25 Days Self Drive East Africa Safari

25 Days Self Drive East Africa Safari starts in Arusha offering you a self drive safari in Tanzania and Uganda. The 25 Days Self Drive East Africa Safari is incredible for travelers interested in exploring both Tanzania and Uganda while on safari vacation.

This 25 Days self-drive encounter in East Africa safari offers the best of wildlife, adventure and cultural experiences in Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda. As you cross borders to a different country, fancy your eyes with most attract experiences like; mountain gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking, visiting the source of the Nile, and golden monkeys in Uganda and then breathing taking game drives and amazing cultural experiences in Kenya and Tanzania.

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Day 1: Arrival in Arusha

Day 2: Transfer to Tarangire national park for afternoon game drive

Day 3: Proceed to Lake Manyara national park

Day 4: Continue to Ngorongoro craters

Day 5: Drive to Serengeti national park

Day 6: Hot air balloon and afternoon game drive in Serengeti

Day 7: Cross to Masai Mara national reserve

Day 8 and 9: Explore Masai Mara national reserve

Day 10: Drive to lake Nakuru

Day 11: Full day drive from Lake Nakuru to Uganda via Busia border

Day 12: Drive to Jinja

Day 13: Full day white water rafting

Day 14: Full day drive to Ziwa sanctuary

Day 15: Drive to Murchison falls

Day 16: Full day game drive in Murchison

Day 17: Game drive, boat cruise and hike to the top of the falls

Day 18: Drive to Kibale forest national park

Day 19: Chimpanzee tracking and Bigodi walk

Day 20: Drive to Queen Elizabeth national park

Day 21: Game drive and boat cruise

Day 22: Transfer to Bwindi via Isasha sector

Day 23: Gorilla trekking and cultural experience

Day 24: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi for relaxation

Day 25: Drive back to Entebbe International airport

Day 1: Arrival and transfer to Arusha

On arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by your safari driver guide – a representative of 4X4 Africa who will hand over all the car rental documents and car keys to you. He will also brief you about how the vehicle works and all the necessary gears will be showed to you.

After, you will leave with the car to Arusha city where you will check in at the hotel of your booking for relaxation, dinner and overnight.  City. Check in at the hotel and spend the evening relaxing or reading a book as you prepare for the next day’s adventure. Later you will have dinner and the night.

Day 2: Transfer to Tarangire national park and afternoon game drive

After breakfast, you will checkout out of your lodge and transfer to Tarangire national park which is approximately 2-3 hours drive away, when you arrive in the park you will welcomed by magnificent views of the Giant Baobab trees dominating the landscape with a combination of savannah and seasonal marshes.

With en-route game drive you will head to your lodge for lunch after checking in, in the afternoon you will return to the plains of the park for an afternoon game drive. on the game drive, expect to see predators such as lions, leopards and rare cheetahs, large herds of elephants, wildebeests, hartebeests, elands, warthogs among others. In the evening you will exit the park and had back to your lodge and overnight. Accommodation: Tarangire Raiko Tented Camp.

Day 3:  Proceed to Lake Manyara national park

After breakfast you will transfer from Tarangire national park to Lake Manyara national park. The park is known among the great Tanzania safari destinations with a large area covered by the alkaline Lake Manyara and is famous for hosting the rare tree climbing lions. Lake Manyara is a seasonal breeding ground for large colonies of flamingos and water fowls.

When you arrive in the park, you will go for en-route game drive as you head to the lodge for lunch which you will have after checking in. later go for an afternoon game drive enjoying sights of the park’s landscape and various animals such as giraffes, tree climbing lions, hippos, wildebeests, impalas, monkeys, baboons among others.  Later head back to your lodge for dinner and overnight,

Accommodation: Lake Manyara Wildlife camp

Meal plan: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 4: Transfer to Ngorongoro craters

After breakfast, leave Lake Manyara and descend 600meter into this fascinating crater for a morning, half day game drive. The Ngorongoro Crater is one of the most densely crowded African wildlife destination in the world. It is home renowned for hosting over 30,000 animal species. Some of species to see include; herds of wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, eland, warthog, hippo and giant African elephant among others.

This picturesque national park is a dense population of predators like lions, hyenas, jackals, cheetahs and the ever-elusive leopards, which at certain time require a trained eye to spot. You will enjoy a picnic lunch in the crater. After, you will depart back to Arusha to be dropped off to your advised place.

Day 5: Drive to Serengeti national park

After breakfast, you will checkout of your lodge and transfer to Serengeti national park the most popular safari destination in Tanzania via the cooler highland as you had to the southern Serengeti, you will reach the plains of the park in midday and with en-route game drive you will head to your lodge for lunch.

