15 Days Best of Wildlife and Primates in East Africa

monkey carrying a baby on her back moving across a herd of buffalos

Safari Overview

A trip around East Africa for 15 days is a fantastic and unforgettable experience. It leads you to the most beautiful savannah parks and tropical forests, where you may see a variety of primates and wildlife. The destinations in the three countries of East Africa are covered by an East Africa safari. In the Republic of Rwanda, you will do gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park, chimpanzee trekking and a canopy walk in Nyungwe National Park.

In the Republic of Uganda, game drives and boat cruises are available in Queen Elizabeth National Park, and golden monkey trekking tour in Mgahinga National Park. Game drive in Kenya's Masai Mara national reserve. In the Republic of Tanzania, you can go on a game drive and a cultural adventure in the Serengeti National Park, as well as game drive and a top-of-the-crater hike. Cultural experience, photography, and a city tour are among the other activities available. The journey begins in Kigali, Rwanda and concludes in Arusha.

Detailed tour

Day 1: Kigali to Nyungwe National Park

Following your arrival, you will meet and be informed by our driver-guide at Kigali International Airport, who will inform you about what will happen in Rwanda and throughout East Africa. Nyungwe National Park is home to more than 13 different primate species.

The journey will begin after the briefing, with a stopover en route at the genocide memorial site to learn about the 1994 ethnic atrocities in Rwanda. The other stop will be for lunch before heading to the park lodge for relaxation, dinner, and a siesta in the evening.

Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking and canopy walk

After breakfast, the park custodians will give you a pre-tour briefing. Make the chimps see you the way you see them; they are your cousins, and a dedicated 2-5-hour journey will see you safely and pleasantly arrive in the territory; where distance and silence must be observed. Observe the chimps picking ants from the hole with a stick, laughing and skipping from one tree branch to the other.

Following your encounters with chimpanzees and other primates in the park, such as white and black Colobus monkeys, olive baboons and more, take lunch break before embarking on a 50-meter suspended canopy walk, where you can take photos, watch birds in the treetops and take in the breathtaking scenery.

Day 3: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park

After breakfast, check out of the lodge and go to Volcanoes National Park, passing by the massive Lake Kivu, undulating hills, and plantations. Volcanoes National Park is home to half of the world's mountain gorilla population, which is located only in Africa.

You'll make a brief stop at the Kings' palace for some cultural inspiration before continuing on to your lodge. A successful day ends with dinner and a good night's sleep.

Day 4: Gorilla trekking

At dawn, you will embark on a rewarding Gorilla trekking adventure, which many people dream about but seldom have the opportunity to undertake. Yes, you and your family will be the world's largest and most powerful primate species. The briefing lasts for around 30 minutes to one hour, followed by the ultimate trekking experience, which can last anywhere from 2 to 8 hours depending on your hiking speed and distance between the apes. The jungle is vast and there are monkeys, forest creatures and birds to be aware of in addition to mountain gorillas.

After gorilla climbing, take a break for lunch and relax at the resort or go to the twin lakes for adventure and canoe rides. The sunset provides an opportunity to relax, eat dinner and sleep.

Day 5: Transfer to Mgahinga national park

After breakfast, wake up to a heavy breakfast meal, and checkout for a transfer to Mgahinga National Park in south western Uganda. The journey is coupled with views of the lush vegetation and rolling hills. You will have a stopover for lunch and then proceed with a great drive to your lodge around the park. The lush misty forest will be your first sight, as you drive to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 6: Golden Monkey trekking and Cultural entertainment.

Following breakfast, you will go to the park headquarters for a pre-tour briefing with the ranger guides and other tourists. They will describe the life of golden monkeys, as well as the laws of trekking, before escorting you to the jungle for the ultimate quest, which will last anything from one to four hours, depending on how far they have travelled. Golden monkeys are shy and play, so if you want to get the greatest shots and watch them play or feed, you'll need to pay close attention.

You'll return to the lodge for lunch following the trek, followed by an afternoon of entertainment by the Batwa pygmies in their hamlet. The Batwa are among the world's shortest people, and they are proud of their forest-dwelling past. Bring the day to a close.

