What You Need to Know: This 10-day private safari combines the Maasai Mara and Lake Nakuru in Kenya with gorilla trekking in Bwindi and Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda, linked by a Nairobi–Entebbe flight. It costs from US$5,620 per person for 2 travelers at mid-range lodges, including the US$800 gorilla permit and park fees.
Is the 10-Day Kenya and Uganda Gorilla Safari Right for You?
It suits travelers who want both a classic savannah safari and a gorilla encounter in one trip, with a few long drives on the Uganda side.
| This trip suits you if… | Consider another trip if… |
|---|---|
| You want the Big Five and mountain gorillas in one trip | You want the shortest gorilla trip: see the 3-day Bwindi trip |
| You are fit enough for a steep forest walk of up to several hours | You prefer Rwanda's shorter drives: see the Mara and Rwanda safari |
| You travel June–September or December–February | You want chimpanzees too: see the 14-day Kenya and Uganda safari |
The 10-Day Kenya and Uganda Gorilla Safari Route at a Glance
Two nights in the Mara, one at Lake Nakuru, then Uganda: two nights in Bwindi, one in Queen Elizabeth and one in Entebbe.
| Day | Route | Travel | Overnight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrival in Nairobi | Airport transfer, 30–60 minutes | Nairobi |
| 2 | Nairobi to the Maasai Mara | Drive 5–6 hours (or a 45-minute flight) | Maasai Mara |
| 3 | Full day in the Maasai Mara | Full-day game drive | Maasai Mara |
| 4 | Maasai Mara to Lake Nakuru | Drive 5–6 hours | Lake Nakuru |
| 5 | Lake Nakuru to Nairobi, fly to Entebbe | Drive 3–4 hours, flight 1¼ hours | Entebbe |
| 6 | Entebbe to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest | Drive 9–10 hours, or fly 1.5–2 hours | Bwindi |
| 7 | Gorilla trekking in Bwindi | Gorilla trek 2–6 hours | Bwindi |
| 8 | Bwindi to Queen Elizabeth National Park | Drive 4–5 hours with game viewing | Queen Elizabeth National Park |
| 9 | Queen Elizabeth to Entebbe | Boat or game drive, then drive 7–8 hours | Entebbe |
| 10 | Departure from Entebbe | Airport transfer, 15 minutes | — |
10-Day Kenya and Uganda Gorilla Safari Itinerary, Day by Day
The Kenya half is a classic Mara and Rift Valley safari; the Uganda half is built around the gorilla trek on day 7.
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Day 1: Arrival in Nairobi
Your driver-guide meets you at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and takes you to your hotel. If you land in the morning, there is time for the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust's orphaned baby elephants (late morning visiting hour) and the Giraffe Centre in Karen, where you can feed endangered Rothschild's giraffes from a raised platform.
In the evening your guide runs through the days ahead, checks your passports and visas, and answers last questions.
Airport transfer, 30–60 minutesNairobiDinner -
Day 2: Nairobi to the Maasai Mara
Leave Nairobi at about 8:00 and drop down the escarpment into the Great Rift Valley, with a stop at the viewpoint over the valley floor. The road continues through Narok, the last town before the reserve.
You arrive in time for lunch at your lodge, then head out on an afternoon game drive from about 4:00 to 6:00, when the cats start to move.
Drive 5–6 hours (or a 45-minute flight)Maasai MaraBreakfast, lunch, dinner -
Day 3: Full day in the Maasai Mara
Leave after an early breakfast with a packed lunch and spend the whole day on the plains, so you can follow lions, cheetahs and leopards without heading back at midday. From July to October the wildebeest and zebra herds are here, and crossings of the Mara River are possible if the herds are near the water.
Optional extras: a sunrise balloon flight (US$460 per person) or a visit to a Maasai village near the reserve.
Full-day game driveMaasai MaraBreakfast, lunch, dinner -
Day 4: Maasai Mara to Lake Nakuru
A morning game drive, then north through Narok and the Rift Valley to Lake Nakuru National Park for an afternoon game drive. Nakuru is a fenced rhino sanctuary, with black and white rhinos, Rothschild's giraffes and, when the water levels suit them, flamingos.
