19-Day Rwanda Uganda Kenya Tanzania Gorilla Trek & Safari

Itinerary

1. Day 1: Arrival in Kigali Rwanda

   Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by your professional safari guide and transferred to your hotel. Kigali is known for its cleanliness, organized streets, welcoming atmosphere and beautiful surrounding hills. After check-in, the remainder of the day is free to relax following your international flight, enjoy the hotel facilities or take a short optional walk around the neighborhood depending on your arrival time. Your guide will also brief you about the exciting safari ahead. Overnight: Hotel des Mille Collines or similar

2. Day 2: Kigali Genocide Memorial and Transfer to Uganda

   After breakfast, visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial for an informative guided experience that provides important insight into Rwanda’s history, resilience and reconciliation journey. Afterwards, begin your scenic drive toward southwestern Uganda. Travel through Rwanda’s rolling hills, terraced farmland and rural communities before crossing the border into Uganda. Continue toward the Lake Mulehe area, enjoying beautiful countryside scenery and views of the Virunga region before arriving at your lodge. Overnight: Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge or similar

3. Day 3: Golden Monkey Trekking in Mgahinga National Park

   After an early breakfast, drive to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park for your golden monkey trekking adventure. Following a briefing by the park rangers, enter the bamboo and montane forest in search of the endangered golden monkeys. These energetic primates can often be seen feeding, climbing and moving through the vegetation. The trek also provides opportunities to appreciate the forest ecosystem and other wildlife. After the trek, return for relaxation, with an optional community experience available in the afternoon. Overnight: Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge or similar

4. Day 4: Gorilla Trekking and Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi

   After an early breakfast, proceed to the appropriate park headquarters for a ranger briefing before beginning your gorilla trekking experience in Bwindi/Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, depending on your permit allocation. Accompanied by experienced trackers and guides, hike through the montane forest in search of a habituated gorilla family. Once located, spend up to one hour observing these extraordinary primates in their natural habitat. After trekking, drive to scenic Lake Bunyonyi for a relaxing evening. Overnight: Arcadia Cottages or similar

5. Day 5: Lake Bunyonyi to Queen Elizabeth National Park

   After breakfast, depart Lake Bunyonyi and travel north towards Queen Elizabeth National Park. The scenic journey passes through Uganda’s rolling hills, crater lakes, cultivated farmland and rural communities. Upon arrival, enjoy a boat cruise along the famous Kazinga Channel, which connects Lake Edward and Lake George. The cruise offers excellent opportunities to observe large concentrations of hippos, crocodiles, elephants and buffaloes along the shoreline, together with numerous water birds and other wildlife. Overnight: Mweya Safari Lodge or similar

6. Day 6: Queen Elizabeth Game Drive and Transfer to Kibale

   Begin the day with an early morning game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park when wildlife is most active. Explore the savannah plains in search of lions, elephants, buffaloes, antelopes, warthogs and other wildlife. After the game drive, continue toward Kibale Forest National Park through picturesque countryside and tea-growing areas. Kibale is one of Africa’s most important primate destinations and is particularly famous for its large chimpanzee population and exceptional diversity of forest primates. Overnight: Chimpanzee Forest Lodge or similar

7. Day 7: Chimpanzee Trekking and Bigodi Wetland Walk

   After breakfast, proceed to the Kibale Forest briefing point for your chimpanzee trekking experience. Following a ranger briefing, enter the rainforest with experienced guides and trackers to search for habituated chimpanzee communities. Along the trail, you may encounter red colobus monkeys, black-and-white colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys, colorful birds, butterflies and other forest species. In the afternoon, visit Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary for a guided nature and community walk while learning about local livelihoods, traditional practices and conservation initiatives. Overnight: Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse or similar

8. Day 8: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park

   Enjoy an early breakfast before beginning the long but rewarding journey to Murchison Falls National Park. Travel north through Uganda’s changing landscapes, agricultural areas, rural communities and scenic countryside. Upon reaching the Murchison Falls area, visit the Top of the Falls, where the powerful Nile River is compressed through a narrow gorge before plunging downstream. Enjoy spectacular views of the falls and surrounding landscape before continuing to your lodge for dinner and relaxation. Overnight: Paraa Safari Lodge or similar

9. Day 9: Game Drives and Boat Cruise in Murchison Falls

   Spend a full day exploring Murchison Falls National Park. Begin with an early morning game drive across the northern savannah plains, searching for elephants, giraffes, lions, buffaloes, hartebeests, Uganda kob and other wildlife. Later, enjoy a boat cruise along the Victoria Nile toward the base of Murchison Falls. The riverbanks attract large numbers of hippos, crocodiles, elephants and water birds. Return to the lodge after the cruise for dinner and an evening of relaxation. Overnight: Paraa Safari Lodge or similar

