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18-Day East Africa Safari: Gorillas Across 5 Countries

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.


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Our Reviews & Testimonials

Read what our clients have to say about us. You can read even more reviews on TripAdvisor.

Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Wir haben ein zweitägiges Gorilla Trekking von kigali zum Bwindi Nationalpark in Uganda gebucht und hatten ein einmaliges Erlebnis! Alles hat reibungslos geklappt, unser Fahrer Naboth war toll und absolut zuverlässig - von der Abholung in unserem Hotel - über die Fahrten vor Ort bis zur Rückfahrt nach Uganda. Die Gorilla Wanderung war ein echtes Abenteuer und nach 2 Stunden Wanderung haben wir eine Gorilla Familie mit 16 Gorillas gefunden, der wir uns bis auf einen Meter nähern konnten um sie zu beobachten. Die gorillas haben sich dabei absolut nicht stören lassen. Es war unglaublich. Auch die Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge war toll. Ich würde diese Tour jedem empfehlen!
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Celine Kloss
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Absolutely outstanding experience. We did a 12-day safari across Kenya and Uganda (Gorilla trekking, Maasai Mara, Nakuru, Naivasha, Amboseli) in January 2026 and it exceeded expectations. The guides were exceptional: deeply knowledgeable, professional, and genuinely passionate. They ensured we learned not only about wildlife, but also about local cultures, traditions, and daily life, which made the trip truly immersive. Communication with the agency was flawless end to end—responsive, clear, and proactive. Everything ran smoothly, on time, and exactly as promised. I’ll recommend this agency to all my friends and relatives! Hopefully we’ll come back soon as well!
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Mario Gonzalez
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We spent two weeks in Uganda and Tanzania organized by Magical Gorilla Adventures and we had the best time. Communication was really good and fast via WhatsApp. The accommodations were great. Our guide Peter in Uganda was amazing. He was really friendly and a very good driver. He put a lot of effort to give us experiences and the best memories. We learned a lot about Uganda and its culture and he knew a lot about animals. We saw a lot of animals in Murchison Falls Nationalspark. The chimpanzee tracking in Kibale was very memorable. Our highlight in Uganda was the Gorilla tracking in Bwindi. We were very close to the gorillas and had the best experience. After an overnight stop in Ruanda we flew to Tanzania and were picked up by our guide Macha. We visited Central Serengeti, Ndutu, Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire Nationalpark and we saw so many animals. The cheetahs even played on our safari car and we saw more than 80 lions. Macha was a great driver and he spotted so many animals for us. The two weeks trip to Uganda and Tanzania was just amazing and we will never forget. Everything was organized very well. We definitely recommend Magical Gorilla Adventures and our guides Peter and Macha and would love to do another trip with them!
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Theresa
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We had an absolutely wonderful 17-day safari experience and can wholeheartedly recommend this company to anyone planning a trip. From the very beginning, communication was clear, professional, and fast. Emails were answered quickly, often much sooner than expected. Every question was addressed in detail, which gave us a lot of confidence before the trip. One of the biggest advantages was how flexible they were, both before and during the safari. They accommodated all our planning changes without any hesitation or feeling that we were “bothering” them. Adjustments to the itinerary were handled smoothly, and we always felt our preferences were truly listened to. The entire 17 days were organized seamlessly, and we could simply relax and enjoy the experience. Any changes or tweaks we requested on the road were taken care of quickly and efficiently. The trip felt very personal and tailored to us, rather than a standard, rigid package. Overall impression is that this is a company that genuinely cares about its guests and goes the extra mile to create a memorable safari. The combination of responsiveness, flexibility, and warm, attentive service made this one of our best trips ever. Highly recommended for anyone who values good communication, adaptable planning, and a worry-free safari experience
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Eran Vilensky
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Even though we booked very late, Magic Gorilla Adventures made it happen, allowing us to visit the Uganda Gorillas in their natural habitat. Our guide Colin first took us to Lake Bunyonyi, where we had a good lunch and a boat trip, and then to our lodge near the national park. The following day, we visited the Gorillas. Our Gorillas were up on the hill, so we had a challenging climb to reach them, but the rangers helped us. So, we could spend a fantastic time with them. Thank you, Colin, and thank you, Magical Gorilla Adventures, for these two beautiful days in Uganda.
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Rene Felder
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I had the best 7-day safari of my life with Magical Gorilla Adventures in Uganda. All communication and safari planning was very effective and clear from the start and they were supportive and patient with all the amendments and requests. Also, they give you great suggestions for the tour depending on your needs or wishes. Aina suggested me to do chimp trek, which was my favorite part of all the safari (thank you Aina!). As for our tour guide Eddie, he was the absolute best. He really went above and beyond for me to see all of the Big 5. I went to different safaris in Africa and had several tour guides and they all were good, but Eddie really was outstanding. I suggest that, if possible, book your safari with Eddie. Eddie always made sure to talk to other drivers and/or the national park’s authorities to look for the animals and he is also a good tracker, he knows where and how to look for the animals. He also made sure we were always safe and taking necessary precautions which is also a very important thing to look for in a tour guide. I strongly recommend Magical Gorilla Adventures for your safari, you won´t regret it.
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Elena Bravo
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**Wonderful Safari Experience** We had an amazing safari in Rwanda and Uganda, made even better by our guide, **Musa**. He was polite, professional, easy to talk to, and always looked after us. On the safari drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park, he was fantastic at spotting animals and shared so much knowledge about wildlife, history, and the landscapes. The accommodations and food were excellent, and we felt very comfortable throughout the trip. We highly recommend this company — and especially Musa — for a great safari experience.
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Li Ka
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We had a great time on our safari! Our guide James was excellent, and Kolo was helpful in planning the whole trip according to our schedule and what we wanted to see. Highly recommended!
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Arvin Pal
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Magical Gorilla Adventures is zeker aan te raden. Reageren snel en ze hebben een prachtige 3-daagse safari voor ons geregeld. Alles was prima in orde! Goede en betrouwbare gids/driver, en prachtige lodges! Alles was perfect!
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Annemieke Manten
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Why Choose Us?

We plan gorilla treks that are enjoyable and affordable, because we love gorilla trekking as much as you do.

1

Who We Are

We are a gorilla trekking operator, agency, and Destination Management Company (DMC) based in Kampala, Uganda. Our Uganda Tourism Board license number is UTB/RTT/TO/2023/100931.

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2

Booking Gorilla Treks With Us

Along with our carefully planned gorilla trekking packages and years of experience, we offer flexible and friendly booking terms.

3

Our Honest Promise to You

We promise to plan, handle, and manage your gorilla trek carefully and correctly, from start to finish.

4

Our Values & Commitments

We are committed to excellent service and to making every gorilla trek as smooth as possible.

5

Our Cause

We profit from gorilla trekking tourism, and we make sure others do too. A portion of our profits supports single mothers in communities near the gorilla parks.


How We Work

We plan your gorilla trek the right way, starting with a clear and simple planning process.

1
We Listen to You

We listen to your gorilla trekking needs, then recommend and advise on the best options for your trip.

2
We Discuss Your Options

We talk through your options, match you to the right gorilla trekking itinerary, and refine it based on your feedback.

3
We Lock in Your Booking

We confirm your gorilla trekking booking and handle reservations while we finalize any remaining details.

Speak to a Gorilla Trekking Expert to Start Planning Your Trip

Call us now or book a video call, and we'll help you plan your gorilla trekking safari.

+256-787-230-575
Eddie Gorilla Trekking Guide
Eddie Guide with Alyssa