35 Days Tanzania Kenya Uganda Rwanda and Zanzibar Safari : This 35 Days East Africa will take you to Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda Rwanda and end your safari relaxing in Africa best holiday destination – Zanzibar. The activities to enjoy on this safari include; Gorilla Tracking, Chimpanzee Tracking, Mountaineering, White Water Rafting, Wildlife Viewing, Birding, Culture, Nature Tours, and Primate Safaris
Safari Highlights
Day 1: Airport pick up and Transfer to Moshi
Day 2 – 8: Mount Kilimanjaro Hike – Machame Route 6 Days 5 nights
Day 9: Transfer to Tarangire national park – Full day game drive
Day 10: Ngorongoro Crater Game drive
Day 11: Transfer to Serengeti National Park – afternoon/evening game Drive
Day 12: Full Day Game Drive in Serengeti National Park – Northern Serengeti
Day 13: Northern Serengeti Wildebeest Migration
Day 14: Transfer to Masai Mara national reserve via Isabenia border
Day 15: Full day game drive in Maasai Mara
Day 16: Transfer to Nakuru national park – afternoon/evening game drive
Day 17: Full day Nakuru national park
Day 18: Transfer to Uganda via Busia border – Jinja town (8-9 hours)
Day 19: White water rafting – Boat cruise on the Lake Victoria
Day 20: Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary – Transfer to Murchison falls national park – Top of the falls visit
Day 21: Game drive and launch cruise – Murchison Falls
Day 22: Transfer to Kibale Forest national park – Bigodi swamp nature walk
Day 23: Chimpanzee trekking – transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park
Day 24: Morning game drive – boat cruise and evening game drive
Day 25: Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park
Day 26: Gorilla trekking experience
Day 27: Transfer to explore Volcanoes national park with a community visit
Day 28: Mount Bisoke hike
Day 29: Transfer to Kigali – Fly to Zanzibar (Own booked flight)
Day 30: Zanzibar city tour – Prison Island and spice tour and Stone town
Day 31: Safari Blu experience
Day 32: Transfer to Nungwi island – Safari experience
Day 33: Free day relaxation, beach relaxation with optional activities
Day 34: Free day relaxing at the lodge
Day 35: Departure
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Airport pick up and Transfer to Moshi
Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro international airport, you will be welcomed by our safari guide. He will brief you and then drive to Moshi town, which is the capital of the Kilimanjaro region and a starting point for hiking on Mount Kilimanjaro. Check-in at your booked hotel for dinner and overnight stay at Babylon Lodge for budget option/Millie Lodge Machame for mid-range/Kaliwa Lodge for Luxury in Deluxe room
Day 2: Machame Gate to Machame Camp
Evation (ft): 5,400ft to 9,400ft
Distance: 11 km
Hiking Time: 5-7 hours
Habitat: Rain Forest
The drive will pick up you up and drive to Mount Kilimanjaro National Park Gate, takes about 50 minutes. The journey passes through the village of Machame, which is located on the lower slopes of the mountain. We now leave the park gate and walk through the rain forest on a winding trail up a ridge. Low down, the trail can be muddy and slippery Gaiters and trekking poles are a good idea here. We continue a short distance until we reach the Machame Camp.
Day 3 Machame Camp to Shira Camp
Elevation (ft): 9,400ft to 12,500ft
Distance: 5 km
Hiking Time: 4-6 hours
Habitat: Moorland
After breakfast, we leave the glades of the rain forest and continue on an ascending path, crossing the little valley walking along a steep rocky ridge, covered with heather, until the ridge ends. The route now turns west onto a river gorge. Time for rest, dinner, and overnight at the Shira campsite
Day 4: Shira Camp to Lava Tower to Barranco Camp
Elevation (ft): 12,500ft to 13,000ft
Distance: 10 km
Hiking Time: 6-8 hours
Habitat: Semi Desert
From the Shira Plateau, we continue to the east up a ridge, passing the junction towards the peak of Kibo. As we continue, our direction changes to the South East towards the Lava Tower, called the “Shark’s Tooth.” Shortly after the tower, we come to the second junction which brings us up to the Arrow Glacier at an altitude of 16,000ft. We now continue down to the Barranco Hut at an altitude of 13,000ft. Here we rest, enjoy dinner, and overnight. Although you end the day at the same elevation as when you started, this day is very important for acclimatization and will help your body prepare for summit day.
Day 5: Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp
Elevation (ft): 13,000ft to 13,100ft
Distance: 5 km
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
After breakfast, we leave Barranco and continue on a steep ridge passing the Barranco Wall, to the Karanga Valley campsite. This is a short day meant for acclimatization.
Day 6: Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp
Elevation (ft): 13,100ft to 15,300ft
Distance: 4 km
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
After breakfast, we leave Karanga and hit the junction which connects with the Mweka Trail. We continue up to the Barafu Hut. At this point, you have completed the South Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles. Here we make camp, rest, enjoy dinner, and prepare for the summit day. The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo are to be seen from this position.
Day 7: Barafu Camp to Summit to Mweka Hut
Elevation (feet): 15,300ft to 19,345ft (and down to 10,000ft)
Distance: 5 km ascent / 12 km descent
Hiking Time: 7-8 hours’ ascent / 4-6 hours’ descent
Habitat: Arctic
Very early in the morning (midnight to 2am), we continue our way to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers. You head in a north-westerly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek. At Stella Point (18,600 ft), you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see (weather permitting). From Stella Point, you may encounter snow all the way on your 1-hour ascent to the summit. At Uhuru Peak, you
have reached the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa. Faster hikers will see the sunrise from the summit. From the summit, we now make our descent continuing straight down to the Mweka Hut campsite, stopping at Barafu for lunch. You will want gaiters and trekking poles for the loose gravel going down. Mweka Camp is situated in the upper forest and mist or rain can be expected in the late afternoon. Later in the evening, we enjoy our last dinner on the mountain and a well-earned sleep.
Day 8: Mweka Camp to Moshi
Elevation (ft): 10,000ft to 5,400ft
Distance: 10 km
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Rain Forest
After breakfast, we continue the descent down to the Mweka Park Gate to receive your summit certificates. At lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy. Gaiters and trekking poles will help. Shorts and t-shirts will probably be plenty to wear (keep rain gear and warmer clothing handy). From the gate, you continue another hour to Mweka Village. A vehicle will meet you at Mweka village to drive you to Arusha to your booked lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay at Tulia Bontique Hotel for mid-range/Zawadi House for mid-range/Four Points by Sheraton Hotel for luxury
Day 9: Transfer to Tarangire national park – Full day game drive
After early breakfast, meet your safari driver early to start your journey to Tarangire national park. It’s a 2-3 hours’ drive from Arusha and upon arrival at the park, proceed to connect for a full day game drive. During your game drive, you will see different wildlife species grazing and roaming in the national park such as lions, giraffes, antelopes, giraffes, lions, leopards, buffalos, wildebeests, elands, elephants, cheetahs, impalas and a variety of bird species can also be seen especially around the Tarangire national park. As you, enjoy the sunset and scenery around you. Later evening, drive out of the park and connect to Karatu for overnight stay at Hhando Coffee Lodge for budget/Tlowa Lodge for mid-range/Oldeani Ngorongoro Mountain Lodge for luxury
Day 10: Ngorongoro Crater Game drive
You will have breakfast, connect to Ngorongoro Conservation Area with your packed lunch you will descend the 600 meters into the Ngorongoro crater for amazing wildlife viewing opportunities and to enjoy the beautiful scenery, including the big 5 Ngorongoro animals. You will look out for a variety of wildlife species, which include wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, eland, warthog, hippo, and giant African elephants as well as predators such as lions, hyenas, jackals, cheetahs, and leopard. Dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above.
Day 11: Transfer to Serengeti National Park – afternoon/evening game Drive
You will have an early breakfast at your lodge as you prepare for your transfer to Serengeti National Park.
After having lunch, you will engage in a late afternoon game drive as you search for wildlife species in the savannah plains such as the big five like elephants, lions, leopards, buffalos, rhinos and also enjoy the beautiful scenery such as the kopjes where lions can be seen as they watch their prey. You will proceed to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay at Central Serengeti Tanzania Bush Camp for Mid-range/Tukaone Serengeti Camp for budget/Mbali Mbali Soroi Lodge for luxury
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 12: Full Day Game Drive in Serengeti National Park – Northern Serengeti
You will have an early breakfast at your lodge and your guide will drive you on a morning game viewing experience around the central part of Serengeti national park where you will search for wildlife species like lions, leopards, elephants, buffalos, wildebeests, zebras, giraffes, cheetahs, impalas, gazelles, kudu, rhinos among others.
