What You Need to Know: Our East Africa safaris combine Tanzania or Kenya's savannah parks with gorilla trekking in Uganda or Rwanda, or join the Maasai Mara and the Serengeti, over 6 to 14 days. Starting prices run from US$2,892 per person for the 6-day Tanzania and Kenya safari, and from US$5,124 for the 7-day Uganda chimpanzee and Rwanda gorilla trip, for 2 travelers at mid-range lodges with park fees and permits included.
Which East African Countries Should You Combine?
Each country does one thing best, so the right combination depends on what you most want to see.
| Country | Best for | Guides |
|---|---|---|
| Tanzania | The Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater, Kilimanjaro, Zanzibar | Tanzania safaris |
| Kenya | The Maasai Mara, Amboseli's elephants, Lake Nakuru's rhinos, the coast | Kenya safaris |
| Uganda | Gorillas at the lower permit price, chimpanzees, Murchison Falls | Uganda safaris |
| Rwanda | Gorillas with short drives, golden monkeys, Nyungwe's chimps | Rwanda safaris |
The most popular pairings are a Tanzania or Kenya safari plus gorillas, and the Serengeti plus the Maasai Mara, which are two halves of the same ecosystem; our Serengeti vs Maasai Mara guide explains the difference.
Our East Africa Safari Itineraries
Prices are starting prices per person for 2 travelers at mid-range lodges (luxury for the luxury safari), including park fees and the permits listed; regional flights are quoted separately and your written quotation gives the final price.
| Itinerary | Days | From (per person) | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tanzania and Kenya | 6 | US$2,892 | Serengeti and Maasai Mara by road |
| Maasai Mara and Serengeti | 9 | US$4,338 | Mara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Manyara |
| Luxury Kenya and Tanzania | 13 | US$11,050 | Six parks at luxury lodges |
| Maasai Mara and Rwanda gorillas | 9 | US$5,938 | Mara, gorillas, golden monkeys |
| Kenya and Uganda gorillas | 10 | US$5,620 | Mara, Nakuru, Bwindi, Queen Elizabeth |
| Kenya and Uganda | 14 | US$7,798 | Amboseli, Nakuru, Mara, chimps, gorillas |
| Kenya and Rwanda gorillas | 14 | US$8,348 | Mara, Nakuru, Amboseli, gorillas, Lake Kivu |
| Tanzania and Uganda gorillas | 9 | US$5,138 | Manyara, Serengeti, crater, Bwindi |
| Tanzania and Uganda | 14 | US$7,798 | Northern circuit, chimps, gorillas |
| Serengeti and Rwanda gorillas | 9 | US$5,938 | Tarangire, Serengeti, gorillas |
| Tanzania and Rwanda gorillas | 10 | US$6,420 | Tarangire, crater, Serengeti, gorillas |
| Tanzania and Rwanda | 14 | US$8,498 | Northern circuit, gorillas, Nyungwe chimps |
| Rwanda gorillas and Tanzania | 14 | US$8,348 | Gorillas first, then 9 safari days |
| Uganda chimps and Rwanda gorillas | 7 | US$5,124 | Kibale, Queen Elizabeth, Volcanoes |
| Uganda and Rwanda gorillas | 9 | US$6,738 | Two gorilla treks |
| Rwanda and Uganda | 10 | US$7,270 | Nyungwe chimps, two gorilla treks |
| Uganda and Rwanda | 14 | US$9,398 | Murchison, chimps, two gorilla treks |
Gorilla Trekking: Uganda or Rwanda?
Mountain gorillas live only in the Virunga volcanoes and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, on the borders of Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. We arrange treks in Uganda and Rwanda. The experience is the same, an hour with a habituated family, but the cost and the travel differ.
| Permit | Uganda | Rwanda |
|---|---|---|
| Mountain gorilla trek | US$800 (US$600 in April, May and November) | US$1,500 all year |
| Chimpanzee tracking | US$250 in Kibale | About US$150 in Nyungwe |
| Golden monkeys | Mgahinga, rate in your quotation | US$100 in Volcanoes |
| Minimum age | 15 for gorillas, 12 for chimps | 15 for gorillas |
Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park is about 2.5 hours from Kigali airport, so even a 3-day trip works. Uganda's Bwindi is 9–10 hours by road from Entebbe, or a short flight, but the permit costs about half as much and drops to US$600 in April, May and November. Permits sell out first from June to September: we reserve them as soon as you confirm.
How We Run East Africa Trips
We plan every East Africa trip and stay your contact from the first email to the last day. In Tanzania our own team runs the safari; in Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda the trip is run on the ground by trusted local partner operators we work with. You tell us your dates and interests, our partners cost their part of the route, and we send you one written quotation and itinerary, with the permits, flights and border crossings arranged. Jaynevy Tours is a licensed Tanzanian tour operator (TALA licence 014271), based in Moshi and founded in 2023 by Julius Nyange, a former safari and mountain guide.
When Is the Best Time for an East Africa Safari?
June to October and December to February are dry across the region: the best months for game viewing and the easiest for forest treks. July to October brings the migration to the northern Serengeti and the Maasai Mara; January to February the calving in the southern Serengeti. April and May are the long rains, when some camps close and Uganda's gorilla permit is cheaper.
East Africa Visas, Health and Borders
- Kenya: Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), about US$30–35, at etakenya.go.ke at least 3 days before you fly
- Tanzania: visa (US$100 multiple-entry for US citizens), plus Tanzania's mandatory inbound travel insurance (US$44 per adult from October 1, 2026)
- Uganda: e-visa, about US$50, applied for online; no visa on arrival
- Rwanda: visa about US$50, online or on arrival
- East Africa Tourist Visa: US$100 for 90 days with multiple entries, covering Uganda and Rwanda (check the current rules for Kenya before you apply)
Kenya and Uganda are on the yellow fever list, so carry your yellow fever certificate on any combined trip: Uganda checks it on arrival, and Tanzania and Rwanda can ask for it when you arrive from a yellow fever country.
How to Book an East Africa Safari
A 30% deposit confirms your trip and the balance is paid on arrival. Refunds: 100% if you cancel 60 days or more before arrival, 90% at 30–59 days, 60% at 15–29 days, 25% at 10–14 days, and nothing under 10 days. Gorilla and chimpanzee permits follow the park authorities' own rules and are usually non-refundable once issued.
Common Questions About East Africa Safaris
Can I combine Tanzania and Kenya on one safari?
Which is better for gorillas, Uganda or Rwanda?
Both give you the same hour with a gorilla family. Rwanda is faster to reach and costs US$1,500; Uganda costs US$800, or US$600 in the low season, with longer journeys.
How many days do I need for a safari and gorillas?
At least 9 days: 4–5 for the safari, 3–4 for the gorillas, with a flight between them.
Who runs the trips outside Tanzania?
Trusted local partner operators in Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda, while we plan the trip and stay your contact throughout.
Can I add Zanzibar?
Yes, at the end of any trip that finishes in Tanzania; see our Zanzibar holidays.
Are the prices per person?
Yes, starting prices per person for 2 travelers at mid-range lodges. Your written quotation gives the final price for your dates, group and lodge level.
The Bottom Line
East Africa rewards a combined trip: the great plains of Tanzania and Kenya, and the gorillas of Uganda and Rwanda, are a short flight apart. Choose the pairing that matches what you most want to see, and book the gorilla permit early.
Tell us your dates, the number of travelers and what you want to see, through the booking form, on WhatsApp +255 678 992 599 or by email to jaynevytours@gmail.com, and we will send a written quotation and itinerary.