Combining gorilla trekking in Uganda with a safari in Tanzania

A combined gorilla trekking safari in Uganda and Tanzania safari is one of the best ways you can encounter Africa's giant endangered gorillas and at the same time enjoy a safari in Tanzania's top tourist destinations. For many tourists, this is a challenging safari to organize especially when deciding the destinations you have to visit on the safari, securing permits, organizing transport between the two countries, and planning for accommodation.

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Combining Uganda and Tanzania gives you an ultimate African safari encounter with the big five and gorillas. You need to plan in advance so that there are minimal or no disturbances during the trip.

From the experience that we have with organizing such trips, it does not matter whether you start with gorilla trekking in Uganda and then go for the Tanzania safari or the other way round as long as you plan and book for all the necessary things needed for the safari. Gorilla trekking involves trekking through hills and valleys in search of the gorillas whereas safaris usually involve driving to and around the safari destinations.   

Travelers can easily combine a safari in Tanzania and a gorilla trekking safari in Uganda by flying directly to Entebbe International Airport in Uganda and Kilimanjaro International Airport in Tanzania. A safari vehicle will be waiting at the airport to take you to your final destination after landing in the two countries. You can also decide to do a road trip from Uganda to Tanzania through the Mutukula border and vice versa and get to enjoy what the two countries have to offer.

You can still use the same border if you are starting your safari from Tanzania and then go for gorilla trekking in Uganda. There are other activities you can enjoy besides gorilla trekking in Uganda and these are game drives, birding, and boat rides in the different national parks found in the country.

Gorilla trekking in Uganda

Gorilla trekking in Uganda is done in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park found in southwestern Uganda. Mgahinga has one habituated gorilla family whereas Bwindi has 19 habituated gorilla families distributed in the four sections of Ruhija, Nkuringo, Buhoma, and Rushaga. Gorilla trekking involves trekking through the jungle in search of the endangered Mountain gorillas that were almost extinct due to constant poaching from the locals. There are 1064 Mountain gorillas in the world after the census but there could be more with more infants being born and Bwindi has half of that amount. 

Gorilla trekking in Bwindi is carried out in four sectors including Nkuringo, Ruhija, Buhoma, and Rushaga. Mgahinga National Park on the other hand has only the Nyakagezi family and this can be found in the different parts of the National Park.

Gorilla permit

When planning a combination of a gorilla trekking safari with a Tanzanian safari, you need to properly plan for the safari by first purchasing a gorilla permit because of its scarcity and the way it sells out fast. Gorilla permits are purchased online either through the Uganda Wildlife Authority or a trusted local tour operator but all this needs to be done in advance at least 6 months prior. The cost of the gorilla permit is constant irrelevant of where you have bought it but we advise that you purchase it through a tour operator like us.

How to purchase a gorilla permit: When you contact the tour operator, you will be asked to provide a series of things like a copy of your passport and the different dates that you wish to trek gorillas on in Uganda. The operators will then check to see whether the permits are available. You will be sent a notification about the dates that are available and after agreeing to the dates, you have to make payments. The purchase of the permit will be made immediately after confirmation of payment and later on, a copy of the permit will be sent to you. 

Cost of a gorilla permit: The cost of the gorilla permit is set by the Uganda Wildlife Authority and the different categories of tourists each [pay a different fee. The cost is $800 for foreign non-residents, $700 for foreign residents, and 300,000 UGX for East African citizens. The gorilla habituation permit which grants you more hours with the gorillas is $1500 and the cost is per person. Once the permit is issued, it cannot be exchanged and used by any other person, it is only valid for the date it was printed for, cannot be used on any other day, and gives you an hour with the primates.

 Cost of a gorilla safari in Uganda

The cost of the gorilla permit depends on some factors and can cost 1500 US dollars and above. Some of the factors that affect the cost of the gorilla permit in Uganda include the number of days spent on the safari, the type of accommodation chosen, the size of the travel group, and other activities you plan on participating in after gorilla trekking. 

The cost of the safari will be high if you take more days on the safari, travel in smaller groups or privately since you are unable to share other costs, travel during the dry season also known as the peak season, and book luxury accommodation facilities. If you wish to reduce the cost of the safari, make sure that you do not travel during the peak season but go during the low/wet season, travel in large groups to share costs, and go for either mid-range or budget friendly accommodation facilities. The cost of the safari majorly depends on your wants and needs during the safari. 

