14 Days Rwanda, Uganda and Tanzania Primate and Wildlife Safari

Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will be welcomed by your local representative and transferred to your hotel in Rwanda's vibrant capital.

Depending on your arrival time, spend the remainder of the day relaxing after your international flight or discovering a little of Kigali's welcoming atmosphere. If your schedule permits, you may visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial, an important historical site that honours the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and reflects Rwanda's journey towards reconciliation and recovery.

Enjoy your first evening in Rwanda before beginning your journey through the country's spectacular landscapes and wildlife destinations.

Meal plan

After breakfast, visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial for a deeper understanding of Rwanda's history and transformation. The memorial offers an important introduction to the country's past, resilience and commitment to a peaceful future.

Later, depart Kigali and travel south towards Nyungwe National Park, passing through Rwanda's picturesque highlands, rolling hills, rural communities and extensive tea plantations.

Nyungwe is one of Africa's oldest montane rainforests and a major biodiversity hotspot, renowned for its rich primate population, forest birds and spectacular scenery. As you approach the park, the landscape becomes increasingly green and forested, providing a striking contrast to the urban surroundings of Kigali.

Arrive at your accommodation and settle in for the evening in preparation for your chimpanzee trekking adventure the following morning.

Meal plan

Rise early for an exciting chimpanzee trekking experience in Nyungwe National Park.

After a briefing from your local guides, enter the rainforest in search of wild chimpanzees. Follow forest trails through dense vegetation, listening for calls and movement in the canopy as your guides help locate a chimpanzee community.

Once the chimpanzees are found, observe their natural behaviour as they feed, communicate, groom and move through the forest. Sightings depend on their movements and the conditions of the day, but the experience offers a fascinating opportunity to discover one of Rwanda's most remarkable wildlife habitats.

In the afternoon, experience Nyungwe's famous canopy walkway, a suspended bridge high above the forest floor. Enjoy panoramic views across the rainforest canopy while looking for forest birds, butterflies and other wildlife.

Return to your accommodation after a rewarding day exploring one of East Africa's most beautiful forest ecosystems.

Meal plan

After breakfast, embark on a guided colobus monkey trek in Nyungwe National Park. Search for groups of striking black-and-white colobus monkeys moving through the forest canopy, often travelling together between feeding and resting areas.

Nyungwe is particularly well known for its primate diversity, and this experience provides another opportunity to appreciate the ecological richness of Rwanda's rainforests.

After your trek, depart for Volcanoes National Park in northern Rwanda. The journey takes you through scenic countryside, traditional settlements, cultivated hillsides and changing highland landscapes.

Volcanoes National Park lies within the Virunga mountain range and is internationally renowned for its endangered mountain gorillas and golden monkeys. On arrival, check in at your accommodation and enjoy a relaxing evening surrounded by the region's spectacular volcanic scenery.

Meal plan

After breakfast, travel to the Kinigi park headquarters for your primate experience in Volcanoes National Park.

Your included activity is golden monkey trekking. Accompanied by park guides, follow forest trails into the bamboo vegetation in search of these endangered and playful primates. Observe them as they forage, leap between bamboo stems and interact within their groups.

After the trek, visit Gorilla Guardians Village for an introduction to Rwandan cultural traditions, including traditional music, dance and community demonstrations. You may also visit the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, subject to opening hours and availability, to learn about mountain gorilla conservation and ongoing research.

Optional upgrade: Replace golden monkey trekking with mountain gorilla trekking in Rwanda. The additional gorilla permit is quoted at US$1,500 per person, subject to availability and confirmation at booking. This provides an opportunity to observe a habituated mountain gorilla family in its natural habitat.

In the afternoon, cross into Uganda and complete the necessary immigration formalities before transferring to the Bwindi or Mgahinga region.

Arrive at your accommodation and relax in preparation for your Ugandan gorilla trekking experience.

Meal plan

Today brings one of the highlights of your East African adventure: mountain gorilla trekking in Uganda.

After an early breakfast, proceed to the designated park headquarters in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park for a briefing by Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers.

Accompanied by experienced guides and trackers, enter the montane forest in search of a habituated mountain gorilla family. The trek may take several hours, depending on the gorillas’ location, terrain and weather conditions.

Once the family is located, spend up to one hour observing the gorillas at the permitted viewing distance. Watch as they feed, groom, rest and interact, offering an extraordinary insight into the behaviour of these endangered primates.

After the trek, return to the lodge area and transfer to Travellers Rest Hotel for your overnight stay. Relax and enjoy the peaceful surroundings after an unforgettable wildlife encounter, with time to reflect on your remarkable gorilla trekking experience.

Meal plan

After breakfast at Travellers Rest Hotel, depart for Lake Mburo National Park, travelling through the scenic landscapes of southwestern Uganda. Enjoy views of rolling hills, cultivated farmland and rural communities along the way.

Upon arrival at Lake Mburo National Park, check in at your lodge before enjoying a boat cruise on Lake Mburo, subject to availability and operating conditions. Look out for hippos, crocodiles, waterbirds and other wildlife along the shoreline.

Later, embark on a night game drive to discover the park’s nocturnal wildlife. You may encounter hyenas, bushbabies and other animals active after sunset. Leopards also inhabit the park, although sightings cannot be guaranteed.

Return to your lodge for dinner and relaxation after an exciting day of travel and wildlife exploration.

Meal plan

After an early breakfast, begin your journey towards Tanzania, travelling through southwestern Uganda to the Mutukula border before continuing towards Bukoba on the western shores of Lake Victoria.

