East Africa Family Safari Combination: 11-Day Medium Itinerary for Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania

This itinerary starts in Uganda, where the pace is gentle and the activities suit a range of ages, then moves east to Kenya and Tanzania for classic savannah safaris. Starting with the forest means that chimpanzee tracking and boat trips come first, while children are fresh.

Treat the outline as a template. Your operator can adjust nights, swap parks and match transfers to flight availability. For the shorter and longer alternatives, see the short itinerary and the long itinerary.

This guide is part of our Uganda road routes and driving guide. When you are ready to plan, see our Uganda safari packages or the Ameera Africa Safaris Uganda tours homepage.

Day-by-Day Outline

Uganda Days: Forest and Water

Kibale offers chimpanzee tracking, with a minimum age lower than gorilla trekking, and the Bigodi wetland walk is gentle and full of birds and monkeys. At Queen Elizabeth, the Kazinga Channel boat trip brings hippos, buffalo, elephants and waterbirds within easy view, which children often remember best. Read the Kibale guide, the Queen Elizabeth guide and chimpanzee trekking in Uganda for details.

Kenya: The Masai Mara

After a flight from Entebbe to Nairobi and a connection to the Mara, families enjoy a full day on the plains. Lions, elephants, giraffes and herds of plains game make the Mara an easy place to introduce children to big wildlife. Ask for a picnic lunch to extend the morning drive. The Masai Mara wildlife guide explains what to look for, and Kenya family itineraries adds variations.

Tanzania: Ngorongoro Crater

Ngorongoro is a good choice for families because the crater floor is compact and animals are visible within a few hours. Lions, hippos, buffalo and large herds live there, and the descent from the rim feels like an adventure. Rim nights are cool, so pack warm clothing. See the crater guide and Tanzania family itineraries.

Pacing and Rest

Day six is deliberately light, because the Uganda section ends with a long road day and a flight follows. Use it for a swim, a late breakfast and laundry. On day nine, the transfer from the Mara through Nairobi to Arusha is long, so ask your operator whether a flight or an early start works best. Keep snacks and games handy.

Visas, Health and Borders

Uganda and Kenya are covered by the East Africa Tourist Visa, while Tanzania requires its own visa. Check official sites for fees and rules, and bring documents for all children. Read the practical guide and the route and border guide before you book.

Keeping Children Engaged Across Countries

Give each child a small notebook and ask them to record one animal, one bird and one new fact in every country. Swap the game of spotting animals for one of tracking, asking your guide to show footprints and dung, and let older children take turns photographing. A simple map on which they mark each stop makes the route feel like a story, and it helps them understand how far you have travelled between the forests of Uganda and the plains of Kenya and Tanzania.

Optional Swaps

Replace Queen Elizabeth with Lake Mburo for horse riding and boat trips, or swap Ngorongoro for Tarangire, where elephants and baobab trees thrill children. Teenagers could add a gorilla trek in Uganda, subject to the authorities' minimum age, with advance booking of permits.

Planning a Uganda safari? Send us your dates and we will build the route, permits and transport around what you want to see.

Related Tours, Guides and Resources

• Ameera Africa Safaris homepage: Uganda safaris, tours and holidays
• Uganda safari packages
• Uganda travel guide
• How to book a Uganda safari
• Plan your safari with our team