The 30 Day self-drive overland safari in East Africa this safari will take you to explore Uganda’s best national parks where you will get a chance to see animals like mountain gorillas in Bwindi Forest National Park, Chimpanzees in Kibale Forest, Rafting on the Nile, and Wildlife watching in different national parks. From Uganda, you will cross the border to Kenya to visit parks like Lake Nakuru National Park, Lake Naivasha National Park, Hell’s Gate National Park, and Masai Mara Game Reserve, and from Kenya, you will drive and cross the border to Tanzania‘s Serengeti National Park do a game drive in the park and hot air balloon then continue to Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara National Park and then drive to Arusha to get a flight to Zanzibar where you will spend 3 days on the beach.

SAFARI ITINERARY

Day 1: Depart for Murchison Falls National Park

After breakfast at your hotel, you will meet with a driver from 4×4 Self Drive Africa Ltd who will brief you about how the car operates and sign the car rental agreement, and there you will be set to start your trip by driving southwestwards to Murchison Falls National Park with a stopover in Masindi Town for lunch. After lunch, you will drive up to the top of the falls where you will enjoy the amazing view of Murchison Falls as the Nile forces its way through a 7-meter gorge and it plunges over 47mtrs down to form a peaceful river. From the top of the falls, you will go check in at your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation options here

• Paraa Safari Lodge
• Nsambya River Lodge
• Red Chili Tented Camp

Day 2 Game Drive in the park and boat Cruise up to the bottom of the falls

This morning you wake up for breakfast at the lodge and then proceed to the ferry to cross the Nile to the northern bank for an early game drive. Expect an encounter with lions, and hyenas, among other animals. Enjoy close contact with animals like giraffes, Red bucks, Bush bucks, Kobs, and Orbis. Prolific birdlife includes Kori Bustards, Ground Hornbills, Crested Cranes, Stanley’s Bustards, Saddle Bill Stock, Yellow-billed Stalk, and many others.

Retire for lunch at the lodge and thereafter, gather your strength for a 17km boat cruise on the Nile up to the bottom of Murchison Falls, and this is a magnificent spectacle. The river banks are thronged with hippos, Waterbucks, huge Crocodiles, buffaloes, and a variety of bird species. Dinner and overnight at your lodge.

Day 3: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park

Have breakfast at the lodge and get ready to transfer to Fort Portal town for an en-route stopover for lunch and then continue to Kibale Forest National Park the home to 13 different species of primates including the man’s closest relative – the Chimpanzees. You will arrive late in the evening. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

Accommodation options here

• Ndali Lodge
• Mountains of the Moon
• Kibale Forest Camp
• Chimpundu Lodge
• Crater Safari Lodge
• Chimpanzee Forest Guest House

Day 5: Game Drive and Boat Cruise on the Kazinga Channel

After a cup of tea/ coffee, enjoy the spectacular sunrise and take on an early morning game drive along the Queens Nile, Channel tracks, and Kasenyi tracks. Expect an encounter with herds of elephants, Buffaloes, African lions, leopards, and several antelope species among others. after this adventurous game drive, you will return to the lodge for lunch and then after lunch, you will embark on an afternoon launch cruise along with the hippo-crowded banks of the Kazinga channel for an amazing wildlife-watching experience. The boat cruise offers a perfect platform for photographing the surroundings and also there are high chances of watching a lot of buffalos resting in shallows, elephants drinking water at the bank of the channel, also crocodiles are common here, giant forest hogs, warthogs, and many others. The drive is a breathtaking experience.

Accommodation options here

• Mweya Safari LodgeJacana Lodge
• Simba Safari Camp
• Engiri Game Lodge and campsite
• Ihamba Lakeside Safari Lodge

Day 6: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Have morning breakfast and enjoy a game drive through the Ishasha sector famous for tree-climbing lions, also enjoy the spectacle of the Topi, Kobs, and Buffalos as they dot the acacia grasslands in the park. The experience is fantastic, arriving in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park in the afternoon for relaxation and waiting for dinner and overnight
Accommodation options here

