10 Days Bwindi Serengeti & Zanzibar
10 Days Bwindi Serengeti & Zanzibar offers exclusive game viewing with a chance to trek the Gorillas in Uganda’s Bwindi, witness the Serengeti Wildebeest great Migration crossing the Mara River and grumeti rivers, and as well have uninterrupted time on a Zanzibar beach holiday. The safari presents the very best of East Africa, leading you to the land of the Serengeti and Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, the decorated palm lined coast of East Africa, as well as the pearl of Africa, Uganda. You will explore Uganda’s gorillas within the mist-blanketed forests of Bwindi, Tanzania’s plethora of wildlife at Serengeti National Park, and enjoy the rest of your time relaxing on a Zanzibar honeymoon holiday.
The safari starts with a memorable encounter with the endangered Mountain Gorillas at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The park is labelled a UNESCO World Heritage site and is home to over 459 gorillas, an increase from 400 as of the 2018 census. These 459 gorillas are categorised into 50 gorilla groups or families, 21 of which are currently habituated for tourism. Within the park, there are several species of trees, rivers, and waterfalls, which form a network of spectacular landscapes that are inhabited by animals. Within these landscapes, one can find a further 120 species of mammals like elephants, antelopes, etc, but with some chances as well of coming across chimpanzees. Almost 350 species of birds inhabit the forests, something that is remarkably relevant for bird enthusiasts. In time past, the forest made a perfect haven for the Batwa, a native tribe that used to inhabit the forest. While here, you will trek the mountain gorillas, interact with the local people, and enjoy the scenic views of nature.
Tour Summary – 10 Days Bwindi Serengeti & Zanzibar
- Day 1: Transfer from Kampala/Entebbe to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Day 2: Gorilla Tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest,
- Day 3: Transfer to transfer to Serengeti
- Day 4: Visit to Lake Manyara
- Day 5: Visit to Ngorongoro Crater
- Day 6: Game drives at the Serengeti
- Day 7: Transfer to Zanzibar
- Day 8: Water sports at a Zanzibar beach
- Day 9: Transfer to Stone Town
- Day 10: Stone town tour and departure
Detailed day-by-day 10 Days Bwindi Serengeti & Zanzibar Itinerary
Day 1: Transfer from Kampala/Entebbe to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Have an early breakfast and depart for Bwindi National Park at 7.00 am, driving southwards for at least 8 hours before arriving at your accommodation, which is situated just outside of the park on the southern side. The most direct route from Kampala follows a surfaced road to Rukungiri via Mbarara and Ntungamo. A slow dirt road then winds through the highlands to Buhoma via Kihihi and Butogota. The main trailhead at Buhoma is about 460 km from Kampala and can be reached by road from several directions. Ruhija trailhead is best accessed from the Kampala-Kisoro road, turning north from the surfaced highway 18km beyond Kabale town. The southerly Rushaga and Nkuringo trailheads can be reached using dirt roads leading west from Muko, midway on the surfaced Kabale -Kisoro road, and north from Kisoro town. You will see many things along the way, including the equator, plantations, rolling hills and a variety of Ugandans conducting business and other activities within their villages. We will have lunch en-route in Mbarara town at Ajip Motel. Relax in the evening whilst enjoying the magnificent vistas of the beautiful landscape. Have dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Day 2: Gorilla Tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Rest of the Day at Leisure at the Lodge
Today, we will have the amazing opportunity to observe the gorgeous scenery of Uganda’s tropical rainforest and experience a breathtaking encounter with the endangered mountain gorillas. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park occupies the size of about 321 sq km between 1,160m and 2,607m above sea level and it’s the home to a number of 479 endangered mountain gorillas. The park is divided into 4 gorilla tracking sectors including Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga, and Nkuringo sectors. Within the park, there are 21 groups of gorillas habituated for tourism. Five of these groups are found in the vicinity of Buhoma in northwest Bwindi; four at Ruhija in the east; and ten at the park’s southern trailheads at Rushaga and two are found at Nkuringo. Have early breakfast, pick your packed lunch from the lodge, carry enough drinking water and transfer to the briefing point by 7.30 am. While here, you will carry out registration and join others for a gorilla trekking briefing about the precautions and guidelines of the gorilla trekking activity. You will then be assigned a gorilla group, meet the ranger guide and start the trek into the forest. The gorillas are located in different places across the forest and therefore the time taken to find one group varies and cannot be estimated before. Once you reached them, you are allowed to stay for one hour to observe these gentle giants, after which you return to meet the driver guide and transfer back to the lodge for relaxation and overnight.
