East Africa is one of the few regions in the world where travelers can enjoy wildlife viewing, primate trekking, culture, and natural landscapes in one long journey. This 18-day East African safari takes you through five countries: Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Kenya. It combines mountain gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking, Big Five game drives, boat cruises, cultural visits, and the famous wildebeest migration.
Key destinations visited on this safari include Murchison Falls National Park, Kibale National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Virunga National Park, Volcanoes National Park, Serengeti National Park, and Masai Mara National Reserve.
Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe Airport Uganda
On arrival at Entebbe International Airport, meet your professional driver guide. You receive a full briefing about your 18-day East African safari. Transfer to your hotel in Entebbe for dinner and overnight stay. If you arrive early, you may visit Lake Victoria, Entebbe Botanical Gardens, the reptile village, or the Uganda Wildlife Education Center.
Day 2: Drive to Murchison Falls National Park
After breakfast, drive north to Murchison Falls National Park. Stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for rhino tracking on foot with rangers. Continue to Masindi for lunch before driving to the park. Check in at the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 3: Game Drive and Nile Boat Cruise
Enjoy a morning game drive on the northern bank of the park. Look out for elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, lions, antelopes, and birds. After lunch, take a boat cruise on the Victoria Nile to the base of the falls. See hippos, crocodiles, and water birds along the riverbanks. Return to the lodge for dinner.
Day 4: Drive to Kibale National Park
After breakfast, depart Murchison Falls and drive southwest to Kibale Forest via Hoima and Fort Portal. Enjoy views of local villages and crater lakes. Lunch in Fort Portal before continuing to the lodge near Kibale Forest. Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 5: Chimpanzee Trekking and Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
After breakfast, go to Kanyanchu Visitor Center for a chimpanzee trekking briefing. Trek into the forest with guides to see chimpanzees and other primates. Spend one hour with the chimpanzees. After lunch, drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park and check in at the lodge.
Day 6: Game Drive and Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise
Start with a morning game drive in the Kasenyi Plains. Animals often seen include lions, buffaloes, elephants, warthogs, Uganda kobs, and birds. After lunch, enjoy a boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel, known for its high number of hippos and crocodiles. Return to the lodge for dinner.
Day 7: Ishasha Sector and Drive to Bwindi
After breakfast, drive to the Ishasha sector to look for tree climbing lions. Enjoy lunch en route before continuing to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Check in at the lodge and rest.
Day 8: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi
After early breakfast, attend a briefing at the park offices. Start gorilla trekking at 8:00 am with rangers. The trek lasts between 2 and 6 hours. Spend one hour with a gorilla family. Return to the lodge for rest and later enjoy a Batwa cultural experience.
Day 9: Bwindi to Virunga National Park Congo
After breakfast, cross the border into the Democratic Republic of Congo and drive to Virunga National Park. Check in at your lodge and relax for the rest of the day.
Day 10: Gorilla Trekking in Virunga National Park
Attend a morning briefing at Bukima. Trek through the forest to visit one of the habituated mountain gorilla families. Spend one hour with the gorillas before returning to the lodge. Optional visit to Senkwekwe Gorilla Orphanage Center.
Day 11: Virunga to Volcanoes National Park Rwanda
Drive from Virunga National Park to Rwanda. Cross the border and continue to Volcanoes National Park. Check in at the lodge and relax.
Day 12: Gorilla Trekking or Golden Monkey Tracking
After breakfast, attend a briefing at Kinigi. Choose between gorilla trekking or golden monkey tracking. Spend one hour observing the primates. In the afternoon, visit Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village to learn about local traditions.
Day 13: Fly from Kigali to Arusha Tanzania
Drive early to Kigali International Airport and fly to Arusha. On arrival, transfer to your hotel. Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 14: Drive to Serengeti National Park
After breakfast, drive to Serengeti National Park. Enjoy wildlife viewing along the way. Check in at the lodge in the afternoon.
Day 15: Full Day Serengeti Game Drives
Spend the full day on game drives in Serengeti. Look for lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, zebras, wildebeests, and birds. Picnic lunch in the park. Return to the lodge in the evening.
Day 16: Serengeti to Masai Mara Kenya
Drive to the Isebania border and cross into Kenya. Continue to Masai Mara National Reserve. Check in at the lodge and relax.
Day 17: Full Day Masai Mara Safari
Enjoy a full day game drive in Masai Mara. Witness the wildebeest migration if visiting between July and October. See big cats, elephants, giraffes, and antelopes. Visit a Masai community for cultural interaction.
Day 18: Masai Mara to Nairobi Departure
After breakfast, drive to Nairobi. Drop off at the airport or hotel, marking the end of your 18-day East African safari.