This 9-Day Ultimate Gorilla Trekking and Serengeti-Maasai Mara Safari takes you to East Africa’s most visited national parks.
You are guaranteed sights of Africa’s most sought-after species: the gorillas, golden monkeys, and the Big Five, including lions, Cape buffaloes, leopards, rhinos, and elephants.
You will encounter the most popular ethnic groups in East Africa, the Batwa pygmies and the Maasai nomadic pastoralists.
Detailed 9-Day Gorilla Trekking & Serengeti-Maasai Mara Safari Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Uganda and Hotel Transfer
Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be received by one of our knowledgeable driver guides.
He will transfer you to the hotel where you will spend the night as he briefs you on the itinerary.
At the lodge, you will have dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 2: Fly to Bwindi and Visit the Batwa Community
After an early breakfast, you will be driven to the airport or Kajjansi airstrip for your chartered or scheduled flight to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
This flight avoids the long nine-hour journey by road.
Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel for refreshments while waiting for lunch.
After lunch, visit the Batwa community for a cultural experience with the Batwa pygmies, the original inhabitants of the impenetrable forest before their resettlement from the park.
Witness how they used to hunt and gather fruits.
Enjoy traditional performances and local cuisine.
Day 3: Gorilla Trekking and Travel to Volcanoes National Park
Early in the morning, have breakfast and proceed to the park headquarters for a gorilla trekking briefing by the local park rangers.
They will explain the dos and don’ts in the forest and then divide you into groups of eight, the maximum number allowed to trek a gorilla family in a day.
Gorilla trekking takes you through the dense forest on unclear paths, with tree branches for support.
On finding the gorillas, spend an enchanting hour watching them play, feed, and go about their daily lives, taking as many pictures as you want.
Once the hour is up, head back to the park headquarters and then to the lodge for lunch and checkout.
Drive to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, where you will experience a cross-border journey.
Arrival at the lodge will be in the late evening for dinner and overnight.
Day 4: Golden Monkey Trekking and Gorilla Guardians Village Visit
In the morning, go to the park headquarters for a briefing about the golden monkey trek, then start your search through the forest.
Witness the golden monkeys moving swiftly through the high forest canopies.
The experience is truly exceptional.
After lunch, visit the Gorilla Guardians Village, which showcases the three ethnic groups of Rwanda in one location.
Participate in traditional dances and, if you choose, sample the local cuisine.
Day 5: Fly to Maasai Mara
Drive to Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, and fly to Nairobi, Kenya.
After arriving, have lunch in the capital and then drive to Maasai Mara National Reserve, arriving in the evening for dinner and overnight.
Day 6: Full-Day Game Drive
After an early breakfast, embark on a game drive in the Maasai Mara, where you will soon start spotting a multitude of wildlife species, including the Big Five: lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, and rhinos.
During this drive, you may see nocturnal animals returning to their shelters and diurnal animals hunting or grazing.
Enjoy the scenic landscapes and expect to see cheetahs, giraffes, warthogs, waterbucks, wildebeests, zebras, gazelles, and many others.
Day 7: Travel to Serengeti National Park
Today, you will cross into Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park via the Isebania border.
The journey offers stunning views of Lake Victoria, Africa’s largest freshwater body.
Serengeti National Park is renowned worldwide and is among the top ten natural wonders.
Driving will be leisurely, with photo stops at places of interest.
Arrival at the lodge will be in the evening for dinner and overnight.
Day 8: Morning Game Drive and Visit the Maasai People
Have an early morning game drive through Serengeti National Park.
Spotting the Big Five is almost certain, including rhinos, elephants, buffaloes, lions, and leopards, among others.
Time the drive to observe the migration of thousands of wildebeests and zebras in search of greener pastures and water.
Then return to the lodge for lunch and relaxation.
In the afternoon, visit the Maasai community for a cultural experience with these kind and hospitable people.
Taste the local cuisine, learn about their daily lives, and enjoy traditional performances of dance and music.
It will be an evening to remember.
Day 9: Departure
Today marks the end of your nine-day safari.
Travel to Arusha to catch your flight back home.
