8 Days Uganda gorilla tour and Masai Mara safari

8-Day Uganda Gorilla Trekking & Masai Mara Safari

Embark on an unforgettable African journey that combines the ultimate primate encounters in Uganda with thrilling big-game safaris in Kenya’s Masai Mara. This 8-day cross-border safari immerses you in the raw beauty of East Africa, from misty rainforests teeming with gorillas and chimpanzees to the rolling savannahs where lions, elephants, and wildebeest roam free.

Perfect for wildlife lovers, adventure seekers, and cultural enthusiasts, this tour offers an expertly curated blend of gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking, hot air balloon rides, cultural interactions, and classic game drives.

Safari Overview

• Tour Type: Private or small group safari

• Starts in: Kampala/Entebbe, Uganda

• Ends in: Nairobi, Kenya

• Duration: 8 Days / 7 Nights

• Destinations Covered: Kibale Forest National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Jinja (Source of the Nile), Masai Mara National Reserve

• Key Highlights:

  • Gorilla trekking in Bwindi

  • Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale

  • Whitewater rafting on the Nile

  • Hot air balloon safari in the Mara

  • Cultural visits to Batwa and Maasai communities

  • Big Five game drives

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Kampala to Kibale Forest – Bigodi Wetland & Crater Lakes Tour

After an early breakfast in Kampala, your driver-guide will pick you up and begin your scenic drive to western Uganda. En route, enjoy views of tea plantations, rolling hills, and rural villages.

Stop in Fort Portal for lunch before proceeding to Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, a community-based eco-tourism project near Kibale. This tropical wetland hosts over 200 bird species including the great blue turaco, and is also a habitat for monkeys, bush pigs, and otters.

After the swamp walk, enjoy a short hike to the nearby Ndali-Kasenda Crater Lakes, a beautiful cluster of volcanic lakes surrounded by lush greenery.

Drive Time: Approx. 6 hours
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation Options:

• Budget: Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse

• Mid-range: Turaco Treetops

• Luxury: Papaya Lake Lodge

Day 2: Chimpanzee Tracking in Kibale – Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

Begin your day with an early morning briefing at the Kibale Forest National Park headquarters before heading into the forest to track a community of wild chimpanzees. Spend up to one hour observing them as they feed, groom, and swing through the trees.

You may also encounter other primates such as black-and-white colobus, red-tailed monkeys, and grey-cheeked mangabeys. After the trek, return for lunch before driving south through scenic countryside, past banana plantations and terraced hills, to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Drive Time: Approx. 7–8 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation Options:

• Budget: Broadbill Forest Camp

• Mid-range: Rushaga Gorilla Camp

• Luxury: Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge

Day 3: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi – Batwa Cultural Encounter

After an early breakfast, proceed to the Bwindi park headquarters for a briefing. Then venture deep into the jungle with your guide to find one of the habituated mountain gorilla families.

The trek can take anywhere from 1 to 6 hours depending on the gorillas’ location, but the reward is worth it: an hour spent face-to-face with these gentle giants, observing their social behaviors and capturing incredible photos.

In the afternoon, visit the Batwa pygmies, the original forest dwellers of Bwindi. Learn about their hunter-gatherer traditions, listen to storytelling, and watch traditional dances.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Same as Day 2

Day 4: Bwindi to Kampala – Equator Stop & Igongo Cultural Centre

After breakfast, begin your journey back to Kampala. Stop in Mbarara for lunch at the Igongo Cultural Centre, which features a museum showcasing the history of western Uganda’s Ankole people.

Later, stop at the Ugandan Equator for photographs, a water demonstration, and souvenir shopping. Arrive in Kampala in the evening and check in to your hotel.

Drive Time: Approx. 9–10 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation Options:

• Budget: Excellent Hotel Kampala

• Mid-range: Cassia Lodge Buziga

• Luxury: Sheraton Kampala / Lake Victoria Serena

Day 5: Whitewater Rafting in Jinja – Source of the Nile – Flight to Nairobi

Drive to Jinja, East Africa’s adventure capital. Experience whitewater rafting on the mighty Nile or opt for quad biking, kayaking, or bungee jumping (optional). Afterward, take a boat cruise to the Source of the Nile, where the river begins its journey to the Mediterranean Sea.

Later, return to Entebbe Airport for your evening flight to Nairobi, Kenya, where a driver will meet you and transfer you to your hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation Options:

• Mid-range: Meridian Hotel

• Luxury: Tamarind Tree Hotel / Sopa Lodges

Day 6: Nairobi to Masai Mara – Afternoon Game Drive

After an early breakfast, depart Nairobi for the Masai Mara National Reserve, one of Africa’s top wildlife destinations. Arrive in time for lunch at your lodge or camp before heading out on your first game drive.

The Mara is famous for its rich populations of big cats (lions, leopards, cheetahs) and large herbivores including elephants, giraffes, zebras, and buffaloes.

Drive Time: Approx. 5–6 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation Options:

• Budget: Lenchada Tourist Camp

• Mid-range: Mara Sopa Lodge

• Luxury: Mara Serena Safari Lodge

Day 7: Full-Day Safari in Masai Mara – Hot Air Balloon Ride

Start your day with an optional hot air balloon safari (optional, advance booking required). Float over the golden plains as the sun rises and wildlife stirs below—a truly magical experience. After breakfast in the bush, spend the day exploring the reserve on game drives.

Search for the Big Five—lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino—as well as herds of antelope, wildebeest, warthogs, and crocodiles along the Mara River.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Same as Day 6

Day 8: Maasai Village Visit – Return to Nairobi

After breakfast, visit a traditional Maasai village to interact with the semi-nomadic Maasai people. Learn about their herding culture, traditional architecture, and customs. Then begin your journey back to Nairobi with lunch en route.

Drop-off at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport or your preferred hotel marks the end of your 8-day adventure.

Drive Time: Approx. 5–6 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Tour Price Includes:

• All ground transport in 4×4 safari vehicle with English-speaking guide

• Gorilla and chimpanzee trekking permits (subject to availability)

• Accommodation and meals as specified

• Park entry fees and ranger guides

• Masai Mara hot air balloon safari

• Whitewater rafting and Source of the Nile tour

• Cultural visits (Batwa & Maasai villages)

• One-way flight from Entebbe to Nairobi

• Bottled drinking water during drives

• Airport pick-up and drop-off

Excludes:

• International flights and visa fees

• Tips and personal expenses

• Alcoholic beverages and extra snacks

• Travel and health insurance

Optional Extensions:

• 3-Day Serengeti Safari (Fly-in from Mara to Serengeti)

• 2-Day Lake Nakuru & Lake Naivasha Safari

• 7-Day Rwanda Primate & Wildlife Tour

• Beach Holiday Extension in Zanzibar or Mombasa