Overview
This 21 days East African Combo Safari will take you to Uganda, Rwanda Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya and Tanzania. This will cover the mountain and low land gorillas, chimpanzees, community walks like that of Isunga cultural community at the edge of Kibale National Park, the big five animals that are spotted during the game drives and boat cruises, city tours like that of Kigali in Rwanda and many more others. This safari also involves great moments like that of the wildebeest migrations together with the zebras. Large and small conservation areas will be visited, as unique stopovers such as one at the Uganda equator, rift valley viewing points and many more.
Detailed Itinerary
Day1. Pick up from Kigali International Airport and head to Virunga national park
On your arrival or depending on the agreed meeting point, the assigned safari driver guide will pick you, up and take you through briefing exercises about this 21 days East African Combo Safari. The safari will begin with a transfer to Virunga national park in the Democratic Republic of Congo where you will take part in a gorilla trekking adventure the next day. Virunga national park is among a few national parks that are home to the endangered mountain gorillas, there are other primates that are found in this park such as vervet monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, olive baboons and many more. Arrive and check-in at the accommodation facility which will be the end of the day.
Day2. Gorilla trekking in Virunga and visiting Senkwekwe gorilla orphanage
Virunga national park is a home for mountain gorillas located in the eastern parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Note that, all park activities start from the park headquarters including the pick of gorilla permits. You will wake up early in the morning for the breakfast and drive to the starting point for briefing and grouping. Only eight people are allowed to trek with a gorilla family in one hour while in their presence with them. After this great adventure retreat to the lodge for lunch.
In the afternoon you will embark on your journey to visit the Senkwekwe gorilla orphanage which is the gorilla sanctuary that was started in 2010 to rescue gorilla orphans. Reaching here will be too different compared to trekking in Virunga national park where you’re required to keep seven metres from the gorilla. You will pose for the photo with these gorillas, spend enough time with them and learn more about how they survived with the help of the caretaker. Retreat to lodge for dinner.
Day3. Transfer to Kahuzi Biega National Park
Kahuzi-Biega national park is found in the country of the Democratic Republic of Congo located in the eastern parts of the country near Bukavu town. In the whole of Africa, it’s the only protected area that harbours eastern lowland gorillas. It will take about 6 to 7 hours to drive depending on your speed with lunch enroute then continue to check in with the booked lodge.
Day4. Lowland gorilla trekking and heading back to Kigali
In the whole of Africa, the lowland gorillas are only found in Kahuzi-biega national park in the Democratic Republic of Congo therefore, having a great chance to visit all east African countries you will not miss visiting both the mountain gorillas and the lowland gorillas. Trekking is normal like the one for mountain gorillas so you will wake up early in the morning for the breakfast and follow all the instructions like for the previous day. Spend time with these amazing great apes to compare the difference between the two then drive back to the lodge for lunch and relax. Later on, you will transfer back to Kigali where you will spend a night.
Day5. Transfer to Nyungwe National Park
Nyungwe is well known for chimpanzees though they are many primates within the national park which is thirteen in total. It is located in the southwestern parts of Rwanda and borders Burundi, Lake Kivu and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Therefore, after having your breakfast you will embark on your journey to this protected area for different amazing activities. Proceed with the journey with a stopover on the way for the picnic lunch before checking in with the booked lodge.
Day6. Chimpanzee Trekking and canopy walk
On this day it will be a great morning for primates therefore after your delicious breakfast gets into your car with your safari driver guide and head to the park offices for briefing. Set off for the field with the help of a ranger guide to help you track a chimpanzee party. While in the field with these amazing primate apes watch them carefully and learn more about them to see how close to humans they are. You will drive back to the lodge for lunch and prepare for the next activity.
You will head for the canopy walk activity which is only done in Rwanda in Nyungwe national park in east Africa. The experience or where the walk takes place is situated 50 metres above the ground. You have a high chance of spotting primates during this adventure, recording beautiful birds and having a clear view of Nyungwe national park. Retreat to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day7. Cross to Uganda for Bwindi National park
Arise early morning from your warm bed, park well all your luggage and check out with the lodge saying bye-bye to Rwanda. This day will be your last day in Rwanda therefore, after having breakfast embark on your journey to Uganda. Gatuna border is to be used and only 8 to 9 hours can be used to get to Bwindi forest impenetrable national park. As soon as you start entering Uganda, you will be welcomed by the green vegetation, beautiful sceneries and many amazing creatures. You will have lunch enroute and proceed with the journey to check in with the booked lodge.
Day8. Gorilla trekking and Batwa community tour
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi is the best activity with 21 habituated gorilla families. Bwindi is home to almost 459 mountain gorillas which is almost half number of gorillas in the whole world. You will wake up early in the morning for the breakfast and drive to the park headquarters for a briefing from the ranger guide about the field and head for the search in the forest. Only one hour is to be spent with gorillas in their wild. You will drive back to the lodge for lunch.
After having your lunch you will go for a Batwa community tour and take a chance to interact with the local people. Hear stories from elders about how they used to survive in the wild. Batwa people are people who used to stay in the forest of Bwindi before conservation came in, they were food gatherers, and hunters and they used to use their local herbs to treat different diseases.
Day9. Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park via Ishasha sector (lion trekking)
Depart Bwindi forest impenetrable national park this morning after breakfast and head to Queen Elizabeth national park which is the second largest protected area in Uganda. You will be welcomed by large herds of elephants feeding alongside the road, lions sleeping in the midst of the road and others resting up in the trees, buffalo, warthog and many more. Proceed and check in with the booked lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day10. Game drive and boat cruise
Wake up early in the morning for the breakfast and set off for the morning game drive in Queen Elizabeth national park. Where you will spot a number of wildlife including all the big five animals, for example, the rare tree-climbing lions, rhinos, large herds of elephants, buffalos, warthogs, antelopes plus bird species mostly the predators. Move back to the lodge for lunch.
