Among the different services that we are competent at, cultural Tourism is one. Gate 1tours and travel is reliable in a way that we provide you with both domestic and international cultural tours which is adventurous like the Central Buganda cultural trip, the Central Nairobi cultural safaris, the Gedi ruins cultural safari, Fort Jesus Mombasa cultural safari, the malindi Port, and Zanzibar. Ujiji cultural centre, Amboni caves and hot springs safari, Eastern Uganda cultural safari, Western Uganda Cultural Safari among others.
Highlights:
Uganda Cultural Tourism: Kabaka’s Lake, Kasubi Tomb, Wamala Tomb, Duddo cultural site Wakiso, Bahai Temple, Namugongo Shrine, The Uganda National Museum, The Uganda National Theatre, Craft Villages Kampala, The Ndere Cultural Centre, Ssezibwa Falls, The Source of River Nile Bujali Falls, Sempaya Hot spring in Semliki National Park, Kitagata hot spring Bushenyi. Mix with the culture of the Bakiga and Batwa local communities, the Bakonjo home stead, Nyere Rock Paint in Tororo and Gisu homesteads for village walks, blacksmith visits, craft shops and vibrant dances – all against the astounding backdrop of the forest-covered hills of all the areas.
Kenya Cultural Tourism: Kenya National Museum, the Maasai market Nairobi, the Maasai Village & Maasailand, the Gedi ruins, Fort Jesus in Mombasa, Mombasa Port, Zanzibar cultural Market, Ujiji Cultural site, Amboni Caves and Swahili Coastal Market. The Gedi ruins cultural safari, Fort Jesus Mombasa cultural safari, Port Malindi, and Zanzibar. Ujiji cultural centre, Amboni caves and hot springs.
The Maasai Culture
Rwanda Cultural Tourism: Rwandan Genocide Memorial sites, the Rwanda National Museum, Nyungwe Palace, the Botanical Gardens and cultural museum in Butare, visit the local Dian Fossey projects and the surrounding local community in Ruhengeri. Visit the Ntarama Church as well.
Tanzania Cultural Tourism: Visit the Hadzabe at Lake Eyasi, Visit to Oldupai Gorge, Visit a Maasai village in TZ and Explore the Usambara Mountains.
ITINERARY
Day 1: Arrive and be transfer to Kampala
Depending on the time of arrival, you will be picked up by one of Gate1 Tours & Travel staff and be transferred to Kampala. Dinner and overnight at Red chili (HB)
Day 2: Kampala cultural City Tour
8:00am: After early morning breakfast, visit the Kabaka’s Lake, Kasubi Tomb, Wamala Tomb, Duddo cultural site Wakiso. 2:00Pm: After lunch, you may drive to the Bahai Temple, Namugongo Shrine, the Ndere Cultural Centre, the Uganda National Museum, the Uganda National Theatre and Craft Villages in Kampala. Thereafter, you may return back to your place of rest. Dinner and overnight at Red Chili Bugolobi (FB)
Day 3: Transfer to Semliki National Park
6:00am: After early morning breakfast, drive to Semliki National Park. You may have a stopover at the Amabere ga Nyinamwiru in Fort Portal, and then proceed with the journey arriving on time for lunch. In the afternoon, unpack bags and then later go for evening game drive. Thereafter, you may return back to your place of rest. Dinner and overnight at UWA National Park Bandas or rest camps (BB)
Day 4: Visit the Sempaya Hot springs and then have village walk
The Batwa/ Bakonjo community
8:00am: After early morning breakfast, visit the Sempaya Hot spring. Have Lunch. In the afternoon you may visit the locals to Mix with the Bakonjo community for village walks, blacksmith visits, craft shops and vibrant dances – all against the astounding backdrop of the forest-covered hills of all the areas. Thereafter, you may return back to your place of rest. Dinner and overnight at UWA National Park Bandas or rest camps (FB)
Day 5: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi Overland, Kabale
5:00am: After early morning breakfast, drive to Lake Bunyonyi Overland in Kabale. You may make a stopover at the Kitagata Hot spring in Bushenyi, a cultural place for the Banyankole where the locals go for healings. They believe that once anybody enters and bathes in the hot water, you are healed of any skin disease. It doesn’t matter, whether male or female, old or young, it’s a belief. Have Lunch on the way and proceed, thus arriving early evening. Dinner and overnight at Bunyonyi Rest Camp (BB)
Day 6: Visit the Katuna Boarder, the Edrisa museum and do village walk
8:00am: After early morning breakfast, visit the Katuna Boarder and the Edrisa Museum. Have Lunch. In the afternoon you may visit the locals to Mix with the Bakiga and Batwa local community for village walks, blacksmith visits, craft shops and vibrant dances in Kabale- all against the astounding backdrop of the forest-covered hills of all the areas. Thereafter, you may return back to your place of rest. Dinner and overnight at Bunyonyi Rest Camp (FB)
Day 7: Return back to Kampala
5:00am: After early morning breakfast, drive back to Kampala. Have Lunch in Mbarara and visit Igongo museum then proceed, you may have a stopover at the green lights Equator, thus arriving early evening. Stay at own leisure Dinner and overnight at Red chili Kampala (BB)
Day 8: Visit Jinja, Ssezibwa falls, Mabira Forests & Fly to Nairobi
6:30am: After early morning breakfast, drive to Jinja. Make a stopover at Ssezibwa falls and Mabira Forests then proceed arriving on time for lunch at the Safari Camp. After lunch, visit the Source of the Nile and the Bujagali Falls for a short rest then drive back to Kampala, pack bags and proceed to the Airport to fly to Kenya. Depending on the time of arrival, meet with our guide and transfer to Nairobi Intl Youth Hostel nestled in the city centre approximately 45 minutes from the airport. The Hostel is located on a 3acres property and has got an organized rooms well set up for the clients to sleep in. The grounds are beautifully covered with gardens with a swimming pool. Guests will refresh and settle in then will gather for a briefing on the culture safari and a series of talks/information on communities, politics, and economy of Kenya. Dinner and overnight at Nairobi International Youth Hostel (HB)
Day 9: Nairobi cultural City Tour
8:00am After breakfast, the group will set out on a sightseeing excursion starting with a visit to the Langata GBM center the Giraffe Park Centre for a short history of the Centre and a talk on wildlife conservation, then come the exciting moment of feeding the endangered Rothschild Giraffe. Visit the Karen Blixen Museum situated at the foot of the Ngong hills, the original home of Karen Blixen of the Out of Africa fame. Lunch will be at Langata Learning Center followed by an afternoon trip around the city of Nairobi and its suburbs, with the opportunity to visit places like Kenya National Museum, the Maasai market in Nairobi, Kenya National Theatre and much more. Thereafter, Return to your place of rest. Guests will watch a film A Quiet revolution” that shows good practices on our environment. Dinner and overnight Nairobi International Youth Hostel (FB)
Day 10: Mukurwe wa Nyagathanga, Kikuyu Tribes / Cultures
5:00am After breakfast, depart for the Mukurwe wa Nyagathanga, an Agikuyu cultural heritage site. This is a mythical place of origin for Kikuyu community, therefore, honored and maintained as a sacred site. A detailed history of this cultural heritage site which begins with a very interesting creation story will be told by Aramati (elders) who are the caretakers of the site. Guests will undertake a ten minute walk from the site to Gathambara, the waterhole of the first Agikuyu family – Gikuyu, Mumbi and their children. This hole never dries up and continues to provide clean water for the local community. Back at Mukurwe Wa Nyagathanga, guests will be entertained with several traditional songs as they participate in a food festival of well-cooked Kikuyu indigenous foods. In afternoon, you may drive back to Nairobi. Dinner and overnight at Nairobi International Youth Hostel (BB)
Day 12: Nairobi – fly to Mombasa
Breakfast is served at the hotel then transferred to Wilson airport for your scheduled flight (9:30/11:00HRS). On arrival Mombasa airport met by our representative and transferred to your hotel. Dinner and overnight at Mombasa Backpackers Beach Hotel (BB)
