Masai Mara & Gorilla Adventure — Self-Launched

Land at JKIA and make your way into the city. Take an Uber or Bolt (£8-12) or the airport shuttle bus to a hostel or budget guesthouse in Westlands or Kilimani. Settle in, swap money (Kenyan shillings) and buy a local Safaricom SIM with data (~£1.50 for 5GB) — essential for M-Pesa and booking onward transport. Grab dinner at a local spot — nyama choma (grilled meat) with ugali is the classic.

🚌Uber/Bolt from JKIA to city (~£8-12)

🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse, Westlands (~£10-15)

• →Airport pick-up / transfer
• →Buy SIM card and set up M-Pesa
• →Evening walk in Westlands
• →Sample Kenyan coffee at a local café

Travel by shared shuttle or matatu to the Masai Mara, dropping through the Great Rift Valley viewpoint at Mai Mahiu/Narok for photos. Journey takes 5-6 hours. Budget shared tourist shuttles run Nairobi-Mara for ~£35-45 one way; if you want a driver-guide, book a small-group safari van directly via your camp. Arrive in time for a late-afternoon game drive in the reserve — look for lions, elephants, giraffe and zebra. Overnight in a budget tented camp just outside the reserve gates.

🚌Shared shuttle Nairobi-Masai Mara (~£40)

🛏Budget tented camp near Mara gates (~£25-35 half-board)

• →Shared shuttle through the Great Rift Valley viewpoint
• →Late-afternoon game drive in Masai Mara
• →Sunset over the savannah

Early-morning game drive when predators are most active, then break for brunch back at camp. Optional afternoon: visit a Masai village (manyatta) for a warrior dance and learn about nomadic herding culture (~£20-25, negotiate directly with the village). If you want a splurge, the hot-air balloon safari is ~£400-500 booked locally — note it costs far less than the operator's optional add-on. Evening sundowners on the plains or a night game drive if your camp offers one.

🚌Safari van / 4x4 game drive vehicle (included in camp safari package)

🛏Budget tented camp near Mara gates (~£25-35 half-board)

• →Early-morning game drive
• →Optional Masai village visit (£20-25)
• →Optional hot-air balloon safari (~£420, book locally)
• →Wildlife photography on the plains

Final morning game drive, then shuttle back to Nairobi with a stop at Amani ya Juu — a fair-trade craft initiative empowering local women — for lunch and souvenirs. Back in Nairobi by late afternoon. Check into a hostel, rest up, and sort onward logistics (Uganda visa, coach or flight to Kampala).

🚌Shared shuttle Masai Mara-Nairobi (~£40)

🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse, Nairobi (~£10-15)

• →Morning game drive
• →Stop at Amani ya Juu craft co-op
• →Book onward transport to Uganda

Cross the border into Uganda. Cheapest route is the overnight bus (Easy Coach / Modern Coast) Nairobi-Kampala, ~12-14 hours, £25-35. Alternatively fly Nairobi-Entebbe with a budget carrier (~£80-120) if you want to save a day. Border crossing at Busia or Malaba — have your Uganda e-visa ready (~£40, apply online in advance). Arrive Kampala/Entebbe and overnight. Boda-bodas (motorbike taxis) are the cheap way around town (~£0.50 a ride).

🚌Overnight coach Nairobi-Kampala (~£30); local boda-boda (~£1)

🛏Hostel dorm in Kampala or Entebbe (~£8-14)

• →Cross Kenya-Uganda land border
• →Overnight bus journey
• →Evening arrival and settle in Kampala

Take a public bus or shared minibus (matatu) from Kampala to Kabale — 8-9 hours, ~£12-15 — then a short boda/special hire to Lake Bunyonyi (~£4). This stunning crater lake is the budget base for gorilla trekking in Bwindi. Overnight in a lakeside hostel or lodge with an over-water deck. Canoe out to islands and enjoy the calm — much cheaper and homier than the operator's lodge.

