How To Best Plan Gorilla Habituation Safari In Uganda and Great Wildebeest Migration in Serengeti

To plan the gorilla Habituation Experience and Great Wildebeest migration safari in Africa is picking the top most cream African safari adventures. For gorilla habituation experience, Bwindi National Park in Uganda is so far the only destination where this happens and you have more time with the mountain gorillas.

The great wildebeest migration in Serengeti National Park in Tanzania is one of the world’s natural wonders sought after by many tourists. This season great wildlife exodus on an African safari adventure is most exciting from about July, August and September. This is the opportunity to see millions of different species of wild animals moving together towards Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya.

To do gorilla habituation experience in Uganda, you need to secure a gorilla permit from the Uganda wildlife Authority but strictly maximum 4 permits are open to public booking per day per family. At the moment, Uganda has four gorilla habituation experience families open to the public. Advance gorilla permit booking is required to avoid last minute panic

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To book the great wildebeest migration safari in Serengeti National Park Tanzania, you need to do this in advance as facilities that support this safari sell out early like accommodations and others. Although Serengeti National Park gets crowded by safari vehicles during the great wildebeest migration, early birders get the best lodges where they can even spot every event as it unfolds from the comfort of your balcony. Contact us for details

 Expect to fly from either Uganda or Tanzania and vice versa according to the plan safari

Planning the Uganda gorilla habituation experience and Tanzania great wildebeest migration safari

Day 1 Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

After breakfast, our driver guide picks you from your overnight accommodation to start driving to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The drive time to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park takes about 8 hours to 9 hours excluding stops.

Bwindi forest is in a remote area so expect a bumpy drive but with great views from lush green cover along the slopes of different landscapes that make up the greater Kigezi sub area to friendly locals. Expect a drop in altitude as you drive closer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a thick forest with stunning varying dense canopy. You feel the cool breeze from the forest as it draw closer to it. Arrive Bwindi Impenetrable national Park in the evening to check into your lodge

Bwindi accommodations: Gorilla safari Lodge, Clouds Lodge, Nshongi camp, Bwindi Backpacker’s Camp, Ichumbi Lodge

Day 2 Gorilla habituation Experience in Bwindi

Take breakfast and carry your gorilla habituation experience gears not forgetting your packed lunch. It is best to arrive at the gorilla habituation experience briefing point early so that all the necessary clearances can be made in advance.

Donot forget to carry atleast two clean masks one to wear at the start of the gorilla habituation experience safari and another to change into when you locate the mountain gorillas. Having some level of fitness helps you to walk successfully through the jungle and get where the mountain gorillas may be napping or feeding from.

 Along the way, you may encounter other primate species like the grey cheeked mangabey, black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, blue monkeys, olive baboons and others. Look out for several bird species that spend there day in Bwindi forest including Albertine rift endemics.

Upon locating the mountain gorillas, wait for the ranger guide to first establish the mood of the mountain gorillas before taking photos. Later follow the instructions given by researchers so that to enjoy the best time of the four hours allowed with the mountain gorillas.

Participate in collecting data, observing the mountain gorillas and taking notes, collecting some samples and much more as this is part of the entire experience. Four hours are allowed with the mountain gorillas during gorilla habituation experience.

Get back to your lodge to relax.

Day 3 :Drive to Entebbe Airport

After completing the gorilla habituation experience safari in Uganda, drive to Entebbe airport to catch up with your flight to Tanzania Kilimanjaro International Airport

Overnight in Arusha Tanzania

Meal Plan: bed and Breakfast

Day 4: Drive to Serengeti National park

Early morning, the safari guide picks you from your overnight facility to drive to Serengeti National Park. The drive time from Arusha to Serengeti National Park takes about 6 to 7 hours covering a distance of about 419.2 kilometers. The distance you drive from Arusha to Serengeti National Park depends on the part of the part of this park you are heading to that is the north, east, west or south. Enjoy the stunning views along the way and arrive to check into your accommodation.

Enjoy a game drive as you get into the park in case your accommodation is within Serengeti National Park

Day 5 Game Drive in Serengeti National Park

Wake up early for the game drive in the tracks of Serengeti National Park. It is best to wake up early for a game drive so that you can catch the wild animals as they emerge from there night hide outs to meet the day.

During the drive, you may get the chance to see animals like cheetahs, lions, wildebeests, waterbucks, leopards, hippos, impalas, giraffes, hartebeests, gazelles, herds of elephants, cape buffaloes, elands, rhinos, zebras and others.

 In case it is the great migration season in Serengeti National Park, you have chance to see millions of wild animals moving around the endless plains of this park. Witnessing the great wildebeest migration season is a dream come true moment that may be hard to catch the next tome. This being a dry season donot forget to take a lot of water and pack some snack as breakfast is taken too early to last the entire time in the wild.

Day 6 Second game drive in Serengeti National Park

To sink into the endless beauties of Serengeti National Park, take a second game drive where you many have chance to spot animals you may have missed the previous day. Serengeti National Park has that natural beauty compared to no other are in Africa.

