On this 15-Day Gorillas-Mara and Serengeti Safari, you will visit four East African countries: Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, and Tanzania. Be ready for an amazing and unforgettable East African wildlife experience.
Gorillas-Mara and Serengeti Safari Highlights
- Day 1: Arrival and Pick up from Entebbe International Airport, Uganda
- Day 2: Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Day 3: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park – Gorilla Trekking
- Day 4: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park – Rwanda
- Day 5: Volcanoes National Park – Gorilla Trekking
- Day 6: Transfer to Kigali and City Tour
- Day 7: Transfer to Arusha – Tanzania – Flight
- Day 8-9: Serengeti National Park – Game Drives
- Day 10-11: Ngorongoro Conservation Area – Crater Game Drive
- Day 12: Transfer to Maasai Mara National Reserve – Kenya
- Day 13-14: Maasai Mara National Reserve – Game Drives
- Day 15: End of Safari
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival and Pick up from Entebbe International Airport, Uganda
On arrival at the airport in Uganda, your Uganda safari guide will meet and welcome you to the country and drive you to your hotel where you will spend the night, either in Kampala or Entebbe.
Day 2: Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Early in the morning after your breakfast, your safari guide will pick you from your hotel and you will drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in southwestern Uganda. Enjoy the beautiful sights along the way, with stops for lunch and another at the Equator. By evening you will be in Bwindi, check in at your safari lodge, and have a restful night.
Day 3: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park – Gorilla Trekking
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is home to the endangered mountain gorillas. A gorilla trekking adventure will bring you close to these gentle giants. You will be driven to the park headquarters for a briefing and meet your ranger guide who will lead you on this adventure.
Head into the dense forest in search of the gorillas. It may take 2 to 6 hours or more depending on where the gorillas nested the night before. Spend an hour with the gorillas and then return to the headquarters where your safari guide will drive you back to your lodge for lunch. Later, you can visit the Batwa community for a cultural tour.
Day 4: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park – Rwanda
After breakfast and check-out, you will leave Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and cross the border into Rwanda, heading to Volcanoes National Park. Arrive at your safari lodge in the afternoon, check in, have lunch, and spend the rest of the day at leisure.
Day 5: Volcanoes National Park – Gorilla Trekking
Experience the endangered mountain gorillas again, this time in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda. After briefing at the park head offices, you will be assigned to a group of 8 visitors and a gorilla family to trek.
Enjoy the scenery as you trek. After the trek, return to the park offices, meet your safari guide, and drive back to your lodge for lunch. Later, visit the Gorilla Guardians Village for a cultural experience.
Day 6: Transfer to Kigali and City Tour
Transfer to Kigali for a city tour and an overnight stay. Places to visit include the Kandt Museum, Kigali Genocide Memorial, Inema Art Center, local markets, and craft centers. Buy gifts and souvenirs.
Day 7: Transfer to Arusha – Tanzania – Flight
After breakfast, your safari guide will pick you from the hotel and drive you to Kigali Airport to catch your flight to Tanzania. On arrival at the airport in Arusha, your Tanzanian safari guide will meet you and drive you to your hotel in Arusha for the night.
Day 8-9: Serengeti National Park – Game Drives
Explore Serengeti National Park for two days with game drives to different areas of the park to maximize your wildlife sightings. Serengeti is famous for the wildebeest migration and is home to many animal and bird species, allowing for year-round game viewing. You may spot the Big Five animals during your visit.
Optional activities include a hot air balloon safari, birding safaris, guided walking safaris, and a Maasai community visit.
Day 10-11: Ngorongoro Conservation Area – Crater Game Drive
Explore the world’s largest unbroken caldera during your two-day visit to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The Ngorongoro Crater is home to over 25,000 animals and many birds, offering great game sightings. You can also take part in birding safaris and guided nature walks.
Day 12: Transfer to Maasai Mara National Reserve – Kenya
Depart Serengeti National Park for Maasai Mara National Reserve in southern Kenya, just across the Tanzanian border and adjacent to Serengeti.
Day 13-14: Maasai Mara National Reserve – Game Drives
Explore Maasai Mara National Reserve, the most famous reserve in Kenya. The Mara plains are part of the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem that supports the annual wildlife migration. Expect to see animals like lions, elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, zebras, hyenas, wildebeests, elands, gazelles, leopards, and jackals. Visit the Mara River for more wildlife sightings.
Optional activities include a Maasai community visit, a hot air balloon safari, and guided walking safaris.
Day 15: End of Safari
Today marks the end of your 15-day East African safari. You will be dropped off at Jomo Kenyatta Airport.
