Summary of this Budget Safari Package
This budget lodge tour explores a super mix of East African highlights in the best-known safari countries - Kenya and Tanzania, and the top primate-trekking countries - Rwanda and Uganda.
What makes the safari particularly interesting is the gorilla trekking and exploring in Rwanda - a less-visited destination on the well-loved safari circuit. Another unusual stop is the little gem of Lake Mburo in Uganda, and the popular Queen Elizabeth Park. This safari also delivers the big names of East Africa - Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Amboseli, Tarangire. The magic of this safari really happens when these classical, world-class game parks are combined with unforgettable gorilla encounters in Volcanoes National Park of Rwanda and Bwindi Forest National Park in Uganda, where you can also add a chimpanzee trek in Chambura Gorge to your adventure-of-a-lifetime.
Itinerary for this Tour
Day 1: Nairobi - Kenya
Our East African Safari starts in Nairobi with collection from the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. From the airport we drive you to your first overnight hotel in Nairobi. Take a rest and enjoy dinner at the hotel.
Accommodation: Eka Hotel
Meals: Dinner
Day 2: Nairobi to Amboseli National Park - Kenya
Visit attractions in Nairobi, after breakfast on day two. Go to the Karen Blixen Museum to see where the famous “Out of Africa” author lived and stop in at the Giraffe Centre where you can see Rothschild Giraffes and other animals up close. Then we visit the renowned Daphne Sheldrick Wildlife Orphanage to watch the baby elephants and rhinos being fed and given a mud bath.
Then it is lunch time, before we drive south through rural Kenya to the Amboseli National Park and our next overnight stay.
Accommodation: Kibo Safari Camp
Meals: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch, Dinner
Travel: 240 km (4-5 hours)
Day 3: Amboseli National Park - Kenya
On day three we embark on game drives in Amboseli National Park, taking a picnic lunch along.
This is one of the top game viewing destinations in Kenya, best known for its big elephant herds and unique setting. Amboseli Park is famous for the superb photographic opportunities it offers, with wildlife roaming the plains, flanked by towering Mount Kilimanjaro.
Accommodation: Kibo Safari Camp
Meals: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch, Dinner
Day 4: Amboseli National Park to Arusha - Tanzania
Today we have a laid-back breakfast at camp and set off across the border into Tanzania.
First stop - the waterfalls of Marangu, where we take a relatively challenging hike. Walking shoes and a good level of fitness are recommended for this activity. Next, we continue to Arusha, the travel gateway to the well-loved Northern Safari Circuit of Tanzania. Arriving at our safari lodge on the outskirts of Arusha you can take a walk around the coffee plantations and verdant gardens, or swim in the pool and relax.
Accommodation: Moivaro Coffee Plantation Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch, Dinner
Travel: 170 km (4-5 hours: depending on border crossing)
Day 5: Arusha to Tarangire National Park - Tanzania
Day five begins with a good breakfast before venturing into the Tarangire National Park, taking in spectacular views over the the game-rich Maasai Steppe region consisting of the Tarangire-Manyara ecosystem.
We spend the day searching for wildlife in Tarangire National Park and enjoying the landscapes dotted with baobab trees. Tarangire is also known for its big elephant population and the annual migration to and from Lake Manyara National Park, which includes migrating wildebeest and zebras numbering over 50000.
Accommodation: Rift Valley Photographic Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch, Dinner
Travel: 200 km (4-5 hours: including game drives)
Day 6: Cultural Tour in Mto-wa-Mbu - Tanzania
First, we have breakfast and then we drive to the village of Mto-wa-Mbu, known for its mix of ethnic groups. We visit the lively local marketplace and a family of Chagga people (one of Tanzania's biggest ethnic groups), to see how they brew local banana beer. Carrying on through the farmlands you learn more about the types of produce grown in the region and the farming methods used here. Then it's time for lunch, a hearty, home-made meal prepared by a local woman and enjoyed in her home.
After our tasty Tanzanian-style lunch we stop at a centre for children with disabilities and school to meet the eager youngsters of Mto-wa-Mbu. From there we continue our cultural tour with a Maasai encounter. We visit a boma (open-air reed enclosure) to meet the most famous tribe of East Africa, the proud Maasai. Recognizable by their bright robes and striking appearance, these pastoralist people are traditionally semi-nomadic.
After a day full of cultural diversity and intrigue we head back to the lodge for dinner and relaxation.
