20 DAYS OF EAST AFRICAN SAFARI
Day 1: Transfer to Murchison Falls and route Rhino sanctuary
Today’s journey will take you north from Kampala to Murchison falls national park and route, you will visit Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary where you will go for guided rhino tracking with an experienced ranger, which gives you a unique opportunity to view the rhinos from a close distance.
Kidepo Valley and Murchison Falls National Parks once had both black and white rhinos; however, widespread poaching during the Idi Amin era resulted in the disappearance of these majestic animals from the wild. Founded in 1998, Rhino Fund Uganda works to reintroduce black and white rhinos into Uganda and runs a breeding program.
Murchison Falls National Park is the largest conservation area in Uganda covering an area of over 3,840 km², The Park’s name derives from its famous waterfall: the mighty Murchison Falls, which are formed where the Victoria Nile powerfully forces its way through a narrow cleft before plunging 43m down with a thunderous roar.
The mighty Nile River divides the park into its north and south sections. At the spectacular Murchison Falls the world’s longest river explodes violently through a narrow cleft in the Rift Valley escarpment to plunge into a frothing pool 43m below. As the river attracts large numbers of game, a boat safari up the Nile provides the perfect opportunity to see and photograph the animals. You will be watched by crocodiles, hundreds of hippos, buffaloes, water birds, monkeys and all the other thirsty wildlife that the Nile attracts, you go to the bottom of the Murchison Falls, which approaches you with a thunderous sound. By car or after a short hike you can reach the “Top of the falls” from where you have a perfect view of the extraordinary falls and the river snaking below.
You will be staying at a great mid-range lodge, overlooking the river Nile. Here you can relax during the rest of your day.
Journey Time: 4-5 Hours
Accommodation: Pakuba Safari Lodge
Meal plan: All meals
Day 2: Morning game drive, Boat safari & Hike to the top of falls
Today you will wake up very early. In the early morning hours animals are the most active, the sun is not yet so bright and temperatures are cooler. It offers the best time to spot wild animals. After an early breakfast you will go on a game drive to explore the northern part of the park.
You will be eye-to-eye with the African animals like elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, lions, leopards, different species of antelopes and many tropical birds may all be spotted during the game drive. So, keep your eyes open.
In the afternoon you will take a boat safari up the Nile River to Murchison Falls. You will be watched by crocodiles, hundreds of hippos, buffaloes, water birds, monkeys and all the other thirsty wildlife that the Nile attracts, you will reach the base of the 43-meter-high Falls which approach with a thunderous sound.
After the boat safari you will hike to the top of the falls. From here you will have a wonderful view and fantastic photo opportunities.
Accommodation: Pakuba Safari Lodge
Meal plan: All meals
Day 3: Transfer to Kibale National Park
Today you will begin your journey to Kibale Forest N.P. The long drive is incredibly scenic, passing through tea plantations and the lush green countryside which characterizes so much of Uganda.
Kibale Forest National Park is located in west-central Uganda just east of the Rwenzori Mountains, near the town of Fort Portal. The 766 Km² Park predominantly covers evergreen rain forest and ranges between 1100 and 1600m in elevation. Kibale Forest is one of the last remaining expanses to contain both lowland and montane forests and forms a continuous forest with Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Turaco Treetops offers a unique classic canvas experience in the form of African-style safari tents set in a lush forested surrounding. Complemented by excellent food and service it forms your perfect base to explore the area.
The safari tents are comfortably furnished with twin or double beds. Each tent has its own private and suite bathroom with an eco-friendly toilet, a dressing room and a bush shower.
Journey Time: 4hours
Accommodation: Turaco Treetops
Meal Plane: All meals
Day 4: Chimpanzee habituation tracking – Bigodi swamp walk in the afternoon upon arrival
Today you will wake up early to go to the park head offices to be briefed about your chimp tracking habituation experience. Kibale Forest National Park boasts the highest number of primate species in the world, including the chimpanzees. Approximately 5,000 chimpanzees live in the wild in Uganda, which makes it a perfect place to see them.
An experienced ranger will take you chimp tracking chimp in the morning, you might also see other monkey species that live here. Once you locate the chimpanzees you will have a full hour of eye-to-eye contact with them. Since they are wild animals, we can never guarantee you to see them and might have to settle with hearing their hoots and hollers.
In the afternoon after lunch, you will go for the guided swamp walk. The walk (2-3 hours) will take you through grassland, small communities and some beautiful scenery, where the locals are likely to greet you with enthusiastic waves. It is usual to spot three to four different primate species during this walk, though the highlight is catching a glimpse of the great blue turaco!
Chimpanzee habituation tracking
At an additional fee of only $70 US Dollar per person, you can do the chimpanzee habituation tracking instead of the regular chimpanzee tracking. This will take all day and you will be 100% sure to have a very close encounter with our cousins. Book this in time because only 6 persons per day are allowed to go. Your swamp walk can be postponed to the next morning before heading to Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Journey Time: 4hours
Accommodation: Turaco Treetops
Meal Plane: All meals
Day 5: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park in the afternoon
After lunch, your guide will drive you to Queen Elizabeth National Park, home to a high concentration of Uganda’s mammals that include tree climbing and savanna lions, elephants, wart hogs, Uganda kob, water buck, cape buffalo, hippos, leopards, as well as more than 600 species of birds that include the African spoon bill, pied kingfishers, fish eagles, pelicans, vultures.
Queen Elizabeth National Park is Uganda’s second largest park, located at the base of the majestic Rwenzori Mountain range, adjacent to Lake Edward and Lake George. The park has game including Uganda kob, warthog and waterbuck. Lions are often sighted both in and at the entrance to the park. Be ready to see huge numbers of hippos and elephants, and keep your eyes on the lookout for a leopard lazing in the sunshine.
In the late afternoon you will relax at the lodge. You will stay in a nice lodge, overlooking the Lake George.
Journey Time: 3 ½
Accommodation: Marafiki Tented Lodge
Meal Plan: All meals
Marafiki Tented Lodge is in a unique location and has been designed and handcrafted using local materials, fitted by artisans from the local community. Overlooking Lake George in the Queen Elizabeth National Park it offers private luxury safari tents on raised wooden floors and canvas walls that can be rolled up to allow you to sit comfortably watching the Savannah Plains with breath taking views across the park and the Rwenzori and Virunga mountains.
Day 6: Game drive and Kazinga channel boat safari
Today you wake up early. A little before sunrise coffee, tea and donuts will be served in the lounge before we head out for a long game drive in time to see the first rays of light. You will search for all the wildlife in the park and are likely to come across Elephant, Buffalo, Lion, Waterbuck, Leopard, Uganda Kob, and many Warthogs.
A well-deserved brunch will be served back at the lodge in the late morning.
In the afternoon you will take a boat safari along the Kazinga Channel which joins Lake George and Lake Edward.
Here, you will see a lot of hippos (more than you can possibly imagine!), as well as a variety of other animals which come to the waterhole to drink or bathe. You can expect to see buffalo, crocodile, bathing elephant, and a range of beautiful birds. This will undoubtedly be one of the highlights of your tour.
After the boat-safari you game drive back to the lodge.
Accommodation: Marafiki Tented Lodge
Meal Plan: All meals
Day 7: Lion Tracking and Night Game Drive
For visitors who yearn to get up close to wild African fauna, a research trip is a rewarding adventure. This new and unique experience allows visitors to actively participate in monitoring some of lions in the park, using locator devices and learn habituation calls, as well as monitoring weather, surroundings and behavior. The results are added to researchers’ databases, contributing valuable information to the overall understanding of wildlife ecology – and helping to conserve this wonderful ecosystem. This will as well give you a 95% chance to see the lions!
The number of people on each outing is limited in order to reduce stress on the animals and to increase the quality of the experience for visitors.
The experiential tourism activities currently available are Mongoose Tracking, Lion Tracking, Hippo Census, and Bird Counts.
Experiential tours last between one and three hours. They usually take place in the early morning or evening, or occasionally at night. All activities must be booked through the Visitor Information Centre in Mweya at least 24 hours in advance.
Night Game Drive: The night at Queen Elizabeth National Park can be better than the day in different ways. No doubt, day time has a lot folded in it, like the game drives, launch at Kazinga Channel. The night activities/ game drive might not be so common, but in return it might be your best choice to see the wild cats closer and feel the thrill you can get close to the king of the African jungle.
What is a night game drive?
The night game drive is an activity done when the sun sets and the night falls in the wilderness of Queen Elizabeth national park, it involves the use of a strong spot light torch to see the animals more clearly in the dark. This activity helps you get closer to the animals since they shed off their human fear in the night; they can easily get closer to your vehicle; the lions can be terrific and the experience is thrilling.
