KENYA AND UGANDA // WILDLIFE AND PRIMATES
Kenya and Uganda Gorilla and Chimpanzee Safari: 12 Days
A week on Kenya’s classic circuit, then a flight to Uganda for four hours with a mountain gorilla family in Bwindi and a full day with the chimpanzees of Kibale.
12 Days / 11 Nights
DURATION
$6,530
FROM, PER PERSON
Amboseli, Mara, Bwindi, Kibale
DESTINATIONS
2 to 8
GROUP SIZE
ABOUT THIS SAFARI
About This Kenya and Uganda Gorilla Safari
This Kenya and Uganda gorilla safari joins East Africa’s two great wildlife experiences. The first week covers Amboseli, Lake Naivasha, Lake Nakuru and the Masai Mara. You then fly from Nairobi to Entebbe for the primates of Uganda.
Instead of the standard one hour gorilla trek, this trip includes the gorilla habituation experience in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest: up to four hours with a family that is still getting used to people, alongside the researchers and trackers. You then travel north to Kibale National Park for the chimpanzee habituation experience, a longer morning with a chimp community.
Both habituation permits are included, with the flight to Entebbe, park fees, private 4×4 vehicles with driver guides in each country and full board. Habituation permits are very limited and are issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority, so we recommend booking four to six months ahead. See our Uganda page for more.
AT A GLANCE
Trip Summary
| Detail | This safari |
|---|---|
| Price from | USD 6,530 per person |
| Duration | 12 days / 11 nights |
| Safari style | Gorilla Trekking, Primates and Wildlife |
| Countries | Kenya and Uganda |
| Parks visited | Amboseli, Lake Naivasha, Lake Nakuru, the Masai Mara, Bwindi and Kibale |
| Starts | Nairobi |
| Ends | Entebbe |
| Group size | Private departure. Typically 2 to 8 guests per vehicle |
| Best time to go | Jun to Sep and Dec to Feb |
| Difficulty | Moderate to challenging |
ITINERARY AT A GLANCE
Your Route, Day By Day
| Day | Route | Overnight | Meals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nairobi to Amboseli | Lodge, Amboseli | L, D |
| 2 | Full Day in Amboseli | Lodge, Amboseli | B, L, D |
| 3 | Amboseli to Lake Naivasha | Resort, Lake Naivasha | B, L, D |
| 4 | Lake Naivasha to Lake Nakuru | Lodge, Lake Nakuru | B, L, D |
| 5 | Lake Nakuru to the Masai Mara | Lodge, Masai Mara | B, L, D |
| 6 | Full Day in the Masai Mara | Lodge, Masai Mara | B, L, D |
| 7 | Masai Mara to Entebbe | Hotel, Entebbe | B, D |
| 8 | Entebbe to Bwindi | Lodge, Bwindi | B, L, D |
| 9 | Gorilla Habituation Experience | Lodge, Bwindi | B, L, D |
| 10 | Bwindi to Kibale | Lodge, Kibale | B, L, D |
| 11 | Chimpanzee Habituation Experience | Lodge, Kibale | B, L, D |
| 12 | Kibale to Entebbe | Departure | B |
B breakfast, L lunch, D dinner. Accommodation is shown by type and area. We confirm the exact camp or lodge in writing with your quote.
DAY BY DAY
The Full Itinerary
You are collected in Nairobi and driven to Amboseli, about four to five hours, arriving for lunch.
An evening game drive takes you out among the elephant herds beneath Kilimanjaro.
Activities: Drive to Amboseli, evening game drive
Meals: Lunch and dinner · Overnight: Lodge, Amboseli
A full day in the park with a picnic lunch. Early morning gives the clearest view of Kilimanjaro.
You climb Observation Hill for the view over the swamps where the elephants feed.
Activities: Full day game drive with picnic lunch, Observation Hill
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner · Overnight: Lodge, Amboseli
You drive back through Nairobi and down into the Rift Valley to Lake Naivasha, about six hours.
An afternoon boat trip takes you among the hippo and fish eagles.
Activities: Drive to Lake Naivasha, afternoon boat trip
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner · Overnight: Resort, Lake Naivasha
A short drive to Lake Nakuru, about one and a half hours.
Your afternoon game drive looks for black and white rhino, Rothschild’s giraffe and the water birds along the shore.
Activities: Drive to Lake Nakuru, afternoon game drive
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner · Overnight: Lodge, Lake Nakuru
You drive through Narok to the Masai Mara, about five hours, arriving for lunch.
An evening game drive heads out as the lion prides wake.
