A close encounter with gentle giants on a Uganda gorilla safari is an extraordinary experience that will always stay with you. And it’s just one of the many wildlife sightings on this unforgettable 12-Day Uganda Kenya Safari.
Explore the verdant plains, rainforests, papyrus-fringed lakes and acacia woodlands of Uganda and Kenya game parks, from Lake Mburo, Masai Mara, and Lake Nakuru to Amboseli National Park. You will have the perfect opportunity to spot the Big 5, meet Maasai warriors at a traditional village and explore with local guides eager to show you the best of their countries.
You’ll also have a chance to witness the great wildebeest migration, the “Greatest Wildlife Show on Earth” if you travel between July and November. And the staggeringly beautiful African landscape will provide memories that last a lifetime.
Highlights
- Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
- Cultural encounters with the Batwa people
- Two full days in Masai Mara National Reserve
- Witness the extraordinary Wildebeest Migration in season
- Exceptional Big Five game viewing
- Cultural visits to a traditional Maasai village
- Full-day safaris in Amboseli
- Incredible elephant encounters in Amboseli
- Iconic views of Mount Kilimanjaro from Amboseli National Park
- Fantastic bird watching & photographic opportunities
- Optional hot-air balloon safari in the Mara
Summary
Day 1: Arrive in Uganda
Day 2: Fly to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Batwa Pygmies Cultural Experience
Day 3: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi & relaxation at the lodge
Day 4: Drive to Lake Mburo National Park
Day 5: Travel back To Entebbe with a stop at the Equator, Flight to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
Day 6: Drive to Masai Mara National Reserve
Day 7: Full Day Game Drive in Masai Mara
Day 8: Game drive in Masai Mara & Maasai Village Visit
Day 9: Visit Lake Nakuru National Park
Day 10: Travel to Amboseli National Park
Day 11: Morning and afternoon game drives in Amboseli
Day 12: Transfer back to Nairobi
Details
Day 1: Arrive In Entebbe, Uganda
Your unforgettable 12-day Uganda Kenya Safari begins at Entebbe International Airport. From here, our company representative will transfer to the nearby hotel in Entebbe for an overnight stay. Entebbe is a small, quiet town on the shores of Lake Victoria, Africa’s largest lake. The town is located in central Uganda, about 40km from the capital, Kampala.
There’s plenty to see and do in this beautiful city. You can visit Entebbe Botanical Gardens to admire Uganda’s birds and colobus monkeys and see the rainforest zone, which was the location used in the filming of the original 1940 Hollywood classic, Tarzan. You can also enjoy a sunset boat cruise on Lake Victoria or explore Mabamba Swamp in search of the rare shoebill stork.
Accommodation Options:
Luxury: Protea Hotel Entebbe/Hotel No.5/Serena Lake Victoria Resort
Mid-range: Boma Hotel Entebbe/2 Friends Beach Hotel Entebbe
Budget: Airport Guest House
Meal Plan: Dinner
Day 2: Fly To Bwindi
After a restful night’s sleep, you’ll be driven to Entebbe Airport for your domestic flight to Kihihi Airstrip. The flight time is just over one hour. On arrival, you’ll be taken on a short drive to your lodge on the edge of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. The road trip takes approximately 1 ┬¢ hours. And it is a chance to witness a significant stretch of dense jungle vegetation and remote rural communities of Uganda.
Upon arrival, you’ll have some time to rest and enjoy a delicious lunch. In the afternoon a local guide will take you to visit one of Bwindi’s Batwa pygmy villages. The Batwa inhabited the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest for centuries until the national park was gazetted and they were kicked out.
Now they live near the park. And they have not forgotten the old ways of life. You will witness how they live in rainforest as hunter-gatherers, and have the opportunity of interacting with these incredible people. If you would like to know more, here’s the article I wrote about the Batwa People.
Accommodation Options:
Luxury: Gorilla Forest Lodge/Buhoma Lodge/Volcanoes Bwindi Lodge
Mid-range: Haven Lodge Buhoma/Gorilla Mist Camp/Agandi Eco Lodge
Budget: Trakker’s Tarven Cottages/Buhoma Community Rest Camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 3: Gorilla Trekking & Relaxation
Day three of the 12-day Uganda Kenya Safari will start at around 6.00 am. Enjoy a hearty breakfast at the lodge and then embark on short drive to Bwindi National Park offices for a briefing before setting off on a gorilla trek. At around 8 am, you will enter the forest in search of the shy and gentle apes.
