21 Days Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania Safari : Looking to explore East Africa during your African Safari, book our 21 Days Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania Safari! During this 21 Days East African wildlife safari with Explore Rwanda Tours, you will get to see the Big Five during a game drive safari in Akagera national park in Rwanda, Masai Mara in Kenya, Serengeti national park and Ngorongoro crater area in Tanzania. You will also get to track golden monkeys in Rwanda’s Volcanoes national park, Mountain Gorillas in Bwindi impenetrable national park in Uganda and chimpanzees in Kibale national park.
Highlights for 21 Days Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania Safari
Day 1: Arrival in Kigali city tour
Day 2: Transfer to Akagera national park and Lake Ihema Boat Cruise
Day 3: Morning Game Drive and Drive Back to Kigali.
Day 4: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest national park – Canopy walkway
Day 5: Isumo water falls hike and transfer to Volcanoes national park
Day 6: Explore Lake Kivu – transfer to Volcanoes national park
Day 7; Golden Monkeys or Dian Fossey Hike
Day 8: Ibyi’wacu community village tour – Cross to Uganda via Cyanika border
Day 9: Gorilla trekking experience
Day 10: Transfer to Kibale national park via Ishasha sector
Day 11: Chimpanzee trekking experience and Bigodi swamp walk
Day 12: Transfer back to Entebbe
Day 13: Fly to Nairobi (own cost) – transfer to Lake Nakuru national park – evening game drive
Day 14: Morning game drive – visit Crescent Island on Lake Naivasha – transfer to Masai Mara national reserve
Day 15: Masai Mara full day game viewing
Day 16: Another day – Full day in Masai Mara – community tour
Day 17: Transfer to Serengeti national park via Isabenia border
Day 18: Full day game drive in Serengeti national park
Day 19: Another day in Serengeti National Park
Day 20: Ngorongoro Crater tour
Day 21: Transfer to Arusha – Departure
Detailed Itinerary For 21 Days Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania Safari
Day 1: Arrival in Kigali city tour
Upon arrival at Kigali airport or depending on your location in Kigali, meet your safari driver to explore Kigali city. Visit the Kigali genocide memorial site, Kandt museum with en-route lunch and drive around Kigali city, visit the Kigali hill and the Kimironko market. Return to the lodge for dinner and relaxation at Step Town Motel Kigali for budget/Des Mille Collins Hotel for mid-range
Day 2: Transfer to Akagera national park and Lake Ihema Boat Cruise
You will be met by your driver guide at your agreed location in Kigali to transfer to Akagera national park where you will arrive in time to embark on the late afternoon boat cruise on Lake Ihema where you will see game like hippopotamuses, Crocodiles and many bird species that live around the lake and the surrounding swamps. Dinner and overnight Akagera Game lodge (Midrange)/ Karenge Bush Camp (Budget)
Day 3: Morning Game Drive and Drive Back to Kigali.
Rise up early and go for a game drive with great anticipation of seeing the different animals which rise early to graze and predators looking for their early morning kill. After the game drive, return to connect with your driver guide to embark on your transfer back to Kigali. If you didn’t have a city tour on the first day, you may have it on this day before you are dropped off at your hotel. Dinner and overnight stay at Step Town Motel Kigali for budget/Des Mille Collins Hotel for mid-range
Day 4: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest national park – Canopy walkway
After breakfast at your hotel, check-out and cross back to Rwanda. It’s about 6 hours’ drive from Kigali to Nyungwe forest national park. Connect to first check-in at your lodge fir lunch.
Later afternoon, connect for the canopy walk experience. You will go on a walking trail that will take you to the Canopy Walk-a swing bridge 50 meters in length that is suspended from large trees; you will be able to see the amazing rainforest with a bird’s eye view, spotting wildlife moving below you. Proceed to check-in your booked lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay at Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel for mid-range option/Gisakura Visitor Center for budget
Day 5: Isumo water falls hike and transfer to Volcanoes national park
After having breakfast, connect to enter the forest on a forest walk to the waterfalls, you will encounter different birds and other primates, reaching the waterfalls is relaxing and refreshing with great views of the forested mountain.
Return from the hike and transfer to Lake Kivu with wonderful views of the hills in Rwanda, it’s a 4 hours’ drive given the nature of the road. Upon arrival, connect to check-in, relax, chill and have dinner at Gorilla Lake Kivu Hotel for mid-range/Paradise Malahide for budget
Day 6: Explore Lake Kivu – transfer to Volcanoes national park
After breakfast, meet your driver to explore a bit of Gisenyi and take a boat trip on Lake Kivu. Later afternoon, drive to transfer to Volcanoes national park, which is a 2 hours’ drive with sightseeing of the rolling hills of Rwanda. Upon arrival in Musanze, visit the Dian Fossey museum and the Ellen DeGeneres campus. Check-in at your lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay at Tiloreza Volcanoes Eco lodge for mid-range option/Hotel Muhabura for budget option
Day 7; Golden Monkeys or Dian Fossey Hike
Either go for Golden monkey trekking – After an early morning breakfast, transfer to the park headquarters for briefing and later enter the forest and hike while in search of the golden monkeys. Tracking the golden monkeys rewards views of other primates such as the black and white Colobus monkeys, Olive baboons among others.
