21-Day East Africa Expedition – Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania & Kenya

Day 1: Drive from Arusha to Tarangire National Park

After breakfast, your guide will pick you up from your hotel in Arusha at 9:00 AM and begin the scenic drive to Tarangire National Park, Tanzania’s third-largest park and home to one of the country’s largest elephant populations.

The park is famous for its majestic baobab trees, towering over wildlife that grazes beneath them. The Tarangire River provides the park’s only permanent water source, attracting a diverse range of animals including lions, leopards, cheetahs, and herds of up to 6,000 elephants.

Enjoy a game drive along the river and plains, with a picnic lunch amidst the wild. In the evening, relax with dinner and overnight at your lodge or safari camp inside or near the park.

Day 2: Ngorongoro Crater Tour and Drive to Serengeti National Park

Start your day with an early breakfast, then depart at 7:00 AM with picnic lunch boxes for a full-day adventure at Ngorongoro Crater, famously nicknamed the Eighth Wonder of the World.

Descend approximately 2,000 feet (600 meters) to the crater floor for a half-day wildlife tour. Explore the forest areas, home to monkeys and elephants, the crater lake, where you might spot flamingos, and the open savannah, where lions hunt in their natural habitat. Enjoy your picnic lunch amidst breathtaking views of marshes inhabited by hippos and a variety of bird species.

Ngorongoro Crater, a collapsed volcano spanning 102 miles, is home to lions, rhinos, hippos, hyenas, and thousands of antelopes, offering unparalleled wildlife viewing.

In the afternoon, drive to Serengeti National Park, continuing with a game drive en route, before arriving at your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 3: Game Safari in Serengeti National Park

After breakfast, depart through the cool highlands toward the southern Serengeti, arriving at midday to the expansive Serengeti National Park, Tanzania’s largest and most iconic wildlife reserve.

The Serengeti is renowned for its diverse habitats, including short grass plains, savannah, dense bush, swamps, and lakes. Iconic kopjes (rock formations) dot the landscape, often providing vantage points for predators. The park is also famous for the annual Great Migration, when hundreds of thousands of wildebeests and zebras traverse the plains in search of fresh grazing and water.

Spend the afternoon on an exciting game drive, spotting lions, cheetahs, elephants, giraffes, and more. Enjoy dinner and overnight at the Serengeti Heritage Tented Camp, located inside the park for an immersive wilderness experience.

Day 4: Full-Day Game Safari in Serengeti National Park

Spend a full day exploring the Serengeti National Park, one of Africa’s most famous wildlife destinations. Your safari guide will take you to areas where wildlife concentrations are highest, often following the path of the migrating herds of wildebeests and zebras.

Predators including lions, leopards (often seen in acacia trees), and cheetahs closely follow the migration, offering excellent opportunities for wildlife viewing and photography. Seasonal movements vary: during the short rains (November–December), herds move from the northern hills to southern plains, while the long rains (April–June) see them return north. Your experienced guide will know the best locations to spot the animals and capture memorable moments.

After a thrilling day of game drives and wildlife encounters, return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay in the heart of the Serengeti.

Day 5: Drive to Maasai Mara, Kenya

Spend a full day exploring the Maasai Mara National Reserve, renowned for hosting the highest concentration of wildlife per square kilometer in East Africa. Your day includes unlimited game drives, with optional hot air balloon safari experiences for a unique aerial perspective of the savannah.

The Maasai Mara is home to elephants, lions, cheetahs, buffaloes, antelopes, warthogs, hyenas, and many other species, making it a wildlife photographer’s paradise. Carry a picnic lunch and enjoy the scenic landscapes while tracking animals throughout the day.

Return to your lodge in the evening for dinner and overnight stay, resting after a thrilling day in the iconic Maasai Mara.

Day 6: Full-Day Game Safari in Maasai Mara

Spend a full day exploring the Maasai Mara National Reserve, renowned for hosting the highest concentration of wildlife per square kilometer in East Africa. Your day includes unlimited game drives, with optional hot air balloon safari experiences for a unique aerial perspective of the savannah.

