Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: Your arrival
Welcome to Mombasa, you will be picked up form the airport and taken to your accommodation for the night in a local guesthouse.
Day 2: Orientation
After a relaxing morning you will have a full orientation and then head to the project in the late afternoon. You will have the evening free to socialize and get acquainted with your new rustic surroundings. The Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary was founded over ten years ago to help end the age old conflict between rural farmers and elephant conservationists. Historically rural farmers have destroyed elephant habitats to plant crops. Elephants would then destroy the crops and the farmers would destroy the elephants to get revenge and protect their crops. This cycle of destruction had not gone unnoticed by local authorities and after lengthy discussions, community leaders came to a consensus. The agreement was that the community would forgo farming and instead use the land as an elephant sanctuary tourist destination.
The villagers work to maintain the elephant sanctuary and the proceeds from visitors are used to compensate the villagers for their efforts. Apart from elephants, the sanctuary is also home to a host of other wildlife including warthogs, impalas, bush backs, sable, cave buffalos and leopards! Other attractions in the sanctuary include petrified wood (the remains of a forest that flourished approximately 200 million years ago), a waterfall, cycads (endangered ancient plants-contemporaries of the dinosaurs) and a natural rock bridge over the Manolo River. The project needs volunteers to help with day to day park maintenance, the elephant dung recycling project and elephant monitoring.
During your time at the project you will be involved in a range of activities including monitoring elephants, improving fencing, planting trees and collecting elephant dung and turning it into paper. Your typical work schedule with be from 9am to 5pm, with plenty of breaks throughout the day.
Day 3: Game drive and school visit
You will start the day with a brief orientation and an exciting game drive. You will have an opportunity to see all the wildlife the park has to offer. In the afternoon you will visit a primary school just across the road from the elephant reserve and get to participate in some classes if you are lucky! In the evening you will enjoy some quality time around campfire.
Day 4: Elephant dung project
Today you'll finally be getting your hands really dirty. You will spend the morning collecting and preparing elephant dung to make paper! In the afternoon you will work in the field planting or fencing. This evening you will have a special treat, a cultural dance followed by more quality bonfire time.
Day 5: Game drive
Today you will go on a game drive through the Shimba reserve, one of Kenya's most unspoilt conservation areas, and visit Shedrick falls giving you a chance to spot some incredible animals incluidng the rare and beautiful Sable. In the evening you will return to the elephant reserve and enjoy an evening bonfire.
Day 6: Cow market and field work
You will visit the Kinango cow market today to experience a real indigenous market - a true rural Kenyan experience. In the afternoon you will work in the fields, watering plants or gardening. A relaxing evening around the bonfire is the perfect end to your eventful day.
Day 7: Elephant dung project
You will spend your last day working with the elephant dung and by the end of the day you will see the fruits of your labor by binding the dung paper and using it to make different items. In the evening you will celebrate all your hard work with a festive, final bonfire.
Day 8: Transfer to Mombasa and Uganda
Today you will transfer back to Mombasa and then be taken to the bus station for your marathon journey to Kampala in Uganda. This trip takes around 24 hours but allows you to soak up the scenery, relax and spend time chatting to your fellow travellers - don`t forget to pick up some snacks beforehand for your trip!
Day 9: Arrival into Kampala
You will be met at the bus station in Kampala and transferred to your accommodation for the evening. You will be staying at a local guest house.
Day 10: Drive to Bwindi Forest
After breakfast at the hotel you will drive to Southwestern Uganda. En route you will stop at a local community famous for making local drums and crafts and here you can buy souvenirs for friends and family and if you are feeling peckish then the local fruit market will go down a treat. From here you move on to the equator - a great opportunity to get your photo taken in both hemispheres! Finally you'll then travel onto the Bwindi area, a highly fertile mountainous region with steep sided hills covered from top to bottom in neatly terraced rows of cultivation……amazing scenery. You will stay overnight at community camp.
Day 11: Gorrilla Trekking-the day you have been waiting for!
