Uganda to Tanzania Overland Safari with Participation Camping

Arrive at any time. Tonight after a brief welcome meeting, choose to get to know your group members with an optional group dinner at a nearby local restaurant in Kampala not far from the campsite.

Please make sure you have all of the necessary visas for this tour by the time of the welcome meeting. It is very important to read the visa section in our trip details to confirm which visas you will need, if any. Please note: not all nationalities are able to obtain a visa on arrival.

Included Experiences

• Meet Your CEO and Group: Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.

Cross over the equator today in the Lando en route from Kampala to Lake Bunyonyi. The name Bunyonyi means ‘place of many little birds’ and the lake’s winding shores encircle 29 islands surrounded by steep terraced hillsides. Upon arrival enjoy free time to get to know your surroundings and opt to swim in the calm waters.

Included Experiences

• Lando: Climb aboard our custom built ride …. overlanding G-style!

Spend the day on a mountain gorilla trek in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Hike deep into the jungle through volcano forests alongside a park ranger in search of these mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. Please be ready for a challenge as the treks can vary in length and difficulty. Note: Ugandan authorities are fiercely protective of this natural treasure, and currently permit only a maximum of eight people, per day, to visit a given gorilla family. The group will be split into different sub-groups for the trek, and depending on the number of travellers, different sub-groups may do their trek on different days.

Depending on the date of our permits, it's possible that the gorilla trek will take place on the second full day in Lake Bunyonyi. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has four areas; Rushaga, Buhoma, Nkuringo, Ruhija. Depending on permit availability your group could be tracking gorillas from different areas of the park, it is all still part of Bwindi.

Included Experiences

• Mountain Gorilla Trek: Take an unforgettable guided trek (1-6 hrs) deep into volcano forests of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for a wildlife encounter of a lifetime, and meet a family of mountain gorillas. One of Africa's major highlights, a close encounter with these amazing animals is simply breathtaking. Get prepared before heading out: bring plenty of water and waterproof clothing (it can rain on only a few minutes’ notice), and be sure to bring protective bags for cameras and film. Dress in layers with long sleeves and long pants to protect against stinging nettles found in the forests. The trek’s often chilly, at first, until you start trekking. Note: Ugandan authorities are fiercely protective of this natural treasure, and currently permit only a maximum of eight people, per day, to visit a given gorilla family. The group will be split into different sub-groups for the trek, and depending on the number of travellers, different sub-groups may do their trek on different days. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has four areas; Rushaga, Buhoma, Nkuringo, and Ruhija. Depending on permit availability your group could be tracking gorillas from different areas of the park, it is all still part of Bwindi.

Explore Lake Bunyonyi with a full day of free time. There are many optional activities to choose from like, swimming, hiking, canoeing, bird watching, or taking a motorboat tour of the lake. In the evening, relax together with the whole group at the lodge. Please keep in mind that some members of the group will do the gorilla trek on this day and have the free day in Lake Bunyonyi the day before.

Included Experiences

• Free Time: Get out and do as much or as little as you'd like around Lake Bunyonyi.

Optional Experiences

• Swimming: Jump in and enjoy the water and magical surroundings.
• Canoe Rental: Get in a boat and enjoy paddling around the many islands of Lake Bunyonyi.
• Bird Watching Walk: The word “Bunyonyi” means "the place of little birds" in the local language. Accompany a professional bird guide along the shore and view the wide range of bird species that inhabit the area around this lake. This is a can't-miss for birding lovers.
• Nature Walk: Set out and discover the incredible landscape of the Lake Bunyoni area on foot, visiting villages and meeting local communities along the way.
• Motorboat Tour of Lake Bunyonyi: Relax on a boat tour around the peaceful waters of Lake Bunyonyi and learn about the history of the surrounding islands.

Drive through the Ugandan countryside on the journey to Kalinzu Forest Reserve, which is further north in the country. The reserve is adjacent to Queen Elizabeth National Park and offers a great variety of landscapes to view wildlife. Spend the afternoon at your leisure here.

Included Experiences

• Lando: Climb aboard our custom built ride …. overlanding G-style!

Optional Experiences

• Boat Cruise: Take a leisurely 2-hour boat cruise. Enjoy stunning views of the landscape and other natural formations.

