14 Days Kenya Safari & Uganda Gorillas

Destinations visited: Kenya; Masai Mara & Samburu Game Reserve. Uganda; Bwindi National Park Take in two of East Africa’s wildlife highlights – The Big five of Kenya and Gorilla paradise Uganda – on this 14 day adventure-filled Safari.

East Africa is a vast swathe of game-rich land that beats to ancient tribal rhythms underscored by 21st century technology. Old and new come together seamlessly in this 14-day adventure: explore the old safari destination of classic Kenya and the new trekking hub of Uganda, all via the contemporary convenience of flying to each destination via scheduled and chartered flights. From high-tech airports to low-tech airstrips – no moment is wasted in this meticulously curated tour.

You spend 10 days immersing yourself in Kenya’s best wildlife areas in private conservancies: Chyulu Hills between Amboseli and Tsavo, Samburu and, of course, the Masai Mara. Then you jet off to exotic Entebbe to ready yourself for what could be a life-changing moment when you make eye contact with an endangered mountain gorilla in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest… Perfect for couples who love experiencing all that life has to offer or solo travelers who want to indulge in a luxurious East African break, this tour will no doubt ensure you are well and truly bitten by the safari bug by the time you jet home.

Day to Day Itinerary:

• Day 1: Welcome to Nairobi
• Days 2 – 5: Uncover the mysteries of Chyulu Hills
• Days 5 – 7: Sojourn into the Samburu
• Days 7 – 10: Classic Mara awaits…
• Days 11 – 12: Hello Uganda!
• Days 12 – 14: Gorillas in the mist!

Day 1: Welcome to Nairobi

After touching down in Kenya’s warm and vibrant capital, you are driven to Hemingways Nairobi, a gracious lodge in the upscale neighborhood in Karen with views of the famous Ngong Hills. If your schedule permits, consider a game drive in Nairobi National Park – the only place in the world where you can photograph wild giraffe with 21st century skyscrapers in the distance – pay a visit to the Karen Blixen Museum to see the life of the author of Out of Africa or drop in on the ellies at the Daphne Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage.

Hemingways’ tranquil surrounds, comfortable rooms and cuisine created by a Michelin-starred chef will give you a peaceful night’s sleep so that you can set off from Wilson Airport well rested in the morning.

Days 2 – 5: Uncover the mysteries of Chyulu Hills

From views of the Ngong Hills to spending three days in the Chyulu Hills, an untamed slice of Kenya between Amboseli and Tsavo National Parks. With two astonishing conservation areas on your doorstep, you can take your pick between game drives, guided walks, horseback safaris and even mountain biking. The staff at Ol Donyo, which is a member of Relais & Chateaux, will also arrange for you to meet traditional Maasai villagers and get a sense of this unique culture. On one evening, enjoy one of Ol Donyo’s best-kept secrets: a night in their romantic ‘star beds’. Sleeping out in the open, under the shimmering Milky Way and with the rustle of far-off jackals and the occasional hoot of a content owl… this is the life.

Days 5 – 7: Sojourn into the Samburu

Set in the mesmerizing mountains of the Kalama Conservancy with views to monolithic Mount Kenya, Saruni Samburu’s design make the most of its beautiful natural surroundings. Suites and living areas are placed in hollows and outcrops among the enormous boulders, making for a lodge that is utterly unlike any other. In addition to game viewing and birding in the Samburu Reserve, Saruni offers exciting extras like elephant safaris, expeditions to see ancient rock art, riverside picnics and bush dinners.

If you feel the need for some one-on-one pampering, make a date with the Wellbeing Space – which overlooks the Kalama Conservancy – for replenishing techniques that combine old and new.

Days 7 – 10: Classic Mara awaits

Touch down on another airstrip carved from the African bush; this one in the Olare Motogori Conservancy in the Masai Mara. Mara Plains Camp will be your home for the next three nights and the spot where you undertake one of the best ways to truly comprehend the scale of Africa: a dawn hot-air balloon safari over the plains as the animals awake and the sun creeps up over the horizon.

Olare Motogori is considered particularly good for chances of seeing predator action and guides here are permitted to undertake night drives, which opens the world of nocturnal animals like leopards, bush babies, owls and bats to you. If you are travelling at the right time of year, the Masai Mara is the place to be to witness the Great Wildebeest Migration, when hundreds of thousands of these bold ungulates cross the savannah in a relentless search for fresh grazing.

Days 11 – 12: Hello Uganda!

From Kenya’s riches to Uganda’s treasures: it is back to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi for your flight to Entebbe in Uganda. As an under-explored travel destination, Uganda promises a never-to-be-forgotten vacation experience. Spend the night at The Boma in Entebbe, a modern and comfortable hotel in this thriving capital. Make sure your camera batteries are charged and that your health is in tip-top condition because tomorrow you go in search of mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, an emerald jewel in Uganda.

Days 12 – 14: Making friends with gorillas

They say gorillas are our closest animal relatives but you never understand this fully until you come face to face with a watchful and intelligent mountain gorilla in the wild. Their expressions, gestures, grunts, moans and the way their tenderly care for their young is so humanlike that it is almost impossible not to be moved and awed. Treks out of the forest after spending an hour with these precious primates are famously silent as each trekker muses privately on this extraordinary experience.

Your abode for three nights is Gorilla Forest Camp, one of the best tented camps in Bwindi. On one day you will hike with your guides and trackers to find a habituated gorilla group and on the other visit a Batwa Pygmy village to learn more about how this tribe adapted to life in the forest. After two weeks, it will be time to leave. Although you may be sad to bid farewell to East Africa and the end of your adventurous vacation, there will bubble up the hope and excitement that one day you will return to learn, explore and see even more.

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.