15 Days Kenya , Rwanda and Uganda safari
Overview
This 15 Days Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda Safari is an extraordinary East African adventure that combines world-class wildlife viewing, mountain gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking, cultural experiences, and breathtaking landscapes. Explore Kenya’s famous Masai Mara National Reserve, discover Rwanda’s beautiful Volcanoes National Park, and experience Uganda’s remarkable wildlife destinations including Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kibale Forest National Park, and Murchison Falls National Park.
This safari offers the perfect balance of wildlife, primates, culture, and scenery, making it ideal for travellers seeking a comprehensive East African safari experience.
Safari Highlights
- Chimpanzee trekking
- Gorilla trekking
- Nature walks
- Game drive
- Boat cruise
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Nairobi, Kenya
Upon arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, you will be welcomed by your safari representative and transferred to your hotel for relaxation and a safari briefing.
Accommodation Options
Budget: Ibis Styles Nairobi
Mid-range: Tamarind Tree Hotel
Luxury: Nairobi Serena Hotel
Meals: Dinner
Day 2: Nairobi to Masai Mara National Reserve
After breakfast, depart Nairobi and drive through the Great Rift Valley to the world-famous Masai Mara National Reserve.
Arrive in time for lunch before enjoying an afternoon game drive in search of lions, elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, cheetahs, and many other wildlife species.
Accommodation Options
Budget: Enchoro Wildlife Camp
Mid-range: Zebra Plains Mara Camp
Luxury: Mara Serena Safari Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 3: Full Day Safari in Masai Mara
Spend the entire day exploring the vast plains of the Masai Mara. Search for the Big Five and witness the incredible diversity of wildlife that makes this reserve one of Africa’s premier safari destinations.
During migration season, thousands of wildebeest and zebras may be seen crossing the Mara ecosystem.
Accommodation
As above
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 4: Morning Game Drive and Return to Nairobi
Enjoy an early morning game drive before returning to the lodge for breakfast.
Later, depart for Nairobi and arrive in the late afternoon. Relax at your hotel before your flight to Rwanda the following day.
Accommodation
As above
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 5: Flight to Kigali and City Tour
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to Kigali.
Upon arrival, enjoy a Kigali city tour including cultural sites, local markets, and historical attractions before checking into your hotel.
Accommodation Options
Budget: Eagle View Lodge Kigali
Mid-range: Hotel des Mille Collines
Luxury: Kigali Serena Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 6: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
After breakfast, drive to Volcanoes National Park in northern Rwanda.
Arrive at your lodge in time for lunch and spend the afternoon relaxing while enjoying spectacular views of the Virunga Volcanoes.
Accommodation Options
Budget: Kinigi Guest House
Mid-range: Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge
Luxury: Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 7: Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park
After an early breakfast, proceed to the park headquarters for a briefing before beginning your gorilla trekking adventure.
Spend one unforgettable hour observing a habituated mountain gorilla family in their natural habitat.
Return to the lodge for relaxation and overnight.
Accommodation
As above
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 8: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
After breakfast, cross into Uganda and continue to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Enjoy scenic views of the Virunga Mountains and the rolling hills that characterize this region.
Arrive at your lodge and relax before the next day’s trek.
Accommodation Options
Budget: Rushaga Gorilla Camp
Mid-range: Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge
Luxury: Four Gorillas Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 9: Gorilla Trekking and Batwa Cultural Experience
After breakfast, head to the park headquarters for a briefing before entering the forest to search for another habituated mountain gorilla family.
After the trek, enjoy a Batwa cultural experience and learn about the traditional forest lifestyle of the Batwa people.
Accommodation
As above
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 10: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
After breakfast, drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park through the Ishasha Sector.
Look out for the famous tree-climbing lions and other wildlife species before continuing to your lodge.
Accommodation Options
Budget: Pumba Safari Cottages
Mid-range: Twin Lakes Safari Lodge
Luxury: Elephant Plains Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 11: Game Drive and Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise
Enjoy an early morning game drive in the Kasenyi Plains.
Return for breakfast before taking an afternoon boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, one of Africa’s best wildlife viewing waterways.
