18 Days East Africa Safari
This 18 days East Africa Safari introduces you to premier travel destinations in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda. It has many wildlife encounters, including mountain gorilla trekking, big game & wildebeest migration experience, chimpanzee tracking, launch cruises, and cultural safaris. You will begin your long expedition in Uganda, home to over 1080 bird species and half of the world’s 1063 mountain gorillas. Below is the detailed 18 Days East Africa Safari itinerary.
Day 1: Arrival & hotel transfer from Entebbe Airport
Please arrive at the Entebbe International Airport (EBB) in Uganda and meet our company representative for a short briefing. Then, board your comfortable safari vehicle and be transferred to a pre-booked, [luxurious/comfortable] hotel in Kampala, where you can [enjoy a relaxing evening and a good night’s sleep].
Day 2: Transfer to Murchison Falls –Rhino tracking (Nakasongola)
Enjoy a delicious cup of tea/coffee after starting a journey to your first safari destination as part of this remarkable 18-day safari in East Africa. Today, you will visit Murchison Falls National Park, the biggest Park in Uganda, spanning 3840 sq. km and holding over 76 mammal species. Getting to this spectacular park involves driving for 6-7 hours along the Kampala-Gulu highway and includes a stopover visit to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary to track rhinos. [A sumptuous lunch will be served at a local hotel in Masindi, offering a variety of regional and international dishes.]Our experienced guides will ensure your safety and provide interesting insights about the wildlife you encounter.
After interacting with rhinos, you will have lunch in a hotel in Masindi and drive via Kichumbanyobo gate. If time allows, you will also visit the top of the falls. Then, you will proceed to a safari lodge for a relaxed evening, dinner, and a night’s stay.
Day 3: Game drive (Northern game tracks) & launch cruise (Victoria Nile River)
A game drive along the Northern game tracks of Murchison Falls begins early to allow you to catch up with early risers. Using a comfortable 4×4 tourist car with a pop-up roof, excellent wildlife views will be guaranteed, including giraffes, leopards, lions, cape buffaloes, elephants, antelopes like waterbucks, oribis, bushbucks, hartebeests, Uganda kobs, and birds.
When you get back after a 2-3 hour game drive, lunch will be enjoyed at leisure, and an afternoon excursion –a boat cruise starts at around 2:00 pm. Set off point at Paraa Jetty and explore the Victoria Nile River to the bottom of Murchison Falls. The two points will encounter Various aquatic life, including hippos, crocodiles, and water birds.
Day 4: A tour to see chimps in Kibale National Park
After breakfast, you can start your road trip from Murchison Falls NP to Kibale. This trip covers two cities- Hoima and Fort Portal- and offers a chance to enjoy the remarkable views of the Rift Valley escarpments. A relaxed evening, dinner, and a night’s stay at the pre-booked accommodation inside or outside Kibale.
Day 5: Track chimpanzees & visit Bigodi Wetland for a nature walk
A delicious breakfast is served in the early morning. Afterward, you will be briefed at the Kanyanchu Visitor Center about chimpanzee trekking rules. Kibale Forest National Park holds the largest chimpanzee population, part of 13 primate species, making it a complete primate capital of the world. Today, the visit will be done on the already habituated chimp community starting from Kanyanchu, taking you about 2-4 hours, which includes one hour of a close encounter and taking photos.
Get back and have a leisurely lunch, followed by an afternoon nature walk in Bigodi Swamp. At Bigodi, you will spot more primates, birds like the Great blue turacos, and other mammals, floral species, and butterflies.
Day 6: Go to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 6: Scenic Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park Today, you’ll enjoy a leisurely drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park, taking in the picturesque views of crater lakes, banana plantations, and the Rwenzori Mountains. Your comfort is our priority, and you can relax and enjoy a delicious lunch at your pre-booked accommodation, inside or outside the park.
Day 7: Full-day wildlife expedition
Day 7: A Day of Thrilling Wildlife Encounters. Start your day with a game drive along the Kasenyi Plains, where you’ll have the chance to spot various wildlife, including elephants, Uganda Kobs, buffalo, lions, leopards, and birds. After a satisfying lunch, continue your wildlife adventure with a launch cruise on the Kazinga channel. This cruise offers a unique opportunity to see aquatic species such as crocodiles, hippos, and birds.
