14 Day Best of East Africa Safari

Rise early for a sunrise game drive, when the landscape is bathed in soft light and animals are most active. With Mount Kilimanjaro as a constant backdrop, the photographic opportunities are endless. Watch elephants wade through the marshes, spot crowned cranes and herons in the wetlands, and scan the horizon for predators.

Return to the lodge for a relaxed breakfast and some downtime before heading back into the park in the afternoon. You might visit Observation Hill for panoramic views of Amboseli’s swamps and plains. As the sun sets, witness the daily movement of wildlife returning to shelter—an authentic scene of life in the African wild.

Accommodation Options:

• Luxury: Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge

• Midrange: Kibo Safari Lodge

• Meal Plan: Full Board

After breakfast, enjoy a morning game drive en route to the Namanga border, where you’ll cross into Tanzania. From here, continue through Maasai country to Lake Manyara National Park, a gem nestled beneath the Great Rift Valley escarpment.

Lake Manyara is known for its alkaline lake, flocks of flamingos, dense groundwater forests, and rare tree-climbing lions. After lunch at your lodge, head out for a late afternoon game drive. Keep an eye out for elephants, hippos, baboons, and colorful birds among the fig and mahogany trees. The park’s compact size allows for an intimate safari experience on your first day in Tanzania

Accommodation Options:

• Luxury: Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge

• Midrange: Kirurumu Tented Lodge

• Meal Plan: Full Board

Today’s drive takes you to the iconic Serengeti National Park, but first, enjoy a stop at Olduvai Gorge, an archaeological site of global significance. Learn about early human ancestors and the famous discoveries made here by the Leakey family. The small museum and panoramic views offer a meaningful historical context to your safari.

Continue into the central Serengeti, a vast expanse of rolling plains, kopjes, and acacia woodlands. As you enter the park, begin your game drive en route to your lodge. The Serengeti is home to an astonishing variety of wildlife including lions, cheetahs, hyenas, elephants, and the Great Migration herds depending on the season.

Accommodation:

• Luxury: Serengeti Sopa Lodge
• Midrange: Mbugani Tented Lodge
  Meal Plan: Full Board

Spend the entire day exploring the endless plains of Serengeti National Park. Depending on the time of year, you may witness the awe-inspiring spectacle of the Great Migration—millions of wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles crossing the plains in search of fresh grazing. Your guide will help position you to catch dramatic river crossings or predator interactions.

Even outside of migration season, the Serengeti offers phenomenal wildlife encounters. Track a lion pride on the hunt, watch hippos wallow in pools, or spot a leopard draped over a tree branch. Enjoy a picnic lunch in the bush or return to the lodge for a break before heading out again in the afternoon.

Accommodation:

• Luxury: Serengeti Sopa Lodge
• Midrange: Mbugani Tented Lodge
  Meal Plan: Full Board

Enjoy an early morning game drive to soak up more of the Serengeti’s magic before departing for Ngorongoro Conservation Area. En route, stop for scenic viewpoints and possibly more wildlife sightings as you climb into the highlands.

Upon arrival, descend into the Ngorongoro Crater—Africa’s Eden. This massive volcanic caldera shelters over 25,000 animals, including the endangered black rhino, golden jackals, elephants, and one of the densest lion populations in Africa. The crater floor’s varied habitats—from forests to lakes—support an incredible diversity of life.

Enjoy a bush picnic near a hippo pool before continuing your exploration. Later, ascend to your lodge on the crater rim with breathtaking views to end your day.

Accommodation:

• Luxury: Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge
• Midrange: Ngorongoro Rhino Lodge
  Meal Plan: Full Board

After breakfast, travel to Arusha, where you’ll enjoy lunch and a short break. From here, drive back across the Namanga border into Kenya and continue to Nairobi. The day offers a chance to reflect on your journey through Kenya and Tanzania’s greatest wildlife havens.

Depending on your arrival time, you may have an opportunity to visit a local craft market or enjoy dinner in Nairobi before your flight to Uganda the following day.

Accommodation:

• Luxury: Four Points by Sheraton
• Midrange: Sarova Panafric
  Meal Plan: Full Board

In the morning after breakfast, visit the Giraffe Centre in Nairobi, where you’ll learn about the conservation of endangered Rothschild’s giraffes. Feed these gentle giants and enjoy up-close interactions, especially popular with kids and photographers.

Later, transfer to the airport for your flight to Entebbe, Uganda. Upon arrival, you’ll be welcomed by your guide and transferred to your hotel. Relax and unwind by Lake Victoria as you prepare for the next phase of your East African adventure.

Accommodation:

• Luxury: Protea Hotel by Marriott
• Midrange: Rosemary Courts
  Meal Plan: Full Board

After breakfast, begin your journey west toward Kibale Forest National Park. The drive takes you through lush landscapes dotted with banana plantations, crater lakes, and traditional villages. Stop for lunch in Fort Portal, a charming town nestled beneath the Rwenzori Mountains.

Arrive in Kibale Forest by late afternoon and check in to your lodge surrounded by dense jungle and bird song. Enjoy dinner and an optional nature walk to spot monkeys, forest birds, and butterflies.

Accommodation:

• Luxury: Kyaninga Lodge
• Midrange: Primate Lodge Kibale
  Meal Plan: Full Board

After breakfast, head to the headquarters for briefing before you start your chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest. Led by experienced rangers, you’ll venture deep into the forest in search of one of our closest relatives. Once located, spend an unforgettable hour observing the chimps as they feed, groom, and play.

Return to your lodge for lunch before heading to Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary. This community-managed reserve is a haven for birdwatchers and primate lovers alike. Look for red colobus monkeys, mangabeys, hornbills, and the great blue turaco as you stroll through papyrus swamps and boardwalks.

Accommodation:

• Luxury: Kyaninga Lodge
• Midrange: Primate Lodge Kibale
  Meal Plan: Full Board

Depart Kibale after breakfast and head south to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. En route, enjoy a game drive through Ishasha, the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park. This area is known for its unique population of tree-climbing lions, often found lounging in fig trees.

Continue your drive through rolling hills, tea plantations, and rural communities, arriving in Bwindi by evening. Settle into your forest lodge and rest up for the highlight of your trip—gorilla trekking.

Accommodation:

• Luxury: Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge
• Midrange: Rushaga Gorilla Camp
  Meal Plan: Full Board

Today is the highlight of your East Africa safari—gorilla trekking in Bwindi. After a briefing at the park headquarters, you’ll be assigned a gorilla family group and begin your trek through thick vegetation, steep slopes, and muddy trails. The trek can last between 1 to 6 hours depending on the location of the gorillas.

Once you find them, spend an awe-inspiring hour observing the family as they go about their daily life. Witness their social structure, playful juveniles, and powerful silverbacks in a humbling and deeply moving encounter.

Return to your lodge for a well-earned rest and share stories around the campfire under the forest canopy.

Accommodation:

• Luxury: Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge
• Midrange: Rushaga Gorilla Camp
  Meal Plan: Full Board

Spend your day exploring the rich culture of the Batwa pygmies, the forest’s original inhabitants. This immersive cultural experience is led by Batwa guides who share their traditional way of life, including hunting techniques, herbal medicine, and spiritual rituals.

Walk through the forest as you learn how the Batwa lived in harmony with nature. The trail concludes with music and dance performances that celebrate their heritage. This experience offers valuable insights into the relationship between conservation and community.

Accommodation:

• Luxury: Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge
• Midrange: Rushaga Gorilla Camp
  Meal Plan: Full Board