Kenya Safari and Uganda Gorillas (9 Days)

Kenya Safari and Uganda Gorillas Tour combines two safaris (in the Masai Mara and Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya) with gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda. Knock off two wishes on your bucket list in one trip!

This tour can be customized to your wishes so feel free to add nights or include other lodges.

This is using Sanctuary Retreats luxury camps / lodges. These include:
2 nights at Sanctuary Tambarare
2 nights at Sanctuary Olonana
1 night at Hotel Number Five or similar (Entebbe)
2 nights at Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp

Kenya Safari and Uganda Gorillas Tour Daily Itinerary

Day 1

Upon arrival at Nanyuki or Kamok Airstrip via Wilson Airport, you will be met by a Sanctuary Retreats representative and transferred to your camp located in Ol Pejeta Conservancy. Nestled amongst fever trees in the shadow of Mount Kenya, Sanctuary Tambarare boasts 10 luxurious tents from which guests can enjoy views of the 90,000 acres of unspoiled terrain in the award winning Ol Pejeta Conservancy. The rest of your afternoon is at leisure to explore the campgrounds and their surroundings. Should you wish, you may take part in an afternoon game drive to catch a first glimpse of the wonders that await you during your stay here. Once back at camp, freshen up before you sit down for dinner where you will enjoy sumptuous meals prepared by our talented chef.

Overnight: Sanctuary Tambarare as per inclusions below.

Day 2

After a hearty breakfast in camp, head out and explore the conservancy on horseback*. Accompanied by rangers, you will roam within the 600-acre endangered species enclosure where you will learn about the conservation work carried out in Ol Pejeta. Get up close and personal with southern white rhinos, Grevy’s zebras, and Jackson’s hartebeests. Most importantly meet Najin and Fatu and listen to their incredible story narrated by their caretakers. This mother-daughter duo are the last two northern white rhinos in the world.

Return to camp for lunch and rest before heading back out in the afternoon. Explore the plains on foot in the presence of an experienced ranger*. This interpretive walk will get you up close to the sights, smells, and sounds of the African bush. You will learn about game trails, and identifying spoors as well as the smaller mammals of Ol Pejeta. Alternatively, you may wish to meet the local community in the villages surrounding the camp*. See firsthand the work the Conservancy undertakes in healthcare services, sustainable energy, and community enterprise initiatives.

As the sun sets, relish handcrafted drinks prepared by our team amidst the Conservancy. Sip your cocktail, enveloped by the sounds of the bush and a stunning African sunset ablaze with fiery colors.

Finally, enjoy a well deserved dinner before retiring to your tent for the rest of the night.

* Additional cost applies and is subject to availability at the time of booking

Overnight: Sanctuary Tambarare as per inclusions below.

Day 3

Awaken early this morning to a warm cup of tea or coffee served on the veranda of your tent, and should time allow it head out for a last game drive in the grassy plains of the Laikipia plateau. You will be met by a member of our team who will transfer you to the airstrip for your onward journey to the Masai Mara. Upon landing, a member of our team will greet you and drive you to the camp.

Sanctuary Olonana is an exceptional luxury safari lodge set on a private stretch of the Mara River in the heart of Kenya’s most famous game reserve, the Masai Mara. Featuring 14 glass-sided suites, Sanctuary Olonana is inspired by the Masai Mara’s breathtaking natural wonders, an abundance of wildlife, and a dramatic river that runs right past its forest setting. Offering game drives, cultural visits, bush dinners, sundowners, scenic flights, and balloon rides, Sanctuary Olonana makes for a wonderful African safari.

After your welcome drinks, you will be ushered to your suites by a Maasai warrior, all while being serenaded by the sweet melody of his flute accompanied by the sounds of the bush. The rest of your day is at leisure for you to unwind, relax, and enjoy the panoramic views of the Mara River from your pavilion.

Overnight: Sanctuary Olonana as per inclusions below.

Day 4

There is no better way to spend your first morning in the Masai Mara than exploring the bush on one of our customized 4×4 vehicles accompanied by your expert guide. Let him take you to all the hidden spots and listen to him talk about Mara’s rich Eco-system. From acacia studded Savannah, riparian forest, and woodland which attract more than 300 bird species to a stunning variety of animal life all year round, you are in for a treat. If traveling between July and October don’t miss the chance of witnessing the Great Migration.

Back at the camp enjoy a cooling shower with mesmerizing views before sitting down for lunch. In the afternoon we recommend heading out to meet local communities. Whether you wish to visit a school to see how Sanctuary Retreats’ philanthropy projects impact the daily lives of the local community or meet the members of a local Maasai tribe, our guides will happily assist.

