18 Days Uganda & Kenya Safari
This 18 Days Safari takes you to some of the most exclusive wildlife areas the two countries have to offer. From g gorilla trekking to wildlife game drives and cultural visits, this trip has it all. The tour starts in Uganda and ends in Kenya. So, we advise you to get an East African Tourist visa.
TOUR OVERVIEW
Day 1 Arrival in Uganda
Day 2 Travel to Lake Mburo-Evening game drive
Day 3 Optional activities and travel to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Day 4 Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable forest and visit Batwa community.
Day 5 Travel to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 6 Full day game drive and boat cruise
Day 7 Chimpanzee trekking and optional activities in the afternoon
Day 8 Travel to Murchison falls National Park
Day 9 game drive and boat cruise
Day 10Travel to Jinja via Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
Day 11 Adventure in Jinja
Day 12 Travel to Kisumu
Day 13 Travel to Nakuru
Day 14 Lake Nakuru National Park
Day 15 Travel to Masai mara
Day 16 and 17 Full Day game drive
Day 18 Travel to Nairobi
DETAILED ITINERARY
Day 1 Arrival in Uganda
On arrival at Entebbe airport, meet your safari guide from Mandela Safari Holidays who will welcome you to Uganda and then transfer you to your Hotel in Kampala or Entebbe. It is also on this day that you will be briefed about your whole tour.
Meal plan – Dinner
Accommodation – Via Via Guesthouse
Day 2 Travel to Lake Mburo
After having breakfast, travel to Lake Mburo National Park. You will have a stop at the equator village(kayabwe) for some photo shoot and arrival will be in the afternoon.Check in your lodge and then an evening game drive. This is famous for large herds of zebras and impalas. Other animals to see include, elands, waterbucks, buffaloes, giraffes and so on. You arrive in time for an afternoon boat trip which gives you chance to see hippos, crocodiles, water birds, buffaloes and so on. You are to have a night game drive. A night game drive is very rewarding in Lake Mburo National park and gives you chance to see some of the nocturnal animals. Commonly seen animals include; leopards, aardvarks, hippos, porcupines and so on.
Meal plan – Breakfast, lunch and supper
Accommodation – Rwakobo Rock/ Arcadia Lodges Mburo
Day 3 Optional Aactivities and travel to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
After breakfast, feel free to join any of the optional activities such as a bike safari, horseback safari, walking safari and so on.You then travel to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. This forest is home to more than half of the world’s only surviving mountain gorillas. It is also home to several mammals and birds and is a World Heritage site. Check in your lodge for overnight.
Meal plan; Breakfast and dinner
Accommodation – Gorilla Mist Camp
Day4 Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
After a morning breakfast, you will report to the Gorilla trekking starting point for paperwork and a short briefing. From there you will proceed with your search for the endangered primates with your packed lunch. When searching for gorillas, expect to set your eyes on other creatures, for example red tailed monkeys, baboons, blue monkeys, black and white Columbus monkeys, many bird species and many more. The trekking may take 1 to 6 hours depending on where the gorillas will be residing that day. On encountering them, you will be given a full hour to enjoy their company and there is no limit to the number of pictures you can have with them. From there you will return to our lodge to relax.
Meal plan; Breakfast and dinner
Accommodation – Gorilla Mist Camp
Day 5 Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park via Ishasha
On this day, you will have breakfast at leisure and after travel to Queen Elizabeth National Park via Ishasha with a game drive. This southern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park is famous for its tree climbing lions and if lucky you may spot them in the fig trees. Arrival will be in the evening when you will check into your lodge, have dinner, and relax as you prepare for the next day.
Meal plan; Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Accommodation – Tembo Safari Lodge/Pumba Safari Cottages
Day 6 Full day Game drive and boat cruise
This day takes you to game drives at Kasenyi sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park. This game drive will give you a chance to see lions, elephants, buffaloes, warthogs, antelopes and many more. You will return to your lodge for lunch and later go for an afternoon boat cruise. While on the boat cruise on the Kazinga channel. This is the water stream that joins lake George to Edward and is said to have the largest concentration of hippos in the world. You will get a chance to see more wildlife for example waterbucks, buffaloes, many bird species and many more. From there, you will return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Meal plan; Breakfast and dinner
Accommodation -Tembo Safari Lodge/Pumba Safari Cottages
Day 7 Chimpanzee trekking and optional activities
After a morning breakfast, you will report to the chimpanzee trekking starting point for briefing and paperwork. From there you will start on your search for man’s closest relative “the chimpanzees.” You will trek them in Kalinzu which is a sector in Queen Elizabeth National Park. While trekking the chimpanzees, expect to set your eyes on other creatures for example black and white colobus monkey, Red tailed monkeys, Baboons, blue monkeys, lions, many bird species among others. The trekking may take 2 to 6 hours depending on where you will find the Chimpanzees that day therefore you will carry your packed lunch to be on a safer side. On encountering them, you will be given a full hour to enjoy their company and you can take as many pictures with them as you want. From there you will return to your lodge to relax. After a bit of relaxation, feel free to take on any of the optional activities, for example nature walk, community walk and experience among others. From there you will return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Meal plan; Breakfast and dinner
Accommodation – Tembo Safari Lodge/Pumba Safari Cottages
Day 8 Travel to Murchison falls National Park
After a morning breakfast, you will embark on your journey to Murchison Falls National Park. You are to have lunch on the way and your arrival will be in the late afternoon. On arrival you will check into your lodge for dinner and relaxation.
