12 Days Kenya Uganda Birding Safari

The 12 Days Kenya Uganda Birding, Wildlife, and Primates Safari guarantees you truly authentic African wilderness experiences. Explore Uganda and Kenya, on a combined birding, wildlife and primate expedition. Start with a visit Lake Nakuru National Park, the birder’s haven with more than 400 species of birds including the lesser & greater flamingos, Shelley’s francolins, Kori bustards, chestnut-bellied sand grouse.

Maasai Mara National Reserve will leave you mesmerized by its wildlife encounters, especially the wildebeest migration and big five game. In Uganda, you will have 2 primate destinations to visit: Kibale National Park for chimpanzee tracking and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (BINP) for a close interaction with the massive mountain gorillas in the natural forest.

12 Days Kenya Uganda Birding, Wildlife, and Primates Safari Highlights

Day 1: Nairobi to Lake Nakuru National Park –enjoy a guided game drive

Day 2: Full day wildlife experience (birding & big game viewing) L. Nakuru NP

Day 3: Drive to Maasai Mara Reserve (wildebeest migration & big five game tour)

Day 4: Safari in Maasai Mara- Full Day

Day 5: Mara Reserve to Entebbe Airport, hotel transfer

Day 6: Kampala to Kibale N/Park

Day 7: Full day –tracking chimpanzees & nature walk in Bigodi

Day 8: Kibale Forest to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

Day 9: Gorilla trekking & Batwa (Uganda)

Day 10: Lake Bunyonyi & optional activities

Day 11: Boat/canoe ride & community visit

Day 12: Depart

Detailed 12 Days Kenya Uganda Birding, Wildlife, and Primates Safari

Day 1: Nairobi to Lake Nakuru National Park –enjoy a guided game drive

Meet your driver guide for a warm welcome to Kenya, and you will depart from Nairobi for Nakuru National Park. The 3-4 hours’ drive road trip to Nakuru NP comes with exceptional views of the breathtaking Great Rift Valley escarpment. Get to the park early enough to clear with the authorities and check in at the lodge/safari camp.

An afternoon game drive will be enjoyed through Lake Nakuru NP, offering you remarkable sightings. Exciting guided game drive in Lake Mburo N/Park includes spotting wildlife such as zebras, lions, spotted hyenas, cape buffaloes, impalas, Rothschild giraffes, waterbucks, leopards, and rhinos.

Safari Lodges for night stay

• Budget: Flamingo Hill Camp/Mbweha Camp
• Midrange: Sarova Lion Hill Lodge/Hotel Bison/Sleep way Cottages
• Luxury: Lake Nakuru Safari Lodge/Eagle Palace Hotel/Sarova Woodlands Hotel

Day 2 of 12 Days Kenya Uganda Birding Safari: Full day wildlife experience (birding & big game viewing) L. Nakuru NP

Have an early morning breakfast, and after, you will set off from the safari lodge or camp for a full day game viewing in Lake Nakuru National Park Kenya. A variety of wildlife will be encountered from small to big including spotted hyenas, leopards, lions, cape buffaloes, zebras, Rothschild giraffes, gazelles, and more.

Today’s long day game viewing combines birding expeditions in Lake Nakuru N/Park Kenya. The park is most popular for its interesting birds such as lesser and greater flamingos, African green pigeon, emerald-spotted wood dove, speckled pigeon, ring-necked dove, great spotted cuckoos, pied cuckoos, white-bellied go-away bird, nightjars, swifts and others.

Safari Lodges for night stay

• Budget: Flamingo Hill Camp/Mbweha Camp
• Midrange: Sarova Lion Hill Lodge/Hotel Bison/Sleep way Cottages
• Luxury: Lake Nakuru Safari Lodge/Eagle Palace Hotel/Sarova Woodlands Hotel

Day 3 of 12 Days Kenya Uganda Birding Safari: Drive to Maasai Mara Reserve (wildebeest migration & big five game tour)

Travel to Maasai Mara National Reserve, an iconic spot to encounter wildebeests and big five game. This will be about 5 hours of driving, and upon arrival, you will settle for lunch at the safari camp/lodge. After a leisurely lunch, proceed to the sweeping savanna plains of the reserve on a guided game drive or remain at the lodge for relaxation.

 Safari Lodges for night stay

• Budget: Ol Moran Tented Camp/Mara Duma Bush Camp
• Midrange: Richard’s River Camp/Masai Simba Lodge
• Luxury: Mara Intrepids Tented Camp/Fairmont Mara Safari Club/Sopa Lodge

Day 4 of 12 Days Kenya Uganda Birding Safari: Safari in Maasai Mara- Full Day

Spend the most of your day on wildlife safari in Maasai Mara N/Reserve. The reserve prides itself of abundant animal species, and today, expect to encounter the big 5 game, watch the wildebeest migration, birds and many antelope families. The Maasai Mara migration is best experienced from July to October.