Expect sightings of hippos, crocodiles, buffaloes, elephants, and numerous bird species.
Accommodation
As above
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 12: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park
After breakfast, travel through the scenic crater lakes region to Kibale Forest National Park.
Arrive at your lodge and spend the afternoon relaxing or exploring the surrounding area.
Accommodation Options
Budget: Chimpanzee Forest Guest House
Mid-range: Turaco Treetops
Luxury: Kyaninga Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 13: Chimpanzee Tracking and Bigodi Wetland Walk
After breakfast, enjoy chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest, often referred to as the primate capital of East Africa.
In the afternoon, visit Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, known for its rich biodiversity and community tourism initiatives.
Accommodation
As above
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 14: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park
After breakfast, begin the journey to Murchison Falls National Park. En route, stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for rhino tracking on foot.
Continue to Murchison Falls National Park and check into your lodge.
Accommodation Options
Budget: Fort Murchison
Mid-range: Pakuba Safari Lodge
Luxury: Paraa Safari Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 15: Game Drive, Boat Cruise and Departure
Begin the day with an early morning game drive across the northern sector of Murchison Falls National Park.
Look out for lions, elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, leopards, hartebeests, oribis, and Uganda kobs.
After lunch, enjoy a boat cruise to the base of Murchison Falls where the Nile squeezes through a narrow gorge before plunging downstream.
After the cruise, transfer to Entebbe International Airport for your departure flight.
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Optional Activities
Kenya
- Hot air balloon safari in Masai Mara
- Maasai village visit
- Bush breakfast experience
- Night game drive in private conservancies
- Nairobi National Park excursion
Rwanda
- Golden monkey tracking
- Dian Fossey Tomb hike
- Twin Lakes excursion
- Gorilla Guardians Village visit
- Mount Bisoke hike
Uganda
- Gorilla habituation experience
- Lake Bunyonyi excursion
- Lion tracking experience
- Chimpanzee habituation experience
- Top of Murchison Falls hike
- Bird watching safaris
- Community and cultural tours
Tour Includes
- Travel in a 4×4 car
- Professional guide
- Park fees
- Accommodation
- Meals
- All Activities In Itinerary
Tour Excludes
- Alcoholic drinks
- Laundry
- Tips
- Shopping
- Insurance
- Anything not included per itinerary
A Three-Country Primate and Wildlife Circuit
This fifteen-day itinerary combines Kenya’s classic Big Five wildlife destinations with mountain gorilla trekking in both Rwanda and Uganda, giving travelers a genuinely comprehensive picture of East Africa’s primate and savannah highlights within a single extended trip.
Covering three countries over two weeks requires careful logistics, and this itinerary typically uses a mix of road transfers within each country and regional flights between them, keeping travel time reasonable given the distances between Kenya’s savannah parks and the gorilla trekking parks of Rwanda and Uganda.
Practical Notes
A Uganda e-visa or East Africa Tourist Visa, arranged before travel, is required for most nationalities, along with a yellow fever vaccination certificate if arriving from a country with risk of transmission. Travel insurance covering trekking or wildlife activities and medical evacuation is strongly recommended, and malaria prevention is worth discussing with a travel health clinic ahead of your trip.
US dollars printed after 2009 are widely accepted for park fees, permits and lodge bills, while Ugandan shillings are more practical for tips and smaller day-to-day purchases. Mobile network coverage is generally reliable at lodges and along main routes but becomes patchy inside the parks themselves.
Because permits and lodge availability are limited, particularly during the June to September and December to February peak seasons, we recommend booking this itinerary well in advance given its length and the number of destinations involved.
Tipping is customary though not compulsory. Rangers and trackers typically receive a tip at the end of any trekking activity, scaled to group size, while your driver-guide, who accompanies you throughout the trip, is usually tipped separately at the end. We’re glad to advise on typical tipping ranges when you book.
A private 4×4 safari vehicle with an experienced English-speaking driver-guide accompanies you for the entire trip, handling both park game-viewing tracks and the longer road transfers this itinerary involves.