Drive 5–6 hoursLake NakuruBreakfast, lunch, dinner -
Day 5: Lake Nakuru to Nairobi, fly to Entebbe
An early game drive in Nakuru, then the drive to Nairobi for the flight to Entebbe, about 1 hour 15 minutes. Your Ugandan driver-guide meets you and takes you to your hotel near Lake Victoria.
Drive 3–4 hours, flight 1¼ hoursEntebbeBreakfast, lunch -
Day 6: Entebbe to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
The road west to Bwindi is a full day, through Mbarara and the green hills of Kigezi, arriving in the evening. To save the day, you can take a scheduled flight to Kihihi or Kisoro airstrip (about 1.5–2 hours) and a short drive to your lodge.
Drive 9–10 hours, or fly 1.5–2 hoursBwindiBreakfast, lunch, dinner -
Day 7: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi
Meet the rangers at about 7:00 for the briefing, then walk into the forest with your group of up to eight to find your assigned gorilla family. Once you reach them you spend one hour watching them feed and play. The rest of the day is free; a community walk around the park edge is a good way to end it.
Gorilla trek 2–6 hoursBwindiBreakfast, lunch, dinner -
Day 8: Bwindi to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Drive north through the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth, where lions often rest in the branches of fig trees, and on to the main part of the park near the Kazinga Channel.
Drive 4–5 hours with game viewingQueen Elizabeth National ParkBreakfast, lunch, dinner -
Day 9: Queen Elizabeth to Entebbe
A morning boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel among hippos, buffaloes, elephants and water birds, or an early game drive on the Kasenyi plains, then the drive back east to Entebbe, arriving in the evening.
Boat or game drive, then drive 7–8 hoursEntebbeBreakfast, lunch, dinner -
Day 10: Departure from Entebbe
Breakfast by the lake and a transfer to Entebbe International Airport for your flight home.
Airport transfer, 15 minutesDepartureBreakfast
What You Can See on the 10-Day Kenya and Uganda Gorilla Safari
- Maasai Mara: lions, cheetahs, leopards, elephants, and the migration from July to October
- Lake Nakuru: black and white rhinos and Rothschild's giraffes
- Bwindi: mountain gorillas, about half of the world's population
- Queen Elizabeth: tree-climbing lions in Ishasha, hippos and buffaloes on the Kazinga Channel
Your Vehicle, Guides and Who Runs the Trip
In Kenya you travel in a private 4x4 Toyota Land Cruiser with a pop-up roof and sliding windows, a fridge for drinks, a pair of binoculars and eco-friendly trash bags. In Uganda you travel in a private 4x4 safari vehicle suited to the mountain roads, with your own English-speaking driver-guide. The vehicle and driver-guide are for your group only, so you set the pace at sightings and photo stops.
In Kenya and Uganda the trip is run on the ground by trusted local partner operators we work with. This is how it works: you tell us your dates, group and interests; our partners in Kenya and Uganda prepare the costing for the country, and we send you one written quotation and itinerary. We stay your contact before and during the trip, and we handle the permits, flights and border connections between the countries.
Where You Stay on the 10-Day Kenya and Uganda Gorilla Safari
| Nights | Area | Country | Example lodges (or similar) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nairobi | Kenya | Sarova Panafric Hotel |
| 2 | Maasai Mara | Kenya | Mara Sopa Lodge, Talek Bush Camp |
| 1 | Lake Nakuru | Kenya | Named in your quotation |
| 1 | Entebbe | Uganda | Named in your quotation |
| 2 | Bwindi | Uganda | Named in your quotation |
| 1 | Queen Elizabeth National Park | Uganda | Named in your quotation |
| 1 | Entebbe | Uganda | Named in your quotation |
How Much Does the 10-Day Kenya and Uganda Gorilla Safari Cost?
