14-Day Uganda Primates, Serengeti & Zanzibar Beach

Pickup : Entebbe Airport
Drop-off : Entebbe / Kigali Airport

Tour Overview

Join us on this 14 day Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania Safari style adventure that blends Uganda’s wild primates and forests with thrilling Serengeti game drives in Tanzania, then winds down on the relaxing beaches of Zanzibar. This trip is built around gorilla trekking, chimpanzee encounters, Big 5 safari game drives, and pristine Indian Ocean shores. You travel in comfort with expert local guides, full board meals on most days, and cozy lodges and camps chosen for character and location. It is a complete package for nature lovers who want wildlife, culture and beach relaxation in one trip, and it remains one of our most requested Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania Safari itineraries for travelers who want 3 countries’ worth of highlights without feeling rushed.

Cost Includes

Transportation (Car, Fuel, Driver Guide)
Meals & Accommodation as mentioned
Gorilla Trekking Permit
Ziwa Rhino Tracking Fees
Boat cruise in Murchison Falls National Park
Lake Bunyonyi activities
Zanzibar beach activities
Cross border flight fees (Entebbe to Kilimanjaro, and Serengeti/Seronera airstrip to Zanzibar)
Bottled Drinking Water
Government Taxes

Cost Excludes

International Flightsfrom and to your home country
Accommodation Before and After your Trip
Optional Batwa Cultural Experience
Optional Bigodi Nature Walk
Sourvenirs
Tips & Bwindi Porter Hiring

Travel Plan

Day 1: Entebbe/Kampala to Murchison Falls National Park

Your journey begins at Entebbe Airport, your Entebbe hotel, or Kampala. From there you drive north for about 5 to 6 hours, with a stop along the way at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, the only place in Uganda where you can see rhinos in the wild today, since the species was wiped out from Uganda’s national parks by the 1980s. A short guided rhino tracking walk here lets you get close to these gentle giants on foot. From Ziwa, you continue on to Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda’s largest protected area, known for its dramatic Nile River gorge and open savannah views.

Meals: Half Board (Lunch and Dinner)
Accommodation: Tilenga Safari Lodge (river views, comfortable rooms)

Day 2: Game Drives and Nile Boat Cruise in Murchison Falls

An early start sets you up for a morning game drive through the park. You have a strong chance of spotting 4 of the Big 5 here: elephant herds, buffalo, lions, and leopards, and since you already tracked rhinos at Ziwa the day before, this effectively completes your Big 5 for this leg of the Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania Safari. Along the way you will also see giraffes, impalas, Uganda kob antelope, and waterbuck, plus birdlife such as ostriches, giant kingfishers, and the much loved shoebill stork. In the afternoon, a boat cruise on the Nile brings you close to pods of hippos, sunbathing Nile crocodiles, and playful monkeys along the riverbanks, with the Murchison Falls themselves visible in the distance.

Meals: Full Board (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)
Accommodation: Tilenga Safari Lodge

Day 3: Murchison Falls to Kibale Forest National Park

After breakfast, you drive south for about 6 to 7 hours through rolling farmland and forest edges to reach Kibale Forest National Park, widely known as Uganda’s primate capital. Kibale protects over 1,500 chimpanzees and 13 species of primate, more than almost anywhere else in East Africa. Once you settle at the lodge, you can relax and prepare for the chimp trekking adventure ahead.

Meals: Full Board (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)
Accommodation: Turaco Treetops (treehouse style rooms, forest sounds)

Day 4: Chimpanzee Trekking and Optional Bigodi Wetland Walk

Breakfast comes early so you can reach Kanyanchu Visitor Centre for a 7:00 AM briefing. Trekking starts at 8:00 AM and typically lasts 1 to 3 hours through the forest before you find a habituated chimp community. Once located, you spend a full 1 hour observing them swing through the canopy, feed, and interact. In the afternoon you can rest at the lodge or join the optional Bigodi Wetland Walk, where red colobus monkeys, black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, and birds such as turacos, hornbills, and weavers are common sightings.

Meals: Full Board (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)
Accommodation: Turaco Treetops

Day 5: Kibale to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

A drive of about 5 to 6 hours takes you to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of only 2 countries where mountain gorillas can be trekked (the other being Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, making 3 countries in total). Bwindi is home to roughly half of the world’s remaining mountain gorilla population, which stood at just over 1,000 individuals at the last count, the highest concentration found anywhere. You settle in for the evening ahead of tomorrow’s trek.

Meals: Full Board (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)
Accommodation: Rushaga Gorilla Lodge (forest edge property)

Day 6: Gorilla Trekking and Optional Batwa Cultural Experience

After an early breakfast, you attend a 7:00 AM briefing at the park headquarters before setting off at 8:00 AM. Trekking time varies from 30 minutes to up to 6 hours depending on where the gorilla family is feeding that day. Once you find them, you get a full 1 hour with the family, watching silverbacks, mothers with babies, and juveniles at play, all at a safe and respectful distance. In the evening you can rest at the lodge or join the optional Batwa Cultural Experience, learning from the indigenous Batwa pygmies about their traditional hunting methods, dance, and forest life before they were resettled outside the park.

Meals: Full Board (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)
Accommodation: Rushaga Gorilla Lodge

Day 7: Bwindi to Lake Bunyonyi

A shorter drive of about 2 to 3 hours brings you to Lake Bunyonyi, one of Uganda’s deepest lakes and reportedly among the deepest in Africa. Nicknamed the “Lake of a Thousand Islands,” it is bilharzia free, so swimming is safe, and it is a haven for birdlife with over 200 recorded species. You can choose between a boat cruise, a dugout canoe paddle, or ziplining across the water, all while looking out for otters and the many birds that call Lake Bunyonyi home. This stop is a favorite highlight for guests on our Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania Safari trips because of the pace change it offers after several active days.

Meals: Full Board (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)
Accommodation: Lake Bunyonyi Rock Resort (lake views, cozy huts)

Day 8: Lake Bunyonyi to Entebbe

After a relaxed morning by Lake Bunyonyi, you drive back to Entebbe, a journey of about 8 to 9 hours given the distance and road conditions. There is time along the way, or once you arrive, to shop for souvenirs or simply rest before your evening in Entebbe.

Meals: Full Board (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)
Accommodation: 2 Friends Beach Hotel (lakefront access on Lake Victoria)

Day 9: Flight to Tanzania

You will take a short flight from Entebbe to Kilimanjaro International Airport, the gateway to Arusha and northern Tanzania, where a representative from our team welcomes you on arrival. This marks the start of the Tanzania leg of your Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania Safari. After settling into your hotel, you have a full day to rest after the Uganda journey, with an optional short Arusha city visit if you would like to stretch your legs.

Meals: Full Board (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)
Accommodation: Mvuli Hotel Arusha

Day 10: Transfer to Serengeti National Park

After breakfast, you climb into your safari vehicle for the drive into Serengeti National Park. Along the way, the landscape shifts from green highlands to the wide golden plains the Serengeti is famous for. You arrive at camp in the afternoon, with time to settle in before the game drives begin.

Meals: Full Board (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)
Accommodation: Shuhudia Tented Camp

Day 11: Full Day Game Drives in Serengeti National Park

An early start puts you in the Serengeti for the best light and the most animal activity. You have a good chance of spotting 4 of the Big 5, lion, elephant, buffalo, and leopard, with rhino sightings possible but rare due to a small, closely protected population. Beyond the Big 5, expect cheetahs sprinting after prey, giraffes browsing acacia trees, huge herds of zebra, hippos wallowing in rivers, and hyenas active at dusk. Bird lovers will enjoy the more than 500 species recorded in the park, including lilac breasted rollers, secretary birds, crowned cranes, vultures circling overhead, and oxpeckers riding on the backs of buffalo. Your guide shares insights throughout the day, and you return to camp for good food and stories around the fire, a day many guests call the highlight of their entire Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania Safari.

Meals: Full Board (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)
Accommodation: Shuhudia Tented Camp

Day 12: Morning Game Drive and Flight to Zanzibar

A sunrise game drive gives you one more chance at Serengeti magic, whether that is lions on the hunt or elephants gathered at a waterhole. After breakfast you head to the airstrip for your domestic flight to Zanzibar. On landing on the “Spice Island,” you transfer to Pearl Beach Resort, where white sand and turquoise water replace the plains for the final leg of your trip.

Meals: Full Board (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)
Accommodation: Pearl Beach Resort

Day 13: Zanzibar Beach Relaxation

This is a day to slow down. Swim in the warm Indian Ocean, try snorkeling among colorful reef fish, or simply stroll the palm lined paths with a fresh coconut in hand. Optional add ons include a Zanzibar spice tour or a beachside massage. Evenings bring soft sunsets and fresh seafood dinners, a fitting close to the Zanzibar chapter of your Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania Safari.

Meals: Full Board (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)
Accommodation: Pearl Beach Resort

Day 14: Zanzibar Beach Time and Departure

Your final morning is yours to enjoy, whether that means one last swim or an early walk on the beach at sunrise. After breakfast and lunch, you transfer to Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ) for your onward flight home, carrying memories of Africa’s wildlife, forests, and islands from this Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania Safari.

Meals: Half Board (Breakfast and Lunch)
Accommodation: None, unless requested at an extra cost

Answered FAQs

How much does this safari cost, and can it be customized?

This tour costs $6,800 per person for two people sharing mid-range accommodation. Net cost depends on your group size and the level of accommodation you choose, since you can upgrade beyond the mid range lodges listed in this itinerary. Let us know your group size and preferred accommodation category, and we will send you a total cost per person for your version of this Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania Safari.

Can this itinerary be customized? Yes. This Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania Safari can be shortened, extended, or adjusted to add Kenya highlights such as the Maasai Mara, swap lodges for a higher or lower budget category, or change the order of activities to fit your travel dates and interests. Let us know what you have in mind and we will rework the plan around it.

How physically demanding is this safari?

Most of the trip involves game drives and relaxed lodge stays, which require no special fitness. The 2 exceptions are chimpanzee trekking in Kibale and gorilla trekking in Bwindi, both of which involve walking on uneven forest trails, sometimes uphill, for anywhere from 30 minutes to up to 6 hours. A reasonable level of fitness helps, and porters are available in Bwindi to carry bags and assist on the trail for a small fee.

What is the best time of year to go on this trip?

The two dry seasons, from June to September and again from December to February, are generally the best time for this itinerary. Trails in Bwindi and Kibale are easier to walk, the Nile boat cruise and Serengeti game drives offer excellent visibility, and Zanzibar sees the least rainfall. If your dates line up with July through September, you may also catch part of the wildebeest migration activity in the Serengeti ecosystem.

What should I pack for safari?

Pack light, neutral colored clothing (khaki, green, or brown) for game drives and forest walks, a warm layer for early morning starts, comfortable waterproof hiking boots for gorilla and chimpanzee trekking, gardening style gloves for pushing through vegetation, a rain jacket, a hat and sunglasses, insect repellent, sunscreen, a reusable water bottle, a good camera or phone with extra storage, a small daypack, and a face mask, which is required during gorilla and chimpanzee trekking to help protect the primates from human respiratory illnesses. For the Zanzibar leg, add swimwear, a light cover up, and reef safe sunscreen.

Are the gorilla and chimpanzee permits guaranteed?

Permits are issued in limited numbers by the Uganda Wildlife Authority to protect primate populations, with only 8 people allowed per gorilla group per day and a similar daily cap for chimpanzee trekking groups. Once your booking is confirmed, we check permit availability and purchase your permits on your behalf, after which your trekking spots are guaranteed. Because demand is high during peak months, we recommend booking this itinerary 4 to 6 months in advance, especially if you are traveling in peak season.

What type of vehicle is used for transportation?

You travel in a customized 4×4 safari Land Cruiser fitted with a pop up roof for wildlife viewing and photography. The vehicle’s four wheel drive handles rough park tracks and rural dirt roads with ease, and it comes stocked with bottled drinking water. The extended chassis design gives every passenger a window seat for the best possible views throughout your Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania Safari.

Will I need a visa, and are Uganda, Tanzania and Zanzibar covered by one visa?

Most nationalities need a visa for both Uganda and Tanzania, and Zanzibar is covered under the same Tanzania visa since it is part of the United Republic of Tanzania. Many travelers qualify for the East Africa Tourist Visa, which covers Uganda, Kenya, and Rwanda on a single visa, though Tanzania is issued separately. We recommend checking the latest requirements for your nationality before booking and applying online in advance where possible, since requirements can change and this is the kind of detail worth confirming close to your travel dates.