This 18-Day East Africa Safari is a journey through five countries, Rwanda, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Kenya, and Tanzania. It combines mountain gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking, Big Five safaris, and cultural tours for a complete East African experience.
You will visit national parks such as Volcanoes National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Kahuzi-Biega, Queen Elizabeth, Kibale, Murchison Falls, Masai Mara, and Serengeti. Expect to see mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, lions, elephants, rhinos, hippos, leopards, zebras, giraffes, and many birds.
This safari starts in Kigali, Rwanda, and ends in Arusha, Tanzania. It can be customized to fit your travel plans and interests.
18-Day East Africa Safari Highlights
- Visit five countries: Rwanda, Uganda, D.R. Congo, Kenya, and Tanzania
- Trek mountain and lowland gorillas in Volcanoes, Bwindi, and Kahuzi-Biega
- Trek chimpanzees in Kibale National Park
- Experience Big Five safaris in Masai Mara, Serengeti, and Murchison Falls
- Enjoy boat cruises, lion tracking, and rhino trekking
- Visit local communities and cultural centers like Iby’Iwacu Village and Isunga Community
- Witness the Great Wildebeest Migration (seasonal)
18-Day East Africa Safari Itinerary Overview
- Day 1: Arrival in Kigali and Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
- Day 2: Golden Monkey Trekking and Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village Tour
- Day 3: Travel to Kahuzi-Biega National Park
- Day 4: Lowland Gorilla Trekking Adventure
- Day 5: Head to Bwindi National Park via Kigali
- Day 6: Gorilla Trekking Adventure and Leisure
- Day 7: Head to Queen Elizabeth National Park, Game Drive in Ishasha Sector
- Day 8: Game Drive and Boat Cruise
- Day 9: Transfer to Kibale National Park and Visit Isunga Community
- Day 10: Chimpanzee Tracking and Visit Amabere Ga’Nyinamwiru Caves
- Day 11: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park
- Day 12: Game Drive, Boat Cruise, and Hike to the Top of the Falls (Optional)
- Day 13: Transfer to Kampala (Stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary)
- Day 14: Fly to Masai Mara National Reserve and Game Drive
- Day 15: Full-Day Game Drive
- Day 16: Cross to Serengeti National Park in Tanzania
- Day 17: Full Day in Serengeti National Park
- Day 18: Transfer to Arusha and Fly Home
Detailed 18-Day East Africa Safari Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Kigali and Transfer to Volcanoes National Park (Rwanda)
Arrive in Kigali and meet your guide for a briefing. Drive three hours to Volcanoes National Park, home to gorillas and golden monkeys. Check in at your lodge and rest.
Day 2: Golden Monkey Trekking & Iby’Iwacu Cultural Visit
Join a ranger for golden monkey trekking in the bamboo forests. Later, visit Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village to experience Rwandan music, dance, and traditions.
Day 3: Travel to Kahuzi-Biega National Park (DRC)
Drive from Rwanda to Kahuzi-Biega National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This park is home to eastern lowland gorillas, the largest gorilla species.
Day 4: Lowland Gorilla Trekking in Kahuzi-Biega
After a briefing, begin your lowland gorilla trek. Spend one hour observing these primates. Return to your lodge and relax.
Day 5: Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Uganda)
Travel via Kigali to Bwindi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with nearly half of the world’s mountain gorillas. Enjoy views of Rwanda’s rolling hills and Ugandan forests.
Day 6: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi & Leisure
After breakfast, join your ranger for a gorilla trek. Spend one hour with the gorillas and later visit a Batwa community for a cultural tour.
Day 7: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park (Uganda)
Drive through the Ishasha sector, known for tree-climbing lions. Take a game drive and spot elephants, antelopes, and buffaloes before checking into your lodge.
Day 8: Game Drive & Boat Cruise on Kazinga Channel
Enjoy a morning game drive to see lions, elephants, and leopards. In the afternoon, take a boat cruise on Kazinga Channel to see hippos, crocodiles, and many birds.
Day 9: Transfer to Kibale National Park & Isunga Community Visit
Drive to Kibale National Park, known for chimpanzees. Visit Isunga Community for a walk through tea plantations, coffee farms, and crater lakes.
Day 10: Chimpanzee Tracking & Amabere Ga’Nyinamwiru Caves
Go chimpanzee tracking in the morning. Later, visit the Amabere caves and Nyakasura Falls, known for local legends and landscapes.
Day 11: Drive to Murchison Falls National Park
Travel to Murchison Falls, Uganda’s largest national park. Visit the top of the falls and enjoy sunset views over the Nile River.
Day 12: Game Drive, Boat Cruise & Optional Hike
Take a game drive to see lions, giraffes, elephants, and antelopes. Later, enjoy a boat cruise on the Nile to the base of the falls. Optionally, hike to the top for views over the falls.
Day 13: Drive to Kampala with Stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
Stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary to track rhinos on foot. Continue to Kampala or Entebbe for your overnight stay.
Day 14: Fly to Masai Mara National Reserve (Kenya)
Fly from Entebbe to Nairobi and connect to Masai Mara. Enjoy an evening game drive in one of Africa’s top safari destinations.
Day 15: Full-Day Safari in Masai Mara
Spend the day exploring Masai Mara. See lions, elephants, rhinos, cheetahs, and wildebeests. During migration months, you may witness the river crossings.
Day 16: Cross into Serengeti National Park (Tanzania)
After breakfast, cross into Tanzania and continue to Serengeti National Park, known for its plains and wildlife.
Day 17: Full-Day Safari in Serengeti
Enjoy a full day exploring Serengeti. Spot the Big Five, watch predators hunt, and see the wildebeest migration if you travel during the season.
Day 18: Drive to Arusha and Departure
After breakfast, transfer to Arusha for your departure flight. Your guide will thank you and bid you farewell.
This marks the end of your 18-day East Africa safari through Rwanda, Uganda, D.R. Congo, Kenya, and Tanzania.
