35 Days East Africa Safari

35 Days East Africa Safari

This 35 Days East Africa Safari will take you to Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania, ending your safari relaxing in Africa’s best holiday destination—Zanzibar. The activities to enjoy on this safari include gorilla tracking, chimpanzee tracking, mountaineering, white water rafting, wildlife viewing, birding, culture, nature tours, and primate safaris.

Safari Highlights

Day 1: Airport pickup and transfer to hotel

Day 2: Full-day Kigali city tour and transfer to Volcanoes National Park

Day 3: Hike Mount Bisoke

Day 4: Golden monkey trekking—Iby’wacu Cultural Village tour

Day 5: Transfer to Uganda—Batwa community

Day 6: Gorilla tracking experience in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Day 7: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park—Ishasha Sector (5-6 hours’ drive)

Day 8: Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel—transfer to Kibale National Park.

Day 9: Chimpanzee tracking—Bigodi swamp walk

Day 10: Transfer to Jinja

Day 11: White water rafting—boat cruise on Lake Victoria

Day 12: Transfer to Nakuru National Park—Kenya

Day 13: Full-day game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park

Day 14: Transfer to Masai Mara National Reserve – Visit Maasai Village

Day 15: Full-day Masai Mara plains game drive

Day 16: Transfer to Tanzania – Serengeti National Park  

Day 17: Full-day game drive in Serengeti National Park

Day 18: Morning game drive—transfer to Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Day 19: Ngorongoro Crater tour – Maasai Bomas visit

Day 20: Full-day game drive in Tarangire National Park—Moshi

Day 21 to 26: Hike Mount Kilimanjaro—Marangu Route 5 days, 4 nights

Day 27: Transfer to Arusha—Fly to Zanzibar

Day 28: Zanzibar city tour – Prison Island and spice tour and Stone Town

Day 29: Free day relaxation at the hotel and beach while in Stone Town

Day 30: Safari Blu experience

Day 31: Transfer to Nungwi Island—Safari Experience

Day 32 and 33: Free day relaxation in Nyungwe and Kendwa beaches with optional activities

Day 34: Free day relaxing at the lodge

Day 35: Departure

Detailed itinerary

Day 1: Airport pickup and transfer to hotel

Upon arrival at Kigali airport, your driver will be there waiting to welcome you and transfer you to your booked hotel in Kigali city. A city tour in Kigali will depend on your time of arrival. Check in for relaxation and an overnight stay at Step Town Motel for budget, Des Mille Collins Hotel for mid-range, or Kigali Serena Hotel for luxury. Meal plan based on bed and breakfast

Day 2: Full-day Kigali city tour and transfer to Volcanoes National Park

After breakfast, connect for a Kigali city tour visiting the biggest Kigali genocide memorial, the Kigali convention center, the Kandt House Museum, the Inema Art Gallery and the Nyamata genocide memorial site, where you will find the church. With en route lunch. After lunch, transfer to Volcanoes National Park, which is about a 2-3 hour’ drive. Upon arrival, connect to your booked lodge for dinner and overnight at Hotel Muhabura for budget/Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge for mid-range.

Day 3: Hike Mount Bisoke

After breakfast, you will be driven to the park headquarters at Kinigi at 7:00 am for briefing and you will later head off for hiking. The hike will typically take a full day, from 6 to 8 hours, depending on your hiking experience. During the climb, you will cross a series of different vegetation habitats, starting with bamboo forests, then moving into Hagenia – Hypericum forest and finally moving through Senecio – Lobelia bush near the summit. You will carry your packed lunch with you and some drinks as well. You will later return to your hotel. After the hike, as you drive back to your lodge for dinner and overnight at thelodge as above,

Day 4: Golden monkey trekking—Iby’wacu Cultural Village tour

After breakfast, transfer to the park headquarters for a briefing about the golden monkeys. Volcanoes National Park is also home to the fascinating golden monkeys. The park shares borders with Virunga National Park in Congo; it also has the most scenic views, as it stands at 3 volcanoes: Muhavura, Gahinga, and Sabyinyo. Later you will begin hiking over the volcanic terrains in search of the monkeys in the bamboo forest. It may take you 2-6 hours to find them, depending on their location and you will be given 1 hour to spend with them while taking pictures before returning to your lodge.

