This trip takes in some of the smaller, but more rewarding East African National Parks.
Their soda and fresh-water lakes are abundant in bird and wildlife and there are rare opportunities for walking safaris. An optional highlight of this trip is trekking through the rainforests of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park or Virunga Mountains in search of the protected Mountain Gorilla. For a different type of adrenaline experience you can try your hand at quad biking, kayaking or whitewater rafting in Uganda.
Note: This is one of our Overland Adventures which are run on a participatory basis – you’ll be involved in the day to day running of the trip and have fun helping to cook for the group. Expect to sometimes get dusty and dishevelled and not to be able to have hot showers every night. Groups of up to 24 people are led by our crew of two.
Accommodation is predominantly camping, though there may be opportunities to upgrade this locally where rooms are available. Our Overland Adventures provide once in a life time experiences and whilst some safari activities may be included in the itinerary, or be available to book locally, this should not be considered a traditional safari holiday, though we consider that part of the fun!!
Note: From 1 Jan 2025 the itinerary for this trip will be adjusted. Lake Nakuru National Park and Musanze will be removed and visited on our return journey to Nairobi after this trip finishes in Kigali. The following visits and activities will be added
2 nights at the Masai Mara (morning and afternoon game safaris included)
Forest walk at Kakamega Rainforest
Lake Mburo National Park (optional evening and morning game drives, game walks, night drives in search of leopards, boat cruises to see hippos and crocodiles etc.)
Kizuru Forest Reserve (optional chimpanzee trek)
Queen Elizabeth National Park ($40 entry fee included, $30 boat cruise included)
Highlights
A safari through Lake Nakuru National Park hosting a healthy population of both black & white Rhino
Listening out for the groans of the hippo whilst camping on Lake Naivasha
Cycling through Hells Gate National Park
Make a difference in the local community and get involved in a Volunteer Project
Raft or kayak part of the longest river in the world – The Nile
Experience the chaos of Kampala traffic, with the movement of minibuses, cars, motorcycles and people
Trek to see the largest living primate, the Mountain Gorilla
Visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial to pay tribute to victims of the genocide
Why you'll love this adventure
- Rafting or kayaking part of the longest river in the world - The Nile
- Visiting the Kigali Genocide Memorial to pay tribute to victims of the genocide
- Cycling through Hells Gate National Park
Dates
This trip can be tailor made for your perfect travel dates. Please make a booking enquiry for more information.
Itinerary
This trip includes an action packed itinerary! Please make an enquiry and we'll send you the full itinerary for each day including meals, activities, travel and accommodation.
What's included
- Accommodation – 100% camping
- Lake Nakuru National Park and game drive
- Lake Naivasha
- Meals – approx. 60%
- All transport on Oasis Expedition Truck
- Camping and Cooking equipment
- Services of Oasis Crew
Trip notes
Price
Who is this trip for?
- Suitable For Solo
- Suitable For Couples
- Suitable For Children
- Suitable For Groups
- Suitable For Students
- Suitable For Business
- Suitable For Wheelchairs
Additional notes
Itinerary
DAY 1-4: NAIROBI TO NAKURU
After our pre-departure meeting – our trip departs Nairobi and heads north into one of Africa’s greatest natural features, the East African Rift Valley. Stretching from the Dead Sea in Jordan down to Mozambique in Southern Africa, our first view is from the top of a steep escarpment. Overland trips through East Africa will allow you to experience some of the most dramatic scenery in the world, and the Rift Valley is a definite highlight. The valley floor seems to sweep on forever and is dotted with volcanic peaks, shimmering lakes, and countless springs. Our journey takes us into the heart of the Rift Valley to Lake Naivasha. We camp near the lake shore where Hippos sometimes feed at night! Here you can walk to Elsamere, the house of Joy Adamson – of Elsa the Lion and Born Free fame and enjoy a film of her life – and cream teas! You can also hire mountain bikes and cycle or walk-through Hells Gate National Park – the only game reserve in Kenya in which you are permitted to do so.
