14 Days Uganda & Kenya Wildlife Safari
On 14 days Uganda & Kenya Wildlife Safari you will not only see but also have an amazing safari-experience? We’ll pick you up from Entebbe Airport (Uganda) and drive you in only 4 hours to Lake Mutanda in Uganda, from where you will set off early to meet the endangered Gorillas in Bwindi National Park. After this amazing encounter you will then continue your tour to Kenya to explore the beautiful Masai Mara National Reserve, Lake Nakuru National park, Lake Naivasha. Additionally for those looking to commune with the gorillas plus spotting predators on a game drive, this is the perfect tour.
Briefing Itinerary of the Uganda & Kenya Wildlife Safari
Arrival at Entebbe international airport, transfer to Entebbe
To Kibale forest national park
Chimpanzee trekking
To Queen Elizabeth national park, afternoon game drive
Game drive and boat safari on the Kazinga channel
To Lake Mutanda
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi forest National Park
Kigali international airport, flight to Nairobi, and transfer to Nairobi
Lake Nakuru National park
To Masai Mara game reserve
Full day game drives in the Masai Mara
Full day game drives in the Masai Mara
To Lake Naivasha, boat safari on Lake Naivasha
To Nairobi international airport, departure.
Day 1: Arrival and Welcome to Uganda
Your driver/guide will straightaway pick you up from Entebbe airport and transfer you to Via via Guesthouse. This is certainly where your Paradise Adventure Vacations driver/ guide will find you tomorrow morning for the start of your tour after a good breakfast.
Depending on the time of your arrival, Uganda & Kenya Wildlife Safari, you might be able to explore the area. There are many options in Entebbe and easily organized through the reception of Via via Guesthouse. For example a visit to the Botanical gardens or the Ugandan Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC).
Destination: Entebbe International Airport
Accommodation Option
Mid-range: Via Via Guesthouse
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Drinking water throughout
Day 2: Fort Portal/ Kibale Forest National Park
Today, you will undertake the journey to green Kibale Forest. The drive is incredibly scenic, passing through tea plantations and the lush green countryside which characterizes so much of Uganda. On arrival at the forest, you will then enter a completely different world some serious monkey business! U
Kibale Forest National Park lies just outside the colonial town of Fort Portal and is made up of dense tropical rainforest. This park is considered one of the big highlights of Uganda due to some serious monkey business going on here. A big number of primates residing can be found here and particularly a visit to one of the habituated chimpanzee groups is a very memorable experience.
The rare red colobus as well as the black and white colobus, red tailed monkey, olive baboon, the blue Monkey and l’hoest’s monkeys are also regularly seen here. Where would you find a better spot to experience encounters with nature; smelling the forest and listening to the many sounds. Your safari tent or cottage is surrounded by lush green diversity filled with countless bird species and butterflies.
Destination: Kibale Forest National Park
Accommodation Option
Mid-range: Turaco Treetops
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Drinking water throughout
Day 3: Kibale Forest National Park, Chimpanzee Tracking & Swamp walk
Chimpanzees share 98% of human genes making them our closest living relatives. They are found in 21 countries throughout Africa, but are most easily sighted in Uganda due to their dense populations. Today, Uganda & Kenya Wildlife Safari in Uganda, there are approximately 5,000 chimpanzees left in the wild.
The Chimpanzee Trekking experience here is done on several well maintained walking trails. There is also a wonderfully diverse concentration of other primates, more than any other forest in East Africa, in fact.
Besides our delightful cousins, the chimpanzees, you can find red colobus, red-tailed guenon, white-nosed monkey, gray-cheeked mangabey, blue monkey, L’Hoest’s monkey, and the black and white colobus monkey. In addition, you may see olive baboons, bush babies and nocturnal pottos.
The aim for your trekking through the jungle under the care of professional guide, is 1 hour of eye to eye contact with the chimpanzees. We can however cannot guarantee 100% for you to see them as they are still wild animals; nevertheless your chances are very good.
