Take this epic 20-Day Uganda, Kenya & Tanzania Safari Vacation to uncover the best of eastern Africa. Watch Uganda’s Mountain Gorillas and Chimpanzees in their natural habitats. Search for the Big 5 animals in Kenya’s Lake Nakuru and Masai Mara Game Reserves. Explore the endless plains of Serengeti National Park, descend to 600 metres to the floor of the volcanic Ngorongoro Crater and spend time with a Hadzabe community in Tanzania. Along the way, meet locals and gain an understanding of the diversity of cultures in East Africa – from the Maasai people to villagers on the outskirts of Queen Elizabeth National Park and Kibale Forest National Park.
Summary
Day 1: Entebbe
Day 2: Kibale Forest
Day 3: Kibale Forest & Bigodi Village
Day 4: Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 5: Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 6: Queen Elizabeth National Park & Local Community
Day 7: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day 8: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day 9: Kigali/Nairobi
Day 10: Nairobi/Lake Nakuru National Park
Day 11: Lake Nakuru National Park
Day 12: Lake Nakuru National Park/Lake Naivasha
Day 13: Lake Naivasha/Masai Mara
Day 14: Masai Mara National Reserve
Day 15: Masai Mara/Serengeti
Day 16: Serengeti National Park
Day 17: Serengeti National Park/Ngorongoro
Day 18: Full day Game Drive in Ngorongoro Crater
Day 19: Karatu/ Lake Eyasi
Day 20: Arusha
Details
Day 1: Entebbe
Your adventure begins with your arrival at Uganda’s Entebbe International Airport where you are met by a tour representative and transferred the short distance to The Boma Hotel in Entebbe Town. With a population of more than 40 million, Uganda is a country of great cultural diversity and is one of the 5 countries that make up the East African Community.
Your hotel is follows in a midrange category. It is set near Africa’s largest lake – Lake Victoria and makes the ideal start to your tour. Complete with complimentary Internet access and an in-house restaurant, there is also a swimming pool if you want to have a workout after a long journey.
Other Accommodation Options:
- 2 Friends Beach Hotel – Midrange
- Airport Guest House – Budget
- Hotel No. 5 – Luxury
- Lake Victoria Serena Resort and Spa – Luxury
Meals Include:
- Dinner
Day 2: Kibale Forest
After relaxed breakfast at around 8.30 am, you will be will be met by your driver-guide, who will accompany you throughout your stay in Uganda. He will drive you to Kibale Forest National Park, a journey of approximately 6 hours, stopping for a lunch at restaurant en route in the beautiful town of Fort Portal. The drive will take you past tea plantations, through rolling hills, open savannahs and colourful rural villages. Arriving at your lodge, you can relax and unwind after your journey.
Accommodation Options:
- Chimpanzee Forest Lodge – Midrange/Budget
- Kibale Forest Camp– Midrange/Budget
- Primate Lodge– Luxury
- Crater Safari Lodge– Luxury
Meals Include:
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3: Kibale Forest & Bigodi Village
After breakfast today you’ll be driven to the Kibale National Park visitor centre for a briefing about your morning of chimpanzee trekking adventure. The trek departs the briefing point (Kanyanchu) at 8.00am. Although it is not guaranteed you will see the chimpanzees, there is a 97% success rate of seeing them — far higher than any other place which offers chimpanzee trekking in Uganda, Rwanda or Tanzania.
Kibale Forest has one of the highest concentrations of primates in East Africa and your hike will offer good chances of seeing red-tailed monkeys, red colobus monkeys, black-and-white colobus monkeys, olive baboons, blue monkeys, Vervet monkeys, and grey-cheeked mangabeys. If you are lucky to find yourself in the company of the chimps, you’ll have an hour to enjoy their human-like behaviour and take photos to your heart’s content!
Once your chimp trek is wrapped up, you will to your lodge for lunch and relaxation. In afternoon, you will go for a walk in the nearby Bigodi Village.
Accompanied by a guide who can tell you everything about the traditional customs and lifestyle of the inhabitants, you will follow the village path and visit a primary school, traditional homesteads, learn about the crops and listen to the story telling of a Mzee (elderly man). This activity is an initiative of the inhabitants of Bigodi Village and the revenues are shared by the local community.
