12 Days Kilimanjaro Hike & Bwindi Gorilla Trekking Safari
Overview
The 15 days best of wildlife & primates in East Africa combines amazing safari experiences in the 4 top East African destinations that is Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania. This long East African safari package allows you enjoy thrilling primate adventures in Uganda particularly chimpanzee tracking in Kibale National Park; gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park.
The grand East African safari combines magical wildlife encounters in Kenya and Tanzania where you stand a chance to witness the wildebeest migration. The wildebeest migration encounter will particularly be enjoyed while at Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya and Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park. Your 15 days best of wildlife & primates in East Africa begins from Uganda and ends in Tanzania.
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Kampala-Kibale
Kibale National Park is truly the primate capital of the world, located in Western Uganda and day one of your 15 days best of wildlife & primates in East Africa safari starts with an early breakfast. Drive to Kibale from Kampala via Mubende, Fort Portal for only 5-6 hours with en-route lunch stop at Fort Portal. On arrival at Kibale, check in your accommodation for evening relaxation, dinner and overnight stay.
Day 2: Chimpanzee tracking & Bigodi walk
Chimpanzee tracking Kibale starts with an early morning breakfast and later briefing about rules and regulations. At 8:00am, actual search for Kibale chimpanzees begins with park guide leading you. Over 1500 chimpanzees plus 12 additional primates all live in Kibale and you will sight majority of them on 2-4 hours’ chimp trekking tour. Expect to spend a solid 1 hour with chimps, take pictures and retreat to enjoy lunch at the lodge. Have enough time to relax and in the afternoon, connect to Bigodi Wetland for incredible primate walk/nature walk. Enjoy view of abundant species of primates including l’hoest monkeys, red colobus monkeys, colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys plus birds like the Great blue turacos. After, the rest of the evening will be had back at the lodge including dinner and overnight stay.
Day 3: Kibale-Queen Elizabeth National Park
Breakfast and after, meet with driver for transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park 3-4 hours’ drive. In a 4WD vehicle, set off via Fort Portal city to Queen Elizabeth N/P the 2nd biggest Uganda National Park spanning on land area of 1978sq.kms. This park is famous for its huge concentration of wildlife including bush elephants, leopards, hippos, 620 bird species, crocodiles, tree climbing lions, antelopes etc.
Day 4: Queen Elizabeth Game drive, Boat cruise
After breakfast, go explore Kasenyi Plains in a 4WD vehicle with pop up while on a game drive 2-3 hours. Animal sightings to expect range from buffaloes, bush elephants, antelopes, lions, warthogs, birds and more then you drive back to have lunch. After a leisurely lunch, connect to Kazinga channel for a boat cruise in the afternoon. Lasting for 2-3 hours, enjoy view of hippos, crocodiles, aquatic birds while navigating on Kazinga channel that links L. Edward and L. George.
Day 5: Queen Elizabeth-Bwindi via Ishasha
Enjoy breakfast, after drive to Bwindi National Park through Ishasha sector expecting to sight the tree climbing lions as they are relaxed on the fig trees. Proceed to Bwindi in Kibale district a home to endangered mountain gorillas and diverse birds, plus other primates.
Day 6: Gorilla trekking
Begin your lifetime gorilla trekking adventure after breakfast, briefing and allocation of gorilla groups. Bwindi has 4 regions-Nkuringo, Ruhija, Buhoma & Rushaga; 20 habituated gorilla families and trekking one group lasts for 2-6 hours inclusive of one hour of photography, learning about their behaviors and more. Return to have enough relaxation before a community visit in Batwa community then later overnight stay back at the lodge.
Day 7: Bwindi-Rwanda Volcanoes National Park
Check out of the lodge after breakfast then drive to Volcanoes N/Park in Northwestern Rwanda via Gatuna/Katuna border. Check into the lodge upon arrival, dine and have overnight stay prepared for the next adventure the following day.
Day 8: Gorilla trekking & community visit
Volcanoes National Park has about 13 gorilla families open for gorilla tourism but you will be allocated to one to visit in your group 8 people. The park guide leads you starting at 8:00am after briefing on gorilla trekking rules and expect to take 2-6 hours inclusive of 1 hour of magical encounter. The evening includes community tour in Iby’Iwacu village to enjoy cultural experience.
Day 9: Volcanoes N/Park-Kigali-Nairobi Kenya
Leave Volcanoes NP after breakfast and check out of the lodge, 2-3 hours’ drive to Kigali Airport. Get here early and fly to Nairobi Kenya.
Day 10: Travel to Masai Mara
Masai Mara lies in Narok County and you will access it in a 4WD vehicle after breakfast back in your lodge or hotel in Nairobi. Nairobi to Mara Reserve is 5-6 hours’ drive and you will check into the lodge for overnight stay.
Day 11: Full day Masai Mara Kenya
Enjoy early breakfast, after set off for long day game/wildlife drive in magical savannas of Mara Reserve. Expect to witness wildebeests, big game, birds, giraffes, zebras and more- this is inclusive of picnic lunch and you get back to the lodge for overnight stay.
Day 12: Transfer to Arusha
Meet your driver guide after breakfast and then drive to Nairobi for your flight to Arusha Tanzania. On arrival, meet Tanzania tour leader for transfer to the hotel for overnight stay.
Day 13: Arusha to Serengeti
Leave Arusha early after breakfast, drive to Serengeti National Park one of the best destinations in Tanzania’s Northern Safari Circuit. This is one of East Africa’s largest parks and an excellent spot to witness the wildebeest migration; big five game etc.
Day 14: Game drive & travel to Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Breakfast in a lodge at Serengeti and after, go enjoy a guided game drive to see big game with high possibility to witness the wildebeest migration. In addition, there are countless birds and other savanna wildlife to see. Retreat from game viewing, enjoy early lunch and later, transfer to Ngorongoro.
Day 15: Game drive Ngorongoro Crater & depart
Early in the morning after breakfast, go explore and experience Ngorongoro Crater on a guided game drive. This is where the world’s biggest caldera is found and it is known for its huge concentration wildlife majority of which will spotted on a game drive. Return to the lodge and then meet your driver ready to be transferred back to Arusha marking the end of the 15 days best of wildlife & primates in East Africa.
