Depart Kampala driving westwards early morning, with a stopover at the Equator for photos. Don’t miss the Mpigi Drum Makers where you will watch the ceremonial drums being crafted using methods passed down through generations. Passing through papyrus swamps and tracts of tropical rainforests and the rolling plains of Ankole, enjoy lunch in Mbarara, the “home of milk and honey”. Continue on your drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Dinner and overnight at Mweya Safari Lodge, FB.

Day One Drive westwards taking the Mityana-Mubende road. Continue on to Fort Portal. Dinner and overnight at Rwenzori View Guest House.

Late morning departure from Kampala heading for eastern Uganda, Mount Elgon. Mount Elgon is a 4,321m high extinct volcano which in prehistoric times stood taller than Kilimanjaro. In the foothills of Mount Elgon is where the Sipi Falls are found, three beautiful falls. Stop over in Mbale town, a lively bustling market town which is the capital of Bugisu land and has architecture reminiscent of the colonial area. Dinner and overnight at Lacam Lodge.

You leave Nairobi in the morning and drive down the escarpment to the Rift Valley floor, past Lakes Naivasha, Elementaita and Nakuru to Lake Baringo arriving in time for lunch, the afternoon at leisure, dinner and overnight at a lakeshore hotel. Hippo and crocodile abound in this fresh water lake but most visitors are entranced by the multitude of birds with over 400 species having been identified. A boat ride on the lake to view the birdlife can be arranged at your hotel.

You leave Nairobi in the morning and drive down the escarpment to the Rift Valley floor, past Lakes Naivasha and Elementaita to Lake Nakuru National Park. Lake Nakuru is a very shallow strongly alkaline lake 62 km2 in extent. It is set in a picturesque landscape of surrounding woodland and grassland next to Nakuru town. The landscape includes areas of marsh and grasslands alternating with rocky cliffs and outcrops, stretches of acacia woodland and rocky hillsides covered with a Euphorbia forest on the eastern perimeter. Lake Nakuru was first gazetted as a bird sanctuary in 1960 and upgraded to National Park status in 1968. A northern extension was added to the park in 1974 and the lake was designated as a Ramsar site in 1990. The foundation of the parks food chains is the cyanophyte spirulina platensis which can support huge numbers of lesser flamingo. The major attractions include Flamingo (Greater and Lesser) and other birds including a variety of terrestrial birds numbering about 450 species in total. There are 56 different mammal species, including white and black rhinos, Rothschild Giraffe and leopard. Nakuru Park has about 550 different plant species including the unique and largest euphorbia forest in Africa. Afternoon game viewing drive meals and overnight at either Lake Nakuru Lodge or Lion Hill Lodge. (L.D)