Later in the afternoon, visit the Connect to visit Iby’wacu Cultural Village, a nonprofit umbrella organization that aims at improving the lives of reformed poachers and communities around Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park through the provision of conservation incentives, supporting community enterprise development and livelihood-based projects. It’s a rewarding place where you will be guided around the place as you enjoy the Kinyarwanda traditions, including the Intore dance, traditional ceremonies, and a guided community walk. Dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above

Day 5: Transfer to Uganda—Batwa community

After breakfast, check out and embark on your journey to cross to Uganda via the Cyanika border via Kisoro, where you will have your en-route lunch. Proceed to your lodge close to the park. Take a Batwa community tour before you check in at your booked lodge for relaxation, dinner, and an overnight stay at Buhoma Haven Lodge for mid-range, Buhoma Community Rest Camp for budget, or Mahogany Springs Lodge for luxury.

Day 6: Gorilla tracking experience in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Have breakfast and transfer you to park offices for a briefing about mountain gorilla trekking by a local guide. The time taken is usually between 2 and 8 hours, depending on the movement of the gorillas. Meeting the gorillas unexpectedly is one of the most captivating lifetime experiences. You will have a chance to observe and take pictures at very close range. You will observe adults feeding and groaning among themselves. After an hour with the long-awaited gorillas, your guide and rangers will lead you back to the starting point, where your driver will readily be waiting to transfer you back to the lodge. Dinner and overnight stay at the lodge above

Day 7: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park—Ishasha Sector (5-6 hours’ drive)

After breakfast, check out and embark on your journey to Queen Elizabeth National Park, which is about a 5-6 hour’ drive through the Ishasha sector—home for the tree-climbing lions. Have an en route and take a game drive for chances of spotting the tree-climbing lions on tree branches. Thereafter, proceed to your booked lodge for check-in, dinner, and an overnight stay at Kazinga Wilderness Camp for budget, Elephant Hub Lodge for mid-range, or Elephant Plains Lodge for luxury.

Day 8: Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel—transfer to Kibale National Park.

After breakfast, you may choose to stay and chill at the lodge. Or connect for a morning game drive in the Kasenyi area of Queen Elizabeth National Park, where you will spot a lot of wildlife, including African elephants, lions, buffaloes, antelopes, impalas, and many other animals, as well as a lot of birds, and on a good day, leopards and lions.

Later in the afternoon, connect for a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, where you will get an opportunity to see a number of bird species, elephants and buffaloes, hippos, and crocodiles. The Kazinga Channel is known to have the highest concentration of hippos.

After the boat trip, transfer to Kibale National Park, which is about a 3-hour’ drive. Upon arrival late evening, check in for relaxation, dinner, and an overnight stay at Kibale Forest Lodge for budget, Chimpanzee Forest Lodge for mid-range, or Chimpundu Lodge for luxury.

Day 9: Chimpanzee tracking—Bigodi swamp walk

After breakfast, connect to the starting point where you will receive a briefing from the park official before going ahead with chimpanzee trekking. Enter the rainforest to start searching for the chimpanzees; this will take 2-5 hours to find the chimpanzees. On seeing them, you will spend 1 hour with the chimpanzees while taking pictures. You may also encounter animals like the forest elephants and so many others, also including different birds.

After tracking, return to the lodge for lunch. Later in the afternoon, take a nature walk at the Bigodi swamp and be rewarded by the sound of different birds and other primates like the monkeys.  Return to the lodge for relaxation, dinner, and an overnight stay at the lodge as above.

