EAST AFRICAN SAFARI - 2012
A safari in Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya & Tanzania

East Africa is THE family vacation destination. It is home to the best wild life game in the world with an interesting local culture, village life and breathtaking beautiful scenery. This safari has been so tailored to give you, within a short span of 3 weeks, a real experience of the diversity in game, cultural life and scenery in Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania. There are also two gorilla tracking opportunities – one at the world famous Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and the other at an equally well known Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. Our safari ends at Nairobi from where optional diverse attractions like Zanzibar, Mombasa, Malindi, Lamu and others can be conveniently included.

DATES PRICES INCLUSIONS AIRFARE

Day 01: FRI: Depart home city for Entebbe
The excitement starts as we embark on our flight from our home city to Entebbe in Uganda.

Day 02: SAT: Arrive Entebbe / Kampala (Uganda)
Upon arrival at Entebbe, Uganda’s main airport, we are warmly welcomed and transferred to our hotel.
Overnight: Gately Inn, Entebbe (1 night)

Day 03: SUN: Entebbe / Mburo National Park
We drive to Mburo, which harbors several species of mammals; Zebras, Impala, Buffaloes. For birders, this is one of the best place to see the African Fin foot, Papyrus, Bush Shrike, etc. Its sculptured landscape with rolling grassy hills and idyllic lakeshore has a varied mosaic of habitats forest galleries, seasonal and permanent swamps and rich acacia wood valleys which all support a wealth of wildlife. We visit the Royal Drum makers located right on the Equator - where one can stand with one leg on the northern and the other on the southern hemispheres. An exciting evening safari before we end for the day.
Overnight: Mantana Tented camp (deluxe) (1 night) (B, L, D)

Day 04 MON: Mburo National Park / Bwindi
We drive to the Impenetrable National Park via Kabale with beautiful scenery and terrace farming arriving in the afternoon. Best known for its Mountain Gorillas, the Montane Forest also attracts spectacular birds. There are 23 of the 24 Albertine Rift endemics including the African Green Broadbill, Bar Tailed Trogon and other beautiful forest species. Tonight we take a good night’s rest to get ready for the following day’s gorilla tracking.
Overnight: Gorilla Safari Lodge. (2 nights) (B, L, D)

Day 05 TUE: Gorilla Tracking Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Southern sector)
An exciting day as we have an early morning Gorilla tracking. Do not forget to take your lunch boxes and all necessary gear to track the rare Mountain Gorilla, perhaps one of the most exciting wildlife experiences on earth. There are now only 650 left in the world! The tracking may take between 2 and 6 hours but its well worth it. Park guides accompany you and interpret the flora, fauna and the lifestyle of the Gorillas. Afternoon, relax at the lodge or go for an optional Village walk returning to the lodge in the evening. (B, L, D)

Day 06 WED: Bwindi / Musanze (Rwanda)
Today we cross to Rwanda – the land of chimps and gorillas. We view beautiful scenery and terraced farming as we arrive the town of Musanze in time for lunch. Relax in the afternoon or see the Ibyiwatu Cultural group performance where you are entertained by the Rwandese and get to know about their culture in music, dance and drama. An early retirement to get ready for tomorrow’s gorilla tracking.
Overnight: La Palme hotel, Musanze (2 nights) (B, L, D)

Day 07 THU: Volcanoes National Park – 2nd gorilla tracking (optional)
Early morning wake up call to get ready for our optional Gorilla tracking. Do not forget to take all necessary gear to track down the rare Mountain Gorilla, perhaps one of the most exciting wildlife experiences on earth. This exciting tracking may take anywhere from 2 to 6 hours. Accompanying Park guide explains us about flora, fauna and lifestyle of the Gorillas. Afternoon free to relax. Walk around this small and colorful African town (B, L, D)

Day 08 FRI: Musanze / Kigali
We drive to Kigali the capital of Rwanda. We tour and explore Kigali visiting the Genocide Museum, Caplaki Crafts Centre. Located at Rwanda’s geographical heart, the rapidly growing city of Kigali is not only the national capital, but also the country’s most important business centre and main port of entry.
Overnight: Lemigo hotel, Kigali (1 night) (B, L, D)

