16-Day East Africa Safari and Lamu Beach Holiday

Pickup : Kigali Airport
Drop-off : Jomo Kenyatta Airport

Tour Overview

This East Africa Safari and Lamu Beach holiday takes you through 3 countries in 16 days, combining Uganda’s gorilla forests, Tanzania’s grass plains, Kenya’s Masai Mara, and the palm lined shores of Lamu Island. Depending on the time of year you travel, you may also have the chance to encounter the great migration, as huge herds of wildebeest and zebra move between the Serengeti and the Masai Mara in search of fresh grazing. It is a journey built for travelers who want both the thrill of the wild and the calm of the Indian Ocean coast, and every detail below reflects what you can expect day by day on this East Africa Safari and Lamu Beach holiday.

Cost Includes

Transportation (Car, Fuel, Driver Guide)
Meals & Accommodation as mentioned
Gorilla Trekking Permit
Intrnational Flights across East African countries and Domestic Flights
Lamu Beach Activities
Game Drive and Boat Cruise
Bottled Drinking Water
Government Taxes

Cost Excludes

International Flights from and to home country
Accommodation Before and After your Trip
Optional Batwa Cultural Experience
Sourvenirs
Tips & Bwindi Porter Hiring

Travel Plan

Day 1: Flight from Entebbe International Airport to Kasese Airfield

Your guide will meet you at Entebbe International Airport or your hotel in Entebbe and help you board your internal flight to Queen Elizabeth National Park, landing at either Mweya or Kasese Airstrip. On arrival, a ground guide and vehicle transfer you by road to your lodge. The rest of the day is yours to rest and settle in, or you can add on an optional evening game drive in the park.

Meal Plan: Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Buffalo Safari Lodge (Midrange)
Flight Time: 1.5 hours

Day 2: Morning Game Drive in Kasenyi Plains and Afternoon Boat Cruise on Kazinga Channel

After an early breakfast, you head out at 6:00 AM for a game drive across the Kasenyi Plains, when the animals are at their most active. Riding in a pop up roof 4×4 land cruiser, you will look out for elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, lions, impalas, topis, waterbucks, warthogs and a wide range of birds, including the martial eagle, malachite kingfisher and African skimmer. On a good day a leopard may also be spotted draped across a tree branch or slipping quietly through the tall grass.

After a relaxed lunch back at the lodge, you transfer to the pier for a 2 hour boat cruise on Kazinga Channel, widely regarded as one of the largest natural water channels in the world and home to one of the highest concentrations of hippos anywhere on the continent. From the boat you can expect to see water birds, crocodiles, buffaloes, elephants and many other animals that come to the channel to drink. The cruise also passes several fishing villages inside the park, giving you a glimpse of how local communities live alongside wildlife.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Buffalo Safari Lodge (Midrange)

Day 3: Morning Game Drive in Ishasha Sector for Tree Climbing Lions, then Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

The day begins at 6:00 AM with a drive through Ishasha, the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park famous worldwide for its tree climbing lions. These remarkable cats stretch out across fig tree branches, watching kobs and topis graze below, a sight found in only a handful of places on earth. After roughly 2 hours in the field, you set off on the 3 hour drive to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, arriving in the mid-afternoon with time to rest, settle into your lodge, and prepare for the following day’s highlight, the centrepiece of this entire Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania Safari.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Gorilla Leisure Lodge (Midrange)

Day 4: Morning Gorilla Trekking Experience with an Optional Batwa Cultural Experience

You wake between 5:30 and 6:00 AM, have a filling breakfast, then head to the park headquarters for the 7:30 AM ranger briefing. Rangers clearly explain the key rules: stay at least 10 metres from the gorillas, keep your voice low, skip the flash photography, and never touch them. By 8:00 AM, groups of 8 trekkers per gorilla family enter the forest, guided by armed rangers in constant radio contact with scouts already tracking the gorillas. Depending on where the family is feeding, the hike can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 7 hours.

Finding the gorillas brings an immediate, awe-filled hush over the group. For exactly 1 hour you watch silverbacks beat their chests, infants tumble over each other, and the family groom and feed in their natural habitat. Afterwards you collect your trekking certificate. The rest of the afternoon is free to rest, browse local crafts, or join the optional Batwa Cultural Experience, spending time with one of Uganda’s oldest forest communities as they share their songs, dances and traditional hunting techniques.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Gorilla Leisure Lodge (Midrange)

Day 5: Flight Back to Entebbe and Onward to Tanzania

You will fly back to Entebbe International Airport to close out the Uganda leg of your Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania Safari. Use this window to relax and freshen up at the airport lounge before boarding your connecting flight to Kilimanjaro International Airport near Arusha, Tanzania, marking the start of the Tanzanian leg of your trip. On arrival you are transferred to your lodge for an overnight stay.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Arusha Planet Lodge (Midrange)

