Gorilla Trekking & Great Migration Safari Guide for First-Time Explorers.
Gorilla trekking and great migration safari offers a 14 day Tanzania & Uganda safari to four classic wildlife areas in East Africa, where you will discover the mysteries of gorilla trekking and the great migration. This ultimate 14 days Gorilla trekking & Great Wildebeest Migration offers a divers itinerary blending Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Safari Overview
Embark on a 14-day safari that combines gorilla trekking with the Great Migration. This gorilla trekking and great migration journey will take you to four famous East African wildlife areas. Starting in Dar es Salaam, the capital of Tanzania, you will make your way north to the Ngorongoro Crater, a site that has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The mineral-rich crater of the extinct volcano attracts a diverse array of species, who gather in this remarkable location, while predators prowl nearby. As you rest your head on the crater rim at the world-famous Ngorongoro Crater Lodge, you’ll have exclusive access to this famed animal hotspot.
Your drive northwards will bring you to the Serengeti National Park’s Nyaruswiga Safari Camp. Here you may enjoy game drives across the park, guided walking safaris, and even a hot air balloon safari over the Serengeti sunrise. The Great Wildebeest Migration and the Big Five call this area home every year. From here, you will head to the Grumeti Reserve in the western Serengeti, where you will stay at the luxurious Singita Faru Faru Lodge.
In addition to seeing animals of a world-class calibre, you will have the opportunity to engage with locals from the surrounding villages and gain insight into OP 7, an anti-poaching observation station run by Singita. Your gorilla trekking adventure will start in the wild jungle of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Two groups of Silverback gorillas call the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest home, making it an ideal location for Sanctuary Gorilla Camp.
Overview of the Itinerary: Great Migration Tour & Gorilla Trekking
Day #1: Arrival in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Day #2: Transportation to Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Day #3: Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Day #4: Transfer to Serengeti National Park
Day #5: Serengeti National Park
Day #6 Serengeti National Park
Day #7:Serengeti National Park
Day #8: Serengeti National Park
Day #9: Transfer To Uganda
Day #10: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day #11: Queen Elizabeth National Park’s Big Game Safari
Day #12: Departure
A Detailed 14 day Gorilla Trekking & Great Migration Safari
Day #1: Arrival in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
You will be met at the airport in Dar es Salaam by the staff of Aloyo Safaris who will drive you for 40 minutes to The Oyster Bay Hotel in the city. While you relax and enjoy your first night in Africa, you’ll make yourself at home at the waterfront hotel. With just eight suites, this luxurious boutique hotel is the perfect place to relax the night before your journey starts. You may anticipate spacious accommodations, furnishings inspired by African design, and verdant landscaping. After your check-in goes well, you’ll have plenty of time to unpack and unwind. Relax in the spa or by the pool before indulging in some delicious afternoon treats. Settle down for a romantic evening on the patio of the hotel with a refreshing drink in hand.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Check-in at Oyster Bay Hotel
Day #2: Transportation to Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Get your day started right with a hearty breakfast at the Oyster Bay Hotel before you meet your driver for a transit back to Dar Es Salaam Airport for a flight to the Manyara Airstrip in about 1 hour & Forty minutes. As soon as you arrive at Manyara, a representative from the resort will be waiting to take through a 1.5 hours drive to the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater. For the next three nights, you will be staying at the andBeyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge, a deluxe lodge situated above the Ngorongoro Crater below. There are a total of thirty unique stilted rooms spread out over three tiny camps, all of which offer prime crater views. Once you’ve checked in, you have the choice of relaxing with an in-room massage after a long day or getting ready for your first game drive .
