15 Days Kenya Uganda Safari via Kigali City

Enjoy the best of East Africa on this amazing 15 Days Kenya Uganda Safari that starts from Kigali in Rwanda. This 15 Days Kenya Uganda Safari is perfect if you want comfort but also want to see a lot in a short time. Instead of starting in Kenya or Uganda, you begin in Kigali, which makes the journey easier and more interesting.

You will visit famous places like Masai Mara in Kenya, where you can see many wild animals. During game drives, you may spot the Big Five (lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard, and rhino), as well as giraffes, zebras, cheetahs, and large groups of wildebeest. The views here are wide and beautiful, and the wildlife is everywhere.

As you travel, you will also enjoy amazing scenery like Mount Kilimanjaro in the distance and the Great Rift Valley. The landscapes in East Africa are really something special.

The trip then continues to Uganda through Kigali, which is a shorter and easier route. You will go to Bwindi for gorilla trekking. This is a very special experience where you walk in the forest and see mountain gorillas in real life. its honestly something you cant forget.

Detailed 15 Days Kenya Uganda Safari Itinerary

Day 1: Nairobi to Amboseli

After breakfast, we will depart Nairobi for Amboseli. Renowned for its breathtaking views of Africa’s highest peak, Mount Kilimanjaro, the park provides exceptional opportunities for photography, with elephants, lions, zebras, and giraffes often seen against this iconic backdrop.

You will enjoy lunch at your lodge upon arrival, followed by an afternoon game drive in the park.

Day 2: Explore Amboseli National Park

Wake up early morning for a sunrise game drive in the park and opportunities to catch a sight of the majestic Mount Kilimanjaro which is always visible during the morning hours.  The morning hours are also the best time to spot predators such as leopards, lions, and cheetahs as they hunt in the cool morning temperatures.

After the game drive and a late breakfast, spend some time relaxing at the lodge before returning to the park in the afternoon. Since wildlife is generally less active during the hot hours of the day, this break allows you to rest before heading out again to observe animals as they become more active in the cooler afternoon hours.

Day 3: Amboseli to Sweetwaters

With a picnic lunch in hand, you’ll depart from Amboseli after an early breakfast and drive to Sweetwater Conservancy, sometimes known as Sweet Waters.

Your drive not only takes you back through bustling Nairobi and then through the beautiful farm country of Kiyuku, but brings you to the very foothills of Mt. Kenya – Kenya’s highest mountain.

After arriving at Ol Pajeta, you’ll pay a visit to the park’s famous chimpanzee sanctuary to meet its adopted residents and then head out into the park proper for an evening game drive.

 

Day 4: Sweetwater to Lake Nakuru

After breakfast, you will set off for Lake Nakuru. The park is famous for its vast flocks of vibrant pink flamingos and is a paradise for bird lovers, with over 400 bird species found here. Beyond birdlife, the park is also home to elephants, black and white rhinos, hippos, lions, leopards, and many other animals.

During your afternoon game drive, you will have the chance to observe all of these species and more within the park.

 

Day 5: Lake Nakuru to Mara

After an early breakfast, you will check out and depart Lake Nakuru for the Maasai Mara, traveling through Narok Town, a well-known Maasai settlement, along the way. You will arrive in time to check in. In the afternoon, you will head out on a game drive in search of lions, cheetahs, elephants, buffaloes, and other members of the “Big Five,” as well as a wide variety of additional wildlife. Later in the evening, you will return to the camp for dinner and an overnight stay.

The Maasai Mara is considered the crown jewel of Kenya’s wildlife destinations. Its famous annual wildebeest migration sees more than 1.5 million animals enter the reserve from July to November. The reserve is home to approximately 95 species of mammals, amphibians, and reptiles, along with over 400 recorded bird species. Wildlife is exceptionally abundant here, making it one of the best places in Africa to reliably spot the Big Five: buffalo, elephant, leopard, lion, and rhino.

Day 6: Explore Maasai Mara

Full-day game drives begin at 7:00 a.m., with your fully equipped 4×4 vehicle ready to traverse the Mara plains in search of wildlife. At an elevation of 1,800 meters, early mornings can be quite chilly before the sun rises, so blankets and hot water bottles are provided for your comfort. By midday, temperatures often rise significantly, so wearing hats and applying sunscreen is recommended. Lunch is enjoyed either beneath the shade of an acacia tree or near the Mara River, where hippos can often be seen basking in the water.

