35 Day Rwanda Uganda Kenya Tanzania and Zanzibar Safari : This 35 Days East Africa will take you to Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania, ending your safari relaxing in Africa 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 pick up 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 the 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: Fully day Masia 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 stonetown
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 pick up 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. City tour in Kigali will depend on your time of arrival. Check-in for relaxation and overnight stay at Step Town Motel for budget/Des Mille Collins Hotel for mid-range/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, Kandt house museum, 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 2-3 hours’ 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 headquarter 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 lodge as above
Day 4: Golden monkey trekking – Iby’wacu Cultural Village tour
After breakfast, transfer to the park headquarters for briefing about the golden monkeys. Volcanoes national park is also a home to the fascinating Golden monkeys, the park shares boarders with Virunga national park in Congo; it also has the most scenic as it stands at 3 volcanoes of 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 to return to your lodge.
Later afternoon, visit the connect to visit Iby’wacu Cultural Village-a Non-Profit umbrella organization that aims at improving the lives of reformed poachers and communities around Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park through 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 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 overnight stay at Buhoma Haven Lodge for mid-range/Buhoma community Rest camp for budget/Mahogany springs Lodge for luxury
Day 6: Gorilla tracking experience in Bwindi impenetrable national park
Have breakfast and transfer you to park offices for briefing about Mountain Gorilla trekking by a local guide. The time taken is usually between 2-8 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 as 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 5-6 hours’ drive through Ishasha sector – home for the tree climbing lions. Have 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 overnight stay at Kazinga Wilderness Camp pf budget/Elephant Hub Lodge for mid-range/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 Kasenyi area of Queen Elizabeth national park where you will spot a lot of wildlife including African elephants, Lions, buffalos, antelopes, impala, among others and a lot of birds and a good day the leopards and lions.
Later afternoon, connect for a boat cruise along 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 boat trip, transfer to Kibale national park, which is about 3 hours’ drive. Upon arrival late evening, Check-in for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay at Kibale Forest Lodge for budget/Chimpanzee Forest Lodge for mid-range/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 other, also including different birds.
After tracking, return to the lodge for lunch. Later 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 overnight stay at 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’ to Jinja via Kampala city, through the thrilling country sides of Uganda with en-route lunch and several stopovers for sightseeing. Upon arrival, proceed to check-in at your lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay at 2 Friends Guesthouse for mid-range/Nile Front Cottages for budget
Day 11: White water rafting – Boat cruise on the Lake Victoria
Early morning after breakfast, connect for a briefing about water rafting experience before you start. Rafting is a whole day’s activity. Later 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. Its about 2 hours’ drive from Jinja to the Uganda-Kenya one-stop border Busia. After clearing with the immigration, cross to Kenya and meet with your safari guide. With en-route lunch, proceed to Nakura national park, taking about 4-5 hours’ drive. Upon arrival, check-in at your booked lodge for relaxation, dinner and 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 bird life 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 overnight stay at lodge 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 5-6 hours’ drive with 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: Fully day Masia 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 September, zebra, impala, topi, giraffe, Thomson’s gazelle are regularly seen, leopards, lions, hyenas, cheetah, jackal and bat-eared foxes. Black rhino 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 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
Tanzania part of the Safari
Day 16: Transfer to Tanzania – Serengeti National Park
After breakfast, then 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 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 en-route game drive as you enjoy the plains of Serengeti. Serengeti national park is a home of 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 mid-range option/ Tukaone Serengeti Camp for budget
Day 17: Full day game drive in Serengeti National Park
Have early breakfast, get 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, Buffalos, Giraffes, Lions, Hyenas, Cheetahs, Antelopes, Hartebeest, zebras mention but a few. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight at lodge 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 opportunity to see big prides of lions, cheetahs, leopards, hyenas, giraffes, elephants, different antelopes and other wildlife. Thereafter, connect to Ngorongoro Conservation Area with 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/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, descend to over 600 meters into the crater to view wildlife for a half day’s 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 amazing game viewing experience in the Tarangire national park enjoying sights of different animals with your packed lunch. Later evening, check-in at your booked lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay at Babylon Lodge for budget option/Millie Lodge Machame for mid-range/Kaliwa Lodge for Luxury in Deluxe room
Hike Mount Kilimanjaro – MARANGU ROUTE 5 DAYS, 4 NIGHT’S.
Day 21: Spend your day relaxing at the hotel. Later evening, you will have a briefing to prepare you for the climb ahead, followed by dinner at 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 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: Heath Land
After breakfast proceed walking 5-6 hours slowly following a path through the forest and then through the heather and moor land zone from where you can view Kilimanjaro’s two peaks and Moshi town with on way lunch box. Arrive at Horombo Hut (3,720m) for dinner and 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 picnic lunch box along the way. We relax on arrival to prepare for the next stage which begins shortly after, Mid night a very early start at around 12:00, follow the zigzag path up the scree slope, stopping frequently to catch 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 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 on 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: Artic
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 walking downhill from Horombo Hut way to the gate waiting vehicle at Marangu gate for transfer to Moshi. Dinner and overnight stay at Babylon Lodge for budget option/Millie Lodge Machame for mid-range/Kaliwa Lodge for Luxury in Deluxe room
Day 27: Transfer to Arusha – Fly to Zanzibar
after breakfast, check-out and transfer to Arusha airport, which is about an hour 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 for relaxation, dinner and 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 hotel as above
Day 29: Free day relaxation at the hotel and beach while in stonetown
Day 30: Safari Blu experience
You will enjoy the best boat tour on the island is which is a truly amazing experience sailing in the beautiful traditional Dhows. You will enjoy a boat ride, enjoy delicious buffet and drinks, fresh tropical fruits and snacks, snorkeling and also visit Menai Bay. After the experience, you will be driven back to your hotel for dinner and 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 tortoise with sea food. End your day with a sunset boat at Michamvi. Return to your hotel for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay at Nungwi Dreams Resort (Ocean View rooms) for mid-range/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 ride experience 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 you to the end of the Safari to an end.
