28 Days Kenya, Tanzania & Uganda — The Great East Africa Safari

Day by day

The journey, morning by morning

1. 1

   Arrival in Nairobi

   Airport pickup in Nairobi and transfer to your hotel, with the rest of the day at leisure depending on arrival time.

   Nairobi
2. 2

   Nairobi to Maasai Mara

   Drive via the Rift Valley escarpment to the Maasai Mara, with a stop in Narok and an afternoon game drive.

   Maasai Mara National Reserve
3. 3

   Full day in the Maasai Mara

   A full day of game drives, visiting the Mara River with a picnic lunch and the chance to see the Great Migration in season.

   Maasai Mara National Reserve
4. 4

   Maasai Mara to Lake Nakuru

   Drive to Lake Nakuru, a Rift Valley soda lake known for its flamingos, with a game drive for Rothschild's giraffes and black rhinos.

   Lake Nakuru National Park
5. 5

   Lake Nakuru to Lake Naivasha

   A boat trip on Lake Naivasha to view hippos and the papyrus shoreline, with lunch at Elsamere and a visit to a Maasai village.

   Lake Naivasha
6. 6

   Lake Naivasha to Amboseli

   Drive to Amboseli with a packed lunch for a full day of game viewing in a park home to elephants, lions, cheetahs and buffaloes.

   Amboseli National Park
7. 7

   Full day in Amboseli

   A full day of game drives exploring the park, with views of Mount Kilimanjaro.

   Amboseli National Park
8. 8

   Amboseli to the Namanga border

   Transfer to the Kenya-Tanzania border at Namanga and continue to your lodge in Tanzania.

   Namanga
9. 9

   Arusha to Tarangire National Park

   Drive to Tarangire, known for its elephants and baobab trees, with a half-day game drive.

   Tarangire National Park
10. 10

    Tarangire to the Serengeti

    Drive to the Serengeti with a picnic lunch, stopping at a Maasai village, with game viewing en route.

    Serengeti National Park
11. 11

    Full day in the Serengeti

    A full day of game drives looking for wildebeest, lions, elephants, giraffes and zebras, with a river crossing possible in season.

    Serengeti National Park
12. 12

    Serengeti to Zanzibar

    Fly from the Seronera airstrip to Zanzibar for a stay on the coast.

    Zanzibar
13. 13

    Zanzibar

    A day to take part in optional activities or relax at your hotel.

    Zanzibar
14. 14

    Zanzibar

    Optional excursions are available, including a spice tour and a visit to Stone Town.

    Zanzibar
15. 15

    Fly to Entebbe and on to Sipi Falls

    Fly to Entebbe, then drive via Jinja with a white-water rafting activity, continuing to Sipi Falls in Kapchorwa.

    Sipi Falls
16. 16

    Sipi Falls hike and community tour

    A morning hike at Sipi Falls and an afternoon community tour, including a coffee-processing activity.

    Sipi Falls
17. 17

    Transfer to Moroto

    A half-day scenic drive through the countryside to the Karamoja region.

    Moroto
18. 18

    Transfer to Kidepo Valley

    Drive to Kidepo Valley National Park with a packed lunch, with a night game drive.

    Kidepo Valley National Park
19. 19

    Kidepo game drives

    Morning and afternoon game drives in search of lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and kob.

    Kidepo Valley National Park
20. 20

    Transfer to Murchison Falls

    A long scenic drive to Murchison Falls with a lunch stop, then a visit to the top of the falls.

    Murchison Falls National Park
21. 21

    Murchison Falls and transfer to Ziwa

    An early game drive and a midday boat cruise to the bottom of the falls, then transfer to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.

    Murchison Falls National Park
22. 22

    Rhino tracking and transfer to Kibale

    A guided walk to see white rhinos at Ziwa, then transfer to Kibale National Park with an evening swamp walk in Bigodi.

    Kibale National Park
23. 23

    Chimpanzee tracking and transfer to Queen Elizabeth

    Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale forest, then transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park.

    Queen Elizabeth National Park
24. 24

    Queen Elizabeth game drive and boat ride

    A morning game drive for lion, leopard, elephant and buffalo, and an afternoon boat ride on the Kazinga Channel.

    Queen Elizabeth National Park
25. 25

    Ishasha sector and transfer to Bwindi

    A morning drive in the Ishasha sector for tree-climbing lions, then transfer to Bwindi.

    Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
26. 26

    Gorilla tracking

    Track mountain gorillas in Bwindi, then continue towards Lake Bunyonyi.

    Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
27. 27

    Lake Bunyonyi and transfer to Mbarara

    A canoe cruise on Lake Bunyonyi, then transfer to Mbarara for an overnight stay.

    Lake Bunyonyi
28. 28

    Equator and transfer to Entebbe

    Drive with a lunch stop at the Equator, then transfer to Entebbe for departure.

    Entebbe

Good to know

Questions travellers ask about this trip

How long is the The Great Kenya, Tanzania & Uganda and where does it start and end?

28 days across Kenya and Tanzania and Uganda. The itinerary begins in Nairobi and its last night is at Entebbe; we arrange the transfers at both ends around your flights.

How fit do I need to be for this safari?

Moderate fitness is enough for most travellers. Both forest treks can last from one to several hours depending on where the family has moved to that morning, on steep and often muddy forest ground; porters are available and recommended, and the pace is set by the group. Everything else on this itinerary is done from the vehicle or on level ground.

When is the best time to take this trip?

June to August and December to February suit it best for the gorilla trekking at Bwindi Impenetrable. The two drier windows mean firmer trails and easier trekking — June–July is driest. Permits are limited daily; book well ahead, especially for these months. The route runs year round — the wetter months are greener and quieter, and only the forest walking really changes with the season.

What is the minimum age for the gorilla trek?

15, set by Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) and not something an operator can waive. Younger children can still travel with you — we build the rest of the itinerary around the trekking day.