Day 4: Queen Elizabeth National Park
Today, a leisurely drive of about 2 hours will take you through Kibale Forest, Kasese Town and across the equator to your next stop. Queen Elizabeth National Park is Uganda’s premier wildlife destination. This park is home to more than 600 bird species, 10 species of primates – including chimpanzees, and 95 different types of mammals. The route to your accommodation may feel like an unofficial safari.
Keep a look out for African elephants, buffalo, hippos, warthogs, Nile crocodiles, leopards, spotted hyenas, and lions. On arrival you will enjoy a delicious lunch at the lodge before going out for an afternoon game drive.
Accommodation Options:
- Pumba Safari Cottage – Budget
- Bush Lodge– Midrange/Budget
- Enganzi Game Lodge – Midrange
- Elephant Plains Camp – Luxury
- Park View Lodge – Semi Luxury
Meals Include:
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5: Queen Elizabeth National Park
Wake up for another amazing day in Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National Park with another 4×4 safari Game Drive. Be on the lookout for any sightings you may have missed yesterday, and if you are really lucky, you might be able to spot leopards or lions.
This afternoon, you also have the opportunity to see the park from another perspective with a leisurely cruise down the hippo-filled Kazinga Channel, linking Lake Edward to Lake George. You’ll be accompanied by local guides who will fill you in on everything you could want to know about the landscape and the animals who live within it – be on the lookout for hippos basking on the shore, as well as Nile crocodiles, herds of elephants and fantastic waterbirds.
Accommodation Options:
- Pumba Safari Cottage – Budget
- Bush Lodge– Midrange/Budget
- Enganzi Game Lodge – Midrange
- Elephant Plains Camp – Luxury
- Park View Lodge – Semi Luxury
Meals Include:
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6: Queen Elizabeth National Park
After breakfast this morning, this morning, you will make your way to Ishasha, the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Here you will meet some local residents to learn more about rural life in Uganda. Visit a local organic farm, medicine garden and homestead and learn how its owner is tackling human-wildlife conflict with his anti-crop raiding techniques.
You will also meet a local Mukiga woman who will share her story while showing you how to sort, pound and grind millet to make porridge and other Bakiga meals. This part of the park is famous for its tree climbing lions, so be on the lookout as you make the game drive towards your lodge.
Accommodation Options:
- Enjojo Lodge– Midrange/Budget
- Ishasha Wilderness Cam– Luxury
Meals Include:
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Today, you will depart Queen Elizabeth National Park on your way to the southwest tip of Uganda. On this short game drive, you will look out for elephants, buffalo, Ugandan kobs, topis, and waterbucks. When you arrive at the southwestern corner of Uganda, you’ll be based in Rushaga Sector of Bwindi, which provides access to 9 of Bwindi’s 24 gorilla families.
Accommodation Options:
- Ichumbi Lodge- Budget
- Rushaga Gorilla Camp – Midrange
- Mutanda Lake Resort- Midrange
- Gorilla Safari Lodge – Luxury
Meals Include:
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Joined by a local ranger guide, hike through the rugged mountainous landscape of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park to encounter rare Mountain Gorillas. No more than 8 visitors per day can visit any one habituated family and visits are strictly controlled to minimize disturbance or the chances of transmission of disease to the animals.
Gorilla trekking in the dense forest jungle can sometimes be wet, muddy and uncomfortable. The terrain is by no means easy either, so it can be pretty difficult and often humid, but the thrill in coming across a habituated family of wild gorillas, dominated by a great male silverback, more than outweighs any difficulty. You need to be prepared and fit enough for round walk of around 2 to 6.
You can usually get very close to the mountain gorillas, which are placid, shy and gentle, and watching their movements is like seeing a mirror image of yourself. Be mesmerized as you watch them eat, sleep, groom and play – the giant silverback surveying the scene as the smaller ones laze in the trees or play like children. Your visit with the gorillas will last one unforgettable hour.
Day 9: Kigali/Nairobi
After breakfast this morning, it’s time to make the journey to Kigali city of Rwanda (approximately 4 hours). You will be dropped off at Kigali International Airport for your short flight to Nairobi this evening (approximately 1.5hrs). On arrival at Nairobi Airport you will be met and transferred to your Nairobi hotel. Check-in, freshen up and get a good night’s rest.
