Day 1 - 4 Bulago Island Resort, Lake Victoria, Uganda
Arrive in the morning on your international flight into Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi, Kenya, from where you will catch the daily scheduled flight into Entebbe International, Uganda. You will be met at the airport and transferred to the lakeshore for a short 20 minute trip in a speedboat to Bulago Island Resort on Lake Victoria.
Bulago Island is just over 500 acres and from tip to tip it's nearly 2 miles long and has about 6kms of sandy beaches and 12km of shoreline altogether, the balance of which is made up of rocky outcrops and low cliffs. The interior of the island is covered with grassland and it is intended that a private game sanctuary be established with Zebra, Impala, Uganda Kob and other antelope so they may exploit the savannah-like environment.
The lodge has just 6 en-suite cottages; the intention is for the lodge to remain small and intimate. With a swimming pool and spa at the lodge there is full time electricity, powerful hot showers and a plentiful supply of cold drinks and ice. Bulago prides itself on their delightfully friendly and efficient service; the food is delicious - much of it home grown on the lodges tropical farm.
Bulago Island Lodge is all about enjoyment and relaxation. One can watch otters play along the shores, relax by the swimming pool or enjoy the wide range of activities available. Bird watching is a great past-time on the island and the range of birds is dazzling with over 300 species to watch. The island has a wide range of terrain, from rugged hills to open grassland, golden sandy beaches to gentle cliffs and areas of tropical forest.
Horses thrive on the island and there are currently two Somali ponies used for riding and trekking or one can mountain bike around the island. One of the great pleasures of Bulago is the sheer range and diversity of walks available and with two dominating hills on the island, the views can be magnificent. The size of the island means that walks can range from quick strolls through to full-blown hikes.
A challenging 9 hole short game golf course should be opened mid-way through 2008. The lodge offers a range of water sports, fishing trips for giant Nile Perch (sometimes over 100 kg) or tasty Tilapia. The lodge anticipates the establishment of Uganda's first sport fishing reserve with Bulago Island at the centre.
The nearby Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary is located just 4 miles south of Bulago Island. Ngamba, known locally as Chimp Island, is home to 50 orphaned Chimpanzees and is run by the Jane Goodall Trust.
A day trip to the dramatic Murchison Falls departs in the morning aboard a private charter flight. Impressive for power rather than size, the Murchison Falls are a spectacular sight. In the north-west of Uganda the Nile River's rapidly flowing course is rudely interrupted by a narrow fissure, which forces this mighty river through a gap just 7 meters wide. In a furious demonstration of power the water explodes into the deservedly named 'Boiling Pot'.
The Nile River calms itself after the falls into a rather more gentile flow and the best way to experience the abundance of animal and bird life along its banks is on a riverboat from Paara. The river is full of pink-eared hippos & unbelievably large Nile crocodiles who sunbathe on rocks and display their entire 4½ metre reptilian bodies.
There are also nature walks to the top of the falls and at Kaniyo Pabidi, where you can trek looking for chimpanzees. The boat trips take about 3 hours from Paara to the foot of the Murchison Falls. An excellent lunch is taken at Mweya Safari Lodge with magnificent views overlooking Kazinga channel and a huge refreshing infinity swimming pool. Your private charter flight returns you back to Bulago Island Lodge in the evening.
Day 5 - 8 Rusinga Island Resort, Lake Victoria, Kenya
Depart from Bulago Island Resort by speedboat to the mainland and Entebbe International for your return scheduled flight to Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. Here you will be met by your private charter plane for the flight to Rusinga Island Lodge on Lake Victoria, Kenya.
Rusinga Island Lodge has eight charming en suite thatched cottages, a stunning swimming pool, Jacuzzi as well as a health & beauty spa with a full time trained beautician/masseuse offering a range of luxurious treatments. There is a large established organic garden producing all manner of herbs and vegetables to accompany the superb cuisine. Enjoy an intimate, relaxed atmosphere with a host of activities at the lodge and in the area.
Birders will delight in being at Rusinga watching hammerkops on the sweeping lawns and the rare double-toothed barbet. Life at the Lodge revolves around the lake and the island's birds - from stately fish eagles to tiny iridescent sunbirds and arrow-fast kingfishers, to name but a few of the 369 species of local and migratory birds.
The nearby Bird Islands, a short boat ride from the lodge, are one of the most important breeding sites for water birds on Lake Victoria with birds nesting in large colonies above otters and monitor lizards around the rocks. Fishermen will be in their element fishing from specially outfitted boats or from the jetty for Tilapia and Nile Perch. The lake's warm waters are also ideal for active water sports.
An early morning 20 minute boat trip to the mainland and then a short drive takes you to Ruma National Park. Ruma is 120 sq km and is the only place in Kenya to see the Roan antelope as well as the very rare and endangered blue swallow. Rothschild's giraffe and Jackson's hartebeest are also found at Ruma and the tiny Oribi antelope are prolific. After the game drive, a spectacular bush breakfast awaits you.
Some of the fish eagles have become habituated to being thrown fish from the boat and swoop down to claim an easy prey, just feet away from you and your camera lens. Visit the local fishing village in the afternoon or cycle around Rusinga Island on a mountain bike or go fishing for Nile perch and tilapia. Or just be pampered in the spa!
Try and find time to walk to the area where in 1947, Mary Leakey discovered the 18 million year old fossilised remains of prehistoric animals, fish, insects, reptiles, plants and most excitingly, an hominid skull of Proconsul Heseloni - the earliest known common ancestor of great apes and man.
