25 Days East Africa Wildlife, Primates & Cultural Tour
Our 25 Days East Africa Wildlife, Primates & Cultural Tour starts in Entebbe in Uganda and ends in Arusha, Tanzania. During this 25 days East African Safari, you will be visiting 16 destinations in the region from mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda, golden monkey trekking in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, chimpanzee trekking in Kibale national park in Uganda, to wildlife viewing in Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya and Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. Other destinations that you will be visiting during this 25 days wildlife safari in East Africa include; Murchison Falls National, Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda where you will get to track tree climbing lions, Amboseli National Park, Ngorongoro Crater National Park and Tarangire National Park to mention but a few. Enjoy the best of East Africa during this 25 days Wildlife, Primates and Cultural Tour!
Detailed Itinerary for 25 Days East Africa Wildlife, Primates & Cultural Tour.
Day 1: Arrival and pick up from Entebbe
Arrival & Pickup from Entebbe: On Arrival at Entebbe International airport in Uganda, you will be received and greeted by a representative from Explore Rwanda Tours who will later transfer you to your Hotel in Kampala where you will spend a night at Forest Cottages/Skyz Marriot Hotel/Serena Hotel.
Day 2: Transfer to Murchison Falls National park with stopover at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.
Transfer to Murchison Falls: Depart Kampala very early in the morning with your guide/driver and embark on a 7 hours’ drive to Murchison Falls National Park in the northwestern park of Uganda. Have lunch in Masindi town. You will have another stopover at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary where you will disembark and continue our journey on foot with the guide in order to get into close proximity of the Rhinos in their natural habitat. However, the sanctuary is not only home to Rhinos but to a lot of other wildlife, birds including the elusive Shoebill Stork.
You will then proceed with your journey to the park arriving in the evening. Check into your lodge for dinner and accommodation at Pakuba Safari Lodge/Heritage Safari Lodge/Paara Safari Lodge.
Day 3: Morning Game drive and Sunset boat Cruise
Morning Game Drive: Enjoy a cup of coffee and you are off for your morning game drive – or enjoy breakfast before the morning game drive – the choice is yours – Game drives can start at 6:30 am and you can see the morning mist on the Savannah as the Sun rises for another day in the park.
Optional: Another option that can be arranged is a bush breakfast for you. Get to enjoy having a delightful breakfast meal amidst the wildlife the park. Watch the beautiful sunrise in the park as you sip your cap of African coffee. After your bush breakfast , you can then embark on a guided game drive in the park as you look out for wildlife animals like elephants, giraffes, zebras, lions, leopards, cheetahs, buffalo, hippos, waterbucks, reedbucks and more.
Sunset Boat Cruise: After lunch at your Lodge, you will go for the Launch cruise that will take you close to the bottom of the powerful waterfalls where sinister water flows from the slim gorge. You will have a chance to see the giant hippos and crocodiles, plus a profusion of water birds near the banks of the river making this a great birding safari. Head back to the lodge for your dinner and the night rest.
Day 4: Chimpanzee Trekking in Budongo Forest.
Chimpanzee Trekking in Budongo Forest: On the 4th day of your 25 Days East Africa Wildlife, Primates & Cultural Tour, after Breakfast, depart from your lodge and head for Budongo Forest which is part of the greater Murchison Falls National Park. Arrive in time for chimpanzee trekking in Budongo Forest. It is about a two-hour experience and you see other primates, birds, butterflies, and mammals while you are on your chimpanzee trek. Have your lunch, dinner and overnight at Budongo Forest Eco Lodge.
Day 5: Transfer to Kibale National Park and Visit Bigodi Wetland Santuary.
Transfer to Kibale: Start the day with an early breakfast and thereafter drive to Kibale National Park in the western park of Uganda. The national park is home to over 1000 chimpanzees including the black and white colobus monkey, grey-cheeked Mangabey, and red-tailed monkey. It will take you about 4-5 hours to get to the park. Upon your arrival in the park, check into your lodge and have lunch.
Visit Bigodi: Drive to your lodge for lunch and thereafter head to Bigodi wetland sanctuary which is rich in biodiversity and beautiful scenery. Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary is a birder’s paradise with about 138 species. It is located outside the park in Magombe Swamp it also hosts eight species of primates including the black-and-white colobus, grey-cheeked mangabey, red-tailed, I’Hoest’s and blue monkeys, and olive baboons. Dinner and overnight at Kyaninga Lodge/Isunga Lodge.
