7 Day Masai Mara and Bwindi Gorilla Trekking Safari
Search Kenya's plains for big cats, then follow ranger guides into Uganda's rainforest for an encounter with mountain gorillas.
Plan This Safari7 Days / 6 Nights / Kenya and Uganda / Nairobi to Entebbe
Open savannah in Kenya. Mountain rainforest in Uganda.
Arrive in Nairobi, drive to the Mara, then continue by scheduled flights through Nairobi and Entebbe to Bwindi.
Nairobi
1 arrival night, airport pickup and time to settle in.
Masai Mara
2 nights, an afternoon game drive and a full wildlife day.
Entebbe
1 overnight between the Kenya connection and your Bwindi flight.
Bwindi
2 nights near your trekking sector, then fly to Entebbe on Day 7.
Watch the plains. Walk the forest.
A lion resting in open grassland and a gorilla feeding beneath the forest canopy call for very different safari days. Bring both experiences into 1 week, beginning in Kenya and finishing in Uganda. Your time is divided between game drives in the Masai Mara National Reserve and gorilla trekking in Bwindi.
In the Mara, travel with a safari guide who can slow the day around animal behaviour and changing conditions. Spend time watching a sighting unfold rather than rushing through a list. Travellers planning around the Great Wildebeest Migration should allow for shifting herd movements. A river crossing cannot be promised.
Flights connect the Mara with Nairobi, Nairobi with Entebbe, and Entebbe with the airstrip serving your Bwindi stay. Airport transfers and connection times are planned together. The Kenya section begins with a road journey to the Mara, while the return from the reserve is by air.
In Uganda, stay near your confirmed trekking sector in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park . Leave your main luggage at the lodge and take a daypack into the forest. The gorilla trekking experience is led by park rangers and follows the animals' location, so keep the rest of the day free.
More time can be added at either end. Browse our Kenya safaris for a longer plains journey, or our Uganda safari packages for additional forest and wildlife stops. Our East Africa safaris bring the regional options together.
Safari Highlights
Combine Kenya's plains wildlife with Uganda's mountain gorillas.
Spend 2 nights in the Mara with guided game viewing.
Keep a full day for wildlife, with a picnic lunch in the reserve.
Fly out of the Mara and continue to Uganda through Nairobi.
Reach Bwindi by scheduled flight and a lodge transfer by 4x4.
Trek with ranger guides and spend up to 1 permitted hour with gorillas.
Kenya and Uganda, day by day.
1 night in Nairobi, 2 in the Mara, 1 in Entebbe and 2 near Bwindi. City hotels and meals are confirmed in your final quotation.
Arrive in Nairobi
Meet your representative after arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. Transfer to your confirmed Nairobi hotel and settle in after the flight. Keep the remainder of the day free.
Review the week ahead with your team, including tomorrow's road departure, the flights between destinations and your trekking preparations. Keep essential medication and travel documents in your hand luggage.
Nairobi to Masai Mara and Afternoon Game Drive
Leave after an early breakfast and travel towards the Masai Mara . Allow around 5 to 6 hours by road, depending on traffic, stops and the final camp approach.
Check into Sekenani Camp, subject to availability, and have lunch. Head into the reserve for your first game drive when arrival time allows. Follow your guide's lead and take time at sightings.
Watch both the open ground and shaded areas as you travel. Your guide will explain the wildlife encountered before returning you to camp for dinner.
Full Day Masai Mara Game Viewing
Set out early with a picnic lunch. A full day in the reserve allows your guide to plan a longer route without returning to camp at midday. Carry sun protection, drinking water and an extra camera battery.
Pause to watch feeding, resting and interactions between animals. Scan the wider landscape as well as the nearest herds. A patient approach often reveals details missed on a hurried drive.
If the migration herds are present, your guide will consider their location when planning the route. Keep expectations flexible. Rainfall, grazing and animal movements shape each day's viewing.
Return to camp in the late afternoon. An optional community visit can be quoted separately if you would like to include it, with time allowed within the day's programme.
Fly from Masai Mara to Nairobi and Entebbe
Transfer to the airstrip serving your camp and board your scheduled flight to Nairobi. Continue on the booked regional flight to Entebbe, Uganda.
Your connection depends on the selected airlines and airports. If the Mara flight arrives at Wilson Airport and the Entebbe service leaves from Jomo Kenyatta, a road transfer is arranged between them. The schedule must allow for traffic and onward check-in.
On arrival in Entebbe, meet your Uganda representative and transfer to your confirmed hotel. Rest before the next morning's flight.
Fly to Bwindi and Transfer to Your Lodge
Transfer to Entebbe Airport for your scheduled domestic flight. Land at Kihihi or Kisoro, with the airstrip selected to suit your lodge and gorilla permit.