Make your way down from the lofty mountains to the base of the crater with the help of your dedicated guide, and then onto the open plains in search of the Big Five. Because the mineral-rich base of the Ngorongoro Crater draws a lot of herbivores, predators, and big cats, excellent animal observations are to be expected. You have the option of having a private dinner in the lodge’s wine studio or enjoying a delicious dinner in the camp’s VIP dining room when you return to the lodge.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Check-in at Ngorongoro Crater Lodge
Day #3: Ngorongoro Conservation Area
In the morning, your dedicated driver guide will wake you up so you can go on your game drive into the crater. Have a hearty morning snack and a strong cup of coffee before you leave the resort. Due to the potential chilliness of the morning air, it is recommended to bring warm clothing. In a closed safari vehicle with a pop-up roof, you and your guide will descend into the crater in pursuit of the Big 5, zebras, wildebeests, cheetahs, and hyenas. At around noon, your guide will stop what he’s doing to whip up a special lunch that will be enjoyed in a quiet spot on the crater floor. Your arrival at the immaculately set tables and mouth-watering meals is accompanied by the sight of grazing zebras in the landscape. You will have some free time at the resort after lunch to rest before an optional late-afternoon trek along the Crater rim with your guide. Get your walking shoes on and take in the scenery as you go around the rim of the crater.
Return to the lodge for some refreshments before supper as the sun sets over the Crater. A traditional ceremony with singing, dancing, and chanting will be performed by a group of Maasai warriors before dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Check-in at Ngorongoro Crater Lodge
Day #4: Transfer to Serengeti National Park
An early morning game drive and hearty breakfast will be followed by a 45-minute flight from Manyara Airstrip, to arrive in Serengeti National Park. When you touch down at Seronera Airstrip, a representative from the lodge will be standing by to transport you to Nyaruswiga Safari Camp. This five-star safari lodge is located in the heart of the Serengeti, with expansive grasslands on each side and the distant Nyaruswiga Hills in the distance. Guests can enjoy the main lodge’s private bar, dining room, lounge, astral observation terrace, outdoor plunge pool, and jacuzzi. With a view of the expansive savannah, each of the fourteen plush canvas tents at the camp features a bedroom, indoor living area, and private bathroom. After you’ve checked in, you can take some time to unpack and unwind with a swim in the pool or a game of badminton.
It is planned that you will embark on your inaugural game drive over the Serengeti in the afternoon. With over 500 bird species, cheetahs, hyenas, hippos, crocodiles, wildebeest, zebra, antelopes, giraffes, and the Big Five, a game drive across the Serengeti is sure to be an exciting adventure. Between July and September, travelers may have the good fortune to witness the greatest migration that the world has ever seen, as wildebeest swarm the Mara River. Get back to the camp for a pre-dinner drink at the bar before indulging in a sumptuous dinner that will delight even the pickiest diners.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Check-in at Nyaruswiga Safari Camp
Day 5: Hot Air Balloon Safari in Serengeti National Park
On this day, you can choose to be up early before the sun rises and go on an adventure of a lifetime by soaring over the Serengeti in a hot air balloon. Aside from this optional excursion, we highly suggest making the most of your stay in the Serengeti.
