Compare 5 Days Kenya Safari Aberdares / The Ark / Lake Nakuru / Masai Mara by Vacay Holiday Deals vs Kenya & Uganda in 11 days - Maasai Mara & Mountain Gorillas - Charm by Exoticca

Day 1: Nairobi – Aberdares

Meals: Dinner

Accommodation: overnight at the Ark lodge

Depart Nairobi for the Aberdares National Park. We arrive at your base hotel, the Aberdare Country Club, in time for lunch. Aberdare country club is located on the slopes of Mweiga Hill. After  lunch, be transferred to the Ark Tree Lodge which is built in the shape of Noah's Ark. The Ark overlooks a floodlit waterhole and salt lick, which attracts a host of awesome wildlife.

The Aberdare National Park animals include the Lion, Leopard, African elephant, African Hunting Dog, Giant Forest Hog, Bushbuck, Mountain Reedbuck, Waterbuck, Cape Buffalo, Suni, Side-Striped Jackal, Eland, Duikers Olive Baboon, Black and White Colobus Monkey and Sykes Monkey. Rarer sightings include those of the Golden Cat and the Bongo - an elusive forest antelope that lives in the bamboo forest.

Day 2: Aberdares  - Lake Nakuru

Meals: Dinner

Accommodation: overnight at the lodge

Breakfast, depart Aberdares National Park and proceed to Lake Nakuru Park, regarded by avid birders' as the greatest World ornithological spectacle on the Earth. The Park is famous for its millions of pink flamingoes lining on the lake shore.

Arrive mid morning at Lake Nakuru for a game drive en route before checking-in at your lodge for Lunch. A spectacular afternoon game drive is planned. The Park is also Sanctuary to the Black Rhino, White Rhino and the Rothschild Giraffe.

Bird life include common species like the lesser and Greater Flamingoes, African fish Eagle, Tawny Eagle, Green Wood Hoopoes, Cliff Chat, Great White and Pink Backed Pelicans plus other intra- African Migrants.

Day 3: Lake Nakuru – Masai Mara

Meals: Dinner

Accommodation: overnight at the lodge

After a leisure breakfast at the lodge, depart overland to the Masai Mara Game Reserve–jewel of Kenya's Game Park.

This enormous Reserve actually part of the vast Serengeti plains is famously known for its spectacular great wildebeest migration and is a true home of the big five-Lion, Elephant, Leopard, Rhino and Cape Buffalo. After lunch, explore the Reserve on a late afternoon game drive.

Day 4: Masai Mara

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: overnight at the lodge.

The Masai Mara is one of the greatest wildernesses of the world. Morning and afternoon game drives are planned. Large mammals are varied, abundant and easy to see.

Residents among the parks mammals are; Masai Giraffe, Buffalo, Impala, Zebra, Topi, both the Thomson's and Grant's Gazelles. Optional hot Air Balloon rides are available on this day at an additional cost. On this final day in the Mara, you also have an opportunity to visit an authentic Masai village.

Day 5: Masai Mara -Nairobi

Begin today with an early morning  game drive followed by breakfast at your lodge. Depart back to Nairobi. Upon arrival transfer to hotel or international airport or agreed destination ending your memorable safari with us.

Day 1: US - Night on board

Arrive at your US departure airport ready to check-in for a flight to Nairobi. Night on board.* * If either your outbound or inbound flights depart in the early hours (before 4:00 a.m.) you must arrive at the airport the night before the indicated departure day.

Day 2: Nairobi

Arrive at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, meet your guide and transfer to the hotel. The rest of the day off in the dynamic capital of Kenya, known as "the Green City in the Sun". We recommend visiting the National Museum or one of the many markets for a taste of the local culture. Overnight stay in Nairobi.

Day 3: Nairobi - Lake Nakuru National Park

Breakfast at the hotel. Set off by road to Lake Nakuru National Park, a journey of approximately five and a half hours. Arrive at Lake Nakuru, an ornithological paradise worldwide known for its alkaline waters and a large population of flamingos, pelicans and other migratory birds. Transfer to the lodge, arriving in time for lunch. In the afternoon, set off on an exciting safari excursion for your chance to see lions, leopards, antelopes, black and white rhinos, hippos and buffalo. Stop at the edge of the lake to capture some fantastic photographs of this emblematic pink-coloured body of water. Return to the lodge, dinner and overnight stay in Lake Nakuru.

Day 4: Lake Nakuru National Park - Maasai Mara National Reserve

Breakfast at the hotel. After an informative safari introduction, set off by road to the famous Maasai Mara Natural Reserve, named after the unique Maasai tribe that inhabits the area and the Mara River that crosses it. Every year, it plays witness to the great migration, considered the eighth wonder of the natural world. Arrive in time for lunch at your lodge and, in the afternoon, head out for your first game viewing drive in the famous Maasai Mara Reserve. Dinner and overnight stay in the Maasai Mara.

