15-Day Africa Encounter: Kenya, Uganda and Zimbabwe

Being the former seat of Uganda’s government, Entebbe is a historic town dripping with cultural character where you will spend your first evening on your African exploration. The town circles a peninsula on Lake Victoria, sharing shimmering waterside views from your hotel suite. After checking in, you may wander Entebbe’s charming districts and come to unravel the region’s distinct Ugandan lifestyle and scenery as you check out busy markets, stroll along quiet lakeside beaches, and amble through prolific fields of forests in the Botanical Gardens.

Entebbe is a jumping-off point for the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, the immensely popular second stop on your extensive exploration of Africa. A short domestic flight stands between you and the sprawling forested jungles of Bwindi, after which you will check into a stunning forest cottage boasting immaculate views of the chartreuse canopy. You may spend your afternoon wallowing in the whimsical atmosphere enveloping Bwindi, a mood invigorated by the soundtrack of wandering wildlife and backdrops of far-reaching forest. In the evening, you will appreciate panoramas of Bwindi’s nocturnal activities from your patio and gaze upon the bright starry sky.

After breakfast, you will discover Bwindi on a thrilling gorilla trekking safari through the greenery. You will join a group of professional and knowledgeable rangers and trackers with a rich understanding of Uganda’s untouched jungle and the creatures that inhabit its proliferating wilderness. Your trek will lead you beneath the tall forest canopy to open fields and wooded hills where you will come closer than ever to massive friendly gorillas lounging in the thick grass. Your tour will continue to communities and villages peppering the park, where you will delve deeper into Uganda’s ancient traditions and tribal culture.

Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National Park is a marvelous safari getaway set amongst rolling hills, snaking rivers, and sparse savannas composing its rich tapestry of wildlife environments. Today, you will transfer across the country’s impressive landscapes to a gorgeous lodge hemmed in the hills beneath the Rwenzori Mountains and overlooking the stretching azure waters of the Kazinga Channel. After entering the park, you will drop off your belongings and relish a game drive through a portion of the park famous for its tree-climbing lion sightings and other iconic animal viewing opportunities.

With a full day to explore Queen Elizabeth National Park, you will set off early in the morning before sunrise to capture pre-dawn wildlife discoveries, such as big cats hunting under cover of the night sky or wild dogs wandering the desolate plains. You will also enjoy afternoon safaris showcasing iconic diurnal creatures such as elephants, hippos, and buffaloes, naturally going about their day and sipping from waterholes or plodding along grassy pastures. These sightings constitute only a few of the fascinating wildlife encounters awaiting you across the enormous reserve.

With one more day to explore Queen Elizabeth National Park, you will set off on extensive morning and afternoon safaris and hope to chance upon any wildlife you have yet to encounter with the help of your experienced ranger and tracker. You may also enjoy boat safaris across the region’s sparkling lakes and winding rivers as you savor the magical mood of peacefully floating along Uganda’s flowing streams while the sights, sounds, and smells of nature permeate through the park. Your adventures in Uganda will come to a close over dinner beneath the stars as you toast a glass of bubbly.

Kenya’s capital city, Nairobi, is both a cosmopolitan delight and wildlife retreat, offering access to the hustle and bustle of the cityscape and the luxuriant wilderness rolling over East Africa. You will arrive in Nairobi in the early afternoon and transfer to a hotel situated around the corner from the city’s vibrant districts and wildlife sanctuaries. Today, you may discover Nairobi at leisure and choose between an array of activities, including meeting the protected elephants and giraffes at the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage and Giraffe Center, respectively, or fancying the lively nightlife scene along Electric Avenue.

The Amboseli National Park is a dreamy Maasai escape you will adore exploring from a stunning safari lodge set in the shadows of the looming snowy summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. The park’s viridian grasslands give way to sandy savannas, and its diverse range of ecosystems is home to varieties of animal and birdlife. After arriving, you will unpack your things and head out on safari to admire Amboseli’s extraordinary wilderness environments and spot the marvelous creatures dwelling in its proliferating bushveld.

Breakfast will be served on the patio, and you will take pleasure in panoramas of the sprawling bushveld and views of Mount Kilimanjaro as you savor each scrumptious bite. Afterward, you will join your knowledgeable ranger and hop into a 4x4 vehicle for an exhilarating safari across Amboseli. Weaving through the postcard-perfect reserve, you may spot lions and their cubs slowly crossing the tarred roads, couples of giraffes pecking at the acacia trees, and hippos wallowing in the shimmering rivers. These unforgettable encounters represent the pinnacle of African safari exploration.

Today, you will depart Amboseli after breakfast and make your way to a delightful cottage situated around the corner from Lake Naivasha. After unpacking, you will set off to discover more of your surroundings, including the flamingo-flanked waters of the lake itself. Boasting incredible panoramas of the vast wetlands and enchanting views of the grassy reserve, observation points across the park present Lake Naivasha’s beauty. In the afternoon, you may unwind with a vitalizing spa therapy at your accommodation before indulging in dinner and turning in for the night.

East Africa’s Masai Mara embodies the true safari spirit of Kenya, and you will be blown away by the tranquil atmosphere engulfing the reserve from a stunning safari camp surrounded by rolling plains teeming with wildlife. You will revel in a late afternoon game drive, after checking into your accommodation, on Kenya’s great wilderness stage that is bound to spotlight a myriad of wondrous wildlife encounters. You may watch massive herds of wildebeest crossing river banks, lion prides pacing across the open grasslands, and the silhouettes of buffalo forming across the savanna as the sunset turns the African sky orange.

Beyond breathtaking wildlife encounters across Masai Mara’s immense bushveld, you will also be delighted to delve into the region’s rich history today on a guided cultural tour through the greenery. Your exploration will lead you to friendly Maasai villages where the red-robed locals will welcome you with open arms and look forward to sharing insight into their culture and traditions. Through elaborate performances and hearty cuisine, you will come to learn about the Maasai people and their influence over the landscape. This inspiring heritage excursion will conclude with sunset views over Masai Mara enjoyed with a cocktail in hand.

Home to one of the Seven Natural World Wonders of the same name, Victoria Falls is a bewitching destination where you will spend your final nights on this African exploration. You will arrive at a tented safari lodge stationed in the Zambezi National Park in Zimbabwe and spend the afternoon discovering the unspoiled allure wreathing the Zambezi River on a guided safari across the park. The wild, unfenced reserve will show off its exceptional diversity as you view colorful birdlife dancing in the canopy and astonishing animals wading through the wilderness.

Boasting the falls themselves and other phenomenal geological formations, Victoria Falls is a picturesque escape from the hustle and bustle that you will cherish during a guided tour of the wonder and its surroundings. Standing on viewpoints towering over the Zambezi Gorge, you will marvel at the enormous sheet of falling water cascading over its rocky precipice and witness rainbows forming over the chasm. Afterward, you will cruise along roads winding past the falls and travel across massive bridges to panoramic scenic decks overlooking the immaculate region.

You will conclude your stay in Victoria Falls the same way it began, indulging in sweeping scenes of the Zambezi River and jaw-dropping spectacles of the falls itself. You will tuck into a gorgeously prepared breakfast on the patio this morning and let the sounds of the birds whistling from the trees seduce you while you savor each peppered bite. After breakfast, you will collect your things and meet your private transfer, who will whisk you away to the airport in time for your departure.