Nairobi To Victoria Falls Apes & Lakes (54 Days)

Itinerary

1. Intro

   Introduction
2. Days 1 - 3

   Nairobi to East African Rift Valley to Lake Naivasha to Masai Mara

   Nairobi to East African Rift Valley to Lake Naivasha to Masai Mara Show on map

   Included Activities

   • Morning game drive in Masai Mara
   • Afternoon game drive in Masai Mara

   Optional Activities

   • Walk to Elsamere (Joy Adamson's house) and watch film with cream teas at Lake Naivasha
   • Mountain bike rental and cycling in Hell's Gate National Park
   • Walk through Hell's Gate National Park
   • Visit Crater Lake Game Sanctuary
   • Evening safari in Masai Mara (available locally on arrival day if time permits)

   Landmarks
   East African Rift Valley
   Lake Naivasha
   Elsamere
   Hell's Gate National Park
   Crater Lake Game Sanctuary
   Masai Mara National Reserve

   

3. Days 4 - 7

   Masai Mara to Kakamega Rainforest to Kenya-Uganda Border to Jinja

   Masai Mara to Kakamega Rainforest to Kenya-Uganda Border to Jinja Show on map

   Included Activities

   • Guided walk in Kakamega Rainforest

   Optional Activities

   • Whitewater rafting from Jinja
   • Kayaking from Jinja
   • Quad biking from Jinja
   • Horse riding from Jinja
   • Visit local education project near Jinja

   Landmarks
   Kakamega Rainforest
   Lake Victoria
   Jinja

4. Days 8 - 10

   Jinja to Kalinzu Forest Reserve to Queen Elizabeth National Park to Lake Bunyonyi

   Jinja to Kalinzu Forest Reserve to Queen Elizabeth National Park to Lake Bunyonyi Show on map

   Included Activities

   • Guided boat cruise on Kazinga Channel in Queen Elizabeth National Park
   • Morning game drive through Queen Elizabeth National Park

   Optional Activities

   • Chimpanzee trekking at Kalinzu Forest Reserve
   • Forest walks at Kalinzu Forest Reserve (valley trail, waterfall path, river trail, Palm trail)
   • Village walks learning about Basongara, Bakonjo and Banyabindi cultures at Lake Bunyonyi area

   Landmarks
   Kalinzu Forest Reserve
   Equator
   Queen Elizabeth National Park
   Kazinga Channel
   Lake Bunyonyi

5. Days 11 - 12

   Lake Bunyonyi to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park to Kigali

   Lake Bunyonyi to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park to Kigali Show on map

   Optional Activities

   • Mountain Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
   • Visit Lake Bunyonyi
   • Visit pygmy village
   • Visit genocide memorial in Kigali

   Landmarks
   Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
   Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
   Lake Bunyonyi
   Kabale
   Kigali Genocide Memorial

6. Days 13 - 14

   Kigali to Musanze and Volcanoes National Park

   Kigali to Musanze and Volcanoes National Park Show on map

   Optional Activities

   • Village tour through Musanze
   • See local banana beer production
   • Guided trek to see Golden Monkeys in Volcanoes National Park

   Landmarks
   Musanze Caves
   Volcanoes National Park

7. Days 15 - 17

   Musanze to Lake Mburo to Kampala to Sipi Falls

   Musanze to Lake Mburo to Kampala to Sipi Falls Show on map

   Optional Activities

   • Night game drive at Lake Mburo National Park (6:30-7pm, approximately 2-3 hours)
   • Morning safari at Lake Mburo National Park
   • Explore Kampala city center and nightlife
   • Abseiling at Sipi Falls

   Landmarks
   Lake Mburo National Park
   Kampala
   Sipi Falls
   Mount Elgon

8. Days 18 - 20

   Sipi Falls to Lake Nakuru to Nairobi

   Sipi Falls to Lake Nakuru to Nairobi Show on map

   Included Activities

   • Half day game safari at Lake Nakuru National Park

   Optional Activities

   • Additional activities at Lake Nakuru National Park

   Landmarks
   Lake Nakuru National Park

9. Day 21

   Nairobi

   Nairobi Show on map

   Included Activities

   • Visit Langata Giraffe Centre
   • Truck and equipment orientation

   Optional Activities

   • Visit Nairobi National Park
   • Visit David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage
   • Visit Karen Blixen Museum

