Ugandan Gorillas & Masai Mara Safari

This 15-day safari travels to major highlights in East Africa, starting in Kampala and ending in Nairobi.

The Ugandan Gorillas & Masai Mara Safari starts off with a trek to view the endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. The Virunga Volcanoes provide a safe sanctuary for these creatures and we trek through dense forest to discover these gentle apes.

You will then head over the border to Kenya's Lake Nakuru, known for its huge flocks of flamingoes, and Lake Naivasha, home to hundreds of hippo and a spectacular bird life.

Next you will visit Kenya's premier park, the Masai Mara. This vast Park offers superb game viewing and boasts large plains scattered with an impressive array of wildlife. 

DAY 01: Kampala, Uganda (D)

This safari starts with a day of leisure in Uganda's capital and can be spent exploring the local markets and museums, sightseeing in Kampala, or taking a trip to the nearby Ngamba chimpanzee sanctuary.

The political instability that haunted Uganda over a period of years has had the positive effect of leaving the country free of the over-commercialism so common in other parts of Africa. The current administration under President Museveni has devoted considerable effort and funds to regaining Uganda's former glory as one of Africa's most prosperous and, from a tourist's point of view, one of the most appealing and interesting countries to visit.

Uganda is a small East African country of striking physical beauty. Its landscapes vary from the fertile green areas around the northern shores of Lake Victoria to the snow-covered Ruwenzori Mountains in the west and the semi-desert parts of the north facing the border of Sudan. 

DAYS 02-05: Kampala to Lake Bunyoni (B / L / D)

On day two we depart from Kampala early in the morning heading west into the heart of Uganda.

Our next base is located at the scenic Lake Bunyoni, “place of many little birds”. Around 200 bird species have been recorded at this tranquil lake dotted with islands. From Lake Bunyoni we have the option of participating in exciting Gorilla Trekking excursions. The gorilla treks take place in the Magahinga or Bwindi National Parks (Uganda), Virunga National Park (Democratic Republic of Congo), or Ruhengeri National Park (Rwanda); depending on the availability of trekking permits.

The prices of the trekking permits change, sometimes without prior notice.  The price is currently at US$500 depending on which National Park we are gorilla trekking in. A local transport fee is charged, at between US$25 to US$45per person (this includes the return transfer). When trekking takes place in the DRC or Rwanda, we will also need to pay for the additional visa for either country, as well as renewing our Ugandan visa when we re-enter the country. Please take these costs into account when budgeting for the gorilla trekking excursions.

Gorilla Trekking Procedures:

With only about 700 mountain gorillas remaining, gorilla trekking is an extraordinary opportunity to encounter these gentle primates in the wild. On these unforgettable treks we get to watch the mountain gorilla (Gorilla Gorilla Berengei), one of our closest living relatives, in its natural habitat – a rare and unique wildlife experience. The gorillas are monitored on a daily basis giving the rangers a good idea of where to find these endangered primates at any given time. This said, sightings of the mountain gorillas cannot be guaranteed, as they are still free roaming wild animals. In the unlikely event of not sighting the gorillas, the authorities usually allow for a second opportunity to trek them. This is however completely at their discretion and subject to the availability of trekking permits, and they will not confirm this second trekking opportunity in writing. We bring frequent visitors to each park and as such have a high success rate in obtaining gorilla permits, markedly increasing the chances of seeing these beautiful animals.

These mountain gorillas share much of our DNA, therefore anyone with even the mildest cold or any transferable disease will not be permitted on the gorilla treks. There is an age restriction of a minimum of 16 years of age for trekking. The number of daily visitors allowed on the gorilla treks is limited, thus we depart from our Lake Bunyoni base in smaller groups over the next few days, depending on the size of our entire group. 

We depart for gorilla trekking early in the morning, completing border formalities if trekking is in the DRC or Rwanda en route, and transferring to a ranger’s station - the starting point for our trek.

The rangers lead you through cultivated lands and onwards into the dense rain forest in search of a family of gorillas. Gorilla trekking can take anything from 45 minutes to 8 hours depending on how easy the gorillas are to locate. Trekking can be fairly strenuous; therefore it is necessary for participants to be reasonably fit.

