This 21 Days East African Wildlife Safari is an amazing trip most ideal for enthusiastic wildlife and nature travelers. Get a chance to explore and experience Africa’s distinct landscape and wildlife, visit the leading national parks in East Africa while searching for the big 5 game (leopards, lions, buffaloes, elephants and rhinos).
Soak yourself into the tropical forest of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to enjoy up close and personal with the family of mountain gorillas and golden monkeys while in Volcanoes National Park. Capture great moment of the wildebeest migration in Masai Mara and Serengeti National Park ecosystem.
Your main highlights on this 3-week long trip includes authentic cultural encounters, game drives to see the big five game, wildebeest migration experience, gorilla trekking, golden monkey trekking, and bird sightings.
East African Wildlife Safari Highlights
- Day 1: Take a journey to Murchison Falls National Park
- Day 2: Full day exploring wildlife in Murchison Falls National Park
- Day 3: Connect to Kibale via Hoima oil city
- Day 4: Go search for chimpanzees and explore Bigodi swamp (afternoon)
- Day 5: Explore Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Day 6: Game drive in Kasenyi sector & drive through Ishasha to Bwindi
- Day 7: Gorilla trekking plus Batwa cultural visit
- Day 8: Drive to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda
- Day 9: Gorilla trekking in Rwanda
- Day 10: Golden monkey trekking/Dian Fossey hike & Iby’Iwacu cultural visit
- Day 11: Drive to Kigali, short city tour & depart for Nairobi
- Day 12: Drive to Lake Nakuru
- Day 13: Enjoy a game drive & drive to Maasai Mara
- Day 14: Go full day game drive & wildebeest migration expedition
- Day 15: Hot air balloon tour & Maasai cultural experience
- Day 16: Drive to Serengeti national park
- Day 17: Explore Serengeti national park wildlife
- Day 18: Explore the western plains of Serengeti national park
- Day 19: Serengeti national park to Ngorongoro crater
- Day 20: Full day game drive
- Day 21: Ngorongoro conservation area to Arusha
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Take a journey to Murchison Falls National Park
Depart Kampala after a hearty breakfast and head off to the Northwest through Luweero-Masindi town-Kichumbanyobo gate. Enjoy the spectacular views of the countryside and stop at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for rhino tracking with an experienced guide. Get enough time exploring about rhino behaviors and taking pictures, then proceed to Masindi for lunch.
From Masindi, access Murchison Falls NP via Kichumbanyobo gate in the Southern side. Drive through the stunning tropical forest as you head straight to the top of the falls but at the recommended speed while keeping eyes on some roam wildlife. At the top of the falls, watch the falls as it forces itself into the narrow rock measuring 7-8 meters before falling 43m down.
Day 2: Full day exploring wildlife in Murchison Falls National Park
Set off for an exciting morning game drive with an experienced guide and expect to spend 2-3 hours. Be keen on early risers and some of the incredible animal species to spot today include spotted hyenas, Rothschild giraffes, buffaloes, elephants, lions, leopards, antelope families -waterbucks, Uganda kobs, oribis, hartebeest; warthogs and birds.
Drive back at reasonable speed while spotting more animals, settle at the safari lodge for a leisurely lunch and some refreshments. In the afternoon, go explore the Victoria Nile on a guided boat cruise excursion while sighting different aquatic animals: hippos, crocodiles and water birds. Enjoy clear view of the falls at its base and if water levels are low, dock at Baker’s rock and start hiking 45 minutes to the top.
Day 3: Connect to Kibale via Hoima oil city
Leave in the morning for Kibale National Park, a rainforest dominated park with 13 species of primates. The park is set in Kabarole district, western Uganda and most popular as the primate capital of the world, inhabiting over 1500 chimpanzees. Have a leisurely lunch meal in a restaurant in Fort Portal and some relaxation then proceed to your lodge for evening chill, dinner and a night stay.
Day 4: Go search for chimpanzees and explore Bigodi swamp (afternoon)
Arise early morning and take a cup of tea/coffee, proceed up to Kanyanchu visitor centre to meet the park official for briefing about dos and don’ts to follow during actual chimpanzee trekking adventure.
Start your actual trek to see chimpanzees at 8:00 am, spend about 2-4 hours in the jungles and one hour is guaranteed for up close and personal with these impressive primates in their natural habitat. Get back and lunch be enjoyed at the lodge, chill while taking your drink till afternoon when you will be transferred to Bigodi wetland for a guided nature walk. This swamp offers the best sights of primates, birds and other mammals.
Day 5: Explore Queen Elizabeth National Park
Depart Kibale after a heavy breakfast, drive while viewing the spectacular Crater Lakes. Don’t miss the scenic views of the Rwenzori Mountain ranges at the distance, pass via Kasese and once you get to the park, slow down as you connect to your safari lodge.
Settle for a leisurely meal and in the afternoon, start your wildlife expedition in Queen Elizabeth National Park with a boat cruise excursion. This will be done along the Kazinga channel, 2-3 hours but comes with uninterrupted views of huge crocodiles, hippos, and many water birds.
Day 6: Game drive in Kasenyi sector & drive through Ishasha to Bwindi
Leave the lodge for Kasenyi plains guided game drive with a professional guide. Look for the incredible animal species that live in Kasenyi sector including elephants, buffaloes, leopards, lions, antelopes, warthogs, spotted hyenas, and birds. Retreat, relax a little and enjoy early lunch then set off for Ishasha to search for the unique tree climbing lions before you go to check in at the lodge in or around Bwindi National Park.