Day 10: Transfer to Jinja

After breakfast, with an early start of 7 am, check out of the lodge and embark on your 7-8 hours’ journey to Jinja via Kampala city, through the thrilling countryside of Uganda, with an en-route lunch and several stopovers for sightseeing. Upon arrival, proceed to check in at your lodge for relaxation, dinner, and an overnight stay at 2 Friends Guesthouse for mid-range or Nile Front Cottages for budget.

Day 11: White water rafting—boat cruise on Lake Victoria

Early morning after breakfast, connect for a briefing about the water rafting experience before you start. Rafting is a whole day’s activity. Later in the evening, take a boat cruise on Lake Victoria. Dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above

Day 12: Transfer to Nakuru National Park—Kenya  

After breakfast, check out of the hotel to embark on your 6-7 hours’ drive to Lake Nakuru National Park in Kenya. It’s about a 2-hour’ drive from Jinja to the Uganda-Kenya one-stop border, Busia. After clearing immigration, cross to Kenya and meet with your safari guide. With en-route lunch, proceed to Nakuru National Park, taking about 4-5 hours’ drive. Upon arrival, check in at your booked lodge for relaxation, dinner, and an overnight stay at Punda Milias Tented Camp for budget/Lake Nakuru Safari Lodge for mid-range.

Day 13: Full-day game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park 

Wake up early, enjoy breakfast, and connect for an early morning game drive to explore more of the park’s beauty. During the game drive, spot animals like the lions, leopards, hyenas, and different antelope species. Later afternoon drive to Lake Nakuru and enjoy the views of huge numbers of flamingo birds on the lake shores and other bird species. In addition to the birdlife of the park, explore the park’s wildlife, spotting animals like the black and white rhinos, buffaloes, giraffes, impalas, and zebras. Return to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay at thelodge as above.

Day 14: Transfer to Masai Mara National Reserve – Visit Maasai Village

After breakfast, meet your safari driver and transfer to Masai Mara National Reserve, which is about a 5-6 hour’ drive with an en-route lunch stop along the floor of the magnificent Rift Valley for unlimited land of the Masai people.

Upon arrival late afternoon, you will head to the Maasai village/Masai Loita Hills for a cultural experience. On this experience, you will enjoy getting a deeper insight into the Maasai culture by interacting with the local Maasai people, be entertained by local dancers, drama and Maasai warriors; buy local Maasai items such as local Maasai Shukas, beautifully made accessories such as necklaces and earrings and taste local cuisines. After the experience, you will head back to your lodge, have dinner, and stay overnight at Sentrim Mara Lodge for budget/Zebra Plains Lodge for mid-range.

Day 15: Full-day Masai Mara plains game drive 

After breakfast, connect for your morning game drive in the Masai plains with your packed lunch in search of its popular Masai Mara residents. The Masai Mara plains are full of wildebeest during migration season (early July to end of September), zebra, impala, topi, giraffe, Thomson’s gazelle, leopards, lions, hyenas, cheetahs, jackals, and bat-eared foxes. Black rhinos are a little shy and hard to spot but are often seen at a distance if you are lucky. Hippos are abundant in the Mara River, as are very large Nile crocodiles, which lie in wait for a meal as the wildebeest cross on their annual quest to find new pastures. Later Meals and overnight at lodge as above

Tanzania is part of the safari.

Day 16: Transfer to Tanzania – Serengeti National Park  

After breakfast, check out and embark on your journey to Serengeti National Park in Tanzania with your packed lunch. You will have a game drive on your way to the Isebania border, where you will be crossing to Tanzania. Cross via Olololo Gate in Mara West.

Upon crossing the border and finalizing with the customs office with clearance, proceed to enter Serengeti National Park and continue to your accommodation with an en-route game drive as you enjoy the plains of Serengeti. Serengeti National Park is home to the Big Five game and other wildlife and it is best known for its wildebeest migration that happens every year. Dinner and overnight at your booked accommodation at Serengeti Heritage Safari Lodge for the mid-range option or Tukaone Serengeti Camp for budget.

