This 27 days Self Drive safari with rooftop tent highlights in East Africa combines a visit to all the 4 East African countries that rewards you with the a visit to renowned East Africa destinations starting with Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania
Upon your arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be highly welcomed by one of our team members (Nutrenest Safaris) for an orientation about the car operation and traffic rules and about the various safari activities booked with us during your East Africa Self drive holiday. Later, you will be driven to Entebbe backpackers where you will set up your first camp site in Uganda. Opening of the rooftop tents and other specifications will be handled by the team on ground.
You will start on your journey to explore Uganda with the visit to the Murchison falls national Park, passing through Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for the Rhino tracking, and later proceed to Murchison Falls National Park. Then proceed to your Camping site at Red Chili Camp, UWA Campsite or any other selected place according to your preference.
The day begins with an early morning game drive on the Buligi, Albert or Queens tracks north of the river Nile. Here we have the chance to observe those animals closely associated with the African Savannah like lion, leopard, giraffe, antelope, elephant, and warthog.
After lunch, expect to have a boat cruise on the Nile River. The cruise takes to the bottom of the thundering falls where you will see huge crocodiles, hippo, buffalo, elephant and a variety of water birds like herons, cormorants, ducks, bee-eaters, kingfishers, skimmers, fish eagle and the rare shoebill. Camping at the Delta is recommended as the best option since its the last day in Murchison fall.
You will enjoy your breakfast and start on the drive to see that you exit the park and start on connecting to Kibale Forest national Park. The scenic journey to Kibale National Park takes approximately 6 hours to connect to Fort portal and later connect to Kibale forest national Park, the home for the primates . Dinner and overnight at the campsite (Rweteera Safari Camp).
You will wake up early morning and head to the park headquarter for briefing about the chimpanzee tracking rules and permits. Kibale National Forest has one of the highest diversity and concentration of primates in Africa, and is one of the best places not only in Uganda, but in the world, to see chimpanzees. Drive to Fort Portal for lunch and after proceed to the south heading to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Camping at Bush lodge.
Today a morning game drive awaits in an open Savannah covered by acacia trees on the edge of the Albertine Rift Valley. We will search for the typical tree climbing Lions (among other things), a population which is found only in this part of the country. It is impressive to see the animals while they are resting on top of the fig trees.
After lunch, we will go for a boat cruise up the Kazinga Channel, a narrow band of water connecting lakes Edward and George. This is one of the most memorable experiences of a visit to Uganda, offering an opportunity to cruise amid members of Africa’s largest hippo population. In addition to these giant semi-aquatic mammals, the launch affords unique opportunities to view other mammals and birds as they come to the water’s edge to drink and bathe. Birding is excellent, and we expect to see species ranging in size from the tiny, brilliant Malachite Kingfisher to the giant Goliath Heron.
After Morning cup of coffee, you will drive to the Impenetrable Forest via ishasha sector for the search for the tree climbing lions and later enjoy lunch at Enjojo Camp , proceed to drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park with in Ruhija Sector for the camping at Ruhija Rest Camp. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is home to just over half of the world’s last surviving mountain gorilla population of 1,000 individuals. Although the hike can be physically demanding, the anticipation of the exciting experience ahead is wow, and the beauty of the forest and its inhabitants is fascinating.
You will have early morning breakfast and transfer to the park headquarters for briefing by the ranger guide and later head into the forest trekking until you encounter the mountain gorillas. This could take 2-4 hours depending on the movement of the gorillas. On finding them, you will be allowed to spend one hour with these gentle giants and later return and transfer back to the lodge. Have dinner and stay overnight at the rest camp.
After an early breakfast proceed to lake Bunyonyi in Kabale where you will embark on a boat cruise visiting the different islands while enjoying the magnificent scenery and a lot of bird-life. Have a Lunch stopover and continue to Rwanda through Cyanika Border. After immigration procedures, proceed to Volcanoes National Park for the best experience of Rwanda’s epic centre for Gorilla Trekking within the entire east African region. Camping at Da Vinci Lodge
After breakfast, you prepare to start journey to Volcanoes National Park which is located within the virunga massif that houses the mountain gorillas and the golden monkey alongside various mountaineering trips and winding roads in the land of a thousand hills.