After having your picnic lunch enjoyed in the wilderness and connect to Northern Serengeti, check-in for dinner and overnight stay at Mara River Camp for mid-range/Mara Heritage Camp for budget
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 13: Northern Serengeti Wildebeest Migration
After your delicious breakfast, meet your driver and connect for a full day game drive in Serengeti national park with your packed picnic lunch. The Northern sector is known for its masculine lions and you will also encounter a great number of the wildebeests crossing the Mara River. Serengeti is one national park that is rich in wildlife so expect to see every kind of animals. Dinner and overnight at lodge as above
Day 14: Transfer to Masai Mara national reserve via Isabenia border
You will have a very early breakfast and check-out from the lodge to embark on your journey to Masai Mara national reserve in Kenya with en-en-route game drive as you proceed to Isebania border where you will be crossing to Kenya. Upon arrival at the border the customs office will do clearance after which, meet your Kenyan driver guide to proceed to Masai Mara where you will enter the park. Connect to Masai Mara Park via Olololo gate in Mara west, proceed to your lodge for check-in, relaxation, dinner and overnight stay at Mara Sentrim tented lodge for budget/Julia’s River Camp for mid-range option
Day 15: Full day game drive in Maasai Mara
Wake up early in the morning, have breakfast and grab your packed lunch and meet your safari driver to head to the plains of Maasai Mara for a full day adventure in this stunning savannah vegetation of Masai Mara as you watch many animals in large numbers such as lions, elephants, cheetahs, leopards, wildebeests, zebras and many more. You will enjoy your picnic lunch and proceed for a game drive until the sun goes down. In the evening you will head back to your lodge, have dinner and stay overnight at lodge as above.
Day 16: Transfer to Nakuru national park – afternoon/evening game drive
After breakfast, meet your guide and transfer to Lake Nakuru national park with en-route lunch. Precede passing through the Great Rift Valley escarpment. Arrive in the park after lunch, connect for a game drive before dinner and overnight stay at Punda Milias Tented Camp for Budget/ Lake Nakuru Lodge for mid-range
Day 17: Full day Nakuru national park
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. Later afternoon drive to Lake Nakuru and enjoy the views of huge numbers of flamingo birds on the lake shores and other bird species. In addition to the bird life of the park, explore the park’s wildlife spotting animals like the black and white rhinos, buffaloes, giraffes, impalas and zebras. Before night fall return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above
Day 18: Transfer to Uganda via Busia border – Jinja town (8-9 hours)
Early morning breakfast at your lodge, check out and embark on your journey to the Kenya-Uganda border called Busia border, your safari drivers will drop you off at the immigration where you will first clear before entering Uganda. Upon crossing to Uganda, your Uganda Safari guides will be waiting to take on the safari. Drive to Jinja town – home to the source of the Nile. It is about 2-3 hours’ drive from the border. Upon arrival, proceed to check-in at your lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay at 2 Friends Guesthouse for mid-range/Nile Front Cottages for budget
Day 19: White water rafting – Boat cruise on the Lake Victoria
Early morning after breakfast, connect for a briefing about water rafting experience before you start. Rafting is a whole day’s activity. Later evening, take a boat cruise on Lake Victoria. Dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above
Day 20: Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary – Transfer to Murchison falls national park – Top of the falls visit
After breakfast, you will be picked up as early as 7 am by your safari driver to start your safari. Transfer to Ziwa rhino sanctuary, which is about 4 hours’ drive. Upon arrival at the sanctuary, you will connect for a briefing about the rhinos in Uganda, rhino tracking takes about 2-3 hours and after meeting and spending time with the rhinos, have en-route lunch and proceed on a 4 hours’ drive to Murchison falls national park.
Connect to the top of the Murchison falls, before you connect to your booked lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay at Tilenga Safari Lodge for budget option/Pakuba Safari Lodge for mid-range
Day 21: Game drive and launch cruise – Murchison Falls
Early morning breakfast and then go for a game drive where you will spot various animal species like elephants, giraffes, lions, Uganda kobs among others. In the afternoon, you will go for a launch cruise on the park’s main tourist attraction the unique Murchison Falls as well as the River Nile with its streaming hippo and serried ranges of crocodile along the sandbanks, as well as large numbers of different species getting down to drink & bathe. Dinner and overnight as above
Day 22: Transfer to Kibale Forest national park – Bigodi swamp nature walk
You will have breakfast and then transfer to Kibale national park, which is about 6-7 hours’ drive with en-route lunch in Fort portal town. Proceed to the park and visit the Bigodi wetland for a birds and primates. Proceed to check-in at your booked lodge for dinner and overnight stay at Chimpanzee Forest Lodge for mid-range/Isunga lodge for budget/Chimpundu Lodge for luxury
Day 23: Chimpanzee trekking – transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park
Have early morning breakfast, go for briefing and start Chimpanzee trekking. Kibale Forest National Park is one of the best safari destinations in Africa for chimpanzee tracking. Kibale’s 795km2 National Park contains one of the most beautiful and with the most varying tracts of tropical forest in the whole of Uganda. This is the place to a number of forest wildlife, most especially 13 species of primate coupled with chimpanzees.
After trekking, transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park, which is about 3 hours’ drive. Upon arrival, explore the crater lakes before you drive to your booked lodge for check-in, dinner and overnight stay at Bush Lodge for budget/Elephant Hub Lodge – Mid-range option/Elephant Plains Lodge for luxury
Day 24: Morning game drive – boat cruise and evening game drive
You will have breakfast, connect for a morning game drive and enjoy your game drive at Kisenyi area where you will spot a good number of wildlife including Elephants, Buffaloes and all species of antelopes.
