This ultimate 15-day gorilla trekking and great wildebeest migration takes you to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda, Volcanoes national Park in Rwanda for gorilla trekking; then to Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti National Park and Maasai Mara National Reserve for the wildebeest migration experience.
Gorilla Trekking & Wildebeest Migration Safari Highlights
- Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe International Airport
- Day 2: Drive to Southwestern Uganda – Bwindi
- Day 3: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Day 4: Cross the border to Rwanda to Volcanoes National Park
- Day 5: Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park
- Day 6: Transfer to Kigali – City tour
- Day 7: Kigali to Arusha Tanzania (flight)
- Day 8-9: Explore the Serengeti National Park
- Day 10-11: Explore Ngorongoro Conservation Area
- Day 12: Cross the border to Kenya to Maasai Mara National Reserve
- Day 13-14: Explore Maasai Mara National Reserve
- Day 15: End of Safari
Detailed Safari Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe International Airport
The company representative will welcome you upon your arrival at the airport in Entebbe and drive you to your accommodation in Entebbe or Kampala where you will spend the night.
Day 2: Drive to Southwestern Uganda – Bwindi
After your breakfast, your safari guide will pick you up from your hotel and you start your 15-day gorilla trekking and wildebeest migration safari with a long drive to Bwindi Impenetrable national park in Southwestern Uganda. You will have lunch along the way and also a brief stop at the Equator line. Arrive in Bwindi in the late evening, check in at your safari lodge, have dinner and rest up.
Day 3: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
More than half of the worlds’ mountain gorilla population is found in the UNESCO world heritage site, Bwindi Impenetrable forest. You will have a briefing at the parks’ headquarters about gorilla trekking thereafter you will be guided into the forest by a park ranger guide as you trek the great apes. In about 2-6 hours, depending on the location and movement of the gorillas, you will be able to locate them and spend an hour in their presence. Enjoy the moment before you walk back out of the forest. Bird watching opportunities for the bird lovers. Lunch back at your safari lodge and you can spend the rest of the day at leisure, checking out the environment around the safari lodge, enjoy the views.
Day 4: Cross the border to Rwanda to Volcanoes National Park
Early morning after breakfast, your safari guide will pick you up and drive you towards the Uganda-Rwanda border. Time to cross over to your next destination. You will arrive at your safari lodge near Volcanoes national park in the late afternoon, check in, have a relaxing evening and enough rest as tomorrow we trek the gorillas in Rwanda.
Day 5: Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park
Volcanoes national park is another home for the endangered gorilla mountains. It is home to the 2nd biggest population of mountain gorillas in the world. Just like in Bwindi you will be briefed about the trek first before entering into the lush Volcanoes forest to trek another gorilla family. Learn more about the gorilla behaviors and with some luck you might come across the endangered golden monkeys that inhabit the bamboo forests in Volcanoes national park. Exit the park and drive back to your safari lodge for lunch and relaxation or visit a nearby village for some cultural experience.
Day 6: Transfer to Kigali – City tour
After a delicious breakfast, you will hit the road to Kigali, the capital city of Rwanda. Have a tour of this beautiful city, one of the most organized and clean cities in Africa. Visit the Rwanda museum, the genocide memorial center and arts and crafts markets for some souvenirs.
Day 7: Kigali to Arusha Tanzania (flight)
Early morning. Your safari guide will pick you up from your hotel and drive you to Kigali airport to catch your flight to your next destination, Tanzania. We leave the lush green thick forests of East Africa, and it is time to explore the open grassland plains and savannahs of East Africa.
You will be welcomed by your Tanzania safari guide at Arusha airport who will drive you to your accommodation in Arusha. Relax and spend today at leisure, as you prepare for thrilling game viewing experiences in the remaining days of your 15-day gorilla and wildebeest migration safari.
Day 8-9: Explore the Serengeti National Park
The endless plains of Serengeti are home to a rich abundance of different wildlife species. Famed for the annual Wildebeest migration, Serengeti National Park is the most popular park in Tanzania. You transfer to Serengeti from Arusha arriving in the afternoon. You will embark on a game drive in the Central region of Serengeti. This area of the park teems with varied wildlife species. On day 9 we shall drive to the Northern region of the park for a chance to witness the Great wildebeest migration. Millions of ungulates lead by wildebeests trek the plains of Serengeti every year in search of fresh grazing grounds, following the rains. Keep your cameras rolling for there is a lot to see and capture during the migration.
Day 10-11: Explore Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Exit the Serengeti for Ngorongoro conservation area, continue following the migrants as they do branch off into the conservation area as they continue up North. Once in the conservation area, you will drive to the famous Ngorongoro crater, a world natural wonder and descend to its floor for an adventurous game drive. Chances to spot the big 5. The ungulates that inhabit the crater do not take part in the great migration, they are in their own luscious environment, their own “Garden of Eden”. You will ascend the steep walls of the unbroken caldera and continue on a game drive in areas surrounding the crater rim.
Day 12: Cross the border to Kenya to Maasai Mara National Reserve
Time to explore the great Maasai Mara National Reserve, the other home of the Great wildlife migration and home to the greatest obstacle of the animals as they journey on in search for greener pastures, the crocodile infested Mara River. The Maasai Mara is part of the extensive Serengeti Ecosystem that supports the Great Wildlife Migration.
Day 13-14: Explore Maasai Mara National Reserve
The most popular national reserve in Kenya. Located in the South of Kenya at the Tanzania border, just North of Serengeti. The wildebeests, zebras, gazelles and antelopes move back and forth between the Maasai Mara and Serengeti during the migration. You shall go for game drives around the Maasai Mara national reserve for thrilling game viewing experiences. Follow the wildebeests for a chance to catch a glimpse of the great river crossing at the Mara River. A very unpredictable occurrence but with luck on your side, you can witness this great spectacle. Keep a keen eye and your cameras rolling not to miss out of the predator-prey action both in the river and at the river banks where the big cats (lion, cheetah, leopard) wait excitedly for the unexpectant prey. What a day. Back to your safari camp for a relaxing evening.
Day 15: End of Safari
Last day of your 15-day gorilla trekking and migration safari in the best destinations in East Africa. With on last game drive as you exit Maasai Mara national reserve, your safari guide will drive you Jomo Kenyatta International airport in Nairobi for your flight back home.
Visit Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania with these reputable Tanzania safari companies or reach out to us below to book your Tanzania safari holiday directly through this Ngorongoro website.
