Beaches, Game Parks & Gorillas





East Africa overflows with wildlife and cultural adventures

- Start
- Zanzibar, Africa
- End
- Nairobi, Kenya
- Meals
- 25 breakfasts, 18 lunches, 22 dinners
- Transport
- Overland vehicle, 4WD Safari Vehicle, Ferry, Minibus
- Accommodation
- Hotel (3 night), Bunglow (2 nights), Camping (with basic facilities) (2 nights), Camping (with facilities) (17 nights), Camping (with basic facilities) (2 nights), Hotel with shared facilities (1 night)
- Days
- 27
- Group size
- Min 1 - Max 22
- Ages
- Min 15
- ThemeOur themes categorise trips based on a common interest or activity, while showcasing the highlights of a destination.
- Overland, Wildlife
- StyleBasix: Simple accommodation, local transport and lots of free time
Original: Tourist-class hotels, some meals included and a great mix of included activities and free time
Comfort: Comfortable accommodation, with a relaxed pace of travel and many included meals and activities
Premium: 4+ star accommodation, exclusive premium inclusions, our most experienced leaders - Basix
- Physical ratingIndicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
Why you'll love this trip
- Take a trek through Uganda's steamy forests to seek out acclaimed mountain gorillas, getting the rare chance to spend an unforgettable hour in their presence.
- Head out on an early evening game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park, well known for its rhino population, and explore the plains of the Serengeti in search of lions, leopards, elephants and giraffes.
- Spend a few days at your own pace in Jinja, which can be either a relaxing riverside retreat or an adrenaline-pumping adventure capital, depending on your style of travel!
- Meet with Maasai communities – known for their vibrant red dress and elaborate jewellery – and gain an insight into the culture and ancient ways of this proud East African community.
- Embark on a hike through the Usambara Mountains to the Irente viewpoint, then stop at a farm on the way back for a picnic lunch.
Itinerary
Inclusions and activities
25 breakfasts, 18 lunches, 22 dinners
Overland vehicle, 4WD Safari Vehicle, Ferry, Minibus
Hotel (3 night), Bunglow (2 nights), Camping (with basic facilities) (2 nights), Camping (with facilities) (17 nights), Camping (with basic facilities) (2 nights), Hotel with shared facilities (1 night)
Is this trip right for you?
- No two journeys in Africa are identical. There will be many early starts either to make use of the better safari time or to beat the morning traffic on long travel days. Be prepared for travel times to be longer or shorter than advised. Weather and road conditions can change things significantly, so embrace the detours, shortcuts, and unforgettable moments along the way.
- Tracking gorillas in the dense forest can sometimes be wet, muddy and uncomfortable. The terrain is by no means easy either, so it can be strenuous and often humid. But the sheer thrill of coming across a habituated group of gorillas, dominated by a great male silverback, more than outweighs any difficulty. You need to be prepared and fit enough to walk up to four hours – up and down hills. A top tip is to pack some gardening gloves to assist in any uphill climbs. See https://www.intrepidtravel.com/au/gorilla-trekking for more information.
- This is a participatory overland camping trip. That means you’ll be travelling with a group in a purpose-built vehicle, visiting remote communities, setting up your tent, helping out with camp chores, occasionally roughing it in the bush with no facilities, and getting the best possible views of iconic African wildlife. For more info on this style of travel, see our Africa overland page at intrepidtravel.com/africa/overland.
- The day-to-day itinerary features a selection of optional activities. Please note that this list is not exhaustive and is intended only as a guide. Prices are approximate and may change at the discretion of the local provider. All activities are subject to availability.
- Camping in the Serengeti National Park with no barriers between you and the animals is amazing, but it's important to heed the safety advice of your leader. You'll be briefed on arrival.
- Some passengers on this trip will have been travelling together prior to the start of your trip. To see what you're missing out on check out our Vic Falls to Gorillas trip. Search trip code YXOFC on the Intrepid website for more information and to book.
Dates and availability
Important notes
1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
2. This trip requires a higher non-refundable deposit (AUD 1000, USD 1000, EUR 800, NZD 1250, GBP 650, CAD 1000, ZAR 8000, CHF 900) in order to secure the included gorilla permit. Please note that we need to confirm availability of a gorilla permit if you are booking within 45 days of departure. The additional deposit paid at time of booking will be credited to the final balance of your booking.
3. This trip starts in Stone Town on Day 1 at 2pm to allow time after the welcome meeting to explore Stone Town. This trip finishes upon arrival in Nairobi on Day 27. Please do not book any flights until after 10pm this evening.
4. Optional sunrise balloon rides in the Serengeti National Park and Masai Mara National Reserve are possible on this trip. Please see the itinerary above for full details of this activity. As the balloons only hold a limited number of people, places are limited, and we recommend you book in advance. Please inquire about this optional activity when booking your trip.
5. This trip is a combination of three of our most popular itineraries. The composition of your group and your leader may change.
6. The Zanzibar portion of your itinerary may have a few more passengers than the maximum group size of 22, as we have a crossover of trips starting and finishing in Zanzibar.
7. Some governments currently have increased foreign travel advice around security in place for Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda. Please check your government’s foreign travel advice before departure and ensure your travel insurance covers all destinations and activities on your itinerary.
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