A combo of gorilla trekking in Uganda and Serengeti National Park game safari in Tanzania gets you to the cream adventure activities in African. Both Tanzania and Uganda are in east Africa so crossing from one country to another may not take so much time. In case you are to use road transport from either Uganda into Tanzania Mutukula is the border crossing point. For air transport from Arusha in Tanzania into Uganda, Entebbe airport is the entry point.
Serengeti National Park in Tanzania is the genesis of the yearly seasonal great wildebeest migration which is one of the 8 natural wonders in the world. Over a period in the year, millions of wild animals start their journey from the southern part of Serengeti National Park towards the north of the park.
While on game drive in Serengeti National Park, some of the animals to see include the big five that is lions, rhinos, elephants, cape buffaloes and leopards. Other resident wild animals of Serengeti National Park include gazelle, zebras, elands, cheetahs, waterbucks, bushbucks, Uganda, Kobs, warthogs and more.
Gorilla trekking in Uganda happens in only Bwindi Impenetrable National park and Mgahinga National Park in south western Uganda. World over, the mountain gorillas are some of the highly endangered primates whose existence was about to run out by the 1980s according to the then census. By 1980s, about 250 mountain gorillas were living but because of continued conservation efforts currently about 1062 mountain gorillas are living according to the last census.
Do purchase a visa in case it is one of the necessary travel documents to have before travelling to either Uganda or Tanzania. Even though visas can be applied for on arrival, the ques are quite tiring especially if you have jet lag or commencing safaris on arrival.
Guide To A Combo Of Gorilla Trekking In Uganda And Game Safari In Serengeti National Park Tanzania
Highlights
Book gorilla permit in advance
Reserve accommodation to use during Tanzania and Uganda safari
Book Transport to use during Uganda safari and Tanzania safari. Having a private vehicle 4×4 wheel drive is of great advantage.
Exercise to keep fit for gorilla trekking adventure
Pack the right gorilla trekking gears and game safari gears.
7 Day Gorilla Trekking Uganda and Serengeti Game Safari Tanzania
Day 1 Drive to Tarangire National Park
Early morning drive to Tarangire National Park in Tanzania. As you get into the park, enjoy the amazing game that live in the park. Some of the game in Tarangire National Park include elands, leopards, gazelles, waterbucks, bushbucks, giraffes, wildebeests, hartebeests, elephants and more.
Tarangire National park experience a mini wildebeest migration and some term the park as the mini Serengeti National Park.
Accommodation Tarangire National Park: Serena safari Lodge, Karibu Camp Lodge, Nimali Tarangire , Mbali Mbali Trangire River Camp, Olive’s Camp, Trangire Treetops by Elewana:
Day 2 Game Drive in Tarangire National Park and Transfer to Serengeti National Park
Early morning, head for a game drive in Tarangire National Park where you may get the chance to see the various animals that live in this park. On the way, you may spot herds of elephants, zebras, giraffes, lions, buffaloes, elands, gazelles, wildebeest, rhinos, leopards, cheetahs and more.
Drive to Serengeti National Park later as Tarangire National Park borders the park from the southern park.
Serengeti Accommodations: Serengeti Wildlife Lodge, Mbuzi Mawe Serengeti Camp, African Safari Serengeti Bologonja, Dove Serengeti Luxury Camp, Serengeti North Wilderness Camp
Day 3 Game Drive in Serengeti National Park
Rise up for game drive on the tracks of Serengeti National park, In case it is the great wildebeest migration season, you are likely to see multitudes of wild animals on the floor of the park. During the game drive in Serengeti National Park, you may spot lions, leopards, waterbucks, bushbucks, giraffes, elephants, buffaloes, wildebeests, hartebeests and more.
After lunch break, you may take an optional game drive to areas you may not have explored in the morning.
Day 4 Second Game Drive in Serengeti National Park or optional hot air balloon safari
Get up for a game drive in Serengeti National park where you may get the chance to drive to places you were unable to get to the previous day.
Alternatively, take hot air balloon safari in Serengeti National Park where you may get to see features, animals in the park that were hard to see while on ground. Experience game drives in Serengeti National Park at a more elevated point.
Return to your lodge
Day 5 Transfer to Arusha
Drive to Arusha to catch up with your flight to Entebbe Airport in Uganda
Overnight in Entebbe or Kampala
Day 6 Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Get up early and start on the road trip to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The drive is quite bump but scenic. Drive through rolling hills of Kigezi where but as you approach Bwindi you notice a change in altitude, the air is cooler when at the park, you see beautiful layers of dense green canopy that seem to be endless.
Bwindi forest is a biosphere reserve hosting a number of inhabitants including more than 10 primates species, over 312 butterfly species, several mammals, forest elephants and more.
Bwindi accommodation: Clouds lodge, Bwindi view bandas, Engage Lodge, Nshongi Backpacker’s camp
Day 7 Gorilla Trekking in Uganda
Get up for breakfast and head to the ranger station for briefing later proceed into the forest to search for the mountain gorillas. Getting to the mountain gorillas may take sometime but still focus and open your mind to seeing other forest dwellers.
You hear them before finally facing them as mountain gorillas communicate with each other in different ways as though to alert them. Do not forget to adhere to the rules of gorilla trekking because these have been approved by researchers and habituators as what you can apply.
