Begin this 6-Day Uganda Gorilla Trek and Masai Mara Wildebeest Safari in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, in southwest Uganda, then continue on to view the wildlife of Masai Mara National Reserve in southern Kenya.
This itinerary blends gorilla trekking with East Africa’s classic savannah wildlife, ideal for travelers who want to combine primates and plains game on one cross-border safari.
6-Day Bwindi Gorilla Trekking and Masai Mara Safari Highlights
- Day 1: Kigali city to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Day 2: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park: gorilla trekking experience
- Day 3: Morning boat ride at Lake Bunyonyi and transfer to Kigali for flight to Nairobi
- Day 4: Nairobi to Masai Mara National Reserve and evening game drive
- Day 5: Full day game drive in Masai Mara National Reserve
- Day 6: Mara to Nairobi and departure
Detailed 6-Day Bwindi Gorilla Trekking and Masai Mara Safari Itinerary
Day 1: Kigali City to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Arrive at Kigali International Airport, then continue to your hotel for breakfast and rest. If time permits, take a city tour and visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial to learn about the 1994 genocide, which killed almost 950,000 people, mostly Tutsis, and displaced millions more.
Visit the local Kigali craft market, city monuments, the Kigali Convention Center, and other points of interest.
Afterward, transfer to Rwanda’s northwestern region on the foothills of the Virunga range, through Musanze district. The route takes in the Virunga mountains, Rwanda’s rolling hills, tea and banana plantations, and local towns along the way.
Arrive at Bwindi National Park and spend the evening resting, or take a short community walk to visit the Batwa community, hear their stories, and see a traditional performance, before returning to your hotel for an overnight stay.
Day 2: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park: Gorilla Trekking Experience
This is the day you’ve been waiting for. Mountain gorillas are the rarest and most endangered gorilla subspecies, and Bwindi holds one of the largest populations in the world.
The trek takes you to a habituated gorilla family in their natural habitat, where you spend up to one hour watching them feed, play, and go about their day, with the dominant silverback protecting the group.
This UNESCO World Heritage Site holds around 120 mammal species, five other primate species, 220 butterfly species, and over 360 bird species. Trekking time can run from as little as one hour to as long as 8 hours, depending on the group’s location, the pace of the trekkers, and the terrain.
A close encounter with a gorilla family is one of the highlights of any safari in Uganda or across Africa.
After your hour with the gorillas, return to the starting point, meet your driver, and head to the lodge to rest for the remainder of the day.
Day 3: Morning Boat Ride at Lake Bunyonyi and Transfer to Kigali for Your Flight to Nairobi
Have an early breakfast in Bwindi and leave the lodge for Lake Bunyonyi in Kabale, where you’ll take a dugout canoe ride across the lake.
The ride takes in Lake Bunyonyi’s islands and history, along with local bird life and fishing communities, with a local guide narrating details about the lake and its islands along the way.
Afterward, rest at one of the lakeside resorts, then in the afternoon drive through Kabale town and cross into Rwanda via the Katuna border.
Take in the scenery along the route, including the Virunga volcanoes, plantations, and local homesteads. Arrive in Kigali and head straight to the airport for your outbound flight to Nairobi, Kenya.
Day 4: Nairobi to Masai Mara National Reserve and Evening Game Drive
Have breakfast in Nairobi at 8:00 am, then set off for Masai Mara National Reserve, one of Africa’s best-known parks. The drive passes through the Great Rift Valley and Narok, with good opportunities for photos along the way.
Arrive at your pre-booked lodge in Masai Mara, check in, and have lunch ahead of an afternoon game drive. Masai Mara is home to large herds of buffalo, elephants, zebras, giraffes, and several antelope species.
During the migration season, you may spot gazelles and wildebeest making their way from the Serengeti in northern Tanzania.
Day 5: Full Day Game Drive in Masai Mara National Reserve
After an early breakfast, spend the full day exploring Masai Mara’s resident wildlife. Start the drive before sunrise to catch the park’s early risers and nocturnal species.
A hot air balloon ride is also available, giving you an aerial view of the Mara’s landscape and wildlife.
Return to the lodge to rest, or continue the game drive with a packed lunch inside the park.
Later, relax on your lodge balcony overlooking the Mara River, or take a walking tour of the reserve. Many visitors choose to explore the Great Rift Valley on foot along the southern route via the Oloololo Escarpment, guided by local Maasai guides through the area’s forests and open grasslands.
Day 6: Mara to Nairobi and Departure
Take a final game drive after breakfast, a good chance to spot animals you may have missed earlier in the trip.
Return to the lodge, check out, and depart Masai Mara for Nairobi. Continue to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your departure flight.
End of 6-Day Uganda Gorilla Trek and Masai Mara Wildebeest Safari.
