15 Days Tanzania Migration Uganda Gorillas & Kenya’s Mara

Destinations visited: Tanzania, Uganda & Kenya’s iconic Signature Big game reserves

A real epic, bucket list 15-days trip featuring the best of East Africa whilst hitting the perfect balance between luxury and adventure. From remarkable big game action in the Serengeti & Masai Mara to gorilla trekking & cultural encounters in Uganda.

Kicking off with a night in Arusha, you are soon wandering into the wonder of the Serengeti. Lemala Kuria Hills is the perfect spot for a walking safari that revitalizes your senses to the sounds, smells and textures of the bush. And a balloon safari over ‘the land that moves forever’ is another unforgettable way to experience Tanzania.

After seven nights in wonderland- Tanzania, it is time to head North to Uganda and the extraordinary Mahogany Springs Lodge in Bwindi National Park. Here, you will follow a guide to see one of the few remaining troupes of mountain gorillas, which are highly endangered and have such ‘human’ expressions and gestures. But there are other unusual species to see, too, such as golden monkeys, which are considered Old World monkeys and have adorable blue faces.

Finally, bag your bags for the wonder of the Masai Mara for three nights at Sand River. Here, in addition to classic game drives in search of the Big 5, you will be treated to dinner under the stars, a bush lunch and a dawn hot-air balloon ride to see the awakening herds and rising sun, followed by a champagne breakfast. From Tanzania to primate Capital, and the Big 5 to impressive silverbacks, this East African vacation has it all, with a fly-in service to every destination.

Day to Day Itinerary:

– Days 1 – 2: Your adventure begins in Arusha

– Days 2 – 5: Off to Lake Manyara

– Days 5 – 8: Sightseeing on the Serengeti

– Day 5 – 8: Serengeti National Park in Tanzania.

– Days 8 – 9: Touchdown in Uganda

– Days 9 – 12: Meet the gorillas

– Days 12 – 15: The Masai Mara is calling

Days 1 – 2: Your adventure begins in Arusha

You are met on arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to Tanzania’s largest coffee plantation to spend the night at Arusha Coffee Lodge. The lodge makes the most of its luxurious heritage and setting, with pretty walkways in the lush garden and glorious views of Mount Meru. Taste the freshest cup of coffee you will ever have at the resident patisserie shop and recover from your long-haul flight in the lodge’s spa.

Days 2 – 5: Off to Lake Manyara

This morning you fly from Arusha Airport to Lake Manyara, where you settle into the Escarpment Luxury Lodge for three nights. Feast your eyes on breath-taking views of the lake and surrounding wilderness – a scene so tranquil and naturally beautiful that Hemingway called it ‘the prettiest place in Africa’. Explore the area on day and night game drives, guided nature walks and even cycling excursions. An exclusive sundowner experience is included in your stay, along with evening entertainment provided by Maasai dancers and singers.

Days 5 – 8: Sightseeing on the Serengeti

Fly to the Serengeti, where a warm welcome awaits you at Sanctuary Serengeti Migration Camp, your home for the next three nights. This intimate, comfortable camp follows the migrating herds, moving location with the changing seasons. Its dedicated staff and passionate professional guides will ensure that you witness one of the greatest natural spectacles on earth as it plays out between predators and prey on the endless plains of the Serengeti.

Days 8 – 9: Touchdown in Uganda

Your journey continues to Uganda’s vast green swathe of rainforest that covers the Rift Valley Mountains. Gorilla trekking has contributed directly to saving the mountain gorillas from extinction and is an exceptional wildlife encounter that belongs on every bucket list. Explore this teeming ecosystem, home to the great apes and almost a dozen other primate species and about 350 bird species.

A regional flight will take you from Tanzania to Entebbe in Uganda. Overnight at The Boma Entebbe, a charming homestead set in tropical gardens in one of Entebbe’s leafy neighborhoods with views of Lake Victoria. The Boma provides modern comforts in a charming, 1940’s setting – expect warm hospitality and excellent food served in an elegant atmosphere.

Days 9 – 12: Meet the gorillas

Fly to Kihihi, where a road transfer delivers you to Mahogany Springs Lodge, your base for three nights. Set in a private concession within Bwindi Impenetrable Forest – a World Heritage Site – Mahogany Springs Lodge makes the most of its stunning location, providing luxurious cabanas. Bwindi is the foremost destination for gorilla trekking and boasts a 95 percent success rate for its treks. Professional guides lead you into the emerald heart of the rainforest, searching out the great apes for an unforgettable encounter with these gentle giants in their natural habitat. In addition to your trekking permit, a visit to the local Batwa Pygmy community is included in your stay, along with guided scenic walks to admire the dramatic mountain ranges with their volcanoes, hidden valleys, waterfalls and lakes.

