A 12 day Kenya Uganda Rwanda safari is our most complete East Africa itinerary, pairing Maasai Mara Big Five game viewing with a gorilla trek in each of Uganda and Rwanda.
- FromUSD 5,400per person sharing, group of 6, both gorilla permits included, low season
- Duration12 days, 11 nights
- StartsNairobi
- Best forTravelers who want Big Five game viewing plus both Uganda and Rwanda gorillas in one trip
- StylePrivate, any group size
Rated 5.0 on Google from 46 reviews. Price confirmed in writing before you pay.
Most gorilla trips force a choice between countries. This Kenya Uganda Rwanda safari does not, giving you the Mara’s open plains, a Bwindi gorilla family in dense Ugandan forest and a second gorilla trek at Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, all inside 12 days.
We run every Kenya Uganda Rwanda safari with a private driver guide in Kenya, licensed trekking guides in Uganda and Rwanda and both gorilla permits secured ahead of time. Prices below are a guide price per person sharing, confirmed in writing on WhatsApp before any deposit.
Highlights
- Maasai Mara Big Five game viewing over 3 full days
- One gorilla trek in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
- One gorilla trek in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park
- East Africa Tourist Visa covers all 3 countries on one application
- Both gorilla permits secured and confirmed before you travel
- A genuinely varied trip, savannah, rainforest and volcanic highlands in one itinerary
Day by day plan
- Day 1
Arrive Nairobi
Land in Nairobi and transfer to your hotel for the night, ready for an early start into the Maasai Mara the next morning.
- Day 2 to 4
Maasai Mara Big Five safari
A drive or short flight into the Maasai Mara for 3 full days of game drives, morning and afternoon, covering resident lion prides, elephant, buffalo and, with good fortune, leopard and rhino. This opening block of your Kenya Uganda Rwanda safari sets the Big Five foundation before the gorilla trekking begins.
- Day 5
Mara to Entebbe
A flight back to Nairobi connecting on to Entebbe, Uganda, with an overnight near the airport or a short transfer toward Lake Mburo if timing allows.
- Day 6 to 7
Transfer to Bwindi and trek
A scenic road transfer south west toward Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, often broken with a stop at Lake Mburo National Park, followed by your Uganda gorilla trek, a full day trekking to a habituated family and a strict, ranger timed hour in their presence.
- Day 8
Bwindi to Kigali
A road transfer across the border into Rwanda, roughly 4 to 5 hours, arriving in Kigali or heading directly toward Volcanoes National Park depending on your onward schedule.
- Day 9
Rwanda gorilla trek
Your second gorilla trek of the Kenya Uganda Rwanda safari, this time in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, on shorter, smoother roads than Uganda’s Bwindi approach, with a different gorilla family and terrain for genuine contrast.
- Day 10
Golden monkeys or Lake Kivu
An optional golden monkey tracking add on inside Volcanoes National Park, or a relaxed transfer to Lake Kivu for a quieter final day before flying home.
- Day 11
Kigali to Nairobi
A regional flight back to Nairobi, with the rest of the day free for last minute shopping or rest at your hotel.
- Day 12
Depart Nairobi
Transfer to the airport for your international flight home, closing out a full 12 day Kenya Uganda Rwanda safari.
12 day Kenya Uganda Rwanda safari, per person sharing, both permits included
| Tier | 2 people | 4 people | 6 people |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | USD 6,200 | USD 5,700 | USD 5,400 |
| Mid range | USD 7,200 | USD 6,600 | USD 6,200 |
| Luxury | USD 9,200 | USD 8,400 | USD 7,800 |
- Rates include the USD 800 Uganda gorilla permit, the USD 1,500 Rwanda gorilla permit, all park and conservation fees, accommodation, vehicles, guides and internal flights.
- The East Africa Tourist Visa, about USD 100, covers Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda on one application and is confirmed separately at booking.
- A solo traveler pays a single supplement, since lodge rooms and vehicle costs are shared across fewer people.
Get my exact price on WhatsApp
Reserve this trip
Pick your dates and group. See the total. Hold it with a deposit.
Pay by Mpesa, bank transfer or card once we confirm in writing. Free changes until you confirm.
Included
- Private driver guide and 4×4 for the Kenya portion
- Licensed trekking guides for both gorilla treks
- One Uganda gorilla permit and one Rwanda gorilla permit per person
- All park, conservation and conservancy fees on the itinerary
- Accommodation on full board throughout
- Internal flights, Mara to Nairobi and Kigali to Nairobi
Not included
- International flights into Nairobi and out of Nairobi
- East Africa Tourist Visa fee, about USD 100
- Tips for driver guides, trekking guides and porters
- Alcoholic drinks and items of a personal nature
- Travel insurance with high altitude and trekking cover
Do I need the East Africa Tourist Visa for this trip
Most nationalities do not strictly need it, but it is the smartest option for a Kenya Uganda Rwanda safari, since one application, about USD 100, covers entry to Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda for 90 days rather than 3 separate single country visas.
