Combining Ngorongoro-Serengeti and Gorillas – Tanzania Wildlife Safari and Gorilla Trekking

Are you fantasizing about visiting Tanzania Ngorongoro, Serengeti, and at the same time have an opportunity to witness the endangered mountain gorillas, here are the best tips for making your dream African safari adventure a reality. Combining Ngorongoro-Serengeti and Gorillas grants visitors an opportunity to witness the diversity in Africa that inhabits its distinctive region. This combined adventure allows you to witness the African Big Five (lion, leopard, rhino, buffalo, and elephant) that roam the vast wilderness of Serengeti National Park, and the Ngorongoro Crater floor, you’ll also witness the spectacular annual wildebeest migration in Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park before you finally go for a remarkable gorilla trekking experience. You might however wonder, are there gorillas in Serengeti or Ngorongoro? A quick answer is no. Mountain Gorillas are an endangered primate species and can only be found in three countries; Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Uganda and Rwanda are however the most renowned mountain gorilla trekking destinations in Africa and surely on this combined adventure, you can fly to these countries to experience the incredible mountain gorilla trekking. It does not really matter if you start with mountain gorilla trekking or safaris to Serengeti and Ngorongoro, these combined safaris guarantee excellent safari experiences. Combining Ngorongoro-Serengeti and Gorillas is the best way to experience two of Africa’s most treasured experiences, mountain gorilla trekking and wildebeest migration sightseeing. For a memorable experience in Africa, consider combining a Tanzania Safari withGorilla trekking either in Uganda or Rwanda.

How to combine Ngorongoro-Serengeti and Gorillas in Uganda or Rwanda: Combining Ngorongoro-Serengeti and Gorillas

Regardless of what you start with, combining Ngorongoro-Serengeti and Gorillas will still give you the best experience of African Safari. Before anything, you will first need to decide where you will be trekking mountain gorillas from. Both Uganda and Rwanda offer excellent opportunities to see the endangered mountain gorillas in the wild however, there are several factors that may influence your choice of a gorilla trekking destination. Although both guarantee up to 90% chances of seeing gorillas in the wild; other factors like permit prices, distance from the airport, and accommodation can generally influence your choice of a gorilla trekking destination.

Rwanda is considered as the most accessible destination, requiring only a two-hour drive from the airport to Volcanoes National Park. On the other hand, Uganda is considered a more affordable destination with its gorilla permits for both Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park costing only half of what travelers pay in Rwanda. To delve deeper into this topic, Click here.

After choosing your gorilla trekking location (Rwanda or Uganda), there are various ways that you can combine your Tanzania Safari with a gorilla trekking safari as explained below.

Start with gorilla trekking

Although most travelers always have worries of getting injured or exhausted after a gorilla trekking experience which they think may affect the rest of the safari time in Africa, there is guaranteed safety during gorilla trekking. Despite the fact that gorilla trekking is difficult, you are accompanied by an experienced ranger guide, and porters who will help you carry your luggage making a trek in the forest less strenuous. There are generally low reported cases of injuries during mountain gorilla tracking in both Uganda and Rwanda thus making the whole experience safe.

When it come to exhaustion, yes gorilla trekking is surely demanding and at the end of the experience you are likely to be exhausted, however, after the trek, you can have ample time to relax and recover from this thrilling yet challenging journey. Furthermore, your package can be crafted to allow you to spend the rest of your afternoon relaxing and unwinding at the lodge to recover from the strenuous gorilla trekking experience or have a full day to rest after gorilla trekking. The package will also allow you to wake up the next day at leisure before you then embark on a transfer to the airport for a flight to Tanzania.

When you choose to start your trip with Gorilla trekking this is how it can be done;

If you are trekking gorillas in Rwanda, fly to Rwanda and transfer to Volcanoes National Park, the only gorilla trekking National Park in Rwanda. The next day enjoy gorilla trekking, an optional cultural tour, and later relaxation at the lodge for recovery and overnight. Wake up lazily the next day and transfer to Kigali International Airport for a scheduled flight to Tanzania. From Kigali International Airport, you can fly directly to Serengeti National Park or to Kilimanjaro Airport then transfer to Serengeti by road. From Serengeti you will then also venture into the iconic Ngorongoro before transferring back to Arusha or Kilimanjaro International Airport for a flight back home.

If you are trekking Gorillas in Uganda (Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park) there are three ways of combining your safari with Serengeti and Ngorongoro; Travel to Uganda through Entebbe International Airport and transfer either by road or Air to gorilla trekking locations in Uganda and then later travel back to Entebbe International Airport to catch a flight to Tanzania.

You can also fly into Uganda via Entebbe International Airport and transfer to the gorilla trekking location by either air or road, after trekking gorillas, cross over to neighboring Rwanda and drive to Kigali International Airport to catch a flight to Tanzania. The third and last option is flying to Rwanda and then transfer by road to gorilla trekking locations in Uganda (Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park), after trekking gorillas in Uganda, travel back to Rwanda’s Kigali International Airport from where you will catch your flight to Tanzania for the next adventure.

Ending with Gorilla Trekking (Starting with a Tanzania Safari):Combining Ngorongoro-Serengeti and Gorillas

Most Travelers prefer ending their combined safari with mountain gorilla trekking. Since this time is the climax of the safari, most visitors prefer to experience this thrilling adventure at last before they continue with their journey back home. Here are various ways in which you can combine Serengeti, Ngorongoro, and gorillas while starting with a safari in Tanzania.

Fly to Tanzania via Kilimanjaro International Airport from where you will then proceed with a transfer to Serengeti National Park. From Serengeti, proceed with your adventure to Ngorongoro before returning back to Arusha’ Kilimanjaro International Airport to catch a flight to Entebbe International Airport or Kigali International Airport depending on where you will be trekking gorillas from.

If you are trekking gorillas in Rwanda, after your adventure in Serengeti and Ngorongoro in Tanzania, fly to Kigali International Airport. From here, proceed to Volcanoes National Park for gorilla trekking. After gorilla trekking, travel back to Kigali International Airport to catch your flight back home.

For those planning to trek gorillas in Uganda there are various options here; From Entebbe International Airport, transfer either by air or by road to Gorilla trekking locations, and later back to Entebbe for a flight back home. The second option is flying into Uganda via Entebbe International Airport and then transferring to Gorilla trekking location, after gorilla trekking, crossover to Rwanda, and drive to Kigali International Airport to catch a flight back home. The third and last option is to fly to Rwanda and transfer to Uganda, do gorilla trekking and later travel back to Rwanda’s Kigali International Airport for a flight back home.

Best time for Combining Ngorongoro-Serengeti and Gorillas

The best time to go on safaris to East Africa in General is during the two dry seasons; the long dry season that lasts from June to October and the short dry season between December and February. The long dry season between June to October is also the peak season for safaris in Tanzania. Therefore Best time for Combining Ngorongoro-Serengeti and Gorillas is during the long dry season between June to October.

There are several reasons why this period is the Best time for Combining Ngorongoro-Serengeti and Gorillas, among the reasons are; Incredible opportunities for witnessing wildebeest migration, especially the river crossings, this period of the year is associated with perfect weather for safaris in Tanzania, the major wildlife destinations are accessible and less flooded, and wildlife viewing is very easy since there is always less foliage among others.

Combining Ngorongoro-Serengeti and Gorillas