10 days Bwindi, Masai Mara and Zanzibar safari combines the very best of each country in the shortest time possible. The safari leads you to the pearl of Africa- Uganda, the pristine white sand beaches of Zanzibar as well as the wildlife filled excusive landscapes of magical Kenya. On this 10 days Bwindi, Masai Mara and Zanzibar safari, you will have exclusive game viewing of the great migration within Maasai Mara National reserve, gorilla trekking at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and a beach holiday at the Zanzibar archipelago. While many safaris offer scenic views of nature, the 10 days Bwindi, Masai Mara and Zanzibar safari is at its best to offer more than just nature and pleasure! You will have exclusive game viewing, cultural visits as well as fun time and relaxation at a beach!

The safari starts with Gorilla trekking at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda. While here, you will enjoy the best activity in Uganda, have some time with the mountain gorillas and treat your ears to the melodious twitters of over 350 forest birds. Within the misty forests lies over 459 endangered mountain gorillas that are categorized into 50 gorilla families, 21 groups which are available for the trekking experience! The forest is further home to over 120 mammals which are colorfully dispersed within the different ranges of habitats found within the park. There are also chances of coming across chimpanzees. You will also have chances of visiting the local communities (majorly the Batwa) around the park to get a taste of the traditional culture. Bwindi is known as a place that is not only defined by geographical location, but by moments that you and those who experience them with you can access!

From Bwindi, you will transfer to magical Kenya for experiences at Masai Mara National reserve. Masai Mara is situated southwest of Kenya in Narok county, sharing a common border with Serengeti National park in Mara region.  The place forms exclusive landscapes of breathtaking views and abundant wildlife with endless plains. The place is punctuated by a spectacle of rolling hills that blend into elongated open grasslands and acacia woodlands. It is these well preserved habitats that act as home to a plethora of wildlife that call Mara land their home!  Between August and October, Masai Mara National reserve is usually teeming with a haven of abundant wildlife, all of which wow you with the novelty of world class experience. Such animals include millions of wildebeest, Zebras, and different species of antelopes which form the Great annual animal migration. Large herds of elephants that are complimented by buffalos and huge lion prides as well as other predators form a visible relationship between the hunter and the hunted. Masai Mara is a wild part of the world, ethereal landscape that has to be seen to be believed! You will see the best of it during your 10 Days Bwindi, Masai Mara & Zanzibar safari.

From Masai Mara, you will proceed to the pristine islands of Zanzibar! Zanzibar is gifted with a diverse treasure of gorgeous islands that are evenly distributed across its different areas. The place is teeming with a prevalence of exceptional sea creatures and reefs as well as the gentle oceanic creatures, that make you feel the need to view more, quietly as you take in the phenomenal views of the ocean. This has made it identified with a certainty of adrenaline activities that enlighten the eyes of your mind with satisfaction that many wish to forever. When you have just awoken, the atmosphere welcomes you from the deep sweet sleep with a mellifluous twitter of the morning birds that makes the idyllic purlieus spiffy. This makes the island a platonic ideal of a honeymoon spot.  

By the end of this 10 days Bwindi, Masai Mara and Zanzibar safari, you would have seen the best of East Africa, collected a number of photographs, and of course… your memories!

Activities

  1. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
  2. Masai Mara National Reserve & Zanzibar Island.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1

Activity of the Day

Transfer from Kampala/Entebbe to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Have early breakfast and depart for Bwindi National Park at 7.00 am, driving southwards for at least 8 hours before arriving at your accommodation which is situated just outside of the park on the southern side. The most direct route from Kampala follows a surfaced road to Rukungiri via Mbarara and Ntungamo. A slow dirt road then winds through the highlands to Buhoma via Kihihi and Butogota. The main trailhead at Buhoma is about 460kms from Kampala and can be reached by road from several directions. Ruhija trailhead is best accessed from the Kampala-Kisoro road, turning north from the surfaced highway 18km beyond Kabale town. The southerly Rushaga and Nkuringo trailheads can be reached using dirt roads leading west from Muko, midway on the surfaced Kabale -Kisoro road, and north from Kisoro town. You will see many things along the way, including the equator, plantations, rolling hills and a variety of Ugandans conducting business and other activities within their villages. We will have lunch en-route in Mbarara town at Ajip Motel. Relax in the evening whilst enjoying the magnificent vistas of the beautiful landscape. Have dinner and overnight at the lodge.

