9 days Uganda gorilla trekking safari from Arusha incorporates Uganda and Tanzania, two outstanding safari destinations in East Africa. It takes you on double gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and wildlife viewing in Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara National Park. This trip begins from Kampala Uganda and ends in Arusha Tanzania.
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Fly from Entebbe Airport/Kajjansi airfield to Kisoro/Kihihi airstrip
After breakfast, drive to Kajjansi airfield or Entebbe International Airport to catch up with 7:00am/8:45am departure flights to Kihihi or Kisoro airstrip. From here, meet the driver guide and connect to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to check in at your booked lodge.
Day 2: 1st gorilla trekking experience
Have a hot cup of tea or coffee and after, leave your lodge for briefing which always starts at Bwindi park headquarters. Ensure you are equipped with necessarily items including bottled drinking water, snacks and at 8:00am once assigned to a gorilla family, begin your trek with park guide to view these humble creatures in the wild.
The trek to view mountain gorilla is amazing and lasts for 2-6 hours and it includes maximum of one hour for photography and learning more about these apes’ behaviors. Walk back to get your gorilla trekking certificate and have evening visit to Batwa community to interact with the Batwa pygmies. Explore and experience variety of traditions, cultures, lifestyles, dances, music performances among others from the Batwa community then get back to the lodge.
Day 3: 2nd gorilla trekking adventure
Enjoy your hefty breakfast and assemble for briefing on gorilla trekking rules once again at Bwindi park offices. You either trek a different gorilla family today or choose to track the previous one. Return to the lodge after you have enjoyed an hour of a close encounter with mountain gorilla family in the wild.
Day 4: From Bwindi-transfer to Kigali to fly to Kilimanjaro Airport
Have a heavy breakfast and drive to Kigali afterwards about 3-4 hours via Katuna or Chanika border between Uganda and Rwanda. Take a flight from Kigali airport to Kilimanjaro International Airport in Tanzania. Meet your tour leader who then will connect you to the hotel in Arusha.
Day 5: Arusha-Lake Manyara National Park
After enjoyable cup of tea or coffee, leave your hotel for Lake Manyara in Tanzania but have en-route stop at Mto Wa Mbu Village to engage in biking tour. Have lunch break afterwards and continue to Lake Manyara National Park to engage in a game drive with opportunity to sight wildlife like giraffes, impalas, zebras, birds especially flamingos, elephants, lions, leopards plus the tree climbing lions among others.
Day 6: Lake Manyara-Serengeti National Park; engage in a game drive in evening
Have a delicious breakfast early morning and after, set off to Lake Ndutu area in Ngorongoro Conservation Area which makes up part of the Southern Serengeti Eco-System. Expect to enjoy a game drive till you break off for lunch and then drive to Serengeti National Park for yet another game drive.
Day 7: Whole day game viewing in Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park
Embark on a long day game drive in Serengeti National Park and get exposed to diversity of wildlife in this park’s endless plains including elephants, topis, impalas, rhinos, leopards, lions, giraffes, zebras, zebras, elands, gazelles, wildebeest, cheetahs, birds and a lot more.
Day 8: Game drive in Serengeti and drive to Ngorongoro Crater
Enjoy your leisurely cup of tea or coffee and after, set off with some picnic lunch for your last game drive in Serengeti. Later, proceed to Ngorongoro to relax in the evening.
Day 9: Game drive early morning in Ngorongoro Crater and drive back to Arusha
You will enjoy your breakfast and get to the 4×4 drive vehicle ready to set off for a game drive in Ngorongoro Crater which is popular for its rare ecosystem. The Crater accounts for over 25000 resident animals and on a game drive, there is possibility to spot the big game; buffaloes, lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants and a lot more. After, drive to Kilimanjaro airport to catch up with your departure flight back home if it is scheduled today.
