During this Kenya & Uganda safari you experience the best East Africa has to offer. The safari starts in Nairobi and on the way towards Uganda you’ll experience the Masai Mara among other fascinating things. In Uganda the highlight is trekking of chimpanzees and gorillas.
Includes:
- Nairobi
- Masai Mara
- Lake Nakuru National Park
- Jinja
- Kibale Forest National Park
- Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day by day itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival at Jomo Kenyatta international Airport
We meet our tour guide for the Kenya & Uganda safari at the airport. Heading to Nairobi to spend the night at a nice hotel to relax after the journey and be ready for the adventure starting the next day. Depending on arrival time there can be traffic jam heading from the airport.
Overnight in Hennesis hotel, Nairobi
Day 2: Breakfast and depart for Masai Mara
Masai Mara is one of East Africa’s most famous reserves, The Mara consists of undulating h
ills and great rolling grasslands that sustain some of the most varied wildlife in Africa, if not the world. Arrive in time for lunch at Afternoon game viewing, where lion, elephant, cheetah, giraffe, buffalo, wildebeest, gazelle and other plains game abound, not forgetting the hundreds of species of birds.
Overnight in Mara Spring tented camp
Day 3: Experience Masai Mara
The whole day is dedicated to game spotting in this sprawling reserve. If we wake up with luck, we can watch a lion, cheetah or leopard hunting or feasting on its kill. Option of a visit to a Masai village. What an exhilarating experience!
Overnight in Mara Spring tented camp
Day 4: Another full day in Masai Mara
6.00am Wake up call. Tea, coffee and cookies will be served in the lodge. 6.30am Set out for FULL day game drive in the reserve. This is usually the most popular game viewing time. During the early hours temperatures are low, thus providing a favorable atmosphere both for the game and the viewer. Lion, Cheetah and Leopard roam the vast grasslands in search for their next meal, it may be an unsuspecting impala or even a small one like the warthog…whatever the players, the spectacle of nature unfolding is always awe inspiring!
Overnight Mara Spring tented camp
Day 5: Transfer to Lake Nakuru National Park
After breakfast we leave the area of Masai Mara and head towards Lake Nakuru national park, the second park of our Kenya & Uganda safari. It is an interesting drive letting you see the salt lakes and go through Naivasha area. In the afternoon we check in to the hotel.
Overnight Lake Nakuru Chester hotel
Day 6: Early game-drive in Lake Nakuru National Park and transfer to Uganda
This morning we enjoy a game drive in Nakuru national park. The park is famous for its millions of seasonal pink flamingos and other aquatic birds. Game drive until lunch around the lake, where rhinos, zebra, gazelle, buffalo, leopard, and waterbuck can easily and closely be spotted an excellent chance of spotting rhino, of which there is a healthy population here. There is a stunning view from the top of the hills above the lake, and here we may see the Rock hyrax; this tiny creature is the elephant’s nearest relative!. Following a quick stop in Nakuru town, we then drive towards Eldoret, the fourth largest city in Kenya and we continue to the Ugandan border for an overnight across. The border crossing can be slow but we leave plenty of time, and it can be an interesting experience. Continue on to the town of Tororo to spend the night.
Overnight Prime Hotel
Day 7: Transfer to Jinja & visit source of the Nile
We drive further into Uganda the second country of the Kenya & Uganda safari, our target being the city of Jinja. Fruit markets will decorate the day’s drive. In Jinja the Victoria Nile meets Lake Victoria and the source of the mighty Nile is found. In the afternoon you go for a boat-ride to see the source of the Nile.
Overnight Kingfisher resort Jinja
Day 8: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park
After breakfast we drive with our target to have lunch in Fort portal, a punctuation of stopovers at in the far country side offer us chances of stretching, tea plantations along the drive ways as we check in late afternoon. A night in this forest gives you the calls from the nocturnal life plus famous Frog concerts in this forest area revealing a true pristine Africa.
Overnight in Isunga Lodge
Day 9: Chimps trekking in Kibale Forest National Park (optional chimps habituation)
Chimp trekking is on the agenda today. We leave the lodge after breakfast with a packed picnic lunch along. You head into the forest with a specialized guide to trek to see our close cousins the chimpanzees. Kibale N.P is a rainy forest and a home to over 1500 Chimpanzees. Here you have a chance to see them close and capture close shots of them in the Jungle in their frenzy exciting moods grooming, building relationship, bringing up young ones, think, share food etc! Plus 9 different species of Monkeys- red colobus, red tailed monkey and bush babies on a great day. After the trek we head back to the lodge to relax.