Or for a less active but equally enjoyable game viewing experience – visit the Crater Lake Game Sanctuary. Both offer excellent scenery and opportunities to spot hyrax, abundant bird and plant life along with several types of gazelles, impala and eland.
Next, we travel to Lake Nakuru National Park – home to a wide variety of wildlife including Black Rhino, Hippo, Lion, Leopard, Hyena and Giraffe. However, Nakuru is a soda lake and most famous for its pink inhabitants, a flock of almost a million Pink Flamingos which feed noisily along the shoreline.
DAY 5-7: NAKURU TO KAMPALA
We then continue west and travel to Uganda. A mountainous drive with spectacular scenery through the Nandi Hills brings us to our next stop at Eldoret. From here we cross the Kenya – Uganda border and continue to camp near Jinja – Uganda’s adventure playground. Here, on the edge of Lake Victoria, the Nile begins its 6700km journey to the sea. We spend the next few days downstream from the source of the Nile. This is a spectacular area and a superb place to go whitewater rafting or kayaking. You can also organise quad biking, horse riding or a visit to a local education project. A short drive takes us to the capital Kampala.
Kampala has had a turbulent past, but these days it is a friendly and safe city. We have a free day to spend in local cafes and nightspots – where you can get to know the local people.
DAY 8-10: KAMPALA TO KABALE
The following day we have a long drive as we head west through swamps, patches of forest and fertile green countryside. As we travel through Uganda, we’ll pass through several small towns and villages; Mpigi, where you will see roadside stalls manufacturing and selling traditional musical instruments; Kyazanga, where we can buy fresh rotisserie and roasted meat and vegetables, as well as roasted plantain bananas. We will also be able to make a photo stop where our route crosses the Equator.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park are home to several families of Highland Mountain Gorillas. Getting up close to these amazing creatures is truly a once in a lifetime experience and one of the highlights of the trip. You can trek to see the Gorillas in Uganda (bookable as an Add on). It is estimated that only around 700 of these gentle giants remain. This mountainous area on the borders of Rwanda, Uganda, and Zaire (now renamed Democratic Republic of Congo) is their only natural habitat and they are periodically threatened by poachers and political instability in the area. One permit allows you to spend about 50 to 60 minutes with one of the gorilla families. Trekking to find them in groups of 8 people can take anywhere from half an hour to 5 hours. The organisations and well-trained guides that continually monitor and protect the families are conscientious and responsible. We will base ourselves in the village of Kabale which will give you the opportunity to trek the Mountain Gorillas and visit the beautiful Lake Bunyonyi, where you will have the opportunity to visit a school for orphans or a pygmy village.
(Due to the popularity of Trekking to the Mountain Gorillas and the limited availability of obtaining Trekking Permits, we may do the Gorilla trek in Rwanda in Volcanos National Park, which may come at an additional cost – you will be advised in advance).
DAY 11-13: KABALE TO KIGALI
Passing over the mountain ranges we cross the border into Rwanda. The small, friendly town of Musanze is home to Musanze caves and several hiking trails. You can take a village tour through the area and see first-hand production of local Banana beer. As Musanze is the gateway to Volcanoes National Park, there is also the opportunity to take a guided trek to see the famous Golden Monkeys. Please mention to your tour leader if you are keen to do this as permits and bookings may need to be made in advance. After we leave Musanze we head to the capital of Rwanda, Kigali, where there we can visit the genocide memorial, which is a moving and humbling experience.
Tour operator
When it comes to overland adventures that really do get off the beaten track these guys know their stuff. Since their early days in the late-90s with the first adventure truck fondly known as ‘Noxy’ they grew to be loved by intrepid travellers for their journeys and for taking the hassle out of complex logistics so you can spend your precious time getting out there and immersing yourself in the different cultures and regions along the route. Plus there's the added bonus of security and peace of mind that travelling as part of a group brings. Over 21 years they've provided travellers with a unique travelling experience, very different to that of a normal package holiday. No surprise why we love them then! They're small enough to offer a personalised service to their travellers and they offer full financial protection through a trust account and associated insurance provided by Trust My Travel.
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Nairobi To Kigali (13 Days) Gorillas & Gameparks
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