Accommodation: Rift Valley Photographic Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Home-cooked Local Lunch, Dinner
Day 7: Manyara to Ngorongoro Crater & Serengeti Park - Tanzania
Our day starts early today, as we head to the Ngorongoro Crater for some world-class game viewing. The crater is famous for its high concentration of wildlife, with almost every big mammal of Africa being represented here. On our game drive we may be lucky enough to see the Big Five (lion, leopard, rhino, buffalo and elephant), along with a rich array of other wildlife.
We stop for lunch in Ngorongoro Crater before ascending the steep crater walls and driving down onto the legendary plains of the Serengeti.
Entering the world-renowned Serengeti National Park we drive through the Southern Section, which epitomizes this wild region of African savannahs. We drive across the wide open plains stretching out as far as the eye can see, looking out for the abundant wildlife found here.
Accommodation: Kisura Kenzan Tented Camp
Meals: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch, Dinner
Travel: 400 km (6-7 hours: including Crater game drive)
Day 8: Serengeti National Park - Tanzania
Day eight is all about game viewing in the Serengeti Park, and will be spent in the central area, known as Seronera. The Seronera region of Serengeti is known as a superb all-year game viewing destination and is particularly noted for its big cat sightings. Exploring the game-rich grasslands, we have a high chance of coming across lions and cheetahs, even leopards.
The Serengeti is one of Africa's best game parks and is known the world-over for the annual Great Migration that sees masses of herbivores stampeding across the plains as the move between Masai Mara and Serengeti. Part of the excitement of seeing this awe-inspiring wildlife spectacle is catching the hordes of hungry predators in action.
Accommodation: Kisura Kenzan Tented Camp
Meals: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch, Dinner
Day 9: Serengeti National Park - Tanzania
Our second day in one of the world's most renowned wildlife destinations - we venture back into the bush for more thrilling game viewing.
We spend the entire day on game drives in the Serengeti National Park, taking packed lunches along. This beautiful wilderness area keeps even the veteran safari-goer captivated and enthralled with its undulating grasslands, dotted with acacias and scattered with rocky knolls, and teeming with wild animals.
Accommodation: Kisura Kenzan Tented Camp
Meals: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch, Dinner
Day 10: Serengeti National Park to Mwanza - Tanzania
First we have breakfast, and then we drive to the city of Mwanza, set in the hills along the shores of Lake Victoria. The economic hub and capital of the north-western region of the same name, Mwanza is the second largest city in Tanzania.
The city hosts one of the major ports on vast Lake Victoria, the largest lake in Africa and the second biggest freshwater lake in the world.
Accommodation: Tilapia Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch, Dinner
Travel: 250 km (4-5 hours: including game drives)
Day 11: Mwanza to Kigali - Rwanda
Have some breakfast and set off on the long drive to Kigali today, enjoying a picnic lunch en route. This scenic drive takes us through changing landscapes into neighbouring Rwanda and its capital, Kigali.
Located almost at the epicenter of Rwanda, Kigali is the biggest and most modern city in the country. Kigali has been the administrative, political, economic and cultural heart of Rwanda since 1962, when the country became independent. Kigali is a surprisingly clean, attractive and pleasant city, easily explored on foot. Although not a main tourist destination the locals are friendly, the atmosphere is upbeat and the city has a cosmopolitan feel with a good selection of restaurants and entertainment.
Accommodation: Hotel Milles de Collines (Hotel Rwanda)
Meals: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch, Dinner
Travel: 540 km (8-9 hours: depending on border & ferry crossing)
Day 12: Kigali to Ruhengeri - Rwanda
This morning we have breakfast and embark on a tour of Kigali and the Kigali Genocide Memorial, the best known landmark in the city.
Our tour takes us back in time to see how much the city has changed, from the first major building in Kigali to the newest developments in the suburbs. We stop at historic sites, such as the Gisozi Genocide Memorial and other local attractions, gaining insight into Kigali's diverse people and horrendous history. The visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial is informative, but harrowing, despite offering invaluable insight into the terrors of genocide. After our intense tour we have lunch at a restaurant in Kigali before travelling to Ruhengeri.
Accommodation: Gorilla Mountain View Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Local Restaurant Lunch, Dinner
Travel: 100 km (2-3 hours)
Day 13: Gorilla Trekking & Ruhengeri - Rwanda
On day 13 we will be doing our first gorilla trek! Early this morning we have breakfast and drive to the nearby headquarters of Volcanoes National Park. After a talk about gorilla trekking procedures we may need to drive to the start of the walking trail, depending on where the gorillas are at the time.
Then its time to trek into the rainforests and bamboo groves of the Virunga Mountains in search of the endangered gorillas. Famous primatologist, Dian Fossey did much of her work in Volcanoes National Park, where she was based for her research on gorillas. About half of the mountain gorillas remaining in the wild are found in the forests of the Virunga Mountains, falling in Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
After the unforgettable wildlife experience of trekking to one of the habituated gorilla families in Volcanoes Park, we return to the lodge in Ruhengeri.
