Countries: Uganda and Tanzania
Destinations: Entebbe, Kibale National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Lake Bunyonyi, Arusha, Lake Manyara National Park, Serengeti National Park, and Ngorongoro Crater.
Itinerary at Glance
Day 1: Arrive in Entebbe
Day 2: Transfer to Kibale National Park
Day 3: Chimpanzee Trekking at Kibale National Park
Day 4: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day 5: Gorilla Trekking at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day 6: At leisure at Lake Bunyonyi
Day 7: Transfer to Entebbe
Day 8: Fly to Tanzania and transfer to Lake Manyara National Park
Day 9: Game drive in Lake Manyara National Park en route to Serengeti
Day 10: Game drive in Serengeti National Park
Day 11: Game drive in Serengeti National Park en route to Ngorongoro
Day 12: Game drive in Ngorongoro and depart to Arusha
Day 13: Departure.
Trip Overview.
The 13 Days Uganda primate trek and Tanzania BIG 5 wildlife safari, rewards you with a great Uganda primate encounter, of trekking the famous mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and chimpanzees at Kibale National Park, together with canoe ride on Lake Bunyonyi in Uganda, before flying to Tanzania, for a big wildlife game safari, which rewards you with a great experience of encountering the BIG 5, during the game drive in Lake Manyara National Park, Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro crater.
Trip Highlights
- Gorilla trekking experience in Uganda
- Chimpanzee trekking experience in Uganda
- Safari game drives in Tanzania
- Wildlife experience
- Primate trekking experience
- Bigodi swamp walk experience
- Nature walks
- Bird watching experience
- Countryside experience
- Ngorongoro crater wildlife experience
- Canoe ride on Lake Bunyonyi
- Road drive experience
Day 1: Welcome to Entebbe – Uganda!
Day Itinerary
Upon arrival at the Entebbe International Airport, your assigned driver/guide will pick you up from Entebbe airport upon arrival and transfer you to your booked accommodation in Entebbe, for dinner and overnight stay.
Overnight stay at: Entebbe Forest Lodge (Luxury)
Meal Plan: Dinner
Day 2: Transfer to Kibale National Park. Travel time + 5 hrs
Day Itinerary
Today we will drive to Kibale Forest National Park, in Western Uganda. Kibale National Park is about 766 km2 in size with primarily moist evergreen forest. Kibale National Park is located in the Southern part of Uganda about, 320 kilometres from Kampala.
Kibale National Park
Kibale National Park is a home to approximately 325 species of birds which include the olive long-tailed cuckoo, Western Green tinkerbird, African and Green-breasted and African Grey Parrot. It is also a home to 13 species of primates, at least 60 other species of mammals. The visits to the park are mainly paid to the endangered chimpanzees. While visiting the Chimps you can get to see other primates including the red colobus monkey and the rare L’Hoests monkey, Uganda Mangabey, the Ugandan Red Colobus, and the L’Hoest’s Monkey.
Arrive at the lodge/camp in time for lunch. But if time doesn’t allow, a warm delicious lunch can always be had at the restaurant along the route. Dinner and overnight stay at the lodge.
Overnight stay at: Kyaninga Lodge (Luxury)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 3: Chimpanzee Trekking and Bigodi swamp walk
Day Itinerary
In the morning you will have breakfast to transfer to Kanyanchu visitor’s center for briefing before setting off for a forest walk in search of chimpanzees, on one of the world famous chimpanzee trekking points, often known as “home of chimps and primate capital’. The forest walk will be guided to provide information not only on chimpanzees and primates but also on small organisms making it interesting. The walk will reward you with other primates like Grey cheeked Mangabeys, Colobus monkeys, Red-tailed monkeys, phoestes, and butterflies.
After tracking the chimps in the afternoon you will head for a nature walk to the Bigodi swamp– to see unique flora and fauna. The nature walk takes roughly 2 hours, with the great experience to sight more primates and a number of bird species. You can as well as opt for a community walk. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Overnight stay at: Kyaninga Lodge (Luxury)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 4: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park: Travel time +5 hrs
Day Itinerary
Today, after taking your early morning breakfast, you will check out of the lodge and drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park through the magnificent route to your booked accommodation to catch up with the late lunch and later spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing and preparing for the next day’s Gorilla trekking experience.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site located in Uganda. It’s known for its diverse flora and fauna, with over 350 bird species and over 400 gorillas. Bwindi offers a unique birding experience for bird enthusiasts, as well as gorilla trekking for wildlife enthusiasts. The park’s thick forest makes for an exciting and immersive adventure, attracting tourists from all over the world. It’s best to visit during the dry season for optimal bird watching and gorilla trekking experiences.
