12 Days Budget Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania safari
Safari overview
12 Days Budget Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania safari : A combined safari to Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania offers rich diversity of wildlife, nature, beautiful people, rich culture and Africa setting of infrastructure. Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania are home of Africa’s most popular and fascinating safari destinations from Kenya’s magical safaris to Maasai Mara, Tanzania’s Serengeti national park, and Uganda’s mountain gorillas in the rainforest of Bwindi impenetrable national park. Uganda has become one of Africa’s most powerful wildlife experiences. Uganda has a mixture of attractions with diverse national parks and is a strong contender for one of the world’s best bird watching destinations. Uganda is a green, hilly and elevated country with many lakes and mountains, Uganda’s appeal lies in its simplicity. Infrastructure is limited but growing and there is now a good range of safari accommodation and city-based hotels. Ideal for seasoned safari-goers, bird watchers and wildlife enthusiasts. Some of the national park to go to include; Murchison falls national park, Queen Elizabeth national park for classic big game viewing, chimpanzee trekking in Kibale forest national park which is a top destination for primates in Africa and river cruises. A mixture of tropical rainforest, swamp and grasslands. Uganda’s star is on the rise – combine it with Kenya or Tanzania for a holistic East African safari experience. Experience a safari vacation in Kenya, the place where safari travel originated. The best Kenya tours and safaris include Big 5 game viewing, incredible natural beauty and cultural encounters, often combining Kenya’s top attractions. Tanzania is East Africa’s largest country for decades with a diversity of wildlife and landscapes. From the classic savannah destinations of the Serengeti, Tarangire and Ngorongoro Crater in Ngorongoro conservation area.
Safari highlights
Day 1: Transfer to Kibale national park
Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking experience and Bigodi swamp walk
Day 3: Transfer to Bwindi national park
Day 4: Gorilla trekking experience
Day 5: Bwindi national park – Fly to Masai Mara national reserve
Day 6: Full day in Masai Mara
Day 7: Full day at Masai Mara
Day 8: Transfer to Serengeti national park via Isebenia border
Day 9: Full day game viewing in Serengeti
Day 10: Morning game drive – Transfer to Ngorongoro conservation area
Day 11: Full day at Ngorongoro crater
Day 12: Transfer to Arusha – Departure
Detailed Safari
Day 1: Transfer to Kibale national park
On the 1st day of your 12 Days Budget Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania safari, upon arrival at Entebbe airport/Depending on your location in Kampala/Entebbe, you will be met by our company representative and transfer to Kibale national park- the best safari destination in Africa for chimpanzee tracking. It’s a 7-6 hours’ driver with en-route lunch in Fort portal town. Proceed to visit the crater lakes. Thereafter, drive to check-in at your lodge. Dinner and overnight stay at Isunga lodge for budget
Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking experience and Bigodi swamp walk
Have breakfast very early and later transfer to the park head office for a briefing about the endangered chimpanzees and later enter the forest with the guidance of a park ranger along with your tracking gears, packed water and snacks. This trekking is a whole day experience. On finding the primates, you will spend 1 hour viewing them while studying their behavior and taking pictures.
