Wildlife Treasures: Primates & the Big 5

Breakfast at the lodge. Depart for the papyrus-fringed shores of breathtaking Lake Naivasha today, stopping along the route to visit beautiful Thompson Falls in Nyahururu. Continue the 5.5-hour journey as you descend into the dramatic landscapes of the Great Rift Valley before arriving at the lodge at Lake Naivasha in time for lunch. Enjoy the remainder of the day enjoying some time at your leisure to relax, take an optional game drive at Lake Nakuru in the afternoon.* Dinner and overnight stay at Lake Naivasha.

* Optional Game Drive at Lake Nakuru: Take your lunch with you as you head out on an afternoon game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park with a picnic. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this soda lake is known for its large populations of flamingos and rhinos. 

Awake to the sounds of nature and enjoy breakfast at the lodge. Afterwards, depart for the world-famous Maasai Mara National Reserve, journeying along the floor of the Great Rift Valley and passing through the charming towns of Mai Mahiu and Narok, the latter of which is the Maasai capital. Arrive at the lodge/camp in time for lunch and soak up the breathtaking views of the surrounding savannah. In the mid-afternoon, head off on a game drive in the Maasai Mara National Reserve, considered the world’s finest game viewing area! Keep your eyes peeled for the legendary Big Five: lions, rhinos, buffalos, elephants and leopards as you venture through the wild landscapes and watch in awe as the dramas of everyday life in the animal kingdom unfold before you! Head back to the lodge at sunset for dinner. Overnight stay in the Maasai Mara.

Breakfast at the lodge. Embark on an unforgettable day of wildlife-spotting as you set off on a full-day game-viewing drive with a packed lunch on the go. This extra time will allow you to greater explore the vast reserve and discover the spectacular and diverse landscapes of the Maasai Mara. Relish the opportunity of potentially spotting all of the Big Five and enjoy some of the best game-viewing on earth. As this magical day draws to a close, return to the lodge and unwind at dinner as you retell the stories of today’s adventures! Overnight stay in the Maasai Mara.

Awake early for breakfast and enjoy your last moments in the Kenyan wilderness at your leisure or set off on an optional Hot Air Balloon Safari*, a morning game drive** or a visit to a local Maasai Village.*** At mid-morning it’s time to head back to Nairobi, arriving back in the capital in the afternoon. Get settled in at the hotel, ready to spend your final evening in Kenya at your leisure, perhaps shopping for souvenirs or indulging in the local cuisine in Nairobi’s many eateries. Overnight stay in Nairobi. 

* Optional Hot Air Balloon Safari: Experience the majesty of the Maasai Mara from the sky on a once-in-a-lifetime hot air balloon safari. Ascend at dawn and experience the most unforgettable sunrise imaginable as the savannah and its wildlife spring to life in the soft morning light.

Please note: The optional Hot Air Balloon Safari is dependent on weather conditions at the destination and will be confirmed the day before. If the activity cannot go ahead, it will be refunded when you return from your trip.

** Optional Morning Game Drive in the Maasai Mara: Watch in awe as the savannah comes to life on this morning game drive. The wildlife of the Maasai Mara are particularly active during the morning so this is a great opportunity for spotting animals!

*** Optional Maasai Village visit: Discover the local culture with a visit to a Maasai Village. The Maasai people are known for their brilliant artisan crafts and colourful clothing.

Breakfast at the hotel. At the indicated time*, transfer to the airport (usually 3/4 hours before your departure flight) for your flight to Entebbe. Upon arrival, meet your guide and transfer to the hotel. A charming town, Entebbe is situated on the shore of Lake Victoria, Africa's largest lake. Spend the rest of the day at your leisure, relaxing or exploring the town for a chance to experience the local culture. Overnight stay in Entebbe.

*You must check-out of your hotel room by 10am. 

Breakfast at the hotel. Set off to Kibale Forest National Park, enjoying the changing landscapes as you leave the town behind. Arrive in the afternoon and check in at your lodge. Kibale is a huge protected rainforest, known for being the home of a large number of primates such as chimpanzees, red-tailed monkeys and grey-cheeked mangabey. Overnight stay in Kibale.

Breakfast at the lodge. In the morning, register at the Park Offices and begin an exciting Chimpanzee Tracking Excursion. Go in search of man's most genetically similar animal, and begin with a trek through the rainforest until you make the first sightings of the Chimpanzees. Watch as the group go about their daily activities such as feeding, climbing, raising their young and noisily interacting with each other, while enjoying informative insights from your expert guide. Return to the lodge and in the afternoon head to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Overnight stay in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Set off early for a sunrise game drive in Uganda's most popular national park for the best chance of spotting the abundant wildlife of the region including lions, buffalo, elephants and nocturnal animals such as hyenas and leopards, with the beautiful soundtrack of morning bird song to accompany you. Return to the lodge for a late breakfast and relax at your leisure. Later, set off for an afternoon Launch Cruise on the Kanziga Channel, famous for its hippos, Nile crocodiles and buffalo. Overnight stay in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Breakfast at the lodge. Drive south through the Ishasha area, famed for its tree-climbing lions, towards Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Spend the journey admiring the spectacular natural landscape. Continue to the southern sector of Bwindi, the iconic national park home to the elusive and endangered mountain gorillas. Arrive at the lodge and spend the rest of the day relaxing at your leisure. Overnight stay in Bwindi.

Early breakfast at the lodge and set off to the Park Offices to register for your exciting Gorilla Tracking Excursion. Be assigned a particular family of Gorillas and head into the magical rainforest, abundant with colourful birds, butterfly and animals species, until you finally reach the group of Gorillas. Watch in awe as these majestic animals go about their daily lives, grooming, feeding and interacting with each other. It is an unforgettable experience to see Gorillas in the wild. Trek back to base and return to the lodge. Overnight stay in Bwindi.

Breakfast at the lodge. Leave Bwindi and drive towards Lake Mburo National Park, situated on the border of Tanzania and home to various species of savannah animals including lions, hyenas, zebras and giraffes, as well as water-loving animals such as hippos and crocodiles who can be found by the lake. Enjoy fantastic game-viewing as you make your way towards the lodge. Arrive and overnight stay in Lake Mburo.

Breakfast at the lodge. This morning, enjoy either a game drive or a fascinating guided forest walk (30USD) to get up close to the local wildlife. Afterwards, head back to Entebbe, stopping at the Equator, where you can stand in both hemispheres at once, and visit the Royal Drum Makers of Mpambire, masters of making hand-made drums. Arrive in Entebbe and transfer to the airport for your flight back to the US. Night on board.