12 Day Uganda Gorilla Trekking, Great Migration, and Big Five Safari
A 12-Day Uganda Gorilla Trekking, Great Migration with Big Five Safari. Uncover the intricacies of Uganda Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi National Park and the Great Migration in this unparalleled luxury 12 days Uganda gorilla & Tanzania Wildlife safari featuring four emblematic wildlife spots in East Africa.
You are invited to partake in gorilla trekking and the big migration during our 12-day Uganda Gorilla Trekking and big Migration Safari. This 12 days Uganda Gorilla treking & Wildlife(Big Five) safari includes visits to Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti National Park, Bwindi Impnetrable National Park & Queen Elizabeth National Park in East Africa, focusing on gorilla trekking and the great migration.
Your 12 days Uganda Gorilla Trekking & Tanzania Migration Safari will commence in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania’s capital, and go north to the Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In this remarkable region, diverse fauna assemble to forage on the mineral-laden crater of the extinct volcano, accompanied by predators in proximity. You will get unique access to this premier wildlife destination while residing on the crater’s rim at the esteemed Ngorongoro Crater Lodge.
Proceeding northward will ultimately lead you to Nyaruswiga Safari Camp within Serengeti National Park. Your days will be occupied with game drives around the park, guided walking safaris, and the opportunity to witness the dawn over the Serengeti during a hot air balloon safari. This location hosts the annual Great Wildebeest Migration and the Big Five. From here, you will proceed to the Grumeti Reserve in the western Serengeti and stay at the luxurious Singita Faru Faru Lodge.
You will get the opportunity to engage with locals of adjacent communities and gain insights into Singita’s conservation program, OP 7, an anti-poaching observation post, while also enjoying exceptional wildlife viewing. Your gorilla trekking expedition will commence in Uganda’s wild African jungle. Sanctuary Gorilla Camp serves as an ideal base within the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, which has two families of Silverback gorillas. Commence your 12-Day Gorilla Trekking and Great Migration, including the Big Five Safari.
12-Day Uganda Gorilla Trekking, Great Migration, and Big Five Safari Highlights
Day #1: Arrive in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Day #2: Transfer to Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Day #3: Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Day #4: Transfer to Serengeti National Park
Day #5: Serengeti National Park
Day #6: Transfer to Grumeti Reserve
Day #7 & 8: Grumeti Reserve
Day #9: Transfer to Uganda
Day #10: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Day #11: Big Game Safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day #12: Departure
A Detailed 12 Days Uganda Gorilla Trekking, Great Migration & Big Five
Day 1: Arrive in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
A representative from Guided Aloyo Excursions will be present upon your arrival at Dar Es Salaam Airport and will escort you on the brief 40-minute journey to The Oyster Bay Hotel via the city. Your nighttime headquarters, while you relish your first night in Africa, will be the hotel located on the shore. This luxurious boutique hotel, including only 8 bedrooms, enables you to relax prior to your departure the following day. Anticipate spacious accommodations, decor including African designs, motifs and verdant landscapes. Following a seamless check-in, you will have the opportunity to unpack and unwind. Indulge in leisure at the pool or spa before to a sumptuous afternoon tea. Savor a pre-dinner drink in the evening before to dining al fresco on the hotel’s patio.
Included Activities
Experience leisure by the pool or spa, or savor an exquisite afternoon tea. Indulge in a pre-dinner drink in the evening before to dining outdoors on the hotel’s patio.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Registration at Oyster Bay in Hotel
Day 2: Transfer to Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Prior to meeting your driver for your return to Dar Es Salaam Airport, commence your day with a hearty breakfast at the Oyster Bay Hotel. This morning, you will go on a brief flight to the Manyara Airstrip in northern Tanzania, which is located 1 hour and 40 minutes away. A lodge representative will receive you upon your arrival in Manyara and transport you for an hour and a half to the periphery of the Ngorongoro Crater & Beyond’s Ngorongoro Crater Lodge, an opulent establishment situated above the Ngorongoro Crater, will be your residence for the next three nights. The accommodation comprises 30 separate stilted rooms, each offering exclusive views of the crater, distributed over three tiny camps. You may either prepare for your first game drive this afternoon after a brief check-in or unwind post-trip with an in-room massage.
Accompanied by your dedicated guide, descend the steep hillsides to the base of the crater before traversing the grassy plains in search of the Big 5. Exceptional animal observations are anticipated due to the Ngorongoro Crater’s mineral-rich substrate, which draws numerous herbivores, subsequently attracting predators and giant felines. You may either organize a private meal in the lodge’s wine studio or return to the lodge for an expertly prepared dinner in your camp’s VIP dining area.
Activities Included:
Post-trip, relax with a massage at your accommodation or embark on your first game drive with your expert guide to the crater’s base in pursuit of the Big 5.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Check-in at Ngorongoro Crater Lodge
Day 3: Game Drives in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Tanzania Safari Expedition
Your dedicated guide will awaken you this morning for your morning game drive into the crater. Start with a robust cup of coffee and a morning snack before to departing the resort. It is advised to pack warm clothing, as the morning air may be cold. Accompany your guide as you venture into the crater in a closed safari vehicle with a pop-up roof, in pursuit of the Big Five, along with hyenas, wildebeests, cheetahs, and zebras.