Accommodation Options:
- Four Points By Sheraton – Luxury
- Giraffe Manor – Luxury
- Hemingways Nairobi – Luxury
- Tamarind Tree Hotel – Midrange
- Crowne Plaza Nairobi – Midrange
Meals Include:
- Breakfast & Dinner
Day 10: Nairobi/Lake Nakuru National Park
After, an early breakfast, depart Nairobi for Lake Nakuru which is known for harbouring flocks of pink flamingos and a wonderful variety of bird species. Arrive at your safari lodge inside or near Lake Nakuru National Park in time for lunch, and seek out the resident white rhinos, black rhinos, hippos, zebras, giraffes, lions, leopards, and buffaloes on a late afternoon wildlife drive.
Accommodations Options:
- The Cliff – Luxury
- Sarova Woodlands – Luxury
- Lake Nakuru Lodge – Midrange
- Flamingo Hill Camp – Midrange
- Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge – Midrange
Meals Included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Day 11: Lake Nakuru National Park
Enjoy a delicious breakfast today and set out on morning and afternoon safaris through the picturesque Lake Nakuru National Park, searching for rhinos, buffalo, impalas, lions, and more. Drive along the salty shores of Lake Nakuru and discover a mind-boggling variety of birds.
Day 12: Lake Nakuru National Park/Lake Naivasha
This morning attend a talk given by a representative of the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS)—a government institution dedicated to managing Kenya’s wildlife—about the issues surrounding poaching and wildlife conservation. Later drive southward through the Great Rift Valley to Lake Naivasha, a massive freshwater lake encircled by olive trees and grassy banks. Take a relaxing boat cruise on the lake, watching for hippos and buffalo; and peer through your binoculars to spot lovebirds, ibis, and the iconic African fish eagle. Step ashore at Crescent Island—a peaceful wildlife sanctuary located in the middle of the lake— and enjoy a guide leisurely walk in search of zebras, wildebeest, and giraffes.
Accommodations Options:
- Chui Lodge – Luxury
- Kiboko Luxury Camp– Luxury
- Lake Naivasha Sopa Lodge – Midrange
- Lake Naivasha Crescent Camp – Midrange
Meals Included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Day 13: Lake Naivasha/Masai Mara
Enjoy a delightful breakfast today and embark on a drive the legendary Masai Mara National Reserve. On arrival, settle into your comfortable tented camp or lodge, located inside the reserve. Head out for an afternoon game drive through vast, acacia-dotted plains, driving past throngs of wildebeest, zebra, and giraffes; and keep an eye out for lions, and the rest of the African “big five animals.” In the evening, relax at the camp or lodge and enjoy scenic views of the rolling plains.
Accommodations Options:
- Mara Serena Lodge – Luxury
- Mara Leisure Camp – Luxury
- Ashnil Mara Camp – Luxury
- Jambo Mara Lodge- Midrange
- Mara Sopa Lodge – Midrange
- Base Camp Masai Mara – Midrange
Meals Included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Day 14: Masai Mara
Today, undertake an early morning game drive to see the animals that traversed the savanna during the night. Watch ungulates like gazelles, topis, and impalas, waterbucks, and eland antelopes—as well as their stealthy predators—at one of their most active times of the day. Proceed your exploration on a late afternoon game drive, discovering the breathtaking landscapes of Masai Mara.
Optional activity
You can opt for balloon ride over the Masai Mara Plains at sunrise today. If you have pre-booked this experience you will be picked up before dawn and driven to the launch site for a safety briefing from your pilot. Then you will glide through the dawn, sometimes at tree height, to get some amazing photo opportunities. Sometimes you will ascend, getting an overview of the vastness of the plains and of the early morning movements of the teeming herds.
After landing, you’ll enjoy a bush breakfast, and then be returned to your camp or lodge. In the afternoon, you can take a game drive or visit a nearby Maasai Village to learn about the fascinating culture of Masai People.