Day 8: Ishasha to watch tree-climbing lions and drive to Bwindi
Have breakfast and connect to Ishasha –Queen Elizabeth National Park’s Southern sector. This region has unique animal species, including the tree-climbing lions and topis, where shoebills can be spotted. A short game drive will be conducted here, and you will proceed to Bwindi after a picnic lunch.
Day 9: Gorilla trekking (Bwindi)
Begin the day trek to explore mountain gorillas at 8:00 a.m. after a briefing from the park official about gorilla trekking rules. From the park offices (Buhoma, Ruhija, Nkuringo & Rushaga), the trek takes between 2 and 6 hours. It includes one hour to closely watch the mountain gorilla family and take pictures: Trek back to have a relaxed evening and lunch at the lodge. Later, you can go ahead with the evening cultural tour in the Batwa community.
Day 10: Volcanoes National Park tour (Rwanda)
Check out of your accommodation in Bwindi and set off for Volcanoes N/P, located in Ruhengeri. Drive via the Cyanika or Katuna border and arrive early at the park for a relaxed evening, dinner, and a night’s stay.
Day 11: 2nd Gorilla trek or track golden monkeys & Ibyi’wacu village tour
With a pack of bottled water and snacks, set off for a briefing at Kinigi. At 8:00 a.m., trek through Volcanoes NP’s jungles to see mountain gorillas or golden monkeys. After one hour of a face-to-face encounter with primates, you will return to your accommodation. The next tour will be to visit the Ibyi’wacu cultural village. Learn more about Rwandese’s unique traditions, cultures, and practices, accompanied by dances and music performances.
Day 12: Trek to the Dian Fossey graveyard
A trek to graveyard of Dian Fossey starts early after briefing and expect to spend at least 2-4 hours. The Dian Fossey tomb site lies at Karisoke Research Center. The trek offers an insight into Dian’s conservation legacy. She was committed researcher, conservationist and played a part in saving the then critically endangered mountain gorillas. Descend back and have a leisurely lunch, then have a chance to visit the Twin Lakes (Lake Burera and Ruhondo).
Day 13: Kigali-Arusha (Tanzania)
Drive for 2-3 hours from Ruhengeri to Kigali airport. If not, you can visit the Gisozi Memorial Center first. This is followed by lunch, and then you connect to the airport. Fly from Kigali to Arusha in Tanzania for the next holiday.
Day 14: Arusha-Serengeti National Park (Northern tourism circuit, Tanzania)
Enjoy a hefty breakfast, and you will be picked up at the hotel in Arusha. Drive to Serengeti National Park in the Northern tourism circuit. Arrive early and as you connect to the lodge. Keep an eye on various animals, especially cheetahs, wildebeest, lions, elands, buffalo, birds, and others.
Day 15: Day excursion in Serengeti National Park
Explore the vast savanna plains of Serengeti National Park, and today, you will leave the lodge with a packed lunch. The game drive through the Serengeti allows you to watch a variety of mammal species and birds. This park has all the big five game. If your tour falls around July, August, or September, there will be a chance to watch the wildebeest migration. You will enjoy a picnic lunch and later, drive back to your accommodation property for a leisurely dinner and a night’s stay.
Day 16: Wildlife trip to Masai Mara National Reserve (Kenya)
A hefty breakfast will be enjoyed early in the morning, and after that, you can meet your driver guide for pickup. Begin your road trip to the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya through the Isebania border.
Day 17: Day wildlife excursion in Masai Mara
Like Serengeti, today’s Masai Mara National Reserve game viewing expedition takes a full day game drive. This includes viewing the big five game (leopards, lions, buffalo, elephants, rhinos), cheetahs, zebras, giraffes, and observing the wildebeest migration.
Day 18: Depart for Nairobi
At leisure, enjoy your breakfast and check out of your accommodation later. Pick up by the driver guide. Drive to Nairobi for drop off at the hotel or airport for departure, thus marking the end of the 18-day East Africa safari.