A night game drive is, no doubt, the most exciting activity in Uganda so far as recorded by those who have tried it. It is good to know the best place where you can book your nocturnal game viewing, and Queen Elizabeth is highly recommended for this activity. Night game drives are also done in other national; parks like, Murchison Falls national park, and Lake Mburo, and these are the only places/ national parks where you can book for your night game drive in Uganda.
Journey Time: Full Day
Accommodation: Marafiki Tented Lodge
Meal Plan: All meals
Day 8: Transfer to Lake Mutanda Bwindi
Today after your Lion Tracking, you will be transferred to Lake Mutanda in the south-western part of Uganda; close to the borders with Rwanda and Congo. You cross a beautiful part of the country often referred to as ‘the Switzerland of Africa’. You will see a great country-side, bamboo forest and have great views over the Virunga Mountains. For lunch you will stop at a local restaurant on the road
Journey Time: 4 hours
Accommodation: Mutanda Lake resort
Meal plan: All meals
Mutanda Lake Resort
Mutanda Lake Resort offers most likely the best view in Uganda! Perched on a peninsula in Lake Mutanda (see photo), in the shadow of the Virunga Mountain Range, Mutanda Lake Resort offers comfortable accommodation combined with the most beautiful views on planet earth. Situated between Kisoro town, Mgahinga and Bwindi National Parks the Resort makes a perfect base for gorilla trackers, volcano hikers, bird lovers as well as those looking for a secluded place in nature. The cuisine is among the best in Uganda.
Activities on the lake are organized by the lodge and the lake is safe to swim as it is Bilharzia free
Day 9: Gorilla Habituation Tracking in Bwindi Forest
Gorilla habituation is the process of training mountain Gorillas to live closer to people as they continue with their day to day lives. Gorilla habituation process takes place in Bwindi impenetrable National Park too. The gorilla habituation experience is very amazing since one gets to spend more time with the gorillas, compared to the one hour of Gorilla trekking.
The permits for gorilla habituation cost 1500 USD and normal Gorilla trekking costs 800 USD.
The Gorilla habituation experience is not recommended for everyone, since it takes more money, effort, permit expenses and more endurance since one takes four hours with the Gorilla families. Gorilla habituation in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest takes 4 hours on an all-day trek where you’re given a chance to observe the mountain Gorillas in their wildlife.
The Gorilla family in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is where one can observe the mountain Gorillas, along with conservationist, Researchers and Rangers.
Gorilla habituation experience in Uganda only takes place in Rushaga southern part of Bwindi impenetrable Forest.
There are only 4 people permitted a day and only one group undergoes the Gorilla habituation process. This experience has been in place since 2016 and this has been taken by few people compared to the normal Gorilla trekking. Gorilla habituation is a great experience for one to have time with the Gentle endangered Giants of the forest. During this Gorilla Habituation Process one can, be able to get as close as they can to the gorillas despite them being Rangers, Researchers or trackers.
Before you hike you need to have physical fitness and we suggest you take long hikes and be ready for the trek. Gorillas are worth looking at and one gets to spend over hours with them instead of the normal 1-hour trek. You will not only observe, however you will as well participate in the gorilla habituation process. This is an all-day Gorilla trek experience; only four people are allowed to habituate. You will have a chance to learn about the habits and ways of mountain Gorillas.
There are many similarities between the Gorilla habituation experience and Gorilla Trekking; there always the same rules and Regulations, you get to wear the same kind of protective cloths, boots, bottled water, porter, rangers and many more.
Gorilla habituation is only done in Uganda in Rushaga, and it can be accessed not only from Uganda but you can as well access it from Rwanda taking 4-hour drive.
The high season runs from June through September-December through March and there are very limited Gorilla permits and people spend more time with the Gorilla family. Gorilla permits are always in short supply during this season and you’re always advised to book 3 months pro to your travel date.
Bwindi Impenetrable national park boasts both mountain gorillas and chimpanzees – the only forest in Africa that can make this claim. It also hosts five other species of primates, 113 species of mammals, over 200 species of butterflies and 360 species of birds. The gorillas you track are habituated and can tolerate the presence of humans for a brief period of time, every day.
