- Spend a precious hour in the company of mountain gorillas
- Enjoy game drives in the Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru and Queen Elizabeth National Parks
- Visit Murchison Falls National Park
- Track chimpanzees and other primates in Budongo Forest
Gorillas & Masai Mara - Camping
15 Days
from
17 Days
from
Wildlife
Kenyan Photographic Safari 360 with Exodus Travels
Itinerary
Nairobi Kigali
Depart London
Start Nairobi; overnight in hotel
The adventure begins in Nairobi, the capital and largest city in Kenya. This evening’s welcome briefing is the perfect opportunity to meet your guide and get to know your fellow travellers.
Accommodation: Kenya Comfort Suites (or similar)
Arrive Nairobi
The group flight usually arrives into Nairobi this afternoon and will be met and transferred to the start hotel. Land Only clients should aim to arrive at the hotel this afternoon. This evening’s welcome briefing is the perfect opportunity to meet your guide and get to know your fellow travellers.
Accommodation: Kenya Comfort Suites (or similar)
To Masai Mara; late afternoon game drive
After loading our things onto the vehicle, we depart Nairobi and travel approximately seven hours into the Masai Mara, a vast grassland teeming with life. Here wildebeest, gazelles, topis, zebras and buffalo abound in the rolling savannah, and never far away lay the predators: cheetahs, lions and hyenas. Between mid-August and late October, one of the greatest spectacles on Earth takes place in the Mara: the annual migration of thousands of wildebeest, gazelles and zebras trampling across the long grass. Nothing is guaranteed on safari, but with the help of our brilliant guides you should see and learn a huge amount about the Masai Mara wildlife as we drive through the park this afternoon.
Accommodation: Mountain Rock Camp (or similar) – full-service camping
Full day in the Masai Mara
Enjoy a full-day game drive in the Masai Mara to increase our chances of encountering many of the wildlife species in the reserve. We find a quiet spot inside the park to enjoy lunch by our vehicle, looking out across the plains. There is also an optional hot-air balloon safari at sunrise, which includes champagne and breakfast.
Accommodation: Mountain Rock Camp (or similar) – full-service camping
To Lake Nakuru National Park; afternoon game drive
We depart the Masai Mara in the morning after breakfast and drive to Lake Nakuru National Park, one of the finest small parks in Kenya, where we have an afternoon game drive. The park is widely known for having an impressive population of black and white rhinos, which are relatively easy to spot in the open savannah. Fever trees line the park and are a well-known spot for leopards to laze in, while one of the most impressive sights is the vast flamingo population. Owing to flooding, the alkaline content of the lake has changed in recent years; as a result, the flamingos no longer tend to be found in such large numbers, but this can change depending on the rainfall.
Accommodation: KWS Campsite (or similar) – full-service camping
Morning game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park; to Eldoret
This morning, we once again go in search of wildlife on a game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park. After lunch inside the park, we have a journey of around three hours as we drive to Eldoret, one of the larger cities in Kenya, where we spend the night.
Accommodation: Green Wood Campsite (or similar) – full-service camping
To Jinja, Uganda
Today there is a drive of about 155mi (250km) to Jinja, which should take about eight hours, including a border crossing into Uganda. The crossing can be slow but we leave plenty of time for this and you’ll no doubt find the experience interesting!
On the shores of Lake Victoria, Jinja is the adventure capital of Uganda. The area is most famous for grade IV and V white-water rafting excursions but there are plenty of other adrenaline-fuelled activities here.
Accommodation: Adrift Camp (or similar) – full-service camping
Free day for optional activities
Today is free to choose from a range of optional activities. White-water rafting in Jinja is considered to be among the best in the world, with a half- or full-day route that varies from quiet pools and forested islands to thunderous rapids and drops. There are several grade V rapids to navigate including Big Brother, Overtime and Silverback. If rafting doesn’t appeal, you can visit the source of the White Nile, one of the two major tributaries of the Nile.
Accommodation: Adrift Camp (or similar) – full-service camping
To Murchison Falls
We leave Jinja and drive to Murchison Falls National Park (six hours), the largest national park in Uganda, with rolling grasslands and wooded savannah. Tomorrow, we visit the top of the falls, where the river narrows from 165ft (50m) to crash through a 23ft (7m) gorge, falling 150ft (45m) to the rocks below. A truly impressive sight!
Accommodation: Red Chilli Murchison (or similar) – full-service camping
Full day in Murchison Falls
We have an early morning game drive in Murchison Falls National Park. We transfer by ferry to the north side of the Nile where we embark on our game drive. The area is home to elephants, giraffes, buffalo and Ugandan kobs, plus the predators: lions and leopards. After lunch, we travel by boat up the Nile, passing hippos and crocodiles, searching for elephants and waterbuck that come to the river to drink. The cruise lasts about three hours and we travel upstream to the bottom of the falls, stopping near the Devil’s Cauldron, the place where the water bursts through the narrow gorge and creates an outstanding rainbow.
Accommodation: Red Chilli Murchison (or similar) – full-service camping
Chimpanzee tracking in Budongo Forest
We depart early this morning for Budongo Forest, home to the largest number of chimpanzees in Uganda; we go on a trek in search of chimps and other wildlife. The walking is fairly easy due to the well-maintained trails and reasonably flat terrain. While trekking in the depths of the lush green forest, we are surrounded by bird song and hope to see velvet and colobus monkeys, wild pigs and, of course, chimpanzees. Once a chimp family is found, we have an hour with these fascinating creatures, to watch them interact and play with each other.
