Itinerary
- Day 1
Nairobi to Lake Nakuru
Start in Nairobi and drive down into the Great Rift Valley heading to Lake Nakuru National Park. The lake has a distinctive pink tint from the thousands of flamingos that gather there. After getting to camp, you'll do an afternoon game drive in a 4x4 with a specialized guide to spot wildlife along the water and surrounding landscape.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Afternoon game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park with specialized guide
Landmarks Lake Nakuru National Park 
- Day 2
Lake Nakuru to Eldoret
You'll travel west through Kenya and cross the equator for the first time. The route takes you to Eldoret, a town surrounded by lush hills and farmland. Your camp sits just outside the city, so it's easy to walk around and get a feel for the area.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Day 3
Eldoret to Kampala
Cross into Uganda and drive through hilly, green countryside toward Kampala, the capital city on Lake Victoria's shores. Your camp location works well for checking out the local markets and getting a sense of city life here.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Landmarks Lake Victoria - Day 4
Kampala to Chimp Trek Camp
Leave early from Kampala and cross the equator again as you travel through farmland. Along the way, you'll likely see Ugandan Longhorn Cattle grazing beside the roads. Once at camp, you can meet local people or just take it easy for the rest of the day.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Meet with locals in the area
- Day 5
Kibale Forest Chimpanzee Trek
Trek into the forest to look for chimpanzees in the canopy and on the forest floor. Groups are kept small by wildlife authorities to protect the animals. If trekking isn't your thing, you have the day free to relax around camp.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Kibale Forest chimpanzee trek (visitor regulated)
Optional Activities
- Leisure activities for non-trekking group members
Landmarks Kibale Forest National Park - Day 6
Kibale to Lake Bunyonyi
Head south toward the Uganda border region and Lake Bunyonyi, which means 'Place of many little birds' and the name fits what you'll see. This lake is Africa's second deepest, reaching about 900 meters down, and you'll spend the next couple of days here in the mountains.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Landmarks Lake Bunyonyi - Days 7 - 8
Mountain Gorilla Trek
Your gorilla trek schedule depends on when you get your permit. Trek days start very early heading into the mountainous jungle where thick undergrowth makes the hike challenging as you search for mountain gorillas. On non-trek days, your ground team arranges other activities to keep you busy.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Mountain gorilla trek in natural habitat (on permit day)
Optional Activities
- Various activities in the Lake Bunyonyi area (non-trekking days)
Landmarks Bwindi Impenetrable National Park - Day 9
Lake Bunyonyi to Kampala
Get up early and head back to Kampala, crossing the equator one more time along the way. This is a travel day with good progress made getting across Uganda.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Day 10
Kampala to Jinja
Travel a short distance to Jinja on Lake Victoria's banks, where the Nile River begins. Your camp sits on grassy grounds right along the Nile. This afternoon, your team goes over the activities available, including options like visiting a local school or volunteer project.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Visit local school and volunteer project
Landmarks Lake Victoria Nile River - Days 11 - 12
Jinja
Spend two days here in Jinja with lots of activity options. You can walk through the local village, try a dhow safari, or go snorkelling and diving in the warm water. If you'd rather just sit back and think about everything you've seen so far, that's fine too.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Visit local village
- Dhow safari
- Snorkelling
- Diving
Landmarks Lake Victoria - Day 13
Jinja to Eldoret
Make your way back to Kenya by crossing the border and heading to Eldoret. You're retracing part of your route northward on this travel day.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Day 14
Eldoret to Nairobi
Cross the equator one final time and continue across the Great Rift Valley back to Nairobi. You'll arrive at Kenya's capital by late afternoon, marking the end of the first part of your trip.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Landmarks Great Rift Valley - Day 15
Nairobi
You have the whole day free to walk around Nairobi. Your tour leader can help you plan how to spend it. Options include visiting museums, checking out the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Elephant Nursery in the city, or taking a trip to Nairobi National Park, which sits right next to the urban area.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Snake Park entrance
Optional Activities
- Museum visits
- Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Elephant Nursery
- Nairobi National Park
Landmarks Nairobi National Park Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Elephant Nursery - Day 16
