Combining gorilla trekking in Uganda with a safari in Masai Mara

Gorilla trekking in Uganda with a safari in Masai Mara is one of the top combined safaris that all tourists need to take while on a safari in East Africa. A combination of the two safaris is efficiently organized with the help of a tour operator. Encounter Safaris is one of the best, with their experience managing safaris in the region. To be able to plan for your combined safari properly, you will need to have information about gorilla trekking in Uganda and a safari to Masai Mara, and this is what we are going to be discussing in this article so that you can have the best combined Uganda-Kenya safari.

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Gorilla trekking in Bwindi and Mgahinga

Uganda is known as the pearl of Africa and is one of the three gorilla trekking destinations in the world, having half the gorilla population. Gorilla tracking in Uganda is carried out in Mgahinga National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, where you can track the habituated gorilla families in both parks.

Mgahinga National Park is a gorilla trekking destination in Uganda that has one habituated gorilla family referred to as the Nyakagezi gorilla family. It is the perfect gorilla destination for tourists wishing to trek gorillas but prefer to do so with fewer crowds. Only 8 gorilla permits are printed in Mgahinga, and tourists are advised to book early in advance to participate in gorilla trekking in Mgahinga. Other activities in Mgahinga include golden monkey trekking, bird watching, cultural trips, guided nature walks, and Mountain climbing.

Bwindi has 19 habituated gorilla families open for gorilla trekking in Uganda and has the highest population of gorillas in the world. The national park is divided into four sectors, the Nkuringo, Rushaga, Ruhija, and Buhoma sectors, and each of these has gorilla families to trek.

A gorilla trek permit is an important document that all tourists intending to trek gorillas in Uganda need to purchase. The gorilla permit is best purchased through a tour operator who will help you check whether the gorilla permits are available for the dates you wish to trek gorillas in the country. The cost of the gorilla permit depends on the category of the tourists you belong to, and these are $800 for foreign non-residents, $700 for foreign residents, and 300,0000 UGX for East African citizens. Unlike Rwanda, Uganda does not offer any discounts on trekking permits, and since there are few permits printed per day, you need to book in advance to be trek gorillas in Bwindi.

Masai Mara

Masai Mara, located along the border of Kenya and Tanzania, is home to the annual wildebeest migration, where millions of wildebeest can be seen crossing the Mara River into Masai Mara from Serengeti when there is a weather pattern change. July sees many wildebeests crossing into Kenya in search of pasture, and they stay till around October, when they migrate back to Tanzania.

The wildebeest migration is an exciting activity that every tourist should try out on a safari to Kenya and some of the animals you get to see while in Masai Mara include Impalas, crocodiles, bush duikers, wildebeests, gazelles, giraffes, hippos, roan antelopes, hartebeests, lions, cheetahs, buffaloes, leopards and hyenas among others. Several activities are carried out in Masai Mara, and these include:

Game drives: Game drives are the most popular way of exploring Masai Mara and are carried out in the morning and evening. The morning drive starts early to catch the sunrise and observe the early bird animals that come out to hunt for food. The morning drive is also the best time to watch the bird species. The evening/late afternoon drive starts immediately after lunch and helps you catch glimpses of the animals you missed on the morning drive. Night drives are also offered at the Reserve, but this is only done after special requests and with trained armed rangers and an experienced guide.

Cultural trips: Cultural encounters are some of the best ways to learn the culture of the local people living around the Nature Reserve. The Masai people have a unique and extraordinary culture you can experience by visiting the local villages and participating in the day-to-day activities of the locals, tasting the local food prepared by the locals, learning about the pastoralists, and tracking animals led by the Masai warriors.

Bird watching: Masai Mara has recorded over 342 bird species, including migratory and endemic ones. The best time to go for a bird-watching safari is during the wet season and some of the popular species to look out for include the Kori Bustard, Great Egret, Marabou storks, little Bittern, cattle Egret, ostriches, Grey Heron, Tawny Eagle, Rufous-billed Heron, Hadeda Ibis, Egyptian vulture, secretary birds, African fish Eagle, Long-tailed Cormorant and Usambiro barbet among others.

Other safari activities that are carried out in Masai Mara include guided nature walks, hot air balloon rides, picnics, and horseback riding, among others.

Where to stay in Uganda for gorilla trekking and Masai Mara

Masai Mara has various accommodation facilities inside and outside the Reserve. The strategically located lodges along the Mara River are the best; however, they are the most booked because of the incredible views of the great wildebeest migration, so they must be booked in advance. The lodges were constructed to accommodate all types of tourists and categorized into primary, mid-range, and luxury accommodation facilities. Some of the lodges that you can book while on a safari to Masai Mara include the Lalashe Mara camp, Mara Bush camp, Asilia camp, Zebra Plains Mara, Ashnil Mara camp, and Mara Ngeche Tented camp, among others.