Wake up for an early morning breakfast and drive off to the headquarters for a briefing a head of your mountain gorilla trekking. Enter the forest hike for 2 hours until you meet the Gorilla family of the day. After trekking, you will head back to the lodge for lunch, and in the evening, you may take an optional cultural tour at Iby’iwachu cultural center. Return to the hotel for dinner and another night.
Today we drive back to Kigali. In Kigali we will have a brief look at Kigali and the Genocide Museum, opened in 2004 to mark the tenth anniversary of the Rwandan genocide. While the genocide occurred as a result of a complex series of factors, it can only be seen as an absolute tragedy to Rwanda and its people. Time spent at the Genocide Museum is moving and important in understanding the sheer courage and resilience of this beautiful, tiny nation. Camping in Kigali City.
After an early breakfast, start your journey to Tanzania in Dodoma city of about 2 days driving. You might want to check out interesting stops along the way, enroute lunch and maybe even find a hotel to stay overnight. Based on the length of this trip, we think you could spread out this fun road trip over more than one day. After reaching Dodoma city, check in, have dinner and night at the lodge.
This morning we enter the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a beautiful rolling landscape with periodic views over the Ngorongoro Crater. Before descending onto the Serengeti Plain, we’ll stop at a viewpoint overlooking the crater. The name “Serengeti” derives from a Maasai word meaning “Land-without-end.” This is a land of superlatives, both in the vast landscape that surrounds you and the incredible biodiversity it supports. It is here that you have a chance to witness one of the most compelling natural dramas on earth the annual migration, a sight unparalleled anywhere in the natural world. Our afternoon game drive provides an excellent introduction to this fantastic landscape and the biodiversity it supports.
Today, it is a full day of game viewing on the Serengeti. You will visit the “kopjes,” a series of low, incongruous hills dotting the open landscape that often provide a vantage point for hungry predators contemplating the endless stream of hoofed animals parading past them. Depending on the season and the timing of the rains, up to 1.5 million wildebeest and a half a million zebra embark on a single-minded and perilous quest for water and grazing land.
Even outside of “migration” time, large herds are still seen as they bear their young and feed, gaining strength for their annual return to the parks northern reaches. Resident species that do not migrate make for rewarding animal viewing in any season. It may be possible to take an optional hot-air balloon safari over the plains at daybreak, today is the best day to participate in this activity.
Traveling back to Ngorongoro, you will make a stop at Olduvai Gorge, site of the Leakey excavations in the 1960s and 70s that established this region as the prehistoric habitat of some of the earliest species of hominids with some finds dating back 1.8 million years.
Being called the ‘eighth wonder of the world’ and stretching across some 8300 sq km, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area boasts a blend of landscapes, wildlife, people and archaeology that is unsurpassed in Africa. The volcanoes, grasslands, waterfalls and mountain forests are home to an abundance of animals and to the Maasai. Ngorongoro Crater is one of the world’s greatest natural spectacles and its magical setting and abundant wildlife never fail to enthral visitors. Balance of the day at leisure to enjoy our lodge overlooking the crater.
Day 18: Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Today you will enjoy a half-day tour in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. After an early breakfast descend into the crater far below for a game drive in this incredible setting. You will explore the Ngorongo Crater 20 km wide and 700 m (2,300 feet) high where you will be able to see the “Big Five” as well as many herbivores like wildebeest, gazelle, zebra and hippopotamus, as well as thousands of flamingos on Lake Magadi.
Day 19: Transfer to L.Mayara – Game drive
After breakfast, transfer to Lake Manyara, the smallest of the northern parks in Tanzania (330 sq km, of which two thirds is the actual lake) hosting a wide variety of vegetation, ranging from savannah to ground water forest to riparian habitats. The park is host to thousands of pelicans, ibis and flamingo that can be heard from afar. Other common visitors to this beautiful lake are hippos and the majestic African fish eagle, which can be seen swooping down from its perch to snatch a fish from the still waters of the lake.
After lunch at your lodge, you will have an afternoon game drive in the park, located at the base of the Great Rift Valley escarpment and comprising of forest, woodland, grasslands, and swamps. Wildlife interest at Lake Manyara is not confined to bird life only; animals such as buffalo, elephant, giraffe, impala, hippo and a great variety of smaller animals also inhabit the park.
Day 20: Transfer to Amboseli National Park
This park is situated on the African plain at the foot of snow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro, the continent’s tallest mountain at 5894 m (19,300 feet). Here the cone-shaped mountain seems to hover majestically over the shimmering African plains. This Park is famous for its large herds of elephants. Here they cover themselves in red dust, giving them an even more imposing appearance. On this afternoon’s game drive we hope to view animals grazing on the open plain with Mt Kilimanjaro providing the classic backdrop (weather-permitting).
Day 21: Transfer to Masai Mara National Park
Have breakfast, check out and depart Hell’s gate for a journey to Maasai Mara which is a drive via Narok town one of the best cultural town in Kenya arriving at the reserve in lunch time. Upon your arrival, you will check into your lodge, have lunch and go for an afternoon game drive. On the game drive through the plains of the reserve you will enjoy views of many animals such as lions, cheetah, elephant, buffaloes and many more. In the evening you will head back to your lodge, have dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 22: Full day exploring Masai Mara NP
Well, after morning breakfast at your lodge, you will head to Masai Mara National Reserve for a full day of game drive, while in Maasai plains you will go on a game drive on routes running through the savannah plains of the reserve for sights of animals such as lions, leopards, elephants, cheetahs, buffaloes, antelopes, wildebeests, zebras and many more. At lunch you will have picnic lunch set at any of picnic sites in the reserve while enjoying the beautiful nature. In the afternoon you will go for another game drive visiting the other parts of the reserve you did not visit in the morning game drive. In the evening you will have dinner and stay overnight at your lodge as above.
Day 23: Transfer to Lake Nakuru
After breakfast proceed northwards to arrive in Lake Nakulu National Park in time for lunch. After proceed to an afternoon game drives in the park. Dinner and overnight at your lodge.
Day 24: Full day game viewing in Lake Nakuru
This is a full day game viewing at Lake Nakuru National Park, where you will have a chance to visit a unique sanctuary catering for a sizeable number of the endangered rhinoceros and the Rothschild giraffe. Waterbucks as well as the predators such as the lion and leopard are common at the park. Flamingoes are also plenty at the lake. Also to be seen is a myriad different variety of birdlife in and around the lake.
Day 25: Transfer to Ol Pejeta Conservancy
Today, you will travel from Nairobi, through the “White Highlands,” so called because of the large number of Europeans who settled here, northwards to the lower slopes of Mt Kenya, rising to 5199 m (16,728 feet), Africa’s second highest peak. This drive will take you into the Central Highlands, the heartland of the Kikuyu people. This is a very fertile region, well-watered, intensively cultivated, and thickly forested. The land was coveted by the Europeans who began arriving in ever-increasing numbers once the railway through the area was completed. The settlers established coffee and tea plantations on the eastern slopes of Mt Kenya and cultivated wheat on the western slopes.
Day 26: Ol Pejeta Conservancy
Ol Pejeta is a mosaic of grass plains, wooded grassland, acacia woodland and evergreen thicket extending for over 350 square kilometers. The conservancy boasts an astounding variety of animals, including the “Big Five.” You will have morning and afternoon game drives today, as well as a chance to visit the Sweet waters Chimpanzee Sanctuary the only place in Kenya where this highly endangered and remarkably intelligent species can be seen. The facility was initially established to receive and provide lifelong refuge to orphaned and abused chimpanzees from West and Central Africa. Here the chimpanzees are carefully nursed back to health so they can enjoy the rest of their days in the safety of a vast natural enclosure.
Day 27: Transfer to Nairobi for departure
After breakfast, transfer to airport for departure back home.
End of safari
Car Rental: Standard Cover (SUV/4×4 or similar vehicle) with unlimited kilometers, GPS, Rwanda-Uganda cross-border documentation & vehicle fee.
All accommodation
Meals and drinks as specified in the day-by-day section.
All East African activities as per the itinerary
All airport, lodge and activity transfers in Tanzania.
Park entrance fees
Gorilla permits
A personalized self-drive Tour Package including accommodation and activity vouchers, map books and a detailed itinerary with GPS co-ordinates, directions and area information.
All Taxes/VAT.
Safari exclusions
Domestic and international flights. (Can be arranged at an additional cost).
Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour.
Tips
Personal items (Souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees.
Visas to be arranged by the client at their own cost.
Airport transfers
All Accommodations and meals on Full Board.
Transportation by a safari vehicle
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