Enjoy 21 Days East Africa tour, a special wildlife and primate adventure package. This wonderful long expedition encompasses East Africa’s finest wilderness areas in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda. In particular, the major destinations to immerse yourself on this safari holiday include Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kibale National Park, Maasai Mara, Serengeti, Lake Manyara National Park, Volcanoes & Nyungwe Forest National Park.
Detailed Tour
Day 1: Drive to Murchison Falls National Park – Uganda
Meet and greet our experienced Uganda driver guide, have a short briefing about your tour and at 8:00 am, you will begin your day drive to Murchison Falls n/Park. This park is lying in the extreme Northwestern part of Uganda, and accessing it takes between 5 and 6 hours to drive. Your half day drive includes a stopover at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary in Nakasongola for you to track rhinos.
From Ziwa, you will connect to Masindi town for a delicious meal and later, you will be at park gate to clear with park officials. Proceed from Kichumbanyobo gate to the Northern section while spotting some animals including olive baboons at Budongo Forest. Arrive early, and before check in, you will pay a visit at the top of the falls for photography.
Day 2: Wildlife/game drive & boat cruise (Murchison Falls NP)
Delicious breakfast served to you early morning, followed by meeting your driver guide ready to board a 4×4 tourist vehicle. The 6:00 am day game drive through Murchison Falls NP rich wildlife track will begin, with expectations to encounter plenty of savanna dwellers.
These include cape buffaloes, bush elephants, Bohor reedbucks, Rothschild giraffes, spotted hyenas, warthogs, hartebeests, and birds such as black-billed barbets, black-headed lapwings, etc.
Drive back from the Northern game track and settle for lunch plus some refreshments at the lodge. The next activity – launch cruise will begin at 2:00 pm and you will set off at the Paraa Jetty on the Victoria Nile till you get to the base of the Murchison Falls. The journey between the Paraa Jetty & base of the falls comes with remarkable sightings of aquatic species such as hippos, crocodiles, & birds.
Day 3: Kibale National Park primate exploration
Have a breakfast & this will be followed by check out, ready to start your next trip to the primate capital, Kibale NP in Kabarole and Kamwenge Districts. En-route journey come with breathtaking views of the landscapes from the rift valley, Lake Albert & Mountains of the Moon.
Day 4: Chimpanzee trekking in the morning & nature walk in Bigodi area
Chimpanzee tracking experience in Kibale Forest begins after briefing in Kanyanchu tourism center and the park guides assigned lead you through the forest starting at 8:00 am. It will be a short primate walk of 2-4 hours, inclusive of one hour of a close encounter with chimpanzees.
Kibale being a rich forest in primates, expect also to see other species like l’hoest monkeys, vervet, olive baboons, colobus monkeys, mangabeys, pottos, bush babies, red-tailed monkeys, red colobus monkeys, & bird species. Return, enjoy lunch and at 2:00 pm, you will have a long afternoon exploring Bigodi Wetland, most popular for primate sighting & bird watching.
Day 5: Go to Queen Elizabeth National Park
After breakfast, your next road trip will be to visit Queen Elizabeth National Park. As you drive, never miss the incredible views of scenic Crater Lakes and banana plantations. You will have good time to relax, have lunch till afternoon when you will embark on a launch cruise on Kazinga channel. The Kazinga channel boat cruise 2-3 hours gets you exposed to crocodiles, birds and hippos.
Day 6: Game drive & a drive to Bwindi national park.
Today is a special day as you will be exploring Kasenyi Plains on a game drive 2-3 hours with expectations to see a variety of animal species. Among numerous species of wildlife to be encountered include elephants, buffaloes, lions, leopards, antelopes, birds and others. Drive back & depart for Bwindi national park through Ishasha where you will have higher chances to see tree climbing lions.
Day 7: Gorilla trekking
A hot cup of tea/coffee, after, you will exit the lodge with packed snacks and enough drinking water. At the park offices, meet the park officials & other visitors for briefing then begin your trek at 8:00 am lasting for 2-6 hours, but includes one hour of viewing mountain gorillas and taking pictures.
When you return, have lunch and the next activity will be the cultural visit at the Batwa pygmy community.
Day 8: To Volcanoes N/Park in Rwanda, via Katuna / Cyanika border
Breakfast early in the morning & followed by check out of accommodation, pick up & transfer to Volcanoes National Park. You will have a long day at the lodge in Ruhengeri as you wait for the next day’s activities.
Day 9: Gorilla trekking in Rwanda
Arise early in the morning & report to Kinigi for briefing about gorilla trekking rules or golden monkey tracking guidelines. At 8:00 am, an experienced park guide will take your group to look for mountain gorillas or golden monkeys with each primate experience guaranteeing one hour of close encounter.
In the afternoon / evening, you will be visiting Iby’Iwacu village to explore the distinct traditions & cultures of Rwandans.
Day 10: Nyungwe forest, for a primate tour
Pick up at accommodation & drive to Nyungwe Forest NP. You will have a long day relaxation at the lodge inside or outside the park.
Day 11: Day trek with chimpanzees & canopy walk
Nyungwe chimp trek begins at 8:00 am taking 2-4 hours which includes one hour for a close interaction with chimpanzees in the wild. As you walk through the forest, plenty of other primates will be encountered.
Day 12: Fly to Arusha, Northern Tanzania
Leave Nyungwe for Kigali airport where you will take a flight to Arusha. Have good time at the lodge or hotel in Arusha NP.
Day 13: Explore wildlife in Arusha National Park
Pick up & embark on a game drive through Arusha National Park. Expected wildlife species to be spotted in this park include elephants, zebras, cape buffaloes, birds, giraffes and more.
Day 14: Lake Manyara National Park (Tanzania)
From Arusha National Park, meet your driver guide for pick up and head off for Lake Manyara NP. It will be a long road trip and don’t leave without some packed snacks/lunch.
Day 15: Explore wildlife in Lake Manyara National Park
After breakfast, you will have a long day in Lake Manyara National Park. This Park is where you will find tree climbing lions on Tanzania safari but also other wildlife including buffaloes, lions, birds like flamingos, pelicans and more.
Day 16: Pick up from Lake Manyara & drive to Serengeti (for wildebeest migration)
Meet & greet your driver guide, after, set off for Serengeti National Park located in the Northern circuit. The Serengeti NP is one of Tanzania’s biggest parks, also a special place to watch the wildebeest migration and all the big 5 game.
Day 17: Day game viewing in Serengeti (Tanzania)
Have breakfast and after, start your guided game drive through the Serengeti National Park plains. The day game drive includes watching the wildebeest migration with a higher chance to come across all the big 5 game in the wild plus cheetahs.
Day 18: Cross to Maasai Mara National Reserve (Kenya)
Enjoy a hefty breakfast & later, you will meet the driver guide who will take you to Maasai Mara N/Reserve. While exiting Serengeti NP, keep an eye on various animals before you cross the borders to Kenya.
Day 19-20: Masai Mara wildlife experience
You will have 2 days ultimate game viewing in the Masai Mara National Reserve Kenya. The expected sightings on these two days include wildebeests, the big five game, giraffes, zebras, cheetahs, plenty of birds and more. You will also be visiting the Maasai people for authentic African cultural experience.
Day 21: Maasai Mara – Nairobi. Departure
Pick up at your accommodation after breakfast and check out, then drive to Nairobi city. Drop off at a hotel in Nairobi or go straight to the airport to wait for your flight back home- this marks the end of 21 days East Africa tour.