In the afternoon, you will go for a game drive in the endless plains of Serengeti searching for animals such as lions, cheetahs, leopards, African wild dogs, gazelles, wildebeests, elands, cape buffaloes, Maasai giraffes among others.  Later in the evening, you will head back to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Serengeti national park is the largest national park in the great Tanzania with a diversity of habitats and landscapes including short grass plains, savannah, thick bush, swamps, lakes and bizarre rock formations “the Kopjes”, the kopjes are dot the grassy landscapes where predators are often seen. Serengeti national park is also famous for the annual great wildebeest migration, in this migration millions of wildebeests accompanied by hundred and thousands of zebras and gazelles move through the plains of Serengeti searching for fresh grass and water.

Accommodation: Serengeti Wild Camp

Meal plan:  breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 6: Hot air balloon and afternoon game drive in Serengeti

Wake up early for a cup of coffee and head to starting point for Hot air Balloon ride as early as 05 am, with fellow visitors you will gather, be briefed about the dos and don’ts by a hot air balloon guide and enjoy watching the balloon being inflated. Climb into the basket and set off into the sky above the plains of Serengeti national park, you will enjoy the splendid sunset s a hue of orange, yellow and red fill the sky. You will also enjoy aerial views of the endless plains of Serengeti and animals inhabiting in the park.

At the end of the experience, you will have champagne bush breakfast in the wilderness of the park and then go for a game drive, at lunch you will head to your lodge to enjoy the meals. In the afternoon you will return to the park for another game drive exploring the park more. Later return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 7: Cross to Masai Mara national reserve

After breakfast, enjoy a final morning game drive in Serengeti, where you might see a migration of wildebeest or a herd of zebras. Return to your lodge for lunch before checking out. After cross to Masai Mara national reserve where you will reach in the late afternoon hours. Check in at the lodge of your booking or campsite for refreshment, dinner and overnight.

Day 7: Cross to Masai Mara national reserve

After breakfast, enjoy a final morning game drive in Serengeti, where you might see a migration of wildebeest or a herd of zebras. Return to your lodge for lunch before checking out. After cross to Masai Mara national reserve where you will reach in the late afternoon hours. Check in at the lodge of your booking or campsite for refreshment, dinner and overnight.

Day 8 and 9: Full day game drive in Masai Mara

Begin your day with an early morning game drive in Masai Mara. This is the best time to spot active wildlife, including prides of lions and herds of wildebeest. After returning for breakfast, visit a local Masai village to learn about their traditions and lifestyle. Enjoy lunch back at the lodge, in the afternoon, head out for another game drive, exploring different areas of the reserve. You may encounter elephants, giraffes, and hippos in the river. Spotting a leopard resting in a tree is a highlight. At night, relax at the lodge, enjoying dinner and sharing experiences of the day with fellow travelers.

Day 10: Drive to Lake Nakuru

After a relaxed breakfast checkout and depart to Lake Nakuru National Park which is about 5 hours drive from Mara gate. Upon reaching Nakuru lodge check in, have dinner and relax for the day.

Day 11: Cross to Uganda via Busia border

Have your breakfast at the lodge or campsite and check out for your transfer to Uganda – the Pearl of Africa via Busia border. The drive will take about 7 to 8 hours and you will spend your night in the nearby city to Jinja.

Day 12: Continue to Jinja

After your breakfast, continue with your drive to Jinja town in Eastern part of Uganda. The city is known for its amazing attractions including the source of the Nile – Africa’s longest river, factories, Owen falls Dam and others. Arrive in the city in the early afternoon, check in at the lodge of your booking for lunch as you prepare for the afternoon walk to the source of the Nile.

Day 13: Full day while water rafting

After your breakfast, proceed to the base camp where you Meet up with the rafting team in Jinja and attend a briefing session after which you will get into the vehicle and drive to the starting point where you will also be taken though a brief exercise to familiarize yourself with the rafting experience. Make your choice between grade 3 or grade 5 rapids and begin your adventure. Rafting on the Nile river lasts between 1 to 3 hours and it is always celebrated with a cold bottle of Nile special beer at the end. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 14: Drive to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

Have your breakfast at the lodge and check out for your transfer to Ziwa Rhino sanctuary. During the drive, you will explore several attractions including plantations, valleys, plateau and many others. Have an enroute lunch and photography and continue to Ziwa Rhino sanctuary for an overnight in a nearby hotel or campsite.

Day 15: Rhino tracking and drive to Murchison falls national park

Ziwa Rhino sanctuary is the only home to the southern white Rhinos in Uganda. During the experience, you will get a close-up experience with the Rhinos for almost an hour. After, drive off to Murchison falls national park – Uganda’s largest national park.

Day 16: Full day game drive

Have your breakfast at the lodge and meet the ranger guides who will lead you to the driving trails of the park for wildlife viewing. During the experience, expect to spot 4 of the 5 big African game including; lions, elephants, leopards and buffalos. You will also spot other animals like topi, antelopes, bushbucks, and some primate species.

