Are you Planning to Combine Gorilla Trekking and Tanzania wildlife Safari, 2026-2027?
An ideal way to experience two of Africa’s most remarkable wildlife attractions—the Serengeti National Park and other renowned big game reserves in Tanzania’s Northern Circuit, as well as the iconic primate destinations of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga National Park in Uganda, and Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda—is on a vacation that combines gorilla trekking with a safari in Tanzania.
Here are some quick tips and guidelines to help you plan your Gorilla Trekking and Tanzania safari trip. It’s a challenging combination for many travelers, from deciding where to visit to getting the necessary permits and enjoying the experience.
Is it Better to Go Gorilla Trekking Right Before or After Tanzania Safari?
The perfect African safari combines gorilla trekking in Rwanda or Uganda with a safari in Tanzania, allowing visitors to see the endangered mountain gorillas and the Big Five in their native environments. While planning a vacation, many people have trouble deciding between two wildlife experiences; those who want to go gorilla trekking first worry that they might get sick or hurt while trekking the gorillas, which would ruin their main activity, the safari; and those who want to go on a Tanzania safari first worry that they will be too tired to enjoy gorilla trekking afterward.
Based on our personal experience, we believe that it makes little difference whether a gorilla trek is done at the beginning or the conclusion of a safari. Travelers have the option to combine gorilla trekking in Rwanda or Uganda with a safari in Tanzania, commencing with either destination depending on the best aircraft connections.
Gorilla trekking is not a particularly dangerous activity where one should anticipate to get hurt or sick because there are protocols to follow while meeting the apes and tourists are always accompanied by armed rangers who help to clear paths in extremely dense jungles. Safaris, in contrast, are typically quite relaxing affairs, with visitors typically sitting in 4X4 safari Jeeps and taking frequent breaks. Lodges and camps wind down in the early evenings.
Contrarily, safari game drives allow visitors to observe the animals from the comfort of a safari Land Cruiser, Jeep, or van with a pop-up roof, while gorilla treks require 2–8 hours of hiking through dense jungles before reaching the gorillas.
A Tanzanian Safari with a Gorilla Trek in Rwanda or Uganda: How to Plan It!
The Northern Circuit safari can be done in two ways: either by flying straight into Kilimanjaro International Airport, staying for three or four nights, and then going on to the Northern Circuit. Alternatively, travelers can fly straight into Entebbe or Kigali for the Gorilla Trekking excursion, and then fly out of Kigali or Entebbe International Airport. This allows travelers to combine an African Safari in Tanzania with a Gorilla Trekking tour in Uganda or Rwanda. You can bypass the long travel (ten hours) from Entebbe to Bwindi by arriving in Kigali and trekking the gorillas in Uganda on a four-hour drive from Kigali to Bwindi. Small aircraft can also be chartered directly from any Serengeti site to Kigali or Entebbe.
When to Combine Gorilla Trekking in Uganda or Rwanda and Tanzania
The three countries share a pleasant environment with average temperatures of 25°C and cold nights most of the time, so tailor-made excursions that combine gorilla trekking in Rwanda or Uganda with a safari in Tanzania can be scheduled throughout the year. The wettest months in Tanzania, Uganda, and Rwanda are March, April, and May, while October and November get less precipitation.
Consequently, the ideal time to combine gorilla trekking in Uganda or Rwanda with a safari in Tanzania is totally up to you and your goals for the Tanzanian leg of the trip.
Because the Central and Western Serengeti are home to massive resident animals, including predators, throughout the year, it is ideal to combine a gorilla trekking with a safari in Tanzania if you are interested in seeing wildlife, particularly the big five, during your time in Tanzania. This can be done either before or after gorilla trekking. Travelers should be aware that the rainiest months are March, April, and May, which can make some roads inaccessible due to the increased friction caused by the rain. On the plus side, several of Tanzania’s more opulent lodges and camps offer significant discounts to visitors during the wetter months of March and April.
The optimal time to combine a gorilla trek with a safari in Tanzania if you want to view the wildebeest migration is more dependent on the stage of the migration you’re interested in watching, as mentioned below:
Monthly Patterns of Wildebeest Migration—Routes
The annual migration paths of the big wildebeest can be seen in Wildebeest Migration Patterns, which cover the Serengeti and Masai Mara Game Reserves.
