Safari Overview
Embark on our extensive 20-day East Africa gorilla and wildlife safari to explore unique destinations and tourist attractions in Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania. Some of the destinations you can expect to explore on your East Africa gorilla and wildlife safari plan include Volcanoes National Park and Kigali in Rwanda.
In Uganda, expect to visit Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Kibale National Park, and Queen Elizabeth National Park. From Uganda, expect to proceed to Kenya connecting from Entebbe to Nairobi then to Maasai Mara National Reserve to enjoy the Big 5 and wildebeest encounters.
Expect to end your extensive trip in East Africa by exploring the wonders of Tanzania. In Tanzania, the main focus will be the Northern circuit particularly Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater/Conservation Area.
The memorable experiences awaiting you on your East African safari tour include mountain gorilla trekking, golden monkey tracking, city tours, game drives, hot air balloons, and cultural encounters. All your safari activities will be done with the lead of an experienced guide in the respective destination.
Day 1: Arrival & transfer to the Hotel for relaxation
Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport Rwanda, expect to meet our professional driver guide for a warm welcome. From Kigali, you will be transferred to your respective hotels for relaxation and to put everything right for your journey the following day.
Day 2: Kigali city tour & transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Enjoy breakfast at leisure and after, you will be picked up by your driver. Today, you will have insight into what your day will be like then proceed with the Kigali city tour. On a city tour, expect to explore the Kigali memorial site also a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site plus other cultural/historical sites in the city.
Early lunch will provided in one of the top hotels/restaurants in Kigali and next will be a road trip to Volcanoes National Park. Connecting to Volcanoes National Park Rwanda from Kigali will take you 2-3 hours and you will be using a 4×4 tourist car.
En route, appreciate the breathtaking rolling hills in the countryside that describe Rwanda as the Land of a Thousand Hills. Once you have reached the park, check-in at your lodge for relaxation, dinner, and overnight.
Day 3: Gorilla trekking
A hefty breakfast will be served to you early morning. After breakfast, expect to report to Kinigi to meet the park official to take you through the guidelines for gorilla trekking and also to allocate a gorilla group for you to track. Leave Kinigi at around 8:00 am and begin your adventure through the jungle expecting to spend between 2 and 6 hours on a search for mountain gorillas.
After you have successfully located a group of gorillas, you will have 1 hour to learn how these primates behave and take photos. It is a moment when you must be observant and also keen as you take pictures while ensuring that your camera has adequate memory and battery. From the guided gorilla trek, you will proceed to the camp or lodge for relaxation and reflect on your long day in the jungle.
Day 4: Golden Monkey & Iby’Iwacu Village visit
Depart from the lodge for a briefing at Kinigi and today, you will have an idea about golden monkey tracking regulations. The official from Volcanoes National Park will also allocate the park ranger guide to lead you on a search for a troop of golden monkeys. The entire trek with the golden monkey takes 2-4 hours. It includes one hour for up close encounters with the charming golden monkeys in the jungle and then you head back to the lodge.
The day will be perfected and concluded with a cultural tour in the Iby’Iwacu village. It is here where you will interact with former poachers now strong advocates of wildlife conservation. You will learn more about Rwandan cultures and tradition without forgetting unique dances and music performances.
Day 5: Transfer to Bwindi
Have a leisurely breakfast and after, expect to exit Volcanoes National Park Ruhengeri for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Enjoy the charming beauty of Southwestern Uganda and on arrival at Bwindi, you will check in your safari lodge.
Day 6: Bwindi Gorilla trekking & Batwa
Embark on the exhilarating gorilla trek in Bwindi with an experienced guide from the park accompanying you. The Bwindi gorilla trek will take 2-6 hours which includes 1 hour for you to spend with a family of mountain gorillas in the wild. After the gorilla trekking session, certificates will be provided then you head back to your respective gorilla lodges/camps.
The Batwa cultural encounter will be enjoyed late in the afternoon after you have had enough time to rest. At the Batwa community, you will be enriched by the Batwa pygmies’ distinct cultures, traditions, and great entertainment from their dances and music performances.
Day 7: Bwindi –Queen Elizabeth Game Park
Enjoy a sumptuous breakfast early morning and after, proceed to Ishasha at the Southern end of Queen Elizabeth Park. A short game drive at Ishasha will get you great sights of interesting animals that reside in this particular part of the park including the tree-climbing lions. Once you have completed your game drive, continue to the Kasenyi sector/northern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park to have a relaxed evening at your lodge.
