A Life-Changing African Adventure to see Gorillas, the Great Migration & the Big Five in Uganda and Tanzania
Tour Overview
On this 12 Days journey across Tanzania and Uganda, you will witness the Great Wildebeest Migration from a front-row seat in the Northern Serengeti and trek with some of the last remaining Mountain Gorillas on earth in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
This 12 Days dual-country Gorilla Trekking and Great Migration adventure is your own Out of Africa adventure curated with heart and purpose at its core. Over the 12 incredible days, you will be staying in mid-luxury sustainable lodges and tented camps chosen for their authenticity and soul creating an ultimate East African wildlife journey that will stay with you forever with memories of watching the gorillas, the great migration Mara River Crossing and the Big Five animals.
This memorable Tanzania Great Migration and Uganda Gorilla Trek trip package is highly recommended during the Months of late July, August and September as this is the time when the Migration herd head has reached the Kogatende Area in North Serengeti and has started or is already crossing the crocodile infested Mara river to Kenya’s Masai Mara.
In addition to the great Migration and Gorilla Trekking experiences, this adventure Journey in Uganda and Tanzania also includes visits to Lake Bunyonyi, Tarangire National Park and Ngorongoro Crater and by the 12th day, the tour will have created a lifetime’s worth of memories for you.
To ensure that you maximize your time in Northern Serengeti(Kogatende Area), we have recommended that while in Tanzania you Drive-In and Fly-out of Serengeti North to either Arusha National Park or Kilimanjaro International depending on the availability of flights from where you will depart for your onward journey to Kigali International Airport-Rwanda. This Tanzania Great Migration and Uganda Gorilla Trek Trip begins from Kilimanjaro International Airport and ends at Kigali International Airport-Rwanda.
12 Days Mid-Range Tanzania Great Migration and Uganda Gorilla Trek Trip Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival in Tanzania and Transfer to your Hotel in Arusha
On arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport in Tanzania you will meet and greet with representatives of Engabi Tours and Travel who will transfer you to your place of Accommodation in Arusha where you can relax as you get ready for the upcoming days of the safari. Dinner and Overnight.
Accommodation Option: Kahawa House
Meal Plan: Bed and Breakfast
Day 2: Transfer from Arusha to Tarangire National Park and Full day Game Drive
After an early breakfast, you will be transferred from Arusha to Tarangire National park for a full day game drive. Ranked as the third largest park in Tanzania, the Tarangire is home to a large population of elephant the ancient giant Baobab trees, also known as the “Tree of Life”, You arrive in time for a full day Game drive, lunch and later check in to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation Option: Lake Burunge Baobab Tented Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 3: Transfer to Ngorongoro Conservation Area for a Full Day Game Drive in the Crater
After an early breakfast, you will embark on a transfer to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area arriving in time for a game drive in the crater. You will descend down into the Ngorongoro Crater Rim for a game drive in the world’s largest unbroken Caldera where thousands of animals live. Here you will be able to see all the Big Five animals. Enjoy your Picnic lunch at the hippo pool and continue with the drive as you exit or ascend out of the crater for your transfer to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation Option: Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 4: Transfer to Serengeti National Park and Full day Game Drive in the Seronera Area (Central)
After breakfast, you will begin your drive to the Serengeti National Park (Central) through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and with stops for photography and lunch arriving in time for a game drive where you must look forward to witnessing large prides of lions, cheetah, leopard, elephant, giraffe, buffalo and antelope as well as various species of birdlife and indigenous trees. Later in the evening you will check in to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation Option: Kubu Kubu Tented Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 5: Full Day Game Drive in Serengeti National Park (Central and North)
After a very early breakfast, you will start your journey to the kogatende area (North of Serengeti) with an en-route game drive in the Seronera Area. On arrival in the North, you will continue with a game drive with prospects of witnessing the Wildebeest Migration Mara River Crossing and then enjoy your picnic lunch. After lunch you will continue with the game drive and later retire to your lodge/camp for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation Option: Nasikia Migration Camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 6: Full Day Game Drive in the Kogatende Area of Serengeti (North)
Today is without question one of the highlights of your safari. After a rich breakfast you will start your adventure a little earlier than usual and head to the Mara River to witness the great migration Mara River Crossing. Today’s full day game drive will help you experience the Serengeti in its full glory! You will be waiting for crossing along the river but you will also do game drive the rest of the Kogatende Area. The Mara River is the last major obstacle standing between the Wildebeest Migration and the relative safety of the Masai Mara. If you’re patient and a little lucky, you will get to witness the death-defying crossing itself where wildebeest and zebras brave the river’s currents and crocodiles in an attempt to reach safety on the opposite bank. After witnessing the crossing, you will continue with the game drive in the rest of the area and retire to your camp for Dinner and overnight.
Accommodation Option: Nasikia Migration Camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 7: Morning Game Drive and Flight to Arusha
After an early breakfast, you will head out for a morning game drive from where you will transfer to Kogatende Airstrip to catch your afternoon flight to Arusha Airport arriving in time for transfer to your hotel.
