Overview
I’ve run this route to Uganda’s gorillas a handful of times now, and it just keeps getting better. For December 2027 the Primates & Great Lakes Safari is back — 34 nights, starting and ending at Nata, taking in six countries and some of the best wildlife and scenery Africa has to offer.
We build into it gradually. The first week is genuinely about covering ground — up through Zambia, working hard early so we can slow right down once we reach Lake Tanganyika. Three nights on the shore there, with snorkelling, scuba diving and sunset cruises on offer, is where the trip properly exhales for the first time.
From Tanganyika we continue into Rwanda and up to Kigali — a clean, friendly city with some of the best coffee you’ll find anywhere in East Africa. We visit the Genocide Memorial, one of the most moving places I take guests to anywhere on my tours, and we spend Christmas Day itself in Kigali, overlooking the city from the hills.
Then it’s into Uganda, which is really what this trip is built around. Near Kisoro we do a proper artisan coffee tour — seed to cup, entirely by hand — before the main event: mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. You get an hour with a family of wild gorillas, seven metres away (though they don’t always respect that number). On our December 2025 group we found a family with a 24-day-old baby and a three-month-old alongside two silverbacks — the kind of encounter you can’t script. From there we head to Fort Portal for chimpanzee trekking — an easier walk, but every bit as memorable.
New Year is spent at Jinja, on the Nile — sunset cruises, white-water rafting for anyone keen, and a proper reason to sit still for a few days. From there we swing south through Kenya into Tanzania for the Ngorongoro Crater, then down to Lake Malawi for one more slow stretch of warm water and cold beers before the final push home through Zambia and back to Nata.
Space on this one is limited to keep the group workable for the gorilla and chimp permits — if December 2027 is calling you, don’t leave it too late.
— Chris van Niekerk
Tour at a Glance
- Departs 13 December 2027
- 34 nights
- 8,486km total — a loop from Nata
- R49,000 per person
- Up to 14 guests
- 2x4 or 4x4 welcome — no special kit required
- Mostly tar and gravel, with some long travel days
Estimated Customer Budget
| Bluerhino Tour Price – per Person | R49,000 |
| Bluerhino Tour Price – Total (2 Guests) | R98,000 |
| Fuel (Meeting point to farewell) | R23,516 |
| Border Fees (Own Vehicle) | R10,494 |
| Total Customer Budget (2 Guests, 1 Vehicle) | R132,010 |
Estimate only — Tour price includes all camping fees, park entry fees and guide fees. Not included: gorilla and chimpanzee trekking permits, optional activities, food, flights and personal miscellaneous costs — see Optional Activities below for indicative prices. Assumes 2 guests sharing one self-drive vehicle.
Optional Activities & Prices
Gorilla trekking permit — Bwindi (Kisoro)
US$500 pp (African passport) · US$750 pp (international)
Chimpanzee trekking permit — Kibale (Fort Portal)
~US$200–250 pp
Ngorongoro Crater safari — Karatu
~US$150–200 pp
Artisan coffee-farm experience — Kisoro
~US$30 pp
Cultural tour — Kisoro
~US$30 pp
White-water rafting & Nile cruises — Jinja
Price on request
Lake activities: cruise, dive, snorkel & kayak — Lake Tanganyika
Price on request
I book all of these for you as part of running the tour. The gorilla and chimpanzee trekking permits have to be secured well in advance — they’re strictly limited — so I arrange those upfront; the rest we simply book on the day to suit the group. None are included in the tour price above. Prices are indicative (2026) and may change.
A Typical Day on Tour
Mornings start early — the sounds of Africa are best enjoyed with a cup of coffee and a rusk in hand. I’m usually up around 6am, and on a normal day we aim to be on the road about one and a half hours after sunrise. I’m firm on timekeeping — it’s only fair to the people who got up early to be ready.
Once we’re moving, we drive for around two hours before the first coffee stop — kettle’s on, with about 30 minutes to stretch your legs. Bring your cup and magic powders, I will supply the hot water.
A second stop follows around 2 hours later and it is normally a 45 minute lunch stop. Again I boil a kettle.
From here we can normally get to camp, but will stop if needed.
Once we’re in camp, I get a fire going, and supply the wood and charcoal — just bring your own braai grid. Evenings are for swapping stories around the fire, or private dinners with your spouse by candle light in the bush. I am easy with your choice.
The Itinerary
Day 1 — Nata, Botswana (13 December 2027)
We meet at Nata — an easy stopping point with a good restaurant on site, so day one is about settling in and meeting the group, not rushing anywhere. Overnight near Nata.