Day 17: Full-day game drive in Serengeti National Park 

Have an early breakfast, get a packed lunch and go for a full-day game drive. Depending on the period of travel, you will connect for the wildebeest migration experience that happens in the far north around the Mara River between Serengeti and Masai Mara parks. Spend the whole day looking for these animals, like hippos, elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, lions, hyenas, cheetahs, antelopes, hartebeests, and zebras, to mention but a few. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight at thelodge as above.

Day 18: Morning game drive—transfer to Ngorongoro Conservation Area

After breakfast, drive for yet another thrilling game drive in the endless plains of Serengeti. This area has a lot of animals to explore at your disposal with your picnic lunch. In this area of the park, you will have the opportunity to see big prides of lions, cheetahs, leopards, hyenas, giraffes, elephants, different antelopes, and other wildlife. Thereafter, connect to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area with an en-route lunch and stop at the Olduvai Gorge. Connect to your booked lodge for check-in, dinner, and overnight stay at Hhando Coffee Lodge for budget, Tlowa Lodge for mid-range, or Oldeani Ngorongoro Mountain Lodge for luxury.

Day 19: Ngorongoro Crater tour – Maasai Bomas visit

After your breakfast, transfer to Ngorongoro Crater with your packed lunch, enter into the Ngorongoro Crater, and descend over 600 meters into the crater to view wildlife for a half-day safari tour. The crater is supported by a year-round water supply and fodder; hence, it has a variety of animals, which include herds of wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, eland, warthog, hippo, and giant African elephants. Others include lions, hyenas, jackals, cheetahs, and the ever-elusive leopard. Thereafter, visit the Masai Bomas for an opportunity to learn about the way of life of the local Maasai tribe living within the conservancy with the wild game. Proceed to check in at the lodge, relax as you wait for dinner and an overnight stay as above.

Day 20: Full-day game drive in Tarangire National Park—Moshi

After breakfast, drive to transfer to Tarangire National Park. Connect for a full-day game drive for an amazing game-viewing experience in the Tarangire National Park, enjoying sights of different animals with your packed lunch. Later in the evening, check in at your booked lodge for relaxation, dinner, and an overnight stay at Babylon Lodge for a budget option, Millie Lodge Machame for a mid-range option, or Kaliwa Lodge for luxury in a deluxe room.

Hike Mount Kilimanjaro—MARANGU ROUTE, 5 DAYS, 4 NIGHTS.

Day 21: Spend your day relaxing at the hotel. Later in the evening, you will have a briefing to prepare you for the climb ahead, followed by dinner at the hotel as above.

Day 22: Marangu Gate (1,830 m/6,000 ft) to Mandara Hut (2,740 m/9,000 ft)

Distance: 7 km,

Hiking time: 4-5 hours

Habitat: Montane Forest

You will be driven to Marangu Gate (1800m) to start walking through a thick rain forest, which takes 3-4 hours to Mandara Hut (2727m). The Mandara Hut is situated on the forest belt border just below the Maundi Crater. Here you will have dinner and stay overnight.

Day 23: Mandara Hut (2,740 m/9,000 ft) to Horombo Hut (3,690 m/12,100 ft)

Distance: 11 km

Hiking time: 6-8 hours

Habitat: Heathland

After breakfast, proceed walking 5-6 hours slowly, following a path through the forest and then through the heather and moorland zone, from where you can view Kilimanjaro’s two peaks and Moshi town with a one-way lunch box. Arrive at Horombo Hut (3,720m) for dinner and an overnight stay.

Day 24: Horombo Hut (3,690 m/12,100 ft) to Kibo Hut (4,695 m/15,400 ft)

Distance: 10 km,

Hiking Time: 6-8 hours

Habitat: Alpine Desert

 A hard day climb to Kibo Hut (4703 m), 5-6  hours crossing the barren sub-Alpine terrain of the saddle between Mawenzi and Kibo peaks with a picnic lunch box along the way.  We relax on arrival to prepare for the next stage, which begins shortly after midnight—a very early start at around 12:00. We follow the zigzag path up the scree slope, stopping frequently to catch our breath in the starlit air. This is the steepest and most demanding section for the climb, taking five hours to Gilliman’s Point (5685m). Gillman’s Point offers great views of the Eastern Ice fields.  See the sunrise behind Mawenzi Peak illuminating the plain. Then walk a further 45 minutes around the crater and up to the highest point, Uhuru Peak (5,895m), the roof of Africa, where you will be rewarded with stunning views of the spectacular glaciers illuminated by the sunrise.  Thereafter it is a 3-4 hour descent to Kibo Hut (3720m) with a rest at Kibo Hut en route. Dinner and overnight at Kibo Hut.