Or, choose to do Dian Fossey hike – after breakfast, connect for Dian Fossey hike. The hike rewards with visit of Dian Fossey graveyard and her home in Karisimbi. Return to your lodge with en-route Dian Fossey museum tour then connect back to the lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above
Day 8: Ibyi’wacu community village tour – Cross to Uganda via Cyanika border
After breakfast, 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 the 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.
After the tour, have transfer to Cyanika border to cross to Uganda. Have en-route in Kisoro then connect to your booked lodge in Bwindi impenetrable national park. Dinner and overnight stay at Buhoma Haven Lodge for mid-range/Buhoma Community Rest Camp for budget
Day 9: Gorilla trekking experience
Enjoy early morning breakfast and transfer to the park headquarters with your packed lunch for briefing by the ranger guides and later head into the forest for your trek. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi takes 2 to 8 hours depending on the movement of the gorillas. These primates roam the park freely and there is no way of telling where they will be for a particular day. On finding them, you will be allowed 1 hour to view and take photos of these gentle primates, enjoy your lunch packs and meet your driver / guide and transfer back to your lodge. The time after trekking can be spent on a village tour or lazing off at the lodge as you savoir the memories of your gorilla trek in Bwindi and prepare for the next day. Dinner and overnight at Lodge as above
Day 10: Transfer to Kibale national park via Ishasha sector
After breakfast, transfer to Kibale national park. It’s a 5-7 hours’ drive with en-route game drive in Ishasha sector for chances of seeing the tree climbing lions and en-route lunch. Proceed to Kibale national park with en-route crater lakes tours. Upon arrival, check-in for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay at Chimpanzee Forest Lodge for mid-range/Isunga Lodge for budget
Day 11: Chimpanzee trekking experience and Bigodi swamp walk
Have breakfast very early and later transfer to the park head office for a briefing about the endangered chimpanzees and later enter the forest with the guidance of a park ranger along with your tracking gears, packed water and snacks. This tracking takes about 2-5 hours in search of the chimpanzees. On finding the primates, you will spend 1 hour viewing them while studying their behaviour and taking pictures. After tracking, return to the lodge for lunch and refresh.
Later afternoon, visit Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary. The reserve is abundant with butterflies, plants, animals and, in particular, birds. Spectacular birds like Great Blue Turaco and rare Papyrus Gonolek will be of great interest to birders. The swamp is also home to more elusive animals such as Red Colobus monkeys and Sitatunga antelope. There is also the opportunity to visit local community projects that have been financed by tourism. Dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above
Day 12: Transfer back to Entebbe
After breakfast, check-out of the lodge and meet with the guide/driver and transfer to Entebbe. This journey takes 6-7 hours with en-route lunch. Arrive in Entebbe, you will either be dropped off at your hotel for dinner and overnight stay at Papyrus Guesthouse for budget/Best western Garden hotel for mid-range.
Or if you have an evening booked flight, you will be dropped at the airport for your onward flight to Nairobi. Upon arrival at Jomo Kenyatta airport, meet your drive to connect to your hotel in Nairobi. Dinner and overnight stay at Boma Nairobi Hotel for budget/La Maison Hotel Nairobi for budget
Day 13: Fly to Nairobi (own cost) – transfer to Lake Nakuru national park – evening game drive
Depending on the previous day schedule, you may either take a flight to Nairobi or you will be picked up at your hotel in Nairobi and transfer to Lake Nakuru national park.
It’s a 4-5 hours’ drive from Nairobi to Lake Nakuru national park. Upon arrival, check-in at the lodge to rest, and have your lunch. Later afternoon, connect for an afternoon game drive and enjoy views of birds and animals. Lake Nakuru is known for its large masses of flamingo birds, other birds to be seen include; the African fish Eagle, Tawny Eagle, Green Wood Hoopoes, Cliff Chat, Great White, and Pink Backed Pelicans plus other intra- African Migrants. Its home to the famous black and white rhinos. Also, expect to see animals like the buffaloes, giraffes, impalas and zebras. Return to the lodge for dinner and Overnight stay today will be at Lake Nakuru Safari Lodge for mid-range/Ziwa Bush Lodge for budget
Day 14: Morning game drive – visit Crescent Island on Lake Naivasha – transfer to Masai Mara national reserve
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 and explore the park’s wildlife spotting animals like the black and white rhinos, buffaloes, giraffes, impalas, and zebras. Check out of the lodge and transfer to Lake Naivasha with views of the Great Rift Valley for stunning views arriving at Lake Naivasha.
