9 Days Primates of Uganda and the Masai Mara

The 9 days Primates of Uganda, and the Masai Mara in Kenya tour highlight gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Chimp trekking in Kibale Forest, and game safari in the Masai Mara “the Mara”. 

Safari Highlights

• An Encounter with the Chimpanzees in Kibale Forest 
• A guided nature walk in Bigodi Sanctuary for primate and birding 
• An encounter with the gentle giants of Bwindi Forest- Mountain Gorillas. 
• The Mara game safari in search of the ‘Big Five’

Safari Overview

Day	Activity	Accommodation	Meal Plan
1	Arrival	Hotel No 5	Bed only
2	Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park	Chimpundu Lodge	B, L, D
3	Chimpanzee Trekking and Bigodi Swamp Nature Walk	Chimpundu Lodge	B, L, D
4	To Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park	Mahogany Springs	B, L, D
5	Gorilla Trekking	Mahogany Springs	B, L, D
6	Flight to Nairobi	Emara Ole Sereni	B, L,  D
7	Nairobi – Masai Mara Game Safari	Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp	B, L, D
8	Game Safari Masai Mara	Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp	B, L, D
9	Masai Mara – Nairobi- Departure	Fly out	B, L,

Safari Itinerary

DAY 1:  ARRIVAL 

Upon your arrival in Entebbe, you will be picked up by a company representative and transferred to your hotel.  Accommodation at The Hotel No.5

DAY 2: KAMPALA – KIBALE FOREST NATIONAL PARK

After breakfast,  you will set off for the 9 days Primates of Uganda, and the Masai Mara safari. You will depart Kampala and head west to Fort Portal. Look out for black-and-white colobus monkeys, baboons, and more primates hiding in trees along the road. You will have lunch in Fort Portal Town, this area is famed for the fabled Mountains of the Moon and many tea plantations. From this lovely town, we will continue to Kibale National Park for a stay in the tropical forest. Accommodation and meals at Chimpundu Lodge

DAY 3:  CHIMPANZEE TREKKING & BIGODI SWAMP

Breakfast at 6:00 am head to the park arriving in time for a briefing session at 7:30 am at the park headquarters which is a 10 minutes stroll from the lodge. Enjoy a guided nature walk in the tropical rainforest in search of the chimpanzee, red-tailed monkey, black-and-white colobus monkey, and many others.

Upon sighting the chimpanzees, you will stay with them for one unforgettable hour as they continue their daily routine.

After lunch at the primate lodge, you will transfer to the Bigodi Swamp for a 2 hours nature walk- a home of 200 bird species including the Papyrus Gonolek and the Great Blue Turaco. The Walk is an initiative of the local community and is known for its rich diversity of birds and primates. Dinner and Overnight at Primate Lodge Kibale Cottages

Optional: instead of the chimp tracking and Bigodi Village Walk you can also opt for the Chimpanzee Habituation Experience. This project offers you the unique experience to join the ranger guides in their research program and spend an entire day with our ‘cousins’. You will watch the chimpanzees starting the day by climbing out of their nests and while following their daily activities, learn more about their way of life and have them habituated to human presence.

DAY 4:  KIBALE FOREST – BWINDI NATIONAL PARK

After breakfast, head to the southern part of Uganda passing through traditional homesteads and with a picnic lunch en route.  Proceed to Bwindi, home of the endangered mountain gorillas arriving in the evening.  Accommodation and Meals at Mahogany Springs

DAY 5:  GORILLA TREKKING

After breakfast, transfer to the national park offices where you will be allocated a gorilla family in groups of 8 as well as a gorilla tracking guide.

After a pre-tracking briefing by your guide touching on the gorillas generally, your assigned gorilla family as well as appropriate safety precautions, you drive to the trailhead for the start of a thrilling adventure – participants can expect to walk long distances in steep and sometimes muddy conditions with rain overhead, which can be challenging, however, the thrill of coming face to face with a giant Mountain Gorilla silverback far more than makes up for the effort in their quest. Granted the time taken can be quite unpredictable taking anything from 2 to 8 hrs or longer.

You will have a packed lunch from the lodge for this hike. Upon sighting the gorillas, you spend the allowed one hour with them as they go about their daily life; feeding, playing, and grooming– it is a totally unique and unforgettable experience!

You hike back to base from where you will be transferred back to the lodge for a well-deserved shower, some time to relax, and a great dinner. Accommodation and Meals at Mahogany Springs

DAY 6:  BWINDI NATIONAL PARK FLIGHT FROM ENTEBBE TO NAIROBI 

After breakfast, we depart the impenetrable forest of Bwindi and head back to Kihihi airfield for a flight back to Entebbe and thereafter connect for your flight to Nairobi where you will be welcomed by the company representatives.  Accommodation and Meals at Emara Ole Sereni

DAY 7: NAIROBI TO MASAI MARA 

Breakfast and then head to the western escarpment to Maasai Mara National Reserve arriving in time for lunch. The mara is known for its density of animals including the ‘Big Five’ and 453 species of birds. It is one of the most visited reserves in Africa. This National Reserve’s plains are predominantly open savannah, interspersed with patches of acacia woodland, and along the Mara River, riparian forest. Evening game drive in the park.  Accommodation and Meals at Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp

DAY 8: MASAI MARA 

After breakfast, you will have a full day devoted to game drives in the reserve, with time to explore more of Maasai Mara’s scenery and to catch a glimpse of the “The Big Five: lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo, and rhino. In addition to these, Maasai Mara teems with other fascinating wild animal species: giraffes, zebras, hippos, baboons, wildebeests, warthogs, gazelles, crocodiles, and numerous bird species.

The annual migration of millions of wildebeests, zebras, and gazelles between July to October is a spectacle not to be missed by any visitor to the Mara. The wildebeest, who travel in herds for more than 900 kilometers crossing from the Serengeti plains north to the Maasai Mara, encounter their final obstacle at the Mara River.

The Masai Mara is drained majorly by the famous River Mara, and the Mara River crossing is one of the most astonishing and absorbing spectacles, especially with the hungry crocodiles ready to pounce. After a full day of taking in nature’s sights.  Accommodation and Meals at Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp

DAY 9: MASAI MARA – NAIROBI

After breakfast and check out at the end of the 9 days Gorillas, Chimpanzees in Uganda, and the Masai Mara head back to Nairobi depending on the time of your flight, you will have lunch before proceeding to the airport for an onward flight back home. 

Included in the 9 Days Primates of Uganda and the Masai Mara 

Ground transportation in a safari customized 4WD Toyota Landcruiser with gasoline/fuel, Mineral water in the vehicle, services of an English-Speaking Driver/guide, Accommodation mentioned in the itinerary, Meals as shown (B-breakfast, L-lunch, D-dinner), all Park Entrance Fees and a Gorilla Permit.

Excluded in the 9 Days Primates of Uganda and the Masai Mara 

International Airfares; Excess baggage charges; Ugandan Entry Visa Fees; Items of personal nature such as Room service, Beverages, Laundry, Tips and Gratuities for your Driver/guide and Hotels staff, Shopping charges for Curios and Crafts, International Airport Departure Taxes, and Optional activities.