Days 12 – 15: The Masai Mara is calling

From the gorillas it is back to the game: flights and a road transfer deliver you safely to Olonana, a tented camp in the Masai Mara and your home for three nights. Olonana is tucked away in woodlands along the banks of the Mara River in a private concession. Luxurious, intimate and perfectly positioned to show you the very best of the Mara, this lodge is also in the pathway of the Great Migration (between July and October) and offers the chance to see massive herds making the treacherous river crossings. Year-round, the Mara’s resident game make most wildlife reserves jealous – expect to see plenty of predators, the Big 5 and your favorite African animals on game drives and guided nature walks. Visit a Maasai village or take flight in a hot-air balloon at sunrise for a bird’s eye view of this incredible landscape.

As you pack your bag for your flight home, what lifelong memories will you carry home with you, what incredible fireside tales will you remember, as your flight takes off from Nairobi?

This marks the end of what we hope will be an adventurous trip- Thank you very much!!

Luggage

PLEASE be reminded that the luggage allowance on our inbound schedule flights is strictly 15KGS PER PERSON and that SOFT BAGS are highly recommended, if not essential. In light aircraft the baggage area and weight allowance is limited. Hard Samsonite type suitcases do not fit into the cargo compartment easily, if at all. Due to limited space available for storage in safari vehicles, we strongly recommend use soft duffle bags rather than hard suitcases.

Your contract

A binding contract will come into existence once Sun Africa Expeditions and yourself agree on the itinerary and quote provided for the same. The booking will then be considered confirmed when an invoice is issued. Your contract for the services chosen will be direct with the relevant supplier(s). Your supplier contact will be governed by the laws of the country in which the supplier is located and will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Courts of that country.

Reservations, Payment and Deposits

When Sun Africa Expeditions has accepted your booking, the date of the confirmation invoice activates the terms and conditions of the contract. Confirmation of services is subject to payment of a non-refundable deposit of 15% of the total invoiced amount. The balance is to be paid not later than 30 days prior to commencement of the services. When bookings are made within 30 days prior to the departure date, full payment is required immediately on written confirmation.

All bookings are subject to availability at the time of booking and cannot be guaranteed except for scheduled departures.

Prices

Prices are quoted in US dollars. All prices are subject to change without prior notice. Should prices or costs from suppliers increase due to inflation, currency depreciation and fuel surcharges, then Sun Africa Expeditions will not have any other option than to pass on the same to you. All suppliers reserve the right to increase prices at any time of the year when costs increase outside the control of the supplier. Please note that when the clients’ itinerary overlaps two seasons, the price will be prorated over the two seasons.

Rates include but are not limited to the following services specified in the itinerary. Accommodation with meals, tours, transport, driver/guide, park entrance fees, hotel taxes and service charges.

Rates exclude (Unless otherwise specified), Medical Air Rescue services, Porter-age, domestic Air Charters, Visa fees, beverages, laundry, telephone calls, scheduled flights, gratuities and all expenses of personal nature.

NB: Flying doctor services are Optional at USD 25 per pax (Subject to change and vendor terms & conditions).

Child rate: – is only applicable to one or two children under 12 years sharing a room with 2 adults. In the case of 02 children sharing a room with parents, the two children will share a bed, as most hotels/lodges cannot accommodate a fourth bed. 01 child sharing a room with 01 adult will be charged full adult rate.

Single Room Policy

Single rooms are available at supplementary cost but the suppliers do not guarantee singles. Single rooms are scarce and cannot be guaranteed even if paid for at twin sole use rate. Where this occurs an appropriate refund will be made by the supplier to the client. Suppliers will only allow a maximum of 3 single rooms per group at a single room rate except for high end luxury camps where single rooms are limited to only 02 singles.

Cancellation Policy

Should you wish to cancel your confirmed booking, you must advise the company in writing.

Reservations that are cancelled, reduced in length of stay or reduced in numbers (hereinafter collectively called a CANCELLATION) are subject to Cancellation and No Show fees if cancelled within 30 days of the arrival date:

55 days to 41 days prior to arrival: 25%
40 days to 22 days prior to arrival: 35%
21 days to 15 days prior to arrival: 50%
14 days to 07 days prior to arrival: 65%
06 days to 03 days prior to arrival: 80%

Within 48 hours and after commencement of holiday: 100%. Once the holiday has commenced no refund will be made. The figures expressed are percentage of the total tour price.

