Full itinerary of the 8 Days Uganda and Kenya Safari

A representative of Umarella Voyage Safaris shall be at Kigali International Airport to pick you up from your flight. Depending on your arrival time you can visit some of Kigali’s craft markets, to browse amongst the pottery, carvings, batik, weaving, sculpture, musical instruments, leather and fabrics on offer. Prepare to haggle! All activities today are at your own cost.

You will spend the night at a lovely accommodation. Flame tree village is ideally located on the outskirts of Kigali. You will enjoy the tranquillity. The rooms have an en-suite bathroom and overlook the tropical gardens. There is a swimming pool to refresh yourself.

Journey Time      30 Minutes

Accommodation: Flame Tree Village

Meal Plan: Full-board

Today you drive to Kisoro in the south-western part of Uganda; close to the borders with Rwanda and Congo. You cross a beautiful part of the country often referred to as ‘the Switzerland of Africa’. You will see a great country-side, bamboo forest and have great views over the Virunga Mountains. For lunch you will stop at a local restaurant on the road (lunch is not inclusive).

Please realize that you will be needing two Rwanda visa and one Uganda visa OR one East African single tourist visa costing USD 100 which allows you to move freely within Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda.

Accommodation

Mutanda Lake Resort offers one of the best views in Uganda! Perched on a peninsula in Lake Mutanda, isolated in the shadow of the Virunga Mountain Range, this lodge offers comfortable accommodation in a very unique corner of the country. Situated between Kisoro town, Mgahinga and Bwindi National Parks the Resort makes a perfect base for a gorilla trekking, volcano hikers, bird-lovers as well for those looking for a secluded magical place in nature.

Don’t forget to take your chance to dip in the lake as it is Bilharzia free, so safe to swim, peddle board or canoe amongst the locals going about their daily business on the lake! The sunset scenes are spectacular so make sure to be on one of the verandas (with a sundowner drink in hand) at that time.

Journey Time      4 hours

Accommodation: Mutanda Lake Resort

Meal Plan: Breakfast and  dinner

Optional upgrade: Luxury Cottage

Mutanda Lake resort

The spacious Luxury Cottages at Mutanda Lake resort in combination with the serene environment and outstanding views will make your stay unforgettable. With small islands dotting the surrounding lake and a backdrop of misty volcanoes this setting is a beautiful hide-away. Be mesmerized by the starry sky on a clear night from your private veranda and enjoy ultimate relaxation.

Optional on day 2 and 3 at an additional cost of $100 per person per night.

Today is the big day… Prepare yourself for an encounter with one of Bwindi’s gentle giants: the rare Mountain Gorilla. For most people this is the absolute highlight of their tour in Uganda.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a highlight for many visitors as this is where they will be visiting the home of the gentle giants. The park lies in southwestern Uganda on the edge of the Rift Valley. Uganda’s oldest and most biologically diverse rainforests lies on the mist-covered hillsides. 

This magnificent forest dates back over 25,000 years, even surviving the last Ice Age (most forests disappeared). Bwindi forest has an incredible diversity of flora and fauna and is the only forest in Africa which can make claim to host both mountain gorillas and chimpanzees. In fact, half the worlds’ population of gorillas live here divided over nine habituated family groups. Also 5 other primate species, 120 species of mammal, over 220 butterflies and 360 birds species call Bwindi home. This it THE place to see the critically endangered mountain gorillas up close for your very own ‘Gorillas in the Mist’ moment.

The trekking

The gorillas you will trek belong to one of nine family groups who can tolerate the presence of humans for a brief period every day. Your trek is an exciting (for some also challenging) journey along forested (sometimes slippery) slopes, entwined vines, bushes and bamboo before you eventually reach the gentle giants. En-route, your guide will point out signs of previous gorilla activity. Think of dung, nests and chewed bamboo shoots.

The time to complete the gorilla trekking is as little as 2 hours to as much as 7 hours! Once the the family of gorillas has been located, you will be allowed a maximum of one hour observing them. Coming face-to-face with the mountain gorillas is a truly humbling and emotional experience. This is a fantastic part of your tour you will definitely remember for the rest of your life.

Journey Time      1 – 1,5 hr each way

Accommodation: Mutanda Lake Resort

Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

After lunch at Mutanda Lake resort the driver of the lodge will take you to Kigali international airport for your evening flight to Nairobi.

