17 Day Big Cats to Gorillas: Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda
The Masai Mara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Amboseli, then Kibale, Queen Elizabeth and Bwindi in Uganda.
Go beyond the expected.
Seventeen days across three countries. Four classic plains parks in Kenya and Tanzania come first, followed by a flight to Uganda for chimpanzees, a Kazinga Channel cruise and a gorilla trek.
- Masai Mara game drives
- Border crossing to Lake Victoria and the Serengeti
- Ngorongoro Crater descent
- Amboseli under Kilimanjaro
- Chimps and gorillas in Uganda
What's included
Included
- Airport transfers
- Pop-up roof 4x4 vehicle with driver-guide
- Accommodation and meals as specified
- Park and reserve entrance fees for the activities listed
- Mountain gorilla and chimpanzee permits
- Flight Nairobi to Entebbe
- Kenya–Tanzania border crossing arrangements
Not included
- International flights
- Visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Tips and gratuities
- Personal expenses
- Alcoholic beverages
Confirm current park fees, permit availability, accommodation and pricing before booking, since these can change with season and demand. Access to remote areas should be confirmed before travel.
Day by day
Day 1 Arrival in Nairobi
Nairobi
Arrive and transfer to your hotel.
Day 2 To the Masai Mara
Masai Mara
Drive via the Rift Valley viewpoint, game drive on arrival and an evening game drive until dusk.
Day 3 Masai Mara full day
Masai Mara
Morning and afternoon game drives.
Day 4 Border crossing to Lake Victoria
Isebania and Lake Victoria
Leave early with a picnic lunch, game view en route, clear Kenya–Tanzania customs at Isebania and change to a Tanzanian vehicle for the lodge on Lake Victoria.
Day 5 To the Serengeti
Central Serengeti
Drive into the Serengeti for lunch at your lodge and an afternoon game drive.
Day 6 Serengeti full day
Central Serengeti
Morning and afternoon game drives.
Day 7 To Ngorongoro
Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Game view out of the Serengeti to your lodge on the crater rim.
Day 8 Ngorongoro Crater
Ngorongoro Crater
Descend 600 metres into the crater with picnic lunches for a day of game viewing, then return to the rim.
Day 9 To Amboseli
Arusha and Amboseli National Park
Drive to Arusha for lunch, cross the Namanga border and continue with a Kenyan guide to Amboseli.
Day 10 Amboseli full day
Amboseli National Park
Morning and afternoon game drives with Kilimanjaro as a backdrop.
Day 11 Fly to Uganda
Nairobi and Entebbe
Drive to Nairobi for lunch, then fly to Entebbe, where you are met, transferred and briefed.
Day 12 To Kibale
Fort Portal and Kibale
Drive west to Fort Portal in the shadow of the Mountains of the Moon, five to six hours.
Day 13 Chimpanzees and Bigodi
Kibale Forest
Track chimpanzees in the morning, then walk the Bigodi Wetland.
Day 14 Queen Elizabeth and Kazinga cruise
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Drive past the crater lakes through the park to lunch, then cruise the Kazinga Channel.
Day 15 To Bwindi
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
A morning game drive, then through the Kigezi Highlands to Bwindi.
Day 16 Gorilla trekking
Bwindi
Trek to a gorilla family and spend an hour with them.
Day 17 Return to Entebbe and departure
Bwindi and Entebbe
Drive to Entebbe with a lunch stop, or fly, for your onward flight. We recommend the flight, as the drive takes most of a day.
On this safari
Places you will visit
NairobiExplore place →
Nairobi National ParkExplore place →
Lake VictoriaExplore place →Victoria FallsExplore place →
Serengeti National ParkExplore place →
Ngorongoro Conservation AreaExplore place →
Amboseli National ParkExplore place →
EntebbeExplore place →
Kibale National ParkExplore place →
Queen Elizabeth National ParkExplore place →
Bwindi Impenetrable National ParkExplore place →
Arusha National ParkExplore place →ArushaExplore place →
Fort PortalExplore place →Travel Guide
Knowledge connected to this page
Read planning and destination stories connected to this Offmap entity.
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Ready to plan this Safari?
Start with the places and experiences that matter to you. We will shape the Safari around them.
Plan This Safari →Need to know?
Questions about 17 Day Big Cats to Gorillas: Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda
Can I combine a Kenya safari with the coast?
Yes. Pairing a Maasai Mara or Amboseli safari with a few days on the Kenyan coast (Diani, Watamu or Lamu) is a well-established combination, giving a wildlife-then-beach structure to the safari.
Can I combine a Tanzania safari with Zanzibar?
Yes, this is one of the most popular East African combinations; a Serengeti or Ngorongoro safari followed by several days on Zanzibar’s beaches, connected by a short flight.
Do I need a visa to visit Kenya?
Most nationalities need an eTA (electronic travel authorisation) for Kenya, applied for online before travel. Requirements vary by nationality, so confirm current guidance for your passport ahead of your safari.
Do I need a visa to visit Tanzania?
Most nationalities need a visa for Tanzania, commonly available as an e-visa applied for online before travel. Requirements vary by nationality, so confirm current guidance for your passport ahead of your safari.
Do I need a visa to visit Uganda?
Most nationalities need a visa for Uganda, commonly available as an e-visa applied for online before travel. Requirements vary by nationality, so check the current official guidance for your passport well ahead of your safari.
How many days do I need for a Kenya safari?
A focused Maasai Mara safari can work in 3–4 days, while combining the Mara with Amboseli, another park or the coast generally calls for 7–10 days. We shape the length around what you want to include.
How many days do I need in Uganda?
A focused gorilla trekking safari can work in as few as 4–5 days, but 8–12 days lets you combine gorilla trekking with chimpanzee tracking, a savannah park such as Queen Elizabeth or Murchison Falls, and some rest time. We shape the exact length around what you want to include.
How many national parks does Kenya have?
Kenya protects its wildlife across more than sixty national parks and reserves, an unusually extensive network for a single country: from the Maasai Mara and Amboseli in the south to Samburu and the arid northern reserves, each holding a somewhat different range of species.