Apply online before you travel and carry proof of your first port of entry, since the East Africa Tourist Visa must be obtained before your first country’s border, not on arrival at a later stop on this itinerary.
How many gorilla treks are included
2. Every Kenya Uganda Rwanda safari includes one trek in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and one in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, each a separate permit, a separate gorilla family and genuinely different terrain and forest type.
Some guests ask about adding a third trek or a chimpanzee tracking day at Kibale or Nyungwe; this is possible but extends the trip beyond 12 days, so ask us if you want that version instead.
How much does a 12 day East Africa safari cost
A 12 day Kenya Uganda Rwanda safari starts from about USD 5,400 per person sharing in a group of 6 at the standard tier, rising to around USD 9,200 for luxury at 2 people sharing. Both gorilla permits, USD 800 for Uganda and USD 1,500 for Rwanda, are included at every tier.
This is a premium itinerary given the 2 permit cost alone runs USD 2,300 per person before accommodation, vehicles or flights are added, so budget accordingly against our shorter 10 day Kenya safari and Uganda gorilla trek if a single country gorilla trek suits your budget better.
How much internal flying is involved
2 flights are built into this Kenya Uganda Rwanda safari, Mara or Nairobi to Entebbe and Kigali back to Nairobi at the end. The Bwindi to Kigali leg runs overland by road, about 4 to 5 hours, since no practical flight connects the 2 directly.
Total flying time across the trip is modest, well under half a day combined, with road transfers making up the rest of the travel between destinations.
Why a Kenya Uganda Rwanda safari beats 2 separate trips
Trekking both countries lets you compare 2 genuinely different gorilla experiences, Uganda’s steeper, more humid Bwindi forest against Rwanda’s shorter, smoother approach from Kigali, without needing 2 separate holidays.
It also spreads permit availability risk, since if your preferred date is full in one country, the other often still has space, which our Uganda vs Rwanda gorilla trekking guide covers in more detail if you are still deciding which country to prioritise.
What the Maasai Mara portion adds to this trip
3 full days in the Mara gives real depth to the Big Five side of this Kenya Uganda Rwanda safari, rather than a token single game drive tacked onto a gorilla focused trip. Lion, elephant and buffalo are reliably seen, with leopard and rhino a real possibility given enough time.
See our 3 day Maasai Mara safari page for what this opening block looks like as a standalone trip if you want more detail on the Mara portion specifically.
Fitness and health requirements
Both gorilla treks demand reasonable fitness, since trails climb steeply through humid forest and trekking time can run from under an hour to 6 hours depending on where each family is that day. Porters are available and worth hiring at both parks.
Yellow fever vaccination proof is required across all 3 countries on this itinerary and malaria prevention is strongly recommended throughout. See our vaccinations and malaria guide and travel insurance and Flying Doctors guide before you travel.
Best time of year for this itinerary
Jun to Sep and Dec to Feb are the driest windows across Uganda and Rwanda, with firmer trekking trails and also fall within Kenya’s better Mara game viewing months, making them the strongest overall choice for a Kenya Uganda Rwanda safari.
Apr, May and Nov bring more rain to the gorilla trekking legs and can make trails muddier, though this is also when Rwanda’s permit price has historically dropped in some years, worth asking us about if your dates are flexible.
Packing for 3 climates in one trip
This itinerary crosses open, dusty Mara plains, humid Bwindi rainforest and cool, often wet Volcanoes National Park highlands, so layered clothing matters more here than on a single destination safari.
Waterproof boots, a rain jacket and gardening gloves matter for both gorilla treks, while lighter safari clothing and sun protection cover the Mara days. Our packing checklist covers the safari basics that apply across all 3 legs.
Booking timeline and permit availability
Book this Kenya Uganda Rwanda safari at least 4 to 6 months ahead, since both gorilla permits are limited per day and need to be secured together to make the connecting logistics work smoothly.
Peak months, Jun to Sep and the festive period, can sell out permits even earlier, so the sooner you confirm dates the more choice you have over which specific gorilla families and lodges are available.
Who a Kenya Uganda Rwanda safari itinerary suits
This trip suits experienced safari travelers on a bigger trip budget who want maximum variety in one visit, rather than first time visitors on a tighter schedule or budget. It also suits milestone trips, anniversaries or once in a lifetime bookings where cost matters less than covering as much ground as possible.
