Premium Eastern and Southern Africa

37 days51 reviews
Wildlife
From
NZD $55,775

An unforgettable African journey from Kigali to Windhoek

Embrace the adventure of a lifetime on a 37-day Premium journey through Africa. Enter the world of rare mountain gorillas in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, take in quintessential East Africa in the Masai Mara, search for wildlife in the Kruger National Park, be amazed by the showstopping Victoria Falls, search for a wealth of elephants in Chobe National Park and marvel at the desert landscapes of Swakopmund and Sossusvlei. From the forests of Uganda to the vast grasslands of Kenya to the national parks of Southern Africa and Botswana, and the otherworldly landscapes of Namibia, few places on the planet offer such spectacular diversity and wildlife.

Map of Premium Eastern And Southern Africa including Botswana, Kenya, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Uganda and Zimbabwe
Trip code: YGPUC
Start
Kigali, Rwanda
End
Windhoek, Namibia
Destinations
Kenya, Uganda, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Rwanda
Meals
32 breakfasts, 18 lunches, 30 dinners
Transport
4x4 Safari Vehicle, Boat, Private Vehicle, Plane
Accommodation
Hotel (10 nights), Lodge (23 nights), Permanent tented camp (3 nights)
Days
37
Group size
Min 1 - Max 12
Ages
Min 15
Theme
Every trip caters to specific interests and activities, such as wildlife or family.
Wildlife
Style
Basix: Simple accommodation, local transport and lots of free time

Orginal: 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
Premium
Physical rating
Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
This trip generates 78 kg of CO2-e per person per day.
We offset these emissions on your behalf. But we know that is not enough, so we also have a carbon reduction target.
Premium accommodationOur best 4-star accommodation and the highest level of service
Premium experiencesAll must-see locations plus authentic experiences exclusive to Premium
Premium knowledgeTrips led by our most experienced and highest-rated local leaders

Why you'll love this trip

With your gorilla permit included in the price of the trip, spend a day trekking (with an optional second) through Bwindi Impenetrable Forest to get close to Uganda's rare mountain gorillas for an unforgettable hour.

Let your Feature Stays take you close to nature, from spectacular views at our gorilla lodge surrounded by jungle in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to a lodge next to the Namib-Naukluft National Park with views of the ethereal desert landscape.

Enjoy a front-row seat for wildlife viewings during 4x4 game drives in the Masai Mara, the Namibian desert, Lake Nakuru's National Park, Chobe National Park, Etosha National Park and Kruger National Park, with expert guides at the helm.

Discover the region’s best with Exclusive Experiences, including dinner with a local park ranger, a boat trip on Lake Naivasha, 4x4 drive through the Makgadikgadi Pans and a privately catered cruise down the Zambezi River.

Visit a local Maasai community known for championing Maasai women’s health and education. During this Exclusive Experience, you’ll be welcomed by traditional Maasai warrior song and dance and learn about this remarkable culture.

Take in the spectacular contrasts of Namibia – climb the iconic Dune 45 to see the sand dunes of the Sossusvlei, explore the picturesque Deadvlei Salt Pans, Sesriem Canyon and Damaraland’s ancient rock paintings and petrified forests.

By travelling on this trip, you’ll directly support our Intrepid Foundation partner, Gorilla Doctors. Donations help them care for injured mountain and Grauer's gorillas – contributing to the long-term sustainability of gorilla populations.

Itinerary

Map of Premium Eastern And Southern Africa including Botswana, Kenya, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Uganda and Zimbabwe

Inclusions and activities

Meals

32 breakfasts, 18 lunches, 30 dinners

Transport

4x4 Safari Vehicle, Boat, Private Vehicle, Plane

Accommodation

Hotel (10 nights), Lodge (23 nights), Permanent tented camp (3 nights)

Premium inclusions
  • Arrival airport transfer
  • Tipping for accommodation, activities and transport
  • Luggage transfer
  • Daily breakfast and signature local meal experiences
  • 24/7 on-ground support
Included activities
  • Kigali - Welcome Dinner
  • Kigali - Genocide Memorial Centre
  • Kigali - City Tour
  • Kigali - Local Food Lunch
  • Bwindi - Gorilla Doctors Veterinarian Educational Talk
  • Bwindi National Park - Mountain Gorilla Permit & Trek
  • Complimentary Arrival Transfer
  • Nairobi - Welcome Dinner
  • Lake Naivasha - Boat trip
  • Lake Naivasha - Elsamere Conservation Centre
  • Lake Nakuru - Afternoon 4x4 Game Drive
  • Lake Nakuru - Morning 4x4 Game Drive
  • Loita Hills - Cultural talk and village visit
  • Masai Mara - Sundowner and snacks
  • Masai Mara - Full Day 4x4 Game Drive
  • Masai Mara - Afternoon 4x4 Game Drive
  • Johannesburg - Welcome Dinner
  • Complimentary Arrival Transfer - OR Tambo International Airport to Radisson Blu Gautrain
  • Kruger National Park - Afternoon 4WD Safari
  • Kruger National Park - Full Day 4WD Safari
  • Kruger National Park - Sundowner Drinks
  • Victoria Falls - Zambezi River Dinner Cruise
  • Victoria Falls - Victoria Falls tour Zimbabwe Side
  • Chobe National Park - River cruise
  • Chobe National Park - Morning 4x4 Game Drive
  • Chobe - Welcome Dinner
  • Chobe National Park - 4x4 Game Drive
  • Zambezi River - Morning River Cruise
  • Zambezi River - Afternoon River Cruise
  • Makgadikgadi Pans - Sunset 4x4 Excursion & Sundowner
  • Makgadikgadi Pans - Meerkat & Kalahari Bushman Experience
  • Okavango Delta - Mokoro safari
  • Okavango Delta - Expert Guided Bush Walk
  • Okavango Delta - Full Day Mokoro
  • Windhoek - Welcome Dinner
  • Sesriem - Guided Nature Drive & Sundowners
  • Sesriem - Sossusvlei & Deadvlei Salt Pan Visit
  • Sesriem - Dune 45 Visit
  • Sesriem - Sesriem Canyon Visit
  • Solitaire - Bakery Visit & Apple Pie Tasting
  • Swakopmund - Leader-led Orientation Tour
  • Walvis Bay - Visit
  • Damaraland - Sunset Walk
  • Damaraland - Twyfelfontein Bushman Paintings
  • Damaraland - Twyfelfontein Heritage Site
  • Damaraland - Petrified Forest
  • Damaraland - Living Museum of the Damara
  • Etosha NP - Full Day 4WD Safari

