10 Days Maasai Mara Serengeti and Gorilla Trekking Safari

10 Days Maasai Mara Serengeti and Gorilla Trekking Safari

This carefully designed 10 Days Maasai Mara Serengeti and Gorilla Trekking Safari takes you through a mind-blowing Journey into East Africa’s best Tourism destinations.

Safari destinations

Maasai Mara National Reserve

Located in the South Western region of Kenya along the Great Rift Valley area in Norok County Kenya adjacent to Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park. Maasai Mara National Reserve was established in 1961 as a wildlife sanctuary covering an area of 520 sqkm of the current Mara Triangle.  Later it was converted into a Game Reserve and by 1984 the park had a total area of 1510sqkm. The park is dotted with acacia trees, shrubs and bushes and has 2 draining rivers which are Maasai Mara River and Talek River. A unique wildlife conservation haven famous for its Natural diversity of wildlife like the Big 5 mammals which are Lions, Leopards, Elephants, Buffaloes and Rhinos in large numbers as well as other mammals like Cheetahs, zebras, wildebeests, crocodiles, hippos, giraffes, duikers, impala hartebeests, roan antelopes, topi, wildebeest and Thomson’s gazelles.

Also boosts of over 500 bird species like Bateleur, Secretary bird, Schawlow’s turaco, Abdim’s stork, Hammerkops, Temminck’s courser, Southern ground hornbill, Usambiro barbet, Saddle-billed stork, Giant kingfisher, Woolly-necked stork, Black-headed heron, Giant kingfisher, African jacana, Crowned lapwing, Malachite kingfisher, Grey-headed kingfisher among others. . Maasai Mara National Reserve is also famous for its annual Wildebeest Beast Migration where Millions of these creatures migrate from Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park which occurs between July and October making it one of the 7 Wonders of the World.

Serengeti National Park

Located in the Northern region of Tanzania and it was established in 1952. The park covers an area of 14763sqkm making it home to over 70 mammal species like  dik-dik, Oryx, greater Kudu, Hyenas, Hippos, bushbuck, Jackals, giraffes, Janet cats, Baboons, Giraffes, elands, spring hare, porcupine, warthog, Hyraxes, vervet monkeys, Colobus monkeys, patas monkeys, and mongooses and also Africa’s Big 5 mammals which are lions, leopards, buffaloes, elephants and Rhinos. Serengeti National park also boosts of over 500 bird species including Grey-Breasted spur fowl, Fischer’s lovebird, Rufous-tailed weaver, Usambiro barbet, Grey-crested helmet-shrike, Kori Bustard, Red-capped robin-chat, Secretary bird, Verreaux’s eagle, Yellow-throated sand grouse among others. Serengeti National Park is well known for its annual Wildebeest Migration of over 1,500,000 and 250,000 Zebras which occur between the months of July and October.

Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Located in the Northern part of Tanzania on the Eastern Great Rift Valley Arm which is managed by Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority. The Conservation area was officially established in 1959 and was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979 and it is part of the Serengeti Ecosystem. Ngorongoro’s main attraction is the Ngorongoro Crater which is the World’s largest intact and unfilled Volcanic Caldera with over 25,000 mammals including wildebeests, hippos, warthogs, hyenas, zebras, elands, gazelles, and the Big 5 mammal species which are lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos as well as buffaloes and over 100 bird species co-existing with the Semi-nomadic Maasai people.

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

One of Uganda’s oldest rainforests with more than 25000 years of age. The park is home to almost half of the World’s population of Mountain Gorillas which gives a great opportunity for Gorilla Trekking and Habituation in the park’s sectors like Nkuringo, Buhoma, Ruhija and Rushaga. The park harbors 120 mammal species like Elephants, duikers,  yellow-backed duiker,  buffaloes, golden cats, bush pigs, giant forest hogs, black-fronted Duiker, clawless otter, side-striped jackal, civet, numerous bats, rodents and 350 bird species like handsome francolin, purple sunbird, red headed blue bill, African blue cuckoo, regal sunbird, breasted sunbird, Rwenzori turaco, Shelley’s crimson among other bird species.

Detailed itinerary

Day 1: Pick up from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport or your Hotel – Transfer to Maasai Mara National Reserve – Evening Game drive

The 10 Days Maasai Mara Serengeti and Gorilla Safari will start with a pick up from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport or your Hotel by our Professional driver guide from Paradise Adventure Vacations who will meet and greet you, he will then brief you about your Safari and thereafter transfer you to Maasai Mara National Reserve located in the Southwestern region of Kenya and it is about 5 hours’ drive. Upon arrival you will check into your accommodation for a delicious lunch and then later, you will go on a relaxed scenic drive until sunset in the rosy grassy hills in search for African wildlife like Elephants, Buffaloes, giraffes, duikers, impala hartebeests, roan antelopes, topi, wildebeest and Thomson’s gazelles. Later you will return for your dinner and an overnight.