Day 15: Masai Mara/Serengeti
Today, after an early breakfast, have your packed lunch and drive to Tanzania/Kenya Border at Isebania. After clearing with immigration, change the vehicle and proceed the famous Serengeti National Park (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), one of the best-known reserves in Africa, and probably the world. The Serengeti has become world-famous for its annual wildebeest migration, an iconic and dramatic scene in wildlife documentaries for decades, and a true bucket list experience, and the main reason we are here! Arrive with an introductory game drive to your pre-booked lodge or camp.
Accommodations Options:
- Serengeti Serena Lodge– Luxury
- Serengeti Kati Kati Camp- Midrange
Meals Included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
Day 16: Serengeti National Park
Immerse yourself in the splendor of the Serengeti. Explore the park’s iconic creatures when you set out in a 4×4 on morning and afternoon safaris through the golden savannah grasslands. With luck, you will spot all of Africa’s “big 5”—lion, leopard, rhino, elephant, and buffalo.
Day 17: Serengeti National Park/Ngorongoro
You will grab some picnic lunch as you take a final game drive through the Serengeti. But now you are on your way to the Ngorongoro Crater. On route, you’ll make a detour to the anthropological wonder of Olduvai Gorge. The archeological site is a living fossilized record of early man’s tool-making and early development and is not to be missed.
As you come to the Ngorongoro Crater’s rim, you will pause and take in the vast thriving world below you, an area of some 264 square kilometers with crater walls of about 600 m (1,968 feet). Continue to your lodge and spend the rest of the day at leisure.
Accommodations Options:
- Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge– Luxury
- Ngorongoro Crater Lodge– Luxury
- Rhotia Valley Lodge- Midrange
Meals Included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
Day 18: Ngorongoro Crater
If you arise early, you can be treated to a spectacular sunrise at the crater’s rim. And now you’re off for a full day game drive inside Ngorongoro Crater. Spanning more than 20km in diameter, the Ngorongoro is the largest non-flooded volcanic caldera in the world and is inhabited by some 300,000 animals. Set out on a game drive into the Ngorongoro Crater and observe the biodiversity and resident wild animals in this incredibly important location to the conservation and protection of global wildlife. Enjoy a picnic lunch in the heart of the world’s largest caldera encircled by unique flora and fauna.
Day 19: Karatu/ Lake Eyasi
After breakfast this morning, you will make your way to Lake Eyasi, a huge seasonal soda lake. Lake Eyasi has been home to the Hadzabe tribal people for over 10,000 years and is one of the few places in Africa where traditional tribal life continues without modern influence.
Today’s visit to the Hadzabe lands offers incredible insight into this ancient culture and a chance to learn about their way of life today. You will have the opportunity to meet members of the community and join in on daily activities like hunting, gathering and traditional dance. You will also learn about their unique ‘click’ language, which is thought to be one of the oldest languages still in use today.
Accommodations Options:
- Lake Eyasi Safari Lodge- Midrange
Meals Included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Day 20: Arusha
Today you will a leisurely breakfast and learn more about the Hadzabe People. In the afternoon, you will head to Arusha, where your safari ends. An overnight hotel in Arusha can be booked, at an additional expense or be transferred to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your departure flight.
End of 20-Day Uganda, Kenya & Tanzania Safari
What’s Included
- Accommodation as indicated in the itinerary
- Meals: 19 breakfasts, 18 lunches, 19 dinners
- Transport: 7 4×4 safari vehicles, plane, boat.
- Arrival transfer
- Wildlife safari drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Masai Mara National Reserve, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Nakuru, Lake Manyara, and the Serengeti
- Boat cruise on Kazinga Channel in Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Ishasha – Community Tourism Project Visit
- Boat trip on Lake Naivasha and wildlife walk on Crescent Island
- Bigodi Village Walk
- Entrance to Olduvai Gorge Museum
- Lake Eyasi – Hadzabe Bushmen Visit
- Internal flight
- Border crossing fees
- All national park entrance fees
- Mountain gorilla trek with permits
- Chimpanzee trekking permits
- All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
What’s Not Included
- Airfare to and from destination
- Minimum medical and emergency evacuation insurance
- Trip cancellation insurance or any other travel insurance
- Visas
- Any activity not described in What’s Included
- Meals on your own
- Gratuities