Rise early this morning for an included chimpanzee tracking excursion within the lush Kalinzu Forest Reserve with a ranger. Later, the group will visit a tea plantation before arriving at Lake Mburo. Then, you can choose to book an afternoon boat cruise, or get to know the local area on foot.

Included Experiences

• Chimpanzee Tracking Excursion: Enjoy a chimpanzee tracking excursion through the scenic Kalinzu Forest Reserve. Trek along the ridges and valleys of the Rift Valley escarpment to visit chimpanzees in their natural habitat. Follow forest trails, which offer amazing views over the Rwenzori Mountains, Lake Edward, the Kazinga Channel, and the Congo. The Kalinzu Forest Reserve is steeped in mystery and rich with local legends. Learn about the folklore and uses of the forest from a local guide.
• Tea Plantation Visit: Walk through a tea plantation with a local guide. View multiple varietals of tea, and learn about the process of growing tea plants from the harvesting stage to what goes into making the best cup of tea.
• Lando: Climb aboard our custom built ride …. overlanding G-style!

Optional Experiences

• Lake Mburo Boat Safari: Come face to face with crocodiles and hippos in their natural habitat, as well as many other animals as they come to the lake to drink. Keep a look out for the many water birds, including kingfishers, the Africa Fish eagle, and the rare shoebill stork.
• Nature Walk: Set out to discover the incredible landscape of the Lake Mburo area on foot with a guide. Witness zebras, warthogs and various species of birds in their natural habitats as you stroll through the valley.

Today the group will travel back across the equator to Uganda, which happens to be one of the few countries where it’s possible to cross over this boundary on land. Along the way, make a stop for lunch at the G Adventures-supported AidChild Equation Café & Gallery. Arrive to Jinja in the evening.

Included Experiences

• AidChild Cafe & Gallery: Make a stop at AidChild’s Equation Café and Gallery, located at the equator. Surrounded by paintings and other crafts made by local artists, you'll enjoy a meal made with traditional Ugandan ingredients, with a modern twist. Your lunch here directly supports AidChild, a non-profit that provides support, medical care and education to children and youth living with HIV in Uganda.
• Lando: Climb aboard our custom built ride …. overlanding G-style!

The entire day is free for you to explore Jinja on your own or with members of the group. There are plenty of outdoor and adventure activities to choose from like rafting and mountain biking.

Included Experiences

• Free Time: Get out and enjoy the adrenaline capital of Uganda.

Optional Experiences

• Nile River Sunset Cruise: Nothing beats an African sunset over the Nile. Salute the end of another great day with good company, good food, and an ice cold cocktail.
• Mabira Forest Mountain Biking: Take to two wheels to see a different side of Jinja and the surrounding area. Cycle through villages and agricultural plantations to get a real of taste of rural Uganda before heading to the main forest in search of monkeys.
• Quad Biking: Get ready for lots of fun on this exhilarating quad biking tour safari. Ride along the banks of the Nile River through forests, farms and villages.
• Nile River Kayaking: Ride the whitewater of the Nile on a kayaking trip. Take an introductory whitewater kayaking course or dive right in with a tandem kayaking trip with an experienced guide. (140-160 USD per person)
• Bungee Jumping: If adrenaline is your thing, strap in and leap off for a fantastic experience.
• Jinja River Rafting: Looking for a change from wildlife to simply something wild? Wake up early and head out on the Nile River for a full-day navigating the whitewater. Enjoy an exciting day testing your paddling skills in the rapids while waves crash over into your eight-person raft. This activity is suitable for rafters of all experience levels. Enjoy an included meal and drinks with your group after conquering the rapids.

Catch up on some rest during this travel day between Uganda and Kenya. The group will arrive to the camp site near Eldoret in the evening and spend the night under the stars.

This is an overnight stop in between two long driving days.

Included Experiences

• Border Crossing (Uganda - Kenya): Ready for a little more ink in your passport? Grab your bags and get ready to check another country off your bucket list.
• Lando: Climb aboard our custom built ride …. overlanding G-style!

Transfer through the Kenyan countryside to Nairobi. Spend time scanning the scenery, listening to music, taking naps, and enjoying the company of your group. Stops will be made along the way for you to grab lunch and dinner on your own.

