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Gorillas, Serengeti & beaches
USD 17000
JAN-DEC
17 NIGHTS
Select your style
We are able to vary the price of this trip considerably, simply by swapping out the lodges that it contains. This is likely to have a very significant effect on the level of polish of the trip, but in all cases it will remain cool and authentic. Make your selection here and the lodges will automatically change in the itinerary below.
USD 17000 per person
This trip includes very cool, well-located and relatively well-priced lodges, suitable for more adventurous, easy-going and outdoorsy travellers.
Trip Summary
Start location : Entebbe International
Bwindi Forest
01 : Mahogany Springs
02 : Mahogany Springs
03 : Mahogany Springs
Queen Elizabeth
04 : Katara Lodge
05 : Katara Lodge
Kibale Forest
06 : Ndali Lodge
07 : Ndali Lodge
08 : Ndali Lodge
Serengeti Mara
09 : Mara River Post
10 : Mara River Post
11 : Mara River Post
Serengeti Southcentral
12 : Olduvai Camp
Ngorongoro Karatu
13 : Bashay Rift Lodge
Pongwe
14 : Pongwe Beach Hotel
15 : Pongwe Beach Hotel
16 : Pongwe Beach Hotel
Stonetown
17 : Park Hyatt Zanzibar
End location : Zanzibar International
Bwindi Forest
Set in the southwest of Uganda, Bwindi Forest is one of the prime locations in Africa for viewing mountain gorillas. The area contains a handful of good lodges and offers an excellent range of other forest and cultural activities, notably including interaction with the Batwa pygmies.
Day 1 , 2 , 3
Arrival : Entebbe International
Fly : Entebbe to Bwindi Kihihi
lodge
Mahogany Springs
Mahogany Springs is located in the Bwindi Forest area.
The lodge is centred on a large main building.
There is also a small spa.
Guest accommodation is in seven cosy banana-thatched Superior Suites ...
... two larger Family Suites, each with two bedooms and two bathrooms ...
... and one Honeymoon Suite.
Activities are centred on gorilla tracking, plus forest walks, hiking and cultural visits to the local Batwa pygmies.
The primary activity is gorilla tracking up into the mountain forests.
.Further guided forest walks are also available to search for other flora and fauna
It is also possible to visit a Batwa pygmy village ...
... and a local school.
Queen Elizabeth
Set in the remote west of Uganda, Queen Elizabeth National Park is the largest savanna safari area in the country, a stop on the overland route from Bwindi Forest to Kibale Forest, with guest accommodation in a handful of decent lodges, offering a wide range of safari activities including motorboat safari and chimpanzee tracking.
Day 4 , 5
lodge
Katara Lodge
Katara Lodge is located in the Queen Elizabeth National Park area.
The lodge is centred on thatched main building, leading out to a swimming pool area.
Guest accommodation is in seven Cottages with indoor bathrooms.
Activities include vehicle safari in the reserve, motorboat safari along the Kazinga Channel and chimpanzee tracking in the Kyambura Gorge.
A major highlight is motorboat safari along the Kazinga Channel inside the national park.
There are opportunities for cultural interaction in the hills around the lodge.
Another rare treat is chimp treeking in the atmospheric Kyambura Gorge.
It is also possible to do vehicle safari in the Ishasha Sector when travelling between here and Bwindi Forest.
Kibale Forest
Set in the southwest of Uganda, Kibale Forest is an important tropical reserve, the best location in the country for viewing chimpanzees, with guest accommodation in several lodges, of which one or two are of decent quality. The surrounding farmland is extremely scenic.
Day 6 , 7 , 8
lodge
Ndali Lodge
Ndali Lodge is located in the Kibale Forest area.
The lodge is centred on a thatched main building, leading out to a swimming pool area.
Guest accommodation is in eight comfortable Cottages ...
... plus one slightly larger Honeymoon Cottage.
Activities are centred on chimp tracking, plus farm walks and village visits.
The primary activity is chimp tracking in the forest.
The nearby town of Fort Portal is surrounded by scenic tea plantations and mountains.
