Exceptional 15 Days Ultimate Wildlife Safari to the Great Kenya & Uganda

Day 1: Arrival in Nairobi

This Kenya and Uganda Gorilla Safari kicks off as you arrive in Kenya from the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. You will be directed to your hotel to check in. later you will have a brief meeting. At this meeting, you will be introduced to your travel companions, and our professional tour guide, and find out more about the journey ahead of your trip. If you arrive early in the day then take some time to explore and do exceptional activities in and around Nairobi, before meeting up with your guide/driver.

Optional activities:

• Karen Blixen Museum

• David Sheldrick Elephant orphanage
• Railway Museum
• The Carnivore Restaurant
• Bomas of Kenya Tour
• Kenya National Museum
• Nairobi National Park
• Later have dinner and overnight stay in a hotel.

Important to Know

Activities: Enjoy Scenic Drives around Nairobi City

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Check-in at Any Hotel in Nairobi

Day 2 of 15 Days Ultimate Wildlife Safari: Nairobi to Maasai Mara National Reserve

This day will start with a morning breakfast and light meal; we set out for our adventure in the tourist vehicle and hit the road. We will make our way southwest into the scenic Great Rift Valley. Our safari destination is Maasai Mara National Reserve.

On arrival at Maasai Mara, we settle in at our Safari camp and head out on a thrilling late afternoon game drive. The open plains and rolling hills of Maasai Mara are home to a plethora of free-roaming wild animals, a number of which we are sure to spot on our game drive.

Keep your eyes peeled for the big five of; lion, leopard, rhino, elephant, and Buffalo. As we explore one of Africa’s most legendary game reserves. An exhilarating start to our wildlife adventures in East Africa.

Things to Note

• Activities: Enjoy Scenic Drive to Maasai Mara National Reserve
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Check-in at Maasai Mara Camp

Day 3: Maasai Mara National Reserve

Beginning early this morning we spend the whole of the third day viewing wildlife in Maasai Mara Reserve. Set off across the natural plains in search of Africa’s wild animals, taking in the epic Safari Landscapes as we explore!

Kenya’s leading safari destination is renowned for its sizeable big cat populations, offering exceptional cheetah, lion, and leopard sightings. In addition to its plentiful feline predators, Masai Mara is also famous for the great Migration, also known as the Wildebeest Migration which takes place annually during the dry season.

We may get to witness massive Nile Crocodiles snapping up herbivores as they attempt river crossing, especially during the Great Migration when around two million wildebeests, zebras, and gazelles are on the move as they cross the river. Maasai Mara is, however, an outstanding safari destination year-round so keep your cameras ready and your eyes open for wildlife action.

This is after all the place for that quintessential African scene of Acacia trees with grazing giraffes, wildebeests, zebra, and elephants. Today you have a chance to take an optional hot air balloon safari over the plains of Maasai Mara, viewing the wilderness and its roaming wildlife from above as you capture the moments on camera!

Included activities:

• Full-day wildlife viewing in Maasai Mara.
• Accommodation: campground at Maasai Mara.
• Optional activity: Masai Mara Hot Air Balloon Trip.
• All meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner.

Activities: Enjoy Different Game Drives in Maasai Mara National Reserve

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Check-in at Maasai Mara Camp

Day 4: Maasai Mara – Lake Nakuru National Park

On our fourth day of this interesting safari expedition; early morning breakfast will be served, and we shall head for Mara drive northeast to Lake Nakuru. One of the Great Rift Valley lakes, Lake Nakuru is surrounded by a wildlife-rich protected area named after the lake.

Along the way, we stop for lunch at the ubuntu café, a local community initiative where organic local food is served in support of social upliftment. After our tasty lunch, we continue to Lake Nakuru and embark on an afternoon game drive in our adventure.

Lake Nakuru National Park covers a variety of habitats and thus hosts diverse wild animals and birds. Chances of spotting endangered black rhinos are high at this point and the unusual tree-climbing lions are also a highlight.

Watch for buffaloes, giraffes, antelopes, hyenas, and possibly even shy Leopards. Lake Nakuru attracts plenty of water birds making this park a birding hotspot, with over 400 bird species recorded. Sightings include flamingos, pelicans, cormorants, and many others.