10. Day 10: Murchison Falls to Sipi Falls

    After breakfast, depart Murchison Falls National Park with a packed lunch and travel east toward the Mount Elgon region. The journey passes through changing landscapes, rural communities and agricultural areas. As you approach Sipi Falls, the scenery becomes increasingly spectacular, with waterfalls cascading down the slopes of Mount Elgon, deep valleys, rolling hills and coffee-growing landscapes. Upon arrival, check in at your lodge and enjoy the peaceful highland environment. The remainder of the day is free to relax. Overnight: Sipi Heritage Lodge 

11. Day 11: Sipi Falls to Lake Nakuru Kenya

    Enjoy a very early breakfast before departing Sipi Falls with a packed lunch for the journey into Kenya. Complete the required border and immigration formalities before continuing towards Lake Nakuru National Park. The park is renowned for its diverse wildlife, including white and black rhinoceros, Rothschild’s giraffes, buffaloes, lions and numerous bird species. Flamingos may also be seen when water and ecological conditions are favorable. Overnight: Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge or similar

12. Day 12: Lake Nakuru to Masai Mara National Reserve

    After breakfast, enjoy a morning game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park during the cooler hours when wildlife is generally active. Continue afterward toward the legendary Masai Mara National Reserve, traveling through the scenic Great Rift Valley and rural Kenyan landscapes. Upon arrival, check in at your lodge and relax. Overnight: Masai Mara Sopa Lodge or similar

13. Day 13: Masai Mara Balloon Safari and Game Drive

    Rise before dawn for an unforgettable hot-air balloon safari over the Masai Mara. As the sun rises over the savannah, enjoy breathtaking aerial views of wildlife, grasslands, rivers and woodland below. After landing, celebrate with a traditional bush breakfast before returning to the lodge. Later, enjoy a game drive through the reserve in search of lions, elephants, buffaloes, cheetahs, leopards, giraffes, zebras and wildebeest. During the migration season, the Mara can provide spectacular wildlife viewing opportunities. Overnight: Masai Mara Sopa Lodge or similar

14. Day 14: Masai Mara to Northern Serengeti Tanzania

    After a very early breakfast, depart the Masai Mara with a packed lunch and begin the journey toward Northern Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. Travel through western Kenya toward the Isebania Sirari border, where you will complete the necessary immigration and customs formalities before crossing into Tanzania. Continue towards the Kogatende area of Northern Serengeti. Depending on the season, road conditions and wildlife movements, game viewing may begin along the route as you enter the Serengeti ecosystem. Overnight: Kontiki Tented Camp or similar

15. Day 15: Northern Serengeti Full Day Game Drive

    Depending on the seasonal location of the wildebeest migration, enjoy a full-day game drive in Northern Serengeti National Park or travel towards the western/Central Serengeti to follow the herds. Northern Serengeti is particularly rewarding during the migration season when large numbers of wildebeest and other plains animals move through the region. Search for lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, giraffes, zebras, buffaloes and other wildlife. Your experienced guide will adjust the route according to current wildlife movements. Overnight: Kontiki Tented Camp or similar

16. Day 16: Northern Serengeti to Central Serengeti Game Drive

    After breakfast, depart Northern Serengeti and travel toward Central Serengeti while enjoying a full day of game viewing en route. The route allows you to experience the changing landscapes of the Serengeti and follow wildlife movements across the vast ecosystem. Depending on the season, the Central Serengeti may offer excellent opportunities to see large concentrations of wildebeest, zebra and other plains animals. Keep watch for lions, cheetahs, leopards, elephants and giraffes as you progress toward the central region. Overnight: Kontiki Tented Camp or similar

17. Day 17: Serengeti Game Drive and Transfer to Ngorongoro

    After an early breakfast and with a packed lunch, depart the Serengeti while continuing to enjoy wildlife viewing along the route. Travel south through the spectacular Serengeti landscape toward the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Depending on the route and wildlife activity, enjoy additional game viewing opportunities before leaving the Serengeti ecosystem. Continue towards your accommodation near Ngorongoro, where you can relax and prepare for the following day’s crater safari. Overnight: Embalakai Ngorongoro Elerai or similar

18. Day 18: Ngorongoro Crater Safari

    After breakfast, descend into the magnificent Ngorongoro Crater for a full-day wildlife safari. The crater floor contains diverse habitats supporting an exceptional concentration of wildlife. Search for elephants, buffaloes, lions, hyenas, zebras, wildebeest, hippos and flamingos, with a chance of encountering the endangered black rhinoceros. Enjoy a picnic lunch in the crater surrounded by spectacular scenery. Later, ascend from the crater and continue towards Karatu for a relaxing evening. Overnight: Marera Valley Lodge or similar

19. Day 19: Tarangire National Park and Departure

    After breakfast, depart for Tarangire National Park for your final wildlife experience. The park is famous for its large elephant populations, ancient baobab trees, seasonal wildlife concentrations and diverse birdlife. Enjoy a game drive in search of elephants, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, buffaloes, lions and other wildlife. After the safari, continue towards Arusha or Kilimanjaro International Airport for your onward flight, marking the end of your memorable Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania adventure. End of Tour