Chances of completing the list of the big five in Serengeti National Park may be fulfilled with the second day of great wildebeest migration experience. The big five are rhinos, elephants, buffaloes, lions and leopards.

Return to your lodge to relax

Day 7 Departure Day from Serengeri National Park

Having enjoyed you’re the gorilla habituation experience in Uganda and Serengeti National Park safari in Tanzania, drive to Kilimanjaro International airport to catch up with your flight back home.

Note

To reduce on the drive time from Entebbe airport to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for gorilla trekking, you can fly from Entebbe or Kajjansi airstrip on the daily domestic flights in Uganda to Kihihi airstrip or Kisoro Airstrip

Charter flight services are available too from Entebbe airport or Kajjansi Airstrip to Kisoro or Kihihi airstrips.

Charter flight services can be arranged from Kilimanjaro Airport to different airstrips close to Serengeti National Park.

 Advance arrangement is necessary.

When is the best time to do gorilla habituation experience in Uganda and great wildebeest migration safari in Tanzania?

The dry season is the perfect timing for the combo of gorilla habituation safari in Uganda and great wildebeest migration adventure in Tanzania. In this season, the mountain gorilla habitats receive less rains although they are known for untimely rains. The trails in Bwindi forest a drier and mountain gorillas feed closer to the ground. The forest is full of excitement even from other forest dwellers like monkeys, birds and much more.

In Serengeti National Park, the dry season which is normally June to September opens more chances to see the great wildebeest migration as it unfolds or as its peak happens at the Mara River. Millions of animals take this voyage with reasons that trigger its start stills under speculation. Some say its inadequate pasture, others it’s the animal tradition and much more.

It is best to book logistics that support both the gorilla habituation experience and game safaris in Serengeti in advance before options run low.

Expect sharing the same space with many other tourists so in case you yarn for a private moment at the lodge, the peak season may not be the right season.

The wet season which is the low season too in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Serengeti National park are less booked. For gorilla habituation experience, expect to see the mountain gorillas no matter the season only the huddles you encounter differ. During the wet season, the soils are soggy and slippery from the matter that is decomposing and rains that fall.

Even during the game drives in Serengeti National Park, the tracks are more slippery but animals keep in hiding however expect to see them too. Since there are less vehicle in Serengeti in the low season, you may have enough time to capture the best shots without obstruction. Serengeti National Park also offers the best tranquility during the low season and in case you wish to enjoy the calmness of the park only listening to the calls of the jungle, the low season is the perfect timing.

What Is The Cost Of Gorilla Habituation Safari And Safari To Serengeri National Park?

The cost of gorilla habituation safari in Uganda with a combo of game safari in Serengeti National Park varies with the package you choose. At Arch Safaris and Tours, we package our safaris according to high-end, Mid-range and basic.

The cost of the gorilla habituation experience permit and the park entrance fees to Serengeti National park are the universal costs. At the moment, the cost of the Uganda gorilla habituation experience permits is $1500 per person and cost of park entrance fees for Serengeri National park are $ 70 per person above 16 years and 15 years below $20 per person.

Some Items that determine the cost of this East African safari include number of days, safari activities, time of booking, number of people travelling with, type of safari package you choose and much more.

Do I Need a visa to cross and do the Gorilla habituation safari in Uganda plus game safari in Tanzania?

In case you must have a visa before crossing into Uganda or Tanzania, you need to apply for these tourists visas in advance. Even though you can purchase the visas on arrival at immigration, this is time wasting as there are usually long lines which may delay you in case your safari is starting right way.

Can I cross by road from Uganda into Tanzania to do a safari?

Uganda and Tanzania share a border at Mutukula and road transport is possible however, the drive is long and may take about two days to arrive in Serengeti National Park from Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. You get so tired and exhausted from the long drive and it even gets more expensive because you have to book extra accommodations along the way.

What to Pack For a Gorilla habituation and Great Wildebeest Migration safari?

Gorilla safaris have must wear that should not miss on your packing list like

Safari waterproof boots that can be used to walk through the soggy jungle.

Safari foldable hat with a large brim

Garden gloves to use while in the jungle

Insect repellant to keep away biting insects.

Long trouser and convertible long sleeved shirt in wilderness friendly colors like khaki, tan and others.

A torch

Pair of stockings to tack in the trousers

Energy bite to munch on while on gorilla safari or game drives.

Warmers

Rainproof gears like poncho or rain coat

Backpack to keep your belongings.

A torch

Extra fully charged batteries in case one runs low

Extra clothes in colors that may not attract biting insects like tsetse flies

 Foldable drinking water bottle

Some hard cash in case you need to make on ground purchases.

Flip flops

Sunglasses to protect your eyes from direct sunrays.

Light shoe bag to keep your dirty shoes from staining the rest of your belongings

Duffel bag in case you have to carry your own bags.

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