Accommodation: Red Chilli Murchison (or similar) – full-service camping
To Queen Elizabeth National Park
Today, we have a long drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park (QENP), which goes south along the eastern length of the Rwenzori Mountains, where we can see the glaciated peaks, weather permitting. We gently descend into the Great Rift Valley and QENP. The park resides in a fertile, equatorial area and has beautiful scenery. It is the most popular and accessible savannah reserve in Uganda. It is primarily associated with grassy savannah plains, but this impressive park also includes leafy rainforests, dense papyrus swamps and natural volcanic crater lakes. As a result, it has one of the highest biodiversity ratings of any game reserve in the world, including 95 recorded mammal species and more than 610 bird species.
Accommodation: Irungu Forest Safari Campsite (or similar) – full-service camping
Spend a full day in Queen Elizabeth National Park
We explore QENP on a game drive this morning, searching for elephants, lions, buffalo, leopards, hyenas, jackals, topis, kobs, bush bucks and various others. In the afternoon, there is an optional boat trip of about two hours along the Kazinga Channel to view one of the largest concentrations of hippos in the world (reported to be about 30,000) and other game with excellent birding. The game drive continues in the afternoon for those who do not join the boat trip.
Accommodation: Irungu Forest Safari Campsite (or similar) – full-service camping
To Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
We have a final early morning game drive in QENP and depart after breakfast, heading for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a Unesco World Heritage site and home to mountain gorillas. The journey is 185mi (300km) and takes five to six hours, including stops.
Accommodation: Casa Gorilla Lodge & Campsite (or similar) – full-service camping
Trek to see mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
You will probably remember today for the rest of your life as we spend a full hour in the company of a family of mountain gorillas! Owing to the terrain and need to explore to find the gorillas, our trek doesn’t follow a path; instead, our guides cut a route through the undergrowth. After a safety briefing, we are assigned to a gorilla family group and begin our trek. Expect a minimum of three hours of walking on irregular terrain; steep ascents and descents over muddy slopes are the norm. Strong footwear is essential and we recommend hiring a local porter to help you carry your bag/camera equipment and provide a steady, supportive hand (porters are arranged and paid for locally on the day).
Seeing wild mountain gorillas in their natural habitat is an experience you will never forget. An adult male can weigh up to 430lb (195kg), a female up to 220lb (100kg), and a male can reach 5ft 7in (1.7m) tall. They are almost exclusively vegetarian and quite destructive eaters, which makes them unpopular with the farmers lower down the mountain as they have been known to wreck a whole field of crops just to eat one plant. For this reason, and poaching, the gorillas are very carefully protected. Gorillas are gentle creatures and are not known to attack unless very severely provoked. The family groups we trek to see are habituated to human presence but to prevent over familiarisation our time with them is limited to one hour. If the permits for gorilla families close to where we stay are unavailable, there may be more permits for other areas of the park, although this will mean a longer drive to the start of the trek.
Accommodation: Casa Gorilla Lodge & Campsite (or similar) – full-service camping
Early morning departure to Kigali airport
We depart early in the morning and transfer to Kigali airport. Our trip comes to an end in the afternoon when we bid our group goodbye.
Early morning departure to Kigali airport
We depart early in the morning and transfer to Kigali Airport. Our trip comes to an end in the afternoon when we bid our group goodbye.
Arrive London
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Camping
The camping is full-service, which means the tents are put up and taken down by our crew. We use standard mobile two-person tents for these nights and provide mattresses and all other equipment you’ll need (except a sleeping bag and pillow). East African campsites vary in terms of facilities – do not expect hot showers, flushing toilets or Western standards of cleanliness. Upgrades are available at some locations to a room – these can only be booked and paid for locally.
On some nights, we have more than one accommodation option. This can mean that where we stay differs to what has been listed for the day. The accommodation we select around Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is dependent on the gate we are using to access the park.
In Nairobi and Kigali, we stay in small hotels.
Trip Experts
Reviews
Add your own reviewMagical Journey
We travelled on the same trip as Angela, and agree with everything that she said.
The wildlife sightings in the Masai Mara were excellent; the boat trip on the Kazinga Channel was every bit as good; the trip to the source of the Nile is fun; and then there is the big finale of the chimp and gorilla trekking, all making this a wonderful journey.
Only one site, near Lake Nakuru, had poorer facilities, although as it had baboons and colobus monkeys in the camp while we were having lunch, we could happily overlook that.
This is definitely a trip where you need to have the right mental attitude, and then just go for it. The trip notes say that you will remember the time with the gorillas for the rest of your life. That is not an exaggeration, but it could be applied to the rest of the trip as well.
Most Inspirational Moment
It has to be the time spent with the gorillas in Bwindi. You know that they could take you out with one swipe of their hand, but you never feel threatened. They are so chilled, and it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience to be in their presence. The balloon trip over the Masai Mara is also worth it. It is just such a fantastic experience, and gives a different perspective (literally) on the animals and their life. The champagne breakfast after landing is great too!
Thoughts on Group Leader
Clara was an excellent guide. Her insights into the local situations were fascinating, and she was happy to share her knowledge, as well as ensuring that everything ran smoothly. She was always cheerful and helped make the group into a family. She also joined in the Whatsapp group for updates and messages, and has stayed in touch after the trip. Stoney, the driver was first class. The roads are very variable in quality, and some off-road driving was also required in the game parks. We never felt unsafe, even when there were some very tight turns and narrow gaps. Ken’s food was very good. You should not expect “cordon bleu” cooking in a camping safari. You hope for tasty and filling food, and we got that in abundance. The dietary requirements of some of the group (my wife and son are the “no-peppers” that Angela referred to) did not faze him at all, and there were no complaints. Finally, James was a great help to everyone in his roving role as general helper for everything.
