Bwindi Gorilla Trekking and Kenyan Adventure Safari

The pleasant town of Entebbe has a wonderful location on a northern peninsula of Lake Victoria. This tropical lakeside city is a more relaxed stop over destination than Kampala and as Uganda's main international airport is located here, it's a great base for exploring rest of the country.

This is ‘the’ place to see the famous population of around 350 mountain gorillas in Uganda, but it is also a secretive home for other primate species, including black-and-white colobus, L’Hoest’s, red-tailed, blue and vervet monkeys. In addition, there are 79 mammal species including duiker, elephant, bushbuck, bush pig, giant forest hog and several small cat species that will keep you company as you explore the remote area. This is a very diverse region of Uganda, with a guide you will have time to explore the flora and fauna, as well as various species of birds and butterflies and other larger mammals, and perhaps visit local communities on the edge of park.

There are a total of 10 habituated gorilla families in Uganda, all located in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park in the south west of the country. Each group receives a maximum of 8 visitors per day. About seven of the ten families reside in Northern Bwindi, and three in southern Bwindi; the ones you will be tracking will depend on the location of your lodgings. The gorillas cover large distances overnight, and they are never constantly in one area. The guides will use their knowledge of the gorillas’ habits and information from the previous day to locate the group’s whereabouts. For this reason, one group cannot be said to be easier to track than another. The time taken to track the gorillas varies enormously, from as little as half an hour to as much as 9 hours before returning to camp. The terrain can be extremely difficult, with steep slopes, and dense vegetation. In addition, the altitude means participants do need to be physically fit in order to enjoy the hike. Once the gorillas are located, your group will be allowed a maximum of one hour with them. This is to avoid causing the animals any undue stress or getting them overly used to human interactions. After this, you will return to the park headquarters and your camp. If for some reason you are unable to complete your excursion to the gorillas, you will either be able to return immediately to the base of the trail with a porter OR you will be asked to remain where you are with a porter until the group returns.

The capital city of Kenya is a busy one, and can be slightly overwhelming to behold. While the centre is hectic, suburbs such as Karen, named after Karen Blixen, is a wonderful place and there are attractions such as The Daphine Sheldrick Rhino and Elephant Orphanage and the Giraffe Centre, and the Nairobi National Park just outside the city.

Born from one family’s passion for Kenya and its wilderness, the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is today the most successful orphan-elephant rescue and rehabilitation program in the world and one of the pioneering conservation organisations for wildlife and habitat protection in East Africa. Located in a secluded area of the Nairobi National Park, the orphanage is open for visitors between 11am and 12pm when the the orphans arrive for their midday mud bath and feeding.

Set in the lush foothills of the Aberdares and close to Mount Kenya, this area is the premier place to see Black Rhino in Kenya and other types of game. Your travel designer will be able to inform you about the activities on offer in this area of Kenya.

Enjoy peaceful morning, afternoon and evening game viewing. The wildlife here is abundant, making for easy and plentiful sightings. It also means there is no need to rush out first thing, unless you want to. Spend time with the prolific numbers of black and white rhino and look out for four of the big five. You won't see any elephants at Solio because they have been fenced out to preserve the vegetation for the black rhino. You may also spot reticulated giraffe, eland, waterbuck, lion, leopard and cheetah.

There are mountain bikes available at Solio Lodge for adults and children to use at any time. Head out with a guide to discover more about the flora and fauna around you. It’s a great way to get some exercise whilst also appreciating the beautiful scenery of Solio Ranch. Although cycling takes place outside the core rhino sanctuary, there is still lots of wildlife to encounter. Depending on how energetic you are feeling, there are various length circuits to discover.

Enjoy the stunning wildlife and captivating cultural encounters with the local Samburu tribes in the Samburu region. Take bush walks in between your daily safari game drives (some at night), visits to the local Samburu villages, camel-back riding, evenings of sundowners, gourmet food and campfire stories, and all in the serene and sumptuous luxury of your lodge.

Sasaab has four resident camels that are looked after and led by experienced Samburu herders. It can be great fun to explore the area around the lodge from up high. Guests usually enjoy camel rides in the cooler late afternoon hours. A popular choice is to embark on a leisurely ride down by the river and end up at the sundowner spot in time for an evening drink.