8 Day Masai Mara, Gorilla & Chimpanzee Safari

Experience the ultimate blend of wildlife and primates with our 8 Day Masai Mara, Gorilla, and Chimpanzee Safari. Crafted especially for those seeking an unforgettable getaway, this journey caters to both nature enthusiasts and primate lovers, all within a compact timeframe. Embark on an adventure that spans the iconic Masai Mara National Park in Kenya to the captivating Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in South Western Uganda. Engage in exhilarating game drives, indulge in bird watching, immerse yourself in enriching cultural encounters, and embark on an awe-inspiring gorilla trekking expedition. This safari offers the pinnacle of each world, ensuring cherished memories and remarkable experiences in just eight days.

• 01

  Day 1: Arrival in Nairobi and Drive to Masai Mara (Approx. 4-6 hrs drive)

  Upon your arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, your friendly driver-guide will be waiting to meet you. Embark on a picturesque drive to the renowned Masai Mara Game Reserve. This extraordinary reserve is a haven for diverse wildlife and is celebrated as one of Africa’s finest wildlife sanctuaries. As you reach the camp, savor a delicious lunch before setting out on an enthralling evening game drive that extends until the sun dips below the horizon. Experience the awe-inspiring landscapes, vast plains, and an astonishing array of wildlife that call this place home.

  Meal Plan: En route Lunch & Dinner

  Accommodation: Mara Kati Kati Tented Camp (Budget) | Mara Sopa Lodge (Mid-Range) | Mara Serena Safari Lodge (Luxury)

• 02

  Day 2: Masai Mara Wildlife Encounters

  Spend the next two days immersed in the enchanting wilderness of Masai Mara. Embark on morning and afternoon game drives, where the rich grasslands provide an uninterrupted view of the incredible wildlife. Marvel at the vibrant avian population, boasting over 450 species, including 57 majestic birds of prey. Witness the iconic Great Wildebeest Migration from the Serengeti, a stunning spectacle that draws the big cats – lions, leopards, and cheetahs – to follow their prey into the Mara. Your time here promises exceptional wildlife sightings and unforgettable moments.

  Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

  Accommodation: Mara Kati Kati Tented Camp (Budget) | Mara Sopa Lodge (Mid-Range) | Mara Serena Safari Lodge (Luxury)

• 03

  Day 3: Drive to Nairobi and fly to Entebbe (Uganda)

  Depart Maasai Mara for Jomo Kenyatta International Airport with plenty of time for check-in. The flight to Entebbe International Airport takes about 1 hr 15 min.

  On arrival you’ll clear immigration (have your visa or e-visa) and meet your driver-guide for the short transfer to your hotel. Entebbe sits on the shores of Lake Victoria, so if time allows you can enjoy a lakeside sunset drink or dinner before an early night.

  Meal Plan:Breakfast, En-route Lunch | Dinner at the Hotel

  Accommodation Options:

  Budget: Airport View Guest House

  Mid-Range: 2 Friends Hotel

  Luxury: Hotel No.5

• 04

  Entebbe to Kibale Forest National Park (6-7 Hours Drive)

  Set off after an early breakfast and head west through central and western Uganda. The route passes through lively trading towns, banana plantations and rolling green hills, and the landscape changes as you approach the Rwenzori foothills. Plan a comfortable lunch stop along the way.

  As you near Fort Portal, the scenery turns to emerald tea estates and volcanic crater lakes, a good moment for photographs. You’ll arrive at your lodge in the late afternoon, in time to settle in, freshen up and enjoy dinner near the forest edge. Go to bed early, since tomorrow starts with very early briefing.