Day 8: Game drive & boat cruise
Wake up early to organize yourself and have breakfast. Depart for an early morning game drive in a 4×4 safari vehicle as you head towards the Kasenyi plains. Diverse wildlife will be spotted along the Kasenyi game track including African elephants, cape buffaloes, warthogs, lions, hyenas, and many antelopes plus birds. Get back after a successful 2-3 hour game viewing to have lunch in your lodge.
Resume the afternoon exploration with the Kazinga boat cruise. This is expected to last for 2-3 hours and you will be spotting hippos, crocodiles, birds, buffaloes, elephants, and other animals. The rest of the evening will be enjoyed at the lodge or camp.
Day 9: Queen Elizabeth Game Park –Kibale
Check out of the lodge in Queen Elizabeth Park and today, you will be transferred to Kibale National Park. En route, have a leisurely moment as you appreciate the scenic beauty of the Crater Lakes.
Day 10: Chimpanzee tracking & Bigodi
Pick up early morning by the driver guide ready for a briefing session at Kanyanchu Visitor Centre. Learn the essential chimp tracking rules to be followed when searching for a habituated chimpanzee community. The actual trekking to see Kibale chimps begins at around 8:00 am with a guide and expects to take 2-4 hours in the jungles. A maximum of 1 hour is guaranteed for you to take pictures and observe how chimpanzees behave.
After the chimp trek, a leisurely lunch will be had at the lodge. The Bigodi wetland walk will start around 2:00 pm and you will be spotting more primates, birds, and other species that reside in this charming swamp.
Day 11: Kibale to Entebbe
At leisure, enjoy your breakfast and later checkout of your respective accommodation. From Kibale, you will be transferred to Entebbe City to chill, dine, and have an overnight stay.
Day 12: Entebbe –Nairobi
Pick up by the driver guide for you to catch up with your morning flight to Nairobi. Arrive early at Nairobi and you may proceed with a tour at the Giraffe Center or relax at the hotel.
Day 13: Nairobi –Maasai Mara Reserve
A delicious breakfast will be served to you early morning and after, you will be briefed by the safari guide in Kenya. From Nairobi, expect to be transferred to the Maasai Mara Reserve which is about 6 hours drive. On arrival at the Mara Reserve in Narok Country, check in your respective accommodation for relaxation.
Day 14: A full day in Maasai Mara
A full-day game viewing in Maasai Mara will begin early morning and include the picnic lunch. Set off in a 4WD vehicle and an experienced guide. Different wild animals will be encountered during the morning and afternoon game-viewing sessions. The Mara Reserve is most popular for wildebeest, all Big 5 game, diverse antelopes, and bird species. You will return to chill at the safari camp or lodge later in the afternoon.
Day 15: Maasai Mara- Serengeti
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast and after, depart from Masai Mara for Serengeti. On arrival at the Serengeti Game Park, you will be warmly welcomed by the vibrant nature and profusion of wildlife. Check in your safari camp/lodge as you wait for exciting experiences the following day.
Day 16: Entire day in Serengeti
The entire day will be dedicated for you to have a deep exploration of the Serengeti National Park. Diversity of wildlife awaits you to encounter ranging from the Big 5, zebras, giraffes, wildebeest, plus other antelopes to birds. A picnic lunch is included on today’s guided game-viewing excursion and you will return late in the afternoon to relax at the lodge.
Day 17: Hot Air balloon
Get up early to prepare and after, catch up with an early morning balloon excursion. On a balloon tour, expect to enjoy the best of bush breakfast while you view different wildlife over Serengeti’s endless plains. After the morning hot air balloon experience, expect to settle for lunch at the lodge. You will return to the wild for an afternoon game drive with the local expert.
Day 18: Serengeti –Ngorongoro
At leisure, enjoy a heavy breakfast, and later, expect to exit Serengeti National Park. You will be paying a visit to one of the premier destinations in the Northern circuit which is Ngorongoro Crater/Conservation Area. Arrive early for you to have a leisurely lunch and some relaxation then continue with an afternoon game drive.
Day 19: Full day in Ngorongoro with an expert
A full-day game viewing session in the Ngorongoro Crater starts in the morning after breakfast. Today, you will explore the vibrant Ngorongoro Crater with possible sightings ranging from elephants, rhinos, lions, leopards, hyenas, wildebeest, jackals, gazelles, cheetahs, and more. After the long game viewing experience, you will have the rest of the evening at the camp or lodge.
Day 20: Depart for Arusha
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at the safari lodge in Ngorongoro and after, expect to check out of the camp ready to proceed to Arusha. Today concludes your long East Africa safari holiday across Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania.
End of safari