East Africa overland

~ marks an estimate. Budgets are per day in US dollars. Check services and fares before setting out.

1. 01

   

   Nairobi

   Kenya · Daily budget ~$17

   Nairobi is Kenya's political, financial, and media capital with 4.8 million inhabitants, one of Africa's largest and fastest-growing cities. At 1,795 metres above sea level, it is one of the highest national capitals in the world, giving it a pleasant subtropical highland climate.

   Nairobi →to Mombasa

   Transport details are not recorded.

2. 02

   

   Mombasa

   Kenya

   Mombasa is Kenya's main tourist destination, with a warm tropical climate, white beaches, and coral reef diving. The city offers a blend of Swahili, Arab, Portuguese, and British influences, visible in sites like Fort Jesus and the Old Town.

   Mombasa →to Diani Beach

   Drive~1 h~$12

3. 03

   

   Diani Beach

   Kenya

   Diani Beach is Kenya's most tourist-oriented beach on the South Coast, 30 km south of Mombasa. While the North Coast offers more activities and nightlife, the South Coast provides nicer beaches and more primordial nature.

   Diani Beach →to Lamu

   Transport details are not recorded.

4. 04

   

   Lamu

   Kenya

   Lamu is Kenya's oldest continually inhabited town and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001, featuring winding streets lined with traditional coral stone and mangrove timber Swahili houses. Unlike most Kenyan cities, Lamu has virtually no motor vehicles—donkeys, boats, and foot are the main modes of transport.

   Lamu →to Naivasha

   Transport details are not recorded.

5. 05

   Naivasha

   Kenya

   Naivasha sits on the shores of Kenya's largest freshwater lake at 1,890 m elevation—the highest lake in the Rift Valley. Nairobi residents flock here for weekend boat rides to spot hippos and waterbirds, while backpackers use it as a base for Hell's Gate National Park's unique walking-safari and cycling experiences.

   Naivasha →to Arusha

   Transport details are not recorded.

6. 06

   

   Arusha

   Tanzania

   Arusha is a city of approximately 416,000 people in the northeast of Tanzania, regarded as the gateway to the popular Northern Safari Circuit. It sits at the foot of Mount Meru, Africa's 5th highest mountain, offering a pleasant climate and lush environment.

   Arusha →to Moshi

   Transport details are not recorded.

7. 07

   

   Moshi

   Tanzania

   Moshi is the main gateway town for climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, sitting on the lower slopes at 800m elevation. The town is home to three cultural groups: the Chagga (known for coffee cultivation and business sense), Maasai (mostly working as watchmen or selling traditional medicines), and Pare (from the nearby Pare Mountains 50 km toward Dar es Salaam).

   Moshi →to Dar es Salaam

   Transport details are not recorded.

8. 08

   Dar es Salaam

   Tanzania

   Dar es Salaam is Tanzania's largest city and economic hub, with a mix of African, Muslim, and South Asian cultures. It offers a picturesque harbour, beaches, chaotic markets, and historical buildings.

   Dar es Salaam →to Stone Town

   Transport details are not recorded.

9. 09

   

   Stone Town

   Tanzania

   Stone Town is Zanzibar's cultural heart and East Africa's most architecturally distinctive city. The UNESCO-listed old town preserves a 19th-century Swahili settlement where coral-stone buildings with carved wooden balconies, brass-studded doors, and rooftop turrets reflect centuries of trade with Arabia, Persia, India, and Europe.

   Stone Town →to Kampala

   Transport details are not recorded.

10. 10

    

    Kampala

    Uganda

    Kampala is Uganda's economic and cultural heart, home to roughly 1.7 million people (6.7 million in the metro area). The city is notably expat-friendly due to the high concentration of NGOs and international organizations, creating a unique blend of Western conveniences and authentic Ugandan experiences.

    Kampala →to Entebbe

    Transport details are not recorded.

11. 11

    Entebbe

    Uganda

    Entebbe is a pleasant town on the shores of Lake Victoria, offering a relaxed stopover alternative to Kampala. The air is clean, streets are safe to walk, and old colonial gardens and parks make for a serene atmosphere.

    Entebbe →to Jinja

    Transport details are not recorded.

