One Month in East Africa Itinerary for First Time Visitors

How did we spend one month in East Africa?

We flew into Zanzibar Airport (ZNZ) from London Heathrow, with a short stopover in Istanbul. (And you can get flights cheap if you do your research/ book in advance.) Having had a busy few weeks (we had just got married in Cinque Terre) – we were excited for our honeymoon in East Africa. It was a bucket-list itinerary and we were praying that the trip would live up to our high expectations.

We spent a chilled-out week in Zanzibar – spending the first few days on stunning Jambiani Beach and 4 days in Stonetown (the beautiful old part of Zanzibar City). Next, we flew from Zanzibar to Serengeti and spent an unbelievable 3 days here on safari.

From there, we moved on to Kenya (via Arusha) and our first stop in Kenya was Amboseli National Park, a bit of a lesser-visited park that’s home to the biggest population of African Elephants in the world. After spending 3 days in Amboseli, we moved on to Nairobi, Lake Naivasha, and Hell’s Gate National Park (the inspiration for “The Lion King”).

Next, we flew from Nairobi to Rwanda in order to go gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. And our last 3 stops of the trip were Lake Bunyonyi in Uganda, Akagera National Park, and Kigali, the capital city of Rwanda. We flew home to London from Kigali Airport.

Tanzania

Zanzibar

Off the coast of Tanzania is the beautiful island of Zanzibar – known for its picture-perfect beaches. Seriously, the beaches here are like something from a travel brochure.

Yet, there’s so much more to Zanzibar than its stunning beaches. For one, Stone Town (the biggest city on the island) is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is filled with narrow alleys lined with historic buildings, bustling markets, and aromatic spice shops.

Days 1 – 4: Jambiani Beach

We spent 3 nights on Jambiani Beach, which is one of the best beaches in Zanzibar – on the Southeast of the island and 4 nights in Stone Town. This itinerary worked out perfectly for us because it meant we spent our first few days relaxing on the white sand of Jambiani. Yup, we spent our time in Jambiani doing nothing more than swimming, eating, and drinking cocktails and it was just what the doctor ordered.

Jambiani Beach is also a popular snorkeling and diving spot and the waters surrounding Jambiani are a colorful underwater world filled with vibrant coral reefs and abundant marine life. And if you’re looking for a thrill, kite surfing is a great option. It’s really popular here thanks to the reliable winds and warm waters.

The Rock Restaurant:

One evening we went to the famed The Rock Restaurant for dinner, it was around a 20-minute taxi ride from where we were staying in Jambiani.

We highly recommend booking the Rock Restaurant in advance as it is extremely popular. We advise booking your table at least two weeks prior, especially if you want a dinner sitting. The Rock Restaurant is pricey, but in our opinion, it’s worth the price tag. The cuisine is best described as fresh Zanzibar seafood with an Italian twist. You can order non-fish items on the menu too. In fact, I ordered the vegetarian ravioli, and it was yummy!

Depending on the tides, you may be able to walk to the Rock restaurant, or the restaurant will collect you on their boat if the tide is in. Your hotel will need to organize a taxi for you as the Rock restaurant is quite far from most places. Your driver will wait for you in the car park until you’re finished. Our taxi cost $40 USD return from Jambiani.

Days 4 – 8: Stonetown

We spent 4 nights in Stonetown, the old part of Zanzibar City – which is the main city on the island.

During our time here, we visited the Old Slave Market, went on a boat tour to Prison Island to see the giant tortoises, and visited the Darajani market. And most evenings we headed to the beach area here to watch the sunset. There are many bars and restaurants dotted along the beach but we really liked The Beach House.

Prison Island:

Prison Island, also known as Changuu Island is a charming island just a stone’s throw away from Stone Town. Despite its rather foreboding name, the island has a fascinating and rich history. Originally bought by the Sultan of Zanzibar in the 1860s with the idea of turning it into a prison, it ended up serving a different purpose altogether. Instead of housing criminals, it became a quarantine station for yellow fever cases in the late 19th century.

