8 Day Gorilla Trekking and Great Migration Serengeti Safari

8 Day Gorilla Trekking and Great Migration Serengeti Luxury Safari

The 8 Day luxury Gorilla Trekking and Great Migration Serengeti Safari tour takes you to witness two of Africa’s Safari spectacle the Gorilla trekking in Uganda and Big 5 animals/Mara river crossing wildebeest Migration viewing in Serengeti National Park Tanzania and Ngorongoro Crater.

Please Note that with this package, you will Fly into Northern Serengeti and and drive out. This is to ensure that you maximize your time in North of Serengeti home to the great migration Mara River Crossing.

We recommend that you arrive for the gorilla trek via Kigali International Airport because the Road drive time from Kigali to the Gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Uganda is short at approximately 4 Hours compared to the 10 Hours Road Drive from Entebbe/Kampala Uganda to Bwindi.

Note that you can travel between the two countries using a single visa called the East African Tourist Visa and this Visa can be got from the first country of arrival at a cost of 100USD Per person.

Day to Day:

8 Day Gorilla Trekking and Great Migration Serengeti Safari

Tour Highlights:

Day 1: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day 2: Gorilla Trekking Experience
Day 3: Road Transfer to Kigali International Airport and Flight to Kilimanjaro International Airport
Day 4: Flight from Arusha To Kogatende Airstrip and Afternoon Game Drive
Day 5: Full Day Game Drive in the Kogatende Area of Serengeti (North)
Day 6: Full Day Game Drive in Serengeti National Park in North and Central
Day 7: Transfer to Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Game Drive in the Crater
Day 8: Transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport

Detailed Itinerary:

Day 1: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

From your hotel in Kigali or on arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will be met by your driver who will transfer you to Bwindi Impenetrable national park the home of gorillas in Uganda via the Katuna border crossing on an approximately 4 hours road drive. You will arrive at the lodge in time for check in, lunch, dinner and overnight. This journey takes approximately 4 Hours’ including the time you spend at the border.
Accommodation Option: Four Gorillas Lodge / Kiho Gorilla Safari Lodge / Buhoma Lodge / Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp
Meal Plan: Lunch and Dinner

Day 2: Gorilla Trekking Experience

Today After breakfast you will be transferred to the park headquarters for briefing and later start your gorilla trek experience at around 8:30 am. Spending 1 hour with mountain gorillas will be a great experience for everyone. After spending a good time with the gorillas you will transfer back to the Lodge for a hot lunch and to freshen up. In the evening you may choose to relax in your Room or visit the local community of the pigmies and later have dinner and overnight.
Accommodation Option: Four Gorillas Lodge / Kiho Gorilla Safari Lodge / Buhoma Lodge / Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 3: Road Transfer to Kigali International Airport and Flight to Kilimanjaro International Airport

After breakfast you will be transferred by road to Kigali City or Kigali International airport depending on the schedule of your flight from where you will catch your flight to Kilimanjaro International Airport. Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport in the late afternoon, you will be transferred to your Hotel in Arusha for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation Option: Arusha Coffee Lodge / Gran Melia Arusha / Arusha Serena Hotel / Lemala Hamerkop House
Meal Plan: Bed and Breakfast

Day 4: Flight from Arusha To Kogatende Airstrip and Afternoon Game Drive

After breakfast, you will transfer to Arusha airstrip for your flight to Kogatende Airstrip in Serengeti North which will depart around 7am and arrive at 10am for a game drive in Northern Serengeti. Serengeti among other incredible wildlife and stunning views is famed for the annual migration of over 1.5 million wildebeest and hundred thousand of zebras, a frenzied bout of territorial conquests and mating happening from July-October. Witness an actual survival of the fittest as these animals plunge through crocodile-infested waters. The wildebeest produces more than 8,000 calves daily before the 1,000 km (600 mile) pilgrimage begins again. Lunch Dinner and Overnight at your lodge.
Accommodation Option: Lemala Kuria Hills Lodge / Mara River Tented Camp / Ole Serai Luxury Camp / Nasikia Migration Camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 5: Full Day Game Drive in the Kogatende Area of Serengeti (North)

Today is without question one of the highlights of your safari. After a rich breakfast you will start your adventure a little earlier than usual and head to the Mara River to witness the great migration Mara River Crossing. Today’s full day game drive will help you experience the Serengeti in its full glory! You will be waiting for crossing along the river but you will also do game drive the rest of the Kogatende Area. The Mara River is the last major obstacle standing between the Wildebeest Migration and the relative safety of the Masai Mara. If you’re patient and a little lucky, you will get to witness the death-defying crossing itself where wildebeest and zebras brave the river’s currents and crocodiles in an attempt to reach safety on the opposite bank. After witnessing the crossing, you will continue with the game drive in the rest of the area and retire to your camp for Dinner and overnight.
Accommodation Option: Lemala Kuria Hills Lodge / Mara River Tented Camp / Ole Serai Luxury Camp / Nasikia Migration Camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 6: Full Day Game Drive in Serengeti National Park in North and Central