Day 3: Transfer to transfer to Serengeti
After an early morning breakfast your driver/guide will transfer you to Kigali City for departure through Kigali airport. You will have scenic views of nature and enjoy the rolling landscapes of a thousand hills. You will then board your flight to Arusha. Transfer to your lodge for pre-safari briefing. There are chances of seeing flamingoes on the lake on your way. Enjoy the scenic views of nature and the atmosphere around the lodge. Dinner and overnight.
Day 4: Visit to Lake Manyara
We transfer into Lake Manyara for morning game drive and lunch, a classic safari picnic, and enjoy our final glimpse of the great wilds of the Northern Tanzania. Lake Manyara offers an insight into the Great Rift Valley system and the adaptation of many herd animals and magnificent birdlife. The park is gifted with a variety of ecosystems which are responsible for hosting a variety of animals, including the famous tree climbing lions, buffalos, blue monkeys etc. We continue to Esilalei Maasai Village to explore the area and our school project. Meet the local women engineers who have installed clean cook stoves throughout these communities. In the afternoon, opt to visit the Mto wa Mbu village to enjoy a local lunch and cultural experience. In the late afternoon, we zig zag our way up the Rift Valley Escarpment and onto the crater highlands for overnight.
Day 5: Visit to Ngorongoro Crater
Early morning transfer to Ngorongoro. Along the way, you will have chances of passing by Olduvai George, one of the most outstanding paleoanthropological sites in the world, with traces of pre-historic man. Ngorongoro is collapsed volcano – an incredible natural Amphitheatre, 25 km across and teeming with all of the African big game. The places features one of the highest concentrations of animals in Africa.Early morning descent into the crater for spectacular scenery and game viewing in what has been described as the eighth wonder of the world. While here, you will have chances of scenic views of the big five. The crater is arguably the best place in Tanzania to see the big five in one day. After lunch, transfer to the incredible central areas of the Serengeti.
Day 6: Game drives at the Serengeti
After breakfast, spend the entire day exploring the vast plains of the Serengeti, giving a great opportunity to explore all through the kopjes and riverine areas. Serengeti is Tanzania’s oldest park and contains a plethora of animals. It is popular for the annual migration of over 1.5 mllion white-bearded wildebeests, over 200,000 zebras etc. The park probably hosts the largest population of Lions in all of Africa with margins reaching an estimated 3000. Other predators include the spotted hyenas, leopards, wild dogs, cheetahs among others. Serengeti also hosts other different species of mammals including Elephants, the rare Black Rhinos, Wildbeest and many more; the Serengeti’s diversity of wildlife is unrivaled. Serengeti is a wild part of the world, ethereal landscape that has to be seen to be believed! You will do game drives and have scenic views of nature.
Day 7: Transfer to Zanzibar
After breakfast, we do a short game drive towards seronera central airstrip for a charter flight back to Arusha. At Arusha, you will have another flight to Zanzibar. On reaching the Zanzibar airport/seaport, you will be transferred to Sunshine Marine Lodge on Matemwe Beach where you will check in at the hotel. You will have several hours to rest as you look out to nothing but spectacular views of the Beach. Overnight stay, lunch and supper will happen here.
Day 8: Water sports at a Zanzibar beach
Zanzibar turquoise waters are identified as suitable pockets for a variety of water sports. There is also a prevalence of exceptional sea creatures and reefs as well as the gentle oceanic creatures that makes you feel the need to view more, quietly as you take in the phenomenal views of the ocean. Therefore, you will have a 20 minutes sail to Mnemba marine park for snorkelling after breakfast. In this place, the reefs are good and impressive to see. In the evening, you can relax at the lodge and have sunset views with a special dinner under artistically made lights.
Day 9: Transfer to Stone Town
From Matemwe Beach, you will be transferred to Stone town at the hotel of your choice. After checking in, our guide will pick you up for a walking historical Stone town tour where you will get an introduction to the historical town. Stone town gives you a sense of culture with tradition as you navigate through the walk ways and have views of old buildings and ancient sites of slave trade. After the tour, you will have dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 10: Stone town tour and departure
In the morning, you will have breakfast, after which pick up for a half day Spice tour with an opulent Swahili lunch served in a local house will happen. During this tour, you will also get more insights into old history at the Mtoni palace ruins. After the tour, you will go back to the hotel for packing and transfer to Zanzibar airport for departure.
End of 10 Days Bwindi Serengeti & Zanzibar