The Hakuna Matata Path

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Day to Day Itinerary

Day 1-2: Nairobi - Arusha

Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner

Ditch your watch, you're on Africa time now. Meet the rest of the group tonight and find your seat buddy for the trip to Arusha tomorrow morning.

Day 1

• Arrive at any time and get acquainted with Nairobi
• An arrival transfer from Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport can be pre-booked through Geckos
• There is a pre-departure meeting tonight at 6pm
• You may choose to eat at the hotel restaurant this evening or venture out to one of the many fine restaurants that Nairobi has to offer

Day 2 (Approximate driving time: 8 hours)

• Cross the border at Namanga and enter Tanzania before travelling on to Arusha - the Safari Capital of Tanzania, throbs with activity  See several safaris heading off or returning after a week in the bush
• Set up for a first night of camping in Tanzania

Day 3: The School of St Jude - Mto Wa Mbu

Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner

(Approximate driving time: 2 hours)

St Jude's motto is 'Fighting Poverty Through Education'. The kids here get a free education which includes transport, uniform, stationary, snacks, water and a hot meal.

• Visit The School of St Jude in Arusha, a school for orphans and very poor children of the area
• Take a guided tour of the school and learn more about how it operates and the success that it has achieved
• Take time to visit children in class, before joining them for lunch

Day 4-5: Serengeti National Park

Meals included: 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners

(Approximate driving time: 8 hours; game drive times variable)

There are no fences around our campsite, so you might wake up in the morning to find lion footprints alongside your tent. Bet that's never happened on a weekend camping trip with dad.

• Stop on the top of the Rift Valley escarpment for an incredible view out over Lake Manyara
• Spend two days exploring the plains on game drives as well as checking out the rocky outcrops, or 'kopjes' - a favourite for predators
• Enjoy two nights camping inside the park - and be serenaded by the sounds of the African savannah

Day 6-7: Ngorongoro Conservation Area - Arusha

Meals included: 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners

The Ngorongoro Crater is about 19km wide, so it's slightly more than just a hole in the ground. It's your best chance of seeing endangered black rhino so keep your peepers peeled. Then it's off to Arusha for a hot shower.

Day 6 (Approximate driving time: 8 hours, including game drive)

• Traverse the southern part of Serengeti National Park and cross over into the adjacent Ngorongoro Conservation Area
• Perhaps visit the small museum at Olduvai Gorge

Day 7 (Approximate driving time: 8 hours, including game drive)

• Transfer into Land Rovers and head down to the crater floor
• Spend the morning exploring this outstanding wildlife sanctuary - be lucky to see the rare black rhinos
• Leave the crater and return to the campground in Arusha

Day 8-10: Arusha - Nairobi - Masai Mara National Reserve

Meals included: 3 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners

Visit a local Masai village and recreate your favourite "Oh, what a feeling" Toyota moment when you jump with the warriors.

Day 8 (Approximate driving time: 8 hours; excluding time spent at border)

• Head back to Nairobi and enjoy some free time before the next leg of the trip
• Set off on the long drive to the Masai Mara

Day 9-10 (Approximate driving time: 7 hours; game drive times variable)

• Spend two nights in the Great Rift Valley and the Masai Mara region
• Head out on a full day's safari
• Explore the park on morning and afternoon game drives
• Witness wildebeest, zebra, elephant, giraffe and gazelle, and with luck, even lions or cheetahs
• Perhaps choose to visit a local village, where you can experience Masai dancing and singing

Day 11: Lake Naivasha

Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner

(Approximate driving time: 6 hours)

Lake Naivasha is paradise for snorers. "What? Someone was snoring last night? It wasn't me. Must've been those pesky hippos."

• Head to the freshwater Lake Naivasha and set up camp on the banks of the lake 
• Perhaps choose to visit Elsamere, the former home of writer Joy Adamson of ‘Born Free’ fame
• Why not take a cycling tour into Hell's Gate National Park - a safari on two wheels
• Optional nature walk in Crescent Island Sanctuary
• Fall asleep to the sound of grunting hippos

Day 12-13: East Africa Mission Orphanage (EAMO) - Lake Nakuru National Park

Meals included: 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners

The only thing the kids at EAMO will ask you for is a cuddle, but after chatting to Ralph and May Spinks you'll realise just how much more it takes to run an orphanage for 225 kids. We'll stay overnight so there's plenty of time for soccer, a tour, hair braiding and seeing how EAMO works.