Complete the required immigration and customs formalities at the Uganda–Tanzania border. From Bukoba, board your scheduled domestic flight to Mwanza, subject to availability and confirmation of the flight schedule.

Upon arrival in Mwanza, meet your representative and transfer to your lakeside hotel. Located on the southern shores of Lake Victoria, Mwanza is known for its impressive granite rock formations, lively atmosphere and beautiful lake views.

Spend the evening relaxing at your accommodation and enjoying the scenery as you prepare for the Tanzanian wildlife safari ahead.

Meal plan

After breakfast, depart Mwanza and travel towards Serengeti National Park, entering through the designated gate according to the confirmed route and prevailing road conditions.

As you approach the Serengeti, the scenery opens into vast grasslands, scattered rocky outcrops and woodland habitats supporting an extraordinary variety of wildlife.

Begin your game drive along the route towards the Grumeti River region, where conditions permit. This area is known for its wildlife diversity, including hippos, crocodiles, antelopes and predators. Your guide will look for lions, elephants, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest and other animals as you make your way towards camp.

The Serengeti is also famous for the Great Wildebeest Migration, an annual movement of wildebeest and zebras across the ecosystem in search of fresh grazing. The location of the herds varies throughout the year, so wildlife viewing opportunities depend on the season.

Arrive at your camp for dinner and an evening surrounded by the atmosphere of the African wilderness.

Meal plan

Spend a full day exploring the spectacular plains of Serengeti National Park on morning and afternoon game drives.

Set out early when wildlife is often most active. Search for lions resting after a hunt, cheetahs scanning the open grasslands, elephants moving through the savannah and giraffes browsing among scattered trees.

The Serengeti supports an impressive diversity of wildlife, including leopards, buffaloes, spotted hyenas, zebras, wildebeest and numerous antelope species. Your guide will adapt the day's route according to recent sightings, wildlife movements and the location of your camp.

Depending on the season, you may encounter large herds of wildebeest and zebras during the Great Migration. Although river crossings and specific migration encounters cannot be guaranteed, the park offers exceptional opportunities for wildlife viewing throughout the year.

Enjoy a picnic lunch in the wilderness before continuing your afternoon game drive. Return to camp around sunset for dinner and relaxation.

Meal plan

After breakfast, enjoy a morning game drive in the Serengeti before departing towards the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

Depending on your route, explore wildlife-rich areas around the Seronera Valley, one of the Serengeti's best-known regions for resident predators and year-round wildlife viewing. Look for lions, elephants, giraffes, zebras and other species as you continue towards the park exit.

Later, travel through the changing landscapes of northern Tanzania towards the Ngorongoro Highlands. The open plains gradually give way to rolling hills, greener vegetation and cooler highland scenery.

Arrive at your accommodation in the Ngorongoro region and enjoy time to relax while taking in the surrounding landscapes. Your location provides a convenient base for the following day's exploration of the Ngorongoro Crater.

Meal plan

After breakfast, travel to the magnificent Ngorongoro Crater for a memorable wildlife safari.

Descend into the crater, a vast volcanic caldera whose grasslands, woodland, wetlands and freshwater habitats support an impressive concentration of wildlife.

Explore the crater floor in search of lions, elephants, buffaloes, zebras, wildebeest, spotted hyenas and hippos. Ngorongoro is also an important habitat for the endangered black rhinoceros, although sightings cannot be guaranteed. Depending on the season and water conditions, you may also see flamingos and other waterbirds around suitable wetlands.

Enjoy a picnic lunch at a designated site while surrounded by spectacular scenery. Continue your game drive before ascending from the crater and travelling towards the Lake Manyara area.

Arrive at your accommodation and relax after a rewarding day exploring one of Tanzania's most remarkable wildlife destinations.

Meal plan

After breakfast, enjoy a morning game drive in Lake Manyara National Park, a scenic reserve known for its diverse habitats, groundwater forest, open grasslands, lakeshore and rich birdlife.

Search for elephants, giraffes, zebras, buffaloes, baboons and other wildlife. Lake Manyara is also famous for its tree-climbing lions, although sightings depend on the animals' movements and cannot be guaranteed.

The park's varied habitats attract a wide range of bird species, making it a rewarding destination for birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts.

After your game drive, continue to Tarangire National Park, renowned for its ancient baobab trees, large elephant herds and seasonal concentrations of wildlife around the Tarangire River.

Depending on your arrival time and the confirmed itinerary, enjoy wildlife viewing before transferring to your lodge for dinner and an evening in the Tanzanian wilderness.

Meal plan

After breakfast, enjoy your final wildlife experience in Tarangire National Park. Depending on your flight schedule, you may have time for an optional morning game drive before beginning the journey towards Arusha or Kilimanjaro International Airport.

Tarangire is particularly renowned for its elephants, distinctive baobab-studded landscapes and diverse birdlife. During your game drive, look for elephants, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, buffaloes, lions and other wildlife.

The Tarangire River attracts animals from the surrounding ecosystem, especially during drier periods, creating rewarding opportunities for wildlife viewing and photography.

After the safari, transfer to Arusha Airport or Kilimanjaro International Airport according to your onward flight arrangements.

Your 14-day Rwanda, Uganda and Tanzania primate and wildlife safari concludes with unforgettable memories of chimpanzees in Nyungwe, mountain gorillas in Uganda, golden monkeys in Rwanda and the iconic wildlife of Tanzania's celebrated national parks.

Meal plan