Arrival in Nairobi – Welcome and Flight to Amboseli National Park

Your African journey begins with a warm welcome at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, the bustling gateway to East Africa. Upon arrival, a representative from Winton Africa Safaris will greet you and provide assistance with a smooth domestic transfer. Shortly thereafter, you will board a scenic charter or scheduled flight bound for Amboseli National Park.

Amboseli is a photographer’s paradise, known for its dramatic views of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s tallest peak, rising behind vast herds of elephants. After landing at Amboseli Airstrip, you will be met by your safari guide who will escort you to your luxury lodge or tented camp. Along the way, keep your camera ready—you may spot giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, or even lions.

After checking in, enjoy a leisurely lunch and an afternoon at leisure to absorb the park’s tranquil ambiance. Depending on your arrival time, you may embark on a short game drive as the sun begins to set, casting golden hues across the open plains. Return to your lodge for dinner, where you’ll be serenaded by the sounds of the African wilderness.

• Accommodation: Amboseli Sopa Lodge or Sentrim Amboseli Lodge
• Meals: Lunch and Dinner

Full Day Adventure in Amboseli National Park

Today is dedicated to exploring the diverse ecosystems of Amboseli National Park, which encompasses swamps, savannahs, and acacia woodlands. Rise early for a sunrise game drive—a magical time when predators are most active and the soft light makes for stunning photography.

Expect thrilling encounters with elephants, often seen in large family herds, as well as buffaloes, lions, cheetahs, giraffes, and over 400 bird species. Your expert guide will interpret animal behavior, track elusive species, and lead you to the best vantage points. During the mid-morning break, relax with a picnic breakfast under a shaded tree, surrounded by nature.

Return to the lodge for a hearty lunch and perhaps a dip in the pool or a siesta. In the late afternoon, head out again for a sunset game drive, when the golden light bathes the landscape and nocturnal animals begin to stir. Finish the day with storytelling by the campfire and a sumptuous dinner.

• Accommodation: Amboseli Sopa Lodge or Sentrim Amboseli Lodge
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Morning Game Drive and Flight to Masai Mara National Reserve

After breakfast and a final game drive through Amboseli, you’ll bid farewell to this scenic paradise and transfer to the airstrip for a mid-morning flight to the Masai Mara. As you soar over Kenya’s Great Rift Valley, enjoy aerial views of dramatic escarpments, rolling hills, and fertile valleys.

Upon landing in the Masai Mara, a safari vehicle will be waiting to whisk you off to your exclusive camp or lodge, strategically located for optimal wildlife viewing. The Masai Mara National Reserve is one of the most celebrated game reserves in Africa, famed for its abundant wildlife, open savannah landscapes, and its starring role in the Great Migration.

Depending on your arrival time, you may enjoy an afternoon game drive, where sightings of lions, cheetahs, leopards, hyenas, and vast herds of antelope are common. Later, relax at your lodge with panoramic views and an elegant dinner.

• Accommodation: Enkorok Mara Camp or Masai Mara Sopa Lodge
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Game Drives, Great Migration & Maasai Cultural Visit in Masai Mara

Today, you’ll dive deep into the Masai Mara wilderness with both morning and afternoon game drives. The park is especially famous during the Great Migration season (typically July–October), when millions of wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles cross the Mara River in search of greener pastures, often followed closely by hungry predators.

Your guide will navigate to hotspots for witnessing dramatic wildlife interactions, whether it’s a lioness stalking her prey, cheetah cubs learning to hunt, or hippos wallowing in the Mara River. Break for a scenic bush breakfast before returning to camp for a mid-day rest.

In the afternoon, visit a nearby Maasai village, where you’ll be welcomed with traditional songs and dances. Learn about Maasai customs, nomadic lifestyle, beadwork, and how they coexist with the wildlife around them. Return for your evening game drive and dine under the stars.

• Accommodation: Enkorok Mara Camp or Masai Mara Sopa Lodge
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Hot Air Balloon Safari and More Wildlife Viewing

Wake before dawn for a once-in-a-lifetime experience—a hot air balloon safari over the Masai Mara. As you gently float above the savannah, witness the sunrise casting long shadows over wildlife below. This vantage point offers a breathtaking panorama of the Mara’s vastness and drama.

Upon landing, enjoy a champagne bush breakfast in the wilderness. The rest of the day includes game drives through varied habitats: open grasslands, riverbanks, and forested areas teeming with wildlife. Your guide will tailor the experience to your interests, whether it’s big cats, birdlife, or rare species like the aardwolf or bat-eared fox.

Enjoy a final sundowner and toast to the unforgettable experiences in the Mara.

• Accommodation: Enkorok Mara Camp or Masai Mara Sopa Lodge
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Flight to Entebbe – Welcome to Uganda

This morning, transfer from your lodge to the Masai Mara airstrip for a domestic flight back to Nairobi, followed by an international connection to Entebbe International Airport in Uganda. Upon arrival in Entebbe, a representative from Winton Africa Safaris will meet and transfer you to your hotel.

