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Peregrine Travel Centre

Premium Uganda, Rwanda & Kenya

Premium Uganda, Rwanda & Kenya

From $ 19,960 AUD

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Description

Wild dreams come true on a 13-day Premium journey through Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya. Enter the world of rare mountain gorillas in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and spend a day tracking and observing these endearing creatures. See sombre reminders of Kigali’s devastating past, watch local life play out on the streets and witness a beautiful country that’s continuously striving to move forward. Explore the vast plains of the Maasai Mara from the comfort of four-wheel drive Landcruisers, with an expert local leader at the helm, meet Maasai warriors and learn about their way of life. This unforgettable journey is sure to stay etched on your mind forever.

Trip Name
Premium Uganda, Rwanda & Kenya
Last Updated
1970-01-01
Days
13
Capacity
12
Highlights
  • With your gorilla permit included in the price of the trip, spend a day through Bwindi Impenetrable Forest to get close to Uganda's rare mountain gorillas for an unforgettable hour. There’s also a chance to do a second trek that can be booked on request at an additional cost. Please refer to the itinerary for more details.
  • Get close to nature with two fantastic Feature Stays – a gorilla lodge in in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and a safari camp with easy access to the Maasai Mara Game Reserve.
  • Join an intimate fireside chat with a field veterinarian from The Gorilla Doctors and discover how they are saving the species one gorilla patient at a time.
  • Visit a local Maasai community known for championing Maasai women’s health and education. During this Signature Experience, you’ll be welcomed by traditional Maasai warrior song and dance and learn about this remarkable and ancient culture.
  • Enjoy Signature Experiences as you visit Elsamere Conservation Centre to learn the story of Elsa and their conservation trust over a high tea lunch, then spot hippos and unique birdlife on a boat trip on Lake Naivasha.

Itinerary

ITINERARY CHANGES Our itineraries are updated regularly throughout the year based on customer feedback and to reflect the current situation in each destination. The information included in this Essential Trip Information may therefore differ from when you first booked your trip. It's important that you review this information prior to travel so that you have the latest updates. Due to weather, local conditions, transport schedules, public holidays, political unrest or other factors, further changes may be necessary to your itinerary once in-country. Your group leader or local representative will keep you up to date with any such changes once your trip is underway and has the authority to amend or cancel any part of the trip itinerary if deemed necessary due to safety concerns. , OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES A selection of optional activities that have been popular with past travellers are listed in the day-to-day itinerary. This isn't an exhaustive list and should be used as a guide only for some of what might be available. Prices are approximate, are for entrance fees only, and don’t include transport to and from the sites or local guides unless indicated. All activities are subject to availability, and maybe on a join-in basis. It may not be possible to do all the activities listed in the time available at each destination, so some pre-planning for what you are most interested in is advised. When it's recommended that travellers pre-book these activities, look for a note in the Special Information section of the day-to-day itinerary. For most, they can either be organised independently on the day, or let your group leader or local representative know you are interested at the Welcome Meeting and they can assist. Where activities are considered medium or high risk, we work with operators whose safety and credentials we have sighted and assessed. Although it is possible that you may find the same activity cheaper with another operator on the ground, we cannot vouch for the safety or quality of that operator. Medium and high-risk activities not listed above have not been assessed by us and as such our staff and group leader or local representative are unable to assist you with organising these activities. Activities that contravene our Responsible Travel policies are also not listed. Please remember that the decision to partake in any activity not listed is at your own discretion and risk., ROAD CONDITIONS AND INFRASTRUCTURE IN AFRICA: Roads in Africa are often in very poor condition, which makes it hard on our vehicles. Our vehicles are serviced regularly and are generally in good condition, but breakdowns can and do happen. Sometimes the going on this trip is quite tough, the distances covered fairly large and some of the roads and tracks are not exactly smooth or free from dust, but the rewards are exceptional. The travelling times indicated in our Essential Trip Information is just a rough guide and is dependent on various factors that may be outside our control, such as road conditions, weather and time spent at borders. DRIVE TIMES: The travel times listed in the day to day itinerary are a guide only. Please be aware that delays may occur and please be patient - it's all part of the experience afterall! Additionally, the travel times do not include time spent on game drives as these can vary with each departure.