The Great Wildebeest Migration in January, February & March
Midway through February, calving season kicks into high gear, with around 8,000 wildebeest being born daily for about three weeks. This occurs because the short grass plains in the Ndutu region of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area are rich in nutritious grasses, which the herds can use to nourish their newborns. The migration begins in January. Thus, during this season, the region surrounding Lake Ndutu is where it’s at.
The Great Wildebeest Migration in April & May
In April, tens of thousands of wildebeests often start their long trek northward across the western plains, marking the beginning of migration.
As the herds make their way across the Ndoha and Dutwa plains, which are next to the Mbalagweti River, they may start to congregate around the Mbalagweti and Grumeti rivers, a potentially hazardous barrier for the animals as they await the passage. There is an abundance of wildlife watching chances in both the middle Serengeti and Western Serengeti throughout these months.
The Great Wildebeest Migration June & July
As the dry season begins and huge concentrations of wildebeest in the Western Serengeti and along the southern banks of the Grumeti River begin, the rutting season typically begins in June. During this time, you can witness fierce fighting between competitive males as they compete for the attention of females. Among the most thrilling aspects of the Great Migration is the daunting task of fording the river, which is home to several crocodiles.
The Mara River in the northern Serengeti presents an even more perilous obstacle for the hundreds of thousands of wildebeest and zebra who are making their way north along the park’s western edge in early July. For any Earthling, this river crossing is an unforgettable and thrilling animal encounter. The Mara River Crossings typically begin in the latter part of July, though the exact date is subject to change based on the rainfall. Hence, if you are planning to combine gorilla trekking with a safari in Tanzania, the best time to do it is from June to early July, when you may witness the Great Migration crossing the Grumeti River.
The Great Wildebeest Migration in Late July, August, September & October
The migratory herds have begun to disperse throughout the Masai Mara Reserve and the northern Serengeti National Park at the beginning of August, after facing the formidable obstacle of crossing the Mara River. The fact that there is no one crossing ought to be noted. There are areas with only a handful of animals and others with hundreds of animals running about nonstop for hours. Consequently, a Tanzania safari that includes gorilla trekking is at its optimum from the end of July into the beginning of October if you wish to witness the Great Migration crossing the Mara River.
The Great Wildebeest Migration in November & December Migration
Beginning in late October or early November, the wildebeest descend from Kenya into the Serengeti’s eastern part, traversing the Namiri Plains. As the calving season begins again in December, the wildebeest herds disperse to the southern and eastern regions, continuing the cycle. The Serengeti’s central and eastern regions are at most animaliest in the months of November and December.
Note: Due to the enormous number of resident species, including predators, visitors can visit Central Serengeti (the Seronera Area) at any time of year.
During your combined gorilla trek and safari trip, what other activities are you able to addon?
Travelers to Rwanda or Tanzania on a safari with gorilla trekking can extend their adventures by adding chimpanzee tracking in Kibale or Nyungwe Parks, cultural experiences, a boat trip on Lake Bunyonyi or Akagera National Park, or a golden monkey tracking. Zanzibar, Lake Kivu, or Lake Victoria are all beautiful beaches where you could choose to stay. If visitors to Uganda have more time, they can extend their safari game drives to other national parks in the country’s savannah region, such as Akagera National Park.
Is it possible to take a road trip from Tanzania to Rwanda or Uganda and back?
It is indeed feasible to go by car from Tanzania to Uganda or Rwanda via the Mutukula or Rusumo. borders, respectively. These border points can be reached from Arusha or the Western Serengeti via Mwanza City and Bukoba Town. Nonetheless, you should be prepared to spend at least two days on the road for the trip. you can also opt to access Tanzania via Kenya passing through Namanga or Tarakea border.
In which locations is Gorilla Trekking conducted in Rwanda and Uganda?
Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda’s far northwest is the place to go gorilla trekking among bamboo forests and open grasslands, where you can see endangered mountain gorillas. In Uganda, you can go gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga National Park in the country’s southwestern corner. During the dry months of June, July, August, and September through to October, the hiking can be done year-round. It is ten hours from Kampala and four hours from Kigali, Rwanda.
