Safari Overview

The 8 Days Uganda Gorilla & Kenya wildlife safari gives you the best chance of having the ultimate authentic African safari experience as you get to visit both Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve that are highly revered for their epic safari memories. Masai Mara Reserve is home to 4 out of 5 of Africa’s Savanna big five wild mammals which are the African lion, the Elephant, Cape Buffaloes, and the Leopard. Some of the other wild mammals you won’t miss during this tour include the Plain zebras, Masai Giraffes, Rothchild giraffes, the wildebeests. With a minimum of 550 Mountain Gorilla population and over 18 gorilla families that have been habituated for trekking, 350 bird species of which 23 are Albertine rift endemics and 10 primate species, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has positioned itself as an ideal destination for an unforgettable gorilla trekking destination. 

Safari Highlight 

Day 1: Arrive at Kigali international airport, meet and greet and transfer to a hotel in Kigali

Day 2: Today, engage in a Kigali city tour then transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Park

Day 3: Engage in an epic gorilla trekking adventure in Bwindi Park and transfer back to Kigali

Day 4: Transfer back to Kigali and fly to Jomo Kenyatta airport in Nairobi and transfer to a hotel here

Day 5: Drive to Masai Mara and engage in an afternoon game drive

Day 6: Full day of exploring Masai Mara

Day 7: Enjoy a second day of unlimited game drives in Mara

Day 8: Transfer to Nairobi where the safari ends

Detailed safari itinerary 

Day 1: Meet and greet and transfer to your hotel in Kigali

Arrival and pick up from Kigali and then you will be transferred to your hotel in Kigali to unwind from the jetlag

Accommodation: Chezlando Kigali hotel

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 2: Engage in a Kigali city tour then drive to Bwindi Park

This day begins with a visit to the Kigali genocide memorial museum. This museum captures the horror of the 1994 Rwanda genocide in which this country fell into turmoil as over 800, 000 are believed to have died as the Hutu people massacred the Tutsi in a period of about 90 days. After the memorial visit, you will commence your 170km or 4-5 hours journey to Bwindi National Park takes you on a spectacular journey through the countryside of this rather pristine country. You will get to encounter numerous Rwandans going about their daily activities and these will range from trade to farming their lands. Also, expect to be blown away by the amazing rolling hills of Rwanda which surely confirm to you why this country is referred to as the land of a thousand hills.  You will cross the One stop border point of Katuna and the entire immigration process can take less than just 30 minutes depending on the number of people you will find attempting to cross. You will now drive to the southern end of Bwindi park which will also offer magnificent views of the towering hills of the Kigazi highlands. As you get close to Bwindi the impenetrable forest will start showing up on your sights and yes, they will be as spectacular as you have imagined them. You will reach your lodge where you will be welcomed by these friendly Ugandan smiling faces that will usher into your new home for today here in Bwindi

Accommodation:  Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge

Meal Plan: Lunch & Dinner

Day 3: Trek gorillas 

This day you will get you to actually meet the gorillas as you engage in a memorable gorilla trekking experience which will have you meet these gentle giants in their natural habitat. You will spend an hour observing these majestic creatures in order to have an understanding about their habits which aren’t far from our own. 

Accommodation:  Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 4: Transfer back to Kigali and fly to Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta

This day will have you return to Kigali and drive back to Kigali international airport and connect with your flight to Jomo Kenyatta airport where you will be received and transferred to your hotel in Nairobi city

Accommodation:  Panafric Sarova Hotel

Meal Plan: Breakfast

Day 5: Transfer to Masai Mara and engage in an afternoon game drive

This day kicks off with a transfer to Masai Mara. Masai Mara lies about 260km or 4-5 hours’ drive. Upon you arrival to Masai Mara, you will undertake an afternoon game drive which is meant to give you an encounter with some of the big five dwellers such as the largest land mammal the African Elephants, the king of the jungle lions which you might spot patrolling their territories, the cape buffaloes that roam the grasslands of these Masai plains, the African Leopards that are famous for their stealth abilities that enable them to catch their prey with surprise. Beyond the big five you still have a chance to see numerous wild dwellers such as Wildebeests, Plain Zebras, and Masai Giraffes and many more. It is safe to note that Masai Mara has the highest concentration of predators more than anywhere else in Kenya. 

Accommodation: Zebra Plains Camp

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 6: Full day exploring Mara

This day will commence with the guide taking you on a morning game drive adventure as you follow some of the game tracks that will reveal to you more of the hidden wonders of Mara. If you are a birding enthusiast, you’re in the right place because Masai Mara is home to over 500 bird species and this game drive will surely put in a prime position to see several of these birds which include the secretary birds, Sooty Chat, Usambiro barbets, Swahili Sparrow. After about 3-4 hours of endless exploration, you will return to your lodge to catch your breathe and also have lunch. After lunch you will go back out their and engage in a second game drive to further your chances of seeing more of your favourite wild game and birds. You will return to the lodge in the evening and settle in for dinner after which you can choose to enjoy watching the stars light up the skies if the skies are clear and also listen to the numerous calls made by the wild mammals that call this reserve home. After all this, you can retire to your bed and rest for the day. Besides doing game drives, you can choose to engage in any other optional activities at an extra fee that are available in Mara such as a wild hot air balloon experience which will see you wake up very early in the morning and take to the skies over Mara. The beauty of experience is that, it gives you a bird’s eye view of the sprawling plains hence enabling you to view all its dwellers from a vantage point. 

Accommodation: Zebra Plains Camp

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 7: Second day of unlimited game drives

You will get to wake up to the amazing wild melodies of Masai Mara as you get to hear various animals sound their alarms and birds twitter to welcome the new day. You will have breakfast then go for a morning game drive to perhaps a different sector of Mara then an afternoon game drive is also available should you need it. You can also choose to opt to visit a Masai community at an extra fee. A visit to any of these communities that dot the Mara plains puts in you a great space to come close to these amazing people that have managed to co-exist with the wild animals that are found here for thousands of years. You will also have a chance to interact with Masai warriors who are highly rated for their spear throwing skills and, in the past, these guys were highly revered for their bravely as they only got these titles through managing to kill lions with their spears. However due to conservation efforts, this practice has been largely abandoned by many these people hence nothing should worry you in that regard. You will also have a chance to enjoy the rather rhythmic Masai dance which involves these towering Masai men jump to towering heights while not bending any part of their body.

Accommodation: Zebra Plains Camp

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 8: Transfer back to Nairobi

This is your last day in Masai Mara and you will check out of your lodge and embark on a 270km or 4-5 hours drive back to Nairobi where your safari ends.

Tour Inclusions

• Full time English professional safari driver guide

• 4×4 Safari land cruiser

• Full board accommodation

• Gorilla Trekking permits

• Park entry fees

• Bottled water 

• Regional Flight fees from Kigali to Nairobi
  
  

Safari Exclusions

• International flight fees

• Visa fees

• Laundry services

• Items of personal nature

• Gratuities and tips

• Other beverages/ drinks

• Other extras not mentioned in the itinerary above