While you should prepare yourself for muddy, humid and perhaps challenging conditions, a day of trekking through the rainforest is possible for all reasonably fit and healthy travellers. Expert local guides will lead you to one of the 21 habituated gorilla families in the forest. And you’ll be able to spend a one hour observing them as they feed, forage, play or interact.
After gorilla trek, you will recoup with a day of leisure at the lodge. You can also choose spend your time on slow, scenic forest walks, taking the natural beauty of your surroundings while spotting the many beautiful birds hiding in the trees. After your stroll, you can stop by the local communities for an insightful cultural tour to enrich your mind. When back at the lodge, you enjoy a drink at the bar and take in the amazing forest views.
READ MORE: Gorilla trekking In Uganda: A Complete Guide
Accommodation Options:
Luxury: Gorilla Forest Lodge/Buhoma Lodge/Volcanoes Bwindi Lodge
Mid-range: Haven Lodge Buhoma/Gorilla Mist Camp/Agandi Eco Lodge
Budget: Trakker’s Tarven Cottages/Buhoma Community Rest Camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 4: Drive To Lake Mburo
After a leisurely breakfast today, embark on a drive of about 4 hours northeast to Lake Mburo National Park. There are no lions in the park, so this is the place where you can get active without fear of being eaten. You can enjoy cycling tours, horseback riding, game walks, boat cruise and game drives inside the park. If your budget can stretch to it, spend the night at one of Uganda’s top places to stay, the stunning Mihingo Lodge.
Accommodation Options:
Luxury: Mihingo Lodge
Midrange: Rwakobo Rock
Budget: Eagles Nest Mburo
Meal Plan: Lunch & Dinner
Day 5: Entebbe/Nairobi
Your final day in Uganda takes you on a drive of about 4 hours from Lake Mburo back to Entebbe. You will have brief stop at the equator monument in Kayabwe to take that all-important photo. Uganda is one of the few countries on Earth where you can cross this imaginary geographical line on land.
From Entebbe, you take a flight to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi City, Kenya. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to hotel where you will spend the night on a bed and breakfast basis. Depending on time of arrival you may choose to add an optional excursion to:
- Giraffe Center, where endangered Rothschild giraffes are cared for,
- Karen Blixen Museum to learn more about the Danish author of Out of Africa,
- David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage Trust, a sanctuary for orphaned baby elephants,
- Nairobi National Park, where the plains game roams freely with a surprising background of skyscrapers!
Accommodation Options:
Luxury: Four Points by Sheraton Nairobi/Giraffe Manor/Hemingways Nairobi
Midrange: Tamarind Tree Hotel/Crowne Plaza Nairobi
Meal Plan: Dinner
Day 6: Drive To Masai Mara
You’ll leave Nairobi after breakfast at around 07:30 and travel towards Kenya’s fertile highlands. Then, head down the Great Rift Valley escarpment on the road built by Italian prisoners of war during World War II. En route, spot the charming chapel built at the foot of the escarpment. Pass the impressive Longonot earth satellite station as you head across the valley to Narok.
Continue your travels across acres of wheat and barley, before reaching the world famous Maasai Mara, Kenya’s richest game park renowned for its black-maned Lions. You will arrive in time for lunch and short relaxation. Then, you will enjoy your first game drive in the “Mara”, as the locals call it.
Masai Mara is named in honour of the Maasai people (the ancestral inhabitants of the area) and their description of the area when looked at from afar. Mara, which is Maa (Maasai language) for “spotted”, is an apt description for the circles of trees, scrub, savanna, and cloud shadows that mark the area.
As in the Serengeti, the reserve is best known for the Great Migration of Zebras and wildebeest. Around July of each year, these animals migrate north from Serengeti plains towards the Masai Mara in search of nutritious pasture, and return to the south again around October. The Great Migration is one of the most impressive natural events worldwide, involving some 1.5 million animals.
