How To Plan A Masai Mara Game And Gorilla Trekking Safari

How To Plan A Masai Mara Game And Gorilla Trekking Safari

A combination of Masai Mara game safari in Kenya and gorilla trekking tour in Uganda gives you an opportunity to spend a moment with multitudes of wild animals especially during the great wildebeest migration and the only mountain gorillas living in the world.

For gorilla trekking adventure in Uganda, you need to secure first gorilla permit from the Uganda Wildlife Authority which is the only ticket that allows you entry into the Uganda National Park. In case you are gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, book accommodation with in our outside the gorilla trekking area reserved on your permit.

Note that the peak season in Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya is normally June to August when The Great Wildebeest migration is in high gear. The Great Wildebeest Migration is one of nature’s 8 wonders where millions of wild animals cross the Mara River from the Serengeti National Park. The trigger for the exodus of these multitudes of Wild animals is still a mystery as both carnivore and herbivores are part of this.

Since Kenya and Uganda are in the East African community, to cross from one country to another may not require applying for another visa as longs as you possess the East African Tourist Visa

Itinerary For Game Safari In Masai Mara And Gorilla Trekking Safari

Highlights

Day 1 Drive To Masai Mara National Reserve

Day 2 Game Drive In Masai Mara National Reserve

Day 3 Second Game Drive In Masai Mara National Reserve

Day 4 Fly To Entebbe Airport Uganda

Day 5 Drive To Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Day 6 Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Day 7 Departure

Details Of 7 Day Game Safari In Masai Mara and Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Forest

Day 1 Drive To Masai Mara National Reserve

Early morning, the driver guide picks you from Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. Reserve the way, you get to enjoy the stunning features beautifully situated enroute. Masai Mara National Reserve is one of the most sought after Kenya safari destinations. During the Great Wildebeest migration  millions of wild animals take an exodus from Serengeti National Park in Tanzania into Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya.

Even when out of the great wildebeest migration period, Masai Mara National Reserve is still that go to safari destination that you cannot erase from the African destinations to visit. The Park hosts several animals that can be seen while on game drive you may spot lions, leopards, giraffes, wildebeests, warthogs, hyenas, cheetahs, herds of elephants and others.

Dinner and Over Night

Day 2 Game Drive In Masai Mara National Reserve

Wake up early for a morning game drive in Masai Mara National Reserve and while driving on the tracks of this park, you may find animals including cheetahs, lions, herds of elephants, herds of buffaloes, impalas, zebras, kudus, wildebeests, hartebeest, klipspringer, warthogs, cheetahs, hyenas,   and others.  Don’t drive off track as this is penerised by the Kenya Wildlife Service because it is one way of trampling on vegetation.

Having a 4×4 wheel drive vehicle is recommended because of the nature of the terrain of Masai Mara National Reserve. As many vehicles drive through the tires lift the dust in the National Park leaving the environment dusty.  During the dry season, the game drives in Masai Mara National Park are carried out under the scotching sun so donot forget to carry some water to use for quenching thirst.

During the game drive in the peak season that normally includes great wildebeest migration, Masai Mara National Reserve has a huge population of different wild animals that can be seen moving around the park. You can also plan to do picnic lunch in the park with approval from the ranger guides.

Return to the lodge

Day 3 Second Game Drive in Masai Mara National Reserve

Rise up early for another game drive in Masai Mara National Reserve. You may get the chance to spot other animals you may have missed the previous day. While driving along the tracks of Masai Mara National Reserve, you may get the chance to spot animals including zebras, giraffes, lions, leopards, hyenas, wild dogs, impalas, wildebeests, elands and many others

Later in the day, you may choose an optional visit to the Masai community. The Masai are a special community in Kenya conservative with their culture. By nature the Masai depend on cattle and pastoralism is there way of life since time immemorial. The Masai live in Manyattas where the communally watch over the security of there cattle for possibilities of cattle rustlers.

When with the Masai community, you may get the chance to particular in their day today life including milking, beadwork and others. There may be a chance to watch and participate in the traditional dance moves of the Masai people where you are required to jump. Spending time with the Masai gives you a glimpse into the life of Masai that is nor common with other communities.

Return to your lodge

Day 4 Fly To Entebbe Airport Uganda

After this Kenya Safari to the Masai Mara National Reserve, fly to Entebbe Airport in Uganda. Uganda is a landlocked country in Africa neighboring Kenya on the eastern side, Tanzania on the Southern border, Rwanda in the southwestern part, South Sudan in the north and D.R.Congo in the western border.

Uganda is naturally endowed with great flora and fauna that live in mainly Uganda National Park, game reserves and others. A number of wildlife conservation areas are dotted in several parts of Uganda but the mountain gorillas stand on the top tier of the country. Mountain gorillas in Uganda are a high endangered primate specie living in only Uganda, Rwanda and D.R.Congo in the entire world.

