Bwindi Impenetrable
Almost half of the world's mountain gorillas, in a 25,000-year-old forest.
8–10 h from Entebbe 8 lodges
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Uganda Safari Destinations, Rwanda and Kenya Parks
Uganda safari destinations range from gorilla rainforests to savannah with lions and elephants and quiet lakes, with Rwanda’s parks close by and Kenya’s Masai Mara an hour’s flight from Entebbe.
20 destinations
Queen Elizabeth
Tree-climbing lions, the Kazinga Channel and Kyambura chimps.
6–7 h from Entebbe 3 lodges
Murchison Falls
The Nile forced through a 7 m gap, with giraffes, elephants and lions.
5–6 h from Kampala 3 lodges
Kibale Forest
The best place in East Africa to track chimpanzees.
5–6 h from Kampala 2 lodges
Lake Mburo
Zebras, eland and walking safaris, close to Kampala.
4 h from Entebbe 2 lodges
Kidepo Valley
Remote wilderness on the South Sudan border, with cheetahs and big herds.
10–12 h (or fly) 1 lodges
Mgahinga & Lake Mutanda
Gorillas, golden monkeys and volcano hikes in Uganda's smallest park.
8–9 h from Entebbe 1 lodges
Lake Bunyonyi
A calm lake of 29 islands, perfect after a gorilla trek.
7–8 h from Entebbe 1 lodges
Volcanoes
Rwanda's gorillas and golden monkeys, 2.5 hours from Kigali.
2.5 h from Kigali 4 lodges
Nyungwe Forest
Montane rainforest with chimpanzees and a canopy walkway.
5–6 h from Kigali 1 lodges
Akagera
Rwanda's Big Five savannah park on the Tanzanian border.
2.5 h from Kigali 2 lodges
Lake Kivu
Lakeside towns, boat trips and the Congo Nile Trail.
3 h from Kigali 1 lodges
Masai Mara
Big cats on open plains, and the Great Migration from about July to October.
5–6 h from Nairobi
Amboseli
Large elephant herds with Kilimanjaro on the skyline.
4–5 h from Nairobi
Lake Nakuru
A Rift Valley lake with black and white rhinos, Rothschild’s giraffes and, in some seasons, flamingos.
3 h from Nairobi
Samburu
Dry northern country with Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe and gerenuk.
6 h from Nairobi
Ol Pejeta
The last northern white rhinos, black rhinos and the Big Five below Mount Kenya.
3–4 h from Nairobi
Lake Naivasha
A freshwater lake with hippo boat trips, Crescent Island walks and cycling in Hell's Gate.
2 h from Nairobi
Tsavo
Kenya's largest wilderness, with red elephants, Mzima Springs and lava flows.
On the Nairobi–Mombasa road
Nairobi National Park
Lions, rhinos and giraffes on the edge of the capital.
In Nairobi
At a glance
| Destination | Country | Known for | Travel time (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bwindi Impenetrable | Uganda | Almost half of the world's mountain gorillas, in a 25,000-year-old forest. | 8–10 h from Entebbe |
| Queen Elizabeth | Uganda | Tree-climbing lions, the Kazinga Channel and Kyambura chimps. | 6–7 h from Entebbe |
| Murchison Falls | Uganda | The Nile forced through a 7 m gap, with giraffes, elephants and lions. | 5–6 h from Kampala |
| Kibale Forest | Uganda | The best place in East Africa to track chimpanzees. | 5–6 h from Kampala |
| Lake Mburo | Uganda | Zebras, eland and walking safaris, close to Kampala. | 4 h from Entebbe |
| Kidepo Valley | Uganda | Remote wilderness on the South Sudan border, with cheetahs and big herds. | 10–12 h (or fly) |
| Mgahinga & Lake Mutanda | Uganda | Gorillas, golden monkeys and volcano hikes in Uganda's smallest park. | 8–9 h from Entebbe |
| Lake Bunyonyi | Uganda | A calm lake of 29 islands, perfect after a gorilla trek. | 7–8 h from Entebbe |
| Volcanoes | Rwanda | Rwanda's gorillas and golden monkeys, 2.5 hours from Kigali. | 2.5 h from Kigali |
| Nyungwe Forest | Rwanda | Montane rainforest with chimpanzees and a canopy walkway. | 5–6 h from Kigali |
| Akagera | Rwanda | Rwanda's Big Five savannah park on the Tanzanian border. | 2.5 h from Kigali |
| Lake Kivu | Rwanda | Lakeside towns, boat trips and the Congo Nile Trail. | 3 h from Kigali |
| Masai Mara | Kenya | Big cats on open plains, and the Great Migration from about July to October. | 5–6 h from Nairobi |
| Amboseli | Kenya | Large elephant herds with Kilimanjaro on the skyline. | 4–5 h from Nairobi |
| Lake Nakuru | Kenya | A Rift Valley lake with black and white rhinos, Rothschild’s giraffes and, in some seasons, flamingos. | 3 h from Nairobi |
| Samburu | Kenya | Dry northern country with Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe and gerenuk. | 6 h from Nairobi |
| Ol Pejeta | Kenya | The last northern white rhinos, black rhinos and the Big Five below Mount Kenya. | 3–4 h from Nairobi |
| Lake Naivasha | Kenya | A freshwater lake with hippo boat trips, Crescent Island walks and cycling in Hell's Gate. | 2 h from Nairobi |
| Tsavo | Kenya | Kenya's largest wilderness, with red elephants, Mzima Springs and lava flows. | On the Nairobi–Mombasa road |
| Nairobi National Park | Kenya | Lions, rhinos and giraffes on the edge of the capital. | In Nairobi |
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