Legendary Wildlife of Masai Mara and Bwindi

Upon meeting your Africa FlashMc guide, you’ll be accompanied to a light aircraft for your flight to the esteemed Masai Mara National Reserve.  In under an hour, you’ll delight as the plane descends through the clouds, revealing the enchanting landscape below.  Highly regarded as one of the best places in Africa to see its diverse wildlife, the reserve has formed the backdrop to numerous Hollywood classics, from “Out of Africa” to “The Lion King”.  At the airstrip, a vehicle awaits to transport you to your lodgings for your stay.  Lunch is served on arrival

Lying on the southern border of Kenya, adjacent to Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park, the reserve forms part of the Greater Mara-Serengeti ecosystem.  Together, these ancient lands are traversed by the world-famous Great Wildebeest Migration.  The Masai Mara National Reserve covers 1,510 sq km (580 sq miles) and rises 1,500-2,170 meters above sea level.  At this altitude, the reserve enjoys a pleasant year-round climate, somewhat cooler than one would expect this close to the equator.  The park experiences distinct dry (June to October) and wet seasons (November to May).

After settling in, you will depart on the first game drive of your adventure.  Returning as the sun sets, dinner and a comfortable bed await.

• Accommodation at your camp or lodge
• Overnight stay inside Masai Mara Game Reserve
• Lunch and dinner, not breakfast
• Drinking water, other drinks are extra

You asked for wildlife, and today your wildest wish is granted.  From sunrise to sunset, you’ll be in awe.  After breakfast, you’ll board your customised safari vehicle in the company of your knowledgeable guide.  Our vehicles are well-maintained and equipped with all you will need to ensure both your comfort and safety.  At lunchtime, your guide will choose a scenic spot to enjoy a sumptuous picnic.

Setting off, your mission is to locate wildlife and experience the sense of peace unique to the African savanna.  And the best news of all is that you likely won’t have to travel far for the spectacle to begin.  Of all its highlights, the Great Migration, which passes through the reserve between July and October, comes up tops.  Outside of this window, wildlife viewing is still excellent.

Popular among visitors, many regard its predators as the star attraction.  Several prides of lions hold sway over the savanna.  Whether asleep or on the prowl, lions demand respect.  Their only rivals are spotted hyenas.  Once maligned, these intelligent creatures actually kill more than they scavenge.  While lions are king, the leopard is deservingly dubbed the prince of cats.  No less regal, the sight of a cheetah streaking across the landscape is a sight you’ll never forget.

Regardless of what you see throughout the day, you’ll appreciate a tasty meal before retiring for the evening.

• Accommodation at your camp or lodge
• Overnight stay inside Masai Mara Game Reserve
• Breakfast, picnic lunch, and dinner
• Drinking water, other drinks are extra

Refreshed, you’ll awaken to the dawn’s chorus of birdsong.  Nearly 500 species of birds are at home in the reserve – a delight for birdwatchers.  After breakfast, your second full-day game drive commences.  As the air warms, you may notice vultures circling on the thermals as they begin patrolling for their next meal.  In all, 47 birds of prey dominate the skies over the Mara.

The reserve is home to the Big 5 – lions, leopards, elephants, Cape buffalo and black rhinos.  Ever popular with wildlife lovers, your guide will make sure you spend time in their company whenever located.  No less impressive are the other inhabitants of this wildlife oasis.  The sight of a giraffe stretching to reach the tender leaves at the top of an acacia is unforgettable.  As is the thunderous sound of hooves as wildebeest and zebra stampede.  Or the delicate way in which ballerina-like gazelles tiptoe through the grass.  In all, about 90 different mammal species inhabit the various habitats of the reserve.  These habitats are dominated by grasslands, which sustain the vast herds of antelope.  Rocky outcrops punctuate the landscape, providing lookout points from which predators scan for prey.  Meanwhile, rivers are a crucial meeting point for all life, their depths home to cantankerous hippos and giant crocodiles.

As you return to camp, savour your last savanna sunset before dinner and bed.

• Accommodation at your camp or lodge
• Overnight stay inside Masai Mara Game Reserve
• Breakfast, picnic lunch, and dinner
• Drinking water, other drinks are extra

As a new day begins, it is time to bid farewell to the magic of the Masai Mara.  Today, you will not only leave the reserve, but it is also time to leave Kenya.  Travelling by aircraft, you’ll fly to Uganda’s Entebbe International Airport, on the northern shores of the continent’s largest lake, Lake Victoria.  Your ultimate destination is reached by another hour-long flight to an airstrip at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.  Touching down in this steamy part of the country, you’ll be whisked to your accommodations to freshen up.  The rest of the day, stretching into the evening is for your leisure.  You may be surprised how demanding life on safari can be.

As names go, few could invoke such a sense of mystery and adventure.  And we assure you, the appellation is entirely fitting.  Bwindi Impenetrable National Park was established in 1991, specifically to preserve habitat for its most famous residents, the mountain gorilla.  Covering a little over 330 square kilometres (127 sq mi), the landscape is home to over 40% of the remaining mountain gorillas in the world.  The montane landscape is draped with dense rainforests, while the climate is wet but mild, thanks to its elevation above sea level.

• Accommodation at your camp or lodge
• Overnight stay in Bwindi National Park
• Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
• Drinking water, other drinks are extra

To enjoy the rare privilege of seeing one of the planet’s most endangered large primates in its natural environment requires a sense of adventure and a moderate level of fitness.  Rising early, the first order of business is a comprehensive briefing about the dos and don’ts of gorilla trekking.  Due to the gorilla’s endangered status, this is necessarily thorough, both for their safety and that of trekkers.  Aside from the threats of poaching and habitat loss, gorillas are also susceptible to human illnesses, so good health is essential for participation.

Since you will be walking in potentially difficult terrain, it is recommended that you wear worn-in, water-repelling hiking boots.  These aside, please feel free to enquire about other recommended attire and gear for this activity. 

While the various gorilla families are closely monitored by park authorities, they have complete freedom to move in and out of the park.  As such, before enjoying their company, they have to be found.  Your guides are experts in navigating the jungle environment and enjoy a high success rate in locating gorillas.  However, sightings are never guaranteed, and the needs of the gorillas are paramount.

Once the gorillas are located, you’ll get to enjoy their company for an hour.  Then it is time to head back to camp for a hot shower and a nutritious meal.

• Accommodation at your camp or lodge
• Overnight stay in Bwindi National Park
• Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
• Drinking water, other drinks are extra

Depending on the available time, there may be time to explore other aspects of the forest, such as the prolific birdlife.  Over 350 species inhabit the various storeys of the forest, making it a challenging yet rewarding destination for keen birdwatchers.

Ultimately, though, you’ll leave your accommodation and return to the airstrip for a flight back to Entebbe, and then onwards to Nairobi.  This flight takes approximately one hour.  Touching down back in Kenya, it is time to say your goodbyes.  

No doubt you’ll have an abundance of memories to reflect on.  Numerous encounters with free-roaming wildlife.  The broad smiles of friendly locals.  A kaleidoscopic array of arguably the most exquisite sunrises and sunsets on the planet.  The rich, earthy scent of East African soil.  A chaotic yet calming symphony of new sounds rings in the air.  We do not doubt that, as all these permeate your consciousness, you’ll be planning your return before your plane rises from the runway.

We at Africa FlashMc Tours and Safaris look forward to welcoming you back!

• No accommodation, this is the final day
• Breakfast and lunch, no dinner
• Drinking water, other drinks are extra