East Africa Wildlife and Cultural Encounters Safari for 18 Days

Embark on an 18 Day East Africa Wildlife and Cultural Encounters Safari. Experience the magic of encountering Mountain Gorillas in their natural habitats. If you’re lucky, you might also witness the Great Migration, a massive movement of millions of wildebeest and other animals, accompanied by predators. Explore the wonders of East Africa – Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda & Rwanda – where wildlife thrives freely across vast landscapes. From the wild plains of the Masai Mara to the grand Serengeti and the stunning Ngorongoro Crater, each area offers a unique spectacle of nature. In this region, you’ll discover not only the famous Big 5 animals but also a wide variety of other species, along with rich birdlife. East Africa is home to over 80% of the world’s Mountain Gorillas, found in places like the lush Bwindi in Uganda and the captivating Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda.

Our small groups, limited to just 7 passengers, ensure personalized attention from our knowledgeable local guides who speak English. Along the journey, you’ll also discover the region’s rich flora and fauna, visit natural parks, and admire cascading waterfalls. Join us for an unforgettable adventure through East Africa’s breathtaking landscapes and diverse wildlife.

Tour Price Includes 

• 17 Nights’ accommodation as mentioned or similar, including hotel taxes
• 48 Meals as mentioned (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)
• All game safaris/transfers by 4 x 4 loose top/pop up roof jeeps
• Game park fees (ranging from US$ 1650 to US$ 1900 per person, INCLUDED in the tour cost – Park fees are subject to change)
• Services of an accompanying local English-speaking guide-drivers for each country
• Window seating for each full paying passenger
• 1 liter water per person per day during safari
• Shared electrical outlets in some safari vehicles

Not Included

• Any airfare (Within tour air sector Arusha/Entebbe currently is priced at US$ 200 per person)
• Travel Insurance – highly recommended
• Tips/gratuities/visas
• Gorilla Viewing permits for Uganda & Rwanda – US$ 700 & US$ 1500 respectively
• Supplement for the luxury option for the Uganda/Rwanda portion of US$ 1295 per person sharing/Single Supplement US$ 550 for the 5-nights/6-days (days 13-18)

Day 01: Arrival in Nairobi (Kenya)

Welcome to Nairobi, Kenya’s capital! We arrive at Nairobi International Airport and are taken to our hotel, Eka Hotel. The people here often mix Swahili with English, so communication is easy. We have the rest of the day to ourselves to relax.

Day 02: Exploring Nairobi and Journey to Amboseli

On this day, you will explore Nairobi’s exciting sights. We visit Parliament House, Nairobi National Museum, Giraffe Centre to see Rothschild’s giraffes, and Karen Blixen Museum, honoring the author of Out of Africa. After lunch, our safari adventure begins as we head to Amboseli National Park. It’s famous for its views of Mount Kilimanjaro and elephants. We’ll take a game drive to see wildlife and enjoy a beautiful sunset.

Day 03: Safari Adventure in Amboseli

We have morning and afternoon game drives in Amboseli National Park. We’ll likely see lots of elephants and other animals like wildebeest, zebra, lion, and cheetah. We can also meet the Masai people, who keep their traditional way of life. Visits to their village need to be arranged beforehand.

Day 04: Journey to Lake Naivasha

We drive to Lake Naivasha, a lovely lake surrounded by flower farms and villages. The shores are home to giraffes, buffalo, and colobus monkeys. Hippos relax in the shallows, and it’s a bird lover’s paradise. We might take a boat safari to see more of the wildlife if we have time.

Day 05: Exploring Lake Nakuru

On this day, you will explore Lake Nakuru National Park in the Great Rift Valley. It’s famous for its flamingos and rhinos. We’ll have morning and afternoon game drives to see the diverse wildlife, stopping for lunch at our lodge.

Day 06: Journey to Masai Mara

We travel to Masai Mara, one of the world’s most famous game reserves. Thousands of animals live here, including the Big Five: elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard, and rhino. After lunch at our lodge, we go on our first game drive to explore the vast wildlife.