The time taken to track the gorillas can be as few as 2 hours to as many as 7 hours. Once the gorillas have been located, your group will be allowed a maximum of one hour with them. Coming face-to-face with a mountain gorilla is a truly humbling and emotional experience. This is a fantastic and privileged opportunity to get up close and personal with Uganda’s very own ‘Gorillas in the Mist’.
Canoeing and afternoon cultural tour (optional)
Canoeing, after breakfast on the second day of the 3 days Lake Bunyonyi safari your driver guide will pick you up from the lodge to go for amazing canoe ride which is carried out in a dugout canoe with an experienced guide. During canoe ride you will paddle along the lake shores, explore some of the islands like the punishment island where you will listen to the story behind it, view mammals along the shores, water birds such as black herons, African kingfisher, fish eagles, great cormorants, Hadada ibis, bee-eaters, egrets, slender billed baglafetch, sunbirds, enjoy the beautiful scenery, terraced farmlands, rolling hills, meet with the local people who will be canoeing to their gardens or homesteads and school children going to school. After the canoe ride you will drive back to the lodge for lunch and later transfer to Mgahiga for golden monkey trekking.
Journey Time: 2 hours
Accommodation: Lake Mutanda Resort
Meal plan: All meals
Day 10: Golden Monkey trekking in Uganda
Golden Monkey Trekking in Mgahinga gorilla national park is an active and exciting activity in Mgahinga gorilla national park which involves moving on foot into the forest in search of the habituated golden monkey families and once found spend one hour with them in their natural habitat. Mgahinga gorilla national park is located in southwestern part of Uganda in Kisoro district and the only protected area in Uganda that harbors the endangered golden monkeys. Golden monkeys are also found in other destinations like Volcanoes national park in Rwanda, Virunga national park and Kahuzi Biega national park in Democratic republic of Congo. They are active and playful primates which feed on bamboo shoots, branches, ripe fruits, insects and always jump from one tree to another.
Golden monkey trekking experience in Mgahinga gorilla national park
with a briefing about the rules, regulations and expectations at the park headquarters. After the briefing you will start trekking in the jungle with an experienced guide which takes about 30 minutes to 3 hours depending on where the golden monkeys are located because they like to move from one place to another in search of food. Golden monkeys are small in size and do not leave behind clear evidence of their previous day’s location like the mountain gorillas therefore during trekking you will look out for fresh leftovers of bamboo shoots and leaves. Once the golden monkey troop is located you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their natural habitat which gives you a chance to take photos, learn about their behaviors, watch them jump from one tree to another among others.
Departure to Kinigi City in the afternoon
On the same day in Uganda, you will have a relaxed lunch while enjoying breathtaking views of the mist rising off the lake, check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Kinigi.
This tour will take you to visit the most popular cultural and heritage sites in Rwanda; you will also encounter unique authentic experiences regarding the culture, religion, historical and traditional lifestyle of the people. Rwanda is predominately occupied by 3 tribes since ancient times about 1000 years AC and these are the Batwa forest pygmies’ community who are the first inhabitants of the great Virunga corridor and later joined by other Bantu descendants among which are the Bantu and Baima communities. This tour offers to you a glimpse about what happened during the 1994 massacre on your visit to the famous genocide memorials in Musanze, you will also experience Rwandese Traditional Construction activity, Musanze tour where you will visit the local markets, museums, religious cathedrals, and observe and learn about their influence in shaping the political-social history of this country and last, have a community walk around Musanze for more enlightenment about the lifestyle of the people, as well this will come along with the exceptional birding experience in Rwanda’s capital. This particular tour can be customized to suit your varying needs and preferences depending on your budget, time, and the number of travelers. This cultural tour starts and ends in Kigali, and highly favor those with limited time to travel to other cultural destinations in Rwanda, however, this can be an extension to the long wildlife safari in Rwanda or Uganda. On this day Tour anticipates experiencing various activities such as a tour of the Ndaba rock and its magnificent waterfall and boat cruise on Kivu Lake and visiting various islands, observing and experiencing the colonial period history in Rwanda,
Journey Time: 3 Hours
Accommodation: Five Volcanoes
Meal Plan: Full Bond
Day 11: Hike mount Bisoke
Mount Bisoke is one of the active volcanoes found within the Virunga ranges of mountains. With a height of 12,175 ft, Mount Bisoke lies within the borders of Rwanda (Volcanoes National Park) and DR Congo (Virunga National Park). The summit and greater part of the mountain is in Rwanda. Mount Bisoke was formed as a result of a rift that is gradually dividing sections of East Africa. It has two crater lakes – one at the very top and the other (Lake Ngezi) found midway. It’s last eruption in 1957 left behind one of the largest Crater Lake within the Virunga mountain ranges.