   Landmarks
   Langata Giraffe Centre
   Nairobi National Park
   David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage
   Karen Blixen Museum

10. Days 22 - 25

    Nairobi to Arusha to Serengeti to Meserani

    Nairobi to Arusha to Serengeti to Meserani Show on map

    Optional Activities

    • Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater safari add-on (3 days)
    • Visit Meserani Snake Park
    • Visit local Masai village
    • Day trips into Serengeti (note: limited time on safari due to travel time)

    Landmarks
    Meserani Snake Park
    Serengeti National Park
    Ngorongoro Crater

11. Days 26 - 29

    Arusha to Marangu to Bagamoyo to Dar es Salaam

    Arusha to Marangu to Bagamoyo to Dar es Salaam Show on map

    Optional Activities

    • Climb to Kilimanjaro base camp from Marangu
    • Walk through lush surroundings from Marangu (coffee plantations, rivers, waterfalls, caves)
    • Visit local blacksmith in Marangu

    Landmarks
    Mount Kilimanjaro
    Marangu
    Bagamoyo
    Dar es Salaam

12. Days 30 - 33

    Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar

    Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar Show on map

    Included Activities

    • Ferry to Zanzibar
    • Visit Stone Town
    • Visit spice markets in Stone Town
    • Visit slave forts and dungeons

    Optional Activities

    • Scuba diving from Zanzibar
    • Snorkelling from Zanzibar
    • Dolphin boat trips from Zanzibar

    Landmarks
    Stone Town

13. Days 34 - 39

    Zanzibar to Dar es Salaam to Mikumi National Park to Malawi

    Zanzibar to Dar es Salaam to Mikumi National Park to Malawi Show on map

    Included Activities

    • Village walk at Lake Malawi

    Optional Activities

    • Scuba diving at Lake Malawi
    • Snorkelling at Lake Malawi
    • Windsurfing at Lake Malawi
    • Visit local villages near Lake Malawi
    • Visit local schools near Lake Malawi
    • Browse local artisan furniture and carvings (ebony and mahogany)

    Landmarks
    Mikumi National Park
    Lake Malawi

14. Days 40 - 44

    Lake Malawi to Lilongwe to Mozambique to Zimbabwe to Harare

    Lake Malawi to Lilongwe to Mozambique to Zimbabwe to Harare Show on map

    Optional Activities

    • Explore Lilongwe local markets
    • Visit Harare city center markets
    • Visit Mbare market in Harare
    • Stroll through Harare botanical gardens
    • Enjoy nightlife in Harare

    Landmarks
    Lilongwe
    Tete Corridor
    Harare

15. Days 45 - 47

    Harare to Chimanimani to Great Zimbabwe Ruins

    Harare to Chimanimani to Great Zimbabwe Ruins Show on map

    Optional Activities

    • Hike through mountain wilderness in Chimanimani
    • Hike to Bridal Veil Falls from Chimanimani
    • Stroll through Chimanimani village market

    Landmarks
    Chimanimani
    Bridal Veil Falls
    Great Zimbabwe Ruins

16. Days 48 - 51

    Great Zimbabwe to Gweru to Bulawayo

    Great Zimbabwe to Gweru to Bulawayo Show on map

    Included Activities

    • Visit private horse and game ranch

    Optional Activities

    • Game viewing on horseback at the ranch
    • Day venture into Matobo National Park with local safari company
    • Foot-based game viewing for Black Rhino in Matobo National Park
    • Visit Cecil Rhodes' grave
    • View ancient rock paintings

    Landmarks
    Gweru
    Bulawayo
    Matobo National Park

    

17. Days 52 - 54

    Bulawayo to Victoria Falls

    Bulawayo to Victoria Falls Show on map

    Meals

    Meals (Meals as per itinerary (approximately 60% of meals included in tour package))

    Included Activities

    • Overnight sleeper train from Bulawayo to Victoria Falls (if available)

    Optional Activities

    • Day trip over Victoria Falls bridge to view falls from Zambia
    • Flight of Angels - microlight or helicopter flight over the falls
    • Afternoon tea at Victoria Falls Hotel
    • Sunset Boat Cruise
    • Canoe trip
    • Gorge Swing
    • Abseil
    • Commercial Bungee Jump
    • White water rafting (Grade 5)

    Landmarks
    Victoria Falls
    Zambezi Gorge
    Victoria Falls Hotel