Day 6: Chimpanzee Trekking and Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Chimpanzee Trekking: After having your breakfast every early in the morning. Report to the park headquarters at 7am for a briefing. Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale national park starts at exactly 8am and can take between 4 to 6 hours with an hour to spend with the chimps once a group has been located.
Transfer to Queen: Return to your lodge for lunch and thereafter drive south to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Upon reaching the park, check into your accommodation, relax a bit and go for a guided tour of the Katwe Salt Lake and the activities there. You will visit the lake, see how the salt is mined, and visit the factory, fishing village, and cattle keeping communities. Dinner and overnight at Elephant Hub/Mweya Safari Lodge.
Day 7: Morning game drive and Afternoon Boat Cruise
Morning Game Drive: On the 7th day of your 25 Days East Africa Wildlife, Primates & Cultural Tour,after a cup of African coffee or tea, embark on an early morning game drive along Kasenyi track and Queen’s mile in the park. Also expect to see Lions, Elephants, Cape buffalo, Warthogs, leopard, hyena, mongoose, waterbucks, Uganda kobs, Topi and lots of many small animals and birds. After the game drive, have lunch and relax at your lodge.
Afternoon Boat Cruise: After a healthy lunch, enjoy the unique afternoon 2-hour boat cruise on Kazinga Channel and into Lake Edward. The trip passes through the highest concentration of Hippos and many animals may be seen drinking at the water’s edge. The launch cruise offers an excellent platform for photography, bird watching, and game viewing. The prolific bird life is colorful and stupendous with well over 550 resident species. Dinner and overnight same as above.
Day 8: Lion Tracking Experience and Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Lion Tracking Experience: Start this adventurous day with a splendid breakfast at your lodge. You will then head out for your lion tracking experience. Tree climbing lions that are an exceptional attraction and one among the highlights on all safaris taken within Queen Elizabeth National park in Uganda. The activity is conducted within Kisenyi area and can take 1 to 2 hours of locating the exact location of the lions. You will be accompanied by a team of expert researchers and a park ranger. In addition to the fascinating population of the Tree Climbing Lions within the Ishasha visitor, you will also come across huge buffalo herds, numerous antelopes that keep crossing your path.
Transfer to Bwindi: Thereafter check into your lodge for late lunch and later transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park which is about 7 to 8 hours’ drive depending on which sector of the national park you will be travelling to. Dinner and overnight at Buhoma Haven Lodge/ Ichumbi/Mahogany Springs.
Day 9: Gorilla tracking in Bwindi
Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi: On the 9th day of your 25 Days East Africa Wildlife, Primates & Cultural Tour, after an early breakfast, head to the headquarters of the park for an orientation plus meeting the guides as well as separation into the groups basing on which gorilla group you are to be tracking. From there you will set off for your thrill experience of the Gorillas in the Mist. Hiking within this mysterious and wonderful forest offers quite a lot to see as you make your way to see the Mountain Gorillas. The wildlife including additional primates, butterflies, mammals, and birds, will certainly be very beautiful and really enhance this extremely special experience.
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi national park can entail some thorough climbing as well as hiking although when you come face to face with the tranquil yet potent Mountain Gorillas, watching them only a few meters away from you observing the group, the baby with the mothers, the gorillas partaking their everyday routine just right in front of you is all very overwhelming.
Time permitting; thereafter visit the famous Batwa community for a community and cultural experience. You will learn about the traditional lifestyle of the Batwa, from the brewing of the local beer to medicines made from this very forest. Drive back to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 10: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi: After a healthy breakfast, you will drive south to Lake Bunyonyi. Because of the tiring experience in the safari so far, the majority of the clients will take pleasure in some time relaxing on the shores of this beautiful lake. There are various activities for the guest to enjoy here such as swimming, bird watching, sunbathing including a boat trip around the islands as well as cycling. Dinner and overnight at Lake Bunyonyi Overland Resort.