Cancellation: Although it rarely happens, and Sun Africa Expeditions will do their utmost to avoid doing so. Sun Africa Expeditions must reserve the right to cancel tours and other arrangements. Where your holiday is cancelled (other than due to your default in payment) due to unavoidable circumstances beyond our control e.g. Natural disaster or over booking, Sun Africa Expeditions will offer you the choice of purchasing an alternative holiday.

Force Majeure

The expression “force majeure” means any event which the supplier(s) in question could not have foreseen or avoided even with all due care. Such events may include war or threat of war, riots, civil strife, industrial dispute, terrorist activity, natural or nuclear disaster, fire, adverse weather conditions, government action and all similar circumstances outside the suppliers’ control. In these circumstances the suppliers shall not be liable to pay any compensation or otherwise be responsible for any expenses or losses you incur where supplier is forced as a result to cancel, delay, curtail or change your holiday arrangements in any way or where the performance or prompt performance of the supplier’s contractual obligations is prevented or affected. Complaints

In the unlikely event that a tour member has a dispute whilst on safari this must immediately be brought to the attention (and put on record) of the local representative, Hotel, Lodge or Camp management. It is likely that the tour member’s complaint will be satisfactorily resolved there and then. If, however, this is not the case and the tour member wishes to pursue the matter on their return from safari, it is essential the complaint be communicated in writing to Sun Africa Expeditions within 21 days of the end of tour quoting tour reference, destination and departure date.

Responsibility of Sun Africa Expeditions

Sun Africa Expeditions acts only as the Agent for the suppliers and shall not in any event be liable for any negligence, breach of contract or acts of omission on the part of suppliers, their employees or any other Agent, it shall be the responsibility of all customers including (without limitations) Tour members, Tour Operators and Travel Agents, to read and familiarize themselves with the terms and conditions of suppliers. Sun Africa Expeditions liability for its own negligence or breach of contract shall be limited to the Tour price.

Transportation

Safari Minibuses, Cars, Land Cruisers and coaches will be provided according to the route and number of participants. Sun Africa Expeditions reserves the right to employ services of sub-contractors. Multi-lingual driver guides are provided on request. For flying packages, clients will share vehicles with other guests booked at the hotel. For exclusive use, please check with Sun Africa Expeditions for supplements, which will be subject to availability.

Insurance

The hazards of travelling in Africa may inevitably rise to some risks and dangers. It is therefore a condition of booking that all tour members must have sufficient and appropriate travel insurance for the duration of their tour. Such insurance (which is not supplied by Sun Africa Expeditions) should fully cover all personal requirements including death, personal injury, medical expenses, and repatriation in the event of accident or illness, cancellation or curtailment of the tour members’ personal property.

Special Requests

Any special requests (e.g. for single rooms or particular diet) must be notified in writing when the booking is made. Whilst the supplier will endeavour to meet such requests they cannot be guaranteed and any failure to comply will not be a breach of contract.

Sun Africa Expeditions services include flight re-confirmation and airport assistance within Africa if clients are provided all services by Sun Africa Expeditions. In cases whereby Sun Africa Expeditions is providing part of the services and the clients have other arrangements of their own, then Sun Africa Expeditions will only reconfirm where forwarding address or contacts are provided.

Itineraries

Demand for safaris can be high and may lead to shortage of lodge/hotel accommodation. All bookings will be confirmed, but no occasions changes may be necessary. Hotels/Lodges/camps, here specifically named are given as an indication of the category and rooms may be reserved at similar lodges/ hotels/camps. We undertake to advise you of any changes known to us prior to departure, but the possibility of change without notice, must be acceptable when booking. Where ever possible we book rooms with private baths showers throughout on the basis of two persons sharing a double room. Single rooms are available at supplementary cost but neither single rooms nor rooms with private bath/shower can be guaranteed.

Safari minibuses cars, four wheel drive vehicles or coaches will be provided according to the route and number of participants. The right is reserved to employ the services of subcontractors. Multi-lingual chauffer/guides are provided. Occasional mechanical problems, changes of lodge or adverse road conditions may in turn lead to a change of routing or game viewing without prior notice being given. We reserve the right to offer substitutes of equal value or to cancel the operation of any tour. In practice, very few itineraries are affected but a little flexibility on your part will ensure the tour is unique and rewarding.

Website and Brochure Description

Descriptions of accommodation facilities and services in our brochures are shown in good faith, it is however possible that certain facilities or services may be unavailable or limited due to maintenance , adverse weather, local conditions, seasonal restrictions etc.

Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this website/e-brochure at the time of printing, regrettably errors do occasionally occur. You must therefore check all details of your holiday booking with your travel agent or supplier at the time of presentation.

The company cannot therefore accept responsibility for any information not contained in this brochure, being confirmed verbally by its staff or representatives unless subsequently reconfirmed in writing by the company.