Included Experiences

• Lando: Climb aboard our custom built ride …. overlanding G-style!

Travel by public shuttle through the semi-arid lands of the Maasai people and cross the border into Tanzania. Search the horizon for views of Mount Kilimanjaro in the distance and arrive to Arusha in the evening. Stops will be made along the way for you to have lunch and dinner on your own.

Included Experiences

• Shuttle: Move efficiently from point A to point B aboard this dependable ride.
• Border Crossing (Kenya - Tanzania): Ready for a little more ink in your passport? Grab your bags and get ready to check another country off your bucket list.

Prepare for a wildlife safari experience in one of the most famous national parks in Africa; the Serengeti. Travel from Arusha and begin a 3-day, 2-night excursion with a safari drive through the park.

The Serengeti & Ngorongoro Crater portion of the trip will make use of specialized 4x4 7-seater safari vehicles, with experienced safari driver/guides, who will ensure wonderful wildlife encounters. The safari vehicles each have sliding windows and a large pop-up roof, perfect for viewing animals and scenery. The group will split up among several vehicles and your CEO will spend time in each vehicle over the next three days.

Included Experiences

• Serengeti National Park Safari : This is the reason you came to Africa. Charge your camera, grab your binoculars, and set out on safari. Your eagle-eyed driver will keep an eye out for wildlife – buffaloes, elephants, lions, wildebeests, zebras, and more. Tanzania’s Serengeti tends to be less crowded than some of Kenya’s reserves, so enjoy the scenery, the vast expanse of the grasslands, the play of light and shadow, and the up-close look at wild Africa.
• 7-Seat 4x4 Safari Vehicle: Get a better view and take better snapshots aboard this off-road ride with a pop-up top.

Explore Experiences

Head out on a final morning safari in the Serengeti before continuing on to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, famous for its magnificent wildlife viewing opportunities. Set up camp in the late afternoon near the crater rim and simply soak in this beautiful setting.

Please note: if you have pre-booked the Serengeti Balloon Safari, today's the day for this activity! The CEO will give the final confirmation, as it is subject to change. You will miss the included morning wildlife safari drive with the group, but you will have a much better view from above! If you have not yet pre-booked, add it to your checkout page, or ask your GCO or travel agent for assistance. Due to the high-altitude location of our camp, temperatures can drop at night. We recommend bringing extra layers to wear during the evening and following morning.

Included Experiences

• 7-Seat 4x4 Safari Vehicle: Get a better view and take better snapshots aboard this off-road ride with a pop-up top.
• Serengeti National Park Safari : This is the reason you came to Africa. Charge your camera, grab your binoculars, and set out on safari. Your eagle-eyed driver will keep an eye out for wildlife – buffaloes, elephants, lions, wildebeests, zebras, and more. Tanzania’s Serengeti tends to be less crowded than some of Kenya’s reserves, so enjoy the scenery, the vast expanse of the grasslands, the play of light and shadow, and the up-close look at wild Africa.

Optional Experiences

• Serengeti Balloon Safari: Spirited aloft in a hot-air balloon, view the wildlife and terrain of the Serengeti that only the birds see. Enjoy a champagne breakfast and keep that shutter-finger good and limber—you’ll be using it plenty over the course of your hour in the air. Please note, additional fees will apply for passengers exceeding the 120 kg (265 lbs) weight limit.

Adventure down to the crater floor for a final safari experience in an area surrounded by the high walls. Exit the crater in the late morning and drive in the 4x4 safari vehicles back to Arusha. Stop along the way at Mto wa Mbu for a cultural walk and experience daily life in this rural town. Then, sit down for a traditional lunch with members from the local community.