Advice for Potential Travellers
As mentioned, you want to have the right approach for a trip like this, and our group definitely did. Although the trip is described as “full-service”, so that the crew put up and take down the tents, in practice, everyone chipped in to help, as it was more efficient and we could get on the move earlier, or get the camp up earlier. Early starts (5:30 a.m.?) are not a problem, as you have early nights as well – you just need to set your body clock to go with the daylight. It was worth hiring the porters for the gorilla trekking. We could have managed (just) without them, but they took away a stress that you don’t want interfering with such a memorable experience. The tents are not as large as on other Exodus trips (we have previously been on the Wildlife & Wilderness of Botswana) and so if you are sharing, there isn’t really room for two people plus their cases. However, just a little forethought is needed – what will I be wearing tomorrow? – and only take that and “night-stuff” to the tent. Leave the rest of the luggage on the truck overnight. Those who were not sharing had no problems. The lockers are slightly bigger than the trip notes suggest, and can be easily accessed during journeys, and throughout the evenings, as the crew stay with the truck. I suspect that our trek to see the gorillas was not as tough as some have had (based upon others’ reviews), although you do want to be reasonably fit. Still, it was not beyond me, as the oldest of the group (at 60), so most people should be fine. Laundry service is available at Jinja (“Adrift”) and Kisoro (“Virunga”) campsites, if you need to keep the luggage down. The upgrades, if you wanted to skip camping for a night or two, were basic chalets / rooms, but always clean, with hot showers, and very reasonably priced. (We upgraded for the nights before and after the gorilla trekking so that we were ready for the trek and in case we were shattered after it.) The trip notes do not mention the hotel in Kigali. We arrived there at about 14:30, so we had plenty of time for a re-pack (sleeping bag back into case) rest, shower, and an excellent dinner, before the 23:30 transfer to the airport for the flight home.
Suggestions
Make sure that you set up a WhatsApp group to share photos. I have pictures of me and my family with the gorillas thanks to the others in the group. Angela’s point about the connection at Heathrow is important. My daughter does have her case back now, but only because we had a longer connection to our flight than she did, and could wait for her baggage to come off and return it to her later. 4 hours is really the safe minimum connection for a domestic flight after coming off an Ethiopian Airlines flight.
Amazing Wildlife, Amazing People
What an incredible trip. The scenery, the wildlife viewing and the people all combine to make a fabulous itinerary. We were incredibly lucky with the wildlife from the very start, with the Big 5 achieved between the Masai Mara and Lake Nakuru, along with five cheetah, lions, baby giraffe, elephants, zebra and so much more.
We were incredibly lucky with the boat trip in Queen Elizabeth NP, getting to spend time watching two herds of elephants, both with babies, come down to the water’s edge to drink.
The whitewater rafting in Jinja was intense but absolutely brilliant and the safety was top notch. There are options on the rafting for how intense you want the experience – our group did the highest class available and spent a fair bit of time in the water, but it was such a fun activity.
The chimp trekking in Budongo was on relatively easy paths, with only the last 5-10mins being properly ‘off-track’. The chimps stayed up in the trees, however we still had a great viewing, with a young chimp playing around and giving some fabulous poses and facial experiences. Beware of the chimps throwing things down at you – they are surprisingly accurate with their aim!
The gorilla trekking is everything you imagine and more. It is impossible to predict how far or how hard your walk will be, so go prepared for a tough hike. Our group had around an hour of reasonable hiking on established tracks, followed by around 30-40 mins of full scrambling up and down a steep ravine as the gorillas moved away in search of a different food source. Once the gorillas had re-settled, we were able to spend the hour with the whole family, from the massive silverback to the playful adolescents and the relaxing females. The trackers are awesome and the gorillas showed no signs of being even remotely bothered by our presence, coming up towards us and playing / posing for photos near by.
As other reviewers have previously mentioned, there are lots of early mornings, but you soon adjust and, as this is when the wildlife is most active, it is definitely worth it. The campsites were generally of a very good standard. We had a slight issue with very late and loud music at the Jinja camp (take earplugs), and one campsite did not have working showers when we were there, but as this was one night only it really did not have a big impact. Most of the facilities were good and some were excellent (lovely hot showers), but really this trip is not about the accommodation – with good food (thanks Ken!) and great company, you really do not need luxury and the experience of waking up to the sounds of baboons and hyena made everything worthwhile. The Exodus tents and mattresses are good quality and well cared for, and there were plenty of opportunities for upgrades if you wanted a break from camping.