Day 1 - Kigali
Murakaza neza! Welcome to Kigali, Rwanda’s capital city. You’ll be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel, where you’ll have a welcome meeting at 6 pm. If you arrive in Kigali early, maybe start exploring at your own pace. Head to Nyamirambo, the Muslim quarter, to try some giant grilled tilapia, or stop by a local cafe and discover why Rwandan coffee is considered some of the world’s best. Tonight, you’ll join your leader for dinner at an East African restaurant popular with the locals. Enjoy live music, cocktails, great views and an authentic shared dining experience full of regional flavour.
Day 2 - Kigali
This morning, take a tour of the city and Kimironko market with your trip leader, where you can try traditional Rwandan and Ugandan dishes for lunch. Then, head out of the city for a sobering visit to Ntarama Church. Your local guide will explain how this memorial marks the site of a significant event during the genocide and provides an important reminder of lives lost. Continue to the Nyamata Genocide Memorial Centre, where you’ll learn how the Tutsis sought refuge in churches during harrowing times. Then, visit the Genocide Museum – a powerful yet confronting experience and important in understanding the tragedy and the resilience of the Rwandan people. The evening is then free for you to explore at your own pace.
Day 3 - Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
After breakfast, depart Kigali and head across the border to Bwindi National Park in Uganda. Break up the journey with a guided, gentle 4 km (2.4 mi) walk along the shore of Lake Ruhondo, with great birdlife and scenic views. Then, take a calm boat ride before moving on to Bwindi. Arrive at the Gorilla Heights Lodge – your Feature Stay accommodation for the next three nights. Sitting high on the Nteko Ridge, the lodge offers excellent views of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, which is home to half of the world’s 800 mountain gorillas. Gaze out from your solar-powered cottage balcony across the jagged Virunga Mountains that straddle Uganda’s border with Congo and Rwanda. This evening, during a Signature Experience, a field veterinarian from the Gorilla Doctors will join you at the lodge for a behind-the-scenes look at their work. This organisation is dedicated to saving the mountain and eastern lowland (Grauer’s) gorilla species through medical interventions that protect the animals from human-induced or life-threatening trauma or disease.
Day 4 - Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Rise early and head to the park headquarters where the Uganda Wildlife Authorities will brief you on today’s gorilla trek. The hike can be strenuous, wet and uncomfortable at times, but the incredible biodiversity of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and the chance to see rare mountain gorillas make it worthwhile. It’s recommended that you invest in the help of local porters who can carry your pack and provide expert, local, one-on-one assistance along the way. Not only does it make for a more comfortable trek, but it also provides valuable employment opportunities to locals. Gorilla trekking is highly controlled. When you encounter a group of gorillas, you’ll be able to stay with them for one hour – watch them swing from trees, groom each other and play, all under the watchful eye of a giant silverback. Have a picnic lunch in the wilderness of the rainforest, then return to your accommodation.
Day 5 - Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
After breakfast today, you’ll experience the Buniga Batwa Cultural Trail. The indigenous Batwa tribes, once forest-dwelling hunter-gatherers, were displaced in 1991 when the forests were designated as protected national parks, leaving them conservation refugees. The trail offers a glimpse into their traditional way of life. Walk through the forest with your local guide and translator, as they teach you how they used to forage for food, trap animals with snares made from branches and make tools and medicines from nature. Watch as they demonstrate their traditional hunting and fire-making techniques and learn how they built their huts and ‘nests’ in trees to protect children from dangerous animals. This afternoon, take another memorable walk, this time to the ‘Top of the World’ viewpoint in the Nkuringo Sector. From here, you can look out over the dense canopy of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to the Virunga Mountains, the distant Rwenzori Mountains and even small towns across the border in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Enjoy a sundowner and light snacks as the sun sets over the forest.
Day 6 - Nairobi
After breakfast, we'll depart the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and begin the journey to cross back over the border into Kigali (approximately 4 hours). After arriving at the capital, your afternoon is free to relax or explore.
Day 7 - Nairobi
Transfer to the airport and fly on an unescorted flight to Nairobi. You will be collected from the airport for a short transfer to your hotel, where you will meet your local leader and small group for a 6 pm welcome meeting. If you arrive before this time, you could spend the afternoon browsing the artistic and cultural displays at Nairobi Gallery, or lounging by the pool at your home for the night – a swish central hotel complete with bold pan-African art, a sauna and steam room, and super friendly staff. After your meeting, head out with your leader and fellow travellers to a colourful local restaurant offering traditional favourites with a modern touch. Sharing food is a big part of the culture here and a great way to get to know your new travel companions – enjoy sharing platters and tasty sides like samosas, fried plantains and tilapia.
