8 Days Uganda Gorilla Trekking and Masai Mara

On this 8 Days Uganda Gorilla Trekking and Masai Mara Safari you will explore the best that Africa has to offer in terms of wildlife. You will have an opportunity to see Africa’s famous creatures including the endangered mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, leopards, lions, elephants, rhinos and buffaloes.

This East Africa Safari starts in Uganda with chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest National Park and gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, then fly to the iconic Masai Mara National Reserve for game viewing in the endless savannah plains.

Highlights of 8 Days Uganda Gorilla Trekking and Masai Mara

Day 1: Transfer from Entebbe to Kibale National Park – Visit the Bigodi Swamp and crater lakes

Day 2: Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale National Park – Transfer to Bwindi

Day 3: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi – Visit the Batwa pygmies

Day 4: Transfer back to Kampala – Evening city tour

Day 5: White Water Rafting in Jinja and Visiting the Source of the Nile – Departure to Nairobi

Day 6: Transfer from Nairobi to the Masai Mara National Reserve – Afternoon game drive

Day 7: Full day Game drives in different areas of the Masai Mara game reserve

Day 8: Visit the Masai Villages – Return back to Nairobi for departure

Detailed Itinerary of 8 Days Uganda Gorilla Trekking and Masai Mara

Day 1: Transfer from Entebbe to Kibale National Park – Visit the Bigodi Swamp and crater lakes

To start your combined Uganda and Kenya Safari, you will be picked up from your hotel in Entebbe or at the airport upon arrival to start your journey to Kibale National Park. Pass through beautiful Ugandan countryside and watch the locals go on with their daily life in the gardens and in markets along the roadside.

Enjoy lunch in the beautiful Fort Portal Town and continue to the park with a visit to the Bigodi Swamp and Crater Lakes. The Bigodi Swamp is one of the top birding areas in Uganda, it is also a habitat for smaller primates and antelopes like Sitatunga. Head to your lodge for check in, dinner and overnight stay.

Accommodation: Forest Guest House (Budget and Midrange) and Papaya Lake Lodge – Luxury

Meal Plan: Lunch and Dinner

Day 2: Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale National Park – Transfer to Bwindi

Wake up early for breakfast, meet your river guide and head to the park headquarters for briefing about chimpanzee trekking and the right way to behave while in the presence of the chimpanzees.

Head into the forests of Kibale with armed rangers and guide looking for chimpanzees, the trek takes approximately 2 to 4 hours or more depending on the movement of the chimpanzees and where they spent their previous night. Chimpanzees are vocal primates and as you near where they are, you will hear their chants, spend one hour in their presence observing them feed, groom, play and learn more about their behavior.

Trek back to the starting point, meet your driver-guide and return to the lodge for lunch. Later check out and embark on a journey to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park arriving in the evening, check in at your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Broadbill Camp- Budget, Rushaga Gorilla Camp – Midrange, Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge – Luxury.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 3: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi – Visit the Batwa pygmies

Wake up early for breakfast, meet your guide and head to the park offices for briefing with packed lunch boxes. Join other visitors for briefing about gorilla trekking and the right way to behave in the presence of the gorillas and what to expect, in groups of 8 people you will be assigned a grilla family to trek and head into the forest looking for mountain gorillas.

The trek takes between two to six hours depending on the movement of the gorillas and where they spent their previous night, as you hike through the forests of Bwindi you will see several wildlife species such as chimpanzees, forest elephants and several bird species. When you locate the gorillas you will spend one hour in their presence, observing their life in the forest, their family dynamics  and take as many photos and videos as possible.

After one hour, trek back to the pack headquarters, meet your driver guide and return to the lodge to freshen up and rest for a while. In the evening you will go for a cultural experience in the Batwa Village, here you will be entertained by local dances and drama, interact with the elders who will tell you tales of the forest among others. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.

Accommodation: Broadbill Camp- Budget, Rushaga Gorilla Camp – Midrange, Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge – Luxury.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 4: Transfer back to Kampala  

Wake up early for breakfast, check out of your lodge and embark on a journey to Kampala with a journey through Kabale and Kisoro, here the scenery is amazing and it is described as the Switzerland of Africa for the beautiful forests, highlands and valley.

Enjoy lunch in Mbarara at Igongo Cultural Centre and at the Equator Crossing in Kayabwe, here you will be take amazing pictures and get a chance to stand both in Northern and Southern Hemispheres at one place. On reaching in Kampala, you will be dropped off at the hotel for check-in, dinner and overnight stay.

Accommodation: Excellent Hotel- Budget, Cassia Lodge Buzinga – Midrange, Sheraton Hotel – Luxury.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

 

 

Day 5: White Water Rafting in Jinja and Visiting the Source of the Nile – Departure to Nairobi

Wake up early, enjoy breakfast before beginning your journey to Jinja known as Africa’s Adrenaline Capital for a relaxing tour around this historical town and visit the source of the Nile. Then go for whitewater rafting in Jinja.

After the thrilling experience, you will drive back to Entebbe where you will be dropped off at the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

Accommodation: Excellent Hotel- Budget, Cassia Lodge Buzinga – Midrange, Sheraton Hotel – Luxury.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 6: Transfer from Nairobi to the Masai Mara National Reserve – Afternoon game drive

Wake up early for breakfast and be transferred to Entebbe International Airport for your flight to Nairobi. On arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport you will be warmly welcomed by your Kenyan Guide and embark on a journey to Masai Mara National Reserve.

Along the way you will drive through the Rift Valley Escarpment and stop in Narok for pictures and interaction with the local people, continue to the reserve arriving in the evening, check in at your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.

Accommodation: Lenchada Tourist Tented Camp – Budget, Mara Sopa Lodge  – Midrange, Mara Serena Safari Lodge – Luxury.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 7: Full day Game drives in different areas of the Masai Mara game reserve

Wake up early for breakfast, head out for a full day game drive exploring the Masai Mara National Reserve and its various regions. Take part in morning and afternoon game drives on which you will have a chance to spot all the Big Five mammals – lions, leopards, cape buffaloes, elephants and rhinos. Other animals to lookout for include jackals, zebras, impalas, cheetahs, hyenas among others.

During the game drives you will enjoy lunch at the hippo pool while observing crocodiles and hippos. Continue exploring the reserve till evening, return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.

Accommodation: Lenchada Tourist Tented Camp – Budget, Mara Sopa Lodge – Midrange, Mara Serena Safari Lodge – Luxury.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 8: Visit the Masai Villages – Return back to Nairobi for departure

Enjoy a leisure breakfast, check out of your lodge and go for a visit to the Maasai warriors and nomadic herdsmen. The Maasai people are one of Africa’s most famous tribes living within and outside the reserve taking care of their domestic animals for survival.

During your visit you will learn about their cultural heritage from the elders, later embark on a journey back to Nairobi where you will be dropped off at the airport to catch your flight back home or to your next destination.

Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch.

End of 8 Days Uganda Gorilla Trekking and Masai Mara