18 Days Discover East Africa safari

18 Days Discover East Africa safari

18 Days Discover East Africa safari: This 18 days discover East Africa safari (Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya & Tanzania) is such an adventurous East Africa safari that includes gorilla trekking, chimpanzee trekking and wildlife viewing safari where you will spot big 5 game as well as cultural tours. This safari starts in Entebbe Uganda and ends in Nairobi Kenya. Parks to visit during this 18 days discover East Africa safari (Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya & Tanzania) include; in Uganda, you will visit Murchison falls national park, Kibale forest national park, Queen Elizabeth national park, Bwindi impenetrable national park. In Rwanda, you will visit Volcanoes national park and in Tanzania, you will visit Serengeti national park while in Kenya, you will explore Masai Mara National Reserve.

Highlights of 18 days tour

• Day 1: Welcome to Uganda the pearl of Africa – Uganda 
• Day 2: Transfer to Murchison Falls National park – Uganda 
• Day 3: Morning game drive & afternoon Boat Cruise – Uganda
• Day 4: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park – Uganda
• Day 5: Chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi nature walk – Uganda
• Day 6: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park – Uganda
• Day 7: Game drive and afternoon boat cruise – Uganda
• Day 8: Ishasha game drive & transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park – Uganda
• Day 9: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park –Uganda
• Day 10: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park – Rwanda 
• Day 11: Golden Monkey trekking and Iby’Iwacu cultural village
• Day 12: Hike Dian Fossey’s Grave
• Day 13: Fly to Arusha Tanzania
• Day 14: Transfer to Serengeti National Park – Tanzania
• Day 15: Full day excursion in Serengeti National Park – Tanzania
• Day 16: Transfer to Masai Mara National Reserve – Kenya
• Day 17: Full day excursion in Masai Mara National Reserve – Kenya
• Day 18: Departures

DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1: Welcome to Uganda the pearl of Africa – Uganda 

Arrival and hotel transfer: Your safari starts on day 1 of 18 days discover East Africa safari (Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya & Tanzania) with airport pick up from Entebbe international airport upon landing. Our company representative who will introduce himself to you as your safari driver for Uganda and Rwanda Park. He will take you through a briefing session about this grand East Africa safari as you drive to the reserved hotel in Kampala/ Entebbe for overnight.

Day 2: Transfer to Murchison Falls National park – Uganda 

Transfer to Murchison falls national park: After breakfast on day 2 of 18 days discover East Africa safari (Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya & Tanzania), meet your Uganda safari driver for a drive from your hotel to Murchison falls national park with a stopover at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary where you will trek white Rhinos. After trekking rhinos, proceed to Masindi for an enroute lunch before heading to the park via Kichumbanyobo gate. Proceed to check in your lodge for dinner and have an overnight sleep.

Day 3: Morning game drive & afternoon Boat Cruise – Uganda

Game drive & boat cruise in Murchison falls national park: After breakfast on day 3 of 18 days discover East Africa safari (Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya & Tanzania), head out for a sunrise game drive in the savanna part of Murchison where you will be on a sure deal to spot the big 5 game including Lions, Leopards, Elephants, Giraffes, Waterbuck and other mammals and birds among others. After game drive, return to the lodge for lunch and embark on an afternoon boat cruise along the Nile River to watch different aquatic wildlife and the world’s most powerful waterfall.

Day 4: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park – Uganda

Drive to Kibale forest national park: On day 4 of 18 days discover East Africa safari (Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya & Tanzania), wake up early for breakfast after which you will meet your driver for a transfer to Kibale forest national park with an enroute lunch and dinner at the lodge.

Day 5: Chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi nature walk – Uganda

Chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi nature walk: Have an early morning breakfast on day 5 of 18 days discover East Africa safari (Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya & Tanzania)  then meet your safari driver to be transferred to Kanyanchu visitors center for chimpanzee trekking briefing. During briefing, you will get all the basic information about the dos and don’ts and the possible encounters while in habitat of chimpanzees. After briefing, you will be led onto a forest walk amidst security of armed rangers. Search for a habituated troop of Chimpanzees then spend only 1 hour in their presence taking photographs and exit the forest back to lodge for lunch. Later in the evening, enjoy a 2-3 hours Bigodi swamp walk to search for bird species, botanical species and more primates. 

Day 6: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park – Uganda

Drive to Queen Elizabeth national park: Enjoy a relaxed breakfast at the comfort of your lodge on day 6 of 18 days discover East Africa safari (Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya & Tanzania) then check out and be driven from Kibale forest national park to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Arrive in time for lunch then spend the remaining hours of the day at leisure or opt for any activity in case you feel like doing something. 

Day 7: Game drive and afternoon boat cruise – Uganda

Game drive and boat cruise: After breakfast on day 7 of 18 days discover East Africa safari (Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya & Tanzania), your safari driver will take you on a game drive safari with in Kasenyi plains where you will be driving amidst a huge population of mammals such as Uganda Kob, Elephants, Buffaloes, antelopes, and several species of birds, butterflies among others. Upon completing game drive, return to the lodge for lunch then spend your afternoon cruising along the mighty Kazinga channel to watch out for Hippos, crocodiles and water birds among others.

Day 8: Ishasha game drive & transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park – Uganda

Ishasha game drive & head to Bwindi: Have your breakfast served at the lodge on day 8 of 18 days discover East Africa safari (Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya & Tanzania) then check out of the lodge with packed lunch box and be driven to Ishasha sector for a brief game drive to search for tree-climbing lions. After game drive, enjoy your picnic lunch and proceed with the journey to Bwindi impenetrable national park far in south western part of Uganda. 