Day 13: Mombasa Cultural City Tour
Historical Mombasa Town Fort Jesus in Mombasa, Mombasa as seen from the harbour
Breakfast is served at the hotel, then depart for a Mombasa city tour with picnic lunch for a visit to fort Jesus which was built by the Portuguese in 1593. The site chosen was a coral ridge at the entrance to the harbor. The Fort was designed by an Italian Architect and Engineer, Joao Batista Cairato. The earliest known plan of the Fort is in a manuscript Atlas by Manuel Godinho de Heredia – dated 1610, which shows the original layout of the buildings inside the Fort. Fort Jesus was built to secure the safety of Portuguese living on the East Coast of Africa. It has had a long history of hostilities of the interested parties that used to live in Mombasa. Perhaps no fort in Africa has experienced such turbulence as Fort Jesus. Omani Arabs attacked the Fort from 1696 to 1698. The state of the Fort can be understood from the plan of Rezende of 1636 and other plans by Don Alvaro Marquis of Cienfuegas and Jose Lopes de Sa – made during the brief reoccupation by the Portuguese in 1728 – 1729. In the Cienfuegas plan, the names of the bastions are changed. Between 1837 and 1895, the Fort was used as barracks for the soldiers. When the British protectorate was proclaimed on the 1st of July 1895, the Fort was converted into a prison. The huts were removed and cells were built. Evening Sight and sounds show at fort Jesus inclusive of Dinner and Overnight at Mombasa Backpackers Beach Hotel (BB)
Day 14: Kisite Mpunguti Marine Park, Mombasa
Breakfast is served at the hotel, and thereafter, depart for a visit to Kisite Mpunguti Marine Park, which is an ecosystem that covers a marine area with four small islands surrounded by coral-reef. Kisite Island is covered in low grass and herbs while Mpunguti Islands have dense coastal equatorial forest. Sea grasses Cymodocea serrulata and Syringodium isoetifolium cover a large area of the sub-littoral zone of the reef. Marine algae include Padina commersonii, Dictyota bartayresiana, Bostrychia binderi, Ulva lactuca, Dictyosphaora sp, Udotea indica, and Halimeda opuntia. Major attractions include the dolphins, coral gardens and it is an important site for snorkeling, diving and bird watching. Dinner and overnight Mombasa Backpackers beach Hotel (BB)
Day 15: Drive from Mombasa – Malindi-Mombasa
After Breakfast is served at the hotel, depart for Malindi with a visit to Gede ruins which are the remains of a Swahili town, typical of most towns along the East African Coast. It traces its origin in the twelfth century but was rebuilt with new town walls in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. This rebuilding is connected with the emigration of many citizens of Kilwa to Mombasa, Malindi and other places along the coast. With its numerous inhabitants, the town became wealthy and it reached its peak in the fifteenth century. This enormous wealth is evidenced by the presence of numerous ruins, comprising of a conglomeration of mosques; a magnificent palace and houses all nestled in 45 acres of primeval forest. But in the first half of the seventeenth century the last families left the town. Proceed on for Vasco da Gama pillar which is one of the oldest remaining monuments in Africa and was built in 1498 by the great Portuguese explorer, Vasco da Gama, as a sign of appreciation for the welcome he was given by the Sultan of Malindi. Dinner and overnight at Mombasa Backpackers beach hotel (BB)
Day 16: Be at Leisure
Dinner and overnight at Mombasa Backpackers beach hotel (FB)
Day 17: Mombasa – ferry crossing to Zanzibar, Tanzania