Accommodation: Gorilla Mountain View Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Packed Lunch, Dinner
Day 14: Ruhengeri to Bwindi National Park - Uganda
Today we eat some breakfast and hit the road for Kisoro, from where we cross into Uganda. Our next destination is Bwindi Impenetrable National Forest, home to the remainder of the wild mountain gorilla population.
This afternoon there is time for you to relax in the natural setting of the lodge or participate in optional activities. We spend the night at a peaceful lodge just outside of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, the best place to see gorillas in Uganda. Bwindi National Park protects 331km² (128mi²) of lush mountains and steep ravines, covered in forests so dense that they have been named impenetrable.
Accommodation: Mahogany Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch, Dinner
Travel: 90 km (2-3 hours: depending on border crossing)
Day 15: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park - Uganda
Of course the day starts with breakfast, and then you can choose between trekking for the great apes of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, or keeping yourself entertained with some of the other activities on the go in southwestern Uganda.
The gorilla trekking permit is not included in the tour price and neither are the other activities, including forest walks, bird watching trundles and visits to local villages.
Going gorilla trekking in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so if you can afford it then don't miss this chance! The treks vary in length, but an hour is usually spent with the family group that you visit. This moving wildlife encounter enables you to watch these rare gorillas feed, play, interact and nap in their natural habitat - an amazing experience!
Accommodation: Mahogany Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 16: Bwindi National Park to Queen Elizabeth National Park - Uganda
First things first - we have breakfast before beginning our travels for the day. Then we drive north to the Queen Elizabeth National Park for a spot of game viewing. Queen Elizabeth is the top game viewing destination in Uganda, harbouring all kinds of wild animals and birds. We take a game drive on the way to the Ishasha sector, a well-known part of the national park. At the Kazinga Channel, which attracts an array of birds and animals, we take a leisurely boat cruise to see what there is to see.
Queen Elizabeth tallies up about 95 mammal species and a healthy 500-plus bird species so there is plenty to see and photograph.
Accommodation: Mweya Safari Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch, Dinner
Travel: 240 km (4-5 hours: including game drives)
Day 17: Queen Elizabeth National Park - Uganda
It is day 17 and today we kick-start our adventures with breakfast, followed by a game drive in the Queen Elizabeth National Park where animals and birds are also out and about snacking and drinking. Animals we may see in the wilds include elephants and hippos, which are easy to spot, and endangered chimpanzees, our closest living relatives. When it comes to predators the big cats to look out for are leopards and lions, known for their tree-climbing antics.
Back at the lodge we have lunch and then you have a chance to go chimpanzee trekking and add to the list of close relatives visited, after the gorillas. Please pre-book the chimp trekking if you wish to go along. Trekking chimpanzees in Kyambura (Chambura) Gorge is a must-do when in this neck of the woods, so we say - go for it! Walking through the dense, vine-tangled jungle along the north-eastern boundary of Queen Elizabeth National Park is a magical place to see these intelligent apes, along with an incredible diversity of plants and other creatures.
Accommodation: Mweya Safari Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 18: Queen Elizabeth Park to Lake Mburo National Park - Uganda
Yes, we wake up and have breakfast, before doing anything taxing. Today we skip over to a place called Lake Mburo with a picnic lunch tucked under one arm and your camera under the other.
Arriving at the lakeside in the afternoon we head straight out on a boat trip, an excellent way to take in the lovely scenery at this little gem of a lake. Then we take a walk in the Lake Mburo National Park, named after this lake, out of five lakes in the compact park. This park is a birding haven, especially in terms of water birds, and is also known for its abundance of zebras and impalas, as well as good numbers of buffaloes.
Accommodation: Mantana Tented Camp
Meals: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch, Dinner
Travel: 210 km (4-5 hours: including game drives)
Day 19: Lake Mburo to Entebbe - Uganda
On the last full day of our amazing journey through East Africa we tuck into breakfast at the tented camp and travel to Entebbe. The last stretch of our safari takes us across the imaginary line of the equator where you can pose with one foot in each hemisphere for a snapshot. We stop to browse African curios along the way, giving you a chance to buy some gifts and curios.
Accommodation: Boma Guest House
Meals: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch, Dinner
Travel: 210 km (4-5 hours: including game drives)
Day 20: Entebbe – Uganda
Our final day starts with breakfast at the guesthouse, followed by a transfer to your post-safari accommodation or the Entebbe Airport for your onward travels.
Meals: Breakfast
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