Direct fly-in safari from the Masai Mara to Bwindi. Absolutely yes! You can now connect from Maasai Mara National Reserve to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park more easily than ever before. You simply need to book a fly-in safari, and you will arrive in Uganda quickly to explore Bwindi National Park’s wonders.
To connect from Masai Mara National Reserve to Bwindi for gorilla trekking, you first take a flight to Entebbe International Airport (EBB). From Entebbe Airport, you then catch a domestic flight to Kihihi or Kisoro airstrip. From either of these airfields/airstrips, you can drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Kihihi and Kisoro airstrips both offer you easier access to different parts or sectors of Bwindi National Park. You should fly to Kihihi airstrip, especially if you plan to explore the Ruhija and Buhoma sectors. Kisoro airstrip is ideal for holidaymakers who plan to visit the Southern sectors, Rushaga, and Nkuringo.
Direct flights from Masai Mara to Entebbe Airport
You can take direct flights from Masai Mara to Entebbe International Airport (EBB), Uganda. These flights operate during morning or afternoon departure times. The active airstrips around the Masai Mara include Kichwa Tembo, Mara North Airstrip, Serena, Musiara Airstrip, Angama, Siana, Olare Orok, Ngerende, Keekorok, and Olkiombo airstrips. Plan and book your fly-in safaris with Native Africa Tours hassle-free.
Flights from EBB to Bwindi National Park
Which airline operates from Entebbe to Bwindi? AeroLink Uganda conducts most flights from Entebbe Airport to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. You can plan and book a fly-in mountain gorilla safari tour through Native Africa Tours. Ensure that you book your fly-in gorilla tour in advance to avoid last-minute stress. Flying from Entebbe to Bwindi saves you hours compared to road transportation. Road travel requires up to 8-9 hours to drive from Entebbe/Kampala city to Bwindi, unlike 1-2 hours by air transportation.
What to expect when you fly from Masai Mara to Bwindi
Flying from the Masai Mara to Bwindi gives you a 100% chance to enjoy a combined wildlife and mountain gorilla safari. Maasai Mara and Bwindi both offer unique attractions for you to explore.
Masai Mara National Reserve
Maasai Mara, a spectacular game reserve in the Southwestern part of Kenya, is most popular for not only the Big 5 game but also the Great Migration. The Masai Mara extends up to 1510 sq. km and offers refuge to diverse wildlife. Besides the wildebeest and the Big 5 (elephants, buffalo, lions, leopards, and rhinos), the Masai Mara also shelters wildlife species such as impalas, zebras, giraffes, cheetahs, hippos, crocodiles, and over 470 species of birds.
The diverse bird species that make the Mara a bird-watchers’ paradise include ostriches, martial eagles, Ross’s turacos, pygmy kingfishers, giant kingfishers, Denham’s bustards, lazy cisticola, cinnamon-breasted bunting, African wood owl, purple grenadier, and trilling cisticola. Other bird species you might spot include saddle-billed storks, Rosy-throated long claw, Usambiro barbet, Southern ground hornbill, yellow-throated sand grouse, woolly-necked storks, white-bellied go-away bird, and others.
What to expect on a Masai Mara safari:
Witness the Great Migration:
Masai Mara is most popular for its powerful wildebeest migration. During the Great Migration season, you can closely watch millions of wildebeest as they traverse the plains of the Masai Mara in search of food and water. The Mara River crossing is undoubtedly a bucket list wilderness experience for all Kenya safaris in the Masai Mara. The best time to travel to the Masai Mara to witness this world’s spectacle is during the peak dry season, July to September.
Go birding/bird watching:
Masai Mara is known for its enriching bird-watching expeditions. A birding trip in the Mara Game Reserve exposes you to the reserve’s incredible birds. Over 470 bird species exist in the Masai Mara and include Egyptian geese, spur-winged geese, knob-billed ducks, rufous-necked wryneck, golden-tailed woodpecker, Nubian woodpeckers, Madagascar pond-heron, pallid harriers, grey-crested helmet-shrike, lesser kestrel, Jackson’s window birds, and more.
Enjoy game drives/wildlife viewing:
Masai Mara is a superb savanna-protected area that guarantees you unforgettable Big Five game safaris. It is a complete Big 5 game destination, and on a game drive, you can search for wildlife such as African bush elephants, leopards, rhinos, lions, and buffalo. You will also spot additional wildlife species, including giraffes, zebras, a myriad of antelope families, and others.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Located in Southwestern Uganda, you visit Bwindi is visited primarily for mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei) encounters. Bwindi National Park is the only National Park in the world with the highest population of mountain gorillas, and also boasts habituated gorilla groups. Over 23 habituated gorilla groups are open for gorilla tourism in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Park alone.
Diverse gorilla groups in Bwindi are distributed across all four regions or gorilla trekking sectors. The main mountain gorilla sectors within Bwindi National Park include Ruhija, Rushaga, Buhoma, and Nkuringo. You can visit top gorilla families on a gorilla trekking tour in Bwindi National Park, including the Nshongi group, Mishaya, Mubare, Mukiza, Busingye, Kahungye, Bitukura, Habinyanja, and Katwe, among others.