Accommodation in Kampala or Entebbe Serena Hotel, Protea hotel, Boma Guest House,

Meal plan Bed and Breakfast

Optional Uganda Safari activities to do In And Round Kampala or Entebbe

Visit Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary

Visit Source of River Nile

Kampala City Tour

Entebbe Town tour

Excursion to Uganda Wildlife Education Center

White water rafting

Day 5 Drive To Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Drive early morning for breakfast and start the road trip to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The distance from Kampala or Entebbe to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is about 530 kilometers with drive time of approximately 8 to 9 hours.

Along the way, you may get the chance to stop at the equator to perform the water experiment, take photos standing in both the northern and southern hemisphere at the same time. Enjoy the rolling hills of Kigezi sub-region, the deep valleys with meandering rivers and others.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is home to the mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, olive baboons, red tailed monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, blue monkeys and others. More than 350 bird species are residents of Bwindi forest, more than 88 months, 315 butterflies, over 200 tree species and others.

Accommodations in Bwindi forest Gorilla Forest Camp, Bwindi View Guest House, Ruhija Safari lodge, Gorilla safari lodge and others.

Day 6 Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Get up early for breakfast and report to the ranger station for briefing. Donot forget to carry your gorilla trekking gears and packed lunch as return time is not easy to determine. Chances of hiring the porter to assist with carrying your belongings is possible while at the ranger station. Some of the Porters are reformed poachers who have resorted to benefiting from the forest by doing this work.

After briefing, the ranger guide leads the way to the trail head leading where the mountain gorilla family allocated to you was last seen the previous day. The ranger guide also fallows clues provided by the early trackers who wake up to trace where the mountain gorillas may have spent the night.

Before finding the mountain gorillas, you may look out for other forest inhabitants including several primates, several bird species including Albertine rift endemics, different plan species and others. Finally, when you find the mountain gorillas, try to keep the rules of gorilla trekking to avoid agitating these sensitive primates.

Watch the gorilla family go about there day today life includes feeding, grooming, playing, napping and others. The feeling you get when in just a few meters from the mountain gorillas is full of mixed emotions as you realise that the physical appearance of these primates differs from there characters. Most tourists wish to even stay longer watching the mountain gorillas but only one hour is allowed with these primates during gorilla trekking.

Get back to your lodges later to wind and unwind from the gorillas trekking experience.

Day 7 Departure

After the game safari in Masai Mara National Reserve Kenya and gorilla trekking safari in Uganda, drive back to Entebbe airport to catch up with your flight back home.

How Much Is The Cost Of Masai Mara Game Tour In Kenya And Gorilla Trekking Safari In Uganda

The cost of the game safari in Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya and gorilla trekking experience in Uganda varies with category that is Upmarket, mid range or basic. Across all safari budgets in Uganda or Kenya are the compulsory costs that is parks entrance fees before entering the park or Uganda gorilla permit

The supporting safari logistics are included in the cost of is tour that is accommodation costs, transport costs and others.

Don’t forget to carry some hard cash to use for on ground expenses including purchasing souvenirs, tipping, paying for other interesting on ground safari activities.

At the moment the cost of the Uganda gorilla trekking tour is $800 for international nonresidents, $700 for international residents and 300000shs of East Africans

The cost of Park entrance fees for Masai Mara National Reserve vary with season. That is in the peak season when the great wildebeest migration is in high gear, the demand for safaris to this Masai Mara is high and is the cost of Park entrance.

Do I Need To Apply For A Visa To Cross Into Uganda From A Kenya Safari               

When travelling from Kenya into Uganda, in case you have the East African visa, you may not be required to apply for another visa. In case from your country is required to posses a visa before entering Uganda, you may apply for a visa before travelling or acquire one on arrival but this may consume some time especially if your Uganda safari is commencing on arrival.

At Arch Safaris And Tours we advise our clients to seek clarity about your travel itinerary from your travel agency so that you are not disturbed on arrival especially when your Uganda safari is starting soon on arrival.

Can I Do Balloon Game Safari In Masai Mara National Reserve In Kenya

The balloon game viewing safari in Kenya is available in Masai Mara National Park a unique experience where chances of spotting multitude of animals from a more elevated point can be enjoyed. Masai Mara National Reserve is a vast park and from the tracks you may fail to see animals in different parts of the park.

The number of people allowed in each basket for each balloon is minimized to prevent overcrowding. From the aerial view, you get to experience the beauty of Masai Mara National Reserve.

From the balloon safari, you may get to see animals including giraffes, wildebeests, herds of elephants, impalas, elands, buffaloes and others.

How To behave While on Game Safari In Masai Mara National Reserve and gorilla Trekking in Uganda

In general the game safari in Kenya Masai Mara and Gorilla Trekking in Uganda include seeing wild animals in there natural setting so you must not make noise as this may scare these animals. Mountain gorillas are very sensitive to unfamiliar noise in there presence.

Donot to dump garbage in the wilderness because this alters the environment where these wild animals live.

Avoid going off track or trail because this destroys the vegetation where the wild animal live.

Ensure not to get out of your vehicle during the game drive in Masai Mara as there are predators. For gorilla trekking adventure, don’t enter the park without an escorting ranger guide