UGANDA

We meet you in Entebbe, Uganda, on the afternoon prior to the safari so you can camp with us that night at the Backpackers. From here the following morning we visit Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary on Lake Victoria. This 100 acre forested island provides a safe haven for the 32 orphaned chimpanzees that are now free to roam the island. The focal point of the visit is the opportunity to get close to the chimps at the supplementary morning feeding a raised walkway allowing for easy viewing. Following this we enjoy a traditional meal including locally caught fish.

Returning by mid afternoon we drive through to the capital, Kampala, to spend the night.

Leaving Kampala we visit Mpambire Village to admire the work of the traditional royal drum makers and perhaps bargain for a drum to take home, then stop over at the equator for photos, before travelling through to beautiful Lake Bunyoni nestled in the steep, terraced Mfumbiro Hills. The lake is known as 'the place of little birds'. Weaver birds who plait complex globular homes may be seen in the trees and perhaps an elegant crowned crane, the national bird. During our stay at Bunyoni there is time for a swim and to canoe on the lake. From here we then travel to Buhoma village at the entrance to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest for our gorilla trek. Alternatively we travel through to the Parc Nacional de Volcans where Dian Fossey worked with the gorillas for many years. During our time at the gorilla parks we also visit a local orphanage and the villagers entertain us with traditional dancing and singing.

As we set off for our gorilla trek through the plantations the local women can often be seen and heard singing as they work in the fields. The walk allows you to experience an extraordinarily rich and varied ecosystem, Bwindi being a forest that survived from the Pleistocene, so has species of animals and plants that have died out elsewhere. But the gorillas are what we are looking for - rare and special gentle giants, a species of which there are approximately only 720 left.

In the months when the migration is not in the Masai Mara, Queen Elizabeth National Park is our next destination. Here we have the chance to see Uganda's plains wildlife and take a game cruise on the Kazinga Channel viewing elephant, hippo, Nile crocodiles, as well as waterbuck and buffalo.

Arriving into Jinja we stay by the White Nile. Here we can white water raft on rapids grade 3 to 5 amidst lush tropical vegetation in the equatorial sunshine. Swim, fish, take a village walk, relax by the river and help out in local volunteer community project work.

KENYA

Driving towards Nakuru we overnight at an a working upcountry farm nestled into the Mau Escarpment before entering Lake Nakuru National Park, famous for its soda lake which attracts greater and lesser flamingos. To see numbers of these birds rising off the lake like a pink cloud is breath taking. Game drives also allow us to view the other wildlife in the park such as lion, leopard, giraffe, zebra and rhino before we camp in the park. Our next stop is Lake Naivasha and Joy Adamson's Elsamere for afternoon tea in the grounds, the black and white colobos monkeys coming down to sit on the lawns at this famous conservation centre. Birdlife including herons, darters and storks can be found around the lake margins. In the evening we watch the hippo come out onto the lawns

A walk or cycle in Hells Gate National Park is next on the itinerary, the Maasai Cultural Centre within the park also being well worth a visit. On the months when the migration has usually arrived in Kenya (24 May to 27 Sep 09 departures) we then head to the Masai Mara for game drives to see the big herds grazing on the undulating grasslands of the Mara.

From here we come into Nairobi, stopping to check out the sweeping panoramic views from the Rift Valley Lookout on the way. We then visit Sheldrick's Animal Orphanage for the the rhino feeding and the elephant play session before visiting Langatta Giraffe Park. Our last night in Kenya we enjoy a meal together in one of Nairobi's restaurants.

TANZANIA

Across the border to Tanzania we now enter the world famous Serengeti National Park by land cruiser. We camp in this 14,000 square kilometre park which is home to lion, leopard and cheetah pursuing the vast herds of wildebeest, gazelle, antelope and zebra.

Descending 2,000 feet into the Ngorongoro Crater, the world's largest extinct volcano, we can view rhino, hippo, lion, elephant, hyena, buffalo, zebra, impala, wildebeest, cheetah, monkey, ostrich and flamingo. The Maasai living on the crater rim still shun modern ways, continue to dye their hair with ochre and live on a diet of milk and blood obtained from their cattle. We arrange a visit to a traditional Boma (village) to experience a little of traditional ways.

From the Crater we travel to the Snake Park in Arusha, via the village of Mto Wa Mbu, and opportunities to shop for spears, bead work and ebony carvings. Time at Arusha also allows for a camel safari and a group barbecue.

Dawn brings the possibility of views of Mount Kilimanjaro on our way to the bustling city of Dar Es Salaam from where we travel to the exotic spice island of Zanzibar.

ZANZIBAR ISLAND

Arriving by hydrofoil at Stone Town you will find a maze of narrow, winding streets, coral brick houses, bazaars to explore, and crystal clear coral waters, in which to swim and snorkel, where the dolphins may join you. The diving is some of the best in Africa with many diving facilities along the coast. You can take a spice tour, visit the red colobos monkeys, or Prison Island with its giant tortoises. For a little history, a visit to a former slave camp can be arranged. Alternatively you can happily spend a few days relaxing at local beach cottages and enjoying fresh seafood. Motor bikes and jeeps can be hired to tour the island. On your return to the mainland we transit through Mikumi National Park to Malawi.

MALAWI 'Africa's warm heart'.

Travelling down Lake Malawi, we make regular stops at the popular bays, the beaches providing excellent camping. Local craftsmen sell ornately carved African artifacts including traditional Malawi chairs in the markets on route. We can fish with the locals, take a village walk and there is always a welcome when we visit for a traditional meal and dancing. Enjoy a wide variety of water sports, including water skiing and scuba diving. Horse riding in the lake is always popular, as are hikes in some of the most beautiful scenery on the route.

We pull into Lilongwe on our way to Zambia, taking time to visit the Lilongwe Wildlife Centre.

ZAMBIA

Entering Zambia we journey the bumpy road to South Luangwa National Park on departures 24 May - 27 Sep 09. Luangwa is one of southern Africa's most wild and beautiful game parks. The park has all the game you would want to see including elephant and lion, and evening game drives are arranged here as well with a good chance of seeing leopard.

Stopping at the capital city of Lusaka we resupply, and continue on to Lake Kariba to relax on a two night cruise on a houseboat for a break from truck life and to enjoy the wildlife by the waters edge.

We then arrive at the mighty Mosi Oa Tunya ' the smoke that thunders' - Victoria Falls. White water rafting, on probably the best rapids in the world, is a Must. A leisurely canoe trip down the river is another option, apart from rhino treks, horse riding and elephant rides. A 'Flight of the Angels' over the Falls offers a unique appreciation of one of nature's greatest wonders. For the ultimate rush you can bunji jump from a bridge across the river or try the abseil/gorge swing. Later, a sundowner cruise is the perfect way to complete the day watching hippo loll in the Zambezi as the sun sets. Vic Falls offers it all.



Please note this safari changes from 17th October 09 to a 41 day safari known as THE RIVERS OF AFRICA.

For full details of all the exciting new changes coming up in October please visit the microsite link on our home page.

Or feel free to Phone 0208 742 0226. Or Email absaf@absoluteafrica.com


Phone 0208 742 0226. Email absaf@absoluteafrica.com

Further itinerary notes: Due to the ongoing concerns on the ground in Zimbabwe please note we are usually finishing this safari on the Livingstone side of the Zambezi at Victoria Falls. We would advise that flights can be arranged from Livingstone, on the Zambian side of Victoria Falls for the end of this safari. There is an international airport in Livingstone.

Alternatively flights can be organised out of the Victoria Falls, Zimbabwean side. Transfers can be arranged to either airport from the campsite where we stay.