Min. group size: 1 pax/ Max. group size: 12 pax
Gender group: mixed
Arrival: Please book flights that land no later than 1 pm on day 1. The meeting point is at the following hotel: Hillpark Hotel, Lower Hill Rd Upper Hill Nairobi 0100 KENYA.
Taxis are available from the airport. A taxi should cost approximately US$25-30, and can be paid in Kenyan Shillings or US dollars. Hillpark Hotel, features an outdoor heated swimming pool, a restaurant and a bar. Guests can enjoy the convenience of a 24-hour front desk reception, room service, gym and complimentary WiFi. Rooms are equipped with a coffee making facilities and a flat screen TV.
It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this time. If you are going to be late please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.
Departure: It's important not to book any outgoing international flights departing before 10 pm today.
No two journeys in Africa are identical. 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. 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.
This is a participatory overland camping trip. That means you’ll be travelling with a group in a purpose-built vehicle, visiting remote communities, setting up your tent, helping out with camp chores, occasionally roughing it in the bush with no facilities, and getting the best possible views of iconic African wildlife. For more info on this style of travel, see our Africa overland page at intrepidtravel.com/africa/overland.
Accommodation: The type and variety of accommodation are determined by conditions on each of our routes. Each route is different - on some, we use a mixture of campsites and wild camps; on others, we also use hotels. In Africa, it's not usually practical to camp when staying in towns and cities, so we use hotel accommodations and eat out in local restaurants.
There may be the occasional night stop when we stay on the grounds of a hotel or at a campsite, which may also have rooms/cabins available. In this case, there may be a choice of camping or upgrading to a room. Rooms cost approximately USD 40-100 per room per night for a twin room and cannot be pre-booked. Standards of these rooms vary greatly, and we recommend viewing the room before purchasing the night's accommodation.
Keep in mind that if we are staying in dormitory accommodation, you may have to share with other passengers or be split into same-sex rooms.
Campsites do have facilities, but they usually aren't to the same standard you would find in Western countries. For example, the bathroom facilities can be very basic. Toilet paper is rarely provided, and shower facilities can be as simple as a hose pipe spurting out cold water. Wild camps have no facilities at all.
Note that accommodation is automatically shared in double occupancy. If you book with an even number of guests, you will be sharing the room with your travel companion. If you book solo, you will share with another guest (might be of opposite gender). If you prefer to stay alone in your room, please purchase the single supplement if available.
Unfortunately, petty crime has become common in Nairobi and recently arrived visitors to the capital can often make for tempting targets. Your trip leader will verse you in a few worthwhile precautions at the welcome meeting. Some top tips are to get local advice on where to walk, keep valuables in a neck wallet or money belt or leave them secure in your hotel, and to not leave belongings unattended on chairs or the floor. Stay aware even when inside, as thieves and pickpockets have been known to operate indoors as well. There's no need to be paranoid but appearing vigilant is a great deterrent to would-be thieves.
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 strenuous and often humid. But the sheer thrill of coming across a habituated group of gorillas, dominated by a great male silverback, more than outweighs any difficulty. You need to be prepared and fit enough to walk up to four hours – up and down hills. A top tip is to pack some gardening gloves to assist in any uphill climbs. See https://www.intrepidtravel.com/au/gorilla-trekking for more information.
This itinerary offers an optional second gorilla trek. If you're interested, we highly recommend that you book at least three weeks in advance to secure the permit. You’re also welcome to wait and arrange the permit locally, but they are limited and availability can’t be guaranteed. Please speak to your booking agent for more details.
Travel insurance is mandatory for all our travellers and must be taken out within a reasonable time after booking. It is not included in the price of the trip. Your travel insurance must provide cover against personal accident, death, medical expenses and emergency repatriation with a recommended minimum coverage of US$200,000 for each of the categories of cover. We also strongly recommend it covers cancellation, curtailment, personal liability and loss of luggage and personal effects. You must provide your travel insurance policy number and the insurance company's 24-hour emergency contact number on the first day of your trip; you will not be able to join the trip without these details. If you have travel insurance connected to your credit card or bank account please ensure you have details of the participating insurer, the insurance policy number and emergency contact number with you rather than the bank's name and credit card details.