Gorilla trekking rules and regulations

These are some of the things that you need to know about gorilla trekking because the rules and regulations are supposed to be followed by all tourists intending to track gorillas in the country in a bid to conserve and protect the gorillas. The rules to be followed when gorilla trekking include the following:

• A maximum of one hour is to be spent with the gorillas after finding them and if you are participating in gorilla habituation it will be only four hours.
• Littering in national parks is criminal and has been prohibited.
• During gorilla trekking, only groups of 8 will be allowed to track the gorillas and only four when it comes to gorilla habituation.
• Everyone has to leave at least 7 meters from the gorillas after tracking and finding them.
• Turn off your flash when taking photos of the Mountain gorillas. The flash usually scares them into hiding since they are not used to it.
• Always avoid making noise when with the gorillas and during the trek. That is why tourists are advised to turn off their phones or put them in flight mode to minimize interruptions.
• Stick with the trek group throughout the tracking process because the national park is filled with other wildlife species and the guides always know the best routes to use when tracking the gorillas.
• Always avoid feeding the mountain gorillas, and at the same time, you are not allowed to eat when with the primates.
• There are no toilets in the national park, and the only option you have if you want to do number 2 is by digging a hole about 30cm deep, and after finishing your business, you will be required to cover the hole properly.
• All trekkers who are sick will not be allowed to track the gorillas and this is a way of protecting the gorillas from infections.
• When you want to sneeze or cough after locating the gorillas, turn away from them, cover your mouth and nose, and sneeze.

How to get to Bwindi and Mgahinga

By road: This is the most commonly used mode of transport by tourists and it takes 8 to 9 or 10 hours to drive from Kampala to Bwindi and Mgahinga. It is a more entertaining way of traveling for gorilla trekking because you get to enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way and make a stopover at the Equator and take photos. Driving takes almost the whole day and you will get to the national parks late evening in time for dinner and an overnight. For tourists driving from Rwanda, the drive from Kigali to Bwindi or Mgahinga takes about 3 to 4 hours through the land borders of Cyanika and Gatuna. It is a shorter drive as compared to the drive from Kampala to southwestern Uganda but you need to have proper documentation for example valid passport of at least 6 months, visa, and permits among others.

By air: Flying in for gorilla trekking is the best and fastest way of getting to Bwindi and Mgahinga however it is expensive. When you get to Entebbe International Airport, charter flights previously booked in advance are available at either Entebbe or Kajjansi and these will take you to either Kihihi or Kisoro airstrip depending on the sector you are going to trek gorillas from.

Tanzania safari

Tanzania is part of the East African community and the most popular destination with a variety of tourist destinations. Home to national parks for the game drives, mountains to climb, and varying landscapes from the Serengeti plains, Ngorongoro carter, Chimpanzees in Gombe National Park, Tarangire National Park, mountain climbing on Mount Kili and Meru and drive through Nyerere National Park. Whether you are an avid birder, enjoy photography, and wildlife viewing, are a cultural enthusiast, or want to relax on your safari, Tanzania is the best option. It might be hard to come up with the exact safari destinations to visit and that is why we have come up with a list of the destinations you can choose from to visit during the combination of the gorilla trek safari in Uganda and wildlife safari in Tanzania.

Serengeti National Park:

This is the most visited national park in Tanzania best known for the annual wildebeest migration hosted from January to September depending on the weather patterns. The wildebeest migration is an annual event that is spotted by hundreds of tourists where millions of wildebeests are seen crossing the Grumeti River to Masai Mara in Kenya. This is a regular spot for safaris in the country and some of the animals you get to see while on a game drive include wildebeests, zebras, antelopes, lions, leopards, hyenas, crocodiles, giraffes, cheetahs and hippos among others. If you plan on visiting Serengeti, make sure that the safari is planned in advance because of the many tourists visiting the park.

Tarangire National Park:

Tarangire National Park is an elephant hub located between Lake Manyara National Park and Ngorongoro Crater and has a large concentration of elephants spotted throughout the year. Other wildlife species that you can spot during this period include hyenas, crocodiles, lions, zebras, leopards, giraffes, hippos, African civets, and over 500 bird species. The diverse wilderness in Tarangire makes it a good place to go on a combined gorilla and Tanzania safari.

Ngorongoro crater:

Ngorongoro Crater is a haven for wildlife due to the plenty of food and water found within the crater. There are over 30,000 wildlife species in the Crater and these include lions, hartebeests, leopards, elephants, giraffes, hyenas, antelopes, crocodiles, crocodiles, hippos, wildebeests, cheetahs, and buffaloes among others. It is a good place to go and see the big five and also visit the Olduvai Gorge where the oldest fossils were discovered and also enjoy the bird species in the national park.

Mount Kilimanjaro:

Standing at 19340 feet above sea level, Mount Kilimanjaro is one of the safari destinations in Tanzania that are worth visiting. Kilimanjaro is the highest free-standing Mountain in Africa and is sometimes referred to as the highest point on the African continent. Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is an exciting experience and when you get to the snow-capped peak, you will have great views of the surrounding areas. Kili is best climbed during the dry season July to October and January to early March you will however have to plan the climb in advance and have the best climbing gear with you.