At midday, your guide will halt to prepare a unique dinner that will be served in a private picnic place within the crater. Zebras graze in the landscape as you approach meticulously arranged tables and exquisite dishes. Upon returning to the lodge after lunch, you may unwind briefly before accompanying your guide for an optional late-afternoon Crater rim walk. Wear your walking shoes and traverse the outer regions of the Crater rim.
As the sun sets over the Crater, return to the resort for refreshments prior to dinner. Prior to dinner, 20 Maasai warriors will execute a traditional ceremony encompassing singing, dancing, and chanting.
Activities Included
Game drives within the crater and guided treks along the rim are excellent methods to acquire knowledge about the Ngorongoro. At midday, your guide will halt to prepare a unique dinner to be served in a private picnic place within the crater’s floor.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Arrival at Ngorongoro Crater Lodge
Day 4: Journey to Serengeti National Park
After a substantial breakfast and your morning game drive, your driver will transport you to Manyara Airstrip for a brief 45-minute flight to Serengeti National Park. Upon your arrival at Seronera Airstrip, a lodge representative will be available to escort you to Nyaruswiga Safari Camp. This luxurious safari resort is located in the heart of the Serengeti, bordered by expansive grasslands and the distant Nyaruswiga Hills. The primary lodge features a private lounge, bar, dining room, celestial observation terrace, and an outdoor plunge pool and jacuzzi. The camp features 14 opulent canvas tents, each comprising a bedroom, an indoor lounge, and an ensuite bathroom overlooking the expansive savannah. Following check-in, you will have the opportunity to unpack and unwind after your journey, either by enjoying a dip in the plunge pool or engaging in a friendly badminton match.
Your inaugural wildlife drive in the Serengeti is arranged for the afternoon. A game drive across the Serengeti guarantees an exhilarating experience, as it hosts the Big 5, herds of wildebeest, zebras, antelopes, giraffes, cheetahs, hyenas, hippos, crocodiles, and over 500 species of birds. If you travel between July and September, you may witness the biggest migration in history as wildebeest across the Mara River. Prior to an exquisite dinner that will delight the most discerning dining preferences, return to the camp for a pre-dinner beverage at the bar.
Included Activities
A game drive in the Serengeti guarantees an exhilarating experience, as it hosts the Big 5, herds of wildebeest, zebras, antelopes, giraffes, cheetahs, hyenas, hippos, crocodiles, and over 500 bird species. Expect witnessing the Great Migration traverse the Mara River during your September visit.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Check-in at Nyaruswiga Safari Camp.
Day 5: Hot Air Balloon Expedition in Serengeti National Park
Serengeti Hot Air Balloon Expedition
This morning, you can rise before dawn and undertake a transformative adventure as you ascend above the Serengeti in a hot air balloon. We highly recommend maximizing your time in the Serengeti, despite this activity being supplementary. Upon a safe landing, you may either request to partake in breakfast in the wilderness or be escorted back to camp for a hearty meal and a leisurely morning.
Reduce the pace of your safari in the late afternoon and join your expert guide on a walking safari along a trail where remarkable wildlife awaits discovery. Prior to your concluding dinner at Nyaruswiga, conclude the day’s exhilarating activities with a rejuvenating treatment at the camp’s spa. Post-dinner, proceed to the astral viewing balcony to observe the natural environment and the African nighttime sky.
Activities Included
Rise early and undertake a transformative experience by ascending in a hot air balloon over the Serengeti or participating in a guided walking safari. Conclude the day’s exhilarating activities with a revitalizing treatment at the camp’s spa.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Arrival at Nyaruswiga Safari Camp
Day 6: Transfer to Grumeti Reserve
Rise early and undertake a transformative experience by ascending in a hot air balloon over the Serengeti or participating in a guided walking safari with an expert. Conclude the day’s exhilarating activities with a revitalizing treatment at the camp’s spa. You may relax in the spa or visit the fitness center for the remainder of the day. Embark on a nocturnal wildlife drive in the Grumeti Reserve to witness diverse animals, including leopards and black rhinos, as daylight transitions to darkness.
Activities Included:
You may relax in the spa or visit the fitness center for the remainder of the day. Embark on a nocturnal wildlife drive in the Grumeti Reserve to witness diverse animals, including as leopards and black rhinos, as daylight transitions to darkness.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Arrival at Singita Faru Faru Lodge
Days 7 to 8 — Grumeti Reserve
Game drive at Grumeti Game Reserve, Tanzania
Your first morning at Singita Faru Faru Lodge will commence with an early game drive into the reserve. The Grumeti region is home to various wildlife, including cheetahs, bearded wildebeests, Maasai giraffes, and lions. The calving season, during which approximately 400,000 wildebeest calves are born, occurs from January to March. Prior to departing to explore the adjacent settlements of Singita Grumeti, return to the resort for a substantial breakfast. Singita partners with the local community to tackle issues including education, resource management, water management, and business growth through close collaboration with adjacent communities. This is an opportunity to learn more about the conservation and community enhancement efforts to which Singita is deeply dedicated.
