15 Days Great East African Safari (Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania)

Your East African safari adventure begins with arrival at Kigali International Airport, where your guide will meet you for transfer to your hotel in Rwanda's clean and vibrant capital. This East African safari day includes a poignant visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial, approximately 15 minutes from the city center, honoring the victims of the 1994 tragedy. The afternoon East African safari activities continue with exploration of local markets and the Inema Arts Center, showcasing Rwanda's creative renaissance.

Today your East African safari takes you to Volcanoes National Park, a 2.5-hour drive from Kigali through the picturesque countryside known locally as "The Land of a Thousand Hills." The afternoon East African safari activities offer time to rest at your lodge while enjoying magnificent views of the mist-shrouded volcanoes.

This morning's East African safari activity features tracking endangered golden monkeys in the bamboo forests of Volcanoes National Park, a 30-minute drive from your accommodation. The East African safari experience continues with these playful primates, often found in groups of 30-80 members swinging through the bamboo zone. Your afternoon East African safari includes a visit to the Iby'Iwacu Cultural Village to learn about traditional Rwandan life and customs from local community members.

Your East African safari journey continues as you cross the Cyanika border into Uganda, a scenic 4-hour drive to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. The East African safari route takes you through the "Switzerland of Africa," with terraced hillsides and stunning valley view’s unique to this region. Evening East African safari activities include settling into your lodge near Bwindi, known locally as "Ishasha," while preparing for tomorrow's gorilla encounter.

Today's highlight of your East African safari is trekking through Bwindi Impenetrable Forest to encounter Uganda's mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. Your East African safari guide will lead you through dense vegetation on a trek that can take 1-6 hours, depending on gorilla movement. The afternoon East African safari experience includes relaxation at your lodge while sharing stories of your incredible primate encounter with fellow travelers.

This day of your East African safari focuses on the indigenous Batwa pygmy people, the original inhabitants of the forest who lived as hunter-gatherers until their displacement. Your East African safari cultural immersion includes a 3-hour interactive experience with the Batwa community, learning about their traditional forest survival skills and medicinal plant knowledge. The afternoon East African safari activities include traditional dance performances and storytelling sessions that preserve their rich cultural heritage.

Your East African safari continues with a 4-hour journey to Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda's most popular wildlife reserve spanning nearly 2,000 square kilometers. The East African safari route passes through the Ishasha sector, famous for its tree-climbing lions that can often be spotted lounging in fig trees. By evening, your East African safari reaches the park's central area near the Kazinga Channel, where hippos can be heard from your accommodation.

The morning East African safari activity features a game drive through Queen Elizabeth National Park's diverse habitats, where over 95 mammal species, including elephants, buffalo, and leopards, roam the savanna. Your midday East African safari break is followed by a 2-hour boat cruise along the 40km Kazinga Channel connecting Lakes Edward and George. The afternoon East African safari experience brings you remarkably close to hippos, crocodiles, and the world's largest concentration of water birds. You will later transfer to Kibale Forest National Park, a 3-hour drive north through volcanic crater lakes and tea plantations. 

This East African safari highlight includes tracking habituated chimpanzees in Kibale National Park with experienced guides, spending one hour observing their natural behaviors just 30 minutes from Kanyanchu Visitor Center. The afternoon East African safari activities include a guided walk through the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, home to 8 primate species and numerous colorful bird species.

Your East African safari continues with a morning flight from Entebbe to Kenya's Masai Mara, saving valuable time compared to the long overland journey. Upon landing at the airstrip after a 2-hour flight, your East African safari guide will meet you for transfer to your lodge located in the heart of this world-famous reserve. The evening East African safari game drive introduces you to the Mara's rich wildlife, possibly including your first big cat sightings.

This full day of your East African safari explores the rolling grasslands of the Masai Mara National Reserve, known locally as "Mara", meaning "spotted" in the Maa language. Morning and afternoon East African safari game drives traverse the savanna in search of the Mara's famous lion prides, leopards, and cheetahs. Between East African safari activities, visit a traditional Maasai village just 45 minutes from your lodge to learn about their fascinating semi-nomadic culture and deep connection to the land.

Your East African safari journey takes you across the Kenya-Tanzania border via a short flight to the endless plains of the Serengeti National Park, spanning approximately 14,750 square kilometers. Upon arrival at the airstrip, your East African safari vehicle waits for a game drive en route to your camp in the central Serengeti, known by locals as "Siringet", meaning "the place where the land runs forever." The afternoon East African safari activity focuses on tracking resident big cat populations that make this ecosystem world-famous.

Today's East African safari immerses you in the Serengeti's remarkable wildlife density, with morning and afternoon game drives covering different sectors of the park. The East African safari experience includes searching for the Big Five while learning about the complex ecosystem that supports over 500 bird species and 300 mammal species. Your evening East African safari concludes with a sundowner cocktail overlooking the plains, where millions of wildebeest migrate annually in what's known as "the greatest wildlife show on Earth."

This morning, your East African safari travels to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site approximately 2.5 hours from central Serengeti. The East African safari highlight today is descending 600 meters into the crater, a collapsed volcanic caldera spanning 260 square kilometers that acts as a natural enclosure for approximately 25,000 animals. Your full-day East African safari exploration inside "Africa's Eden" offers opportunities to spot the densest population of lions and endangered black rhinos in Africa.

The final day of your East African safari begins with a morning flight to Zanzibar, the "Spice Island" located just 25 kilometers off Tanzania's coast. Your East African safari concludes with leisure time on Zanzibar's pristine beaches, where the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean provide a perfect ending to your adventure. Before your East African safari officially ends, enjoy a brief tour of historic Stone Town, a UNESCO site showcasing a unique blend of Arab, Persian, Indian, and European influences.