14 Days Serengeti, Masai Mara & Gorilla Trekking – Self-Launched

Land at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) and take a shared shuttle or dala-dala to Moshi or Arusha (~£5–8). Base yourself in a hostel in Moshi (many budget operators leave from here). Join a self-booked day trip to Arusha National Park via a local operator or GetYourGuide: Momella Gate entry, the ranger-led walking safari toward Maundi Crater rim with a picnic lunch, then an afternoon game drive past the Momella soda lakes – good first taste of giraffe, zebra, buffalo and colobus monkeys. Book the Serengeti safari locally on the ground in Moshi/Arusha (cheaper than online agents) or pre-arrange a shared-departure camping safari (e.g. through a Kilimanjaro backpacker hostel).

🚌Airport shuttle ~£6; day-trip 4x4 shared

🛏Hostel dorm in Moshi/Arusha (~£10)

• →Arusha National Park ranger-led walking trail to Maundi Crater
• →Picnic lunch on the crater rim
• →Afternoon game drive around Momella soda lakes

Start your 5-day shared camping safari (booked locally, typically ~£500–650 pp including parks fees, vehicle, guide, cook, tents). Drive west to Tarangire National Park, famous for its huge elephant herds and ancient baobabs. Game drive with a break by the Tarangire River, then a sunset view from a rocky kopje. Sleep at a budget tented camp near Karatu.

🚌Safari 4x4 with shared group

🛏Budget tented camp near Karatu (part of safari package)

• →Full-day game drive in Tarangire National Park
• →Tarangire River wildlife break
• →Sunset from a rocky kopje

Morning game drive in the Ndutu area on the southern plains, then climb toward the Ngorongoro Conservation Area for your first views of the crater rim and highland scenery. Overnight at a budget camp or basic lodge near Karatu/the rim.

🚌Safari 4x4 with shared group

🛏Budget camp/lodge near Karatu or Ngorongoro rim

• →Game drive in the Ndutu area
• →Crater rim viewpoints

Early descent into the Ngorongoro Crater in your 4x4 – the day's highlight for wildlife density: black rhino, lions, buffalo, flamingos, hyenas and zebra. Picnic lunch under a fever tree on the crater floor, then ascend in the afternoon and return to camp. Crater entry is included in your safari package.

🚌Safari 4x4 descent and ascent

🛏Budget camp/lodge near Karatu

• →Full Ngorongoro Crater game drive
• →Big Five spotting incl. black rhino
• →Picnic lunch on the crater floor

Drive through the conservation area and enter the Serengeti at Naabi Hill Gate (climb the hill for panoramic views). Afternoon game drive en route to camp inside or just outside the park. Camping inside the Serengeti public campsites is the cheapest and most atmospheric option – expect basic shared ablutions.

🚌Safari 4x4 with shared group

🛏Public campsite safari tent, Serengeti/Naabi area

• →Entry via Naabi Hill Gate and viewpoint
• →Afternoon game drive in the Serengeti

Full-day game drive chasing the migration herds (timing depends on season – July–October in the north near the Mara River, Dec–Mar in the south). Look for lion prides, leopards in the riverine trees, cheetah, elephant and vast plains of wildebeest and zebra. Packed lunch from your camp cook.

🚌Safari 4x4 with shared group

🛏Public campsite safari tent, Serengeti

• →Full-day Serengeti game drive
• →Wildebeest migration and big cat viewing

Optional sunrise hot-air balloon flight over the Serengeti with bush breakfast (book direct with Miracle Experience or Serengeti Balloon Safaris; ~£450–550 – expensive but the classic splurge). Budget alternative: a longer game drive west toward the Grumeti River and the western corridor. Last night in the Serengeti campsite.

🚌Safari 4x4

🛏Public campsite safari tent, Serengeti

• →Optional hot-air balloon safari with champagne breakfast (~£480)
• →Alternative: Grumeti River game drive

Long transfer day – the standard route is to drive to the Isebania/Sirari border and cross into Kenya (visa/eTA for Kenya needed; apply online in advance). Safari vehicles can be swapped at the border with a Kenyan operator, or arrange a shared transfer to Talek/Sekenani. Budget alternative used by many backpackers: fly Serengeti–Kilimanjaro or take a bus via Arusha/Nairobi, but the direct border cross is faster if pre-arranged. Overnight at a budget camp near Talek Gate.

