East Africa Gorilla Trek

Day 1: Nairobi to Lake Nakuru National Park (Kenya). Hit the road to Lake Nakuru National Park in our epic over-landing adventure vehicle. Drive through the Great Rift Valley, before taking an afternoon game drive, looking out for flamingos, buffalo, lion, rhino, leopards and more. This evening, enjoy dinner under the stars with your new friends.

Day 2: Lake Nakuru to Eldoret. Stop at the Equatorial crossing for a hemisphere straddling photo opp, before continuing to Eldoret. We’ll be staying in a unique campsite based on land that was once occupied by the Sirikwa tribe. Check out the ‘Sirikwa holes’, take a dip in the pool, and enjoy another evening of food, drinks and laughs with your group.

Day 3: Eldoret to Kampala (Uganda). We’ve got a long day on the road today so pack some snacks and download your fave playlists before settling into the safari bus. Cross the border into Uganda. Our destination today is the buzzing capital, Kampala.

Day 4: Kampala to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Leave the hustle and bustle of Kampala behind and travel towards Queen Elizabeth National Park. We’ll stay outside the park in a safari camp with spectacular views of Lake George, the Kazinga Channel, and the wildlife-rich savannah plains.

Day 5: Queen Elizabeth National Park. Head into the Queen Elizabeth National Park today, soaking up epic mountain views and keeping your eyes peeled for wildlife as we head to the ‘Valley of the Apes’. Take an unforgettable trek into the gorge to see its resident chimpanzees feeding, playing, and grooming.

Please note: The local wildlife authority only issues permits for groups of up to 8, so depending on our group size, the trek will take place on the afternoon of day 4, morning of day 5 and afternoon of day 5 and afternoon of day 5 or morning of day 6.

Day 6: Queen Elizabeth National Park to Lake Bunyoni. Leave the national park behind today and head to beautiful Lake Bunyoni. Over the next two days, the group will be split in half, with one group trekking to see some of the world’s last 700 mountain gorillas, while the other half of the group kick back at the lake. On the day of our trek, we’ll head into the rainforest early. Once we’ve found a gorilla family, we observe them for around an hour, taking photographs and marvelling at these most human-like of apes. It’s an unparalleled wildlife viewing experience.

Please note: Because of the strict limits on the numbers of visitors allowed to view the gorillas each day, we may spend several days in the area while all passengers in our group complete the trek and viewing. We may travel into Rwanda to trek for the gorillas on occasion and this can incur additional visa fees.

Days 7 - 8: Lake Bunyonyi or Gorilla Trek Day. Spend the next couple of days either gorilla trekking or exploring Lake Bunyoni at your own pace. Discover the islands by boat, visit a local village, meet some local children at an orphanage, or just relax in camp.

Day 9: Lake Bunyoni to Kampala. We’re back on the road again today, so put on your comfy clothes and grab a window-seat for the journey - the views are pretty special! We’re crossing the Equator again, travelling through verdant pastures and the fertile shores of Lake Victoria back to Kampala.

Day 10: Kampala to Jinja. Leave Kampala behind and travel the short distance to the riverside town of Jinja, where the Nile flows out of Lake Victoria. We’ll be spending tonight in a camp on the river’s grassy banks.

Days 11 - 12: Jinja. You’ve got two free days in magical Jinja. Enjoy the thrill of white-water rafting, give back to the local community with a visit to a school project, go mountain biking, quad biking, fishing, take a village walk or go for a cruise on the Nile.

Day 13: Jinja to Eldoret. Hop back into the safari bus feeling refreshed after our stop in Jinja. We’re retracing our steps today as we head back across the border to Eldoret, where we’ll set up camp. Enjoy one last night round the campfire, sharing stories of your amazing adventure.

Day 14: Eldoret to Nairobi. After breakfast, we’ll head back to Nairobi, where our tour ends on arrival in the afternoon. Say your goodbyes and head to the airport or continue your travels in Africa.

Adventure Pass

Participation in this tour requires you to purchase an Adventure Pass. The cost of this is separate to the cost of the tour. You will need to pay the cost of your pass directly to your tour leader in Africa at the beginning of the tour. The cost is subject to change but is currently USD$120 The Pass covers entry into Lake Nakuru National Park and your game drive there. Paying separately for the Pass ensures that local suppliers benefit directly from the income. The Pass is at cost with no additional fees, making it great value for money, and is not part of any cancellation fee, so in the unlikely event you need to cancel your trip, you won’t lose any money on the Adventure Pass.

Gorilla and chimpanzee treks and permits

The Uganda Wildlife Authority imposes strict regulations regarding gorilla trekking permits, including that permits must be booked and paid in advance. This means we must collect your permit fee, as well as your normal deposit, at the time of booking. The permit fee is not refundable if you cancel your tour. On rare occasions, subject to permit availability, we may purchase trekking permits to view the gorillas in neighboring Rwanda.