We get to spend a maximum of one hour with the mountain gorillas, to ensure that the animals do not get too accustomed to humans and to protect them from any of our diseases. The visit allows for ample time to observe the gorillas from close range and take photographs of them as they go about their daily activities. Your ranger will be able to give you the background on the particular gorilla family that you encounter. When your visit comes to an end you trek back through the rain forest to the meeting point, from where you are transferred back to our Lake Bunyoni base.

The increase in daily trekking plays a vital role in the conservation of these endangered mountain gorillas! After years of being ruthlessly hunted for their hands and heads, to be sold as ashtrays and lampshades, tourism from gorilla trekking is helping to ensure the survival of this threatened species. Large numbers of these apes have also been killed while attempting to stop poachers from stealing baby gorillas to sell to zoos, where their lifespan is never long. The National Park authorities use the entire cost of the trekking permits to protect the gorillas. The permit fee is used to fund patrolling, key to protecting the gorillas from poachers and deadly snares, as well as to promote awareness of these unique animals.

Lake Bunyoni:

Lake Bunyoni, a nature lover’s delight, is the deepest Crater Lake in Africa. There are a number of activities for you to enjoy at Lake Bunyoni, on the days that you are not gorilla trekking.

These activities include: hiking in the hills of this beautiful area, canoeing on the lake or going on a bird watching walk in this birding paradise. Or you can experience the local culture by visiting a local village or church or exploring the local markets of Kabale. You could also choose to take it easy, simply relaxing on the tranquil shores of Lake Bunyoni or taking a dip in the lake.

DAY 06: From Lake Bunyoni to Kampala, Uganda (B / L /D)

After the gorilla trek of a lifetime and soaking up the serenity of Lake Bunyoni, we start driving back to Kampala. We then cross the Equator for the second time on our safari and stop to capture the must-have "one foot in each hemisphere" classic photo. We overnight in Kampala, possibly for a sample of the nightlife it has to offer.

DAY 07 & 08: Kampala to Jinja (B / L /D)

After a short drive to the Lakeside town of Jinja, you have the option over the next day and a half to raft the Nile, visit the local community project or take part in a quad bike trip along the riverbank. Our overnight camp is right on the edge of the Nile River where there is an abundance of resident bird life & some truly amazing photo opportunities from right outside your tent!

DAY 09: Jinja to Nakuru, Kenya (B / L /D)

Most of today is spent travelling to Kenya, a scenic drive though the vast tea plantations of Kenya. We overnight at a charming campsite on the outskirts of Nakuru.

DAY 10: Nakuru to Lake Naivasha (B / L /D)

This morning we have the option to take a game drive in the Lake Nakuru National Park or head into Nakuru town. In the afternoon, we drive to Lake Naivasha where we make camp in peaceful surroundings beside the lake.

DAY 11: Lake Naivasha (B / L /D)

Moving south-east, we head to Lake Naivasha, home to a multitude of bird life, the most magnificent being the African Fish Eagle with his regal cry. At 1880 m, this is the highest of the Rift Valley lakes. Time permitting; we spend the afternoon enjoying optional excursions like Elsamere (former home to Joy & George Adamson of Born Free fame), a boat ride to the Crescent Island Game Sanctuary or a bike ride around Hell's Gate National Park.

DAY 12: Lake Naivasha to Masai Mara (B / L /D)

We depart from Lake Naivasha and enter Masai land where these habitual pastoralists are often seen tending their cattle from the side of the road. We pass through the town of Narok, before arriving at our campsite, Acacia Camp. Acacia Camp looks on to the Meguarra hills and the stream that meanders by on the bottom end forms a natural border to the Masai Mara National Reserve.

DAY 13: The Masai Mara, Kenya (B / L / D)

On the road early we spend the day game driving through the natural wilderness of this African region of vast plains, gently rolling hills and abundant game. The Masai Mara offers an awesome wildlife experience difficult to compete with.  We look out for the Big 5 of Africa - elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion & leopard.  Between July and October, we may get to witness the Great Migration of massive herds of stampeding wildebeest, zebra and Thomson's gazelle reaching to numbers of over 2 million. At night we recollect our highlights from the annual migration or the game-viewing spectacle at the camp's fireside.

DAY 14: Masai Mara to Nairobi (B / L / D)

After breakfast, we leave the Masai Mara travelling via the Great Rift Valley to Nairobi. We arrive in Kenya’s capital in the late afternoon.

DAY 15: Nairobi, Kenya (B)

After breakfast in Nairobi, we exchange addresses and part ways, having just experienced a African Safari of a lifetime!

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