6 Days
6 Days Serengeti, Ngorongoro & Lake Manyara Cultural and Wildlife adventure
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Serengeti & Gorilla Trekking Safari
Serengeti & Gorilla Trekking
One of the unforgettable trips in Africa is the combination of a Serengeti safari with a gorilla trekking safari tour in Uganda or Rwanda.
It’s truly a combination of wide-open Serengeti plains that is the home of wildlife including the great wildebeest, lions, elephants, and cheetahs with a deep forest covered with mist, silent in its majesty, that one encounters a family of mountain gorillas.
The combination of Serengeti safari and gorilla trekking gives you a once in a lifetime experience that appeals to your heart and soul.
Serengeti Mara Experts offers a variety of safari packages that range from the unmatched golden savannahs of Tanzania to the emerald lush highlands of Uganda and Rwanda.
Many of our visitors found this experience to be the perfect balance and we are sure, you too will.
The Serengeti offers the barnacled landscape, power, and entertainment and action. Gorilla trekking gives the intimacy, connection and quite awe in the natural jungles of Africa. The combination of both safari and trekking delivers a full rich experience of Africa alongside its innumerable contrasts.
Whether you are planning a milestone celebration like a honeymoon or you wish to celebrate a special personal milestone like a safari trip, this combination forms one of the region’s most potent exploratory options.
We will take responsibility for all the arrangements, including, but not limited to, flights across borders, permits, and on-the-ground safari logistics. You are free to focus on the journey and will be taken good care of all throughout.
Why combine Serengeti & Uganda Gorilla Safaris?
Many people choose to do one or the other. Those that do the combination of Serengeti and gorilla trekking, however, often claim that this was one of the best travel decisions that they made. These two experiences are completely different, but they are equally impactful in their own ways.
When in the Serengeti, you are participating in game drives and chasing the sunrise while in one of the most lively ecosystems in the world.
Each day brings a new opportunity to see the heartbeat of the land, be it a lion or a herd of wildebeests. This region is characterized by vast landscapes along with a great energy and movement.
Later on, the tone shifts in either Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest or The Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. You and a small group for several hours, searching for a specific gorilla family. The pace of everything slows down when you see the powerful silverback.
You watch the gentle giants while their young carry out a range of activities. It is quiet, deeply moving, and very personal. It’s the kind of moment that brings people to tears.
Combining both systems gives you the opportunity to experience different ecosystems in a single trip. You can experience the combination of plains and forests, family units and herds, and the divergent sounds of growls and gentle whispers. The combination allows a traveler to appreciate the depth of diversity that Africa has to offer.
Best time for Serengeti & Gorilla Trekking Safari
Certain factors influence when to schedule a safari in Serengeti or a gorilla trekking endeavor, but the good news is that both can be done all year round.
The most favorable window for the Serengeti is between June and October, which is the dry season. Wildlife spotting is easier and the Great Migration is in full swing in the north. This timeframe is also good for gorilla trekking. Uganda and Rwanda have drier weather during this time, so hiking is easier and more pleasant.
December to March is also a wonderful option. This is calving season in the southern Serengeti, so the region is lush and green, and there is abundant wildlife, including baby wildebeest and heightened predator activity. The trekking weather is also good in Uganda and Rwanda. This is also a good time for travelers looking to be off the beaten path or enjoy reduced lodge prices.
The months of April, May, and November are wetter months. However, these times also have wonderful views, low crowdedness, and cheaper prices. If you are an experienced traveler who is looking for serenity and quiet along with a hint of rain, these seasons can be peaceful and blissful.
Essential Tips for Safari Gorillas and the Serengeti
- Buy your gorilla permits as early as possible: Permits for gorilla trekking are usually limited and sell out months in advance. We take care of gorilla permits as part of your travel package.
- Provide for both types of climate: Alongside the Serengeti’s dry and warm climate, styles of cool damp, mountain forests will require layering for trekking gorillas.
- A trek for the Safari will require light luggage: We will inform you of the group that you have booked and specific you items that you have packed, along with their size and for small regional flights, have strict baggage limits.
- Use a porter during the climb hydrated and wearing a trek pole: Not only for helping with your bags, porters will help you navigate the steep and/or tricky trails that support the local communities.
- Buy a couple of light hike s prior to leaving: The physically demanding require some fitness, so taking short local hikes prior to home help.
- Bringing with you guards for your hands and legs is recommended: You are likely to find you hands and legs of stinging and ants in the for stinging of five to the forest as well as bruised.
- Make sure to apply the Provail and DEET and Mosquidores: Both interfere with repelling the contact and likely to be. Most of, fast a both in different places will have both confess netting and mosquito spray.
- Follow the 7 meters require distance: You will be expected to 7 meters from the distance and even with coming to the set distance you will remain still along the set distance.
Best Destinations on a Combined Safari
Central Serengeti, Tanzania
This place is famous for the big game and the big cats, providing year-round game viewing for both. It is an ideal starting point for your safari.
Northern Serengeti (Mara River)
Best for river crossings between July and October. A dramatic end or beginning to the Serengeti leg of your trip.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Uganda
This place has approximately fifty percent of the worlds remaining mountain gorillas. Trekking is steep and difficult, but the views are amazing.
Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda
Provides amazing views of the volcanoes. Better rot shorter stays and easier treks than Uganda.
