8 Days Uganda Kenya Wildlife Safari (Bwindi, Queen Elizabeth & Masai Mara)
8 Days Uganda Kenya Wildlife Safari (Bwindi, Queen Elizabeth & Masai Mara) is the ultimate wildlife safari for any visitor looking to explore the best destinations in East Africa. Get a chance to track the endangered mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and view countless savannah wildlife in Queen Elizabeth national park in Uganda. You will also encounter stunning wildlife in Masai Mara Game Reserve, including Africa’s Big Five animals.
Highlights of the 8 Days Bwindi, Queen Elizabeth & Masai Mara.
- Day 1: Pickup in Kampala and City Tour.
- Day 2: Transfer to Bwindi & Batwa Community Tour.
- Day 3: Gorilla Trekking & Batwa Trail Experience.
- Day 4: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park.
- Day 5: Morning Game Drive & Afternoon Boat Cruise
- Day 6: Transfer to Entebbe Airport & Fly to Masai Mara National Park.
- Day 7: Full Day Game Drive.
- Day 8: Morning Game Drive, Fly to Entebbe & Departure.
Detailed Itinerary for 8 Days Bwindi, Queen Elizabeth & Masai Mara.
Day 1: Pickup in Kampala and City Tour.
Pickup & Kampala City Tour: Today marks the beginning of your 5 days Bwindi Gorillas & Cultural Safari in Uganda. Meet up with your guide at a pickup station of your choice either upon your arrival at Entebbe International Airport or at your hotel in Kampala City. You will then embark on a short tour around Kampala city where
you will visit interest historical and cultural sites like the Kabaka’s (King) Palace in Bulange-Mengo, the Uganda Museum, Namugongo Martyrs’ Shrine, and Ndeere Cultural Center. You will also take a stroll around some shopping malls and local markets in the city such as; Nakasero Market, Acacia Mall, Kingdom Kampala and Craft Village among others.
Later drive back to your hotel for dinner and accommodation.
Day 2: Transfer to Bwindi National Park.
Transfer to Bwindi: Wake up early in the morning and have breakfast at your hotel. You will then meet up with your guide and proceed with your transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The national park is located in the southwestern part of Uganda in Kanungu district, about 460 kilometers from Kampala city. You will have a stopover at the equator monuments in Kayabwe where you will take a few pictures. You will have another stopover at Igongo Cultural Center in Mbarara city where you will have lunch. Proceed with your drive to Bwindi where upon your arrival in the park, you will check into your lodge for dinner and accommodation.
Day 3: Gorilla Trekking & Batwa Trail Experience.
Gorilla Trekking: On the 3rd day of your 8 Days Uganda Kenya Wildlife Safari (Bwindi, Queen Elizabeth & Masai Mara), have breakfast very early at you lodge as your guide will pick you up at 6am. You will embark on a short journey to the Parks headquarters in Buhoma or the southern part of the park depending on which gorilla group you are going to track. You are supposed to be at Buhoma at exactly 7am for a briefing by the park’s head ranger which will begin at 8am and then you will be put in groups of 8 individuals per group depending on the gorilla group you are going to track. Tracking begins at exactly 8:30 am hence endeavor to always keep time.
Each tracking group consists of strictly eight individuals with each group having a park guide and ranger. Tracking can take about 1- 8 hours or more depending how easily and quick the gorillas are spotted. Once you have located a gorilla group, you will be given exactly an hour with them. After your gorilla trekking experience in Bwindi Forest, you will be given time to have your packed lunch in case your carried some from your lodge.
Batwa Trail Experience: The Batwa trail experience is one of the most interesting and adventurous activities that are conducted in the park. This hiking experience is conducted by local Batwa guides in Bwindi impenetrable forest. You will get to learn a lot including how to hunt using tradition hunting tools and methods, how to use herbs to medicinal purposes and so much more. You will have an opportunity to interact with some of the Batwa local, who are also referred to as Pygmies.
