Combining gorilla trekking in Rwanda with safari in Tanzania

For a safari combo of gorilla trekking in Rwanda and safari in Tanzania, ensure you book the Rwanda gorilla permit. The Rwanda gorilla permits are restricted to a maximum of 8 per gorilla family, yet about 15 gorilla trekking families are open to public booking in the country. 

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Volcanoes National Park is the only home for the mountain gorillas in Rwanda. This park lies in the Northern part of Rwanda, sharing a border with Mgahinga National Park in Uganda and Virunga National Park in D.R.Congo. Each day, tourists gather at the ranger station called ORTPN for a briefing before gorilla trekking starts in Volcanoes National Park.

For the safari in Tanzania, taking a game drive in Serengeti National Park is an excellent decision when planning this safari combination. Serengeti National Park in Tanzania is famous for being the starting point for the great wildebeest migration, one of the world's natural wonders.

Safaris in Serengeti National Park are open all year because it is game-rich no matter the season; most people have it on their bucket list destination.

Secure all the necessary visas for either Rwanda or Tanzania in case you must have them as travel documents before entering either country. It is best to apply for your visa in advance to avoid inconveniences on arrival at immigration because of the long queues.

Although Tanzania and Rwanda are both in the East African community, you cannot apply for the East African tourist visa as of now for either country. Tanzanian authorities have yet to confirm whether to use this single tourist visa in their country.

How to Plan gorilla trekking in Rwanda and safari in Tanzania?

Day 1 Drive to Volcanoes National Park

Your driver guide will pick you up from your overnight hotel early in the morning and drive to Volcanoes National Park. The drive time from Kigali to Volcanoes National Park is about 3 hours, going past winding roads.

Enjoy the lush vegetation that covers the slopes of the highlands along the way. Rwanda is a land of a thousand hills, which you will prove along the way. 

Volcanoes National Park is the only home to mountain gorillas in Rwanda, with 15 gorilla families currently open to the public. Some of the gorilla trekking families of Volcanoes National Park include Umubano, Hirwa, Susa, Kwitonda, Karisinmbi, Agashya, Sabyinyo, and others. The park also hosts the golden monkey, an endangered species with about 2,000 to 4,000 living worldwide. More than 250 bird species, including Albertine rift endemics, live in the Volcanoes forest.

Check into your lodge.

Volcanoes accommodations: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge, Virunga Volcanoes Lodge, Hotel Le Bambou, Hotel Muhabura, Kinigi Guest House, Gorilla Nest Lodge

Day 2 Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda 

After early morning breakfast, head to the ranger station for briefing, which is compulsory for every tourist. Carry your gorilla trekking gear, too, and you can hire a porter if you need assistance.

Random gorilla family allocation is used when distributing these Rwanda families, but sometimes the criteria used are according to physical capability, age brackets, family relations, interests, and much more.

The ranger guide follows the trail to where the gorilla family was last seen the previous day. To help reduce the time tourists spend in the forest, the ranger guides also follow the clues about the gorilla family governed by the early risers who track the mountain gorillas to establish where they may have spent the night. The early risers also try to give clues about the possible hangout spot for the mountain gorillas during the day.

Look out for other exciting features in Volcanoes National Park, like the ridges, waterfalls, plateaus, and so much more.

When you locate the mountain gorillas, only one hour is allowed with them, so use it to the best of your ability to make memories of this once-in-a-lifetime adventure. Take as many photos as you wish, but do not surround the gorilla family because you make them feel ambushed.

Slowly get away from the mountain gorillas without getting noticed after the elapse of the recommended one hour.

Return to your lodge

Day 3 Fly to Kilimanjaro International Airport Tanzania 

After breakfast, your driver guide will pick you up from your Lodge in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda to Kigali Airport. The time you cover is about 3 hours to arrive at Kigali airport from Volcanoes National Park.

Check in for a flight to Kilimanjaro International Airport in Tanzania to carry on with the next safari segment on your itinerary.

You can connect directly by domestic flights to any airstrips close to your lodge location in Serengeti National Park.

You may also drive from Arusha to Serengeti National Park, covering a distance of about 469 kilometers for about 7 to 8 hours.

Overnight in Arusha or Serengeti National Park, depending on your transport.

Day 4 Game Drive in Serengeti National Park

If you are to drive to Serengeti National Park, you can use this day to get to the park. The drive is long, covering about 7 hours to 8 hours.

Enjoy a game drive as you get into the park, where you may spot several animals like lions, impalas, gazelles, giraffes, wildebeest, hartebeest, warthogs, cape buffaloes, Black Rhinos, and others.

Serengeti accommodation: Mbalangeti Lodge, Serengeti Serena Lodge, Osinon Camps and Lodge, Ikoma safari Camp

Day 5 Game drive in Serengeti National Park

Head for a game drive in Serengeti National Park early in the morning. Look out for several wild animals you set your eyes on, like gazelles, impalas, herds of elephants, giraffes, warthogs, cheetahs, lions, hyenas, and so many others. Enjoy the various animals, other animals that the park hosts, and several birds.

