Tanzania Safaris & Uganda Gorilla Trekking Tours | East Africa

Combining Tanzania safaris and Uganda gorilla trekking tours offers a rare opportunity.

Get to witness the Great Migration or Big 5 animals & mountain gorillas.

Tanzania and Uganda both have unique experiences worth appreciating as a nature enthusiast.

From trekking Uganda mountain gorillas to observing the Big Five wildlife and more, embarking on a Tanzania-Uganda holiday guarantees you amazing encounters.

Tanzania safaris and Uganda gorilla trekking tours primarily involve border crossing.

Travelers interested in visiting Tanzania and Uganda can use flights to connect to both destinations.

Tanzania Safaris

The Tanzania safaris usher you into the vast plains of the savanna-protected areas on a guided game drive.

Expect to traverse the wilderness of Tanzania from the Northern to the Southern circuit.

The Northern Tourist Circuit -Tanzania

A visit to the Tanzania Northern circuit offers travelers astonishing sightings of the Big 5.

The primary destinations to explore in the Northern region of Tanzania include Tarangire National Park, Serengeti, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro, and others.

The focus while on a Tanzania wildlife safari in the Northern circuit includes the rhinoceros. elephants. lions. leopards. buffaloes, and zebras.

The Great Wildebeest Migration is a once-in-a-lifetime experience in the heart of Africa.

This is best experienced from the lush Serengeti National Park on a traditional game drive or hot air balloon safari.

Ngorongoro –This is a special game circuit where you can find the Big 5 game and also descend around the Crater floor.

The Ngorongoro Crater features exceptionally volcanic walls with diverse wildlife like buffaloes, rhinos, leopards, and lions.

Lake Manyara National Park – This is located in the Northern Circuit, between the scenic Lake Manyara and the Great Rift Valley.

This park lies about 70 km Northwest of Tarangire National Park.

It is famous for its exceptional landscapes that feature the abundant wildlife;

including the rare tree-climbing lions, large elephant herds, buffaloes, zebras, and wildebeests.

Tarangire National Park –discover the diverse animals that reside within the charming Tarangire.

The popular animals in this park include lions, elephants, giraffes, rhinos, cheetahs, and different bird species.

Ruaha National Park is a 12,950 sq. km protected area and Tanzania’s popular ecological stronghold.

It is a signature national park in Tanzania with an immense wildlife diversity.

It accounts for about 10,000 African elephants and other unique animals, making it a preferred destination for Tanzania safaris.

Gorilla Trekking Tours

The best way to begin your adventure in Uganda is by embarking on the mountain gorilla trekking safari tour.

Uganda supports about 50% of the world’s mountain gorilla population.

Several families of gorillas reside within Uganda. They can be trekked in the lush Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park.

Tanzania Safaris & Uganda Gorilla Trekking Tours

Combining Tanzania Safaris and Bwindi Gorilla Tours

Booking Bwindi gorilla trekking tours and Tanzania safaris is 100% possible through Premium Africa Safaris.
We can customize the best gorilla safari packages for you to explore the wonders of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Bwindi is a special spot for witnessing the endangered mountain gorillas in the jungle.
The park guarantees over 99.9% chances of seeing gorillas, the highest possibility compared to any destination.
At Bwindi, there are up to 4 main regions where all gorilla trekking sessions start, including Buhoma, Ruhija, Nkuringo, and Rushaga.
Bwindi is officially recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is an incredible sanctuary of mountain gorillas plus other wildlife.
The lush Bwindi Forest features misty valleys and holds over 24 habituated gorilla groups.
Daily gorilla trekking adventures begin at around 8:00 am after a briefing.
The briefing sessions are always meant to acquaint you with the set gorilla trekking regulations.
You will also have a habituated group to visit and a ranger guide to accompany you on the journey to locate mountain gorillas.
Additional wildlife in Bwindi include African forest elephants, clawless otters;
Yellow-backed duikers. Golden cats. Bush pigs, & baboons,
Other include chimpanzees. L’hoest monkeys, giant forest hogs, and striped jackals, etc.
Birds –Approximately 350 species of birds are in Bwindi alone and include 23 Albertine rift endemic species.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest supports amazing birds such as the Rwenzori turacos, short-tailed warblers, Chapin’s flycatchers;
Great blue turacos, bar-tailed trogons, African wood owl, Grauer’s rush warblers, Shelley’s crimsonwing, and Handsome francolins.
Visitors who may want to have an addition of birding onto gorilla safari can visit the waterfall trail, Bamboo zone, and Mubwindi swamp.
Tanzania safaris can be combined with Bwindi gorilla trekking safari.
The possible options 7 Days Tanzania & Uganda safari or 8 Days Uganda-Tanzania safari or 10 Days Tanzania and Uganda.
You can begin with gorilla trekking and end with Big 5 game safari in Tanzania.
Or start with Tanzania & conclude with Uganda gorilla trekking experience.