Ablutions: Showers and flush toilets
Day 2 — Livingstone, Zambia
An early start and a straightforward run north across the Kazungula border, with the Zambezi and Victoria Falls close by if anyone wants a look on the way through. Overnight near Livingstone.
Distance: ~374km · Ablutions: Showers and flush toilets
Day 3 — Lusaka, Zambia
A full driving day up to Lusaka, Zambia’s capital — a good spot to restock supplies before we head further north.
Distance: ~480km · Ablutions: Showers and flush toilets
Day 4 — Mkushi, Zambia
North again through Zambia’s farming country to Mkushi for the night — a quieter, shorter day after Lusaka.
Distance: ~299km · Ablutions: Showers and flush toilets
Day 5 — Mpika, Zambia
On to Mpika, where we overnight at a natural hot spring — free to use, so bring your costume and towel. A proper reward after a few solid driving days.
Distance: ~483km · Ablutions: Showers and flush toilets
Day 6 — Kalungu, Zambia
A shorter run up the Great North Road to Kalungu, our last night in Zambia before we push for the Tanzanian border.
Distance: ~271km · Ablutions: Showers and flush toilets
Day 7 — Lake Tanganyika, Tanzania
A long travel day — across the border into Tanzania at Nakonde and on to the shores of Lake Tanganyika. It’s worth it: we’re here for three nights, with snorkelling, scuba diving, kayaking and sunset cruises all bookable directly from the lodge. This is where the trip properly slows down for the first time.
Distance: ~432km · Ablutions: Showers and flush toilets
Day 8 — Lake Tanganyika, night two
A full day to enjoy the lake — swim, dive, snorkel, or just sit with a coffee and watch the Congo mountains across the water. No driving today.
Game-drive distance: no relocation · Ablutions: Showers and flush toilets
Day 9 — Lake Tanganyika, night three
One more relaxed day on Tanganyika before we start working north again tomorrow.
Game-drive distance: no relocation · Ablutions: Showers and flush toilets
Day 10 — Near Mpanda, Tanzania
Back on the road, skirting the edge of Katavi National Park on our way to a riverside campsite near Mpanda.
Distance: ~216km · Ablutions: Showers and flush toilets
Day 11 — Kibondo, Tanzania
A longer push north through western Tanzania to Kibondo, setting us up for the Rwandan border.
Distance: ~411km · Ablutions: Showers and flush toilets
Day 12 — Kigali, Rwanda
Across the Rusumo border into Rwanda and on to Kigali — a clean, friendly, surprisingly modern city. We spend three nights here, with time to explore, restock, and visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial, one of the most powerful places I take guests to on any of my tours.
Distance: ~365km · Ablutions: Showers and flush toilets
Day 13 — Kigali, Christmas Day
Christmas Day, spent up on the hills overlooking Kigali — good food, good company, and a proper rest before Uganda. No driving today.
Game-drive distance: no relocation · Ablutions: Showers and flush toilets
Day 14 — Kigali, night three
A last relaxed day in Kigali — coffee, a bit of shopping, and time to properly stock up before we cross into Uganda tomorrow.
Game-drive distance: no relocation · Ablutions: Showers and flush toilets
Day 15 — Kisoro, Uganda
Across the Cyanika border into Uganda and down to Kisoro, our base for the next three nights and the real heart of this trip. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest — home to roughly half the world’s remaining mountain gorillas — is right on our doorstep from here.
Distance: ~138km · Ablutions: Showers and flush toilets
Day 16 — Kisoro: gorilla trekking day
The big one. We’re up early for the briefing, then it’s into Bwindi with our guides and porters to find one of the park’s gorilla families — anywhere from under two hours to most of a day’s walk, depending on where they’ve moved to overnight. Once you’re with them, you get a full hour: silverbacks, mothers with babies, all of it, often close enough that they’ll wander right past you. It’s a proper walk — steep, dense rainforest — but it’s without question one of the most extraordinary wildlife encounters left on this planet. Gorilla permits are booked and paid for separately — see Optional Activities above.
Game-drive distance: no relocation · Ablutions: Showers and flush toilets
Day 17 — Kisoro: coffee day
A gentler day after yesterday’s trek — a proper artisan coffee tour with a local farmer, seed to cup, entirely by hand. There’s also time to arrange a short cultural visit around Kisoro if you’re interested.