Day 7: Gorilla trekking plus Batwa cultural visit
Early in the morning, depart from your lodge and assemble at the park offices for briefing. Get detailed information about the dos and don’ts for gorilla trekking and the park official will allocate a gorilla family to a group of 8 visitors. Set off for actual search for mountain gorillas at 8:00am, taking 2-6 hours in the jungles with one hour to be spent face-to-face with these huge apes.
Return with the park guide on lead, relax at the lodge till afternoon when you will go visit the Batwa community. Meet and interact with the Batwa the ancient inhabitants of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, explore their unique traditions, cultures and get entertained by local cultural and traditional dances, music performance, etc.
Day 8: Drive to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda
Pick up from your lodge around Bwindi, and start driving through Kabale to Katuna border for you to connect to Volcanoes National Park. This park is a compact protected area with land area measuring 160sq.km and lies in the Northwest of Rwanda. Arrive early and check in at the lodge for long day relaxation and sharing your memories.
Day 9: Gorilla trekking in Rwanda
Go for another phase of memorable gorilla trekking adventure and today, you will be visiting habituated gorilla families in Volcanoes National Park. It will be 2-6 hours trek through the bamboo and rainforest but with a guarantee of 1 hour to stay with gorillas observing how they behave. Get back and have the rest of the day relaxed at the lodge around Volcanoes Park Rwanda.
Day 10: Golden monkey trekking/Dian Fossey hike & Iby’Iwacu cultural visit
Start your day with a hearty breakfast and get briefed at Kinigi. You will go for a guided golden monkey tracking or Dian Fossey tomb hike in Volcanoes National Park. It will be short hike to search for golden monkeys or trek to the Dian Fossey tomb site then you return for a leisurely lunch.
In the afternoon, you will be accompanied by an experienced guide to visit Iby’Iwacu village -meet the Rwandese, explore their different traditions, cultures and be entertained by their unique cultural dances/music performances.
Day 11: Drive to Kigali, short city tour & depart for Nairobi
Leave Ruhengeri for Kigali 2-3 hours’ drive and arrive early. Embark on a short city excursion where you will be visiting Kigali genocide memorial site in Gisozi area and nearby markets. Return and catch up with your flight to Nairobi, meet the Kenya guide for pick up and transfer to the hotel.
Day 12: Drive to Lake Nakuru
Depart Nairobi for Lake Nakuru National Park, the birder’s haven. Arrive at the park early and embark on a guided game drive in the afternoon. Look out for different wildlife and birds including flamingos.
Day 13: Enjoy a game drive & drive to Masai Mara
After breakfast, embark on the morning guided game drive. Through Lake Nakuru NP in Kenya to search for its early risers and birds. Your sightings will include cape buffaloes, impalas, Rothschild giraffes, zebras, leopards, spotted hyenas, lions, and birds like flamingos, etc.
After the morning game drive. Check out of the lodge and set off to Maasai Mara National Reserve located in Narok County southwest of Kenya. Enjoy the scenic view of the countryside featuring the spectacular rift valley landscape.
Day 14: Go full day game drive & wildebeest migration expedition
With packed lunch, you will be accompanied by the Maasai Mara guide. For long day search for the big five and wildebeest. Today’s excursion includes the morning and afternoon game drives each guaranteeing spectacular views of the Maasai Mara diverse animals. Including elephants, rhinos, giraffes, zebras, lions, leopards, and bird species as well as watch the wildebeest migration.
Day 15: Hot air balloon tour & Masai cultural experience
Set off for a memorable hot air balloon excursion; enjoy incredible aerial view of wildlife -big five and others. This will be accompanied by bush breakfast. After, you may continue with a short game drive or get back to the lodge for relaxation. In the afternoon, have the best of the Masai cultures on a guided community tour in the Maasai warriors’ community.
Day 16: Drive to Serengeti National Park
Depart Maasai Mara for Serengeti national park and connect via the southern border (Isebania). As you drive to the lodge or camp. Keep an eye on some of the wildlife that freely roam at Serengeti national park.
Day 17: Explore Serengeti National Park wildlife
Have breakfast and set off for a full day game search through the spectacular Serengeti plains. Explore the Northern Serengeti national park hidden gem. Expect to see plenty of zebras, wildebeest, giraffes, cheetahs, elephants, topis, hippos, elands and more.
Day 18: Explore the western plains of Serengeti National Park
After breakfast, leave for another full day excursion and today, explore the western corridor of Serengeti NP. A huge concentration of wildlife will be spotted here including elephants, waterbucks, reedbucks, impalas, topis, buffaloes and enjoy wildebeest migration.
Day 19: Serengeti national park to Ngorongoro Crater
Depart from Serengeti to explore Ngorongoro Crater / Conservation Area. Arrive early, check in at the lodge or camp and have lunch. In the afternoon, go for a guided game drive to search for the different wildlife and birds.
Day 20: Full day game drive
Start your day with morning game drive exploring abundant wildlife species at the Crater. Expected sightings include wildebeest, black rhinos, giraffes, hippos, buffaloes, zebras, and birds. Settle for lunch in the bush or return at the lodge then resume with afternoon game drive.
Day 21: Ngorongoro Conservation Area to Arusha
Leave Ngorongoro in the morning for Arusha. Here you will be departing safely back home or remain at the hotel waiting connecting to your next destination.
End of safari.