Included Experiences

• 7-Seat 4x4 Safari Vehicle: Get a better view and take better snapshots aboard this off-road ride with a pop-up top.
• Mto wa Mbu Community Visit and Lunch: Take part in a cultural walk to learn about life in this East African town. Mto wa Mbu has attracted some 18,000 residents from 120 different tribes. During the two-hour tour, visit the community's local market, go right to the farmer's fields, see how huts are constructed, and meet artisans in their shops. Afterwards, sit down with our new friends and enjoy a traditional lunch of meat and plantains.
• Ngorongoro Crater Wildlife Safari Drive: Set the alarm and prepare for an early start to see the wonders of the Ngorongoro Crater. Masai herdsmen appear in the morning mist. Our driver/guide takes us down into the crater and drives us to all the best spots to view wildlife. Watch for zebra, gazelles, buffalo, and warthogs. The swamp and forest are home to hippos, rhinos, elephants, baboons, and monkeys. Keep your eyes peeled and camera ready to capture a pride of lions or a lone leopard walking along the savanna.

Explore Experiences

Depart from Arusha early in your private vehicle towards Dar es Salaam. Enjoy the Tanzanian countryside passing by and be on the lookout for the blue waters of the Indian Ocean in the distance. The group will spend the night in this port town before transferring to the island beaches of Zanzibar.

Zanzibar Express; transfer this morning from your Arusha hotel to the airport for a scenic flight to Zanzibar. Arrive in Stone Town and spend the afternoon exploring on your own. Enjoy an extra night in Stone Town and meet back up with the group the following day. Only breakfast included.

Optional Experiences

• Zanzibar Express: Looking forward to your trip but not as much to the long journey from Arusha to Zanzibar? Upgrade this part of your tour and fly instead! You’ll cut your travel time between the two cities to a fraction and enjoy an extra night in Stone Town, where you can wait (nice and relaxed) for the rest of your group to join you. Includes all transfers, local flight, and one additional hotel night in Stone Town, Zanzibar.

Hop on the ferry in the morning to the picturesque island beaches of Zanzibar and spend the remainder of the day enjoying the sandy shores of this archipelago paradise. Set off on an orientation walk with your CEO in Stone Town.

Zanzibar is a Muslim society. Immodestly dressed women or men in shorts will get harassed and cause great offence in Stone Town. On the beach, customs are a little more relaxed, but travellers are encouraged to be respectful of the island's culture and cover up when walking around. Never try to take a photograph without asking permission.

Included Experiences

• Ferry: Get to the next spot on your route aboard a convenient and efficient ferry boat.
• Free Time: Feel free to explore on your own, or join a guided tour.
• Stone Town Orientation Walk: This orientation walk is just a brief introduction. If you'd like to learn more in depth information about Stone Town, we recommended going on a guided city tour.

Optional Experiences

• Stone Town Walking Tour: Enjoy a walking tour along the bustling narrow streets of Stone Town and admire the historical old buildings and homes that are part of a preservation program funded by UNESCO and the Aga Khan Foundation. Also, visit the historical site of the slave market and learn about this dark aspect of history. Continue to the local fruits and vegetable market, fish market, Tip tipu house, and National Museum.
• Christ Church Cathedral & Old Slave Market: Tour the site of what was once one of East Africa's most notorious slave markets, and the Anglican cathedral that was constructed in its place.
• Sultan's Palace Museum: Tour this opulent palace built by the second sultan of Zanzibar in 1883 as an extravagant Arab mansion.

Explore the heart of Zanzibar on your own. Walk the winding streets, visit the various squares, and choose to try some tasty treats from pavement vendors. The group will travel to the tropical haven of Jambiani for the next few days.

Included Experiences

• Free Time: Settle into island life and explore during some free time.

Optional Experiences

• Swimming: Grab your bathing suit and go for a refreshing swim.
• Jozani Forest Tour: Known for the red colobus monkeys, a visit Jozani forest is a highlight when in Zanzibar. Explore the nature trails while following in the footsteps of a guide who will inform about the impressive flora and fauna surrounding you. (36-160 USD per person)

Spend a free day in one of the world’s great cultural crossroads. Choose to partake in a diving experience, go snorkelling, hop aboard a sailing trip, or lounge on the beach listening to the nearby lapping waves in this East African paradise.

Included Experiences

• Free Time: Do as much or as little as you'd like on this island slice of paradise.

Travel back to Stone Town from the other side of the island. The tour ends in the late morning upon arrival.

Morning group transfer from the beach. Depart Stone Town upon arrival in the late morning. Onward travel should be booked no earlier than 2:30pm.

Included Experiences

• Departure Day: Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with any onward travel arrangements you require.