Safari Overview.
The 18 Days Uganda and Kenya Safari guarantees you the most unforgettable primate and wildlife encounters in the natural setting. Expect to engage in the thrilling mountain gorilla trekking, game drives, launch cruises, and also visit local communities. The expected wildlife encounters on this long East Africa safari combo include mountain gorillas, elephants, lions, leopards, buffaloes, rhinos, and diverse antelopes as well as wildebeest.
Destinations to be visited include among others Murchison Falls National Park, Ziwa Rhino Sanctaury, Kibale National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Maasai Mara, Amboseli, and Lake Nakuru National Park. You will begin your extensive East Africa safari holiday from Uganda and end it in Kenya.
Detailed Itinerary.
Day 1: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park
Have a hefty breakfast at your hotel then meet your driver guide for a short briefing about this special 18-day tour in Uganda and Kenya. After, board your 4WD vehicle and set off from Kampala to Nakasongola where you will branch off to track rhinos in Ziwa Sanctuary. After the Ziwa Rhino trek, proceed to Murchison Falls National Park accessing it via the Southern section. Check-in your lodge to enjoy the rest of the evening and also prepare yourself for the next day’s program.
Day 2: Half day game drive and Boat cruise
Start your day with an exciting game drive early morning. This includes exploring the Northern game tracks of Murchison Falls Park in a 4×4 safari vehicle or bigger sized car depending on the group of visitors. Wildlife enthusiasts should expect to find lots of oribis, Uganda Kobs, Hartebeests, cape buffaloes, leopards, lions, elephants, and many birds.
Settle for lunch at your respective lodge and again depart for a launch cruise starting at the Paraa Jetty. Enjoy 2 hours on a launch cruise as you head toward the base of Murchison Falls Game Park. You will have a chance to see the Nile Crocodiles, hippos, and aquatic avifaunal species.
Day 3: Drive to Kibale Forest National Park
After a delicious breakfast, you will head off to Kibale by car. Drive via the Hoima –Fort Portal route which may go for about 7 hours. A lunch break should be expected at Fort Portal then you proceed up to the lodge for a night stay.
Day 4: Chimpanzee tracking & Bigodi Wetland tour
Chimpanzee trekking adventure will be enjoyed early in the morning after briefing from the park officials. Kibale chimpanzee trek begins at Kanyanchu ranger station and there will be a park guide to lead the entire adventure. Over 1500 chimpanzees call Kibale a home with about 4 communities all fully habituated and ready for trekking. Today’s trek entirely involves observing the daily behaviors of chimpanzees, taking pictures, and after, expect to get back to the lodge. The up close and personal encounter with chimpanzees will be kept strictly to one hour.
Bigodi wetland walk will be enjoyed in the afternoon. An experienced local guide will be present to lead you on a guided nature walk in Bigodi. As you walk, expect to find some primates, birds, butterflies, and different plants.
Day 5: Kibale National Park to Queen Elizabeth national park
Leave Kibale for Queen Elizabeth National Park driving through the route that allows you to enjoy the beautiful Crater Lakes and other features. Drive via Kasese and in the background, enjoy the view of the legendary Rwenzori Mountains of the Moon. Arrive at Queen Elizabeth Park early to check in the pre-booked lodges for an overnight stay.
Day 6: Game drive with experts & Boat cruise
Following a delicious breakfast set off for a guided game drive in a 4×4 tourist vehicle. You will take the Kasenyi track where 2-3 hours will be spent exploring different wildlife species including the big game, antelopes, warthogs, and birds. After exploring Kasenyi and its wonders, drive back to the lodge to enjoy lunch.
In the afternoon, expect to have the best of a launch cruise with an expert. The Kazinga Channel will be your area of interest where you will watch at close range the hippos, crocodiles, and water birds. After the Kazinga Channel launch cruise, get back to relax at the lodge.
Day 7: Queen Elizabeth national park to Bwindi national park
After breakfast, you will drive off from Queen Elizabeth Park to Bwindi. In the Southern part of Queen Elizabeth Park, expect to keep an eye on some wild animals like the tree-climbing lions. You may also have a bush lunch at Ishasha then continue to Bwindi for evening relaxation.