– Optional activity is chimps habituation experience where you spend a full day with the chimpanzees, starting early in the morning to get to the briefing before The Great Apes leave there nests to plan the day. Inform us when booking if you wish to upgrade to chimps habituation.
Overnight Isunga Lodge
Day 10: Crater lake exploration and transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
After breakfast you go for a crater lake exploration walk with beautiful nature. Then we drive further southwards with the Rwenzori ranges (Longest in Africa) in View or Drive through the Crater lakes in the Hills through to sample out the surprising Diversity of Savannah trees and wild life! Lunch in Kasese or at the lodge depending on time. Stop over at the equator and continue through the park to the lodge at the edge of Queen Elizabeth national park.
Overnight Pumba Safari Cottages
Day 11: Game-drive & boat-cruise in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Discover Queen Elizabeth national park with an early morning game-drive that exposes us to diverse animals, Big 5 members Elephants, Buffalos, big cats- Lions, Leopards more times in the evening, warthogs- Hunchback carnivals like Hyenas are spotted along the Circuits as we drive along the and many more species that are residents to this park. There is a rich bird life especially our version of storks in the wetland sports as we reach the Flamingoes in the salt lakes. In the afternoon we get ready for the Classic highlights of the 2hrs boat-cruise on the famous Kazinga channel, a 36km channel linking Lake George – Lake Edward. Here you can see land and water adapted hippopotamuses yawning and some slashing canines to each other, the National Geographical society killing machine the Nile crocodile gaping along the banks, Savannah version of pigs the warthog- Pumba of the award winning Lion King are a hallmark sign in this Animal home! With your Binoculars along the peninsula you have a magnificent view of birds, animals like the ever playing African elephants in waters as we sigh and reset fatigue and stress, to point zero (it’s a must on this day’s game view).
Overnight in Pumba Safari Cottages
Day 12: Transfer to Bwindi Forest via Ishasha’s tree-climbing lions
We leave the main area in the morning to drive on the adventurous road leading to Ishasha, the southern part of Queen Elizabeth national park. Along the way we might see monkeys in the trees and baboons on the road until Ishasha wilderness sector. When reaching Ishasha we will drive off in this adventurous vast savannah area with Topis and the southern version of Elephants to hopefully get the Lions high in the Fig tree branches. After the game-drive we transfer to Bwindi mountains the home of the mountain gorillas. It is a beautiful drive taking us from savannah, on to villages and cultivated hills and finally up to the forest covered mountains of Bwindi where you will experience one of the highlights of the Kenya & Uganda safari next day. (If we reach early we can do the walk and mix with the locals or relax with the Orphans group performers)
Overnight in Gorilla Mist Camp
Day 13: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Early breakfast, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is the home to the forest giants that are cousins to human beings, the gorillas. You head into the jungle in a group with a specialized guide and trek to the point where the gorillas are. An unforgettable hour is then spent with the gorillas. This Impenetrable Forest is full of birds, butterfly and plant species plus forest hog, forest Elephants, Statungas and Dikers. Transfer to Mbarara.
Overnight in Igongo Cultural Center Hotel (depending on flight time)
Day 14: Transfer to Entebbe for evening/night flight
After breakfast we start the journey to Entebbe. Along the way we make a lunch stop at the Equator and you can pose on the spot where the northern and southern hemispheres meet. Continue on to reach Entebbe during the afternoon where your guide drops you at the airport as we have reached the end of your Kenya & Uganda safari. Plan for an evening/night flight.
Price: The price depends on number of people and accommodation level. Contact us with your inquiry to get the best price for your safari.
Included: Accommodation, meals, safari car, fuel, guide, park entries, gorilla permits (if applicable) and activities mentioned in the itinerary. Plus water in the car and a couple of fruits along the way.
Excluded: International flights, visas, drinks, tips and personal expenses.
Accommodation: In general accommodation mentioned in the itinerary is good places on budget to mid-range level (with the exception of luxury safaris). The accommodation can be adapted to your price range of budget, mid-range or luxury. Of course a mix is also possible. Take a look here for links to the website’s of the lodges we regularly work with.
Payment options: We accept international bank transfer, card payment through PesaPal (adds 3,5% charge) and cash payment if you are in Uganda.