12 Day East Africa Safari
Explore Kenya and Tanzania's wildlife country, pause in Kigali and continue into Uganda for Bwindi gorillas, Mgahinga golden monkeys and a final night at Lake Bunyonyi.
Plan This Safari12 Days / 11 Nights / 4 Countries / Nairobi to Kigali
From Rift Valley wildlife to Uganda's mountain forests.
A busy route linking game drives, a regional flight, Kigali and 2 primate experiences across 4 East African countries.
Kenya
1 night at Lake Nakuru and 2 nights around the Masai Mara.
Tanzania
2 Serengeti-area nights, 1 Ngorongoro night and 1 Tarangire night.
Rwanda
1 Kigali night and a memorial visit before crossing into Uganda.
Uganda
2 southern Bwindi nights, Mgahinga tracking and 1 Lake Bunyonyi night.
Plains wildlife, crater scenery and forest encounters.
Rhino country, big cat territory and mountain gorilla forest come together on a journey from Nairobi to Kigali. Spend the first part of your holiday on game drives in Kenya and Tanzania, then change pace with guided walks in southwestern Uganda.
Begin at Lake Nakuru National Park before continuing to the Masai Mara . Cross into Tanzania by road and explore the Serengeti , Ngorongoro and Tarangire with your Tanzanian safari guide.
A regional flight brings you to Rwanda. Stay in Kigali and visit the memorial before travelling into Uganda. Rwanda's part of this itinerary centres on the capital. The primate experiences take place in southern Bwindi and Mgahinga.
In Bwindi Impenetrable National Park , follow ranger guides in search of a habituated gorilla family. Golden monkey tracking follows the next day, before your final lakeside stay at Lake Bunyonyi .
Expect early starts and several long travel days. The route suits travellers who enjoy moving between destinations and want variety within 12 days. Extra nights can be added to slow the pace. Our East Africa safari collection offers more regional combinations.
Safari Highlights
Look for rhinos and waterbirds around Lake Nakuru.
Spend a full day exploring the Masai Mara.
Continue into Tanzania for Serengeti game viewing.
Descend into Ngorongoro Crater for a wildlife drive.
Explore Tarangire's elephant and baobab landscapes.
Visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial with time for reflection.
Trek mountain gorillas with ranger guides in Bwindi.
Track golden monkeys in Mgahinga's bamboo forest.
Finish with a night beside Lake Bunyonyi.
East Africa, day by day.
3 nights in Kenya, 4 in Tanzania, 1 in Kigali and 3 in Uganda. Named lodges are subject to availability. Meals follow your confirmed quotation.
Arrive in Nairobi and Travel to Lake Nakuru
Meet your safari guide at Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. Begin the journey towards Lake Nakuru National Park , allowing around 2.5 to 3.5 hours in favourable traffic conditions.
Check in at Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge. If arrival and park-entry timing allow, head out for an afternoon game drive. Watch the open ground, woodland and lake edge with your guide.
Lake Nakuru Game Drive and Transfer to Masai Mara
Begin with morning wildlife viewing before leaving for the Masai Mara National Reserve . Keep your binoculars nearby for birds and more distant sightings.
Allow around 5 to 6 hours for the road journey, with timing affected by stops and the camp approach. Settle into Sekenani Camp on arrival.
A short afternoon drive is possible only if there is enough daylight and your entry arrangements allow. Tomorrow is reserved for a full wildlife day.
Full Day Masai Mara Safari
Set out early with your guide and a picnic lunch. Follow a route shaped by wildlife activity, stopping to watch animal behaviour rather than hurrying between sightings.
Search the grasslands, wooded areas and river corridors. Look carefully around resting herds and shaded ground, with your guide explaining what you encounter.
If the Great Migration herds are in an accessible area, their location can influence the day's route. Herd movements and river crossings remain unpredictable. An optional Maasai community visit can be quoted separately.
Cross into Tanzania and Continue to the Serengeti Area
Leave early for the Isebania border crossing. Complete Kenya's exit and Tanzania's entry procedures, then meet the Tanzanian team for the onward road journey.