Day 9 Day Trip Maasai Mara/ House of Waine, Nairobi, Kenya
Depart from Rusinga Island in the morning aboard a private charter which whisks you off to the fabulous Maasai Mara, just a 40 minute flight away. Here you will be met by a 4x4 vehicle with a driver guide for a day's outing in the reserve to look for Lion prides, Cheetah, Elephant and plains game. A full packed lunch with cold drinks will be carried along so that you may stop under a shady tree for a picnic lunch before continuing with the day's game drive.
The afternoons schedule flight takes you from the Maasai Mara to Wilson Airport from where a transfer vehicle will meet you and drive you to the House of Waine for your overnight stay in Nairobi.
The hotel is situated in the forested suburb of Karen and is one of Kenya's leading boutique hotels. It sits on 2.5 acres of manicured lawns and blends the elegance of gracious living with the spirit of modern Africa in an exclusive and serene setting. There are 11 bedrooms that are all individually styled as well as conference facilities and a heated swimming pool.
As a recently renovated and converted house on the outskirts of Nairobi, House of Waine still retains much of the charm of a family home. Little has been done to change the structure of the house and you are assured of a relaxed and informal atmosphere where you can be free to do as much or as little as you like.
Each room has a mini bar, direct dial telephones, room safes, TVs with satellite and local channels as well as tea and coffee-making facilities with fresh flowers and pastries delivered daily to the room. As with any family home where no two rooms are alike, so it is with House of Waine where all of the rooms are individually styled and then given a name to reflect their central design theme or feature.
The peace and quiet of Karen takes centre stage in the property where the only noise one will usually hear will be the sound of the local birdlife or at most the occasional car going by.
Day 10 - 12 Lupita Island Resort, Lake Tanganyika, Tanzania
A transfer vehicle takes you from the House of Waine to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for the scheduled flight to Kilimanjaro International Airport in Tanzania. From here the charter schedule takes you to Lupita's airstrip on the mainland. A short 15 minute boat ride and you arrive at Lupita Island Report for your next 3 night stay.
Lupita Island is a unique retreat at the Southern end of Lake Tanganyika offering visitors total privacy in complete comfort. This all-inclusive luxury resort is built on a 110 acre island nestling amongst the only group of islands on the Lake. Surrounded by a spectacular combination of dense indigenous forest, open grassland and rocky outcrops, Lupita Island offers a wide variety of interests.
A haven of tranquillity and privacy, Lupita Island is designed to blend with the local environment; the 12 Luxury Suites and 2 Executive Suites offer private plunge pools, magnificent lake views and total privacy. Each of the fourteen exquisitely placed, spectacularly designed villas are nestled on the hillside with breathtaking lake and distant mountain views. Your individual suite affords total privacy, a gracious living area with bar as well as a separate spacious bedchamber with large open verandas.
The luxurious beds are dramatically hand crafted, extra king-size with down comforters. All of the finest amenities, top class furnishings and comforts await you. There is a delightful trickling stream that meanders through your suite finally culminating into your own personal plunge pool with decks. Each room is totally open to the lake, ensuring beautiful sunsets and balmy breezes. Hot waterfall showers cascading over stones, black granite sinks, large outside baths add to the Lupita experience.
Enjoy cross-island views from our dramatically designed water view dining terrace and patio layered on the side of the hill. The mood is romantic, discreet and exotic, with exciting globally inspired cuisine with emphasis on exotic fish dishes and local produce.Or dine alfresco by the main pool, and of course there is room service to your private suite. Lunches are a relaxing diversion either served around the pool or we will pack you a gourmet picnic lunch and motorboat you to a secluded cove.
Lupita Island also has a large infinity pool with a thatched bar for cocktails from the pool deck or in the pool. There is a gift shop, reception, games room and internet access available.
Discover the Lupita Spa where you will relax and relive your most treasured moments while your body is relieved of the tensions and aches of recent activity as well as vestiges of home grown stress. Massages, steam treatments, cleansing facials and herbal body wraps are but a few of the pleasurable spa treatments that are offered to you. Manicures, pedicures, the simple necessities of life are elevated to a spiritual experience at the Lupita Spa. In addition, a fully equipped gym with all the latest equipment awaits the active guest.
Lupita Island is uninhabited except for the resort and spa. Mountain bike or hike on trails which meander among groups of huge boulders, ancient artefacts and remnants of a farming village. Pack your picnic lunch and hike down to a hidden cove for a swim, beach comb or to skip stones. Let your guide escort you on a wonderful invigorating kayak or sailing excursion around the island and beyond. Or hike to the ancient monastery on the main land build by the first catholic fathers who arrived at Lake Tanganyika in 1825. Now deserted but of great interest.
Lake Tanganyika is a historical fossil lake which holds 8% of the world's fresh water and is the longest lake in the world being 677km long from north to south. This fascinating lake is remarkably clean and clear. Visibility under the water reaches more than twenty meters.
For divers and anglers, this is paradise, with hundreds of species of fish, and some of the finest game fish in Africa, including Goliath Tiger fish and Nile Perch. Snorkel, swim or take out a windsurfer into the pristine waters.
Lupita's Lake Cruiser, Winsor Rose, is a magnificent way to discover the charms of Lake Tanganyika. The 48 foot 6 berth cabin cruiser goes out on the lake for day cruises or overnight trips exploring hidden islands and small private beaches while cruising through the crystal clear waters (additional charge). The island resort also has speedboats with new engines.
Join the hosts on the boats for sundowners & observe the most spectacular sunsets, the perfect end to the perfect day.
Day 13 Departure
Depart from Lupita Island Resort on the charter schedule flight to Kilimanjaro International and then connect with the scheduled flight to Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International for your outward bound flight.
