13 Days Uganda Primates & Kenya Wildlife Safari
13 Days Uganda Primates & Kenya Wildlife Safari 2021 is one of the best safari experiences for anyone to do in Uganda and Kenya. It includes visiting the wild endangered chimpanzees and the mountain Gorillas. Kibale national park is Africa’s best chimpanzee trekking destination with guaranteed best views of the chimpanzees and other 12 existing primates in the park. It is also a home to 138 species of birds, 250 tree species and 60 species of forest wildlife including forest elephants, bushbucks, warthogs, giant forest hogs and buffaloes. Bwindi Impenetrable national park on the other hand is one of Uganda’s oldest national park with diverse rainforest of over 25,000 years ago and contains about 400 plant species. Bwindi Impenetrable national park inhabits half of the remaining endangered mountain gorillas in the world and it is divided into 4 sectors including; Buhoma sector which is the oldest trekking sector, Rushaga sector which has the largest number of gorilla families, Ruhija sector and finally Nkuringo sector.
Masai Mara national reserve is the most famous and popular safari destination in Kenya and anywhere in Africa. Masai mara national reserve is located in the southwestern of Kenya bordering Serengeti national park in Tanzania which is the best wildlife national park in Africa. Masai mara is comprised of a medley rolling hills, open grassland and acacia woodland supporting quite an incredible profusion and variety of wildlife. The reserve truly blossoms between August and October, when the legendary wildebeest migration, the world’s most breath taking wildlife crossing into Kenya from Tanzania.
Amboseli National Park is located in the southern part of Kenya close to the border with Tanzania covering an area of about 392 square kilometres. Amboseli national park has the most iconic and a beautiful view of the world’s highest in Africa Mountain Kilimamjaro on the north-west of Mount Kilimanjaro. Amboseli National Park was declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve because of its diversity and fragile ecosystem of about 5 different habitats such as the acacia forests, Marshes, lakes, dusty plains of open savannah good for game viewing, and the rock formations of lava covered with thorny bushes. Amboseli national park is home to the renowned Big 5 game (Lions, Leopards, Buffaloes, Rhinos and Elephants). The Elephants are the main tourist attraction in this park with the largest terrestrial herds with numbers more than 100 individuals from wise old matriarchs to tiny calves. Other animals to find include; the Wildebeests, Cheetahs, Plain Zebras, Crocodiles, Giraffes as well as Hyenas. You will find an impressive different bird species living within the park boundaries. Other attractions include; Amboseli Observation Hill, a hill of volcanic origin and the only high point of the park offering a breath taking panorama that sweeps from the arid and dusty prairie to the green springs and swamps beloved by elephants, hippos and buffalos and, on clear days, especially at dawn and dusk, the majestic Mount Kilimanjaro. The best time to visit is the dry seasons from June to October and from December to March; while in the period from November to January birds are present in the park, also those migrating here from Europe and Asia, making the park a paradise for birdwatchers.
Tsavo West national park is an expansive sister to Tsavo East national park however, Tsavo west is much smaller with an area coverage of about 7,065 square kilometres located along the main Nairobi-Mombasa highway. Tsavo West national park is also a beautiful park with rugged wilderness consisting of open savannahs, scrublands, Acacia woodlands, belts of riverine vegetation and rocky ridges. On a clear day, the park offers lovely views of the snow-capped peaks of Mount Kilimanjaro in the morning and evening hours. Although Tsavo West has the Big Five game, wildlife viewing can be harder compared to any other Kenya national park because the foliage is much denser and higher in Tsavo West national park. Tsavo West park has Kenya’s largest elephant population. Other animals to spot in Tsavo west include the Giraffes, Impalas, Buffaloes and Burchell’s Zebra, Hartebeest, Lesser Kudu, Eland, Waterbuck, Grant’s gazelle and more. The birdlife in the park is outstanding, and at least eight hornbill species are recorded. The white-headed buffalo weaver is a particularly noticeable species, with its prominent bright red rump. Other attractions in Tsavo West include; the Shetani lava flows and Mzima Springs which is the sight of fifty million gallons of crystal clear water gushing out of from the under parched lava rock with its underwater observation chamber for close-up views of hippos. The developed area of Tsavo West also has several steep, recent volcanic cones, one of which, Chaimu Crater, is a nature trail.
Tsavo East National Park is the largest national park in Kenya with an area of 11,747 square kilometres covering 40 percent of the total area of Kenya’s national parks. The landscape in Tsavo East national is flatter and drier with bushy grassland, open savannah plains and semi-arid acacia woodland and scrub offering the best opportunities for spotting wildlife easily compared to Tsavo west national park. Tsavo East is best known as a home of the red elephants. The Elephants rub dust or mud on their thick skins. Their skins remain striking red as a result of the iron oxide-rich soil which protects them from intense exposure of the sun, and parasites. Other animals to be spotted include the other members of the big 5, the Waterbucks, Kudus, Gerenuks, Zebras, and the rare Hunter antelope. In the rivers, we find the crocodiles and hippos lurk. The park is also a home to about 600 bird species many of which are waterfowls, decorate the trees, grasslands and sky above. Other attractions found in Tsavo East national park include; the Yatta Plateau which is the longest lava flow in the World, stretching for over 300km (185 miles), the Lugards Falls, where the Galana River cascades over a series of rapids created by interestingly shaped rocks, Mudanda Rock which is an Ayer’s Rock-like sandstone inselberg whose bare flanks form a natural water catchment area that feeds into a large, seasonal lake, attracting large numbers of wildlife. An important focal point for game-viewing in Tsavo East is Aruba Dam, which was constructed on the Voi River in 1951 and forms the only permanent water source in the vicinity. Lions are often seen resting below the trees around the dam. Crocodile Point, where the big reptiles can often be seen basking in the sun, is just downstream from here. The park lies not far from Mombasa and a safari tour can easily be combined with a beach holiday on Kenya’s coast. Relaxing at one of Mombasa’s beaches is the best way to end your magical Kenya wildlife experience. Your 13 Days safari will end with a place to relax and chill in Mombasa
Safari highlights of the
- Day 1: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park
- Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi swamp walk
- Day 3: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Day 4: Gorilla Trekking experience
- Day 5: Transfer to Kampala/Entebbe
- Day 6: Fly to Masai Mara national park
- Day 7: Full day safari in Masai Mara
- Day 8: Another day in Masai Mara national reserve
- Day 9: Transfer to Amboseli National Park
- Day 10: Full Day Amboseli national park
- Day 11: Transfer to Tsavo West National Park for full day game viewing
- Day 12: Game drives in Tsavo East National Park
- Day 13 – Return back to Nairobi/Mombasa
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park
Depending on your location in Kampala/Upon arrival in Entebbe airport, you will meet our company representative/safari guide to transfer to Kibale national park. It is a 5-6 hours’ drive to Kibale forest national park in the western part of Uganda with en-route lunch in Fort portal town. Connect to your booked lodge for dinner and overnight stay at Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse for mid-range/Isunga lodge for budget/Kyaninga lodge for luxury
Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking experience and Bigodi swamp
After breakfast, connect to the park headquarters for a chimpanzee trekking activity. Drive to the park head offices for briefing about the chimpanzees. Enter the forest and start trek the chimpanzees in their natural habitat, its take 2-5 hours to find them and on finding them, you are allowed 1 hour to be in their process as they swing from the branches in the canopy high above the forest floor. Later afternoon, connect for a nature walk in Bigodi swamp for a primates and birdwatching experience. Dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above
Day 3: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Depart the Lodge very early and start your journey to Bwindi forest. It’s a 7-8 hours. Since you are not interested in wildlife, drive past Queen Elizabeth national park with en route lunch. Your accommodation will depend on which sector you will trek at. Dinner and overnight stay at Bakiga lodge for budget/Ichumbi Gorilla lodge for mid-range/Buhoma lodge for luxury
Day 4: Gorilla Trekking experience
After enjoying an early breakfast and transfer to park headquarters for briefing before you set of gorilla trekking. Trekking through the steep, densely forested hills and then finally coming across the gorillas camouflaged in the vegetation is an inspiring and privileged moment. Tracking in the Bwindi forest requires stamina and can often take most of the day and spend an hour in the presence of the gorillas before you return at your meeting point with the driver-guide. Dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above
Day 5: Transfer to Entebbe
After breakfast, start your journey back to Kampala/Entebbe with en route stop at the Equator and lunch. It’s a 8-9 hours’ drive from Bwindi forest to Kampala with ne-route lunch and Equator stopover. Upon arrival, proceed to your hotel in Entebbe for next day flight to Kenya.
