Safari Overview
21 days Uganda gorillas and the rest of East African safari is a long safari that is going to expose you to Uganda’s mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, you will also visit other national parks for example Murchison falls national park which is a home to the strongest waterfalls in the world, you visit Kibale forest national park also known as the primate capital, you will enjoy one of the best boat cruise in east Africa that is on Kazinga channel in Queen Elizabeth national park, you will later head to Rwanda to engage in wildlife safari in Akagera national park where you will encounter Africa’s Big 5 animals, thereafter, proceed to Tanzania in the northern circuit to have serious game drives and this will be your final place and then head back home. You will visit 3 countries and each country is unique in terms of culture, terrain and wildlife. This itinerary is for travelers who want long holidays in Africa.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Pick up and transfer to Murchison Falls National Park
You are most welcome to Uganda the pearl of Africa. On this first day, our driver guide will pick you from the Airport, take you through the itinerary and then hit the road to Murchison falls national park which is Uganda’s largest national park and it is famous for hosting the strongest waterfalls in the world. It is about 6hours drive from Entebbe to Murchison falls national park, however you will have an en-route to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary to track rhinos in Nakasongola. Tracking rhinos takes about 2hours including 1hour that you spend in the presence of them as you observe and learning their behaviors. You will enjoy a hot lunch at the sanctuary and head to Murchison falls national park, you will arrive in the evening hours, connect to the booked lodge in Murchison falls national park, check in the lodge, relax, have dinner and overnight stay.
Day 2: Game Drive and Boat Cruise to the Bottom of the falls
You will wake up on as early as 6:30am, grab a cup of coffee, meet your driver guide, head to the park headquarters, get a ranger guide and continue to the jungle to pursue wildlife when they are still very active and the game drive will last for about 2 to 3 hours. You will be welcomed by herds of buffaloes, elephants, lions, leopards and other wildlife for example giraffes, Johnsons’ hartebeests, kobs, olive baboons, birds, bushbucks among others and thereafter you will return to the hotel for a full breakfast, relax at the lodge and in the evening, you will go for a boat cruise to the bottom of the falls, cruising through a school of hippos, elephants and buffaloes will be sharing the pool. You will later visit top of the falls to catch the scenery from above. You will see the magic of the rainbow crossing over the falls, you will take as many pictures as you want and videos, thereafter you will retire to home and this will mark the end of today. On reaching you lodge, you will freshen up, have dinner and enjoy a very quiet night.
Day 3: Check out and transfer to Kibale Forest National Park
You will arise on a delicious breakfast, bid a farewell to Murchison falls national park and head to Kibale forest national park where over you find over 1500 chimpanzees. You will indulge in captivating landscapes where rolling hills become order of the day, green vegetation and scattered homesteads. You will have some stopovers for scenic viewing, lunch will be served in Hoima and then proceed to the park Arriving will be in the evening, check in your booked lodge, have dinner and enjoy a silent night.
Day 4: Chimpanzee Trekking in Kibale National Park and Bigodi Wetland visit
You will arise on a mouthwatering breakfast, meet your driver guide and head to Kanyanchu guest information center. You will be entertained by the local singers, get briefing about chimpanzee trekking, you will be assigned a ranger who will answer all your questions about gorilla trekking. After meeting the chimpanzees, you will spend 1hour in their presence as you keenly observe how they pursue their daily chores, you will enjoy taking pictures and videos as the birds will be singing for you in different genres, you will later head back to the park headquarters to meet your driver guide and also to collect your chimpanzee trekking certificate. You will freshen up once you reach your lodge, enjoy a scrumptious lunch, and relax as you get ready for an evening engagement to Bigodi wetland where you will come across different birds, kobs, bushbucks, blue monkeys, red tailed monkeys, vervet monkeys, you will proceed to the local community to taste the local brew, locally brewed coffee and thereafter, you will head back to the lodge in the late evening to crown your day with a delicious dinner and overnight stay.
Day 5: Check out and transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
You will wake up on a lazy breakfast, after that you will check out smoothly at leisure and head to Queen Elizabeth national park which is about 2hours drive. Queen Elizabeth national park is Uganda’s second largest national park, known for its endless plains, vast animal concentration and magical scenery. You will arrive in the afternoon, check in the booked lodge, relax, have lunch and admire the environment around the lodge and this evening you will just relax as you get ready for the next day’s activities.
