Gorillas & East Africa Safari

No two journeys in Africa are identical. Be prepared for travel times to be longer or shorter than advised. Weather and road conditions can change things significantly, so embrace the detours, shortcuts, and unforgettable moments along the way.

The sheer thrill in coming across a habituated group of gorillas, dominated by a great male silverback, is unbeatable. But please keep in mind that tracking gorillas in the dense forest can sometimes be wet, muddy and uncomfortable. The terrain is by no means easy either, so it can be pretty strenuous and often humid. You need to be prepared and fit enough to walk up to 4 hours up and down hills.

Camping in the Serengeti National Park with no barriers between you and the animals is amazing, but it's important to heed the safety advice of your leader. You'll be briefed on arrival.

This is a 4WD overland trip. That means you’ll be travelling with a group in 4WD vehicles, visiting remote communities and world-renowned wildlife parks. The drive days can be long, but it’s as much about the journey as the destination, and half the fun is the camaraderie.

There will be many early starts, either to make use of the better safari time or to beat the morning traffic on long travel days.

The day-to-day itinerary features a selection of optional activities. Please note that this list is not exhaustive and is intended only as a guide. Prices are approximate and may change at the discretion of the local provider, and all activities are subject to availability.

1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
2. This trip requires a higher non-refundable deposit (AUD1000, USD1000, EUR800, NZD1250, GBP650, CAD1000, ZAR8000, CHF900) in order to secure the included gorilla permit. Please note that we need to confirm availability of a gorilla permit if you are booking within 45 days of departure. The additional deposit paid at the time of booking will be credited to the final balance of your booking.
3. This itinerary offers two optional sunrise balloon safaris—one in the Masai Mara and another in Serengeti National Park. We offer both 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.
4. Some governments have increased foreign travel advice around security in place for Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda. Please check your government’s foreign travel advice before departure and ensure your travel insurance covers all destinations and activities on your itinerary.

LUGGAGE LIMIT
The luggage weight limit is maximum 20kg per person, but we recommend packing as lightly as possible. We recommend backpacks or duffel bags, as large framed suitcases can be difficult to fit, especially when the vehicle is at full capacity. Please contact your booking consultant if you think you will have issues with this luggage limitation.

GORILLA TREKKING SPECIFICS
- Tracking gorillas can be wet, muddy, and physically challenging with sharp, prickly foliage and steep hillsides.
- You must wear a surgical mask within 10 metres of the gorillas. For more info on how masks help protect gorillas, see our Responsible Travel section.
- A walking stick will be provided, and you can hire a porter for 20 USD (plus tip) to carry your day pack and assist with the trek. Hiring a porter supports local communities and encourages gorilla conservation.

CLOTHING & FOOTWEAR
- Waterproof hiking boots for navigating wet, muddy, and uneven terrain on gorilla trek.
- Gardening gloves for easier grip on trees and bushes while trekking.
- Long Socks to tuck pants/trousers into and protect against ants or insects.
- Neutral or dark-coloured rain jacket (bright colours are not permitted in the park.
- Surgical face mask (provided on-site or bring your own).
- Lightweight, long shirts and pants for protection against the sun and insects.
- Comfortable clothing for hot weather; shorts, t-shirts, activewear.
- Closed-toed comfortable walking shoes to protect your feet in wilderness areas.
- Sandals suitable for wearing during water based activities.
- Fleece or jumper/sweater for cooler mornings/evenings.
- Sun protection – sunglasses and securable sunhat.
- Swimming costume.
- Sarong, scarf, or buff for dusty roads and cooler temps.
- Nightwear, especially if travelling on twin-share.
- Beanie.

TOILETRIES & PERSONAL CARE
- Sunscreen - biodegradable, reef-safe, and waterproof if available.
- Biodegradable shampoo, conditioner, soap, detergent, etc.
- Toiletries - toothbrush, toothpaste, razor, nail clippers, etc.
- Tropical strength insect repellent.
- Antiseptic hand sanitizer.
- Personal medical kit. Your guide will carry a large kit, but we recommend you carry items such as mild painkillers, electrolytes, anti-diarrhea, antibacterial gel, wet wipes, after-sun, band aids/plasters, etc.