Upon your return, freshen up and treat yourself to an in-room spa experience with team members professionally trained in facial and body massages.

Finally, end your day sipping on cocktails around the campfire recalling the day’s events, and head in for an early night to best enjoy the next day.

Overnight: Sanctuary Olonana as per inclusions below.

Day 5

Should time allow it, make the most of your final morning in the Mara. In the early hours of the day, you will be driven out to the Masai Mara in the morning’s darkness. After the captain’s safety brief, board the hot air balloon as it inflates above your head*. Take off, and rise in the air while the surrounding white noise slowly dissipates leaving you with the occasional roar of the flames keeping the balloon afloat. Once high enough, look down and watch the landscape of the Masai Mara light up to the fiery sunrise that spreads under your feet. Drift through the air for an hour before landing back on firm ground to the smell of a freshly cooked breakfast for you to enjoy in the bush before returning to camp for your onward journey to Uganda.

Upon return to camp, you will be met by a member of our team who will transfer you to the airstrip for your flight to Entebbe via Nairobi.

After landing in Entebbe, you will be transferred to your hotel where you can relax and enjoy the day at leisure.

* Additional cost applies and is subject to availability at the time of booking

Overnight: Hotel Number Five or similar on a Bed & Breakfast basis

Day 6

In the morning, after breakfast, our team will transfer you to the airport for your flight to Kihihi Airstrip.

Upon arrival, you will be met by a member of our team who will drive you to Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp. Ecologically respectful, contemporary yet classic in style, this camp blends in sensitively with the dramatic African mountain landscape that surrounds it. Composed of just 10 spacious tents and located in one of the remotest areas of Africa, Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp will immerse you in the soothing sounds and fresh air of Uganda’s rolling hills.

The day is at leisure for you to explore the camp and its surroundings. You may opt to experience one of the many activities offered at the camp including an enthralling forest walk in the famous Bwindi Impenetrable Forest where you can spot rare forest elephants, giant forest hogs, primates, antelopes, and over 200 species of butterflies to name a few*.

In the evening, sip on delicious cocktails, pamper your palate with a gourmet dinner, and finally spend the rest of your night by the campfire before retiring to your tent for a good night’s sleep.

* Additional cost applies and is subject to availability at the time of booking

Overnight: Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp as per inclusions below.

Day 7

Fuel up at breakfast for the exciting morning ahead. Once all set, meet with your expert guide before you embark on a trek through the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest to meet the gorilla families that inhabit it*. The gorillas are completely wild but have become used to seeing a few humans after years of habituation. Nonetheless, make sure to respect the complicated etiquette involved in meeting a giant silverback. Once the gorillas are located, spend up to an hour with them savoring every moment of this ‘once in a lifetime’ encounter before returning back to camp.

After lunch in camp, enjoy the rest of the afternoon at leisure or take the time to learn about Sanctuary Retreats’ philanthropy initiatives in Bwindi. Visit the Bwindi Women’s Bicycle Enterprise, the Bead Making Project, and the Ebeneezer Nursery and Primary School. Followed by the Bwindi Community Hospital and Nursing School. Learning about how each project impacts the community for the better.

Once back in camp, indulge in a spa treatment leaving you relaxed, and unwind to the ongoing white noise of the forest. Sit down to a sumptuous dinner accompanied by stunning views of the hills and the African night sky.

* Please note only children aged 15 and above can track gorilla

Overnight: Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp as per inclusions below.

Day 8

On your last day, choose between a full day experience learning about the Batwa tribe’s history, daily lives, traditions, and culture or an exciting game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Popular for its tree-climbing lions, Savannah elephants, buffaloes, topi, hippos, various bird species, warthogs, and the occasional leopard*.

Upon return to camp, soak in your bath and freshen up for your last evening at the camp.

* Additional cost applies and is subject to availability at the time of booking

Overnight: Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp as per inclusions below.

Day 9

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast and morning transfer to the airstrip for your light aircraft flight to Entebbe to connect with your onward flight.

Kenya Safari and Uganda Gorillas Tour Rates

The rates for the Kenya Safari and Uganda Gorillas tour are based on the long stay rates for Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp, Sanctuary Tambarare, and Sanctuary Olonana.

There is no supplement for single occupancy of a maximum of 3 suites in the Low season (except for the Geoffrey Kent Suite). Further single occupancy bookings in the Low season are subject to a 50% single supplement. All other single occupancy bookings are charged at the single rates listed.

An adult sharing a tent with two other adults pays 75% of the sharing rate during Low and Medium seasons, and 85% of the sharing rate in High seasons (subject to availability).

Below are the game package rates in USD. The full board rates are available on request should you be driving to camp yourselves / with your own guide.