Continue towards the Ikoma area. Keep today focused on reaching your accommodation, with lunch and comfort stops arranged along the route. Border queues and road conditions can extend the journey.
Check into Ikoma Hills Lodge in the Serengeti area. Rest after the transfer and prepare for tomorrow's game viewing.
Full Day Serengeti Game Viewing
Spend the day exploring Serengeti National Park with your Tanzanian guide. Carry lunch so your route can extend beyond a short morning circuit.
Scan grassland, rocky outcrops and wooded areas as you travel. Stop to watch feeding, resting and interactions between animals. The day's route depends on your lodge location and wildlife conditions.
An optional sunrise balloon safari can be quoted in advance. Its launch area and transfers must fit your accommodation and the day's driving plan.
Serengeti Wildlife Viewing and Transfer to Ngorongoro
Leave your lodge with luggage and enjoy wildlife viewing along the planned route towards the Ngorongoro highlands.
The transfer length depends on your starting point and stops. Allow more time from the Ikoma area than from central Serengeti. Your guide will balance game viewing with the onward drive.
Arrive at Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge and settle in. Keep a warm layer ready for the cooler evening and early start.
Ngorongoro Crater Safari and Transfer to Tarangire
Start early and descend into Ngorongoro Crater for a morning game drive. Explore the permitted tracks, watching the grassland, wetland and woodland habitats.
After the crater visit, continue towards Tarangire National Park . Allow around 3 to 4 hours for the road transfer, depending on conditions and the lodge approach.
Check into Tarangire Safari Lodge. Any further wildlife drive depends on daylight, entry timing and the day's progress.
Tarangire and Flight to Kigali
Enjoy an early Tarangire game drive if the flight schedule allows. Otherwise, have breakfast and begin your airport transfer without adding a separate drive.
Travel to the departure airport named in your confirmed booking. Flight routing to Kigali may be direct or connecting, depending on the available service. Airport transfer times are planned around your lodge and check-in requirements.
On arrival in Rwanda, meet your driver and transfer to Five to Five Hotel in Kigali. Settle in and rest before the next day's border journey.
Kigali Genocide Memorial and Transfer to Southern Bwindi
Visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial in the morning, allowing time for a respectful visit and reflection. Then leave Kigali for southwestern Uganda.
Cross through the border selected for your route and continue towards southern Bwindi. Allow much of the day for the journey, including formalities, lunch and the final lodge approach.
Check into Rushaga Gorilla Camp for a confirmed Rushaga permit. Your guide will review the next morning's arrangements and what to carry into the forest.
Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi
Have an early breakfast and travel to the briefing point. Register and meet the Uganda Wildlife Authority ranger team before entering the forest.
Follow your guides across uneven ground and through changing vegetation. The trek can involve steep or muddy sections, and its length depends on the gorillas' location. Keep your daypack light and walk at a steady pace.
Once the family is located, spend up to 1 permitted hour observing them. Follow the ranger's directions, keep the required distance and avoid flash photography.
Return to the lodge and rest. A community visit is optional and depends on your return time and energy. Our Uganda gorilla trekking guide explains more about the experience.
Mgahinga Golden Monkeys and Lake Bunyonyi
Leave Rushaga early for the transfer to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Arrange breakfast or a packed breakfast around the confirmed departure time. The drive from Rushaga is longer than a transfer from Kisoro.
Arrive for registration and briefing before golden monkey tracking. Follow your ranger into the forest and watch the monkeys as they feed and move through the bamboo.
After tracking, continue to Lake Bunyonyi . Settle into Bunyonyi Overland Resort and leave the rest of the day for relaxation. No extra lake activity is required after the early start.
Lake Bunyonyi to Kigali and Departure
Have breakfast beside the lake, check out and begin the return journey to Rwanda. Keep your passport and entry documents accessible for the border.
