The cost of 10-Day Maasai Mara and Bwindi Gorillas Safari

Are you looking for an adventure that brings together two very different sides of East Africa? This 10-day safari takes you from the open plains of Kenya to the thick, misty forests of Uganda. You’ll track lions across the Mara, watch hippos float by on Lake Naivasha, and hike through Bwindi to spend time with a family of mountain gorillas. No two days look the same, so you won’t feel like you’re repeating the same drive over and over.

In the sections below, you’ll find the full price breakdown, what’s covered and what isn’t, where you’ll sleep each night, and a day-by-day look at the whole journey. By the time you finish reading, you’ll know exactly what your money buys and whether this trip matches what you’re after or you will need some adjustments.

How Much Does this Safari Cost?

This 10-day trip costs $5,495 per person, based on two people sharing transportation and mid-range accommodation. As more people join your private group, the cost per person drops, because the vehicle, guide and fuel expenses get split among more travelers. So, if you’re heading out with friends or family, engage Iconic Africa Safaris experts for the final quotation.

What’s Included in the Price?

• Transport and logistics – You’ll travel in a customized 4×4 safari vehicle with a pop-up roof, which gives you clear views for photos. This covers the full round trip from Nairobi through Lake Naivasha, Lake Nakuru, the Maasai Mara, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park along with fuel, road tolls and driver allowances.
• Accommodation – You’ll spend 9 nights at mid-range lodges across both Kenya and Uganda.
• Gorilla trekking permit – Your permit for Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is fully included. This is one of the priciest single items on any Uganda safari, so having it included matters.
• Boat cruise – A cruise along the Kazinga Channel inside Queen Elizabeth National Park is part of your package.
• Kenya-Uganda flight – Your flight from Nairobi to Entebbe connects the Kenya is also included, so you skip the long overland drive between countries.
• Meals and beverages – A full board meal plan runs from lunch on Day 1 through lunch on Day 9. You’ll also get a picnic lunch box for your full-day game drive on Day 4 in maasai mara, plus bottled mineral water throughout your time in the vehicle.
• Activities – A private boat trip on Lake Naivasha and a guided walking safari at Crescent Island are both included.
• Guiding and game drives – A certified, English-speaking local guide stays with you the whole way, and every scheduled game drive comes with unlimited mileage.
• Park and conservation fees – Government taxes, VAT, vehicle entry charges and daily conservation fees  are also included
• Optional Kigali city tour – If your schedule allows it, you can add this stop without any extra planning hassle.

What’s Not Included in the Price?

• From and to you country flights and visas – International flight Kenya and from Rwanda (Kigali) aren’t included. Passport fees and the Kenyan electronic travel authorization (eTA) are also not included in the cost.
• Optional activities – Hot air balloon rides over the Mara ($499 per person), guided Maasai cultural visits and the Batwa Cultural Experience are extras you can add if they interest you.
• Premium drinks – Alcoholic drinks, sodas and specialty coffees or teas aren’t covered, unless your specific lodge says otherwise.
• Personal expenses – Room service, laundry, souvenirs and phone calls go on your own bill at checkout.
• Tips and gratuities – Tips for your driver-guide, boat captain and lodge staff are optional and appreciated, but they aren’t part of the price.
• Insurance – Travel, medical and baggage insurance are your responsibility, so it’s smart to arrange these before you leave.

Where Will You Sleep Each Night?

You’ll stay at a mix of comfortable lodges and hotels, each picked for its location near the park you’re visiting:

• Avian Court Hotel in Naivasha, close to the lake so you’re ready for your boat trip and walking safari.
• Sarova Woodlands in Lake Nakuru, positioned for easy access to the park’s rhinos and birdlife.
• Sentrim Mara Lodge in the Maasai Mara, your base for two full days of game drives.
• 2 Friends Beach Hotel in Entebbe, where you’ll land after flying in from Nairobi.
• Buffalo Safari Lodge in Queen Elizabeth National Park, near the Kazinga Channel boat launch.
• Gorilla Leisure Lodge in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, set up for an early start before your gorilla trek.

When Should You Book?

Uganda only issues a limited number of gorilla permits each day, so timing matters. Booking 3 to 6 months ahead is the safest way to guarantee your spot. if you’re traveling between July and October, you have another opportunity to witness wildebeest migration across the Mara River as crocodiles wait to feast on any unlucky wildebeest or zebra.

Your Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1: Nairobi to Lake Naivasha

Your adventure starts when one of our driver guides picks you up at 8:00 AM from your hotel in Nairobi. You will settle comfortably into a 4×4 land cruiser as you leave Nairobi behind and head into the Great Rift Valley. After you check in and have lunch at Lake Naivasha, you’ll board a boat for a calm cruise past pods of hippos and flocks of waterbirds. The boat will drop you at Crescent Island, where you walk freely among giraffes, zebras and impalas with no vehicle in sight. You’ll have dinner and spend your first night back at the lodge.

