Gorillas and Masai Mara Safari (An Adventure of a Lifetime)

 Tour Summary

• Safari starts with pick up in Kampala/Entebbe
• Activities include gorilla trekking and game drive.
• Transfers will be by a 4×4 safari vehicle
•  Accommodation before and after a trip can be arranged on request at an extra cost

What you need to know

• Accommodation & meals are provided as included 
• Pack the right Gorilla trekking clothes
• Tour can start any time of the year
• The minimum age for Gorilla trekking is 15 years

Itinerary Highlights: Gorillas and Masai Mara Safari

• Day #1: Meet at Entebbe Airport (or your hotel) and transfer to Bwindi
• Day #2: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
• Day #3: Flight transfer Bwindi (Kihihi or Kisoro) to Entebbe and onward transfer to Maasai Mara
• Day #4: Maasai Mara National Reserve
• Day #5: Maasai Mara – Nairobi & Departure

What’s the real story?:

Itinerary Details: Gorillas and Masai Mara Safari

Day 1: Start your Uganda Gorilla trek tour by driving to Bwindi

Meet and greet with our local guide in Kampala/Entebbe/Kigali at 07:00 hours before beginning the gorilla trekking safari on your drive to southwestern Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, the home of the mountain gorillas.

On the way, there is a tiny town known for creating native drums and crafts, as well as a fruit market. Stop, look, and purchase yourself some mementos. Proceed to the Equator line, which is regarded as one of Africa’s most stunning scenery – the sun’s journey – and take photographs. During the nine-hour ride, you will pass through mountains, tropical rainforests, and bamboo forests.

The travel from Entebbe or Kampala to the mountain gorilla sanctuary takes more than 7 hours, with most of the time spent on smooth-surfaced roads and around 45 minutes on dusty murram. If you don’t want to drive, you could take a flight to Bwindi. One-way tickets range from 280$ to 360$ per person.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 

Accommodation options

Luxury: Buhoma Lodge | Mahogany Springs Lodge | Chameleon Hill Lodge | Trackers Lodge Buhoma

Mid-range: Engagi Lodge | Silverback Lodge Bwindi | Nkuringo Gorilla Lodge (Ensuite cottages)| Gorilla Mist Camp

Day 2: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Today enjoy Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Mountain Gorillas of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest | Uganda

After breakfast, head to the morning briefing before embarking on the trip’s highlight, gorilla trekking, which may last the entire day. We trek the gorillas through the rainforest and bamboo-covered slopes in search of a mountain gorilla family, followed by a guide and gorilla trackers. The walking can be difficult and time-consuming at times, but once you see the majestic silverback, any discomforts will be swiftly forgotten. When the gorillas are spotted, tourists will be escorted to within 6 meters of the gorillas, where they will sit for an hour staring into their enormous round eyes.

Trekking gorillas is unpredictable. It’s tough to predict how many hours you’ll spend hiking. The gorilla tracking adventure can last between 2 and 8 hours. Expect to trek for a long time in hilly and muddy terrain, maybe with rain overhead, before encountering any gorillas. It is advised that you be in decent physical condition. Time spent with the gorillas is limited to one hour for conservation reasons. A ranger will instruct you on how to interact with the gorillas.

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is a popular site for birdwatchers. Its 350 species include seven IUCN red data listed species and 90% of all Albertine rift endemics, which are difficult or impossible to view in any other area of East Africa.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 

Accommodation options

Luxury: Buhoma Lodge | Mahogany Springs Lodge | Chameleon Hill Lodge | Trackers Lodge Buhoma

Mid-range: Engagi Lodge | Silverback Lodge Bwindi | Nkuringo Gorilla Lodge (Ensuite cottages)| Gorilla Mist Camp

Mid-range: Rushaga Gorilla Camp | Ruhija Gorilla Friends Camp | Gorilla Valley Lodge | Buhoma Community Campground

Day 3: Flight Transfer from Bwindi to Entebbe and then to Maasai Mara

We depart from your Bwindi lodge for Kihihi or Kisoro Airstrip, where we will catch an aircraft to Entebbe and then to Kenya’s Maasai Mara. When you arrive, you will be greeted by camp staff and taken on a short game drive to the camp. Enjoy another game drive in the reserve this evening.

For travelers using the road an extra day is added.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner 

Day 4: Full-day game drives in Maasai Mara National Reserve

An Arab Family Goes On An African Adventure! (Inside Masai Mara)

You have a full day of game drives planned for today. You will try to detect different predators that may have made a kill the night before daylight. You will return to the tent for breakfast as the sun rises over the wildlife reserve.

You can choose to bring a packed lunch for a full-day game drive or return to the camp for a hot lunch. The key to seeing a lot of animals is to go on different game drives at different times and in different places for the best chance of success. A large pride of lions, cheetahs, leopards, jackals, elephants, giraffes, African buffalo, eland, ostrich, bat-eared foxes, jackals, and black rhinos may be spotted as you drive about. After this thrilling day, you’ll return to the camp and unwind with a nice drink on your balcony overlooking the Mara River!

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 

Accommodation Options: Camp or lodge.

Day 5: Maasai Mara – Nairobi, Departure

After a cup of tea or coffee, you’ll proceed on an early morning game drive to view lions, hyenas, or other predators feasting on the carcasses of a successful kill. You return to the tent for breakfast when your stomach is growling.

Following a cup of tea or coffee, you will embark on an early morning game drive to see lions, hyenas, or other predators feasting on the remains of a successful kill. When your stomach grumbles, you return to the tent for breakfast.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner 

Optional Extras:

• Dayrooms can be provided at an extra cost.
• Extend this tour with a week on the superb beaches of Mombasa. There are hourly flights every day from Nairobi to Mombasa and from Mombasa to Nairobi.
• Extend this tour with a beach break in Zanzibar.
• There are daily flights from Nairobi to Zanzibar and back.

End of the 5 Days Gorillas and Masai Mara Safari

Cost Inclusions

• All activities as included
• Accommodation & meals as indicated
• 4×4 Safari Vehicle
• A professional English-speaking knowledgeable driver-guide. (other Language speaking guides are provided at an extra cost)
• Bottled drinking water on board
• Regional flights between Entebbe and Maasai Mara and to Nairobi with accompanying ground transfers

Cost Exclusions 

• International flights & Visas 
• Tips
• Travel and medical insurance
• Drinks
• Any changes to the itinerary 
• Laundry

Transport 

• 4×4 safari land cruiser for luxury travelers
• 4×4 safari van for budget travelers