Booking or purchasing gorilla permits in Rwanda and Uganda at least two Months in advance is required, in contrast to safari activities fees, which can be paid on the spot. Foreign nonresidents must pay $1500, foreign residents must pay $500, and East African citizens must pay $200 for a gorilla permit in Rwanda. Foreign nonresidents must pay 800 US dollars, foreign residents must pay 700 US dollars, and East African citizens must pay 300,000 US dollars for a gorilla permit in Uganda.
Can I go gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda before or after a Tanzania safari?
Yes, tourists can combine a gorilla trek in Rwanda with a safari in Tanzania on the same trip. They can even visit Uganda and Rwanda simultaneously. If you want to see gorillas in Bwindi and Volcanoes National Parks, then spend at least four to six days on a tour, you can travel into Kigali International Airport either before or after a safari in Tanzania, spend at least two weeks on the trip, and then fly out via the Katuna and Chanika borders.
An alternate route would be to fly into Entebbe International Airport either before or after a safari in Tanzania, then embark on adventure activities in Uganda such as chimpanzee trekking and safaris to game parks, finish the trip with gorilla trekking in Rwanda and Uganda, and finally depart from Kigali International Airport Chanika Border.Read More about Double Gorilla Trekking in Uganda and Rwanda.
Why book your Gorilla Trekking and Safari Tour with Vacation-Safaris?
Gorilla trekking and safaris in East African game parks in Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Kenya are specialties of Vacation-Safaris, a seasoned local tour operator.
Recommended Combined Gorilla Trekking and Tanzania Safari Tours
6-day budget Serengeti safari and gorilla trekking tour
In just six days, you may experience two of Africa’s most iconic safari activities—a safari in the Serengeti and Ngorongoro with the Big Five—as well as gorilla trekking in Bwindi National Park. Experience the pinnacle of East African wildlife on this Serengeti Safari and Gorilla trekking vacation. See the Big Five—lion, rhino, leopard, elephant, and buffalo—and travel with the endangered gorillas in Uganda and Tanzania. This safari will take you to three different national parks: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Serengeti National Park (either the western or central part), and Ngorongoro Conservation Area. After a day of gorilla viewing in Bwindi, the journey departs from Tanzania and arrives at Kigali International Airport. Request for Quotation
The ultimate East African safari vacation is yours for 7 days when you combine a Serengeti safari with a gorilla trekking adventure in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. You’ll also get to see the big five on this safari. Experience two of Africa’s most spectacular safaris on this 7-day Tanzania safari and gorilla trekking tour. On this safari, you’ll see some of Tanzania’s most famous wildlife preserves, including the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The journey starts at Kigali International Airport in Rwanda, then continues to Bwindi in Uganda, where you may see gorillas in their natural habitat. From there, you’ll fly to Kilimanjaro International Airport in Tanzania, starting your safari. If you are interested in the Serengeti Grumeti River Crossing Great Migration in May or June, or if you want to see the Big Five in the Serengeti at any time of year, then this tour is for you.
Please Note that to be able to view the Mara River Crossing Great Migration Serengeti in the Months of Late July, August, September and early October, you will need to adjust this tour to a drive in Fly out package on the Tanzania part or add more two days to your trip. Request for Quotation
12 Days Gorillas, Serengeti and Zanzibar vacation safari
This Gorillas and Zanzibar Beach Holiday is an affordable Uganda Gorilla Trek and Zanzibar tour suitable for honeymooners, family or small group vacation. The 12 Days Gorillas and Zanzibar Beach Holiday takes you on a vacation of a lifetime as you come face to face with the giant gorillas in Bwindi and indulge in the white sand beaches of Zanzibar. Request for Quotation
10 Days Tanzania Wildebeest Migration And Rwanda Gorilla Safari
Experience two of Africa’s most iconic wildlife events on an 10-day safari through Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Serengeti National Park in Tanzania: a trek with mountain gorillas and a crossing of the Mara River by wildebeests. Arusha to Serengeti North by air and Ngorongoro and Tarangire by road on the Tanzanian leg of this Serengeti Gorilla Trekking and Wildebeest Migration Safari is best experienced in the months of late July, August, September, and early October.