Mount Bisoke is a home to mountain gorillas. These primates are by large Rwanda’s most valuable tourism attraction. The rich bamboo forests and other vegetation surrounding the mountain provide ideal shelter and food for Mountain gorillas. However Hiking Mount Bisoke is also a favorite activity for many visitors to the Volcanoes National park. In fact, most tourists combine Gorilla trekking in the Volcanoes National Park with hiking Mount Bisoke.
Hiking Mount Bisoke usually starts in the morning with briefing from an assigned Ranger at the park offices. The office is usually busy in the morning because it is where all Tourists gather before heading out for activities like gorilla trekking, golden monkey tracking and the Dian Fossey grave Hike. You will be required to show your hiking permit, passport and other documentation during the briefing. This is the last time you will get a chance to use a decent/proper toilet and snack until you come back from the summit. After registration and briefing, hikers are then transferred from the park offices to the starting point by their company guide or a hired taxi for those traveling on their own
The journey to the head trail and starting point takes 40 minutes through rough road. At this point you will be provided with hiking sticks from the park officials. You will be met by armed Rangers to escort you up to the summit and have a chance to hire porters to help with extra luggage. The armed Rangers are there to protect you against threats from wild animals. Porters also help hikers navigate difficult sections by pulling them up or down. The porters live close to the park and are also very knowledgeable about the mountain. Some have been helping hikers since their childhood. Hiring a porter will cost you about $15.
The hike starts with navigating through leveled but rocky and rough ground at the foot of the volcano. You will pass through several local gardens/plantations before reaching the park entrance. Some parts of the park is protected by stone walls to stop animals raiding farms and humans entering the park. Once you reach on top of the summit, you will be able to spot the great landscape and vegetation that surround the Virunga region including the Mount Visoke Crater Lake, Mount Karisimbi volcano and Mount Mikeno in Congo. The lake at the summit is not suitable for swimming.
Journey Time: 2 Hours
Accommodation: Five Volcanoes
Meal Plan: Full Bond
Day 12: Rwanda Gorilla trekking
Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park is the main activity in the park where travelers get a chance to experience the endangered mountain gorillas. Rwanda is considered one of the best places to do gorilla trekking from. Gorilla trekking in Rwanda takes place from the Volcanoes National Park. Volcanoes National Park, located in Musanze in the northwest of the country and covering a total size of 160 square meters, forms part of the Virunga massifs. It is this park that a number of mountain gorillas are inhabited in Rwanda. These mountain gorillas can only be found in two other countries, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The activity that has tourists hiking into the lush forest cover to search for the mountain gorillas is what has come to be known as gorilla trekking.
Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park has been made possible by the availability of a number of mountain gorillas in the park and about 10 habituated gorilla families that tourists can visit. Not all gorillas in the park can be tracked or visited by tourists, only the habituated (gorillas prepared over a period of years to accommodate human interaction for a time) gorilla families can be and in Volcanoes National Park, the elusive Hirwa gorilla family, Bwenge, Amahoro, Ugenda, Titus, Karisimbi, Kwitonda, Umubano, Agashya, and Susa gorilla families are available. More of them will be availed due to the conservation efforts of the Rwanda Development Board that has put up stringent measures to protect and conserve these endangered mountain gorillas.
To have a gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park experience, travelers need to book and purchase gorilla trekking permits way in advance as these permits are very few and on high demand. At least 3-4 months in advance is advised for one to be guaranteed of getting one. Gorilla trekking permits in Volcanoes National Park cost $1,500 per person per trek, including the Rwanda nationals. Part of the revenue collected from gorilla trekking permits goes to the support of the gorilla conservation effort and supporting the local community. Booking gorilla permits can be done through a trusted tour operator or directly from the Rwanda Development Board in Kigali. Passport details of a traveler is what is required to be presented to the RDB when purchasing a gorilla tracking permit. Only 8 people can trek a single gorilla family per day, meaning there are only 80 gorilla permits available per day and to secure your gorilla permit for the exact date you wish to track in, travelers are strongly advised to book in advance
Journey Time: 2 Hours after tracking
Accommodation: FOUR Points by Sheraton Kigali
Meal Plan: Full Bond
Note: A flight to Tanzania will be arrange between day 12 in the night or day 13 during day time in the morning hours
Day 13: Pick up and drive to Lake Manyara National Park
Lake Manyara Wildlife Safari, you will be picked up from the airport and set off on a road drive to Lake Manyara national park while being briefed about this adventure. Upon park arrival, you will be rewarded with a stunning bio diversity of Lake Manyara national park, a view of the Great Rift Valley and many other attractions as you drive towards your lodge for check in and lunch. After enjoying lunch, return to the park on thrilling afternoon and evening game drives to watch different species of birds, view mammals as they graze in the evening with in the park. You will also be rewarded with a view of tree climbing lions hanging lazily in tree branches of acacia trees without forgetting a breath-taking encounter with the hunters as they return to the park from their hiding places. Later in the evening, return to the lodge for a relaxed dinner and overnight.