Take the rest of the day to relax and recharge after your journey. Depending on your arrival time, you may explore Entebbe’s botanical gardens, stroll by Lake Victoria, or enjoy a quiet evening at your accommodation.

• Accommodation: Lake Victoria Hotel Entebbe
• Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Flight to Kasese – Road Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park

After a relaxed morning and breakfast, you will be transferred to Entebbe Airport for a scheduled flight to Kasese Airstrip in Western Uganda. The flight offers breathtaking aerial views of Uganda’s lush countryside, crater lakes, and distant Rwenzori Mountains. On arrival, your safari guide will be waiting to welcome you and begin your journey to Kibale Forest National Park.

Known as the Primate Capital of the World, Kibale is home to 13 primate species, including the intelligent and charismatic chimpanzees. Upon arrival at your lodge near the park, settle in and enjoy lunch surrounded by rich forest ambiance. Spend your afternoon at leisure, with an optional guided nature walk to observe forest flora and birdlife.

As the evening falls, enjoy a delicious dinner and get briefed on the next day’s chimpanzee tracking experience. Prepare to explore one of the most biodiverse tropical rainforests in Africa.

• Accommodation: Turaco Treetops or Kibale Forest Camp
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Chimpanzee Tracking & Bigodi Swamp Walk

After an early breakfast, head to the Kanyanchu Visitor Centre for a briefing on chimpanzee tracking etiquette. Accompanied by experienced park rangers, you’ll venture into the forest to track habituated chimpanzee families. Along the way, spot other primates like red colobus monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkeys, and forest birds.

Once you find the chimpanzees, spend one unforgettable hour observing their natural behaviors—feeding, grooming, playing, and communicating. The experience is raw, emotional, and remarkably immersive.

Return to the lodge for lunch and a brief rest. In the afternoon, enjoy a guided walk through the nearby Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, an important community conservation project. The swamp is home to a wide variety of bird species including the Great Blue Turaco, mammals, butterflies, and rare plants. Interact with local guides to learn about medicinal plants and traditional village life.

• Accommodation: Turaco Treetops or Kibale Forest Camp
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Queen Elizabeth National Park – Game Drive & Boat Cruise on Kazinga Channel

Following breakfast, embark on a scenic drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park, passing through verdant tea plantations and crater lakes. Check in at your lodge with views over the Rift Valley escarpments or the Kazinga Channel.

After lunch, head out for a boat safari on the Kazinga Channel, a natural waterway connecting Lake Edward and Lake George. This cruise is one of Uganda’s top wildlife experiences—spot hippos, Nile crocodiles, elephants, buffaloes, and countless birds, including African fish eagles, kingfishers, and pelicans.

Return to your lodge for a relaxed evening and dinner under the stars.

• Accommodation: Elephant Hab Safari Lodge or Aardvark Safari Lodge
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Morning Game Drive – Flight to Kisoro and Transfer to Bwindi Forest

Rise early for a sunrise game drive through the Kasenyi Plains, well known for its lion populations and sightings of Ugandan kob, elephants, and hyenas. After a rewarding game drive and breakfast, transfer to the Kasese Airstrip for your flight to Kisoro Airstrip in southwestern Uganda.

From Kisoro, your driver will escort you on a scenic road transfer to the Rushaga sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, home to nearly half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas. The route winds through lush hills and terraced farmlands with views of volcanic peaks in the distance.

Check into your forest lodge, nestled near the trailheads for gorilla trekking. Relax and prepare for the highlight of your safari—meeting the mountain gorillas.

• Accommodation: Four Gorillas Lodge or Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Mountain Gorilla Trekking & Batwa Cultural Experience

After an early breakfast, proceed to the Rushaga park headquarters for a detailed briefing. You’ll be assigned a gorilla family and set off on a guided trek through the thick jungle of Bwindi, one of the most biologically diverse forests in the world.

Trekking can take anywhere from 1 to 5 hours depending on the gorilla group’s location. Once found, you’ll spend an awe-inspiring one hour in the presence of these gentle giants, observing their interactions, social structure, and human-like behavior.

After the trek, return to the lodge for lunch and rest. In the afternoon, take part in a Batwa cultural experience, meeting the indigenous forest people who once lived in harmony with the gorillas. Learn about their traditional music, hunting techniques, fire-making, and deep connection to the forest.

• Accommodation: Four Gorillas Lodge or Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Return to Entebbe – End of Safari

Enjoy a relaxed morning breakfast and transfer to Kisoro Airstrip for your domestic flight back to Entebbe International Airport. Depending on your international flight schedule, you may opt for a day room or optional Entebbe city tour.

As your journey concludes, reflect on 12 extraordinary days spent across two of Africa’s most iconic safari destinations. From open savannahs to dense rainforests, this Kenya and Uganda safari adventure delivers unforgettable moments, curated with passion and expertise by Winton Africa Safaris.

• Meals: Breakfast and Lunch