Tour Overview

Embark on an unforgettable 21-day Uganda, Rwanda, and Kenya safari that showcases the very best of East Africa’s wildlife, primates, breathtaking landscapes, and rich cultural heritage. This carefully crafted itinerary combines thrilling game drives, chimpanzee and gorilla trekking, scenic boat cruises, and authentic cultural experiences across three remarkable countries.

Begin your adventure in Uganda, exploring Murchison Falls National Park, tracking rhinos at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, trekking chimpanzees in Kibale Forest, enjoying wildlife safaris and a Kazinga Channel boat cruise in Queen Elizabeth National Park, and experiencing the unforgettable mountain gorillas of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Continue to Rwanda, where you’ll trek another family of endangered mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park, visit the scenic Twin Lakes, and explore Kigali, including the Kigali Genocide Memorial to learn about the country’s inspiring journey of resilience and recovery.

The journey concludes in Kenya, where you’ll discover Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Lake Nakuru National Park, and the world-famous Maasai Mara National Reserve. Enjoy exceptional game drives in search of the Big Five and, during the migration season, witness the spectacular Great Wildebeest Migration.

Combining incredible wildlife encounters, luxury accommodations, and some of Africa’s most iconic destinations, this 21-day Uganda, Rwanda, and Kenya safari promises an unforgettable East African adventure.

Travel Highlights

  • Arrival in Entebbe, Uganda
  • Rhino tracking at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
  • Explore Murchison Falls National Park
  • Game drives and Nile boat cruise
  • Visit the Top of Murchison Falls
  • Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest National Park
  • Guided walk in Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary
  • Wildlife safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park
  • Kazinga Channel boat cruise
  • Search for the famous tree-climbing lions in Ishasha
  • Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
  • Cross into Rwanda
  • Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park
  • Visit the Twin Lakes region
  • Kigali city tour and Genocide Memorial
  • Fly to Nairobi, Kenya
  • Explore Ol Pejeta Conservancy
  • Game drives in Lake Nakuru National Park
  • Explore the Maasai Mara National Reserve
  • Big Five wildlife viewing and optional Great Wildebeest Migration
  • Departure from Nairobi

Detailed 21 Days Uganda, Rwanda & Kenya Safari

Day 1: Arrival in Entebbe, Uganda

Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by your professional safari guide and transferred to your hotel. Spend the rest of the day relaxing after your international flight while enjoying the peaceful atmosphere along the shores of Lake Victoria. Depending on your arrival time, you may choose to explore Entebbe town or simply unwind before beginning your East African adventure.

Destination: Entebbe

Day 2: Entebbe – Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary – Murchison Falls National Park

After an early breakfast, depart Entebbe and travel north toward Murchison Falls National Park. Along the way, stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, the only place in Uganda where wild rhinos can be tracked on foot. Accompanied by experienced rangers, enjoy an exciting walking safari while observing these magnificent animals in their natural habitat.

After lunch, continue to Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda’s largest and oldest conservation area. Visit the spectacular Top of Murchison Falls, where the Nile River squeezes through a narrow seven-meter gorge before plunging over 40 meters into the Devil’s Cauldron, creating one of Africa’s most powerful waterfalls.

Check into your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Destination: Murchison Falls National Park

Day 3: Game Drive & Nile Boat Cruise in Murchison Falls National Park

Begin the day with an early morning game drive across the northern savannah, one of Uganda’s richest wildlife viewing areas. Search for elephants, lions, giraffes, buffaloes, Jackson’s hartebeests, Uganda kobs, oribis, leopards, warthogs, and many other species while enjoying the beautiful sunrise over the park.

After lunch, enjoy a relaxing boat cruise along the Victoria Nile to the base of the magnificent Murchison Falls. Along the riverbanks, look out for large pods of hippos, Nile crocodiles, elephants, buffaloes, and an incredible variety of water birds, including African fish eagles, kingfishers, herons, bee-eaters, and the rare shoebill stork.

Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Destination: Murchison Falls National Park

Day 4: Murchison Falls National Park – Kibale Forest National Park

After breakfast, enjoy one final visit to the Top of Murchison Falls before beginning your scenic drive southwest toward Kibale Forest National Park. The journey takes you through beautiful countryside, tea plantations, local villages, and rolling hills.

Arrive in the evening and relax at your lodge located near the rainforest in preparation for the following day’s chimpanzee trekking adventure.

Destination: Kibale Forest National Park

Day 5: Chimpanzee Trekking & Bigodi Wetland – Queen Elizabeth National Park

After an early breakfast, head into Kibale Forest National Park for an unforgettable chimpanzee trekking experience. Accompanied by experienced ranger guides, trek through the lush rainforest in search of habituated chimpanzee families while also encountering other primates, birds, butterflies, and unique forest vegetation.

Later, enjoy a guided nature walk through the nearby Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, a community-based conservation project famous for its rich birdlife and primates.

In the afternoon, continue to Queen Elizabeth National Park, enjoying scenic views of the Rwenzori Mountains along the way.

Destination: Queen Elizabeth National Park

Day 6: Game Drive & Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise

Enjoy an early morning game drive across the Kasenyi Plains in search of lions, elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, hyenas, waterbucks, and numerous other wildlife species. If visiting the Ishasha sector, you may also search for the park’s famous tree-climbing lions resting in fig trees.

In the afternoon, embark on a relaxing boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, one of Africa’s best wildlife viewing waterways. Large concentrations of hippos, crocodiles, elephants, buffaloes, and hundreds of bird species can be observed along the shoreline.

Return to your lodge for dinner.

Destination: Queen Elizabeth National Park

Day 7: Queen Elizabeth National Park – Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

After breakfast, travel through the scenic Ishasha Sector, famous for its tree-climbing lions, before continuing to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The drive passes through spectacular mountain scenery, terraced hillsides, forests, and traditional villages often referred to as the “Switzerland of Africa.”

Arrive at your lodge in the afternoon and relax before tomorrow’s gorilla trekking experience.

Destination: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Day 8: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Today marks one of the greatest wildlife experiences in Africa. After an early breakfast, report to the park headquarters for a briefing before setting off with experienced Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers into the dense rainforest in search of a habituated mountain gorilla family.

The trek may take several hours depending on the gorillas’ location, but the reward is extraordinary. Once you find the gorillas, spend one unforgettable hour observing them as they feed, groom, rest, and interact naturally within their family group.

After your trek, return to the lodge to celebrate this once-in-a-lifetime achievement.

Destination: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Day 9: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda – Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda

After breakfast, depart Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and journey by road to Volcanoes National Park in northwestern Rwanda. The scenic drive, which takes approximately six hours, passes through the border town of Kisoro before crossing into the “Land of a Thousand Hills.” Along the way, admire Rwanda’s beautiful terraced hillsides, rolling countryside, and picturesque rural villages that make the country’s landscapes so unique.

Upon arrival, check into your lodge and relax while enjoying spectacular views of the magnificent Virunga Volcanoes, a chain of volcanic mountains stretching across Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Volcanoes National Park is one of Africa’s oldest national parks and protects an important section of the Virunga Massif, home to the endangered mountain gorilla as well as diverse ecosystems of bamboo forests, montane rainforest, grasslands, and wetlands.

Destination: Volcanoes National Park

Day 10: Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park

After an early breakfast, transfer to the Volcanoes National Park Headquarters for registration and a detailed briefing by Rwanda Development Board rangers. During the briefing, you will learn about gorilla trekking regulations, safety procedures, and conservation efforts before being assigned to one of the park’s habituated gorilla families.

Accompanied by experienced ranger guides and trackers, begin your trek through the lush forests and bamboo-covered slopes of the Virunga Mountains in search of the endangered mountain gorillas. The duration of the trek varies depending on the location of the gorilla family and may take anywhere from one to several hours through sometimes steep and muddy terrain.

