This exciting 7 Days Bwindi & Maasai Mara Safari holiday offers you a comprehensive insight into East Africa’s best known and most popular game parks – the Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya and Bwindi impenetrable national park in Uganda. This gorilla trekking and Maasai Mara safari itinerary is therefore unique and has been carefully crafted to maximize clients’ experiences within the shortest time possible. This adventure safari in East Africa also allows you to feel and embrace the magic of East Africa leaving one with desire to discover more of this dynamic and bio-diverse continent.
Gorilla Trekking & Maasai Mara Safari Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival & Hotel Transfer
Arrive on Uganda at her main entry point Entebbe International Airport for your 7 Days Bwindi & Maasai Mara Safari, and be warmly welcomed by an experienced safari guide who will handle the Ugandan section of the tour; introductions and perusing through the itinerary and later transfer to the lodge for a night stay and refreshment.
Day 2: Entebbe / Kampala to Bwindi National Park
After the morning breakfast on day 2 of your 7 Days Bwindi & Maasai Mara Safari, depart from Kampala or Entebbe and drive to the south west. A stop over at the Uganda Equator crossing in Kayabwe will be made to encounter the world’s main latitude and to have an exciting photo session. After equator encounter, proceed on the trip to Bwindi National Park, traversing the pastoral lands of Ankole with impressive scenery and the views of cattle both long horned and Friesian grazing in the plains of savannah.
Another stop will be made at Igongo Cultural Center for a traditional lunch buffet. You will drive for more 4-5 hours until you drive arrive at your lodge in the misty Bwindi impenetrable national park. Check in, relax on a campfire and have a night stay.
Day 3: Gorilla trekking and Cultural tour with the Batwa
Early breakfast in the cold Bwindi jungles, and drive to park headquarters for a briefing session from the park rangers and thereafter begin your gorilla trekking experience. Penetrate into the amazing gorilla sanctuary, a place where over 500 mountain gorillas call home.
Bwindi forest offers an exciting, heavily forested and dense landscape interrupted by plenty of animal trails that provide access for trekkers during their hunt for these resident apes. Continue to the smoky Bwindi forest in search of the world’s most sought after and endangered species.
The trekking time typically varies according to the gorilla movements and nature of family being tracked. Though the duration ranges between 2 – 8 hours including one hour of direct encounter. Watch these shy creatures as they forage, socialize and make their joyous tactics with the frightening eyes of the Silverback.
Return to the starting point, have your picnic lunch and relax at the lodge to prepare for the Batwa cultural tour in the evening. Visit the neighboring Batwa communities to get entertained and learn about their rich history; unwind at the lodge, dine and night stay.
Day 4: Transfer back to Entebbe. Fly to Nairobi
A morning cup of tea in Bwindi, before undertaking a 7 hours’ journey back to Entebbe airport. The drive is quite impressive with adorable country side sights marked with rural homesteads, farmlands, bustling towns and banana plantations. Lunch will be served at the fascinating Igongo country hotel, enjoy local buffet and later stop at Kayabwe, for more pictures with Uganda Equator monument and shopping some African souvenirs.
Continue to Entebbe airport to catch your connecting flight direct to Nairobi international airport. Your Kenyan safari guide will pick you up, to a hotel in Nairobi for dinner and overnight.
Day 5: Drive to Masai Mara National Park
Depart Nairobi in the morning aiming for the Maasai Mara reserve. En route, traverse the lovely vistas of Great Rift Valley, descending the steep eastern escarpment wall (fantastic views over the valley below) and cross the Valley floor to the rolling hills of Maasai-land and the county headquarters of Narok.
Road conditions can be difficult towards the west, driving past Mt. Longonot, Loita Hills and into the Maasai Mara area passing the lovely Maasai Manyatta (traditional village) on the trip. On the approach of the Reserve numerous animals grazing to the side of the road can be spotted and eventually arrive at the park gate, check in and continue to the overnight lodge for accommodation.
Day 6: Full day of game drive
You will spend this full day doing exclusive game drives on Masai Mara’s rolling plains and grasslands, stretching far into the horizons as far as the eye can see.
Maasai Mara National Reserve is home to the Savannah elephant, black-manned lion, Cape buffalo, Topi, burchelle’s zebra, cheetah, wildebeests, elusive leopard, the spotted & stripped hyena, black rhino, and rare the Masai giraffe, plus so many other animals.
Day 7: Return to Nairobi
This morning after breakfast it will be another short sunrise safari to the most hidden parts of the Mara that you might have missed on your previous day’s game drive. Come back in time for buffet lunch and immediately drive back to Nairobi.
In the evening you will enjoy dinner at the famous Carnivore restaurant in the heart of Nairobi. You will then be dropped off at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) for your connecting flight back home.
End of 7 Days gorilla trekking and Maasai Mara safari itinerary.