Day 6: Flight to Lake Manyara and Transfer to Ngorongoro

After breakfast, you fly to Lake Manyara Airport, where our representative meets you for the road transfer to your lodge on the rim of Ngorongoro Crater, roughly a 45-minute drive from the airport. Check in and spend the rest of the day relaxing at the lodge, taking in the cool highland air and sweeping views over the surrounding countryside.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Farm of Dreams Lodge (Midrange)

Day 7: Full Day Game Drive in Ngorongoro Crater

After breakfast, descend roughly 30 to 45 minutes from the crater rim down to the floor of Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site formed inside a collapsed volcano and one of Africa’s richest wildlife ecosystems. You will spend the full day exploring this self-contained crater floor, home to the Big Five (lions, elephants, buffaloes, leopards and rhinos) as well as hippos in the crater lakes, flamingos, hyenas and many other species. You return to your lodge as the sun sets over the crater rim.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Farm of Dreams Lodge (Midrange)

Day 8: Drive to Central Serengeti with an Optional Afternoon Game Drive

After an early breakfast, you will set off on the drive into the heart of Central Serengeti, an area known for its sweeping plains and wildlife that can be seen year round. After checking in at camp, you can opt for an afternoon game drive, watching for lions, leopards, elephants, and buffaloes (rhino sightings here are rare), along with cheetahs, zebras, antelope, and other Serengeti residents.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Tukaone Serengeti Camp (Mid Range)

Day 9: Full Day Game Drive in Central Serengeti

This day is dedicated entirely to exploring Central Serengeti on full day game drives. The area offers excellent opportunities to see predators and large herds moving across the open plains, with a picnic lunch served in the bush so you can make the most of your time on safari.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Tukaone Serengeti Camp (Midrange)

Day 10: Drive to Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya

After an early breakfast, you will set off on the road transfer from the Serengeti to the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya, crossing the border at Isebania. This is a long travel day, taking around 7 to 8 hours in total, including the border crossing formalities, so you will have a packed lunch on the way. The drive gives you a good look at the changing landscape as you move from the Serengeti’s open plains into Kenya’s rolling Mara countryside. You should arrive at camp by late afternoon, with time to settle in and rest before dinner.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Sarova Mara Game Camp (Mid Range)

Day 11: Full Day Game Drive in Masai Mara National Reserve

After an early breakfast, you will spend the day out in the reserve, starting at 6:00 am, searching for the Big Five, lions, elephants, buffaloes, leopards, and rhinos, alongside other resident species such as cheetahs, zebras, wildebeest, gazelles, antelope, hyenas, elands, warthogs, and hippos.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Sarova Mara Game Camp (Mid Range)

Day 12: Hot Air Balloon Safari and Optional Afternoon Masai Village Visit

You will be picked up from camp at around 5:00 am and driven to the launch site, where the crew inflates the balloon. After a short safety briefing, you will climb into the basket and lift off just before sunrise, drifting silently over the Mara for about 1 hour. From this height you will spot elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, and often lions or a cheetah moving across the plains, lit by the soft colours of dawn. On landing, you will be welcomed with champagne and a full bush breakfast served out in the open plains, before heading back to your lodge to rest.

In the afternoon, you can opt for a visit to a nearby Masai village, where warriors will greet you with the adumu, a traditional jumping dance performed in unison. A guide will lead you through the manyatta, a homestead built from mud, sticks, and cow dung, explaining cattle herding traditions and family life. You can watch a demonstration of fire making using only sticks and dried grass, and ask questions about customs passed down through generations. Before leaving, you can browse handmade beadwork and jewellery made by the village women, with the option to buy a keepsake.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Sarova Mara Game Camp (Mid Range)

Day 13: Fly to Nairobi and Onward to Lamu

After breakfast in the Masai Mara, you will fly to Nairobi, landing at Wilson Airport, and connect onward to Manda Airport, which serves Lamu on Kenya’s Indian Ocean coast. This flight marks the shift from the safari portion into the beach portion of your East Africa Safari and Lamu Beach holiday. Since Manda Airport sits on Manda Island, across the channel from Lamu, you will take a short boat transfer of about 20 minutes to reach Lamu Island. On arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel and can begin settling into Lamu’s relaxed Swahili coastal atmosphere.