Day 6: Game drive and boat cruise on Kazinga channel
You will wake up as early as 6:30am, greet your intestines with a cup of coffee, meet your driver guide and head to the park headquarters to meet your ranger guide who will escort to the jungle. You will spend about 2 to 3hours in the jungle, doing massive encounters with lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, kobs, bushbucks, hyenas, warthogs to mention but a few, you will later return to the lodge for relaxation, memories will be piling and slowly by slowly you will have stories to tell to people back home. You will have a hot lunch and in the evening at 3pm, head out for a launch cruise on Kazinga channel where calm waters draw all kinds of animals and birds. You will find hippos, buffaloes and elephants sharing the same pool, kobs and bushbucks will be drinking water and birds will be at the shores entertaining you. You will take so many pictures of these animals and birds, sunset pictures on water as so interesting as well and thereafter, you will head to Kikorongo for Equator experience, you will therefore head back to the lodge at dusk for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 7: Check out and transfer to Bwindi impenetrable Forest National Park
Another day to enjoy Uganda and its hidden treasures is here, you will wake up in the morning, greet your intestines with a scrumptious breakfast, check out of the lodge and head to Bwindi impenetrable forest national park via Ishasha sector in Queen Elizabeth national park and this is where you will find tree climbing lions. You will exit Ishasha and head to Bwindi impenetrable national park, lunch will be on the way and proceed to the park, connect to your booked lodge in Buhoma gorilla sector of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park, check in, have dinner and overnight.
Day 8: Gorilla trekking and Batwa Community Visit
Arise and shine, your trip highlight day is here. You will wake up in the morning, greet your intestines with a mouthwatering breakfast, get your lunch box, and meet your driver guide who will transfer you to the park information center where you will get briefing about gorilla trekking experience in Uganda. You will also be assigned a gorilla family to track and a ranger guide who take you to the jungle while answering all your questions about gorillas. He will help you to locate the gorilla family and the whole experience will take between 1hour to 5hours including 1hour you are given to be in the presence of the mountain gorillas. Sitting on the cold soils and silent environment while you watch closely these forest giants engage in their daily activities is so soothing. Under the thick canopies lie the African mountain gorillas, make sure your camera is charged and ready to capture every moment, after you have spent 1hour with the mountain gorillas, you will return to the park headquarters where you will meet your driver guide who will transfer you back to the lodge to freshen up, rest a bit and in the evening you will visit the Batwa. Expect to be entertained through songs, dances and then listen to their ancient stories, after that session, they will show you their craft shops where you can support their work in case you, thereafter, head back to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 9: Transfer to Lake Kivu in Kigali and Relaxation
On this day, you will arise in the morning at leisure, have a scrumptious breakfast, check out of the lodge and head Lake Kivu in Rwanda. You will cross the border via Cyanika connect to Musanze and this is Lake Kivu area. Upon arrival, you will connect to your booked lodge, check in, have lunch and relax at the lodge. If you want, you can do a boat cruise on Lake Kivu or still relax as you get ready for the next day exploration. Dinner and overnight stay will be at the Lake.
Day 10: Transfer to Akagera National Park
Arise in the morning, grab a delicious breakfast, check out of the lodge and head to Akagera national park which is about 6hours drive. On this day, you will drive through the undulating hills of Rwanda and you will surely confirm why Rwanda is called the land of a thousand hills. You will drive in the country side, as you admire the settlement and the green hills of Rwanda, proceed to Akagera with an en-route on the way. You will arrive in the evening, head to the booked lodge in Akagera national park, check in, and have an overnight stay.
Day 11: Game Drive and Boat Cruise on Lake Ihema
Another day of exploration is here. You will wake up on a mouthwatering breakfast, meet your driver guide and head to the jungle to have an encounter with wildlife when they are still very active. You will be welcomed by herds of buffaloes, lion prides, leopards, elephants and rhinos, and these are Africa’s big 5 animals. you will have an encounter with other wildlife for example giraffes, kobs, elands, hyenas, birds to mention but a few. You will return to the lodge in the midmorning, relax at the lodge, you can be swimming, reading a book or memorizing your life for adventure. You will have lunch in the afternoon, get ready for yet another exciting activity. Lake Ihema is famous for high population of Nile crocodiles and hippopotamuses which are normally seen basking near the boat during the boat cruise, the lake is also a birding paradise where hundreds of birds are drawn closer, the lake also pulls different animals from their hiding especially the savanna animals which are seen on the shores drinking water. You will also enjoy picturesque moment especially the wildlife and sunsets. You will thereafter head back to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 12: Transfer to Kigali and Relaxation
On this day, you will wake up on a lazy breakfast, check out of the lodge, meet your driver guide and bid a farewell to Akagera national park and head to Kigali the capital city of Rwanda and it is known as the cleanest city in Africa. Upon arrival in Kigali, you will connect to your hotel and this will take about 3hours drive, check in the lodge, have lunch and in the evening you can do some shopping in the city or stay at the hotel.
Day 13: Kigali city tour and Fly to Tanzania
You will wake up at leisure, have a delicious breakfast, check out of the hotel and go for a city tour. You will visit Kigali Genocide museum, you will visit artisan centers for example Neo Art Center, and you will have lunch in the local restaurant and then be transferred to Kigali international airport for a flight to Arusha in Tanzania. Upon arrival in Tanzania, you will be welcomed by our company representative who will greet you, take you through your itinerary in Tanzania. Dinner and overnight will be in Arusha.
