Overview
The extraordinary East Africa gorillas and wildlife safari offers very unforgettable trips in the region. Explore savannah, forested ecosystems and open waters to see wildlife in action. Highlights include the mountain gorillas and Big Five animal species (lion, elephant, leopard, rhino and buffalo). Also, Great Migration in both Kenya and Tanzania offers one of the most spectacular wildlife journeys for you to witness. From July to October, watch millions of wildebeests, zebras and gazelles crossover from Serengeti National Park to Masai Mara National Reserve.
Other than these popular destinations visit national parks like Bwindi Impenetrable and Queen Elizabeth in Uganda. In Rwanda, go to Volcanoes National Park and Nyungwe National Park. Also, Tarangire National Park, Lake Nakuru, Ngorongoro Crater and Kigali and Nairobi Cities will be explored. Additional activities to do include golden monkey trekking, boat cruise, Maasai visit, game drives and chimpanzee trekking. The 20 days East Africa gorillas and wildlife safari starts in Kampala, Uganda and ends at Kilimanjaro International Airport in Tanzania.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Kampala
Get picked up from Entebbe International Airport as soon as your plane lands there. Our guide takes you through the information in regards to Uganda. Once you learn about how your 20 days East Africa gorillas and Wildlife safari will go transfer to Kampala and check in at your hotel. Rest throughout the night as you sleep until the next day.
Day 2: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Start with a transfer on this second day. You head to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a scenic drive of 503 kilometers. Stop for scenic views and enroute lunch. Meanwhile, take some photos at the Equator Crossing near Mpigi town. At your lodge near the forest check in and eat some food for dinner. Then, ensure you sleep until tomorrow for a gorilla trek.
Day 3: Gorilla Trekking
Take breakfast before you hike to meet the mountain gorillas of Uganda in their real forested homes. This is done in an hour, however, you can track them for 2-5 hours. A unique experience such as this is meant to be remembered in photos. So take so many of them while close to the habituated gorilla group. The rest of the day should be for relaxation as dinner arrives in the evening. Take advantage of the night to sleep until morning.
Day 4: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
After breakfast, enjoy a transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Queen is approximately 171 kilometers from where you spent the previous night. Inside the savannah national park, see a lot of predators like lions, leopards and hyenas as you head to your lodge. Check in and refresh until evening comes. When dinner is done, the chance to get some sleep is presented and you need to rest for the night.
Day 5: Game Drive and Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise
After breakfast go to see tree-climbing lions and many elephants and buffaloes. Leopards, antelopes, hippos and warthogs also live in the grasslands and woodlands. An afternoon boat cruise is suitable for a soothing exploration of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Along the Kazinga Channel, many birds and animals can be spotted even without leaving the motorboat. Hippos and crocodiles swim not far away from you. Back to the lodge in the evening, dinner is ready for yourself. Then, overnight stay is what is needed after this long day.
Day 6: Drive to Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda
From Queen Elizabeth National Park, you must drive for 192 kilometers to Volcanoes National Park. The transfer with enroute lunch offers scenic views before and after passing through the Cyanika border post. Check in at your lodge in Musanze to enjoy some dinner in the evening. Get some sleep for the night because tomorrow is another day of more adventures.
Day 7: Golden Monkey Trekking
Get breakfast before a morning trek in the Volcanoes National Park forest. Unlike yesterday this is the day to see golden monkeys in the wild. Duration to see them is the same as that of gorillas, an hour, before you leave them alone. Now have lunch at the lodge, and relax until dinner. Overnight is still done at the lodge to mark the end of the 7th day of your 20 days East Africa gorillas and wildlife safari.
Day 8: Drive to Nyungwe National Park
From Kinigi, transfer to Nyungwe National Park, 236 kilometers via Lake Kivu. After that scenic drive arrive near the Nyungwe forest to check in and get dinner already prepared for your sustenance. Sleep while the cool forest air keeps the lodge cool enough.
Day 9: Chimpanzee Trekking and Canopy Walk
After breakfast do a chimpanzee trek from Uwinka in Nyungwe Forest. A chimpanzee community is habituated and feels safe when you watch the members for an hour. Return to the lodge for lunch before a canopy walk back in the forest. The trail of Igishigishigi offers a walk in the lush forest to connect you to a walkway. Just above 70 meters from the ground, this suspended platform offers 160 meters of walking. See the canopy as you soak in the fresh air and amazing views of birds and primates like vervets and Angolan colobuses. Return to your lodge for professionally made dinner. In your bed, sleep until the next morning.
