Track rhinos on foot at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary with experienced rangers, observing the animals from a safe distance in their bush habitat. Walking rather than viewing from a vehicle makes this a particularly attentive wildlife encounter.

Hear about the sanctuary’s conservation work and its role in restoring rhinos to Uganda, where they had disappeared from the wild. Your guides lead the tracking and manage the encounter, allowing you to focus on the animals and their surroundings.

Visit the Shanga Community Project in Arusha to see artisans at work in weaving, glassblowing, beading, papermaking and metalwork. Observe the skills behind the handmade pieces and learn about the project’s approach to employment.

Shanga provides work opportunities for local people with disabilities. The visit connects Tanzania’s craft traditions with a contemporary social enterprise, offering a chance to understand the people and practical skills behind the objects they make.

Explore the floor of Ngorongoro Crater on a game drive, watching for lions, elephants, buffalo and other wildlife across its grasslands and wetlands. The drive takes place within a vast volcanic caldera, with the crater walls forming a striking boundary around the scene.

Ngorongoro’s concentration of habitats supports an exceptional range of animals. The Big Five are a possible highlight, not a promised checklist; looking closely at the changing terrain is part of the experience.

Raft the Nile near Jinja for an active way to experience Uganda’s best-known adventure hub. Paddle through white-water rapids with a rafting crew and feel the change from calmer stretches to fast-moving water.

The river setting makes this a different kind of Nile experience from a wildlife cruise: the focus is on teamwork, water and the thrill of the rapids. This is an optional experience at additional cost, bookable on tour; participation is a personal choice.

Choose a game drive through Nairobi National Park aboard an overland truck, looking for wildlife and waterholes with the city skyline in the distance. The juxtaposition of protected habitat and urban backdrop sets this park apart from more remote safari reserves.

Animal sightings vary, but the drive offers another chance to watch Kenya’s wildlife before heading towards the Maasai Mara. This is an optional experience at additional cost that can be booked on tour.

Choose a night game drive in the Lake Manyara area to look for wildlife when daylight sightings give way to nocturnal activity. The drive invites you to listen as carefully as you watch and to experience the landscape in darkness.

Animals behave on their own terms, so no particular sighting can be promised. For travellers interested in another side of safari, the change in light and atmosphere is the attraction. This drive is optional, at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Opt for a game drive in Tarangire National Park, looking for elephants among the great baobab trees that define much of its scenery. The drive offers a final chance to watch wildlife in northern Tanzania before the tour ends in Arusha.

Tarangire’s combination of massive trees, open habitat and elephant herds gives it a character distinct from the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. Sightings vary with conditions and animal movement. This drive is optional, at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Take a boat cruise to the Source of the Nile near Jinja for a gentler way to spend time on the water. Watch the river scenery from the boat while visiting the area traditionally identified with the Nile’s outflow from Lake Victoria.

Jinja has long been associated with this geographical landmark. The cruise offers an alternative to white-water rafting for travellers who would rather take in the setting at a slower pace. It is optional, at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Trek through Bwindi Impenetrable National Park with local guides and trackers in search of a wild mountain gorilla family. Forest trails can be steep and muddy, and the length of the walk depends on where the gorillas are moving.

Once the family is located, spend one hour observing the gorillas as they feed, rest and interact. This protected Ugandan forest is one of the few places on Earth where mountain gorillas live in the wild.

• 18 Breakfast (B)
• 9 Lunch (L)
• 13 Dinner (D)
• 1 Picnic Lunch (PL)

• Bwindi Impenetrable National Park: Venture deep into Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in search of mountain gorillas. With expert guides leading the way, you’ll trek through thick jungle before spending one incredible hour observing a gorilla family up close.
• Kalinzu Forest: Step into Kalinzu Forest with local trackers and listen out for the calls of wild chimpanzees. You’ll hike through dense jungle before watching these clever primates swing, climb and do their thing in the wild.
• Queen Elizabeth National Park: Our drive from Kalinzu Forest to our accommodation for the night means we get to do a scenic drive through Queen Elizabeth National Park. It may be a simple ride through the reserve, but there’s still plenty of opportunity to spot wildlife along the way, with stops made for animal sightings and photos as we journey through Uganda’s famous savannah landscapes.
• Queen Elizabeth National Park: Snap the classic Equator photo near Kikorongo and casually stand in two hemispheres at once.
• Murchison Falls National Park: Enter Murchison Falls National Park with a scenic transit game drive to our home for the next two nights. Keep watch for giraffes, elephants, buffalo and antelope as we roll through Uganda’s largest national park.
• Murchison Falls National Park: View the top of Murchison Falls – watch the Nile force its way through a narrow gorge before crashing below, with viewpoints that absolutely earn their place on the camera roll.
• Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary: Follow expert rangers through Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for a seriously special encounter with Uganda’s only wild rhinos. You’ll learn how these legends are being protected, then spot them in the bush from a safe distance.
• Nairobi: Meet the dedicated team and see for yourself the work being done to help the women and children who live here in the Kibera slum.
   
