Ultimate Three-Week African Explorer: Primates, Big-Game Safari & Natural Wonders

Ultimate Three-Week African Explorer: Primates, Big-Game Safari & Natural Wonders

What to expect on this itinerary

The ultimate African adventure should include everything from primates to predators, chimpanzees to Cape Town, and Victoria Falls to vibrant tribal cultures. This awe-inspiring itinerary will take you through five countries in three weeks, uncovering the iconic highlights of a continent. You will discover Masai Mara, Uganda’s gorillas, Botswana’s elephants, endless Samburu, and the tip of Africa. Expertly guided and connected by the continent’s growing flight network, it is a three-week expedition to satisfy the most inquisitive and eclectic of impressions.

Countries Visited

Botswana, Kenya, South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe

Places Visited

Entebbe, Lake Victoria, Kibale Forest National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Nairobi, Giraffe Centre, Kalama Conservancy, Masai Mara, Victoria Falls, Zambezi River, Chobe National Park, Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Table Mountain

Suggested Duration

21 Days

Customizable Itinerary

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Day 1

Entebbe – Relaxing on the Shores of Lake Victoria

The serene waters of Lake Victoria provide an iconic welcome to Africa, lulling gently alongside your five-star hotel. You are greeted at the airport and have an afternoon at leisure, the surrounding lanes a delight of old-world architecture from the Colonial period. Later in the afternoon, you will take to the water, a Lake Victoria cruise the perfect way to watch your first African sunset. As the waters reflect red and yellow, you settle into the enchantment of the continent. There is something about the landscapes that immediately compels you to explore further.

What's Included:

Transfer
Accommodation
Dinner
Day 2

Kibale Forest National Park – The Mystique of Uganda’s Volcanic Forests

Day 3

Kibale Forest National Park – Exclusive Chimpanzee Habituation Experience

Day 4

Queen Elizabeth National Park – Beautiful River Safari

Day 5

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest – Following Lions and Elephants to the Gorillas

Day 6

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest – Charms and Captivation of Gorilla Trekking

Day 7

Nairobi – Endangered Giraffe in Kenya’s Capital

Day 8 - 9

Kalama Conservancy – Epic and Exhilarating Big-Game Safari

Day 10 - 11

Mara North Conservancy – Africa’s Most Iconic Safari Destination

Day 12

Nairobi – Hot Air Ballooning Over the Masai Mara

Day 13

Victoria Falls – The Wonder of The Smoke That Thunders

Day 14

Victoria Falls – Leisurely Day Along the Banks of the Zambezi

Day 15

Chobe National Park – Safari with the Elephants in Neighboring Botswana

Day 16

Victoria Falls – Continuing the Safari and Overnight Near the Falls

Day 17

Cape Town – First Impressions of the Mother City

Day 18

Cape Town – Penguins, Panoramas, and the Tip of Africa

Day 19

Cape Town – Sensual Serenity of the Cape Winelands

Day 20

Cape Town – Leisurely Day Around Cape Town

Day 21

Cape Town – Departure

Trip Highlights

  • Marvel at the intimacy on an exclusive chimpanzee habituation experience in Uganda’s Kibale Forest
  • Celebrate the awe of nature by spending an hour with a wild mountain gorilla troop in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
  • Spend two days connecting Uganda’s forests, an adventure that includes boating alongside hippos, driving past tree-climbing lions, and connecting with local cultures
  • Kalama Conservancy and Samburu National Reserve showcase the irrepressible scale of big-game East Africa
  • Find yourself enveloped by battles between big cats and their prey in the Masai Mara before a hot air balloon flight takes you over the iconic grasslands
  • Stand before the intense power of Victoria Falls and see exactly why the locals call it The Smoke That Thunders (Mosi-oa-Tunya)
  • Follow the pachyderms into Botswana for a two-day safari with the world’s greatest population of wild elephants
  • Complete the adventure with four relaxed days in and around Cape Town, a vibrant city that shows another side of the continent
  • Relax against the backdrop of Africa’s natural icons: Table Mountain, Zambezi River, Lake Victoria and a beach populated by penguins
  • Explore the sights around Cape Town, including a day in the Cape Winelands and a journey to the tip of Africa

Starting Price

$33,800 per person (excluding international flights)

Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.

What's Included

  • Accommodations
  • In-country transportation
  • Some or all activities and tours
  • Expert trip planning
  • 24x7 support during your trip

Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.

4.9

Verified Traveler Reviews

Based on 1468 reviews

Carolyn T.
South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe Trip Review: Wildlife, Local Cuisine, 13-Day Trip

Wow, I ran out of superlatives–fantastic, awesome, amazing. Everything was well organized and the recommended accommodations were all top-notch. The guides were so expert in their field. Every activity was well worth the time. Every meal was delicious.

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Judy E.
Kenya, Tanzania Tour Review: Wildlife, Plane Rides, 2 Weeks

We received excellent communication from Zicasso's travel agents. They were very prompt and proactive. The itinerary was prepared to meet our requests and matched our interests. Comprehensive planning and preparation for the trip were provided and all logistics were taken care of.

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Anil M.
South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana Tour Review: 10 Nights

Our first trip to southern Africa was amazing, exceeding all expectations. We saw everything we came to see, and more. The game rides were well structured and safe, the visuals were unbelievable, and taking a side trip to Victoria Falls was a great idea. The accommodations were quite luxurious, despite being considered mid-range. There was always someone there to greet us and guide us at every travel point.

Zicasso's tour operator tailored our itinerary to our wishes and was wonderful to work with. Things couldn’t have gone better.

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Rick S.
Kenya Travel Review: Safaris, Cuisine, 10 Nights

My family of six, ages 12 to 72, visited Kenya for an extraordinary 10-day trip in June 2025. Zicasso put us in touch with our travel company, which provided an itinerary and quote after interviewing us. We live in Indiana, and it was easy to conduct business with them via the internet and phone. Every one of us had a wonderful time.

We stayed at three locations in luxury tented camps. The accommodations were great and we enjoyed the friendly staff and managers. The meals at all three camps were creative and delicious. All the transfers were professionally done and on time.

We did not expect to see so many animals and get so close. What really made the trip great were the outstanding guides. They were tremendous in knowledge and service. I highly recommend using our travel company and considering the camps we stayed at.

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Gayle S.
Kenya Vacation Review: Maasai Mara, Local Cuisine, Culture, Wildlife, Nature, 10 Nights

Zicasso's travel agent arranged our trip. She did a wonderful job listening to our wants and needs, and created a magical itinerary.

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Grace J.
South Africa Travel Review: Safaris, 1 Week

We had an awesome trip. Zicasso's travel expert was amazing. She accomplished everything.

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Customizable Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary to inspire a personalized trip designed with your travel specialist.

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