Gorilla Trekking After a Kenya Big 5 Safari
Gorilla Trekking After a Kenya Big 5 Safari
Gorilla Trekking After a Kenya Big 5 Safari. Are you planning to visit Uganda to go gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and you are interested in Combining Gorilla Trekking in Uganda with Kenya Safari, in this article we explain in detail how this is possible and through Safari Vacations. We can help plan and book for you this safari combo of Gorilla Trekking in Uganda and a Safari trip to Kenya.
Gorilla trekking is one of the top activities you should do on your visit to Uganda. You will have an opportunity to visit and trek the mountain gorillas in the Bwindi forest or Mgahinga forest. Both national parks are in the far southwestern part of Uganda. Gorilla tracking in Uganda takes place in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. These are the only 2 national parks home to the endangered mountain gorillas in Uganda. Other national parks include Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Virunga National Park in DR Congo.
A Kenyan Safari is a truly African experience combining the animals in the plains such as the Masai Mara, the beaches of Mombasa or Malindi, and the Rift Valley. In this case, we’ll learn how to visit Masai Mara and gorillas on the same safari. Kenya also has beautiful fresh beaches, thriving coral reefs with their glorious colors, memorable mountain vistas, and ancient Swahili cities.
How to Combine Gorilla Trekking in Uganda with Kenya Safari?
There are many options on how to Combine Gorilla Trekking in Uganda with Kenya Safari. You can start the tour by visiting Uganda for gorilla trekking then fly to Kenya for safari and vice versa. The flight connects between Kenya and Uganda are operated by different airlines and options include Kenya Airways, Rwandair, and Aerolink among others. Below is an example.
Day 1: Transfer from Nairobi – Masai Mara National Reserve
Upon arrival at the airport in Nairobi, your guide will welcome you. After meeting and greeting, you’ll embark on a 4-5-hour journey to Masai Mara National Reserve. You’ll check in at your lodge for dinner and overnight. Depending on the time available, you can go for a brief evening game drive.
Embark on an afternoon game drive.
Main Destination: Masai Mara National Reserve
Meals: Lunch and dinner
Day 2: Full Day at Masai Mara National Reserve
Enjoy a full-day game drive, exploring the reserve’s wildlife and considering a balloon safari (optional). Through a game drive, you’ll experience a fascinating wildlife phenomenon; the great wildebeest migration. The migration attracts big cats like lions and leopards as they are looking for weak animals to prey on. You’ll also see elephants, rhinos, buffalos, and many other animals.
Main Destination: Masai Mara National Reserve
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 3: Departure from Masai Mara National Reserve to Bwindi
On this day, you’ll depart from Masai Mara National Reserve and fly to Bwindi. You’ll fly via Kisumu for immigration procedures. Then, you’ll proceed to Kisoro Airstrip in Southern Bwindi. From here, a guide from Safari Vacations and Travel Services will welcome you. You’ll drive to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Main Destination: Bwindi
Meals: Full Board
Day 4: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
On this day, you’ll wake up early for breakfast, then dive to the park headquarters for a 7 am briefing. You’ll then be divided into groups of 8 to visit one gorilla family. You’ll get a ranger and guide to accompany you to the forest in search of the gorillas. It’ll take you about 30 minutes to 6 hours to find them. This depends on their movements and where they nested the day before. After finding them, you’ll spend an hour monitoring their behavior and taking pictures. You’ll then head back to the park headquarters, and later to the lodge.
Day 5: Transfer to Kigali or Entebbe for your flight out to end the tour
On this day, you’ll have breakfast and embark on a journey to Kigali or Entebbe for your flight out to end the tour.
Note: This itinerary is tentative/changeable. We can add more activities like whitewater rafting, horseback riding, golden monkey trekking, and chimp trekking to make it more lively. You can check out several African Safaris that you can undertake.
Can I Drive or do a road trip from Kenya to Uganda and Vice Versa?
Yes, it is possible to drive between Uganda and Kenya. The best route to take if you are starting this trip from Kenya is driving west of Kenya then proceed and cross the border to Uganda Via Busia border. Safari Vacations and Travel Services is ready to advise you all through your road trip to get to Uganda.
Gorilla Trekking in Uganda
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Forest takes place in 4 sectors which include Buhoma, Ruhija, Nkuringo, and Rushaga. The Buhoma sector is in the northern part of Bwindi. Ruhija sector is in the North Eastern part of Bwindi both sectors are located close to Queen Elizabeth National Park making it easy to combine gorilla trekking with game viewing if you are trekking in these sectors. In the southern part of Bwindi, it is where Rushaga and Nkuringo sectors are located close to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park for gorilla trekking and Golden monkey tracking. Each sector has different habituated mountain gorilla families open for gorilla trekking with the Rushaga sector having many families compared to other sectors.