From US$5,620 per person, for 2 travelers sharing at mid-range lodges, with the private vehicle and driver-guide, accommodation and meals as listed, park fees and permits included. This is a starting price: your final price is the one in your written quotation, worked out for your dates, group size and lodge level.
| Permit | Price per person (2026) |
|---|---|
| Uganda gorilla permit | US$800 |
What changes the price
- Group size: the vehicle and guide are shared, so the price per person falls as your group grows
- Lodge level: budget lodges lower it, and luxury lodges and tented camps raise it
- Season: lodges charge more from June to October and at Christmas; the Maasai Mara fee doubles from July to December; Uganda's gorilla permit falls to US$600 in April, May and November
- Flights: the Nairobi–Entebbe flight is quoted with your trip, as is the optional flight to Bwindi
Park fees and permits on this route
| Park, permit or fee | 2026 rate |
|---|---|
| Maasai Mara National Reserve (Narok County) | US$100 per adult per day January–June, US$200 July–December; children 9–17 US$50 |
| Lake Nakuru National Park (Kenya Wildlife Service) | US$90 per adult per 24 hours |
| Bwindi gorilla permit (Uganda Wildlife Authority) | US$800 per person, US$600 in April, May and November; includes park entry |
| Queen Elizabeth National Park (UWA) | About US$40 per adult per 24 hours |
What the 10-Day Kenya and Uganda Gorilla Safari Price Includes
- Private 4x4 safari vehicle and English-speaking driver-guide in each country
- 9 nights' accommodation at the level you choose, with meals as listed in the itinerary
- All park entry and conservation fees, and government taxes
- Uganda gorilla permit (one each per person)
- Airport pickup and drop-off
- Drinking water in the vehicle
Not included
- International flights
- Regional flights between countries (quoted with your trip)
- Visas and Kenya's eTA
- Travel insurance with medical evacuation
- Tips for your guides, rangers and porters
- Drinks, laundry and personal items
- Optional Maasai Mara balloon flight, US$460 per person
- Porters on the trek (hired at the trailhead)
When Is the Best Time for the 10-Day Kenya and Uganda Gorilla Safari?
The drier months, June to September and December to February, give easier trekking in Bwindi and good game viewing in the Mara; July to October adds the migration. In April, May and November the gorilla permit drops to US$600 but the forest trails are muddier.
How the 10-Day Kenya and Uganda Gorilla Safari Compares with Our Other Trips
| Trip | Days | From (per person) | Gorillas in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maasai Mara and Rwanda | 9 | US$5,938 | Volcanoes, Rwanda |
| Kenya and Uganda | 10 | US$5,620 | Bwindi, Uganda |
| Kenya and Uganda, 14 days | 14 | US$7,798 | Bwindi, with chimps in Kibale |
| Kenya and Rwanda, 14 days | 14 | US$8,348 | Volcanoes, with golden monkeys |
Uganda's permit costs about half of Rwanda's, but the drive to Bwindi is longer.
How to Book the 10-Day Kenya and Uganda Gorilla Safari
| When you cancel | Refund |
|---|---|
| 60 days or more before arrival | 100% |
| 30–59 days | 90% |
| 15–29 days | 60% |
| 10–14 days | 25% |
| Less than 10 days, or a no-show | No refund |
What Else to Read Before You Book
This page covers what is particular to the 10-Day Kenya and Uganda Safari. The parts that work the same way on our other trips are explained once, in these guides:
- Uganda safaris: permits, the trekking day, fitness and the rules.
- East Africa safaris: borders, flights and the East Africa Tourist Visa.
- Tipping on safari: how much to give your driver-guide and lodge staff.
- Booking and cancellation terms: deposit, payment and refunds.
Common Questions About the 10-Day Kenya and Uganda Gorilla Safari
How fit do I need to be for gorilla trekking in Bwindi?
Reasonably fit: the forest is steep and often muddy, and a trek can take from under an hour to six hours. Porters and walking sticks help a lot. The minimum age is 15.
Is the gorilla sighting guaranteed?
No wildlife sighting is guaranteed, but habituated families are tracked every day and sightings on a trek are very likely.
Can we fly to Bwindi?
Yes, scheduled flights from Entebbe to Kihihi or Kisoro take about 1.5–2 hours and save a long day on the road; we quote them as an option.
How much does the 10-Day Kenya and Uganda Gorilla Safari cost?
From US$5,620 per person for 2 travelers at mid-range lodges, with park fees and permits included. Your written quotation gives the final price for your dates, group and lodge level.
The Bottom Line
Ten days is enough for the Mara, Lake Nakuru and a gorilla trek in Bwindi. Book early for June to September, when Bwindi permits sell out first.
Send us your dates, the number of travelers and your lodge level through the booking form, on WhatsApp +255 678 992 599 or by email to jaynevytours@gmail.com, and we will reply with a written quotation.