Later afternoon, go for a 2-3 hours’ nature walk in Bigodi swamp and experience the different birds and primates. The reserve is abundant with butterflies, plants, animals and, in particular, birds. Spectacular birds like Great Blue Turaco and rare Papyrus Gonolek will be of great interest to birders. The swamp is also home to more elusive animals such as Red Colobus monkeys and Sitatunga antelope. There is also the opportunity to visit local community projects that have been financed by tourism. Return to the lodge for relaxation. Dinner and overnight at as above
Day 3: Transfer to Bwindi national park
On the 3rd day of your 12 Days Budget Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania safari, after early morning breakfast, check-out of the lodge and set off to transfer you to Bwindi impenetrable national park. It’s an 7-8 hours’ drive with en-route lunch via Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth national park. Proceed to the park and check-in at the lodge and later relax at the lodge for the evening. Dinner and overnight at Buhoma Community Rest Camp for budget
Day 4: Gorilla trekking experience
After enjoying an early breakfast and transfer to park headquarters for the briefing before you set off gorilla trekking. Trekking through the steep, densely forested hills and then finally coming across the gorillas camouflaged in the vegetation is an inspiring and privileged moment. Tracking in the Bwindi forest requires stamina and can often take most of the day and spend an hour in the presence of the gorillas before you return at your meeting point with the driver-guide to return to the lodge. Dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above
Day 5: Bwindi national park – Fly to Masai Mara national reserve
After early morning breakfast, connect for your morning flight to Entebbe from Bwindi from Kihihi airstrip with a 7 am flight and arrive at 8:45 am. Take your Covid 19 test while waiting for your onward flight to Masai Mara national reserve departing for Entebbe airport at 12:15 and arriving at 14:30 am in Masai Mara national park. On arrival, you will be your safari guide and embark to connect to your lodge in Masai Mara national park for dinner and overnight stay at Mitimingi Eco-lodge for a budget option
Day 6: Full day in Masai Mara
After breakfast, full day in the park with packed lunch in search of its popular residents, The Masai Mara plains are full of wildebeest during migration season early July to end September however, they are not guaranteed to view, zebra, impala, topi, giraffe, Thomson’s gazelle are regularly seen, the leopards, lions, hyenas, cheetah, jackal and bat-eared foxes can also be seen. Black rhino is 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 lay 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
Day 7: Full day at Masai Mara
On the 7th day of your 12 Days Budget Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania safari, early morning breakfast and enter the gates of Masai Mara for a game drive that will get you quite close to different wildlife species in big numbers. From solitary buffaloes to copulating lions, birds and small game of all types; you will see it all on a game drive in Masai Mara! Return to the lodge for lunch and relax from the scorching sun. In the evening, go for another game drive. Dinner and overnight at lodge as above
Day 8: Transfer to Serengeti national park via Isebenia border
After early morning breakfast, transfer to Tanzania’s Serengeti national park. You will arrive at Isebania border, check-in with the immigration with your Covid-19 test results required while crossing. Meet up with your Tanzanian guide to embark on your journey to Serengeti national park with en-route lunch break. If you missed the Wildebeest migration experience in Masai Mara Kenya, consider visiting Serengeti national park in the months of April, May and early June as it is when they are estimated to move towards central Serengeti.
Upon arrival late afternoon, connect to your reserved lodge for check-in, dinner and overnight stay at Osinon camps and lodges for budget
Day 9: Full day game viewing in Serengeti
After your delicious breakfast, meet your driver and embark on a drive to Serengeti national park with your panic lunch. The central sector is known for its masculine lions and you will also encounter a great number of other wildlife. Later afternoon, you will drive to Central Serengeti for the game drive. In this area of the park, you will have the opportunity to see big pride of lions, Cheetahs, Leopards, Hyenas, Giraffes, Elephants, different Antelopes, and other wildlife. Later in the evening return to your lodge for dinner and overnight at either lodge as above
Day 10: Morning game drive – Transfer to Ngorongoro conservation area
After breakfast, enjoy yet another game drive in Serengeti and later connect to Ngorongoro conservation area with your packed lunch box. You will enjoy visiting attractions such as Ol duvai gorge for an experience at an archaeological site. You will also have a cultural experience with the Maasai people who also live in the Ngorongoro conservation area. Later afternoon, connect to your lodge for relaxation dinner and overnight stay at Eileen’s Trees Inn for budget option
Day 11: Full day at Ngorongoro crater
Wake up early, have breakfast, and connect to descent to over 600 meters in the Ngorongoro crater. Ngorongoro crater is the world’s largest inactive caldera which is home to numerous wildlife species as well as bird species such as flamingos which can be seen during a safari in the crater along the shores of Lake Magadi. Supported by a year round water supply and fodder, the Ngorongoro Crater supports a vast variety of animals, which include herds of wildebeest (in months of January, February and March), zebra, buffalo, eland, warthog, hippo, and giant African elephants. Another big draw card to this picturesque national park is its dense population of predators, which include lions, hyenas, jackals, cheetahs and the ever-elusive leopard, which sometimes requires a trained eye to spot.
You will also visit Lake Magadi, a large but shallow alkaline lake in the south western corner, which is one of the main features of the crater. A large number of flamingos, hippos and other water birds can usually see here. Dinner and overnight at the lodge as above
Day 12: Transfer to Arusha – Departure
After your breakfast, meet your safari guide and embark on your journey to Arusha. It’s a 4 hours’ drive from Ngorongoro conservation area. Upon arrival, you will be dropped at a location you off at the airport for your onward flight back home. End of Safari
