25-Day Uganda Rwanda Kenya Tanzania Safari: Kampala to Zanzibar

Five countries, two gorilla treks, and the migration in one journey

This 25-day safari departs from Kampala and crosses Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania, ending in Zanzibar. You track mountain gorillas in Bwindi and Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park, drive the Masai Mara and Serengeti during the migration season, descend into Ngorongoro Crater, and finish with beach relaxation on Zanzibar's islands. A guide, driver, air-conditioned vehicle and all accommodation are arranged; the itinerary can also run in reverse starting from Arusha.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Airport pickup and hotel transfer

• Meet guide at Entebbe airport
• Transfer to hotel in Entebbe or Kampala
• Optional tour of Entebbe or Kampala

Day 2 — Transfer to Murchison Falls and rhino tracking

• Breakfast and depart for Murchison Falls
• Stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for tracking
• Lunch at Amuka lodge
• Drive to top of Murchison Falls

Day 3 — Game drive and boat cruise at Murchison Falls

• Early morning game drive on Nile's southern banks
• Return to lodge for lunch and rest
• Afternoon boat cruise at bottom of falls

Day 4 — Transfer to Kibale and visit Bigodi Wetlands

• Early breakfast and depart for Kibale National Park
• Admire countryside en route
• Lunch stop along the way
• Visit Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary

Day 5 — Chimpanzee tracking and transfer to Queen Elizabeth

• Quick coffee and briefing at Kibale park
• Chimpanzee tracking for 3-5 hours
• Return to lodge for lunch and rest
• Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Day 6 — Game drive and boat cruise at Kazinga Channel

• Early morning game drive in Queen Elizabeth
• Return for lunch and rest
• Afternoon boat cruise on Kazinga Channel

Day 7 — Lake Bunyonyi visit and transfer to Bwindi

• Relax and explore Lake Bunyonyi islands
• Boat tour and bird watching at lake
• Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Park

Day 8 — Gorilla trekking and transfer to Volcanoes Park

• Early breakfast and briefing for gorilla trek
• Mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi
• Return to lodge for lunch and rest
• Late afternoon transfer to Volcanoes National Park

Day 9 — Second gorilla trek and cultural visit

• Early breakfast and briefing for gorilla trek
• Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park
• Return to lodge for lunch and rest
• Visit Iby’iwacu Cultural Village

Day 10 — Golden monkey tracking and Kigali tour

• Breakfast and briefing for golden monkey tracking
• Golden monkey tracking in Volcanoes Park
• Checkout and drive to Kigali
• Lunch en route
• Kigali city tour including genocide memorial
• Transfer to airport or hotel

Day 11 — Arrival and transfer to Amboseli National Park

• Pickup from Nairobi hotel or airport
• Drive to Amboseli National Park
• Lunch and rest
• Afternoon game drive
• Dinner and overnight at camp

Day 12 — Game drive and transfer to Lake Nakuru

• Early breakfast
• Full day game drive in Amboseli
• Drive to Lake Nakuru

Day 13 — Lake Nakuru game drive and transfer

• Early morning pickup
• Drive to Lake Nakuru National Park
• Lunch
• Afternoon game drive at Lake Nakuru
• Transfer to Masai Mara

Day 14 — Masai Mara game drive

• Early morning drive to Masai Mara
• Lunch
• Afternoon game drive in Masai Mara

Day 15 — Full day game drive in Masai Mara

• Breakfast
• Full day game drive with packed lunch

Day 16 — Masai cultural tour and transfer to Serengeti

• Morning game drive in Masai Mara
• Masai community cultural tour
• Transfer to Serengeti via Isebania border
• Afternoon game drive en route

Day 17 — Serengeti National Park game drives

• Breakfast
• Full day game drives in Serengeti
• Visit Oldupai Gorge and hot air balloon ride

Day 18 — Serengeti game drive and transfer to Ngorongoro

• Early morning game drive and sunrise
• Return for brunch
• Transfer to Ngorongoro Crater
• Optional afternoon walking safari

Day 19 — Ngorongoro Crater wildlife viewing

• Early morning descent to crater floor
• Picnic lunch near hippo lake
• Afternoon wildlife viewing
• Drive to Manyara or Tarangire for overnight
• Optional visit to Oldonyo Sambu Maasai Village

Day 20 — Lake Manyara and transfer to Tarangire

• Breakfast and drive to Lake Manyara National Park
• Full day game drive at Lake Manyara
• Transfer to Tarangire National Park

Day 21 — Game drive in Tarangire National Park

• Breakfast
• Game drive with picnic lunch in Tarangire

Day 22 — Transfer to Zanzibar and Stone Town stay

• Transfer from Tarangire to Stone Town
• Check in boutique hotel in Stone Town
• Explore local restaurants for meals

Day 23 — Relaxation and optional tours in Zanzibar

• Rest on white sand beaches
• Optional Stone Town day tour
• Optional Spice Tour or Prison Island visit
• Optional Jozani Forest tour