Day 09 SAT: Kigali / Nairobi (flight) (Kenya)
Day to relax before we are transferred to the airport for our flight to Nairobi. Karibu! We are warmly received in Africa’s most well known capital – Nairobi. The Kiswahili language here is often easily understood as many people mix in English words, in fact more people in Kenya speak English than in any other African country.
Overnight: Pan Africa Hotel/ Nairobi Serena Lodge (1 night) (B)

Day 10 SUN: Nairobi / Lake Nakuru (165 Kms)
We start with an interesting countryside drive to Lake Nakuru National Park, best known for its flamingos and home to many animals including waterbuck, leopards Rothschild giraffe and the endangered black rhino. After a filling lunch at our lodge, we head out for the first of the many exciting game drives in our East African Safari.
Overnight: Lake Nakuru Lodge / Lion Hill Lodge (1 night) (B, L, D)

Day11 MON: Lake Nakuru / Masai Mara (310 Kms)
After breakfast we traverse the Great Rift Valley and ascend to its western rim into the Maasai land. Red-clad Maasai warriors tend their herds of cattle among the wildlife, admirably unmoved by the presence of large predators. Here we also find the Masaai giraffe. After lunch, at our lodge, we embark on the most exciting game drive Africa has to offer.
Overnight: Mara Simba Lodge / Mara Serena Lodge (2 nights) (B, L, D)

Day 12 TUE: Masai Mara
Morning and afternoon game drives in this spectacular game reserve, all with superb photographic opportunities. Blessed with a permanent water supply, Masai Mara has a permanent population of plains game. The "big five" - elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard and rhino are quite common. Today we may opt for an early morning optional balloon excursion to experience a birds-eye view of the vast Mara. (B, L, D)

Day 13 WED: Masai Mara / Serengeti (Tanzania) (275 Kms)
Today we depart for Tanzania, home to the best game in the world. We cross the Isebania Border to Tanzania – also the home of Mount Kilimanjaro, the world famous Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater Game Parks as well as the spice island of Zanzibar. Our destination is Serengeti, which literally means “endless plains”
Overnight: Serengeti Serena / Bilila Lodge Kempenski (2 nights) (B, L, D)

Day 14 THU: Serengeti
We begin our Tanzanian adventure at the world famous wildlife sanctuary - the Serengeti National Park which at 14,763 sq kms is the largest National Park in Tanzania. Summed up as 'one of the most unique areas in the world', Serengeti contains the largest remaining concentration of plains game in Africa, on a scale, which has no parallel any where in the world. The abundance of herbivores includes wildebeest, Zebra, Gazelle, Topi, Buffalo, and Hartebeest, to name but a few. Serengeti is also famous for Predators e.g. Lion, Cheetah, Leopard, Hyena and contains a wide variety of birdlife, believed to be in the region of 500 species. (B, L, D)

Day 15 FRI: Serengeti / Ngorongoro Crater (145 Kms)
Another day game drive in Serengeti National Park with picnic lunch. We explore various areas like Moro kopjes and Gol kopjes. The extensive grasslands are interspersed with Kopjes rocky outcrops like islands in the flat plain, each with their own wildlife communities. Discover the Seronera River, which flows through the park, providing habitats for a variety of birds, mammals and reptiles. Afternoon we proceed to Nabi Hill gate were you enjoy our picnic lunch before proceeding to the Malanja depression entering the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
Overnight: Ngorongoro Serena Lodge / Farm House (1 night) (B, L, D)

Day 16 SAT: Ngorongoro Crater / Lake Manyara (60 Kms)
We descend the famous Ngorongoro Crater for a day of superb game viewing. The Ngorongoro Crater, one of Africa's most magnificent wildlife arenas, is approximately 19 km/12 miles across and its prairies are a haven for an estimated 30,000 large mammals, including lion, Leopard, Cheetah, Elephant, Hyena, Hippo, Wildebeest, Baboon, Gazelle and the endangered black Rhino. At a depth of 610 meters/2,000 feet, this crater, created by the collapse of an extinct volcano, contains a "Lost World" of wildlife. It is our exciting crater safari today before we drive to Lake Manyara in the later afternoon.
Overnight: Lake Manyara Serena / Kirurumu Tented Lodge (2 nights) (B, L, D)