After your delicious meal in the afternoon, drive to kazinga channel for a boat cruise where you will have a chance to spot water wildlife where we have hippos, crocodiles plus beautiful bird species like kingfishers, pelicans, herons, hammer kop and many more. Meet and interact with the Fishermen and see the type of fish caught in this water. With the help of the site, guide interviewed knows the activities carried out and the safety around. Drive back to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day11. Transfer to Kibale and isunga community walking trails
Queen Elizabeth national park is located a few kilometres from Kibale therefore, after your delicious breakfast you will continue with your safari to Kibale forest national park. The drive will take about 4 to 5 hours to drive with a stopover at the equator to take photos and more adventure. Proceed with the journey to the booked hotel for lunch and after visit Isunga cultural community for a community walk. A lot of great things are to be covered during this walk for example make and taste banana gin on your own, visit different families with different stories also get a chance to explore one of the crater lakes among the Ndali Kasandra crater lakes.
Day12. Chimpanzee tracking and head to Fort Portal for Amabere Ga’Nyinamwiru tour
Leave the lodge and head to the park offices in Kanyanchu for a briefing where you will meet other fellow trekkers. Like the briefing for gorillas, you will be told not to feed the chimpanzees, not to mimic or vocalize, don’t litter and much more. You will after have a short drive with the park ranger that will take you to the start point of chimpanzee trekking. After sporting a troop of chimpanzees, you will spend an hour with them, watching and taking photos at the same time recording memorable photos. The overall experience takes about 2 to 5 hours which includes an hour in their presence.
After lunch, head to Fort Portal and visit Amabere Ga’Nyinamwiru caves a physical feature that has cultural stories attached to its formation. These are naturally stalactites and stalagmites. Enjoy a cold natural shower of the Nyakasura falls, and hike to one of the hills to enjoy a view of 3 crater lakes, Rwenzori ranges and the surrounding communities. Disembark to the lodge and this Will is the end of the day.
Day13. Head to Murchison falls National Park
Leave Kibale/Fort-portal in the morning with great scenery of tea plantations, forests and other green nature of the surrounding. Have several stopovers but the major one will be at one of the roadside local markets to buy some fruits and to have lunch. The overall journey will take about 5 to 6 hours and on the arrival, you check in to the booked lodge. Murchison falls is the biggest national park in the pearl of Africa known for being to home four of the big five animals apart from the Rhino and also home of the world’s strongest waterfall where the name of the park comes from.
Day14. Game drive, boat cruise and hike to the top of the falls
Begin the day with a game drive where you will spot different wild animals such as giraffes, lions, leopards, elephants, buffalos, Jackson hartebeests, and hippos at the hippo pool, warthogs and many more. Bush breakfast will be served while at the hippo pool and this can be fruit breakfast or tea or even coffee as you watch over the beautiful scenery.
After lunch, you will head for a boat cruise on the Nile where you get in touch with water-loving animals such as crocodiles and hippos. The antelopes, elephants and hippos will be at the banks of the Nile quenching their thirst. Have a great view of the falls from the bottom and you have an option of hiking to the top of the falls in case you missed viewing the falls the previous day.
Day15. Transfer to Kampala with different stopovers and fly to Tanzania
Head to Kampala in the morning after a well-served breakfast with an optional stopover at Ziwa Rhino sanctuary where you will trek the rhinos. After proceeding to Kampala and be dropped at Entebbe International Airport where you will board the flight to Tanzania. Here, meet our safari representative that will take you to the booked lodge.
Day16. Transfer to Ngorongoro conservation area
Head to Ngorongoro after your breakfast in Arusha at the hotel. Ngorongoro conservation area is the largest collapsed crater lake in the world and it homes over 30,000 wild animals. This has made the area a tourist hub due to the game drives that normally take place in this area with a great view. On your arrival, you will take a game drive where you will encounter different species such as hyenas, buffalos, rhinos, elephants, and many more. Head to the safari lodge for your accommodation.
Day17. Transfer to Serengeti national park
Head to Serengeti National park one of the largest national parks in Tanzania. This transfer will be after a game drive in the Ngorongoro craters where you will meet other attractions more than the missed ones. On the arrival, take an evening game drive and this will create everlasting memories.
Day18. Full day in Serengeti
There are different activities you can take part in while in this great national park in Tanzania and among others are game drives and hot air ballooning. Each offers a great memory where you get to spot wild animals such as lions, cheetahs, giraffes, eland, African buffalos, rhinos, lions, leopards, elephants and much more. There are great moments like the wildebeest migration, sunrise and sunset and many more others. Overnight stay at the lodge.
Day19. Transfer to Masai Mara National reserve
Leave Serengeti national park in Tanzania early in the morning and transfer to Masai mara national reserve of Kenya which is neighboring Serengeti. This reserve gets its name from the Masai the local people historically known to be the inhabitants of the park, later on, they were evicted due to the conservation policies and now, they are seen grazing their livestock on the reserve premises. Arrive in the evening and this will be the end of the day after checking in the booked accommodation.
Day20. Full day in Masai Mara
Have a great time while enjoying the Mara plains and this can be through game drives and different wildlife such as wildebeest, lions, elephants, buffalos, rhinos and much more. There are great moments such as sunset and sunrise, the annual wildebeest migration and much more. Also, a picnic lunch will be served in the wilderness and this is another great day.
Day21. Head to Nairobi and fly back home
On your last day, head to Nairobi city with a short city tour where you will visit places like the museum, art centers and much more. Be dropped at the airport and this will mark the end of the tour.
