East Africa is only two or three hours ahead of the UK, so there is little jet lag and a safari fits a long holiday easily. We are a Uganda-based team: we check availability, plan the airports and transfers, and send one quote for the whole route.
The short answerA safari from the UK is one of the easier long-haul trips, because East Africa is two hours ahead of UK time in summer and three hours ahead in winter, so jet lag is small. Flights to Entebbe, Kigali, Nairobi or Kilimanjaro are often overnight, which gives you a first full day on the ground. Depending on the country, a UK passport needs a visa or an online authorisation arranged before you travel, or a visa on arrival, and the rules change, so we confirm what applies when you book. The Great Migration crossings, usually July to October, fit the UK summer holidays.
The time difference is small, so most of your holiday is spent on safari rather than recovering. Many flights to East Africa leave in the evening and arrive in the morning, which can give you a first full day on the ground. We still suggest a gentle first day, then the early starts that safari rewards.
Entebbe is the gateway for Uganda, Kigali for Rwanda, Nairobi for the Masai Mara, and Kilimanjaro or Arusha for the northern Serengeti, with Zanzibar and the Seychelles a short flight after. Tell us which UK airport you prefer and your dates, and we build the first and last days around your arrival and departure.
At the time of writing, a UK passport holder arranges a visa or an online travel authorisation for most of the countries we cover, before travel or on arrival depending on the country. Fees and rules change and some countries use separate systems, so we confirm what applies to your passport before you book. Our Visa and Travel Documents page links to the official application sites, and the East Africa tourist visa guide explains the one visa that covers Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda and why Tanzania is separate.
Before any trip, read the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office travel advice for each country. Advice can change, so check it again shortly before you fly.
Ask your GP surgery or a travel clinic about vaccinations well before you leave, and read the country pages on TravelHealthPro. Malaria is present in most safari areas, and the yellow fever certificate rules depend on the country and on where you have travelled from. Read malaria, yellow fever and vaccinations for what to ask.
Take travel insurance that includes medical evacuation, and check that it covers the activities you plan, such as gorilla trekking and bush flights. Tanzania has introduced mandatory insurance for visitors, and our guide explains the current position: see Tanzania's mandatory travel insurance and why medical evacuation cover matters.
Permit fees are set by the park authorities in US dollars. A gorilla permit for foreign non-residents is USD 800 in Uganda and USD 1,500 in Rwanda at the time of writing, and the authorities can change those prices. See gorilla permits for how booking works, and tipping on safari for what is usual in each country.
The Mara River crossings are usually from July to October, which suits the UK summer holidays. The camps for those months sell out early, so ask us nine to twelve months ahead if you can. Calving season in the southern Serengeti is about late January to March. Crossing and calving dates change every year and cannot be guaranteed.
The Christmas and New Year break falls in the dry season in Uganda and Kenya. Bwindi Lodge, for example, lists 15 December to 28 February and 1 June to 30 September as its high season. Easter often falls near the start of the long rains, which run from about March to May, so read safari weather before you choose those dates.
A week or ten days is enough for a gorilla trek and a Masai Mara stay. Our 10-day gorilla and migration route is a good starting point. See all our itineraries, and for the full range of countries and routes see East Africa safaris and tours. For the top end, see luxury East Africa safari.
Ready-made routes you can book as they are or change to suit you. Every one is private and can be adjusted to your dates and interests.
A ten-day Uganda and Kenya safari: a night at Entebbe, two nights in Bwindi for one gorilla trek, a Nairobi connection night, four nights in the Maasai Mara for the Great Migration and a final Nairobi night.
Two of Africa's great ape encounters in one trip — mountain gorillas in Bwindi and chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest.
A dedicated Mara-only itinerary built entirely around positioning you at the Great Migration's dramatic river crossings.
A dedicated 10-day pursuit of the Great Migration entirely within Tanzania, from calving grounds to river crossings.
An easy, high-yield family introduction to Tanzania's three signature parks, paced for children and grandparents alike.
A private-guide safari through Uganda's forests and Kenya's plains, closing with a barefoot-luxury Zanzibar honeymoon week.
A fixed small-group departure (max 6 guests) through three countries, for travelers who want expert guiding without traveling alone.
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Uganda's three flagship parks in one comprehensive circuit — gorillas, big game and the Nile's most powerful waterfall.
Send us your dates and group size. We check availability first, tell you exactly what is open, and only then ask you to commit. A specialist answers within 24 hours.