Later, drive back to the lodge for lunch as you prepare for your afternoon game drive and retire for the day.

Day 17: Morning game drive, boat cruise and hike to the top of the falls

With your packed breakfast, go for an early morning game drive in the open savannahs of the beautiful national park where you will spot numerous animals like lions, elephants, leopards, topis, waterbucks, buffalos and others. After, drive back to the lodge for lunch and later go for an afternoon boat ride on Victoria Nile up to the bottom of the falls. The boat is the perfect platform to see and photograph many different bird species, and after the boat cruise tgo for 30 minutes to an hour walk to the top of the falls where you will see a 7m gorge where water squeezes itself to make powerful waterfalls.

Day 18: Drive to Kibale forest national park

After breakfast, meet your driver guide for the transfer to Kibale national park – the home of primates. The drive exposes you to roadside features like plantations, Ankole cows, valleys, different craters and caves. Arrive at the lodge in the evening and check in for an overnight. spend a day in the beautiful town of Fort Portal.

Day 19: Chimpanzee tracking and bigodi walk

Have your breakfast very early and later transfer to the park head office for a briefing about the endangered chimpanzees and later enter the forest with the guidance of a park ranger along with your tracking gears, packed water and snacks. This experience takes about 2-5 hours in search of the chimpanzees and once found, you will spend 1 hour viewing them while studying their behavior and taking pictures. After tracking, return to the lodge for lunch and refresh.

In the afternoon after lunch, connect for a nature walk in Bigodi wetland sanctuary where you will get to enjoy walking through a wetland with a variety of bird species. After the walk, return to the lodge for refreshment, dinner and overnight

Day 20: Drive to Queen Elizabeth national park

Have your breakfast and transfer to the Queen Elizabeth national park, the second largest national park of Uganda. Check in at the park with a game drive that will expose you to numerous animals like; lions, elephants, many hippos, crocodiles, buffaloes and sometimes leopards.

Day 21: Game drive and boat cruise

Begin your day with a delicious breakfast before getting on with the game drive on different trails in the park including the along the Kasenyi trail. Along the Kasenyi trail there is a great opportunity of seeing various animals like water bucks, Uganda Kobs, elephants, buffaloes, lions, warthogs as well as various birds. After the drive, drive back to the lodge for lunch.

Later during the afternoon, you will take pleasure in cruising on a 2 hours boat safari along Kazinga channel that connects Lake George and Lake Edward. During the adventure, fancy your eyes with a good number of animals like Hippos, crocodiles, buffaloes, warthogs, elephants, kobs among others and also a collection of birds like the malachite kingfishers, pink backed pelicans, on the banks and in trees. Drive back to the lodge for refreshment, dinner and overnight.

Day 22: Proceed to Bwindi Impenetrable national park via Isasha sector

Enjoy your tasty breakfast at the lodge and drive to Bwindi Impenetrable, the home to almost half of the world’s mountain gorillas. On your way, you will have an enroute game drive in Isasha sector where you will spot a number of animals including the rare tree climbing lions. Arrive in the late afternoon and check in at the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 23: Gorilla trekking and cultural experience

After your breakfast, drive to the park headquarters for briefing about gorilla trekking experience. After, walk through the park rainforests insearh of the endangered apes and once found, you will spend one full hour with one of the groups as you take flashless pictures. The whole activity takes about half a day depending on how near we find them. After the experience, you will drive back to the lodge for lunch and then prepare for the afternoon cultural experience where you will visit the Batwa local people.

Day 24: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi for canoeing and relaxation

Have your breakfast at the lodge and drive to Lake Bunyonyi – Uganda’s Switzerland for relaxation. The lake is known for having many islands that feature different local people that can entertain you through traditional dances, songs and poems. While at the lake, you will have an an interesting boat cruise in a dugout canoe where you will be able to explore some of the 29 islands, enjoy the beautiful scenery, terraced farmlands, rolling hills, view different water birds like herons, kingfishers, interact with the local people living on the islands among others. After the canoe ride you will drive back to the lodge for an evening relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Day 25: Transfer back to Entebbe

After your breakfast, you will check out of the lodge or campsite for your transfer back to Entebbe International airport where you will leave the vehicle for your flight.

Inclusions

• Accommodation & Meals
• Transportation in 4×4 wheel vehicle
• Airport transfers
• Full‑time driver/guide (English‑speaking)
• Park Entrance Fees
• Gorilla trekking permit
• Chimpanzee tracking permits
• Park entrance fees
• Activities & Excursions
• Guided game drives
• Bottled drinking water

Exclusions

• International Flights
• Visas
• Travel and medical insurance
• Alcoholic Beverages
• Laundry services
• Souvenirs, extra meals en‑route
• Health & Medical Vaccinations
• Optional Extras
• Activities not in the itinerary