Once you’ve touched down without incident, you have the option to grab some breakfast while you’re out in nature or have your breakfast brought to you so you can relax and enjoy the morning. In the late afternoon, take it easy on your safari and go on a walking safari with your expert guide down a track where amazing animals are hiding. After a full day of thrilling activities, unwind with a rejuvenating spa treatment at Nyaruswiga before your last night there. Visit the astral viewing balcony after supper for a breathtaking panorama of the African landscape and night sky.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Check-in at Nyaruswiga Safari Camp
Day 6: Observation of the Great Migration
Engage on game drives at dawn and dusk to monitor migrating herds as they traverse and cross the Mara River. Observe zebras, gazelles, and wildebeests evade crocodiles and other predators. Conclude the day with a savanna sundowner prior to returning to camp.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Singita Faru Faru Lodge
Day 7: Western Serengeti (Singita Faru Faru Lodge)
After breakfast, proceed to the Singita Faru Faru Lodge in the Grumeti Reserve. Attend a luncheon and a wine tasting in the lodge’s cellar. Choose between a wildlife drive on this private conservancy, where migratory herds pass close by, or an afternoon spa treatment.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Singita Faru Faru Lodge
Day 8: Grumeti Plains Wildlife Excursions
Take morning and sunset drives through the secluded Grumeti region, where you may see giraffe herds or lone leopards against the vast plains. Evening refreshments along the river establish the ambiance before heading for dinner at the resort.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Singita Faru Faru Lodge
Day #9: Depart for Arusha → Fly to Entebbe
After your morning breakfast at Singita Faru Faru Lodge, your driver will transport you to Sasakwa Airstrip. The next stop on your flight to Uganda will be Musoma in northwest Tanzania, after which you will connect to Uganda. You will be transferred to the nearby Kihihi Airport via a charter airplane after your arrival at Entebbe International Airport. Upon your arrival at the airport, a driver will be waiting to take you to the Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. The eco-friendly camp blends in with its natural environment and features a common lounge, dining room, and bar with views of the rainforest. Your spacious canvas tent will be ready for you upon arrival; it will feature a four-post bed, natural linens, and a private wooden patio. Do you feel energized? Hike to the Munyaga waterfall in three hours under the guidance of an experienced guide through the forest. Eleven different species of monkeys, rare forest elephants,
two hundred species of butterflies and four hundred species of birds. Return to the tent for some drinks around the campfire before a well-prepared dinner inspired by local ingredients and flavors.
Day #10: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
The day begins with a hearty breakfast before you go out on a challenging trek with an experienced guide in pursuit of the rare Silverback Mountain Gorilla. This hike is challenging due to the deep forest and steep hills, so be sure you’re in good physical shape before you GO.
It all comes down to how long it takes to find the wild gorillas while planning your gorilla journey. Upon meeting them, spend an exciting hour listening to the calls of mountain gorillas and seeing these massive primates interact with one another. After a leisurely lunch at the resort, you can return to your tent for a romantic outdoor dinner on your private deck.
Day #12: Drive To Queen Elizabeth National Park
The journey to Queen Elizabeth National Park begins with breakfast at your lodge, then transfer to the park via Ishash. , the park is around 90 km from Buhoma. Driving to Queen Elizabeth National Park from Buhoma in Bwindi will take around four to five hours, and from the southern sector of Bwindi about 7 hours.
After you arrive at Queen Elizabeth National Park, you may settle into your lodge for lunch before setting off on your evening game drive. In the park, you may witness a plethora of wildlife as it makes its way back to their hiding place for the night.
After that, head back to the lodge for supper and overnight.
Day 13: Morning & Afternoon Game drive In Queen Elizabeth National Park
Get a head start on the day at 6 o’clock with breakfast, then head out for a game drive in the park. An excellent opportunity to see creatures that are active throughout the day, such as leopards, serval cats, hyenas, Uganda Kobs, heart monsters, giraffes, zebras, and many more, awaits you on this morning game drive. Over 612 different bird species call Queen Elizabeth National Park home, making it an ideal spot for bird watching excursions. While out on a game drive, keep your eyes peeled for a variety of species, including the Shoebill stock, Chapin’s flycatcher, magnificent flamingos, and pink-backed pelicans.
Lunch at the resort, then set out for a boat ride along the Kazinga waterway in the afternoon. Commencing at precisely 1pm, the boat cruise has the potential to last for almost 2 hours. You might see a variety of animals on your boat excursion, including elephants, hippos, Nile crocodiles, and some bird species like ibis, great flamingos, and shoebill stock, among many others.
After that, head back to the lodge for supper and the night.
Day #14: Flight To Entebbe
On the final day of your five-day flying safari to Queen Elizabeth and Bwindi National Park, you will have a leisurely breakfast before checking out of the resort. Your guide will pick you up and drive you to Kihihi airstrip for your domestic flight to Entebbe Airport.
