20 Days East Africa safari: Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania

Safari Overview

This 20 days East Africa Safaris takes you to East African National Parks: Murchison falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable forest National park, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, Nyungwe forest national park, Arusha National park, Lake Manyara National Park, Serengeti National Park and Masai Mara Game Reserve offer best trip which will reward you with gorilla trekking both in Uganda and Rwanda, game drives, bird watching and nature walks.

Brief Itinerary – 20 Days East Africa safari

• Day 1: Transfer to Murchison falls National Park
• Day 2: Game drive and visiting top of falls
• Day 3: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
• Day 4: Exploring Queen Elizabeth National Park and visiting the Ishasha sector
• Day 5: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable forest National park via Ishasha sector
• Day 6: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable forest National Park
• Day 7: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda
• Day 8: Gorilla trekking
• Day 9: Transfer to Nyungwe forest national park and city tour
• Day 10: Exploring Nyungwe forest national park
• Day 11: Transfer to Kigali International airport – Arusha National Park
• Day 12: Game drive in Arusha National park
• Day 13: Transfer to Lake Manyara National Park
• Day 14: Game drive in Lake Manyara National Park
• Day 15: Transfer to Serengeti National Park
• Day 16: Game drive in Serengeti National Park
• Day 17: Transfer to Masai Mara Game Reserve
• Day 18: Game drive in Masai Mara
• Day 19: Transfer to Nairobi town for city tour
• Day 20: Transfer to Nairobi international airport

Included on the safari                                                

• 4WD pop roof vehicle
• Transportation
• Driver’s allowances
• Mineral bottle water
• Accommodation and meals full board

What is not included

• Visas
• Air ticket
• Personal expenses.
• Cost for anything that is not mentioned in the itinerary.

Detailed Itinerary – 20 Days East Africa safari

Day 1: Transfer to Murchison falls National Park

On the first day of your 20 days East Africa Safari, the company driver/guide shall pick you from the place of residence or hotel for transfer to Murchison Falls National Park. Both of you will share words of greetings and he will brief you on the journey before setting off for Murchison Falls. You shall leave with 4WD vehicle and you can have an optional stop over at Ziwa Rhino sanctuary for Rhino trekking. Proceed to Masindi town where you will have lunch at any hotel or restaurant. After having wonderful lunch, continue with the journey to Murchison Falls and on arrival you shall hike the top of the falls. Head to the lodge where you will have dinner and overnight.

Accommodation options: Red chilli tent camp, Paraa safari lodge, Nile safari lodge

Day 2: Game drive and visiting top of falls

Begin your day with hot cup of coffee very early in the morning. Head for morning game drive where you will be rewarded with beautiful view of wildlife like giraffe, elephants, leopards, buffalos, hyenas, waterbuck and you will spot different kinds of birds. After game drive you will head back to the lodge to have your lunch then head for boat cruise and visiting the top of the falls. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 3: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

On the third day of your 20 days East Africa Safari, you will have breakfast, and then depart for Queen Elizabeth National Park which takes about 9 hours and 14 minutes on car drive.

You will arrive late in the evening to Queen Elizabeth National Park where you will check-in at the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation options: Mweya safari lodge, Queen Elizabeth Bush Camp

Day 4: Exploring Queen Elizabeth National Park and visiting the Ishasha sector

On the fourth day of your 20 days East Africa Safari, take breakfast, then set off for morning game drive expecting to spot giraffes, lions, elephants, leopards, buffaloes, Uganda kob and hippos. The park has over 100 mammals and more than 500 bird species that make Queen Elizabeth National Park one of the best birding destinations in Uganda safaris.

Return to the lodge for lunch and after lunch proceed for chimpanzees trekking in Kyambura Gorge harbors habituation centre in Maramagambo forest which is home to monkeys, birds and flamingo that flocks on the crater lakes of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 5: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable forest National park via Ishasha sector

Begin the day with morning breakfast, drive to remote Ishasha sector which is well known of it is tree climbing lions and large population of Uganda kobs. You will spot lions on top of the trees relaxing after feeding and when in Queen Elizabeth National Park never climb a tree inform of escaping when the lion is chasing you because it is they daily activity to climb trees. Proceed to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for gorilla trekking arriving in the evening and you will check-in at the lodge.

Accommodation options: Gorilla forest camp, Buhoma community bandas

Day 6: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable forest National Park

On the sixth day of your 20 days East Africa Safaris, you will wake up early and have heavy breakfast. Pack your trekking equipment, packed lunch, enough drinking water and report to the park’s headquarters for briefing.