Breakfast is served at hotel, and then transferred to port Mombasa for your scheduled ferry Mombasa/Zanzibar. On arrival, be met and transferred to your hotel. You can have a walk in stone town with a visit to the many historical sites and places. This major town task was reputedly undertaken with the cooperation of Seyyid Said, the Sultan of Oman who was an Arab. The warm turquoise water of the Indian Ocean, idyllic white beaches, picturesque fishing villages, palm trees, lovely lodges, daily fresh seafood, the smell of spices and a fairytale capital, Stone Town, full of Arabic influences is a paradise to relax, sunbathe and take a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life or after an exciting and rewarding safari on the mainland. Its protective presence encouraged new development around it. Thus confident Merchants erected the 19th century shop front and buildings. By 1900 the stone town had become the image of the community, a role which it still plays to date. Dinner and Overnight at Stone town (HB)
A walking tour to the history & present of Stone Town
Day 18: Visit the old slave market and church, visit the old sultan’s palace, visit local Darajani market place, visit the Forodhani Gardens, the House of Wonders and the Old Fort
This atmospheric and mystical town is the cultural and historical heart of Zanzibar. It was constructed from coral stone during the 19th and 20th century. It was declared a World Heritage Site in 2000. Get to know the town, see historical sites & architecture, visit local market place, visit the old slave market memorial and church, visit the old sultan’s palace, Get a tasty local lunch, Have full information about Stone Town Tour, a very lively place where you’ll find a mixture of Arabic, African, Indian and European cultures living comfortably together. As you walk through the labyrinth of streets too narrow for cars to pass, you can see mosques, churches and temples side to side. While you wonder around the city, your guide will take you on a historical and cultural journey through the old slave market, Darajani market place, the House of Wonders, the Old Fort and the Sultan’s Palace. Tour also includes a lunch in a restaurant or in a local house, if agreed beforehand. While the tour is only half a day, we recommend you to stay in Stone Town for at least two days to discover many more magnificent wonders. Forodhani Gardens is definitely worth a visit, especially at night when it comes alive as one of the best street food markets in East Africa. Dinner and Overnight at Stone town (HB)
Day 19: Do shopping with the help of your guide and stay at leisure
Breakfast and lunch is served at the hotel and day spent at leisure.
Dinner and overnight at Stone town (FB)
Day 20: Zanzibar-Fly to Kilimanjaro
Upon your arrival at Kilimanjaro airport, our representative will meet you and drive you to your hotel for a first evening in Tanzania. Arusha is a major international diplomatic hub. It is surrounded by some of Africa’s most famous landscapes and national parks. Situated below Mount Meru on the eastern edge of the eastern branch of the Great Rift Valley, it has a mild climate. You will continue to drive to Bay Leaf Hotel; set against a backdrop of the majestic Mount Meru, the Bay Leaf Hotel is nestled in a tranquil leafy area of central Arusha. Exquisitely decorated rooms with finely appointed bathrooms ensure comfort with style. Gourmet breakfasts are served in immaculate lush gardens and The Bay Leaf boasts a fine dining restaurant, where one can sample a fusion of international and local cuisine. The Bay Leaf is ideally situated within walking distance of bank and all the main attractions that Arusha has to offer. Dinner and Overnight at Bay Leaf Hotel (BB)
Day 21: Visit the Hadzabe at Lake Eyasi
Visit the Hadzabe, a unique band of hunter-gathers. They are a clan of one of the last remaining click-speaking people, of which only about 1000 remain. You will spend time with them in their camp and see their mobile homes, clothing, adornments and weapons, all fashioned from natural materials. You can try to make a bow and arrow. There will be opportunities to accompany a hunting party for meat, a unique look into the tracking abilities of these hunter-gathers, and to accompany the women in search of edible roots and berries. Dinner and Overnight at Kisima Ngeda Tented Camp (FB)
Day 22: Ngorongoro Crater – Ndutu Area up to the vast plains of the Serengeti!