The Maasai Mara is home to elephants, lions, cheetahs, buffaloes, antelopes, warthogs, hyenas, and many other species, making it a wildlife photographer’s paradise. Carry a picnic lunch and enjoy the scenic landscapes while tracking animals throughout the day.

Return to your lodge in the evening for dinner and overnight stay, resting after a thrilling day in the iconic Maasai Mara.

Day 7: Drive from Maasai Mara to Lake Nakuru National Park

Begin your day with an early morning game drive in the Maasai Mara before returning to your lodge for breakfast. Afterward, depart the Maasai Mara, enjoying game viewing along the route as you travel toward Lake Nakuru National Park.

Lake Nakuru is famous for its abundant wildlife, including lions, leopards, buffaloes, antelopes, and both white and black rhinos. The park also hosts a remarkable variety of birdlife, including flocks of flamingos along the lake shore.

Arrive at your Lodge in the evening for dinner and overnight stay, preparing for more safari adventures the following day.

Day 8: Drive from Lake Nakuru to Jinja, Uganda

After breakfast at 8:00 AM, depart from Lake Nakuru and drive toward Jinja, Uganda, crossing the Busia border. Jinja, located on the northern shore of Lake Victoria, is famously known as the source of the Nile River. Key attractions along the Nile include Coronation Park, honoring British explorer John Hanning Speke, Owen Falls Dam, Bujagali Dam, and Itanda Falls with its thrilling white-water rapids.

On the way, stop for lunch in Busia. Upon arrival in Jinja in the late afternoon, check in to your lodge, enjoy dinner, and relax for an overnight stay.

Day 9: Source of the Nile, White Water Rafting, and Drive to Kampala

After breakfast and check-out, meet your rafting team at 9:00 AM for a safety briefing and instructions. Choose between Grade 3 or Grade 5 rapids before boarding the boat and practicing essential safety drills.

Embark on an exciting 3–4 hour white-water rafting adventure along the River Nile, starting with gentle rapids and progressing to more challenging ones, offering an unforgettable thrill.

After rafting, enjoy lunch and visit the source of the Nile River, marked by a monument at Coronation Park. In the afternoon, drive back to Kampala, Uganda’s vibrant capital city, for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 10: Equator Line Visit and Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park

After breakfast at 8:00 AM, your driver will pick you up from your hotel in Kampala and begin the scenic drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park. En route, stop at the Equator Line for photos and a fun, memorable experience.

Continue through picturesque villages and cultivated farmlands, passing the lush green tea plantations of western Uganda. Reach the escarpment and enjoy breathtaking panoramic views over the savannahs of Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Arrive at your lodge, enjoy lunch either along the way or at the lodge, and settle in to relax and prepare for your upcoming safari adventures.

Day 11: Game Drive and Boat Cruise in Queen Elizabeth National Park

After an early morning breakfast, set out at 7:00 AM for an exciting game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda’s most popular wildlife destination. Keep your eyes open for the Big Five — lions, elephants, buffaloes, leopards, and rhinoceroses — along with other amazing wildlife such as Ugandan kobs, bushbucks, hyenas, waterbucks, and the giant forest hog.

In the afternoon, enjoy a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, a natural waterway connecting Lake George and Lake Edward. This experience offers a fantastic opportunity to spot large groups of hippos, elephants, crocodiles, and a wide variety of bird species, including the rare shoebill stork.

Day 12: Chimpanzee Trekking in Kalinzu Forest and Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi

After an early breakfast, set off around 6:00 AM for an exciting chimpanzee trekking adventure in Kalinzu Forest Reserve, one of Uganda’s best places to see chimpanzees in the wild. Accompanied by an experienced ranger guide, you’ll trek through the tropical rainforest in search of these intelligent primates — man’s closest relatives. Watch them as they play, groom, swing through the trees, and interact in their natural habitat.