Day 9: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park –Uganda

Gorilla trekking in Bwindi: Gorilla trekking starts early in the morning thus on day 9 of 18 days discover East Africa safari (Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya & Tanzania), you will arise from your bed very early, have breakfast then be ready and well prepared to be transferred to the gorilla trekking trailhead for a 30 minutes briefing as early as 7:00am. After briefing, you will take a forest walk through different trails searching and following the Gorillas as they roam the forest. You will take about 2-8 hours walking in the forest in search of Gorillas and once you find them, spend 1 hour in their presence taking photographs and closely interacting with gorillas as long as you create a recommended social distance of 15 cm apart. Exit the forest and return to lodge for a relaxed evening or enjoy an optional Batwa experience.

Day 10: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park – Rwanda 

Volcanoes national park: After breakfast on day 10 of 18 days discover East Africa safari (Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya & Tanzania), check out of the lodge and exit Bwindi impenetrable National park via Cyanika border to Volcanoes national park a home to endangered mountain gorillas and the only park in Rwanda that harbor endangered mountain gorillas, Golden monkeys and volcanoes.  Getting to the park, you will proceed to the lodge for check in, dinner and have an overnight sleep. 

Day 11: Golden Monkey trekking and Iby’Iwacu cultural village

Golden Monkey trekking & Visit Ibyiwacu: After breakfast on day 11 of 18 days discover East Africa safari (Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya & Tanzania), pack water and snacks and get ready to be transferred to the park headquarters for briefing about Golden monkey trekking after which you will penetrate into the bamboo forest to trek a habituated troop of Golden monkeys. Trekking Golden monkeys is very refreshing as you watch these beautiful primates jumping over your head and cheerfully making noise. Exit the forest after spending one hour with the golden monkeys and head to your lodge for lunch. After lunch, spend your evening on a cultural tour to the Ibyiwacu cultural village where you will interact with the local Rwandese about their standards of living and their culture. Close your day with a breath taking cultural performance. 

Day 12: Hike Dian Fossey’s Grave

Dian fossey Hike: After breakfast on day 12 of 18 days discover East Africa safari (Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya & Tanzania), be embark on a hike to visit the Grave of Dian Fossey situated on Karisoke research center where she was performing her duty of conserving Mountain Gorillas. The death of Dian Fossey was reportedly by poachers who murdered her while she slept at her research center.  You will as well have a glance at the grave of Decimal the silverback that was as well killed by poachers and Dian Fossey buried it at Karisoke research center. After the visit, descend back to your lodge for late lunch and choose either to spend your evening at leisure or have a walk to visit the twin Lakes of Burela and Ruhondo.

Day 13: Fly to Arusha Tanzania

Fly to Arusha Tanzania: Wake up early for a cup of coffee on day 13 of 18 days discover East Africa safari (Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya & Tanzania), then check out of the lodge and be driven to Kigali with a stopover at the caves. While in Kigali visit Genocide memorial sites, have lunch and be driven to airport to catch a flight to Arusha Tanzania where you will be welcomed by a different guide this time round based in Tanzania that will introduce you to the remaining part of the safari. Head to your reserved hotel in Arusha for check in, dinner and overnight sleep.

Day 14: Transfer to Serengeti National Park – Tanzania

Transfer to Serengeti national park: Upon finishing breakfast at your lodge on day 14 of 18 days discover East Africa safari (Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya & Tanzania), check out of the lodge and be driven from Arusha to Serengeti national park. Lunch will be enroute and upon park arrival, enjoy an enroute game drive enjoying a scenic view of the stunning savanna vegetation cover and plenty of wildlife species including mammals like Wildebeests, Lions, Cheetahs, Leopards, Buffaloes, Rhinos, Zebras, Elands and many more. 

Day 15: Full day excursion in Serengeti National Park – Tanzania

Full day game viewing in Serengeti national park: Since you have a full day to spend in the park, you will wake early for breakfast then pack lunch box to start day 15 of 18 days safari (Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya & Tanzania) with a fascinating early morning gam drive to spot hunters, Nocturnal mammals and other early risers that arise to graze on fresh vegetation of the park. During the months of July to October, you will be able to witness the great migration of the wildebeests as they follow the rain patterns. The game drive will move on till late evening then return to the lodge for dinner and grab an overnight rest. 

Day 16: Transfer to Masai Mara National Reserve – Kenya

Drive to Masai Mara National Reserve: After breakfast on day 16 of 18 days safari (Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya & Tanzania), check out of the lodge and meet your safari driver for a transfer from Serengeti national park to Masai Mara national reserve in Kenya which borders with Serengeti national park in Tanzania. You will cross over via Isebania border where you will be cleared and proceed to enjoy the stunning view of this beautiful savanna park in Kenya.

Day 17: Full day excursion in Masai Mara National Reserve – Kenya

Game viewing in Masai Mara National Reserve: On day 17 of 18 days safari (Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya & Tanzania), have breakfast and embark on a full day wildlife viewing safari in the park where you will watch several mammals in the park. 

Day 18: Departures

Departures: After breakfast on day 18 of 18 days East Africa safari (Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya & Tanzania). Check out of the lodge and be driven to Nairobi for hotel drop off or airport drop off.

END OF 18 DAYS DISCOVER EAST AFRICA