43 Hours

Well its almost here. One more day of work. One more sleep.

 

Tomorrow morning I leave Whitehorse at 8am and 43 hours later I will arrive in Uganda. I have a few hours layover in Vancouver, and a long layover tomorrow in Amsterdam. I am doing a quick canal tour of Amsterdam during my time there, so I am looking forward to that.

 

Sunday afternoon I will arrive into Uganda, ready for the start of my tour early the next morning.

 

Here is my full itinerary:

 

EAST AFRICA OVERLAND
3 Overnight flights. 15 Nights Camping. 6 Nights Simple Hotels. 1 stay in a Yotel.

Jan 6 – Depart Whitehorse 8am
Overnight flight Vancouver – Amsterdam with KLM

Jan 7 – Arrive Amsterdam
Afternoon canal tour of Amsterdam
Overnight flight Amsterdam – Nairobi with Kenya Airways

Jan 8 – Kenya Airways Nairobi to Kampala, Uganda

Jan 9 – Depart at 6am and travel west to Queen Elizabeth National Park, with Uganda
largest wildlife populations.

Jan 10 – Morning and afternoon game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park, with
hopes of catching glimpses of buffalo, hippo, elephant, lion and the elusive leopard.

Jan 11,12,13,14 – Travel south to Lake Bunyonyi, our base for several days in the area.
Our time in this lush, magical, mountainous region of Uganda is spent between enjoying
the area and many activities that it has to offer, and an unforgettable guided trek deep into
the forest-sloped volcanoes for a wild encounter with a family of mountain Gorillas in
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Jan 15 – A scenic journey takes us to Lake Mburo National park to continue our nature
and wildlife encounters in one of Uganda's most precious locations.

Jan 16 – Head south to the shores of Lake Victoria, the source of the nile.

Jan 17 – A day in Jinja to spend a day rafting or kayaking down the Nike, volunteering
with a local project, or just enjoying the relaxed vibe of Jinja.

Jan 18,19 – Cross over into Kenya and continue through the Rift Valley and on towards
Nairobi

Jan 20 – Leave Nairobi early and travel south through the Masai lands into Tanzania, to
our camp outside of the town of Arusha. Spend some time exploring the town and its
bustling markets, before settling down at our campsite for the night.

Jan 21 – After breakfast, we begin our 2 nights/3 day excursion to the Serengeti National
Park and the Ngorongoro Crater, two of Africa's premier wildlife areas.

Jan 22 – Leave the Serengeti and journey to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, famous
for Africa's best game viewing. There is an ever present abundance of wildlife, due to the
permanent water supply on the crater floor.

Jan 23 – After breakfast we embark on a half day crater tour. Since most of the crater
floor is grassland, grazing animals predominate: zebra, gazelles, buffalo, eland, and
warthogs. The swamp and forest provide additional resources for hippos, some of
Tanzania's last remaining black rhinos, giant-tusked elephants, waterbucks, reedbucks
and bushbucks, baboons and vervet monkeys. All these animals in turn support large
predators such as lion and leopard, and scavengers such as hyena and jackals. After this
fabulous experience within the crater, we have to leave the wildlife behind us and start
heading back to Arusha, where we will set up camp for the night.

Jan 24 – Depart Arusha, passing the majestic Mt Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest mountain,
and head towards the capital, Dar Es Salaam.

Jan 25 – Ferry from Dar es Salaam to the island of Zanzibar. Spend the remainder of the
day exploring Stone Town, the heart of the island. It has an intriguing maze of
narrow, cobbled lanes hemmed in by Arabic buildings.

Jan 26 – We head north to Nungwi for two days at one of Zanzibar's major highlights.
Here you can relax on the idyllic white-sandy beaches, take an optional diving/snorkeling
excursion, or take a wander through the village of Nungwi.

Jan 27 – Relax in Nungwi

Jan 28 – We head back to Stone Town, for our final night on this enchanting island.

Jan 29 – Depart Zanzibar in the early evening, overnight flight to Amsterdam (via
Nairobi)

Jan 30 – Arrive Amsterdam 5:30am. Spend a few hours sleeping in a Yotel. Fly back to
Whitehorse via Vancouver.

 

When I look at the itinerary, I'm sure the trip will fly by because each day is something I am so excited for. Right now it sounds a bit overwhelming. I am trying to remember how nervous I was before I left for Egypt, and when I got there I was so glad that I had come.

 

My bags are mostly packed. My immunizations are done. My camera is charged. Here we go!