Location: Maasai Mara National Reserve 

Accommodation Option:

Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner

Drinking Water and Fruits Throughout the journey

Day 2: Maasai Mara National Reserve – Full day Game Drive 

After a very enjoyable breakfast, you will embark on a full day game drive with your packed lunch  which will give you an encounter with mammal species like zebras, wildebeests, hippos, giraffes, duikers, impala hartebeests, roan antelopes, topi, wildebeest and Thomson’s gazelles, rhinos, buffaloes, elephants and if lucky you will as well spot leopards, lions, hyenas. Later in the evening hours, return back to your lodge with an amazing evening game drive with an armed park ranger as well as spotlight torches to help you easily spot the nocturnals in the night as they hunt and feed on their prey for example the lions, leopards, hippos, hyenas, cheetahs among others. You will then return back for your dinner and an overnight.

Location: Maasai Mara National Reserve 

Accommodation Option:

Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner

Drinking Water and Fruits Throughout the journey

Day 3: Transfer to Serengeti National Park through Isebania Boarder

Day 3 of the 10 Days Maasai Mara Serengeti and Gorilla Trekking Safari will begin with an early morning breakfast and check out of the lodge. You will then embark on morning game drive as you exit Maasai Mara National Reserve to proceed to Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. It will be a long day of driving but the game drives in and out of the parks will be surprisingly rewarding. Dinner and your overnight will be at your lodge.

Location: Serengeti National Park 

Accommodation Option:

Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner

Drinking Water and Fruits Throughout the journey

Day 4: Serengeti National Park – Full day Game drive in Northern Serengeti

Your day 4 will begin with an appetizing breakfast and thereafter transfer with your picnic lunch boxes to the Lobo valley for a full day game drive. This part of Serengeti is unspoiled, beautiful and quieter in comparison to the southern Serengeti plains. This area stretches from the Lobo Hills southwards to Seronera and is characterized by green rolling hills which is a pleasant diversion from the much flatter southern plains. However, as the northern Serengeti is much quieter in terms of tourist traffic, it may be worth considering as you will cross this landscape of open grasslands with sprinkles of dense woodlands in complete privacy.

Location: Serengeti National Park 

Accommodation Option:

Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner

Drinking Water and Fruits Throughout the journey

Day 5: Serengeti National Park – Full Day Game drive in Seronera

Day 5 of your safari will have an early morning yummy breakfast and thereafter drive to the Seronera area for a full day exploring this world’s most famous and wildlife sanctuary. You will view the nocturnal predators as they return from hunting and the animals waking up in early morning light. Depending on the time of the year, you can expect to see the migration of millions of Wildebeests and zebras, other mammal species you will see include giraffes, antelopes, monkeys, baboons, hippos, antelopes, the Big 5 including the lions, elephants, buffaloes, rhinos, leopards and many bird species. You will have your picnic lunch as you enjoy the beauty of the park, later in the evening you will return to your accommodation for your dinner as well as an overnight.

Location: Serengeti National Park 

Accommodation Option:

Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner

Drinking Water and Fruits Throughout the journey

Day 6: Transfer to Ngorongoro Crater via Olduvai Gorge with Afternoon Game drive – Transfer to your Hotel in Arusha

You will start your day 6 with a lovely morning breakfast with your picnic lunch boxes via the Olduvai Gorge. Where it is believed the cradle of mankind began. While here, you will encounter and learn about the fossils. Stone tools and the skeletons of many extinct animals excavated in the gorge. Thereafter transfer with an afternoon game drive to Ngorongoro Crater. Which is not only called Africa’s Eden but also the ‘8th Natural Wonder of the World. A visit to the crater is a main draw card for tourists coming to Tanzania and a definite world-class attraction.

Upon arrival, you will descend into the Crater floor which is about 260 sqkm with a depth of over 2000 feet. This 5 hours game drive on the crater floor will show you a lot of wildlife action which has not to be missed therefore keep your Cameras ready, you will spot the African elephant, Black rhino, buffalos, Hippos, Cheetahs, Hyenas, and Lions are found in plenty. You will later begin a steep ascend to the top exit of the crater and then transfer to Arusha where you will spend your overnight.

Location: Arusha   

Accommodation Option:

Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner

Drinking Water and Fruits Throughout the journey

Day 7: Transfer to Kilimanjaro Airport for your Flight to Entebbe International Airport

On waking, you will have your breakfast and thereafter drive to Kilimanjaro Airport where you will catch your flight to Entebbe International Airport. Upon landing, you will be met and picked up by our driver guide who will then transfer you to your Hotel where you will have lunch and spend the rest of the day relaxing as you await your dinner and an overnight.

