The Ultimate Guided Uganda/Rwanda/Kenya Safari Itinerary

A Private Uganda/Rwanda/Kenya Safari Itinerary Guide and tips You Should Steal. Discover East Africa with The Bespoke African Safari Co. This 13 Days journey through Uganda, Rwanda, and Kenya the Wild dreams come true. Enter the realm of the endangered mountain gorillas in Uganda‘s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest for a day of following and viewing these charming creatures. See somber memories of Kigali’s horrific history, see the local life on the streets, and witness a beautiful country that is constantly striving to progress. Explore the immense grasslands of the Masai Mara from the comfort of four-wheel drive Landcruiser, with a skilled local leader at the helm, meet Maasai warriors and learn about their way of life. This fantastic private safari in Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya will live on in your memory for the rest of your life.

Explore Uganda, Rwanda, and Kenya’s amazing wildlife and strong cultures.

Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda Safari Itinerary

Day 1: Kampala

Hello and welcome to Uganda! Your gorilla experience begins in Kampala, the country’s capital. At 6 p.m. tonight, a welcoming gathering will be held at your hotel, where you will meet your local leader and fellow travelers before learning what to expect on your tour. If you arrive early, visit the Uganda Museum to learn about the country’s cultural legacy, or visit a local craft market to peruse the colorful stalls and interact with the merchants. Following your meeting, join your guide and a small group for dinner at a colorful East African restaurant popular with locals. Enjoy live music, beverages, breathtaking vistas, and an authentic shared dining experience bursting with regional flavor.

Meals: Dinner
Included Activities: Kampala – Welcome dinner

Day 2: Lake Mburo National Park

Lake Mburo National Park: Uganda and its Breathtaking Nature will Surprise You

There are no activities planned until tonight’s big welcome gathering at 6 p.m., so you can arrive whenever you choose. Please inquire at the hotel desk as to where it will take place. If you can’t find a flight that will get you there in time, try arriving a day early so you can attend. Please notify the hotel reception if you will be late. We’ll be collecting your insurance information and next of kin information during this meeting, so please have them ready to provide to your leader.

Meals: Breakfast
Included Activities: Lake Mburo – boat cruise

Day 3: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

After breakfast, proceed to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park (approximately 6 hours). Arrive at Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge, your Feature Stay for the next three nights. The lodge, located high on the Nteko Ridge, provides breathtaking views of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, which is home to half of the world’s 800 mountain gorillas. View the imposing Virunga Mountains and Albertine Rift Valley. Beautiful homes built with locally sourced materials, a terrace overlooking the forest canopy, and a fireplace for cooler nights make this an eco-friendly paradise. The lodge is solar-powered, carbon-neutral, and closely collaborates with the locals. Here, you’ll be greeted with genuine Ugandan hospitality – when they wish you welcome, they truly mean it. There’s no better place to absorb in the wilderness and look for mountain gorillas. This evening, gather your group and leader in the lodge for a hearty meal.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Important Information

Water is provided in jars to avoid the usage of plastic at the lodge. We recommend that you bring a reusable water bottle that can be replenished in the dining area. Today’s drive is around 6 hours long, with plenty of opportunities to stop and enjoy the spectacular African scenery along the way.

Day 4: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

Gorilla Trekking Safari A Journey into Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

Early in the morning, take a short stroll to the park headquarters, where the Uganda Wildlife Authorities will educate you on the gorilla trek. The walk might be tough, wet, and uncomfortable at times, but the extraordinary biodiversity of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, as well as the opportunity to observe rare mountain gorillas, make it well worth it. We propose hiring local porters to carry your pack and provide experienced, local one-on-one support along the way. It not only makes for a more comfortable journey, but also provides residents with crucial employment prospects. Gorilla hiking is strictly regulated, with only 24 permits available each day. When you come across a troop of gorillas, you will be able to spend an hour with them, watching them swing from trees, groom each other, and play, all under the careful eye of a massive silverback. Meeting a family of mountain gorillas will undoubtedly be a life-affirming event that will stay with you for the rest of your life. Enjoy a picnic lunch in the gorgeous rainforest of nature. The amenities of the hotel await at the end of the day, as does the opportunity to reflect on a fantastic day. After a nice shower, relax with a sumptuous dinner beside the crackling fireplace.

Included Activities: Bwindi National Park – Mountain Gorilla Permit & Trekking
Meals: Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Important Information

Be advised that the trek can be hard, with altitudes reaching nearly 2,000 meters above sea level. Some of the trails can be slippery depending on the weather, and the paths themselves can alter depending on where the gorillas are. As a result, predicting how long you will need to walk is difficult, although a decent degree of fitness is needed for this excursion. Rangers may assign you to different trekking groups based on your level of fitness, and the group may be separated. Those who find the trip the most difficult are frequently assigned to a Gorilla group closer to the mountain’s base, but this cannot be guaranteed.

