12-Day Uganda, Kenya & Tanzania Safari
Safari Overview
This 12-day East African safari is the perfect introduction to the region’s most iconic wildlife experiences, combining the misty primate forests of Uganda with the legendary savannah plains of Kenya and Tanzania. From tracking endangered mountain gorillas in Bwindi’s impenetrable jungle to witnessing the Great Migration across the Serengeti and Masai Mara, this journey delivers the ultimate wildlife trifecta. You will trek chimpanzees in Kibale Forest, search for tree-climbing lions, and descend into the Ngorongoro Crater’s wildlife-rich caldera. Expertly designed by Serengeti Wildlife Safari, this 12-day itinerary balances adventure with comfort, offering an unforgettable introduction to East Africa’s extraordinary biodiversity .
Safari Highlights
Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park – a life-changing encounter with endangered mountain gorillas
Chimpanzee Trekking in Kibale Forest – home to over 1,500 chimpanzees and 12 other primate species
Game Drives in Masai Mara, Serengeti, and Queen Elizabeth – search for the Big Five
Ngorongoro Crater – descend 600 meters into a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Great Migration (seasonal) – witness nature’s greatest wildlife spectacle
Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise – Africa’s densest hippo population
Cultural Encounters – Batwa and Maasai community visits
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Uganda – Transfer to Kibale National Park
Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by your Serengeti Wildlife Safari driver-guide. After a short safari briefing, embark on a scenic drive to Kibale National Park, the “Primate Capital of the World.” The journey takes approximately 5-6 hours through Uganda’s lush countryside, with a stop for lunch en route . Kibale is home to the highest density of primates in East Africa, including over 1,500 chimpanzees and 12 other primate species . Arrive at your lodge in the late afternoon, check in, and relax in preparation for tomorrow’s chimpanzee tracking. Dinner and overnight.
Meals: Lunch, Dinner, Drinking water
Day 2: Chimpanzee Trekking & Bigodi Swamp Walk
After an early breakfast, head to the park headquarters for a briefing on chimpanzee trekking rules and safety. Accompanied by experienced rangers, enter the lush rainforest in search of a habituated chimp troop. The trek takes 2-4 hours, and once located, you will spend one hour observing their human-like behavior as they feed, groom, and play in the canopy. Kibale is also home to red-tailed monkeys, black-and-white colobus, and grey-cheeked mangabeys.
In the late afternoon, explore the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary – a community-run swamp reserve famous for birdlife, primates, and the Great Blue Turaco. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight .
Meals: All meals included, Drinking water
Day 3: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
After breakfast, check out and embark on a journey to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. En route, drive through the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, famous for its unique population of tree-climbing lions that lounge lazily in ancient fig trees – one of the only places in Africa where this behavior is regularly observed. Enjoy a game drive in search of these extraordinary cats. After lunch, continue through the scenic highlands to Bwindi, arriving in the evening. Check into your lodge and prepare for tomorrow’s gorilla trekking .
Meals: All meals included, Drinking water
Day 4: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi
Today is the highlight of your safari. After an early breakfast, proceed to the park headquarters with your packed lunch for a gorilla trekking briefing. Bwindi is home to nearly half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas . Accompanied by experienced rangers and trackers, enter the dense Impenetrable Forest in search of a habituated gorilla family. The trek can take anywhere from 2 to 8 hours depending on the movement of the gorillas. Once located, you will spend one unforgettable hour observing the silverback, mothers nursing their young, and playful juveniles – a profound and life-changing experience . Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Meals: All meals included, Drinking water
Day 5: Bwindi – Flight to Nairobi – Transfer to Masai Mara
After breakfast, transfer to Kihihi airstrip for your morning flight to Entebbe. Upon arrival, connect to your onward flight to Nairobi, Kenya. At Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, you will be met by your Kenyan driver-guide and transferred to the world-famous Masai Mara National Reserve. The Masai Mara is Kenya’s finest wildlife sanctuary, known for its density of animals, including the Big Five and over 450 bird species . Arrive at your camp in time for dinner and overnight .