Day 2

Activity of the Day

Gorilla Tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Rest of the Day at Leisure at the Lodge

Today we will have the amazing opportunity to observe the gorgeous scenery of Uganda's tropical rainforest and experience a breathtaking encounter with the endangered mountain gorillas. Bwindi Impenetrable NP occupies the size of about 321 sq km between 1,160m and 2,607m above sea level and it's the home to a number of 479 endangered mountain gorillas. The park is divided into 4 gorilla tracking sectors including Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga and Nkuringo sectors. Within the park, there are 21 groups of gorillas habituated for tourism. Five of these groups are found in the vicinity of Buhoma in northwest Bwindi; four at Ruhija in the east; and ten at the park’s southern trailheads at Rushaga and two are found at Nkuringo. Have early breakfast, pick your packed lunch from the lodge, carry enough drinking water and transfer to the briefing point by 7.30am. While here, you will carry out registration and join others for a gorilla trekking briefing about the precautions and guidelines of the gorilla trekking activity. You will then be assigned a gorilla group, meet the ranger guide and start the trek into the forest. The gorillas are located in different places across the forest and therefore the time taken to find one group varies and can not be estimated before. Once you reached them, you are allowed to stay for one hour to observe these gentle giants, after which you return to meet the driver guide and transfer back to the lodge for relaxation and overnight.

Day 3

Activity of the Day

Transfer to Masai Mara National reserve.

After an early morning breakfast your driver/guide will transfer you to Kigali City for departure through Kigali airport. You will have scenic views of nature and enjoy the rolling landscapes of a thousand hills. You will then board your flight to Jomo Kenyatta Internationl airport. Transfer by a flight to your lodge for pre-safari briefing. A Kenyan safari not only boasts spectacular natural beauty in one of the most unspoiled places on earth, but it also brings you up-close-and-personal with Africa’s most sought-after wildlife. Enjoy the scenic views of nature and the atmosphere around the lodge. Dinner and overnight.

Day 4

Activity of the Day

Game drives in Masai Mara.

After your breakfast,you will have a series of game drives to have scenic views of wildlife and nature! The game drive occur in the Mara plains across the vast savannah. You will come close to a number of animals that include millions of wildebeest, Zebras, and different species of antelopes which form the Great annual animal migration. Large heards of elephants that are complimented by buffalos and huge lion prides as well as other predators form a visible relationship between the hunter and the hunted. The sight of what happens in the area presents beautiful and scenic views that are altogether lovely! Other animals in Masai mara include; giraffes, the elusive leopard, impala, gazelle, Defassa waterbuck, hippo, blakc rhino, warthog, topi, Coke’s hartebeest and the reedbuck among others.

Day 5

Activity of the Day

Balloon Safari at Masai Mara and community visit.

Balloon safaris provide an excellent view of numerous animals galloping across the vast savannah. The animals can be seen induldging in their various activities that range from predation, playing to resting. The balloon safari enables one to develop a vulture's-eye-like view and happen usually at dawn. After the balloon safari, you will have a community visit the local people around the park. The masai tribe is one of the native tribes of Kenya, occupying the Southern and Northern area of the country. The tribe practices livestock keeping and little agriculture.

Day 6

Activity of the Day

Transfer to Zanzibar

After breakfast, transfer by flight to Jomo Kenyatta International airport for departure to Zanzibar. On reaching the Zanzibar airport/seaport, you will be transferred to your preferred lodge on Matemwe Beach where you will check in. You will have spectacular views of the tropical ocean and enjoy several moments relaxing under the beach-lining palms.