Grab your walking shoes and embark on a walking safari through the wilderness with your informed guide in the afternoon. Explore the reserve’s vegetation and landscape while observing the bush up close. You will also get the opportunity to visit OP 7, Singita’s anti-poaching observation station, where you may encounter the game scouts and observe their daily activities. Prior to dinner at the lodge, your guide will pause en en route for a late-afternoon beverage amid the African bush.
Activities Included:
Wear your walking shoes and embark on a walking safari with your informed guide to investigate the Grumeti region, which hosts a diverse array of wildlife, including cheetahs, bearded wildebeests, Maasai giraffes, and lions.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Singita Faru Faru Lodge
Day 9: Transfer to Uganda
Your driver will transport you to Sasakwa Airstrip following a final meal at Singita Faru Faru. You will subsequently fly to Musoma in northwest Tanzania and proceed to Uganda from that point. Arrive at Entebbe International Airport prior to proceeding on a charter to Kihihi Airport, which is a brief flight distance away. Your driver will await your arrival at the airport to transport you to the Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. The ecologically conscious camp features a communal lounge, dining area, and bar with vistas of the rainforest, seamlessly integrating with its natural environment. Upon check-in, proceed to your spacious canvas tent, including a four-poster bed, organic linens, and a private wooden terrace. Have a lot of energy? Embark on a 3-hour woodland trek with an informed guide to the Munyaga waterfall. Eleven distinct species of monkeys, rare forest elephants.
200 distinct species of butterflies and 400 distinct kinds of birds. Prior to a meticulously prepared lunch showcasing local cuisine and flavors, return to the tent for refreshments around the shared campfire.
Activities Included:
Have a lot of energy? Embark on a 3-hour forest trek with an informed guide to the Munyaga waterfall. Prior to a meticulously prepared lunch showcasing local cuisine and flavors, return to the tent for refreshments around the shared campfire.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Check-in at Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp
Day 10: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Gorilla Trekking in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Following a substantial breakfast, commence your hard day of gorilla trekking with an experienced guide in pursuit of the rare Silverback Mountain Gorilla. Ensure you are physically equipped for this expedition, as the ascent presents challenging steep inclines and dense forest. Access to each gorilla family is restricted to eight individuals per day; so, obtaining tracking permission is necessary prior to entering the jungle. The duration of your gorilla trek is dependent upon the time required to discover the wild gorillas.
Experience the exhilaration of observing your first mountain gorilla and spend an hour witnessing these large primates engage with each other. Prior to an exquisite outdoor dinner on the private deck of your tent, return to the resort for lunch and some deserved relaxation.
Activities Included:
Navigate the forest in search of the two families of Silverback Mountain Gorillas residing in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Experience the exhilaration of observing your first mountain gorilla and spend an hour witnessing these large primates interact with each other.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Check-in at Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp.
Day 11: Wildlife Big Game Safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Based on your current disposition, you have the option of two full-day activities today. At 6:30 a.m., embark on a full-day game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park for a final safari experience. The park offers a distinct safari experience compared to the Serengeti, as it hosts tree-climbing lions, savannah elephants, buffaloes, and leopards. Your day excursion comprises drinks, breakfast snacks, and a picnic lunch at the renowned hippo pool. Alternatively, you may use this day to immerse yourself in the culture of the Batwa Tribe. The formerly nomadic Batwa tribe, the oldest inhabitants of the Great Lakes region, can be accessed after a three-hour hike (the earliest records of their existence date back over 4,000 years to the Egyptians). Prior to returning to the camp, you will gain insights into the tribe’s rich culture and their hunter-gatherer lifestyle during this day trip.
Activities Included:
Embark on a comprehensive wildlife excursion in Queen Elizabeth National Park, renowned for its leopards, savannah elephants, buffalo, and tree-climbing lions. Alternatively, you may explore the rich culture of the nomadic Batwa Tribe, the original inhabitants of the Great Lakes region.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Arrival at Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp
Day 12: Departure
Your gorilla hiking and big migration safari concludes on day 12. Your driver will transport you to Kihihi Airport for your flight to Entebbe following a substantial breakfast and a seamless check-out from Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Conclusion of the 12-Day Gorilla Trekking and Great Migration, including the Big Five Safari
Inclusions Of The 12 Days Gorilla Trekking & Great migration
Accommodation and meals, as detailed in the itinerary
Activities and excursions outlined in the itinerary
Transportation services, as detailed in the itinerary
Your Trip Coordinator: a round-the-clock point of contact assisting you throughout your journey
Offsetting carbon emissions for your journey
Exclusions Of The 12 Days Uganda Gorilla Trekking & Great Migration
Admission charges and lunches, unless specified in the itinerary description
Gratuities and individual expenditures
Visa and travel expenses
Travel, health, and cancelation insurance
International flight tickets