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14 Day Gorillas, Nile Source & Mara Africa Adventure

Start-Ends: Nairobi-Entebbe | Visiting: Masai Mara NR, Lake Nakuru NP, Jinja Source of the Nile River, Kibale NP, Queen Elizabeth NP, & Bwindi NP

Mountain Gorillas, Nile Source & Mara Africa Adventure

Overview

Land in Nairobi and head on to discover the wonders of nature Kenya and Uganda have to offer. We visit Masai Mara and Lake Nakuru, getting to see an abundance of animals on Kenya’s the savanna plains. We then head to Uganda where the highlights are gorilla trekking, searching for tree-climbing lions in Ishasha, a boat-cruise on Kazinga channel and chimpanzee trekking in the thick Kibale rainforest. We then transfer to Entebbe for your flight, going home with unforgettable memories of your adventure in East Africa.

Safari Route

  • Start: Nairobi (Day 1)
  • Day 2-4: Masai Mara NR
  • Day 5-6: Lake Nakuru NP
  • Uganda
  • Day 7: Jinja, Source of the Nile River
  • Day 8-9: Kibale Forest NP
  • Day 10-11: Queen Elizabeth NP
  • Day 12: Ishasha (Queen Elizabeth NP)
  • Day 13: Bwindi Impenetrable NP
  • End: Entebbe (Day 14)

Tour Features

  • Budget tour—uses budget tented camps.
  • Private tour—run exclusively for you and your party.
  • Can start any day—depending on permit availability.
  • Can be customized—You can request minor changes to the accommodations and destinations of this tour.
  • Minimum age of 16 years—age limit for watching gorillas & chimpanzee

Activities & Transportation

  • Activities: game drives, gorilla trekking, chimpanzee trekking & boat trip
  • Game drives: normal 4×4 vehicle
  • Getting around: normal 4×4 vehicle & air transfer
  • A transfer from and back to the airport is included

Includes

  • Park fees (For non-residents)
  • Gorilla permits (One per person, non-resident)
  • Chimp permits (One per person, non-resident)
  • All activities (Unless labeled as optional)
  • All accommodation (Unless listed as upgrade)
  • A professional driver/guide
  • All transportation (Unless labeled as optional)
  • All Taxes/VAT
  • Meals (As specified in the day-by-day section)
  • Drinks (As specified in the day-by-day section)
  • International flights (From/to home)
  • Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
  • Tips (Tipping guideline US$10.00 pp per day)
  • Personal items (Souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)

Detailed Itinerary

Arrival

You’ll be collected from the airport.
Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.

Day 1: Arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport

We meet our tour guide for the Kenya & Uganda safari at the airport. Heading to Nairobi to spend the night at a nice hotel to relax after the journey and be ready for the adventure starting the next day.

Main Destination: Nairobi (Kenya)
Accommodation: Hotel Hennessis (Mid-range)
Meals & Drinks: Dinner (Breakfast & lunch not included), drinking water


Day 2: Nairobi Transfer to Masai Mara

Masai Mara is one of East Africa’s most famous reserves, The Mara consists of undulating hills and great rolling grasslands that sustain some of the most varied wildlife in Africa, if not the world. Arrive in time for lunch at Afternoon game viewing, where lion, elephant, cheetah, giraffe, buffalo, wildebeest, gazelle and other plains game abound, not forgetting the hundreds of species of birds.

Main Destination: Masai Mara National Reserve (Kenya)
Best Time to Visit: June to October and September to October
Accommodation: Mara Springs Safari Camp (budget)
Meals & Drinks: All meals included, Drinking water only


Day 3: Experience Masai Mara

The whole day is dedicated to game spotting in this sprawling reserve. If we wake up with luck, we can watch a lion, cheetah or leopard hunting or feasting on its kill. Option of a visit to a Masai village. With the wonders Masai Mara has to offer you will have a day to remember.

Main Destination: Masai Mara National Reserve (Kenya)
Accommodation: Mara Springs Safari Camp (Budget)
Meals & Drinks: All meals included, drink water only.


