Day 1: Arrival in Entebbe

Arrive at Entebbe International Airport, where your driver-guide meets you and transfers you to your hotel for dinner and overnight. Depending on arrival time, there may be a chance for a relaxed stroll along Lake Victoria’s shoreline before your safari begins. Travelers comparing the shorter version of the Uganda-Rwanda leg can also look at our 10 Days Uganda Rwanda Safari, which this itinerary builds directly upon. Overnight: Entebbe

Day 2: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park

After breakfast, drive west toward Kibale Forest, passing through the Rift Valley escarpment and the crater lakes region near Fort Portal. Kibale is home to thirteen primate species and one of the highest densities of chimpanzees in Africa. Overnight: Kibale area

Day 3: Chimpanzee Trekking & Bigodi Wetland Walk

An early morning briefing at Kibale headquarters precedes the trek into the forest to track wild chimpanzees, an activity that typically lasts two to four hours. In the afternoon, a guided walk through the community-run Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary offers excellent birding and further primate sightings at a gentler pace. Overnight: Kibale area

Day 4: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Drive south to Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda’s most biologically diverse park. In the afternoon, take a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, one of the best wildlife-viewing waterways in East Africa, with reliable sightings of hippos, buffalo, elephants, and a huge variety of water birds. Overnight: Queen Elizabeth National Park

Day 5: Game Drive & Transfer to Bwindi via Ishasha

An early game drive across the Kasenyi Plains, then a scenic drive south through the Ishasha sector, famous for its tree-climbing lions, before continuing to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Overnight: Bwindi area

Day 6: Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi

The first major highlight of the safari. After a briefing at park headquarters, trek into the forest with your ranger guide in search of a habituated gorilla family — a hike that can take anywhere from thirty minutes to several hours, followed by an unforgettable hour in their presence. The afternoon is set aside for a Batwa cultural experience, learning about the forest’s original inhabitants. Overnight: Bwindi area

Day 7: Free Morning & Transfer Toward the Border

A relaxed morning at your lodge — some travelers use this time for an optional second nature walk or simply to rest — before an afternoon transfer south toward the Rwandan border, staying overnight close to the crossing point. Overnight: Kisoro area

Day 8: Cross into Rwanda via Cyanika Border

Drive to the Cyanika border crossing, through some of the most scenic terracing and hillside farmland in the region. Once through immigration formalities on the Rwandan side, continue to Musanze, the gateway town for Volcanoes National Park. Overnight: Musanze/Volcanoes area

Day 9: Second Gorilla Trek in Volcanoes National Park

A full day at Volcanoes National Park, once home to Dian Fossey’s research camp. Trek through open bamboo forest — a noticeably different habitat from Bwindi — for your second encounter with mountain gorillas, part of the broader gorilla trekking experiences this region is known for. Overnight: Musanze/Volcanoes area

Day 10: Golden Monkey Tracking & Iby’iwacu Cultural Village

A lighter, livelier outing this morning as you track golden monkeys through the bamboo zone of Volcanoes National Park. In the afternoon, visit the Iby’iwacu Cultural Village, where local performers and craftspeople showcase traditional Rwandan dance, music, and daily life. Overnight: Musanze/Volcanoes area

Day 11: Transfer to Kigali & City Tour

Drive to Kigali, arriving in time for a guided city tour that includes the Kigali Genocide Memorial, an essential and moving stop for understanding Rwanda’s history and its remarkable recovery, along with a look at the city’s markets and hilltop viewpoints. Overnight: Kigali

Day 12: Flight to Nairobi

A free morning in Kigali before your flight to Nairobi, Kenya. On arrival, your Kenyan driver-guide meets you and transfers you to your hotel. Overnight: Nairobi

Day 13: Transfer to Maasai Mara National Reserve

An early departure for the drive to the Maasai Mara, descending into the Great Rift Valley with stops at scenic viewpoints along the way. Arrive in time for lunch and an afternoon game drive as your first taste of the Mara’s open plains. Overnight: Maasai Mara

