Rwanda, Kenya and Uganda: Three East African Countries in One Trip

By now, you already know how I travel. Whenever I travel, I like to visit more than one country for the price of one. That was exactly what I did on my first international trip to East Africa, where I visited Rwanda, Kenya, and Uganda.

This was the first time I boarded a plane to leave Nigeria. I had left the country before, on my road trip to Benin Republic, Togo, and Ghana. It was one of the best trips I have ever taken, and you have to read all about it. But this one was different. I was getting on a plane this time, and I was not going to mess it up. Read all about my first international flight here.

If you don’t know, Rwanda, Kenya, and Uganda are some of the most accessible countries for Nigerians to visit after West Africa. So I was ready to go.

If you are planning something similar, you need to read this article. It’s packed with everything you need to know if you are planning a similar trip.

Why I Chose Rwanda, Kenya, and Uganda

If you already know me, you know I am a research girly. I do not book anything without doing proper research. And if this is your first time on my blog, well, now you know.

While I was researching where to go after visiting West Africa, I learned Rwanda, Kenya, and Uganda were some of the most accessible countries for Nigerians. That alone put them on my list. But it also helped that this was going to be my first flight out of Nigeria, and I was really looking forward to it.

I had watched a lot of travel content on YouTube vlogs, Instagram, and TikTok, about these three countries, especially Rwanda and Kenya. I also read every travel blog I could find. By the time I was done researching, I was daydreaming. I could not wait to be there.

There was also the travel history angle. You know I talk about building travel history often. At the time, I had not been to France, Mexico, or any other country on my dream country list. So the plan was simple: visit more accessible countries first, build travel history, and make the harder visas easier to get later.

It worked. I have since been to France twice, and I got my Schengen visa on the first try.

This wasn’t only about strategy though. These countries pulled their own weight too. In Kenya, I fed a giraffe and stayed in a Nairobi apartment with one of the best views I have ever paid for. In Rwanda, I went ziplining, mountain hiking, and saw the volcanoes from a village in Musanze, among other adventures I cover in my full Rwanda and Kenya guide. In Uganda, I stayed in one of the most beautiful hotels I have ever booked, and visited the Kasubi Tombs.

There is a lot of beauty in Africa, and I experienced it in East Africa.

How I Prepared for My East African Trip

If you are planning something similar, here is everything I did that will help you plan a smooth and interesting journey.

How Much Time and Money Do You Need for Rwanda, Kenya, and Uganda?

Three countries in one trip sounds exciting until you remember you are the one paying for all three. Before I booked anything, I had to figure out how many days I could realistically spend in each country and how much the entire trip would cost me.

Start with the number of days you have, then decide what you actually want to do in each country. You do not have to split the trip equally simply because you are visiting three places.

I spent one week in each country, making three weeks in total. But Rwanda, Kenya, and Uganda did not get one week each for the same reasons. I had different plans and experiences in mind for each destination. Your own split should follow what interests you, not what I did.

Also, remember that travel days count. The day you fly from Kigali to Nairobi or Nairobi to Entebbe will probably not feel like a full sightseeing day by the time you factor in packing, airport transfers, immigration, waiting around, and possible delays. Leave room for all of that instead of filling every day with activities.

Also, find time to rest. By the time I got to Uganda, I was already feeling a bit of travel burnout, so I spent more days slow traveling, taking walks around where I stayed, and sleeping in my beautiful apartment than I thought I would.

For your budget, start with the big expenses: flights, accommodation, visas, and transportation between the three countries. Once you have those figures, add what you expect to spend on food, local transport, activities, shopping, SIM cards, and any other personal expenses.

Activities can change your budget very quickly, and this is where your trip may look completely different from mine. I fed a giraffe in Kenya and went ziplining in Rwanda. Both were experiences I had to pay for and plan ahead for, not free little extras that appeared once I arrived.

However, gorilla trekking, safaris, and visits to places such as Volcanoes National Park fall into a completely different spending category. A gorilla trekking permit alone costs around $800 in Uganda and roughly $1500 in Rwanda. Add a safari to the trip, and your total starts climbing even more.

None of those experiences was part of my own itinerary, but they will completely change the cost of yours if they are on your list. Decide what you genuinely want to do before booking your flights and accommodation. You do not want to arrive and discover that the activity you travelled all that way for is competing with your hotel payment.

Keep some emergency money aside too. Please do not plan the trip down to your last dollar or shilling. Something may cost more than expected, or you may discover an experience that feels worth the extra money once you are there.

I spent $3,057.14 across all three countries over three weeks. That covered my flights, accommodation, transportation, and activities. I will break the amount down properly by country in my standalone Rwanda, Kenya, and Uganda guides.

Where to Stay in Rwanda, Kenya, and Uganda

When I arrived in Kigali, my friend and her husband welcomed me and found a good Airbnb for me. One less thing to figure out on my very first stop outside Nigeria. However, everywhere else, I booked through Airbnb myself: Musanze, Nairobi, Mombasa, and Kampala. It made sense for a three-week trip because I wanted more space, access to a kitchen, and somewhere comfortable enough to rest between activities.