ELECTRONICS
- Power bank or spare batteries.
- Charging cords and necessary adapters for the countries you're visiting.
- Head torch (recommended) or flashlight.

LUGGAGE & SLEEPING GEAR
- A smaller backpack to take with you on day excursions and gorilla trekking.
- Travel pillow.
- Earplugs.

OTHER ITEMS
- Filtered reusable water bottle (min 1 litre).
- Camera.

OPTIONAL EXTRAS
- Reusable dry bags to keep your belongings and clothes dry.
- Water purification tablets.
- Binoculars.

TOP TIPS
- Ex-military or military style clothing and equipment is NOT recommended.
- Pack layers to add or remove as the temperatures fluctuate throughout the day.
- Wear neutral-colored clothing while on safari to blend in with the environment and avoid disturbing wildlife.
- Account for your personal temperature preferences—if you tend to run hot or cold, pack accordingly to stay comfortable.

LAUNDRY
Most hotels and lodges offer laundry services for a fee.

POWER
Our vehicles are equipped with multiple power boards, which may be used at the crew’s discretion; however, do bear in mind that only a minimal number of items can be charged at a time and will not be allowed if there is a risk of running the vehicle’s batteries low. We recommend power banks and multi-country power converters.

DRESS CONSIDERATIONS FOR WOMEN AND GENDER-DIVERSE TRAVELLERS
In certain parts of Africa, we recommend women and gender-diverse travellers dress in a way that respects local customs and traditions. While there’s a wide range of cultural practices, we recommend packing a few items like skirts or shorts that reach just above the knee, tops that cover the shoulders, or cover-ups when stepping off the beach in coastal areas. Your leader will be able to advise you on when it is appropriate to dress more conservatively., PLASTIC BAG BANS ACROSS AFRICA
While Namibia holds people liable to a fine of N$500 or imprisonment for entering Game Parks with a plastic bag, Botswana has announced a countrywide ban on plastic bags to come into effect on 1 November 2018. The ban will make the importing, trading and commercial use of plastic bags a criminal offence. Exceptions will be made for plastics that are essential for health and hygiene. With these announcements, Botswana and Namibia join other African countries such as Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, Tunisia, Morocco, Rwanda, Uganda, Somalia and Eritrea that have banned plastic bags. South Africa imposed a levy on plastic bags in 2004 but they have not yet been banned.
Many countries are strictly enforcing this and have been searching luggage at border points. Camping stores are good for obtaining waterproof reusable bags, for dirty laundry etc, prior to departure.

You'll need to be fit enough to trek to the location of your family of mountain gorillas. This may involve up to 5 hours of walking up and down hills, in hot and humid conditions and through tropical (and at times thick) foliage. There may be mud underfoot, which will make the trekking slippery. 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. If you do not hire a porter, you'll be expected to carry your own gear, including water and a rain jacket, as well as your camera equipment.

For the remainder of the tour, you do not need any real fitness besides the ability to get in and out of the safari vehicles. Please also note that some roads, particularly in Uganda and the national parks, can be quite rough, and you may experience a fair amount of bouncing around.

The Nest, 7 KG 6 Avenue,, Kigali, RWANDA, Phone: +250 790 008 935

Nest Rugando is a small boutique guesthouse located in the heart of Kigali's Kimihurura neighbourhood. Facilities include a shared lounge, garden, terrace, 24hr reception, free laundry, and free WiFi throughout the property.

Rooms are equipped with an ensuite bathroom and shower.

Alternate Joining Point

For trips departing on the following dates
use this joining point.
22 May 2025 (YGSGC250522)
02 Jun 2025 (YGSGC250602)
05 Jun 2025 (YGSGC250605)
12 Jun 2025 (YGSGC250612)
19 Jun 2025 (YGSGC250619)
26 Jun 2025 (YGSGC250626)
K Boutique Hotel - Kigali
23 KG 676 St

Kigali
RWANDA
Phone: +250 790008935

A private arrival transfer is available for pre-booking through Intrepid. Please speak to your booking agent for more information. If you have pre-booked an arrival transfer, please ensure you have provided Intrepid with your arrival flight details at least 15 days before the departure of your Intrepid trip. On arrival, please look out for our representative holding a board with your name at the arrival terminal.
If you fail to see our representative, please call the following number and someone will attend to your needs +254 733 523 813
If you are making your own way to the hotel, there is a taxi stand outside the airport building. A taxi should cost approximately USD$30 to USD$50, and payment can be made in Dollars.