• Gorilla Resort Hotel
• British Hotel Kisoro
• Buhoma Community Campground

Day 7: Gorilla Trekking Adventure & optional Nature walk

Wake up early in the morning for breakfast, with your packed lunch, drinking water, and trekking gear, you will proceed to the Bwindi Forest National Park headquarters for a short briefing from the ranger guide. After you will drive to the starting point of gorilla trekking. with a ranger guide and an armed guard, you will penetrate the Impenetrable forest in search of these giant Apes. spending a full hour with the Gorillas as they grumble and murmur while feeding, and playing will be your lifelong memorable experience. This is for sure fantastic. The time you will take while searching these animals is unpredictable but it goes between 2-7 hours depending on their movement in search of food and shelter. After this amazing gorilla trekking experience, you will return to the lodge for a full lunch. In case you still have some energy in the evening, will go for a village community walk to visit the Batwa pygmy community for a cultural show then after you will return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 8: Transfer back to Kampala

Have breakfast and embark on a picnic drive back to Kampala, lunch in Mbarara Town, stop at the equator for photographs, and later proceed to Kampala reaching there late evening for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation options here

• Minister’s Village Hotel
• Imperial Royale Hotel
• African Tribe Hotel
• Arcadia Suites Hotel Kampala

Day 9: Source of the Nile and Bujagali Falls rafting

Take a city tour in Kampala, visit Kasubi tombs, Bahai temple, Uganda Museum, Art and crafts shots, and local markets, and later transfer to Jinja and try out the wonderful experience of white water rafting on the mighty Nile. Visit the source of the Nile and drive through Jinja town with colorful gardens and an Asian-colored building style.

Day 10: Transfer from Jinja- Uganda to Kisumu – Kenya

On this day, you will wake up early in the morning have breakfast at the hotel have a simple Jinja city tour, and then hit the road and drive to the Busia border and cross to Kenya. After processing and clearing the car to enter Kenya, you will continue with your journey to Kisumu for relaxation and late lunch. In the evening you can choose to go have an evening drive / walk around Kisumu City where you will enjoy the nightlife of Kisumu town, visit some local clubs, enjoy local food and later you will return to the hotel overnight.
Accommodation options here

• Acacia Premier Hotel Kisumu
• The Grand Royal Swiss Hotel
• Best Western Kisumu Hotel
• Grey Heritage Hotel

Day 11: Explore Attractions in Kisumu City

Wake up early in the morning for a heavy breakfast at the hotel, and then get ready to visit the Kisumu Museum which is found in the heart of Kisumu City. The museum exhibits focus on the cultural and natural history of Western Kenya and here you will get a chance to learn more about the local people of the area and the culture of the Lou people. From here you will go have lunch and later visit the Kisumu Impala Sanctuary that lies on the shores of Lake Victoria, you will enjoy a variety of flora and fauna both free-ranging and captive. The sanctuary is home to over 115 different species of birds making it a perfect destination for bird lovers. After this amazing Kisumu City tour, you will return to the hotel relaxation as you wait for dinner and overnight.

Day 12: Transfer from Kisumu to Lake Nakuru National Park

This day will start with an early morning breakfast at the hotel and then embark on a 200km drive from Kisumu to Lake Nakuru National Park found on the floor of the Great Rift Valley. The park is blessed with a wide ecological diversity and the park itself encompasses escarpment and beautiful ridges. Lake Nakuru National Park is the perfect destination for bird lovers since the park is home to over 450 different species of birds, wildlife lovers can also find this park amazing since it hosts over 56 different species of mammals including white rhinos and waterbucks. You will reach the park in the late afternoon for relaxation as you wait for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation options here

• Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge
• Top Cliff Lodge
• Mbweha Camp
• Sunbird Lodge
• Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge

Day 13: Full Day in Lake Nakuru National Park

You wake up very early in the morning and drive deep into the park for an early morning game drive in Nakuru National Park where you will get a chance to see a variety of wildlife since the park is home to over 56 different species of mammals including the rare and endangered white rhinos and waterbuck after this amazing game drive in the park, you will return to the lodge for full breakfast and relaxation as you wait for lunch. After lunch, you will enjoy an evening game drive in the park and this amazing evening will take you up to Lake Nakuru where you will get a chance to see a lot of the colorful flamingos and many other bird species in this park. Then you will return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 14: Transfer to Lake Naivasha National Park

