19 Days East African Big Five and Great Apes Wildlife Safari
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Witness East Africa’s Great/Big 7 of the African wildlife species. On this safari, you will explore three East African countries, that is; Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda and in each of these countries you visit top safari destinations. So on the safari, be sure you will immerse in the awe-inspiring wildlife experiences which draw safari makers to this heart-beat of the African continent. The East African region brags about its wealth of wildlife and other tourist experiences and its here you can find almost everything which the African continent offers.
You are to uncover three classic African destinations with a UNESCO world heritage status, Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Serengeti in Tanzania as well as the Volcanos National Park in Rwanda popularly known for its gorilla trekking adventures.
In Uganda, you will explore the Murchison Falls National Park known for the powerful waterfalls where the Nile’s flow is interrupted by a gorge where the river squeezes through creating an exploding sound. Explore the Chimpanzee sanctuary of Kibale forest, a classic destination Known as the “World’s Primate Capital”. A lot more is to be enjoyed and explored on this safari.
Package Itinerary
Welcome to Tanzania! On the day you arrive at the airport in Kilimanjaro, you’re met and greeted by our guide. Then you’ll be transferred to the accommodation in Arusha where you have dinner and overnight.
Overnight (O/n): Arusha Coffee lodge (luxury) / Rivertrees Country Inn (Midrange). Meal Plan: Dinner
Leave Arusha early after breakfast, transfer to Tarangire national park on a nearly 2hour drive. Here you take part in a half day wildlife experience which includes wildlife viewing on a game drive. Tarangire national park covers an area of about 2’850 sq.km and this Baobab dotted park is home to the greatest numbers of Elephants some of which are known for their Giant tuskers. The park is known for its breathtaking scenery which blends well with its wildlife mammals like Gerenuk, Elands, Lesser Kudus, Lions, Wildebeests and others you can find here. The Tarangire river which traverses the plains is the main source of water.
O/n: Maramboi Tented lodge (luxury) Upgrade Tarangire treetops / Lake Burage Tented Camp (Midrange). Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Leave Tarangire after breakfast, to Lake Manyara national park which is known for the tree climbing Lions and the soda ash lakes which attracts the striking pink Flamingos. The park covers an area of 325sq.km and it’s a beautiful destination to visit all-year-round though the dry season of July-November is more ideal. You go on a half-day wildlife safari and you may see the various wildlife species which dwell in the park such as Giraffes, Zebras, Impalas. And troops of Baboons. Spend the night at the camp.
O/n: Lake Manyara Serena lodge Upgrade Lake Manyara Tree lodge (luxury) / Tortilis Camp Manyara (Mid-range)
Bid farewell to Lake Manyara, head to Ngorongoro Conservation area. You will spend two days of wildlife experience here. Ngorongoro is among the African wonders and a UNESCO world heritage site. So as you embark on your safari here, lookout for the African Big Five which include; the Rhinos, Buffalos, Lions and the Elephants. Species of predator like Jackals, Hyenas, Wild dogs and species of prey like Zebras, Gazelles, and Reedbucks among others are well represented.
During your wildlife safari experience in Ngorongoro, you’ll have a half-day tour at the crater floor which offers a roller-coaster scenery and its referred to as a wildlife arena because of the vast wildlife. A picnic lunch you’re to have here will let you have a taste of the traditional days of an African safari.
O/n: Ngorongoro Serena lodge Upgrade The Manor at Ngorongoro (Luxury) /Ngorongoro Tortilis Camp (Midrange). Meal Plan: Full Board (FB)
Sign off your visit to Ngorongoro with some Kodak moments, say goodbye! Continue to Serengeti via the Olduvai Gorge, site of Louis and Mary Leakey’s renowned archaeological discoveries. Their findings include some of the man’s earliest known ancestral remains. Behold the beauty of the endless plains of the Serengeti on some game drives for a chance to see the great herds of Wildebeest, Zebras and Gazelles feed on fresh grasses or a pride of Lions stalking their prey or lazing in the shade during afternoon hours. Explore the central part of Serengeti and Ndutu area, on a perfect season you may even see the wildlife migration.
O/n: Serengeti Serena lodge Upgrade Melia Serengeti (Luxury) /Serengeti Tortilis Camp (Midrange). Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner (FB)
Send your final farewell to the Serengeti and travel early in time to catch your evening flight to Entebbe and on arrival at Entebbe Airport you will be received by our guide who will transfer you to your accommodation in Entebbe
O/n: Boutique Hotel No.5 (Luxury) /Papyrus Guesthouse (Midrange). Meal Plan: Dinner
Say hello to the Pearl of Africa! Your Uganda safari experience starts with a visit to the renown Murchison Falls National Park which is celebrated for its fascinating boat safaris and powerful cascades where the world’s longest river, the Nile squeezes into a 7meter gorge. On the day of departure to Murchison Falls you detour to Ziwa Rhino sanctuary, Uganda’s only destination for these endangered species in a natural setting. Here you track these species on with a ranger.
