Masai Mara & Gorillas East African Safari

This trip departs from Nairobi, Kenya   See all Nairobi Departures

A unique Masai Mara & Gorillas East African Safari at an affordable price!

Highlights on this East African Camping Safari include:

• Game viewing in Kenya's Masai Mara Game Reserve.
• Visiting Kenya's Great Rift Valley Lakes, Naivasha & Nakuru.
• African Mountain Gorilla Trekking in the wild, Uganda.
• Scenic Lake Bunyoni & Queen Elizabeth Park in Uganda.

This unusual Masai Mara & Gorillas Safari combines the rare and unforgettable experience of trekking endangered mountain gorillas in the wild, with superb game viewing in scenic Kenya.

A once-in-a-lifetime East African journey!

Day 1: Lake Naivasha – Kenya

Our Masai Mara & Gorillas African Safari sets off from Nairobi, the largest city in East Africa and the capital of Kenya. From Nairobi we drive northwest to Lake Naivasha, one of the Great Rift Valley lakes.

We spend the day at freshwater Lake Naivasha, the highest of the Rift Valley Lakes.

You can go hiking in the wilderness area and enjoy game viewing and bird watching. There is also the popular option of exploring the area and game viewing by bicycle.

You also have the option of going to Elsamere for high tea, on the shores of Lake Naivasha. Elsamere is the former home of George and Joy Adams. The famous conservationist Joy Adams is best known for Born Free, her autobiographical novel. All funds are used by the Elsamere Field Study Centre for education and conservation work.

Optional Activities: Cycle hire, High Tea at Elsamere, Boat Cruise

Meals: Lunch, Dinner

• Overnight: Camp at a lodge on the shores of Lake Naivasha, featuring a swimming pool, restaurant, laundry facility, gift shop, bar, snack bar and hot showers. 

Day 2: Masai Mara – Kenya

We start day 2 off with a game viewing drive in Hell’s Gate National Park, south of Lake Naivasha. Named after the narrow break in the cliffs, Hell’s Gate National Park is known for its varied wildlife and interesting landscapes. The compact game park is one of two national parks in Kenya that allow walking and even cycling within the park.

After exploring Hell’s Gate we head south, making our way to the world famous Masai Mara Game Reserve.

Many consider the Masai Mara as the Greatest Wildlife Reserve in Africa. This vast game reserve covers about 1510 km² (583 mi²) of mostly open grasslands.

The Masai Mara National Reserve is famous for the annual Great Wildebeest Migration and its exceptional populations of big cats (lions, leopards and cheetahs). The wildlife park is named after the original inhabitants of the area, the Masaai people, known for their distinctive customs and style of dress.

We go game viewing in the scenic Masai Mara, Africa's top safari destination, enjoying superb wildlife sightings and excellent photographic opportunities.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• Overnight: Safari camp at Masai Mara Park.

Day 3: Lake Nakuru – Kenya

Today we head north to Lake Nakuru, located in the Great Rift Valley in central Kenya, leaving the spectacular Masai Mara behind.

In the afternoon we embark on a game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park, inhabited by black and white rhino, as well as a variety of other wild animals and numerous birds. The national park actually started out as a bird sanctuary and was later upgraded to a National Park.  

Lake Nakuru is famous for the huge flamingo flocks that line its shores. Flocks numbering in the thousands and even millions at times, form a sea of pink - an amazing sight that makes for great photos. 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• Overnight: Camping at a lodge set on a working farm that overlooks the Great Rift Valley.

Day 4: Entebbe – Uganda

Next we travel into Uganda, pausing to take photos at the equator.

Our first destination in Uganda is Entebbe, located along the northern shores of Lake Victoria, Africa’s largest lake.

During our stay in Entebbe, there is the opportunity to visit the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre, originally opened in 1952 as an animal orphanage.

Optional activity: Visit Wildlife Education Centre

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• Overnight: Camping at the Wildlife Education Centre. Facilities include a restaurant, snack shop, shared ablutions and a curio shop.

Day 5: Entebbe & Ngamba Chimpanzee Sanctuary – Uganda

On day 5 you can explore Entebbe or embark on an optional trip to the Chimpanzee Sanctuary on Ngamba Island.

The sanctuary is run as an eco-friendly, non-profit project, established in 1998 to care for orphaned chimpanzees. Most travellers opt to go to the Chimpanzee Sanctuary, as it is well worth visiting.

Optional Activities: Ngamba Chimpanzee Trip, Visit Wildlife Education Centre, Dinner Out.

Meals: Breakfast

• Overnight: Camp at the Wildlife Education Centre. Facilities include shared ablutions, a restaurant and a craft shop.