How Much Is Gorilla Trekking in Uganda
Gorilla Trekking Uganda After a Kenya Big 5 Safari- the cost of gorilla trekking in Uganda. A Gorilla Permit costs USD800 per person per trek for Foreign Non-Residents, USD700 for East African Residents, and Ugx300,000 for East African Citizens. This Gorilla permit allows you to spend one hour encountering mountain gorillas in the Bwindi forest once you find them on your trek.
How to book Gorilla trekking in Uganda Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
You will need to secure your gorilla permit in advance to confirm you have booked Uganda gorilla trekking. Gorilla trekking permits are purchased from Uganda Wildlife Authority, this can be done at their headquarters in Kampala or Kisoro for tourists arriving in Uganda through Entebbe it is recommended to purchase their gorilla permits from Kampala and for tourists arriving in Uganda through Kigali they can purchase their permits at the branch headquarter of Uganda Wildlife Authority in Kisoro town which is 1-2 hours drive to Bwindi.
Safari Vacations and Travel Services is one of the best gorilla safari companies that can purchase your gorilla permit in advance and on short notice, once you confirm your dates and share them with us via email or WhatsApp we will first tentatively reserve the gorilla permits for you online and then send you an invoice for you to make payment and once money comes through on our account we will purchase your gorilla permits immediately and send you scanned copies of your permits for your records and perusal and this will confirm you have purchased your gorilla permits for your gorilla trekking experience.
What is the best time to go Gorilla Trekking in Uganda?
The best time to go for gorilla trekking in Uganda is during the drier months of January, February, June to early September, this makes it easier to travel to the park and gives a clear view of gorillas given the vegetation cover is not too much high grown. This is also the best time for a Kenya safari.
What to wear during Gorilla Trekking in Uganda?
You might be probably wondering what to wear for your trek, below is a compiled list of what to wear;
A long-armed sweater since the park gets cold
2 pairs of long trousers
Waterproof hiking boots
A hat and sunglasses depending on the weather though this is optional
Cameras and long-lasting batteries since photography are very important to keep your memories alive. Always remember to keep our flash off.
A pair of Binoculars. This will help you to see the vast birds Bwindi Impenetrable Forest has among other primates.s
Gardening Gloves; these will help you when you a holding onto trees are branches through the trek.
A raincoat; Since Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is rainforest, the rain is unpredictable so to be on the safer side, you will be required to carry along a coat.
A mosquito Repellent; since it is a forest, it has different dangerous insects so it’s advisable to carry it along or wear it
A sunscreen; Well this is optional but depending on the season, it might get too hot and you end up getting sunburns on your skin so to avoid that, you will need sunscreen.
You should not wear very bright colors since this will charge or scare away the gorillas.
Black and Blue colors are also not recommended since they attract Tsetse Flies So I would recommend neutral colors.
Where to stay during Gorilla Trekking in Uganda
Gorilla Trekking After a Kenya Big 5 Safari- where to stay. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Forest National Park takes place in the northern part that is Buhoma and Ruhija and in the southern part are the Rushaga and Nkuringo sectors. Rushaga lodges include Rushaga Gorilla Camp, Four Gorillas Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Havens Lodge, Nsongi Camp, Icumbi Gorilla Safari Lodge, Gorilla Safari Lodge, Gorilla Valley Lodge and Karungi Camp. In Nkuringo lodges you can stay at Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge, Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, or Lake Mutanda Resort. All these lodges are close to the starting point of Gorilla Habituation and Gorilla trekking.
In the northern part, in the Buhoma sector, you can stay at Buhoma Lodge, Bwindi Lodge, Buhoma Community Rest Camp, and Ride 4 a Woman among others, In Ruhija you can stay at Trekkers Tavern Cottages, Agandi Eco Lodge, Gift of Nature Lodge, Ruhija Gorilla Safari Lodge, and Broadbill Tented Camp among others.
Why book Gorilla trekking in Uganda and Kenya Safari with Safari Vacations and Travel Services?
Safari Vacations and Travel Services is a local tour operator in Uganda, we take pride in customizing tailor-made Gorilla trekking in Uganda and Safari in Kenya. Including Combining Gorilla Trekking in Uganda with Kenya Big 5 Safari. We have a very diligent and trustworthy team. Your queries are answered within 20 minutes by our team of professional tour consultants. These consultants will make a travel plan for you, answer all your questions, and make sure all your services are booked in advance for you to avoid inconveniences. We also have very knowledgeable safari guides depending on your language preferences. Contact us here about Combining Gorilla Trekking in Uganda with Kenya’s Big 5 Safari.