On the 14th day of this safari, you will wake up early in the morning heavy breakfast and then go to enjoy a morning boat ride on Lake Naivasha where you will get a chance to see a large population of hippos and many other animals that come to drink water at the bank of the Lake, also you will be pleased by the variety of bird species on this lake while you enjoying a slow sail on this freshwater lake. After this amazing boat cruise, you will return to the lodge for lunch, and after you will pack your bags leave Lake Naivasha, and transfer to Hells Gate National Park reaching there in the evening and checking in to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation options here

• Fish Eagle Camp
• Aloepark Hotel
• Sawelo Lodges

Day 15: Hell’s Gate National Park

Your days in Hell’s Gate National Park will be relaxed since you will wake up in the morning and go for a game drive in the park in search of wildlife animals in the park-like, like zebra, African buffalo, hartebeest, eland, Thomson’s gazelle, and baboons are common in this park. Hell’s Gate National Park is also known for being home to klipspringer antelope and Chandler’s mountain reedbuck. Then after the game drive, return to the lodge and have a relaxed evening as you wait for dinner and overnight.

Day 16: A relaxed day in Hell’s Gate National Park

On this day, you will wake up a bit late for breakfast and have a relaxed morning at the lodge as you enjoy the amazing views of the landscape around the lodge then after lunch, you choose to try guided bird watching, bicycle riding, guided nature walk or go for rock climbing in the park, then after you can return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 17: Transfer to Masai Mara Game Reserve

On this day, you will wake up early in the morning for breakfast and get ready for a long drive from Hell’s Gate National Park to Masai Mara Game Reserve which is found in approximately 210km southwestern part of Kenya at the border of Tanzania. You will reach Massai Mara late afternoon for evening relaxation at the lodge poolside as you wait for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation options here

• Mara Treetops Luxury Camp
• Mara Serena Safari Lodge
• Kilima Camp Masai mara
• Mara Treetops Luxury Camp
• The Mara Sun Lodge

Day 18: Full day Game Drive in Masai Mara Game Reserve

On this day, you will wake up at least early enough for breakfast and then get in your safari vehicle for a morning game drive in the park. Game drives are done in the morning and afternoon because that is the time when the animals are so active. In the morning game drive, you will get a chance to spot the early raiser like the predators going to hunt for the prey and others. on this morning game drive expect to see animals like; rhinos, lions, hippos, wildebeests, giraffes, zebras, warthogs, buffalo, hyenas, wild dogs, buffalo, jackals, leopards, and all types of antelopes, and elephants. You will have a picnic lunch in the park and you continue with another game drive that will take you up to the border of Tanzania to visit the Mara River where the great wildebeest migration takes place. In the evening, you will return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 19: Another Day to Explore Masai Mara Game Reserve

On this day you will start with a morning breakfast at the lodge and then go for another morning game drive in the park after you will return to the lodge for lunch and later you will go for a hot air balloon to get a chance to have a bird’s view of the animals in the park. After this amazing experience, you will return to the lodge/camp for dinner and overnight.

Day 20: Transfer to Serengeti National Park Tanzania

On this self-drive drive trip, on the side of Tanzania, you will explore the destinations in Northern Tanzania, and from Masai Mara Game Reserve in Kenya, you will cross to explore the famous Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crate as the safari highlights when it comes to Tanzania. From there you will have to drive to Arusha, Lake Manyara National Park, and Tarangire National Park, and fly to Zanzibar for a beach holiday.