Your next activity will also take you to the Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary which features 8 primate species, over 200 bird species and many reptiles. During the walk – which takes 2 to 3 hours – you have a chance to many animals but the highlight is catching a glimpse of a famous bird; the Great Blue Turaco.
The sanctuary is operated by KAFRED, a registered community based organization. The income from the walk is used for community development projects such as schools and hospitals.
Destination: Kibale National Park
Accommodation Option
Mid-range: Turaco Treetops
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Drinking water throughout
Day 4: To Queen Elizabeth National Park
Scenic Queen Elizabeth National Park is specifically located in south western Uganda and is most often included in visitors’ itineraries. It is the second largest park in the country and located at the base of the majestic Rwenzori Mountain range, next to Lake Edward and Lake George which are joined by the Kazinga channel.
Few reserves in the world have such a high biodiversity with landscapes for instance savannah, bushland, wetlands and lush forests. On your first game drive, it is time to explore the Queen Elizabeth National Park with her 200 kilometers of well-maintained game viewing tracks. We also advise for you to be alert and pro-active on your game drive to help the ranger spot as many animals as possible.
Destination: Queen Elizabeth National Park
Accommodation Option
Mid-range: Marafiki Safari Lodge
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Drinking water throughout
Day 5: Queen Elizabeth National Park, Park Game Drive & Boat Safari on the Kazinga Channel
After an early breakfast, Uganda & Kenya Wildlife Safari you go for a long game drive in time to see the sun rise. The morning is the best time for a game drive as the African animal kingdom tends to me most active when during the golden hours of the first sunlight touching the savannah. You will continue the search for all the wildlife; elephant, buffalo, lion, water-buck, leopard, Uganda kob, warthog and do not forget about the birds and the primates.
After lunch, you will eventually take a boat safari along the Kazinga Channel. While here, you will see a lot of hippos (more than you can possibly imagine), as well as a variety of other animals which come to the waterhole to drink or bathe. You can expect to see: Buffalo, Crocodile, bathing Elephant, and a range of beautiful birds. This will undoubtedly be one of the highlights of your tour. After the boat-safari you game drive back to the lodge.
Destination: Queen Elizabeth National Park
Accommodation Option
Mid-range: Marafiki Safari Lodge
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Drinking water throughout
Day 6: To Lake Mutanda/ Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Today you drive to Kisoro in the south-western part of Uganda; close to the borders with Rwanda and Congo. You cross a beautiful part of the country often referred to as ‘the Switzerland of Africa’. You will see a great country-side, bamboo forest and have great views over the Virunga Mountains. For lunch you will basically stop at a local restaurant on the road (lunch is not inclusive).
Mutanda Lake Resort offers one of the best views in Uganda. Perched on a peninsula in Lake Mutanda, isolated in the shadow of the Virunga Mountain Range, this lodge offers comfortable accommodation in a very unique corner of the country.
Situated between Kisoro town, Mgahinga and Bwindi National Parks the Resort certainly makes a perfect base for a gorilla trekking, volcano hikers, bird-lovers as well for those looking for a secluded magical place in nature.
Lastly, don’t forget to take your chance to dip in the lake as it is Bilharzia free, so safe to swim, peddle board or canoe amongst the locals going about their daily business on the lake! The sunset scenes are spectacular so make sure to be on one of the verandas (with a sundowner drink in hand) at that time.
Destination: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Accommodation Option
Mid-range: Mutanda Lake Resort
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Drinking water throughout
Day 7: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, Gorilla Tracking
Today is the big day. Prepare yourself for an encounter with one of Bwindi’s gentle giants: the rare Mountain Gorilla. For most people this is the absolute highlight of their tour in Uganda.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a highlight for many visitors as this is where they will be visiting the home of the gentle giants. The park lies in southwestern Uganda on the edge of the Rift Valley. Uganda’s oldest and most biologically diverse rain-forests lies on the mist-covered hillsides. This magnificent forest dates back over 25,000 years, even surviving the last Ice Age (most forests disappeared).
