Compare Gorillas & Masai Mara - Camping by Exodus Travels vs 6-Day Gahinga and Virunga Safari by Volcanoes Safaris

Day 1 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)

Day 2 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

Day 3 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

Day 4 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

Day 5 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

Day 6 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

Day 7 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

Day 8 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

Day 9 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

Day 10 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

Day 11 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

Day 12 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

Day 13 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

Day 14 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

Day 15 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.

Day 1

Meals: Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Mount Gahinga Lodge

Arriving in Kigali you will be welcomed by your expert guide who will provide knowledge and assistance throughout your safari. Set off for the Volcanoes Mount Gahinga Lodge and cross the border into Uganda. Be sure to put your clocks one hour forward.

The lodge is located at the foot of the Virunga Volcanoes and near the entrance to the national park. Enjoy your pre-dinner drinks on the terrace with stunning views of the Volcanoes or warm yourself inside by the roaring fire.

Approximate Travel Times: Driving 4 hours

Please book flights arriving no later than 1000 HOURS.

Day 2

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Mount Gahinga Lodge

The Batwa Heritage Experience offers an interactive tour of the culture and history of one of Africa’s oldest tribes. On your tour, you will gain insight into their traditional life in the forest and even have lessons in hunting and gathering of medicinal plants. On the tour, you are welcome to ask the Batwa questions about their traditional lifestyle, as they explain their religious, marriage and courtship customs. At the Batwa Vocational Centre (established by the Volcanoes Safaris Partnership Trust) you can see first-hand the skills they are learning for self-sufficiency. Here you may even want to pick up a present or two to take home.

Other exciting activities for those interested in the culture and natural history of Mgahinga:

Hike the Muhavura, Sabinyo or Gahinga volcanoes. Mount Gahinga offers a gentler hike through the bamboo forest on the lower slopes and marshy craters at the peak.

Enjoy a performance from the Batwa Dance Group set against the enchanting setting of this volcanic landscape. This wonderful dance display (subject to pre-booking and group availability) is popular with Volcanoes Safaris clients and the local community alike. Learn more about the Batwa’s unique culture first-hand through their oral traditions. This initiative is fully supported by the Volcanoes Safaris Partnership Trust and helps build positive relationships between the different local communities.

Track gorillas in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. NOTE: one gorilla permit is included in the cost of this Safari, for checking of the gorillas in Rwanda. (To track gorillas in Mgahinga, additional permits required, upon payment of a supplement and are subject to availability). Tracking in Mgahinga can be challenging due to steep and muddy paths.

Day 3

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Virunga Lodge

A relaxed morning during which you will be accompanied by a ranger to track the golden monkeys through the bamboo forests of the mountains. These pretty primates travel in large groups and are as energetic as they are photogenic, often seen playing in the high branches or foraging on the ground for bamboo shoots.

After lunch, you will drive across the border into Rwanda (remembering to put your clocks back one hour). The magnificent Volcanoes Virunga Lodge is perched on the top of a hill with 360° panoramic views of the chain of volcanoes and Lakes Bulera and Ruhondo. From the terrace you can take in the sunset over the lakes and – weather permitting – enjoy an exhilarating performance from the colourful Intore Dance troupe that showcases the unique Rwandese culture.

Approximate Travel Times: Driving 2 hours

Day 4

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Virunga Lodge

It’s an early start for gorilla tracking in Parc National des Volcans, through the enchanting bamboo forest on the slopes of the Virunga range of volcanoes. Checking the mountain gorillas is a very special experience. After a gentle climb of between one and 3 hours, you will spend an hour in the company of these gentle apes before returning to base in time for a late lunch. Some gorilla families can be more elusive, and tracking can take a full day, especially if it is wet and muddy. For full details of what to expect on your gorilla trek, and advice on equipment to bring, we refer you to the FAQs our website.

Day 5

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Virunga Lodge

There is plenty to explore in this beautiful corner of Rwanda, as you can see from the photos on our website. Choose from one of the optional activities:

Go for a second gorilla trek (additional permits required, upon payment of supplement, and are subject to availability).

Alternative options include:

Trek to the grave of pioneer primatologist Dian Fossey and visit the gorilla cemetery, the final resting place of her favourite gorilla, Digit, and many other gorillas.

Visit Mwiko Primary School and community projects, supported by the Volcanoes Safaris Partnership Trust, adjacent to the Lodge.

Visit Lake Kivu, location of the finest inland beaches in Africa.

Take a guided walk to Lake Bulera, to experience village life.

Tour the former Imbabazi Orphanage and beautiful English cottage gardens. Here you can have tea or lunch with staff and volunteers to learn more about British founder Roz Carr, who lived in Rwanda for 50 years, and the history of the orphanage.

Day 6

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Drive to Kigali, City tour & transfer to the airport

Your safari ends with your journey to Kigali. Depending on the time of your flight, there may be time to tour the city before driving to the airport.

A visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial is a moving testimony to this country’s past that it has courageously overcome (guests to pay/donate entrance fees directly). Transfer to the airport in time for your return flight.