Day 2: Lake Naivasha to Lake Nakuru National Park

You’ll have breakfast first, then take a short drive deeper into the Rift Valley toward Lake Nakuru. Once you’ve settled in and had lunch, you’ll start your afternoon game drive at 3:30 PM along the lakeshore. You’ll scan for black and white rhinos, Rothschild’s giraffes, and maybe even a leopard before heading back for dinner.

Day 3: Lake Nakuru to Maasai Mara National Reserve

You’ll have an early breakfast to set you up for the overland drive across the valley floor toward Kenya’s most famous reserve (Maasai Mara National Reserve). After you have lunch at the lodge, you’ll head out again at 3:30 PM for your first taste of Mara game viewing, with the Big Five – Elephants, Buffaloes, Lions, Leopards on everyone’s mind. Other animals such as cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, antelopes, hyenas and savannah birds call this reserve home. You’ll wind down the evening around the campfire.

Day 4: Full Day Game Drive in the Maasai Mara

This entire day belongs to the reserve. You’ll set out early with a picnic breakfast to catch predators while they’re still active. Lions, cheetahs, and leopards are your main targets as you follow herds across the plains. You’ll have lunch wherever the action is best, often under an acacia tree or near the Mara River, so you don’t lose viewing time by heading back to camp.

Day 5: Maasai Mara to Nairobi, Then Fly to Entebbe

You’ll have a relaxed breakfast for one last look at the bush before checkout. You’ll arrive back in Nairobi around 2:30 PM and head straight to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your flight to Entebbe. Upon reaching Entebbe, an Iconic Africa Safaris representative will meet you at Entebbe International Airport regardless of your arrival time. You will then be driven you to your comfortable hotel in Entebbe for a relaxed dinner and overnight stay.

Day 6: Entebbe to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Your Ugandan driver guide will pick you up from your Entebbe hotel after breakfast and settle you into a 4×4 Land Cruiser for the 6 to 7 hour drive. Along the way, you’ll  have stopovers and the most one at the equator line in Kayabwe for photos before reaching your lodge in the afternoon to rest.

Day 7: Morning Game Drive and Kazinga Channel Cruise

You’ll wake early for breakfast, then head out at 6:30 AM while animals are still on the move. You’ll mostly look for elephants, buffaloes, lions and the occasional leopard, alongside kobs, impalas, topis, warthogs, hyenas and most likely African fish eagle. After lunch and a short rest, you’ll board a 2:00 PM boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel, home to the largest hippo population in the world. Keep your camera ready, since elephants and buffaloes often come down to drink right by the boat.

Day 8: Ishasha Sector to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

You’ll have breakfast early, then take a 6:30 AM drive through Ishasha, known for its tree-climbing lions that rest on thick branches of fig trees as they scan prey grazing in the distance. After this 2 hour experience, you’ll continue on to Bwindi, arriving around 3:00 PM to settle into your lodge before the next day’s main event (Gorilla Trekking).

Day 9: Gorilla Trekking & Optional Evening Batwa Cultural Experience

This is the day most travelers dream of. You’ll wake between 5:30 and 6:30 AM, eat breakfast and head to park headquarters for a 7:30 AM briefing. Groups stay small, with only 8 trekkers per gorilla family, matched by fitness level. It’s worth hiring a porter for $15 to $20, since they’ll carry your bag, keep you steady during hiking, and you’ll be supporting the local community directly.

By 8:00 AM, you’ll be hiking into the forest with armed rangers leading the way. The trek can run anywhere from 1 to 6 hours, depending on where the gorillas are that day. Once you find them, you’ll get a full hour to watch silverbacks standing guard, mothers nursing infants and young gorillas tumbling through the undergrowth.

Afterward, you’ll receive a trekking certificate before heading back to the lodge for lunch and rest. In the evening, you can choose between the Batwa Cultural Experience, where this forest community shares its traditions, or a relaxed stroll through nearby villages for handmade crafts.

Day 10: Departure through Kigali

After breakfast, you’ll leave Bwindi and head to Kigali for departure. If your flight timing allows, you can fit in a short Kigali city tour and visit the Genocide Memorial before flying home. We haven’t arranged accommodation for this final night, though we can add it in Kigali if you need it.

How Do You Book this Safari?

Booking this safari is simple and a consultant will respond to your request within 12 hours or less. You can reach out through any of these three channels:

• Email – This option works best if you want to write out specific requests. Send your preferred travel dates, group size and any other needs to info@iconicafricasafaris.com.
• WhatsApp – This channel gives you the fastest response. Message the team directly at +256767585369, or click the green icon in the bottom right corner of your screen.
• Booking Form – An online form sits right below this post. Submit your details, and the team will follow up with a detailed quote.

Whichever method you pick, the team will walk you through permit availability and lock in your dates and lodges. Since mountain gorilla permits are limited and sell out months ahead, reaching out 3 to 6 months early gives you the strongest chance of securing your preferred trekking date.