After the trek, begin a scenic drive to Kabale, Uganda’s highest town at an altitude of about 2,000 meters, surrounded by rolling hills and lush green landscapes. Continue to Lake Bunyonyi, known as Africa’s deepest crater lake and fondly called the “place of little birds.” Relax by the lakeshore, enjoy the cool breeze, and take in the stunning views of the terraced hills.

Dinner and overnight stay at Lake Bunyonyi.

Day 13: Boat Ride on Lake Bunyonyi, Visit Batwa Village, and Drive to Kisoro

After breakfast, set out for a cultural experience around Lake Bunyonyi, one of Uganda’s most scenic and tranquil destinations. Enjoy a boat ride across the lake’s calm waters, surrounded by misty hills and dotted islands. Along the southwestern shores, visit the Batwa (Pygmy) community, one of Africa’s oldest indigenous tribes, to learn about their traditional lifestyle, music, and crafts.

Here, you’ll also witness daily village life where locals cross over from Rwanda to trade their produce at the Hakekuba market, offering a rich cross-border cultural encounter.

In the afternoon, enjoy another short canoe ride before embarking on a scenic drive to Kisoro, a beautiful town nestled at the base of the Virunga Volcanoes.

Dinner and overnight stay in Kisoro.

Day 14: Gorilla Trekking in Mgahinga & Drive to Gisenyi, Rwanda

After an early breakfast, your safari guide will pick you up at 7:00 AM and transfer you to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park for registration and a short briefing about the gorilla trekking adventure. You’ll then head to the starting point at the base of the Virunga Volcanoes, accompanied by experienced park rangers.

The gorilla trek takes you deep into the lush rainforest in search of a habituated gorilla family. The trek can last between 2 to 6 hours, depending on your pace and the gorillas’ location. Once you encounter them, you’ll spend a magical hour observing the gentle giants—watching them feed, play, and interact in their natural habitat.

After this unforgettable wildlife experience, return to meet your guide at the base of the mountain and drive across the border to Gisenyi, Rwanda, a charming lakeside town on the shores of Lake Kivu.

Dinner and overnight stay in Gisenyi.

Day 15: Lake Kivu, Hot Springs & Iby’Iwacu Cultural Experience – Drive to Kigali

After breakfast at 8:00 AM, enjoy a relaxed morning visiting the Hot Springs and exploring the beautiful Lake Kivu shoreline. Take in the breathtaking lake views and the calm atmosphere before setting off for Kigali.

Around 11:00 AM, begin your scenic drive towards Rwanda’s capital city, Kigali. En route, stop in Musanze for lunch and an enriching visit to the Iby’Iwacu Cultural Center in Kinigi, where you’ll experience Rwanda’s vibrant heritage.

Here, you’ll witness the Intore dancers—Rwanda’s traditional warrior dancers—famous for their high leaps, rhythmic movements, and symbolic performances. Historically, the Intore were elite warriors trained in both combat and dance. Today, they preserve Rwanda’s rich cultural identity through their energetic performances, accompanied by traditional drums and songs.

Enjoy this captivating cultural show before continuing your drive to Kigali, arriving in the evening for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 16: Kigali City Tour & Genocide Memorial Visit – Drive to Kibuye

After breakfast at 9:00 AM, begin your Kigali City Tour with a deeply moving visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial in Gisozi. This memorial serves as a place of remembrance and reflection for the more than one million lives lost during the tragic 1994 Rwandan Genocide. Through powerful exhibits, photos, and survivor stories, you’ll gain a meaningful understanding of Rwanda’s painful past and its remarkable journey toward peace and unity.

Following the memorial visit, embark on a guided exploration of Kigali, Rwanda’s clean and modern capital city. Discover its bustling local markets, scenic mountain landscapes, and vibrant neighborhoods that showcase the country’s resilience and growth.