Overnight stay at: Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge (Luxury)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 5: Gorilla Trekking Experience in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day Itinerary
Today, tick off gorilla tracking from your bucket list! With gorilla permits included, a guide and porters who will carry your shoulder pack, set off to the thick forest in search of gorillas after being briefed with your packed lunch and bottles or mineral water. The terrain can be difficult, with steep slopes covered in dense vegetation that gives the park its name. In addition, the altitude of 5200 feet and more means participants do need to be reasonably fit. The time taken to track the gorillas will vary enormously to gorilla and group movements, from as little as half an hour to as much as 6-7 hours before one returns to lodge for dinner and overnight. It is definitely not impossible and coming face to face with these amazing primates will reward you as you will be given an hour of interaction with these gentle giants looking at their social life as you watch the juveniles play and boost around you. You will return for lunch, and after lunch, relax at your own leisure.
Overnight stay at: Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge (Luxury)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 6: A day at Lake Bunyonyi
Day Itinerary
Today, you will have a relaxed breakfast at the lodge, and drive to Lake Bunyonyi, where you will have a wonderful time at leisure. Lunch will be served and later head for a beautiful boat ride on Lake Bunyonyi, to explore the 29 islands, that this beautiful lake is known of and being the second deepest lake in Africa, patched with a number of bird species. You will later return, and you can opt to relax at the lodge, or take a community walk around on foot. Dinner and overnight stay at the lodge.
Overnight stay at: Arcadia Lodge Bunyonyi (Luxury)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 7: Transfer to Entebbe. Travel time + 8 hours
Day Itinerary
After a delightful breakfast, meet your guide and transfer to Entebbe, the drive back to Entebbe offers a chance to reflect on the amazing insights experienced during the trip. Along the way, you can observe the changing landscapes from the hilly terrain of the gorilla land to the bustling city of Kampala. The drive typically takes about 8 hours depending on the traffic jam, providing ample time to unwind and soak in the scenery. You may also stop for refreshments and snacks along the way, and your guide can offer insights into the local culture and history of the country.
Note: You can opt to fly back to Entebbe using a local domestic flight, or exit via Kigali, for a city tour and overnight stay, before the next morning flight to Tanzania or even fly directly from Bwindi to Serengeti
Overnight stay at: Entebbe Forest Cottages (Luxury)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 8: Fly to Arusha and transfer to Lake Manyara National Park
Day Itinerary
Have your relaxed breakfast, and transfer to Entebbe Airport, and catch up with your early morning flight to Kilimanjaro Airport.
Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport and after clearing customs and immigration formalities, you will be welcomed by your assigned Tanzania driver-guide, who will lead you to your 4 X 4 safari land cruiser, and you start a drive to Lake Manyara National Park via Arusha and drive to your booked lodge for dinner and overnight.
Lake Manyara National Park
Lake Manyara’s game includes good numbers of elephant, buffalo and wildebeest along with plenty of giraffes. Also prolific in number are zebra, waterbuck, warthog and impala. You may need to search a little harder for the small and relatively shy Kirk’s dik-dik, and klipspringer on the slopes of the escarpment. The broken forests and escarpment make it a good country for leopards, whilst Manyara’s healthy lion population are famous for their tree-climbing antics. (Whilst unusual, this isn’t as unique to the park as is often claimed.) Immediately obvious to most visitors are the huge troops of baboons which often number several hundred and are widely regarded as Africa’s largest.
Overnight stay at: Escarpment Luxury Lodge (Luxury)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 9: Lake Manyara to Serengeti National Park via Ngorongoro Area
Day Itinerary
After an early breakfast, leave the lodge with your packed luncheons, for a morning game drive. During your game drive, keep your eyes peeled for the park’s famous tree-climbing lions, an elusive and rare sight to behold. Witness massive herds of elephants, majestic giraffes, and various antelope species as they roam free in their natural habitat. This beautiful park with its lush vegetation and tropical forests of giant figs, took its name from the Maasai word for “euphorbia tirucalli”, a bush which is used to make a thorny hedge to protect their cattle. Elephants, giraffes, buffalo, large populations of hippos, zebras and even tree climbing lions can be spotted lazily resting on the branches of an “Acacia tortilis” tree. The birdlife is also abundant, with flamingos, pelicans, hornbills and plenty of forest species. Lunch boxes will be provided to you. Later after amazing hours of exploration, you will exit the park, and drive to Serengeti National Park via the Ngorongoro Conservation area. Stop at the Crater view point to view the Ngorongoro crater then proceed further and visit one of the Maasai bomas for an amazing Maasai Cultural tour before entering the Serengeti through the Naabi hill gate. Lunch at the picnic point followed by a game drive en route to your Lodge with a great chance to see the great herds of wildebeest, zebras and gazelles or a pride of lions lounging in the shade. Dinner and overnight at Lodge/Tented Camp.
