After breakfast depart for the 9 hour ride to Bwindi through lush, green, beautiful scenery. Uganda’s beauty led Winston Churchill to refer to her as the ‘Pearl of Africa’. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is located in south western Uganda on the edge of the western Rift Valley bordering the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) shared by Rukungiri, Kabale and Kisoro districts in Uganda. The mountain gorilla is the major tourist attraction and it is also a birdwatchers paradise with over 360 species having been recorded.

Buhoma Lodge commands spectacular and uninterrupted views of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park home to the rare and elusive Mountain Gorilla. The original Buhoma Homestead is completely renovated and it is now a top quality, intimate lodge for guest’s enjoyment. The homestead is situated within the National Park less than five minutes walk from the start of the gorilla trekking point.

Eight comfortable cottages have been carefully built each with its own private verandah allowing wonderful views of the forest canopy of the National Park. Inside the spacious cottages you will find comfortable beds, a well appointed en suite bathroom with flushing toilet and a hot shower and also some rooms with bath tubs. An elevated lounge area complete with bar and dining facilities offers a cosy, comfortable environment to discuss the day’s activities around the fireplaces which add atmosphere and warmth in the cool evenings.

Overnight: Buhoma Lodge
Meal plan: Full board

After breakfast, depart for the gorilla trekking point for a briefing & short documentary on gorillas before departing on your trek which may take two to 6 hours depending on the location of your gorilla family, determined by your gorilla permit.

Return to the lodge after the trek and discuss the day’s activities by the fireside in the lounge.

Overnight: Buhoma Lodge
Meal Plan: Full board

After a leisurely breakfast depart to the forest for the Batwa Forest people experience. As the original dwellers of this ancient jungle the Batwa were known as “The Keepers of the Forest.” The history of these small-statured people is long and rich. The Batwa survived by hunting small game using arrows or nets and gathering plants and fruit in the rain forest.

They lived in huts constructed of leaves and branches moving frequently in search of fresh supplies of food. The Batwa lived in harmony with the forest and its creatures including the mountain gorillas for millennia. Some anthropologists estimate that pygmy tribes such as the Batwa have existed in the equatorial forests of Africa for 60,000 years or more. The Batwa have tried to survive the changing times and have held on to their culture as much as is possible.

Overnight: Buhoma Lodge

Meal Plan: Full Board

After breakfast you will drive northward to Queen Elizabeth National park. QENP has a variety of habitats from the 10,000 year old volcanic crater to the North to the dry Southern plains with herds of Ugandan Kob. Queen Elizabeth National Park has one of the highest bio diversity ratings of any national park in the world, over 500 different bird species and about 100 mammal species. The grassland plains supports a variety of animals which can be viewed from a vehicle on the network of tracks designated in the park. About 20 predators are found in the park such as lions, leopards, side stripped jackal and spotted hyena among others.

Common antelopes species include the kob, bush buck, topi and water buck. Other animals which can be found at Mweya Peninsula are: buffalo, elephant, warthog and hippo. There are also various primate species  available in the park including chimpanzees, red-tailed monkeys, blue monkey, black and white colobus monkey and olive baboons. The Ishasha sector is famously known for its tree climbing lions and it is also known to host the world’s highest concentration of hippos. On arrival at the lodge you will check-in and have lunch before departing for the afternoon game drive.

Meal plan: Full Board
Overnight: Ishasha Wilderness Camp

After breakfast depart eastward towards Entebbe which is about a 5 hours and takes you across the equator to Mbarara where you stop for lunch.

Drop off at Lake Victoria Serena Resort where you are booked for the night.

Meal Plan: Bed and breakfast
Overnight: Lake Victoria Serena Resort

After breakfast you will be transferred to Entebbe International airport for your international flight to Nairobi. On arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International airport in Nairobi you will be met and taken for lunch before connection with  your 3 pm flight to the Maasai Mara. The flight is 45 minute long and you will be picked up once you land at Ol Kiombo or Keekorok airstrip for an afternoon game drive.

Set in what is considered Kenya’s prime wildlife area, Mara Leisure Camp is located along the Talek River at the confluence of the Maasai Mara’s four wildlife viewing areas on the northern boundary of the Maasai Mara Game Reserve.

After a leisurely lunch depart for an afternoon game drive before returning to the lodge just before dusk.

As dusk rolls in enjoy a romantic evening while watching the sunset over the plains or get cozy by the fireplace enjoying a sundowner. At night listen to the unique sounds of nightfall in the African wilderness while you tip your head back and become mesmerized by the star-studded, velvet skies above.

Meal Plan: Full board

Overnight: Mara Leisure Camp

Today you have an early morning game drive before returning to the camp for breakfast. Alternatively you may wish to carry a picnic breakfast to have along the Mara River and have a longer game drive, returning to your lodge for lunch. An incredible array of year round wildlife including lion, rhino, elephant, giraffe and hippo can be viewed up close led by the trained rangers. Interpretive guided bush walks are led by experienced Maasai naturalists at a fee.

Depart for your afternoon game drive at 3pm before retiring to your lodge for overnight.

Meal plan: Full board
Overnight: Mara Leisure Camp

Spend the morning on a game drive in the Mara followed by an afternoon at leisure or you could experience the Maasai culture by visiting the Maasai Manyatta and see first hand how the Maasai live (at an extra cost). You may also decide to have an afternoon game drive before returning to the lodge for dinner.

Meal Plan: Full board
Overnight: Mara Leisure Camp

Enjoy your last day in the beautiful Maasai Mara on a game drive (or a balloon ride at an extra cost). Return to the lodge for lunch before being transferred to the airstrip for your afternoon flight to Nairobi.

On arrival at Wilson you will be met and transferred to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your international flight.

End of services.