Journey Time: 4-5 Hours
Accommodation: Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge
Meal Plan: Full Bond
Day 14: Full day in Lake Manyara National Park
Full day excursion in Lake Manyara national park: Wake up for an early breakfast at your lodge on this day Lake Manyara Wildlife Safari then pack your lunch box and be led into the park to spend a full day on an adventure in the park starting with a sunrise game drive to afternoon game drive and evening game drive while encountering with lots of park dwellers such as baboons, elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, wildebeests, hippos, warthogs, tree climbing lions and plenty of bird species. Since you have a packed lunch box, it will be enjoyed as picnic lunch amidst wildlife under the tree shade though it’s also very possible to return to the lodge for lunch and return to the park till the sun goes down
Journey Time: full day game drive
Accommodation: Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge
Meal Plan: Full Bond
Day 15: Lake Manyara National Park – Ngorongoro conservation Area
After meeting your safari guide in the morning, you hit the road in your 4×4 Toyota Land Cruiser and drive to Ngorongoro. Animals gather at the river, as elephants, giraffes, bushbucks and hartebeests can often be seen. You might even be able to spot the fringe-eared oryx or the weird-looking gerenuk.
Today’s journey takes you into the fertile Ngorongoro highlands. Crossing the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, you will reach the vast open plains of the Serengeti National Park in the early afternoon. The following days are set aside for exploring the famous Serengeti, home to the Big Five – elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard and rhino – and many other animals. You can look forward to many new wildlife sightings during your game drives as no day on safari is the same. Depending on the season, you will either stay one night in the central Serengeti and two nights in the northern Serengeti (June – October) or the southern
Serengeti (January – March), or you stay all three nights in the central Serengeti (November – December & April – May).
Journey Time: 4 Hours
Accommodation: Kati Lodge
Meal Plan: Full Bond
Day 16-17: The Great Migration in Serengeti National Park
These two days are all about the Serengeti. Together with your guide, you scout for animals in this pristine corner of the world. You are in no rush and have plenty of time to observe the park’s wildlife and learn about animal behavior as well as their social structures. The Serengeti National Park is the third largest park in Tanzania and is stunningly beautiful. While the landscape in the south is characterized by open grassland as far as you can see, open woodlands and hills are predominant in the north and west. Together with the Masai Mara, the Serengeti is host to the Great Migration of millions of wildebeest and zebras, one of the greatest shows on earth. In order to increase your chances of witnessing the Great Migration, we choose your route and the order of camps according to your time of travel.
Journey Time: full day game viewing
Accommodation: Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge
Meal Plan: Full Bond
The Great Migration-Africa’s race for life.
The journey for the key players in the Great Migration, the roughly two million wildebeest, starts in the south of the Serengeti, with the birth of half a million calves between July and September. A favorite season for many of the seasoned Serengeti guides: the air during these months is full of new life and action.
Why do wildebeest migrate?
The 800-kilometer trek of the immense wildebeest herd is the largest mammal migration on earth. The timing of the migration coincides with greening of nutritious grasses on the short-grass plains during the wet season. These areas are safer because predators can be easily spotted making it an ideal place for calving. However, the plains dry and the wildebeest are forced to move in search of greener pastures in the western corridor. The northern extension of the ecosystem has the highest rainfall, but the grasses are least nutritious. This is the dry season retreat for the wildebeest, at least until the south becomes green again. The result is a clockwise movement from the south, west, north, and back to the south.
