Days 1 - 2
Our tour starts at 9 am driving north out of Nairobi into Africa's greatest natural feature, the Great Rift Valley. Stretching from the Dead Sea in Jordan down to Mozambique in Southern Africa, our first view is from the top of an escarpment. Overland trips to East Africa will allow you to experience absolutely spectacular scenery first hand, and the Great Rift Valley is a definite highlight. The valley floor seems to sweep on forever and is dotted with peaks and shimmering rivers and countless springs. Our journey takes us into the valley to Lake Naivasha. We camp near the lakeshore where Hippos sometimes feed at night! Here you can walk to Elsamere, the house of Joy Adamson of Elsa the Lion and Born Free fame, and enjoy a film of her life - and cream teas! You can also hire mountain bikes and cycle or walk through Hells Gate National Park - the only game reserve in Kenya in which you are allowed to walk.

Days 3 - 4
We then continue west and travel to Uganda. A mountainous drive with spectacular scenery through the Nandi Hills brings us to our next stop at Eldoret. From here we cross the Kenya - Uganda border, and continue to Kampala.

Days 5 - 6
Kampala has had a turbulent past, but these days is a friendly and safe city. We have a free day to spend in local cafes and nightspots and get to know the local people, there is also the opportunity to spend the day visiting a local Chimpanzee Sanctuary and rehabilitation centre on one of the islands on Lake Victoria. The following day we have a long drive as we head west through swamps, patches of forest and fertile green countryside. As we travel through Uganda, we'll visit a number of small towns and villages; Mpigi, where you will see roadside stalls manufacturing and selling traditional musical instruments; Kyazanga, where we can buy fresh rotisserie and roasted meat and vegetables, as well as roasted bananas. We also stop at the spot where our route crosses the equator.

Days 7 - 10
At 2000 metres, Kabale is Uganda's highest town and it is from here that we visit either Bwindi or Mgahinga National Parks. Both are situated in the Virunga range of volcanic mountains and the rainforests on these mountain slopes are home to several families of Mountain Gorillas. Our mountain gorilla tours allow you to glimpse these wonderful animals as you trek up the slopes. As far as travel to Uganda goes, this is an experience that you won't easily forget. We usually spend 2 or 3 days at the base camp so allowing everyone in our group enough time to complete their trek to the gorillas. During this time there is the opportunity to visit nearby villages, climb an extinct volcano or go to Lake Bunyoni where you can call in at the friendly local school or hire mountain bikes or canoes. Please Note: - If we are unable to view the gorillas in Uganda we will visit them in Rwanda.

Days 11 - 15
We then return to Kampala and camp near Jinja. Here, on the edge of Lake Victoria, the Nile begins its 6700km journey to the sea. We spend the next few days at Bujagali Falls, just downstream from the source of the Nile. This is a spectacular area, and with one kilometre of raging water below Bujagali Falls, a superb place to go whitewater rafting. We can also organise quad biking or a visit to a local school.

Days 16 - 19
Re-entering Kenya we travel through hills covered in tea plantations. A days drive brings us to Lake Nakuru National Park. Nakuru is home to a wide variety of wildlife including Black Rhino, Hippo, Lion, Leopard, Hyena and Giraffe. However, Nakuru is a soda lake and most famous for its pink inhabitants, a flock of almost a million Pink Flamingos. A few hours drive brings us back to Nairobi the final destinbation of our trip.

Trek to the Mountain Gorillas - a highlight of overland trips to East Africa
The walk to find the Gorillas can take several hours. For much of the walk you will be in high grass or thick vegetation and it could well rain. So wear protective clothing (to prevent being scratched) and waterproofs as well as good walking boots or shoes. Once your guide has found the Gorilla family you will be allowed to view them for 1 hour. One group of six people per day is allowed to visit each Gorilla family. The trek starts around 0830 and your group will be accompanied by a tracker/guide, and an armed park ranger. You may see a variety of monkeys, chimpanzees and buffalo on the hike as well. While we wait for everybody in our group to see the gorillas, we may well have a spit roast one evening. If we visit Mgahinga National Park you may also have the opportunity to climb Mt. Muhavura, 4127 metres, as well as other smaller mountains and caves.