SAMPLE - SAMPLE-14 DAYS BEST OF KENYA ,UGANDA & TANZANIA

Begin your journey with an all-encompassing city tour of Nairobi that will take you to spectacular and noteworthy spots in the sun. The three to four-hour drive will bring travellers to a variety of must see sights that include: The National Museum, Railway Museum, KICC (Kenyatta International Conference Centre), National Archives and the Parliament Building.

Understand the history and environment of Kenyan tribes at the Bomas of Kenya, the cultural centre in Langata, located near the main gate of the Nairobi National Park. The Bomas, (homesteads) are displayed as various traditional villages that belong to several tribes, in order to demonstrate the remarkable diverse culture that embodies Kenya.

Celebrate All Things African!

Begin your afternoon immersed in the flavours of the Region with our African Buffet at Cafe Maghreb followed by our Art Heritage & Cultural tour, showcasing artwork and sculptures curated from the Mother Continent.Tour Timings: 4.00 - 5.00 pm

Known as one of the largest urban gazetted forests in the world, the Karura Forest Reserve sits in the northern section of the city, just a 15 minute drive from the hotel. With over one thousand hectares, it is a extraordinary display of Kenyan nature. Visitors can partake in forest walks, bird watching, butterfly watching, cycling, running and picnicking. The daily hours are from 6:00am until 6:00pm.

Just a seven-minute drive from the hotel, enjoy the 30-hectare forest reserve that is the Nairobi Arboretum. A host to more than 300 species, the arboretum holds over 100 migrant and resident birds, as well as exotic and indigenous tree species and Sykes and Vervet monkeys. Learn about the local trees, birds, butterflies and more from 6:00am until 6:15pm.

Game drives offer a unique opportunity to spot wildlife including the curious-looking aardvark and elusive leopard.

Mara Serena Game Drives Credit: Serena Hotels

Mara Serena Game Drives Credit: Serena Hotels

Mara Serena Game Drives Credit: Serena Hotels

The Maasai are undoubtedly one of the most famous traditional cultures on earth. In fact, the Manyatta are usually a circular encampment of long, low, rounded houses, created by daubing cattle dung over a framework of sticks. Visiting a Manyatta is a good way to learn more about the Maasai culture and everyday life. Many ceremonies involve the ritual slaughter of cattle or goats with meat being distributed among the community, according to social rank.

At other times, live cattle are bled by opening a vein on the neck or flank with the point of an arrow. The blood is collected in a gourd and the wound closed with ashes. Then the blood is either drunk immediately while fresh or mixed with milk. Even at slaughter, blood is collected and mixed with milk to be drunk later. Sour milk is also considered a delicacy.

Ololoolo escarpment forms the western boundary of the Mara triangle running along a geological fault line forming the edge of a granite plateau that rises to a height of 400 meters from the bottom.

The escarpment receives more rain than the rest of the Mara triangle and lots of fresh water streams radiate from its face disappearing into the ground only to reappear in swamps lower down. As a result of the rains a growth of thick vegetation is found to be growing along the escarpment This terrain of the escarpment ranges from rocky crags, boulders strewn slopes and well-watered wetlands. The icing on the cake has to be the ability to enjoy the endless plains of grass of the Mara Plains which are a site to from atop the escarpment.

There are several tracks along the escarpment used by the Germans during WW1. These tracks create an edge for adventure seekers.

The hiking trail starts at the Ngira-re rangers outpost (1645m) and gently ascends up for 4 km to a height of 1935m to reach the top (vertical height 290 Metres). The hiking takes 1- 2.5 hours ascending and 1 hour descending.

Guests leave the lodge after breakfast (7:30am) and drive for 1 hour to the foot of the escarpment. The entire hike takes approximately 3 hours and guests are driven back to the lodge for lunch.

Recommended Attire includes;
- Long trousers
- Hiking boots/sports shoes/safari boots
- Hat/cap
- Water (provided by the lodge)Walking sticks (provided by the lodge).