Day 4: Another Day in Masai Mara

Wake up at 6 am and tea, coffee and cookies will be served in the lodge. 6.30am Set out for FULL day game drive in the reserve. This is usually the most popular game viewing time. During the early hours temperatures are low, thus providing a favorable atmosphere both for the game and the viewer. Lion, Cheetah and Leopard roam the vast grasslands in search for their next meal, it may be an unsuspecting impala or even a small one like the warthog…whatever the players, the spectacle of nature unfolding is always awe inspiring!

Main Destination: Masai Mara National Reserve (Kenya)
Accommodation: Mara Springs Safari Camp (Budget)
Meals & Drinks: All meals included and drinking water


Day 5: Transfer to Lake Nakuru

After breakfast we leave the area of the Masai Mara and head towards Lake Nakuru National Park. It is an interesting drive letting you see the salt lakes and go through Naivasha area. In the afternoon we check in to the hotel to spend our last night in Kenya for this Kenya and Uganda safari.

Main Destination: Lake Nakuru National Park (Kenya)
Best Time to Visit: June to March best for wildlife viewing (Little rain)
Accommodation: Chester Hotel Nakuru (Budget)
Meals & Drinks: All meals included and drinking water


Day 6: Early game-drive in Lake Nakuru National Park and transfer to Uganda

This morning we enjoy a game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park. The park is famous for its millions of seasonal pink flamingos and other aquatic birds. Game drive until lunch around the lake, where rhinos, zebra, gazelle, buffalo, leopard and waterbuck can easily and closely be spotted. An excellent chance of spotting rhino, of which there is a healthy population here. There is a stunning view from the top of the hills above the lake and here we may see the Rock hyrax, this tiny creature is the elephant’s nearest relative. Following a quick stop in Nakuru town we then drive towards Eldoret is the fourth largest city in Kenya and we continue to the Ugandan border for an overnight across. The border crossing can be slow but we leave plenty of time, it can be an interesting experience. Continue on to the town of Tororo to spend the night.

Main Destination: Lake Nakuru National Park (Kenya)
Accommodation: Prime Hotel (Budget)
Meals & Drinks: All meals included and drinking water


Day 7: Transfer to Jinja to See The Source of The Nile River

We drive further into Uganda the second country of Kenya & Uganda combination safari, our target being the city of Jinja. Fruit markets will decorate the day’s drive. In Jinja the Victoria Nile meets Lake Victoria and the source of the mighty Nile is found. In the afternoon you go for a boat-ride to see the source of the Nile.

Main Destination: Jinja (Uganda)
Accommodation: Gately On Nile Lodge (Mid-range)
Meals & Drinks: All meals included and drinking water


Day 8: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park

After breakfast we drive with our target to have lunch in Fort portal, a punctuation of stopovers at in the far country side offer us chances of stretching, tea plantations along the drive ways as we check in late afternoon. A night in this forest gives you the calls from the nocturnal life plus famous Frog concerts in this forest area revealing a true pristine Africa.

Main Destination: Kibale National Park (Uganda)
Best Time to Visit: December to February and June to July
Accommodation: Isunga Lodge (Mid-range)
Meals & Drinks: All meals included and drinking water


Day 9: Chimpanzee Tracking in Kibale Forest (optional chimps habituation)

Chimp trekking is on the agenda today. We leave the lodge after breakfast with a packed picnic lunch along. You head into the forest with a specialized guide to trek to see our close cousins the chimpanzees. Kibale N.P is a rainy forest and a home to over 1500 Chimpanzees. Here you have a chance to see them close and capture close shots of them in the Jungle in their frenzy exciting moods grooming, building relationship, bringing up young ones, think, share food etc! Plus 9 different species of Monkeys- red colobus, red tailed monkey and bush babies on a great day. After the trek we head back to the lodge to relax.