Day 17 SUN: Lake Manyara
We drive down to Lake Manyara National Park, which is one of the finest parks in Tanzania. You will enjoy your game drive followed by lunch. After lunch, we will visit the village of Mto Wa Mbu and The Great Rift Valley and then proceed to your unique safari lodge, which offers a spectacular view of Lake Manyara National Park. (B, L, D)

Day 18 MON: Lake Manyara / Arusha / Amboseli (Kenya) (205 Kms)
After our Northern Tanzania game experience, we take another scenic drive crossing the beautiful Great Rift Valley to the colorful villages of Mto wa Mbu and Makuyuni. At Arusha, which is the exact center between Cape Town and Cairo, we stop for lunch. We then cross the Namanga border between Tanzania and Kenya and then drive to the Amboseli National Park that is situated at the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro (5922 meters/19,430 ft). Amboseli is also famous for its vast herds of elephants and stunning views of Kilimanjaro. We take the opportunity of another game drive before checking into our lodge for the night.
Overnight: Amboseli Serena Lodge / Oltukai Lodge (2 nights) (B, L, D)

Day 19 TUE: Amboseli
After breakfast drive to Amboseli, situated at the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro (19,430 ft). Amboseli is famous for its vast herds of elephants and stunning views of Kilimanjaro on clear days. Be sure to have your camera ready. Lunch at the lodge and afternoon game drive en route to your lodge in search of Elephant, Giraffe, Buffalo and much more. (B, L, D)

Day 20 WED: Amboseli / Nairobi (220 Kms) departure
After breakfast at our lodge, we again take on the wildlife against the backdrop of the highest peak in Africa. With lunch at the lodge, we bid farewell as we drive to Nairobi airport for our departure flight. For optional extension to Zanzibar, Mombasa, Lamu or joining our gorilla safaris, please ask for details. (B, L)

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Departure Dates
2012 English Speaking Departures Jan 13, Feb 03 & 17, Mar 02, 16 & 30, Apr 13, May 04 & 18, Jun 01, 15, 22 & 29, Jul 13, Aug 03, 17 & 31, Sep 14 & 28, Oct 12 & 26, Nov 16 & 30, Dec 07
Inclusions
Tour Price Includes Tour Price Does Not Include International airfare from NYC (add on’s from other cities available) Airport taxes (approx $ 495) Regional Airfare Entebbe / Nairobi Visa fees and insurance Accommodation as per itinerary (or similar) Tips / gratuities or other such costs 50 Meals as mentioned (B=Breakfast, L=lunch, D=Dinner) Gorilla permit fees (currently at $ 500 per person) All game drives and transfers by safari vehicles Balloon Safaris – Masai Mara & Serengeti - $ 525 (subject to change) Road taxes, parking fees, drivers overnight wages   Services of local English speaking guides   Entrance fees at all Parks based on every fee being valid for 24 hours
Tour Price
We accept payment in US $ (US Dollars), CA $ (Canadian Dollars) or equivalent EURO (for clients outside North America). Bestway Tours & Safaris offers conversion rate protection. Once full payment has been received, and no modification has been made to the tour itinerary, we will honour that rate. For complete payment procedures, please download Bestway_Payment_Info.pdf Note: to read this file you must have Adobe Acrobat.
Season Departures 2012 Double Occupancy Single Room Supplement Low Mar 30 to May 04 US $ 8950 US $ 690 Shoulder Mar 02 to Mar 16 Oct 26 to Nov 30 US $ 9350 US $ 1095 Mid-Shoulder Jun 01 to Jun 15 Dec 07 US $ 9795 US $ 1195 High Rest of the year US $ 10480 US $ 1295 Note: International airfare ex New York has been calculated as per current airfare at US$ 1650 and may be subject to change. Airport taxes have not been included in the above price.
Estimated International Airfare - International airfare is included in this tour Canada - West Coast N/A USA - West Coast N/A Canada - East Coast N/A USA - East Coast N/A
Participants
This tour operates on a minimum of 02 and a maximum of 07 participants.
Customised Itinerary If you would like to have a tour on dates other than the above ones or with a customised itinerary, please contact us and we will be happy to work out an exclusive program for you. Foreign Language Departures Please contact us for information on French, German, Italian and Spanish speaking departures. You may e-mail us at bestway@bestway.com or call us at 604.264.7378. Residents of U.S.A./Canada may call us toll free at 1.800.663.0844.