Day 25: Kibo Hut (4,695 m/15,400 ft) to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m/19,340 ft)

Uhuru Peak (5,895 m/19,340 ft) to Horombo Hut (3,690 m/12,100 ft)

Distance: 4 km ascent, 14 km descent

Hiking Time: 10-15 hours

Habitat: Arctic

This is an easier day, as you have the luxury of walking downhill on the way to the Horombo Hut for dinner and overnight.

DAY 26: Horombo Huts (3,690 m/12,100 ft) to Marangu Gate (1,830 m/6,000 ft)

Distance: 18 km,

Hiking time: 5-7 hours

Habitat: Rain Forest

This is also a much easier day, as you have a walk downhill from Horombo Hut to the gate, where a vehicle is waiting at Marangu Gate for transfer to Moshi. Dinner and overnight stay at Babylon Lodge for a budget option, Millie Lodge Machame for mid-range, or Kaliwa Lodge for luxury in a deluxe room.

Day 27: Transfer to Arusha—Fly to Zanzibar

After breakfast, check out and transfer to Arusha Airport, which is about an hour’s drive from Moshi. Upon arrival, check in for the flight departing at 10:00 am with Flightlink, arriving in Zanzibar at 11:15 hours. Upon arrival in Zanzibar, meet your driver to transfer to your hotel for check-in, relaxation, dinner, and an overnight stay at Tembo Hotel. 

Day 28: Zanzibar city tour – Prison Island and spice tour and Stone Town

You will have breakfast at your hotel and after this, you will start your day’s activities. You will take a private boat from Stone Town to Changuu Island or Prison Island where you will enjoy seeing the Giant tortoises and during your tour of the island, you will also enjoy snorkeling. You will take a boat back from Changuu Island back to Stone Town. On this day, you will also engage in a spice tour as you explore the plantations, where you will see different exotic spices and also get to know the uses of the spices like cloves, cinnamon, and nutmeg, among others. After the spice tour, you will return to your hotel, relax, and spend the night at the hotel as above.

Day 29: Free day relaxation at the hotel and beach while in Stone Town

Day 30: Safari Blu experience

You will enjoy the best boat tour on the island, which is a truly amazing experience sailing in the beautiful traditional dhows. You will enjoy a boat ride, a delicious buffet and drinks, fresh tropical fruits and snacks, snorkeling, and also a visit to Menai Bay. After the experience, you will be driven back to your hotel for dinner and an overnight stay as above.

Day 31: Transfer to Nungwi Island—Safari Experience

After breakfast, meet your driver and transfer to Nungwi Island. Connect for a seafood safari experience that includes swimming with the dolphins and sea tortoises with seafood. End your day with a sunset boat at Michamvi. Return to your hotel for relaxation, dinner, and an overnight stay at Nungwi Dreams Resort (ocean view rooms) for mid-range or Mnarani Beach Hotel for budget.

Day 32 and 33: Free day relaxation in Nyungwe and Kendwa beaches with optional activities

On this day you will have a day to relax at the beach and hotel; you can also engage in optional activities like horseback riding and any other activity of your choice. Enjoy the Zanzibar beach experience. Dinner and overnight stay at hotel as above

Day 34: Free day relaxing at the lodge

Day 35: Departure

You will have breakfast at your hotel as you prepare for your transfer to the airport, which will bring the East Africa Safari Holiday to an end.

End of 35 Days East Africa Safari