Lake Manyara National Park:

Lake Manyara National Park famously known for the tree climbing lions is part of the Northern circuit attracting several tourists throughout the year. There are several wildlife species to see including hippos, tree climbing lions, giraffes, leopards, buffaloes, and elephants among others. It is also a good birding destination with the floodplains and woodlands acting as home to both the migratory and endemic birds.

Ruaha National Park:

Ruaha National Park is the biggest park in Tanzania and one of the least visited parks in the country perfect for tourists who wish to visit the wild and at the same time avoid large crowds. This is a hidden gem with the highest number of elephants in the country, the African wild dogs, sable antelopes, buffaloes, Kudus, lions, giraffes, leopards, and cheetahs among others.

Zanzibar Islands:

Also known as the Spice Islands, crown your safari with a visit to Zanzibar. The Island is perfect for honeymooners, families, and other types of tourists who want to relax after a long safari in the national parks across the country. Visit the Stone Town which has unique architecture characterized by European, Indian, African, and African styles. Explore the spice gardens, meet the locals, enjoy boat rides to the different Islands, and relax on the pristine white beaches.

Visit Dar-es-Salaam and Arusha:

This is the largest city in Tanzania and the commercial capital of the country. This might not be an obvious choice but a walk around the city will give you an insight into how the locals live, you get to go shopping for souvenirs and enjoy the contemporary culture in the country. Dar is best known for its craft shops, delicious street food stalls, the vibrant markets like the Kariakoo market where you can shop for almost anything you can think of, explore the National Museum of Tanzania where you get to learn about the country's history and rich culture.

Arusha is also a good city to explore on a Tanzania safari and it is the starting point of the Northern Tanzanian safari circuit one of the best places to go for a wildlife safari in Tanzania. While in Arusha, you can get to see Mount Meru which is good for acclimatization before going for a Mount Kili climb, visit the Chemka Hot Springs, and Masai market, and enjoy a walk around the city meeting with the local people and learning more about the locals.

Gombe National Park:

This is the smallest national park in Tanzania found along the shores of Lake Tanganyika and home to a large number of chimpanzees. It is the site for the Jane Goodall Foundation research that has helped in the conservation and habituation of chimpanzees. This is the best place to go for a primate walk in the country and some of the species in Gombe include vervet monkeys, chimpanzees, olive baboons, colobus monkeys, and red-tailed monkeys among others. Some of the activities carried out are bird watching with over 250 bird species, boat rides, and primate walks among others.

Nyerere National Park:

Formerly known as Selous Game Reserve, Nyerere National Park is a UNESCO Heritage site that was named after Tanzania's first president Julius Nyerere, and covers 55, 000 square miles. Nyerere National Park is home to different wildlife species including the endangered wild dogs, buffaloes, giraffes, primates, antelopes, lions, elephants, and zebras among others.

What to pack for a combined Uganda gorilla and Tanzania safari 

There are a lot of things that you need to bring when planning a combined safari but one of the things that you need to know when packing is that you have to know what to pack, the accepted luggage weight, and do not bring a lot of things because these might become a burden when trekking gorillas and enjoying your safari in the two countries. Below is a list of things that you might need on your safari to Uganda and Tanzania.

• Camera and other camera equipment like extra lenses, batteries, lens cleaners, and tripod.
• Binoculars to help with spotting wildlife
• A flashlight and extra batteries
• Recognition books especially for tourists who plan on bird watching
• Strong hiking boots for gorilla trekking. These should be lightweight, waterproof, and ankle length.
• Clothes including long-sleeved shirts and light trousers. These should be in neutral colors and colors to avoid are blue, white, and camouflage.
• Gaiters and thick socks. The socks are used for tucking in trousers during the trek.
• Snacks and drinking water, if possible carry a refillable water bottle.
• Day backpack to carry the necessary items for the safari and trek.
• Sneakers, flip-flops, and sandals for after the safari.
• First aid kit
• Cash for personal purchases
• All valid documents including visas, a valid passport of at least 6 months, and permits needed.
• Warm sweater
• Waterproof rain jacket or windbreaker.

Best time to go for a combined gorilla trek in Uganda and Tanzania safari

Tailor made combined gorilla trekking and Tanzania safaris are organized throughout the year but the best time is during the dry season of June to September and December to February. This is the best time because wildlife can easily be spotted and gorilla trekking is easy with the dry and not slippery trek routes. This is a peak season and you have to be ready to spend more as compared to the wet/low season of March to May and October to November when the routes are hard to maneuver and the wildlife is also harder to spot. The wet season is a good time to travel when on a budget and tourists who are bird watching enthusiasts.

Encounter Africa Safaris is an experienced tour company with intense knowledge about gorilla trekking and organizing safaris across East Africa. Check us out on TripAdvisor or our website and get in touch with us to help you organize the safari for you.