Once the gorillas are located, you will spend one unforgettable hour observing them in their natural habitat. Watch the dominant silverback protect his family, mothers caring for their infants, and playful young gorillas interacting with one another. This extraordinary wildlife encounter offers a rare opportunity to observe one of humanity’s closest relatives while learning about the ongoing conservation efforts that have helped protect these remarkable primates.

After the trek, return to your lodge to relax and reflect on one of Africa’s most memorable wildlife experiences.

Destination: Volcanoes National Park

Day 11: Twin Lakes Excursion & Optional Activities

Today offers the flexibility to explore Volcanoes National Park and its surrounding attractions at your own pace. For those interested in conservation history, an optional guided hike to Dian Fossey’s Grave and the former Karisoke Research Center provides fascinating insight into the life and work of the legendary primatologist whose dedication helped transform mountain gorilla conservation. The hike passes through beautiful forest scenery before reaching her final resting place and the graves of several gorillas she worked tirelessly to protect.

Alternatively, you may choose an optional Golden Monkey Trekking experience. These rare and endangered primates inhabit the bamboo forests of the Virunga Mountains and are known for their energetic behavior, striking golden-orange fur, and playful nature, making them a delight to observe and photograph.

In the afternoon, enjoy an excursion to the scenic Twin Lakes of Burera and Ruhondo, two beautiful freshwater lakes surrounded by rolling green hills, traditional farming communities, and breathtaking views of the Virunga Volcanoes. The peaceful setting offers excellent opportunities for photography, relaxation, and appreciating Rwanda’s spectacular natural beauty.

Destination: Volcanoes National Park

Day 12: Volcanoes National Park – Kigali

After breakfast, depart Volcanoes National Park and drive back to Kigali, Rwanda’s clean and vibrant capital city. Upon arrival, enjoy a brief city tour before visiting the Kigali Genocide Memorial, one of the country’s most important historical and educational sites.

The memorial provides a moving account of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, honoring the victims while highlighting Rwanda’s remarkable journey toward peace, unity, and national reconciliation. A visit here offers valuable insight into the country’s history and the resilience of its people.

Depending on your arrival time, you may also visit local craft markets or enjoy lunch at one of Kigali’s restaurants before transferring to your hotel for the evening.

Destination: Kigali

Day 13: Kigali, Rwanda – Fly to Nairobi, Kenya

After breakfast, transfer to Kigali International Airport for your flight to Nairobi, Kenya, marking the beginning of the final chapter of your Uganda, Rwanda, and Kenya adventure. Upon arrival in Nairobi, you will be welcomed and transferred to your hotel.

Kenya’s capital city, Nairobi, is a fascinating blend of modern urban life, colonial history, and traditional African culture. The city developed rapidly during the construction of the railway and today serves as a major gateway to some of East Africa’s most famous wildlife destinations. Depending on your arrival time, you may relax at your hotel or enjoy a brief introduction to the vibrant city.

Destination: Nairobi, Kenya

Day 14: Nairobi – Ol Pejeta Conservancy

After breakfast, depart Nairobi and travel north through Kenya’s scenic Central Highlands, an area known for fertile farmlands, tea and coffee plantations, and breathtaking views of Mount Kenya, Africa’s second-highest mountain.

Continue toward Ol Pejeta Conservancy, a leading wildlife conservation area located near the foothills of Mount Kenya. The conservancy is famous for protecting endangered species and is home to East Africa’s largest population of black rhinos, the last two remaining northern white rhinos, and Kenya’s only chimpanzee sanctuary.

Upon arrival, settle into your lodge before heading out for your first afternoon game drive. Explore the open grasslands and woodlands in search of elephants, buffaloes, lions, zebras, giraffes, and other wildlife species that thrive within this unique conservation area.

Destination: Ol Pejeta Conservancy

Day 15: Exploring Ol Pejeta Conservancy

Spend a full day discovering the incredible wildlife and conservation projects of Ol Pejeta Conservancy. The landscape, made up of open plains, acacia woodland, and forested areas, supports an impressive variety of animals, including the famous Big Five.

