Which visa do I need to visit Uganda, Rwanda, and Kenya 

If you are destined for a visit to Uganda, Rwanda, and Kenya, purchasing the East African visa allows you entry into at least two East African countries, a community to which these three countries belong. For those who must possess a visa before entering Uganda, Rwanda, or Kenya, you can use the advantage of the East Africa visa to avoid having multiple Visa re-applications.

Most Popular Safaris

5 Day Uganda Gorillas & Wildlife

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18 Day Ultimate Uganda Safari

5 Day Gorilla Habituation & Chimps

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14 Day Uganda Safari via Kigali

4 Days Gorillas & Golden Monkeys

5 Day Rwanda Gorillas & Culture

4 Day Kenya Game Safari

Each of these countries, Uganda, Rwanda, or Kenya, has a visa arrangement as an individual country.

Contact us for necessary visa requirements for Uganda, Rwanda, and Kenya. Encounter Africa Safaris has professional and knowledgeable travel and tour consultants who will give you more details on the travel documents you must possess.

If you travel by road in these three countries, Kenya shares Uganda's border on the western part with Maraba or Busia as the border crossing point. Uganda shares a border on its southwestern part with Rwanda, and the border crossing is at either Cyanika or Gatuna.

As you travel into Uganda, Rwanda, or Kenya, check out the other travel requirements, like the injections you must have, activities to be part of, prohibitions while in the country, and much more.

You can also purchase a tourist visa, Business visa, or educational visa for either country depending on what you hope to engage in while in Uganda, to mention a few.

Air transport is also available from Kenya to Uganda to Rwanda. You can use Jomo Kenyata International Airport or Moi International Airport from Kenya. Rwanda International Airport is Kigali International Airport. Uganda has Entebbe International Airport.

What to do on Safari in Uganda?

Primate safaris in Uganda

Gorilla trekking

The foremost safari activity in Uganda is gorilla safari, either gorilla trekking or gorilla habituation experience. Uganda has two gorilla safari destinations, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park.

One must possess a gorilla safari permit for either activity because of the high demand for them worldwide. The supply of gorilla permits per day is limited to 8 per gorilla trekking family or 4 per gorilla habituation experience family. To be on the safe side, you need to book the gorilla permits at least three months to a year in advance, depending on the season.

The Uganda Wildlife Authority is mandated to sell and regulate Uganda's gorilla permits.

Chimpanzee safaris in Uganda

You can do chimpanzee trekking, where one hour is allowed with a fully habituated chimpanzee troop, or a chimpanzee habituation experience with a semi-habituated chimpanzee community. The population of chimpanzees in Uganda is about 500, but Kibale National Park is the prime destination.

Other chimpanzee safari destinations in Uganda include Kaniyo Pabidi, Kyambura Gorge, Kalinzu Forest Reserve, and Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary, to mention but a few.

Golden Monkey Safari In Uganda

Golden monkeys are some of the world's endangered primates, and Mgahinga National Park in Uganda is one of its few inhabitants. This is a unique monkey species with golden brown hairs at the lower bottom and a larger body structure than other primates.

Although they are habituated, golden monkeys still possess their charming nature, and when with them, they keep you on your toes. You can do golden monkey trekking, where one hour is allowed with a fully habituated troop or golden monkey habituation experience for four hours with a semi-habituated golden monkey troop.

Game Safaris in Uganda

Uganda has four game parks: Murchison Falls, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, and Lake Mburo National Park. These game parks are distributed within various locations in Uganda, but you need a well-tailored or customized Uganda safari itinerary to avoid moving back and forth.

By taking the early morning or late afternoon game drives, you have a chance to spot a wide range of animals like Lions, leopards, herds of elephants, waterbucks, bushbucks, cape buffaloes, hyenas, giraffes, zebras, elands, impalas, topis to mention but a few. None of these animals are found in Uganda's game parks, but some can only be found in specific game parks.

The Ziiwa Rhino Sanctuary is the Rhino rehabilitation center where a few are cared for. The population of rhinos in Uganda was wiped out during the civil wars, and others were poached for their horns. At Ziiwa Rhino Sanctuary, they are monitored and patrolled to prevent them from getting hurt by poachers. 

Water activities in Uganda

Although Uganda has no cost line, the water bodies in the country engage you in a variety of water activities that you may be unable to be part of while at sea or on the oceans.

Launch trips

You can engage on a river Nile launch trip in Murchison Falls National Park. From the banks of the River Nile, you enjoy the wild animals you love visiting to quench your thirst and take a bath. You may spot animals like lions, waterbucks, leopards, hyenas, herds of elephants, cape buffaloes, and others. An array of birds, especially water birds, grace the shoreline.

As you draw closer to Murchison Falls, the river becomes rough, causing a chance of boat turbulence. As the stunning Murchison Falls finally come into view, you feel its power as the water plunges the 43-meter-high cliff to catch up with the course. 

When you climb to the top of the falls, you witness precisely how the Murchison Falls drama happens. This point is not for the faint-hearted.

The Kazinga channel launch trip in Queen Elizabeth National Park is worth taking, especially after a day in the tracks of the game parks. The banks of the channel are flocked all year by different bird species, including foreign migrants. Look out for a variety of wild animals that love cooling off heat from the banks of the river or taking a bath in the channel waters.