As the afternoon turns to evening and the air cools, the landscape transforms once again with lengthening shadows. Rhino sightings are not unusual during the return drive to camp. In the Mara, even a quiet day offers rewarding experiences, with stunning scenery, diverse plant life, and abundant wildlife to remember as you relax later in the comfort of your tent’s hot tub.

Day 7: Morning and evening game for a different experience

With the sun rising at around 6.00 am, this means an early start to your day. The reward is likely to be the sight of predators who avoid the heat: additional attractions include subtle light on the landscape and the joyous sounds of awakening birds, you return for a hearty breakfast at the camp after 9.00 am.

Anticipating sunset, your guide will have stopped to prepare sundowners, with a wide choice of drinks. Clasp your favorite, ease back in your chair, and watch light shift to dark, heat gives way to the chill.

 

Day 8: Maasai Mara to Nairobi

At the breakfast, check out and embark on your concluding enroute game drive in the Mara followed by an onward departure for Nairobi.

Arrive in Nairobi by early afternoon Drop off at the hotel.

 

Day 9: Nairobi to Kigali

You will be transferred to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to connect your flight from Nairobi to Kigali. Upon arrival in Kigali, you may visit several key historical and cultural sites. The Kigali Genocide Memorial honors the victims of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, with more than 250,000 victims laid to rest at the site. The memorial also features a visitor center aimed at educating students and visitors about the events that led to the tragedy of 1994.

You may also visit the Kandt House Museum of Natural History, located in Kigali and managed by the Institute of National Museums of Rwanda. The museum is housed in the former residence of German explorer Richard Kandt on Nyarugenge Hill. Another significant site is the Nyamata Genocide Memorial, situated about 30 kilometers south of Kigali. Built around a former church, it commemorates the 1994 genocide and serves as the burial place for approximately 50,000 victims.

 

Day 10: Kigali to Bwindi

Wake up and have breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast, go for a short city tour. After the city tour, you will begin a scenic drive of approximately four hours to Bwindi via the Katuna border crossing over to Uganda. From Katuna, you will proceed to the Ruhija sector of Bwindi. Along the way, you will enjoy views of the picturesque countryside and landscapes of both countries, with Rwanda’s rolling hills and plantations contrasting with Uganda’s lush, dense forests around Bwindi.

Arrive in the late afternoon and drive to your booked safari lodge. Dinner and your overnight stay.

 

Day 11: Gorilla Tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Following your early morning breakfast at the lodge, head to the park headquarters. Meet other guests for a gorilla trekking briefing, where you will receive all the important information about gorilla trekking; including the dos and don’ts for your trek. After the briefing session, you will be assigned a gorilla family to track.

It is time to enter the jungle to search for the endangered gorillas in their natural habitat. Even though the trek can be quite challenging, you are sure to eventually find the gorillas in their natural habitat and this will easily make you forget the effort you went through to reach them. After finding the gorillas, you will spend about one full hour excited and watching the gorillas, with many chances to take photos and videos for memories.

Later after trekking, return to the park headquarters and then continue to your lodge for some relaxation and if you want you can go for a community visit or cultural tour to learn how the locals live and enjoy cultural performances.

Day 12: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park

Wake up and enjoy breakfast at the lodge. After breakfast, depart the lodge and drive to Kigali in Rwanda. You’ll continue with your journey to Volcanoes National Park for your next adventure. Arrive at Volcanoes and proceed to your booked safari lodge. Dinner and overnight stay here.

Day 13: Golden monkey Tracking

Just like mountain gorilla trekking, Golden monkey tracking is an exciting experience. You’ll go to the park headquarters for briefing and later embark on the trek to search for these primates in the forest. After encountering them, you’ll spend a full hour observing them as they feed, play, and groom each other. Later return to the Lodge for a refreshing meal.

Later go for a cultural experience in the Iby’Iwacu Cultural village.

Day 14: Lake Kivu

After breakfast at the lodge, depart your lodge and transfer to Lake Kivu for a relaxation stay. There are option activities on offer here including canoeing and Kayaking. Spend the rest of your day relaxing from the long trip. Dinner and overnight stay at the lodge.

Day 15: Transfer to Kigali & departure

Today following breakfast, depart Lake Kivu and drive to Kigali City. You’ll be taken to Kigali International Airport for your onwards flight back home.

End of tour 15 Days Kenya Uganda Safari via Kigali City