Day 11: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park-Rwanda
Transfer to Volcanoes: After breakfast, embark on the transfer to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda which is approximately 53km from Lake Bunyonyi in Uganda. You will drive along with the stunning views of Virunga Volcanoes that connect the three countries of Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The scenic views of Lake Mutanda – re-known lava dammed lake gives you the taste of the influence of volcanic activity in the formation of landform feature.
Visit Musanze Caves: Continue on the drive to arrive in Volcanoes National Park for lunch and short relaxation after which you take on a caves walk activity to marvel at this natural feature with great historical significance in traditional Rwanda as they provided refuge for the Kings and storage for supplies during times of war. Dinner and overnight at Muhabura Lodge/Le Bambou/ Five Volcanoes Lodge.
Day 12: Second Gorilla tracking in Volcanoes National Park
Second Gorilla Trek: Wake up very early for breakfast such that by 8:00 am, you are already at the park headquarters –Kinigi for briefing and eventual gorilla trekking experience. During this session, you are allocated to a gorilla family to track, and if with a special case, rangers can be consulted for special arrangements. You will head off to the volcanic lush vegetation in search of gorillas. The trek is quite thrilling as you go through amazing landscapes amidst bird sights and another wildlife crossing including monkeys, wild pigs, and if lucky wild elephants.
The trek takes 2 – 8 hours as gorillas are unpredictable thus packed lunch is required. The jungle sounds will accompany you up to that long-awaited moment of direct contact with gorillas. You will see them as they forage, play, socialize and sometimes charge. The state of wonder that will engulf your heart could leave your camera film with no space for other encounters. The full one hour is enough to optimize this experience after which you will retreat to the starting point then proceed to your lodge to relax.
Day 13: Golden Monkey Tracking & Transfer to Kigali City Tour
Golden Monkey Tracking: On the 13th day of your 25 Days East Africa Wildlife, Primates & Cultural Tour, after morning breakfast, you will track the golden monkeys. These striking primates are a treat for the eyes. With their bright orange fur contrasting the green rainforests of the Virunga Mountains – it’s a photographer’s dream! Visitors meet with their guides at Volcanoes National Park’s Kinigi Headquarters and the visit is done once per day, time will be allocated once booked. Have lunch at your lodge then proceed to Kigali.
Transfer to Kigali: Peacefully nestled along picturesque hilltops, Kigali is a thriving African city immediately notable for its cleanliness, orderliness, and hospitality. You will visit the Genocide Memorial centers, the Camp Kigali Belgian Monument, Natural History Museum – Kandt House, Ivuka Arts Galleries, and the Nyamata church among others. Dinner and overnight at Yambi Guesthouse/Kigali City Blue Hotel/ Kigali Marriot Hotel.
Day 14: Fly to Nairobi-Kenya with Optional City Tour.
Fly to Nairobi: After breakfast, Check-out and proceed to Kigali International Airport to catch up with your outbound flight to Kenyatta International Airport. Upon arrival in Nairobi, you will be met and transferred to your hotel by a representative of Equatorial Wild Safaris. Spend the rest of the day relaxing from the flight and preparing for your next adventure. You can head out for a short tour of Nairobi city if you wish. Dinner and overnight at Edmor Suites/Fairview Hotel/Karen Gables.
Day 15: Transfer to Masai Mara National Reserve.
Transfer to Masai Mara: On the 15th day of your 25 Days East Africa Wildlife, Primates & Cultural Tour, start your day with a healthy breakfast and thereafter you will be picked up by one of our drivers from your Nairobi hotel and depart for Masai Mara National Reserve. You will have the first stop at the Great Rift Valley Viewpoint. This is a perfect place to be in the early morning and evening. You will watch the enthralling Rift valley with its vast vegetation and the sun rays kissing the far and wide stretching mountains in the surrounding. The Great Rift Valley has been reckoned as a wonder of the world stretching from the Middle East passing through Africa and has a great and vast chunk in the East African part and ends in Mozambique in the South.
Visit Narok: After about 15-20min of getting history, you will proceed to Narok. Narok is a town west of Nairobi that supports Kenya’s economy in the south-west of the country, along the Great Rift Valley. Narok is the district capital of Narok County and stands as the major center of commerce in the district. Narok has a population of around 40,000 people, mostly Masai. The Masai, natives of Narok district, refer to Narok as Enkare Narok (meaning black water or dark water) named after, Enkare Narok, the river flowing through Narok town.