The view of the Rwenzori snowcapped block is more evident while on the Kazinga channel launch. Look out for other stunning beauties on the floor of the Rift Valley.

White water rafting

Feel the thrill of the River Nile during the whiter water rafting adventure. White water rafting happens on Itanda Falls or within Murchison Falls National Park on Victoria Nile. No experience is required but the zeal to engage in this safari because, on the ground, there are professional instructors to take you through this adventure. There are different levels of white water rafting, but you can stop where you most feel comfortable.

Sports fishing

You can engage in sports fishing while on a Uganda visit. You need to have a fishing license from the Uganda Wildlife Authority. Carry your fishing equipment just to be comfortable, and hire a boat captain for your fishing time.

What Activities to Do on Rwanda Safari?

Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda

Rwanda is home to the only leftover mountain gorillas in the world. Volcanoes National Park is the only home for mountain gorillas in Rwanda. You must purchase a gorilla permit from the Rwanda Development Board to access this adventure. 

About 15 gorilla families are open for gorilla trekking in Rwanda, but a maximum of 8 permits are opened to the public per family per day. No Rwanda gorilla permit is booked without payment, yet a first-come, first-served basis is used. One must secure their gorilla permit for Rwanda in advance, especially during the peak season, that is, June to September and December to January.

Chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda 

Chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda happens in Nyungwe National Park. You must secure a chimpanzee safari permit from the Rwanda Development Board. Two chimpanzee trekking sessions happen in Rwanda, that is, in the morning and afternoon.

Another chimpanzee's habitat is called Cyamudondo, which is close to Nyungwe National Park, which is open and where you may spot semi-habituated chimpanzees.

Game Drives in Rwanda

While visiting Rwanda, you may do game drives in Akagera National Park. Although this park is still recovering from the effects of the genocide of 1994, wild animals are being re-introduced in the park. During the game drives, you may spot giraffes, waterbucks, bushbucks, herds of elephants, cape buffaloes, and others.

Kigali city tour

Feel the heartbeat of Rwanda by taking a Kigali city tour, where you may enjoy a day of business in Rwanda. Look out for coffee shops where you can enjoy the taste of Rwanda coffee.

Visit the Rwanda genocide memorials, where you can see some of the remains of the victims of this incident. Enjoy organized Rwandese cultural performances accompanied by rhythmic beats from the long drums and folk songs.

What Activities to do on Kenyan safari?

During a safari in Kenya, the first thing to consider is game drives in Masai Mara National Reserve during the wildebeest migration, especially from July to August.

Masai Mara Natonal Park 

This wild animal-rich park in Kenya is like a slaughterhouse for the vast population of wild animals as they try to cross the Mara River. There is a struggle for the fittest during this mass wild animal exodus. On a visit to Masai Mara National Reserve, you may spot animals like lions, herds of elephants, zebras, gazelles, waterbucks, bushbucks, warthogs, and others.

Other national parks in Kenya include Nairobi National Park, located closer to the country's capital. Lake Nakuru National Park is famous for the stunning flocks of lesser flamingos. Meru National Park has adorable open plains dotted with doum palms. Look out for stunning bird species. Samburu and Bufalo Springs National Reserve hosts greys, Zebras, elephants, Somali Ostriches, and Reticulated Giraffees.

Amboseli National Park is beautifully placed closer to mountain Kilimanjaro, and even though it experiences arid conditions, water flows from Mountain Kilimanjaro snowmelt that filters through the thousands of fleets of volcanic rock. 

Visit the Mombasa coast.

Visit Mombasa on the coast of Kenya, where you can also engage in various water activities on the Indian Ocean coast, like snorkeling, Kayaking, boat cruising, swimming in the Indian Ocean, sunbathing under the tropical sunlight, and much more.

What to Park for a safari in Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya

You do not need to over-pack for a safari in East Africa, but pack what is relevant for the activities you plan to do in Uganda, Rwanda, and Kenya.

• Safari hat. East Africa generally experiences tropical climates, so you must sometimes carry a foldable safari hat to protect yourself from the scorching sun.
• Wear light clothing in case it is the dry season.
• Safari clothes in colors that are wilderness friendly like Khaki, tan, forest green
• A pair of binoculars for clearer visibility.
• Sunscreen protects your skin from scorching sun rays.
• Backpack where to pack some of the most used items like the camera, insect repellants, and others.
• Some hard cash is exchanged into local currency because credit cards are a rare means of exchange. Collecting money from them can be challenging at times.
• Warmers because most safari parks in Uganda, Rwanda, and Kenya experience icy conditions in the early morning and late afternoon.
• Safari shoes protect your feet if you have to walk in the jungle, like during gorilla safaris, chimpanzee safaris, or golden monkey tours.
• Energy treats to keep munching on while on safari
• Extra fully charged batteries to exchange with in case one runs low.
• Insect repellant to keep away the stinging insects that may come your way.
• Rainproof gears, especially during the rainy seasons.
• Flip flops to use after a day in closed shoes, especially if you have to walk.
• Duffel bag where you can pack your safari items and you can carry it in case you get no assistance
• A lightweight waterproof bag to keep in your safari shoes so they do not contaminate your clothes.
• Toiletries are suitable for your skin type, especially if you have a sensitive one.
• First aid kit with emergency items like a bandage, simple doctor-prescribed medication, and others.

Our safari consultants are ready to help you plan your safari to Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya. Contact us for more information.