Kenya Big Cat Safari w/ Optional Uganda Mountain Gorilla Extension

Safari Dates (February 24 - March 3, 2024) + Mountain Gorilla Extension Dates (March 3-6, 2024)

Join Reefs to Rockies Co-Founder Sheridan Samano and some of the top guides on the African continent for this epic safari in search of the iconic big cats in the Greater Serengeti Ecosystem.
 
You’ll begin in Nairobi National Park with a visit to the Sheldrick’s Wildlife Trust before flying to the Mara. First up is Enaidura Camp, located in the heart of the Masai Mara National Reserve, where you will have full day game drives to search for lion, leopard and cheetah. Continue to the private Mara Naboisho Conservancy, our favorite conservancy for big cats and overall wildlife viewing, with opportunities for off-road game drives, night drives, and walking safaris.
 
As an optional extension – in Uganda, you’ll experience up-close viewing of the endangered mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. Being on foot with these gentle close relatives of humans is soul stirring and among the most intimate and moving wildlife experiences on the planet.

SAFARI OVERVIEW

February 24, 2024
Welcome to Kenya! On arrival, proceed through immigration and collect your luggage. Make your way to the airport exit where you will be greeted by a driver from Ololo Lodge holding a sign with your names. Transfer to Ololo Lodge for a welcome dinner with Sheridan and your traveling companions.
Overnight Ololo Safari Lodge 2 nights
 
February 25, 2024
Morning game drive in Nairobi National Park, then you’ll visit the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust during baby elephant bath and feeding time ($10 entry fees payable direct). Return to the lodge for lunch and an optional tour of the onsite farm before your afternoon game drive.
Overnight Ololo Safari Lodge
 
February 26, 2024
After breakfast, you will be transferred to Nairobi’s Wilson airport for your flight into the Masai Mara (08:00-9:30). Upon arrival, you will be greeted by Johnson Ping’ua Nkukuu (Ping) and Peter Kiyaa, your private guides, and game drive en route to Enaidura Camp. The camp’s location was strategically selected by the two guide-owners, Ping and Paul, both of whom are listed among Conde Nast’s Top 5 Guides in Kenya. The camp is situated along the banks of the Talek River near its confluence with the Mara River, in the prime heart of the Mara. The confluence region is unsurpassed for big cat viewing year-round.
Overnight Enaidura Luxury Camp 3 nights
 
February 27, 2024
Full day game drive in the iconic Masai Mara National Reserve. Kenya’s calving season is a well-kept secret; while the big herds of the Great Migration are in Tanzania, the Mara has its own resident herd of wildebeest, the Loita herd, numbering around 200,000 animals, that give birth sometime around February each year. This is one of the best times for opportunities to seeing big cats in action.
Overnight Enaidura Camp
 
February 28, 2024
Full day game drive in search of big cats, calving wildebeest, and much more. Guests at Enaidura often report a “cat trick” – seeing lion, leopard, and cheetah all in the same day.
Overnight Enaidura Camp
 
February 29, 2024
Game drive with your private guides across the Mara, making your way into the Naboisho Conservancy, renowned for its big cats and wildlife diversity. Accommodations here are at Eagle View Camp. Activities here include game drives, night drives and guided walking. You will also have the opportunity to participate in the Basecamp Explorer Foundation Community Projects.
Overnight Eagle View 3 nights
 
March 1, 2024
Full day game drive in search of the iconic big cats Naboisho Conservancy. Naboisho is the best of the Mara conservancies for cats, with 7 prides of lion, one with 28 members and another with 18. Being in the conservancy, your guides have flexibility to drive off-road and get you even closer to the action.
Overnight Eagle View Camp
 
March 2, 2024
Final day for game drives with your private guides.
Overnight Eagle View Camp
 
March 3
Game drive to the airstrip for your bush flight to Nairobi’s Wilson airport (11:00-12:20). Met on arrival and transfer to the international airport for your flight home. Depending on your departure time, a dayroom will be provided if necessary.
 