Most Inspirational Moment
There were so many. Helping to rescue a lost/abandoned baby elephant in the Masai Mara (big shout out to the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust for their prompt action) was such a privilege. Watching a cheetah run flat out across the plains, demonstrating just how fast and graceful they are. And of course, the hour spent with the gorillas in Bwindi - what an experience. The gentle giants were so relaxed, whilst the young adolescent gorillas were playful and cheeky. It truly is an extraordinarily honour to get to spend time with these amazing family groups.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Clara was amazing - so full of knowledge and passion for the region, she took the time to speak to us about a different local topic each day and enhanced our understanding of the local customs and history. She was always smiling and helpful, and so caring, especially when some of us were feeling unwell or needed a bit of extra help. Stony the driver is a legend - how he navigates some of the roads in the truck is a true talent. The truck is well taken care of, and we always felt safe throughout the trip, even on some of the very bumpy roads. He also did a fabulous job of navigating the safari drives when we used the truck, and finding us great view points to watch the various animals. Ken's cooking was amazing - the variety of soups and mains he managed to conjure up were fabulous, and he went out of his way to cater for all the dietary requirements of the group (veggie, no-peppers etc). Nothing was ever wasted and all the food was tasty and exactly what we needed after a long day of adventure. James, our overall helper, was a joy. His ability to put up and take down tents in the blink of an eye was amazing and nothing was ever too much trouble. He was always there to help with the cooking, cleaning, dealing with stiff truck windows, and just being an overall help throughout the trip.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Just go! It is completely worth it. My whole group agreed that the Nairobi-Kigali direction was our preference - building up to the gorillas at the end of the trip and sharing that experience with people you have just spent two weeks bonding with, was incredibly special. Proper hiking boots for the gorilla trekking are a must. The group will be split into eight for the gorillas, so you may be split or joined by other people if you are not an even 8 or 16 people. We hired three porters for our group of eight (20USD per porter) and these guys were invaluable in helping with bags and some of the steep scrambling we had to do to reach our gorilla family. The money goes to supporting the local community and, by association, the protection of the gorillas. Get the combined East Africa Visa, as this saves a lot of hassle at the border crossings into Uganda and Rwanda. It is the same cost as getting the visas separately, and is worth it for the ease. USD notes need to be flawless - even the slightest pen mark or nick/tear in the note will be rejected in Uganda, so make sure you check your notes before leaving the exchange bureau. Exchange places and ATM availability was fine for local currency, which you will need for the snack stops and small souvenirs, and many of the campsites have bars with reasonably priced beer.
Suggestions
Ethiopia Airlines from Addis Ababa to Heathrow has daily issues with baggage - so be aware if you have a connection from Heathrow (coach or plane) that you need to allow for plenty of time. Our flight was half an hour late, and then all of our bags took 1hr 45mins from landing to getting to the baggage carousel, which meant one of our group who had an ongoing flight connection had to abandon their checked baggage in order to make what should have been a reasonable 3hr connection. The baggage enquiries people at Heathrow told us this was a daily occurrence due to the Ethiopia Airlines overloading the baggage crates with oversized and overweight bags - so just something to be aware of. Overall, the trip was absolutely fabulous and I can only encourage everyone to go and experience it for themselves.
Brilliant trip but.........
An amazing trip with so many memorable moments, seeing all the big cats, black and a white rhino, herds off elephants and the boat trip along the Nile.
Crossing the Ugandan border was an experience in itself with so many checks and the officers wanting “gifts” from us.
The campsites are not what you might expect and quite often the showers were cold water and only one to share between you. Unfortunately most of the group and staff became ill in the second week of the trip, this really dampened the spirts of everyone and it was hard with everyone feeling bad.
The food was not too my liking so I stuck to peanut butter sandwiches but Wilson did try his hardest to keep me fed but I will say that everyone else seemed to enjoy his cooking.
We were a mixed group of ages but it was great how we all got on so well together as this could make or break a trip. The 4 guys that took care of us were amazing and so helpful and friendly.
Really loved this trip but be prepared to rough it and definitely get a porter for the Gorilla trek as believe me you will need one.
Most Inspirational Moment
There are so many on this trip but I suppose seeing the mountain gorillas was something I will never forget. To get so close to them and they not be worried that you are standing around them. They had young also that were very playful which was great to witness. Second would be the balloon ride over the Masai Mari, although it was very foggy it was still amazing but expensive. The champagne breakfast was the best, amazing what they prepared for us.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Jacob and his team were amazing. Jacob's knowledge about all the wildlife and history and culture was second to none. Whenever we had issues he was always there to listen and take onboard what we had to say. On many a time he sorted out the accommodations for us and most of us had illness while this trip and he helped us through it.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Do not underestimate this trip, it's early starts and long days. The truck can be uncomfortable at times mainly due to the roads not being up to the standard we are used too. I would also say do the trip in reverse and see the Gorillas first as by the end of the trip we were all exhausted and a few of us were unwell. The lockers are small so no big bags and I would take lots of little packing bags as it can get a bit chaotic when everyone is trying to get to their stuff. Also take wet wipes just in case......
Amazing wildlife viewings
Amazing overall itinerary. Saw the big 5 in the Masai Mara in the first two days including iconic wildebeest migration crossing the Mara River. Followed by chimp trekking and gorilla trekking in Uganda which were amazing. The gorilla trekking in particular was superbly organised.
Some long travel days but absolutely necessary to get between National Parks.
Good safari truck and amazing food all cooked from local produce.
Most Inspirational Moment
Seeing the Silverback gorilla so close
Thoughts on Group Leader
Gilbert was excellent. The other three members of the crew, Stoney, Albert and James, were also excellent.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Take a light weight inflatable mattress if you need that little extra padding, we took an adjustable walking pole each for the gorilla trekking and found them very useful although even more so was the porter who guided you over the worst bits of the mud and held you up when you started slipping. Go with an open mind about early morning starts and long journey times as they are all necessary and the holiday was unforgettable.
Incredible wildlife experience
Be prepared for a number of long overland journeys (you will become very familiar with the truck), but the Exodus team made it as smooth and enjoyable as possible and the wildlife experiences we had made it all so so worth it!
Most Inspirational Moment
I was fully expecting to be blown away by the Gorillas (and they did not disappoint !) but as someone who has done safari before, I was not expecting the spectacular sightings that we had at the Masai Mara! We had a mind blowing first few days! So many big cats in such close proximity - including the ever elusive leopard ! 😍 We also saw wildebeest crossing and a kill which was bittersweet. Seeing the chimps in their natural habitat carrying on their business was also awe inspiring . When they start calling to each other and drumming the trees, it’s really quite intimidating but in the best possible way.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Gilbert was our Group leader and I thought he was fantastic! As well as being incredibly witty and good humoured throughout the trip, Gilbert was always explaining local culture, history, knowledge of the wildlife etc. I always felt very well informed and in safe hands! A very knowledgeable guy! Incredibly patient with a big group of big personalities! He and the broader team had a great bond and worked so well together!