12. 12

    

    Jinja

    Uganda

    Jinja sits at the source of the Nile, making it a pilgrimage spot for any traveler who wants to say they've seen where the world's longest river begins. The city is famous in Uganda for Nile Special beer and has developed into the country's adventure capital, drawing backpackers for world-class white water rafting and kayaking.

    Jinja →to Fort Portal

    Transport details are not recorded.

13. 13

    

    Fort Portal

    Uganda

    Fort Portal sits at the edge of Uganda's equatorial rainforest in Western Uganda's Kabarole District, making it an ideal base for nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts. The town is famous for its tea plantations and serves as the gateway to both Kibale Forest (known for chimpanzee tracking) and Queen Elizabeth National Park, which boasts nearly 100 mammal species and 606 bird species.

    Fort Portal →to Kigali

    Transport details are not recorded.

14. 14

    

    Kigali

    Rwanda

    Kigali is Rwanda's political and commercial capital, a clean and ordered city spread across multiple hills that often surprises first-time visitors with its tidiness and safety. The city is a major draw for long-term expats, NGO workers, and digital nomads who appreciate the relaxed lifestyle, reliable infrastructure, and the ability to raise children safely.

    Kigali →to Ruhengeri

    Transport details are not recorded.

15. 15

    

    Ruhengeri

    Rwanda

    Ruhengeri (also called Musanze) is Rwanda's adventure capital, sitting at the doorstep of Volcanoes National Park where the rare mountain gorilla lives. The city of about 153,000 serves as the base for one of Africa's most iconic wildlife experiences: spending an hour with habituated gorilla families.

    Ruhengeri →to Addis Ababa

    Transport details are not recorded.

16. 16

    

    Addis Ababa

    Ethiopia

    Addis Ababa, founded in 1886 by Emperor Menelik II, is Ethiopia's capital and a major diplomatic hub hosting the African Union. The city offers a blend of history, culture, and modern development, with museums, cathedrals, and a vibrant coffee culture.

    Addis Ababa →to Gondar

    Transport details are not recorded.

17. 17

    

    Gondar

    Ethiopia

    Gondar (Gonder) served as Ethiopia's imperial capital from the 17th to 20th centuries, earning its nickname 'African Camelot' for the remarkable cluster of medieval castles within Fasil Ghebbi (Royal Enclosure). The city preserves more than three centuries of royal history through fortified palaces, churches adorned with angel-filled ceilings, and steam baths—making it essential for anyone interested in Ethiopian history and culture.

    Gondar →to Lalibela

    Transport details are not recorded.

18. 18

    

    Lalibela

    Ethiopia

    Lalibela's 11 monolithic churches hewn from pink volcanic rock have been called the "eighth wonder of the world" and were declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1978. The year-round climate is wonderful and the mountain views exhilarating, with some of the finest lodgings outside Addis Ababa.

    Lalibela →to Bahir Dar

    Transport details are not recorded.

19. 19

    

    Bahir Dar

    Ethiopia

    Bahir Dar is the third largest city in Ethiopia, capital of Amhara region, on Lake Tana. It is clean and well-maintained by African standards.

    Bahir Dar →to Nungwi

    Transport details are not recorded.

20. 20

    

    Nungwi

    Tanzania

    Nungwi is a charming little village at the northern tip of Zanzibar, offering pristine beaches and a relaxed atmosphere. The village is known for its sea turtle conservation efforts, with two aquariums where visitors can see and interact with turtles.

    Nungwi →to Paje

    Transport details are not recorded.

21. 21

    Paje

    Tanzania

    Paje is a sleepy fishing village of roughly 5,000 people on Zanzibar's southeast coast that has become East Africa's premier kitesurfing destination since the first school opened in 2012. Unlike busier parts of Zanzibar, Paje retains an authentic, chilled-out beach atmosphere with fewer persistent beach boys and vendors.

    Paje →to Serengeti National Park

    Transport details are not recorded.

22. 22

    

    Serengeti National Park

    Tanzania

    Serengeti National Park is one of Africa's most iconic safari destinations, covering nearly 15,000 km² of endless savanna plains in northern Tanzania. The park is world-famous for the Great Wildebeest Migration, where nearly one million wildebeest and 200,000 zebras move across the landscape in a dramatic annual cycle.