Day 8 - Lake Nakuru
Today, you’ll travel to the Great Rift Valley of East Africa. Along the way, you’ll stop in Elsamere – the former home of writer Joy Adamson, whose 1960 book helped bring wildlife conservation into the mainstream. The house is a veritable museum dedicated to the works of Joy and George Adamson, with many photos of Elsa (the lioness that started it all). Then, embark on a boat trip on Lake Naivasha, the highest lake in the Great Rift Valley and home to many hippos. Later, sit down to a high tea lunch on the very grounds Joy cherished for so many years, with the lake as a serene backdrop. After lunch, continue to your Lake Nakuru lodge, arriving in the early evening. From your lodge, take in the magnificent views of Lake Nakuru and the surrounding national park, alive with the call of birds and rich in wildlife. What better way to take it all in than from your lodge’s infinity pool!
Day 9 - Lake Nakuru
This morning you’ll visit Lake Nakuru National Park – situated in the heart of the Great Rift Valley. As you explore, look for some of the many birds and wildlife who call this national park home – including waterbuck, Rothschild’s giraffes, gazelles and leopards. After a morning spent learning about this diverse landscape with your knowledgeable local leader, you’ll return to your lodge for lunch, before heading out for a game drive this afternoon. Keep your eyes peeled for one of Africa's most endangered creatures, the elusive black rhinoceros.
Day 10 - Maasai Mara National Reserve
Travel to the Maasai Mara this morning – one of the most active and beautiful game reserves in Africa. Today is a bit of a long travel day, so it’s a good idea to get stuck into a book or favourite podcast. Along the way you’ll cross the Great Rift Valley and pass by the remote region of Loita Hills, home of the Maasai people. This is one of the few places where they still practice their traditional way of life with little influence from the western world. Stop at Tepesua Village where you’ll be welcomed by Maasai warriors through traditional song and dance. When you arrive, you’ll meet your Maasai hosts and take a walk to the community village. The village offers support, safety and economic growth through the Tepesua Widows Income Project, where widowed women sew eco-friendly handicrafts to sell to visitors and locals. Learn about village life and be shown around a traditional Maasai home and cattle enclosure. Later, move on to Zebra River Camp – your Feature Stay accommodation for the next three nights. Here, you can watch the sunset and share stories over the bonfire (maybe with a cocktail) before retiring to your room.
Day 11 - Maasai Mara National Reserve
Explore more of the park by 4WD today with game drives from morning to afternoon. You’ll drive to the further part of the Maasai Mara National Reserve to look for wildlife including wildebeest, zebra and gazelles. Elephants, giraffes and elands are also commonly sighted, along with plenty of bird life. The area is known for its green plains and riverine woodlands. As the sun starts to set, stop and take a moment to soak it all in with a drink in hand – which is just what you’ll do during your Premium Signature Experience. Set against the backdrop of the open wilderness, indulge in canapes, light bites and a sundowner as the atmosphere comes alive with traditional Maasai dance performances and a cosy bonfire. As dusk falls, a variety of animals might be visible in the vicinity of your camp.
Day 12 - Maasai Mara National Reserve
This morning, maybe take an optional hot balloon ride over Maasai Mara at sunrise. If you’ve pre-booked this activity, you’ll be picked up before dawn and driven to the launch site for a safety briefing from your pilot. You’ll then glide through the skies, sometimes at tree height, for some amazing photo opportunities. After landing, you’ll sit down to a bush breakfast before meeting up with the rest of your group. Today you’ll venture into the Maasai Mara National Reserve with expert local driver guides for a day-long 4WD safari. Explore this diverse environment and look for roaming wildlife like lions and cheetahs along the way.
Day 13 - Nairobi
Say goodbye to the Maasai Mara as you travel back to Nairobi today. When you arrive this afternoon, your adventure will come to an end. If you would like to extend your stay in Nairobi, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type
19-07-202631-07-2026AUD $ 19,960-
02-08-202614-08-2026AUD $ 20,760-
06-09-202618-09-2026AUD $ 19,960-
13-09-202625-09-2026AUD $ 19,960-
27-12-202608-01-2027AUD $ 19,960-
31-01-202712-02-2027AUD $ 20,485-
30-05-202711-06-2027AUD $ 20,485-
13-06-202725-06-2027AUD $ 20,485-
20-06-202702-07-2027AUD $ 20,895-
27-06-202709-07-2027AUD $ 20,895-
11-07-202723-07-2027AUD $ 21,275-
18-07-202730-07-2027AUD $ 21,275-
01-08-202713-08-2027AUD $ 20,990-
15-08-202727-08-2027AUD $ 20,990-
05-09-202717-09-2027AUD $ 20,990-
26-09-202708-10-2027AUD $ 20,990-
10-10-202722-10-2027AUD $ 20,990-
26-12-202707-01-2028AUD $ 20,990-
30-01-202811-02-2028AUD $ 21,510-
28-05-202809-06-2028AUD $ 21,510-
11-06-202823-06-2028AUD $ 21,510-
18-06-202830-06-2028AUD $ 21,940-
25-06-202807-07-2028AUD $ 21,940-
09-07-202821-07-2028AUD $ 22,340-
16-07-202828-07-2028AUD $ 22,340-
30-07-202811-08-2028AUD $ 22,120-
13-08-202825-08-2028AUD $ 22,120-
03-09-202815-09-2028AUD $ 22,120-
24-09-202806-10-2028AUD $ 22,120-
08-10-202820-10-2028AUD $ 22,120-
24-12-202805-01-2029AUD $ 22,120-

Accommodation

Hotel (3 nights), Eco-Lodge (3 nights), Lodge (3 nights), Permanent Tented Camp (3 nights)

Transport

4WD vehicles, Plane, Boat, Private Vehicle

Map

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