• Maasai Mara National Reserve: Known for its grassy plains and rolling hills, home to lions, cheetahs, elephants, zebras and hippos, the Maasai Mara is a jewel in Africa’s wildlife crown, so don’t miss your chance to explore it from sunrise to the afternoon, with a picnic lunch in the wild. 
• Amboseli: Get that iconic wildlife shot with the snow-capped peak of Kilimanjaro as a backdrop. 
   
• Amboseli: Get up early in search of the famous elephants in this iconic Kenyan National Park. 
• Arusha: Support this social enterprise that employs local disabled people with artisanal skills. Watch weaving, glass blowing, beading, paper making and metal work. 
• Serengeti: Watch out for local wildlife as we head to our camp, which is bang in the middle of these endless plains. Could the location be any more epic? 
   
• Serengeti: Was that lion we heard last night? Let’s go find out. Take an incredible morning drive in search of the wildlife we heard throughout the night. 
• Serengeti: Cruise around the plains at sunset to explore new areas and spot a few more animals before they head off to bed. 
• Serengeti: Another day, another game drive, giving us the most amount of opportunities to see the wildlife that roams these plains.

Follow local guides into Kalinzu Forest on a trek in search of wild chimpanzees. Listen for calls overhead and watch the canopy for movement as you walk through the forest, which also shelters other primates and a rich variety of birds.

Chimpanzee sightings depend on where the animals roam, making tracking part of the experience. Seeing them climb, forage or interact in their natural habitat offers a glimpse of Uganda’s forest wildlife.

Watch for wildlife while travelling through Queen Elizabeth National Park, with stops for animal sightings and photographs along the route. Elephants, buffalo and antelope may appear against the park’s open savannah; big cats are possible but never guaranteed.

This is a transit game drive rather than a dedicated full-day safari. Even so, the journey gives you a chance to experience the shifting landscapes of one of Uganda’s best-known protected areas.

Stand at the Equator near Kikorongo and take a photograph at the marked line separating the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. It is a simple, distinctive stop: one step places you on either side of the planet’s midpoint.

The marker sits within western Uganda’s expansive landscapes, close to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Pause for photographs and a closer look at a geographical landmark that is easy to pass on a map but memorable to encounter in person.

Explore Murchison Falls National Park on wildlife drives, including a sunrise safari when animals may be especially active. Scan the grasslands for giraffes, elephants, buffalo and antelope, with the chance of seeing lions or other predators.

Uganda’s largest national park brings together open savannah, woodland and the Nile. A wildlife-viewing drive on entry offers another opportunity to spot animals, while changing light and habitat give each outing a different feel.

Cruise the Nile towards the base of Murchison Falls, keeping watch along the riverbanks for hippos, crocodiles and birdlife. The boat provides a water-level view of a national park more often explored from a safari vehicle.

At the falls, the river is forced through a narrow rock gap before plunging downstream. The approach brings you close to the spray and sound of the rushing water, while wildlife sightings remain a matter of nature’s timing.

Visit the top of Murchison Falls to see the Nile squeeze through a narrow gorge and surge over the drop below. Viewpoints reveal the force of the river from above, a striking contrast to seeing it from a boat.

Take time to watch the churning water and rising spray, and photograph one of Uganda’s defining natural landmarks. The experience is about the falls themselves: their scale, sound and the remarkable concentration of water in such a tight passage.

Head into Murchison Falls National Park after dark for a game drive focused on the hours when the savannah feels different. Watch for wildlife beyond the beam of the vehicle’s lights and listen to sounds that are easily missed in daylight.

A night drive offers another perspective on the same protected landscape explored by day. Sightings cannot be promised, but the chance to observe the park’s nocturnal activity makes this a distinct part of the Uganda safari experience.

Visit Mirror of Hope in Nairobi’s Kibera neighbourhood and meet people involved in its community work. Learn about the support the organisation provides to women and children, directly from those connected with the initiative.

This is an opportunity to engage with a local project beyond Kenya’s safari landscapes. Approach the visit with curiosity and respect: its value lies in hearing community perspectives and understanding the work being done, rather than treating the neighbourhood as a sightseeing attraction.

Search the Maasai Mara’s grasslands for wildlife on game drives that allow time to scan for lions, cheetahs, elephants, zebras and other species. A picnic lunch in the reserve keeps the focus on the landscape and its animals.

Rolling plains and river habitats make the Mara one of Kenya’s most recognised safari destinations. Depending on the season and animal movements, you may also encounter part of the Great Migration; wildlife sightings and migration activity cannot be guaranteed.

