This 10-day Bwindi, Kenya, and Tanzania safari takes you through three East African countries, combining savanna wildlife viewing with primate tracking in the rainforest.
Get ready for a mountain gorilla trekking experience in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, followed by Big Five and wildebeest migration viewing in Serengeti National Park and Masai Mara Reserve.
You will also visit Ngorongoro Crater, one of the world’s most striking natural landmarks, and spot tree-climbing lions and other wildlife in Lake Manyara National Park.
10-Day Gorillas and Big Five Tour Highlights
- Day 1: Pickup and drive to Bwindi
- Day 2: Gorilla trekking
- Day 3: Bwindi to Entebbe and Masai Mara
- Day 4: Full-day game drive in Masai Mara
- Day 5: Masai Mara to Serengeti
- Day 6: Full-day wildlife safari
- Day 7: Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater
- Day 8: Game drive and transfer to Lake Manyara
- Day 9: Full-day Lake Manyara exploration
- Day 10: Departure
Detailed 10-Day Gorillas and Big Five Tour Itinerary
Day 1: Pickup and Drive to Bwindi
Your journey begins in Entebbe with a drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in southwestern Uganda. The drive takes about 8 to 9 hours, with a few stops along the way.
Stop at the equator for photos and a demonstration, then continue to Igongo Cultural Centre for lunch. Continue through the Kigezi region and its hilly countryside before arriving at Bwindi for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 2: Gorilla Trekking
Today is your gorilla trekking day. After breakfast, head to the park headquarters for a briefing on trekking rules and group assignments. Each group tracks one habituated gorilla family, with a maximum of eight people per group.
The trek can take 2 to 6 hours, depending on where the gorillas are located. Once you find them, spend one hour observing and photographing them as they feed, play, and interact. In the afternoon, visit the Batwa pygmies for traditional dance and storytelling before returning to the lodge for dinner and rest.
Day 3: Bwindi to Entebbe and Masai Mara
After breakfast, transfer to Kihihi or Kisoro airstrip for your flight back to Entebbe, then connect to a flight to Kenya’s Masai Mara Reserve. The reserve covers 1,510 square kilometers and holds a large population of wildlife, including the Big Five, wildebeest, zebra, giraffe, and cheetah. Arrive at your lodge in the evening for dinner and rest.
Day 4: Full-Day Game Drive in Masai Mara
Spend the day on morning and afternoon game drives across Masai Mara in a 4×4 safari vehicle. The morning drive is a good time to spot early risers such as lions, elephants, and hyenas, while the afternoon suits grazing animals and birds. Return to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 5: Masai Mara to Serengeti
After breakfast, depart for Serengeti National Park in Tanzania via the Isebania border, with chances to see wildlife along the route. Serengeti is known for its Big Five and for the great migration of wildebeest and zebra. Arrive at your lodge for dinner and rest.
Day 6: Full-Day Wildlife Safari
After breakfast, spend the full day on game drives across Serengeti, looking for wildebeest, gazelle, zebra, cheetah, leopard, and lion, along with a wide range of birds and smaller wildlife across the plains. Return to your lodge in the evening for dinner and rest.
Day 7: Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater
After breakfast, depart for Ngorongoro Crater, one of Africa’s best-known wildlife destinations. Arrive in time for lunch at your lodge, followed by an afternoon game drive in the crater, where you can spot rhinos, lions, elephants, and buffaloes.
Day 8: Game Drive and Transfer to Lake Manyara
Enjoy an early morning game drive in Ngorongoro to look for anything you missed the day before. Afterward, drive to Lake Manyara National Park, known for its tree-climbing lions, elephants, hippos, and flamingos. Take a late afternoon game drive before heading to your lodge for dinner and rest.
Day 9: Full-Day Lake Manyara Exploration
Spend the day exploring Lake Manyara National Park, home to zebra, giraffe, impala, elephants, hippos, bushbuck, and flamingos. The park’s mix of forest, grassland, and lake habitats makes it a strong spot for wildlife photography. Return to your lodge in the evening for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 10: Departure
After breakfast, begin the journey back to Nairobi, taking in the countryside along the way and stopping for lunch en route. Your driver will drop you at the airport for your departure flight.
End of safari.
What to Bring
Pack hiking boots, a rain jacket, long trousers, a long-sleeved shirt, gardening gloves, insect repellent, sunscreen, drinking water, and energy snacks for the treks. A camera and binoculars help you capture wildlife along the way.
What’s Included
This tour includes transport, professional driver-guides, accommodation, and park entry and permit fees. Flights between Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania, and personal expenses, are not included unless agreed at booking.