– Optional activity is chimps habituation experience where you spend a full day with the chimpanzees, starting early in the morning to get to the briefing before The Great Apes leave there nests to plan the day. Inform us when booking if you wish to upgrade to chimps habituation.

Main Destination: Kibale National Park (Uganda)
Accommodation: Isunga Lodge (Mid-range)
Meals & Drinks: All meals included, drinking water included


Day 10: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

After breakfast, you go for a crater lake exploration walk with beautiful nature. Then we drive further southwards with the Rwenzori ranges (Longest in Africa) in View or Drive through the Crater lakes in the Hills through to sample out the surprising Diversity of Savannah trees and wildlife! Lunch in Kasese or at the lodge depending on time. Stop over at the equator and continue through the park to the lodge at the edge of Queen Elizabeth national park.

Main Destination: Queen Elizabeth National Park (Uganda)
Best Time to Visit: January to February and June to July (Dry seasons)
Accommodation: Pumba Safari Cottages (budget)
Meals & Drinks: All meals included and drinking water included


Day 11: Game-drive & boat-cruise in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Discover Queen Elizabeth national park with an early morning game-drive that exposes us to diverse animals, Big 5 members Elephants, Buffalos, big cats- Lions, Leopards more times in the evening, warthogs- Hunchback carnivals like Hyenas are spotted along the Circuits as we drive along the and many more species that are residents to this park. There is a rich bird life especially our version of storks in the wetland sports as we reach the Flamingoes in the salt lakes. In the afternoon we get ready for the Classic highlights of the 2hrs boat-cruise on the famous Kazinga channel, a 36km channel linking Lake George – Lake Edward. Here you can see land and water adapted hippopotamuses yawning and some slashing canines to each other, the National Geographical society killing machine the Nile crocodile gaping along the banks, Savannah version of pigs the warthog- Pumba of the award winning Lion King are a hallmark sign in this Animal home!

Main Destination: Queen Elizabeth National Park (Uganda)
Accommodation: Pumba Safari Cottages (budget)
Meals & Drinks: All meals included and drinking water included


Day 12: Transfer to Bwindi forest via Ishasha’s tree-climbing lions

We leave the main area in the morning to drive on the adventurous road leading to Ishasha, the southern part of Queen Elizabeth national park. Along the way we might see monkeys in the trees and baboons on the road until Ishasha wilderness sector. When reaching Ishasha we will drive off in this adventurous vast savannah area with Topis and the southern version of Elephants to hopefully get the Lions high in the Fig tree branches. After the game-drive we transfer to Bwindi mountains the home of the mountain gorillas. It is a beautiful drive taking us from savannah, on to villages and cultivated hills and finally up to the forest covered mountains of Bwindi. (If we reach early we can do the walk and mix with the locals or relax with the Orphans group performers).

Main Destination: Ishasha Sector (Queen Elizabeth NP, Uganda)
Accommodation: Buhoma Community Rest Camp (budget)
Meals & Drinks: All meals included and drinking water included


Day 13: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Early breakfast, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is home to the forest giants that are cousins to human beings, the gorillas. You head into the jungle in a group with a specialized guide and trek to the point where the gorillas are. An unforgettable hour is then spent with the gorillas. This Impenetrable Forest is full of birds, butterflies and plant species plus forest hog, forest Elephants, Statungas and Dikers. Transfer to Mbarara.

Main Destination: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Uganda)
Best Time to Visit: June to August and December to February
Accommodation: Igongo Cultural Center Hotel (Budget)
Meals & Drinks: All meals included and drinking water


Day 14: Transfer to Entebbe for evening/night flight

After breakfast we start the journey to Entebbe. Along the way we make a lunch stop at the Equator and you can pose on the spot where the northern and southern hemispheres meet. Continue on to reach Entebbe during the afternoon. Plan for an evening/night flight.

Main Destination: Entebbe (Uganda)
Accommodation: No accommodation (End of tour)
Meals & Drinks: Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included), Drinks not included


End of tour

Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost.
You’ll be dropped off at the airport.

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