Day 24 — Leisure day in Zanzibar

• Enjoy resort facilities and spa
• Optional diving or day tours

Day 25 — Departure from Zanzibar

• Relax in the morning
• Transfer to Zanzibar International Airport

The Experience

You arrive at Entebbe or Kampala airport and meet your guide and driver with your name on a card. If your flight lands early, there's time to explore the city before heading north. The first days move through Uganda's parks: Murchison Falls, where you track rhinos at the Ziwa Sanctuary and watch the Nile plunge 45 meters; Kibale Forest for chimpanzee tracking (a 3- to 5-hour trek through dense canopy where the chimps move faster than gorillas); Queen Elizabeth National Park for game drives and a boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel, where hippos and predators gather at the water's edge. Lake Bunyonyi offers a full day of rest—29 islands, boat rides, and bird-watching between the longer treks.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park comes next, where you trek to a mountain gorilla family in the early morning and spend one hour photographing them before returning to the lodge. The same experience repeats in Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park a few days later, with a visit to the Iby'iwacu Cultural Village in the afternoon where you dress in local costume and participate in presentations. Golden monkey tracking follows, then a 3-hour drive through Rwanda's rolling hills and tea plantations to Kigali for a city tour that includes the genocide memorial centers before your onward flight or hotel stay.

Kenya's section begins with Amboseli National Park, where Mount Kilimanjaro rises across the border on clear mornings. Lake Nakuru comes next—famous for its flamingos and now a rhino sanctuary with over 40 black and 60 white rhinos. Then Masai Mara, where two full game drives put you in the path of the seasonal migration: thousands of wildebeest, zebras and the predators that follow them. A Masai cultural experience and morning game drive bridge the crossing into Tanzania at the Isebania border. Serengeti National Park spreads across 18,000 square kilometers with over 2 million large animals; you have the option of a hot air balloon ride and a stop at Oldupai Gorge. Ngorongoro Crater—with walls 600 meters high and the greatest concentration of wildlife on the planet—gets a full day of descent and wildlife viewing on the crater floor. Lake Manyara and Tarangire follow, each with their own game drives: Manyara for tree-climbing lions and flamingos along the lakeshore; Tarangire for its 6,000 elephants and baobab trees.

The final stretch transfers you to Stone Town in Zanzibar, a boutique hotel in the old center with restaurants nearby. Two full days and a departure day let you rest on white sand beaches, swim in turquoise water, or book optional tours—a spice tour, Prison Island, or Jozani Forest—before your transfer to the airport.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned vehicle throughout.
• professional guide in English, Spanish, Italian, French or other languages.
• all accommodation at lodges and camps.
• airport pickup on arrival.
• internal transfers between parks and countries.
• game drives and park entry fees.
• gorilla trekking permits in Bwindi and Rwanda.
• chimpanzee tracking at Kibale.
• boat cruises on the Kazinga Channel and at Murchison Falls.
• rhino tracking at Ziwa Sanctuary.
• WiFi on board.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Scb tours and travel

Is this one for you?One continuous journey across five countries chains gorillas, the migration, and the crater into a single experience with the same guide and driver throughout—logistics handled, your attention free for what unfolds before you.

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Top questions

What is chimpanzee tracking like compared to gorilla trekking?

Chimpanzee tracking at Kibale takes 3 to 5 hours and is more physically demanding than gorilla trekking because chimps spend most of their time in the trees and move faster—you have to keep pace with them rather than waiting for them to come down. You still spend an hour with the family once located.

Can I see Mount Kilimanjaro on the Amboseli game drive?

Mount Kilimanjaro is visible from Amboseli National Park on clear mornings when clouds don't obscure it. The mountain rises across the border in Tanzania, and early morning game drives offer the best chance to see it as the sun rises.

What happens during the Masai cultural experience?

The Masai cultural experience is a community tour scheduled on the day you transfer from Masai Mara to Serengeti. You spend time with Masai people and participate in their daily activities and presentations as part of the journey across the Isebania border.

Is the Ngorongoro Crater descent included in the game drives?

Yes, Ngorongoro Crater is a full day of wildlife viewing. You descend to the crater floor very early in the morning, stop for a picnic lunch near the hippo lake, continue viewing wildlife in the afternoon, and then drive back up the steep road to exit the crater.

What optional activities are available in Zanzibar?

In Zanzibar, optional day tours include a guided Old Town tour combined with a spice tour or Prison Island visit (lunch not included), or a half-day version of any single option. The Jozani Forest tour is also available. You can also book diving or simply use the resort facilities—spa, massage, poolside sunbathing.

Can the 25-day itinerary start from Arusha instead of Kampala?

Yes, the tour can run in the opposite order, starting in Arusha and ending in Kampala, so you can arrange your flights accordingly.