Meal Plan: Breakfast
Accommodation: Lamu Palace Hotel (Mid Range)

Day 14: Matondoni Village and Coastal Culture

On this day you will visit Matondoni Village to experience authentic Swahili coastal culture, watch traditional dhow building, and see daily village life along the water. Later, you can enjoy activities out on the sea, such as dhow sailing or a relaxed boat excursion, depending on conditions that day. This is one of the most memorable days of the Lamu Beach portion of your East Africa Safari and Lamu Beach holiday.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Lamu Palace Hotel (Mid Range)

Day 15: Swahili Heritage and Mangrove Experience

You will spend today exploring the Swahili heritage of Lamu Old Town, wandering its narrow streets, historic architecture, and local markets. Afterward, you will head out to the mangroves for a peaceful boat ride, learning about this unique coastal ecosystem while enjoying the quiet channels and abundant birdlife.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Lamu Palace Hotel (Mid Range)

Day 16: Flight from Lamu to Nairobi and Departure

Enjoy a final breakfast before your flight from Lamu Airport back to Nairobi, bringing your East Africa Safari and Lamu Beach holiday to a close. From Nairobi, you will connect with your international flight home or continue your onward journey. Extra accommodation in Nairobi can be arranged at an additional cost if you need it.

Meal Plan: Breakfast
Accommodation: None (unless arranged at extra cost)

Answered FAQs

How much does this safari cost, and can it be customized?

The cost per person for 2 people sharing upper midrange accommodation is $9,207. This covers transportation, the gorilla trekking permit, all accommodation and meals listed in the itinerary, all international and domestic flights listed in the itinerary, the boat cruise, hot Hot Air Balloon bottled drinking water, park entrance fees and government taxes. It excludes flights to and from your home country, optional cultural experiences, porters and personal expenses such as tips and crafts. Share your group size and preferred accommodation level with us and we will confirm your exact total cost per person.

Can this itinerary be customized? Yes. This Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania Safari and Lamu Beach Holiday can be adjusted to fit your travel dates, budget and interests. We can extend or shorten your time in any park, upgrade or downgrade your accommodation, add on optional cultural experiences, or adjust the number of nights spent on Lamu. Let us know what matters most to you and we will tailor the itinerary accordingly.

How physically demanding is the trekking on this itinerary?

Most days involve seated game drives in a 4×4 vehicle, so this itinerary is manageable for travellers of most fitness levels. The one exception is gorilla trekking on Day 4, which involves hiking through Bwindi’s forest at altitude on uneven, sometimes steep and muddy terrain for anywhere between 30 minutes and 7 hours depending on where the gorilla family is located. A reasonable level of fitness is recommended for this day, and a porter can be hired locally to help carry your daypack and support you on the trail. The Lamu section of the trip is far more relaxed, with walking tours, boat excursions and beach time rather than strenuous activity.

What is the best time of year to go on this trip?

The dry seasons, from June to September and again from December to February, are generally the best times for this Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania Safari, offering easier gorilla trekking conditions, good game viewing as animals gather around water sources, and clearer skies for the hot air balloon safari in the Masai Mara. If your dates allow it, July to September also lines up with the wildebeest migration in the Serengeti and Masai Mara. The Lamu Beach Holiday leg is pleasant for most of the year, though the long rains between April and May are worth avoiding if possible.

What should I pack for safari?

Pack light, breathable clothing in neutral colours (khaki, olive and brown work well) for game drives, along with a warm layer for early morning drives and the cooler Ngorongoro highlands. Bring sturdy, comfortable hiking boots for gorilla trekking, gardening style gloves for gripping vegetation on the trail, a rain jacket, insect repellent, sunscreen, a sun hat, and a pair of binoculars. A facemask is also recommended, particularly for the gorilla trekking day, since gorillas are highly susceptible to human respiratory illnesses. For the Lamu Beach Holiday portion, add swimwear, light beachwear, a cover-up for visiting the island’s historic town, and comfortable sandals.

Are the gorilla trekking permits guaranteed?

Gorilla permits are issued in limited numbers to protect Uganda’s mountain gorilla population. Once your booking is confirmed, we check permit availability and purchase your permit on your behalf, at which point your trekking spot is guaranteed. Because demand is high during peak months, we recommend booking this itinerary 4 to 6 months in advance, especially if you are travelling during peak season.

What type of vehicle is used for transportation?

You travel in a customized 4×4 safari land cruiser fitted with a pop-up roof for wildlife viewing and photography. The vehicle has four-wheel drive to handle rough park tracks and rural dirt roads, comes stocked with bottled drinking water, and has an extended chassis so that every passenger gets a window seat.

What visas and vaccinations do I need for Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania?

Most nationalities require a visa for Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, and these can generally be applied for online in advance or, in some cases, obtained on arrival. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is a mandatory entry requirement for all 3 countries. We also recommend speaking with a travel health clinic about malaria prophylaxis and routine vaccinations such as typhoid and hepatitis A before you travel. Requirements can change, so we advise confirming the latest visa and health guidance with the relevant embassies and your doctor closer to your travel dates.