10 Days Uganda and Kenya Wildlife Vacation

10 Days Uganda and Kenya Wildlife Vacation features visiting Kidepo national park for the opportunity to find the big 4, the Cheetah, and the Ostrich birds which can only be found in this park while in Uganda. Hiking Sipi falls is an added experience where you will relax from the game drives and enjoy a nature walk within a community and refresh at the falls. While in Kenya you will visit the home of the flamingo birds that is Lake Nakuru national park and finally Africa’s best national park – Masai Mara National Reserve best for the big five game.

Safari highlights of the 10 Days Uganda and Kenya Wildlife Vacation

Day 1: Transfer to Kidepo national park
Day 2: Morning and afternoon/evening game drive in Narus valley
Day 3: Game drive in Kidepo valley – Hot springs visit
Day 4: Transfer to Sipi falls
Day 5: Hike to Sipi falls and coffee tour
Day 6: Cross to Kenya – Nakuru national park –evening game drive
Day 7: Transfer to Masai Mara national Reserve
Day 8: Full day game drive
Day 9: Hot air balloon safari and another wildlife viewing experience
Day 10: Transfer to Nairobi/Fly back to Uganda

Detailed itinerary

Day 1: Transfer to Kidepo national park

Transfer to Kidepo: Depending on your location in Kampala, you will with our company representative who will also be your safari guide during the course of the trip. You will meet at your pick up location very early at 6 am and set off to the Northern part of Uganda heading to Kidepo Valley national park located in Karamojong region (Kaboong district). It’s a full day drive with en-route lunch and arriving in Kidepo late afternoon. Check-in at the park entry office then proceed to your accommodation facility for dinner and overnight stay

Accommodation and meals (En-route lunch and half board)

Luxury option – Apoka Safari lodge/Adere Safari lodge
Mid-range option – Kidepo Savannah lodge/Nga Moru Wilderness Camp
Budget option – Apoka Rest Camp

Day 2: Morning and afternoon/evening game drive in Narus valley

Morning game drive: Wake up early and connect for a morning game drive in Narus valley. As you enjoy your game drive, bush breakfast will be served and return for more adventure in the savannah plains of Kidepo national park on your morning game drive in Narus valley. This area is famous for finding the big 4 game including the lions, elephants, leopards and buffaloes. If you are lucky, you will spot the Cheetahs and hyenas as well. Other animals to be found include the kobs, Oribi, Zebras, the giraffes to mention a few.
Evening game drive: Return for lunch at the lodge and later afternoon; visit one of the communities around the park for a community tour, learning about the Karamojong culture and tradition. As you return to the park, enjoy another evening game drive for the missed animals. Before nightfall, drive back to the lodge for dinner and overnight

Accommodation and meals (Full board basis)

Luxury option – Apoka Safari lodge/Adere Safari lodge
Mid-range option – Kidepo Savannah lodge/Nga Moru Wilderness Camp
Budget option – Apoka Rest Camp

Day 4: Transfer to Sipi falls

Transfer to Sipi falls: After early morning breakfast, check-out of the lodge and continue on your adventure to Sipi falls in Kapchowra district. This is a 7 to 8 hours journey through the beautiful landscape and people of that region. Sipi falls is located on the foothills of Mount Elgon which is close to Kenya border. En-route lunch will be provided depending on which town you will pass as you connect to Sipi falls. Arrive in Kapchorwa with views of the rolling hills and sights of Mount Elgon late afternoon and proceed to check-in your accommodation for dinner and overnight stay.

Accommodation and meals (En-route lunch and half board)

Luxury option – Sipi River Lodge
Mid-range option – Lacum lodge
Budget option – Casa Sipi falls lodge

Day 5: Hike Sipi falls and coffee tour

Hike Sipi falls: Wake up to a delicious breakfast at your lodge before you transfer to Sipi Falls for your hiking experience. You will be provided a local guide who will lead you to the falls. Depending on your ability, you can hike up to the third waterfalls, or second or just the first or even to all. This is refreshing moment of this trip after visiting the Sipi falls. Return to have lunch then connect for a coffee plantation visit given that the area is best known for producing Arabic Coffee and get a chance to buy and taste the Uganda Coffee. Later afternoon, drive to Mbale City which is about 2 hours’ drive from the falls where you will check-in at a hotel for your dinner and overnight stay

Accommodation and meals; Mbale Resort Hotel/Wash and Wills Hotel

Day 6: Cross to Kenya – Nakuru national park –evening game drive

Cross to Kenya: Wake up early, have breakfast and set off to Kenya. It’s about one and a half drive from Mbale City to Uganda – Kenya Busia border point, go through the immigration and cross to Kenya. Set off to Nakuru national park with en-route lunch in any of the towns before you reach the park. It’s a 5- 6 hours’ drive from the border to the park. Check-in at your booked accommodation for dinner and overnight stay

Accommodation and meals (En-route lunch and half board)

Luxury option – Lake Nakuru Lodge
Mid-range option – Ziwa Bush lodge/Punda Milias Nakuru Camp
Budget option – Hippo cottages/Stem Hotel

Day 7: Transfer to Masai Mara National Reserve – Masai Community tour

Transfer to Masai Mara: Wake up early, have breakfast and enjoy a morning game drive in the park and also get a chance to see the flamingo birds. Thereafter, embark on your journey to Masai Mara national reserve which is along the floor of the magnificent rift valley. You will stop at Masai market and visit the Masai community. Arrive late afternoon in park and connect to your booked lodge for dinner and overnight stay

Accommodation and meals (Full board)

Luxury option – Mara Simba lodge/Masai Sopa lodge
Mid-range option – AA Masai Mara Safari lodges/Mara River lodge
Budget option – Ol Moran tented camp

Day 8: Full day Mara game drive

Full day Mara game drive: Early morning after your breakfast, connect to explore the Masai Mara plains with your packed lunch for your day game drive that will get you quite close to different wildlife species in big numbers. From solitary buffaloes to copulating lions, birds and small game of all types; you will see it all on a game drive in Masai mara! Be keen enough as you observe the popularly known wildebeest migration from Serengeti crossing to Masai mara via Mara River. This migration only takes place from July to October. Animals such as the wildebeest, Zebras, Lions, Cheetah, Elephants, Hyenas, Thompson’s gazelle to mention but a few can be spotted. In the evening, drive back to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay

Day 9: Hot Air balloon safari and another wildlife viewing experience

Hot Air balloon safari and another wildlife viewing: After early morning breakfast, you will be picked up from you lodge quite very early by the hot air balloon crew and drive you to the starting point of the air balloon, Masai Mara national reserve is one of the best destinations in Africa for balloon safari. This will take 2 -3 hours depending on the weather condition of the day. While on an air balloon, you will see most of the animals found in Masai Mara. After that experience, return to the lodge and wait for lunch. Later afternoon/evening connect for another thrilling game drive in the Masai Mara plains. Before nightfall, return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay

Day 10: Transfer to Nairobi/Fly back to Uganda

Transfer to Nairobi/Fly back to Uganda: After your breakfast, and depending on your schedule, you will either transfer to Nairobi city as your final destination and the driver will drop you off at either to a hotel you advise or at the airport for your onward flight. Or you will wait for your flight back to Uganda directly from Masai Mara national reserve airstrip.

End of the 10 Days Uganda and Kenya Wildlife Vacation