23 days – Face of Africa

We meet up in Kigali in the afternoon of day one where we will camp the night. Your crew will also arrange a Pre-departure Meeting.

Kigali, with its lush hillsides, flowering trees, winding boulevards and bustling streets, is arguably one of the most attractive capital cities in Africa. There is time to visit some of the museums and reflect upon the genocide of 1994.

In a span of 100 days, an estimated one million Tutsis and moderate Hutus were systematically butchered by the Interahamwe army. The Kigali Genocide Memorial honours the estimated 250,000 people buried here in mass graves and also has an excellent exhibition that tries to explain how the 1994 genocide unfolded.

We can perhaps visit some other memorial sites before we get on the road, your first experience of travelling on the overland truck, making our way through mountainous terrain dotted with tea plantations. It is clear why Rwanda is known as the “Land of a Thousand Hills.” This evening we spend the night in Musanze, a small town near the Uganda border.

Distance, day 2: 115 kms
Est. Drive Time, day 2: 3 hours
Meals: X1 Breakfast, X2 Dinners (contribution to a restaurant meal in Kigali)

Optional excursions: Visit to the Genocide museum and other memorial sites

Here at our campsite, you can try your hand at banana beer making and basket weaving. There is also the chance in the afternoon to do a cycling or walking tour as well as time to visit Musanze town and the Dian Fossey museum.

On day four there is the option to head off on the steep trek to visit Dian Fossey’s grave, the American primatologist and conservationist who undertook an intensive study of the species and spent her life working for their survival. Her murder remains shrouded in mystery.

We move on to Kisoro, Uganda, late in the day to stay at a simple local hotel where we spend the next two nights, our base while we trek the endangered mountain gorilla. Arrangements are made for those who trekked to Dian Fossey’s grave to catch up if required.

Distance, Day 4: 51 kms
Est. Drive Time, Day 4: 3 hours (depending on the border)
Meals: X2 Breakfasts, X2 Dinners

Optional excursions: Banana beer making, basket weaving, hike or cycling tour, visit to Dian Fossey’s grave. Coffee tour or a Batwa (Pygmy) village visit or Lake Mutande.

Notes: If you wished to trek the gorillas in Rwanda please let us know at the earliest prior to booking. For those wishing to visit Dian Fossey’s grave please let us know with good notice before the tour. For this excursion you will transfer late on Day 4 after the Fossey trek to catch the group up in Kisoro ready for your gorilla trek on Day 5.

At altitudes of up to 3,500 feet, gorilla trekking through dense vegetation on the volcanic slopes of the Virungas is one of the trip’s high points. The gorillas are magic to visit. Herbivores, who munch the day away, when they are not playing or sleeping, they live in family groups under the charge of an older dominant male. Known as the silverback, this adult male can weigh up to 350 lbs. Despite their size, the gorillas are shy, gentle and sensitive creatures, in great danger of extinction. There are several other excursions on offer here as well apart from the trek. For another view of the forest head out to trek a troupe of golden monkeys in the lower reaches of the forest. The golden monkey is a sub species of the blue monkey and is named for its vibrant colouring. A Pygmy dance troupe may be invited to entertain with some traditional drumming.

Distance: 0 kms
Est. Drive Time: 0 hours
Meals: X1 Breakfast, X1 Dinner

Optional excursions: Mountain gorilla trek Bwindi Impenetrable Forest (Uganda). Golden monkeys trek or orphanage visit. Coffee tour. Lake Mutande.

We have an early start to drive through to stay by the hillside tropical forest of Kalinzu on the edge of the Rift Valley and Queen Elizabeth National Park. Here we have the option to trek in lush forest to search for habituated chimpanzees. The park also has black and white colobus monkey and other monkey species.

Distance: 226 kms
Est. Drive Time: 9 hours including lunch stop
Meals: X1 Breakfasts, X1 Dinner

Optional excursion: Chimpanzee trek in Kalinzu Forest.