On this day, you will wake up early in the morning for breakfast at the lodge and transfer to cross the border to Tanzania, you drive directly to Serengeti National Park reaching there in the afternoon for lunch and later go for an evening game drive in the park to spot different animals in the park. Later you will return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation options here

• • Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge
  • Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti
  • Serengeti Safari Lodge
  • Meliá Serengeti Lodge a Meliá Collection Hotel

Day 21: Full-Day Game Drive in Serengeti National Park

You will have a full-day game drive in Serengeti National Park which is home to the big games and Big 5 animals. You will wake up early in the morning for a game drive and you will either choose to return to the lodge for lunch or you can choose to take your packed lunch and you have a picnic lunch in the wild. After enjoying a full day exploring this amazing national park which is home to over 2 million ungulates, 1000 leopards, 550 cheetahs, 4000 lions, and some 500 bird species you will return to the lodge for dinner and overnight

Day 22: Morning Game Drive and an evening Hot Air Balloon Ride

On this day you will wake up early at around 07:00 have breakfast at the lodge and later go for a morning game drive in the park. You will do the game drive up to midday and then return to the lodge for lunch. After lunch, you will have some 1 hour of relaxation and later you will go and take part in a Hot air balloon ride in Serengeti National Park where you will get a chance to explore the national park from the sky.

Day 23: Transfer to Ngorongoro Crater & Evening Game Drive

This will be the last day in Serengeti National Park and it will start with an early morning breakfast and then transfer to Ngorongoro Crater which is located approximately 70km from Serengeti National Park. You will reach the Ngorongoro Conservation Area in the afternoon for lunch and you will choose either to go for an afternoon game drive or visit the Maasai village which is found in the conservation area.

Day 24: Morning Game Drive & Transfer to Lake Manyara National Park

After having breakfast at your lodge, at 6.30 am you will transfer for a morning game drive in the crater. This game drive starts with the 600meter descent to the crater floor, the crater is home to a variety of different wildlife and here it will not be hard for you to spot the Big Five animals like Leopards, Rhinos, Lions, Buffalos, and Elephants. In addition to this, there is a variety of wildlife you will watch during the game drive like reedbuck, Thompson gazelle, wildebeest, zebra, and others. After the game drive, you will return to the lodge for lunch and later you will embark on a 2hours drive from Ngorongoro National Park to Lake Manyara National Park for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation options here

• Lake Manyara Kilimamoja Lodge
• Migunga Tented Camp
• Lulimac Lake Manyara Lodge
• Kirurumu Manyara Lodge
• Forest Chem Chem

Day 25: Explore Lake Manyara National Park

On this day, you will enjoy a full-day game drive in the amazing Lake Manyara National Park. The day will start with a heavy breakfast at the lodge, get your packed lunch, and then get into your safari vehicle to start your full-day game drive in the park. Through the open windows and roof of your safari vehicle, you will be able to spot a lot of animals in the national park like; hippos, buffaloes, tree-climbing lions, wildebeest, elands, and others. In the afternoon at around midday, you will have a picnic lunch set on the shores of Lake Manyara while enjoying views of different animals that came to the shores of the lake to drink water and many other bird species since the park is home to over 400 different species.

After lunch, you will continue for another game drive in search of more animals in the park, and later in the evening, you will return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 26: Game Drive and Transfer to Tarangire National Park

You will wake up early in the morning for breakfast and later you get ready to go for a morning game drive in the park. During this game drive, you will get a chance to see different animals in that park, and among the animals, you will spot while on this game drive include; Elephant, Wildebeest, Giraffe, Hippo, Buffalo, Zebra, and others. after the game drive at around 11:00am, you will return to the lodge for early lunch and then hit the road and transfer to Tarangire National Park. For an evening game drive in Tarangire National Park and later you will check in to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 27: Morning Game Drive and Transfer to Arusha

You will have breakfast at the lodge and then get ready to explore Tarangire National Park, Here you will get a chance to see different herds of elephants. The Tarangire River in that crosses the park is the lifeline for the animals and the whole national park. In addition to elephants, there are also lions, various species of antelope, and giraffes. The hilly, savannah landscape with the huge baobab trees and the swamps. Enjoy the fantastic wildlife and landscape once again on today’s game drive before you drive back to the lodge and prepare to transfer to Arusha.

Day 28: Flight from Arusha to Zanzibar

On this day, you will transfer to the airport where you will drop the car and board a flight to Zanzibar

Day 29 and 30: Enjoy Beach Life and Explore Zanzibar

Days 29 and 30, will be spent in Zanzibar exploring the beach life and other attractions in Zanzibar. Most of the time will be spent at the beach enjoying beach activities and you can also visit the Old Fort, Zanzibar Butterfly Centre, and others.
End of the tour