6 Days Masai Mara Wildlife and Gorilla Safari in Bwindi

April 26, 2024

6 Days Masai Mara Wildlife and Gorilla Safari

Safari Overview

6 Days Masai Mara Wildlife and Bwindi Gorilla Safari is a combination of wildlife and mountain gorillas. Hence, it offers visitors some of the best African safari experiences. This safari takes you on a visit to two of the most amazing safari destinations in Africa. One of them is Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The park is a popular home for the largest population of mountain gorillas in the world. The other destination is the Masai Mara National Reserve. It is one of the best wildlife destinations in Africa and the world at large.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is an exciting gorilla destination in southwestern Uganda. The park is home to the biggest population of the endangered mountain gorillas in the world. Also, it is one of the best destinations for gorilla trekking experience. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is home to 22 habituated gorilla families. Hence, on this safari, you will have to visit one gorilla family.

Masai Mara Wildlife Reserve lies in one of the oldest ecosystems in the world. It’s within “The Mara -Serengeti ecosystem” in Southwestern Kenya. The reserves measure an area of 1,510 square kilometers comprising of vast scenic expanse of gently rolling African savannah plains. Masai Mara National Reserve is home to an abundance of wildlife species. These include the big Five “lions, elephants, cape buffaloes, rhinos, and leopards” among others. You’ll find them and enjoy watching them during the safari.

Highlights of 6 days Masai Mara Wildlife and Bwindi gorilla safari

Day 1: Arrival and transfer to Masai Mara
Day 2: Full-day game drive
Day 3: Masai Mara to Nairobi and fly to Entebbe
Day 4: Transfer to Entebbe
Day 5: Gorilla trekking experience
Day 6: transfer back to Entebbe and departure

Detailed itinerary of 6 days Masai Mara Wildlife and Bwindi gorilla safari

Day 1: Arrival and transfer to Masai Mara

Upon landing at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, your driver-guide from Safari Vacations and Travel Services will warmly welcome you. He will give you a short safari briefing about what to expect. Then, you’ll transfer to Masai Mara National Reserve on a journey of 4-5 hours.

Along the way, you will have a stopover in Narok town for a short interaction with the locals. This will allow you to buy local souvenirs. Also, you’ll stop at the Rift Valley View point for spectacular views of the Rift Valley escarpments. Proceed to the reserve arriving in time for lunch at your lodge after checking in. In the afternoon, you will transfer to the reserve for an afternoon game drive looking for the big game. Animals you’ll look out for will include elephants, lions, leopards, rhinos, cape buffaloes, wildebeests, and gazelles among others. After the sunset, you will return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Neptune Mara Rianta Luxury Camp

Meal plan: lunch and dinner

Day 2: Full-day game drive

Wake up early for a cup of coffee and transfer to the reserve for an early morning game drive, morning is a perfect time to catch early risers and predators such as lions, cheetahs, African wild dogs, and leopard hunting. After the game drive you will go back to your lodge for breakfast and a short session of relation as you wait for lunch, then return to the reserve for an afternoon game drive, exploring the reserve more and enjoying the sights of more animals such as wildebeests, lions, leopards, zebras, Thomson and Grant’s gazelles, cheetahs among others. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight

Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 3: Masai Mara to Nairobi and fly to Entebbe

Wake up early for breakfast, check and depart Masai Mara National Reserve for Nairobi with an en-route game drive, you will reach Nairobi in time for lunch at the hotel or restaurant. You will then be dropped off at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your afternoon flight to Uganda’s Entebbe International Airport.

Upon landing at Entebbe International Airport, our representative will warmly welcome you. After a short briefing, you will transfer to your hotel in Entebbe for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Best Western Hotel

Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 4: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Wake up early for a cup of coffee, meet your safari driver guide, and transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The journey takes about 9-10 hours. Along the way, you will have a stopover at the Equator landmark. Here, you will get a chance to stand in both the north and south hemispheres. Also, you will have another stopover in Mbarara for lunch then proceed to the park arriving in late evening. Check into your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Buhoma Lodge/Mahogany Springs Lodge

Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 5: Gorilla trekking experience in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Have early breakfast, meet your safari driver, and transfer to the park’s headquarters. There, you will meet fellow trekkers (visitors) for a briefing session by a ranger. He’ll take you through the rules and regulations to follow during the gorilla trekking experience. You will form groups of 8 people and know your gorilla group to trek. Then, hike into the jungle of Bwindi looking for mountain gorillas.

The trek takes approximately 2-6 hours depending on the movement of mountain gorillas. It also depends on where they spent their previous night. When you locate the gorillas, You will have one full hour of staying in the presence of these gentle giants. Use this time to witness their behavior which is strikingly similar to humans. You will watch silverbacks guarding the group, female gorillas taking care of their young ones, and juveniles swinging on tree branches. Take amazing wildlife pictures (remember to take your flashlight off while taking pictures).

You will then trek back to the park’s headquarters where you will be rewarded with gorilla trekking certificates. Meet your driver–guide and transfer back to your lodge. Alternatively, you can go for a cultural visit to the Batwa community, in the Batwa village. You’ll gain a deeper insight into how the Batwa –pygmies survived in the forests together with the mountain gorillas. Witness their demonstration of hunting skills, making of fire traditionally, and be entertained by local dances and drama. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 6: Transfer back to Entebbe and departure

After breakfast, you will check out of your lodge and transfer back to Entebbe, along the way you will have en-route lunch and when you arrive in Entebbe, you will be dropped off at the airport for your departure flight back home.