Day 7: Mgahinga National Park to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Kick start your day with breakfast and then depart Mgahinga National park for the Medley of wonder-Queen Elizabeth National Park in western Uganda. Have a stopover at various scenic spots where you can the entire Virunga massif; followed by a lip-smacking lunch in Kihiihi town.

Following that, you will proceed with the drive, with the view of the zigzag hills, plantations and breathtaking landscape. Using the Ishasha sector gate, you will arrive at your lodge, and check in for dinner and a nap.

Day 8: Game drive and boat cruise

Early in the morning, you will embark on a rewarding game drive through Mgahinga National Park's savannah grasslands. There, you'll tour several parts of the park in the hopes of seeing various residents, including four of Africa's Big 5 Cats, namely lions, leopards, elephants, and buffaloes; warthogs, waterbuck, and more. The game drive will last approximately 3-4 hours, followed by a lunch break.

After lunch, take a boat ride along the long Kazinga channel to see hippos, crocodiles, aquatic birds and some mammals quenching their thirst along the lake's edge. Following that, you'll return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 9: Fly to Nairobi, Kenya

Breakfast is served before departing for Entebbe International Airport, where you will board a chartered or scheduled flight to Nairobi, Kenya. Lunch will be at either Entebbe or the Equator, and you can watch some professional demonstrations. Upon arrival in Nairobi, Kenya, a representative from our company will brief and discuss the expectations in Kenya as well as the destination you will be visiting the following day. Thereafter, you'll be driven to your hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.

Day 10: Nairobi to Masai Mara National Park

Expect the most of your stay, from the lively city of Nairobi to the quiet wildness of the Masai Mara national game reserve. The journey to the enormous park takes about 6-7 hours, including a photo break at the spectacular Great Rift Valley and a lunch stop along the way. Enjoy the sights of the plantations and scattered homesteads before arriving at the lodge and checking in for refreshment, dinner and overnight stay.

Day 11: Full day game drive

After the first meal, for the entire day, you will be in wilderness, taking photos and looking out for the lions, leopards, zebras, elephants, buffaloes, cheetahs, hyenas, vultures, ostriches, lover birds, wildebeests and more hunting, grazing and resting.

There will be a picnic lunch break, and then, exploring the shorelines of Mara River, a climax and the most exciting place to encounter rare wildebeests. The Mara River is home to hippos and crocodiles, both of which you may see. This day ends with dinner and an overnight stay.

Day 12: Masai Mara to Serengeti National Park

From having a peaceful nap, gift your intestines with a delicious breakfast meal, and thereafter check out of the lodge for a Transfer to Serengeti National Park; a drive through the lush vegetation, endless plains, and happy people. There will be enroute stopovers for lunch and another for document verification at the border post. Arrival at the park will be at sunset for dinner, refreshment and sleep.

Day 13: Game drive and visit the Masai people

After a hearty breakfast at the lodge, head to the huge savannah grassland in the park's center section for a rewarding 3-4-hour wildlife viewing adventure. The boundless plains of the Serengeti are home to a variety of species, including wildebeests, lions, warthogs, zebras, cheetahs, elephants, Buffaloes and more.

Return to the lodge for lunch after the wildlife drive, followed by a visit to a Masai cultural adventure, which includes jumping, clapping, and singing with the warriors. You'll then return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

Day 14: Transfer to Ngorongoro crater - Afternoon bottom of the crater safari

After breakfast, checkout and take a game drive while exiting Serengeti national Park for Ngorongoro crater. The smooth drive offers stunning views of the landscape, plantations and homesteads. You will arrive at the lodge for lunch and then spend the evening having fun at the top of the largest land caldera in the world. At the summit, you get to admire the rolling landscape, watch various animal hideouts and take in the fresh air. Thereafter return to the park for dinner and overnight sleep.

Day 15: Sunrise game drive and Departure

Wake up at daybreak, and go game viewing around the magnificent Ngorongoro crater slopes. The adventure unveils to you the stunning landscape of the area, plenty of flora and fauna. It is a place you have a high chance of encountering the Big5 Cats with the 3-4-hour game drive.

Wide array of mammals to look out for include; lions, leopards, cheetah, buffaloes, African elephants, and more; birds, primates and plants. After the game drive, you will return to the lodge for breakfast, and then checkout for a transfer to the airport for your flight to the next destination or back home.

End of safari.

Affiliations

UWA AUTO USAGA UTB