After breakfast at the Camp, you will drive to Serengeti central arriving in time for game drive and later check in to your camp for dinner and overnight. Central Serengeti in the Seronera area offers an amazing game-viewing in Africa with great herds of buffalo, predators, smaller groups of elephant and giraffe, and thousands of eland, topi, kongoni, impala and Grant’s gazelle.
Accommodation Option: Four Seasons Safari Lodge / Lemala Ewanjan Tented Camp / Lemala Nanyukie Tented Camp / Kubukubu Tented lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 7: Transfer to Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Game Drive in the Crater

After an early breakfast, you will embark on a transfer to the Ngorongoro conservation area arriving in time for a game drive in the crater which will last around 5 hours. You will have your Picnic lunch and continue with your game drive. Later in the evening you will head to your lodge for check in, dinner and overnight.
Accommodation Option: Lemala Ngorongoro Tented Camp / Melia Ngorongoro Lodge / Lions Paw Lodge / Sanctuary Ngorongoro Crater Camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 8: Transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport

Depending on the schedule of your flight, you will check-out of the lodge and transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your onward flight marking the end of the trip.

Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch

Tour Includes:

Exclusive Safari transport in custom made Safari 4 by 4 wheel drive Land Cruiser with air conditioner.
Services of English-speaking driver guides.
Pick-up and drop-off.
Gorilla Trekking Permits and park entry fees
Bottled water
All Meals included
Seven nights accommodation at luxurious lodges
All Activities listed in the itinerary

Tour Excludes:

International and Visa entry charges to Uganda.
Personal expenses and gratuities.
Additional optional activities.

Best Time To Travel:

The best time to embark on this unforgettable Gorilla Trekking and Great Migration Serengeti luxury safari is between July and October. During these months, the weather is dry, making gorilla trekking in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest more manageable and enjoyable. It’s also when the wildebeest migration reaches its dramatic peak in Northern Serengeti, with thousands of animals attempting the perilous Mara River crossings an unmissable spectacle. These months offer the perfect blend of thrilling wildlife encounters and comfortable travel conditions.

How To Get There:

Getting to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Uganda)

The most convenient access point is Kigali International Airport (Rwanda), especially for travelers heading straight to the gorillas.
Kigali to Bwindi (via Katuna Border): Approx. 4–5 hours drive, covering around 170–190 km, depending on the sector of Bwindi. This route is significantly shorter and more comfortable than driving from Uganda’s Entebbe Airport, which takes over 9–10 hours.

From Bwindi to Arusha (Tanzania)
After your gorilla trek:

Drive back to Kigali International Airport (4–5 hours), then take a short flight to Kilimanjaro International Airport.
Upon arrival, drive about 1 hour to reach your hotel in Arusha for the night.

Arusha to Serengeti (Northern)

You’ll take a scheduled flight from Arusha Airport to Kogatende Airstrip in Northern Serengeti. This flight takes around 1.5 hours.
On arrival, your safari guide picks you up for your first game drive.

Northern Serengeti to Central Serengeti

By road, this transfer and game drive combo takes about 3–5 hours, depending on stops and sightings along the way (approx. 80–120 km of wildlife-rich terrain).

Central Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater

This scenic drive is around 145 km and takes about 4–5 hours, including stops for photos or short game drives en route.

Ngorongoro to Kilimanjaro International Airport

On your final day, transfer to Kilimanjaro Airport for your outbound flight. The drive from Karatu (near Ngorongoro) to the airport takes roughly 3.5 to 4 hours (approx. 220 km).

About Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

It is located in southwestern Uganda, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and boasts the highest concentration of mountain gorillas in the world. The actual gorilla trek through Bwindi Impenetrable National Park can be physically demanding, as the terrain is rugged and dense with vegetation. There are four sectors in Bwindi where gorilla trekking is carried out and they include Buhoma sector, Rushaga sector, Ruhija sector and Nkuringo sector.

The gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park are endangered species and approximately 400 mountain gorillas live in the park, making it one of the largest populations in Africa. The gorillas in Bwindi are known for their habituation, meaning they have become comfortable with human presence and can be safely visited by tourists.

Getting to Bwindi national park during a gorilla safari can be either by a domestic flight to Kihihi airstrip or Kisoro airstrips and the second option to get to the park is to embark on a scenic road trip to Bwindi national park which takes approximately 8 to 10 hours but allows for breathtaking views of Uganda’s countryside.

About Serengeti National Park

Serengeti national park is one of the largest wildlife safari destinations in Tanzania which is located in the northern part of the country. Covering about 14750 square kilometers, the park is characterized by open grasslands, rocky outcrops, and scattered acacia trees which act as habitat for the different wildlife species.

The park is divided into three main areas: the Seronera Valley, the Central Serengeti, and the Northern Serengeti. The Seronera Valley is the most popular tourist area and is known for its abundant wildlife, including the Big Five.

The Central Serengeti is home to the famous migration of wildebeests, which takes place every year from July to August. The Northern Serengeti is less visited but offers excellent views of the park’s diverse landscapes and wildlife.

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