Advice for Potential Travellers
The only consideration I would raise with potential travellers is around the camping. For me, I’m not a regular camper and so was a little out of my comfort zone at times. In saying that, whilst not all camps had hot water all the time, all of the campsites were lovely and indeed, I think my favourite nights were in the wild / unfenced camps. Truly an experience! I don’t at all regret the camping option as it was great fun but I did very much take advantage of the upgrade options, which were a nice break for a city girl at times (but i still felt part of the group and experience). I also thought upgrade prices were generally reasonable. Tents were clean and the team were very efficient with taking them up and down, but for a single traveller, I’d consider single supplement next time just due to personal space. In saying that, a number of single travellers and couples alike stayed in dual occupancy tents for the whole trip and loved it, so just personal choice. It’s nice to have the option of both though .
Suggestions
Beyond the above, I would like to commend the whole Exodus ground team (Gilbert, “Stoney”, Albert and James). They work so hard and so well together and were a pleasure to be around. Food is incredible and you will not go hungry! 😉 I always had seconds (and sometimes thirds!). There are some very long drives but there’s no other way of covering the distance otherwise. Well worth it overall though and I think the itinerary was well balanced. Can see how it’s been refined over time!
A great adventure
This trip is great for adventure, photography and wildlife. Be prepared for long bumpy journeys on the truck but driving through the towns and villages is interesting to.
Most Inspirational Moment
Getting so close to mountain gorillas was an unforgettable experience. We were very lucky with all the wildlife we say. The hot air balloon safari was amazing to, watching the sunrise and seeing so much wildlife.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Our tour guide (Gilbert) was very passionate knowledgeable and about the history and wildlife. He was also very helpful with any problems that came up like sorting out get peoples luggage back to them after the airlines lost them. He was always smiling and laughing with us all.
Advice for Potential Travellers
On the truck there are two uk plug sockets by each set of seats so don't worry about charging things. I'd highly recommend doing the hot air balloon safari, you will not regret it. Also there optional upgrades at some of the campsites. At Lake Bunyonyi campsite I upgraded to a tent with a bed and a balcony with views overlooking the river at a very reasonable price. I definitely recommend this.
Suggestions
The other people in are crew were great to. Our chef (Albert) made us delicious meals and made us laugh so much. Our driver (stone cold) was a really good driver and kept us safe on the roads, it must be an exhausting job but he was always happy. Charlie was helping out with everything, always smiling and great company.
Oh My Freaking God I Want to Move to Africa.
I have been fortunate to travel a lot. These countries were my 51st, 52nd and 53rd but this was the best time of my life. This was my 7th small group trip. I have never felt more grateful in my life—and it is all owed to this wonderful staff, Gilbert (our guide), Stoney (our driver), Albert (our cook) and Charles (his helper).
I moderately injured my low back while rafting in Jinja and was very worried that if it worsened (from camping or the bumpy dirt roads) I would not be able to do the Chimp or Gorilla treks. The staff did everything in their power to help me through this and I’m very thankful for that; the injury never worsened and I was able to do everything that the agenda entailed.
The safari portion of our trip was extraordinary, particularly in the Mara and Lake Nakuru. The boat safari in Murchison was also amazing as we saw everything in such a different ecosystem. The highlights: five lionesses in a tree, two leopards, a monster of a crocodile, a wildebeest stampede, a hippo and a family of warthogs at our campsite in Murchison, hordes of playful baby baboons, a pack of zebras hilariously chasing an territory-invading jackal and virtually every other large African mammal except the cheetah.
A few other animal experiences to mention:
—There are 1,388 species of birds in East Africa. I’m not a birder or anything but I was constantly in awe of the gorgeous, highly varied plumage patterns of these majestic creatures.
—The chimps in the Budongo Forest were outrageous. We hoped to just see a few eating in the treetops. We saw that and about twenty minutes into our viewing session a highly-orchestrated colobus monkey hunt began with screeching, screaming and yelling. Chimps rapidly descended all around us, ran across the forest floor and ascended other trees nearby. The rangers claimed they killed three colobus. While we collectively only had one picture of a chimp eating his prey, it was an exhilarating, albeit terrifying and somewhat sad, experience.
—I figured the chimps had stolen the show. But the gorillas responded. Extraordinary experience…we had no clue how close they were going to get. They say it’s a seven meter distance that we need to maintain, but not if the gorillas decide they want to play with you… One of the gorillas (an impish three year old boy) sprinted to me, stuck his head between my knees and patted the sides of my thighs in rapid succession. He then just lied there. No one got any of it on film because the silverback, Bweza, was waking right towards me as his son was pulling this stunt and everyone had to shuffle away quickly… Bweza was no more than two meters away from me before we could all pull back. It was terrifying but that early lesson taught us that these gorillas are extremely habituated and thus, totally harmless; I suspect Bweza was simply wanting to keep his playful toddler in check. Later on during the viewing hour, the same three yr old pirouetted three or four times right at our feet. It was adorable. That was followed by several minutes of wrestling with his same-aged cousin. One of the great memories of my life.
Most importantly, our crew made the trip.
Gilbert, our leader, was outstanding. Solid knowledge of the animals. He has degrees in tourism and social anthropology and it really shows. He not only has a good understanding of the countries we visited but the continent and the world as a whole. His education led to a bunch of really interesting conversations that I enjoyed. Very well organized, kind and funny as well. A great trip leader.
Albert was our chef and did a damn good job prepping tasty meals for us. Most importantly though, he was ALWAYS in a good mood and lifted the spirits of our group constantly. I’ll never forget the guy.