Safari Lodges for night stay

• Budget: Ol Moran Tented Camp/Mara Duma Bush Camp
• Midrange: Richard’s River Camp/Masai Simba Lodge
• Luxury: Mara Intrepids Tented Camp/Fairmont Mara Safari Club/Sopa Lodge

Day 5 of 12 Days Kenya Uganda Birding Safari: Mara Reserve to Entebbe Airport, hotel transfer

Today will be dedicated for you to cross Kenya border to Uganda. Fly up to Entebbe International Airport (EBB) and meet your Uganda safari guide for pick up and transfer to the hotel in Kampala.

Hotels for a night stay

• Budget: Forest Cottages/Fairway Hotel
• Midrange: Cassia Lodge/Protea Hotel Kampala
• Luxury: Kampala Serena Hotel/Pearl of Africa Hotel

Day 6 of 12 Days Kenya Uganda Birding Safari: Kampala to Kibale N/Park

After a cup of tea/coffee, start your journey to Kibale Forest NP in a safari vehicle 4×4. You will spend at least 5-6 hours’ driving through the Mityana-Mubende-Fort Portal route and at one of the restaurants in Fort Portal, settle for lunch. Continue to the park while viewing the scenic craters and tea farms.

Safari Lodges for a night stay

• Budget: Isunga Lodge or Kibale Forest Camp
• Midrange: Primate Lodge/Chimpanzee Guesthouse (main house)
• Luxury: Kyaninga Lodge/Ndali Lodge

Day 7 of 12 Days Kenya Uganda Birding Safari: Full day –tracking chimpanzees & nature walk in Bigodi

Gather at Kanyanchu Visitor Center for briefing and at 8:00 am, begin the better part of your day trekking through Kibale Forest in search for chimpanzees. This primate trek will go for 2-4 hours, and includes one hour of up close and personal with chimpanzees. Diversity of other primates will be encountered including colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys, l’hoest monkeys, baboons, and others.

Walk back and you will have lunch at the lodge. At 2:00 pm, meet the experienced local guides for a guided nature walk through Bigodi Wetland. At Bigodi Swamp, enjoy sight of primates, birds and other mammal species plus flora.

Safari Lodges for a night stay

• Budget: Isunga Lodge or Kibale Forest Camp
• Midrange: Primate Lodge/Chimpanzee Guesthouse (main house)
• Luxury: Kyaninga Lodge/Ndali Lodge

Day 8 of 12 Days Kenya Uganda Birding Safari: Kibale Forest to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

After lunch, you will meet the driver guide for transfer to Bwindi NP. Drive from Kibale through Queen Elizabeth NP and today’s journey comes with a higher chance to see the tree climbing lions at Ishasha.

Safari Lodges for a night stay

• Budget: Buhoma Community Rest Camp
• Midrange: Engagi/Silverback Lodge
• Luxury: Buhoma Lodge/Mahogany Springs/The Retreat

Day 9 of 12 Days Kenya Uganda Birding Safari: Gorilla trekking & Batwa (Uganda)

Enjoy a delicious breakfast and leave the lodge afterwards with bottled water and snacks. Get briefed at the park offices, then begin your trek through Bwindi Impenetrable Forest taking you about 2-6 hours. This includes one hour of up close and personal with the rare mountain gorillas in their natural habitat, taking photos and learning about their daily behaviors.

Walk back to where you were briefed with an experienced guide, meet your driver guide for transfer to the lodge or just trek. In the afternoon with company of an experienced cultural safari guide, you will explore the unique cultures and traditions of the Batwa pygmies in their communities.

Safari Lodges for a night stay

• Budget: Buhoma Community Rest Camp
• Midrange: Engagi/Silverback Lodge
• Luxury: Buhoma Lodge/Mahogany Springs/The Retreat

Day 10 of 12 Days Kenya Uganda Birding Safari: Lake Bunyonyi & optional activities

Depart for Lake Bunyonyi, Kabale district where you will have relaxation or boat ride to one of the finest islands. This charming lake has over 29 islands dotted throughout it and it is Uganda’s deepest lake. After lunch, you may go boat/canoe ride to the Punishment Island or consider swimming.

Safari lodges

• Byoona Amagara Island Retreat
• Lake Bunyonyi Eco Resort
• Bunyonyi Safaris Resort

Day 11 of 12 Days Kenya Uganda Birding Safari: Boat/canoe ride & community visit

After breakfast, you go for the morning canoe ride to the Punishment Island or other islands on Lake Bunyonyi. On a canoe ride, you may come across diverse birds, enjoy the spectacular view of the lakes landscape and surrounding. When you get back, have a leisurely lunch and later, you will visit Bakiga/Batwa communities nearby.

Safari lodges

• Byoona Amagara Island Retreat
• Lake Bunyonyi Eco Resort
• Bunyonyi Safaris Resort

Day 12 of 12 Days Kenya Uganda Birding Safari: Depart

A long day will be spent driving from Lake Bunyonyi to Kampala/Entebbe and at the Equator; you will make a stopover for photography.

End of 12 Days Kenya Uganda Birding Safari

12 Days Kenya Uganda Birding Safari Inclusions and Exclusions

Eizoba Safaris Travel Memories

Inclusions

• Park entrance fees
• Gorilla & chimpanzee permits
• Game viewing
• Accommodation & all meals
• Transportation
• Bottled drinking water

Exclusions

• Tipping
• Extra activities
• Insurance
• Telephone calls
• Laundry services, etc

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