Heading on our journey, we camp beside Lake Mburo National Park, a picturesque small gem of a park, with forest fringed lakes hemmed in by rolling green hills. A morning game drive in the park as well as a boat cruise are included hoping for sightings of giraffe, impala, Burchell’s zebra, topi, eland, waterbuck and reedbuck. Our safari takes us across savanna and wetland habitats, the park also boasting much birdlife. Crocodile and hippo inhabit the lakes. Evening game drives are also of offer

Distance, Day 7: 140 kms
Est. Drive Time, Day 7: 4 hours
Meals: X2 Breakfasts, X2 Dinners

Included wildlife activities: Morning game drive and boat trip, Lake Mburo National Park Vehicle for game drives: 4×4 open safari vehicle

Optional excursion: Evening game drive

We continue through the lush Ugandan countryside heading towards the capital, Kampala. On the way we stop at a local drum and craft market, and at the Equator there is time for a photo shoot. Reaching the capital we get to banks, e-mail and can do some shopping.

The next day we travel to the Ziwa Rhino sanctuary, the only place in Uganda to see rhinos.

Here there is the option in the afternoon to go for a rhino trek on foot or do a boat trip in the park.

Distance over two days: 412 kms
Est. Drive Time, day 9: 6.5 hours incl.stops for lunch and photos at The Equator
Est. Drive Time, day 10: 6 hours
Meals: X2 Breakfasts, X2 Dinners

Included wildlife activity: Entry to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, Rhino trek

Optional excursions: Boat rid

We arrive at Jinja! The adventure capital of East Africa is at the source of the White Nile, and we camp on the banks of the river. Here we have a free day and can take advantage of the wide range of activities on offer: white water rafting, quad biking, horse riding, bungee jumping, plus a variety of boat and kayak trips on the Nile. On prior arrangements, help out in a local school or explore on a village walk.

Distance, Day 11: 225 kms
Est. Drive Time, Day 11:9 hours
Meals: X1 Breakfast

Optional excursions: Whitewater rafting, bungee jump, kayaking, boat trips and cruises, incl. fishing trips, sups, voluntary work in a local school, quad biking, horse riding, mountain biking.

We say goodbye to Uganda as we enter our third country, Kenya, and get ready for the wonderful wildlife activities on offer in this country. In Eldoret, look out for runners along the road as we drive through, as this is the training ground of many of Kenya’s famous athletes.

Distance: 268 kms
Est. Drive Time: +/- 7.5 hours (depending on the border) incl. stops for lunch and shopping
Meals: X1 Breakfast, X1 Dinner

From Eldoret we drive on to Nakuru, in the beautiful Kenyan Rift Valley, where we are based for two nights.

At Lake Nakuru National Park we head out for a full day of game drives in small vehicles with a local guide.

Lake Nakuru, in the middle of the Park, is home to greater and lesser flamingo, which colour the lake pink, a stunning view from the look out point on the dramatic cliffs on one side of the lake. Nakuru is also home to lion, leopard, giraffe, hippo, rhino, warthog, hyena and so much more so keep your eyes peeled and cameras at the ready.

Distance: 169 kms
Est. Drive Time: 5 hours incl. stops for lunch and shopping
Meals: X2 Breakfasts, X2 Dinners

Included wildlife activity: Full day of game drives in Nakuru National Park.
Vehicle for game drives: 4×4 minivan with pop up roof

Our next camp in Kenya is on the shores of Lake Naivasha. We have a day to relax, go on a cruise to spot the hippo that live in and around Lake Naivasha and visit Elsamere for high tea. Hiring a bike to explore Hell’s Gate National Park is also popular.

We are in Maasai lands now and the traditional herdsmen can be seen throughout the region. Hell’s Gate has a Maasai Centre based within the park, and as well dramatic gorges and ravines, remnants of past volcanic activity, that are well worth a look. Alternatively take a walk around the Green Crater Lake Sanctuary – both are great ways to stretch your legs!

