Tour overview

This 18-day small-group safari crosses four countries of East Africa, combining a mountain gorilla trek with some of the greatest game-viewing on the continent. Groups have no more than 12 travellers aged 15 and over, with a tour leader throughout. You travel in 4WD safari vehicles with a window seat for everyone, with an included flight from Kigali to Nairobi, and stay in hotels, safari lodges and permanent tented camps. Most meals are included: 17 breakfasts, 11 lunches and 10 dinners. The Uganda gorilla permit is included. The trip is otherwise land-only, starting in Kigali and ending in Arusha.

Rwanda sets the scene, with a visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial, the Gorilla Doctors headquarters in Musanze and the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund. Crossing into Uganda, you spend three nights in Queen Elizabeth National Park, home to more than 600 species of birds, with game drives looking for elephants, buffalo and the famous tree-climbing lions of Ishasha, and a community visit to learn how local people live alongside wildlife. In Bwindi, rangers lead you on a trek through steep forest to spend an hour with a family of mountain gorillas.

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A short flight takes you to Nairobi and on to the Maasai Mara, via a visit to a Maasai village in the remote Loita Hills, for two nights in a tented camp and game drives across the plains, with an optional balloon flight at dawn. After a night beside Lake Victoria, the source of the Nile, you cross into Tanzania for two nights in a tented camp in the Serengeti, with morning and afternoon game drives.

The safari ends with a descent into Ngorongoro Crater in open-roof 4x4s, where lions, rhinos and huge herds share a volcanic caldera, and a visit to the Hadzabe people, among the last hunter-gatherers in Africa, at Lake Eyasi. A free day in Karatu allows for a coffee farm or Lake Manyara before the trip ends in Arusha.

The physical rating is medium, with early starts, long drives on rough roads and a demanding gorilla trek. This trip suits wildlife lovers who want gorillas and the great plains of East Africa in one journey.

Trip highlights

  • The Kigali Genocide Memorial and the Dian Fossey campus (Days 2–3)
  • Game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park and Ishasha (Days 4–6)
  • A mountain gorilla trek in Bwindi, permit included (Day 8)
  • The Maasai Mara and a Maasai village visit (Days 10–11)
  • Game drives in the Serengeti (Days 13–14)
  • Ngorongoro Crater and the Hadzabe of Lake Eyasi (Days 15–16)

Your route

15 stops from Kigali to Arusha

18-day route: Kigali – Musanze – Queen Elizabeth NP – Bwindi – Nairobi – Maasai Mara – Serengeti – Ngorongoro – Arusha
  1. Kigali Day 1
  2. Musanze Days 2–3
  3. Queen Elizabeth NP Days 4–6
  4. Ishasha Day 6
  5. Kisoro Days 7–8
  6. Bwindi Impenetrable NP Day 8
  7. Kigali Day 9
  8. Nairobi Day 9
  9. Maasai Mara Days 10–11
  10. Lake Victoria Day 12
  11. Serengeti NP Days 13–14
  12. Ngorongoro Crater Day 15
  13. Karatu Days 15–16
  14. Lake Eyasi Day 16
  15. Arusha Days 17–18

Why choose this tour

Gorillas, the Maasai Mara, the Serengeti and Ngorongoro in one trip, with the gorilla permit and the Kigali–Nairobi flight included. Small groups in 4WD vehicles with a window seat for everyone, and most meals included.

Best suited to

  • Wildlife lovers wanting a once-in-a-lifetime safari
  • Active travellers fit enough for a steep forest trek
  • Travellers keen to understand local communities and conservation
  • Anyone with time for a longer African journey
A panoramic view over Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania

Day-by-day itinerary

18 days from Kigali, Rwanda to Arusha, Tanzania

  1. Day 1 · Kigali Arrive in Kigali

    Welcome to Kigali, Rwanda's capital. Arrive at any time and meet your leader and group at the welcome meeting.

    Hotel
    Hotel
  2. Day 2 · Kigali Genocide Memorial, Musanze Kigali Genocide Memorial to Musanze

    Visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial, which tells the story of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi and Rwanda's recovery. Drive north to Musanze, gateway to the Virunga volcanoes.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  3. Day 3 · Ellen DeGeneres Campus, Gorilla Doctors, Musanze Musanze

    Visit the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, a world leader in gorilla research and conservation, and the headquarters of the Gorilla Doctors, the vets who care for wild gorillas.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  4. Day 4 · Queen Elizabeth National Park Into Uganda: Queen Elizabeth National Park

    Cross into Uganda and drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park, home to more than 600 bird species and ten species of primates, for an afternoon game drive.

    Hotel
    Lodge
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  5. Day 5 · Queen Elizabeth National Park Game drives

    Another day of 4x4 game drives across the savannah, looking for elephants, buffalo, lions and antelope, with an optional boat trip on the Kazinga Channel.

    Hotel
    Lodge
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  6. Day 6 · Ishasha Ishasha

    Head to Ishasha, the park's southern sector, famous for its tree-climbing lions. Meet local residents at a community project to learn about rural life and living alongside wildlife.

    Hotel
    Lodge
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  7. Day 7 · Kisoro To Kisoro

    Drive about six hours to the south-west tip of Uganda, a journey that is like a game drive in itself, arriving at your lodge near Bwindi.

    Hotel
    Lodge
    Meals
    Breakfast
  8. Day 8 · Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Gorilla trek in Bwindi

    Join rangers and trackers to climb through the steep, muddy forest of Bwindi in search of a habituated family of mountain gorillas, and spend an hour in their company.

