Uganda Gorillas & Kenya Mara Classic Combo

Fly from London Heathrow (LHR) (or selected other UK airports) to Entebbe (EBB), the leafy suburb of Uganda's capital.Upon arrival, you clear customs and immigration, obtain your visa and collect your luggage. You are met by your private professional English-speaking driver-guide and private 4WD vehicle and transferred to the Papyrus Guesthouse near the airport where you will stay overnight with breakfast included.

After an early breakfast, you are met and transferred back to Entebbe Airport (EBB) in time to catch your domestic scheduled flight to Kisoro (approx. 07:00 - 08:10).(NB. A strict baggage allowance of 15kgs per person in a soft bag, including hand luggage, is applicable on the local flights. The carriage of excess baggage is not guaranteed).On arrival at Kisoro, you are met and transferred to the scenic Nkuringo, on the fringes of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (an approx. 1½hr drive). En-route, you have the opportunity of visit the stunningly rural Lake Mutanda, which houses stunning views of the Virunga Volcanoes, and enjoy lunch at the scenic Chameleon Hill Lodge.Situated in the shadow of the Virunga Mountains, the lake and its surrounding diverse lakeside forests, wetlands and farmland habitats boast some of Africa’s most beautiful wildlife. You move through the communities and local farms and notice that the pace around here is somewhat slower. Your guide will enlighten you further regarding the ethnic groups of people and aspects of rural life.Overnight at the wonderful Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge where you will stay for 3-Nights in 1x Double Private Cottage on a Full-Board Basis. The rest of the day is yours spent enjoying the vistas and gentle walks around the local area.

Today, you enjoy your awe-inspiring trek to see the mountain gorillas in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (viewing time with the gorillas, 1hr max). After signing in and a thorough briefing, you join a team of experienced ranger guides into the national park to start your mountain gorilla adventure. The guides are extremely experienced, and use their knowledge of the gorillas' habits and information from the previous day to locate the group's whereabouts. This therefore means that the time taken to track the gorillas varies enormously, from as little as a 3hr trip back to camp (hopefully including 1hr with the gorillas), to a 9hr return trip (hopefully including 1hr with the gorillas). Once the gorillas are located, the group will be allowed a maximum of 1hr with them. This is one of the world's truly memorable experiences – a once-in-a-lifetime awe-inspiring moment. You don’t have to be an athlete to complete a gorilla trek, but you do have to be prepared to track on fairly steep, rough and uneven terrain for a long period of time. That said, the rangers and porters always go at the speed of the slowest walker, and you will enjoy many drink/food breaks. The rest of the day is yours to relax at leisure.

There are three wonderful alternatives for today:a) You could make a second Gorilla tracking excursion in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Nkuringo)OR: b) You could enjoy your once in a lifetime Gorilla Habituation Experience: this entails 06:45 to Rushaga, 23km away. Here you track the Rushaga Gorilla group. Once you reach the gorillas, you have the opportunity of spending up to 4 hrs with them. This activity can take unto 10hrs of trekking, and it is important to note that this group of Gorillas is in the Habituation stage, and still wild (Note: a maximum. of 4 guests is allowed for this activity so permits are very limited and subject to availability - if it is of interest, please book as long in advance as is possible to avoid disappointment).OR: c) Enjoy a 2-3hr 'Top of the World' trek, which is a very scenic rainforest walk in the Nkuringo sector of Bwindi, during which you can enjoy stunning vistas of the Virunga volcano chain and seek out birdlife and small forest wildlife.

After a leisurely breakfast, you will be transferred back to Kisoro Airstrip for your flight to Entebbe (approx. 08:25 - 11:25).(NB. A strict baggage allowance of 15kgs per person in a soft bag, including hand luggage, is applicable on the local flights. The carriage of excess baggage is not guaranteed).Here, you will be welcomed and, with a packed lunch in hand, you enjoy an excursion to Mabamba Swamp, a nearby papyrus wetland where people come from around the world to seek the incredible Shoebill. (This pair of Shoebill was photographed by Rainbow Tours client Dr Paul Rathbone).After your exciting activity, you will be transferred back to Entebbe Airport in time to catch your Kenya Airways international flight to Nairobi Airport (approx. 20:50 - 22:00).Upon arrival, you are welcomed by our representatives and transferred to your hotel where you will stay for the night.

After a relaxing breakfast, you are transferred to Nairobi Wilson Airport (WIL) in time to catch your domestic flight into the Musiara Airstrip in the Masai Mara National Reserve.(NB. A strict baggage allowance of 15kgs per person in a soft bag, including hand luggage, is applicable on the local flights. The carriage of excess baggage is not guaranteed).On arrival, you are met and transferred to Main Governors Camp, right in the heart of the Mara National Reserve, enjoying a game drive en-route, where you will stay for 4-Nights in 1x Luxury Tent on a Full-Board Basis.

You have a full day to enjoy three shared game drives per day in the Mara National Reserve and surrounding areas with chances of spotting resident big cats including lion, cheetah and leopard, as well as Grant’s gazelle, topi, eland, impala and large herds of buffalo.Excursions to local Masai villages (manyattas), and local schools and other community and conservation projects are included (entrance fees and tips excluded).Walking safaris, bush meals, balloon flights, and Masai dancers can be arranged at an extra cost (subject to availiabity).

You have a full day to enjoy three shared game drives per day in the Mara National Reserve and surrounding areas.Excursions to local Masai villages (manyattas), and local schools and other community and conservation projects are included (entrance fees and tips excluded).Walking safaris, bush meals, balloon flights, and Masai dancers can be arranged at an extra cost (subject to availiabity).

You have a full day to enjoy three shared game drives per day in the Mara National Reserve and surrounding areas.Excursions to local Masai villages (manyattas), and local schools and other community and conservation projects are included (entrance fees and tips excluded).Walking safaris, bush meals, balloon flights, and Masai dancers can be arranged at an extra cost (subject to availiabity).

This morning, you enjoy your final shared game drive in the Masai Mara National Reserve.After breakfast, you are met and enjoy a shared transfer back to the Musiara Airstrip, game driving en-route, in time to catch your light aircraft flight back to Nairobi Wilson Airport (approx. 10:45 - 12:00). (NB. lunch on this day is not included but can be purchased at the airport).Upon arrival, you move through the transfers section of the airport and check-in for your next light aircraft flight to Zanzibar Airport (ZNZ) (approx. 14:00 - 15:30).(NB. A strict baggage allowance of 15kgs per person in a soft bag, including hand luggage, is applicable on the local flights. The carriage of excess baggage is not guaranteed).Upon arrival, you are met by our representatives and transferred to your hotel in Stone Town where you will stay for the night (approx. 30min drive) (NB. dinner has not been included in the cost on this day).

Arrive back into London Heathrow (LHR) (or selected other UK airports).