Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya & Tanzania: 25-day safari with Zanzibar

Summary

From misty forests to Zanzibar sands—Africa’s wild heart in one trip

You’ll track rhinos at Ziwa Sanctuary, trek for chimps and gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda, cross savannahs teeming with wildlife from Masai Mara to Serengeti, and unwind on Zanzibar’s white beaches. With local guides handling every detail—from airport pickups to cultural visits—you’ll get close to Africa’s wild heart in ways you’ll remember long after you’ve left.

What’s the experience like?

I’ll be honest, I didn’t really know what “25 days across Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya & Tanzania” would feel like until I was halfway through my second cup of roadside chai somewhere between Entebbe and Murchison Falls. Our guide, Moses, had this way of pointing out things I’d never have noticed—like the smell of wet earth after a quick morning rain or how the rhinos at Ziwa Sanctuary always seem to move in slow motion. Tracking them felt surreal; you’re just standing there, boots caked in red mud, and suddenly there’s this prehistoric animal munching grass ten meters away. Lunch at Amuka Lodge tasted extra good after that (maybe it was just the adrenaline).

The days blurred into each other in the best way—chimpanzee tracking in Kibale (loud, echoing calls overhead), drifting past hippos on the Kazinga Channel with the sun beating down and birds everywhere. I still think about those early mornings: dew on the grass, our driver humming quietly as we bounced along dirt roads toward Queen Elizabeth National Park. There were moments when it all felt too big to take in—like staring out over Lake Bunyonyi at dusk while kids paddled home in dugout canoes. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi was muddy and exhausting and honestly kind of emotional; you lock eyes with a silverback for a split second and forget every mosquito bite.

Crossing into Rwanda brought its own rhythm—rolling green hills outside the window, Kigali’s tidy streets (and that heavy silence at the Genocide Memorial). The Volcanoes National Park trek was different from Bwindi: steeper maybe, but somehow lighter because our guide Jean kept cracking jokes about our “city legs.” At Gorilla Guardians Village, I got roped into dancing—I’m not sure who laughed harder, me or the elders watching me try to keep up. Golden monkey tracking was a blur of gold fur and laughter echoing through bamboo.

Kenya and Tanzania were all about wide horizons—the Masai Mara’s endless grasslands where we watched wildebeest bunch up at a riverbank (I held my breath for ages), then crossing into Serengeti with Maasai herders waving as we passed. Game drives meant lions lounging under acacias or elephants dust-bathing right beside us. Ngorongoro Crater looked unreal from above—a patchwork of green and gold—and by then I’d stopped trying to predict what would happen next. Stone Town in Zanzibar hit differently: spice scents curling through narrow alleys, salty air sticking to my skin after a swim. The last few days were quiet—just sand underfoot and time to let everything settle.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Arrival and Transfer to Hotel

• Airport pickup and transfer to Entebbe or Kampala
• Optional tour of Entebbe or Kampala

Day 2 — Murchison Falls and Rhino Sanctuary

• Drive to Murchison Falls National Park with stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
• Lunch at Amuka Lodge
• Drive to top of Murchison Falls

Day 3 — Game Drive and Boat Cruise

• Morning game drive at Murchison Falls NP
• Lunch and rest at lodge
• Afternoon boat cruise at bottom of falls

Day 4 — Transfer to Kibale and Wetlands Visit

• Drive to Kibale National Park
• Lunch en route
• Visit Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary

Day 5 — Chimpanzee Tracking and Transfer

• Chimpanzee tracking at Kibale National Park
• Lunch and rest
• Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Day 6 — Game Drive and Kazinga Channel Cruise

• Morning game drive at Queen Elizabeth NP
• Lunch and rest
• Afternoon boat cruise on Kazinga Channel

Day 7 — Lake Bunyonyi and Bwindi Transfer

• Explore Lake Bunyonyi and boat tour
• Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Park

Day 8 — Gorilla Trekking and Rwanda Transfer

• Mountain gorilla trekking at Bwindi
• Lunch and rest
• Transfer to Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda

Day 9 — Gorilla Trekking and Cultural Visit

• Second gorilla trekking at Volcanoes NP
• Visit Iby’iwacu Cultural Village

Day 10 — Golden Monkey Trek and Kigali Tour

• Golden monkey tracking
• Transfer to Kigali
• Kigali city tour including genocide memorial
• Departure or hotel drop-off

Day 11 — Arrival and Transfer to Amboseli

• Pickup from Nairobi and drive to Amboseli National Park
• Lunch and afternoon game drive

Day 12 — Amboseli Game Drive and Lake Nakuru

• Morning game drive in Amboseli
• Drive to Lake Nakuru

Day 13 — Lake Nakuru Game Drive

• Morning drive to Lake Nakuru NP
• Lunch and afternoon game drive
• Transfer to Masai Mara

Day 14 — Masai Mara Game Drive

• Morning drive to Masai Mara National Reserve
• Lunch and afternoon game drive

Day 15 — Full Day Masai Mara Game Drive

• Full day game drive with packed lunch

Day 16 — Masai Culture and Serengeti Transfer

• Masai cultural experience
• Transfer to Serengeti via Isebania border with game drives

Day 17 — Serengeti Game Drives and Balloon Ride

• Morning and afternoon game drives in Serengeti
• Visit Oldupai Gorge and optional hot air balloon ride

Day 18 — Serengeti and Ngorongoro Transfer

• Early morning game drive in Serengeti
• Brunch and transfer to Ngorongoro Crater
• Optional afternoon walking safari

Day 19 — Ngorongoro Crater Wildlife Viewing

• Full day wildlife viewing in Ngorongoro Crater with picnic lunch
• Transfer to Manyara or Tarangire National Park
• Optional visit to Oldonyo Sambu Maasai Village

Day 20 — Lake Manyara and Tarangire Transfer

• Game drive at Lake Manyara National Park
• Drive to Tarangire National Park

Day 21 — Tarangire National Park Game Drive

• Full day game drive with picnic lunch in Tarangire NP

Day 22 — Transfer to Zanzibar and Stone Town

• Transfer from Tarangire to Stone Town, Zanzibar
• Overnight in boutique hotel in Stone Town

Day 23 — Zanzibar Island Relaxation

• Relax on Zanzibar beaches
• Optional tours: Stone Town, Spice Tour, Prison Island, Jozani Forest

Day 24 — Leisure Day in Zanzibar

• Enjoy resort facilities or optional diving and tours

Day 25 — Departure from Zanzibar

• Transfer to Zanzibar International Airport for departure

Top questions

How long is the Uganda Rwanda Kenya Tanzania safari including Zanzibar?

The full tour lasts 25 days from arrival pickup to departure from Zanzibar.

Is gorilla trekking included on this safari?

Yes, gorilla trekking is included both at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Uganda) and Volcanoes National Park (Rwanda).

Are airport transfers included?

Yes, airport pickup on arrival in Entebbe or Kampala is included as well as transfer to Zanzibar International Airport at the end.

What national parks are visited during this tour?

You visit Murchison Falls NP, Kibale NP, Queen Elizabeth NP, Bwindi Impenetrable NP (Uganda); Volcanoes NP (Rwanda); Amboseli NP, Lake Nakuru NP, Masai Mara NR (Kenya); Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Lake Manyara NP & Tarangire NP (Tanzania).

Is accommodation provided throughout?

Yes, accommodation is included for all nights during the 25-day itinerary.

Are meals included?

The itinerary includes lunch at select lodges; other meals may depend on specific lodge arrangements but most provide breakfast and dinner as well.

Can this tour start in Arusha instead?

Yes, it can be arranged in reverse order starting from Arusha if preferred.

Is this safari suitable for families or travelers with limited mobility?

The tour is wheelchair accessible and suitable for all fitness levels; specialized infant seats are available.

What’s included

Your journey includes hotel pickup on arrival and departure transfers; all accommodations; WiFi onboard vehicles; air-conditioned transport throughout; guided wildlife tracking experiences including gorilla permits; game drives across multiple national parks; cultural visits such as Gorilla Guardians Village; plus plenty of downtime on Zanzibar’s beaches before your return transfer to the airport.