Enjoy morning and afternoon game drives in search of lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, rhinos, and numerous antelope species. You will also visit the Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary, Kenya’s only facility dedicated to providing a safe home for rescued and orphaned chimpanzees.

Learn about the sanctuary’s important rehabilitation work and conservation efforts while observing these intelligent primates in their natural-style environment.

Destination: Ol Pejeta Conservancy

Day 16: Ol Pejeta – Great Rift Valley – Lake Nakuru National Park

After breakfast, continue your journey through Kenya’s spectacular Great Rift Valley toward Lake Nakuru National Park. The Rift Valley is one of the world’s most remarkable geological features, stretching across East Africa and offering dramatic landscapes of escarpments, volcanic mountains, and beautiful lakes.

Arrive at Lake Nakuru, a scenic soda lake famous for its birdlife and wildlife. Depending on seasonal water levels, you may spot flocks of flamingos along the shoreline, as well as hundreds of other bird species.

Later, enjoy an afternoon game drive through the park in search of wildlife including the endangered white rhinos, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, lions, and other species. Lake Nakuru is one of Kenya’s best destinations for rhino sightings.

Destination: Lake Nakuru National Park

Day 17: Lake Nakuru – Maasai Mara National Reserve

After breakfast, depart Lake Nakuru and continue through the Great Rift Valley, passing beautiful landscapes including Lake Naivasha and views of Mount Longonot. Continue toward Kenya’s most famous wildlife destination, the Maasai Mara National Reserve.

Arrive in time for lunch before heading out for your first afternoon game drive. The Maasai Mara is part of the greater Serengeti ecosystem and is renowned for its incredible concentration of wildlife, including lions, elephants, leopards, cheetahs, buffaloes, and large herds of plains animals.

Depending on time, you may also visit a traditional Maasai village to experience local culture, learn about Maasai traditions, and interact with community members.

Destination: Maasai Mara National Reserve

Day 18: Full-Day Safari in Maasai Mara National Reserve

Enjoy a full day exploring the magnificent Maasai Mara, one of Africa’s greatest wildlife destinations. The reserve features endless grasslands, rolling hills, and abundant wildlife, making it an exceptional place for game viewing throughout the year.

During morning and afternoon game drives, search for the Big Five and other animals such as giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, gazelles, and cheetahs. If traveling between July and October, you may have the opportunity to witness the spectacular Great Wildebeest Migration, when thousands of wildebeest and zebras cross from Tanzania’s Serengeti into the Mara.

For an unforgettable experience, you may also choose an optional hot air balloon safari at sunrise, offering breathtaking views of the Mara plains and wildlife below.

Destination: Maasai Mara National Reserve

Day 19: Another Day of Wildlife Adventure in Maasai Mara

Spend another exciting day exploring the Maasai Mara with additional game drives. Depending on wildlife movements and seasonal conditions, you may enjoy extended drives across different sections of the reserve or take a picnic lunch while exploring deeper into the wilderness.

The Mara offers some of the best opportunities in Africa to observe predators such as lions, leopards, and cheetahs, as well as large herds of herbivores moving across the open savannah.

Destination: Maasai Mara National Reserve

Day 20: Maasai Mara – Nairobi

After breakfast, depart the Maasai Mara and drive back to Nairobi. En route, visit the Karen Blixen Museum, the former home of the famous Danish author whose book Out of Africa documented her experiences living in Kenya.

Explore the beautifully preserved farmhouse, gardens, and exhibits that share the history of Karen Blixen and colonial-era Kenya. Later, continue to Nairobi for your final overnight stay.

Destination: Nairobi

Day 21: Departure from Nairobi

After breakfast, depending on your flight schedule, transfer to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your onward journey home.

Your unforgettable 21-day Uganda, Rwanda, and Kenya safari comes to an end, leaving you with memories of mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, incredible wildlife encounters, breathtaking landscapes, and the rich cultures of East Africa.

End of the 21 Days Uganda Rwanda Kenya Tour