The Zanzibar to Gorillas 25-day journey begins on the idyllic beaches of Zanzibar, where turquoise waters and the historic streets of Stone Town provide a tropical introduction before travelling into East Africa’s most celebrated wildlife regions. Explore Tanzania’s legendary Serengeti National Park and descend into the UNESCO-listed Ngorongoro Crater, where dramatic savannah landscapes and abundant wildlife define one of Africa’s most iconic safari settings, with the option of a hot air balloon safari over the plains. Continue north into Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve, renowned for exceptional Big Five sightings and the spectacle of Great Migration river crossings. Crossing into Uganda, follow the Nile to Jinja and witness the power of Murchison Falls before trekking in Budongo Forest in search of chimpanzees. The journey culminates in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest with unforgettable gorilla trekking and opportunities to encounter rare golden monkeys, before concluding at Lake Mburo National Park and returning to Nairobi. Linking island coastline, savannah plains, river landscapes and mist-covered rainforest, this 25-day overland safari captures the extraordinary diversity of East Africa in one seamless circuit.

Highlights

This Zanzibar to the Gorillas route is available in two travel styles: Explorer (camping) and Classic (accommodated). Both follow the same expertly guided itinerary, travelling through Kenya, Uganda & Tanzania while offering different accommodation experiences.
Explorer is our authentic camping option, providing a spacious dome tent (2.4m x 2.4m) with a 5cm-thick mattress. Travellers will need to bring their own sleeping bag and participate in certain camp duties, creating a hands-on overland adventure.
Classic offers greater comfort, with accommodation in permanent tents, guesthouses, lodges and hotels along the route, while maintaining the same immersive safari and overland experience.

Classic Tents

 

Permanent Tents

 

Hotels & Resorts

 

Lodges & Guesthouses

 

You begin on the shores of Zanzibar, where time dissolves into the ocean breeze. Here, the days stretch in the warmth of the sun’s rays between the turquoise waves and the spice-laced air of Stone Town. Wander through its eclectic alleys, each corner a story, each step an echo of colonial and indigenous history intertwining. This sensuous experience is underscored by a plethora of coastal activities to choose from.

Leaving the sea shore, the mainland calls us southward, to the resplendent Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Crater. These two areas are jewels upon Tanzania’s wildlife conservation, presenting as a parade of fauna from the African continent with each sunrise and sunset igniting the plains with molten light. Famous for being two hotspots for the Great Migration and fantastically diverse, you can expect to enjoy the quintessential safari experience for the following days. Within the Serengeti, there is an optional hot air balloon safari to view this ecosystem from above.

Turning northwards, we trade for Kenya’s thicker treelines filled with candelabra succulents and Nairobi’s metropolis. The road from Nairobi leads to the vivacious ecosystem of the Masai Mara National Park. This is one of the most rewarding game-viewing destinations in Africa, home to the Big Five and a leopards’ haven, as well as being known as another stage for the Great Migration. The two days spent exploring this landscape are frequent favourites among travellers.

Crossing into Uganda, “the Pearl of Africa”, we follow the Nile to Jinja. You may brave its white-water heart or simply drift beside its banks. Here, the Nile squeezes through a narrow gorge to create the tempestuous Murchison Falls, one of the most powerful waterfalls in the world.

Departing, we journey to Budongo Central Forest Reserve to search for the chimpanzees and take a boat cruise amongst the biggest Mahogany forest in East Africa, branches teeming with birdlife. Taking a breather, we spend the night overlooking Lake Kikorongo. Passing the equator, we come to Lake Buyonyi, where we will prepare for an extraordinary part of our tour.

One of the most profound wildlife experiences on Earth is this one: Gorilla Trekking. Hiking the living cathedral that is Bwindi Forest, seeing them up close is a monumental experience. For those seeking something even more unusual, Golden Monkeys frolic nearby, dancing through bamboo groves like sunbeams in motion. Not only are these experiences astounding, but each visitor is also contributing to conservation efforts.

The road turns to Lake Mburo National Park, a paradise for birdwatchers and wildlife enthusiasts alike. With over 350 bird species and a diverse landscape of savannah, woodland, and wetland, it’s a fitting finale on this pilgrimage of a lifetime. Returning to Jinja, we enjoy a sunset cruise on the Nile before crossing back into Kenya and wrapping up the circuit in Eldoret and finally Nairobi.