After lunch in the city, continue your scenic drive to Kibuye, a tranquil lakeside town on the shores of Lake Kivu, known for its stunning views and peaceful atmosphere. Arrive in the evening for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 17: Napoleon Island Boat Excursion – Drive to Nyungwe Forest National Park

After breakfast at 9:00 AM, embark on a scenic boat trip to Napoleon Island—one of the tallest and most iconic islands on Lake Kivu. Locally known as Nyamunini Island, this destination rises over 100 meters above the lake’s surface, offering breathtaking panoramic views of Lake Kivu’s sparkling waters, surrounding islands, and lush shoreline.

As you approach, you’ll notice the island’s distinctive profile resembling Napoleon’s famous hat, which inspired its popular name. The island is also a haven for wildlife enthusiasts and bird watchers. Spot palm-nut vultures, African fish eagles, kingfishers, and hammerkops, along with a thriving colony of over 40,000 straw-colored fruit bats that roost in the island’s tall trees—creating an unforgettable natural spectacle.

Return to your hotel for lunch and relaxation before driving south to Nyungwe Forest National Park, one of Africa’s oldest rainforests and a biodiversity hotspot known for its chimpanzees and canopy walk adventure. Arrive in the evening for dinner and overnight stay near the park.

Day 18: Nyungwe Forest Canopy Walk – Drive to Bujumbura

After breakfast at 8:00 AM, set out for an exhilarating canopy walk adventure in Nyungwe Forest National Park, one of East Africa’s most pristine rainforests. This unforgettable experience begins along the 2.1 km Igishigishi Trail, leading to a 160-meter-long suspended bridge that stretches high above the lush forest canopy.

The Nyungwe canopy walk offers breathtaking views of the ancient rainforest, home to hundreds of bird species, butterflies, and primates. As you stroll across the bridge, you’ll feel the thrill of walking above the treetops with sweeping vistas of mist-covered hills and deep valleys.

Though the hike includes a few short, steep sections, it’s suitable for most visitors—even beginners. Make sure to bring comfortable hiking shoes, a rain jacket, bottled water, and your camera to capture the incredible scenery and wildlife encounters.

After returning from the canopy walk around 12:00 PM, enjoy lunch before departing for Bujumbura, Burundi’s vibrant lakeside capital city, where you’ll check in for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 19: Drive to Gitega – National Museum & Traditional Burundi Drummers

After breakfast at 9:00 AM, depart Bujumbura for a scenic drive to Gitega, the cultural heart of Burundi. Upon arrival, visit the Gitega National Museum, home to one of the country’s richest collections of historical artifacts, traditional crafts, and exhibits that tell the story of Burundi’s royal heritage and diverse cultures.

Later, check in at your hotel and enjoy lunch before heading to the Gishora Drum Sanctuary, one of Burundi’s most iconic cultural sites. Here, you’ll witness the legendary Burundian drummers—renowned across Africa for their powerful and rhythmic performances. Feel the beat of the royal drums, learn about their historical significance, and even get the chance to join in and try drumming or dancing yourself.

In the evening, return to your hotel in Gitega for dinner and an overnight stay.

Day 20: Drive Back to Bujumbura – City Tour & Historical Sites

After breakfast at 8:00 AM, embark on a scenic drive back to Bujumbura, Burundi’s vibrant lakeside capital. Upon arrival, visit the famous Belvedere viewpoint, perched on a hill overlooking the city. From here, enjoy panoramic views of Lake Tanganyika and the surrounding landscape — a perfect spot for photography and sightseeing.

After lunch, continue your Bujumbura city tour with a visit to La Pierre de Stanley et Livingstone, the historic stone marking the meeting point of the legendary explorers Dr. David Livingstone and Henry Morton Stanley during their quest to trace the source of the Nile River. This site is one of Burundi’s most important landmarks, blending adventure history and natural beauty.

In the evening, return to your hotel in Bujumbura for dinner and an overnight stay.

Day 21: Departure from Bujumbura – End of Tour

After breakfast, enjoy a final morning in Bujumbura for personal shopping or leisurely exploration of local markets. Later, you will be transferred to Bujumbura International Airport for your flight home, marking the end of your unforgettable East Africa adventure.