Tanzania safaris & Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Like Bwindi, it is also possible to organize a combined Tanzania safari and Mgahinga gorilla tour.
Mgahinga also sits in the Kigezi area and is another amazing destination for you to visit for gorilla trekking in Uganda.
At Mgahinga, the focus is often to explore the Nyakagezi group, and Ntebeko is the starting point.
Approximately 8 permits can be available each day for travelers interested in visiting Mgahinga mountain gorillas.

How much is a Uganda gorilla permit

A valid Uganda gorilla permit is a must to be obtained by anyone in need to see mountain gorillas in Bwindi or Mgahinga.
Currently, the cost of the permits stands at US Dollars 800 per person and during the off-peak months, at USD 600 per person.
The off-peak/low months on the Ugandan travel calendar for discounted gorilla permits fall around March, May, & November.

Best time to go for Tanzania safaris & Uganda gorilla trekking tours

Tanzania and Uganda can be explored at any time of the year.
But the most preferred time is around the peak dry months.
Why dry months?
Because, they ease your movement during the game viewing in Tanzania and also as you trek gorillas.
In Tanzania, the ideal period should be around July to October –for tourists targeting to watch the Great Migration.
June to September is a perfect period for travelers interested in Uganda gorilla trekking tours.
How to Combine Tanzania Safaris & Uganda Gorilla Trekking Tours
Experience the best of the 10 Days Tanzania & Uganda Safari.
Day 1: Arrival for the 10 Days Tanzania & Uganda Safari
  • Take a flight and land at the Entebbe Airport.
  • Transfer to the nearest hotel as pre-booked by our team.
Day 2: Travel to Bwindi to trek gorillas
  • Travel for about 9-10 hours via the Mbarara route to Bwindi.
  • En route, stopover visits to be made at the Equator & Igongo
  • Arrive early for you to relax & have dinner at leisure.
Day 3: Gorilla Trekking & Batwa Village Tour/Lake Bunyonyi
  • Embark on a complete immersion into the jungle as you search for gorillas.
  • Enjoy 1-hour with mountain gorillas.
  • Visit the Batwa or transfer to the scenic Lake Bunyonyi.
Day 4: Drive back to Entebbe, relax
  • Return to Entebbe & prepare for connectivity to Arusha.
Day 5: Take a flight to Arusha & drive to the hotel
  • Fly to Arusha & meet a Tanzania guide to take you to the hotel.
Day 6: Drive to Tarangire National Park, game drive
  • Drive to Tarangire to experience your first game drive in the afternoon.
Day 7: Game drive & drive to Serengeti
  • Enjoy a captivating morning game drive session & transfer to the Serengeti.
Day 8: Full day with Serengeti wildlife
  • The entire day is dedicated to exploring Serengeti wildlife, including wildebeests.
Day 9: Serengeti-Ngorongoro, Game drive in the afternoon.
  • Connect to Ngorongoro, engage in the afternoon game drive session.
Day 10: Early morning game drive & exit Ngorongoro for Arusha
  • Departure with a sunrise game drive in Ngorongoro Conservation Area.