After breakfast you will have a morning briefing before enjoying the highlight of the trip- Gorilla trekking- which could last the entire day. You will trek through the rainforest and bamboo covered slopes, accompanied by a guide and trackers, in search of a Mountain Gorilla family. The walking can sometimes be tough and long, but when you catch a glimpse of the magnificent silverback, your tiredness will be totally forgotten. When the gorillas are sighted, you will be guided to within around 6 metres from the gorillas and be able to sit around them for up to an hour while gazing into their big round eyes. After this amazing adventure you will return to camp for a well-deserved rest. Please note that these gentle giants are highly endangered and anyone suffering from anything from a cough to a cold will not be allowed to go on the trek.
Day 12: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
After breakfast you will drive through the stunning savannah grasslands heading for the Queen Elizabeth National Park. During your time in the park you'll go on a game drive in the northern sector of the park giving amazing views of the Ruwenzoris otherwise known as the 'Mountains of the Moon'. Enjoy the drive back to the lodge through large expanses of savannah grasslands as you hopefully spot some more wildlife. Overnight at a local hostel.
Day 13: Game drive at Queen Elizabeth National Park
You will set out early in the morning for a game drive in the northern part of the park on the Kasenyi Track in search of lions, elephants and buffaloes. This is the best time for opportunities of viewing the big cats in action and you should have an excellent chance to view just about every animal here at close range! Later in the morning there is the opportunity to relax by the pool at the lodge. In the afternoon you can go for a boat trip along the Kazinga Channel giving you the opportunity to view wildlife up close: hippo’s huffing and spraying mere feet away from the boat, with buffalo lingering in the shallows. The shores of the channel are also home to an array of birds including pink backed pelicans, pied and malachite kingfishers, saddle billed stork and many others. After this wonderful afternoon, enjoy a slow drive to a relaxed evening at your accommodation at a local hostel.
Day 14: Day for optional activities and transfer to Kampala
Today you will have time for several optional activities in the park before setting off for the 6 hour drive back to Kampala. Heading eastwards leads you to the Kyambura wildlife reserve where you have the option of tracking the chimpanzee in the tropical rain forest (approximately $50 per person). You will hike into the Kyambura river gorge as you search for the chimps, the beautiful river valley is also home to many species of birds and butterflies.
Alternatively, you can go for a bush walk through the Maramagambo Forest (approximately $40 per person). This is one of the largest forests in Uganda, and forms a habitat for a number of primates and forest dwellers. Due to its location, Maramagambo also has a great diversity of butterflies and birds.
The walk ends with a visit to volcanic caves that are home to thousands of bats. You may also see pythons waiting in the crevices of the caves for their prey. During this walk you will see the picturesque 'blue lake' - Kimeranjojo which got its name after swallowing an Elephant!!! During your transfer to Kampala (about 6 hours driving) you will travel through some of the most breathtaking scenery and rolling plantations in Uganda. You will stay overnight at the hostel in Kampala.
Day 15: Transfer by overnight bus to Mombasa
Today is the day for your transfer back to Mombasa by bus, don`t forget your snacks! This is a 24 hour journey so relax, enjoy the scenery and make friends with your fellow travellers!
Day 16: Arrival into Mombasa
After your bus journey, you will be met by the Mombasa team and taken to your accommodation to relax for the night.
Day 17: Depart to the airport
Today is the day that you say goodbye to your friends after your amazing experience and head to the airport for your travel home or for your onward journey. Please note that the cost of your transfer to the airport is not included.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price Includes:
- Accommodation: Shared rooms in hotel and shared tents in elephant reserve, various rooms in Uganda
- Food: All meals at elephant reserve, breakfast in Kampala, and breakfast, lunch and dinner outside of Kampala
- Airport Pickup: Included on arrival date. Ask us for details if you’re arriving early!
- Training: In-country orientation
- Support: Pre-departure helpdesk, Local in-country team and 24hr emergency support
Also see tour packages in:
Africa
Kenya
Uganda
Volunteering
Volunteering Vacations
Wildlife Viewing
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