12-Day Kenya, Uganda & Rwanda Safari with Gorilla Trekking and Masai Mara
Day 1: Drive to the Masai Mara – Visit a Maasai Village
You will be warmly welcomed at the airport or hotel by your private guide. After a short briefing, step into your private Land Cruiser and head through the Great Rift Valley as you make your way to the world-famous Masai Mara.
Before checking into your lodge or camp, visit a traditional Maasai village (Manyatta). This cultural experience offers a glimpse into the rich traditions, dress, and daily life of the Maasai people. Witness traditional dances, learn about their customs, and explore their hand-built homes. It’s a fascinating introduction to the land you’re about to explore.
Driving Time: 4-5 hours
Day 2: Full-Day Game Drive in Masai Mara
After an early breakfast, set off on a full-day game drive inside the Masai Mara National Reserve. This park is one of Africa’s best safari destinations, known for its incredible density of wildlife and rolling savannah landscapes. Expect to encounter lions, elephants, giraffes, buffalo, and leopards.
You’ll also have a chance to see cheetahs hunting on the open plains and hippos wallowing in the Mara River. Depending on the season, you may even witness the Great Migration. Lunch will be served picnic-style in the bush, before continuing your wildlife adventure into the afternoon.
Day 3: Hot Air Balloon over the Masai Mara and Safari Game Drive
Begin your second day in the Maasai Mara with an unforgettable sunrise hot air balloon ride, floating over the vast savannah as the first light reveals herds of wildlife below. After landing, enjoy a bush breakfast before returning to your lodge.
Later in the afternoon, head back into the reserve for a game drive. As the heat of the day fades, animals become more active, offering prime chances to spot predators and grazing herds. End the day with a golden sunset over the Mara — the perfect close to an extraordinary day.
Day 4: To Lake Nakuru for Afternoon/Sunset Game Drive
After breakfast, you’ll depart the Masai Mara and enjoy a scenic drive north toward Lake Nakuru National Park. You’ll pass through small towns and beautiful highland landscapes as you make your way into the Great Rift Valley once again.
Driving Time: 4-5 hours
You’ll arrive at Lake Nakuru in the late afternoon and head straight into the park for an afternoon game drive. Known for its flamingos, endangered white rhinos, and lions, Nakuru offers a very different safari environment. Watch the sun begin to set over the lake as you check into your lodge or camp for the night.
Day 5: Morning Game Drive and Fly to Uganda
Begin the day with a morning game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park, where you’ll have another opportunity to spot rhinos, lions, giraffes, buffaloes, and the park’s well-known birdlife. The cool morning hours are ideal for wildlife viewing, offering a final chance to enjoy Nakuru’s landscapes before departure.
After the game drive, you’ll begin the journey back to Nairobi, traveling through the Great Rift Valley. Upon arrival in the city, you’ll be dropped off at the airport in time for your early evening flight to Uganda.
Transfer time: 3-4 hours
Once you land, a local Uganda guide will meet you and take you to your lodge for rest.
Day 6: Search for Dinosours at Mabamba Swamp and Drive to Kibale Forest
This morning, you’ll head to the shores of Lake Victoria for a shoebill trek, where you’ll first board a motorboat, then switch to a local community canoe to reach the heart of the swamp. Here, with the help of a professional birding guide, you’ll search for the legendary shoebill — a rare, dinosaur-like bird found only in a few parts of Africa.
After, you’ll depart for Kibale Forest, enjoying a scenic drive through lush countryside, rolling tea plantations, and lively local villages.
Driving Time: 5 hours
Day 7: Chimpanzee Trekking at Primate Capital of the World
This morning, head into Kibale National Park for an unforgettable chimpanzee trekking experience. Kibale is home to the highest density of chimpanzees in the region — over 1,500 individuals — making it one of the best places in the world to see them in the wild.
With the guidance of expert trackers, you’ll follow signs through the forest until you find one of the habituated chimp families. Once located, you’ll spend one hour observing their natural behavior — grooming, feeding, calling loudly through the forest, or moving swiftly through the canopy.
After the trek, continue your journey to Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Transfer time: 1-2 hours
Day 8: Game Drive and Boat Safari at Kazinga Channel
Start your morning with a game drive through Queen Elizabeth National Park, one of Uganda’s premier wildlife destinations. The park is home to an incredible variety of animals, including lions, elephants, buffaloes, and elusive leopards, often seen lounging in the shade.
In the afternoon, set off on a boat safari along the Kazinga Channel, home to one of the world’s largest hippo populations. You’ll glide past massive pods of hippos, crocodiles basking on the banks, and large herds of animals coming to drink. Few places in Africa offer such consistent and close-up encounters with wildlife.
In the evening, rest in your lodge or continue with a sunset game drive.
Day 9: Drive To Gorilla Land and Visit Batwa Community
Today, we leave the open savannah landscapes behind and journey toward Uganda’s ancient montane forests, a dramatic change in scenery and atmosphere. As we travel deeper into the highlands, the environment becomes cooler, greener, and more densely forested — the natural home of the endangered mountain gorillas.
If time allows, you may choose to take part in a guided walk through the Batwa community. This experience includes visits to basket weavers and a local school, storytelling about Batwa history and present-day life.
Transfer time: 5 hours
Day 10: Gorilla Trekking at Bwindi Forest
Today you’ll trek in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is home to nearly half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas. After a short briefing, set off with your guide into the forest to track one of the habituated gorilla families. Once located, you’ll spend one unforgettable hour observing them up close — playing, moving through the trees, and interacting with each other in their natural environment.
After the trek, continue your adventure to Lake Bunyonyi, one of the most breathtaking and peaceful places in Uganda.
Transfer time: 1-2 hours
Day 11: Islands of Lake Bunyonyi and Drive to Rwanda
Start your day at Lake Bunyonyi, one of the most beautiful and serene spots in Uganda. Surrounded by terraced hills and dotted with 29 small islands, this lake is Africa’s second deepest — and completely free of crocodiles and hippos, making it ideal for a peaceful experience. Here you will embark on a boat adventure to explore some of these islands, taking in the stunning scenery and getting a glimpse of local life along the lakeshore.
Afterward, cross the border into Rwanda and continue your journey to Volcanoes National Park.
Transfer time: 3 hours
Day 12: Golden Monkey Trekking in Volcanoes National Park
Today’s adventure offers an unforgettable experience in Volcanoes National Park. You will track the vibrant and energetic Golden Monkeys, known for their striking orange-gold coats and playful nature. Found only in a few places in the world, these rare primates leap through the lush greenery of the Virunga Mountains in large, lively troops—making for an incredible sight and a dream for photographers and wildlife lovers alike.
After the excursion, you will head to Kigali, arriving in the early evening.
Transfer time: 3 hours
Private Safari Cost
The price of each safari depends on the number of travelers, trip duration, and accommodation type. Below you can see approximate prices for each category.
Budget Friendly
For 2: $4,240 per person
For 4: $3,220 per person
Mid Range
For 2: $4,890 per person
For 4: $3,860 per person
Luxury Safari
For 2: $7,080 per person
For 4: $5,690 per person
Interested? Contact us
The price of each safari depends on the number of travelers, trip duration, and accommodation type. To get an accurate quote, please fill out the form below or message us on WhatsApp at +256 775 024 729 — we’ll get back to you with a personalized offer.
