This is remarkably one of the exceptional safari packages you need to book while on safari in East Africa. The 12 days Uganda Kenya safari takes you through varied experiences ranging from primate adventures to wildlife exploration. It offers you a chance to take part in chimpanzee trekking in Uganda then get close to mountain gorillas at Bwindi and others. Heading to Kenya, encounter vast wildlife species in the sprawling plains of Masai Mara National Reserve and many others.
Safari highlight
Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe
Day 2: Travel to Kibale Forest National Park
Day 3: Chimpanzee trekking
Day 4: Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 5: Connect to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Day 6: Gorilla trekking
Day 7: Second gorilla trekking
Day 8: Drive back to Entebbe Airport and fly to Kenya
Day 9: Visit to the elephant orphanage and fly to Masai Mara National Reserve
Day 10 and 11: Game drive in Masai Mara National Reserve
Day 12: Fly from Masai Mara National Reserve to Nairobi
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe
Land into the soils of Uganda via Entebbe International Airport and get a warm welcome from our driver guide. After, drive to Kampala for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay at Kampala Serena Hotel/Sheraton Kampala Hotel/Protea Hotel Kampala/Fairway Hotel. Kampala is Uganda’s capital city and a major commercial center with variety of cultural and historical sites that are equally worth exploring.
Day 2: Travel to Kibale Forest National Park
Start your day with a hot cup of tea or coffee at your respective hotel or area of residence. Later, be prepared to embark on a 4 to 5 hours’ drive from Kampala to Kibale National Park via Kampala-Mubende-Fort Portal route. En-route make a stopover at Fort Portal for lunch and after, continue with drive via stunning hilly side with greener tea, coffee and banana plantations. On arrival, check in at Crater safari lodge/Primate Lodge (luxury), Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse/Chimps Nest/Kibale Forest Camp (Midrange), Lake Nkuruba Nature Reserve and community campsite (Budget) for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 3: Chimpanzee trekking
Get up early in the morning and be served breakfast at your lodge. After, join other visitors at Kanyanchu visitor center for briefing on chimpanzee tracking rules and regulations by park official. You will be put in groups of 6 visitors and assigned one park ranger guide to take you through this primate exploration. Besides chimpanzees, your trek will also reward you with amazing encounters at other numerous primates such as the grey cheeked mangabeys, red tailed monkeys, olive baboons, bush babies, blue monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, L’Hoest monkeys as well as several bird species. On getting chimpanzees, you have an hour to explore more about their general behavior and take photos. After, return to the lodge for lunch and some rest then set off in the afternoon to Bigodi wetland for swamp walk. While here, you have a chance to see variety of primates like red colobus, black and white colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys, baboons and many birds. Return for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay at Crater safari lodge/Primate Lodge (luxury), Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse/Chimps Nest/Kibale Forest Camp (Midrange), Lake Nkuruba Nature Reserve and community campsite (Budget).
Day 4: Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Enjoy your breakfast and after, head off to Queen Elizabeth National Park west of Uganda about 3 to 4 hours’ drive while catching a glimpse at crater lakes and banana plantations. En-route spot at the traditional architectural designs of huts and local markets then continue to the park along the western rift valley. On arrival have lunch and then embark on afternoon launch cruise via Kazinga channel for you to spot out hippos, crocodiles and many bird species. Return to Mweya Safari Lodge (Luxury), Kyambura Game Lodge (Midrange) or Bush Lodge (budget).
Day 5: Connect to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Have a delicious breakfast and then drive via Ishasha sector for some game drive where you have a chance to also catch a glimpse at the tree climbing lions then proceed to Bwindi. En-route, enjoy the breathtaking sceneries and arrive at the park then check in at Mahogany springs/Chameleon hill lodge/Buhoma lodge (luxury), Gorilla Mist Camp/Gorilla Valley Lodge/Nkuringo gorilla camp (Midrange), Broadbill forest camp/Buhoma community rest camp (Budget) for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 6: Gorilla trekking
Today after breakfast, you embark on what you have always been waiting for-gorilla trekking but first to your respective trailhead for briefing on dos and don’ts to be observed while on the trek. This will the first trek and you will start it either in Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga or Nkuringo depending on where your permit directs you to. You will be assigned to only one habituated family to track out of about 15 that are available in Bwindi. Make sure that you have your packed lunch and bottled water then you proceed to the jungles for actual trek. Once you find a group of these creatures, you will spend 1 hour on face to face encounter with them and after, return to the lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay at Mahogany springs/Chameleon hill lodge/Buhoma lodge (luxury), Gorilla Mist Camp/Gorilla Valley Lodge/Nkuringo gorilla camp (Midrange), Broadbill forest camp/Buhoma community rest camp (Budget)
Day 7: Second gorilla trekking
On the 7th day, you have the second trek but this time round in a different habituated family in Bwindi National Park. Later, come back to the lodge for rest, dinner and overnight stay at Mahogany springs/Chameleon hill lodge/Buhoma lodge (luxury), Gorilla Mist Camp/Gorilla Valley Lodge/Nkuringo gorilla camp (Midrange), Broadbill forest camp/Buhoma community rest camp (Budget) or opt for community walk in the Batwa pygmy community to interact with the locals then you return to lodge for overnight stay.
Day 8: Drive back to Entebbe Airport and fly to Kenya
Have breakfast at the lodge and after, drive back to Entebbe for your flight to Kenya. On landing, the driver guide will be waiting for you to drive to Nairobi-one of the beautiful cities in Africa. You will be at the suburb of Karen and also check in at the leading Giraffe Manor luxurious boutique hotel which straddles with 12 acre land. A stay here is so rewarding with giraffes popping up early morning or evening.
Day 9: Visit to the elephant orphanage and fly to Masai Mara National Reserve
Early morning breakfast and after, walk via a well-manicured grounds of the hotel to the giraffe center for you to explore more about giraffes and other conservation efforts. After, head off to pay a visit to Kazuri beads factory then continue to David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and learn more about the rescued orphaned elephants. Enjoy your lunch at Karen Blixen Coffee Garden Hotel and then leave for Wilson airport for a charter flight to Masai Mara National Reserve. While here, check in at Sala’s Camp/Masai Mara Sopa Lodge/Basecamp Masai Mara/Mara Serena Safari Lodge/Mara Chui Resort where you will have dinner and overnight stay. First, you will have lunch and some rest then set off to evening game drive.
Day 10 and 11: Game drive in Masai Mara National Reserve
After breakfast, you have the whole morning and evening enjoying game drive in the savanna, woodland and tree fringed rivers of Masai Mara National Reserve for 2 days. You will enjoy views of elephants, buffaloes, cheetahs, lions a mention but a few. For those of you may happen to be here between June and September, you will be amazed by the Great Wildebeest migration. Dinner and overnight stay at Masai Mara Sopa Lodge/Basecamp Masai Mara/Mara Serena Safari Lodge/Mara Chui Resort
Day 12: Fly from Masai Mara National Reserve to Nairobi
Have enjoyable breakfast and after, check out from your lodge then connect to Nairobi for your flight back home. You can do some shopping prior your flight.
End of safari
Safari inclusions
- Gorilla and chimpanzee tracking permit
- Transportation plus driver guide
- Game drive and launch/boat cruise
- Park entrance fees
- Accommodation and meals
Safari excludes
- Visa fees
- Insurance
- Airfares/international flights
- Personal expenses like tips, beverages, laundry, telephone and many others.