If you like this arrangement, you may enjoy breakfast in the wilderness and return to your lodge.

Day 6 Game drive in Serengeti National Park

No day can ever quench the thirst of seeing wild animals in Serengeti National Park. Drive through the tracks of Serengeti National Park to spot other wild animals you may have missed the previous day.

Look out for hyenas, cheetahs, leopards, hartebeest, wildebeests, impalas, zebras, etc. Relax in the evening by the poolside to wind and unwind from the endless views of Serengeti National Park.

Get back to your lodge.

Day 7 Departure day

After the gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda and safari in Tanzania, drive back to Kilimanjaro International Airport to catch up with your existing flight.

When is the best time to book gorilla trekking in Rwanda and Tanzania safari?

The gorilla trekking in Rwanda and safari in Tanzania are open all year, but the best time is the dry season. The dry season for safaris in Tanzania and Rwanda is normally June to September and December to January.

Generally, the environment where these safari activities happen in Rwanda and Tanzania during the dry season favors the visitors. Mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park are more active in the dry season, plus other forest dwellers. The wild animals in Serengeti National Park are easier to spot since the grass is lower.

Since this is the peak tourism season in Rwanda and Tanzania, logistics supporting safaris are in high demand, yet service providers' options are limited. For Rwanda gorilla trekking permits during the high season, you need to purchase them at least 6 months to a year in advance. This reduces the chances of losing gorilla permit availability, which changes at any time without warning.

For those with a limited budget but have gorilla trekking in Rwanda and safari in Tanzania on their bucket list, you can take advantage of the low season when prices may be lower. Some service providers, like accommodations, lower prices during this season to break even.

What is the cost of gorilla trekking in Rwanda and safari in Tanzania?

At Encounter Africa Safaris, we package our safaris according to luxury, mid-range, and budget. A safari, including gorilla trekking, has purchasing the gorilla permit as the first cost. The Rwanda gorilla trekking permit costs $1500 for foreign nonresidents, $500 for international residents of Rwanda, and $250 for East Africans.

When costing this Rwanda gorilla trekking and safari in Tanzania, we also consider the number of days on safari, number of people traveling with, time of booking the safari, and additional activities to combine with this tour package.

Other costs to consider when costing this African safari include fuel, driver guide, vehicle hire, accommodation, and so much more.

What is the age Limit for gorilla trekking in Rwanda?

The age limit for gorilla trekking in Rwanda is 15 years and over. This is because of the nature of the activity, which involves walking in the wilderness. The jungle has some harsh conditions that may not favor children below this age. The terrain of Volcanoes National Park is rugged, resulting from volcanic activities in this area.

Gorilla trekking time is hard to determine and requires some patience, which children below 15 years may be unable to stand. At a glance mou, mountain gorillas are scared because of their hairy, dark bodies and knuckle locomotion style, which can be misinterpreted.

Is Serengeti National Park safe for a Safari?

Much as Serengeti National Park has many carnivores, it is safe for a safari as long as you follow the game safari guidelines given. The park has well-trained ranger guides with experience and always on duty to protect the wild animals, their habitat, and visitors.

 As tourists, you must stay in your vehicle while on a game drive in Serengeti National Park, or else you may make a meal for the carnivores.

Do not hoot or provoke the wild animals while on the game drive, as you may cause them to charge at you. 

Dangling your limbs out of the windows while in a game drive is forbidden because you may attract wild animals that may pounce at you.

What should you pack for gorilla trekking in Rwanda and safari in Tanzania?

•  Sunscreen to protect your body from strong sunrays in the tropical region
• Extract fully charged batteries to exchange with if one runs low
• Garden gloves to cover your hands in case you need to secure a tighter grip.
•  Sunglasses to wear during the game drives, especially during the dry season, while on a game drive under scorching sunlight.
• Safari Boots that can withstand water-logged conditions in the forest in case the rivers overflow.
• A foldable safari hat with a large brim that can protect your hair from water dripping off the tree leaves
• Safari long shirt and trousers that can withstand forest conditions. They must be in colors like Tan or Khaki to camouflage dirt.
• A raincoat is needed if it falls in the jungle, as this area is known to receive rain without warning.
• First Aid kit with emergency items, especially if you have a non-communicable infection that may require urgent medical care.
• Medicated Insect repellent to keep away stinging insects in the wilderness
• A camera to capture highlights of the gorilla trekking tour for memories of your safari.
• A pair of binoculars to bring close the far-ranging items of your interest
• Toiletries, especially if your skin is sensitive to certain body chemicals.
• Energy bites to snack on when hungry and keep you going.
•  Battery charger and travel adapter for your gadgets.
•  Shoe bags to keep in your dirty shoes, especially when you have no time to clean them up after the trek.
• Hard cash to change into local currency if you need to purchase specific items like souvenirs. Credit cards are rarely used in Africa because of the lengthy process of obtaining money from them.

Contact us today to plan your safari today.