Game-drive distance: no relocation · Ablutions: Showers and flush toilets
Day 18 — Fort Portal, Uganda
North through Uganda, past Queen Elizabeth National Park, to Fort Portal — a green, hilly part of the country dotted with crater lakes, and our base for chimpanzee trekking.
Distance: ~376km · Ablutions: Showers and flush toilets
Day 19 — Fort Portal: chimp trekking, New Year’s Eve
Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest — a shorter, flatter walk than the gorillas, but every bit as memorable; chimps are far more active and vocal, so it’s a completely different kind of encounter. We’ll see the New Year in around Fort Portal tonight.
Game-drive distance: no relocation · Ablutions: Showers and flush toilets
Day 20 — Jinja, Uganda (New Year’s Day)
East across Uganda to Jinja, on the source of the Nile — East Africa’s adventure capital, and a good place to properly unwind for a few days. We’re here over the New Year period.
Distance: ~398km · Ablutions: Showers and flush toilets
Day 21 — Jinja, night two
A free day at Jinja — white-water rafting, a sunset cruise, or a boat trip out to the actual source of the Nile are all bookable directly with local operators if you’re keen. Otherwise, just enjoy the river.
Game-drive distance: no relocation · Ablutions: Showers and flush toilets
Day 22 — Jinja, night three
One more day at Jinja to catch anything you missed, or just relax before we start heading south again.
Game-drive distance: no relocation · Ablutions: Showers and flush toilets
Day 23 — Nakuru, Kenya
Across the Busia border into Kenya and on to Nakuru — a long day, but a good one, with the Kenyan highlands opening up around us.
Distance: ~435km · Ablutions: Showers and flush toilets
Day 24 — Arusha, Tanzania
South through Nairobi and across the Namanga border into Tanzania, ending the day in Arusha — the jumping-off point for Ngorongoro and the northern safari circuit.
Distance: ~430km · Ablutions: Showers and flush toilets
Day 25 — Karatu, Tanzania
A short run to Karatu, right on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater, and our base for two nights.
Distance: ~113km · Ablutions: Showers and flush toilets
Day 26 — Ngorongoro Crater day
A full day down in the Ngorongoro Crater with a local guide — one of the most concentrated wildlife environments in Africa, and in December it’s green and full of game. This is a paid optional activity, booked locally — see Optional Activities above.
Game-drive distance: no relocation · Ablutions: Showers and flush toilets
Day 27 — Dodoma, Tanzania
South through Tanzania’s central plateau to Dodoma, the country’s capital — a long but straightforward driving day.
Distance: ~405km · Ablutions: Showers and flush toilets
Day 28 — Iringa, Tanzania
On to Iringa, in Tanzania’s southern highlands — cooler, greener country after the plains further north.
Distance: ~313km · Ablutions: Showers and flush toilets
Day 29 — Mbeya, Tanzania
Further south to Mbeya, close to the Malawian border, through coffee-growing country.
Distance: ~300km · Ablutions: Showers and flush toilets
Day 30 — Lake Malawi
Across the Songwe border into Malawi and down to the lake itself — warm water, a proper beach, and free swimming right off the campsite. We take two nights here to properly unwind before the final push home.
Distance: ~246km · Ablutions: Cold showers and flush toilets
Day 31 — Lake Malawi, night two
A full day on Lake Malawi — swim, read, have a beer, do as little as possible. This is deliberately the last slow day of the trip.
Game-drive distance: no relocation · Ablutions: Showers and flush toilets
Day 32 — Chipata, Zambia
Back across the border into Zambia via Mwami, and on to Chipata for the night — the start of the long road home.
Distance: ~554km · Ablutions: Showers and flush toilets
Day 33 — Lusaka, Zambia
A full day’s drive back to Lusaka — the same stop we passed through heading north, three and a half weeks ago.
Distance: ~601km · Ablutions: Showers and flush toilets
Day 34 — Nata, Botswana (14–15 January 2028)
Our last day on the road — across the Kazungula border and back to Nata, right where we started 34 nights ago. It’s a good spot to close out the trip together over a final dinner. Everyone heads their own way the next morning — trip done.
Distance: ~846km
Tour Specific Comments
Vehicle: A normal 4×4 or 2×4 will work for this tour — no special kit required.
Drivers: No experience required. I personally guide the tour and will give you everything you need as we go.
Towing: Possible, but towing in mountainous terrain (particularly around Kisoro and Fort Portal) is difficult — you’d need a powerful, reliable vehicle, and there are a few genuinely bad road days to be aware of.
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