Stoney, our driver, was a great great guy. Sincere, kind and very hard working. He navigated some tough roads and kept us on time. I had several great conversations with him about all kinds of topics … mostly his family, his childhood and Kenya’s hopes for the future. Another guy with a big heart I’ll never forget.
Lastly, Charles, the helper, was just a damn hard worker. For a first timer, he really seemed to contribute a lot. Always dived in when he was needed.
Again, what a great trip. I’m elated that I was able to do this with such a wonderful group of people.
Thanks Exodus!
Most Inspirational Moment
I should also mention that the people in Kenya and Uganda were wonderful. I’ve never seen so much road-side waving in my travels. It’s nice to feel wanted as a tourist and everyone we met along the way was very welcoming.
Thoughts on Group Leader
The best I've ever had.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Bring a small lock for the lockers. A large lock won't fit in the hole provided.
If I could do it again I wouldn't hesitate
If you could gurantee the same team, group and even half the wildlife encounters I’d book it up tomorrow.
We were very lucky with both the wildlife and to have such an enthusiastic and fun group of guides and guests – which made the trip all the better.
The locations are stunning – in two days in the Masai Mara we saw the big 5 and had an epic balloon ride at sunrise.
Then we were off to Lake Nakuru and the rhinos and flamingos took centre stage, with the smiles getting wider as the wildlife encounters got better.
Sleeping within 300m of a waterfall in Nakuru was a highlight and despite being the most basic, was my favourite campsite – hearing lions and hyeenas calling in the night while sat around a campfire checking out all the stars.
At Jinja even novice rafters got to experience the thrill of white water and again the provided photos and videos had us all laughing and reliving the day.
The Adrift campsite was also brand new and had great facilities.
So the experiences built, Murchison has impressive waterfalls and the boat trip was a good way to get out of the heat of the day.
Gorilla tracking in Budongo again had us being lucky, being in the middle of chimps hunting, a once in a lifetime opportunity and not something to be expected, but if you get to experience time with the enigmatic chimps you cannot be disappointed.
Queen Elizabeth has less diversity of wildlife but still provided lots of Elephants and on the river you see birds and elephants everywhere.
Lastly the gorillas – I did two treks and they were both different but magical experiences. The first involved a long trek but we were surrounded by a group and followed them, experiencing interactions with several different family members. This would be a tough trek if you are not physically fit and used to walking up hills.
The second trek involved spending an unforgettable hour with Xmas, the largest silverback in Bwindi and his 1 and 2 year old babies. We could not see other members of the family and the trek was shorter and easier, but a very close and magical encounter – when a baby gorilla looks at you from less than 7m you get a sense of how special and priveledged your time with them is.
You are also given certificates to help remember your time with these beautiful animals
The trip to the genocide museum was a very poignant reminder of what Rwanda has been through as well.
Some facts – the trip involves a lot of early starts and quite a bit of travelling. Your reward is the trip of a lifetime.
The truck is large and spacious but keep things in the lockers or that room fills up quickly.
You will need to be able to walk up steep hills for the gorillas, but the team takes things slowly and chooses the best path for the group.
Campsites often had showers, toilets and a bar so have some dollars for these.
A lot of Ugandan service stations and almost all of Rwanda wanted local currency.
Some things to note – the Rwandan border was the most difficult to cross, with a problem getting our taxi across taking 2hrs but providing a great side adventure – a sense of humour about delays and acknowledging that you may be asked seeminglystupid questions is par for the course. Get some snacks and drinks before crossing as there is nothing on the Rwandan security zone.
The Exodus team were fantastic throughout, working hard to fix any problems ( airline lost bags), keep our trip moving smoothly and provide fun and share jokes over Albert’s fantastic cooking ( his cooking may expand your waistline).
Gilbert was the charismatic tour leader with lots of local stories and knowledge, Stoney the unflappable driver who always made time to help, Albert the fantastic chef with all the catchphrases and a personality larger than life, and Charles the youngest and ever smiling and helpful team member eager to greet and hear of our days adventures.
A good team feels like family not a crew, these guys felt like family and helped knit the group together.
I feel exceptionally lucky to have been on this trip, I’ve travelled a lot and this will remain a trip to remember.
If I could do the same or similar trip with the group and crew I would book it tomorrow, if you promised me half the wildlife too I’d still jump at the chance.
Thanks Exodus for another epic adventure.
Most Inspirational Moment
Spending time with the gorillas and seeing the look on everyone's faces as they encounter these incredible animals up close.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Gilbert was really good at bringing people together and engaging the group. He was also active in securing us better times for chimp trekking and minimising time on the truck / getting good plots on campsites. A lot of what he was doing behind the scenes in planning / logistics was while people slept on the truck so he could chat and sing songs when we were all awake. He also had excellent wildlife and historical knowledge and was happy to share The only problem we encountered was on the day the team weren't there at the Rwandan border - and over the phone he was working on a solution to get us moving
Advice for Potential Travellers
Bring a folder for certificates they give for gorilla trekking Have a sheet or blanket to sit on in the truck as the vinyl seats can get hot in the sun ( thanks Vio) Have some small Ugandan and Rwandan currency so you can buy things at service stations if they don't accept cards or dollars ( Rwanda the bars all wanted local currency). Pack some extra clothes in your daysack when flying - airlines lose bags so have at least a change of clothes to last you a day or two. Go to Carnivores in Nairobi it is a great meal and intro for the group. Don't expect glamping but this is comfortable camping and you get to hear lions calling.
Suggestions
If the team running this trip do any other Africa trips I'd gladly go on them
Mind-blowing experience
WYU190630
Just returned from my first African wild adventure and i m still day dreaming of it!