Take game drives through Amboseli in search of its well-known elephant herds, including the possibility of seeing large-tusked bulls. Early light offers particularly rewarding wildlife viewing across the park’s open plains.

On clear days, Mount Kilimanjaro rises beyond the savannah, creating the backdrop for which Amboseli is famous. Clouds can conceal the summit, but the combination of elephants, wide views and varied birdlife makes the reserve distinctive in its own right.

Explore the Serengeti on multiple game drives, including extended time on the plains and a morning outing. Search for big cats, elephants, giraffes and grazing herds across landscapes that stretch to the horizon.

Predators and prey move through this ecosystem year-round. If the wildebeest migration is nearby during your visit, you may see large herds of wildebeest and zebra; its location changes with the seasons and cannot be guaranteed. Staying within the Serengeti adds to the sense of immersion.

Search for wildlife in Lake Manyara National Park on a game drive through a landscape of groundwater forest, open areas and lakeshore habitat. The park is associated with tree-climbing lions, though seeing them depends entirely on where they are resting or hunting.

Manyara offers a change of scenery from the Serengeti’s broad plains. Look out for other animals and birdlife while taking in the contrast between the wooded habitats and the lake beneath the Rift Valley escarpment.

Visit the Sheldrick elephant nursery in Nairobi to watch young elephants play and bathe, and hear about the care involved in their rehabilitation. The experience centres on the animals’ recovery rather than a conventional game drive.

Learning their stories gives context to the wider challenges of elephant conservation in Kenya. Nursery visits depend on access and availability. This is an optional experience at additional cost, bookable on tour where available.

Visit a Maasai village near the Maasai Mara to meet community members and learn about traditions they choose to share. The visit offers a people-centred perspective on a region often viewed primarily through its wildlife.

Listen to local hosts and approach the exchange with respect for a living culture, rather than expecting a fixed performance or a single account of Maasai life. This is an optional experience at additional cost, bookable on tour.

Add another game drive in the Maasai Mara for more time searching its grasslands for big cats, elephants and grazing herds. An additional outing can reveal different animal activity from the included safari drives, though sightings are never assured.

The Mara’s open terrain rewards patience: sometimes the most interesting moment is an interaction among animals rather than a particular species sighting. This extra drive is an optional experience at additional cost, bookable on tour.

Try white-water rafting in Sagana for a hands-on river adventure in central Kenya. Paddle with your rafting group as the water alternates between calmer sections and rapids, making teamwork part of the experience.

Sagana’s riverside setting offers a change from the tour’s vehicle-based wildlife viewing. Choose this activity if you want to spend your time on the water and enjoy a more physical challenge. Rafting is optional, at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Choose a rock-climbing session in Sagana and test your balance, grip and concentration on a climbing activity at the riverside adventure base. It is a way to experience the area beyond a scenic stop.

Climbing offers a focused physical challenge that contrasts with the tour’s safaris and drives. It is one of several activities you can choose in Sagana, so you can tailor your time to your interests. This experience is optional, at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Try archery in Sagana as a more measured alternative to the area’s river and climbing activities. Take aim and practise your technique during a session at the adventure base, where concentration matters more than speed.

The activity gives you a choice of challenge without committing to white water or heights. It is designed as a distinct way to enjoy your time in Sagana. Archery is an optional experience at additional cost, bookable on tour.

Go ziplining in Sagana for an aerial activity at the riverside adventure base. The experience trades the slower pace of sightseeing for a brief rush of speed and a new perspective on the surroundings.

It is one of several ways to personalise your time in Sagana, particularly if you enjoy activities involving height and movement. Choose it as a standalone adventure rather than part of the safari programme. Ziplining is optional, at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Choose a Maasai village tour near Mto Wa Mbu to meet local hosts and hear about aspects of their community life and traditions. It is an opportunity to learn from people who live in the region surrounding northern Tanzania’s national parks.

As with any community visit, listen respectfully and let your hosts guide what is shared. The activity adds a cultural dimension to time otherwise centred on wildlife. It is optional, at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Explore the Mto Wa Mbu area by mountain bike for a more active view of the landscapes around this northern Tanzanian town. Riding puts you closer to the sounds and everyday pace of the surroundings than travelling by safari vehicle.

The activity is a choice for travellers who want to keep moving between game drives and experience the area from ground level. The route and conditions may vary. Mountain biking is optional, at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Canoe on Lake Manyara for a water-level perspective on one of northern Tanzania’s distinctive Rift Valley landscapes. Paddling provides a quieter contrast to a game drive and lets you take in the lake setting at a slower pace.

Conditions and what you see on the water will vary, but the experience offers a different way to appreciate the area’s scenery and birdlife. Canoeing is an optional experience at additional cost, bookable on tour.