Take photos as you watch the gorillas but do not leave your belongings unattended because the mountain gorillas are very curious too.
After an hour, get away from the mountain gorillas without causing any alarm because mountain gorillas are very sensitive to intruders around them.
Day 8 Departure
After the Serengeti game safari in Tanzania and gorilla trekking in Uganda, drive to Entebbe airport to catch up with your flight back home.
Tips to gorilla trekking in Uganda
Have some level of fitness before gorilla trekking to avoid getting fatigued before finding the mountain gorillas.
Book the gorilla permit in advance to avoid last minute panic when the demand is over the top especially the peak season (June to September and December to January)
Spend atleast a night in Uganda before starting the gorilla trekking safari especially if you hard a long flight into the country so that you can relax.
Do take antimalarials before travelling in Uganda Because it is a tropical country. Do sleep in a net for all the time in Uganda to protect yourself from catching malaria.
Do book accommodation to use during gorilla trekking in Bwindi closer to the area where your gorilla permit is booked. This is to avoid having to drive in the dark to catch up with briefing in another area. Bwindi Impenetrable National park is divided into four areas Buhoma, Rushaga, Nkuringo and Ruhija.
Stay closer to the gorilla trekkers you are allocated with all the time so that no one is forgotten in the wilderness. The ranger guide follows the slowest trekkers but you can also get away without notifying the rangers.
Tips To Game Safaris In Serengeti National Park in Tanzania
Choose the right time to do Serengeti National Park in Tanzania as the great wildebeest migration season when most animals are gathering to trek an annual event. The great wildebeest migration is a chance to see massive wild animals in one place on a journey.
Carry a camera and extra batteries to catch the so many amazing moments in the park when you encounter the wild animals. During the great wildebeest migration in Serengeti National Park ensure to find a strategic position to capture the best positions of wild animals.
Do not forget to carry insect repellants to keep away possible stinging insects that roam the park.
Book accommodation to use during game safari in Serengeti National Park in advance to especially in the peak season when more tourists are expected to travel into Tanzania.
Having a 4×4 wheel drive vehicle preferably a jeep to use on game safari in Tanzania. Carry some bites to feast on as you get around because breakfast is taken so early to last an entire time in the jungle.
How Much Is The Cost Of Game Safari In Serengeti National Park And Gorilla Trekking In Bwindi
The cost of gorilla trekking safari in Uganda and Serengeti game safari in Tanzania varies with category. African safaris are categorized into Luxury, mid-range and budget. There are some universal costs that must be incurred during game safaris in Tanzania including conservation fees.
The cost of gorilla permits cuts across all categories that is currently $800 for international nonresidents, $700 international residents, $500 for Other Africans and 300000shs for East Africans. The cost of park entrance fees to Bwindi international National Park is included in gorilla permit cost.
Park entrance fees are a compulsory cost before entering Serengeti National Park but these vary with season.
In addition to the cost of gorilla permits, park entrance fees included in the gorilla trekking and game safari in Uganda and Tanzania respectively additional expenses have to be incurred during safari.
Accommodation costs, transport costs, meals, personal expenses and more.
How Safe Is Gorilla Trekking Safari In Uganda Or Game Safari In Serengeti Tanzania
Gorilla trekking in Uganda is safe because the park is under the care of Uganda Wildlife Authority and security is with support from other security agencies in the country. Before starting the gorilla trek, every tourists must attend briefing where communication about what is expected of you is communicated including security measures.
While on game safari in Serengeti National Park, do not put your head out of the window of your vehicle because you may not know what is watching. Do not even step out of your vehicle without an escorting ranger guide while on game safari because you are not sure of your security.
When on any town centers of Uganda or Tanzania, try to keep your valuable far from public access.
Provoking wild animals while in the jungle is forbidden because they can charge when provoked.
Mind the attire you wear and try to avoid colors that can attract biting insects including stinging insects like tsetse flies including blue, white, black.
Why Do Gorilla Trekking In Uganda And Game Safari In Tanzania
By choosing to do a combo of gorilla trekking in Uganda and game safari in Tanzania, you get to see some of the best wildlife encounters in Africa that is mountain gorillas and multitudes of wild animals. These animals freely live in the jungle and are their day life is not managed by humans.
When you pay conservation fees during the gorilla and wildlife safari, they support in the management of the parks and running of the day today activities.
If you desire to enjoy tranquility and time away from the busy daily activities, choosing to do gorilla trekking in Uganda and game safari in Serengeti National Park offers you that opportunity.
For wildlife photographing and filming, a trip to do gorilla trekking in Uganda and Game safari in Serengeti National Park Tanzania offer you that sure deal safari where you capture a variety of wildlife.
What to Pack for Gorilla Trekking and Game Safari
Safari hat
Safari boots
Insect repellant
Warmers
Long sleeved shirt
Trousers
Camera to capture some of the best moments during safari
Water proof jacket
Foldable water bottle
Extra batteries to exchange with in case one runs low.
Extra clothes
Garden gloves to use during gorilla trekking
Snacks to feast on during safari.
Long sleeved shirt and convertible trousers
A torch
Toiletries