20 Days Safari covering East Africa

20 Days Safari covering East Africa. Twenty days across four countries and eight national parks, built as the definitive answer to “show me all of East Africa.” This safari opens with chimpanzee trekking in Uganda’s Kibale Forest and game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park, moves into the misty highlands for mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi and Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, flies into Kenya for the legendary Maasai Mara, and finishes with an overland crossing into Tanzania’s Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater, and Tarangire National Park. It’s a genuinely complete regional circuit, run by a team that knows the Uganda and Rwanda legs inside out at Pick and Transfer Safaris.

Tour Highlights

Game drives and a Nile-side wildlife experience near Queen Elizabeth National Park
Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest, the Primate Capital of the World
The tree-climbing lions and Kazinga Channel boat cruise, Queen Elizabeth National Park
Mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
A second gorilla trek in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park
The Kigali Genocide Memorial and a guided city tour of Kigali
Big cats, elephants, and the Mara River in the legendary Maasai Mara, Kenya
An overland border crossing into Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park
A descent into the Ngorongoro Crater, one of the highest concentrations of wildlife in Africa
Elephant herds and ancient baobabs in Tarangire National Park

Day-by-Day Itinerary

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. Overnight: Entebbe

Day 2: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park

Drive west toward Kibale Forest National Park, regularly described as the Primate Capital of the World, passing through the Rift Valley escarpment and the crater lakes region near Fort Portal. Overnight: Kibale area

Day 3: Chimpanzee Trekking & Bigodi Wetland Walk

An early briefing at Kibale headquarters precedes the trek into the forest to track wild chimpanzees. In the afternoon, a guided walk through the community-run Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary adds further primate sightings and excellent birding. Overnight: Kibale area

Day 4: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Drive south to Queen Elizabeth National Park, known as the Medley of Wonders for its crater lakes, wildlife-rich channel, and diverse habitats. Overnight: Queen Elizabeth National Park

Day 5: Game Drive & Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise

A morning game drive across the Kasenyi Plains, followed by an afternoon boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, with reliable sightings of hippo, buffalo, elephant, and abundant water birds. Overnight: Queen Elizabeth National Park

Day 6: Transfer to Bwindi via Ishasha

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 7: Free Day in Bwindi

A flexible day at your lodge to settle in ahead of tomorrow’s trek, with an optional community walk or additional nature walk available for those who’d like to stay active. Overnight: Bwindi area

Day 8: Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi

After a briefing at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park headquarters, trek into the forest with your ranger guide in search of a habituated gorilla family, followed by an unforgettable hour in their presence. Permits are managed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority. Overnight: Bwindi area

Day 9: Cross into Rwanda & Transfer to Musanze

Drive to the border crossing through scenic terracing and hillside farmland, then continue to Musanze, the gateway town for Volcanoes National Park. Overnight: Musanze/Volcanoes area

Day 10: Second Gorilla Trek in Volcanoes National Park

A full day at Volcanoes National Park, trekking through open bamboo forest for your second encounter with mountain gorillas. Rwanda’s permit system is managed by the Rwanda Development Board. 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, along with a look at the city’s markets and hilltop viewpoints. Overnight: Kigali

Day 12: Free Morning & 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. Arrive in time for lunch and an afternoon game drive. The reserve falls under Kenya’s national conservation framework overseen by the Kenya Wildlife Service. 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. Overnight: Maasai Mara

Day 15: Cross the Border & Transfer to Serengeti National Park

Depart the Mara for the overland crossing into Tanzania via the Isebania/Sirari border post, continuing on to the northern Serengeti — part of the same unbroken ecosystem as the Mara. Tanzania’s national parks, including the Serengeti, are managed by the Tanzania National Parks Authority. Overnight: Serengeti area

Day 16: Full Day Game Drives in the Serengeti

A full day in the Serengeti, whose endless plains are synonymous with the word “safari.” Morning and afternoon game drives cover different sectors of the park. Overnight: Serengeti area

Day 17: Transfer to Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Drive south through the Serengeti’s central plains, via Naabi Hill Gate, toward the Ngorongoro Highlands, arriving at your lodge on the crater rim with sweeping views into the caldera. Overnight: Ngorongoro Crater rim

Day 18: Ngorongoro Crater Game Drive & Transfer to Tarangire

An early descent into the Ngorongoro Crater floor for a full morning game drive across one of the highest concentrations of wildlife anywhere in Africa. In the afternoon, drive on to Tarangire National Park. Overnight: Tarangire area

Day 19: Full Day Game Drives in Tarangire

A full day exploring Tarangire, known for its large elephant herds and ancient baobab trees, along the Tarangire River which draws wildlife even in the dry season. Overnight: Tarangire area

Day 20: Transfer to Arusha & Departure

Drive to Arusha, with time along the way for a stop at a coffee plantation or local market, before your transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your departure flight — marking the end of your 20 Days East Africa Safari.

What’s Included

All ground transport in a 4×4 safari vehicle with English-speaking driver-guide throughout Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, and Tanzania
One 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
Ngorongoro Crater descent fees
Boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel
Bottled drinking water while on the road
Airport transfers in Entebbe, Kigali, Nairobi, and Arusha/Kilimanjaro

What’s Not Included

International flights into Entebbe and out of Kilimanjaro
Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, and Tanzania 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 Serengeti or Mara, golden monkey tracking)

Accommodation Options

This itinerary can be arranged at Budget, Mid-Range, or Luxury level throughout, with lodges and camps adjusted accordingly at each stop — Kibale, Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi, Volcanoes National Park, the Maasai Mara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater rim, and Tarangire. See our Gorilla Safaris and Wildlife Safaris collections for a sense of how our other itineraries are priced, and let us know your preferred style when enquiring.

A Note on Permits, Borders, 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; because this itinerary includes two separate gorilla treks, we recommend booking at least 3–6 months ahead. Permit systems are managed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority and the Rwanda Development Board respectively, while Kenya’s parks fall under the Kenya Wildlife Service and Tanzania’s under the Tanzania National Parks Authority. The Kenya–Tanzania land border at Isebania/Sirari is well used by safari traffic and generally straightforward, though single-entry Kenya and Tanzania visas do not cover re-entry, so confirm current visa requirements for all four countries before departure.

Fitness & Pace

This is a long, four-country itinerary with substantial driving days, two physically demanding gorilla treks, and an overland border crossing partway through. A reasonable level of fitness is helpful for the Uganda and Rwanda forest sections; the pace eases into vehicle-based game drives for the Kenya and Tanzania legs.

Best Time to Travel

The dry months from June to October and January to February generally offer the easiest wildlife viewing across all four countries and align well with gorilla trekking conditions. Travelers hoping to see the wildebeest migration crossing the Mara River should aim to time the Kenya leg for July through September.

Prefer a Shorter Uganda–Rwanda Focus?

If four countries is more ground than you’re looking to cover, our 10 Days Uganda Rwanda Safari and 15 Days Rwanda Uganda Safari stay within our core Uganda and Rwanda destinations, or browse all our safaris and destinations for other combinations.

Ready to Book?

Every safari we run is tailored to your dates, budget, and travel style. Contact our team to check gorilla permit availability and get a full quote for this 20 Days East Africa Safari, or learn more about us.