In Murchison Falls you will browse the northern bank on safari game drive to see the wildlife that congregates this side of the park. You also take on a river safari to the bottom of the falls while visits to the top of the falls are worthwhile. Murchison Falls is Uganda’s biggest park at 3’893sq.km. Its divided by the world’s longest river Nile into two sections the northern bank with open savannas consisting of acacia and Borassus palms while the southern section if composed of forest savanna and tropical forest zones.
O/n: Chobe Safari lodge Upgrade Papas Safari Camp (luxury) / Pakuba Safari lodge (Mid-range). Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Send your shouts! To Murchison Falls as you leave the park for Kibale forest located southwards. Leave on an early journey on a nearly 7hour journey through the beautiful countryside. Kibale Forest and national park is Uganda’s stronghold for the Chimpanzee great apes and its by-far Africa’s most impressive destination to see these primates. Its primate diversity takes in over 13 species and the UK’s wanderlust magazine regarded it as the best place in the world to see the Chimpanzee’s in the wild in an article “Glimpse at the Chimps: Top 7-places to see Chimps in the wild”. Kibale contributes to Uganda’s rich western tourism circuit, the evergreen tropical forest covers an area of about 766sq.km and on your visit here you will track the Chimps and on meeting them, you’re permitted an hour in their presence. After the 3-5hours of tracking, you return to the reception where you get your certificates.
Overnight: Crater Safari lodge Upgrade Papaya lake lodge (luxury) / Turaco Treetops (Mid-range). Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Farewell Kibale! Continue southwestwards to Queen Elizabeth national park. It is Uganda’s second largest park at a size of 1’978sq.km. Its one of the country’s savanna national parks popular for offering fascinating wildlife encounters with a taste of safari game drives and boat safaris. Queen Elizabeth’s diversity takes in oodles of craters curved dramatically on the park’s landscape, a miscellany of habitats including open and forested savanna regions, lakes and swamps. The park has a tremendous tally of birdlife, a population outshined by no East African protected area, its home to the rare tree climbing Lions located in its southern sector of Ishasha. The Kazinga channel which connects lakes Edward and George offers stunning boat safaris aimed at seeing the wildlife like; Hippos, Elephants, Buffalos and many more along the banks.
During you stay, you will participate in morning and evening game drive and boat safari.
Overnight: Mweya Safari lodge Upgrade Kyambura Game lodge (luxury) / Buffalo lodge (Mid-range). Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Travel to Uganda’s most beautiful region known for its striking roller-coaster and contrasting verdant scenery. You travel in the direction of Lake Bunyonyi, a local word meaning many little birds which are usually seen skimming along the lake. Lake Bunyonyi is usually referred to many who visit as one of the most beautiful place they have been to around Africa. Its Home to 29Islands and from its natural splendor, there’s it cultural vibrancy. So during your stay, you will relax off this long experience here, you take part in boat/canoe experiences along, cultural palate. Optional: you can take part in Biking tours and zip lining.
Overnight: Bunyonyi @ Bird-nest or Bunyonyi Rock Resort (Midrange). Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Say your last shouts to Uganda as you come close to the end of your East African safari. Cross the border from Uganda into Rwanda, this journey lasts about 2.5hours to Kigali and on arrival you take on a short tour to some important sites in Kigali. You visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial and/or the Presidential museum and local markets.
Overnight (o/n): The Retreat by Heaven (Luxury)/ Gorilla Golf Hotel (Mid-range) Bed & Breakfast
Volcanos national park is Rwanda’s renown tourist destination and most popular to visitors seeking to meet the Mountain Gorillas. So during your stay in Rwanda, you will track the Gorillas in Volcanos, on the day of trekking, you meet with the ranger at the reception of the park for briefing and afterwards set into the forest for the Gorilla trekking adventure. The activity may last just a few hours to 5hours depending on where the gorillas nested and many other factors like the pace of the trekkers.
Tracking these prestigious Great Apes- the Gorillas is extremely adventurous and somewhat demanding, as a result, anyone planning to trek needs to be reasonably fit. Trekking involves moving past steep and slippery terrain and once you encounter the Gorillas, you spend an hour in their presence watching them. Later, retreat to the reception area for your tracking certificates.
Meal Plan: Full Board [FB] O/n: One & Only Gorilla Nest (Luxury)/ Da Vinci Gorilla lodge (Midrange)
Note: *On the last day of your tour you will be transferred to the airport for your flight back home.
* Tour Starts in Kilimanjaro and Ends in Kigali || * Book Flights departing after 2000hrs
Include
*Park entrance fees
*All activity fees unless labeled as optional
*Professional English Speaking guide/driver
*Ground Transportation in 4X4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof
*Round trip Airport or Hotel transfers
*Drinking mineral water in the car
*Meals as the itinerary details
*Accommodation during the tour
*Accommodation on day of Arrival on Bed & Breakfast Basis
*Government VATs like on accommodation
*Gorilla trekking and Chimpanzee permit
*Regional flight from JRO to EBB
*AMREF Evacuation cover
Exclude
*Tourist Visa fees (visa can be arranged on request)
*Accommodation on last day / Post Tour Accommodation [can be arranged on request]
*Airline tickets International [can arranged on request]
*Tips, Gratuities and expenses of personal nature
*Travel insurance *Any extras