Africa Safaris & Big Five Wildlife Tours

PERMITS & RESERVATIONS

Secure Your Special Safari Experiences

Some African experiences require advance permits or reservations. These can include gorilla trekking permits, chimpanzee trekking permits and certain specialized activities. At All In Africa Safaris, we can assist with arranging the required permits and reservations as part of your safari planning.Because permits and availability can be limited, especially during busy travel periods, we recommend planning and booking your trip as early as possible.

GORILLA TREKKING PERMITS

Gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda requires an official permit. The permit allows visitors to participate in a guided gorilla trekking experience within the designated national park. We help coordinate the permit reservation together with your accommodation, transportation and trekking itinerary. See our full Uganda Gorilla Trekking guide for permit pricing, sectors and booking timelines.

KENYA

Discover the dramatic landscapes and abundant wildlife of Kenya. Experience the Maasai Mara, Amboseli, Tsavo, Lake Nakuru and other spectacular destinations, with opportunities to see the Big Five and experience the Great Migration.

RWANDA

Experience the beauty of the Land of a Thousand Hills. Discover Volcanoes National Park, home to mountain gorillas and golden monkeys, and combine your primate experience with Rwanda’s beautiful landscapes, culture and wildlife.

EXPERIENCE AFRICA’S BIG FIVE & WILD HEART

Africa is a continent of incredible diversity, where every destination offers something different. Watch lions resting beneath acacia trees, elephants crossing the savannah, leopards disappearing into the wilderness and cheetahs racing across open grasslands. Follow millions of wildebeest and zebras during the Great Migration, trek through ancient forests in search of mountain gorillas, or enjoy peaceful moments beside Africa’s lakes and rivers. With All In Africa Safaris, every journey is designed to give you an authentic African experience.

Our Big Five safaris bring you face to face with lion, African elephant, leopard, rhinoceros and African buffalo across Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania and Congo, the five species originally named by big-game hunters for how difficult and dangerous they were to track on foot, not for their size or fame. That hunting-era name has stuck for over a century, and it remains the term most travelers search for when planning a classic wildlife safari, even though virtually every Big Five encounter today happens through a camera lens rather than a rifle scope.

Alongside the classic list sits the New Big Five, a 2020 initiative led by wildlife photographer Graeme Green and voted on by wildlife lovers worldwide: elephant, gorilla, lion, tiger and polar bear, chosen specifically to celebrate the animals people most want to photograph rather than hunt. Africa is home to three of these five, elephant, gorilla and lion, and two of them, elephant and lion, appear on both lists. That overlap means a single well-planned itinerary with us, pairing a Big Five park like the Maasai Mara or Queen Elizabeth National Park with mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi or Volcanoes National Park, can realistically deliver a majority of both the old and new Big Five in one trip.

Each of the five classic species has its own dedicated page below with details on where to find it, how it behaves, and its current conservation status, from Lake Nakuru’s fenced rhino sanctuary to the tree-climbing lions of Uganda’s Ishasha sector. Browse them to plan which combination of parks gives you the best chance at seeing all five on your trip.

Planning Your African Safari

Best Time to Visit

East Africa’s dry seasons, roughly June to September and December to February, offer the firmest trekking trails and the most concentrated wildlife viewing around rivers and waterholes across Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania and Congo. The Great Migration’s dramatic river crossings typically peak from July to October in the Maasai Mara and Serengeti, while gorilla trekking and Kilimanjaro climbs run year-round but are firmest and most popular during these same dry windows. The wetter months bring lush scenery, excellent birdwatching and lower prices, in exchange for muddier trails and less predictable road conditions.

How Much Does a Safari Cost?

Safari costs vary considerably by trip length, lodge category, season and the specific activities included. Gorilla and chimpanzee trekking permits are a fixed per-person cost regardless of comfort level, while park entry fees, conservation fees and domestic flights between parks add further, itinerary-specific costs on top of accommodation. Because pricing depends so heavily on your specific combination of countries, parks and travel dates, we always recommend contacting our team directly with your preferred itinerary for an accurate, tailored quote rather than relying on a generic estimate.

Visa Requirements

Most nationalities can apply for e-visas online ahead of travel to Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania. Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya also participate in the East Africa Tourist Visa, allowing single-entry travel across all three countries on one visa, a useful option for itineraries combining gorilla trekking with a Big Five safari across borders. DRC and Tanzania each require their own separate visa. A yellow fever certificate is required for entry to most of these countries if arriving from a country with risk of transmission, and we’re glad to confirm the specific requirements for your itinerary when you book.

Family and Honeymoon Safaris

Big Five game-drive itineraries in Kenya and Tanzania involve no age restrictions, making them well suited to family travel, while gorilla and chimpanzee trekking carry a minimum age of 15, worth factoring in when planning a trip with younger children. For honeymoons, a classic pairing combines a Big Five safari with a closing beach stay on Zanzibar, giving couples both wildlife adventure and genuine relaxation in one itinerary. Whatever the occasion, every trip we plan is built around your specific group, pace and interests rather than a fixed template.

Is It Safe to Go on Safari in Africa?

Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania all maintain well-established tourism infrastructure and strong safety records around their main safari circuits, national parks and lodges. As with any international travel, sensible precautions and up-to-date guidance matter, and we’re glad to share current, on-the-ground safety information for your specific itinerary when you book. See our full East Africa travel safety guide for more detail.

UGANDA

Known as the Pearl of Africa, Uganda offers an incredible combination of wildlife, primates, mountains, forests, lakes and rivers. Explore Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, Kibale Forest, Kidepo Valley, Lake Mburo and Mgahinga.

TANZANIA

Experience the legendary wilderness of Tanzania. Explore the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tarangire, Lake Manyara and Nyerere National Park, while experiencing the incredible wildlife and landscapes of one of Africa’s greatest safari destinations.

BOOKING WITH ALL IN AFRICA SAFARIS

Start Your African Adventure

Planning your African safari should be exciting and straightforward. At All In Africa Safaris, we help you plan every important part of your journey, from choosing destinations and activities to arranging accommodation, transportation, permits and guided experiences.

Whether you are planning a wildlife safari, gorilla trekking adventure, Great Migration experience, chimpanzee trekking trip or a tailor-made African holiday, our team will work with you to create an itinerary that matches your travel dates, interests and budget.

HOW TO BOOK

CHIMPANZEE TREKKING PERMITS

Chimpanzee trekking experiences in Uganda and other destinations may also require permits or activity fees. We help organize these arrangements according to your chosen destination and itinerary.

OTHER PARK & ACTIVITY FEES

Depending on your safari, additional entrance fees, conservation fees, boat cruise fees, cultural experiences and other activity charges may apply. Your final itinerary will clearly indicate the activities and fees included in your package.