Flight details Kenya Airways:

Departure            07.20PM

Arrival        09.50PM

On arrival at Jomo Kenyatta international airport your driver/guide will be waiting to pick you up from you flight. You will spend your first night in Wildebeest Eco camp located outside of the busy town centre of Nairobi. It is close to several tourist attractions like Nairobi National Park, Giraffe Centre, Elephant Orphanage, Karen Blixen Museum and the Bomas of Kenya.

Journey Time      4 hours Kigali, 30 min Nairobi

Accommodation : Wildebeest Eco Camp

Meal Plan: Breakfast & Lunch 

As we continue with our 8 Day Uganda and Kenya Safari, you will be picked up by Umarella Voyage Safaris’ representative who will take you to Wilson airport where the domestic flights depart from. You will fly to the Masai mara Game reserve. This scenic flight will take 45 minutes to 1 hour.

Flight details

Departure: 10.00 AM

Arrival: 11.00 AM

A 4wd vehicle of Mara Eden safari camp awaits you and will take you for a long game drive in search for the big 5 in the world famous Masai Mara game reserve on the border with Tanzania. An excellent year round animal concentration and known for its typical short savanna plains. Home to the great migration in the months July – October when two million Wildebeest make their way northwards from the Serengeti in Tanzania. You are able to spot lions, buffaloes, antelopes and hippo’s and crocodiles in the Mara River.

Mara Eden camp

The coming three nights you will sleep at Mara Eden camp. The camps location is sublime located directly on the Mara River in the center of the reserve. Our tents are placed along the banks of the Mara River, with a seating area at the front for relaxed game and bird viewing. All the tents have hot and cold running water, a flush toilet, 24 hour solar lighting and tasteful décor.

Journey Time      1 hour

Accommodation          Mara Eden safari camp

Meal Plan                     Lunch & Dinner

Today you will have a full day of game drives ahead. Before sunrise you will try to spot different predators that might made a kill last night. You will return for breakfast at the camp while the sun rises over the game reserve.

You can decide to take a packed lunch for a full day game drives or come back at the camp for a hot lunch. The secret on sighting a lot of animals is to do different game drives on different time and areas for the highest success rate.

After this exciting day you will come back to the camp where you can relax with a cold drink on your veranda with a view of the Mara river!

Journey Time      depending on game drive

Accommodation: Mara Eden safari camp

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

After a cup of tea or coffee you will go for an early morning game drive to see lions, hyenas or other predators eating after a successful hunt. When even your stomach is growling, you come back to the camp for breakfast. Then it is unfortunately time to leave this beautiful game reserve and fly back to Nairobi. The driver guide of the lodge will take you to the airport

Flight times

Departure:   11.15 AM

Arrival:   12.15 Pm Note: If you need an extra night in Nairobi please contact: info@umarellavoyagesafaris.com  and we will make arrangements for you at an additional cost.

Journey time                1 hour flight

Meal plan:  Breakfast & Lunch

Transport:

Transport is provided by a 4wd vehicle from the lodge. This vehicle is sometimes shared with other clients.

 Driver/Guide:

Your driver/guide is a professional English speaking guide from Mara Eden Safari camp / Mutanda Lake resort

Journey times:

All journey times are close approximations, as you can never quite guarantee what will happen on the African roads. You could be in for a bumpy ride on parts of the route (which adds to the excitement of being on safari!), we may encounter road works and, of course, there are the photo stops.

Although you may sometimes be seated for long periods, you will be passing some spectacular countryside and there will always be something of interest to see along the way!

Rates 2023-2024:

 2 pers.         3 pers.        4 pers.

January – May     US$ 3990  US$ 4050  US$ 3750

1st – 15th June    US$ 3550  US$ 3550  US$ 3350

16th June – July, October      US$ 4090  US$ 4150  US$ 3850

November – 22nd December         US$ 3650  US$ 3650  US$ 3350

23rd – 31st December US$ 4050  US$ 4090  US$ 3790

 Single Supplement:

One single supplement is included when traveling with 3 persons. Please ask for the additional single supplement for the month you wish to travel.

Holiday supplement for the Easter and Christmas/New Year period:

A number of the lodges have a holiday supplement for these dates. In case you are planning to travel during the Easter or Christmas/New Year period, ask us for the rate.

End of your 8 Day Uganda & Kenya Safari

Thank you for choosing to travel with Umarella Voyage Safaris