Day 6: Lake Bunyonyi – Uganda

Today we leave Entebbe driving to scenic Lake Bunyoni, dotted with 29 islands.

Picturesque Lake Bunyonyi serves as the base for gorilla trekking excursions in the nearby Bwindi Impenetrable National Park of Uganda.

This small steep-sided lake set in the Ugandan highlands hosts an abundance of birdlife, with the name Bunyoni meaning "Place of many little birds". The crater lake is known for its scenic mountainous surroundings and numerous birds, as well as otters. The lake is safe for swimming and is a popular spot for watersports.

We stay at an eco-friendly resort on the shores of Lake Bunyoni taking in the beautiful scenery, before our exciting trek to the moutain gorillas.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• Overnight: Camping at a resort on the shores of Lake Bunyonyi. Facilities include a restaurant, bar, laundry service, internet access, satellite TV, snack bar and craft shop.

Day 7 – 8: Mountain Gorilla Trekking – Uganda

From Lake Bunyonyi we set off on our thrilling gorilla trekking expedition, in groups of a maximum of 6 people.

African Mountain Gorillas are critically endangered, with only around 800 wild mountain gorillas remaining in the world.

By visiting the gorillas you will be directly supporting the efforts to protect these highly endagered primates. The money spent on trekking permits is used to help ensure the future of these rare mountain gorillas.

Gorilla Trekking permits are extremely limited, which calls for flexibility in our tour itinerary and the exact location that we trek in. The mountain gorillas' habitat spans across the borders of Uganda, Rwanda and the DRC (Democratic Republic of the Congo). The Bwindi National Park in Uganda, is our intended gorilla trekking destination, but this is subject to the availability of permits. If permits for Unganda's Bwindi Park are not available you will be informed beforehand and we will travel to neighbouring Rwanda or the DRC for moutain gorilla trekking.

Community development work is essential to gorilla conservation in East Africa. Organisations are working with local communities to help shift attitudes towards wildlife, changing the relationship between people and gorillas from one of poaching to protecting the primates.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (x 2)

Please note:  Only one day is spent trekking the gorillas, even though there are 2 days set aside. This allows time for obtaning permits and visiting the gorillas in smaller groups if there are more than 6 people on the tour. The Gorilla Trekking Permit costs US$ 520 extra.

• Overnight: Same resort on the shores of Lake Bunyonyi.

Day 9 - 10: Queen Elizabeth National Park – Uganda

After our unforgettable gorilla trekking experience we head north to the Queen Elizabeth Park for some excellent game viewing.

The most popular game reserve in Uganda, the Queen Elizabeth National Park covers about 1978km² (764mi²) and is home to about 95 mammal species and more than 500 species of birds. On day 10 we embark on an included 4x4 game drive in Queen Elizabeth Park. 

The game park is known for its volcanic features and is home to legendary tree-climbing lions, found in the Ishasha Sector, and the giant forest hog. Other wildlife includes hippos, elephants, leopards, chimpanzees, warthogs, buffalo, rare sitatunga antelope, Uganda kob, topi and waterbuck.

Optional Activities: Kasinga Channel Sunset Cruise, Chimpanzee trekking at Lake George.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• Overnight: Camp in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Facilities include shared ablutions, hot showers and a bar.

Day 11 - 12: Jinja – Uganda

In the morning we drive north east to Jinja, Uganda’s second largest city. Jinja is well known for its variety of adventure activities, such as white water rafting.

Jinja is located at the starting point of the Nile (officially called the Victoria Nile), where the river flows out of Lake Victoria. From here the famous river flows 6695 kilometres through Africa to Egypt and the Mediterranean in the north.

Optional Activities: White Water Rafting.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight: Safari camp outisde of Jinja, overlooking Lake Bujagali. Facilities include a restaurant, outdoor bar and lounge area, satellite TV and free internet access.

Day 13 Kenya - Eldoret

We make our way back to Kenya visiting the city of Eldoret. Established by a post office on a local farm in 1910, today Eldoret is the 5th largest city in Kenya.

Eldoret lies 2100 m above sea level in a farming area of the Great Rift Valley.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• Overnight: Camping at a resort beside the Naiberi River near Eldoret. Facilities include a bar, swimming pool, shared ablutions, cold showers, drinkable water and a restaurant.

Day 14: Nairobi – Kenya

On the last day of our camping Masai Mara & Gorillas East African Safari we drive south east to Nairobi, where our journey of a lifetime started.

Most groups choose to meet for an optional dinner to share stories and exchange contact details with fellow travellers.

Optional Activities: Meal out in Nairobi.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

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