Day 5: Maasai Mara National Reserve

Breakfast at the camp. Today, embark on a full-day photographic safari in the Maasai Mara Natural Reserve to observe the largest concentration of wildlife in the world. In the plains, you can find herds of zebras, giraffes and gazelles and in the savannah, mighty lions dominate the environment, as well as hyenas and cheetahs crouched in the long grass. In the forested areas, you can watch hundreds of varieties of birds and monkeys, whilst the rivers are full of hippos and crocodiles, as well as elephants and buffalo. Picnic lunch included. Return to the camp for dinner. Overnight stay in the Maasai Mara.

Day 6: Maasai Mara National Reserve - Nairobi

Breakfast at the hotel and return to Nairobi. Enjoy the day at your leisure. Overnight stay in Nairobi.

Day 7: Nairobi - Entebbe

Breakfast* at the hotel. At the indicated time, transfer to the airport ready to check-in for a flight to Entebbe. Touch down in Uganda and transfer to the hotel. Spend the rest of the day at your leisure, relaxing or exploring the city for a chance to experience the local culture. Relax at your own pace, ready for the adventure that awaits you tomorrow. Overnight stay in Entebbe. * Depending on the return flight schedule and the hotel breakfast service, you may not be able to enjoy the included breakfast.

Day 8: Entebbe - Queen Elizabeth National Park

Breakfast at the hotel. This morning, set off towards Queen Elizabeth National Park, one of the most biodiverse habitats on earth! Encompassing landscapes of open savannah, rainforests, crater lakes and papyrus swamps this national park is home to almost 100 mammal species. These include lions, hippos, hyenas, leopards, elephants and a diverse range of monkeys and baboons! Arrive at the camp and spend a little while getting settled before heading out on an afternoon boat trip on the Kazinga Channel, for your first insight into the rich wildlife of Uganda! Watch the local hippos cooling themselves in the water as buffalos linger in the shallows. Spot unique birdlife such as pelicans, cormorants and the African jacana as you cruise along the scenic waterway. Return to the camp and enjoy the rest of the evening at your leisure. Overnight stay in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Day 9: Queen Elizabeth National Park - Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Breakfast at the camp. This morning we recommend an exciting chimp-tracking excursion in the Kalinzu Forest* or simply spend some time at your leisure to contemplate the stunning biodiversity and wildlife of this region! In the afternoon, depart Queen Elizabeth National Park, headed for Kisoro, passing by the beautiful scenery of verdant hills and valleys of Kabala along the way. Arrive at the lodge, on the shores of Lake Mulehe, close to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, and take in the spectacular views of the Virunga Volcanoes. Overnight stay at the lodge. * Optional Chimpanzee Tracking Excursion: Head to the Kalinzu Forest in search of chimpanzees! Home to around 300 chimpanzees, wander through this rich ecosystem and, with luck, see playful chimpanzees in their natural habitat!

Day 10: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Early breakfast at the lodge. Awake early to set off on an unforgettable Gorilla tracking excursion in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Take all the necessary gear with you as you head into the mythical forests of Bwindi for one of the most exciting wildlife experiences on earth! Just 650 mountain gorillas are left in the world, so tracking can take between 2 and 6 hours, but it is well worth the effort. Professional park guides will guide you through the forest, explaining the lifestyles of the gorilla families and pointing out interesting flora and fauna. Once you've tracked down your group of gorillas, watch in awe as these majestic animals go about their daily lives, grooming, feeding and interacting with each other. It is an unforgettable experience to see gorillas in the wild! Trek back to base and return to the lodge, filled with unforgettable memories of today's wildlife encounters! In the afternoon you have the chance to enjoy a range of optional activities at the lodge, such as a village walk or boat trip on Lake Mulehe, which can be arranged and paid for at the time. Overnight stay at the lodge.

Day 11: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Breakfast at the lodge. Depart the magnificent landscapes of Lake Mulehe, headed for Kampala. Along the way, stop at the equator line where you can stand with one foot in each hemisphere! Arrive in Kampala, the Ugandan capital, and transfer to the hotel. Nestled on the shores of Lake Victoria, the largest lake in Africa, Kampala is home to a number of brilliant museums and historic landmarks. If time allows, spend the evening at your leisure, exploring the city. Overnight stay in Kampala.

Day 12: Kampala - Entebbe - US

Breakfast at the hotel. Afterwards, proceed to Entebbe as it's time to bid farewell to the majestic landscapes and amazing wildlife of Africa. Transfer to the airport for a flight back to the US. Night on board.

Day 13: US

Arrive in the US and end your trip.