Kenya and Uganda Combined Safari – 10 Days

Upon arrival at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, your Essenia safari manager will meet you outside the arrivals area. You will be assisted to your safari vehicle and transferred to your hotel. Check in and pre safari briefing. Overnight stay at Azure Hotel Nairobi / similar. Bed and breakfast basis.

Breakfast at your hotel. Board your safari jeep and depart for Lake Nakuru National Park. Shortly after leaving Nairobi, you will begin your descent down the floor of the Great Rift Valley. You will enjoy a short photographic stop over at the viewing point where you can enjoy stunning views of this Geographical phenomenon. Proceed further past Naivasha, Gilgil and Elmenteita areas arriving at Lake Nakuru for check in, then lunch. This afternoon, you will enjoy game drives in the park and along the shores of the Alkaline Lake. Some of the rare sightings found here are the endangered White Rhinos and Rothschild’s Giraffes. The popular pink necked lesser Flamingos may be spotted here seasonally. Other wildlife found here include Lions, Buffalos, Spotted Hyenas, Elands, Water Bucks, Zebras and birds like Herons, Pelicans, Grebes, Egyptian Geese, and Ibis among several others. Overnight stay at Lake Nakuru Lodge / similar. (Meals: Lunch, Dinner).

After breakfast, depart for Masai Mara National Reserve at 0730 hrs. Arrival at your lodge on time for lunch. At 1530 hrs, begin your game drives in the search for the BIG 5 and several other animal and bird species until 1800 hrs. Overnight stay at Azure Mara Haven / Mara Sopa Lodge /similar (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner).

You will enjoy morning and afternoon game drives within the vast Masai Mara Reserve for 2 days. This is the time when most animals are more active before it’s too hot. You may also depart with picnic lunch after breakfast with near full day spent in the park and lunch enjoyed on the banks of the Mara River, returning to your camp by 1530 hrs. Masai Mara, an extension of Serengeti National Park to the north and sharing the same eco system is a popular wildlife safari destination due to the high density of Big game. There are over 95 mammal and 450 bird species found here including Lions, Elephants, Buffalos, Cheetahs, Leopards, Hyenas, Gazelles and Topis. The annual wildebeest and Zebra migration (over 1.2 million) from Serengeti also takes place here from June to October every year. OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES: During one of these of the mornings, you may book an optional Hot Air Balloon Flight and enjoys both the diverse landscape and wildlife of the Mara from a bird’s eye view. This ever-popular activity is highly recommended as it offers one an opportunity to experience the vast reserve both from the land and on air. The activity that begins as early as 0500 hrs culminates with a Champagne breakfast as well as issuance of a participation certificate by your pilot. Your guide can also arrange for a visit to a traditional Masai village (Manyatta) where you can join this pastoral community and learn more about their unique culture) Rest of the time will be at leisure relaxing at your lodge or enjoying a swim. Overnight stay at Azure Mara Haven /Mara Sopa Lodge / similar (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner).

Breakfast will be at your tented camp. Check out by latest 0730 hrs and drive back to Nairobi. Special barbeque lunch will be served at the famous Carnivore restaurant followed by transfer to the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your evening flight to Entebbe. Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by our guide who will then take you to Cassia Lodge (Mid-range) for an overnight and dinner. Meal plan Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Leave Kampala after breakfast for the fascinating drive through papyrus swamps and thick jungle of the Nile Delta to Kibale National Park just under the Rwenzori Mountains. Afternoon guided walk in the crater lakes area of the park for outstanding cultural visit. Meals and overnight at Primate Lodge-Forest Cottage (Mid Lodge). Meal plan: (B, L, D).

Half day search of chimpanzee and 10 other primates including phoestes, red Colobus, blues, and red tailed and grey cheeked mangabey. The guide will provide detailed explanations, not only on primates, but also on all the forest fauna and flora and will ensure that your walk is both informative and enjoyable. This walk is excellent for viewing bird life and seeing primates at close quarters. After lunch, proceed to Bwindi via Queen Elizabeth National Park and here you may spot many wildlife including Elephants, Buffaloes, among others. This is the lushest highland rain forest on earth, filled with primates and exotic birds, valleys, hilltops and papyrus swamps. Dinner and overnight stay at Silver back Lodge/Chameleon Hill Lodge Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

Begin the day with breakfast ready for trekking, which begins at 8:00 am with a briefing from the UWA staff. Ensure to carry along with you rain jacket, drinking water, snacks, jungle boots etc. The guides will lead you inside the jungle to see the shy Primates for a group you have been booked for. Do not forget to take your lunch boxes and all the necessary gear to track the rare Mountain Gorilla, perhaps one of the most exciting wildlife experiences on earth. The tracking may take between 2 and 6 hours but it’s well worth the effort. The afternoon is spent on a village walk. The Buhoma Village Walk gives you a great opportunity to see how the people surrounding Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. It also is a great way to support the local community in a direct way. The Walk begins with your guide at Buhoma Community Rest Camp and is most informative, rewarding to the average visitor. It will amaze you how resourceful the local people are as you see and learn their ways. Dinner and overnight stay at Silver back Lodge/Chameleon Hill Lodge (Mid-range) Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

Return to Kampala, then Entebbe, with lunch enroute and a stopover at Igongo cultural Centre to explore the lifestyle of the Ankole and Bahima, thereafter proceed at the Equator Uganda before your late evening departure flight to your next destination.