Leaving Kampala in the morning, drive west to Fort Portal. This laidback town lies in the northern foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains in a heartland of lush tea-growing plantations.

The Kibale Forest is 766km2 and largely comprises of rainforest where 60 mammal and 335 bird species reside, as well as many different insects and plants. There are 13 primate species, of which the chimpanzees are a star attraction. Today you will be driven deep into the forest to meet your guides who will escort you through the park to look for these fascinating primates in their natural habitat. Sometimes high up in trees, sometimes on the ground playing – wherever you find a chimpanzee community – you will be left in awe of their strong family ties and their amazing agility. The rest of the day is free to relax at the hotel, or explore the town & its surrounds.

Your destination is Queen Elizabeth National Park which is especially scenic, with two lakes connected by a channel overlooked by a high peninsula. Arrive after lunch and take an afternoon boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel. It is well worth the trip to see the thousands of hippo, abundant bird life and busy fishing village. This evening we dine in the lodge’s scenic restaurant overnight the Kazinga.

Leave Queen Elizabeth National Park in the morning and drive through to Rwanda, crossing the border at Gatuna. Once in Rwanda drive to the capital city of Kigali. The hotel has a popular restaurant for you to sample this evening.

A sobering few hours will be spent at the Genocide Museum in the morning, followed by a visit to the carving and curio markets. In the afternoon you will drive through stunning scenery and steep-terraced farmland to Ruhengeri where you will be based for the next two days. The hotel has a lively rooftop bar and is only 5 minutes’ walk from the centre of town.

Free day to explore the town and surrounding areas. You might like to hike into The Volcanoes national Park to visit Diane Fossey’s graveside, a canoe trip down the Mukungwa River through rural Rwanda, or a visit to The Gorilla Museum set up by The Diane Fossey Fund.

A short drive this morning back into Uganda through the border at Cyanika. Afternoon at leisure to relax, have a look around the town and prepare your gear for the gorilla trek tomorrow.

You will be picked up early in the morning and taken to the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park entrance. From here you will be split into groups of 8 with a guide and park rangers, then begin your hike in the rain forest to see the magnificent mountain gorillas. Expect to trek between 1 – 5 hours through thick forest with overhanging vines, moss covered trees and Giant Lobelias that thrive in the tropical climate. Depending on where the gorillas are, you may have to go off the track and climb steeply through thick bush. After all the effort of your climb, you will be overawed when you finally come across a family of gorillas. There are less than 900 mountain gorillas in the world and nothing could be more of a privilege than to spend an hour watching them as they go about their daily routine of feeding, playing, cleaning and resting in their own territory. An unforgettable experience! After the trek you will be taken to Lake Bunyonyi.

The Lake is reputed to be one of the deepest in Africa and is fantastic for swimming in. The surrounding hills are the home of the Bakiga people who are cultivators by tradition. Spend the morning visiting a local school then back to the truck for lunch, followed by a leisurely afternoon boat cruise around the islands.

It is a reasonably long drive through to Jinja where you will spend the next few nights. The luxuriant vegetation covering the river banks, and the diversity of bird life attracted by the multitude of fish, complete a stunning vista as you sip a cold drink in the camp bar overlooking the Nile River.

Free day. Mountain Biking, Quad Biking, Horse Riding, Village Walks, Birding and Fishing on the Nile are just some of the optional activities available for you to do here.

Today cross into Kenya where you will stay up in the highlands just outside of Eldoret. The river camp is a laid-back resort with a pool, shady gardens and a very vibrant bar with unique furnishings.

This morning drive through the very picturesque Eldama Ravine to Nakuru, located in the Rift Valley. Accommodation is in self-contained cottages on a working farm with beautiful gardens and excellent facilities. You can spend the afternoon going on a farm walk and/or visit the Kenana knitters’ project.

Today enter Lake Nakuru National Park and spend the day game driving. This compact park is packed with wildlife. The soda lake has over 400 species of birdlife - an ornithologist’s paradise. It is also home to both the black and white rhino, and where some scenes from the movie "Out of Africa" were filmed.

This afternoon arrive at Lake Naivasha and take a boat ride on the lake viewing hippos, fish eagles and birdlife before arriving at Elsamere, the former home of the late Joy & George Adamson. Joy became world famous for her pioneering conservation work and relationship with the lioness Elsa, as told in her bestselling book and subsequent film, Born Free. After a video presentation on the life of the Adamsons, savour a delicious afternoon tea in the garden.

Today drive into the Masai Mara stopping along the way for lunch. As you get closer to the park you will see herds of goats & cows wandering in a cloud of dust the vast plains, dutifully watched by their Maasai owners. Enter the main gate by mid-afternoon and drive through to Sekenani Camp, each tent is situated on a raised platform with ensuite bathroom complete with a full length bathtub!

Spend the day game driving around the park through vast herds of zebra, wildebeest and antelope. Hopefully we will also spot some of The Big 5 (lion, leopard, rhino, elephant & buffalo). The Masai Mara is quite simply one of the greatest wildlife attractions in the world and at this time of year (July to Oct) we should see the migration which is spectacular. Stop at the Mara River for a short guided walk and see what animals might be around the river at the time. In the afternoon visit a Maasai village to meet the locals and learn about some of their age-old customs and the way they live their semi-nomadic lifestyle.

Today journey through the Rift Valley and up the escarpment where a stop is made for photo opportunities, before continuing on to Nairobi, Kenya’s capital. Tonight you might like to eat in the famous Carnivores Restaurant which is located in the grounds of our hotel.

You will be transferred to Nairobi Airport today.

• 19 nights accommodation as indicated
• Meals as indicated (B-Breakfast, L-Lunch, D-Dinner)
• Sightseeing as indicated
• Services of experienced driver/guide plus camp/cook assistant
• Fully equipped safari vehicle, with camping/cooking equipment
• All road tolls, vehicle taxes, National Park entry fees
• Airport transfers on Days 1 & 20 between the hours of 6.00am and 6.00pm only

• International airfares
• Gorilla trekking Permit (US$840 per person, includes booking fee & transport)
• Chimpanzee trekking permit (US$280 per person, includes booking fee)
• Travel insurance (mandatory)
• Entry Visa to all countries (purchased at border)
• Items of a personal nature (e.g. drinks, souvenirs)
• Gratuities/Tipping
• Any other optional activities you choose to take