The 8 days Uganda primates and Masai Mara safari is an interesting safari that starts from Kampala Uganda and ends in Nairobi. The safari will take you to Kibale national park, Bwindi impenetrable national park and Masai Mara national reserve in Kenya. During the safari you will have great views of wildlife including the big five mammals which include elephants, buffaloes, lions, leopards, rhinos, other animals like elands, gazelle, topi, reedbucks, giraffes, zebras, hyenas among others which will be viewed during the game drives. You will also engage in an adventurous chimpanzee and gorilla trekking experience where you will be able to spend time with the chimpanzees and endangered mountain gorillas in their natural environment.

Highlights of the 8 days Uganda primates and Masai Mara safari

Day 1: Pick up and transfer to Kibale national park

Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi swamp walk

Day 3: Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park

Day 4: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park

Day 5: Transfer to Entebbe and fly to Nairobi

Day 6: Transfer to Masai Mara national park-afternoon game drive

Day 7: Full day game drive in Masai Mara national reserve

Day 8: Masai village tour and departure to Nairobi

Detailed itinerary       

Day 1: Pick up and transfer to Kibale forest national park

Depending on your arrival time at Entebbe international airport on day 1 of the 8 days Uganda primates and Masai Mara safari, you will be welcomed by our driver guide who will brief you about the safari and then transfer to Kibale national park. The journey takes about 6 to 7 hours drive and on the way you will have en-route lunch and enjoy stunning views of the farmlands, Rwenzori Mountains, tea plantations, Lake Gorge, crater lakes among others. Upon arrival in Kibale national park you will check into the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi swamp walk

Chimpanzee trekking,

After an early breakfast on day 2 of the 8 days Uganda primates and Masai Mara safari, you will meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Kanyachu Visitors Centre for chimpanzee trekking briefing. After the briefing you will be divided into a group of 6 people where each group will be allocated a chimpanzee family to trek and a park guide who is well conversant with trails in the forest. Trekking of chimpanzees in Kibale forest national park takes about 30 minutes to 5 hours depending on where the chimpanzees are located because they like to move from one place to another in search of food. During trekking you will be able to spot other primates such as grey cheeked mangabey, black and white colobus monkeys, red tailed monkeys, l’hoest monkeys, some bird species, plants among others. Once the chimpanzees are found you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their natural habitat which helps you to learn more about their behaviors, watch them feed, breastfeed, fight, hunt, enjoy the juveniles playing up in the trees, take photos and record the moments. After the face to face encounter with the chimpanzees you will trek back to the park headquarters where you will meet up with your driver guide to return to the lodge for lunch.

After lunch, you will go for an interesting nature walk in Bigodi swamp where you will be able to view different bird species, primates, plant species, beautiful butterflies, enjoy the cool breeze, relax your mind among others. After the swamp walk, you will return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 3: Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park

After breakfast on day 3 of the 8 days Uganda primates and Masai Mara safari, you will check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park. On the way you will have en-route lunch and then continue the journey to Bwindi impenetrable national park and upon arrival you will check in at the lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

 Day 4: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi national park

Gorilla trekking,

After an early breakfast on day 4 of the 8 days Uganda primates and Masai Mara safari, you will carry your lunch box and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to the park headquarters for a briefing about the rules, regulations and expectations of gorilla trekking. After the briefing you will be divided in groups of 8 people where each group will be allocated a gorilla family to trek and a park guide who is knowledgeable about the mountain gorillas. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park takes about 30 minutes to 7 hours depending on their location and during trekking you will be able to view forest birds, other primates, plant and tree species among others. Once the mountain gorillas are found you will be able to spend one hour with them which gives you an opportunity to learn more about their lifestyle, behaviours, habits, take photos, watch them carry out their daily activities and record the fascinating memories to show people back home.

After a breath-taking encounter with the gentle giants, you will trek back to the starting point where you will be awarded a certificate for participating in gorilla trekking and then meet up with your guide and then meet up with your guide to return to the lodge for an evening relaxation dinner and overnight.

Day 5: Transfer to Entebbe and fly to Nairobi

After breakfast on day 5 of the 8 days Uganda primates and Masai Mara safari, you will check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to start the journey back to Kampala. On the way, you will have en-route lunch and a stopover at the Equator where you will be able to buy souvenirs and take photos.

From the Equator, you will proceed to Kampala arriving early evening and upon arrival your driver guide will drop you off at Entebbe International airport for your flight to Nairobi and upon arrival, your driver guide will pick you up from the airport and transfer to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 6: Pick up and transfer to Masai Mara national reserve, afternoon game drive

After breakfast on day 6 of the 8 days Uganda primates and Masai Mara safari, your driver guide will pick you up from the hotel to transfer to Masai Mara national reserve with en-route lunch and stunning views of the landscape, scenery, rift valley escarpments among others. Upon arrival, you will go for an afternoon game drive where you will be able to view different animals like elephants, buffaloes, zebras, giraffes, lions, elands among others. After the game drive, you will drive to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 7: Full day game drive in Masai Mara

On day 7 of the 8 days Uganda primates and Masai Mara safari, you will have an early breakfast and meet up with your driver guide to go for a full day game drive in the reserve where you will be able to view various animals like buffaloes, rhinos, gazelle, elephants, elands among others grazing in the open savannah plains, view predators like lions, leopards, hyenas, cheetahs among others. In the middle of the day, you will have a picnic lunch and then continue with the afternoon game drive where you will be able to view other wildlife species. After the game drive, you will return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 8: Maasai cultural tour and departure to Nairobi

After breakfast on the last day of the 8 days Uganda primates and Masai Mara safari, you will check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to go for an interesting Maasai cultural tour where you will be able to interact with the Maasai people, learn about their culture, tradition, way of living, enjoy their traditional performance among others. After the cultural tour, you will start the journey to Nairobi with en-route lunch on the way. Upon arrival, your driver guide will drop you off at the airport for your departure flight or drop off at any place of advice.

End of 8 days Uganda primates and Masai Mara safari

Tour includes

• Gorilla trekking permit
• Chimpanzee trekking permit
• Park entrance fees/ game drives
• Maasai cultural tour
• All activities included in the itinerary
• Services of a professional English speaking driver guide
• Full board accommodation
• Pick up from Kampala/ Entebbe and drop off in Nairobi Kenya
• Vehicle and fuel
• Bottled drinking water

Tour excludes                                   

• Air flight tickets
• Visas
• Life insurance
• Optional activities not included on the itinerary
• Personal expenses like buying souvenirs, cigarettes, crafts, drinks, laundry services, hiring a porter, tips among others.