Float above the Mara plains in a dimension of unsurpassed tranquillity and beauty. The hot air balloon lifts you into the clear blue sky at dawn and gives you an eagle’s view of the wildlife pageant below. You will glide over the treetops with the early birds and be wafted gently over the plains, above the bustle and bumps of the ground below, but cruising close to enjoy the spectacular scenery.

Our custom-built open-sided six-person safari vehicles offer comfort, panoramic viewing, dedicated safari guides, refreshments on-board and radio-links for fast location of game. Traditionally, game-drives take place early morning (you are woken with tea and arrive back in time for breakfast) or late afternoon. They can also be timed to coincide with sundowners in the bush.

The vast and sensational Serengeti, covering 14,763 sq km of endlessly rolling savannah plains, is Tanzania's first-established, largest and most famous park wherein tens of thousands of hoofed animals roam in a constant and unremitting search for the fresh grasslands upon which their survival depends. Here, the million-plus wildebeest are the predominant herbivore and also the main prey of a huge cast of large carnivores, principally lion and hyena.

Whilst the annual migration is the Serengeti's most famous attraction, the Park is also renowned for its lion, many of which have been fitted with radio-transmitter collars so that their movements may be tracked, and additionally for its wealth of cheetah, zebra, giraffe, Thomson's and Grant's gazelle, eland, impala, klipspringer, hippo and warthog.

One of the most magically memorable of the Serengeti experiences, a balloon safari allows you to drift in silence above the splendour of the plains, to dip down to visit the hippo pools of the Grumeti River, and to enjoy a bird's eye view of the wildlife theatre as it is enacted below you.

Awakened by an early-morning cup of tea (around 5.30 am) you will be driven to the balloon take-off point, where you will meet your fully-qualified balloon pilot and watch as the team inflates the vast rainbow-coloured balloon. As dawn breaks, the balloon slowly rights itself, the guests are helped into the wicker basket (a typical balloon carries around 8 passengers and is equipped with seats and safety belts), the sandbags are cast off, and the balloon rises majestically into the cool of the morning air.

Driven by the wind, and guided by jets of hot air from the gas-burners (which allow it to rise or fall according to the pilot's direction), the balloon will fly for a period of around 45 minutes (trailed by a team of ground vehicles). Eventually, it descends to a gentle controlled-landing on the plains. To celebrate, the ground crew offer the guests a glass of chilled champagne, while the pilot prepares their personal ‘flight certificates'. Later, everyone sits down to a full English breakfast, which is traditionally cooked on the burners of the balloon. After breakfast, guests can enjoy a leisurely game drive back to the lodge.

Slow in pace and wide-ranging in scenery, the Serengeti nature walk is designed to offer gentle exercise and a fascinating insight into the world of African trees, flowers, insects, reptiles, birds and animals.

Tanzania offers more than 1,000 species of birds, half of which can be seen in the Serengeti. Most commonly spotted are the Masai ostrich and Kori bustard and, on the lakes, the lesser flamingo.

Endemic to the park are the Fischer's lovebird, the rufous-tailed weaver and the grey-breasted spurfowl. Migrant species are present between October and April and include white storks, rollers, cuckoos, swallows, Montague's and pallid harriers and Caspian plovers.

For the amateur and serious ornithologist alike, we offer a range of half or full day outings which can be custom-tailored to the interests of your ornithological party. The services of a professional ornithologist and up-to-date bird checklists are included, and picnics, bush lunches, camp suppers and sundowners can be scheduled to suit your needs.

One of the most magically memorable of the Serengeti experiences, a balloon safari allows you to drift in silence above the splendour of the plains. You will dip down to visit the hippo pools of the Grumeti River and enjoy a bird's eye view of the wildlife theatre as it is enacted below you.

Awakened by an early morning cup of tea, you’ll be driven to the balloon take-off point. There, you will meet your fully qualified balloon pilot and watch as the team inflates the enormous rainbow-coloured balloon. As dawn breaks and the balloon slowly rights itself, the guests are helped into the wicker basket, the sandbags are cast off and the balloon rises majestically into the cool of the morning air.

After a 45-minute flight, your balloon will descend to the plains, where the ground crew will greet you with a glass of chilled champagne. Later, you’ll be treated to a full English breakfast, which is traditionally cooked on the burners of the balloon. After breakfast, enjoy a leisurely game drive back to the lodge.