  Meal Plan: Breakfast, En-route Lunch, Dinner at the Lodge

  Accommodation Options:

  Budget: Chimpanzee Forest Lodge

  Mid-Range: Turaco Treetops

  Luxury: Chimpundu Lodge

• 05

  Day 5: Chimpanzee Trekking and Optional Bigodi Wetland Walk

  Morning: Chimpanzee trekking. Kibale is known as the primate capital of the world, and it holds one of the highest concentrations of primates in Africa. After a breakfast and briefing at the park headquarters, you’ll be assigned a ranger-guided group and head into the forest. Trekking time varies, from under an hour to several hours depending on where the chimps have moved, but the reward is spending up to an hour with our closest relatives. Watch them feed, groom, call and swing through the canopy. Along the way, look for red colobus, black-and-white colobus, L’Hoest’s monkeys and a rich variety of birds.

  Tip: Wear long sleeves and trousers, sturdy hiking boots and gloves, and carry a rain jacket and water.

  Afternoon (optional): Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary. This community-run sanctuary is a gentle, flat and rewarding nature walk, with several of the following to look out for:

  Grey-cheeked mangabeys, red-tailed and blue monkeys
  The great blue turaco and other Albertine Rift birds (over 200 species recorded)
  Butterflies, orchids and the sanctuary’s boardwalk through papyrus
  Local guides who share stories of the community’s conservation efforts

  Your visit also supports local development projects. Return to the lodge for dinner and a restful night.

  Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

  Accommodation: Same as Day 4

• 06

  Day 6: Kibale to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park (6-7 hours drive)

  This day’s drive takes you south through the scenic western region, passing the Queen Elizabeth National Park area and its crater lakes. Depending on your route and timing, you may travel through the Ishasha sector, famous for its tree-climbing lions. Keep your camera ready, since sightings are never guaranteed but are always memorable.

  The final stretch winds through terraced hills and the highlands of southwestern Uganda, often called the “Switzerland of Africa”. You’ll arrive at your lodge near Bwindi in the late afternoon and have time to rest and prepare for tomorrow’s trek.

  Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

  Accommodation: Gorilla Valley Lodge/Ride for a Woman (Budget) | Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge/Engagi Lodge (Mid-Range) | Gorilla Leisure Lodge/Buhoma Lodge (Luxury)

• 07

  Day 7: Gorilla Trekking and Optional Batwa Cultural Experience

  Morning: Mountain gorilla trekking. Wake early for breakfast and a briefing at your sector’s trailhead. You’ll be assigned a habituated gorilla family and set out with guides, trackers and armed rangers. The trek can be challenging, through dense, steep, misty forest, but porters are available to help carry your pack and assist on difficult sections.

  When you find the gorillas, you’ll have one hour in their presence. Watch silverbacks, mothers, playful juveniles and tiny infants going about their day. Bwindi is home to roughly half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas, and the experience is often described as the highlight of a lifetime.

  Tip: Minimum age to trek is 15. Bring gaiters, garden gloves, insect repellent and a waterproof bag for your camera.

  Afternoon (optional): Batwa Cultural Experience. The Batwa, the forest’s original inhabitants, share their traditions through a guided walk. You’ll learn about their hunting techniques, medicinal plants, fire-making and songs, and gain an understanding of their lives before and after the forest became a protected area. Proceeds support the Batwa community.

  Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

  Accommodation: Same as Day 6

• 08

  Day 8: Departure, with two options

  Option A: Drive to Entebbe via the Equator

  Drive: 9–10 hours

  This is a long but scenic return. You’ll cross the Equator at Kayabwe (a good photo stop), pass lively markets selling fruit and crafts, and reach Entebbe in the evening. Because of the length of the drive, we recommend booking an evening or late-night departure flight, or an overnight in Entebbe.

  Option B: Drive to Kigali, Rwanda

  Drive: 4–5 hours

  Cross the border (typically at Cyanika or Katuna, depending on your starting sector) into Rwanda and continue to Kigali. If time allows, enjoy an optional city tour including the Kigali Genocide Memorial, the Inema Arts Center, local craft markets and a café stop in this very clean, welcoming city. Your safari ends with a transfer to Kigali International Airport for your onward flight.

  Meal Plan: Breakfast & Lunch

  Accommodation: None unless requested