Day 14: Full Day Game Drives in the Maasai Mara

A full day exploring the reserve, with morning and afternoon game drives in search of lion, elephant, leopard, and — depending on the season — the wildebeest migration crossing the Mara River. A picnic lunch allows for extended time out in the park. Overnight: Maasai Mara

Day 15: Maasai Cultural Visit & Second Day in the Mara

A morning visit to a local Maasai village to learn about the community’s traditions and homestead life, followed by further game viewing in the afternoon. Kaara Adventures’ own Kenya tours and their 7-day Masai Mara, Lake Naivasha, Lake Nakuru & Amboseli itinerary cover much of this same ground for travelers comparing options. Overnight: Maasai Mara

Day 16: Transfer to Lake Nakuru National Park

Depart the Mara and drive to Lake Nakuru, arriving in time for an afternoon game drive. Nakuru is a compact but richly diverse park, known for its birdlife — flamingos and pelicans crowd the shoreline in good years — and for both black and white rhino. Overnight: Lake Nakuru area

Day 17: Full Day at Lake Nakuru

A full day exploring Lake Nakuru’s varied habitats, from acacia woodland to open grassland and lakeshore, with strong chances of rhino, giraffe, buffalo, and leopard alongside the park’s famous birdlife. Overnight: Lake Nakuru area

Day 18: Transfer to Amboseli National Park

A scenic drive south, often routed via Nairobi, to Amboseli National Park, with views across the Rift Valley and changing landscapes as you approach Kilimanjaro’s foothills. Overnight: Amboseli area

Day 19: Full Day Game Drives in Amboseli

Amboseli is famous above all for its elephant herds, often photographed against the backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro on a clear day. Morning and afternoon game drives focus on the park’s swamps and marshland, which draw large concentrations of wildlife even in the dry season. Overnight: Amboseli area

Day 20: Transfer to Nairobi & Departure

Drive back to Nairobi, with time along the way for last-minute souvenir shopping, before your transfer to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your departure flight, marking the end of your 20 Days Uganda Rwanda Kenya Safari.

What’s Included

• All ground transport in a 4×4 safari vehicle with English-speaking driver-guide throughout Uganda, Rwanda, and Kenya
• One domestic/regional flight from Kigali to Nairobi
• Accommodation on a full-board basis for 19 nights
• Park entrance fees for all listed activities
• One gorilla trekking permit in Uganda and one in Rwanda
• Golden monkey tracking permit
• Boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel
• Bottled drinking water while on the road
• Airport transfers in Entebbe, Kigali, and Nairobi

What’s Not Included

• International flights into Entebbe and out of Nairobi
• Uganda, Rwanda, and Kenya visas / East Africa Tourist Visa
• Tips for guides and lodge staff
• Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks not listed
• Travel insurance
• Optional activities not mentioned in the itinerary (e.g. hot air balloon safari over the Mara, Batwa community add-ons beyond the standard visit)

Accommodation Options

This itinerary can be arranged at Luxury, Mid-Range, or Budget level throughout, with lodges and camps adjusted accordingly at each stop — Kibale, Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi, Volcanoes National Park, the Maasai Mara, Lake Nakuru, and Amboseli. Let us know your preferred style when enquiring and we’ll build the quote around it.

A Note on Gorilla Permits and Visas

Gorilla permits in both Uganda and Rwanda are limited and sell out months in advance, particularly during the June–September and December–February peak seasons. We strongly recommend booking this safari at least 3–6 months ahead to secure permit dates across both countries. Travelers should also check whether the East Africa Tourist Visa applies to their nationality and route, as it can simplify border formalities between Uganda, Rwanda, and Kenya considerably. For a wider look at how this trip fits alongside other multi-country options, see our East Africa Safaris and Combining Trips pages.

Fitness & Pace

This is a long itinerary with significant driving days alongside two physically demanding gorilla treks, so a reasonable level of fitness is helpful. The pace eases considerably once the trip reaches Kenya, where days are built around vehicle-based game drives rather than forest hiking.

Ready to Book?

Every itinerary we run is tailored to your dates, budget, and fitness level. Contact our team to check gorilla permit availability and get a full quote for this 20 Days Uganda Rwanda Kenya Safari, or browse our blog and full Primate Tours collection for more on planning your trip.