14 Day East Africa Safari – Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda with Gorilla Trekking and Zanzibar

Leave Nairobi and travel west towards the Maasai Mara, leaving the city behind as the landscape changes to farmland, rolling countryside and the wider landscapes of the Great Rift Valley.

The journey towards the Mara takes you into increasingly open country, with scattered acacia trees and grasslands replacing the more settled areas around Nairobi.

Arrive at your lodge or camp and settle in. Depending on your arrival time, there may be an opportunity for an afternoon game drive.

This first drive is a chance to get into the rhythm of the Mara. Giraffes move between the acacias, zebra and gazelles spread across the grasslands, while elephants and buffalo may appear along the way. With luck, the afternoon can also bring an early encounter with lion, cheetah or leopard.

Return to camp around sunset

Today is dedicated entirely to the Maasai Mara National Reserve, without having to pack up and move to another destination.

An early morning game drive takes advantage of the cooler hours, when predators are often still active. Lions may be resting after a night of hunting, cheetahs can be out scanning the plains, and hyenas may be moving between their dens and feeding areas.

The Mara supports a remarkable range of wildlife. Large herds of zebra, wildebeest, topi, impala and Thomson's gazelles share the plains with elephants, buffalo, giraffes and other species.

At certain times of year, the area also forms part of the route of the Great Migration, when enormous numbers of wildebeest and zebra move through the Mara ecosystem. Their exact location changes with rainfall and grazing conditions, so game viewing is always about following the animals rather than following a fixed itinerary.

Enjoy a picnic lunch in the reserve or return to the lodge for lunch, followed by another game drive later in the day.

There is enough time today to stop for good sightings. If a pride of lions is resting in a particularly good position or a cheetah is actively hunting, there is no need to hurry simply to cover more ground.

Leave the Maasai Mara after breakfast and travel towards the Isebania border crossing into Tanzania.

Today is primarily a transition day between two major safari regions. The route passes through western Kenya before reaching the border, where immigration procedures are completed before continuing into Tanzania.

Once across the border, the scenery gradually changes as you make your way towards the Serengeti ecosystem.

Continue towards the Northern Serengeti, with the possibility of wildlife encounters as you approach the park depending on your arrival time and road conditions.

Arrive at your camp later in the day and settle in.

Spend the day exploring the Northern Serengeti, an area known for its open plains, rocky kopjes, riverine habitats and seasonal wildlife movements.

During parts of the year, large numbers of wildebeest and zebra move through this region as part of the Great Migration. The Mara River can become a major focus when the herds are in the area, although river crossings are entirely unpredictable. Wildlife movements depend on rainfall, grazing conditions, water levels and the behaviour of the herds themselves.

The Northern Serengeti is rewarding outside migration periods too. Lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, buffalo, giraffes and a wide range of antelope can all be encountered.

For photographers, this is a place where patience pays off. Rather than spending the entire day driving long distances, your guide can spend more time with interesting sightings when the wildlife is behaving naturally.

Return to camp later in the afternoon.

Continue south through the Serengeti, with wildlife viewing along the route.

The drive itself is part of the safari. There is no clear dividing line where the wildlife suddenly stops and the next area begins. Herds of wildebeest and zebra can appear across the plains, giraffes may be feeding among the acacias, and elephants often move through areas of thicker vegetation.

As you approach Central Serengeti, the landscape becomes more varied, with rocky kopjes and open grassland providing habitat for both herbivores and predators.

Arrive at your lodge or camp and settle in. If time allows, head out for an afternoon game drive before returning for the evening.

A full day in the Serengeti National Park gives you the freedom to follow wildlife activity rather than spending the day working around another transfer.

The Serengeti is famous for the Great Migration, but its resident wildlife is just as important to the safari experience. Lions are regularly encountered across the plains and around rocky kopjes, while cheetahs favour more open ground where they can use their speed.

Leopards are more elusive and are often found around wooded areas and river courses. Elephants, buffalo, giraffes, hippos and numerous antelope species add to the variety.

Your guide can adapt the day to your interests and the wildlife you encounter. If photography is important, there is time to stay with a good sighting and work with the changing light rather than constantly moving on.