Descend to the floor of the Crater for game viewing drives. Often described as the “Eighth Wonder Of The World,” the Ngorongoro Crater is a spectacular natural sanctuary for over 25,000 animals, including the black rhino. It is also a conservation area inhabited by the Maasai tribe.

Take a day trip to Olduvai Gorge. Also known as the “Cradle of Mankind,” it is one of the most important and controversial Palaeolithic finds in recent history.

Enjoy an easy 90-minute wildlife walk around the lodge and Crater rim with our resident naturalist. On this purely educational tour, you will see an array of bird species, wildlife and plants and flowers while enjoying spectacular views of the Crater floor below. Morning and evening walks are offered.

Escorted by an armed ranger, you will enjoy a two-hour walk through the diverse landscapes of the Crater highlands, from the grassy plains to the mountainous forest. Along the way you will view various wildlife and interact with Maasai cattlemen.

Visit authentic Maasai villages, all of which belong to the national Cultural Tourism Programme, and learn more about Maasai homesteads, traditional cattle markets and women's handicraft groups.

The Empakaai Crater is a beautiful 6-kilometre wide, 300-metre deep caldera containing a natural forest and a soda lake that serves as a famous Flamingo breeding site. From the north and eastern rim you can take in dramatic views of the Great East African Rift Valley, Lake Natron and the cone of the active Oldoinyo Lengai Volcano.

Cultural talks are offered evenings at the bar area at 9:00 p.m. Our resident naturalist will discuss the Maasai culture, their activities, their lifestyle and their co-existence with wildlife within the Ngorongoro conservation area. You will also learn about the Ngorongoro ecosystem and biodiversity.

Experience the thrill of Amboseli National Park with our expertly guided game drives. Choose between our captivating day game drives and the exciting night game drives, each lasting approximately two hours. Witness the diverse wildlife and stunning landscapes that make Amboseli a unique safari destination.

Take advantage of this unique opportunity to enjoy outdoor activities in the breathtaking natural environment of Amboseli National Park. Immerse yourself in the midst of wildlife for an experience that offers mental, physiological, and psychological rejuvenation. Delight in the pleasure and joy of physical activity while discovering the beauty of our natural flora and fauna.

Enjoy an exclusive one-hour birdwatching safari in Amboseli National Park, guided by our expert Naturalist. Discover the park's diverse bird life with a comprehensive bird species list provided to enhance your experience. This is the perfect opportunity for both novice and seasoned bird enthusiasts to explore the avian wonders of Amboseli.

Encounter the marvels of the best-kept Cultural Heritage from the Natives. Join our Culturalist as he ponders what it takes to be a Maasai. After a detailed lecture, you can join the warriors for a dance, test your jumping skills, photo session or just relax and watch.

Echo of the elephants is a documentary about a family of elephants in Amboseli National Park. It unravels the informative ecological and biological intrigues in the ever-elusive elephant’s world: but this time about this particular family led by Echo.

Amboseli Serena has taken a leading role in environmental protection and preservation with a comprehensive action programme, the Re-forestation Programme. This conservation scheme encourages guests at the Lodge to participate and plant “their” own trees. All the trees planted are indigenous species that consist of specifically drought resistant species such as Acacia spp., Mellia, Croton and Commiphora.

Gorilla Safari Lodge provides the ideal base for an unforgettable gorilla safari experience. Take a fully guided trek into the dense rainforest and meet its inhabitants; the shy and peaceful mountain gorillas. Enjoy the privilege of observing and photographing the gorillas as they interact in their large habituated troop.
Gorilla Trekking/ Gorilla Habituation(only Bwindi Forest/ Rushaga sector):

Gorilla Trekking is one of the most unforgettable experiences you can have. Take a 5 minutes walk from the lodge to the starting point of trekking the gorillas. You will be briefed about your gorilla trekking adventure after which you will be led by experienced gorilla trackers on the slopes of the volcanoes. You will start from the site where the gorillas were encountered the day before and from here the gorilla tracking begins. Although the hike can be physically demanding, the anticipation of the exciting experience ahead is amazing, and the beauty of the gorilla forest and its inhabitants are fascinating. One of Africa’s major highlights is when you encounter these gentle apes. It is a humbling experience to stand just meters from man’s distant cousins as they eat rest, play and bond with their young ones. Follow the mountain gorillas as they range freely in the impenetrable forest, and discover their gorgeous natural habitual and the many species they share it with. You are allowed an hour with the gorillas before finally sloping down back to your lodge . A truly amazing and memorable experience.