Before booking, I’d advise you to check the neighbourhood carefully, not only how nice the apartment looks. Look at the distance from the airport, the places you plan to visit, and how easy it will be to get an Uber or use public transport.

A cheaper stay can quickly become expensive if you are paying for long rides every day. In Uganda, I stayed in Kira town, a bit far from Kampala itself. In Nairobi and Mombasa, I stayed in a more central location, and it was easier to get around by Uber. In Rwanda, though, I got lost a lot, because, well, Rwanda is just generally confusing (I will tell you all about it in my Rwanda article, winks).

Lastly, read recent reviews, confirm the check-in process, and message the host with any questions before paying. I will share where I stayed, what each place cost, and whether I would book it again inside the individual Rwanda, Kenya, and Uganda guides.

How I Planned My Activities

I watched vlogs and read blog posts from people who had already been to Rwanda, Kenya, and Uganda, since real travelers usually tell you more than an official tourism site ever will. I also asked ChatGPT for a first pass on each country, but I always checked anything specific against real posts and reviews, since AI tools get details wrong more often than people think.

TripAdvisor helped too, mostly for reading what recent travelers said about specific attractions before I committed to booking anything.

If you would rather skip the research and go straight to a ready-made plan, I have detailed itineraries in the shop you can steal instead of building your own from scratch.

Planning a trip like this and not sure where to start? Through my travel company, The Avid Travel Co., I plan multi-country trips and handle visa applications for travelers who want to see more without the stress. Book a consultation here.

How to Travel Between Rwanda, Kenya, and Uganda

I flew the entire route: Kigali to Nairobi, Nairobi to Entebbe, and then Entebbe back to Lagos. If I could plan this trip again, transportation is the one thing I would change.

At the time, I did not realise I could travel by road between Rwanda, Kenya, and Uganda for much less than flying every leg. The countries share land borders, and buses operate between major cities. I only found that out after the trip, which is exactly the kind of mistake I want you to avoid, except you prefer flights to road trips (wink, I did take a road trip from Kigali to Musanze).

I booked a multi-city ticket with Kenya Airways instead of flying directly with RwandAir. The routing took me through Nairobi, where one of my layovers turned into an overnight stay at the airport. I spent about 25 hours in total on layovers.

If I were planning this trip today, here is the order I would actually suggest. Fly into Rwanda first, since Kigali is still the easiest entry point for Nigerians. From there, Uganda is the closer stretch: you can take a short flight from Kigali to Entebbe, or go by road instead, since regular coaches run between Kigali and Kampala. From Uganda, continue into Kenya the same way, by road between Kampala and Nairobi, or a short flight if you would rather save the time. Then fly home from Nairobi back to Lagos, since that is the route with the most direct options back to Nigeria.

Flying is quicker and may make more sense if your trip is short. But if you have more time and want to spend less, compare the road routes before booking your flights.

Rwanda, Kenya, and Uganda Travel Documents and Visa Requirements for Nigerians

Here is exactly what applied to me as a Nigerian passport holder, and what has changed since.

Rwanda was visa-free for Nigerians when I travelled, and it still is. There was nothing to apply for.

Kenya required an e-visa when I went. I applied for an eTA online before I left Nigeria, and it was approved ahead of my flight. Good news if you are planning this trip now, though: Kenya has since dropped that requirement for Nigerians entirely.

As of May 2025, Nigerian passport holders can enter Kenya without a visa or an eTA at all, for stays of up to 60 days. That one change alone makes this trip considerably easier to plan today than it was for me.

Uganda required a visa then, and it still does now; nothing’s changed there. Nigerians need an eVisa before travelling (you can apply online, and I included a cover letter in my application and got the visa in no time. I wrote and submitted mine as part of my own application, and I have since put the exact cover letter I used in the shop, so you are not starting from a blank page the way I did.

Read article: How to Apply for a Ugandan Visa

What to Pack for Rwanda, Kenya, and Uganda

I already have a complete travel packing checklist on the blog, so check it out. However, do not pack for this trip assuming East Africa will be hot everywhere. Kigali and Musanze can feel cool, especially in the mornings and evenings, while Nairobi, Mombasa, and Kampala may require completely different clothing.

When I visited in November, Kigali was really cold at night. I even wore a sleeveless dress and went out (then it rained and it became really cold). Also, Rwanda is a mountain/hilly country, so expect more cold.

I eventually couldn’t make it to where I was going and had to go back to my hotel. Look forward to the full story in my Rwanda article.

Check the weather for your exact travel dates and pack around your activities too. Comfortable shoes, a light jacket, rain protection, and clothes you can layer will cover most of the trip. You can use my full packing guide for everything else.

What Immigration Was Like in Rwanda, Kenya, and Uganda

Kigali was the only stop that gave me a story.

Before I even reached immigration, some of my skincare products were seized at airport security because I did not understand the carry-on liquid limits at the time. I already shared the full heartbreak in my first international flight article. Just check the liquid limits before you pack so you do not learn the hard way as I did.