Day 6: Fly to Masai Mara national park
After breakfast, you will be dropped at Entebbe airport for your flight to Masai Mara, departing from 12:15 pm to 13:15 pm. You will be met by your Kenyan guide at one of the airstrips in Masai Mara national reserve to connect to your booked lodge for dinner and overnight stay AA Lodge Masai Mara/Mara Simba Lodge/Mara Sopa Lodge
Day 7: Full day safari in Masai Mara
After breakfast, full day in the park with packed lunch in search of its popular residents, The Masai Mara plains are full of wildebeest during migration season early July to end September, zebra, impala, topi, giraffe, Thomson’s gazelle are regularly seen, leopards, lions, hyenas, cheetah, jackal, and bat-eared foxes. The black rhino is a little shy and hard to spot but is often seen at a distance if you are lucky. Hippos are abundant in the Mara River as are very large Nile crocodiles, which lay in wait for a meal as the wildebeest cross on their annual quest to find new pastures. Later Meals and overnight at lodge as above
Day 8: Another day in Masai Mara national reserve
After breakfast, enjoy another day in Masai Mara search of its popular residents. After the full day game drive with packed lunch and with an evening game drive in the plains, return to the lodge in the evening with great memories of the wildlife. Dinner and overnight at lodge as above
Optional activity: A hot air balloon safari launches in the early morning, just in time for sunrise. For about one hour you will be floating peacefully above the ground, with a bird’s eye view of the African bush below. The capacity for this activity is limited making this a very special and exclusive experience. Please note that this activity is weather dependent and may need to be rescheduled due to poor weather.
Day 9: Transfer to Amboseli National Park
You will be meant by your guide after breakfast, you will be met by our company representative very early to embark on your journey to Amboseli national park. It’s a full day drive connecting to Nairobi- Mombasa highway. The drive takes you through the open African expansive savannah plains dotted with local homesteads and colorful Masai tribesmen and their cattle. Upon arrival, proceed to check-in your lodge for dinner and overnight stay at AA Lodge Amboseli. Meal Plan: En-route lunch and Dinner.
Day 10: Full Day Amboseli national park
Have breakfast and explore Amboseli national park. This park is a home of the famous for being the best place in Africa to get close to the savannah elephants. Among other wildlife species include; the lions, cheetah, leopards, wildebeests, buffaloes, monkeys families and rare bird species. Spend your morning and afternoon on game drives also visiting the swamp below observation hill that hosts many elephants, hippos and a variety of waterfowls like Pelican and Egyptian goose. Dinner and overnight stay at Lodge as above
Day 11: Transfer to Tsavo West National Park for full day game viewing
Early morning after your breakfast, drive to Tsavo West National park which is about a 1-2 hours’ drive from Amboseli national park. Connect for a morning game drive. Tsavo West has the country’s largest elephant population. Other animals include; Giraffe, impala, buffalo, and Burchell’s zebra are all common species here. Mammals include hartebeest, lesser kudu, eland, waterbuck, Grant’s gazelle, and more. After the game drive, connect for lunch and later afternoon visit the rhino sanctuary and the Mzima Springs depending on the time before you return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay at Voyager Ziwani Safari Camp for mid-range/ Kilaguni Serena Safari lodge for luxury option Meal plan – Full board
Day 12: Game drives in Tsavo East National Park
After breakfast, you can do any missed above-mentioned activity or interested in Tsavo west then connect to Tsavo East national park which is the largest Kenya national park and home to the big 5 game including the famous red large herds of elephants. Lunch will be served at your booked lodge. Do another afternoon game drive. Dinner and overnight stay in Voi Wildlife Lodge for mid-range option/ Ngutuni Lodge for luxury option Meal plan – full board
Day 13: Morning game drive and transfer to Mombasa/ Transfer back to Nairobi
Wake up and connect for an early morning game viewing drives at the Tsavo East national park for the predators with picnic breakfast. Thereafter, depending on your personal plans, you will either drive back to Nairobi to be dropped at the airport for your next destination or you will be transferred to Diani beach in Mombasa which is about a 6-7 hours’ drive. The guide will drop you off at the advised Hotel in Diani beach. Meal plan – Only breakfast.
End of the 13 Days Uganda Primates & Kenya Wildlife Safari