Remember to carry extra camera batteries, because the Mara is a photographer’s paradise, with abundant wildlife and incredible African landscapes. The BBC Television show titled “Big Cat Diary” was filmed here. After your exciting first game drive, return to lodge to relax and have dinner. Remember to listen out for the roar of a lion before falling asleep.
Accommodation Options:
Luxury: Mara Serena Lodge/Ashnil Mara Camp/Mara Leisure Camp
Midrange: Mara Sopa Lodge/Jambo Mara Lodge/Basecamp Masai Mara
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Drive time approx.: 3-5.5 hours
Day 7: Full Day in Masai Mara
After an early-morning mug of steamy fresh Kenyan coffee, go on a morning drive in wonderful Maasai Mara. Search for species that may be returning from their nocturnal forays, or waking up and getting ready for the day. Breakfast is normally packed into a basket and served during your morning game-viewing safari.
Covering an area of about 1,510 km2, the Maasai Mara is regarded as one of the world’s greatest wildlife reserves. If you travel during the height of the Great migration (end of July through to October), your day will be filled with large herds of wildebeest, dazzling zebras, and the epic drama of the Mara River crossings.
The river poses a major obstacle in their way, and the herd’s momentum drives the show that ensues. You will soon realise why the migration is referred to as “The Greatest Show on Earth”. You’ll return to your lodge for lunch and a short siesta in the heat of the day. You then go out on another game drive in the afternoon, hoping to see some more spectacular fauna and flora, along with some predator-prey interaction that the Mara is famous for.
Accommodation Options:
Luxury: Mara Serena Lodge/Ashnil Mara Camp/Mara Leisure Camp
Midrange: Mara Sopa Lodge/Jambo Mara Lodge/Basecamp Masai Mara
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 8: Game Drive & Maasai Village Visit
Have an early breakfast and go on a morning game drive. Return to the camp mid-morning. After lunch and maybe a siesta, you set off on another game drive. Nowhere in Africa is wildlife more abundant, and you are almost guaranteed seeing the Big 5 animals.
Speaking of birds, Masai Mara has over 500 species. Birds that you can look for during your time here include several vulture species, Ostrich, Saddle-billed Stork, Secretarybird, Grey-crested Helmetshrike, Grey Crowned Crane, the cute Pygmy Falcon, and the beautiful Lilac-breasted Roller, the national bird of Kenya.
Something else to look out for is the absolutely monstrous Nile Crocodiles that reside in the Mara River. These ancient reptiles lie in wait for the migrating mammals and seeing one of them catch a wildebeest and consume it is a scary reminder of how fragile us humans are in the greater scheme of things.
After a game drive, visit a Maasai village to learn about the culture of the famous Maasai People. Your guide will lead you through the village as you discover their traditions and beliefs, and daily practices like demonstrations of how to make fire using sticks. At the end of the tour, you can buy some gift items/curios made by the villagers – a chance to give back to the local community.
Optional Activity: Hot Air Balloon Safari
If you’d like to see the Mara from a different angle, a sunrise hot air balloon ride is a truly unforgettable experience. You’ll be collected before dawn and glide through the sunrise, sometimes at tree height, making the most of the amazing photo opportunities. Sometimes you ascend to get an overview of the enormity of the Mara plains and the early-morning movements of the teeming herds.
Accommodation Options:
Luxury: Mara Serena Lodge/Ashnil Mara Camp/Mara Leisure Camp
Midrange: Mara Sopa Lodge/Jambo Mara Lodge/Basecamp Masai Mara
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 9: Visit Lake Nakuru
Leaving Masai Mara after breakfast, travel across the “breadbasket” of Kenya, where acres of wheat and barley litter the landscape as you head north to Narok, the district headquarters of this part of Maasailand.
Then travel across the vast plains on the floor of Africa’s Great Rift Valley, keeping an eye out for herds of giraffe and gazelle as you head up the Mai -Mahiu, before arriving at Nakuru around midday. Once in the park, view game en route to the lodge. Following lunch and a siesta, there is an afternoon game drive returning to the lodge as the sun sets.
Lake Nakuru (meaning “dusty or dry place”) is one of the rift valley’s soda lakes. It is protected by the 188 km2 Lake Nakuru National Park. Flanked by rocky escarpments, pockets of dense forest and waterfalls, the park itself is very pretty and you’ll get some amazing photographs here.
