East Africa Unfolded: Four Countries, One Grand Journey
Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda & Uganda 18 Days / 17 Nights From $18,900 per person
Overview
The journey
The definitive East African journey. It starts on Kenya's plains, drops south into Tanzania's northern circuit, then swings west through Uganda's forests and finishes in Rwanda's Virungas — a single unbroken arc, with the two gorilla treks kept for the end.
18 days, 9 ecosystems, one private vehicle and guide — and the option to fly the long legs.
9 distinct ecosystems in 18 days
Nairobi · Maasai Mara National Reserve · Serengeti National Park · Ngorongoro Crater · Entebbe · Kibale Forest National Park · Queen Elizabeth National Park · Bwindi Impenetrable Forest · Volcanoes National Park — each chosen for a different animal, landscape and light, and ordered so you never double back.
A tight, purposeful route with no wasted days
Every move is planned around game movements and light, so short days still deliver full game-viewing mornings.
Your own 4x4 Land Cruiser and private guide
No shared vehicles and no fixed departure times — you decide when to leave camp, how long to sit with a sighting, and where to have breakfast.
Flown, not driven — included at Ultra-Luxury
Private charters between Maasai Mara National Reserve, Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Entebbe, Kibale Forest National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest save roughly 43 hours of road time and are included in the Ultra-Luxury price.
Ultra-Luxury is genuinely all-inclusive
All meals, premium drinks, laundry, park and conservancy fees, private guiding and the charter flights are in the price. You should not need your wallet until you tip.
Priced honestly, with fees shown up front
Park and conservation fees, taxes and levies are itemised on your proforma invoice — 50% confirms the booking and the balance is due before travel.
Flying package
Fly between parks, conservancies and countries
Private Cessna Caravan or Grand Caravan charter, meet-and-greet planeside. 15kg per person in soft bags on charter sectors — extra seats can be blocked for luggage. Cross-border sectors include international handling and immigration clearance planeside.
Pick the legs you'd like to fly — the rest stay on the road in your 4x4.
Saves about 43 hours on the road — time you spend in camp instead.
No flights added yet — every transfer is by road.
At a glance
Trip essentials
Best season
Jul – Oct (migration) · Jan – Feb (calving & big cats)
Pace & difficulty
Balanced — two to three nights per camp · Easy to moderate
Group size
Private departure — 2 to 6 guests per vehicle
Game viewing
96–128 hours of guided game viewing across 16 active days
Destinations routed
Nairobi National Park → Maasai Mara National Reserve → Serengeti National Park → Ngorongoro Crater → Queen Elizabeth National Park
Ideal for
First-time safari guests · Couples and small private groups · Private departures for 2–6 guests
Day by day
Detailed itinerary
Every day is planned to the hour, with the flexibility to change anything before you confirm.
Route overview
1
Nairobi National Park
Day 1 · 1 night
2
Maasai Mara National Reserve
Days 2–3–4 · 3 nights
3
Serengeti National Park
Days 5–6–7 · 3 nights
4
Ngorongoro Crater
Days 8–9 · 2 nights
5
Maasai Mara National Reserve
Days 10–11–12 · 3 nights
6
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 13 · 1 night
7
Maasai Mara National Reserve
Days 14–15–16–17–18 · 4 nights
1
Day 1 · Arrive Nairobi
Nairobi National Park
Arrival
Private welcome and dinner in Karen.
Morning
Arrival, immigration assistance and meet-and-greet by your Perch Africa representative
Afternoon
Transfer, luggage re-pack for light aircraft, and a full trip briefing with your guide
Evening
Welcome dinner and route walkthrough with your safari specialist
Highlights
Excellent wildlife viewing year-round
Authentic local culture & guides
Curated lodges & camps in every tier
Hemingways Nairobi
Dinner
Private airport transfer
Visa/e-TA must be approved before departure — we send the checklist on booking
Standard park/reserve fees apply
Best accessed via light aircraft or 4x4 transfer
Neutral greens and browns for game drives — avoid blue and black (tsetse flies)
2
Day 2 · Fly to the Maasai Mara
Maasai Mara National Reserve
Game driveCultural visitScenic flight
Transit
Light aircraft to the conservancies, afternoon game drive.
Morning
Scheduled light-aircraft flight
Afternoon
Afternoon game drive on arrival — hot-air balloon safari with bush breakfast
Evening
Camp orientation, hot showers, sundowners and a three-course dinner
Highlights
Annual Great Migration river crossings (Jul–Oct)
Highest lion density in Africa
Resident leopards along the Talek & Mara Rivers
Mara Plains Camp
All inclusive
Light aircraft + 4x4 game-drive vehicle on landing
Light-aircraft baggage limit: 15 kg per person in a soft bag, including hand luggage
Park fees: USD 200/adult/day (high season, non-resident)
Conservancy fees additional — typically USD 100–150/night
Soft-sided bag of 15 kg maximum per person on light-aircraft transfers
Transfer to Kigali for your international flight home.
Morning
Final sunrise game drive or a slow breakfast, then check-out and pack
Afternoon
Scheduled light-aircraft flight
Evening
Assisted check-in for your international flight home
Highlights
Annual Great Migration river crossings (Jul–Oct)
Highest lion density in Africa
Resident leopards along the Talek & Mara Rivers
Accommodation confirmed on booking
Breakfast
Light aircraft + 4x4 game-drive vehicle on landing
Scheduled light-aircraft flight
Light-aircraft baggage limit: 15 kg per person in a soft bag, including hand luggage
Park fees: USD 200/adult/day (high season, non-resident)
Conservancy fees additional — typically USD 100–150/night
Spare camera batteries and double the memory cards you think you need
You leave Nairobi National Park with the sound of the plains still in your ears — and a standing invitation to come back for the season you missed.