– OPTIONAL GORILLA TREKKING EXTENSION –
 
 
March 3, 2024
After breakfast, bid farewell to your guides as they transfer to the airstrip for your bush flight to Entebbe, Uganda (08:15-11:00). Met on arrival and assisted with boarding your bush flight to Bwindi (12:00-14:15). Greeted on arrival and drive (approx. 1.5 hours) to Mahogany Springs Lodge. This puts you in the heart of Buhoma, about 10 minutes from the edge of prime Bwindi gorilla habitat and a very convenient base for your gorilla trekking. This afternoon, visit the Ride 4 A Woman community project, then you’ll have the evening at leisure for dinner and relaxing.
Overnight Mahogany Springs Lodge 3 nights
 
March 4, 2024
Depart after breakfast and take a short drive to Park Headquarters and meet with excellent local ranger guides and trackers who will give a talk on the etiquette of Gorilla Trekking Uganda. Visitors are assigned into groups of no more than 8 trekkers and assigned a gorilla family to visit. Your group will then hike into the forest where the gorillas were seen the night before and track from that point. The trekking can take from 1 to 6 hours and climb to altitudes in excess of 7,500 feet to locate the gorillas. After, you’ll have a behind the scenes visit at the Conservation Through Public Health Gorilla Clinic. Conservation Through Public Health promotes biodiversity conservation by enabling people, gorillas and other wildlife to coexist through improving their health and livelihoods in and around Africa’s protected areas and wildlife rich habitats. One of the gorilla doctors will join you at the lodge for dinner and discussion tonight.
Overnight Mahogany Springs Lodge
 
March 5, 2024
Enjoy a second day of gorilla trekking to a different one of the Bwindi Gorilla Families, then return to the lodge.
Overnight Mahogany Springs Lodge
 
March 6, 2024
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the Kihihi airstrip (approx. 1.5 hours) for your flight back to Entebbe’s international airport (8:45-11:25). Depending on your flight time, a dayroom will be provided if necessary.

DETAILS 

Price for Kenya Safari: $7325* per person based on two people sharing accommodations. Add $440* if you prefer private accommodations on a single occupancy basis.

Price for Uganda Extension: $3950* per person based on two people sharing accommodations. Add $390* if you prefer private accommodations on a single occupancy basis.

Kenya Safari Price Includes: Internal flights (Nairobi-Mara-Nairobi); Road transfers; Accommodation; Meals; Drinks; Laundry; Park/conservation fees; Safari activities as listed in the detailed itinerary; Private guide(s) and vehicle(s) throughout

Uganda Extension Price Includes: Internal flights (Mara-Kihihi-Entebbe); Road transfers; Accommodations; Meals; 1 drink (soft drink or local brand wine/beer) with dinner at Mahogany Springs Lodge; Safari activities as listed in the detailed itinerary, including two gorilla trekking permits per person; Pre-paid porter for gorilla treks (one porter per person per trek); Private guide(s) and vehicle(s) throughout

Excludes: International Air to and from Nairobi, Kenya (NBO); Air to Nairobi and from Entebbe (EBB) with the Uganda extension; Optional gratuities; Visa for Kenya (currently $50 per person) and Uganda (currently $50 per person); Premium drinks like Scotch or Champagne in Kenya; drinks beyond what is specified as included in Uganda; Laundry in Uganda; Excess baggage costs for luggage beyond internal flight weight restrictions; passenger body weight in excess of 220 lbs may incur additional flight costs; Mandatory Travel Insurance; Health Preparations; COVID-19 testing, if required.

*Price is for payment by check. Credit card fees, if applicable, will be assessed at time of payment based on card used.

Group Size: 4 min; 8 max. With 4 travelers, we will have one vehicle with driver/guide. With 8 travelers, we will have two vehicles with two driver/guides.

 
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