🚌Public bus Kampala-Kabale (~£14) + boda to lake (~£4)

🛏Lakeside hostel/lodge at Lake Bunyonyi (~£12-20)

• →Long-distance bus to Kabale
• →Arrive Lake Bunyonyi
• →Optional dugout canoe to the islands (~£5)
• →Sunset over the crater lake

Transfer from Lake Bunyonyi to the Bwindi area (Buhoma or Ruhija sector) — a shared vehicle or special-hire taxi costs ~£20-30, 2-3 hours. This is where you'll trek for mountain gorillas tomorrow. You must have pre-booked your Uganda gorilla permit via the Uganda Wildlife Authority ($800 USD / ~£630) months in advance — book early as permits sell out. Spend the afternoon acclimatising and resting; the trek is strenuous at 2,300m+.

🚌Shared special-hire vehicle Bunyonyi-Bwindi (~£25)

🛏Budget guesthouse near Bwindi trailhead (~£20-30)

• →Scenic transfer to Bwindi
• →Collect/confirm gorilla permit
• →Afternoon village walk and community experience
• →Early night before the trek

The highlight of the trip. Meet at the trailhead for a briefing at 08:00, then trek 1-6 hours through dense rainforest with rangers to find your habituated gorilla family. You'll spend one magical hour with the gorillas at close range. Permit cost (~£630) is a fixed government fee and included in today's total. Bring sturdy boots, rain jacket, gloves and packed lunch. After the trek, celebrate with a cold Nile Special and a rest day.

🚌Walking to trailhead (arranged by lodge) / short boda

🛏Budget guesthouse near Bwindi trailhead (~£20-30)

• →Mountain gorilla trekking (1 hour with the family)
• →Ranger-led forest walk
• →Community village experience

Travel from Bwindi to Kisoro (~£8-12 shared), then cross the Cyanika border into Rwanda. Rwanda e-visa ~£40 (or free visa-on-arrival for some nationalities — check yours). Once across, take a shared taxi or minibus to Musanze (Ruhengeri), the base for Volcanoes National Park, ~1 hour (~£5). Overnight in Musanze in a budget guesthouse.

🚌Shared taxi Bwindi-Kisoro (~£10) + border crossing + minibus to Musanze (~£5)

🛏Budget guesthouse/hostel, Musanze (~£15-25)

• →Shared vehicle to Kisoro
• →Cross Cyanika border into Rwanda
• →Transfer to Musanze
• →Evening settle in Musanze

Optional (and expensive, ~$1,500 USD) second gorilla trek in Volcanoes National Park if you want — most travellers skip this as permits are double Uganda's price. Otherwise, take the early bus from Musanze to Kigali (~2 hours, ~£4). Kigali is clean, safe and easy to explore. Check into a hostel in the city centre and wander the buzzing streets; try a coffee at one of Kigali's specialty roasters.

🚌Public bus Musanze-Kigali (~£4)

🛏Hostel dorm or budget hotel, Kigali (~£12-20)

• →Bus Musanze-Kigali
• →Explore Kigali city centre
• →Optional Volcanoes NP gorilla/other trek
• →Specialty coffee in Kigali

A sobering and important day. Visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial (free entry, donations welcome) to understand Rwanda's history. In the afternoon, join a walking tour or craft workshop with the Nyamirambo Women's Centre (self-bookable directly, ~£15-25) — a community co-op in Kigali's oldest neighbourhood (like the operator's G for Good project). Lunch at Ubuntu Café (~£6). In the evening, try Ibirayi nyama or brochettes at a local restaurant.

🚌Local moto-taxis / walking (~£3)

🛏Hostel dorm or budget hotel, Kigali (~£12-20)

• →Kigali Genocide Memorial visit
• →Nyamirambo Women's Centre walking tour/workshop (£15-25)
• →Lunch at Ubuntu Café
• →Evening food market exploration

Last morning in Kigali. If time allows, browse the Caplaki craft market or Kimironko market for souvenirs. Note for onward flights: when arranging your departure, allow plenty of time to reach Kigali International Airport — the original tour required flights departing no earlier than 18:00 on the final day, so leave buffer for traffic and check-in. Depart for home, or continue onward travel.

🚌Airport transfer (~£6-10)

🛏—

• →Kimironko / Caplaki craft market
• →Souvenir shopping
• →Transfer to Kigali airport