19 Day Unforgettable East Africa: Gorillas, Safaris & Zanzibar

Day 1: Kampala, Uganda

We being our adventure starts in Kampala. Take advantage of this first night out with your group to get to know one another. In light of the fact that you will be camping for the duration of this portion of the trip, you will be enjoying yourself at the Red Chilli Bar. Have a conversation with your fellow travelers on the poolside bar or on the beer terrace. If you wish to relax and make some friends before embarking on your next adventure, there are plenty of communal areas where you can do so with a beer in hand.

NB: By the time of the welcome meeting, please ensure that you have all the necessary visas. Please read the visa section of our trip details in order to confirm which visas you will require, if any. It should be noted that not all nationalities are eligible for a visa on arrival.

Accommodation Red Chilli Hideaway (or similar)
Meals: Dinner

Day 2: Kampala – Lake Bunyonyi, Uganda

Despite the fact that you get to do something pretty awesome every day, you will be crossing the equator today (which we think is an impressive accomplishment to add to your travel resume) and going to Lake Bunyonyi.

There is no doubt that Bunyonyi is the most beautiful lake in Uganda and its name means ‘place of many little birds’. With its winding shorelines and steep terraced hillsides, this island seems to be somewhere in Asia, with its winding shorelines encircling 29 islands. There are no crocs or hippo in Lake Bunyonyi (unlike many lakes in East Africa), so you can swim in its crystal-clear waters at your leisure.

Accommodation Bunyonyi Overland Camp (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Route: Kampala – Lake Bunyonyi
Distance: 520km

Day  3: Gorilla Trek, Uganda

Get ready for an unforgettable hike deep into the jungle through volcano forests alongside a park ranger to search for mountain gorillas today because you will be taking a guided mountain gorilla trek in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (so awesome!) Depending on the hike, the length and difficulty may vary, but knowing you will see these majestic creatures (we share 98% of our DNA) will make it all worth it.

There is currently a limit of eight visitors per day per gorilla family in Uganda, as the authorities are fiercely protective of this natural treasure. Different subgroups will participate in the trek, and depending on the number of participants, different subgroups may participate on different days.

There is a possibility that the gorilla trek will take place on the second full day in Lake Bunyonyi, depending on the date of our permits.

Accommodation: Bunyonyi Overland Camp (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Highlights: Mountain Gorilla Trek

Day 4: Lake Bunyonyi, Uganda

Today, let’s show some love to Lake Bunyonyi. Observe the mist rising from the gently lapping waters of this magical place in the early morning. In addition to swimming, hiking, canoeing, bird watching, and a motorboat tour of the lake, there are tons of other optional activities to choose from. Afterward, you can discuss your group’s gorilla experience at the lodge in the evening.

Accommodation: Bunyonyi Overland Camp (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities: Swimming (Lake Bunyonyi), Canoe Rental 10 USD per person, Bird Watching Walk 5USD per person, Nature Walk 5USD per person, Motorboat Tour of Lake Bunyonyi 15m-1h 25-80 USD per person

Day 5: Lake Bunyonyi – Kalinzu Forest Reserve

Let the Ugandan countryside slip by as we travel further north to the Kalinzu Forest Reserve.

This forest reserve is part of Queen Elizabeth National Park and is characterized by open savannahs, large swamps around Lake George, and extensive Maramagambo Forests in the southeast. Several landscapes are waiting to be explored, so what are you waiting for? Let’s get started!

Accommodation: Craters Campsite & Country Lodge (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Highlights: Kalinzu Forest Reserve
Optional Activities: Boat Cruise 30USD per person
Route: Lake Bunyonyi – Kalinzu Forest Reserve
Distance: 155km

Day 6: Kalinzu Forest Reserve – Lake Mburo National Park, Uganda

If you know the saying, “the early bird gets the worm” then here is your chance to see chimpanzees. Take part in an included chimpanzee tracking excursion with a ranger and explore the verdant Kalinzu Forest Reserve in search of these chimpanzees.

After visiting the tea plantation, the group will proceed to Lake Mburo. It is possible to book an afternoon boat cruise on the lake or explore the surrounding area on foot once you have arrived there.

Accommodation: Leopard Rest Camp (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Highlights:  Chimpanzee Tracking Excursion, Tea Plantation Visit
Optional Activities :Lake Mburo Boat Safari 70 USD per person, Nature Walk 10USD per person
Route: Kalinzu Forest Reserve – Lake Mburo National Park
Distance: 150km

Day 7: Lake Mburo National Park – Jinja, Uganda

Taking the overland vehicle across the equator is one of the few opportunities in the world to cross this imaginary line on land. Enjoy a meal at the Aid Child Equation Café & Gallery as you watch water swirl in opposite directions on either side of the equator. The group will continue on to Jinja, Uganda’s adventure capital, with full stomachs and even fuller hearts.