Day 5: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast on the terrace with a view of the forest, created by an in-house chef to highlight the best locally grown ingredients. The day is yours to do as little or as much as you want – your leader will be able to assist you in tailoring a day that best meets your interests. The second day of hiking is available for those who want to view the gorgeous mountain gorillas again. The lodge provides a variety of walking safaris led by passionate local specialists as part of its sustainable tourism effort. Explore woodland trails, meet local communities, and take in even more breathtaking vistas. You may prefer to simply unwind at the lodge and sip a drink at the jungle bar. Tonight’s dinner at the lodge will be a one-of-a-kind experience. You’ll be joined by a Uganda Wildlife Authority ranger who will give you an inside look at the critical and difficult job rangers play in maintaining the gorilla’s natural habitat. Learn about the close and life-saving ties they build with gorillas and ask any questions you have about gorilla communication or the unique life of a ranger.

Optional Activities

• Bwindi Impenetrable Forrest – Nombe Forest Pocket (5-6hrs) – USD120
• Bwindi Impenetrable Forrest – Trek To The Top of The World (2-3hrs) – USD50
• Bwindi Impenetrable Forrest – Coffee Tour & Lake Mutanda Canoe (6-7hrs) – USD120
• Bwindi Impenetrable Forrest – Gorilla Buffer Zone Walk (2-3hrs) – USD50

Meals: Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: Kigali/Nairobi

After breakfast, leave the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and continue the trek to cross the border into Rwanda and onto its city, Kigali (approximately 4 hours). When you arrive in the city, go to the Genocide Museum, which is a dramatic yet confronting experience that is essential in comprehending the suffering and resilience of the Rwandan people. Take some time to explore Kigali on your own, then say farewell to your guide and take a solo aircraft to Nairobi, Kenya (approximately 2.5 hours). When you arrive in Nairobi, a Bespoke African Safari Co. representative will meet you at the airport and transport you to your hotel.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 7: Nairobi

The day is yours to enjoy Nairobi until this evening’s welcoming meeting. You can book an Urban Adventure to see the city, or your magnificent hotel has much to keep you engaged – with views of the Nairobi National Park, you can see zebras, giraffes, antelope, and buffalo lazing at the waterhole. There’s also a beautiful restaurant, a swimming pool, and a huge deck where you can observe wildlife. Gather at your hotel at 6 p.m. for a meeting to welcome any new travelers who will be joining you for the next leg of your journey. Following the conference, join your leader and fellow travelers for a colorful roadside restaurant serving traditional favorites with a modern twist. Sharing food is an important part of the culture here, and it’s a terrific way to get to know your new travel companions — try sharing platters and scrumptious sides like samosas, fried plantains, and tilapia.

Included Activities: Complimentary Airport Arrival Transfer, Nairobi – Welcome Dinner

Optional Activities

• Nairobi – City Experience Urban Adventure – USD55
• Nairobi – From Farm to Feast In Focus Urban Adventure – USD86
• Nairobi – Giraffes & Elephants Urban Adventure – USD70

Meals Included: Dinner

Day 8: Lake Naivasha / Lake Nakuru

Lake Naivasha, Lake Elementaita, Lake Nakuru With Mount Longonot

After breakfast, depart Nairobi for Elsamere, heading north over the Great Rift Valley escarpment. Elsamere was the former home of writer Joy Adamson, whose 1960 book ‘Born Free’ helped popularize wildlife conservation. The mansion is a genuine museum dedicated to Joy and George Adamson’s endeavors, with many images of Elsa, the lioness that started it all. Enjoy a high tea lunch on the grounds that Joy has cherished for many years. After that, you’ll have a boat ride on Lake Naivasha, the highest of the Great Rift Valley’s lakes and a favorite of hippopotamuses. Later, dine with the lake as a tranquil backdrop. Continue to your Lake Nakuru resort after lunch, arriving in the early evening. From your lodge, you’ll have stunning views of Lake Nakuru and the neighboring national park, which is alive with bird songs and teeming with wildlife. What better way to take it all in than from the infinity pool at your lodge?