Included Activities:

• Café Ubuntu lunch and Afternoon game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park.
• Recommended accommodation facilities:
• Campsite at Lake Nakuru.
• All meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner.

Activities: Enjoy Scenic Drive to Lake Nakuru National Park

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Check-in at Campsite at Lake Nakuru

Day 5: Lake Nakuru National Park – Eldoret

After morning breakfast has been served, we hop onto our vehicle and take a second game drive this time doing it early in the morning at Nakuru National Park. After a wild African start to the day, we hit the road to Eldoret, near the Ugandan border. Tonight, we camp at a grassy campsite just outside of Eldoret town.

Include activities:

• Morning game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park
• Recommended accommodation facilities:
• Resort Campsite in Eldoret
• All meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner.

Activities: Enjoy Scenic Drive to Lake Nakuru National Park

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Check-in at Campsite at Lake Nakuru

Day 7: Kampala to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

You will start your day with a morning breakfast meal before hitting the road once again this time headed for the far west of Uganda. Sit back and watch rural Africa go by as we travel the long road down to Lake Bunyonyi in the South- Western corner of Uganda.

On our way, we cross the Equator stopping for snapshots at the imaginary line. We also have lunch at the equator, getting a taste of Uganda’s ingredients at a café that supports local non-profits for youth and child welfare. Then we continue southwest to picturesque Lake Bunyonyi, near the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest of Uganda.

Things to Note

Travel: Kampala to Lake Bunyonyi (12hrs/520kms)

Activities: Enjoy a Scenic Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Check-in at Gorilla Mist Camp

Day 8: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Forest-Uganda

This is undoubtedly a big day and holds yet more interesting revelations you are to encounter in Uganda’s wildlife, time to go African Mountain Gorilla trekking.

After an early breakfast, it’s necessary because you need the energy to trek, you can also choose to pack a picnic lunch. One of the most magical and rare wildlife experiences one can live to remember in the world, trekking the gorillas in the world is undoubtedly the highlight of our African Safari

We trek through the rainforest for up to 6 hours depending on where the Gorilla family groups are at the time. Uganda is home to nearly half of the mountain Gorillas surviving in the world today, with the bulk of Uganda’s gorillas living in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Once we have located a gorilla family, we spend about an hour watching them at close range – an unforgettable wildlife encounter. See how these intelligent and social primates groom each other, feed, play, and interact in their natural environment all along taking pictures of these moments (ensure the camera flashlight is turned off).

Uganda authorities allow a maximum of eight people per trek, so our safari will be split depending on the number of visitors that are available for trekking making sure no group exceeds the required number.

Things to Note

Activities: Enjoy Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Check-in at Gorilla Mist Camp

Day 9 of 15 Days Ultimate Wildlife Safari: Lake Bunyonyi

On this 9^th day, you are free to unwind at a scenic lake Bunyonyi, enjoying optional activities or simply swimming in the lake and soaking up the lovely setting.

You can go canoeing or take a motorboat ride out on a pretty lake, which is dotted with islands. Lake Bunyonyi is known for its abundant and diverse birdlife, so keep your binoculars ready. If you didn’t go Gorilla trekking yesterday, then today is the day for your experience of a lifetime encounter with these endangered mountain gorillas in Uganda.

What to Note

Activities: Enjoy Boat Ride at Lake Bunyonyi

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Check-in at Birdnest Lodge Bunyonyi

Day 10 of 15 Days Ultimate Wildlife Safari: Lake Bunyonyi – Kalinzu Forest Reserve

After an early breakfast, we shall hit the road again heading northeast in our comfortable adventure full-time 4×4 car. Our destination for today is Kalinzu Forest, hosting six species of primates, most notably chimpanzees, the Kalinzu Forest Reserve is home to over 200 chimpanzees, more than 370 species of birds, and a rich variety of trees, butterflies, reptiles, and many more.

What to Note

Activities: Enjoy scenic drive to Kalinzu Forest Reserve for Chimpanzee Tracking

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Check-in at Elephant Hub Lodge

Day 11: Kalinzu Forest Reserve to Lake Mburo National Park Uganda

Just like the rest of the days, this will also start off with a morning breakfast meal before setting off into Kalinzu Forest Reserve in search of chimpanzees and an array of other wild creatures habituated in this great forest. Admire the beautiful scenery as we trek along the Rift Valley escarpment, enjoying views of the majestic Rwenzori Mountains, Kazinga channel, Lake Edward, and the neighboring country of Congo.

As we walk along forest trails, our local guide intrigues us with tales of the local legends about the forest, the uses of the forest, and the culture of the people here. After our chimpanzee tracking expedition, which takes up to five hours, we visit a tea plantation in the Kalinzu area.

A local guide walks us through the plantations and process of producing tea from growing the plants to harvesting and making various tea. Then we set off east to Lake Mburo. This afternoon you have the option of exploring the lake by boat.

The boat cruise is an excellent way to watch the animals and birds of the lake, especially the crocodiles and hippos found in abundance here. Birding enthusiasts can look forward to spotting kingfishers, African fish eagles, and shoebill storks, amongst other water-birds.

Important to Know

• Activities: Enjoy Chimpanzee Tracking in Kalinzu Forest Reserve and Transfer to Lake Mburo
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Check-in at Mpogo Safari Lodge

Day 12: Lake Mburo National Park – Jinja – Uganda

On day 12 of our safari, early morning after breakfast will be served to you before hitting the road for a long drive to Jinja, tracing the shores of Lake Victoria on our way to the source of the Nile River.

This evening your guide can help you to plan optional activities for the following day in Jinja, the adventure to the capital of Uganda. Tonight you have the option of eating out at one of the local restaurants.

What to Know

Activities: Enjoy Scenic Drive from Lake Mburo National Park to Jinja City

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Check-in at Living Waters Safari Lodge

Day 13 of 15 Days Ultimate Wildlife Safari: Jinja and River Nile – Uganda

This day presents itself with opportunities about enjoying the great out-door and the exciting adventure activities in and around Jinja. As the main adventure hub of Uganda, this is the place to get your adrenaline racing all through your veins.

Go quad biking along the banks of the river Nile or Mountain biking through the plantation and villages into Mabira Forest hosting birds and monkeys. Whitewater rafting is another popular option in Jinja, as well as kayaking along the mighty river. You can also visit local Markets and villages to get to know the Ugandan people and their cultures better.

The sunset boat cruise along the Nile is a great way to end an action-packed day in Jinja. Later head to the dinner and overnight.

What to Know

Activities: Enjoy White Water Rafting in Jinja with White Nile Rafting Ltd, Boat Cruise at the Nile

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Check-in at Living Waters Safari Lodge

Day 14: Jinja to Kampala City for Shoe-bill tracking in Mabamba Swamp

An early breakfast will be served before we hit the road again leaving Jinja behind, and transfer back to Kampala city for Shoe-bill tracking in Mabamba Swamp.

This Mabamba Bay Swamp in Uganda is a prime wetland birding site famous for the Shoebill which is Uganda’s most sought after bird by Uganda birding tourists as well as by nature lovers. Mabamba Swamp is located west of Entebbe on the northern shore of Lake Victoria, covering 2424 ha with thick marshes of papyrus, water lilies and other wetland grasses.

That swamp is a Ramsar site and Important Bird Area (IBA). The wetland hosts over 300 bird species that include many globally threatened species, 7 of Uganda’s 12 Lake Victoria biome restricted species (notable is the Papyrys Gonolek) and plenty of wetland specialties. The wetland also hosts huge flocks of Paleartic migrants every year from October to March.

Mabamba Swamp can be reached by a number of routes. From Kampala or Entebbe the easiest route is via the Nakiwogo landing site in Entebbe where you take a 10 minutes ferry crossing to Kasanje landing and from there drive for about 20 minutes to Mabamba passing through cultivations and open fields that will provide plenty of garden birds.

Birding in Mabamba swamp is done from a motorized wooden boat by riding through a maze of trails cutting through the thick marshes.

Day 15: End of Ultimate Wildlife Safari to the Great Kenya and Uganda

On a fair mid-morning after breakfast, on day 15, we return to Entebbe Airport where this once-on-a-lifetime Ultimate Wildlife Safari to the Great Kenya and Uganda will end. Arriving in the late evening, we say our goodbyes and part ways, having experienced an unforgettable journey