A Superb Safari Uganda & Kenya

• The Masai Mara plays host to the most spectacular array of wildlife. 1,500 square kilometers of broad, biscuit coloured savannah sprawls as home to huge numbers of birds (almost 600 species including many raptors) and animals and is contiguous with the enormous expanse of the Serengeti; the two combine as the most diverse ecosystem on the continent.
• The word ‘mara’ comes from the local dialect, Maa, as spoken by the Masai and means mottled.
• Every year the Mara witnesses the most incredible animal phenomenon on the planet – the wildebeest migration. This mammalian train moves north from the Serengeti in search of fresh pasture, and returns south around October, a heaving line of grunting, snorting life that stretches for miles.
• At the Mara River they mass together nervously on the banks before plunging frantically onwards; their quest for food overwhelming their fear of the crocodiles that lie in wait for their annual feast. This incredible spectacle involves the movement of over a million wildebeest and their groupies, half a million Thomson’s gazelle, half a million zebra as well as smaller herds of topi and eland. These herds are closely followed by the predators, primarily lions.

BEST TIME TO TRAVEL

• January to March are hot dry months with low water levels and short grass. The wildlife have to fight over resources and can easily be seen gathered around water sources.
• The rains arrive between April and May and are characterized by short, intense thunderstorms and beautiful rainbows. The landscape turns lush and wildflowers abound. This is also when there are the lowest visitor numbers ensuring an exclusive experience.
• Between June and October the migration arrives in the Masai Mara and there are numerous river crossings.
• The last two months of the year have less intrusive rain. Temperatures are still high, although the mornings can be rather chilly.

• The gloriously named Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is aptly named ‘Bwindi’ which means darkness and this densely tangled green wilderness is deeply shaded, steeply rising (the elevation soars from just over 1,000 meters [3280 feet] to almost 3,000 meters [9840 feet] ) and so rugged and tightly packed, that it’s only accessible on foot.

• Located in south-western Uganda it is one of the richest, oldest (25,000 year old) and most diverse rainforests in the region boasting over 400 plant species. Within its 330 square kilometers (127 square miles) live 120 species ofmammals, 348 species ofbirds, 220 species of butterflies and 27 species of frogs, chameleons and geckos.

• The stars of the show here are the Mountain gorillas, seeing them up close is an unforgettable experience.

• Home to half the world’s population -some which have been habituated, allowing us visitors an unfettered view into their world.Watch these amazing mammals in their natural environment is always a highlight of any African safari. These incredible creaturesshare the forest with almost a dozen other species including chimpanzees.

BEST TIME TO TRAVEL

• Although Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park has relatively wet weather because of equatorial climatic conditions, you can visit Bwindi for a gorilla trekking safari all year round.
• Due to the tropical nature of the forest, rainfall can happen at any time, so there is no complete dry season. June and July receive the lowest rainfall, along do December to February.
• The heaviest rains are March to May and October to November. The months of June to August and mid December to February are therefore a relatively dry season.