Meet your driver for the road transfer into the hills. Settle into your accommodation and keep the afternoon easy before trekking. For a Buhoma permit, Buhoma Haven Lodge is an accommodation option. Other sectors require a lodge near their own briefing point.
Prepare walking boots, long trousers, rain protection and a small daypack. Your guide will confirm departure, packed lunch arrangements and how to request porter assistance.
Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi
Have an early breakfast and travel to your trekking headquarters. Register and join the ranger briefing before setting out with your allocated group.
Walk into the rainforest with park guides and trackers. Trekking can take around 2 to 7 hours and sometimes longer, depending on the gorillas' location and the terrain. Take steady steps on muddy sections and ask for a pause when needed.
Once the family is found, spend up to 1 permitted hour observing them. Keep the required distance, follow the ranger's directions and avoid flash photography. Watch quietly as the encounter unfolds around you.
Return to your lodge after leaving the forest. Keep the rest of the day free for a shower, a meal and time to relax. Our gorilla permit guide explains more about booking the trekking experience.
Fly to Entebbe and Depart
Check out and transfer to your booked airstrip for the return flight to Entebbe. Keep your travel documents and flight essentials accessible.
Connect with your international departure only when the confirmed schedule leaves enough time for arrival procedures, check-in and possible delays.
If the connection is too close, add an Entebbe overnight and depart the following day. Additional accommodation is quoted separately.
Safari Inclusions and Exclusions
What's Included
- Nairobi airport arrival transfer.
- 6 nights of accommodation as confirmed.
- Meals listed in your final quotation.
- Private Kenya safari vehicle and professional driver guide.
- Scheduled Mara game drives and reserve entry fees.
- Scheduled flight from the Mara to Nairobi.
- Nairobi airport transfer where required by the booked connection.
- Regional flight from Nairobi to Entebbe.
- Scheduled Entebbe hotel and airport transfers.
- Return scheduled flights between Entebbe and the selected Bwindi airstrip.
- Private 4x4 transfers between the airstrip, lodge and trekking briefing point.
- 1 standard Uganda gorilla trekking permit per traveller.
- Park ranger guiding for the gorilla trek.
- Bottled drinking water during safari drives and road transfers.
- Applicable package taxes as itemised in the confirmed quotation.
What's Not Included
- International flights into Nairobi and out of Entebbe.
- Visa and entry authorisation charges where applicable.
- Travel and medical insurance.
- Porter assistance during gorilla trekking.
- Optional community visits and other unlisted activities.
- Alcoholic drinks and premium beverages unless quoted.
- Meals not included in the confirmed itinerary.
- Tips for guides, rangers, trackers and lodge staff.
- Laundry, souvenirs and personal expenses.
- Excess baggage charges.
- Additional accommodation before or after the safari.
Frequently Asked Questions
Plan the flights, luggage and forest walking before confirming your dates.
Where does the safari start and finish?
Start in Nairobi, Kenya, and finish in Entebbe, Uganda. Book your international arrival and departure around those cities. The connecting flights within the itinerary are arranged as part of the confirmed package.
Do we drive or fly to the Masai Mara?
You drive from Nairobi to the Mara on Day 2 and fly back to Nairobi on Day 4. The road journey generally takes around 5 to 6 hours, depending on conditions and the camp location. An outbound flight can be quoted if you prefer to fly both ways.
How does the Mara to Uganda connection work?
Fly from the Mara to Nairobi, then connect to Entebbe. Some combinations require a road transfer between Wilson and Jomo Kenyatta airports. We check the airports, check-in times and transfer allowance before confirming the flights.
What luggage can I bring on the safari flights?
Pack in a soft-sided bag and follow the allowance on each confirmed ticket. A 15 kg allowance is common on safari services, but rules vary by airline and route. Check whether hand luggage and camera equipment count towards your total before packing.
Is the gorilla permit included, and where will we stay?
Yes, 1 standard gorilla trekking permit per traveller is included, subject to availability. We match the lodge and airstrip to its sector. Buhoma Haven Lodge is an option for a Buhoma permit. Read our gorilla permit guide for more about the booking arrangements.
How demanding is gorilla trekking?
Expect uneven ground, possible steep climbs and muddy trails. The search can take several hours, followed by the walk back. Gorilla trekking has a minimum age of 15 years. Tell us about walking concerns before booking, and ask about porter assistance if you would like help with your bag.
Will we see the Great Migration or a river crossing?
It depends on your dates and the herds' movements. Migration viewing is seasonal, and a river crossing cannot be guaranteed. Our Great Wildebeest Migration guide helps explain the wider cycle. Resident wildlife remains a focus outside the migration period.
Can I connect to an international flight on Day 7?
Yes, when the confirmed flight schedule allows enough time. Avoid a tight connection after the domestic arrival in Entebbe. If the timing leaves little room for delays, add an overnight and fly onward the following day.
Related Safaris and Destination Guides
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