Combining a gorilla trekking in Rwanda with a safari in Masai Mara

Combining gorilla trekking in Rwanda with a Masai Mara safari is an experience that every tourist has to experience as they plan to have a safari on the African continent. What better way to spend time with the Mountain gorillas and the big five than combining the safaris? Mountain gorillas are large, gentle souls that share 98% of their DNA with humans, and with the introduction of the habituation process, the Mountain gorillas are used to the presence of humans tracking them.

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Masai Mara, on the other hand, is the best place to go for a game drive during your combined safari. Combining the safari is easy if you have more information about gorilla trekking in Rwanda and a wildlife safari in Masai Mara. Grab your bags, and let us help you plan for this extraordinary and exciting safari for you.

Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes NP

Gorilla trekking in Rwanda is a prominent tourist activity in Volcanoes National Park, attracting hundreds of tourists annually who come to see endangered gorillas in their natural habitat. Volcanoes National Park, being the only one with Mountain gorillas in the country, attracts many tourists. To be able to trek the gorillas, you need to book the safari by first purchasing the gorilla permit, a document that the Rwanda Development Board issues on behalf of the Rwanda government.

A gorilla permit is a legal document that has to be purchased at least six months or a year before your intended safari date, and this can be done through a tour operator like Encounter Africa Safaris. After contacting us, we check whether the permits are available on your dates. You will also be asked to verify your information (names, dates, and the number of permits purchased). After confirming the availability of the permits, you will then be required to make a payment. Upon receipt of payment, the permit will be purchased, and a copy will be sent.

The RDB determines the cost of the gorilla permit in Rwanda, which currently goes for $1500 for foreign non-residents, $500 for African citizens in other countries, and $250 for East African citizens. Rwanda has permit discounts, which are given under special circumstances, for example, if you have booked to visit other National parks in the country like the Akagera National Park and Nyungwe National Park, and when you have come to attend a conference in the country.

Volcanoes National Park is home to 15 habituated gorilla families that are tracked throughout the year, and these are found in the different parts of the National Park. The trek starts with a briefing from the guides early in the morning, reminding you about the rules you must follow. Then, you will be assigned a gorilla family to trek for the day. The trek can take between 1 and 6 hours, and all this depends on the current location of the gorilla family. After locating them, each group will spend an hour with the gorillas, studying their behaviors, taking photos, and recording videos. After one hour, you return to the park headquarters to award certificates to everyone participating in the activity.

Gorilla trekking in Rwanda follows several rules and guidelines to protect the already endangered Mountain gorillas. All tourists are to follow the guidelines, some of which include: A maximum of 8 people are to trek a gorilla group per day, you get to spend an hour with the gorillas, the age limit for trekking gorillas is 15 years in Rwanda, keep a distance of 7 meters from the gorillas, make sure that the noise made when with the gorillas is minimal by communicating in low tones, eating is strictly prohibited, and so is smoking and the flash on your camera has to be turned off when taking photos of the gorillas.

Other activities you can carry out in Volcanoes National Park after gorilla tracking include visiting the Twin Lakes, a guided walk to the Ibyiwacu village, participating in the Kwita Izina ceremony, Golden monkey trekking, and guided primate walks, among others.

Masai Mara

Masai Mara Nature Reserve is the best place to visit in Kenya for a wildlife viewing safari combined with gorilla trekking in Rwanda, and this is because of the wide range of wildlife that can be considered all year round. Located along the border of Kenya and Tanzania, the Reserve is best known for the wildebeest migration, and some of the activities carried out in the Reserve include:

Witness the wildebeest migration:

A visit to the Masai Mara will reward you with the best sights of the wildebeest migration. This annual animal trek sees millions of wildebeests crossing into Masai Mara for pasture. The crossing from Tanzania to Masai Mara is seen between July and October. Some animals you see crossing the Mara River include wildebeests, zebras, gazelles, antelopes, and other herbivores. Along with the wildebeests, the big five will consist of elephants, black and white rhinos, leopards, and African buffaloes, some of which will use the Mara crossing as a hunting ground.

The wildebeests are the main inhabitants of Masai Mara, and their numbers are believed to be over millions. This is the most viewed wildebeest migration, and tourists shouldn’t miss out on an opportunity to explore Masai Mara.

Game drives:

The most popular activity and the best way to do wildlife viewing in Masai Mara is by taking the game drives organized as part of the safari. Masai Mara has a vast landscape that can be explored using the 4x4 safari vehicle with an open roof to take you around the Reserve viewing the different wildlife including bird species, lions, leopards, black and white rhinos, elephants, African buffaloes, antelopes, gazelles, antelopes, wildebeests, zebras, giraffes, Hartebeests, crocodiles, hyenas, hippos, and Oribis among others.

