Everything you need to start shaping your East Africa safari, before you ever speak with a specialist.
We design every safari one client at a time. No off-the-shelf packages, no hidden mark-ups — just five clear steps from the first message to the moment your wheels leave the runway home.
Tell us your dates, your dream and any constraints. WhatsApp, email or the form, whichever you prefer.
A specialist drafts a bespoke proposal: route, lodges, transfers, permits and a clear day-by-day flow.
We iterate together until every detail is exactly yours, pace, pillows, packing list and all.
Deposit secures permits, lodges and flights. Final balance 60 days before travel.
Met on the tarmac. 24/7 in-country support and a private guide who becomes a friend.
Built to mirror how our specialists scope itineraries: collect the right inputs first, then calculate transparently.
Define the foundation before we layer style and operational detail.
Built by our specialist team using real permit prices, lodge rates, park fees and seasonal data updated for 2025–2026.
Country, nights, lodge tier and group size, get a realistic permit + lodge + transfer estimate.
Open Tool →Five quick questions match you with the gorilla family and trek length you should request.
Open Tool →Pick a month, see wildlife events, weather, crowds and price level for every destination.
Open Tool →Where the herd is, crossing probability, and which side of the Mara to book.
Open Tool →Five questions and we suggest the East African country to start with.
Open Tool →Multi-country, multi-tier estimator for your full safari.
Open Tool →Accurate gorilla trekking cost estimates in minutes
Gorilla trekking permits alone cost $800 in Uganda and $1,500 in Rwanda for 2025–2026. Add lodge tier, number of nights, transfers from Entebbe or Kigali, and park fees, costs vary enormously. Our calculator aggregates real pricing data so you can build a realistic budget before committing to anything.
Open Gorilla Trekking Cost Calculator →Match yourself to the right gorilla family
Not all gorilla treks are equal. The Nkuringo group in Bwindi requires a steep 3–4 hour descent and ascent. Habituated groups in Mgahinga or certain Volcanoes NP sectors are more accessible. Our five-question checker maps your fitness, mobility and pace to the family and route that suits you, minimising surprises on the day.
Open Trek Difficulty Checker →Month-by-month wildlife events across five countries
East Africa's wildlife calendar is dense: the wildebeest calving in Ndutu (Jan–Feb), green season gorilla trekking in Uganda (Apr–May), Kenya's dry season peak (Jul–Oct), Rwanda's drier months (Jun–Sep), Zanzibar's calm sea windows (Jul–Aug, Dec–Jan). Our finder maps all of this so you choose the month that aligns with your priorities, not just 'go in July'.
Open Best Time Finder →Track 1.5 million wildebeest across the Serengeti–Mara ecosystem
The Great Migration is not one event, it is a year-round cycle. Calving season in Ndutu (January–March), the long northward push through the Serengeti central corridor (April–June), dramatic Grumeti River crossings (June–July), and the legendary Mara River crossings in Kenya's Masai Mara (July–October). Our planner shows crossing probability, herd position estimates and which side of the border delivers the best experience each month.
Open Great Migration Planner →Find your ideal East Africa starting point
Should you begin in Uganda for gorilla trekking and chimpanzee tracking, Rwanda for a premium primate and conservation experience, Kenya for classic savannah game and the Masai Mara, Tanzania for Serengeti scale, or Zanzibar for Indian Ocean downtime after a safari? Five questions, your pace, wildlife priorities, trip length and budget, produce a ranked recommendation with reasoning.
Open Destination Quiz →Multi-country, multi-tier East Africa budget planner
A solo luxury Uganda gorilla itinerary can cost $6,000–$12,000 for seven nights. A Tanzania + Zanzibar combination for two ranges from $8,000 to $25,000 depending on lodge tier and season. Our estimator lets you model multi-country itineraries, switch between budget/midrange/luxury tiers and see realistic per-person totals, including permits, park fees, internal flights and conservancy fees that most comparison sites ignore.
Open East Africa Budget Estimator →Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania and Zanzibar, each with distinct ecosystems, wildlife and experiences. We operate across all five so your itinerary flows, not fragments.
Gorilla trekking, chimpanzees, Queen Elizabeth NP
The 'Pearl of Africa' hosts half the world's mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Combine with Kibale chimpanzee tracking, the wildlife-rich savannah of Queen Elizabeth National Park and the dramatic Murchison Falls on the Nile.
Explore Uganda →Gorilla trekking, Nyungwe, Lake Kivu
Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park is the premium gorilla trekking destination, highly organised, beautifully presented and a short drive from Kigali. Pair with Nyungwe rainforest chimpanzee trekking and golden monkey tracking.
Explore Rwanda →Masai Mara, Amboseli, Samburu
Kenya's Masai Mara is the most celebrated wildlife reserve in Africa, home to the Great Migration crossing and exceptional year-round lion, leopard, elephant and cheetah sightings. Combine with Amboseli's iconic Kilimanjaro backdrop.
Explore Kenya →Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire
Tanzania hosts the largest unbroken wildlife migration on earth in the Serengeti, the world-famous Ngorongoro Crater, and the baobab-filled elephant sanctuary of Tarangire. The sheer scale of Tanzania's wilderness is unmatched.
Explore Tanzania →Stone Town, Mnemba Atoll, spice tours
The Indian Ocean archipelago offers white-sand beaches, clear warm water, historic Stone Town (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and world-class diving. The perfect complement to a mainland Tanzania or East Africa circuit.
Explore Zanzibar →Compare all destinationsView all →Written by our specialists and updated annually, the reading list every East Africa traveller should work through before departure.
The month you travel determines everything. A complete month-by-month guide.
Read guide →Permits, fitness, what to pack and how to prepare for the encounter.
Read guide →Our process, from first enquiry to landing on the tarmac.
Read guide →Everything you need and nothing you do not.
Read guide →What luxury East Africa actually costs, broken down.
Read guide →Yellow fever, malaria and altitude, what to organise before you fly.
Read guide →What cover you need, and what most policies miss.
Read guide →East Africa visa, single-country and the e-visa landscape.
Read guide →The classic dry seasons, June to October and January to February, offer excellent game viewing across Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania. However, the 'green season' (March–May, November) brings lower prices, fewer crowds and excellent photographic light. Rwanda's gorilla trekking is rewarding year-round thanks to the mountain gorillas' non-migratory nature.
Uganda gorilla trekking permits cost $800 per person (2025). Rwanda permits are $1,500. A full bespoke gorilla safari including flights from Europe, 7–10 nights in mid-to-luxury lodges, park fees, and transfers typically ranges from £4,500 to £12,000 per person depending on lodge tier and duration. Use our Gorilla Trekking Cost Calculator for a personalised estimate.
The Mara River crossings occur from approximately late July to October in the Masai Mara (Kenya) and Serengeti (Tanzania). Timing is unpredictable within this window, crossings can happen daily or not for a week. Staying in a mobile camp that moves with the herd, or a fixed camp in the Mara Triangle or Sayari, maximises your chances. Our Great Migration Planner shows monthly crossing probability.
East Africa's main safari and tourism destinations, Bwindi, Volcanoes National Park, Masai Mara, Serengeti, Zanzibar, are very safe for tourists. All our journeys use vetted ground operators, private vehicles and carefully chosen lodges. Standard travel precautions apply, as with any international destination.
Uganda offers more habituated groups (at lower permit cost), a wilder and less-developed visitor experience, and can be paired with chimpanzee tracking in Kibale or game drives in Queen Elizabeth NP. Rwanda is premium-priced, highly organised, easily accessible from Kigali, and suits travellers who want to combine gorillas with Nyungwe Forest or Lake Kivu. Read our full comparison guide for a side-by-side breakdown.
Absolutely. Multi-country itineraries are our speciality. Popular combinations include Uganda + Rwanda (primate focus), Kenya + Tanzania (savannah + migration), Tanzania + Zanzibar (safari + beach), and the full 'grand circuit' of Uganda + Rwanda + Kenya + Tanzania. Internal flights between countries make distances manageable. Use our Budget Estimator to model a multi-country trip.
A yellow fever vaccination certificate is mandatory for entry to Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania. Malaria prophylaxis is strongly recommended for most safari areas. Routine vaccinations (hepatitis A, typhoid) are advisable. Altitude considerations apply for Bwindi (1,600m), Volcanoes NP (2,400m) and Kilimanjaro. Consult our Health and Vaccinations guide for a full checklist.
Uganda gorilla permits, while more available than Rwanda's, sell out 6–12 months ahead for peak season (June–September, December–January). Rwanda Volcanoes permits are even more restricted. We recommend booking 9–12 months ahead for peak periods, or working with a specialist who holds advance permit allocations. Use our Best Time Finder to identify quieter windows.
Can't find your answer?
Our specialists answer enquiries within 24 hours, typically much sooner.
Ask a specialistResources
Uganda Wildlife Authority
Official gorilla and chimpanzee permit bookings for Bwindi, Mgahinga and Kibale National Parks.
Rwanda Development Board
Official Volcanoes National Park permits, conservation fees and travel advisories.
Kenya Wildlife Service
National park fees, Masai Mara conservancy contacts and wildlife data.
Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA)
Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire and Kilimanjaro park entry regulations.
Lonely Planet East Africa
Independent travel guides and destination overviews for the region.
Wildebeest Migration, WWF
Conservation context and research on the Serengeti–Mara ecosystem.
Yellow Fever & Travel Health, WHO
Official vaccine requirements and malaria prophylaxis advice for East Africa.
TripAdvisor East Africa Safaris
Independent traveller reviews and lodge ratings across the region.
Begin Your Journey
Tell us your dates, your dream, and how you like to travel. We will design something extraordinary, only for you.