Activities: Drive to the Masai Mara, evening game drive
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner · Overnight: Lodge, Masai Mara
A full day in the Mara with a picnic lunch, including the Mara River, where the migration herds cross from July to October.
A balloon flight at sunrise can be added at an extra cost.
Activities: Full day game drive with picnic lunch, Mara River
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner · Overnight: Lodge, Masai Mara
An early start for the drive back to Nairobi, about five to six hours, for the afternoon flight to Entebbe, about one hour and fifteen minutes.
You are met on arrival and transferred to your hotel. A morning flight from the Mara to Nairobi can replace the drive at an extra cost.
Activities: Drive to Nairobi, flight to Entebbe
Meals: Breakfast and dinner · Overnight: Hotel, Entebbe
A long and scenic drive south west, with a stop at the equator, to the Rushaga sector of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, about nine to ten hours.
You arrive at your lodge on the forest edge in the late afternoon.
Activities: Drive to Bwindi with an equator stop
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner · Overnight: Lodge, Bwindi
An early briefing at the park office, then into the forest with the trackers and researchers to find a gorilla family being habituated.
You spend up to four hours with them, watching how the team works and how the family responds. Porters can be hired at the start.
Activities: Gorilla habituation experience, up to four hours with a family
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner · Overnight: Lodge, Bwindi
You drive north through the highlands and along the edge of Queen Elizabeth National Park to Kibale National Park, about seven to eight hours.
You may see elephant and buffalo along the way.
Activities: Drive to Kibale past Queen Elizabeth National Park
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner · Overnight: Lodge, Kibale
You set out early with a guide and researchers to join a chimpanzee community that is being habituated.
You spend the morning with them as they feed, groom and move through the forest, with more time and fewer people than a standard chimp trek.
Activities: Chimpanzee habituation experience
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner · Overnight: Lodge, Kibale
After breakfast you drive back to Entebbe, about six to seven hours depending on traffic through Kampala.
You arrive in time for an evening flight home.
Activities: Drive back to Entebbe for your flight
Meals: Breakfast · Overnight: Departure
THE ROUTE
Where This Safari Takes You
Nairobi → Amboseli → Lake Naivasha → Lake Nakuru → Masai Mara → flight to Entebbe → Bwindi → Kibale → Entebbe.
How To Get There
This safari starts in Nairobi and ends in Entebbe. Fly into Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) and home from Entebbe International Airport (EBB). The Nairobi to Entebbe flight on day 7 is included.
In Kenya you travel by road in a private 4×4 with a pop up roof. In Uganda a new driver guide meets you at Entebbe. The longest days are Entebbe to Bwindi (nine to ten hours) and Bwindi to Kibale (seven to eight hours). Domestic flights can shorten these at an extra cost.
You need a Kenya eTA and a Uganda e-visa, both applied for online before travel. Uganda asks every arriving traveller for a yellow fever certificate. See our visa requirements page or ask in your free quote.
WHAT IS COVERED
Included and Not Included
Included
- Gorilla habituation permit in Bwindi
- Chimpanzee habituation permit in Kibale
- Nairobi to Entebbe flight
- All park and reserve entrance fees
- Professional driver guides in Kenya and Uganda
- 4×4 vehicles with pop-up roof
- Full board accommodation as specified
- Bottled drinking water throughout
Not included
- International flights
- Kenya and Uganda visas
- Travel insurance
- Porter hire on gorilla and chimp days
- Soft and alcoholic drinks
- Tips and gratuities
GOOD TO KNOW
Kenya and Uganda Gorilla Safari FAQs
Instead of the standard one hour visit, you spend up to four hours with a gorilla family that is still being habituated, alongside the researchers and trackers. Only a few permits are issued each day, all in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi.
The gorilla habituation permit is currently $1,500 per person and is included. Uganda Wildlife Authority sets the price and has announced increases for 2027, so we confirm the current rate with your quote.
Yes. The gorilla habituation experience is for ages 15 and over. The chimpanzee habituation experience usually also asks for a minimum age of 15.
The flight takes about one hour and fifteen minutes, against two days by road. It is included in the price.
This safari starts from $6,530 per person, including both habituation permits and the flight to Entebbe. The price depends on the season, the lodges and your group size. Request a free quote for your dates.
Yes. Swapping to the one hour gorilla trek and chimpanzee tracking lowers the price. See the 6 Days Gorillas and Chimpanzees safari for that pattern.
NO OBLIGATION
Enquire About This Safari
Send us your dates and we will confirm availability and a firm price within 24 hours.
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