Accommodation Option: Kahawa House
Meal Plan: Bed and Breakfast
Day 8: Flight to Kigali International Airport
Today you will wake up lazily, enjoy your breakfast and then transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport arriving in time for check in for your onward flight to Kigali. On arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will meet and greet with representatives of Engabi Tours and Travel who will transfer you to your lodge in Kigali City for overnight. Note that to move between Uganda and Rwanda, you will need to buy an East A frican Tourist Visa from your first country of Arrival (Rwanda) at a cost of 100USD Per Person
Accommodation Option: Kigali Serena Hotel
Meal Plan: Bed and Breakfast
Day 9: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Today you will be picked up from your Hotel by your driver who will transfer you to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park the home of Mountain Gorillas via Katuna Border Crossing arriving in time for lunch at your lodge.
Accommodation Option: Four Gorillas Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 10: Gorilla Trekking and Batwa Community Experience
After breakfast at your Lodge, you will be transferred to the gorilla trekking starting point. Here you will be briefed about the gorilla trekking rules while your guide takes care of the practicalities. After briefing you set off into the forest with a specialized guide who leads you to the point where the gorillas are. For one unforgettable hour you are in the area of the mountain Gorillas seeing them in their daily life, with a chance to spot some forest interior birds. After trekking the gorillas, you will have your packed lunch and you will head back to the starting point where your driver will pick you and take you back to the lodge for refreshing. Later in the evening you will visit the Batwa community for a cultural experience Dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Accommodation Option: Four Gorillas Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 11: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi for a Boat Excursion
Today you will wake lazily, have your breakfast and thereafter transfer to Lake Bunyonyi which is home to 19 islands, several little birds and otters. You will arrive in time for a boat cruise to explore the lake’s islands (Zebras Island, Punishment Island and Pygmies island) and then check in to the lodge for dinner and overnight. In the evening you may decide to stay relaxing at the lake/pool side
Accommodation: Milele Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 12: Transfer to Kigali City and Later to Kigali International Airport
Today after breakfast and depending on the schedule of your flight, you will be transferred to Kigali City and later to Kigali International Airport to catch your outbound flight marking the end of your tour.
Accommodation: N/A
Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch
End of Trip
Contact Us for a Price Quotation or Information
Trip Inclusions:
- 11 nights/12 days Mid-Luxury safari lodge and camp accommodations
- All meals
- 2 Scheduled flights in economy class: Serengeti Arusha and Kilimanjaro to Entebbe
- Roundtrip airport transfers as specified in the itinerary
- Game drives
- National Park fees in Tanzania and Uganda
- 1 gorilla trek in Bwindi including permits
- Bottled water and soft drinks with snacks when driving in the parks
- All sightseeing tours and excursions as listed within this itinerary
- Private transportation throughout the itinerary
- Private English Speaking Guides
Best Time for To Book This Tour Package
The best time to go for this tour is during the Months of late July, August and September as this is the time when the Migration herd head has reached the Kogatende Area in North Serengeti and has started or is already crossing the crocodile infested Mara river to Kenya’s Masai Mara. This is also the best time to do gorilla trekking because the drier conditions make the forest trails easier to navigate and hiking conditions can be more comfortable.
However you should note that gorilla trekking in Uganda and Safari in Tanzania can be done all year around.
Trip Altitude Considerations
This journey includes travel through regions of varying elevation. Most of the Tanzanian portion of the trip, including Tarangire, Ngorongoro and the Serengeti sit between 3,000 and 5,000 feet above sea level and is generally not considered high altitude. However, once in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, you will be trekking at elevations ranging from 3,800 to 8,500 feet.
Some participants may notice mild altitude effects such as fatigue, especially during the gorilla treks which involves hiking at higher elevations through humid and rugged terrain. We recommend that you stay well-hydrated and allow time to acclimate in order to reduce discomfort.
Wildlife Encounters & Required Fitness
This journey centers around immersive wildlife experiences including daily safari game drives, guided nature walks and gorilla trekking. Activities are not technically difficult but they do require stamina, flexibility and a willingness to fully participate in shared, often emotional encounters with nature and local communities.
Terrain, Transport & Accommodations
Throughout this journey, you will encounter a wide variety of natural terrain ranging from flat savannahs and rocky hillsides to rainforest trails and jungle undergrowth. Game drives take place in open-sided or pop-top 4×4 vehicles with occasional bumpy rides across unpaved roads.
Domestic flights are included for efficient transfers between regions. Lodges and camps are hand-selected for their comfort, sustainability, and authenticity. Tented camps may involve walking along dirt paths and using stairs or steps to access your accommodations.
Pacing & Free Time
This itinerary is full and exhilarating, with most days beginning early to maximize wildlife viewing opportunities. Gorilla trekking days begin with pre-hike briefings and conclude with relaxed afternoons at the lodge. While the trip is active, we are sure that you will have time to reflect, refresh and soak in the wild beauty of Africa.
Trip Activity Level: Active
This journey through Tanzania and Uganda is designed for travelers who are comfortable with moderate to active physical activity including walking on uneven terrain, participating in full days of immersive wildlife experiences and trekking through mountainous rainforest.
Walking & Standing
You should expect moderate to strenuous walking on multiple days of the trip. Daily game drives involve standing and entering/exiting safari vehicles several times per day. You will participate in mountain gorilla trekking in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and the trek may last 2 to 6 hours depending on gorilla movement and the activity takes place on steep, muddy or uneven jungle terrain. You will therefore need to be steady on your feet, comfortable hiking inclines and able to manage longer durations of standing and walking with breaks as needed.