Day 14: Transfer to Tarangire National Park
Another day to pursue wildlife in the wilderness is here. You will arise in the morning at leisure, have a delicious breakfast, meet your driver guide and transfer to Tarangire national park and it is about 2hours drive from Arusha to Tarangire national park. you will arrive at lunch time, head to the booked lodge, have lunch and in the evening engage in the evening game drive in Tarangire national park. Tarangire national park boasts in having the largest elephant population, the ancient baobab trees, the park also accommodates Tarangire River which is pulls elephants and other wildlife from far to come drink from it. You will have an encounter with different wildlife, you will take as many pictures as you can since the park has beautiful sceneries. You will retire to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 15: Check out and Transfer to Lake Manyara National Park
Arise in the morning, grab a scrumptious breakfast at leisure, and check out of the lodge and hit the road to Lake Manyara national park and it is about 2hours drive from Tarangire national park to Lake Manyara national park. You will arrive in the afternoon, connect to your booked lodge, have lunch and relax at the lodge.
Day 16: Full day Lake Manyara National Park
This is another day for you to explore the beauty of Lake Manyara and this full day is yours to leave no stone unturned in this national park. The park is famous for its grassy plains, thick forests and alkaline Lake Manyara. You will spot tree climbing lions, buffaloes, buffaloes, herds of elephants, leopards and the famous flamingos that shade the lake shores with pink color. You will have a picnic lunch organized at the animal view point and
proceed with the game drives. You will later retire to the lodge to crown your day with dinner and overnight stay.
Day 17: Check out and transfer to Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Another day to continue exploring the hidden gems of Tanzania is here. You will wake up at leisure, have a delicious breakfast, check out of the lodge, meet your driver guide and head to Ngorongoro conservation area via Mto WA Mbu village and ascend to the Great Rift Valley connecting to the Ngorongoro gate. You will drive for about 2hours, arriving in the time for lunch, connect to your lodge, check in, have a hot lunch and start catching feelings for the unique nature of Ngorongoro conservation area. This day you will relax at the lodge as you see the beauty of the park.
Day 18: Full Day Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Another day full of adventure is here, you will arise in the morning, warm your tummy with a delicious breakfast, get your lunch box, meet your driver guide and head to the conservation area. You will have a drive along the crater rim where you will have an encounter with lions, leopards and black rhinos. You will later descend to the crater bottom to have a full view of wildlife and breathtaking sceneries. You will visit different places in Ngorongoro including the Lerai Fever Tree and Lake Magadi where you will find large population of flamingos. You will have a picnic lunch at the animal view point for example at Hippo pool site known as the Ngoitokitok Springs or Mandusi swamp where wildlife usually grazes from. You will later ascend to the crater rim in pursue of other wildlife as you head to your accommodation. You will crown your day with a scrumptious dinner under the moon thus marking the end of today.
Day 19: Check out and transfer to Serengeti National Park
On this day, you will wake up at leisure for a scrumptious breakfast, meet your driver guide, check out of the lodge, meet your driver guide and transfer to Serengeti national park which is the most visited national park in Tanzania. You will drive for about 2hours, arrive in the afternoon hours, head to the lodge, check in, have a hot lunch, and you can decide to engage in the evening game drive or relax at the lodge and wait for the next day to explore Serengeti national park.
Day 20: Full day Serengeti National Park
Another day for you to explore the amazing game drive is here. You will wake up on a scrumptious breakfast, meet your driver guide and head to the park headquarters to get a ranger guide and proceed to the park to catch the sunrise and wild animals when they are still very active. This is a home of Africa’s big 5 animals which are; lions, leopards, buffaloes, rhinos and elephants and they will all be at your disposal. The park is also a home to ugly 5 which are; vultures, marabou storks, warthogs and wildebeests. Other wildlife to encounter are; giraffes, cheetahs, hartebeests, kobs among others. Serengeti national park is also famous for wildebeest migration where wildebeests are seen crossing to Masai Mara and this is the largest animal movement that attracts millions of travelers and savanna predators as well. You will visit different kopjes for animal viewing and beautiful scenery, you will enjoy a picnic lunch, proceed with a game drive and if you visit in the dry season, you see wildebeest migration which happens between June to September. You will later head to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 21: Check out and departure
On the last leg of the trip, you will wake up at your leisure, enjoy a mouthwatering breakfast, check out of the lodge, meet your driver guide and transfer to Arusha for an international flight back home or to other destinations. At this this, the relationship that you will have with Omangwa Safaris will never be broken and you will leave in our memories for example. You will have lunch in Arusha, proceed to the Airport thus marking the end of 21 days Uganda gorillas and the rest of East African Safari.