One of the highlights of the island today is that it is a sanctuary for giant Aldabra tortoises, some of which are over 100 years old! You can take photos with them and honestly, they are huge – I felt like some were bigger than me!

While you’re here, you can also wander through the remnants of the old quarantine buildings.

This is the same tour to Prison Island that we did – you can BOOK IT here!

Where did we stay in Zanzibar:

In Jambiani Beach, we stayed at the Spice Island Resort in Jambiani. The unique selling point for the Spice Island Resort is the jetty extending into the bright blue Indian Ocean. You can sunbathe on the jetty, swim off its wooden steps, or enjoy a cocktail at sundown.

In Stonetown, we stayed at the Spicetree by Turaco. And we’re so glad we did – we were upgraded to a Suite and even got a warm chocolate chip cookie on check-in. The Doubletree is centrally located and has an excellent view from the rooftop restaurant Taarab.

Days 8 – 10: Serengeti National Park

We flew into Serengeti from Zanzibar with Auric Air (on a small fixed-wing plane) to Seronera Airport within the national park. The flight was around 3 hours long and cost around $200 USD each, but it was a quick and handy way to get from Zanzibar to Serengeti and we’d definitely do it again!

Serengeti National Park is one of the most famous national parks in the world and it’s the ultimate safari destination. On a typical day in the Serengeti – you’ll likely get to see the Big Five (lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo, and rhinos). It’s also here that you may be lucky enough to witness the Great Migration – when millions of wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles journey across the plains.

I recommend booking a minimum of a 3 day safari in the Serengeti. That’s how long we had, and it enabled us to visit not only the Serengeti but also the Mara River (where the great migration occurs) and the otherworldly Ngorongoro Crater.

You see, Serengeti is spread over 30,000 square kilometers so you really need longer than a day here to see it all. If you book a 3-day tour like us, your first day in the Serengeti will likely focus on the Seronera area (where the lions and other bug cats are), and on day two, you’ll focus on the Mara River area (where the great migration occurs). On day three, you will either head for the Ngorongoro Crater (like we did) or remain in Serengeti National Park and check out the Naabi Hill area.

This is the same 3 day safari tour of Serengeti that we did and you can BOOK it HERE!

Day 10 – 11: Ngorongoro Crater

On day 10, we drove from Serengeti National Park to the Ngorongoro Crater – it’s around a 4-hour drive. And to break it up we stopped off at a traditional Masai village. Entry to here was $50 USD and it was very interesting albeit a little ‘showy’.

The drive into Ngorongoro Crater is stunning and very steep. We weren’t very lucky in spotting a huge amount of animals but we did spot elephants, zebras, baboons, and others. We weren’t lucky enough to spot the elusive black rhino whilst driving through the national park. However, later on our lodge’s deck, we spotted two through the binoculars. Lucky us!

Where did we stay in the Serengeti:

In total, we spent three nights in the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater National Park. Our first two nights here were spent in Lobo Wildlife Lodge in the Lobo area of the park. It has a beautiful setting overlooking the park, but it needs some maintenance. The floorboards in our room were very squeaky. But the view from the deck area of the bar and the pool more than made up for the minor quirks.

For our third night, we stayed at Ngorongoro Wildlife Lodge. This is located within the Ngorongoro Crater National Park. The lodge has a fantastic view from the main deck of the crater, when we arrived we even spotted a black rhino through the lodge’s binoculars from here.

From Ngorongoro Crater, we were driven to Arusha (it’s just under a 4-hour drive) – our driver (Peter) dropped us off at our hotel and we waved goodbye.

Day 12: Arusha

We spent one night in Arusha, before making our way to Amboseli National Park. We organized a transfer there through our hotel and they took us as far as the Tanzania/Kenya border and our hotel in Amboseli picked us up there.

Arusha is the third largest city in Tanzania and we unfortunately didn’t have much time here as we were rushing to our next destination. If you can, try to visit the Maasai Market while you’re in town, or if you have more time – a trip to the Olduvai Gorge, often referred to as the “Cradle of Mankind,” provides fascinating insights into early human evolution.