🚌Shared 4x4/cross-border transfer ~£70–90 pp

🛏Budget camp near Talek Gate, Masai Mara (~£18)

• →Isebania border crossing
• →Drive into the Masai Mara

Join a shared day safari (booked through your Talek camp or a local Mara operator, ~£90–120 pp incl. park fees) focusing on the Mara River – best July–October for wildebeest crossings. Big cat country: lions, cheetah, leopard. Optional late-afternoon Maasai village visit (~£15–20) or a balloon flight (~£400+, pre-book only).

🚌Shared safari vehicle

🛏Budget camp near Talek Gate

• →Mara River game drive
• →Wildebeest river crossing viewing (seasonal)
• →Optional Maasai village visit

Shared shuttle or matatu from Talek/Sekenani to Nairobi (~£20–25, 5–6 hrs). Fly Nairobi–Entebbe with Kenya Airways or Uganda Airlines if fares are good (from ~£120–180 one-way, book early); otherwise the overnight bus is far cheaper but gruelling. Uganda visa/eTA must be applied for online in advance (~£40–50). Transfer from Entebbe Airport to a hostel in Entebbe town or Kampala (boda-boda or shared taxi ~£3–6).

🚌Shuttle to Nairobi ~£22; flight NBO–EBB ~£150; airport transfer ~£5

🛏Hostel dorm/private in Kampala or Entebbe (~£12)

• →Masai Mara to Nairobi transfer
• →Flight to Uganda

Take a morning bus from Kampala to Mbarara or Bushenyi (~£8–10, 5–6 hrs), then a shared taxi/minibus to Kasese or Katunguru at the park edge (~£5). Join the afternoon Kazinga Channel boat safari departing near Mweya (~£22–28) – huge concentrations of hippo, buffalo, elephants and waterbirds. Book the boat direct at the Mweya jetty or via your lodge. Budget lodging near Katunguru or Kasese.

🚌Bus Kampala–Mbarara ~£10; shared taxi to park ~£5

🛏Budget guesthouse near Katunguru/Kasese (~£15)

• →Kazinga Channel boat safari
• →Hippo and elephant viewing

Early self-arranged game drive on the Kasenyi Plains (~£30–40 shared with a local guide, or join a group from your lodge) for lions and kob, then continue south through the Ishasha sector to spot the famous tree-climbing lions. Optional chimpanzee trek in Kyambura Gorge (~£100–120, book through UWA) if you have time. Continue by shared taxi to Buhoma (Bwindi gateway, ~£12–15) and overnight at a budget community camp.

🚌Shared 4x4/taxi ~£20

🛏Budget community camp, Buhoma (~£18)

• →Kasenyi Plains game drive
• →Ishasha tree-climbing lions
• →Optional Kyambura chimp trek

The big one. Your gorilla permit must be booked directly with Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) in advance – permits cost USD 800 (~£620) for foreign non-residents and sell out months ahead in peak season (Jun–Sep, Dec–Feb). Meet at Buhoma briefing point, then hike 1–6 hrs through the forest to one habituated family – one hour with the gorillas. Porters, guides and (optional) sedan-chair tips ~£15–25. In the afternoon, shared taxi to Lake Bunyonyi (~£8–10) for a couple of nights of lakeside chill.

🚌Shared taxi to Lake Bunyonyi ~£9

🛏Budget lakeside lodge, Lake Bunyonyi (~£14)

• →Gorilla trekking in Bwindi (permit ~£620 via UWA)
• →Lake Bunyonyi arrival

Morning swim or dugout canoe paddle on Lake Bunyonyi (~£5), then the long trip back: shared taxi to Kabale (~£3), bus Kabale–Kampala (~£10–12, 7–8 hrs), then airport shuttle or taxi to Entebbe International Airport (~£6–8). Alternatively, take a short hop flight from Kihihi airstrip to Entebbe (~£130–160) if you're tight on time. Depart in the evening.

🚌Shared taxi + bus Kabale–Kampala ~£14; airport transfer ~£7

🛏None (departure day)

• →Sunrise on Lake Bunyonyi
• →Canoe paddle
• →Return transfer to Entebbe