15 Day Safari in Kenya, Uganda & Rwanda - Full Circuit Tour

Day 1: Drive to Lake Nakuru National Park

At 7:00 AM, your safari driver-guide will pick you up from your hotel to begin your journey to Lake Nakuru National Park. Arrive in time for lunch before embarking on an afternoon game drive in this iconic park. Lake Nakuru is a shallow soda lake famous for hosting over a million pink flamingos and is renowned as one of the region’s most successful rhino sanctuaries. Spot rare wildlife such as black and white rhinos, Rothschild giraffes, and other savannah animals as you explore the park’s diverse landscapes. Return to your lodge in the evening for dinner and overnight stay, resting up for the adventures ahead.

Day 2: Drive from Lake Nakuru to Masai Mara National Reserve

After breakfast, depart Lake Nakuru and drive across the scenic Great Rift Valley to the legendary Masai Mara National Reserve in southwestern Kenya. Arrive in time for lunch at your lodge. In the afternoon, set out on an evening game drive to spot iconic African wildlife, including black-maned lions, wildebeests, elephants, leopards, cheetahs, and buffalo, along with a variety of antelopes and other savannah species. Spend the evening at Keekorok Lodge, the first lodge established in the Masai Mara, surrounded by over 700 square miles of sun-drenched plains. Enjoy dinner and overnight stay at the lodge, preparing for a full day of safari adventures tomorrow.

Day 3: Full Day Game Drive in Masai Mara National Reserve

After breakfast, spend the entire day exploring the Masai Mara National Reserve on unlimited game drives. This world-renowned ecosystem boasts the highest concentration of wild animals per square kilometer in Africa, offering excellent opportunities to spot elephants, lions, cheetahs, buffalo, antelopes, warthogs, hyenas, and many other species. For adventure seekers, optional hot air balloon excursions provide a breathtaking aerial perspective of the savannah and its wildlife. Carry a picnic lunch to enjoy amidst the stunning landscapes during your drives. Return to Keekorok Lodge in the evening for dinner and overnight stay, resting for another exciting day of safari adventures.

Day 4: Drive from Masai Mara to Kisumu & Visit Lake Victoria

After breakfast at 9:00 AM, depart the Masai Mara and drive to Kisumu, passing through traditional Masai villages along the way, offering a glimpse into their vibrant culture and daily life. Upon arrival, enjoy lunch before visiting the majestic Lake Victoria, one of Africa’s Great Lakes. Covering approximately 59,947 km², it is Africa’s largest lake, the world’s largest tropical lake, and the second-largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area after Lake Superior. Take in the breathtaking views, spot local birdlife, and enjoy the serene surroundings. Return to your hotel in Kisumu for dinner and overnight stay, resting for the next leg of your journey.

Day 5: Drive to Jinja, Uganda via Kogelo – Obama’s Village

After breakfast at 7:00 AM, depart for Kogelo, the village where President Obama’s father was born, and explore this historic site briefly. Continue your journey towards Jinja, Uganda, crossing at Busia border. Jinja is a scenic town located on the northern shores of Lake Victoria and is famous as the source of the Nile River at Coronation Park, marked by a garden and a monument honoring British explorer John Hanning Speke. Along the Nile, you’ll see the impressive Owen Falls Dam and Bujagali Dam, with Itanda Falls known for thrilling white-water rapids farther north. East of Jinja, enjoy sights of Samuka Island, home to diverse birdlife including little egrets. Stop for lunch in Busia at Green Gardens Hotel before arriving in Jinja in the late afternoon. Check in to your hotel, then enjoy dinner and overnight stay.

Day 6: Source of the Nile, White Water Rafting, Drive to Kampala

After breakfast, check out of your hotel and at 9:00 AM meet the professional rafting team for a full briefing on safety guidelines and instructions for your adventure. Choose between Grade 3 or Grade 5 rapids depending on your thrill level. Board the boat and practice safety drills before starting your white-water rafting adventure on the mighty Nile River. Navigate 3 to 4 hours of rapids, from gentle sections to challenging intense waves, making it an exhilarating experience. After rafting, enjoy lunch on the riverbanks and visit the Source of the Nile, one of Uganda’s most iconic landmarks. Later, embark on a scenic drive back to Kampala, the capital city of Uganda, and check in to your hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 7: Equator Line, Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park

After breakfast at 8:00 AM, your driver will pick you up from your hotel in Kampala and start the scenic drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Along the way, make a memorable photo stop at the Equator Line, where you can straddle the northern and southern hemispheres. Continue through charming villages with cultivated fields and lush tea plantations, enjoying the vibrant scenery of Uganda’s countryside. Ascend the escarpment for breathtaking panoramic views over the sprawling Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Stop for lunch either en route or at your lodge, then check in to your accommodation, unwind, and relax, preparing for the wildlife adventures ahead.