Head back to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 4: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Transfer to Queen: Wake in the morning and have breakfast at your lodge. Check out of your lodge and transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park. The park is located in the western part of Uganda in Kasese district. It is one of the most visited savannah national parks in the country and the best for view lots of wildlife species in Uganda. It takes about 4-5 hours to get to Queen Elizabeth national park if you are travelling from Buhoma in Bwindi; and about 7 hours if you are travelling from the southern part of the park. Upon your arrival in the park, check into your lodge and have lunch.
Evening Game Drive (optional): After having your lunch, you can opt to have an evening game drive in the park or simply stay back at your lodge to chill, relax and unwind for the rest of the evening.
Dinner and overnight at your lodge.
Day 5: Morning Game Drive & Afternoon Boat Cruise
Morning Game Drive: Have an early morning breakfast and proceed on a morning game drive in the park which begins at 6am. This morning game drive will give you a great chance to view nocturnal animals like leopards, serval cats and other wildlife such as African savannah elephants, hyenas, Uganda Kobs, heart beasts, giraffes, zebras and many more. Since the park is home to over 612 bird species, you can sight a number of bird species during your game drive such as; the African skimmer, Chapin’s flycatcher, Shoebill stock, the great flamingos and Pink- backed pelicans. You will then drive back to your lodge for lunch.
Afternoon Boat Cruise: After you have had your lunch and rested, you will then meet up with you guide and head out for an afternoon boat cruise on Kazinga Channel. The boat cruise starts at exactly 1pm and can take approximately 2 hours. During your boat cruise, you may sight lots of wildlife such as hippos, Nile crocodiles, elephants and some species of birds like the great flamingos, Shoebill stock, Ibis and so many others.
Later return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 6: Transfer to Entebbe Airport & Fly to Masai Mara National Park.
Transfer to Entebbe & Fly to Mara: Start your day with an early Breakfast at your hotel and later drive to Entebbe airport where you will board your flight to Masai Mara National Park in Kenya. Flights to Masai Mara national park from Entebbe leave at exactly 12 noon and take about 2½ hours. Upon your arrival in the national park, you will have lunch at your designated lodge. You can choose to spend the rest of your evening relaxing at your lodge. Alternatively, you can head out for an evening nature walk or game drive in the national park. Later retire back to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 7: Full Day Game Drive.
Full Day Game Drive: Have your breakfast in the morning and head out for a full day game drive in Masai Mara National Park. This guided game drive will lead you to some of Africa’s largest lion prides, herds of zebra, antelopes, buffaloes, wildebeests, giraffes, cheetahs, and hyenas in the park. Masai Mara national park is a haven for savannah wildlife animals in Kenya, and the park is among one of the top destinations for wildlife safaris on the African continent. During your game drive in Masai Mara, you will also view other wildlife such as; impala, topi, cheetah, jackals, and bat-eared foxes. If you are lucky, you will spot some black rhinos within the park; these rhino species are a bit shy and tend to isolated themselves from other wildlife animals in the park, which makes sighting them quite difficult. You will also drive along the Mara River, which has a large number of Hippos, as well as Nile crocodiles.
You can decide if you want to carry packed lunch for the full day game drive or come back to your camp/lodge for a hot meal before returning to the bush in the afternoon.
Drive back to your lodge for dinner and accommodation.
Day 8: Morning Game Drive and fly to Entebbe & Departure.
Morning Game Drive: Enjoy your last African sunrise today as you take in the sights and sounds of nature all around you. If you wake up early, you will be able to embark on a short morning game drive in the park before you leave. After your morning game drive, drive back to your camp/lodge for breakfast.
Fly to Entebbe & Departure: After a hearty breakfast, you will be driven to the airstrip in Masai Mara where you will board your flight back to Entebbe International Airport. Depending on your flight departure schedule, you can choose to either take a short tour of Entebbe city or check in and board your flight back home.
End of the 8 Days Uganda Kenya Wildlife Safari (Bwindi, Queen Elizabeth & Masai Mara)
