12 Days Serengeti Migration and Gorilla Trekking Safari

This 12 Days Serengeti Migration and Gorilla Trekking Safari is tailored to offer you the opportunity to experience two of the most fascinating and greatest wildlife experiences on the planet, that is Wildebeest Migration in Serengeti and an encounter with mountain gorillas in Bwindi Forest.

In Serengeti – the most popular wildlife destination in Africa, you will witness the world’s greatest and largest movement of land mammals as millions of wildebeests accompanied by thousands of zebras and gazelles in their search for water and green pastures.

In Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, the best place in the world to see mountain gorillas, you will an encounter with mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. 

Highlights of 12 Days Serengeti Migration and Gorilla Trekking Safari

• Day 1: Arrive Arusha –Tanzania
• Day 2: Transfer to Tarangire National Park
• Day 3: Transfer to Ngorongoro Crater
• Day 4: Transfer to Serengeti National Park
• Day 5-:6 Following the Wildebeest Migration in Serengeti National Park
• Day 7 -8: Following the Wildebeest Migration in Grumeti Game Reserve
• Day 9: Transfer to Arusha & Fly to Uganda – Entebbe
• Day 10: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
• Day 11: Mountain Gorilla Tracking Experience
• Day 12: Fly to Entebbe and depart

Detailed itinerary of 12 Days Serengeti Migration and Gorilla Trekking Safari

Day 1: Arrive Arusha -Tanzania

On arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by our representative and transfer you to your lodge in Arusha.

Depending on your time of arrival, you will have a short city tour around Arusha City giving you an amazing introduction to a Tanzania Safari. Spend the rest of the day at relaxation at the lodge.

Dinner and Overnight at Arusha Coffee Lodge

Day 2: Transfer to Tarangire National Park

After breakfast, check out and drive to Tarangire National Park, a renowned Tanzania Wildlife Destination for its large herds of elephants and wild landscape dominated by acacia trees, open grasslands and the Tarangire River.

It is a 2 hours journey to Tarangire National Park and with en-route game drive, head to your lodge for check-in and lunch. In the afternoon, return to the park for an afternoon game drive enjoying sighting of various animals including elephants, lions, leopards, zebras among others.

Dinner and Overnight at Baobab Tree Lodge

Day 3: Transfer to Ngorongoro Crater

Checkout of the lodge after breakfast and embark on a journey to Ngorongoro Crater across the Great Rift Valley, as you enter Ngorongoro Crater you will be warmly welcomed by Maasai “enkangs” (homestead).

Ngorongoro Crater is one of the most fascinating safari destinations in Tanzania, the crater is the world’s largest intact caldera and one of the 7 Natural Wonders in Africa. The 2,000 foot caldera is home to highest concentration of wildlife in Africa thus offering an incredible game viewing experience with views of animals like buffaloes, flamingoes, lions and leopards among others.

After sunset, you will return to your lodge, check in for dinner and overnight stay.

Overnight stay at Ngorongoro Crater Lodge

Day 4: Transfer to Serengeti National Park

After breakfast, check out of the lodge and head to Serengeti National Park – home to vast plains where lions and leopards roam freely.

On arrival in Serengeti, you will be welcomed by the dramatic views of the rolling endless plains, check in at your lodge and have lunch. In the afternoon you will go for a visit to the Maasai Community for a cultural experience led by a local guide who will introduce you to their amazing traditions, culture and traditions.

Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Overnight stay at Sayari Camp

Day 5-6: Following the Wildebeest Migration in Serengeti National Park

Spend these two full days exploring the endless plains following the wildebeest migration, witness over one million wildebeests and thousands of zebras and gazelles cross river Mara into Serengeti in a stampede as they avoid open jaws of the large crocodiles.

Here you can’t miss sight of the hungry predators including lions and leopards as they follow the herds closely in their attempts to survive. 

You will also have a chance to see other wildlife animals calling Serengeti Plains home such as

Day 7 -8: Following the Wildebeest Migration in Grumeti Game Reserve

Enjoy breakfast and then be transferred to the Western Serengeti for more Wildebeest Migration sighting. Arrive in time for a lunch and later set out for the migration.

The wildebeest migration passes through the Grumeti Game Reserve on their way to Northern Serengeti from May to July. During other times of the year, this area has amazing wildlife on show as it is situated on the Serengeti National Park border with the Grumeti River running alongside. Oher animals you will see in the Grumeti Game Reserve such as Black rhinos, zebras, lions, elephants, giraffes among others.

Overnight stay at Singita Faru Faru

Day 9: Transfer to Arusha & Fly to Uganda – Entebbe

After breakfast, you will checkout of the lodge and embark on a journey back to Arusha with your packed lunch boxes. When you arrive in Arusha you will be dropped off at the airport to catch your domestic flight to Entebbe International Airport.

On landing, you will be picked up by your driver and transfer to your hotel in Entebbe.

Overnight stay at The Lake Victoria Serena Golf Resort

Day 10: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Have an early breakfast, check out of the hotel and embark on a journey to Bwindi Forest in Southwestern Uganda with two stops, one at the Equator in Kayabwe for pictures and a chance to stand both in Northern and Southern Hemispheres and photography. Have another stop in Mbarara for lunch.

Continue to Bwindi Forest through the emerald hills of Kisoro, arrive in the park in the evening, and check in at your lodge for dinner and overnight as you prepare for the next day’s adventure.

Overnight stay: Mahogany Springs 

Day 11: Mountain Gorilla Tracking Experience

After breakfast, you will be picked up by your guide and transfer to the park for an encounter with mountain gorillas. First, you will have briefing at the park headquarters, be grouped into 8 people and be assigned a gorilla family to trek. Then enter into the forests of Bwindi looking for mountain gorillas, the trek takes about 2-6 hours or more depending on the movement of the gorillas and they spent their previous night.

Standing a few meters from a giant silverback is a humbling experience, watch them eat, rest, play and bond with their young ones. After one hour of enjoying this privileged experience, trek back to the starting point where you will meet your guide and return to the lodge for a complementary body massage.   

Day 12: Fly to Entebbe and Depart

Today marks the end of your safari, after breakfast you will check out and embark on a journey back to Entebbe with en-route lunch in Mbarara. Your guide will drop you off at the airport to catch your flight back home or to your next destination.

End of 12 Days Serengeti Migration and Gorilla Trekking Safari

Inclusions

• AMREF Flying Doctor Insurance (This service is only available before its dark and can only transfer you to the nearest airstrip to hospital during Emergency)
• Unlimited bottled drinking water during game viewing
• Unlimited game mileage
• Park entry fees and Crater fees (24hrs single entry)
• Professional English-Speaking Driver guide
  • A Friendly, Experienced and Passionate Driver Guide expert at a wide variety of skills: Flora and Fauna, Tanzania’s cultural and natural history
• 4X4 Custom built – Toyota Land cruiser
  • Pop-up Roof, Opening Sliding windows, Seat Belts, Heavy duty wheels, and Extra Fuel tanks
  • Refrigerator for cooling drinks, one pair of binoculars per couple, Eco friendly Trash Bag,
  • Wi-Fi on board during safari, Charging Outlets type Plug G for charging Cameras and smart phones

Exclusions

• International flights (from/to home)
• Additional accommodation before and after safari
• Tips (Tipping guidance US$20 per person per day
• Personal items (souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees,etc)
• Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees
• Alcohol drinks
• Travel insurance and medical repatriation
• Beverage in the accommodation you will be staying