Game drives can be carried out year-round and in the morning and afternoon sessions. The morning drive starts early before sunrise to catch the morning animals that are up to hunt for food and the afternoon drive that begins around 3 pm after lunch takes about 2 and a half hours. You also get to see the wildlife that you missed out on the morning drive. Masai Mara also offers night drives, but these need to be booked in advance and come with extra pay. An armed ranger and guide will escort you for the night drive, and with a spotlight, you have a chance of spotting the nocturnal animals as they come out to hunt.

Cultural Encounters:

One of the most unique cultures to encounter during your Masai Mara trip is the Masai culture. The Masai People live around the Nature Reserve and dominate the area, living harmoniously with the animals. The Masai people are nomadic pastoralists who rear cattle and other animals. Their culture, which includes their famous jumping dance, eating of cow blood, their cultural bright colored wear and beads, and their day-to-day life, is unique and should be experienced by all tourists who visit Kenya. Learn how to track animals, use a spear, and listen to the different stories about the culture of the Masai people.

The Masai people live with their animals in close-knit communities of about 50 traditional houses called Bomas. They are gated communities to prevent the wildlife from attacking them and the animals. They have community projects that are used to improve their lives and the community, and a visit to the community will help them.

Bird watching:

Masai Mara is a birding paradise with over 450 bird species, 45 of which are birds of prey. Birding in Masai Mara is possible due to the different habitats found in the Nature Reserve, like the rocky sides, open savannah grasslands, the Great Rift Valley, and the River banks. Birders can enjoy bird watching in Masai Mara all year round, but the best time is during the wet season (March to May and October to November) when the migratory birds join the endemic bird species. Some of the bird species that you get to see. In contrast, on a bird-watching spree in Masai Mara include the Long-tailed cormorant, Palearctic migrants, cattle Egret, Marabou storks, secretary birds, ostriches, African fish eagle, Kori Bustard, Sacred Ibis, Yellow-billed stork and Rufous-billed Heron among others.

Horseback riding:

If you want the best wildlife viewing experience on a horse, then the Masai Mara Nature Reserve is the best destination. Masai Mara is one of the few destinations where tourists can ride with the animals, but this is done with an armed ranger and experienced tour guide.

How much does a Masai Mara and a Gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda cost?

The safari can be expensive or budget-friendly depending on the choices you make regarding accommodation, transport means, the number of days you plan on spending on the safari, and the number of people you travel with.

Accommodation is categorized into budget, mid-range, and luxury accommodation facilities, and the type of facility you choose will highly determine the cost of your combined safari. The recommended nights for Masai Mara and gorilla trekking in Rwanda are three, and the more days spent on a safari increases the cost, whereas fewer days are budget-friendly. Flying between the two countries is fast but expensive compared to driving, and when traveling, we recommend at least a group of 4 people so that the costs are shared among each person to reduce the cost. Also, if you are traveling on a budget, the best time is during the low/wet season since some accommodation facilities offer discounts.

Packing list for Maasai Mara and gorilla trekking in Rwanda

Below is a list of things that we know you will need on your combined safari, including:

• Neutral-colored clothes that are not bright should include long-sleeved shirts and lightweight pants.
• Garden gloves to be used when trekking gorillas in Rwanda
• Strong hike boots when trekking gorillas in the Volcanoes National Park. The hiking boots should be ankle length and lightweight to ease on the trek.
• A walking stick. This is essential, especially regarding slippery terrain and steep and defending trek routes.
• A camera, extra batteries, storage, and lenses to keep your memories of the gorillas and the wildlife.
• A day backpack to help carry your essentials
• First aid kit with prescribed medicines from your physician
• Binoculars
• Sandals, flip-flops, and comfortable shoes
• A sunhat and sunscreen
• Insect repellent
• A warm sweater and socks
• Rain jacket/windbreaker
• Snacks
• Toiletries include wet wipes, biodegradable toilet paper, and many others.

When to go for a Masai Mara and gorilla trekking in Rwanda safari

Gorilla trekking and wildlife safaris are best carried out during the dry season from June to September and December to February. This is because the wildlife can easily be spotted during the dry season, and the gorilla trek trails are easy to use during this season compared to the wet season: March to May and October to November when the trails are harder to use because of the heavy rains and muddy trails. The wet season is good for bird watching and tourists traveling on a low budget, and it is also the best time to watch the calving season.

Gorilla trekking in Rwanda and a safari to Masai Mara is the best way to spend your safari in East Africa. With the introduction of the East African Visa, you can easily travel between the two countries by taking a road trip using the land borders or flying through Entebbe International Airport and Nairobi to get to your destinations.

Contact our safari consultants for more information.