Immigration itself did not start well. The first officer who called me forward was short with me and almost rude while checking my passport. My passport was in a fancy passport holder. He had returned it to me to remove it (I learned there to always remove my passport from the holder before getting to the immigration officer); he felt I was too slow, and while he pulled me aside to remove it, he attended to someone else. Another officer eventually called me over, and everything became much easier.

The new officer asked where I was staying, so I showed him the hotel reservation I had made through Booking.com before leaving Nigeria. A friend was hosting me in Kigali, but I had been advised at the Nigerian airport to carry a formal accommodation booking for immigration even if I would not use it, just so I don’t have a problem at immigration in the country I was going to. I also showed my flight details and explained how many days I would be staying. That was it. I was allowed through.

Kenya and Uganda were uneventful in comparison. I answered the usual questions, showed the documents I was asked for, and went through. Kenya also requested my yellow fever vaccination card, which I had. There was a temperature scanner at the airport too, which was part of the health screening at the time.

My advice is to keep your passport, accommodation details, flight bookings, and yellow fever card in your hand luggage where you can reach them quickly. Do not bury an important document inside your checked suitcase. Also check the current entry requirements before travelling, since they may be different from what I experienced.

General Safety and Language Tips

For full details on all I wrote below, check out my Rwanda, Uganda, and Kenya standalone articles where you will get all the gist and everything you need to know about my trip.

Visiting three countries meant three currencies to juggle: Rwandan francs, Kenyan shillings, and Ugandan shillings.

On money: In Rwanda, I started out exchanging currency through a contact my friend connected me with, since I did not yet have a local way to receive money (I had to change my dollar to naira (exchange rate loss), then I sent him naira, and he sent Rwandan francs to a MoMo shop, where I then received cash).

That process was slow. Once I got a Rwandan SIM card by registering with my passport, everything got easier. I could receive money straight through MTN MoMo to my phone number.

In Kenya and Uganda, I used Grey, a fintech app that let me send US dollars directly to people and have them receive it in their own local currency. It was seamless in both countries.

However, in Kenya, sending dollars that way got expensive the longer I stayed, so I switched to funding my Kenyan SIM and using M-Pesa instead, which worked out cheaper day to day.

My advice is, sort out a local SIM or get an eSIM as early as you can in each country. Mobile money made everything cheaper and faster than moving cash or dollars around directly.

On language: English is spoken widely in all three countries, but there are more people who don’t speak English, but they can still be very helpful.

On safety: Most of this trip felt safe, but Uganda gave me one real scare, an altercation with a boda-boda rider that I still think about. I already told that story in one of my Travel Tuesday newsletter editions, and I will tell it again in full inside my Uganda article.

Don’t forget to stay alert, know when to raise an alarm if things aren’t looking good or safe, and always confirm the price and the route with a rider before you get on.

If you want stories like that one as they happen, subscribe to Travel Tuesday, my newsletter where I share the real-time gist from my travels.

What My East African Trip Felt Like

It was exciting. Visiting countries I had never been to and going outside my country by plane for the first time – all alone. It was a dream trip. It built confidence in me. I also learned that I lacked navigational skills and became intentional about it.

Maybe not intentional enough, because after setting a record of best in getting lost in Rwanda, I set a new record when I later visited Paris, France too.

But all of the journey made me who I am today. When I visited East Africa for the first time, everything felt new. At Kigali airport, I was trying to understand what the immigration officer wanted while worrying that I had already done something wrong. Later, I went out at night wearing an armless dress because I had not prepared properly for how cold Kigali could get. I did not even make it to where I was going before turning back to my hotel.

By the time I reached Uganda, the tiredness had caught up with me. I had already spent two weeks moving between countries, taking flights, exploring, and constantly adjusting. I stayed indoors more than I had planned and stopped feeling like every day had to be filled with activities. I needed the rest, so I took it.

There were mistakes too. I spent more on transportation than I needed to, lost some of my skincare at the airport, and had a boda-boda experience I still need to tell you about properly. But I planned the whole trip myself and made it through Rwanda, Kenya, and Uganda as someone flying out of Nigeria for the first time.

It’s been 2 years since then, and I now own a travel agency helping people travel; I have visited 6 more countries since then. I help people create travel itineraries they find exciting and adventurous, and I share my experience exploring the world on a Nigerian passport while helping people do the same. I also organise group trips to different countries in the world.

The bottom line is, if I never took the bold step to leave my city to explore states in my country, then left my country to explore Benin, Togo, and Ghana, and now East Africa, I wouldn’t be who I am today.

Today, I am known as the travel girl who knows so much about travel and tourism, but there was a time I took a bold step to get there.

So, if you are about to take your first trip or make a major decision in your life that you are unsure of, I hope this article inspires you one way or the other to take a bet on yourself, believe in yourself, and watch how life rewards you favorably.

What country are you most excited to visit soon? Let me know in the comment section below.