3 Weeks East Africa Road Trip (Kenya-Tanzania-Rwanda-Uganda)

A Kenya-Tanzania-Rwanda-Uganda road trip requires careful planning due to border crossings, visa requirements, and diverse landscapes, but offers incredible wildlife, cultural experiences, and primate treks. An example itinerary starts in Nairobi (Kenya) for safaris in the Masai Mara, then moves to the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater (Tanzania), followed by a flight to Kigali (Rwanda) for gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park, and potentially concludes with time in Uganda’s national parks.

Our Client’s Experiences: Kenya-Tanzania-Rwanda-Uganda: A Self-drive Itinerary
Africa, renowned for its remarkable wildlife and the Big Five species. We had never visited Africa prior (having attempted to travel to Morocco twice, both occasions were regrettably cancelled due to COVID), necessitating careful research to determine the optimal schedule for our journey. We ultimately resolved to embark on a three-week journey to East Africa, commencing in Kenya to visit the renowned Giraffe Manor, subsequently proceeding to Tanzania to explore the Serengeti, followed by a pause in Zanzibar for leisure on the beach, and concluding in Rwanda and Uganda for gorilla climbing. If you seek adventure amidst stunning landscapes, remarkable wildlife, opulent lodgings, and exceptionally hospitable guides, then this African itinerary may be suitable for you.

Tips for Planning an Kenya-Tanzania-Rwanda-Uganda A Self-drive Road Trip

• Plan when to go based on weather:
  Numerous African nations have extreme heat throughout the summer; therefore, if you are averse to high temperatures, consider visiting in the winter, with peak season occurring in July. The dry season is also favoured for safaris, particularly when use pop-up roof vehicles. Be advised that pricing will be considerably elevated, and it is advisable to prepare well in advance, as certain items may become fully booked rapidly.
• Get your visas ahead of time:
  We needed three visas: one for Kenya, one for Tanzania, and one for East Africa. While the East Africa visa covers Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda, sadly you can’t visit a country with the East Africa visa, leave the East Africa nations, and use the same visa to return. If you prepare carefully, you may be able to secure just two visas: one for Tanzania and one for East Africa. Most planes travel to Nairobi, so you can get a trans​it visa if you’re only heading there for less than 72 hours. We remained in Nairobi for just over 3 days thus we had to get a standard visa.
• Check which vaccinations you need.
  Tanzania mandates the yellow fever vaccination; nevertheless, we were not inspected for it at the border. We were advised to obtain the typhoid vaccine and received a prescription for malaria prophylaxis.
• Get a SIM card upon arrival.
  We acquired the Airtel SIM card immediately outside the arrivals area at Nairobi Airport and activated a data plan for our initial days. Subsequently, we acquired the One Airtel data bundle roaming package to utilise it across all the other countries we intended to visit without the necessity of obtaining a new SIM card. Numerous establishments, such as motels and tented camps, lacked in-room Wi-Fi, making mobile data an invaluable resource.
• Research how to get around.
  Bolt and Uber operate in Kenya, with Bolt often offering lower prices than Uber. Nevertheless, we were unable to persuade Bolt to take our credit or debit card, so we settled the payment in local currency. Ensure you withdraw cash from the ATM located immediately outside Nairobi Airport if you intend to utilise Bolt. Ensure you possess lower denominations, as not all drivers may carry change. Securing a cab in Zanzibar is quite costly due to the prevailing taxi monopoly; thus, we planned airport transportation and leased a vehicle for the remainder of our stay (see to our Zanzibar section for our recommendation against driving!). Rwanda employs Yego and VW Move. We coordinated transportation through our hotel, thus we did not utilise either option in Rwanda.
• Budget accordingly.
  This Kenya vs Tanzania vs Rwanda vs Uganda: A Self-drive journey has proven to be our most costly to date, surpassing even trips to expensive nations such as Iceland, Japan, and Norway. We indulged in several luxurious experiences, such as Giraffe Manor and Four Seasons Serengeti, while also incorporating affordable accommodations and tented camps priced at approximately $30 per night, along with street food options. The gorilla trekking trip was notably costly, with permits for Bwindi in Uganda priced at $800 per individual, excluding transportation, meals, and additional safari activities. Flight expenses can accumulate due to elevated taxation rates in Africa. An African journey can certainly be undertaken at a lower cost; but, it is essential to adjust your expectations accordingly. Given the sweltering temperatures, presence of mosquitoes and tsetse flies, dusty safari vehicles, and the risk of malaria, you might prefer not to reside in inexpensive tents.
• Bring cash
  To reduce credit card costs, it is advisable to carry cash. Prior to your departure, ascertain if motels, tickets, or tours require cash alone to ensure you possess the precise denominations needed, as many establishments may lack the ability to provide change. When paying in USD, ensure you carry new USD bills, as old USD bills may not be accepted.Upon your arrival in Africa, you may wish to withdraw local cash from the ATM. We discovered that the shops and restaurants we visited accepted credit cards; nevertheless, cash was necessary for minor expenses such as Bolt payments or admission fees, where the USD rates were far higher than those in the local currency.