Accommodations to use when gorilla trekking in Uganda include Nkuringo Bwindi Lodge, Gahinga Lodge, Four Gorillas, Bwindi Lodge, Lake Mutanda Resort, Mahogany Springs, Bweza Lodge, Gorilla Safari Lodge, Chameleon Hill Forest Lodge, Nshongi camp, Rushaga gorilla Lodge, Gorilla valley Lodge and Bwindi backpackers among others.

What to pack for the gorilla trek in safari with a Masai Mara safari 

Packing right for the safari is extremely important. We have created a list of things you must pack for the safari, including long-sleeved shirts and lightweight pants. These should come in neutral colors like khaki, green, or brown. Garden gloves, hike boots, socks, a walking stick will be availed, a foldable water bottle, snacks, insect repellent, a first aid kit, sunscreen, a sunhat, an adjustable gaiters, waterproof day backpack, waterproof rain jacket, warm sweater, nightwear, a camera, flashlight and extra batteries, binoculars, comfortable shoes, toiletries, wet wipes, biodegradable toilet paper, adapters, and additional memory storage.

Other activities to do after gorilla trekking in Uganda

Uganda has quite some safari destinations worth visiting, found in the different parts of the country. Other activities that can be carried out in Uganda apart from gorilla trekking include chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park, Kalinzu Forest, Murchison Falls National Park, and Queen Elizabeth National Park, game drives, bird watching, boat cruises, guided nature walks, food trips and cultural trips among others.

Other activities to do after visiting Masai Mara

Masai Mara is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Kenya, and other destinations you can visit include Samburu National Park, Hell’s Gate National Park, Tsavo East and Tsavo West National Park, Nairobi National Park, Amboseli National Park and Lake Nakuru National Park among others.

Traveling for gorilla trekking in Uganda and Masai Mara in Kenya

Masai Mara is found in the southwest part of Kenya and takes about 5 hours to drive from Nairobi and an hour when flying. Located at the border of Kenya and Tanzania, Masai Mara is easy to get to, but you need to book the means of transport in advance. There are several airstrips that you can use when using air transport, and you need to book accommodation near the airstrips to ensure an easy connection between the airstrip and the accommodation facility. We always recommend spending at least three nights in Masai Mara to get the best experience before connecting to Uganda for gorilla trekking through Entebbe International Airport.

You can easily connect to Uganda for gorilla trekking by taking a road trip through the land border of Busia, although this might take longer than flying. Regional flights can connect you from Nairobi to Entebbe International Airport, which takes about an hour to two. When you get to Entebbe, you can either decide to drive to Bwindi or Mgahinga, which takes 8 to 9 hours from Kampala, or charter a one-hour-and-a-half flight to Kihihi or Kisoro airstrip that is near the national parks. Still, you must drive the rest of the way to the national parks.

You can start with gorilla trekking in Uganda before connecting to Kenya for a Masai Mara safari or the other way around. Either decision you make will be an experience that you will not forget.

The cost of a Masai Mara and Gorilla trekking safari in Uganda

Masai Mara is a popular tourist attraction in Kenya, and gorilla trekking in Uganda is a top tourist activity year-round. The cost depends on the choices you make when it comes to the safari. Several factors affect the Masai Mara and gorilla trekking in Uganda, and these include:

The number of days spent on the safari: The number of days you plan on spending on your combined safari will determine the cost of your safari. The price will be high if you spend more days on your safari, and the cost drastically reduces when you spend fewer days on the safari because the money spent reduces with a few days.

Accommodation: The type of accommodation chosen also affects the cost of your safari. The type of accommodation used ranges from budget, mid-range, and luxury accommodation facilities, and the type you choose will determine whether you will have a budget-friendly or luxury safari.

The size of the group: Consider traveling in groups of 4 and above to share costs during the safari. The connecting flight to Masai Mara generally takes a maximum of 4 people, and the costs of other services like transport and accommodation are shared, reducing the cost of the safari compared to when you travel in fewer numbers.

When to travel: Travelling during the dry/peak season is expensive compared to traveling during the wet season. If you are not worried about spending too much, the dry season is the best, but if you are on a budget, the low season is the best.

The best time to visit

Masai Mara and gorilla trekking in Uganda can be visited all year round. Since Uganda and Kenya are located along the Equator, they receive the same weather and two seasons, the dry and wet seasons. The dry seasons are from December to February, June to September, and the wet season is from March to May and October to November.

The wildebeest migration is the main event from Masai Mara, and the dry season is the best time to watch the animals as they cross the Mara River. This is also the best time to go for a gorilla trek in Uganda since the gorillas can easily be spotted during this period, and the trek routes are easier to use. The rainy/wet season is also a perfect time to visit Masai Mara and go gorilla trekking in Uganda if you are on a budget, love bird watching, and don’t mind the rains. The best part of traveling during the rainy season is that lodges offer discounts and there are fewer crowds.

Choosing a combined safari will give you the best experience, experiencing wildebeest migration and spending time with endangered mountain gorillas. Visit our website and contact us to help organize your safari.