Where we stayed in Arusha:

We stayed at the luxurious Four Points by Sheraton in Arusha, it was fabulous – with lush gardens surrounding the hotel and an outdoor pool. The on-site restaurant was amazing, too.

Kenya

Days 12 – 15: Amboseli National Park

Amboseli National Park is a bit of a hidden gem in Kenya. And it’s often overlooked by tourists in favor of the more famous Masai Mara National Park and the previously mentioned Serengeti in Tanzania. Which is a shame. Amboseli was one of our favorite safaris we’ve ever done because it’s home to the largest population of African elephants in the world.

Plus, the view from here of Mount Kilimanjaro is amazing! It’s definitely one of the most picturesque national parks in Africa!

Would you believe, that over 1,600 African elephants live in Amboseli? Not only this, but some of the biggest elephants live here, too, both in body and tusk size. This fact alone was what piqued my interest in Amboseli in the first place, as elephants are my favorite animals.

From our personal experience, spending one full day on safari in Amboseli we saw countless African elephants (easily 100 or more). We were also lucky enough to see numerous buffalo, baboons, giraffes, wildebeest, zebras, and hyenas!

We broke our long day up nicely with a stop at Observation Hill for a picnic. Observation Hill has a fantastic vantage point of the swam. From here, you can watch huge African elephants wading through the grassy green water, cooling down and eating the surrounding plants.

Tours of Amboseli National Park:

This 3-day-2-night safari tour is private – which means that you won’t have to share this experience with anyone else! That made it all the more magical for us!

It’s also all-inclusive, so conveniently, all your accommodation, meals, and national park fees are included. It costs from $935 USD per person – which is great value considering all it includes! During the 3 days, you’ll visit 5 different habitats within Amboseli, from the savannah to sulfur springs – which increases your chances of spotting wildlife significantly.

Handily, airport transfers or pick-up from the Tanzanian border are included in the rate, too. You’ll also get to visit a local Maasai village during the tour. Which was a real eye-opening experience for us.

Where did we stay in Amboseli National Park:

We spent three nights in total at Amboseli, we stayed at the very unique Maasai Simba Camp. Located on the outskirts of the National Park. Maasai Simba Camp is run by the local Maasai people. It was one of the best and most authentic experiences of our entire month-long tour of Africa.

Your accommodation here is a basic wooden cabin but very clean and comfortable. Featuring your own private bathroom with a hot shower. All of your meals are included, but the best part for us was that staying here offered us a unique glimpse into life as a Maasai.

The package we booked with Simba Camp included a sunset walking safari, a full day in Amboseli National Park with a driver/guide and a packed lunch, a jewelry-making session with the Masai women, and a sunrise walking safari.

All of the profits from Simba Camp go towards helping the local community, and you can see the positive effect of the Camp when you drive through the village.

From Amboseli, we got the train from the nearby Emali train station to our next stop – Nairobi. We were able to book our tickets for this via trainline.

Days 15 – 18: Nairobi

Our next stop was Nairobi, the vibrant capital city of Kenya. At the heart of the city lies the Nairobi National Park, a rare sanctuary where one can witness wildlife like lions, giraffes, and zebras against the backdrop of a busy city. We didn’t get the chance to tick it off as our itinerary was already jam-packed but we did manage to visit the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust – an elephant orphanage that allows visitors to learn about conservation efforts and even adopt an elephant. We also checked out the Karen Blixen Museum and the Giraffe Centre.

Best things to do in Nairobi:

1. Giraffe Centre

At the Giraffe Centre in Nairobi, you can learn all about the endangered Rothschild giraffe. It’s just a quick drive from the city, and it’s a great way to escape the hustle and bustle for a bit. The African Fund for Endangered Wildlife (AFEW) started the center in 1979, with an aim to teach people about wildlife conservation while giving these giraffes a safe place to roam around.

One of my highlights of visiting here was getting to feed the giraffes from a raised platform, an awesome way to get up close and personal with these gentle giants.