Bwindi Impenetrable forest National Park has the largest population of the remaining endangered mountain gorillas in the world. The briefing starts at 7:30am and trekking set off at 8:30am where the armed game ranger will lead the group into the jungle in search of the mountain gorillas. Upon finding the gorillas will spend with them only one hour, allocating these giants take from 3-5 hours depending on the group you are trekking and where you will find these gorillas because they are so mobile. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 7: transfer to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda

Take morning breakfast and pack your things for transfer to Rwanda and saying bye to Uganda and connect to Rwanda the land of rolling hills, lush vegetation and beautiful people who are always welcoming. The driver shall take you to volcanoes national park and check-in at the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation options: Five Volcanoes Hotel, Mountain gorilla view lodge

Day 8: Gorilla trekking

On the eighth day of your 20 days East Africa Safari, begin the day with cup of coffee and then report to the park headquarters for briefing by the game rangers at 8:00am the trekking will kick off. The armed game ranger will lead the tourist into the think forest in search of mountain gorillas which takes 3-5 hours and you will only spend one hour with the gorillas after finding them. Remember the forest is steep, slippery and it is real hiking so you should be physically fit. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight

Day 9: transfer to Nyungwe forest national park and city tour

Early in the morning have morning breakfast and head for city tour before going to Nyungwe National Park. After city tour you will proceed to Nyungwe Forest National Park and check-in at the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation options: Nyungwe top hill hotel, Nyungwe forest lodge

Day 10: Exploring Nyungwe forest national park

After breakfast on the tenth day of your 20 days East Africa Safari, head to Nyungwe Forest National Park where you will spot chimpanzees, monkeys and plenty of bird species. View waterfalls and lush vegetation. You have to carry packed lunch and enough drinking water. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 11: transfer to Kigali international airport-Arusha National Park

Have morning breakfast very early in the morning and you will be dropped to Kigali international airport for transfer to Tanzania in Arusha. You will meet another guide who will continue with you on Tanzania tours. He will take you to Arusha National Park which is the nearest Park to Arusha town. Proceed to the lodge where you will spend an overnight and have dinner.

Accommodation options: Hatari lodge, Arusha coffee lodge by Elewana

Day 12: Game drive in Arusha National park

After breakfast on the twelfth day of your 20 days East Africa Safaris, go for game drive in Arusha National Park and you should carry packed lunch and enough drinking water because you will spend the entire day from the park. You will pass by the wooded savannah and you will encounter a number of buffalos and giraffes and zebras. You will view some leopards and spotted hyenas. After full day in the park return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 13: transfer to Lake Manyara National Park

Begin with cup of coffee very early in the morning before depart to Lake Manyara National Park. Carry packed lunch long due to long distance where you will have lunch from the way. On arrival to Lake Manyara National Park, check-in at the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation options: Manyara Tree Lodge, Lake Manyara Serena lodge

Day 14: Game drive in Lake Manyara National Park

Wake up in the morning and have morning breakfast. Carry your packed lunch and enough drinking water. Go for the game drive with armed game ranger in the 4 WD van where you will be able to spot wildlife. Visit Lake Manyara for birding watching and later return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 15: Transfer to Serengeti National Park

 After morning breakfast on the fifteenth day of your 20 days East Africa Safaris, you will check-out from the lodge with packed lunch and then depart for Serengeti National Park. Serengeti is the oldest National Park in Tanzania and the most famous. You will reach Serengeti National Park late in the evening. Check-in at the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation options: Serengeti safari lodge, Serengeti sopa lodge, Serengeti Serena safari lodge

Day 16: game drive in Serengeti National Park

After morning breakfast you will leave the lodge for game drive in the plains of Serengeti National Park. You will carry packed lunch because you will spend the entire day at the park viewing millions of wildebeest as they fulfill their instinctive role in the inescapable cycle of life. The zebra and Thomson’s always join the wildebeest migrations in search of fresh lush vegetation. They cross River Mara to Masai Mara Game Reserve in the season of June and September.  You will spot also cheetahs, wild cats, leopards, lions, spotted hyena and more others animals. Your lunch will be at game view point and after spending the entire day in game drive you will return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 17: Transfer to Masai Mara Game Reserve

On the seventeenth day of your 20 days East Africa Safari, you will take breakfast and set off for Masai Mara Game Reserve in Kenya. The Tanzania guide will drop you to the border crossing point where you will meet the Kenyan guide who will take over Kenya trips. The guide shall transfer to Masai Mara with en-route for lunch break. You will check –in at the lodge on arrival to Masai Mara Game Reserve where you will have dinner and overnight.

Accommodation options: Elephant Pepper Camp, Mara Bush Camp, Mara West Safari Tents

Day 18: Game drive in Masai Mara

Begin your day with morning breakfast and then head for game drive. Before leaving the lodge, make sure you carry packed lunch because you will spend the entire day at the game reserve. You will view a lot of animals like lions, cheetahs, ostriches, elephants, wildebeest, zebras and wild cats. After your game drive return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 19: Transfer to Nairobi town for city tour

Start a day with morning breakfast and after you will be transfer to Nairobi town for city tour. You will visit top places of Nairobi and lunch from any restaurant in town. Head to the lodge for dinner and overnight at Nairobi Hotel.

Day 20: Transfer to Nairobi international airport

After breakfast on the final day of your 20 days East Africa Safari, the guide shall drop you to the airport to catch up with your flight back home.