The elevation of Narok is 1827 meters (5,997 feet) in altitude. You will have your hot lunch here and thereafter proceed to Masai Mara, on arrival you will be received by our Masai Mara Staffs and then assist you to check in the Camp, leave for the late afternoon game drive which starts immediately upon your arrival, this game drive offers you the 1st day and evening big 5 kill as well as Africa Sunset around 1830hrs, then our driver will drive you back to the camp where you will be served with Africa food in the Camp. Dinner and Overnight at Masai Mara Sopa/ Mara Serena Lodge.
Day 16: Full day Game Drive in Masai Mara National Reserve
Full day Game Drive in Mara: Masai Mara is situated in south-west Kenya and is one of Africa’s Greatest Wildlife Reserves. Together with the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, it forms Africa’s most diverse, incredible, and most spectacular Eco-Systems and possibly the world’s top safari big game viewing Eco-system. I am sure you have heard the wildebeest migration is nothing short of amazing. It is one of the things you have to add to your bucket list. This will be the full-day exploration of the Masai Mara, breakfast will be served early in the morning, then the chef will pack for you fresh picnic lunch since the whole day you will be exploring the Masai Mara famous 7th wonders of the World. This game reserve is Kenya’s finest wildlife sanctuary. Including migrants, well over 450 species of animals have been recorded here.
Mara plains are filled with migrating wildebeest and zebra; there is also resident wildlife year-round. The Mara’s gentle fertile climate bounded by The Rift offers perhaps the richest stocked reserve set within some 1672 sq km – an unlimited spectacle of wildlife. Located 268 km west of Nairobi, the emphasis here is on games. Herds of immense Elephants, browse among Lion, Buffalo, Thompson Gazelle, Zebra, and Topi. You may occasionally sight black Rhino. After exploring the park return to the camp or Lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 17: Transfer to Lake Nakuru National Park & Afternoon Game Drive
Transfer to Lake Nakuru: Leaving the Masai Mara after breakfast, you’ll travel across the ‘breadbasket of Kenya, where acres of wheat and barley litter the landscape as you head north to Narok, the district headquarters of this part of Maasai land. You’ll then travel across the vast plains of the Rift Valley, and up the Mau Escarpment, before arriving at Lake Nakuru National Park in the afternoon. Check into your Lodge for lunch.
Afternoon Game Drive: After lunch, you will enjoy an afternoon game drive in Nakuru National park before heading back to your lodge for the night, in the heart of one of Kenya’s most densely populated wetland National Parks, two hours’ drive from Nairobi. Dinner and Overnight at Nakuru Sopa Lodge/ Lake Nakuru flamingo lodge.
Day 18: Transfer to Amboseli National Park & Afternoon Game Drive
Transfer to Amboseli: On the 18th day of your 25 Days East Africa Wildlife, Primates & Cultural Tour, after an early breakfast, you will leave Rift Valley behind, continue towards Nairobi and collect a picnic lunch from Nairobi and then head south towards Amboseli National Park. Crowned by Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak, the Amboseli National Parks is one of Kenya’s most popular parks. The name “Amboseli” comes from a Maasai word meaning “salty dust”, and it is one of the best places in Africa to view large herds of elephants up close.
Afternoon Game Drive: Enjoy a picnic lunch with an afternoon game drive in the park en-route to your lodge. Dinner and overnight at Tortilis Camp/ AA Lodge/Amboseli Serena Lodge.
Day 19: Wildlife Viewing in Amboseli National Game park tour
Wildlife Viewing in Amboseli: Start your day with a delicious breakfast as you prepare for an adventure-filled day. Full-Day in Amboseli with game drives early in the morning and in the evening. The park is famed for and is home to the huge herds of the African Elephant.
The park also plays host to lions, buffaloes, the elusive leopard, wildebeest, giraffes, zebras, a variety of antelopes, and other smaller plains games. During the dry season, it is semi-arid terrains and during the wet season, the seasonal “Amboseli Swamp” becomes home to many species of birds. Drive back to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 20: Transfer to Lake Manyara National Park-Tanzania
Transfer to Lake Manyara: After breakfast, you continue the journey to the Tanzania border post and then on to Arusha for lunch. After lunch, drive across the Masai Steppe to Lake Manyara National Park. It is a small park that stretches a long way via the high rift valley escarpments which is occupied by the alkaline lake. Water birds gather around the lake and there are over 400 bird species found in this park. Its vegetation provides a good habitat to many animals like monkeys, antelopes, giraffes, grassland elephants, which live around the acacia trees.