2. Sheldrick’s Wildlife Trust

The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Nairobi is a well-known conservation group that looks out for wildlife, especially elephants, all over Kenya. It was started in 1977 by Dr. Dame Daphne Sheldrick in honor of her husband, David Sheldrick, who was one of the first wardens at Tsavo East National Park. The Trust runs one of the top programs in the world for rescuing and rehabilitating orphaned elephants.

At the Nairobi Elephant Nursery, they take care of baby elephants until they’re ready to head back into the wild. But it’s not just elephants—they’re also big on stopping poaching, protecting habitats, helping communities, and providing veterinary care for wildlife.

If you visit, you can see the elephants being cared for and learn all about the important work they’re doing to keep Kenya’s wildlife heritage alive.

3. Karen Blixen Museum

The Karen Blixen Museum in the suburb of Karen is an interesting nod to the life and work of the famous Danish author Karen Blixen, best known for her book “Out of Africa.” The museum is in her old home, a cute farmhouse at the foot of the Ngong Hills, where she lived from 1917 to 1931.

You can wander through the well-preserved rooms, filled with her original furniture and personal stuff, giving you a peek into her life in Kenya. There’s also a display of photos and letters that tell stories about her experiences and the people who inspired her writing. And the lush gardens around the house are a peaceful spot to chill and take in the scenery that sparked Blixen’s imagination.

Where we stayed in Nairobi:

We nabbed a great deal at the Sarova Stanley in Nairobi – a 5-star property that’s known as one of the best hotels in the city! Our room had a city view and was decorated in a classic, timeless style. There’s also an outdoor pool, gym, sauna, restaurant, and cafe on-site.

Days 18 – 21: Lake Naivasha

Lake Naivasha, nestled in Kenya’s Great Rift Valley, is one seriously beautiful freshwater lake, surrounded by lush papyrus swamps and gorgeous scenery. It’s a popular spot for tourists and also a crucial home for loads of wildlife. With over 400 bird species, including the African fish eagle, plus hippos and fish.

Since it’s not too far from Nairobi (around a 2.5-hour drive), we decided to spend 3 nights here – mainly to check out nearby Hell’s Gate National Park.

If you’re short on time, you could book this full-day tour from Nairobi to Hell’s Gate and Lake Naivasha. It costs just $65 USD per person.

We stayed at the Lake Naivasha Country Club and it was incredible. It’s a 5-star property and our room was a large bungalow and there was loads of wildlife (especially monkeys) roaming the grounds here. We even spotted a group of monkeys jumping on the trampoline on one occasion, it was hilarious.

Hells Gate National Park:

On Day 19, we decided to explore nearby Hell’s Gate National Park in the Great Rift Valley on our own (without a tour). This park is a must-see spot in Kenya with its jaw-dropping views and variety of wildlife.

Named after a narrow gap in the cliffs, the park feels almost like a different world with its massive rock formations, deep gorges, and bubbling hot springs. Unlike most parks in Africa, you can walk or bike around – as there are no predators here (no lions, cheetahs, etc.), making it easy to get up close to zebras, giraffes, and tons of birds.

We rented some bikes from the gate and spent almost a full day cycling through the park – it’s fairly flat so it was a fairly easy ride and it wasn’t too hot either. We saw zebras and giraffes mostly.

Did you know, the stunning backdrops here inspired “The Lion King.” Yup, Hell’s Gate is the real-life inspiration for Pride Rock and even though you won’t see Simba or Mufasa here (remember, there are no lions in Hell’s Gate) – what you will see are towering cliffs, acacia trees, and a beautiful river gorge. Fischer’s Tower is a highlight of the landscape here this unusual rock formation made of lava is a whopping 75 feet high. And you can rock climb up it if you’re into that sort of thing.  

Uganda

Days 21 – 23: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

From Nairobi, we flew to Kigali Airport in order to go gorilla trekking in Bwindi’s impenetrable forest. This was something I’d wanted to do for a very long time. 

This is one of the only places in the world to see mountain gorillas in the wild. And at the last count, 17 mountain gorilla families were found living in Bwindi, which means there are almost 500 individual mountain gorillas living in Bwindi.