Meals: All meals included, Drinking water
Day 6: Full Day in Masai Mara National Reserve
Spend a full day exploring the Masai Mara on morning and afternoon game drives. The Mara plains are filled with migrating wildebeest and zebra during the Great Migration season (July to October), but there is also resident wildlife year-round. Herds of immense elephants browse among lions, buffalo, Thomson’s gazelle, zebra, and topi. In the Mara River, hippos play and crocodiles bask on the banks. Enjoy a picnic lunch in the wilderness . In the evening, you may choose an optional visit to a Maasai village for a cultural experience. Return to camp for dinner and overnight.
Meals: All meals included, Drinking water
Day 7: Masai Mara – Transfer to Serengeti National Park
After breakfast, depart for the legendary Serengeti National Park. Drive to the Isebania border, complete immigration formalities, and meet your Tanzanian driver-guide. The Serengeti is one of the most wildlife-rich areas on Earth, covering 14,763 square kilometers of rolling plains and acacia woodlands . The Serengeti is synonymous with the Great Migration and is home to Africa’s largest predator populations . Enjoy game viewing en route as you enter the park. Arrive at your camp in time for dinner and overnight .
Meals: All meals included, Drinking water
Day 8: Full Day in Serengeti National Park
Spend a full day exploring the Serengeti on morning and afternoon game drives. Depending on the season, witness the Great Migration – over 1.5 million wildebeest and hundreds of thousands of zebras moving in search of fresh grazing. The Serengeti is home to the Big Five – lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino – along with cheetahs, giraffes, hippos, and numerous bird species . Enjoy a picnic lunch in the heart of the wilderness. Return to camp for dinner and overnight .
Meals: All meals included, Drinking water
Day 9: Serengeti – Ngorongoro Conservation Area
After breakfast, depart the Serengeti for the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The Ngorongoro Crater is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera, often called the “Eighth Wonder of the World” . Descend approximately 600 meters into the crater for a full-day game drive. The crater is home to an estimated 30,000 animals, including some of Tanzania’s last remaining black rhino . The crater’s diverse habitats support vast herds of wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, eland, warthog, hippo, and giant African elephants. Enjoy a picnic lunch on the crater floor. Ascend to your lodge for dinner and overnight .
Meals: All meals included, Drinking water
Day 10: Ngorongoro – Lake Manyara National Park
After breakfast, drive to Lake Manyara National Park. En route, stop in Mto wa Mbu town to visit craft shops and interact with locals. Lake Manyara is one of Tanzania’s most dramatically located wildlife areas, consisting of a massive but shallow soda lake at the foot of the Great Rift Valley’s western escarpment. The park is famous for its tree-climbing lions (rarely seen elsewhere), along with large elephant herds, buffalo, giraffes, hippos, troops of baboons, and flamingos attracted by the lake’s algae . Enjoy a guided walking safari in the afternoon for an up-close encounter with nature and wildlife. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight .
Meals: All meals included, Drinking water
Day 11: Lake Manyara – Tarangire National Park
After breakfast, drive to Tarangire National Park – a hidden gem of Tanzania’s northern safari circuit. Tarangire is famous for its massive elephant herds, with up to 3,000 elephants concentrated along the Tarangire River during the dry season. The park’s baobab and acacia trees create a stunning landscape. Enjoy a game drive searching for elephants, lions, leopards, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, and over 500 bird species . After a leisurely picnic lunch, drive to Arusha for dinner and overnight .
Meals: All meals included, Drinking water
Day 12: Arusha – Departure
After breakfast, enjoy a final morning at leisure or a short Arusha city tour before your transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your departure flight. Your driver-guide will drop you off at the airport, bringing your 12-day East African adventure with Serengeti Wildlife Safari to an end.
Meals: Breakfast, Drinking water
Package Includes
Airport transfers
All accommodation as per itinerary
Meals as indicated (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Private 4×4 safari vehicle with experienced English-speaking driver-guide
Park entrance fees and conservation levies
Gorilla trekking permit
Chimpanzee trekking permit
Game drives as per itinerary
Lake Manyara walking safari
All applicable taxes and VAT
Bottled drinking water in the vehicle
Package Excludes
International flights
Regional flights (Uganda to Kenya)
Entry visas
Travel and medical insurance
Tips and gratuities for guides and staff
Personal expenses (drinks, souvenirs, laundry, etc.)
Optional activities not mentioned in the itinerary
Porters for trekking
Hot air balloon safaris