Continue to Kigali for your agreed hotel or airport drop-off. Departure timing must allow for the road journey, border clearance and airport check-in.
For an early flight, add a Kigali overnight and depart the following day. Any city stop on arrival depends on the time available.
Safari Inclusions and Exclusions
What's Included
- 11 nights of accommodation as confirmed.
- Meals listed in your final quotation.
- Private safari transport for the scheduled road journeys.
- Professional English-speaking driver guides for each country section.
- Scheduled airport pickups and transfers.
- Lake Nakuru and Masai Mara game viewing with applicable entry fees.
- Serengeti game viewing and applicable park fees.
- Ngorongoro Crater visit and vehicle descent charges.
- Tarangire entry and game viewing as scheduled.
- Scheduled regional flight from Tanzania to Kigali.
- Kigali Genocide Memorial visit as described.
- Scheduled cross-border road transfers and driver assistance.
- 1 standard Bwindi gorilla trekking permit per traveller.
- 1 Mgahinga golden monkey tracking permit per traveller.
- Park ranger guiding for the included primate treks.
- Bottled drinking water during safari drives and road transfers.
- Applicable package taxes as itemised in your quotation.
What's Not Included
- International flights into Nairobi and out of Kigali.
- Visa, electronic travel authorisation and entry charges where applicable.
- Travel and medical insurance.
- Optional balloon safaris.
- Optional community visits and unlisted cultural activities.
- Optional Lake Bunyonyi boat trips or other lake activities.
- Porter assistance during gorilla trekking.
- Alcoholic drinks and premium beverages.
- Meals not included in the confirmed quotation.
- Tips for guides, rangers, trackers and lodge staff.
- Laundry, souvenirs and personal expenses.
- Excess baggage charges.
- Additional accommodation before or after the safari.
Frequently Asked Questions
Plan the arrival time, border journeys and trekking arrangements before confirming your international flights.
Where does the safari start and finish?
Start in Nairobi, Kenya, and finish in Kigali, Rwanda. Day 1 needs an early arrival to allow the Lake Nakuru transfer. A late arrival requires an extra Nairobi night or a revised programme.
Is 12 days enough for this 4-country route?
It is an active itinerary with early mornings, long drives and several short stays. It suits travellers who enjoy a varied journey and are comfortable moving regularly. Extra nights in the Mara, Serengeti or Uganda can reduce the pace.
Do we drive or fly between countries?
Drive from Kenya into Tanzania through Isebania, then take a scheduled regional flight from Tanzania to Kigali. Travel between Rwanda and Uganda by road, returning to Kigali on the final day. Driver and vehicle changes are coordinated between country sections.
What do we visit in Rwanda?
Stay 1 night in Kigali and visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial before travelling to Uganda. Volcanoes National Park is not part of this route. For more time in Rwanda, explore our Rwanda safari packages and ask about extending your stay.
Are the gorilla and golden monkey permits included?
Yes. The package includes 1 standard Bwindi gorilla permit and 1 Mgahinga golden monkey tracking permit per traveller. Availability must be confirmed for your dates. Read our gorilla permit guide for more about arranging the trek.
How do the Bwindi and Mgahinga stays connect?
The standard plan uses a Rushaga gorilla permit and 2 nights at Rushaga Gorilla Camp. Day 11 requires an early transfer to Mgahinga before tracking. A different permit sector changes the lodge and transfer plan. An adjusted overnight near Kisoro can be quoted if preferred.
Will we see the Great Migration?
It depends on the season and where the herds are during your visit. Your guide will consider accessible herd locations, but river crossings are not guaranteed. Our Great Wildebeest Migration guide explains the wider movement through Kenya and Tanzania.
Can we fly home from Kigali on Day 12?
A suitably late flight may work after the Lake Bunyonyi transfer, subject to the final schedule. Border queues and road delays need room in the plan. For an early departure, add a Kigali overnight and fly the following day.
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Send your travel dates, group size and preferred pace. BLS Safaris will coordinate the lodges, regional flight, border transfers and primate permits for your journey.