Location: Kampala 

Accommodation Option:

Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner

Drinking Water and Fruits Throughout the journey

Day 8: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

Day 8 of the 10 Days Maasai Mara Serengeti and Gorilla Trekking Safari will start with a delicious breakfast and thereafter you will embark on a scenic drive for about 8 to 10 hours to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park including two stopovers at the Equator line at Kayabwe where you will participated in the water experience and also take memorable pictures. You will also stopover at Ajip Motel or Igongo Cultural Centre in Mbarara for a mouth-watering lunch. Later you will continue with the drive to Bwindi where you will have your dinner as well as an overnight.

Location: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park 

Accommodation Option:

Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner

Drinking Water and Fruits Throughout the journey

Day 9: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park – Gorilla Trekking – Batwa Community Encounter – Relaxation at Lake Bunyonyi

Upon waking up by the beautiful sounds of the birds singing in the sky, you will start your day 10 of the Safari with an early morning breakfast. Wear appropriate clothing for the day like a long sleeved shirt, a pair of karky or jean trousers, a round cap, water proof boots. To protect you against the falling tree branches of the Impenetrable forest and also in case of bad weather,  Pack some snacks and water to help in keeping you hydrated during the trek.

Gorilla Trekking

Proceed to the park’s headquarters for a briefing on the Do’s and the Don’ts while you are with the mountain gorillas. You will also be assigned a park ranger who will guide you during the trek and also a gorilla family to look out for. Then start the search for the mountain gorillas which will take about 1 to 7 hours depending on their location. During your trek, you will encounter various primate species like the black and white colobus monkeys, red tailed monkeys, grey mangabeys, and blue monkeys. As your gaze meets the gentle eyes of Africa’s dark-furred Great Apes, you will be allowed to spend a maximum of 1 hour with these majestic creatures as you watch and capture every moment. While they go about their day to day activities.

During this time you will learn about their ways of life and also try to relate with them so they become used to human presence, your guide will be available to answer any questions you need to know. You will also stand a chance to see many forest dwellers you meet on your way during the search of gorillas including different species of birds, elephant, and antelopes. If lucky, you can as well see chimpanzees. Bwindi is one of the parks where gorillas and chimpanzees coexist in the same environment, you will then return back to your accommodation for a delicious lunch.

Batwa Community Encounter – Relaxation at Lake Bunyonyi

Later you will visit the Batwa community who were the early inhabitants of the ancient Impenetrable forest before it became a National park and also a UNESCO World heritage site in 1992 and learn about their social ways of life, how they hunt for food in their ancient ways, visit a Batwa homestead to watch how they dance and also hear ancient legends and their folk songs and then you will transfer to Lake Bunyonyi where you will have relaxation as you await your dinner and an overnight.

Location: Lake Bunyonyi 

Accommodation Option:

Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner

Drinking Water and Fruits Throughout the journey

Day 11: Transfer back to Entebbe International Airport or your Hotel

Upon waking up by the beautiful views of Lake Bunyonyi, You will have a heavy delicious breakfast and then prepare for an 8 to 10 hours drive back to Entebbe International Airport or your Hotel which will include lunch and coffee stop overs. You will also buy some souvenirs on your way to help you keep memories about your time in Uganda. The 10 Days Maasai Mara Serengeti and Gorilla Safari is an unforgettable experience that combines two of the most awe-inspiring Safari destinations in Africa; Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve as well as Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest which is home to the World’s remaining population of Mountain Gorillas. Thank you so much for specifically choosing Paradise Adventure Vacations on the 10 Days Maasai Mara Serengeti and Gorilla Trekking Safari and we hope to see you again!!!

Location: Kampala

Accommodation Option: No

Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch

Drinking Water and Fruits Throughout the journey

The Safari Package Includes:

• Return airport transfers (pick up and drop off)
• Private transport for 10 days in a well-modified safari Extended land-cruiser (4WD,air-conditioned and pop-up roof)
• Fuel for 10 days
• English safari driver guide for 10 days
• Mid-range accommodation for 9 nights on full board (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)
• All en-route meals and bottled mineral water throughout your tour
• All activities and park entrance fees and all applicable government taxes
• Game drives in Maasai Mara National Reserve, Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater
• Flight from Kilimanjaro Airport to Entebbe International Airport
• 1 Gorilla Trekking Permit per person in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
• Batwa Community Experience
• Relaxation at Lake Bunyonyi
• Drinking Water and Fruits Throughout the journey

The Safari Package Excludes:

• International flights
• Country entry visa
• Personal travel insurance
• Items of personal nature/laundry/telephone charges
• Souvenirs and gifts, Tips
• Alcoholic and other soft drinks (sodas, special juice order at the lodge and wines)