Transparent pricing
Park & conservation fees included
Destination
Type
Per adult / day
Days
Per adult
Nairobi National Park
Park entry fee
$50
1
$50
Maasai Mara National Reserve
Park entry fee
$200
10
$2,000
Serengeti National Park
Park entry fee
$250
3
$750
Ngorongoro Crater
Park entry fee
$295
2
$590
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Park entry fee
$40
1
$40
Total statutory fees per adult
$3,430
Children under 12 pay 50% and infants under 3 are free. Your proforma invoice itemises 16% VAT, the 2% catering levy and the 2% service charge separately.
What's included
All accommodation as listed, on the meal plan shown for each day
Private 4x4 Land Cruiser with pop-top roof, window seat guaranteed
Professional English-speaking driver-guide throughout
Scheduled light-aircraft flights on the internal legs shown in the itinerary
All game drives and activities named in the itinerary
All park, reserve and conservation fees for the routed destinations
Airport meet-and-greet plus all transfers in the itinerary
Drinking water in the vehicle and camp laundry where offered
Flying-doctor evacuation cover (AMREF) for the safari days
24/7 in-country support line and a proforma invoice with every quote
Not included
International flights and airport departure taxes
Visa / e-TA fees and travel insurance (both mandatory)
Tips for guides, camp staff and drivers (guidance provided pre-departure)
Personal shopping, telephone and anything not listed as included
What to pack
✦Neutral safari clothing — greens, browns, khaki (avoid blue and black)
✦Warm fleece and windproof layer for early-morning drives
✦Wide-brim hat, polarised sunglasses, high-SPF sunscreen
✦Binoculars (one pair per person) and a zoom lens if you shoot
✦Insect repellent with DEET, plus antimalarials as advised by your doctor
✦Soft duffel bag of 15 kg per person for light-aircraft legs
✦Universal adaptor and a power bank — camp power is generator-timed
✦Copies of passport, insurance and yellow-fever certificate where required
Health & safety
✦Malaria prophylaxis is recommended for all safari areas — confirm with your doctor
✦Yellow-fever certificate required when entering from an endemic country
✦Camps are unfenced: always walk with an askari escort after dark
✦Never stand up or lean out of the vehicle during a sighting
✦Comprehensive travel insurance including medical evacuation is mandatory
✦Flying-doctor evacuation cover is included for your safari days
Good to know
✦Kenya e-TA is applied for online and usually approved within 72 hours
✦Park fees are payable in USD and are included in your quoted price
✦Conservancy camps allow night drives and walking; the reserve itself does not
✦M-Pesa is universal for small payments — ask us how to load it
✦Tanzania e-visa should be applied for at least 10 days before travel
✦Ngorongoro Crater descent is charged per vehicle per 6-hour period
✦Serengeti fees are levied on a 24-hour basis from the time of entry
✦18% VAT applies to Tanzanian park fees and is shown on your invoice
✦16% VAT, 2% catering levy and 2% service charge are itemised on your proforma invoice
✦Book 6–9 months ahead for July–October and the festive season
✦Drones are prohibited in national parks without a written permit
✦A deposit of 50% confirms your dates; the balance is due 45 days before travel
Guest reviews & credentials
Why travellers trust us with the East Africa Unfolded: Four Countries, One Grand Journey
“Our guide read the plains like a book — we were the only vehicle at a leopard sighting twice. Every transfer, camp and park fee was exactly as quoted.”
Amelia & Tom R. · London, UK
Maasai Mara · 6 nights
“Travelling with a 6-year-old and grandparents could have been chaos. Perch planned the driving days around nap times and picked family tents with connecting rooms.”
The Okoth Family · Nairobi, Kenya
Amboseli & Tsavo · 5 nights
“The migration timing advice was spot on. When one camp went full they moved us to a better one in the same conservancy at no extra cost, same day.”
Dr. Karin H. · Munich, Germany
Serengeti & Ngorongoro · 8 nights
KPSGA silver & gold guides
Every driver-guide is Kenya Professional Safari Guides Association certified, with 8+ years in the parks on your route.
Licensed tour operator
Registered with the Tourism Regulatory Authority (Kenya) and TALA-licensed operations in Tanzania.
AMREF Flying Doctors cover
Air-evacuation cover for every guest for the full duration of the safari, included in your rate.
Vehicle & safety standards
Serviced 4x4 Land Cruisers with pop-up roofs, first-aid kits, satellite comms and daily driver check-ins.
Transparent proforma pricing
Park fees, conservancy levies, 16% VAT, 2% catering levy and 2% service charge itemised before you pay.
4.9 / 5 guest rating
Across 380+ reviewed departures, with a 62% repeat-and-referral rate from past travellers.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
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East Africa Unfolded: Four Countries, One Grand Journey
18 Days / 17 Nights · from $18,900 pp
Not every safari company. The safari company.
Planned around you. Priced in the open. Built to end on a high.
Anyone can send you a brochure. We build your journey with named stays, verified availability and every cost shown before you commit — then save the finest sighting for your final golden hour.