This nine-night route links Uganda and Kenya. It opens with a single night at Entebbe, on a forested peninsula reaching into Lake Victoria, then moves to Nteko Ridge in the southern Nkuringo sector of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, where four habituated gorilla families live and the trekking briefing point is a short walk from the door. It closes in Kenya’s Mara North Conservancy, private land above the Mara River.
You travel with time on the ground in each place rather than a rushed schedule. Days in Bwindi centre on demanding forest treks with an easier return to the ridge; days in the Mara run on your own schedule, with a dedicated 4WD, guide and spotter. The lodges are the settled bases for this: a forest lodge, a family-run ridge lodge and Alex Walker’s founding camp.
The trip begins on a peninsula reaching into Lake Victoria, roughly 30 minutes from Entebbe International Airport. Eight cabins stand on stilts inside dense tropical forest, raised into existing clearings so that no tree was felled during construction. A path drops through the trees to a terrace on the cliff edge, set for sundowners as the lake shifts colour at dusk. Kayaks and guided forest walks fill the time before the flight south.
Three nights on Nteko Ridge at roughly 2,160 metres, in the southern Nkuringo sector of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Four habituated gorilla families live here, and the briefing point is about 300 metres from the door, so most days begin with a short walk rather than a long pre-dawn drive. Treks drop steeply into the forest and climb back out, among the more demanding terrain in Bwindi. The volcanic-stone cottages have private verandas and fireplaces for the cool evenings at altitude, with boots cleaned on return.
Five nights at Alex Walker's founding camp, on a forested rise above the Mara River in the Mara North Conservancy. This is private conservancy land rather than the crowded reserve, so drives can continue after dark, guides can walk guests on foot, and a vehicle can leave the track to follow a leopard or a pride. Every booking comes with its own 4WD, a dedicated guide and a spotter, and the day runs on your schedule. The conservancy holds a high density of big cats year-round, with the great migration moving through the wider Mara from July to October.
Ed Charles, BBC Producer
Fitzroy are true specialists in accessing the wilderness. They know where to go and importantly, when to go there. Highly recommended.
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kenya & tanzania
Thirteen nights across Kenya's community conservancies and Laikipia to the granite kopjes of the northern Serengeti.
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kenya & rwanda
A 19-night route from Nairobi through Kenya's northern conservancies and Lake Turkana to Rwanda's mountain gorillas.
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kenya
Track black rhino with rangers, then fly the far north by helicopter to Lake Turkana and volcanic country.
rated five stars by our clients
our approach
Every journey starts with a conversation. We take the time to understand your vision before we start planning.
Whether by phone or in person, we work with you directly to shape something that is considered, personal, and expertly delivered.
Every journey starts with a conversation. We favour a direct, personal approach: understanding your vision before anything else.
Whether by phone or in person, we work with you directly to shape a journey that is both thoughtfully considered and expertly delivered.
Get in touch to start planning yours.