Meal plan; Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Accommodation – Hornbill Bush Lodge/Heritage Safari Lodge
Day 9 Game drive and boat cruise
After a morning breakfast you will start on your journey to do a game drive on the northern bank of River Nile, and this is where much of the game is concentrated. While on the drive expect to see elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, waterbucks, lions, many bird species, such as blue Turaco, herons, kingfishers, long crested eagles, black and white casqued hornbill, and many more. After the drive you will go back to your lodge for lunch and after have an afternoon boat cruise which will also give you chance to see more of wildlife for example buffaloes, elephants, waterbucks, many bird species like great egrets, and many more. From the boat cruise you will check into your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Meal plan; Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Accommodation – Hornbill Bush Lodge/Heritage Safari Lodge
Day 10 Travel to Jinja via Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
After a morning breakfast, embark on a short morning game drive and later checkout of the park. You will embark on your journey to Jinja with a detour to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for Rhino Trekking. You will trek Rhinos on foot under the guidance of an experienced game ranger. This is the only place you can see Rhinos in Uganda and therefore worth your time. From there you will continue with your journey to Jinja. This is the adventure capital of East Africa.
Meal plan -breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Accommodation – The Mansion Hotel Jinja
Day 11 Adventure in Jinja
After a morning breakfast, feel free to take part in any of the many optional activities Jinja has for you, for example zip lining, kayaking, swimming, quad biking, fishing, white water rafting among others. In the afternoon, you will have a boat trip from Lake Victoria to the Nile River. You will be able to see the real source of the River Nile. This is where the Nile River starts its journey to the Mediterranean Sea.
Meal plan; Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Accommodation – The Mansion Hotel Jinja
Day 12 Travel to Kisumu
After having breakfast, continue East of the country to cross to Kenya via the Busia border. You will cross into Kenya and and travel to Kisumu town, one of the big ports on Lake Victoria.
Meal plan -breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation – Grand Royal Swiss Hotel Kisumu
Day 13 Travel to Nakuru
You are to have breakfast and then travel to Lake Nakuru National Park to spend the night. Arrival will be in the afternoon.
Meal plan – breakfast and dinner
Accommodation – The Legacy Hotel
Day 14 Game Drive in Lake Nakuru National Park
After having early breakfast, you will have a game drive which focus on Lake Nakuru. Lake Nakuru occupies over 70% of the park making a great spot for bird lovers. Birds to see include the African fishing eagles, greater and lesser flamingos, Egyptian gees, pelicans and
so on. This park also has a reputation of being the best place to see rhinos. It is home to both white and black rhinos. Other game to see includes giraffes, zebras, buffaloes, lions, leopard, warthogs and so on.
Meal plan – breakfast and dinner
Accommodation – The Legacy Hotel Nakuru
Day 15 Travel to Masai Mara
After having breakfast at leisure, you will travel to Masai Mara. You arrive in the afternoon and visit a masai community. On this tour you will be introduced to some masai traditions such as starting fire without a lighter, visit a typical masai homestead, visit a masai market and enjoy a presentation from their community. Be ready to participate in the presentation as it is healthy for your muscles (can you jump higher than a masai warrior?).
Meal plan -breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation – AA Lodges Masai Mara
Day 16 & 17 Full day game drive
Having had breakfast, have a full day game viewing on the vast plains of the Masai Mara giving you chance to see lions, cheetahs, buffaloes, zebras, warthogs. Masai Mara is famous for having a huge population of game. Part of your game drives will focus along the Mara river. This is where the wildebeest tend to cross from Tanzania to Kenya. This is known as the migration of the wildest. Even without the migration, this great river is full of hippos and crocodiles, something you should not missout. Dinner and overnight at lodge.
Our game drives will mainly focus on Ngama hills for black rhinos, Sand River for large herds of elephants, hammer kop plains and Kissenger for lions, Keekorok for hippo viewing.
Meal Plan – Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Talek Bush Camp
Day 18 Travel to Nairobi
Wake up for a fine breakfast and then checkout ofthe park. Your guide will drive you back to Nairobi to catch your flight hence end of safari. Meal plan, breakfast, and lunch Accommodation – Not included.
Highlights
Gorilla trekking
Chimpanzee trekking
Golden monkey trekking
Sight seeing
boat trip in Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls National Park
Nature walks
Game drives
Cultural visits
Included in the price.
Airport transfers
1 gorilla permit per person valued at US Dollars 700
1 chimpanzee permit per person
1 golden monkey permit per person
Rhino trekking fees
All park entrance fees.
Game drives
Visit to a Masai community.
All meals breakfasts and dinners
All accommodation
Fuelled 4WD safari car (Toyota Landcruiser)
English speaking guide/driver
Bottled drinking water.
Not included in the price
Porter for gorilla trekking (if you need one)
Activities marked optional in the itinerary.
lunches
Drinks besides water
Packing list
Insect repellent
A pair of sunglasses
Personal camera
A pair of binoculars
Note that the weather at Bwindi is unpredictable, it can rain at any time.
Enjoy your safari!