Lake Victoria or Entebbe (Uganda)
Provides a serene break in between gorilla treks and your safari in the Serengeti. Provides hotels by the lake and good bird watching.
Safari Activities and Attractions
Your journey starts in the Serengeti but there are quite other destinations you will visit too. Early game drives allow you to get into the bush before it gets hot. You will witness yawning and stretching by the lions, elephants getting gathered by rivers, and the stealthy moving cheetahs.
Each of your drives will be different and your guide makes sure of that. The pace is calm, but exciting, with coffee and picnic lunches taken in the wild.
You might opt to relax by the camp pool in the afternoons or take another drive to capture the golden hour. Sundowners out on the plains are a cherished tradition. A small table is elegantly arranged with drinks and snacks. While toasting the sunset, you can see grazing wildebeest in the distance. It is peaceful and cinematic.
On some days, we include a stop to a local Maasai village. These are not merely tailored experiences.
You will engage with residents of the Serengeti ecosystem, listen to their narratives, and learn how they coexist with and alongside wildlife. It is respectful, enlightening, and profoundly educational.
Choosing a hot-air balloon ride will certainly be one of the standout moments of your Serengeti visit. You will be launched before dawn, silently drifting across the savannah as you gaze upon the waking world of giraffes and gazelles, with the sun rising in the horizon. The experience will culminate with a champagne breakfast enjoyed beneath a tree.
Afterwards, you will embark on the second half of your journey, which is the gorilla trekking adventure.
In Uganda or Rwanda, we handle all the logistics like permits, transfers, as well as comfortable lodges positioned close to the park. On the trekking day, you join a small group with a ranger as well as trackers.
The hike can be short or long depending on the location of the gorilla family for that day. The thick forest you have to navigate is not easy to walk through, as the ground is uneven. But every single step is worth the difficulty.
Once you reach the gorillas, you have the privilege of spending just over an hour with them. While with you, the animals will feed, groom, rest or even play. And every now and then the curious juveniles will approach.
Occasionally, the silverback will give you a long deep stare. The surreal encounters leave you breathless. You have no fences or vehicles surrounding you. All that is present is you, the forest, and some of our closest relatives in the animal kingdom.
The return trek gives you time to reflect on the surreal experience you just had. During the walk, guests tend to be silent as they process everything. But after the trek, the users gather around a fire or a dinner table and the stories begin to be shared.
If you want a deeper experience, you can choose to do a second trek on the following day. Travelers do tend to say that the second encounter is more relaxed and easier.
Most Common Questions for a Serengeti & Gorilla Safari
How much time should I set aside for this combination?
We suggest a minimum 10 to 14 days, which allows sufficient time to comfortably tour the Serengeti, travel to Uganda or Rwanda, and do at least one gorilla trek while allowing time to recuperate in between.
Is it necessary for me to acquire both visas?
Yes. Uganda, Rwanda, and Tanzania each have distinct visas but we can help you secure them easily. We shall guide you with the application process and travel prep, so everything is arranged prior to departure. Most visas can be applied for on the web, or are provided at entry.
Is the journey between the Serengeti and gorilla trekking easier?
Not at all. All domestic flights, as well as all private transfers, are organized by us. Generally, one flies from Serengeti to Arusha, or Kilimanjaro and then onward to Entebbe or Kigali. After that, your road transfer to the trekking area is taken care of.
How physically demanding is gorilla trekking?
Moderate fitness is needed for this activity as well. Duration of the trek can be anywhere from 30 minutes up to a couple of hours. The paths can be steep and slippery, but there are porters available to help, and you can go at your own pace. A trek is requested on your behalf that best suits your level.
What is included in the gorilla permit?
The permit includes park entry, a guide, trackers, and one hour with a gorilla family. It does not include porters or tips, which are optional but recommended.
What vaccinations or health precautions are needed?
A yellow fever certificate is required for most travelers. We also recommend malaria medication. Your doctor may suggest additional vaccinations like hepatitis A, typhoid, or tetanus. We’ll provide a checklist for your health provider.
Is this trip suitable for children?
Yes, but with some limitations. Children must be at least 15 to participate in gorilla trekking. Younger children are welcome on the Serengeti portion, and we offer family-friendly camps and guides. We can create a modified itinerary for families.
What kind of accommodation is included?
We work with luxury tented camps and boutique lodges and budget lodges as well. All are selected for comfort, service, and location. In the Serengeti, expect en-suite tents with views of the plains. Near the gorilla parks, we offer forest lodges with cozy interiors and fireplaces.
Can I extend my trip to Zanzibar or another destination?
Absolutely. Many guests finish their safari with a few nights on the beach in Zanzibar, or add time in Nairobi, Kigali, or even Victoria Falls. We’ll build an itinerary that fits your schedule and interests.
Why choose Serengeti Mara for this safari?
We specialize in handcrafted journeys that blend world-class wildlife with personal care. Our team knows every detail of this route, from which lodges work best to how to arrange quick border transitions. We’re based in East Africa, and we treat every guest like family. You’re not just booking a trip. You’re letting us take you somewhere special, and we don’t take that lightly.
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Low season
Oct, Nov, Mar, Apr, may
Peak season
Jun, July, Aug, Sept, Dec