This small park is a great destination to see black and white rhinos, as well as Buffalo, Leopards, Zebras, Lions, Hyenas, Hippos, African rock pythons, and the endangered Rothschild’s giraffe. You’ll drive along lake shores to discover a variety of birds including large flocks of Pelicans, Egrets, Cormorants, Herons, Ducks, Spoonbills, Fish Eagles, and Kingfishers.
Please note: Lake Nakuru was formerly famous for the millions of flamingos that covered the lake with their pink plumes. However, since the major flooding of 2014, fewer flamingos choose to feed or breed here.
Accommodation Options:
Luxury: The Cliff/Sarova Woodlands
Midrange: Lake Nakuru Lodge/Flamingo Hill Camp/Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Drive time approx.: 3-5 hours
Day 10: Travel To Amboseli
Enjoy an early breakfast and leave the Rift Valley behind. Continue to Nairobi for an early lunch (or picnic lunch dependent on road conditions) and proceed south towards Amboseli. You will arrive at your lodge by late afternoon.
Amboseli is one of Africa’s most beautiful parks. Though mainly known as the best place in the world for viewing free-ranging elephant herds, Amboseli offers a vast array of other wildlife ranging from the Big 5 animals to over 400 bird species.
The animals can often be viewed against the stunning backdrop of the snow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro. If you’re looking for that iconic safari photograph of long-tusked African elephants or a journey of giraffes on dry savannah plains with Africa’s tallest mountain as a backdrop, Amboseli is the place to snap it.
Accommodation Options:
Luxury: Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge/Oltukai Lodge
Midrange: Kibo Safari Camp/Satao Elerai Camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Drive time approx.: 7 hours
Day 11: Game Drives In Amboseli
Today, you have morning and afternoon game drives to witness the wildlife in one of the spectacular national parks on the continent. You’ll start early, as the morning is the best time to see the animals at their most active.
Elephants are the most famous residents of Amboseli, present in high numbers and featuring some of the largest body and tusk sizes in Africa. These gentle giants can be seen everywhere in the park, enjoying waters in marshes, treading dusty tracks led by a dependable matriarch, or, sometimes, posing for thrilled, camera-wielding tourists against the backdrop of Kilimanjaro.
Your tour guide will also lead you in search of other Africa’s iconic animals such as Hippos, Lions, Leopards, Hyenas, Cheetahs, Wild dogs, Buffalo, Giraffe, Zebra, Wildebeest, Hartebeest, Dik-dik, Kudu, Jackals, Bat-Eared Foxes, Oryx, Gerenuks, Serval, Warthog, Yellow Baboons and More.
Accommodation Options:
Luxury: Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge/Oltukai Lodge
Midrange: Kibo Safari Camp/Satao Elerai Camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 12: Transfer Back To Nairobi
And so an amazing 12-day Uganda Kenyan safari comes an end. After early breakfast, catch your last views of the majestic Mount Kilimanjaro as you depart Amboseli. From here, you turn north across the beautiful and seemingly never-ending Athi Plains, arriving in Nairobi by mid-day. It will be a drive of about 4 hours. You will be dropped off at the airport for your ongoing travel arrangements. Safe Travels!
*Please note: Extensions to Mombasa Dian Beach, Zanzibar Island or Tanzania can easily be arranged. Please contact us for more information.
End Of The Safari
Inclusions
- Gorilla trekking permitfees
- Boat cruise on Lake Mburo
- Meet and greet services
- Airport arrival transfers
- All transport and game drives
- Domestic flight from Entebbe to Kihihi, Bwindi
- Regional flight from Entebbe to Nairobi
- Full board accommodation on Safari
- Bed & Breakfast Accommodation in Entebbe and Nairobi
- All park fees and government taxes
- Drinking water in the vehicle
- Full-time English-speaking professional driver/guide
- All tour activities as detailed in the itinerary
Exclusions
- Tips
- Laundry services
- Other Beverages/ drinks
- International flights
- Visas
- Optional activities
- Extra meals not mentioned in the program
- Inoculations and personal insurance
- Items of personal nature such as telephone, postage, laundry, etc.
- International/local airfares not indicated in the program
