Combine Gorilla trekking and wildebeest migration in Serengeti National Park

Combine Gorilla trekking and wildebeest migration in Serengeti National Park, Combining gorilla trekking in the foggy forests of Uganda or Rwanda with the striking wildebeest migration in the vast savanna grassland parks of Kenya or Tanzania is one of the memorable experiences that highlight the diverse topography of Africa. It is also one of the unique adventures one can experience in a single journey.

Combining these two celebrated experiences is a notable choice that allows travelers to encounter Africa’s most sought-after wildlife species in a single trip.

Gorilla trekking is a breathtaking activity that soaks you into a close encounter with the endangered mountain gorilla species in their natural habitats while the great wildebeest migration is a spectacular event that allows you to see millions of wildebeests, zebras, and other animals move along the savanna plains and across the Mara River.

Gorilla trekking is one of the top activities when you visit  East Africa. Gorilla tracking is carried out in Uganda Rwanda and DR Congo. In this article, the best combination of gorilla tracking and wildebeest migration could be combining Uganda and Kenya /Tanzania or Rwanda and Kenya/Tanzania.

In Uganda, the endangered mountain gorilla species are found in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park both lying in the southwestern part of the country. In Rwanda, gorilla tracking is carried out in Volcanoes National Park which lies in the northwestern part of the country in the Virunga ranges.

The great wildebeest migration is one of the most sought-after experiences for nature and wildlife lovers. It’s a constant circular migration where wildebeests are joined by gazelles, zebras, and other animals that move from the Ngorongoro Conservation Area in the south of Serengeti in Tanzania, up through the Serengeti across to Masai Mara in Kenya and back. The great migration is unique far from other migrations as travelers can visit these perks in different seasons according to interests. In July and August, millions of herds of wildebeests cross the Mara River in search of water and grazing pastures.  From December to March, the grasses are green, and this is the perfect time for calving.

The gorilla trekking experience.

Uganda has a total of 22  habituated gorilla families, 21 in Bwindi National Park and one in Mgahinga National Park.  Gorilla tracking in Bwindi is done in four sectors Buhoma, Rushaga, Ruhija, and Nkuringo, and each sector has headquarters where the trekking starts and in Mgahinga trekking starts at Ntebeko gate park headquarters. If you opt for trekking in Rwanda, trekking starts at Kinigi Park headquarters. At any starting point of the trek, trekkers must undergo an early morning briefing about the dos and don’ts of the activity. 8 trekkers must visit a gorilla group a day and each participant must be 15 years and above and must spend one hour in presence of the gorillas and whichever group you trek to, the experience is equally rewarding.

 Cost of a gorilla trekking permit

A gorilla permit is a legal document that allows access to the gorilla homes, trek, and stay in the presence of the great apes for one hour. A gorilla permit in Uganda is obtained from the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) and in Rwanda, the Rwanda Development Board(RDB) is responsible for issuing the gorilla permits.  The cost of the gorilla trekking permit in Uganda is $800 and in Rwanda it is $1500.

How to combine gorilla trekking and wildebeest  migration

There are several options for combining the two activities in one safari. You can start your trip from Uganda and fly into Entebbe airport. From Entebbe, you can use either road transport to Bwindi or Mgahinga National Park or take a chartered flight from  Entebbe to Kisoro Airstrip and then use the road connected to the park for the gorilla trekking excursion. From the gorillas,  you can transfer to either Kenya or Tanzania.  When you decide to go to Kenya, take a flight from Kisoro airstrip back to Entebbe and then to Nairobi. From Nairobi,  drive to Masai Mara National Park for the great wildebeest migration.

If you wish to travel to Tanzania, from Uganda, you can take a flight from Entebbe to Arusha Airport or Kilimanjaro  International Airport then connect to Serengeti National Park or vice versa.

When you opt for gorilla trekking in Rwanda, fly into Kigali International Airport, and travel by road to Volcanoes National Park for gorilla trekking, after the trek travel back to Kigali the take a flight to either Kenya or Tanzania to witness the great wildebeest migration or travel vice versa. This trip combining Rwanda and Kenya or Tanzania is cheaper and maximizes time.

However, for the best gorilla and wildlife expeditions, we recommend visiting the four countries because each has different encounters to offer.

 Best time for the combined safari

Since the East African countries where this combined safari is done lie in the tropics, they tend to have hot temperatures and distinguished wet and dry seasons.  This renders it possible for one to indulge in gorilla trekking and witness the great wildebeest migration in the same month. The best time for this combined safari is during the dry season in the months between December to February and June to early September. The roads are always dry and passable, and the vegetation is not fully grown which allows quick spotting of wildlife.

What to pack for this combined safari (gorilla trekking and wildebeest migration)

Since gorilla trekking involves hiking through dense rainforests, travelers are encouraged to carry the following equipment: long-sleeved clothing, pairs of trousers, good hiking boots, waterproof jackets, sweaters, Gardening gloves,  insect repellents, and avoid wearing clothes of brilliant colours.  For both gorilla trekking and the wildebeest migration,  visitors should carry a hat and sunglasses,  cameras with long-lasting batteries and always remember to keep flight off, a pair of binoculars to help them see birds and animals in distant places, and always follow instructions from the game guides for the best expeditions.

Why book with Active African Vacations for your combined gorilla and wildebeest safari?

Active African Vacations is one of the best tour operator companies that will help you tailor your itinerary to different travel destinations in East Africa. We offer discounted tour packages for both guided and self-drive safaris. Our directors, reservationists, and driver guides are passionate about their work. Our highly rated Trip Advisor page helps you confirm how best we have helped many travelers achieve their lifetime experiences.