Today we will leave Lake Eyasi to Ngorongoro and head towards the vast plains of the Serengeti! Depending upon the time of year, you have the chance to see the great migration with a hundred thousand wildebeests and zebras. During the small rainy season in October and November, you will typically see these herds moving from the Kenyan Masai Mara through the northwest Serengeti to the plains in the south. After the long rainy season in April through June, the herds travel slowly back through the west and northwest Serengeti. With fluctuations in rainfall, this timetable can change the animals’ migration times and routes. Your guide will know where and when to find the animals and makes sure that you can see the animals from the best spots in the national park. Proceed to Ndutu Safari Lodge: Ndutu Safari Lodge is situated in the south-eastern part of the Serengeti ecosystem near the Ngorongoro highlands and Oldupai Gorge, and is set in beautiful acacia woodland. Shaded by the majestic acacia trees, each of the thirty-four cottages is built of local materials and has a private verandah facing Lake Ndutu. The lodge is surrounded by indigenous trees and shrubs that encourage a host of birds and mammals to come right to your front door. Tucked well away from the busy tourist circuit, Ndutu offers peace and tranquility away from the crowds. Dinner and Overnight at Ndutu Safari Lodge (BB)
Day 23: Visit to Oldupai Gorge
Today, we visit Oldupai Gorge, in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Nicknamed the ‘cradle of mankind’, the site is home to numerous fossils and some of the oldest human remains in the world. A World Heritage Site, Oldupai has a small museum and guests can take guided tours of the area. Proceed to Kati Kati Tented Camp: A mobile tented camp located in central Serengeti, this camp is strategically located to overlook the vast Serengeti Plains. The camp offers comfortable accommodation and a unique opportunity to enjoy a real safari camp experience. A cozy mess tent is located in the center of the camp where meals are served. The campfire is ready every evening for appetizers and snacks before dinner. Dinner and overnight at Kati Kati Tented Camp (HB)
Day 24: Serengeti National Park – Laiboni Village
Today, we’ll leave the Serengeti to head to the Maasai village of Laiboni, doing a game drive en route. Continue to the EAV Laiboni Tented Camp: Laiboni Camp is located near the Maasai village of Laiboni, west of the city of Arusha. It is in the heart of some of the best animal migration corridors, east of Lake Manyara. East African Voyage has been in a partnership with the native community for years, supporting improvements to their village such as building a new school. Freshly prepared meals are served by our professional cooks who are well trained to work in the bush. Dinner and overnight at EAV Laiboni Tented Camp (HB)
Day 25: Maasai cultural activities
7:00 AM: After early breakfast, spend the morning by sharing in the daily life of the Maasai village. The Maasai are a Nilotic ethnic group of semi-nomadic people located in Kenya and northern Tanzania. They are among the best-known of the African ethnic groups, due to their distinctive customs and dress and residence near the many game parks of East Africa. In Laiboni, a village with which East African Voyage has an exclusive relationship, you will see how the people live in harmony with their animals and visit a Maasai home to learn about domestic life. Speak with village inhabitants about their way of life and sample the colorful beaded wares of the Maasai women. This is your chance to get an exclusive inside look at this unique culture.
12:30 PM: In the early afternoon, you will leave Laiboni and drive through Arusha to Lushoto. The cross-country drive provides excellent views of Mount Kilimanjaro and the Usambara Mountains and even the Indian Ocean at some points. The Lushoto area offers stunning landscapes, tropical forests and numerous spectacular view points, as well as historical sites and the opportunity to visit local community development projects. Proceed to Swiss Farm Cottage: Swiss Farm Cottage has beautiful, spacious wood-furnished rooms which are all self-contained. These rooms provide you with an amazing view of the green rocky hills and bright gardens, with the chirping sounds of different species of birds and the sight of colorful butterflies. They guarantee you a peaceful and quiet stay away from the hustle and bustle of towns and cities. Dinner and Overnight at Swiss Farm Cottage (BB)
Day 26: Explore the Usambara Mountains
Today, visit Irente Farms in the Usambara Mountains. Visit the Irente cheese, jam and juice factories and the royal village of Kwembago. Enjoy a picnic lunch of Irente’s rye bread and cheese at the Irente Biodiversity Reserve. A visit to Irente Children’s home, Irente School for the Blind and the Rainbow School can also be arranged. Dinner and Overnight at Swiss Farm Cottage (BB)
Day 27: Fly to Kigali
Arrive and Relax at own Leisure. Dinner and Overnight at Heavens Hotel and Restaurant (HB)
Day 28: Rwanda City Tour and visit the genocide memorial centre
This morning we have a city tour, including a visit to the Genocide Memorial Centre and other cultural sites. In the afternoon, you are transferred to the airport for your international departure flight home.
END OF TRIP