    Hotel
    Lodge
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  9. Day 9 · Kigali, Nairobi Fly to Nairobi

    Drive back to Kigali for your evening flight to Nairobi, where you are met and taken to your hotel.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  10. Day 10 · Loita Hills, Maasai Mara Loita Hills to the Maasai Mara

    Travel to the Maasai Mara, stopping in the remote Loita Hills to visit a traditional Maasai village. Arrive at your tented camp in time for an afternoon game drive.

    Hotel
    Permanent tented camp
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  11. Day 11 · Maasai Mara National Reserve Maasai Mara

    An optional dawn balloon flight with a bush breakfast gives a rare view over the plains. Then explore the Mara on game drives, looking for lions, cheetahs, elephants and, in season, the great migration.

    Hotel
    Permanent tented camp
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  12. Day 12 · Lake Victoria Lake Victoria

    A long travel day towards the Kenya–Tanzania border and the shores of Lake Victoria, Africa's largest lake and the main source of the Nile.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  13. Day 13 · Serengeti National Park Into the Serengeti

    After a relaxed morning by the lake, drive into the Serengeti, with its vast plains and abundant wildlife, for an afternoon game drive on the way to your camp.

    Hotel
    Permanent tented camp
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  14. Day 14 · Serengeti National Park Serengeti

    Set out early on a game drive, when the animals are most active, return to camp for a relaxed midday, and head out again in the afternoon.

    Hotel
    Permanent tented camp
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  15. Day 15 · Ngorongoro Crater Ngorongoro Crater

    A final Serengeti game drive on the way out of the park, then switch to open-roof 4x4s to descend into Ngorongoro Crater, a volcanic caldera teeming with wildlife, including lions and rhinos.

    Hotel
    Lodge
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  16. Day 16 · Lake Eyasi Lake Eyasi and the Hadzabe

    Drive to Lake Eyasi, a vast seasonal soda lake, and meet the Hadzabe people, who have lived here for more than 10,000 years and are among the last hunter-gatherers in Africa.

    Hotel
    Lodge
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  17. Day 17 · Karatu Free day in Karatu

    A free day to relax or choose an optional activity, such as a coffee plantation visit, a game drive in Lake Manyara National Park or a forest hike.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  18. Day 18 · Arusha Trip ends in Arusha

    The trip ends after breakfast. A transfer to Kilimanjaro or Arusha airport can be arranged at extra cost.

    Meals
    Breakfast
A lion resting on the floor of Ngorongoro Crater

Where you stay

  • Kigali (1 night) Hotel
  • Musanze (2 nights) Hotel
  • Queen Elizabeth National Park (3 nights) Lodge
  • Kisoro (2 nights) Lodge
  • Nairobi (1 night) Hotel
  • Maasai Mara (2 nights) Permanent tented camp
  • Lake Victoria (1 night) Hotel
  • Serengeti (2 nights) Permanent tented camp
  • Ngorongoro (1 night) Lodge
  • Lake Eyasi area (1 night) Lodge
  • Karatu (1 night) Hotel

Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.

What's included

Included

  • Accommodation 17 nights in hotels, safari lodges and permanent tented camps
  • Meals 17 breakfasts, 11 lunches and 10 dinners
  • Gorilla trek one Bwindi mountain gorilla trek with the Uganda permit included
  • Safari game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park, the Maasai Mara, the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater
  • Transport 4WD safari vehicles and a flight from Kigali to Nairobi
  • Visits Kigali Genocide Memorial, Gorilla Doctors, the Dian Fossey campus, Ishasha community project, a Maasai village and the Hadzabe at Lake Eyasi
  • Tour leader throughout

Not included

  • International flights to Kigali and from Arusha or Kilimanjaro
  • Departure transfer
  • Visas and border fees for Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania
  • Optional activities, such as balloon flights and golden monkey tracking
  • Single supplement, tips, travel insurance and personal spending
A silverback mountain gorilla resting in the forest

This trip might not be for you if…

Honest disclaimer — please read

  • You want international flights included — they are not
  • You dislike long, bumpy drives — there are several
  • You want luxury lodges throughout — accommodation is comfortable but varies
  • You have limited mobility — the gorilla trek can be long and steep

Good to know

FCDO advice UK FCDO travel advice for Kenya · UK FCDO travel advice for Rwanda · UK FCDO travel advice for Tanzania · UK FCDO travel advice for Uganda
A large herd of wildebeest on the savannah

In pictures

Departures & prices

From £7,080 per person, twin share, tour only. 39 upcoming departures.

Frequently asked questions

How do I book this tour?

Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.

What financial protection do I get?

Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.

Is the gorilla permit included?

Yes. One mountain gorilla trek in Bwindi with the Uganda permit is included. The trek can be long, steep and muddy, so good fitness and waterproof boots are needed.

What are the permanent tented camps like?

Fixed, walk-in safari tents with beds, set in the Maasai Mara and the Serengeti; this is not camping. Generators are switched off overnight, so bring a head torch.

Which flight is included?

The flight from Kigali to Nairobi on Day 9, with a transfer to your hotel. International flights to Kigali and home from Tanzania are not included.

How many people per vehicle?

Game drives use 4WD safari vehicles with one vehicle for up to six travellers, so everyone has a window seat. Ngorongoro Crater is visited in open-roof 4x4s.

What meals are included?

17 breakfasts, 11 lunches and 10 dinners, covering most meals on safari.

Do I need visas?

Yes, for Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania, arranged before travel. The East Africa Tourist Visa can cover Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya together.

Can you tailor the trip?

Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.

What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?

If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.

ATOL protected 100% financially protected in a Trust bank account PTS 6035 4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option

Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.

If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.

Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary

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