Bwindi forest has an incredible diversity of flora and fauna and is the only forest in Africa which can make claim to host both mountain gorillas and chimpanzees. In fact, half the worlds’ population of gorillas live here divided over nine habituated family groups.
The gorillas you will trek belong to one of nine family groups who can tolerate the presence of humans for a brief period every day. Your trek will be an exciting (for some also challenging) journey along forested (sometimes slippery) slopes, entwined vines, bushes and bamboo before you eventually reach the gentle giants.
En-route, your guide will point out signs of previous gorilla activity. Think of dung, nests and chewed bamboo shoots. The time to complete the gorilla trekking can be as little as 2 hours to as much as 7 hours! Once the family of gorillas has been located, you will be allowed a maximum of one hour observing them.
Destination: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Accommodation Option
Mid-range: Mutanda Lake Resort
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Drinking water throughout
Day 8: To Nairobi via Kigali
Today you have some time to relax at Lake Mutanda. After lunch the driver of Mutanda Lake resort will take you to Kigali airport in Rwanda. Please note that activities in Kigali and accommodation in Kigali are not inclusive in the itinerary.
You will certainly fly with Kenya airways from Kigali to Nairobi. This one way flight is included in your tour price! Flight details Kenya airways
On arrival at Jomo Kenyatta international airport your driver/guide will be waiting to pick you up from you flight.
You will spend your first night in Wildebeest Eco camp located outside of the busy town centre of Nairobi. The beautifully-appointed deluxe safari tents and other comfortable accommodation, will be a welcome place to stay before and after your safari. You can enjoy the peaceful tropical gardens, which are home to hundreds of varieties of plants and birds, while still being close to shops, markets, cinemas, banks, Nairobi National Park and transport links.
Destination: Nairobi Kenya
Accommodation Option
Mid-range: Wildebeest Eco Camp
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Drinking water throughout
Day 9: Lake Nakuru National park
After an early breakfast you certainly head to the first national park of your trip! Lake Nakuru national park. On your way you will basically have a stopover at Thomson Falls and the Rift valley view point from where you can take beautiful landscape pictures.
On the floor of the Great Rift Valley, surrounded by wooded and bushy grassland, lies the beautiful Lake Nakuru National Park. You will not only enjoy the ecological diversity butalso varied habitats that range from Lake Nakuru itself to the surrounding escarpment and picturesque ridges. Lake Nakuru National Park is basically ideal for game drives, bird watching and hiking.
On arrival you will go for a long game drive in the park to spot for example lions, buffalos, antelopes, warthogs and many other wildlife. Lastly, you will go back to the lodge for a nice lunch and some time to relax. Around 4 PM you will go for an evening game drive when the light is the most beautiful to make excellent landscape pictures.
Destination: Lake Nakuru National Park
Accommodation Option
Mid-range: Flamingo Hills tented camp
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Drinking water throughout
Day 10: Masai Mara National Reserve, To the Masai Mara
After an early breakfast you will head to the world famous Masai Mara game reserve on the border with Tanzania. An excellent year round animal concentration and known for its typical short savanna plains. Home to the great migration in the months July – October when two million Wildebeest make their way northwards from the Serengeti in Tanzania.
On arrival at the gate you will then have a long en-route game drive towards the tented camp where you will spend the coming two nights. After a nice lunch you will continue with an afternoon game drive to spot for example lions, buffaloes, antelopes and hippo’s and crocodiles in the Mara River.
Destination: Masai Mara National Reserve
Accommodation Option
Mid-range: Mara Eden safari camp
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Drinking water throughout
Day 11 & 12:Masai Mara National Reserve, Full day game drives in Masai Mara/Uganda & Kenya Wildlife Safari
Today you will have a full day of game drives ahead. Before sunrise you will try to spot different predators that might made a kill last night. You will however return for breakfast at the camp while the sun rises over the game reserve.
You can also decide to take a packed lunch for a full day game drives or come back at the camp for a hot lunch. Meanwhile, the secret on sighting a lot of animals is to do different game drives on different time and areas for the highest success rate.