Serengeti Mara
Serengeti Mara is the prime but potentially busy area for migration herds and river crossings during the Jul-Nov dry season and a wonderful quiet backwater at other times, with guest accommodation in around 30 small lodges and camps, offering a good range of safari experiences.
Day 9 , 10 , 11
Fly : Kasese to Entebbe
Fly : Entebbe to Kogatende
Safari vehicle : Tanzania North
lodge
Mara River Post
Mara River Post is located in the Serengeti Mara area.
The camp is split in two halves, each centred on a pleasant tented mess.
Guest accommodation is in two lots of eight large tented Rooms with indoor bathrooms.
Activities are focused on daytime vehicle safari.
The primary activity is vehicle safari inside the main park during daylight hours.
Serengeti Southcentral
Serengeti Southcentral is one of the most magical of areas, with migration calving Dec-Mar, superb Maasai interaction, incredible palaeontology and just two rather cool mid-priced lodges.
Day 12
Safari vehicle : Tanzania North
lodge
Olduvai Camp
Olduvai Camp is located in the Serengeti Southcentral area.
The camp is centred on two simple main buildings, with steps up to a fabulous viewing platform.
Guest accommodation is in 17 tented rooms with ensuite bathrooms.
Activities include vehicle safari, giraffe stalking, fossil hunting, palaeontological walks, cultural interaction with local Maasai people and superb sundowners.
The primary activity is vehicle safari, which can be epic during the Dec-Mar green season.
Walking safari with the local Maasai warriors is a year round pleasure.
The nearby Olduvai Gorge Museum is of huge palaeontological importance.
One particularly unusual diversion is a trip to the bizarre Shifting Sands.
Ngorongoro Karatu
Situated 10 km to the southeast of the Ngorongoro Crater, Karatu is an area of fabulous rural scenery centred on a busy agricultural town, with guest accommodation in some lovely farmhouse lodges, offering a wide range of cultural, active and safari experiences.
Day 13
Safari vehicle : Tanzania North
lodge
Bashay Rift Lodge
Pongwe
Set on the east coast of Zanzibar Island, Pongwe is a peaceful area of stunning coves and pretty small beaches, with guest accommodation in a handful of decent lodges, offering a wide range of marine and cultural activities.
Day 14 , 15 , 16
Safari vehicle : Tanzania North
Fly : Manyara to Zanzibar
lodge
Pongwe Beach Hotel
Pongwe Beach Hotel is located in the Pongwe area of Zanzibar Island.
The hotel is centred on a thatched main building, leading out to a swimming pool.
Guest accommodation is in seventeen relatively simple rooms all with 'evening breeze' aircon and in various specifications ...
... some of which are in a slightly different style ...
... plus three Seaview Suites, each with a private pool.
The lodge has perhaps the best and most private beach on the island.
Activities include diving, snorkelling, sailing, kayaking, kite-surfing, lagoon walks and cultural visits to local villages.
Stonetown
Set on the west coast of Zanzibar Island, Stone Town is a fabulously historic and chaotic place, with guest accommodation in a wide range of characterful hotels, offering a wide range of largely cultural and historical activities.
Day 17
lodge
Park Hyatt Zanzibar
Park Hyatt Zanzibar
is located in heart of Stonetown on Zanzibar Island.
is located in heart of Stonetown on Zanzibar Island.
The hotel is centred on the restored Mambo Msiige building.
There is also an extensive spa facility ...
... and a small gym.
Guest accommodation is in a total of 67 rooms in various specifications ...
... some of which are larger Suite Rooms.
Activities include tours of the historic town, museums, various other cultural interactions, shopping, restaurants, visits to offshore islands and diving on various wrecks in the bay.
Historic Stonetown is a fascinating place to explore on foot.
The old town is centred on the Forodhani Gardens.
The House of Wonders was constructed in 1883 and remains the most impressive building in town.
The Sultan's Palace is now a modest museum.
The Old Portuguese Fort still sits in the middle of town.
Behind lies a bewildering maze of alleyways.
Stonetown used to be the centre of the slave trade on the East Coast.
Day 18
Departure : Zanzibar International
Alternative Trips
Here is a small selection of related sample trips.
Of course, your actual trip will be precisely tailor-made.
Of course, your actual trip will be precisely tailor-made.
