Best of East Africa (Reverse)

This morning a short drive takes us to the park headquarters, where you are briefed on your gorilla trek by the guides of the Parc des Volcans. This 13,000 hectare national park protects the Rwanda sector of the Virunga Mountains, a range of six extinct and three active volcanoes that straddle the border with Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Bamboo forest is interspersed with alpine moor, grassland and marsh. In this park, there are seven different gorilla families and the park authorities will assign you to a gorilla trekking group. Gorilla trekking is highly controlled with only 56 gorilla trekking permits available each day. Once a trekking group encounters one of the gorilla families, only one hour is granted to be in the presence of the majestic gorillas before all trekkers must, always very reluctantly, leave the gorilla family. The trek can be strenuous and may reach altitudes of 3000 metres above sea level. The walk will be slippery and the paths are never defined, but the end result is one you will cherish forever. To stand before these amazing mammals is a truly emotional experience. To gaze into the liquid-brown of a gorillas eyes is to be invited into the depths of their souls and you will not be unchanged by the experience. The period of time trekking is extremely variable and unpredictable - you can trek anywhere from 40 minutes to between two and five hours to reach the gorilla family that you are looking for. The trackers have already set out and located the gorilla family by the time you start the trek, so the actual time spent walking can be predicted before you start your trek. More often than not, the gorilla group is met within a couple of hours after setting out. A good level of fitness and mobility is required for those taking on this trek. As lunch can only be taken upon return to the lodge it is recommended that you bring a few snacks to keep you going throughout the morning. At the end of the trek the comforts of the lodge beckons and here we have the chance to reflect on this incredible day. As these primates are wild animals and are living in their natural habitat, their sightings cannot be guaranteed.

Driving time: approx 8 hours plus; game drive times variable) This morning we take an early breakfast before checking out of our hotel. Today is likely to be our longest travelling day as we negotiate a border crossing and the hilly terrain of southern Uganda, however the scenery is spectacular. We journey to Queen Elizabeth National Park, a stunning reserve that covers almost 2000 square kilometres and includes an array of habitats. 100 different types of mammals and over 600 different species of birds that have been identified in the park. This national park certainly has one of the highest biodiversity ratings in the world! The following morning is spent on a driving safari before stopping at Mweya Lodge to have lunch (own account). Our afternoon is set aside for enjoying a boat trip on the Kazinga Channel. Whilst rhino, giraffe, zebra and impala are not encountered here, the other main species are all present along with some rare ones such as Ugandan kob, sitatunga, giant forest hog and topi. The afternoon's boat trip on the Kazinga Channel is a highlight for all, but especially so for bird-watchers. Many species can be sighted including the bizarre looking shoebill (or whale-headed) stork, which stands over one metre in height! We may also get excellent sightings of elephants as they bring their families down to drink by the water's edge.In the afternoon we return to our lodge, set on a high ridge and affording uninterrupted views down to the park below.

(Driving time: approx 3 hours) We travel to Kibale Forest, passing more beautiful Ugandan countryside along the way. Kibale National Park covers an area of 766 square kilometres and is Uganda's newest national park, although it has been renowned for decades as a worldwide centre for serious primate research. The equatorial rainforest here contains the highest concentration of primates in the world, including 13 species of primates. Approximately 500 chimpanzees live here, making it a perfect place for researching these gregarious apes. This afternoon is at your leisure and you may choose to relax in our lodge, which is perched right on the edge of the forest with views overlooking the snow-capped peaks of the Ruwenzori Mountains, or enjoy an optional walk in search of birds. Kibale National Park is full of lakes, marshes and grasslands, and its slopes contain several distinct types of forests (lowland tropical rainforest, deciduous forest and montane forests), creating perfect habitats for a variety of birds. With more than 325 species such as colourful turacos and noisy hornbills, the bird life is audibly abundant! A more silent, but equally enchanting, encounter comes from standing amongst clouds of fluttering butterflies, of which this park boasts 144 different species!

We set off trekking in Kibale National Park in the hope we may spot some chimpanzees. Whilst 13 primate species inhabit the park, it is undoubtedly these apes that attract the most attention. A sustainable ecotourism initiative that allows people to visit this park has been running since 1992 and has ensured that many of Kibale's chimpanzees are now habituated to human visitors. They are easily sighted at times when the sticky fruit of the huge fig trees ripen, whilst at other times our local guide will know where to find them. As we walk through the ancient and pristine rainforests, the extraordinary abundance and exotic diversity of life is revealed to us. Broad buttress roots anchor trees that reach over 50 metres high, creating thick treetop canopy and draping vines that are ideal adventure playgrounds for chimpanzees. Our time is spent looking out for good sightings, as they crash and bound through the treetops and along the forest floor. (Please note that on certain departures, it may be necessary to split into two trekking groups - one in the morning and another in the afternoon.)