Later afternoon, go for a launch cruise where you will spot various water animals like Hippos and crocodiles, the cruise will enrich you with various water birds. Connect for an evening game drive in the Kasenyi area for animals like the elephants, buffaloes and on a lucky day, you may encounter the lions and leopards. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above
Day 25: Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park
In the morning after breakfast, Thereafter, with en-route lunch, embark on your journey to Bwindi national park. It’s 5-7 hours depending on your trekking sector. You will have lunch en-route, arriving in Bwindi in the afternoon. Dinner and overnight at Buhoma Community Rest Camp for budget/Buhoma Haven Lodge for mid-range
Day 26: Gorilla trekking experience
Enjoy early morning breakfast and transfer to the park headquarters with your packed lunch for a briefing by the ranger guides before entering the forest in your trekking gears including trekking sticks, good hiking shoes and stocking for tacking-in, long-sleeved shirts and long trousers, and a raincoat or jacket to mention but a few. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi is no different from other trekking parks that is trekking takes 2 to 8 hours depending on the movement of the gorillas as they roam the park freely and there is no way of telling where they will be for a particular day however the rangers will be able to find them as they tracked daily. On finding them, you will be allowed to spend 1 hour as you view and take photos of these gentle primates before you descend back. After trekking, meet your safari guide and return to the lodge. Dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above
Day 27: Transfer to explore Volcanoes national park with a community visit
After breakfast, check-out and embark on your journey to cross to Rwanda via Cyanika border, proceed to Musanze. It’s a 3-4 hours’ drive journey with en-route visit the Dian fossey museum and the Ellen Degenerous Campus, have your lunch in Musanze. Later afternoon, visit the 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 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 community tour, connect to your booked lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay at Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge for mid-range, Hotel Muhabura for budget/Virunga Inn for luxury/ Amikus Lodge for budget
Day 28: Mount Bisoke hike
After breakfast, connect to the park offices for your trekking experience. You may either trek Golden monkeys or do a Mount Biskoe hike. Mt. Bisoke hike is part of volcanoes national park; home to Rwanda gorillas. On reaching the summit, you will discover a beautiful crater lake and the whole experience is overwhelming! Along the trail, you will discover a lot of birdlife and captivating scenery – the reason Rwanda is referred to as the “land of a thousand hills”. After the hike, drive back to your lodge.
Day 29: Transfer to Kigali – Fly to Zanzibar (Own booked flight)
After breakfast, explore Kigali city on a city tour. Visit the Kigali genocide memorial and craft shops including Kimoronko market, Kandt Museum just to mention a few. After lunch, depending on your booked flight, the driver will drop you off at Kigali airport for your onward flight to Zanzibar.
Upon arrival at Zanzibar airport, you will be welcomed by your hotel driver/safari driver who will take you to the hotel for check-in, dinner and overnight stay at Tembo Hotel
Day 30: Zanzibar city tour – Prison Island and spice tour and Stone town
You will have breakfast at your hotel and after this, you will start your day’s activities. You will take a private boat from Stone town to Changuu Island or Prison Island where you will enjoy seeing the Giant tortoises and during your tour of the Island you will also enjoy snorkeling. You will take a boat back from Changuu Island back to Stone town. On this day, you will also engage in a spice tour as you explore the plantations where you will see different exotic spices and also get to know the uses of the spices like cloves, cinnamon, and nutmeg among others. After the spice tour, you will return to your hotel, relax and spend the night at hotel as above
Day 31: Safari Blu experience
You will enjoy the best boat tour on the island is which is a truly amazing experience sailing in the beautiful traditional Dhows. You will enjoy a boat ride, enjoy delicious buffet and drinks, fresh tropical fruits and snacks, snorkeling and also visit Menai Bay. After the experience, you will be driven back to your hotel for dinner and overnight stay as above.
Day 32: Transfer to Nungwi island – Safari experience
After breakfast, meet your driver and transfer to Nungwi Island. Connect for a seafood safari experience that includes; swimming with the dolphins and sea tortoise with sea food. End your day with a sunset boat at Michamvi. Return to your hotel for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay at Nungwi Dreams Resort (Ocean View rooms) for mid-range/Mnarani beach hotel for budget
Day 33: Free day relaxation, beach relaxation with optional activities
On this day you will have a day to relax at the beach and hotel, you can also engage in optional activities like horseback ride experience and any other activity of your choice. Enjoy the Zanzibar beach experience. Dinner and overnight stay at hotel as above
Day 34: Free day relaxing at the lodge
Day 35: Departure
You will have breakfast at your hotel as you prepare for your transfer to the airport, which will bring you to the end of the 5 Days Zanzibar Holiday to an end.
