20-Days Best of East Africa Safari
Safari Overview
This 20-day East African safari is the ultimate journey through the heart of Africa’s most iconic wilderness destinations. Spanning three countries – Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda – this comprehensive safari showcases the continent’s remarkable diversity, from the “endless plains” of the Serengeti to the misty jungles of Bwindi. You will track the Big Five across Kenya’s legendary Masai Mara and Tanzania’s Serengeti, witness the Great Wildebeest Migration in action, and come face-to-face with endangered mountain gorillas in Uganda’s Impenetrable Forest. Beyond the wildlife, this journey offers rich cultural encounters with the Maasai, Hadzabe, and Batwa communities, creating an immersive experience that reveals the true essence of East Africa.
20-Day East Africa Safari Highlights
Big Five safaris in Masai Mara, Serengeti, and Lake Nakuru
Witness the Great Migration (seasonal)
Ngorongoro Crater – UNESCO World Heritage Site and Africa’s Eden
Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest National Park
Mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Kazinga Channel boat cruise – Africa’s densest hippo population
Lake Manyara’s famous tree-climbing lions
Cultural visits with Maasai, Hadzabe, and Batwa communities
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Nairobi
Upon arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by your Serengeti Wildlife Safari driver-guide and transferred to your hotel in Nairobi. Depending on your arrival time, you may relax and recover from your journey or explore the vibrant capital. A safari briefing will outline your 20-day adventure ahead.
Meals: Breakfast, Drinking Water
Day 2: Nairobi – Lake Nakuru National Park
After breakfast, depart Nairobi for Lake Nakuru National Park, a scenic 3-4 hour drive through the Great Rift Valley with breathtaking viewpoints. Lake Nakuru is famous for its spectacular flocks of flamingos – up to two million seasonally – and over 400 bird species. The park is also home to introduced Rothschild’s giraffes, white and black rhinos, waterbucks, reedbucks, lions, buffalo, leopards, and abundant plains game. Arrive in time for lunch, then head out for an afternoon game drive. Enjoy a sunset boat cruise on the lake for photography and relaxation before returning to the lodge for dinner.
Meals: Lunch, Dinner, Drinking water
Day 3: Lake Nakuru – Masai Mara National Reserve
After breakfast, depart for the world-famous Masai Mara National Reserve – a scenic 5-6 hour drive through Kenya’s stunning countryside. The journey takes you past traditional Maasai settlements, offering glimpses into local life. Arrive at your camp in time for lunch and check-in. Take some time to relax before heading out on your first afternoon game drive. The Masai Mara is teeming with wildlife – from lions, leopards, and cheetahs to elephants, giraffes, and buffalo. This is one of Africa’s most visited reserves, home to the Big Five and 453 bird species. Return to camp for dinner and overnight.
Meals: All meals included, Drinking water
Day 4: Masai Mara National Reserve – Full Day
Start your day early with a morning cup of tea or coffee before heading out for a game drive across the vast savannah. Spend the full day exploring the park’s dramatic landscapes in search of wildlife. During the Great Migration (typically July to October), the Mara River becomes a stage where only the strong survive – herds of wildebeest, zebras, and antelopes make perilous river crossings while crocodiles lie in wait. Enjoy a picnic lunch by the river while watching hippos and crocodiles. Optional: visit a local Maasai village in the afternoon for cultural immersion. Return to camp for dinner and overnight.
Meals: All meals included, Drinking water
Day 5: Masai Mara – Nairobi – Arusha
After breakfast, depart the Masai Mara and drive back to Nairobi, arriving around 13:00 hours. Enjoy lunch before transferring to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your onward flight to Kilimanjaro International Airport. Upon arrival, you will be met by a Serengeti Wildlife Safari representative and transferred to your hotel in Arusha.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Drinking water
Day 6: Arusha – Lake Manyara National Park
Pick up from Arusha and transfer to Lake Manyara National Park. Arrive in time for lunch at the lodge, then head into the park for an afternoon game drive. Lake Manyara is one of Tanzania’s most dramatically located wildlife areas – a massive but shallow soda lake at the foot of the Great Rift Valley’s western escarpment. The park’s varied habitats attract a wide variety of animals, including one of Africa’s largest elephant concentrations, the rare tree-climbing lions, and large flocks of flamingos attracted by the lake’s algae. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Meals: All meals included, Drinking water
Day 7: Lake Manyara – Serengeti National Park
After breakfast, head towards the Serengeti National Park via the beautiful high-lying farmland of Karatu and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Leaving the highlands behind, descend into the heart of wild Africa – the Serengeti – with its endless plains rolling into the distance as far as the eye can see. Arrive at the central Seronera area – one of the park’s richest wildlife habitats, featuring the Seronera River that attracts wildlife representative of most Serengeti species. Arrive in time for lunch and enjoy an afternoon game drive. Dinner and overnight.
Meals: All meals included, Drinking water
Day 8: Serengeti Plains – Full Day
Today is dedicated to exploring the vast Serengeti. Enjoy morning and afternoon game drives with a picnic lunch. The Serengeti is one of the most wildlife-rich areas on Earth – home to the Big Five and over 500 bird species. Optional hot air balloon safari at sunrise (additional cost) – float silently above the awakening bush for an unforgettable experience. Follow the Kopjes Circuit around the Maasai Kopjes – weathered granite outcrops that attract lions and formidably large cobras. These miniature ecosystems provide shade and drinking water, making them particularly good for spotting wildlife in dry seasons. Return to camp for dinner and overnight.
Meals: All meals included, Drinking water
Day 9: Serengeti Plains – Ngorongoro Crater
After breakfast, depart to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Stop at Olduvai Gorge, boasting a history dating back to the dawn of time. It was here that anthropologists Drs. Lois and Mary Leakey discovered skulls of the ‘Nutcracker Man’ and ‘Handy Man’ – significant links in the chain of human evolution. Arrive in time for lunch at the lodge and spend the afternoon at leisure. Dinner and overnight.
Meals: All meals included, Drinking water
Day 10: Ngorongoro Crater – Full Day
After breakfast, descend 600 meters into the magnificent Ngorongoro Crater for a full-day game drive. The crater is one of the most densely crowded African wildlife areas in the world, home to an estimated 30,000 animals including some of Tanzania’s last remaining black rhino. Supported by year-round water supply and fodder, the crater supports vast herds of wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, eland, warthog, hippo, and giant African elephants. The park also boasts a huge predator population – lions, hyenas, jackals, cheetahs, and the ever-elusive leopard. Enjoy a picnic lunch on the crater floor before ascending for dinner and overnight.
Meals: All meals included, Drinking water
Day 11: Ngorongoro – Arusha – Fly to Entebbe
After breakfast, drive to Arusha to catch your flight to Uganda. Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be met by a Serengeti Wildlife Safari driver-guide and transferred to your hotel in Kampala.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Drinking water
Day 12: Jinja – Source of the Nile
After breakfast, drive to Jinja, Uganda’s adventure capital. Visit Itada Falls to enjoy the breeze and a cultural walk, then drive to the Source of the Nile – the point where the world’s longest river begins its 6,650-kilometer journey to the Mediterranean. Enjoy a boat ride on the Nile and relax in the water. Evening city tour around Jinja. Dinner and overnight.
Meals: All meals included, Drinking water
Day 13: Jinja – Kampala City Tour
After breakfast, drive back to Kampala, arriving in mid-morning. Check into your hotel and enjoy a guided city tour of Uganda’s vibrant capital. Visit the Uganda Museum (showcasing traditional musical instruments and cultural artifacts), the Gaddafi National Mosque (climb the minaret for 360° views of Kampala’s seven hills), and the Kabaka’s Palace (seat of the Buganda Kingdom). Explore Nakasero Market for fresh produce and local crafts. Dinner and overnight at your hotel.
Meals: All meals included, Drinking water
Day 14: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park
After breakfast, your guide will pick you up and transfer to Kibale Forest National Park – the “Primate Capital of the World.” Stop in Fort Portal town for lunch and a visit to the crater lakes and Amabereganyinamwiru – a unique stalagmite site with amazing caves and a waterfall. Arrive in the late afternoon and check into your lodge.
Meals: All meals included, Drinking water
Day 15: Chimpanzee Tracking & Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
After breakfast, head to the Kanyanchu Visitor Centre for briefing and chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest (2-4 hours). Kibale is home to the highest density of primates in East Africa, including over 5,000 chimpanzees and 12 other primate species. Once located, you will spend one hour with the chimp troop. Return to the lodge for lunch, then embark on your journey to Queen Elizabeth National Park, arriving late afternoon. Dinner and overnight.
Meals: All meals included, Drinking water
Day 16: Queen Elizabeth National Park – Full Day
Wake early for a sunrise game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Spot African elephants, buffalo, antelopes, and a variety of birds. Return to the lodge for breakfast and relaxation. In the afternoon, enjoy a 2-hour boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel – a 36-kilometer waterway connecting Lake Edward and Lake George. The Kazinga Channel hosts one of the highest concentrations of hippos in Africa, along with Nile crocodiles, elephants bathing on the banks, and spectacular birdlife. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Meals: All meals included, Drinking water
Day 17: Transfer to Bwindi via Ishasha
Enjoy breakfast and head southwest of Queen Elizabeth National Park in search of tree-climbing lions in the Ishasha sector – one of the only places in Africa where this behavior is regularly observed. Continue to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, arriving in the evening. Check into your lodge and unwind.
Meals: All meals included, Drinking water
Day 18: Gorilla Habituation Experience
After an early breakfast, proceed to the park headquarters for briefing on gorilla habituation. While standard gorilla trekking allows one hour with the gorillas, the gorilla habituation experience gives you an extended four-hour encounter with a gorilla family that is still undergoing the habituation process. Accompanied by rangers, researchers, and conservationists, enter the dense Impenetrable Forest. Once located, you’ll have up to four hours to observe daily behaviors, interactions, and feeding patterns – a profound and educational experience. Return to your lodge for rest.
Meals: All meals included, Drinking water
Day 19: Gorilla Trekking – Bwindi
After early breakfast, head to the park headquarters for briefing by the ranger guides before embarking on your gorilla trek. Gorilla trekking can take 2 to 8 hours depending on the movement of the gorillas. Bwindi is home to nearly half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas. Once located, spend one hour observing the silverback, mothers nursing their young, and playful juveniles – a profound, life-changing experience. Return to your lodge for dinner.
Meals: All meals included, Drinking water
Day 20: Transfer to Kampala – Departure
After breakfast, transfer back to Kampala with a stopover in Mbarara for lunch. Arrive in Kampala in the evening and drop off at your hotel or the airport for your onward flight.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, 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 habituation permit
Gorilla trekking permit
Chimpanzee trekking permit
Game drives as per itinerary
Kazinga Channel boat cruise
Lake Nakuru sunset boat cruise
All applicable taxes and VAT
Bottled drinking water in the vehicle
Package Excludes
International flights
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
