15 Days Maasai Mara & Uganda Safari with Gorilla Trek

Tour Plan

This 15-day East Africa safari combines Kenya’s Maasai Mara with Uganda’s rich primate and wildlife experiences for a truly comprehensive journey.

Begin in the Maasai Mara with exceptional Big Five game viewing across vast savannah plains, before continuing into Uganda to track chimpanzees in Kibale Forest and encounter mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.

Along the way, explore diverse landscapes including savannah parks, lakes, and lush rainforests, with opportunities for game drives, boat safaris, and cultural experiences.

With seamless cross-border logistics, expert guiding, and carefully selected accommodations, this itinerary delivers a deep and diverse East African safari adventure.

 

Safari Summary

• Start/End: Nairobi/Entebbe or Nairobi
• Status: Private Tour, departs on any day, open all year round
• Vehicle used: 4/4 Land Cruiser
• Accommodations: Tented Camps/Lodges
• Maasai Mara – 3 Nights, Entebbe – 1 Night, Murchison Falls – 2 Nights, Kibale – 2 Nights, Queen Elizabeth Park – 2 Nights, Ishasha – 1 Night, Bwindi – 2 Nights & Lake Mburo – 1 Night
• Activities: Gorilla trek, photography, nature walk, game drives, sightseeing, balloon ride, cultural visit & birding

 

Detailed Safari Itinerary

Day 1: Nairobi – Transfer to Maasai Mara, Approx. 5 hours

You will be picked by our tour guide/driver from your Nairobi hotel at 6.30a.m. Depart for Mara immediately to arrive in time for lunch. Later have game drive at 3p.m. till 6p.m.

Overnight: Zebra Plains or Basecamp/Sarova Mara/Entim or Mara Bush Camp/Kichwa Tembo

Meals: Lunch & Dinner

 

Day 2 & 3: Maasai Mara – Full day

Spend this day with a full-day game drive in search of the big five and many other wildlife that inhabits these beautiful savannah plains. There will be picnic lunch on the banks of Mara River.

Optional activities: Hot air balloon & guided nature walks

Overnight: Zebra Plains or Basecamp/Sarova Mara/Entim or Mara Bush Camp/Kichwa Tembo

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

 

Day 5: Entebbe – Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park, Approx. 5 hours

After an early morning breakfast, we will depart for Murchison Falls National Park. Enjoy a lunch stop in Masindi before we enter the park.

Note: There is Rhino tracking activity en route just before you get to the park. This tracking cost $50 per person.

Overnight: Paraa Safari Lodge/Fort Murchison Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

 

Day 6: Murchison Falls – Morning Game drive and afternoon Nile cruise

After an early morning breakfast you will enjoy a half-day game drive on the northern bank of the Nile. Wildlife in this park includes the elephant, Rothschild giraffe, Jackson harte beast, lions, oribis, waterbucks and a variety of savannah and woodland birds.

After lunch we will go on a Nile cruise for game viewing at close range. Watch how hippos take a bath, elephants come to drink and crocodiles lying lazy at the shores. We then disembark from the boat to visit the magnificent falls where you will enjoy and marvel at the mighty Nile.

The famous waterfall is being forced into a seven-meter crevice, to thunder 45 meters below in a series of cascades. This spectacular scenery can be viewed from different points up at the baker’s summit.

Return to the lodge later for dinner and overnight stay.

Overnight: Paraa Safari Lodge/Fort Murchison Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

 

Day 7: Murchison Falls – Transfer to Fort Portal, Approx. 5-6 hours

After breakfast, depart Murchison Falls and head towards Fort Portal. The drive will provide you with stunning views as you pass small African villages and banana plantations.

The lovely town of Fort Portal rests in the shadow of the renowned Mountains of the Moon and is famous for the many tea plantations.

Overnight: Crater Safari Lodge/Kyanginga Lodge/Chimp Forest Camp

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

 

Day 8: Kibale – Chimp Tracking & Bigodi Swamp walk

Today have early breakfast and transfer to park’s gates for briefing about chimp tracking. Thereafter, head out to the forest to look for the wild chimpanzee, red-tailed monkey, black-and-white colobus monkey and many others.

Kibale Forest is reputable for having the greatest variety and highest concentration of primates in East Africa.

After a hearty lunch we transfer to the Bigodi Swamp for another different nature walk. The Bigodi Swamp Walk is an initiative of the local community and is known for its rich diversity of birds and primates.

Overnight: Crater Safari Lodge/Kyanginga Lodge/Chimp Forest Camp

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

 

Day 9: Kibale Forest – Transfer to Queen Elizabeth, Approx. 3 hours

After breakfast depart for Queen Elizabeth National park to arrive in time for lunch. Enjoy amazing views of small lakes, plantations, meandering road and the majestic view of Rwenzori Mountain. Have first game drive on this day or spend time relaxing.

Overnight: The Bush Lodge/Kyambura Gorge Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

 

Day 10: Queen Elizabeth – Morning game drive + Afternoon boat cruise

Have morning game drive after breakfast then later return to the lodge for lunch. In the afternoon take a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, a natural channel between Lake Edward and Lake George.

Thanks to the abundant birdlife that is sighted, and the elephants, buffaloes and hundreds of hippos that are cooling off at the shores, this cruise will definitely be one of the highlights of your safari.

Overnight: The Bush Lodge/Kyambura Gorge Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

 

Day 11: Queen Elizabeth – Game drive – transfer to Ishasha

Have breakfast then have a short game drive as you head to the Southern part of the park called Ishasha arriving in time for lunch. Later have another final game drive.

Overnight: Ishasha Wilderness Camp

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

 

Day 12: Ishasha – Transfer to Bwindi

After breakfast, we embark on a game drive in search of tree climbing lions as well as seeing other animals like the topi, elephants, kobs etc. After lunch head to Bwindi arriving in the evening.

Overnight: Mahogany Springs/Buhoma Lodge/Bwindi Lodge/Sancuary Gorilla Camp

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

 

Day 13: Bwindi, Gorilla tracking

Another highlight of your safari: a meeting with the gentle giants of Bwindi!

Especially hikers will love the tracking in the beautiful ecosystem of the park. It is difficult to foresee how many hours you will hike, it may take 3 to 8 hours.

Expect to walk a long distance in steep and muddy conditions, sometimes with rain overhead, before you encounter any gorilla.

But it will be worthwhile as you observe them closely while they eat, play and rest. A unique and unforgettable experience!

You will carry packed lunch on this day.

Note: For conservation purposes, time spent with the gorillas is limited to one hour. The ranger guide always briefs you on how to behave with these giant apes. After trekking, return to the lodge for relaxation.

Overnight: Mahogany Springs/Buhoma Lodge/Bwindi Lodge/Sancuary Gorilla Camp

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

 

Day 14: Bwindi – Transfer to Lake Mburo, Approx. 3-4 hours

Have early breakfast then depart for Lake Mburo. This drive is a scenic one; the forest, monkeys on the road, meandering roads, small villages, plantations and lakes, it is very hard for one to get bored. Arrive Lake Mburo and immediately have a game drive till early evening when you check in at the lodge. You will carry picnic lunch from Bwindi this day.

Overnight: Mihingo Lodge/Mburo Safari Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

 

Day 15: Lake Mburo – Transfer to Entebbe, Approx. 4 hours

After early morning breakfast, depart for Entebbe and be dropped off at the airport.

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch