22-Day: Gorillas Chimpanzees Great Migration And Hiking

Kigali City Tour 

If your flight arrived the previous night, in the morning, visit  Kigali Genocide Memorial to pay tribute to the victims of the 1994 genocide. 

Next, head to the Belgian Peacekeepers Memorial dedicated to the Belgian UN soldiers who perished during the genocide. 

Later, transfer 3 hours  to Volcanoes National Park. 

In the evening visit Gorilla Guardians village to learn about traditional Rwandan culture.

Golden Monkey Tracking Experience

Begin your day with a Golden Monkey tracking experience in the Virunga Mountains, spending the morning observing these endangered and lively primates in their natural bamboo forest habitat. 

In the afternoon, transfer  to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda.

Gorilla Trekking Experience 

After breakfast, you’ll head to the park headquarters for a briefing on trekking etiquette and safety protocols. Trek through the lush, mist-covered forest. You’ll reach a gorilla family, where you’ll spend a magical hour observing these gentle giants in their natural habitat. Witnessing their social interactions, playful behavior. 

In the afternoon transfer to Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park

Track the Tree climbing Lions 

Start the day with an early morning game drive in the Ishasha sector, renowned for its rare tree-climbing lions and other wildlife. Late morning drive 2 hours to Kazinga channel of Queen Elizabeth National Park 

In the afternoon enjoy a boat safari experience along the kazinga channel to view water animals and variety of birds

Boat Safari Experience 

Start your day with an early morning game drive in the Kasenyi Plains and return to your lodge by around 11 AM. 

After lunch, drive 2 hours to your lodge near the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains.

Hike Lower Slopes of Rwenzori Mountains

Spend the day exploring the lower slopes of the Rwenzori Mountains on a guided hike, enjoying panoramic views of the surrounding valleys, forests, and distant snow-capped peaks. Rwenzori Mountains form Africa’s longest mountain range, stretching approximately 120 km in length and 65 km in width. The range is home to Margherita Peak (5,109 m), the third-highest mountain peak in Africa.

This lower-slope hike provides an introduction to the Rwenzori’s biodiversity, featuring lush montane forests, giant heather, unique plant species, colorful birdlife and cascading streams, without ascending into the challenging alpine zones.

Chimpanzee Tracking Experience

Drive 2-3 Hours to Kibale Forest. Upon arrival, check in at your lodge, have early lunch then head for chimpanzee tracking.

Your tracking experience begins with a briefing on chimpanzee behavior and guidelines for the trek, accompanied by experienced guides, you will venture into the dense forest, listening for calls and rustling leaves that signal the presence of a chimpanzee troop. Once located, spend an hour photographing and observing their interaction and their human-like behavior, after the experience visiting a Bigodi local community.

Begin with a coffee farming experience, where you will learn about the local methods of planting, harvesting, and processing coffee. Continue with a visit to a women’s community group to discover traditional handicraft-making techniques, and conclude with an introduction to the local banana brewing process and its cultural significance.

After the experience, return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

Night Game drive Experience 

In the morning drive 7 hours to the top of Murchison Falls. Here, the river narrows to just a few meters wide as it cascades through a deep chasm in the Rift Valley escarpment. 

Later check in and have early dinner then head for a night game drive to track lions leopards on a night hunt until 10 PM.

Boat Safari Experience on the Victoria Nile

Embark on a game drive safari across the plains. Keep an eye out for the iconic Big Five—lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo as well as giraffes, zebras and various antelope. 

Late in the morning, get on a boat cruise on the Victoria Nile River to the  vantage point to witness the majestic Murchison Falls. Encounter a variety of wildlife along the riverbanks. Watch for hippos lounging in the shallows, crocodiles sunning themselves on the river’s edge and an array of bird species including fish eagles and kingfishers.

Transfer to Sipi Falls 

After breakfast, embark on a scenic 7-8 hour drive to Sipi Falls, located on the foothills of Mount Elgon in Eastern Uganda. Enjoy views of the changing landscapes, rural communities.

 Upon arrival, check in at your lodge and relax in preparation for your upcoming hike and cultural experiences.

Sipi Falls Hiking Experience 

Start with guided hikes to visit all three waterfalls, each offering spectacular views and unique perspectives of the surrounding valleys and Mount Elgon slopes. 

After the hike, drive 2 hours to the Uganda- Kenya Border and proceed to Eldoret city for your night stay.

