Gorilla Safari & the Masai Mara
| country: | Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda |
| departures: | 2010: 4 Jan, 7 Jan, 22 Jan, 5 Feb, 12 Feb, 5 Mar, 19 Mar, 28 May, 11 Jun, 18 Jun, 2 Jul, 16 Jul, 23 Jul, 6 Aug, 20 Aug, 27 Aug, 10 Sep, 24 Sep, 1 Oct, 15 Oct, 29 Oct, 21 Dec, 26 Dec 2011: 4 Jan, 9 Jan, 25 Jan, 25 Feb, 11 Mar |
| price: | From £1949 - £2599 (17 days) including flights from the UK, from £1429 - £1669 excluding flights. |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
read 23 travellers reviews
"The sheer range of wildlife on this trip is incredible. The image of a million flamingos at Lake Nakuru is spectacular and taking a safari through the Masai Mara would be something really special. On top of that the chance to spend time in the company of the Rwandan gorillas makes the whole trip simply spellbinding."
- Lani, responsibletravel.com
- Lani, responsibletravel.com
the amazing things you'll be doing
We start with a journey through the Great Rift Valley to Lake Naivasha and the prolific Masai Mara for an exceptional two days of game viewing. Our next stop is Lake Nakuru, home to an incredible variety of birds and wildlife including the endangered white and black rhinos, elusive leopard and in season, a million flamingos. Crossing into Uganda, there is the option of an exhilarating day's rafting on the Nile at Jinja and a visit to see chimpanzees on Ngamba Island before heading into Rwanda for the highlight of the trip - the opportunity to see the gorillas. This close-up encounter is arguably the most sensational wildlife experience of them all and is a wonderful end to a remarkable trip.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Depart London. |
| Day 2: | Arrive Nairobi; transfer to Lake Naivasha; visit Elsamere, former home of Joy Adamson. |
| Day 3: | Into 4WD vehicles for drive to Masai Mara; late afternoon game drive. |
| Day 4: | Full day in the Masai Mara. |
| Day 5: | Early morning game drive; return to Naivasha. |
| Day 6: | To Lake Nakuru N.P. afternoon game drive, camp in park. |
| Day 7: | Morning game drive; to Kembu Farm; farm walk. |
| Day 8: | To Jinja, Uganda. |
| Day 9: | Optional day's rafting, bungy jumping, quad biking, visit Bujagali Falls or walks around local villages. |
| Day 10: | Visit to Ngamba Island on Lake Victoria to see chimpanzees, camp at Kampala. |
| Days 11-12: | To Lake Bunyoni; at leisure with excellent birdlife and good scenery. |
| Days 13-14: | We have two days set aside for our visit to see the gorillas in Virunga N.P. in Rwanda. |
| Day 15: | To Kigail; afternoon free for shopping, to visit the Genocide Museum and to explore this small and attractive city. |
| Day 16: | Late morning flight via Nairobi. |
| Day 17: | Arrive London. |
travellers' tales
It was one of the most amazing experiences I’ve had and I’ve been to many countries. Africa is the kind of place you fall in love with. We ventured to such different landscapes, enjoying the wildlife which was spectacular to see, the elephants roaming, the gorillas goofing around. (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 led 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. |