It’s a 2 hours’ drive to arrive there at a good time for lunch. Visit Crescent Island Game Sanctuary – a peninsula or island on the eastern side of Lake Naivasha. A short boat trip from the mainland out into Lake Naivasha gives you access to the unique Crescent Island Wildlife sanctuary, which hosts giraffes, waterbucks, elands, wildebeests, zebras, and impalas. It is also a haven for more than 200 species of birds. The lake has alot of hippos, which you can easily spot from the island. Among the resident birds are fish eagles, ospreys, lily-trotters, black crakes, and a variety of herons.
Thereafter, connect to Masai Mara Game Reserve the unspoiled Savannah. It’s a 3 hours’ drive, Masai Mara is actually the northern portion of the Great Plains ecosystem in neighboring Tanzania bordering Serengeti national park. Upon arrival, check-in at your lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay at AA Mara lodge for mid-range/Enchoro Wildlife Camp Lodge for budget
Day 15: Masai Mara full day game viewing
After breakfast, full day in the park with packed lunch in search of its popular residents. It is home to the big five games such as the lion, buffalo, rhino, leopard, and elephant as well cheetah, zebra, giraffe, and vast herds of plain antelope and numerous and other wildlife. 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. As the sun starts to edge dip into the horizon, it will be the perfect time to photograph the beautiful Mara rolling plains. Don’t forget this is the right time to spot the shy leopard. Later Meals and overnight at lodge as above
Day 16: Another day – Full day in Masai Mara – community tour
On the 16th day of your 21 Days Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania Safari, After breakfast, you will head to the plains of the reserve for the final morning game drive sighting more animals, after the game drive you will head back to your lodge for lunch and in the 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 lodge as above
Optional activity; Hot air balloon – Wake early and be picked up by the air balloon team for your hot air balloon safari which starts in the early morning, just in time for sunrise. For about one hour you will be floating peacefully above the ground, with a bird’s eye view of the African bush below. The capacity for this activity is limited making this a very special and exclusive experience. Breakfast will be provided and thereafter connect back to the lodge.
Day 17: Transfer to Serengeti national park via Isabenia border
You will have a very early breakfast and checkout from the lodge to embark on your journey to Serengeti national park in Tanzania. You will have an en-route game drive on your way to Isebania border where you will be crossing the border. This day will take you to other side of Masai Mara as you exit the park via Olololo gate in Mara west.
Upon arrival at the border the customs office will do clearance after which, meet your Tanzanian driver guide to proceed to Serengeti where you will enter the park with the game drive lasting up to 2 hours as you enjoy the plains of Serengeti. The Serengeti allows you see the big five game in plenty. Dinner and overnight at Osinon Camps and lodges for budget/Serengeti Heritage Lodge for mid-range
Day 18: Full day game drive in Serengeti national park
On the 18th day of your 21 Days Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania Safari, Have early breakfast, get parked lunch and go for a full day game drive we start from far North around the Mara river in case you came on the opposite month when the migration will start from Serengeti after missing it from Mara Kenya side now this will be you turn to enjoy the best. 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 above
Day 19: Another day in Serengeti National Park
You will have breakfast at your lodge as you prepare for yet another game drive in the savannah plains of Serengeti national park to see various wildlife species which are very active in the morning and can easily be spotted as you also enjoy the sunrise. Some of the attractions you will visit during your visit in Serengeti national park include the retina hippo pool where you can see many hippos swimming in a pool. You will also see different predators in the savannah of this national park especially sitting on top of rock kopjes. You will also see other wildlife and bird species which include wildebeest, waterbucks, antelopes, zebras, kudus, hippos, buffalos among others. You will return to your lodge after your evening game drive for dinner and overnight at lodge as above
Day 20: Ngorongoro Crater tour
After breakfast, transfer to Ngorongoro conservation area with en-route game drive. Upon arrival, connect to Ngorongoro crater with your picnic lunch for a full day of game drive down into the crater 600m down crater. The crater has a good number of Lions and Cheetahs, and it is another good place to see the rare black Rhino. After the game drive, drive to your booked lodge for dinner and overnight stay at Hhando Coffee Lodge for Midrange/Karatu Tented Lodge for Budget
Day 21: Transfer to Arusha – Departure
After breakfast, embark on your journey to Arusha. It’s a 3-4 hours’ drive. You will be dropped off at a hotel you advise or at the airport for your onward flight back home. End of the 21 days’ safari.