After this exciting day you will then come back to the camp where you can relax with a cold drink on your veranda with a view of the Mara River!
Destination: Masai Mara National Reserve
Accommodation Option
Mid-range: Mara Eden safari camp
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Drinking water throughout
Day 13: Lake Naivasha National Park, To Lake Naivasha, Boat safari/Uganda & Kenya Wildlife Safari
An en-route game drive will take you to the gate of Masai Mara. Then arrive at Lake Naivasha for a late lunch.
Lake Naivasha is home to a wide variety of wildlife including a sizeable population of hippos which usually invade our property during their nightly forays for food.
Being a freshwater lake, it also has a healthy fish population to include Black bass, Tilapia and Crayfish which attract a variety of fish-eating birds such as Long-tailed and Great Cormorants, along with Fish Eagles, Pelicans, and various types of Kingfishers. In the afternoon you will then do a boat safari on the lake to see the birds and hippos.
Lastly, tonight you will spend the night in the beautiful Naivasha Sopa lodge. Set in one hundred and fifty acres of grassland studded with Acacia bushes and trees, the resort is not only home to the resident giraffe, waterbuck and both Vervet and Colobus monkeys, but it is also a night stop for the hippos when they leave the lake every night to come and trim the grass on our expansive lawns.
Destination: Lake Naivasha National Park
Accommodation Option
Mid-range: Naivasha Sopa Lodge
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Drinking water throughout
Day 14: Departure/Uganda & Kenya Wildlife Safari
Today is unfortunately the last day of your trip with Paradise Adventure Vacations. After breakfast you straightaway head back to Nairobi.
However, depending on the time your flight departs, there might be some time left today to do an optional activity in Nairobi. Additionally all activities today are at your own expense. Your driver/guide will surely take care of your transfer to Jomo Kenyatta international Airport. Thus the end of our Safari.
Thank you for specifically choosing Paradise Adventure Vacations and we hope to see you again.
Destination: Nairobi Kenya
Accommodation: No
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Drinking water throughout
Tour Includes
Transport in a 4×4 minivan with pop-up roof;
Professional English speaking safari guides in Kenya & Uganda;
Accommodations as per programme;
Meals as per programme;
National park entrance fees as per programme;
All activities as per programme;
One way flight from Kenya to Uganda with Kenya airways;
Chimpanzee permits
Gorilla permit
Airport transfers
Tour Excludes on Uganda & Kenya Wildlife Safari
International flights;
Entry visa for Uganda & Kenya;
Personal (medical/travel) insurance;
Tips and gratuities to your driver/guide, hotel staff, etc.
All activities that are not mentioned in the programme or activities that are mentioned as optional;
Government Taxes and any increment in park fees;
All expenses of a personal nature (e.g. laundry, souvenirs etc.)
Transport:
Transport is provided in a 4×4 Minivan with pop-up roof for excellent game viewing.
Upgrade to land cruiser:
It is possible to upgrade your transport to a 4×4 extended land cruiser! Contact us for more information about the upgrade prices: info@paradiseadventurevacations.com
Driver/Guide:
Your driver/guide is a professional and experienced English-speaking guide.
Journey times:
All journey times are certainly close approximations, as you can never quite guarantee what will happen on the African roads. You could be in for a bumpy ride on parts of the route (which adds to the excitement of being on safari!), we may encounter road works and, of course, there are the photo stops.
Although you may sometimes be seated for long periods, you will be passing some spectacular countryside and there will always be something of interest to see along the way!
Best of Uganda & Kenya Wildlife Safari
We believe in value for money. Every guest would like to have the most reliable and comfortable vehicles on safari. In response to the clients’ needs, we have a very strict vehicle replacement policy that ensures a young fleet at all times. We have a total fleet of 225 well-maintained motor vehicles, predominantly 4-wheel drives. This does away with the problem of sub-contracting vehicles and driver-guides, which may compromise the quality of services. Our safari vehicles are specifically converted for maximum space and comfort. All of them have hatched roof and sliding windows to facilitate good viewing and convenient photography during game drives and sight seeing.