Accommodation: Nile River Explorers River Camp (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Included Highlights: AidChild Cafe & Gallery
Route: Lake Mburo National Park – Jinja
Distance: 325 km

Day 8: Jinja, Uganda

Let’s get active, have fun, and get out there! Jinja offers a wide range of outdoor activities and adventure activities that you can enjoy alone or with your group today.

Explore the White Nile River by raft, mountain bike the hills surrounding the city, or visit the local market for a more relaxed day. Don’t be surprised if you see monkeys or other wildlife on the outskirts of the town.

Ask your travel agent to assist you with booking your rafting adrenaline rush on the checkout page or pre-book your rafting adrenaline rush on the checkout page.

Accommodation: Nile River Explorers River Camp (or similar)
Optional Activities: Mabira Forest Mountain Biking 45 USD per person or 180 USD per group, Quad Biking 99 USD per person, Nile River Kayaking 140-160USD per person, Bungee Jumping 115 USD per person, Nile River Sunset Cruise 45 USD per person, Jinja River Rafting

Day 9: Jinja – Eldoret

There is a bit of travel today, but you won’t mind because the rest will be appreciated (besides, it’s the perfect time to upload those Instagram photos). A night out in Eldoret will follow the group’s departure from Uganda. Spend time together as a group, perhaps grab a drink somewhere and reminisce about your trip.

We are stopping for an overnight stay between two long driving days.

Accommodation: Greenwoods Resort and Campsite (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Route: Jinja – Eldoret
Distance: 270 km

Day 10: Eldoret – Nairobi, Kenya

Your energy will be replenished by a more relaxed travel day today following your adventurous experiences yesterday. Hence, feel free to relax and take in the scenery as the group transfers through the Kenyan countryside to Nairobi. To get you through the day, we are planning naps, story time, and possibly a mini dance party in the overland vehicle. Is anyone familiar with Toto’s Africa song?

Accommodation: The Heron Portico (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast
Route: Eldoret – Nairobi
Distance: 315 km

Day 11: Nairobi – Arusha, Kenya

As you travel to Arusha, Tanzania, hop on the shuttle and experience the semi-arid lands of the Maasai people. You will have the opportunity to marvel at the majestic views of Mount Kilimanjaro in the distance and share stories with your fellow travelers!

Accommodation: Vijiji Lodge (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast
Route: Nairobi – Arusha
Distance: 290 km

Day 12: Arusha – Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Now is the time to experience the Africa you have all imagined, the experience you have seen over and over again in books, movies, and television. The Serengeti National Park is one of the most famous national parks in Africa, so grab those cameras, purchase a quirky bucket hat, and join a wildlife safari drive into one of the most famous national parks in the region.

Enjoy abundant wildlife, thorny acacia trees, and hippo-filled rivers as you embark on a 3-day and 2-night excursion to the park itself and Ngorongoro Crater.

A portion of the trip will be spent in the Serengeti & Ngorongoro Crater using specialized safari vehicles, accompanied by experienced safari drivers/guides who ensure wonderful wildlife encounters. In addition to sliding windows, each safari vehicle is equipped with a large pop-up roof, which makes it easy to view the animals and scenery from inside. The group will be divided into several vehicles and your guide will spend time in each vehicle over the next three days.

Accommodation: Seronera Campsite (or similar)
Included Highlights: Serengeti National Park Safari
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Route: Arusha – Serengeti National Park
Distance: 320 km

Day 13: Serengeti National Park – Ngorongoro, Tanzania

Embark on a last morning safari in the Serengeti with your friends. Before returning to break down camp, watch the animal kingdom come to life as the sun rises higher in the sky.

In the afternoon, we will travel to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, which is renowned for its best wildlife viewing in Africa. Prepare yourself for epic views from the crater rim as you observe animals meandering around below, drinking water from the crater floor’s permanent supply. The camp site will be set up in the late afternoon at a location near the crater rim and you can then enjoy one of the world’s most beautiful wildlife habitats for the rest of the day.

We would like to remind you that if you have pre-booked the Serengeti Balloon Safari, today is the day for this activity. Final confirmation will be given by the guide, since it is subject to change. As a result, you will not be able to participate in the morning wildlife safari, but you will have a better view from above. It is recommended that you pre-book if you have not already done so, or contact your travel agent for assistance. Our camp is located at a high altitude, and temperature drops at night as a result. For the evening and the following morning, we recommend bringing extra layers of clothing.

Accommodation: Simba Campsite (or similar)
Included Highlights: Serengeti National Park Safari
Optional Activities: Serengeti Balloon Safari 599USD per person
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Route: Serengeti National Park – Ngorongoro
Distance: 160 km

Day 14: Ngorongoro Conservation Area – Arusha, Tanzania

Let’s experience “Africa’s Garden of Eden” up close and personal. Today, the group will embark on a final safari experience on the crater floor. Don’t forget to charge your cameras as this is the place to see wildlife (and we are so excited for you)!

The crater walls bind the animals to this area and it has created an ecosystem unique to the region that includes rich grasslands, swamps, acacia forests, and Lake Makat.

As soon as the group has completed their camera rolls, they will exit the crater in the late morning and return to Arusha. Enjoy the passing scenery as you cruise along, or exchange stories along the way.

Accommodation: Vijiji Lodge (or similar)
Included Highlights: Mto wa Mbu Village Visit and Lunch, Ngorongoro Crater Wildlife Safari Drive
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Route: Ngorongoro – Arusha
Distance: 200 km

Day 15: Arusha – Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Watch the Tanzanian countryside pass by and enjoy the blue waters of the Indian Ocean as you leave Arusha early in the morning. Look out for the mighty Mt Kilimanjaro while traveling towards Dar es Salaam. Before becoming a port and trading center, the city began as a fishing village in the mid-19th century. There will be an overnight stay here before the group embarks for Zanzibar’s island beaches.

Would you like to reduce your travel time in half and spend more time in Stone Town? You may pre-book the Zanzibar Express on the checkout page in order to include this optional activity in your itinerary. Take the scenic flight to Zanzibar this morning from your Arusha hotel via the Zanzibar Express. Enjoy an afternoon of exploration in Stone Town after arriving. Spend an additional night in Stone Town before rejoining the group the following day. The only included meal is breakfast.

Accommodation: Kipepeo Beach Village (or similar)
Optional Activities: Zanzibar Express
Route: Arusha – Dar es Salaam
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Distance: 650 km

Day 16: Dar es Salaam – Stone Town, Tanzania

Having been on a jam-packed trip for the last few days, what you are about to do is going to be just what you need. Upon waking in Dar es Salaam, you will board the ferry to Zanzibar, a tropical paradise.

You will be captivated by the picturesque island beaches that will make you wish you lived off the grid here. This Tanzanian archipelago is one of the most enticing and exotic places on the planet, so be prepared to enjoy it, take a lot of pictures, and relax in a place that has long attracted backpackers and adventurers.

In Zanzibar, the majority of the population is Muslim. In Stone Town, women and men who are immodestly dressed will be harassed and cause great offense. In the vicinity of the beach, customs are a little more relaxed, but it is still recommended that visitors adhere to local customs and cover up when walking around the island. Taking photographs without permission is never a good idea.

Accommodation: Spice Palace Hotel (or similar)
Included Activities: Stone Town Orientation Walk
Optional Activities: Christ Church Cathedral & Old Slave Market 5USD per person, Sultan’s Palace Museum 3USD per person, House of Wonders 5USD per person, Stone Town Walking Tour – 40USD per person
Route: Dar es Salaam –  Stone Town
Meals: Breakfast

Day 17: Beach day in Zanzibar , Tanzania

The heart of Zanzibar awaits you this morning in Stone Town. Explore the historic unpaved alleyways of Stone Town, passing wooden carved doors and balconies on the way.

The streets and squares are a delight to explore, where you will find pavement vendors selling potent coffee and tiny cafes selling sweetmeats. There are many things to see and do in the region, such as tinga-tinga paintings, antique shops, beautifully printed cloths (kangas and kikois worn by locals), little carved chests with copper inlays, and spices, all of which would make wonderful gifts or souvenirs to take home. The group will transfer to Jambiani, a tropical haven, for a few relaxing days.

Accommodation: Spice Island Hotel & Resort (or similar)
Optional Activities: Jozani Forest Tour 3h-4h35-150USD per person, Swimming
Route: Stone Town – Jambiani
Meals: Breakfast
Distance: 60 km

Day 18: Beach day in Zanzibar , Tanzania

Get ready to seize the day as you wake up in this island paradise. Imagine Africa meeting Arabia, adding the Indian Ocean to the mix as the cherry on top, and you would have explored one of the world’s great cultural crossroads.

Spend your day as you wish; go diving, snorkeling, hopping aboard a sailing trip, or simply lying on the beach and relaxing. As one of the most enjoyable East African Indian Ocean destinations, Zanzibar offers a tropical setting, unique culture, and a lively beach party scene.

Accommodation: Spice Island Hotel & Resort (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast

Day 19: Stone Town, Tanzania

Taking yourself away from Jambiani’s beauty will be your most challenging task today. Explore the heart of Zanzibar by traveling back to Stone Town on the other side of the island.

Your tour comes to an end today.

Meals: Breakfast

Onward Travel Plans

Due to circumstances beyond our control while on tour (such as border crossings, traffic, breakdowns and delays, etc), the end time on the last day cannot be guaranteed. Therefore we strongly recommend you stay the night and fly out the next day. Please consult with your booking consultant.