Day 12 (Approximate driving time: 3 hours)

• Head to the East Africa Mission Orphanage and camp on its grounds
• Meet the children and share dinner with them at the orphanage
• Answer the children's questions about the wider world over dinner

Day 13 (Game drive times variable)

• Travel to the nearby Lake Nakuru National Park for a full day of game driving
• Perhaps spot populations of white and black rhino, Masai giraffe, Cape buffalo and the elusive leopard
• View flamingos on the lake, which sometimes resembles a moving carpet of pink feathers
• Return to camp at the orphanage

Day 14-16: Kericho - Jinja

Meals included: 3 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners

A couple nights camping on the riverbank at Bujagali Falls means activities like white-water rafting, kayaking, horse riding and quad biking.

Day 14 (Approximate driving time: 2 hours)

• Spend time with the children of the orphanage in their classrooms
• Sit in on class with the children and join some of them in their lessons
• Enjoy the opportunity to learn more about the tea industry in Kenya on a tour
• Camp in the midst of a tea plantation

Days 15-16 (Approximate driving time: 8 hours)

• Cross the border from Kenya to Uganda at the Busia border post - one of the busiest in east Africa.
• Spend two nights camped at Adrift camp, on the banks of the river Nile
• Camp near raging rapids, forested islands and an abundance of bird life
• Optional activities abound, including whitewater rafting, kayaking, horse riding and quad biking

Day 17: Entebbe - Uganda Wildlife Education Centre

Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 dinner

(Approximate driving time: 3 hours)

All the wildlife here has been rescued from poachers, illegal trade or accidents. We guarantee you'll want to adopt at least three of the monkeys before you leave.

• Retrace the path to Lake Victoria and head on to Entebbe, where we visit the Ugandan Wildlife Centre
• Optional boat excursion to Ngamba Island on Lake Victoria

Day 18-19: Queen Elizabeth National Park

Meals included: 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners

(Approximate driving time: 8 hours; game drive times variable)

It's rare to come across many other people here, which means you've basically got the animals to yourself. Break out the SPF 30+ on your boat ride along the Kazinga Channel.

• Journey on to Queen Elizabeth National Park
• Get an insight into rural Ugandan life en route and be greeted by waving children along the way
• Embark on an afternoon game drive in search of some of the 100 different types of mammals and over 600 different species of birds
• Spend two nights camped in the Mweya area, located on the edge of the Kazinga Channel
• Spend a morning game driving
• Take a boat trip on the Kazinga Channel - a highlight for birdwatchers (and hippopotamus watchers)

Day 20-21: Queen Elizabeth National Park - Ruhengeri

Meals included: 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners

Erin, one of our copywriters, just came back from a gorilla trek. We asked her to describe it, but she got all sniffy and misty-eyed. We made out the words "goosebumps" and "incredible" before she descended into full-blown tears.

Day 20 (Approximate driving time: 7 hours)

• Journey on to Rwanda
• Get an insight into rural Ugandan life en route and be greeted by waving children along the way

Day 21

• Check in at the headquarters of the Parc National des Volcans for the gorilla trek
• Take a brief safety talk and set off with our guide in search of the magnificent apes
• Get within metres of a gorilla family we are tracking and spend an hour observing them
• Relive the events of the day over a well-earned meal and celebratory drink back at camp

Day 22: Kigali

Meals included: 1 breakfast

(Approximate driving time: 3 hours)

The Genocide Memorial is heavy, but it's really important that you come here. It's the perfect way to end this trip because it reminds you of how far this country has come and how lucky you are to have been there.

• Drive through verdant, rolling hills of Rwanda and travel south-east to the capital, Kigali
• Visit the Genocide Memorial, which opened in 2004 to mark the tenth anniversary of the Rwandan Genocide
• The trip comes to an end after the memorial visit

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Your Trip

Nuts and Bolts

• Geckos experienced English-speaking local safari leader, professional driver, and camp cook who will prepare all included meals.

• Geckos specialist English-speaking local site guides in the Ngorongoro Crater and on the Gorilla trek.

• Transport in a custom-built safari vehicle with large opening windows for unrestricted game viewing (maximum of just 22 clients).

• 17 nights camping in dome tents, with mosquito netting and a foam mattress provided. Camp sites include: in the middle of the Serengeti Plains; on the edge of the Ngorongoro Crater; on the banks of Lake Naivasha; in a 'bush camp' on East Africa Mission Orphanage’s farmland; on a tea plantation; and at Bujagali Falls.

• 2 nights in a tented bush camp located on the Masai Mara park boundary.

• 1 day in Lake Nakuru National Park; 1 day in Parc National des Volcans; 2 days in Masai Mara National Reserve; 2 days in Queen Elizabeth National Park; and 4 days in Serengeti National Park/Ngorongoro Conservation Area (including all park entrance fees, where applicable).

• Game drives in the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park.

• Gorilla trek in Parc National des Volcans, including one pre-purchased gorilla trekking permit.

• Visit to the School of St Jude which is 'Fighting Poverty through Education'. Guided tour of the school, visiting the children in class and joining them for morning tea.

• Dinner and time in the classroom with the children of the East Africa Mission Orphanage.

• Boat trip on the Kazinga Channel.

• Sightseeing (including entrance fees where relevant): Lake Manyara; Genocide Memorial in Kigali.

• Free time to explore Lake Naivasha.

Summary of accommodation, transport & meals

Transport

• 4WD vehicle
• Custom-built safari vehicle
• On foot
• Trek

Accommodation

• 17 nights Camping
• 2 nights Tented bush camp
• 2 nights Hotel

Meals

• 21 breakfasts
• 18 lunches
• 19 dinners

Equipment Included

• camping equipment
• sleeping mat

Not Included

International flights, kitty, arrival and departure transfers, airport/departure taxes, visas, pre-tour or post tour accommodation, all other meals, drinks, sleeping bag, pillow, all optional tours during free time, transfers outside of the tour program, travel insurance, tips, laundry, items of a personal nature and flights (unless specified).

Optional Extras

• Arusha - Camel Ride
  from US$10 per hour
• Arusha - City Tour
  US$10
• Arusha - Coffee Plantation Visit
  US$8
• Arusha - Masai 'Museum Visit
  US$10
• Arusha - Snake Park
  US$6
• Geckos Nairobi Half Day Tour
  US$65
• Kenya - Masai Village Visit
  US$25
• Lake Naivasha - Fishing
  US$10 (excluding boat hire - price varies depending on number of clients)
• Lake Naivasha - Mountain Biking
  US$50 per person (including guide, entrance fee and visit to Hell's Gate)
• Lake Naivasha - Nature Walk on Crescent Island Package (including entrance fee and guide)
  US$50 per person (min 3 pax) - Guide only US$15 per person
• Masai Mara Balloon Safari
  please contact us for price
• Ngamba Island (Chimpanzee Sanctuary)
  US$88 per person (min 5 pax)
• Nile River White Water Rafting - Full day
  US$125
• Nile River White Water Rafting - Half day
  US$115
• Serengeti Balloon Safari
  please contact us for price

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Local Payment

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Important Information

Gorilla Permits - Geckos Adventures pre-purchase gorilla permits. Your gorilla permit MUST be pre-paid for and will be confirmed in your name once your trip deposit and gorilla permit money has been received and the trip is guaranteed to depart. This is the only way permits can be guaranteed. Once purchased the permits are non-refundable and non-transferable.

 

 

About this Information

The information provided here is given in good faith and has been compiled with all reasonable care. However, things change and some of the information may become out of date. Please ensure that you have the most up-to-date information for your trip. We recommend that you check the trip notes for your tour around one month before departure. If you have any queries, please contact your travel agent or our staff in Australia. We are here to help you!

Last Updated

1 May 2013

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