Distance, Day 17: 70 kms
Est. Drive Time, Day 13: 3 hours incl. stop for shopping
Meals: X2 Breakfasts, X2 Dinners

Included wildlife activity: Hippo cruise Lake Naivasha

Optional excursions: Elsamere for high tea, cycling in Hells Gate National Park, guided walk to Green Crater Lake.

Today we are on the road heading for the Masai Mara reserve. We stop overnight at Loita Hills for a stay with the Masai.

This afternoon we will visit a women’s village and local hot springs, see traditional dancing and go for a walk with the warriors to learn about their time in the bush and life style.

This evening we spend time with some of the warriors around the fire to find out more about their culture.

Distance: 154 kms
Est. Drive Time: 5 hours incl. stop for shopping
Meals: X1 Breakfast, X1 Dinner

Up early we have time for some “warrior training” this morning before we say goodbye to our Maasai hosts.

Then we head on to our last game park for the tour, the Masai Mara, where we have two days of game drives. The Mara is one of the natural wonders of the world and is perhaps best known for being part of the setting for the famous wildebeest migration, a mass movement of over 2 million wildebeest, zebra and Thomson’s gazelle. The migration moves between the plains of the Serengeti in Tanzania and the Masai Mara in Kenya.

Regardless of the season there is always plenty to see in this world famous park with resident elephant, rhino, hippo, buffalo, eland, giraffe, warthog and crocodile, as well as much birdlife. On the months when the migration arrives any time from late June, the vast herds of wildebeest, zebra and Thomson’s gazelle can be regularly found on the grassy plains as well.

Distance, Day 20: 60 kms
Est. Drive Time, Day 20: 2 hours
Meals: X2 Breakfasts, X2 Dinners

Included wildlife activity: X1 morning and X2 afternoon game drives
Vehicle for game drives: 4×4 Land cruiser with pop up roof

Optional excursion: Balloon safari

The day starts with a final drive through the Masai Mara. Leaving the park, we travel to Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, stopping off at the Rift Valley lookout on the way.

The last day we visit the giraffe centre and elephant orphanage in the morning and the afternoon is free to explore the city.

That evening we have a final group dinner to say farewell.

Distance, Day 22: 300 kms
Est. Drive Time, Day 22: Short morning game drive, then 6.5 hours to Nairobi incl. lunch stop and photo stops
Meals: X2 Breakfasts, X2 Dinners (incl. contribution to night out)

Included wildlife activites: Morning game drive, Masai Mara, The Giraffe Centre, Sheldrick’s Elephant Orphanage
Vehicle for game drive: 4×4 land cruiser with pop up roof

Optional excursions: Meal out at a restaurant

Please note safari itineraries are given as a guide only. A safari is a journey and true journeys in Africa unfold and are of an adventurous nature, the unexpected can arise, so do allow for this.

Why choose this tour
We have chosen this overland tour because this local partner has been active in the overland industry for over 35 years. They only use qualified and passionate tour leaders with a big love for Africa and they love their job. They use good materials (truck, tents and cooking equipment), they are a small-scale company with attention for personal contact and satisfaction. They are based in Arusha.

What is different to other tours

-They do not have personal lockers in the truck

-You need to bring your own cutlery

-This trip is made up of components and quite often during the safari you will probably meet clients doing shorter and longer sections of your trip depending on the booking patterns for the months you are travelling. This makes it very dynamic.

-Most lunches are not included.

-There are quit a few optional activities.
-This way you can design and control your budget more

African Travels, specialist in group tours to Africa
The founders of African Travels (born and raised in Africa) have worked on overland tours through the whole of Africa. With a background as tour leaders on African overland tours we give honest and independent travel advice. It matters to us that you are travelling with like-minded people. A small group tour is more popular with the 40 crowd and a camping tour with 22 passengers is generally more popular with travellers aged 20-30, keen for a party. We only work together with our personal network which we built over the last 30 years.

We offer a price beat guarantee. Have you seen the same tour somewhere else cheaper? Let us know at the time of booking your tour and we give you the same rate. Only applicable at the time of confirmation. Due to the ever-changing exchange rates we cannot adjust all our prices on a daily basis.