Return to your lodge in the late afternoon.

Enjoy a final game drive through the Serengeti as you make your way towards the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

The landscape gradually changes as you leave the open plains and climb into the cooler Ngorongoro Highlands. Forested slopes, cultivated areas and small communities become more prominent as you approach the crater region.

Continue to your lodge in the ngorongoro area and settle in for the evening.

After several days of game drives, the evening is deliberately unhurried. It is a chance to rest and prepare for the following morning's crater safari.

Start early for the Ngorongoro Crater, descending into the crater floor for a morning of concentrated wildlife viewing.

The crater contains a remarkable mix of open grasslands, woodland, marshes and water, enclosed by steep crater walls. This combination supports large numbers of animals within a relatively compact area.

Look for lions, elephants, buffalo, zebra, wildebeest, hippos and other wildlife. The crater is also one of the places where you may encounter the endangered black rhinoceros, although sightings are never guaranteed.

After the crater safari, continue out of the conservation area and travel towards the Arusha and Kilimanjaro area for your onward flight to Uganda.

This is an important travel day, so the schedule is kept practical rather than adding another overnight in Arusha. Flight timing will determine the exact transfer arrangements and connection into Uganda.

On arrival in Uganda, continue to Entebbe for the night

After breakfast, leave Entebbe and travel southwest towards Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

The journey takes you through changing Ugandan landscapes, from the busier central region into rolling countryside and eventually the hills of southwestern Uganda.

As you approach Bwindi, the terrain becomes steeper and more heavily forested. The dense vegetation of the national park covers a series of rugged hills, creating the environment in which Uganda's mountain gorillas live.

Arrive at your lodge and settle in for the evening.

There is no need to add another activity today. Your guide will brief you about the following day's gorilla trekking experience, including the expected walking conditions, what to carry and how to approach the gorillas responsibly.

Today is the forest day — gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

After an early breakfast, head to the relevant park headquarters for briefing before entering the forest with your trackers and guides.

There is no fixed trekking time. The gorilla family may be relatively close or several hours into the forest, depending on where it has moved. Bwindi is steep and densely vegetated, with muddy sections after rain, so sturdy footwear and a comfortable pace are important.

Once the gorillas are located, the experience becomes much quieter. You may find them feeding, resting, climbing through vegetation or moving between trees. The trackers help keep the group at a respectful distance while giving you time to observe the family.

The aim is not to rush from one animal to another. The most rewarding moments often come from simply sitting quietly and watching the gorillas behave naturally.

After the trek, return to the lodge for lunch and time to recover. The rest of the afternoon is free to relax.

After breakfast, transfer to the airstrip for your flight from Bwindi to Entebbe.

On arrival in Entebbe, connect with your onward flight to Zanzibar, with the exact routing and connection depending on the available flight schedule.

This is deliberately kept as a travel day, without adding another major activity. After the gorilla trek and several days of safari, the focus is simply on making the connection and reaching the coast comfortably.

Arrive in Zanzibar and transfer to your beach accommodation. From here, the pace changes completely. Settle in, enjoy the evening at the resort and begin the transition from safari to the Indian Ocean.

Today is intentionally open.

After Kenya, Tanzania, gorilla trekking and several flight and road connections, this is your first proper day to slow down.

Spend the day at the beach, swim in the Indian Ocean, relax around the pool or simply enjoy the resort. For those who would like to explore, optional experiences can be arranged, including Stone Town, a spice tour, a dhow cruise or time on the water.

There is no requirement to fill the day. Zanzibar is the place to put the camera down for a while, enjoy the coast and let the safari settle in.

A second full day in Zanzibar gives you even more freedom.

Keep the day completely relaxed or choose an optional experience depending on your interests. You might spend the morning on the beach and explore later in the day, take a boat out onto the Indian Ocean, or simply stay at the resort from morning until sunset.

This extra time also means a delayed connection or a late arrival on the previous day does not take away from your Zanzibar experience.

After a journey covering several countries and very different environments, there is something valuable about having a day with nowhere else to be.