18 days in Rwanda, Uganda & Kenya Itinerary

Tourism in Rwanda experienced a serious boost in the recent years largely thanks to the country's large population of mountain gorillas. One of only two nations in which the enigmatic, critically endangered gorillas can be tracked, Rwanda appeals to adventurous travelers interested in hiking the hills and equatorial jungles inhabited by the endemic species. The people of Rwanda remain positive about their future, and the political stability that has taken hold since the horrors of the 1994 genocide allows a growing number of international tourists to share in the optimism.

Though small in area, Uganda represents one of the most populated landlocked countries in the world. You can feel this in the lakeside capital, but so much of the country remains untamed and untamable, with great lakes and towering mountains chief among the wilder sights. A recent troubled past delayed the growth of tourism in Uganda, but visitors now arrive in larger numbers, primarily drawn by the diverse wildlife that inhabits the country's mountains and forests. Notably, Uganda houses half of the world's population of mountain gorillas.

The savannahs of Kenya contain some of the most iconic sights in Africa, stirred in the minds of many when they think of the continent. Big cats, elephants, and rhinos remain major inhabitants of this vast country, with a number of safari centers running trips across the region's World Heritage-listed national parks. Trips to rural villages, where many travelers choose to join up various volunteer projects, represent some of the most inspiring and enriching things to do in Kenya.