Day 07: Safari in Masai Mara

We have morning and afternoon game drives in Masai Mara Game Reserve. It’s a beautiful place with plenty of animals all year round. We might even take a balloon safari for a bird’s-eye view of the landscape. After our drives, we return to the lodge for dinner.

Day 08: Journey to Lake Victoria

We drive from Masai Mara to Lake Victoria, Africa’s largest lake. Crossing into Tanzania, we say goodbye to our Kenyan guide and meet our Tanzanian guide. Lake Victoria is peaceful, with charming lakeside views and traditional villages. We have the rest of the day to relax and enjoy the scenery.

Day 09: Heading to Serengeti

Early risers can enjoy optional activities like boating on Lake Victoria or visiting a fishing village. After lunch, we continue to Serengeti National Park, known for the Great Migration. We’ll see lots of wildlife as we journey through the park to our lodge, Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge.

 Day 10: Exploring Serengeti

On this day, you will visit Serengeti National Park, a place known for its incredible wildlife. Here, you can see many different kinds of animals like wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles. There are also predators like lions and cheetahs. The park is also famous for its birds, with around 500 different species. One special thing about Serengeti is that you might see lions climbing trees! We’ll have a guide with us all day to help us find and learn about these animals. And if you want, you can book a ride in a hot air balloon to see the park from above and enjoy breakfast with champagne. It’s a good idea to book this in advance.

Day 11: From Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater

On this day, you will leave Serengeti, but first, we’ll have one more morning to explore. We’ll visit Moro Kopjes and Gol Kopjes, which are rocky areas where animals live. Then, we’ll see the Seronera River, which is important for many animals. After lunch, we’ll head to Ngorongoro Conservation Area. On the way, we’ll stop at Olduvai Gorge, a place where scientists found fossils of very early humans. It’s a good chance to learn about our ancestors. Tonight, we’ll stay at Ngorongoro Serena Lodge.

Day 12: Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara

On this day, you will visit Ngorongoro Crater, which is a huge hole in the ground where lots of animals live. It’s like a natural zoo! We’ll see lions, elephants, and even rhinos. After that, we’ll go to Lake Manyara. This lake is very beautiful, and it inspired a famous writer named Ernest Hemingway. You can choose to go on a night drive here, where you can see animals that are active at night.

Day 13: Lake Manyara to Arusha, then Entebbe in Uganda

We’ll have one last safari in the morning at Lake Manyara before heading to Arusha. From there, we’ll catch a flight to Entebbe in Uganda. Then, we’ll go to our hotel.

Day 14: Entebbe to Lake Mburo National Park

After breakfast, we’ll go on a drive to Lake Mburo National Park. On the way, we’ll see beautiful scenery. When we arrive, we’ll go on a short game drive to see some animals. Then, we’ll have lunch at our lodge. Later, we’ll take a boat ride on Lake Mburo to see hippos, crocodiles, and birds. Tonight, we’ll stay at Rwaboko Rock Camp or Kigambira Lodge.

Day 15: Lake Mburo to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

After breakfast, we’ll go on another game drive before lunch. Then, we’ll start our journey to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. This park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to many different animals and plants. It’s especially famous for its gorillas. Tonight, we’ll stay at Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge or Four Gorillas Lodge.

Day 16: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi, then to Musanze in Rwanda

This is a big day! You will wake up early to go on a gorilla trek. We’ll walk through the forest until we find gorillas. We’ll spend some time watching them and taking pictures. After that, we’ll say goodbye to Uganda and drive to Musanze in Rwanda. Tonight, we’ll stay at Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge or Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel.

Day 17: Gorilla Trekking at Volcanoes National Park

On this day, you’ll go on another gorilla trek. This time, it’s in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. After breakfast, our ranger will tell us how to behave around the gorillas. Then, we’ll go into the forest to find them. We’ll have lunch at our lodge and then have free time. We can visit the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of Dian Fossey if we want.

Day 18: Golden Monkey Trekking and Departure

This is the final day. We can relax in the morning or go on a golden monkey trek. After lunch, we’ll drive to Kigali International Airport for our flight home. If we have time, we can visit some places in Kigali, like the Genocide Museum or Hotel Rwanda. Then, it’s time to say goodbye to East Africa and go home with lots of memories.