Physical Preparation for Gorilla Trekking
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi is graded as moderate to strenuous depending on where the assigned family is ranging that day. Trails climb steep, muddy ridges through tangled vegetation, and altitude in the park ranges from roughly 1,160 to 2,607 metres, so a reasonable level of fitness helps considerably. Porters are available at the trailhead for a small fee and are worth hiring — they carry daypacks, offer a steadying hand on slick sections, and their fee directly supports the local community bordering the park. Waterproof hiking boots with good ankle support, a long-sleeved shirt and trousers to guard against nettles and safari ants, gardening gloves, and a rain jacket are the essentials most trekkers wish they had packed. Because Bwindi sits in a genuine rainforest, showers are possible in any month, so dressing in breathable layers rather than heavy clothing keeps the trek comfortable.
Tree-Climbing Lions of Ishasha
The Ishasha sector in the southern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park is famous for a rare behavioural trait: lions here regularly climb into the branches of the sector’s large fig trees, reportedly to escape biting insects and the heat of the savannah floor, and to get a better vantage point for spotting prey. Spotting a pride draped over the low branches of a fig tree is one of the more memorable sightings on a Uganda safari, though it requires patience since the behaviour is not guaranteed on any single game drive. Ishasha is quieter than the park’s main Kasenyi plains, seeing far fewer vehicles, which makes for a more private and unhurried game-viewing experience.
Top of the Falls and Boat Cruise
Murchison Falls, where the entire Victoria Nile forces itself through a gap in the rock only a few metres wide before plunging some 43 metres into the Devil’s Cauldron below, can be experienced from two very different vantage points. A launch cruise along the Nile from the base of the falls brings you close to pods of hippos, basking crocodiles and elephants drinking at the water’s edge, with the roar of the falls building as the boat approaches. A short hike to the top of the falls, meanwhile, puts you directly beside the point where the river is compressed into that narrow gorge, and the raw power of the water at close range is something photographs rarely capture accurately. Most itineraries through Murchison Falls National Park combine both perspectives.
Get Your Tailored 15 Days Kenya , Rwanda and Uganda safari
Uganda Safari Photos
Our Green Spot Campaign
Every safari with us supports our Green Spot Campaign — planting trees across Uganda’s communities. Learn more & get involved →
All in Africa Safaris arranges tours to Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania
3 Days Murchison Falls Safari
Discover the Wildlife in the Murchison Falls National Park with engagement with a boat cruise and game drives which lead to a nature walk on top of the falls
4 Days Gorillas & Queen Wildlife
Visit the magical national parks of Uganda known as Bwindi Forest and Queen Elizabeth National Park including gorilla trekking and wildlife views for travelers
5 Days Gorillas & Chimps Track
Explore the great Mgahinga National Park conserving and protecting the endangered Mountain gorillas & chimpanzees in the pearl of Africa
6 Days Uganda Safari
Visit the magical national parks of Uganda known as Bwindi Forest and Queen Elizabeth National Park which include the gorilla trekking and wildlife views
1 Day Bwindi Gorilla Tour from Kigali
A fast-paced day trip from Kigali into Bwindi Impenetrable Forest for a single unforgettable hour with a mountain gorilla family
3 Days Chimpanzee Tracking in Kibale
Track chimpanzees through Africa’s primate capital, Kibale Forest, alongside a community walk through Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary
4 Days Kidepo Valley Wildlife Safari
Venture into Uganda’s most remote wilderness for cheetahs, ostriches and dramatic mountain scenery few visitors ever see
7 Day Kidepo and Sipi Safari
Combine Kidepo Valley’s wild plains with waterfall hikes and coffee tours in the Sipi Falls region
10 Days Rwanda Uganda Safari
A complete circuit through Volcanoes, Bwindi, Queen Elizabeth and Kibale for gorillas, chimps and classic wildlife
12 Days Uganda Leisure Holidays
An unhurried two-week journey through Murchison Falls, Kibale, Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi and Lake Mburo
14 Days Uganda Northern Circuit
Explore Kidepo Valley, Murchison Falls and Sipi Falls on this off-the-beaten-path northern adventure
15 Days Uganda Safari
Uganda’s full highlight reel across two relaxed weeks of gorillas, chimps, wildlife and scenic countryside