Day 8: Gorilla trekking plus Batwa cultural experience
Have a cup of tea/coffee and after, proceed to Bwindi Park offices for briefing. The briefing includes getting to know the gorilla trekking rules and regulations. Allocation of gorilla families and park rangers, as well as clearing with the park authorities are all part of the morning briefing session. The actual Bwindi gorilla trekking begins at around 8:00 am and you may take 2-6 hours though this may vary depending on factors like your hiking speed, location of gorillas, etc.
But an hour is guaranteed upon you locating the gorilla group. This is the time for you to take pictures, observe the way gorillas behave, their body gestures, and more. In the evening, you will also pay a visit to the Batwa community. The Batwa community visit guarantees you an exceptional cultural experience. You explore how the Batwa lived, practices, tradition, and culture, and also enjoy their distinct cultural performances.
Day 9: Drive to Entebbe City via Masaka
After you have checked out of your lodge in Bwindi, next will be setting off to Entebbe City. It will be a long day drive taking between 8 and 9 hours, but with a chance to make stopovers in Mbarara for lunch then at the Equator for photo taking. After the Kayabwe Equator moment, continue to your hotel in Entebbe.
Day 10: Entebbe to Nairobi by air
Today, you will be flying from Entebbe International Airport (EBB) to Nairobi. From Nairobi, expect to meet our representative for pick up and transfer to the hotel.
Day 11: Transfer to Amboseli
Leave Nairobi City for Amboseli using our comfortable 4×4 safari vehicle. The driver guide will keep you active through the journey and on arrival at Amboseli, expect to check in your lodge for relaxation. Note, Amboseli lies at the foothills of the snow-capped Kilimanjaro Volcano Mountain.
Day 12: A full-day Amboseli game drive
After a hefty breakfast, be ready to embark on an extensive guided wildlife/game drive in a 4×4 tourist vehicle. The Amboseli game drive will have you exposed to large herds of African elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, cheetahs, rhinos, and antelope families as well as bird species.
Day 13: Amboseli-Lake Nakuru Park by road
By road, set off from Amboseli to Lake Nakuru National Park. Get at Lake Nakuru Park early and enjoy lunch at the comfortable lodge. After lunch, you will proceed with an afternoon game drive. Expected wildlife sightings for the day in Lake Nakuru Park include the cape buffaloes, zebras, spotted hyenas, leopards, Rothschild giraffes, and impalas, etc. After the Lake Nakuru game drive, you will drive back to the lodge to relax.
Day 14: Game drive & depart for Maasai Mara
Enjoy an early morning game drive through Lake Nakuru National Park. Explore more wildlife to add to the list of previous encounters. After the game drive, expect to connect to Maasai Mara.
Day 15: Big 5 game drive
After you have enjoyed a heavy breakfast, leave the lodge for an early morning game drive with a guide. It will be a combined morning and afternoon game drive with an expert on board. Expect to come across the Big 5 game, antelopes, wildebeest, warthogs, cheetahs, hyenas, and more.
Day 16: The Mara River Crossing Experience and half day game drives
After breakfast, set off for the Mara River Migration Experience. This is a lifetime opportunity for you to witness thousands of wildebeest as they forcefully cross the Mara River. The Mara River is renowned for its huge concentrations of crocodiles that usually hunt for the wildebeest and on the terrestrial, wildebeest are also preyed by many predators including lions, leopards, and cheetahs.
Day 17: Hot Air Balloon experience & Maasai village tour
Get up early to catch up with a hot air balloon excursion. The balloon tour will include bush breakfast, champagne, and other offers. Expect to enjoy the breathtaking sunrise and abundant wildlife on the ground. In the afternoon, you will proceed to the Maasai community for you to experience the best of the Maasai practices, traditions, and cultures, and get entertained by the Maasai people themselves.
Day 18: Departure back to Nairobi
Enjoy a hefty breakfast and after, check out from Maasai Mara lodges. Drive off from Maasai Mara to Nairobi Capital. The 6 hours’ drive journey also comes with breathtaking views from the countryside. On arrival, you will be dropped off at the lodge or directly to the airport in Nairobi.
End of safari