(Driving time: approx 8 hours plus) After breakfast we embark on a long drive to Jinja, located at the point where Lake Victoria empties into the Victoria Nile, which merges with the Albert Nile to later become the White Nile River. We spend two nights here in this spectacular spot, situated near raging rapids, forested islands and an abundant bird life. These falls have become east Africa's adventure centre and we can be enticed by optional activities such as whitewater rafting, kayaking, horse riding and quad biking. Our tour leader will be on hand to assist with recommendations about what to do.

(Driving time: approx 7 hours including border crossing) Our journey by road takes us past lush banana and tea plantations to Busia border post - one of the busiest in east Africa. We then continue on for the shores of Lake Victoria. This lake is immense; at around 70,000 square kilometres, it is Africa's largest lake and borders three countries - Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. Scattered throughout the lake are more than 3000 islands, many of which are inhabited, some of which are now wildlife sanctuaries and national parks. The lake plays a pivotal role in supporting the millions of people who live around its shores in one of the most densely populated regions on earth, as the local economy is almost entirely on fishing and tourism. Lake Victoria is also widely thought to be the main source of the Nile with rivers from western Kenya, northern Tanzania, Burundi and Rwanda all gathering here to begin the long journey through Uganda, Sudan and Egypt. We arrive at our lodge in time to enjoy lunch whilst overlooking the lake. During our stay at this great hideaway, we enjoy a short cruise on the lake with 'sundowner' drinks at dusk to complete the experience. There are also opportunities to take nature walks around the area or indulge in massage and spa treatments.

(Driving time: approx 5 hours) We leave the shores of Lake Victoria and head for Lake Nakuru. En route we drive through the fertile tea-growing region of Kericho, where we stop for a tea break before continuing to Lake Nakuru National Park, where we check into our accommodation which offers spectacular views of the volcanic caldera.

(Driving time: approx 5 hours; game drive times variable) The centrepiece of the Lake Nakuru National Park is the lake itself. Lake Nakuru is a soda lake which is home to massive numbers of flamingos - up to two million on occasion - and thousands of other birds. It has been described as the world's greatest ornithological spectacle and, at times, the lake is literally a sea of pink. In addition, the park itself also boasts substantial numbers of other species, including waterbuck, reedbuck, kudu and gazelle. Perhaps we may also be fortunate enough to encounter one of Africa's most endangered animals - the rhinoceros. There is quite a good chance of seeing white rhinos, whilst black rhinos may prove to be more elusive. After our morning safari, we leave the park and drive along the escarpment of the Great Rift Valley to reach the Masai Mara, stopping for a picnic lunch along the way. The Masai Mara is arguably one of the finest game reserves in Africa. The area is known for its rolling green plains and riverine woodlands, and amongst the many species of game, we may be lucky to observe black-maned lion, leopard and cheetah. These predators find an abundant food supply in the massive herds of wildebeest, zebra, Thomson's and Grant's gazelle that roam the grasslands. We arrive at the park in time to embark on an afternoon game drive, pausing to enjoy sundowners prior to heading back to our tented camp in the early evening. As dusk falls we may see a variety of animals in the vicinity and listen to the sounds of the African night from our lodge.

(Game drive times variable) We spend a whole day exploring the park on morning and afternoon safaris and witness the wonderful procession of wildlife that inhabit this area. Wildebeest, zebra and gazelle are plentiful and, with luck, we may spot the predators keeping a casual eye on their movements. Elephant, giraffe and eland are also commonly sighted, along with plenty of bird life.

(Driving time: approx 5 hours; game drive times variable) We enjoy a final safari around Masai Mara National Reserve before driving to north-east to our final destination. Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, was established at the turn of the century by the Europeans as a stores depot during the building of the East African Railway. Without plan or design it established itself as the capital of the British protectorate, and today has a population of around three million comprising a mixture of African, Asian and European. While the predominant tribe is the Kikuyu, the city does not have one single dominating ethnic group. Its accidental choice as capital, virtually located on the meeting territories of three important tribes, has been diplomatically fortunate for the economic growth of the country. If you have spare time after our tour ends, there are many places to visit in and around Nairobi. Options include Daphne Sheldrick's Elephant Orphanage, the Karen Blixen Museum, Langata Giraffe Centre and a meal at the famous Carnivore Restaurant, where meat lovers can taste a variety of barbecued game meat.

Our tour ends after breakfast in Nairobi. If you would like to extend your stay in Nairobi, additional accommodation and transfers can be pre-booked.