You will also get a chance to view the Manyara lions around the trees. In the afternoon, leave Lake Manyara and head to your booked lodge at Africa Safari Glamping/AndBeyond Manyara Safari Lodge
Day 21: Transfer to Serengeti National Park
Transfer to Serengeti: Have breakfast and after start your transfer towards Serengeti National Park, via the high lying farmland of Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Karatu. We shall then descend into the far distance and head to the central area of the park called the Seronera Area, which is one of the richest wildlife places in the park, near the Seronera River that provides a water source to this particular area and has attracted wildlife which is representative of many of the Serengeti species. We shall later arrive in time for lunch and enjoy an afternoon game drive within the park. Dinner and Overnight at Serengeti Tortilis Camp/ Serengeti Sopa Loge/ Serengeti Serena Lodge.
Day 22: Game drives in Serengeti
Game Drives in Serengeti: On the 22nd day of your 25 Days East Africa Wildlife, Primates & Cultural Tour, wake up so early and be fortunate to glide in a hot air balloon which will help you view the Serengeti plains, you will be able to float silently above the bushes while spotting the different wildlife as you enjoy the scenery of the best African National Park, local villages as well as rivers.
You will after breakfast, enjoy game viewing along the famous Sogore River Circuit which enters into the plains of Seronera River, and it’s a good spot to view the lions, topis, Thomson Gazelle, ostrich as well as cheetah. There is also the Visitor Centre that is also worth a visit after the morning game drive. It’s nicely designed and offers interesting wildlife displays with a gift shop that sells maps of the area as well as the information leaflets. You can as well get cold drinks and snacks from the Centre. We shall after enjoy a relaxed picnic lunch at the Centre within the shades of the acacia trees.
Later, in the afternoon, we shall follow the Kopjes Circuit, which goes anti-clockwise around the Maasai Kopjes, this usually attracts many lions and large cobras, the Kopjes are known as weathered granite outcrops that are found around the plains and most of these are miniature ecosystems, providing shade as well as drinking water within the pools in the rocks after the heavy rains. This makes the kopjes good for spotting wildlife species including the lions which sit near the water waiting for animals to come to drink.
Day 23: Transfer to Ngorongoro Crater Area
Transfer to Ngorongoro Crater Area: Have breakfast at the lodge and after starting your transfer to Ngorongoro Conservation Area, we shall have a stopover at the Olduvai Gorge, which boasts a history dating back to the dawn of time. This is the place where both Dr. Lois the anthropologist and his friend Mary Leaky who discovered the skull of Nutcracker Man and the Handy Man, were both very significant links in the chain of human evolution.
We shall then arrive at the park in time for lunch and after descend over 600m into the crater in order to view wildlife for a half day. Being supported by the all-around year water supply as well as fodder, Ngorongoro crater harbors lots of animals including; zebras, eland, buffalos, warthog, giant African elephants, as well as herds of wildebeest.
The park also has a dense population of predators which include; lions, leopards, hyenas, jackals, etc. we shall also visit Lake Magadi which is a large but shallow alkaline lake found in the southwestern corner that is the main feature of the crater. This shallow lake also harbors lots of birds, flamingos as well as hippos. Dinner and overnight at lodge or camp.
Day 24: Transfer to Tarangire National Park
Transfer to Tarangire: Departing Ngorongoro Crater after breakfast, you head southeast to Lake Manyara, Mto wa Mbu village, and Tarangire beyond. Check into your lodge, have lunch and perhaps a swim, and spend the remainder of the afternoon on a game drive. The park is recognized as one of the best parks on the northern circuit for elephant viewing during the dry season. Dinner and overnight at Tarangire Safari Lodge.
Day 25: Transfer Back to Arusha and Departure
Transfer to Arusha and Departure: Depart Tarangire after breakfast and drive back to Arusha arriving in time for lunch. After lunch, you drive to the airport for your departure flight. End Of Tour.