Day 8: Game Safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park & Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise

Start your day with an early morning breakfast, then depart at 7:00 AM for a morning game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Spot the famous Big Five—lions, elephants, buffalo, leopards, and rhinos—along with other wildlife including giant forest hogs, bushbucks, kobs, hyenas, and waterbucks. In the afternoon, embark on a scenic boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, where you can observe hippos, crocodiles, elephants, and buffalos along the water’s edge. The channel is also home to hundreds of bird species, including the rare shoebill stork. After the boat tour, enjoy a short evening game drive before returning to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 9: Chimpanzee Trekking in Kalinzu Forest & Drive to Lake Bunyonyi

After an early breakfast, depart around 6:00 AM for chimpanzee trekking in Kalinzu Forest. Experience the thrill of observing these intelligent primates in their natural habitat as they play, swing through the trees, and interact socially. After the trek, embark on a scenic drive to Kabale, Uganda’s highest town at 2,000 meters, enjoying the lush, rolling landscapes along the way. Continue to Lake Bunyonyi, Africa’s deepest crater lake at 900 meters, whose name means “Place of Little Birds.” Check in to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 10: Lake Bunyonyi Boat Ride, Batwa Village Visit & Drive to Kisoro

After breakfast, take a cultural walk along the southwestern shores of Lake Bunyonyi, exploring the local villages and learning about the communities living in this picturesque area. Meet the Batwa Pygmies, who travel across the mountains from Rwanda to sell their produce at Hakekuba market. In the afternoon, enjoy a canoe ride on the lake, taking in the stunning scenery and birdlife. Afterward, embark on a scenic drive to Kisoro, nestled near the Virunga Mountains, and check in at your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 11: Gorilla Trekking in Mgahinga & Drive to Musanze, Rwanda

After breakfast, your safari guide will pick you at 7:00 AM and transfer you to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park for registration and a briefing on your gorilla trekking adventure. You will then proceed to the trekking start point at the base of the Virunga Mountains, accompanied by armed game rangers. Venture into the jungle in search of majestic mountain gorillas. The trek can take between 2 to 6 hours, depending on your pace and the gorilla family encountered. After this unforgettable encounter, return to your safari vehicle and drive to Musanze, Rwanda, where you will check in for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 12: Intore Dance, Gisenyi Hot Springs & Boat Ride to Kibuye

After breakfast at 8:00 AM, visit the Iby’Iwacu Cultural Center in Kinigi to experience Rwanda’s traditional Intore Dance. Once the elite warriors of the Rwandan army, the Intore were trained in combat, acrobatics, and dance, known for their incredible leaps over 2.4 meters. The Intore gained international fame at the 1958 World Expo in Brussels and remain a treasured part of Rwanda’s folklore.

Dressed in sisal fiber headdresses with ankle bells jingling to every step, the dancers perform a powerful choreography symbolizing courage, unity, and friendship, culminating in a symbolic embrace of the warriors. After this cultural immersion, drive towards Kibuye, stopping in Gisenyi to visit the famous hot springs. Then enjoy a scenic boat ride from Gisenyi to Kibuye, taking in the stunning views of Lake Kivu and surrounding islands. Arrive in Kibuye in the evening for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 13: Napoleon Island Adventure & Drive to Nyungwe Forest National Park

After breakfast at 8:00 AM, take a boat ride to Napoleon Island on Lake Kivu. Rising over 100 meters above the water, the island offers spectacular panoramic views of the surrounding lake, islands, and shoreline. Known locally as Nyamunini Island, it earned the nickname “Napoleon Island” because its profile resembles the iconic 18th-century military hat worn by Napoleon Bonaparte. Napoleon Island is a haven for birdwatching, with species such as palm nut vultures, fish eagles, hammerkops, and kingfishers. The island is also home to a large colony of fruit bats, with as many as 40,000 straw-colored bats residing in the treetops. After exploring the island, return to your hotel for lunch, then embark on a scenic drive to Nyungwe Forest National Park, one of Africa’s most pristine rainforests and biodiversity hotspots, ready for the next day’s adventure. Dinner and overnight stay at your lodge.

Day 14: Nyungwe Forest Canopy Walk & Drive to Kigali

Take Your Break fast and at 8Am Leave your Hotel and Go for canopy Walk. The Canopy walk involves some slight hiking because you access the suspended bridge from the 2.1 Km long Igishigishi trail, a hiking trail in Nyungwe National Park; it’s after that trail that you join the 160 meters suspended bridge that’s over the forest. This hiking should not stop you from taking the walk, it’s very easy to hike even for first-time hikers; it just has a few steep points because of the mountainous terrains but it’s totally doable. For your walk, you need to wear hiking shoes or boots, a rain jacket, a snack if you must especially for children, a bottle of water and of course your camera to capture the memorable moments. Back at 12.00 PM. 

Day 15: Kigali City Tour, Genocide Memorial & Departure

After breakfast at 8:00 AM, embark on a short Kigali city tour to explore the vibrant capital of Rwanda. Visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial, a place of reflection and remembrance where you will learn about the tragic events of 1994, when 1 million Tutsi were killed within 100 days. After the city tour, your driver will transfer you to Kigali International Airport for your evening departure flight. This marks the end of your unforgettable 15-day East Africa safari and gorilla trekking adventure.

Note: Accommodation is not included on the final day.