Gorilla Trekking permit is $600

The Gorilla Experience means spending all day on a trek in the forest which includes 4 hours with a gorilla family. It is only available in Uganda (Rushaga) where our lodge is located. This incredible experience must be well booked in advance since there are only a total of 8 visitors allowed, 4 per group, unlike a normal gorilla tracking where you have 8 participants in one group. This is an intimate, one of a kind, experience where you are with researchers, trackers, rangers, conservationist, all part of getting a gorilla family used to human presence, a process which takes ± 2-3 years.

Gorilla Habituation permit is $1,500

After breakfast hike to the pretty water falls known as the Bayenda water falls. The walk takes you through the rain forest where your guide will explain the flora and fauna along the way. During the walk, you will hear all different melodies from singing birds,different species of birds, monkeys as they do the canopy sway from one tree to another, if lucky see the wild elephants, hear the rolling sounds of the water fall. The walk may take approximately one hour each way to and from the falls. Its a more relaxing walk in the Impenetrable Forest. Its an exciting and emotional experience.

Its $85 per person

Mountain Biking with our guide:

The Lodge has all the biking gears, here are some of the biking routes

From the lodge to Lake Mutanda-$95

This ride will give you the opportunity to go around Lake Mutanda on bike. You will start from Gorilla Safari Lodge. This route will lead you through the local villages, local farm steads and Matooke (banana) fields, giving you a chance to interact with the local people, absorbing history and soaking in Ugandas western region’s natural beauty – all on a bike! You will get a stop over to get a bite of some local fruits.

From Lodge to Lake Muhele-$65 per pax

From Lodge to Nkuringo-$70 per pax

Community visits and Culture:

Gorilla Safari Lodge for years and years we have been supporting the Batwa community around the lodge. We are supporting the local school, the Rushaga women group who usually entertain our guests with folk songs and traditional dances, they also teach our guests how to weave baskets, mats, hats. Our guide will show you the community and you will also learn from which trees or plants are medicine and lastly visit their homesteads.

The batwa experience is one of the activities, excursion you should endenvour to participate in. For several years before Bwindi Impenetrable National Park was gazzatted as a National park, this forest was home to the Batwa Pygmies who were referred as the orginal dwellers and keepers of this tropical rain forest. After Bwindi Forest was gazzatted as a national Park in 1993, the Pygmies were rellocated from the forest to the near by villages and towns.

For a long time, the Batwa pygmies depended on forest resources for survival. They used to hunt forest animals using spears and allows for meat and gathering plants and fruits for food. They could harness honey and depend on shrubs for medicine. They constructed huts using trees, leaves and climbing plants from the forest. In otherward one can conclusively say that the Batwa Pygmies lived in harmony with the forest, and animals like mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, forest elephants, birds among others.

When Bwindi Impenetrable National Park was gazzatted and declared a world heritage, the Batwa were expelled from the forest and their life changed there and then leaving their lives endangered since they had no land outside the forest and were not used the life outside the forest.
Its $55 per person in Rushaga sector
If you want Batwe in Mgahinga Forest, its $85 per person

The varied habitats of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park Uganda’s oldest natural forest means it is the ideal habitat for a variety of bird species, with over 350 bird species recorded, including 23 Albertine rift valley endemics that is 90% of all the Albertine Rift endemics such as: Short-tailed Warbler and Blue headed Sunbird as well as 7 IUCN red data listed species. The birds that are easy to see are: African Emerald Cuckoo, Dark caped Bulbul, White-tailed Blue Flycatchers and Red-headed Bluebill.arbler and Blue-headed Sunbird as well as seven IUCN red data listed species.