Optional activities
  • Bwindi Impenetrable Forest - Nombe Forest Pocket (5-6hrs) - USD120
  • Bwindi Impenetrable Forest - Trek To The Top of The World (2-3hrs) - USD50
  • Bwindi Impenetrable Forest - Coffee Tour & Lake Mutanda Canoe (6-7hrs) - USD120
  • Bwindi Impenetrable Forest - Gorilla Buffer Zone Walk (2-3hrs) - USD50
  • Bwindi Impenetrable Forest - Buniga Batwa Cultural Trail - USD30
  • Nairobi - City Experience Urban Adventure - USD55
  • Masai Mara National Reserve - Balloon ride (from price) - USD470
  • Masai Mara - Half Day Game Drive - USD80
  • Masai Mara National Reserve - Guided Walking Safari - USD30
  • Victoria Falls - Helicopter Flight (25 mins - Excludes US$30 fuel surcharge and NP fees) - USD284
  • Victoria Falls - Helicopter Flight of the Angels (12 mins - Excludes US$25 fuel surcharge and NP fees) - USD150
  • Chobe National Park - 4x4 Game Drive - BWP580
  • Swakopmund - Swakopmund Museum - USD2
  • Swakopmund - Seal and dolphin cruise - USD60

Is this trip right for you?

  • Tracking gorillas in the dense forest can sometimes be wet, humid, muddy and uncomfortable. The terrain is by no means easy either, so it can be pretty strenuous walking. You need to be prepared and fit enough to walk up to 4 hours up and down hills (perhaps pack some gardening gloves to assist in any up-hill climbs). But the sheer thrill of coming across a habituated group of gorillas, dominated by a great male silverback, more than outweighs any difficulty.
  • The gorilla trek is a shared activity. You may be split into different groups according to fitness level, and be accompanied by other travellers on your trek. However there will only be a maximum of 8 people per gorilla family, plus a local Uganda Wildlife Ranger and trackers.
  • This itinerary features some long travel days, which can be exacerbated by bumpy African roads. It is recommended that you pay close attention to the given approximations of driving hours.
  • As the early bird catches the worm, the early camper sights the animals. 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.

Dates and availability

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Important notes

1. This trip requires a higher non-refundable deposit (AUD1000, USD1000, EUR800, NZD1250, GBP650, CAD1000, ZAR8000, CHF900) 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.
2. Please note that the Gorilla Permit included is only valid for one day on Day 4. For those who are interested for a second trek, please consult your booking agent about purchasing the second Gorilla Permit.
3. A single supplement is available on all nights of this trip, subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
4. A complimentary airport arrival transfer is included; valid if you are arriving on Day 1 or if you have booked pre-tour accommodation through us. You must provide your flight details to your booking agent at least 14 days prior to travel.
5. An optional sunrise balloon ride in the Masai Mara is possible on this itinerary. Please see the itinerary above for full details of this activity. As the balloon only holds 16 people, places are limited and we recommend you book in advance. Please inquire when booking your trip to book this optional activity.
6. This trip includes flights. The luggage allowance is 23kg for check in luggage and 8kg for carry on.
7. Travel is always an adventure and our leaders are experts when it comes to dealing with anything unexpected along the journey, so sit back and relax while they take care of the rest.
8. Border crossing delays in the region have been sporadic and difficult to predict. What takes an hour one day may take four hours the next. This may affect the order of activities in the itinerary. We understand this uncertainty can be frustrating, and we strongly recommend packing a bit of patience and flexibility.
9. Depending on the departure date, we may use other luxury camps for our Feature Stay in Kenya, including Mara Engai, Amani Mara or Fig Tree Camp.
10. Depending on the departure date, we may use Desert Hills Lodge for our Feature Stay in Namibia.

Essential Trip Information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

Read Essential Trip Information

Reviews

5 out of 5 based on 1 reviews submitted.
Reviews are from travellers who have completed their trip and want to share their experience. We show all reviews, but may remove any that include profanity or inappropriate content, are unrelated to the trip or reveal personal details.

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Rod and Karen · Traveled August 2023
Review submitted 27 Sep 2023
Premium Eastern and Southern Africa
From
NZD $55,775