Visiting Bwindi to see mountain gorillas requires all trekkers to have a valid gorilla permit. You can book a gorilla permit with ease through Anthill Safaris at USD 800 per person. You should book a gorilla permit in advance before you fly to Bwindi to track gorillas. With fewer than 1063 endangered mountain gorillas currently left on Earth, interacting with these large apes in the jungles will leave you with lasting memories.
What to expect on a Bwindi safari:
Direct fly-in safari from the Masai Mara to Bwindi. Are you an active traveler looking to explore Bwindi Impenetrable Forest? From popular treks to meet the mountain gorillas to guided walks within Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, you will enjoy your visit. Bwindi is the ultimate destination for travelers from all walks of life, including hikers, photographers, nature enthusiasts, and more.
Though gorilla trekking is the major activity, you can enjoy many adventure activities in the park. Here are the most popular adventure activities to do in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
Go Gorilla Trekking:
Gorilla tracking is the most popular adventure activity that attracts most travelers to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. You can do this activity all year round, and twenty habituated gorilla families are available for tourist visits. Also referred to as gorilla tracking, you do this activity along ecotourism guidelines that the Bwindi Great Ape Project set in the 1990s. A gorilla trekking permit for international travelers costs US$800 per person. For residents of East Africa, the gorilla permit costs US$700, East African Nationals at UGX300000, and the Rest of African Nationals at US$500. These fees may seem high, but they are critical in funding conservation efforts and supporting the livelihoods of communities living near the park.
Experience Gorilla Habituation:
The Gorilla Habituation Experience, introduced in Rushaga Sector of Bwindi as an experiential form of tourism in 2017, offers you the chance to watch the great apes for up to four hours within the impenetrable forest. You will need a considerable degree of fitness since you follow a gorilla family still being habituated for tourist visits. A single habituation permit goes for 1,500 US dollars per person, inclusive of park entry fees. Once you’ve booked your permit, you are guaranteed to spend four hours with gorillas, contrary to the one-hour gorilla trekking encounter.
Enjoy Bird watching:
Bwindi National Park is a hotspot for birding! The park hosts about 351 bird species, of which 23 species are endemic to the Albertine Rift Valley. While in Bwindi, you will bird through varied habitats that include forests, swamps, wetlands, etc. You can tick off many birds during a carefully planned birding trip through the four sectors of Bwindi Tropical Forest.
Immerse yourself in the Batwa experience:
The Batwa were the indigenous inhabitants of the forest and had lived there for thousands of years, even before the Bantu people (considered the cultivators of land) arrived. The Batwa, commonly referred to as the pygmies, were initially hunter-gatherers and settled in the jungles of Southwestern Uganda and beyond. This riveting Batwa experience involves you exploring these people’s ancient way of life.
Take nature walks/hiking:
Tourists with mostly 2-4 days to explore Bwindi commonly do this. Various trails exist throughout the four sectors (Rushaga, Buhoma, Ruhija, and Nkuringo), and you can add nature walks to your gorilla trek. Nature walks help you explore tree species, some primate species, butterflies, and even bird species. Learn about the most popular trails to take while in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
Engage in Community Tourism:
One popular community walk includes the Buhoma Village walk, where you take a 3-hour cultural walk through the villages to see how a rural Ugandan household lives. A tour guide (mostly a native from the village) who is very knowledgeable about the cultural values, customs, and practices of the people conducts community tours. Here are the most popular community experiences.
Where to stay on your Bwindi and Masai Mara tour:
Direct fly-in safari from the Masai Mara to Bwindi. Booking the right accommodation for an overnight stay is essential if you plan to embark on a combined Maasai Mara and Bwindi National Park tour. Luckily, all these safari destinations offer budget, midrange, and luxury accommodation options, making them complete.
In Bwindi, you will find gorilla trekking safari lodges in the four regions: Ruhija, Buhoma, Rushaga, and Nkuringo. Top accommodations to book for overnight stays in Bwindi include the Four Gorillas Lodge, Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, Buhoma Lodge, Gorilla Valley Lodge, Trekkers Tavern Lodge, Ruhija Gorilla Safari Camp, and Buhoma Lodge.
Masai Mara lodges include, among others, the Mara Bushtops Luxury Camp, Sanctuary Olonana Camp, Ashnil Mara Camp, Mara Fishi Camp, Mara Crossings Camp, and Sentinel Mara Camp. Other lodges include Mara Explorer Tented Camp, Fairmont Mara Safari Club, Fig Tree Camp Governors’ II, Moran Camp, and Mara Intrepids Tented Camp, to mention but a few.
What to pack for a Masai Mara and Bwindi safari:
Direct fly-in safari from the Masai Mara to Bwindi. Some essential items to include on your Masai Mara and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Park safari include waterproof hiking boots, a pair of binoculars, long-sleeved shirts, a rain jacket, trousers, a good camera, toiletries, a first-aid kit, and long, lightweight pants. Additional items to have on your packing list for the Bwindi and Masai Mara tour include a first aid kit, a flashlight, a pair of socks, garden gloves, a daypack, and others.
Conclusively, you can fly from the Masai Mara to Bwindi National Park. First, you take a flight to Entebbe International Airport (EBB). From there, you connect to Bwindi National Park. Talk to an expert to plan and book a trip that allows you to combine both the Masai Mara and Bwindi National Park safaris.
