17 Days East African Game and Primate Safari

This 17 Days East African Game and Primate Safari takes you to savannah national parks in Kenya for game drives and forest national parks in Uganda and Rwanda for primates encounters. While in Kenya Sightings of four of the Big Five are pretty much guaranteed whereas in Uganda and Rwanda you will trek the steep slopes covered by thick forests searching for the endangered mountain gorillas, Chimpanzees, Colobus Monkeys, Bushbabies, baboons and many other species of primates which you would have a chance to encounter.

Overview

Overview

The Masai Mara is Kenya’s flagship Park. Sightings of four of the Big Five are pretty much guaranteed. The black is more elusive, but can sometimes be spotted in the Mara Triangle. The reserve is one of the best for big cats, but sightings of smaller Predators like a bat-eared fox, black-backed jackal, and spotted hyena also tend to be rewarding. Antelope includes impala, reedbuck, Thomson’s gazelle, eland, and Topi, while buffalo, elephant, and giraffe are relaxed and easily spotted Wildlife Highlights The legendary wildebeest migration is one of the world’s most amazing wildlife encounters. Sometime in July and August, millions of animals leave the Serengeti and head into the Masai Mara around September. The crossing of the Mara River along the way is the most spectacular part of the migration. Around October, the migration slowly heads back into the Serengeti again. It should be noted that, although the pattern is well known, the exact timing of the migration is unpredictable as animals move with the rain looking for greener pastures. Best Time for Wildlife Viewing Wildlife viewing in the Masai Mara is good throughout the year. The best months for the wildebeest migration are September and October. June to October is relatively dry and offers the best general wildlife watching.

The Serengeti is considered Tanzania’s best park. Big herds of buffalo, smaller groups of elephant and giraffe, and many antelope, such as eland, topi, kongoni and impala are resident at any time of the year. All three big cats are easily seen. Lion are often found on a kill. Cheetahs are very common on the southeastern plains, while leopard can typically be found lazing in one of the big trees along the Seronera River.

Nyungwe Forest, no primate trip in Rwanda can be complete without visiting this National Park. Nyungwe forest is located in the southern part of the country; with chimpanzee, White and Black colobus monkeys and many other primate species. In addition to a primate walk in this park you will go for a a canopy walk. After this we continue to Lake Kivu for a relaxed and scenic experience on the banks of the lake.

Volcanoes national park located in the northern part of Rwanda; this park forms part of the Trans Virunga-Massive region. The only region to see mountain gorillas in Africa in their natural habitat. On this trip you can chose to go for a second gorilla trek hear, you will track the golden monkeys and visit the Twin lakes before heading to Kigali for a city tour visiting the genocide memorial.

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest national park, is a UNESCO world heritage site and home to over half of the worlds living mountain gorilla population. Located in the southwestern part of Uganda, this park is part of the Trans Virunga Massive. Trek the steep slopes covered by thick forests searching for the endangered mountain gorillas. After the gorilla Trek you will have a chance to visit the Batwa pygmies for a Tale of their lifestyle while they lived in the forest and the present-day life on the suburbs of the forest.

Kibale Forest National Park is home to about 13 primate species, usually referred to as the Primate capital of Africa for this reason. Chimpanzee, Colobus Monkeys, Bushbabies, baboons and many other species of primates which you would have a chance to encounter while on a chimpanzee tracking trip. Several bird species inhibit this forest, you will get a chance to visit the Bigodi swamp and also encounter local communities on a community/cultural walking experience. On return to Entebbe you will get a chance to visit the Ngamba Island Chimpanzee sanctuary of the Jane Goodale institute.

This trip Starts in Nairobi Kenya and ends in Entebbe Uganda.

Safari Highlights

Mau Escarpment
Masai Mara National reserve game drives
Masai Village Visit Sundowner
Air Balloon Safari with Champagne Breakfast
Serengeti Game drive Experience
Nyungwe forest chimpanzee tracking and canopy walk
Lake Kivu
Bwindi Gorilla experience
Lake Mutanda dugout canoe experience
Kibale Forest chimpanzee tracking and Bigodi Swamp-community walk
Ngamba Chimpanzee Island Day visit

Itenerary

Day 1: Arrival

Arrive in Nairobi meet and greet with our representative and transfer to the hotel, overnight in Nairobi. Dinner will be provided. Depending on flight arrival time, an option to be transferred to L. Nakuru hotel is open for an overnight stay. This will also incur an extra cost.

Approximate Distance : 25 Km (30 mins drive)

Meals : Dinner

Accommodation : Serena Nairobi

Day 2: Nairobi – Masai Mara National Reserve

Have an early breakfast. After that depart for Maasai Mara to arrive in time for check-in and lunch. Have a short rest followed by an afternoon game drive from 3 pm to 6:30 pm and return to your lodge to freshen up for dinner.

Approximate Distance : 295 Km (5 hours 50 mins drive)

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation : Serena Mara

Day 3: Masai Mara National Reserve

A full day will be spent in the Maasai Mara with morning and afternoon game drives in search of the wildlife found in the reserve and relax and enjoy the lodge facilities in between game drives. You can also opt for a full-day game drive with packed lunch from 8 am to 4 pm.

Approximate Distance.

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation : Serena Mara

Day 4: Mara Mara National Reserve – Serengeti

You’ll have a morning game drive in Masai Mara. We will initiate the day with an early morning game drive in Masai Mara while driving out of the national reserve. After border formalities, drive to the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. On the way, there’s an option to stop at the famous Olduvai Gorge, where Dr Louis and Mary Leakey made their discovery of the first man that walked the earth. After attending a short lecture describing the archaeological digs and geology of the gorge, you’ll have time to visit the small museum.
It will be a long day of driving but the game drives in and out of the parks can be surprisingly incredible.

Approximate Distance : 155km (drive from Mara to the hotel in Serengeti)

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation : Serengeti Serena Lodge

Day 5: Serengeti National Park

You’ll have two full days in the Serengeti with a flexible schedule and unlimited mileage.
As you crest the hillside, spread out before you, as far as the eyes can see, is the vast Serengeti. Serengeti means “endless plains” in Kiswahili. These 6,900sq miles (18,000sq km) park is inhabited by more than 2 million large animals including more than a million wildebeest, hundreds of thousands of plains zebras, and Thomson’s gazelles. Large predators including lions, cheetahs, and hyenas are drawn to the area by this abundance of prey that migrates throughout the park. Many smaller animals like rock hyrax, bat-eared fox, mongoose, honey badger, jackal, monkey, baboon, and African hare also inhabit the area along with nearly 500 species of birds. In the afternoon, you’ll have a game drive en route to the Lodge for dinner and overnight.

Approximate Distance : 155km (drive from Mara to the hotel in Serengeti)

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation : Serengeti Serena Lodge

Day 6: Serengeti National Park – Arusha – Kigali

An early Morning Game drive and return to your lodge for breakfast. Transfer to the airport Arusha or Kilimanjaro for a flight to Kigali Rwanda. Upon arrival at Kigali airport meet and greet with our representative who will transfer you to your hotel.

Approx. Distance : 1 Hour & 10kms, 20minutes’ Drive

Meals : None

Accommodation : Kigali Serena Hotel

Day 7: Kigali to Nyungwe Forest

Morning city tour of Kigali and visit the Genocide memorial before starting the journey to Nyungwe Forest national park- en-route stopover for lunch. A stop over at the Ethnographic Museum in Butara, this is a gift from Belgium’s King Badouin in the late 1980s. The Ethnographic Museum now houses one of Africa’s finest ethnographic collections. Seven galleries display historical, ethnographic, artistic and archaeological artefacts accompanied by visual aides, giving visitors a rich insight into the Rwandan culture.
Arrive in the afternoon and relax at the lodge anticipating the Chimpanzee trek that lies in the next morning.

Approx. Distance : 220kms, 6hours’ Drive