How to Plan an East Africa Safari: Rwanda, Uganda and Tanzania

To plan an East Africa safari across Rwanda, Uganda and Tanzania, start with what you want to see, then link the countries in a logical order and allow time for the borders and flights. Rwanda and Uganda link by road, so gorillas, golden monkeys and chimpanzees fit in one overland route. Tanzania is a separate leg, reached by flight, for the Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater and sometimes Zanzibar. Ten days can cover two countries well, twelve to fourteen days comfortably cover three, and nineteen days let you add the Great Migration and a beach finish without rushing.

This guide gives a method, three sample routes taken from our own multi-country itineraries, and the practical points on visas, flights, health and cost. Rules change, so confirm them with the immigration authorities and your operator. We checked the details in October 2026. For the single-country basics, read how to book gorilla trekking in Rwanda and how to book a Uganda gorilla permit.

See the single-country guides: gorilla trekking in Rwanda, Bwindi and the Serengeti.

The usual order is Rwanda, then Uganda by road, then a flight to Tanzania. The Rwanda to Uganda border crossing, for example at Cyanika near Musanze, takes you to Kisoro and the gorilla forests. From Entebbe in Uganda, you fly to Kilimanjaro or Arusha for Tanzania, often via Nairobi or direct on some schedules. Going Tanzania first and finishing in Rwanda works too, and an open-jaw ticket saves backtracking. Overland between Uganda and Tanzania is long and not usually practical on a short trip.

Kigali, a gorilla trek in Volcanoes National Park, a flight to Arusha, then Tarangire, the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti, ending in Arusha. See the 10-day Rwanda gorilla trekking and Big Five safari in Tanzania.

Entebbe, Kibale chimpanzees, Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi gorillas, Lake Bunyonyi, the border to Rwanda, golden monkeys in Volcanoes National Park and Nyungwe with the canopy walk, ending in Kigali. See the 12-day primate trekking safari in Uganda and Rwanda.

The 8-day gorilla trekking and Big Five safari in Akagera, Rwanda and Uganda and the 9-day gorilla trekking, chimpanzees and safari in Rwanda and Uganda are shorter two-country routes.

Akagera, golden monkeys and Musanze in Rwanda, Bwindi gorillas, Queen Elizabeth, Kibale chimpanzees and Murchison Falls in Uganda, a flight to the Serengeti in Tanzania with a Maasai visit, then Zanzibar. See the 19-day gorilla trekking, Great Migration safari and culture in East Africa.

The dry months, June to September and December to February, suit gorilla trekking and most safaris. For the Great Migration, February is calving in the south and July to October is crossings in the north; read Tanzania or Kenya for the Great Migration. If you want both gorillas and the herds, July to September is the busiest and most expensive window, so book early.

Each country has its own visa rules. The East Africa Tourist Visa covers Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya for multiple entries, but not Tanzania, so check the current rules before you travel. Yellow fever evidence may be requested, malaria prevention and the other vaccinations are a matter for your doctor, and travel insurance with medical and evacuation cover is essential. Read our visa guide for East Africa and what to pack for a Tanzania safari.

• Gorilla permits: US$1,500 in Rwanda per the Rwanda Development Board, and a widely reported US$800 in Uganda. Confirm both; see the Uganda cost guide.
• Park fees in each country.
• Flights between countries, including baggage limits on small planes.
• Lodges at the level you choose.
• Visas, insurance and tips.

We do not show prices online; ask for a quote for your route and dates.

A multi-country trip has more travel than a single-country one. Each border crossing by road can take one to three hours, each flight needs a check-in and a transfer, and the long drives in Uganda and Tanzania can fill a day. A safe rule is to allow one in every three days for transfers. For a twelve-day trip, that means four travel days and eight days of activities. Plan the long days so they include a lunch stop and a point of interest, and avoid placing a long drive after a gorilla trek.

• Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania. Start with the gorillas while your energy is high, cross to Uganda by road, then fly to Tanzania and finish with the plains and the beach.
• Uganda, Rwanda, then Tanzania. Useful if you arrive in Entebbe and leave from Kigali, as in our 12-day primate route.
• Tanzania first, then Rwanda. Useful if you want to see the Great Migration at a specific time and finish with gorillas.

The best order avoids repeating a country and lets you enter and leave through different airports.

Rwanda and Uganda's gorilla forests are cool and wet, so you need waterproof boots, a rain jacket and warm layers. Tanzania's plains are dry and hot by day, cool at night and dusty, so you need neutral clothing, a hat and sunscreen. Zanzibar is warm and humid, so bring swimwear and light clothes. Soft bags are required for small planes in Tanzania. Our gorilla trekking packing list and Tanzania safari packing list cover the two main parts.

US dollars are widely used for permits, park fees and tips, and local currencies are used for small purchases: the Rwandan franc, the Ugandan shilling and the Tanzanian shilling. Bring clean, recent-issue US dollar notes, because older ones are often refused. Cards are accepted in lodges and cities, less often in villages, and cash machines are common in the main towns but not in remote areas. Ask your operator which costs are included so you know how much cash to carry for tips and extras.

• Travellers with ten days or more who want primates and the plains in one trip
• Honeymooners and families who want variety

• Visitors with fewer than eight days, who should choose one country
• Travellers who dislike long drives and flights

• Packing in too many places. Two bases per country is plenty.
• Ignoring luggage limits. Small planes need soft bags.
• Forgetting visas. Check each country.
• Booking permits late. June to September fills early.

Twelve to fourteen days for a comfortable trip, nineteen for a full loop.

Between Rwanda and Uganda, yes. To Tanzania, flights are better.

The East Africa Tourist Visa does not include Tanzania. Check current rules.

June to September for most plans, or February for calving.

Yes. Visa fees, the East Africa Tourist Visa terms and border procedures change, so confirm them with the immigration authorities and your operator close to your trip.

Per day it can be, because of flights and border logistics, but it gives you more variety. Ask for a quote for your route. See the Uganda cost guide and the Tanzania Big Five cost.

Tell us your dates, the animals you want and your starting airport, and we will design the route. Talk to Our Tour Specialist.

Source: Visit Uganda.