On 15 Days East Africa Primates & Beach Holiday Safari, you will track chimpanzees in Uganda’s lush Kibale Forest. Next, you will meet mountain gorillas in the misty Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Then, travel to Tanzania and enjoy game drives across the famous Serengeti plains. Finally, relax along Zanzibar’s tropical beaches with stunning sunsets and warm ocean breezes. This safari suits couples, families with teens, and small groups of friends. It mixes thrilling adventures with peaceful retreats. Enjoy excellent service and comfortable accommodation throughout. Discover the wild, the dramatic, and the serene in one exciting journey across East Africa.
Arrive at Entebbe International Airport and meet your driver. Enjoy a smooth transfer to your hotel. Entebbe sits beside Lake Victoria, Africa’s largest freshwater lake. If your flight arrives early, explore the small city’s highlights. Start at the colourful Entebbe Crafts Village for unique souvenirs. Sample a local snack called a Rolex – chapati rolled with an omelet. Visit St. John’s Church, built during colonial times. Later, walk through Entebbe Botanical Gardens filled with vibrant flowers and native trees. End the afternoon at the public beach by Lake Victoria. Watch the sun reflect off the lake’s calm waters.
Accommodation Options:
Luxury: Protea Hotel / Hotel No.5 / Serena Lake Victoria Resort
Mid-range: Boma Hotel / 2 Friends Beach Hotel
Budget: Airport Guest House
Meal Plan: Dinner
After breakfast, start a scenic drive to western Uganda. Travel past green hills, tea plantations, and the Rwenzori Mountains. Arrive near Kibale Forest and check in at your lodge. Enjoy an optional walk along volcanic crater lakes. These lakes offer peaceful views and colourful birdlife. On day three, prepare for chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest. This park has East Africa’s highest primate population. Track a habituated chimp group that’s located almost every day. Spend one hour observing them in their natural home. Watch how they feed, play, and communicate. Afterward, enjoy a picnic lunch. In the afternoon, visit Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary. A local guide will lead you on a community-supported nature walk. Learn about wetland conservation and see birds, monkeys, and butterflies.
Please Note: Children under 12 are not allowed on chimp tracking.
Accommodation Options:
Luxury: Kyaninga Lodge / Crater Safari Lodge / Primate Lodge Kibale
Mid-range: Kibale Forest Camp / Chimpanzee Forest Guest House
Budget: Kibale Forest Camp / Chimpanzee Forest Guest House
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Start your day with breakfast in Kibale. Then take a 7.5-hour drive to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Pass through the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Look out for tree-climbing lions resting in fig trees. These lions are unique to East Africa. Arrive in Bwindi later in the afternoon and check into your lodge. This national park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It protects ancient forests and about half of the world’s mountain gorillas. On day five, prepare for a special wildlife encounter. After breakfast, begin your guided trek in search of gorillas. Follow trained rangers through thick rainforest trails. Once you find a family, spend one hour watching their behaviour. Observe how the dominant silverback leads, and how babies play nearby. This experience connects you deeply with wildlife and nature.
Optional Activity: Batwa Cultural Visit – Learn from the forest’s original dwellers and their traditions.
Accommodation Options:
Luxury: Buhoma Lodge / Gorilla Forest Camp / Haven Lodge Buhoma
Mid-range: Gorilla Mist Camp / Ichumbi Lodge / Agandi Uganda Lodge
Budget: Trekkers Tavern Cottages
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Enjoy breakfast with Bwindi’s forest in the background. Begin your cross-country drive through Rwanda’s hilly landscapes. This scenic road journey shows you why Rwanda is called the “Land of a Thousand Hills.” Arrive in Kigali and head straight to the airport. Board your regional flight to Tanzania. Land at Kilimanjaro International Airport. A friendly guide will transfer you to your lodge in Arusha. Rest after a busy travel day.
Accommodation Options:
Luxury: Arusha Coffee Lodge / Kibo Palace / Impala Hotel
Mid-range: Outpost Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast & Dinner
After breakfast, drive to Arusha Airport. Catch your scheduled flight to the Serengeti. Upon landing, enjoy your first game drive on the way to camp. See elephants, giraffes, zebras, and gazelles along the plains. Check in at your safari camp or lodge and relax.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Spend two full days exploring Serengeti National Park. This vast ecosystem hosts Africa’s largest population of lions. It is also home to the annual Great Wildebeest Migration. Witness thousands of wildebeests, zebras, and gazelles moving in massive herds. Between June and November, mobile camps like Olakira stay near the Mara River. Watch dramatic river crossings where crocodiles wait in ambush. Between December and March, the camps move to Ndutu in the southern Serengeti. During this time, wildebeests give birth, and predators gather. Aside from migration, spot resident animals such as buffaloes, leopards, and cheetahs. Game drives take place during cooler hours for better wildlife sightings.
Accommodation Options:
Luxury: Olakira Migration Camp / Serengeti Serena Lodge / Serengeti Sopa Lodge
Mid-range: Serengeti Kati Kati Camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
After breakfast, head to the airstrip. Board a scheduled flight to Zanzibar Island. On arrival, your guide will transfer you to Matemwe Lodge. Settle into your private suite with views of the Indian Ocean. Enjoy the soft white sands, gentle breeze, and calm surroundings. Rest after several days of safari action.
Meal Plan: Breakfast & Dinner
Spend three peaceful days at Matemwe’s beachfront lodge. Lie by the pool or nap in a hammock. Sip refreshing cocktails and feel the ocean wind. Book a massage or spa treatment for extra relaxation. For ocean lovers, explore Mnemba Atoll. This coral reef is perfect for snorkelling and diving. Watch colourful fish, dolphins, and maybe even turtles. Hop into a kayak and paddle along turquoise waters. You may also tour the historic Stone Town. Walk its narrow streets filled with culture, spice markets, and Swahili architecture. Visit the old slave market and learn about the island’s complex past. Enjoy fresh seafood at the lodge. Each evening ends with a stunning sunset and delicious dinner.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Wake up to a beach sunrise. Today, go on a guided tour of Zanzibar’s Spice Island. Visit local farms where cloves, cinnamon, vanilla, and nutmeg grow. Smell and taste fresh spices as farmers explain their uses. Learn how Zanzibar became a global spice hub centuries ago. After the tour, return to the lodge for lunch and rest.
Meal Plan: Breakfast & Lunch
Enjoy your final breakfast by the ocean. Say goodbye to Zanzibar and its coastal beauty. Transfer to Abeid Amani Karume International Airport for your journey home. Reflect on the memories from your East African adventure.