Nairobi to Maasai Mara
Switch from the safari truck into dedicated game drive vehicles for the Maasai Mara National Reserve with professional Kenyan guides. You'll cross the Great Rift Valley with stops to see the views as you come down the escarpment. Camp sits near the reserve's edge.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Transfer to Maasai Mara National Reserve with professional guides
Landmarks Maasai Mara National Reserve Great Rift Valley - Day 17
Maasai Mara Game Drive
Head out early this morning for a game drive through one of Africa's best safari reserves. Search for predators hunting their prey along dirt tracks while taking in the views across the African wilderness. Get back to camp for a comfortable night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Full day game drive in Maasai Mara National Reserve
Landmarks Maasai Mara National Reserve - Day 18
Maasai Mara to Nairobi
Leave the Maasai Mara and drive back to Nairobi, arriving in the late afternoon. This is your last evening to experience Kenyan hospitality before heading to Tanzania tomorrow.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Day 19
Nairobi to Arusha
Get back in your Acacia safari vehicle and travel south into Tanzania. Handle border formalities at Namanga and continue to Arusha, which sits halfway between Cairo and Cape Town. Walk through the local markets, then go to camp a few kilometers outside town on the Maasai plains. If time allows, visit a local Maasai village and the camp museum.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Masai village walk
- Camp museum visit (if time allows)
Optional Activities
- Local market exploration
Landmarks Arusha - Day 20
Arusha to Serengeti
Leave the safari truck and switch to a 4x4 game viewing vehicle to explore Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater with professional guides. Stop at the crater rim for lunch to take in the sweeping views, then do an afternoon game drive through the Serengeti where you'll see savanna, granite rocks, and Acacia trees. Head to camp deep in the park.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at Ngorongoro Crater rim), Dinner
Included Activities
- Game drive and tour of Ngorongoro Crater
- Afternoon game drive through Serengeti National Park
Landmarks Serengeti National Park Ngorongoro Crater 
- Day 21
Serengeti to Ngorongoro
After a night hearing the sounds of the wild African bush, head out early for a morning game drive when it's cool and predators are most active. Drive out of the park via Naabi Hill Gate and continue toward Ngorongoro Crater. Camp sits on the crater rim.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Early morning game drive in Serengeti
- Game drive to Naabi Hill Gate and Ngorongoro Crater
Landmarks Naabi Hill Gate Ngorongoro Crater - Day 22
Ngorongoro Crater to Arusha
Wake in the cool morning and descend to the crater floor to spend the whole morning there. This area has most game species found in the crater for great wildlife viewing. After lunch, climb back out of the crater and return to camp on the Maasai plains outside Arusha.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Full morning game drive on Ngorongoro Crater floor
Landmarks Ngorongoro Crater - Day 23
Arusha to Coastal Region
Leave the Maasai plains and drive through Arusha's busy streets toward the Mount Kilimanjaro area. You might see the snow-capped peak through clouds. Continue down to the coast through sisal plantations and beautiful mountains. Camp is near the warm Indian Ocean.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Landmarks Mount Kilimanjaro - Day 24
Coastal Tanzania to Dar es Salaam
Travel a relatively short distance through Dar es Salaam, Tanzania's main port and busy trading center. Navigate through the city streets and arrive at your beach-fronted camp.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Landmarks Dar es Salaam - Day 25
Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar
Leave the mainland and your Acacia vehicle behind this morning, boarding a fast ferry to Zanzibar. Your first stop is Stone Town with its traditional Zanzibari architecture, winding streets, and busy markets. It's a place worth taking time to walk around and see.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Fast ferry to Zanzibar
- Stone Town exploration
Landmarks Stone Town - Days 26 - 27
Zanzibar Beach
Travel north through the island and, if time works out, stop for a spice tour to learn about the trades that made Zanzibar famous as the Spice Island. Spend the next few days on the beach relaxing. You can visit the local village, try a dhow safari, or go snorkelling and diving in the warm water.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Breakfast, Lunch
Optional Activities
- Spice tour
- Visit local village
- Dhow safari
- Snorkelling
- Diving
Landmarks Zanzibar - Day 28
Zanzibar to Dar es Salaam
Have the morning for any last shopping or one final swim before catching the fast ferry back to the mainland and Dar es Salaam, where your tour ends.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Fast ferry back to Dar es Salaam
Optional Activities
- Last-minute shopping
- Final swim
