Combination of gorilla trekking, Big5 wildlife safaris in Kenya and wildebeest migration in Tanzania. Of all the adventures in Africa, gorilla trekking is voted top of the list and a must do activity in Africa. An African safari tour to see mountain gorillas up-close and in the wild is the ultimate wildlife safari in Africa.
Therefore, gorilla safaris in Uganda takes you to Mgahinga and Bwindi Forest National Park in Uganda. Bwindi has the highest number of mountain gorillas. Gorilla trekking in Uganda stands out because it has many gorilla groups available for tracking. It is only in Uganda where tourists can spend 4 hours with gorillas in what is known as the gorilla habituation experience.
Gorilla tours in Rwanda are also popular because the Volcanoes National Park is very close to capital Kigali. Apart from easier accessibility, gorilla trekking is more expensive in Rwanda because there is also this belief that gorilla safaris in Rwanda offer easier to other national parks.
Gorilla tours in Congo are special because Congo is the only country where tourists can see both mountain gorillas and Eastern lowland gorillas. Mountain gorillas can be seen in Virunga National Park while Lowland gorilla tours are organized in Kahuzi Biega National Park. Gorilla permits in Congo cost $400 making a gorilla safari in Congo cheaper than in Uganda or Rwanda.
If you are interested in a Western lowland gorilla safari, then you need to consider other countries in Central and West Africa. Western lowland gorilla trekking is a more difficult undertaking because they live in vast and remote tropical forests.
Treks to see gorillas last between 30 minutes to 7 hours depending on the location of the gorilla group you are assigned. The exercise begins with a briefing from the park rangers and guides. After the briefing, groups consisting of 8 individuals each are assigned a particular gorilla group depending on overall fitness, age and preference. Each group heads out to different directions in search of a particular gorilla family.
The rangers always know the exact location of each gorilla group as a team is sent out into the jungle to locate the primates based on where they were last sighted the previous evening. This advance team is in constant communication with your team leader and lets him/her know which route to follow in order to find the primates.
Take you time to observe the group during the one hour assigned. You will watch the family feeding, siblings grooming, juveniles playing, mothers breastfeeding and the silver back always on the lookout.
Although gorillas are gentile, it is important to follow the gorilla trekking rules at all time. Always follow instructions from the park guides. Never get to close to the gorilla group and ensure that you never appear to surround them.
Gorilla trekking is carried out throughout the year regardless of whether it rains or not. Therefore, gorilla tours occur even on public holidays. The only time when the activity is stopped or suspended is if the there is a security concern or a natural occurrence that requires closure of the park.
After all is done, continue with the big five adventure in Kenya as well as the wildebeest migration safari in Tanzania. Kenya is located in East Africa is one of the world’s leading safari travel destinations its great scenery best country in the world to see the Big 5 animals, magnificent wildlife and pleasant year-round climate. Kenya’s capital is Nairobi and its other main towns are Nakuru, Kisumu and the port city of Mombasa. Kenya has dozens of cultures, tribes and sub-tribes. It is also well known for its fusion of wildlife, its range of topography and its extremes of climate.
Kenya Adventure Safari will take you to Amboseli National Park, Lake Nakuru National Park and Masai Mara National Park where you will have a chance for game viewing, bird watching and optional community visits. This is an all-inclusive trip which will start and end in Nairobi.
Pick up from Nairobi and transfer to Amboseli National Park; you will drive to Amboseli National Park which is famous for its large elephant population roaming across the vast grassy plains, the big five, and the majestic views of Mt. Kilimanjaro the highest mountain in Africa among other species of flora and fauna. You will arrive in the afternoon time, check in at your lodge have hot lunch, relax and go for an afternoon game drive in the park to search for late grazers which will be concluded by a Sun downer.
Take game drives in Amboseli National Park: Full day in the Amboseli National Park with two game drives. You drive through across this vast lake bed, often dry but swampy in some areas. We have a lot of game here like cheetah, buffalo, giraffe, gazelles and herds of elephants all set against the amazing back drop of majestic Mount Kilimanjaro showing all its glory. You will also have a chance to visit a Masai Village to experience their way of life and culture.
Take an en-route game drive as you as you drive to Lake Nakuru National Park. You will have a brief stop in Nairobi for Lunch. Lake Nakuru National Park boasts a huge variety of animals, including leopards which are often found snoozing on the branches of the magnificent yellow-barked acacias, lions, buffaloes, hippos, water bucks, warthogs, baboons, the endangered Rothschild’s giraffes only found in this park in Kenya, white rhino and the rare black rhino which is protected and guarded here. Arrive for a late afternoon game drive.
Take a drive to the world-famous Masai Mara National Reserve, backdrop to ‘the greatest wildlife spectacle on earth’, the annual migration of over one million wildebeest. Arrive in time for lunch at your camp. Spend the afternoon on safari in Kenya’s most popular reserve.
Take the opportunity to fly over the Mara in a Hot air Balloon at an extra cost. The balloon package includes a champagne breakfast in the wild! If you can spare the money, viewing abundant game afloat a balloon is an unforgettable experience. Alternatively visit a Masai village and get learn the Masai culture at an extra cost.
Cross to Serengeti for the wildebeest migration in Tanzania. The migration happens from July to September as the wildebeest cross the Mara River to the Maasai Mara National Reserve of Kenya passing through the Serengeti Maasai Mara ecosystem.
The annual migration of two million ungulates, wildebeest but also enormous groups of zebra and Thomson’s gazelle, Grant’s gazelle and eland, through Serengeti National Park is the greatest wildlife spectacle of its type in Africa, and perhaps the world. Although variations occur from year to year, the Serengeti migration follows a reasonably predictable annual cycle, dictated by local rainfall patterns.
During the migration, the herd will move towards the Western Corridor, where they will face the first major obstacle: crossing the Grumeti River. Many animals don’t survive the crossing as they are being awaited by the area’s population of oversized crocodiles ready to feast. The herd may congregate on the southern bank of the river and stay there for up to two weeks before crossing the river.
The Mara River crossing is where so many iconic Great Migration photos have been taken. After this crossing the herd flocks to the northwest plains and Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. This will mark the end of your combined gorilla safari in Africa.