Transfer to Mount Kenya- Nanyuki 

After breakfast, depart for a scenic 6–7-hour drive to Nanyuki via Nakuru and Nyahururu. Enjoy a stop in Nakuru City for shopping before continuing to Thomson’s Falls in Nyahururu, where you can take in the spectacular views and stretch your legs. Continue to Nanyuki, arriving in the late afternoon for check-in, dinner, and your overnight stay

Hike the lower slopes of Mount Kenya 

Embark on a 6-7 hour hike of the lower peaks of Africa’s second-highest Mount Kenya. 

The trail meanders through a rich tapestry of vegetation, where you’ll encounter a variety of plant species including giant lobelias and distinctive groundsels which are endemic to the mountain. 

Keep an eye out for the colorful birdlife such as the alpine chat and the endangered Mount Kenya hyrax. 

The higher you climb, the more you’ll notice the striking contrasts between the lush vegetation below and the stark alpine landscape above.

You are expected to return to the base in early the afternoon hours and you will return to your lodge for evening and overnight stay.

Search for black and white rhinos

After breakfast, drive for 3-4 hours to Lake Nakuru National Park. Upon arrival, check in at your lodge and have lunch. 

In the afternoon, head out for a game drive searching for wildlife such as black and white rhinos, buffaloes, lions and Rothschild’s giraffes, and the park’s famous flocks of flamingos along the alkaline lake shores.

Masai Village Experience 

After breakfast, transfer to Masai Mara National Reserve. In the afternoon, visit a maasai village, engage in various traditional Maasai activities, the energetic dances and songs, learn about their customs, rituals, and way of life, and observe the intricate beadwork and crafts created by Maasai women.

Your Maasai guides will also share their deep knowledge of the local flora and fauna, traditional medicinal practices, and their enduring connection to the land.

Great Migration Safari Experience 

Your day begins with an early morning departure to maximize wildlife viewing, encounter the Big Five—lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo. The reserve is particularly famous for its lion prides and the elusive leopard, often spotted lounging on trees or stalking through the grass. 

From July to October, the Masai Mara becomes the stage for the Great Migration, one of nature’s most spectacular events. During this period, over two million wildebeest, zebra, and gazelle migrate from the Serengeti in Tanzania to the Mara in search of greener pastures. 

Witnessing their dramatic river crossings, where they brave the crocodile-infested waters of the Mara River

Transfer to Serengeti National Park

Cross the border into Tanzania and enter the northern Serengeti National Park. As you journey through this iconic wilderness, enjoy exceptional game viewing while experiencing the unique rhythm of the Serengeti’s ecosystem, where each day brings new opportunities to encounter diverse wildlife, breathtaking landscapes, and the remarkable spectacle of the Great Migration (seasonal).

Big five Safari Experience 

Begin your day with an early morning game drive, traversing from the Northern Serengeti through the Central Serengeti and down to the Southern Serengeti. 

Depending on your travel season, during the start of the year, the Ndutu area becomes a calving ground for the Great Migration. Witness wildebeest and zebras giving birth on the plains, creating intense predator action as lions, cheetahs, and hyenas seize hunting opportunities.

In the wet season, the region transforms into a mosaic of green grasses and temporary lakes, attracting numerous bird species and grazing herbivores.

Game Drive Safari at Ngorongoro Crater

Descend into the Ngorongoro Crater for a 3 Hour wildlife viewing experience. Formed from a massive volcanic eruption millions of years ago, the crater is an expansive caldera, about 20 kilometers in diameter, that shelters a rich and diverse array of wildlife within its walls. Encounter a variety of animals, including the Big Five—lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, and rhinos.

The crater’s high-density population of elephants allows for particularly close and frequent sightings.

Transfer to Mount Kilimanjaro 

Embark on a scenic journey to Africa’s highest peak. You will make a stop at the Arusha Art Gallery. This gallery is renowned for its vibrant collection of East African art and crafts. paintings, sculptures and handcrafted items made by local artists.

Continue your journey to Marangu Gate of Mount Kilimanjaro for the night.

Hike Lower Slopes of  Mount Kilimanjaro

 Embark on a half-day hike on the lower slopes through the rainforest, home to a diverse array of flora and fauna. The air is cool and fresh, filled with the earthy scent of damp leaves and rich soil. Towering trees, draped in moss and ferns, form a verdant canopy above, filtering the sunlight into soft, dappled patterns on the forest floor. You’ll encounter a variety of plants, including vibrant wildflowers and unique species like the giant lobelias and groundsel, you might hear the distant calls of colobus monkeys, the rustle of small mammals in the underbrush, and the melodic songs of numerous bird species.

After the hike, return to your lodge for the night

Departure at Kilimanjaro Airport

Depending on your departure flight schedule, you will be transferred to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your onward journey, marking the end of your unforgettable East African multi-country safari.