Couldn’t have asked for a better crew team members and better group. Absolutely awed day in day out.
This being my first experience camping and group travelling i must say it has been a blast!
Do not let the camping put you off! It is a great experience and i loved every minute of it!
Most Inspirational Moment
From day one, every day was memorable! And just when i thought that nothing could top seeing the big five, here comes chimpanzee trekking, mountain gorilla trekking, the scenery all around were absolute breathtaking. Totally totally would recommend this trip to anyone who's ready for adventure.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Our tour guide Gilbert together with chef Albert, driver Stony and all around helper Charlie made our experience a memorable one. I could not have asked for a better crew! They were awesome and their hard work must be acknowledged. Absolutely stunned with Gilbert's knowledge in terms of culture, nature, wildlife; and throughout the trip he always kept us informed, always smiling laughing and ready to listen to everything we had to say. Driver Stony, hat down! His many years of experience definitely had a say and he kept us safe throughout the journey. 100% confidence is his skills. Chef Albert looked after our stomach affairs! The whole group were astonished how he always managed to come up with the most delicious dishes even when camping. Healthy and freshly cooked food, always a bonus. Charlie the man does it all!
Advice for Potential Travellers
Pack a sense of adventure and a big smile and you'll have the holiday of a lifetime! I was nervous when i booked this trip as was travelling alone, and never done this sort of trip before, but words cannot express how amazing the trip was and how well the group and crew members integrated from day one! Be prepared for long drives on bumpy roads sometimes. Its part of the adventure package!:)
Suggestions
When we had to say goodbyes we cried....No one wanted the trip to end... I've created what am hopping to be lifelong friendships and its amazing!
A great trip but.....
We took the trip over the Christmas period and it was a good one, the crew (Jacob, Stoney, Silvia and Dolly) were all excellent and could not be faulted. The organisation was good, the driving excellent, (how Stoney gets that truck along some of those roads is unbelievable) and the food was good and plentiful.
There were 11 of us on the trip and we all got on very well which is a good thing if you are stuck on a truck for 2 weeks. Do not worry about charging batteries as the truck has a plug by each seat which can be used anytime whilst the truck is moving.
The White Water Rafting Option in Jinja was excellent and the safety precautions couldn’t be faulted, you are almost guaranteed to be thrown out at least once but we all felt perfectly safe when we were.
The campsites were in some cases very basic with no water in the toilets and cold or no showers but they were adequate and in others there were options for upgrades to rooms if required.
On day 8 the trip notes stated a visit to the top of the falls, what they did not say is that it involved a boat trip and then a trek along an uneven trek and a climb up several steps of uneven height, which was a bit testing for some people, although I see that this might have changed now but you might want to check.
The big but is that on our trip both the Chimps and Gorillas were unco-operative and people thinking of doing the trip need to be aware that there is no guarantee of seeing either. On our trip some of us trekked 5 miles along tracks and off track just to see 1 Chimp and for the Gorillas we left camp at 4.45am and drove for 3.5 hours to the start point and then split into 2 groups, the moderately hard trek group took 7 hours of hard trekking up and down steep slippery and overgrown hills there and back to see the Gorillas who were up in the trees and not all that easy to see, the easier trek group took 10 hours and 4 of our group needed stretchering out with exhaustion which cost them between $200-$300 dollars each. We then all had another 3.5 hour drive back to camp getting back between 20.30 & 22.30 hours, much to the relief of Jacob our guide. Although this is what happened on our trip, we were told that that was not the norm but…..
Most Inspirational Moment
Seeing the animals were amazing, especially the big cats in Kenya and it only took us 36 hours to see the 'big five', plus many others, ranging in size from Mongoose to Elephants.
Advice for Potential Travellers
If you do this trip, make sure you are really fit, for us the Leisurely/Moderate 2 rating in the trip notes was very misleading, a lot of the roads are really rough and can be very uncomfortable and the Chimp and Gorilla treks were probably 4 & 5 respectively. For the Gorillas, make sure you take good boots, a lot of water, money and do hire a porter as they can be indispensable. Make sure you take earplugs as you might have to share sites with other less considerate campers and with early starts most mornings (7am & earlier departures) you do need your sleep. As long as you are aware of the above and are willing to 'rough it' at times then you will enjoy this trip.
