Ki kati! Welcome to Uganda. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm in Entebbe where you’ll meet your local leader and fellow travellers. Located near Kampala on the shores of Lake Victoria, Entebbe has a relaxed and local feel. If you arrive early, maybe stretch your legs with a stroll through Entebbe Botanical Garden or shop for souvenirs at Entebbe Craft Village. After the meeting tonight, why not head out for dinner and get to know your new travel buddies? It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this time. If you are going to be late, please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.

Today, begin your journey from Entebbe to Jinja – one of the highlights of any visit to Uganda, Jinja is a riverside retreat at the source of the Nile, also known as the adventure capital of the country. When you arrive, settle into your accommodation or relax on the banks of the nearby Nile River. If you’re keen to start exploring right away, maybe head to the Jinja Farmer’s Market and try some fresh jackfruit or local snacks. Tonight, your leader can show you where the best spots are to grab some dinner with your group. Your travel time today will be approximately 3 hours. Tonight’s permanent tents are twin-share, with bedding and solar lighting provided.

Jinja is the place for adventurers, adrenaline junkies and eco-travellers, and you’ll enjoy a full free day here to explore at your own pace. Maybe get active with some whitewater rafting or hire a bike to see Jinja on two-wheels. You can also opt for a boat cruise along the source of the Nile, to enjoy the river from a new perspective.

Head out in search of some rolex (chapati rolled around an egg omelette, usually with added vegetables) to start the day. This is a popular street food in Uganda and is even more delicious than it sounds! After, travel to Kibale Forest National Park – a tropical rainforest home to 13 species of primates, which is more than any other forest in East Africa! Here you might see the chimpanzee, the most famous resident here, as well as the olive baboon, the blue monkey and 375 species of birds! If you’re lucky, you might even be able to spot one of the more elusive forest elephants and leopards while you’re here. When you arrive, settle into your accommodation and relax or perhaps head out to explore your surroundings with the group. Your travel time today will be approximately 8 hours.

Led by expert trackers, you’ll set off into the dense rainforest of Kibale in search of chimpanzees. This hike can be challenging at times, with muddy paths and thick vegetation, but the reward is well worth it – the chance to observe these amazing creatures in their natural habitat. Watch as they play, feed and communicate with each other in the trees high above. In the afternoon, enjoy a guided walk through the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary – a community-run initiative rich in birdlife, monkeys and different butterfly species. If you’re lucky, you might spot the great blue turaco, the bird this wetland is best known for. Later, return to your accommodation for a free evening. Maybe grab a drink or two with your new friends and toast to the incredible day of adventure. Since chimpanzees are usually spotted high in the trees, it might be worth bringing a pair of binoculars to make the most out of your day today.

Head south and begin your day with a game drive through Queen Elizabeth National Park, home to elephants, buffalo, antelope, and so much more. Then, continue your journey to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Take in the scenery as you pass rolling green hills, tea plantations and crater lakes, or simply relax with a book or chat with your group. You’ll also pass through a local village where you’ll have the chance to stop for lunch and coffee. Maybe get to know the Batooro and Bakiiga communities that live here with an optional local village visit, then carry on to Bwindi. When you arrive, settle in and prepare for what will undoubtedly be the highlight of your trip tomorrow – gorilla trekking! Your travel time today will be approximately 5 hours.

This morning, join a local guide and experienced trackers as you climb through the rugged, mountainous terrain of Bwindi National Park in search of mountain gorillas. Your first glimpse of these creatures will be a truly beautiful moment, and visits are strictly controlled to minimise disturbance. Tracking gorillas is not an easy feat (it's called Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for a reason!). It can be wet, muddy, strenuous and uncomfortable, but the indescribable feeling of coming across a group of gorillas is worth the effort. Spend a mesmerising hour with the gorillas as they eat, sleep, groom and play as the male silverback watches over them. Enjoy a picnic lunch in the lush wilderness of the rainforest, then, return to camp where you can freshen up with a hot shower. In the afternoon, you’ll also have the chance to take an optional visit to the Batwa community to learn about their forest heritage. Tonight, enjoy a hearty dinner by the crackling fireplace. Visits are strictly controlled to reduce possible negative impacts on gorilla health and behaviour. A surgical face mask must be worn while within proximity of the gorillas to minimise the risk of disease transmission. You will be provided with a walking stick and the option to hire a porter who can carry your day pack and assist you on the trek. It costs 20 USD to hire a porter, plus an optional tip. Hiring a porter not only makes your trek easier but also encourages local communities to embrace gorilla conservation and tourism. Some porters are ex-poachers who now recognise the value in gorilla conservation practices.

Say goodbye to Bwindi and begin the journey to Lake Mburo. This is Uganda’s smallest savannah park, but it packs a punch with the variety of landscapes, from woodlands and rolling hills to wetlands and lakes. This afternoon, you’ll have the option to join a game drive, where you’ll have the chance to spot zebras, hippos, buffaloes and even impalas. Tonight, maybe gather your newfound friends for a final dinner and cheers to an amazing trip! Your travel time today will be approximately 5.5 hours.

Rise early and begin the drive back to Entebbe, stopping for a game drive in Lake Mburo along the way. You might spot herds of zebras (there are more than 5000 in this national park!), impalas or hippos. After, you’ll continue to Entebbe, where you’ll spend the night. Your travel time today will be approximately 5 hours.

