 Kenya, Uganda, (Rwanda), Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, (Zimbabwe), Botswana, South Africa
|
 |
KENYA
Day one, following our predeparture meeting, we spend the morning at the Sheldrick Orphanage in Nairobi with the baby elephants and rhinos enjoying the elephant play and feeding sessions and our first hands on experience of Africa's wildlife. The orphanage is particularly famous for perfecting the husbandry techniques to keep very young elephants alive.
Day two the adventure truly begins as we head towards some of the best game parks East Africa has to offer, where we have our first taste of the African game drives. First up is the Masai Mara, Kenyas most famous game park, via the Great Rift Valley for magnificient panoramic views of the Kenyan countryside. Within the park all eyes are ranging the land for wildlife sightings, which shouldnt be difficult with lion, cheetah, hyena, zebra, giraffe, elephant, hippo, crocodile, gazelle and warthog all popular guests of the Mara.
We visit a Maasai village where we get treated to the traditional jumping dance by the local tribesmen, before being shown around their village and learning about their traditional way of life.
From here we head to Lake Naivasha where we can chill out with the black and white colobus monkey on the hippo-lined shores, go for afternoon tea at Elsemere and stretch our legs in Hells Gate National Park, a site of past volcanic activity leaving gorges and crevices to be explored as well as the Maasai Cultural Centre in the centre of the park, past the zebra, gazelle, eland and impala that populate the park.
Next stop is Lake Nakuru National Park where amongst acacia forests, grasslands and candelebra euphorbia stands there is the chance to see both black and white rhino, zebra, giraffe, eland and with a little luck lion and leopard. The soda lake can be pink with greater and lesser flamingo, and having breakfast at Baboon Cliffs enjoy the views across this very special place. From here we travel through to stay at an upcountry colonial homestead where a roaring log fire awaits us.
UGANDA - RWANDA
Arriving into Jinja, Uganda by the end of week one we camp on the shores of the whilte Nile, spending a few days to take advantage of the the multitude of activities available here; bungee jumping, white water rafting, quad-biking, horse-riding, volunteering in a nearby school for Soft Power, a locally run charity and a whole host of activities on Lake Victoria, the source of the Nile.
After we've unwinded in JInja we make a stop off at Entebbe to catch the ferry to Ngamba Island, over the equator, to visit the cheeky chimps on their island sanctuary. Many of the chimps here have been mistreated and a half day visit here allows us to learn and understand about their rehabilitation and lifestyle. A delicious buffet lunch is also provided by the community as we explore the island.
The next highlight is Queen Elizabeth National Park, where we can go on a game cruise on the Kazinga Channel, a different way of game viewing, as we sail through hippo populated waters with a prime view of the animals as they come to the waters edge.
Our next destination is picturesque Lake Bunyoni, on the way to Rwanda, to Kigali, the capital of the land of a thousand hills. After visiting the Genocide Memorial in the capital, we head to the Ruhengeri region where we stay while visiting the mountain gorillas.
The Virungas are home to some 700 mountain gorillas. Here, on the upper slopes of ancient volcanic ranges we arrange a trek to see one of the planet's most unique and endangered species in their natural surroundings in either Rwanda's Parc National de Volcans or Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, both parks established to protect the gorillas' densely forested habitat.
Exiting Rwanda via Kigali again, we head into Tanzania south of Lake Victoria to take the road less travelled, passing schools and markets to see the real Africa .
TANZANIA
Arriving into Tanzania we continue on safari into the world famous game parks of Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti. The parks offer truly breathtaking scenery and both parks teem with wildlife. On a fortunate day we may see one of the great hunters at work, perhaps a cheetah or lion on a kill.
A day's drive to Dar Es Salaam and we catch the ferry over to Zanzibar, the exotic spice island for a four day stop over. We can wander Stone Town, explore the streets and markets, enjoy the seafront food markets and explore some of the history of the island on a spice tour. We can swim with the dolphins and visit the red colobos monkeys in Jozani Forest. We head north to spend time at the beach to relax in the sun on the stretches of palm-lined white sand. The beach cottages at Kendwa Beach are popular, as is the fresh seafood enjoyed in the local restaurants on the beach. There are also some great bars for those that want to party. Diving at Mnemba Atoll is world class for those who enjoy scuba diving, as well as on the Kendwa Reef and Garden. Alternatively, you can hire a snorkel and mask from the boys on the beach to enjoy the amazing coral reefs.
Heading back to Stone Town, we then catch the ferry back to Dar es Salaam before continuing through Tanzania and transit through Mikumi National Park, home to the dwarf elephants, as we journey west across Tanzania to Malawi.
MALAWI
Famous for its hospitality, relaxed beach resorts, markets and fishing villages, Malawi also offers scenic hikes, horse riding by the lake and the chance to enjoy a village meal with a local family and see some traditional dancing. Do some souvenir shopping for the famous Malawi wood carving, or take advantage of the activities on the lake - windsurf, water ski or take out a pedalow, sailing boat or catamaran on the lake. We may also have time for a BBQ on the beach, playing some beach volleyball as the sun goes down.
On some months we visit Vwaza Marsh where we can do a guided bush walk. A ranger takes us around this beautiful park, off the tourist route, where we have the chance to see elephants, and hippos basking in a nearby lake, among other game animals including kudu, water hog and baboons.
ZAMBIA
Leaving the Lake we head into Zambia. On safaris departures 18 May 09 - 28 Sept 09 we now travel over some true African bush roads to South Luangwa National Park which is famous for its elephants as well as lion and leopard populations. Kitty covers a game drive here allowing us to enjoy the concentrations of game attracted to the Luangwa River and it s complex network of oxbow lakes. The Luangwa River is a tributary of the mighty Zambezi and one of the biggest rivers in Zambia. You can chose to go on an evening game drive with the opportunity to witness the nocturnal activities of some of Africa' s less known animals like the agile and inquisitive genet. After two nights enjoying the wilds of the park we continue to Lusaka, the capital of Zambia. Here we can shop for supplies and get to the bank before proceeding to Lake Kariba s shores where we spend two nights relaxing as we cruise on the man-made lake
The houseboats allowing us the luxury of not having to cook or put up a tent, having bedrooms and our food prepared by the houseboat cook. There is also a splash pool on board. Cruising the lake by day, elephants and antelope can be seen by the water s edge and hippo and crocodile in the water. Each boat also has its own motorised dinghy that can take us out fishing or for game rides. At night the kapenta fishing boats lights twinkle across the lake and we usually have a party one of the evenings we are on the Lake.
Reaching Victoria Falls our time can be spent whitewater rafting and riverboarding the gorges, lion walks and elephant rides. Take a flight over the Falls, or swing the gorge! Do some interactive drumming, or take a sunset cruise, a perfect way to end the day drifting past hippo and elephant as the sun sets over the Zambezi.
BOTSWANA
With a day in Chobe National Park for a game drive and cruise, we can view giraffe browsing and elephant lumbering through the bush. Travelling through Botswana, we skirt the Makgadikgadi Pans as we head to the border.
SOUTH AFRICA
Arriving at the Ritz Backpackers in Johannesburg we have our last meal together in a local restaurant.
The Ritz also has a travel shop to assist you with onward travel, and can direct you to any local attractions. Soweto tours are popular and go every day except for Sunday. The Apartheid Museum is also highly recommended.
For more details check out the click through function to the microsite at the top of this page or from the home page, or feel free to call us 0208 742 0226 or email absaf@absoluteafrica.com.
|
|
|
|