Start
Finish
Availability
Adult Price From
Optional Single Supplement
Friday Thursday
19 Jan 2024 18 Jan 2024
Friday Saturday
02 Feb 2024 03 Feb 2024
Availability Guaranteed (On Request)
Adult Price From Usually £ 4,699Now £ 4,499Saving £ 200 Usually £ 5,899Now £ 5,699Saving £ 200
Optional Single Supplement +£ 190
Nairobi to Kigali
Nairobi to Kigali
Availability
This departure is guaranteed to go ahead and can be booked, although some components will need to be requested. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesSunday Saturday
04 Feb 2024 03 Feb 2024
Sunday Monday
18 Feb 2024 19 Feb 2024
Availability Available
Adult Price From £ 4,699 £ 5,899
Optional Single Supplement +£ 190
Kigali to Nairobi
Kigali to Nairobi
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View Trip NotesFriday Thursday
21 Jun 2024 20 Jun 2024
Friday Saturday
05 Jul 2024 06 Jul 2024
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Adult Price From £ 4,699 £ 5,899 Book with 25% deposit
Optional Single Supplement +£ 190
Nairobi to Kigali
Nairobi to Kigali
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07 Jul 2024 06 Jul 2024
Sunday Monday
21 Jul 2024 22 Jul 2024
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Optional Single Supplement +£ 190
Kigali to Nairobi
Kigali to Nairobi
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View Trip NotesFriday Thursday
02 Aug 2024 01 Aug 2024
Friday Saturday
16 Aug 2024 17 Aug 2024
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Optional Single Supplement +£ 190
Nairobi to Kigali (Migration Season)
Nairobi to Kigali (Migration Season)
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings and has reached the minimum number of passengers required to go ahead. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesSunday Saturday
18 Aug 2024 17 Aug 2024
Sunday Monday
01 Sep 2024 02 Sep 2024
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Adult Price From £ 4,799 £ 6,199 Book with 25% deposit
Optional Single Supplement +£ 190
Kigali to Nairobi (Migration Season)
Kigali to Nairobi (Migration Season)
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesFriday Thursday
06 Sep 2024 05 Sep 2024
Friday Saturday
20 Sep 2024 21 Sep 2024
Availability Guaranteed (Available)
Adult Price From £ 4,799 £ 6,299 Book with 25% deposit
Optional Single Supplement
+£ 190
Available upon Request
Nairobi to Kigali (Migration Season)
Nairobi to Kigali (Migration Season)
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings and has reached the minimum number of passengers required to go ahead. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesFriday Thursday
11 Oct 2024 10 Oct 2024
Friday Saturday
25 Oct 2024 26 Oct 2024
Availability Guaranteed (Available)
Adult Price From £ 4,799 £ 6,299 Book with 25% deposit
Optional Single Supplement +£ 190
Nairobi to Kigali (Migration Season)
Nairobi to Kigali (Migration Season)
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings and has reached the minimum number of passengers required to go ahead. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesSunday Saturday
27 Oct 2024 26 Oct 2024
Sunday Monday
10 Nov 2024 11 Nov 2024
Availability Available
Adult Price From £ 4,799 £ 5,999 Book with 25% deposit
Optional Single Supplement +£ 190
Kigali to Nairobi
Kigali to Nairobi
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesFriday Thursday
17 Jan 2025 16 Jan 2025
Friday Saturday
31 Jan 2025 01 Feb 2025
Availability Available
Adult Price From £ 4,899 £ 6,149 Book with 25% deposit
Optional Single Supplement +£ 210
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesSunday Saturday
02 Feb 2025 01 Feb 2025
Sunday Monday
16 Feb 2025 17 Feb 2025
Availability On Request
Adult Price From £ 4,899 £ 6,149 Book with 25% deposit
Optional Single Supplement +£ 210
Availability
This trip is available on request. Please proceed with your booking online or contact our Sales Team for assistance.
View Trip NotesFriday Thursday
20 Jun 2025 19 Jun 2025
Friday Saturday
04 Jul 2025 05 Jul 2025
Availability Available
Adult Price From £ 4,899 £ 6,149 Book with 25% deposit
Optional Single Supplement +£ 210
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesSunday Saturday
06 Jul 2025 05 Jul 2025
Sunday Monday
20 Jul 2025 21 Jul 2025
Availability On Request
Adult Price From £ 4,999 £ 6,749 Book with 25% deposit
Optional Single Supplement +£ 210
Availability
This trip is available on request. Please proceed with your booking online or contact our Sales Team for assistance.
View Trip NotesFriday Thursday
01 Aug 2025 31 Jul 2025
Friday Saturday
15 Aug 2025 16 Aug 2025
Availability On Request
Adult Price From £ 4,999 £ 6,749 Book with 25% deposit
Optional Single Supplement Single Rooms sold out
Availability
This trip is available on request. Please proceed with your booking online or contact our Sales Team for assistance.
View Trip NotesSunday Saturday
17 Aug 2025 16 Aug 2025
Sunday Monday
31 Aug 2025 01 Sep 2025
Availability On Request
Adult Price From £ 4,999 £ 6,749 Book with 25% deposit
Optional Single Supplement +£ 210
Availability
This trip is available on request. Please proceed with your booking online or contact our Sales Team for assistance.
View Trip NotesFriday Thursday
05 Sep 2025 04 Sep 2025
Friday Saturday
19 Sep 2025 20 Sep 2025
Availability On Request
Adult Price From £ 4,999 £ 6,699 Book with 25% deposit
Optional Single Supplement Single Rooms sold out
Availability
This trip is available on request. Please proceed with your booking online or contact our Sales Team for assistance.
View Trip NotesSunday Saturday
21 Sep 2025 20 Sep 2025
Sunday Monday
05 Oct 2025 06 Oct 2025
Availability On Request
Adult Price From £ 4,999 £ 6,699 Book with 25% deposit
Optional Single Supplement +£ 210
Availability
This trip is available on request. Please proceed with your booking online or contact our Sales Team for assistance.
View Trip NotesFriday Thursday
10 Oct 2025 09 Oct 2025
Friday Saturday
24 Oct 2025 25 Oct 2025
Availability On Request
Adult Price From £ 4,999 £ 6,699 Book with 25% deposit
Optional Single Supplement Single Rooms sold out
Availability
This trip is available on request. Please proceed with your booking online or contact our Sales Team for assistance.
View Trip NotesSunday Saturday
26 Oct 2025 25 Oct 2025
Sunday Monday
09 Nov 2025 10 Nov 2025
Availability On Request
Adult Price From £ 4,999 £ 6,699 Book with 25% deposit
Optional Single Supplement +£ 210
Availability
This trip is available on request. Please proceed with your booking online or contact our Sales Team for assistance.
View Trip NotesWould you like to include flights with your booking?
- ATOL protected
- Competitive flight prices
- Full refunds in the event of FCDO cancellations or major disruption at your UK departure airport
- Specialist support to rearrange flights and transfers
- Regional flights available from many UK airports
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