The Great Migration in short
A better representation of the circle of life probably cannot be found anywhere else in the world. The journey starts in Southern Serengeti when wildebeest calves are being born. Predators like lions and hyenas are constantly hunting for babies, and thousands and thousands of calves are born within a couple weeks of each other – a feast for the eyes of true wildlife enthusiasts.
When the drought comes in May, the herd moves north, towards the Masai Mara in Kenya, chomping down the high green grass, quickly followed by the gazelles and zebras. The migration is not without risk: crossing rivers means facing about 3,000 crocodiles, patiently waiting for a kill. Not to mention the famous Serengeti lion population: by far the largest in Africa. Despite the abundance of hoofed meat in this area, life is not easy for these big cats in this unforgiving landscape. But seeing a group of lions collaborating to hunt down a wildebeest is an unforgettable sight.
Then, with the beginning of the short rains in late October, the migration makes its way back into the Serengeti. By December, the herds trek past Seronera - a small settlement in central Serengeti where the official Serengeti Visitors’ Centre is located - to return to their calving grounds again, and the circle is complete.
Day 18: Hot Air Balloon and Transfer to Ngorongoro Conservation Area
A bird’s eye-view of Africa’s vast landscape
Experience the breathtaking beauty of the Serengeti National Park on a once-in-a-lifetime hot air balloon flight. At dawn, rise as the sun greets the day and float in whichever direction the winds of the morning take you. Your pilot can precisely control the altitude of your balloon: sometimes flying at treetop height, sometimes lower, offering a unique perspective and great photographic opportunities of the wildlife below. At other times you will ascend high into the sky to see the vast magnificence and spectacular panorama of the Serengeti. At intervals the pilot will put more heat into the balloon with the powerful whisper burners. In between these burns, there is a tranquil silence apart from the natural sounds below.
A Serengeti balloon safari is an extraordinary opportunity to relish a bird’s eye-view of the phenomenal sweeping plains below. Tiny little dots rove across the diverse landscape and as you get closer you are spectator to the most magnificent view of dramatically striped black and white zebra, sashaying enormous grey elephants meandering to a waterhole, wiry warthogs foraging in the grassy scrub and subtle swishes of puffed golden tails reveal lions lolling under shady trees.
Gently bob through the air, let your eye dart to every possible corner, absorbing all of nature’s beauty below. A truly overwhelming, and deeply rich, experience, and very little can hide from you up here
The Serengeti. 14,763km2 of African savannah stretching as far as the eye can see. We fly here because the climate is almost perfect; the temperature seldom falls below 12° or rises above 26°. The wind blows gently and reliably for 349 days of the year. However, the skies above the Serengeti put on a show as diverse as that which plays out on the ground. A dramatic thunderstorm to the west, shafts of light penetrate a shower to the east while the north and south bathe in warm sunshine. The clarity of the air affords us views of the Ngorongoro Highlands and sometimes Lake Victoria. From our lofty vantage point, we can appreciate the Serengeti in all its majestic scale, and we have a perspective untethered by the narrow confines of vehicles and roads
After you will continue your safari in the Serengeti National Park. In the Seronera Valley you might be lucky to see predators hunt as animals gather at the waters during the dry season. After lunch at a picnic spot, you will slowly drive in the direction of the Ngorongoro Crater. As soon as you have reached the crater you will have a superb view of the caldera. This approximate 20 km wide crater is part of an UNESCO World Heritage Site and is home to over 20,000 animals. You will stay at the Ang’ata Ngorongoro Camp on the crater rim from where you will be able to enjoy an incredible sunset.
Journey Time: 4 Hours
Accommodation: Farm of Dreams Lodge
Meal Plan: Full Bond
Day 19: Ngorongoro Crater – Arusha
Rise and shine! After an early breakfast you will drive down the steep path into the crater. The Ngorongoro Crater is the largest, unbroken and
unflooded caldera in the world and it has an unbelievable diversity of wildlife. In addition to zebras and wildebeests, you might also spot the rare black rhino and other members of the Big Five. The crater is also home to other animals such as hyenas, waterbucks, bushbucks, eland and more than 500 bird species. After an extensive game drive and a picnic lunch you will leave the caldera in the afternoon and drive back to Arusha, where you will arrive in the early evening.
Journey Time: 3 Hours
Accommodation: Four Points by Sheraton Arusha
Meal Plan: Full Bond
Day 20: Departure back home through Kilimanjaro International airport