On our tour, we got up-close to a family of around 8 gorillas (including one silverback gorilla). It took us less than 30 minutes to reach our gorilla family. It was a steep downhill climb through dense forest, but we suddenly stumbled upon a family of gorillas eating near a tree. You have only an hour in their presence to observe and take photos.

We started planning our gorilla trek in Uganda at least six months in advance. Booking well ahead of time is essential as the permits sell out quickly – there is a limited number available daily. We researched all the gorilla-trekking companies in depth and finally decided on Adventure in the Wild. This company is fairly priced and they were quick and honest in their responses to our questions over email.

What tour did we book for Bwindi?

This particular tour is very similar to the option we chose. It’s a 3-day tour, has a 5/5 rating by past guests, and costs from $2,800 USD per person. It includes two nights’ accommodation, the gorilla trekking permit, food and drinks, all transport, and a guide. It’s one of the best gorilla trekking tours in Africa, in my opinion!

As I said, we booked this leg of our trip through Adventures in the Wild. And at the start of our 4-day tour, our guide – Elias (who was fantastic by the way) collected us from our accommodation in Kigali, Rwanda. We planned a more unique route and spent a night in Akagera National Park and Lake Bunyonyi as part of the tour.

Also worth pointing out is that you should be prepared for long periods in the car, the journey from Kigali to Bwindi is at least 4 hours each way.

Tour of the local village:

On our second day in Bwindi, we went on a tour of the local village which was arranged through our tour guide – Adventures in the Wild. This included a visit to the Batwa pygmy tribe – a hunter-gatherer tribe that has lived side-by-side with the wildlife here for thousands of years. We also did a cooking class with local women which was held in their hut – it was fascinating to see how they cook with limited utensils. And finally, we visited a local school.

Where we stayed in Bwindi:

We stayed at Gorilla Mist Camp which is rustic and basic but the staff and food were amazing. For example, we headed to bed early one night and found hot water bottles in our bed which was a sweet touch as it does get pretty chilly in the evenings.

Day 23 – 24: Lake Bunyonyi

Lake Bunyonyi, nestled in the southwestern region of Uganda, is often regarded as one of Africa’s most picturesque lakes. Known for its breathtaking scenery, the lake is dotted with 29 islands of varying sizes. And the name “Bunyonyi” translates to “place of many little birds,” a fitting title given the many bird species that thrive around its shores, making it a haven for birdwatchers.

It’s popular for canoeing because it’s so peaceful and it’s free from bilharzia, crocodiles, and hippos, making it safe for swimming. It’s also cooler here than most other spots we visited, with temperatures averaging around 25 Celsius (77 Fahrenheit).

On our one full day here, we went on a boat tour of the lake and the tiny islands dotted around it and relaxed on our hotel’s jetty. It was a much-needed relaxation day after a hectic 3 weeks!

Where we stayed in Lake Bunyonyi:

We stayed at Lake Bunyonyi Eco Resort, a 3-star resort that’s located right on the banks of the river. Our room was designed like a treehouse but was really lovely and comfortable inside with a proper bed and ensuite bathroom. There was also a restaurant ensuite and the food was excellent.

Rwanda

Days 24 – 26: Akagera National Park

Akagera National Park is Rwanda’s only savannah park! Located in the northeastern part of Rwanda, it’s known for its amazing variety of wildlife and beautiful views. It’s spread over about 1,122 square kilometers and takes its name from the Akagera River, which runs along its eastern edge and feeds into a bunch of lakes and wetlands, giving the park its special vibe.

You’ll find all the Big Five here – lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, and buffalo!

The park’s got everything from savannahs to swamps and forests, which is why over 500 bird species call it home. Plus, Akagera has been big on conservation, with successful projects to bring back lions and rhinos, which is cool!

As part of our package, we also went on a boat safari where we cruised along Lake Ihema, one of the biggest lakes in the park. We saw hippos, crocodiles sunbathing on the banks, and heaps of birds.

Where we stayed in Akagera:

We stayed at the Mantis Akagera Game Lodge, a modern hotel at the southern tip of the park. There’s a fabulous outdoor pool that overlooks Lake Ihema and an onsite restaurant.

