8 days Masai Mara safari and Uganda gorilla trekking

This 8 days African trip combines the thrilling gorilla trekking experience in Uganda and the amazing wildlife safari in Masai Mara National Reserve of Kenya.

You will start the trip by heading to the mountain jungles of Uganda to take part in the thrilling gorilla trekking adventure, one of the best wildlife adventures ever! Uganda is home to more than half of the remaining mountain gorillas in the world that are found in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Coming face to face with the massive Silverback Gorilla is one of, if not the most satisfying and fulfilling wildlife encounters ever!

Exhausted from the incredible gorilla hike, you will go for the relaxing magical safari in Mara plains. The Masai Mara National Reserve offers one of the best safari experiences you can ever in have to see animals in Africa. The savannah plains of the Mara are filled with plenty of animals, especially during the wildebeest migration period (June – Oct) when millions of animals including wildebeest, zebra and antelopes fill the plains to the horizon, while the cats such as lions, cheetahs, leopard and hyena are in abundance as they have easy prey to feast on…

8 Days Masai Mara Wildlife and Uganda gorilla trekking Itinerary:

Day 1 – Arrival in Entebbe, Uganda

You will arrive in Entebbe, Uganda and will be met by the company representative at the airport and shall transfer you to your hotel.

Day 2 – drive to Bwindi National Park

You will be picked up at 7am and start the long drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park the home of the gorillas. The is drive 7 – 8 hours. A long drive but not boring as you enjoy lovely scenes of the countryside, and you will make some stops at landmarks such as the Uganda Equator.

Optional: Alternatively, if you do not like the long drive we can consider a local flight to southern Uganda near the gorilla park.

Day 3 – Gorilla tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Early rise, have breakfast by 6.30am, pick your lunch pack and transfer to the park office by 7am. You will gather with the rest of the gorilla trekkers for briefing about the gorillas and the rules, after which you shall be allocated a gorilla group that you shall track. No more than 8 person can track one gorilla group. After allocating the gorilla groups you shall set off into the jungle to find the gorillas and you will spend one hour with the gorillas after finding them.

Return the lodge and relax away the rest of the day.

Optional: Gorilla habituation experience

If you want opportunity to spend more than one hour with the gorillas you can do the The gorilla habituation experience instead of the standard gorilla tracking. The gorilla habituation experience lasts up to 4 hours of tracking down the gorillas from the point the gorillas were last seen and within these 4 hours you have a chance to be with the gorillas longer than one hour if you find them fast enough. The gorilla habituation experience is also more exclusive as only four slots are available in a day.

Day 4 – Bwindi National Park – Entebbe – Kenya

After early breakfast, you shall drive back to Entebbe where you will take the evening flight to Nairobi the capital of Kenya. Dinner and overnight in Nairobi.

Optional: Again, if you do not like the long drive we can arrange the local flight back from southern Uganda

Day 5 – Nairobi to Masai Mara

You will be picked up from your hotel in Nairobi at 7am to start the road trip to Masai Mara National Reserve. The drive from Nairobi to the Mara is about 6 hours which includes stops along the way to take in the beautiful views of the rift valley, and at curio shops to catch a cup of coffee/tea or simply to marvel at the many beautiful African crafts that you can purchase.

You will arrive in the Mara and transfer to lodge for lunch and enjoy some relaxation while taking in the lovely views of the savannah.

Later at around 3pm you will set off into the Mara for your first bush adventure in the beautiful plains. You will spot quite a number of animals and learn a bit about the Mara.

At sunset you will make your way back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 6 – Full day safari in the Masai Mara

You will be up by 6am for your breakfast, grab your lunch pack and set off into the Mara for a full day enjoyment of the African savannah. You will explore the game rich areas of the park and the migration corridor incase you are visiting during the migration season. You will be looking to tick off all the Big Five; lions, leopard, buffalo, elephant, rhino. Watch thousands of wildebeest and zebra strolling through the plains, observe and learn the different species of antelopes, enjoy brilliant views of the majestic Masai Giraffes. For the keen birder, you will be in for a treat as you will quickly see the massive Secretary bird, Ostrich, several birds of prey especially vultures at carcasses, and the striking Lilac-breasted Roller and Superb Starling are a constant find throughout the park.

Optional: Early morning Balloon safari

The balloon safari offers wonderful arial views over the Mara plains and also provide a chance to see more wildlife in places the car won’t reach. The rhino is a difficult to see in the Mara and the balloon safari increases the chance to spot in the hills and thickets which are unreachable by car.

The balloon safaris start from about 5am, and the flight is about one hour. After the balloon safari you would continue with the game drive.

Day 7 – Safari in the Mara and Masai village tour

Today you will go back in the Mara for another game drive. You can never get enough of the Mara as each presents a different experience with different wildlife encounters and sightings. You will explore more areas of the park and look to tick off more animals and birds you will have missed in the previous game drives.

Later in the day you will visit a Masai cultural village to learn about the way of life of the Masai people who have lived in the wild for ages. The Masai will welcome you with their epic warrior dance before their leader will take you around the village explaining the life of the Masai and show you their cultures and traditions.

After the Masai village tour will make your back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 8 – Departure

After your breakfast you shall drive back to Nairobi to catch your flight or overnight.

Note: Flying instead vs driving

The above itinerary considers driving to the destinations but flights can be used throughout the trip, so in case you prefer flights please let us in your inquiry.