Secret Gorillas, Chimps, Serengeti & Crater

The tour begins with your arrival at Entebbe International Airport in Uganda. You will be met and transferred to Karibu Guesthouse, a short drive away. Overlooking Lake Victoria and formerly a presidential residence, the guesthouse has everything you need to relax and unwind after your journey. There is a swimming pool, lounge and bar plus high-speed Wi-Fi and, with only seven suites at Karibu, you are assured of personalised attention. Food at the in-house restaurant has a distinctly Mediterranean flavour – you could start with creamy pumpkin and thyme soup and boeuf bourguignon with gnocchi a la Romana and perhaps finish off with their Nutella and mango panna cotta. Karibu means ‘welcome’ in Swahili and this is indeed a fitting welcome to Africa.

A flight from Entebbe to a local airstrip on the edge of Uganda’s rainforests takes you into gorilla country. Your destination is Chameleon Hill Lodge, its vibrantly colourful buildings looking out across Lake Mutanda with the rainforest-clad Virunga Volcanoes as a backdrop. There is time to settle in and enjoy the views before enjoying the comforts of your suite, complete with private bathroom. You have a gorilla trek the next day, your chance to come face to face with a habituated gorilla family in their natural environment, as well as look for other residents of Bwindi Forest – smaller primates, exotic birds and flocks of butterflies.

A post-trek massage in the spa is terrific way to soothe tired legs!

Your Lake Victoria destination – Rubondo Island – is a remote one and it is best to break up the journey with an overnight stay in Kigali, the friendly, modern capital city of Rwanda. You transfer overland across the border and onto Kigali, checking in at the Kigali Serena Hotel. Offering a high standard of accommodation and service, the hotel is the ideal place for you to catch your breath and recharge batteries after the gorilla trek. Your room is air-conditioned and has 24-hour room service, a beverage station, complimentary Wi-Fi and a mini-bar. Hotel facilities include a large swimming pool surrounded by sun loungers and health centre with a spa, gym, sauna, and steam room.

It is a short transfer to Kigali’s Airport for your flight to Lake Victoria and its hidden gem: Rubondo Island. While much of the lakeshore has been turned over to agriculture, Rubondo is a haven for wildlife and is justifiably becoming one of the best places to visit for biodiversity. There is only one lodge on the island – Rubondo Island Camp – and you arrive in time for lunch and to plan your days ahead. Top of the list of activities is trekking for the island’s chimpanzees and forest elephants, and there are hippos and crocodiles in the shallow waters. This is also a destination to spot rare and unusual creatures – keep a lookout for the semi-aquatic sitatunga antelope and spotted-necked otter as well as the suni (one of Africa’s smallest antelopes) and the exquisitely-patterned bushbuck. Game drives are combined with forest walks, canoe and boat trips to provide a comprehensive experience.

A flight from Rubondo takes you over stunning Rift Valley scenery before landing at an airstrip in the Serengeti. The wildlife viewing begins as you sit back in the transfer vehicle to your accommodation, Kimondo Camp. Kimondo moves location to catch the annual Wildebeest Migration or – if out of Migration season – to place itself in an area of rich wildlife diversity. You arrive at camp in time for lunch and time to settle into your tented suite before heading out on your first afternoon drive. You then have two full days to explore Tanzania’s flagship reserve, on the lookout for big cats, elephants and buffalo as well as antelope and zebra. Kimondo only has eight tents, each with solar-powered lighting and an en-suite bathroom with a hot-water bucket shower for that authentic touch.

Breakfast on the Serengeti savannah starts the day, followed by a flight to the Ngorongoro region and three nights at The Highlands, an accommodation of bold, ground-breaking design that lies on the remote forested slopes of Olmoti Volcano. You arrive in time for lunch and an afternoon community visit where you enjoy fascinating insights into life for the Maasai people in big game country. And big game is on the agenda for the next two days: you have a full-day safari in the Ngorongoro Crater to look forward to, giving you an excellent chance of seeing lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and buffalo, as well as a nature hike in the Olmoti Crater. Now it is time to take in the smaller details – animal tracks, birds and medicinal plants – as well as enjoying panoramic views and a hot lunch on the crater floor.