Included Activities:

• Lake Naivasha – Boat trip
• Lake Naivasha – Elsamere Conservation Centre

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Special Information: Today’s total driving time is approximately 4 hours

Day 9: Lake Nakuru National Park

This morning, you’ll drive to Lake Nakuru National Park in a four-wheel-drive vehicle (4×4) to see the park’s spectacular centerpiece, the lake. It’s crucial to carry warm clothes in the mornings because it might get cold here. You can see why this enormous soda lake has been hailed as the world’s greatest ornithological show; flamingo seas frequently color the landscape a sweeping shade of pink. Unfortunately, recent flooding has resulted in a fall in birdlife; nonetheless, the park is home to a diverse range of other animals, including waterbuck, reedbuck, and gazelle. Leopards can also be found here, and the odds of seeing one are high. Return to the lodge for lunch before embarking on another afternoon game drive. Keep a lookout for the elusive black rhinoceros, one of Africa’s most endangered animals. While seeing a white rhinoceros is quite common, seeing a black rhinoceros is a special treat.

Included Activities:

• Lake Nakuru – Afternoon 4×4 Game Drive
• Lake Nakuru – Morning 4×4 Game Drive

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 10: Masai Mara National Reserve

Travel southwest to the Masai Mara, one of Africa’s best wildlife reserves. Cross the impressive Great Rift Valley and pass through the secluded Loita Hills region, which is home to the Maasai people. This is one of the few places where people still live according to their traditional ways, with little influence from the outside world. Stop in Tepesua Village, where Maasai Warriors will greet you with traditional songs and dances. Meet your Maasai hosts, stroll to the communal village, and listen to an enlightening discussion about this wonderful and ancient culture. Through the ‘Tepesua Widows Income Project,’ the hamlet provides assistance, safety, and economic progress. Widowed women weave eco-friendly handicrafts to sell to tourists and locals. Learn about village life and be taken on a tour of a traditional Maasai home and cow fencing. Continue your journey till you reach the Ashnil Mara Camp, your Feature Stay for the next three nights. There are few better sites for wildlife enthusiasts than the Masai Mara National Reserve near the Mara River. Large, comfy beds, en suite bathrooms, and private wooden terraces with unrivaled views of the plains and wildlife reserve are available in the permanent tents. The camp blends perfectly with its environment, connecting the forest with modern conveniences, and living here is truly unique.

Included Activities

• Loita Hills – Cultural talk and village visit

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Special Information

Today’s total driving time is approximately 7 hours.

Day 11: Masai Mara National Reserve

Visiting the Masai Mara National Reserve

Today, explore more of the park by 4×4 with more game drives in the morning and afternoon. Witness the amazing parade of wildlife that inhabits the area. There are plenty of wildebeest, zebra, and gazelle, and you may even observe predators maintaining a casual eye on their movements. Elephants, giraffes, and elands are frequently seen, as are a variety of birds. The area is famed for its rolling green plains and riverine woods, and a black-maned lion, leopard, or cheetah may appear among the many types of animals. As the sun sets, take a time to take it all in with a drink in hand — there are few better ways to round off a day of wildlife spotting in one of the world’s most gorgeous places. As twilight comes, a variety of creatures may be observed in the area around your camp.

Included Activities

• Masai Mara – Morning 4×4 Game Drive
• Masai Mara – Afternoon 4×4 Game Drive
• Masai Mara – Sundowner and snacks

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 12: Masai Mara National Reserve

The morning is yours to do with as you please. You may like to relax with a cup of coffee on your private veranda while keeping an eye out for wildlife in the reserve, or you may prefer to forego a sleep-in in favor of an early morning game drive or walking safari. A sunrise hot air balloon flight is a genuinely unforgettable experience if you want to explore the Masai Mara from a new perspective. Balloon rides can be scheduled in advance or on the spot (according to availability), and the suppliers are dedicated conservationists, with a portion of each flight’s revenues going directly to good conservation projects within the park. You’ll be picked up before dawn and glide through the sunlight, sometimes at tree height, taking advantage of the incredible photo opportunities. You’ll occasionally ascend to obtain a bird’s-eye perspective of the Masai Mara plains and the early-morning movements of the teeming herds. Regroup in the afternoon for another exhilarating 4×4 game drive in the park.

Included Activities

• Masai Mara – Afternoon 4×4 Game Drive

Optional Activities

• Masai Mara National Reserve – Balloon ride (from price) – USD500
• Masai Mara – Half Day Game Drive – KES8000
• Masai Mara National Reserve – Guided Walking Safari – USD30

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 13: Nairobi

Return to Nairobi after saying farewell to the Masai Mara. You should arrive in the late afternoon, when your adventure will come to an end. Please do not book any foreign flights departing from Nairobi International Airport before 8 p.m. today evening in order to account for any unexpected delays. If you want to stay in Nairobi longer, you can arrange additional accommodations ahead of time (subject to availability).

Meals Included: Breakfast

End of the 13 Days Uganda/Rwanda/Kenya Safari

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