Days 26 – 29: Kigali

Known as one of the safest and cleanest cities in Africa, Kigali was the last stop of our month in East Africa itinerary!

Here, we visited the poignant Kigali Genocide Museum which serves as a poignant reminder of the country’s sad past. We also saw the Belgian Peacekeepers Memorial and we spent a full day chilling out by the pool at our hotel (Hotel des Milles Collines) as the weather was awesome!

Best things to do in Kigali:

1. Kigali Genocide Museum

The Kigali Genocide Museum is the final resting place for more than 250,000 victims of the Tutsi genocide in Rwanda, which happened in 1994, lasted for just 100 days & resulted in 600,000 deaths. It was a genocide by Hutus (the largest ethnic group in Rwanda) against the Tutsi, another ethnic group – it resulted in neighbors killing neighbors and friends killing friends.

It’s such an emotional place to visit and I cried several times during the audio tour as victims recounted their stories. There is also a children’s memorial here, as well as an exhibition on the history of genocidal violence around the world. 

The museum explains the atrocities of the Rwandan Genocide with so much emotion. It is a meaningful tribute to the atrocities that occurred in 1994.

This full-day Kigali City Tour includes access to the Museum as well as a tour of a local market and other unique sights! It’s around 8 hours long and costs from $130 USD per person. It’s a great way to see the best of Kigali without having to worry about transport.

2. Belgian Peacekeepers Memorial

This small memorial is dedicated to the 10 Belgian UN peacekeepers who were murdered by the Hutu extremists to provoke the UN forces to withdraw. This event cleared the way for the full-scale of the Rwandan genocide to unfold.

3. Niyo Art Gallery

This creative hub hosts 17 local artists – painters, sculptors, musicians, and more. There’s a wide range of African art on display and 40% of the profits go back to the Niyo Foundation, an NGO that supports women and children living in poverty in Rwanda. There’s also a lovely coffee shop and restaurant on-site.

Where we stayed in Kigali:

We stayed at Hotel Rwanda for 4 nights, or Hotel des Mille Collines as it’s known today. This hotel was made famous by the 2004 movie with the same name.

The movie is based on the true story of hotelier Paul Rusesabagina, who welcomed more than a thousand Tutsi refugees to hide safely at his hotel during the Rwandan genocide. His heroic efforts saved the lives of many.

Today, the hotel still stands as a luxury hotel. You can choose to spend a few nights here like we did – the rooms are gorgeous as well as the stunning outdoor swimming pool and on-site restaurants.

Day 30: Travel home!

Time to say goodbye, as you fly home after an incredible month in East Africa.

Why travel insurance is important in East Africa:

We don’t recommend traveling to East Africa without travel insurance! Unfortunately, things can and do go wrong when you’re traveling – be it theft, illness, etc. And having insurance means that you have a safety net in place.

Travel insurance will provide you with coverage for a range of situations in East Africa, including flight delays, canceled flights, injuries, illnesses, etc. Depending on your policy, you could be reimbursed for hospital stays, meals, hotel stays, transportation, or even the entire cost of your trip to East Africa.

This is how we find the best travel insurance for our trip, it’s a search engine for travel insurance companies so you can find the best travel insurance for your trip. On their site, you can compare the plans side by side so you can get the best insurance for your particular trip! As I always say, no trip is the same so your travel insurance shouldn’t be too!

Final thoughts on our month in East Africa!

Whew! There you have it a lengthy and detailed insight into our one month in East Africa itinerary. We spent a lot of time researching the best route for us, you may choose to spend more or less time in the places I recommend above. This trip was for our honeymoon so we splurged more than we usually would, but, you can still do this trip on a budget by getting public buses and staying in hostels.

But, whatever route you choose for your one month in East Africa, I am positive you will have a fantastic time.

Tell me – what did you think of our one month in East Africa itinerary? I’d love to hear your thoughts and suggestions in the comment section below.

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Last Updated on June 13, 2025 by snaphappytravel