Day 10: Transfer to Kigali City, Rwanda
Have breakfast at your leisure before you get transferred to Kigali, 177 kilometers in the northeast. Lunch time finds you on the way so enjoy enroute lunch. Check in at your hotel, where dinner is prepared for you in the evening. Sleep there until the next day of your 20 days East Africa gorillas and wildlife safari.
Day 11: Fly to Nairobi. Nairobi City Tour in the Evening
In the morning have breakfast in the hotel and check out. At the airport, board a flight to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, Kenya. In Nairobi, check in at your hotel and have lunch. When it is evening, explore Nairobi city to witness the urban life. Purchase handicrafts from Maasai Market as you enjoy sweeping views of the mini-cityscape. In your hotel, get dinner and sleep throughout the night.
Day 12: Transfer to Lake Nakuru for Half Day Game Drive
In the morning wake up for breakfast before you hit the road for a transfer to Lake Nakuru. Arrive in your lodge after the 150 kilometer road trip. Find lunch at the lodge as soon as you check in. Do a half day game drive to see a lot of flamingoes, rhinos, giraffes, leopards, buffaloes and lions etc. Return to your lodge, where dinner is ready and overnight later.
Day 13: Transfer to Masai Mara. Half Day Game Drive
Enjoy the transfer from Lake Nakuru to Masai Mara National Reserve in the morning. Stop for scenic views of the Rift Valley features. After the 232 kilometers drive, enter into Masai Mara and check in at your camp. After lunch do a game drive in the open plains to see the Big Five and plenty of other diverse animal species. Do this until evening before you return to camp for dinner and goodnight’s sleep.
Day 14: Full Day Game Drive in Masia Mara
After breakfast, jump into the car and go to various parts of Masai Mara for a game drive. In the west, you witness the arrival of the Great Migration from Serengeti National Park. They cross the Mara River for a truly rare spectacle. The Big Five are in large numbers in various areas of the reserve. Marvel at them with cheetahs, giraffes, hippos, zebras and antelopes close by. With more Great Rift Valley views, notice how stunning Masai Mara is. While dinner is in the evening, lunch is offered during the game drive. Overnight stay is only in the camp.
Day 15: Masai Mara to Serengeti
Travel from Masai Mara into Serengeti National Park in Tanzania by flight. This is done twice, the first is to Migori Airstrip close to Isebania border point. Our guide then takes you to Tarime Airstrip in Tanzania for another flight. Arrive at Ndutu and check in at your camp for the timely dinner. Prepare for the next day of your 20 days East Africa gorillas and wildlife safari with overnight stay.
Day 16: Full Day Game Drive and Maasai Culture
Today, you witness the route taken by the members of the Great Migration especially as they cross the Grumeti River. More views of the Big five are promised in the western and southern parts of the Serengeti. Also, a walk in a Maasai village is really interesting and rewards you with cultural exchanges. Meals include breakfast, picnic lunch and then dinner in the camp. This is before you get to rest in your bed for this night.
Day 17: Game Drive in Serengeti National Park. Transfer to Ngorongoro Crater.
Drive towards the central part of Serengeti for more views of the Big Fve and beautiful members of the Great Migration. Continue to your booked camp at the Ngorongoro Crater, which is 66.3 kilometers away from Serengeti. This is your new place for an overnight stay when dinner is done.
Day 18: Game Drive in the Ngorongoro Crater
Wake up on this 18th day of your 20 days East Africa gorillas and wildlife safari and do another game drive. Today, you descend into the world’s largest volcanic caldera for an epic game drive. This place boasts a lot of craters, plains, vegetation and above all big mammal species. Everywhere you look presents high possibilities of sighting the Big Five. Also, wildebeests, zebras, waterbucks, reedbucks and cheetahs etc. can be seen. Today, you enjoy breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner. The latter is back at your camp, also where you spend the night.
Day 19: Full-day Game Drive in Tarangire National Park
For the whole day today, you do a game drive to explore Tarangire National Park. Natural wonders to see range from iconic wild animals to beautiful flora and landscapes. Watch herds of large elephants and baobab trees. More animals to see include zebras, hartebeests, lions, leopards, wildebeests and others. The Tarangire River is a beautiful sight during its season. Besides breakfast, you get picnic lunch and dinner later in the day. Overnight is done in your camp after dinner.
Day 20: Drive to Kilimanjaro Airport. Departure
After leisurely breakfast, drive 169 kilometers to Kilimanjaro International Airport. You will be dropped off to board a plane for your outbound flight. This is the end of the 20 days East Africa gorillas and wildlife safari.