Travelers wanting a gentler introduction to East Africa, or a lower total cost, are usually better served by our 10 day Kenya safari and Uganda gorilla trek, which drops the Rwanda leg and its second permit.
Extending or shortening this itinerary
Some guests trim the Mara portion to 2 days to shorten the overall trip, or add a Nyungwe Forest chimpanzee tracking day in Rwanda for a third primate experience, which extends the trip to about 14 days.
Tell us what matters most, cost, time or maximum wildlife variety and we will adjust this Kenya Uganda Rwanda safari itinerary around that priority rather than fitting you into a single fixed template. Our Kenya luxury safaris page has more on the higher end tier if premium lodges matter more to you than trimming days.
How to book your Kenya Uganda Rwanda safari
Booking your Kenya Uganda Rwanda safari with us takes about five minutes of your time. The rest is our job. Here is exactly what happens, step by step, so there are no surprises along the way.
- Send your dates. Message us on WhatsApp with your travel dates, how many people are coming and the ages of any children. Tell us if you have a budget in mind. We plan with it, not around it.
- Get a written quote. We reply with a clear price per person, what it includes and what it does not. No hidden park fees and no vague extras. If a cheaper camp or a shorter route makes more sense, we say so.
- Tweak it until it fits. Change a camp, add a night or swap a park. Ask as many questions as you like. Changes cost nothing until you confirm.
- Confirm with a deposit. A deposit holds your vehicle, guide and rooms. You get a written confirmation with every detail and the date the balance is due.
- Travel day. Your driver guide meets you at your hotel or the airport with a name board. You have their number and ours for the whole trip.
What every trip with us includes
Every Kenya Uganda Rwanda safari plan we put together comes with the basics done properly. You ride in a safari vehicle with a pop up roof, with a professional driver guide who knows the parks. Water is in the cooler box and park fees are sorted in advance so you do not stand in a queue at the gate.
We also stay reachable. If something changes on the road, a flat tyre, a closed route or a sudden storm, we sort it and keep you posted on WhatsApp.
Paying safely
We share payment details in writing only and every payment gets a receipt. The payment options and the balance date sit on your written quote, so nothing is left to memory or a phone call.
Why book with a Nairobi team
We live here. We drive these roads all year, we know which camps are honest about their photos and we know when a park is too busy to enjoy. That local knowledge is what turns a good Kenya Uganda Rwanda safari into a great one. Our Google rating sits at 5.0 from 46 reviews and we plan to keep it that way.
Ready when you are. Send us a message and we will put a plan together for you shortly.
Questions people ask
Do I need the East Africa Tourist Visa for this trip?
Not strictly, but it is the smartest option, since one application, about USD 100, covers Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda for 90 days rather than 3 separate visas. Apply online before your first port of entry on this Kenya Uganda Rwanda safari.
How many gorilla treks are included?
2, one in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and one in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, each with a separate permit and a different gorilla family. A third trek or chimpanzee tracking day can be added on request, extending the trip.
How much does a 12 day East Africa safari cost?
From about USD 5,400 per person sharing in a group of 6 at the standard tier, up to around USD 9,200 for luxury at 2 people sharing. Both gorilla permits, USD 800 and USD 1,500, are included at every tier of this Kenya Uganda Rwanda safari.
How much internal flying is involved?
2 flights, Mara or Nairobi to Entebbe and Kigali back to Nairobi. The Bwindi to Kigali leg runs overland by road, about 4 to 5 hours, since no practical flight connects the two directly.
Which gorilla trek should I do first, Uganda or Rwanda?
Our standard Kenya Uganda Rwanda safari treks Uganda first, then transfers to Rwanda, since this follows the natural overland route from the Mara through Entebbe and Bwindi before reaching Kigali. The order can be reversed on request.
Is this trip physically demanding?
Both gorilla treks require reasonable fitness, with trekking time from under an hour to 6 hours depending on where each family is found. Porters are available at both parks and are worth hiring for any 12 day Kenya Uganda Rwanda safari.
Can I shorten this itinerary?
Yes, trimming the Mara portion to 2 days is the most common adjustment. Dropping a full country is possible too; our 10 day Kenya safari and Uganda gorilla trek covers that shorter, single permit alternative.
How far in advance should I book?
At least 4 to 6 months ahead, since both gorilla permits are limited per day and need coordinating together. Peak months, Jun to Sep and the festive period, can sell out even earlier.
Official information: East African Tourist Visa, official information.
Ready when you are. Send your dates and group size. We reply with a clear price and a plan you can change.
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