Today, you’ll be transferred to Entebbe Airport for your flight to Nairobi. You’ll have a second welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight to meet your new leader and the travellers joining you for the next leg of your trip. After the meeting, maybe head out for an optional dinner with your new fellow travellers. As this is a combination trip, your trip leader and group members will most likely change today. Your transfer and flight today will be unaccompanied. Your trip leader will provide you with more details on your flight information and your transfer to the airport. Petty theft is common in Nairobi. As a general rule, the safest place for your valuables is on your person in a neck wallet or money belt.

Depart Nairobi this morning, stopping in Narok along the way for some food shopping. Today's drive crosses the Great Rift Valley – Africa's huge divide – to the remote region of Loita Hills. This is the home of the Maasai people and when you arrive, you’ll grab some lunch then visit the Maasai, known for their dazzling red dress and elaborate jewellery. Gain an insight into the culture and ancient ways of this proud East African community. A local elder will deliver a fascinating talk about the Maasai and what they're about. You'll also be shown around a traditional Maasai home and see where the resident cattle are kept. Your travel time today will be approximately 4.5 hours. Wi-fi is not available and only minimal upgrades are on offer at tonight’s bush camp.

Travel from Loita Hilla to Maasai Mara today. The Maasai Mara is one of those classic African experiences – wide open plains, perfect blue skies and some of the world's great wild animals. After setting up camp, sit down to some lunch. Then, it's time to jump aboard your 4WD and go for a game drive through the wilderness of the Mara. Your travel time today will be approximately 2 hours. Your campground tonight is located outside of the national reserve and has flush toilets and showers. There is an option to upgrade, depending on availability. Wi-fi is not available.

Adventure into the reserve for a full day's 4WD game drive. You'll explore this diverse environment and most likely see a lots of different wildlife. An optional balloon ride over the Mara at sunrise is well worth considering. If you have pre-booked this activity, you’ll be picked up before sunrise and driven to the launch site for a safety briefing from your pilot. Then, glide through the dawn, sometimes at tree height, which provides amazing photo opportunities. Sometimes you’ll ascend, getting an overview of the enormity of the plains and the early morning movements of the teeming herds. After landing, you'll be treated to a bush breakfast, then return to your campsite to meet up with your group.  An optional balloon ride over the Mara at sunrise is offered as a pre-booked service, which guarantees you a place. If you would rather wait and try to get a better price by booking this locally on the ground, you are welcome to—but keep in mind that this is a popular activity, and places are limited.

Travel towards the Kenya-Tanzania border and to the shores of Lake Victoria. This is not only Africa's biggest lake – it's the largest tropical lake in the world. It shares its shores with Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. You'll arrive in the late afternoon, with time to chill out lakeside with a cold drink at sunset. Make the most of the ATM and local market to stock up for your next three days of wilderness adventures. You’ll be camping on the shores of the lake tonight, at one of its least visited campgrounds on the outskirts of a small town called Musoma, far from the tourist track. Your travel time today will be approximately 10 to 11 hours including border crossing. Your campsite tonight has wi-fi, and depending on availability, you might be able to upgrade to a room.

Today, you’ll travel from Lake Victoria to the gate of Serengeti National Park on a smooth road. Stop for a picnic lunch on the way, then enter the Serengeti and start your overland vehicle game drive on the way to your campsite. These plains – green after rain and brown and burnt in the dry season – are home to thousands of hoofed animals and fierce predators, so see how many you can spot! Your campsite is right in the action, within the park itself, so listen out for the sounds of nocturnal animals as you drift off to sleep tonight. Your travel time today will be approximately 3 hours. Your camp within the Serengeti National Park does not have a fence to separate the camp from the animals. This is quite the experience as animals such as buffalo and hyenas often come close to camp after sundown. Your leader will give a detailed safety briefing on what is required to ensure the safety of the group. There is no wi-fi or upgrades available.

Start the day with a game drive in your overland truck at dawn. You’ll head out while the animals are at their most active, then head back to camp for brunch. After spending the warmer part of the day relaxing as the animals do, depart again in the afternoon for another adventure through the wild. You'll return in time for dinner. There's the option of an early-morning balloon ride here too, so if you didn't take one in the Mara, today's your chance! The balloon ride is offered as a pre-booked service which will guarantee you a place. If you would rather wait and try to get a better price by booking this locally on the ground, you are welcome to, but keep in mind that this is a popular activity and places are limited.

Rise and shine for a final chance to spot Serengeti wildlife as you make your way out of the park this morning. At Nabi gate, hop aboard a jeep and descend into Ngorongoro Crater. This gigantic, perfectly intact volcanic crater is home to some 30,000 animals. Among these are endangered black rhinos, lions, leopards, elephants, impalas, zebras and hippos. The crater floor is great for game viewing all year round and the photo-opportunities here are next level. Enjoy a picnic lunch in the crater before heading back out on safari all afternoon. After, travel on to Karatu town and arrive at camp for a freshly prepared dinner with your group. Your travel time today will be approximately 5 hours.

Take it easy this morning with a relaxed breakfast at camp. Maybe set off for Mto Wa Mbu for an optional guided village walk or take a bike ride around the farming areas, spotting milling machines, local homes and farmlands. Mto Wa Mbu offers a snapshot of small-town East African life. Then, hit the road to Arusha where you'll spend your final night together. Your travel time today will be approximately 3 hours.

Your adventure comes to an end this morning, but that doesn’t mean you can’t continue to explore East Africa. A departure transfer can be booked at an additional expense, to either Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO) or Arusha Airport (ARK). Alternatively, you can join the overland truck and travel back to Kenya to finish your trip in Nairobi around 5pm. If you need to organise additional accommodation, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time. Any flights out of Nairobi should not be booked to depart prior to 9 pm. Extra accommodation can be booked through your booking agent if required. The drop-off point in Nairobi is Hillpark Hotel.