18-Day East Africa Safari – Gorillas, Big Five & Migration Tour

This 18-day Expedition in East Africa takes you through four countries: Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Kenya.

Highlights include seeing all the Big 5 African animals in their natural homes, meeting the rare mountain gorillas and golden monkeys, and the chance to witness the great annual wildebeest migration in Kenya or Tanzania.

Get ready for an adventure-filled safari with some community and cultural experiences.

18-Day East Africa Safari Highlights

• Day 1: Arrival in Uganda
• Day 2: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park – Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
• Day 3: Game drive and afternoon boat cruise to the bottom of Murchison Falls
• Day 4: Transfer to Kibale National Park
• Day 5: Chimpanzee trekking and guided nature walk in Bigodi
• Day 6: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
• Day 7: Morning game drive and boat cruise on Kazinga Channel
• Day 8: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
• Day 9: Gorilla trekking and Batwa community visit
• Day 10: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
• Day 11: Canoeing and transfer to Volcanoes National Park
• Day 12: Golden monkey tracking and Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village
• Day 13: Flight to Arusha and travel to Lake Manyara National Park
• Day 14: Game drive – Transfer to Serengeti National Park
• Day 15: Game drives in Serengeti National Park
• Day 16: Transfer to Masai Mara National Reserve
• Day 17: Game drives and Maasai community visit
• Day 18: Departure

Detailed 18-Day East Africa Safari Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Uganda

You will be met at the airport by our driver and guide. They will welcome you and take you to your hotel in Kampala to rest and prepare for your safari.

Dinner and overnight stay in Kampala. Welcome to Uganda.

Day 2: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park – Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

Your driver will pick you up early and you will start your journey to Uganda’s largest game park. You will stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary to track rhinos, the only place in Uganda where you can see these endangered animals. One of the Big 5 down, four more to go.

Continue through Masindi district, stop in Masindi town for lunch, then proceed to Murchison Falls National Park. Check in at your lodge or camp for dinner and overnight.

Day 3: Game drive & afternoon boat cruise to the bottom of Murchison Falls

After breakfast, explore the northern part of Murchison Falls with a game drive. Look for elephants, buffalos, waterbucks, giraffes, Uganda kobs, lions, and if lucky, leopards. See many bird species too.

Return for lunch, then enjoy a boat cruise to the base of the falls. This is a highlight of the safari as you get close to animals in the water. Bring your camera for many photo opportunities.

If you like, hike to the top of the falls. The hike is hard but reaching the top is very rewarding. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 4: Transfer to Kibale National Park

After breakfast, drive to Kibale National Park, famous for hundreds of chimpanzees and over 1,000 primates. Stop for lunch in Hoima and then continue through Fort Portal.

Arrive late afternoon, check in, and relax. Dinner and overnight stay.

Day 5: Chimpanzee trekking & guided nature walk in Bigodi

After breakfast and briefing, start trekking chimpanzees, our closest relatives. They swing from branch to branch and make lots of noise, which helps you find them. Take many photos and enjoy the lively trek.

After lunch, take a guided walk in Bigodi wetland to see plants and animals. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 6: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Enjoy a relaxed morning before heading to Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda’s second largest and most visited park. See beautiful views of the Rwenzori Mountains on the way.

Arrive in time for lunch, then go for a late afternoon game drive or relax at the lodge. Dinner and overnight stay.

Day 7: Morning game drive & boat cruise on Kazinga Channel

Start with a pre-sunrise game drive in the park. Spot Uganda kobs, elephants, lions, hyenas, buffalos, leopards, warthogs, monkeys, baboons, and many bird species. Return for breakfast.

After lunch, enjoy a boat cruise on Kazinga Channel, where you can see hippos, crocodiles, buffalos on the shore, and many birds. Relax and enjoy the views.

Day 8: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

After breakfast, drive to Bwindi via the Ishasha sector in Queen Elizabeth Park. Look for the unique tree-climbing lions in Ishasha. Lunch on the way.

Continue to Bwindi, home to the largest mountain gorilla population in the world. Check in, settle, and relax. Dinner and overnight stay.

Day 9: Gorilla trekking & Batwa community visit

After early breakfast, drive to the park offices for a briefing and gorilla family assignment. Trek through the forest with your guides to find the gorillas. Listen to birds and watch the forest come alive.

Spend one hour with the gorillas at a safe distance. Take photos and learn from your guide. After the trek, get your certificate and return to the lodge for lunch.

In the afternoon, visit the Batwa community to learn about the lives of the forest’s former inhabitants. Return for dinner and overnight.

Day 10: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi

After breakfast, travel to Lake Bunyonyi, Uganda’s deepest lake filled with many islands and bird species.

Check in at your lodge and have lunch. Later, enjoy a boat ride on the calm lake while taking in the beautiful views. Dinner and overnight.

Day 11: Canoeing & transfer to Volcanoes National Park

Go island hopping on Lake Bunyonyi in a traditional dugout canoe. Hear stories about the islands and people who live there.

Return to the lodge, check out, and drive to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, home to mountain gorillas and golden monkeys.

Enjoy the scenic drive with views of the Virunga mountains. Stop for lunch on the way.

Arrive in the evening for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 12: Golden monkey tracking and Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village

After breakfast, go to the park offices for a briefing on golden monkey tracking. These monkeys do not move as much as gorillas, making the trek easier.

After tracking, return for lunch and rest. Later, visit the Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village for music, dance, and a look at local traditions. Dinner and overnight.

Day 13: Flight to Arusha & travel to Lake Manyara National Park

After breakfast, drive to Kigali airport for your flight to Arusha, Tanzania. On arrival, our guide will pick you up and drive you to your lodge near Lake Manyara National Park. Dinner and overnight stay.

Day 14: Game drive & transfer to Serengeti National Park

Wake up in Lake Manyara, known for its large elephant herds and tree-climbing lions. Spot baboons, buffalos, wildebeests, hippos, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, and flamingos.

After the game drive, drive to Serengeti National Park. Dinner and overnight stay.

Day 15: Game drives in Serengeti National Park

Spend the day exploring the Serengeti plains, home to the famous wildebeest migration if you visit at the right time. See lions, leopards, elephants, buffalos, rhinos, giraffes, zebras, and many more.

Return for dinner and rest.

Day 16: Transfer to Masai Mara National Reserve

Enjoy a final game drive as you leave Serengeti for Masai Mara in Kenya. Cross the border at Isebania, complete immigration, and continue to Masai Mara.

Stop for lunch and then a late afternoon game drive. Dinner and overnight stay.

Day 17: Game drives & Maasai community visit

Early and mid-morning game drives. Watch for lions, elephants, wildebeests, leopards, cheetahs, zebras, giraffes, gazelles, and many birds. Return for lunch and rest.

In the afternoon, another game drive followed by a visit to a Maasai village to learn about their culture. Dinner and overnight.

Day 18: Departure

Drive to Nairobi for your flight home. Stop along the way to buy souvenirs and take photos. Drop off at the airport and say goodbye to East Africa.

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