22-Day Gorilla Trekking, Chimpanzees, Great Migration and Hiking

Day 1: Transfer from Entebbe to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

1. Entebbe
   Pass by
   If your flight arrived the previous night, depart after breakfast for an 8-hour drive to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in southwestern Uganda.
   The journey takes you through countryside, vibrant towns and the Equator crossing, with brief stopovers along the way.
   
   Arrive at your lodge near the park in the late afternoon, where you can relax, enjoy dinner, and prepare for the following day's adventure.

Day 2: Golden Monkey Tracking Experience

1. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
   5h · Admission ticket included
   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

Day 3: Gorilla Trekking Experience

1. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
   5h · Admission ticket included
   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

Day 4: Track the Tree climbing Lions and boat safari Experience

1. Queen Elizabeth National Park
   5h · Admission ticket included
   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

Day 5: Game drive Safari Experience

1. Queen Elizabeth National Park
   4h · Admission ticket included
   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.

Day 6: Hike Lower Slopes of Rwenzori Mountains

1. Rwenzori Moutains National Park
   5h · Admission ticket included
   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.

Day 7: Chimpanzee Tracking Experience

1. Kibale Forest National Park
   4h · Admission ticket included
   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.

Day 8: Scenic view of Murchison Falls and Night Game drive Experience

1. Murchison Falls National Park
   5h · Admission ticket included
   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 10PM.

Day 9: Boat Safari Experience along the Victoria Nile

1. Murchison Falls National Park
   4h · Admission ticket included
   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.

Day 10: Transfer to Sipi Falls

1. Sipi Falls
   5h · Admission ticket included
   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.

Day 11: Sipi Falls Hiking Experience

1. Sipi Falls
   Pass by
   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.

Day 12: Transfer to Mount Kenya- Nanyuki

1. Thompson Falls Nyahururu
   6h · Admission ticket included
   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.

Day 13: Hike the lower slopes of Mount Kenya

1. Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy
   6h · Admission ticket included
   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.

Day 14: Game Drive to search for black and white rhinos

1. Lake Nakuru National Park
   6h · Admission ticket included
   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.

Day 15: Masai Village Experience

1. Masai Mara National Reserve
   5h · Admission ticket included
   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.

Day 16: Great Migration Safari Experience

1. Masai Mara National Reserve
   5h · Admission ticket included
   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

Day 17: Transfer to Serengeti National Park

1. Serengeti National Park
   5h · Admission ticket included
   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).

Day 18: Big five Safari Experience

1. Serengeti National Park
   6h · Admission ticket included
   Begin your day with an early morning game drive, traversing from the Northern Serengeti through the Central Serengeti and down to the Southern Serengeti. This journey offers diverse landscapes and incredible wildlife sightings throughout the day.
   
   Depending on your travel season, during the start of the year , the Ndutu area in Southern Serengeti becomes a crucial calving ground for the Great Migration. Witness the breathtaking spectacle of thousands of wildebeest and zebras giving birth on the lush green plains, creating intense predator action as lions, cheetahs, and hyenas seize hunting opportunities.
   
   In the wet season, the region transforms into a vibrant mosaic of green grasses and temporary lakes, attracting numerous bird species and grazing herbivores, offering rich photographic and wildlife experiences.

Day 19: Game Drive Safari at Ngorongoro Crater

1. Ngorongoro Crater
   5h · Admission ticket included
   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.

Day 20: Transfer to Mount Kilimanjaro

1. Mount Kilimanjaro
   5h · Admission ticket included
   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.

Day 21: Hiking Experience at Mount Kilimanjaro

1. Mount Kilimanjaro
   6h · Admission ticket included
   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

Day 22: Departure at Kilimanjaro International Airport

1. Pass by
   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.

• Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
• Not recommended for pregnant travelers
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness