5 Days Masai Mara and Bwindi Gorilla Safari
This 5 Days Masai Mara and Bwindi Gorilla Safari is a fast-paced combination of Kenya and Uganda’s most popular and sought-after safari destinations. The Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya is renowned for its vast savanna plains and remarkable wildlife diversity, including the Big Five and the Great Wildebeest Migration, while Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is home to more than half the world’s population of endangered mountain gorillas. On this trip, you will enjoy game drives in the Masai Mara and gorilla trekking in Bwindi.
Highlights: 5 Days Masai Mara and Bwindi Gorilla Safari
Day 1: Pick-Up from Hotel in Nairobi/Airport, Transfer to Masai Mara
Day 2: Full-Day Game Drive in Masai Mara National Reserve
Day 3: Fly to Entebbe International Airport, Connecting Flight to Bwindi
Day 4: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day 5: Transfer Back to Entebbe, Departure
Detailed Itinerary: 5 Days Masai Mara and Bwindi Gorilla Safari
Day 1: Pick-Up from Hotel in Nairobi/Airport, Transfer to Masai Mara
Upon arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, you will meet your Kenya safari driver-guide, and after a short briefing on the trip ahead, you will transfer to the Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya’s most popular and rewarding wildlife destination.
The drive from Nairobi to the Masai Mara takes roughly four to five hours through the Great Rift Valley, with a stopover in Narok town, the largest Maasai town, for shopping and interaction with the local community, including the chance to purchase craft items if you wish.
Once in the Masai Mara, you will enjoy a game drive en route to your lodge for lunch. In the afternoon, head out on another game drive in search of wildlife across the reserve, including lion, cheetah, leopard, African wild dog, elephant, Cape buffalo, gazelle, giraffe, hippo, hyena, wildebeest, and jackal, among others. Return to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Accommodation: Mara Serena Safari Lodge
Day 2: Full-Day Game Drive in Masai Mara National Reserve
Enjoy a hearty African breakfast, then meet your safari guide for a morning game drive across the endless savanna plains of the Masai Mara, spotting a variety of wildlife, including elephant, giraffe, hippo, wildebeest, jackal, cheetah, lion, leopard, and a wide range of birdlife.
You will drive back to your lodge for lunch, then return to the reserve in the afternoon for another game drive in search of the Big Five and other wildlife. You may also opt for a visit to a local Maasai community for a deeper insight into their traditional way of life. Dinner and overnight stay, as above.
Day 3: Fly to Entebbe International Airport, Connecting Flight to Bwindi
Wake up early for breakfast, check out of the lodge, and transfer to the airstrip for your flight to Entebbe. Upon landing at Entebbe International Airport, you will board a connecting flight to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Upon landing at Kisoro or Kihihi airstrip, you will be picked up by your safari driver-guide and transferred to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. You will be welcomed by stunning views of the verdant jungle, with cooler, fresher temperatures typical of the rainforest. Enjoy a relaxing evening, followed by dinner and an overnight stay.
Accommodation: Buhoma Lodge
Day 4: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Wake up early for breakfast, then transfer to the park headquarters, where you will join other trekkers for a briefing session beginning at 7:00 a.m. After the briefing, you will be placed into groups of eight and assigned a gorilla family to track before heading into the forest in search of the mountain gorillas.
Once you locate the gorillas, with the help of your ranger guide, you will spend up to an hour observing their behaviour. Take as many photos as you like.
During this truly memorable experience, you will also have the chance to see a variety of bird species, such as the kingfisher and blue-breasted kingfisher, among others. After gorilla tracking, return to the lodge for a relaxing evening. If you wish, you may also join an evening community walk, visiting local projects such as schools and orphanages. Return to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay, as above.
Day 5: Transfer Back to Entebbe, Departure
Wake up very early for breakfast, then transfer to Entebbe for your departure flight, with a brief stopover in Mbarara for lunch and at the Equator for photos and the water experiment. Continue to Entebbe International Airport, where you will catch your flight home.
Price Includes
- Accommodation at the lodges mentioned only
- All meals as mentioned
- Park entrance fees
- Gorilla trekking permit
- Other activities mentioned in the itinerary
Price Excludes
- Visas
- Air tickets (domestic and international flights)
- Personal drinks
- Loss of personal belongings
- Other items not included in the itinerary
