £725 excluding flights. Local payment US $250, Gorillas Permit US $500. Plus £16 airline fuel surcharge. |
read 16 travellers reviews
the amazing things you'll be doing
Gorilla Safari and the Masai Mara. This safari starts with a journey through the Great Rift Valley to Lake Naivasha. There is a day to relax and unwind by this beautiful lake or to take a foot safari in the impressive Hell's Gate National Park. Next is the prolific Masai Mara for an exceptional two days of game viewing.
The Mara is home to a multitude of plains game and we are also likely to see lion, elephant, cheetah, and maybe even leopard. Travelling in four-wheel-drive vehicles and staying in a luxury permanent camp with large tents and ensuite facilities, this will be a memorable experience. Lake Nakuru, home to a million flamingo, is our next stop. A sanctuary for rhino, it also possesses a good predator population including tree-climbing lions.
Crossing into Uganda, there is the option of an exhilarating day's rafting on the Nile at Jinja before heading into Rwanda for the highlight of the trip - the opportunity to see gorillas. This close-up encounter is arguably the most sensational wildlife experience of them all and is a fitting end to a remarkable trip.
The Mara is home to a multitude of plains game and we are also likely to see lion, elephant, cheetah, and maybe even leopard. Travelling in four-wheel-drive vehicles and staying in a luxury permanent camp with large tents and ensuite facilities, this will be a memorable experience. Lake Nakuru, home to a million flamingo, is our next stop. A sanctuary for rhino, it also possesses a good predator population including tree-climbing lions.
Crossing into Uganda, there is the option of an exhilarating day's rafting on the Nile at Jinja before heading into Rwanda for the highlight of the trip - the opportunity to see gorillas. This close-up encounter is arguably the most sensational wildlife experience of them all and is a fitting end to a remarkable trip.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Depart London |
| Day 2: | Arrive Nairobi; transfer to Lake Naivasha with time for a visit to Elsamere. |
| Day 3: | Drive to Masai Mara, late afternoon game drive. |
| Day 4: | A full day in the Masai Mara. |
| Day 5: | Early morning game drive; to Kembu. |
| Day 6: | Full day in Lake Nakuru N.P. |
| Day 7: | Visit Nakuru town; to Eldoret. |
| Day 8: | Drive to Jinja, Uganda. |
| Day 9: | Optional day's rafting on the Nile. |
| Day 10: | Visit to Ngamba Island to see chimpanzees. |
| Day 11-12: | To Lake Bunyoni; at leisure. |
| Day 13-14: | There are 2 days set aside for visit to gorillas in Virunga N.P. in Rwanda. |
| Day 15: | To Kigali. |
| Day 16: | Morning free for shopping or visit Genocide Museum; afternoon flight to London. |
| Day 17: | Arrive London. |
travellers' tales
This has been the most amazing trip with lots of varied and interesting experiences. For me the highlights of the trip have been the gorilla visit in Rwanda which was absolutely breathtaking and watching the wildebeest migration as they entered the Masai Mara in Kenya. (more)
small group adventure holiday
Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-20 like minded travellers (depending on the trip, operator and how many others are booked on the trip) and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends its good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting new people as well as seeing new places.award winner
This tourism business won an award in our 2004 Responsible Tourism Awards - organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical, Magazine of the Royal Geographical Societyhow this holiday makes a difference
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While seeing the gorillas in their natural habitat is arguably the most exceptional wildlife encounter of them all, running trips of this nature raises many ethical questions. The most pertinent of these is do the gorillas benefit from exposure to tourists?
The answer to this is a resounding YES. There are about 600 mountain gorillas left in the world. By paying US $250 for a gorilla permit, you are contributing vital income directly towards preserving these magnificent creatures. The mountain gorilla's survival is dependent on money - money to pay for anti-poaching programs in need of personnel, weapons, ammunition and transport; money to pay for maintenance of the national park – the gorilla's natural habitat; money to make sure that those involved with protecting the gorillas are paid enough not to be tempted by bribery from would be poachers. In order to minimise the impact of our groups, exposure to the gorillas is well controlled by local leaders. Group size is limited to a maximum of 6. Time spent with the gorillas is limited to one hour and a distance of 7 metres is maintained between the group and the gorillas at all times. Every effort is made to ensure the gorillas are not exposed to human bacteria – if you are suffering from a cold then you are not allowed to visit the gorillas, and touching the animals is strictly prohibited. Rwanda is a country whose people are struggling to recover from years of civil war and genocide. By visiting the gorillas in Rwanda you will not only help preserve their existence, you will also be helping an economy in dire need of the wealth tourism can generate. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've lead the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |