14-Day Uganda Primates, Serengeti & Zanzibar Beach

The 14-Day Uganda Primates, Serengeti & Zanzibar Beach safari starts from $6,900 per person sharing a twin room. That starting price covers your mountain gorilla trekking permit for Bwindi ($800 value), chimpanzee trekking permit for Kibale, private 4×4 safari vehicle with driver-guides in Uganda and Tanzania, domestic flights from Kigali/Entebbe to Kilimanjaro/Arusha and Seronera/Serengeti to Zanzibar, all park entry fees for Queen Elizabeth, Tarangire or Lake Manyara, Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater, fuel, meals and 13 nights accommodation as per itinerary, bottled water, and government taxes. International flights, Tanzania and Uganda visas, extra nights, tips, porter hire, hot air balloon in Serengeti, and optional cultural activities are not included. Your final net cost depends on group size, travel season, and whether you choose Mid-Range or Luxury lodges.

Yes, it is fully private and customizable. You can start in Entebbe and end in Zanzibar as planned, or reverse it, add a night in Arusha, upgrade to a luxury beach resort in Nungwi, add extra days in Serengeti for Great Migration calving or river crossing season, include Murchison Falls or Rwanda, or change the flight route to fly from Entebbe instead of Kigali. Tell us your travel dates, number of travellers and preferred style (Mid-Range or Luxury) and we will tailor the lodges, flights and activities while keeping your gorilla and chimpanzee permits secured.

In Uganda, Entebbe to Kibale is about 6 to 7 hours, Kibale to Queen Elizabeth is 3 hours, Queen Elizabeth to Ishasha to Bwindi is 5 to 6 hours with game drives. In Tanzania, Arusha to Tarangire/Lake Manyara is 2 to 3 hours, Manyara to Karatu is 1 hour, Karatu to Ngorongoro Crater is 45 minutes, Ngorongoro to Central Serengeti is 4 to 5 hours. To save time, this itinerary uses two domestic flights: from Uganda/Rwanda region to Tanzania, and from Serengeti to Zanzibar (1.5 to 2 hours), avoiding a long overland return. Your driver-guide times all drives around park game drive schedules and flight times.

Once trackers locate your assigned gorilla family in Bwindi, you are allowed exactly one hour with them, with a maximum of 8 visitors per family per day. The overall trek can last 2 to 6 hours depending on where the family is. For chimpanzees in Kibale, you also get one hour with the habituated community once found, after a 30-minute briefing. Both experiences include ranger guidance, and you can take photos without flash while keeping the distance rangers advise.

Families in Bwindi are assigned by Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers at the morning briefing, not pre-selected. Rangers consider fitness levels, so if you prefer a shorter, easier hike or a longer, more adventurous trek, tell your driver-guide the night before so they can request it. Assignment also depends on where families slept overnight. Mention any mobility concerns early so we can allocate a suitable sector (Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga or Nkuringo).

Yes. You must be at least 15 years old for mountain gorilla trekking in Uganda and 12 years old for chimpanzee trekking in Kibale. This is strictly enforced by park authorities. Children under 15 cannot join the Bwindi trek even with parents. If you travel as a family, share all ages before booking so we can plan alternative activities like Bigodi Wetland walks, community tours, or lodge time for younger members while others trek.

Follow your ranger’s instructions at all times. Keep 7 to 10 meters distance, speak quietly, avoid sudden movements, and do not use flash photography. Do not eat, drink, smoke, touch or feed the primates. If a gorilla approaches, stay calm, crouch slightly and let it pass. Primates are vulnerable to human diseases, so you will wear a face mask when instructed and rangers may ask you to step back. If you are sick on trekking day, you may be stopped from trekking to protect the animals.

Tell your driver-guide immediately if you have flu, cough, cold, fever or diarrhoea. Rangers may not allow unwell visitors to trek because gorillas can catch human illnesses. Refunds for gorilla permits depend on Uganda Wildlife Authority policy and are rarely given for illness on the day. We strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance covering medical care and trip interruption, plus resting and hydrating well before your trek days.

Gorilla and chimpanzee sightings are highly likely (over 95%) because daily trackers locate the habituated families, but they are wild animals so no one can 100% guarantee. The Great Migration is year-round in Serengeti, with calving in the south from January to March, river crossings in the north from July to September, and large herds moving through central Serengeti at other times. Your guide follows current migration updates. Big Five sightings in Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti are excellent, but wildlife movement is natural and varies by season.

Yes, most travellers need separate visas. Uganda visas can be applied online via the e-visa system. Tanzania visa (which covers Zanzibar, as Zanzibar is part of Tanzania) can be obtained online or on arrival at Kilimanjaro or Zanzibar airports. Requirements depend on nationality, so check before travel. Your passport should be valid for at least six months beyond your travel date. Some travellers also consider the East Africa Tourist Visa if visiting Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya together, but for this Uganda-Tanzania-Zanzibar route you need Uganda and Tanzania visas. We guide you on current requirements and yellow fever certificate rules.

In Serengeti, you have full-day game drives for lions, leopards, elephants, cheetahs and the wildebeest migration, with an optional hot air balloon safari at dawn (extra cost). In Ngorongoro Crater, you descend to the crater floor for a half-day Big Five drive around the soda lake and hippo pool. In Zanzibar, you enjoy three nights: one day for Stone Town tour (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and spice farm tour, and the rest for beach relaxation, snorkeling, swimming, optional Prison Island tortoises, sunset dhow cruise and seafood. Tell us if you want diving or Jozani Forest added.

This itinerary includes two key domestic flights: Entebbe/Kigali to Kilimanjaro/Arusha, and Serengeti (Seronera or Grumeti) to Zanzibar. Light aircraft in Tanzania typically allow 15kg to 23kg checked luggage in soft bags plus small hand luggage. Excess luggage fees apply if overweight. If you carry heavy photography gear or extra bags, tell us in advance so we can book extra weight or arrange road transfer options. All flight times are subject to airline schedule changes.

We only offer Mid-Range and Luxury for this route. Near Kibale: Turaco Treetops for Mid-Range, Chimpundu Lodge or Kyaninga Lodge for Luxury. In Queen Elizabeth: Buffalo Safari Lodge for Mid-Range, Elephant Plains Lodge for Luxury. In Bwindi: Gorilla Leisure Lodge for Mid-Range, Gorilla Safari Lodge or Buhoma Lodge for Luxury. In Arusha: Arusha Planet Lodge for Mid-Range, Gran Melia Arusha for Luxury. Around Ngorongoro/Karatu: Marera Valley Lodge for Mid-Range, Ngorongoro Oldeani Mountain Lodge for Luxury. In Serengeti: Embalakai Tented Camp for Mid-Range, Four Seasons Serengeti or Serengeti Serena for Luxury. In Zanzibar: Nungwi Beach Resort or Zanzibar Bay Resort for Mid-Range, Zuri Zanzibar or Baraza Resort for Luxury. All lodges depend on availability at booking and we may suggest comparable alternatives.

Tips are not included in the $6,900 starting price but are customary. Many guests tip their Uganda driver-guide and Tanzania driver-guide separately at the end of each country section, plus rangers, trackers and porters after gorilla and chimpanzee treks. Porter hire for gorilla trekking costs about $20 and helps local communities while making the hike easier. Tip according to service received and what feels comfortable for you. Your driver-guide can advise on local expectations.

We strongly recommend comprehensive insurance covering medical care, emergency evacuation (including air evacuation from Serengeti/Ngorongoro), trip cancellation, lost luggage and Covid-related issues. Carry some US dollars in clean, recent notes (2021 onwards) and a Visa/Mastercard for lodges and Zanzibar extras. Local currencies (Ugandan Shillings and Tanzanian Shillings) are useful for small purchases, tips and markets. ATMs are available in Entebbe, Arusha and Stone Town but not in parks. Do not carry single-use plastic bags for Rwanda or Tanzania segments as they may be confiscated.

Send us your preferred travel dates, number of travellers (the $6,900 rate is per person sharing), and whether you prefer Mid-Range or Luxury. We first check availability of your gorilla permits in Bwindi and chimpanzee permits in Kibale, then check lodges in Serengeti/Ngorongoro/Zanzibar and flight seats. We then prepare a detailed quotation with exact lodges, flights, inclusions, exclusions and total net cost. Once you approve and make the deposit, we purchase permits immediately (they are limited and sell out months ahead for June-September and December-February) and confirm all lodges and transport. Booking 6-12 months ahead is recommended for this popular primates-to-beach route.