Day 7

Activity of the Day

Water sports at Matemwe beach.

Zanzibar turquoise waters are suitable pockets for a variety of water sports. . Therefore, you will have a 20 minutes sail to Mnemba marine park for snorkelling after breakfast. In this place, the reefs are good and impressive to see. In the evening, you can relax at the lodge and have sunset views with a special dinner under artistically made lights.

Day 8

Activity of the Day

Transfer to Stone town.

From Matemwe Beach, you will be transferred to Stone town at the hotel of your choice. After checking in, our guide will pick you up for a walking historical Stone town tour where you will get an introduction to the historical town. Stone town gives you a sense of culture with tradition as you navigate through the walk ways and have views of old buildings and ancient sites of slave trade. After the tour, you will have dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 9

Activity of the Day

Stone town tour and transfer to Southwest Zanzibar.

In the morning, you will have breakfast, after which pick up for a half day Spice tour with an opulent Swahili lunch served in a local house will happen. During this tour, you will also get more insights into old history at the Mtoni palace ruins. After the tour, you will go back to the hotel and have free time to wander in the city on your own for shopping. After this, you will transfer to the South coast for a dolphin swimming experience. On the way, you will pass by Jozani forest which is home to the red colobus monkeys. The sights at the magnificent creatures is amazing. You will arrive at the hotel and check in. Dinner and overnight.

Day 10

Activity of the Day

Dolphin swimming experience and departure.

After breakfast, you will head to the beach at Kizimkazi for a dolphin swimming experience. The experience is altogether beautiful as you enjoy spectacular under water views of the dolphins. After the experience, return to your lodge for packing and departure!

Genaral Tips :

  • Please note the age limit of 15 years and above for gorilla tracking.
  • Book your permits well in advance as only 8 permits are issued per gorilla group in a day. There are 21 habituated gorilla groups in Bwindi.
  • You should be free from infectious diseases such as Flu which can be passed to the gorillas since humans share 98% DNA with gorillas. If you are found to carry an infectious disease you will not be allowed to track.
  • Every participant has the chance to hire a trekking assistance (porter) who will help carring the bags and support whenever it is needed. For the trekking assitant an additional fee of US$ 15 is charged. Even those who consider themselves very old and don’t think they are hikers or adventurous can also successfully visit the gorillas. This can be done through hiring personal assistants to carry your daypack also to assist you in difficult areas.
  • Do not use flash photography.
  • Littering in the forest is not allowed! 
  • You are required to maintain a distance of 7 metres when you reach the gorillas. In certain  instances the young gorillas may come closer to you out of curiosity to touch you. However, you are not expected to respond because the silverback could respond violently as it tries to protect the young one from you.

Languages Spoken: Swahili is the official language of Kenya while Arabic is widely understood on Zanzibar. In swahili “Jumbo,” or “Mambo” means hello. “Habari” means how are you and “Asante Sana” means thank you. English and Luganda are the main languages spoken in Uganda.

Stay Connected: Safaricom and Airtel are the service providers on the mainland. Holatel is the most widely used in Zanzibar, however most hotels and lodges have internet connection (wifi).

What to bring:

Gorilla trekking clothing is the same for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga National Park as well as Volcanoes National Park so, the next question to be answered is what to pack for a gorilla trek.

  • Bring proper walking boots, long trousers and rain gears as you will be hiking through Bwindi Forest.
  • Insect repellant is recommended.
  • At least 1-2 liters of drinking water per person during the trekking.
  • Hiking boots, gloves, rain jacket.
  • Camera and extra batteries.
  • sunscreen and a sun hat, since the sun may be hot during the day.
  • waterproof bags to protect cameras and other equipment when hiking, just in case it rains.
Gorilla tracking at Bwindi Bwindi Taken by Ellington Safaris
Taken by Ellington Safaris
Game drive at Masai Mara Taken by Ellington Safaris
Mara Big5 Taken by Ellington Safaris