Njiro Legacy, Njiro Rd, Engutoto,, Arusha, TANZANIA, UNITED REPUBLIC OF

Njiro Legacy features an outdoor swimming pool, a lush garden, a communal lounge area, a terrace, and a bar. Guests can enjoy the convenience of a 24-hour front desk reception, room service, and complimentary WiFi.

Rooms are equipped with a coffee machine, air conditioning and a flat-screen TV.

Alternate Finish Point

We are happy to arrange a departure transfer for you at an additional charge to either Arusha Airport (ARK) or Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO). Please ask your booking agent if you would like to add this service and provide your flight details. Alternativel your tour leader or the hotel staff can assist you with arranging the transfer.

Breakfasts included: 16

Lunches included: 11

Dinners included: 10

Hotels and your group leader will endeavour to cater for specific dietary requirements where possible, and vegetarianism and gluten intolerance will be catered for in most instances, however your diet may be limited more than you are used to. Please notify your sales consultant at the time of booking of any dietary requirements plus your group leader in your group meeting at the start of the trip.

In Kenya & Tanzania the cook will prepare meals for the group for most of included meals. While not required, any assistance you provide, such as chopping vegetables or washing dishes, will be appreciated. If you have any dietary requirements please tell us at the time of booking, and also remind your crew at your welcome meeting. A typical camp breakfast might be toast with spreads, cereal, something hot such as eggs or pancakes, as well as tea and coffee. Lunch is almost always a sandwich with healthy salad and assorted fillings, sometimes with fruit to follow. Dinner might be a BBQ, rice dish or pasta dish and there is usually the chance to try some African food such as ugali and stew.

Your overland truck has a tank of treated water that is safe to drink. Your crew will use this to cook and provide cordial at meal times. Please do not hesitate to use this water to minimise the consumption of plastic water bottles. Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages are not part of included meals.

While we always endeavour to provide the best possible holiday experience, due to the nature of travel and the areas we visit sometimes things can and do go wrong. Should any issue occur while you are on your trip, it is imperative that you discuss this with your group leader or local representative straight away so that they can do their best to rectify the problem and save any potential negative impact on the rest of your trip.

We recognise that there may be times when your group leader or local representative may not be able to resolve a situation to your satisfaction - if this is the case, please ask the group leader or local representative to speak to their direct manager.

You may also choose to provide details in your online feedback, which we ask you to complete within 30 days of the end of your trip. Please do be aware that it is very difficult for us to provide any practical help after the trip is completed, so informing us while still travelling will give us the opportunity to resolve the issue in real-time.

For transfers and accommodation issues, Intrepid's Kenya Office can be reached on their 24-hour number +254 758 555 556 or +254 758 555 557.

For any concerns regarding pre-booked transfers, you can reach out via WhatsApp at +250 787 665 114.

For general contact details please use the following page: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/contact-us

In case of a genuine crisis or emergency, you can reach our local office on the numbers below:

Intrepid's Local Operator: +254 758 555 550/1.

The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation.

Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available.

If you require a Sleep Apnea Machine to sleep please ensure that it is battery operated. Lodges and Permanent Tented Camps are often powered by generators which are turned off during the night.

In this trip, we use 8-seater 4WD Safari vehicles. For smaller groups of up to 6 travellers we will use 1 safari vehicle and for larger groups between 7-12 we will use 2 vehicles.

There are many early starts with long hours spent driving on rough roads on all African itineraries. While most people love the chance to watch the changing landscape and daily village life, feedback shows that long periods of inactivity does not appeal to all clients. We provide the approximate distance covered each day and how many hours this normally takes to drive so that you can choose the safari experience that is right for you.

African conditions are extremely tough on vehicles. While we fastidiously maintain our vehicles at our workshops, you should not expect Africa to be your traditional touring experience. While it's certainly our aim to avoid them, it's important that you set off on your trip knowing that the occasional breakdown can happen and are best treated as part of the African adventure. Due to wet weather there may be times when we have to take an alternative route which will mean longer travel times.