Overnight stay at: Kubu Kubu Tented Camp (Luxury)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 10: Full day of Game drives and Game viewings in Serengeti National Park
Day Itinerary
We are completely flexible with your preferences and this day will be organized according to your wishes. Your guide will discuss with you the best timing for you, including the game drives and the wake up time. For example, you may opt to do a morning game drive, return to the camp/lodge for lunch and relaxation and finish with an afternoon game drive, or you could do a full day game drive with picnic lunches.
Serengeti National Park
The Serengeti National Park derived its name from Maasai Language meaning endless plain. This massive plain (14763sq km) is home to many animals including Lions, Elephants, Giraffe, Wildebeest, Zebra, Leopard, and Cheetah, baboon, warthogs, Hyena plus lots of bird life. In many cases migration is taking place around Serengeti and at that particular time millions of wildebeest and zebra are mingling together followed by predators. Our professional guide will lead you into the right path making sure you have the best time to enjoy these great phenomena. Dinner and Overnight at the Camp/Lodge.
Overnight stay at: Kubu Kubu Tented Camp (Luxury)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 11: En route Game drives to Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Day Itinerary
Every day is a new day in Serengeti with different amazing series of events. After breakfast, you will leave the camp with your packed lunches for another memorable day towards the Ngorongoro conservation area. On this day you will still have a great opportunity to explore the Serengeti ecosystem with great possibility to spot any other animals that you did not see in your first days. Lunchboxes shall be served to you at the picnic point. Dinner and overnight at lodge.
Overnight stay at: Foresight Eco Lodge (Luxury)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 12: Ngorongoro Crater for Game drives to Arusha
Day Itinerary
Early in morning and after breakfast, leave the lodge with your packed lunches ready for another exciting day. Today your expert safari guide will lead you into the Ngorongoro crater for a wonderful game drive.
The Ngorongoro crater.
The Ngorongoro crater is the 8th wonder of the Natural World, spreading over 102 sq. miles and has 2.000 ft high walls, making it virtually a Noah’s ark like, it is inhabited by almost every species of wildlife that is indigenous to East Africa including the rare and endangered black rhinos, other animals that can be revealed on your game drives are Elands, Lions, Waterbucks, Wildebeests, Hyenas, jackals, African Elephants, Buffaloes, Secretive leopards, Cheetahs, hippos and many more alongside hundreds of bird species eg. Maasai Ostrich, Kori bustard, Ibis, Starlings etc.
Lunch Boxes shall be served to you inside the crater. Later after game drives, you will ascend the crater walls and drive back to Arusha, to your booked lodge, for dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.
Overnight stay at: Katambuga House (Luxury)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 13. Departure
Day Itinerary
Have an early morning breakfast at your hotel, meet your guide and transfer you, for your morning flight back home, with incredible life time memories to share. Thank you for choosing One More Adventure Safaris, for your incredible Uganda and Tanzania safari experience, we look forward to your recommendations, to family and friends. End of service!
Meal Plan: Breakfast only.
Note: You can as well as opt to combine this trip, with a beach treat at Zanzibar.
The 13 days safari includes.
- Transportation on a 4 x 4 safari vehicle with a pop up roof.
- Airport transfers
- Accommodation and meals as listed on the itinerary
- Service of an English speaking driver guide
- Park entrance fees
- Ngorongoro crater fees
- 1 Chimpanzee permit per person.
- 1 Gorilla ($800) permit per person
- En route lunches
- Masai Cultural tour in Ngorongoro
- Crater fees
- Visit to Bigodi
- Community and cultural experience as per itinerary
- Boat ride on Lake Bunyonyi
- Game drives as mentioned
- Unlimited supply of mineral water
The package excludes expenses of personal nature like:
- Visa Fees & flights
- Optional activities
- Tips for guides
- Laundry
- Alcoholic drinks
- International vaccinations & tests
- Health test requirements
- Personal travel Insurance
- Personal shopping bills
- Phone call bills
- Extras while at the hotel
- Items of personal nature
Please contact us for a free detailed quote on the option of your choice. We can tailor a request that suits your interests, and budget, as well as we can change or upgrade the lodge options. Write to us with more details about your safari.