Gorillas, Serengeti and Zanzibar Budget Camping Safari

Below is the basic day to day brief,

The Full downloadable Itinerary is at the bottom of this window.

Please download the dossier should you want more detailed information on the route and tour.

Day 1: Nairobi
Today is an arrivals day in Nairobi and this evening we have a pre-departure meeting.

Meals: None

Day 2: Nairobi to Masai Mara
We depart from the busy city of Nairobi and climb the long steep slope to a viewpoint of the magnificent Great Rift Valley. As we continue down the escarpment, we reach Masai Mara National Reserve and our camp which looks on to the Meguarra Hills.

Meals: Lunch & Dinner
Included Highlight: Masai Mara Nature Reserve Excursion

Day 3: Masai Mara
We rise at first light and begin our exciting game drive into the Masai Mara Reserve. We go on search for the Big 5 as well as other wildlife that call the reserve home. Once we are finished with our game drive, we have a chance to visit a Masai Manyatta’s, a traditional hamlet where the Masai live in their cultural way. Tonight, we watch the sun set as we sit around the campfire.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Included Highlight: Masai Mara Game Reserve

Day 4: Masai Mara to Eldoret
We depart from the Masai Mara bright and early and we travel past the picturesque tea plantations of Kericho as we descend the Rift Valley, making our way to Eldoret.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 5: Eldoret to Kampala (Uganda)
We cross the border of Uganda this morning and we overnight in the capital city of Kampala.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 6 – 9: Kampala to Lake Bunyoni
We leave early this morning and head for Lake Bunyoni, the deepest Crater Lake in Africa. This is where our Gorilla trekking begins. Dependant on where trekking permits are available, we trek in the Magahinga or Bwindi National Parks in Uganda, the Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo, or the Ruhengeri National Park in Rwanda.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Optional Activity: Gorilla Trekking

Day 10: Lake Bunyoni to Kampala
After an amazing experience with the Gorillas and the serenity of Lake Bunyoni, we make our way back to Kampala. We cross the Equator and tonight in Kampala we have the chance to sample it’s nightlife.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 11: Kampala to Jinja
Today we have the chance to visit Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary or other fun activities such as white water rafting at the source of the White Nile, quad biking or visiting a community project. This afternoon we can do some bird watching as we unwind on the banks of the river.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 12: Jinja to Nakuru (Kenya)
We leave early and make our way back to Kenya. We stop for some supplies and have some lunch on our way. Tonight, we sleep outside Nakuru.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 13: Lake Nakuru National Park
This morning we start to explore Lake Nakuru National Park, with its large concentration of pink flamingos wading through the soda water lake. It’s possible to see black, and white Rhino in the sanctuary. We go on search of wildlife and if we are lucky, we may come across the elusive leopard. After our exciting game drive, we head for camp, which we arrive at in the late afternoon.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Included Highlights: Game Drives at Lake Nakuru National Park

Day 14: Lake Nakuru to Lake Naivasha
Lake Naivasha has a huge amount of birdlife, the most spectacular being the African Fish Eagle. Today is spent partaking in optional excursions like Elsamere (former home to Joy & George Adamson of Born Free fame), a boat ride to the Crescent Island Game Sanctuary or a bike ride around Hell’s Gate National Park.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Included Highlights: Lake Naivasha

Day 15: Lake Naivasha to Nairobi
We enjoy some breakfast and head off to Nairobi which we reach by late morning/early afternoon. We spend the rest of the day exploring Nairobi, with optional activities such as The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust with it’s orphaned bay elephants, the Giraffe centre, Nairobi National Park, colourful curio markets or in the evening having dinner at the famous Carnivores Restaurant.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 16: Nairobi to Arusha
This morning we depart from Nairobi and head for the Tanzanian border. Our campsite tonight, is in Meserani on the outer edges of Arusha.

Meals: Lunch & Dinner

Day 17: Arusha to Karatu
We visit the Meserani Reptile Park and Masai Cultural Museum this morning. There is a local art gallery displaying some colourful Tinga Tinga paintings close to camp that we can visit or we can choose to explore Arusha. We have some lunch while looking at the beauty of Mount Mero in the distance and then hop on 4WD vehicles and travel to the Masai town of Mtu Wa Mbu (Mosquito River), up the Rift Valley and to the village of Karatu.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Included Highlight: Serengeti & Ngorongoro Crater Excursion

Day 18: Karatu to Ngorongoro Crater & Serengeti National Park
This morning, bright and early, we rise to make our way to the Ngorongoro Conservation area and Ngorongoro Crater. After our exhilarating game drive, we make our way to the Serengeti National Park passing the ‘Cradle of mankind’. We overnight in an unfenced camp in the midst of nature.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Included Highlight: Serengeti & Ngorongoro Crater Excursion

Day 19: Serengeti National Park to Arusha
This morning we have another exciting game drive on search for the Big 5. We continue retracing our journey back to our truck at Arusha.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Included Highlight: Serengeti & Ngorongoro Crater Excursion

Day 20: Arusha to Pangani
Today we start making our way to Dar es Salaam. Along the way, we drive through the town of Moshi based at the spectacular Mount Kilimanjaro. We also pass the Usambara and Pare mountain ranges. Our beautiful campsite is situated between these mountains, half way between Arusha and Dar es Salaam.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 21: Pangani to Dar es Salaam
Today we travel to Dar es Salaam through palm tree lined roads and abundant scenery towards the warm Indian ocean. Our campsite is a lovely coastal overnight stop.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 22: Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar
We board a ferry from Dar es Salaam that takes us to ‘Spice Island’ where we stay for the following 3 nights.

Meals: None
Included Highlights: Spice Tour & Dhow Excursion, Zanzibar Excursion

Day 23 & 24: Zanzibar
Zanzibar is a tropical island steeped in fascinating history. We explore old Stone town with its Arabic influence. Zanzibar is known for its fragrant spices and we have a chance to visit a spice plantation. There are some truly beautiful beaches we can visit, go see the giant tortoises at Prison island, enjoy some scuba diving, take a fishing trip on a traditional Dhow or sample some fresh inexpensive seafood at one of the many restaurants dotted around the area.

Meals: None

Day 25: Zanzibar to Dar es Salaam
We leave Zanzibar in the afternoon and continue onwards to Dar es Salaam which we reach in the late afternoon/early evening. This is where our tour comes to an end after a trip of a lifetime.