Tanzania Safari & Uganda Gorilla Trekking
12 Days Safari
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Trip Overview
This rare combination brings together the two most iconic wildlife experiences on the planet: the vast, predator-rich plains of the Serengeti and the misty, ancient rainforests of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. At Lora Adventures, we have streamlined the complex logistics of cross-border travel, providing a seamless transition from the Tanzanian savannah to the Ugandan highlands. Whether you seek the “Best Seller” circuit or a 100% fly-in luxury experience, these journeys are crafted for clarity, safety, and profound wildlife encounters.
Why Combine Tanzania Safari & Gorilla Trekking in Uganda?
Track the Big Five across the plains of Serengeti
Descend into the world-famous Ngorongoro Crater
See elephant herds among the baobabs of Tarangire
Trek through rainforest to meet endangered mountain gorillas
One trip. Two legendary wildlife experiences.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
| Start / End | Arusha (JRO) / Entebbe (EBB) |
| Destinations | Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Bwindi |
| Best Time | June – Oct & Dec – Feb (Dry Seasons) |
| Accommodation | Luxury Lodges or Premium Tented Camps |
| Physicality | Moderate (Gorilla trekking requires hiking) |
| Transport | 4×4 Custom Safari Vehicles & Executive Bush Flights |
Suggest Itinerary Flow
Tanzania Safari → Fly to Uganda → Gorilla Trek → Departure
International arrival via Kilimanjaro Airport.
Regional flight to Entebbe after your Tanzania safari.
Minimum recommended duration: 12 days
Best season: June – October
Detailed Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Arusha
A representative from Lora Adventures Africa will meet you at Kilimanjaro International Airport and transfer you to your hotel in Arusha.
Arusha is a lively city sitting at the base of Mount Meru and the starting point for the Tanzania portion of this trip. If you arrive during the day, the town centre is worth a short walk. Your safari begins the following morning.
Overnight: Parrot Hotel Arusha or similar mid-range hotel.
Meal Plan: No meals included.
Day 2: Tarangire National Park Safari
After breakfast, we drive about 2.5 hours to Tarangire National Park for a full day game drive.
Tarangire is a strong start to any safari. The park is known for its large elephant herds, which gather along the Tarangire River, and the ancient baobab trees that define its landscape. Lions, giraffes, zebra, and buffalo are also commonly encountered here. We have a picnic lunch inside the park, then drive to Karatu for the evening.
Overnight: Bouganivillea Safari Lodge or similar mid-range lodge.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 3: Lake Manyara National Park
After breakfast, we drive to Lake Manyara National Park, about 45 minutes from Karatu.
The park sits below the Great Rift Valley escarpment and the drive in takes you through dense groundwater forest before opening up to the lakeshore. The park is known for its tree-climbing lions, a behaviour not fully understood even today. Elephant, giraffe, zebra, and hippo are also present, and the birdlife along the lake is exceptional. We have a picnic lunch inside the park, then continue to the lodge near the Ngorongoro highlands.
Overnight: Bouganivillea Safari Lodge or similar mid-range lodge.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 4: Drive to the Serengeti via Ngorongoro
After breakfast, we begin the drive toward the Serengeti, passing through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The road takes you across the crater rim, through montane forest, and down onto the plains as you head west. The scenery along this route is worth paying attention to.
The drive takes about 5 to 6 hours with stops along the way. We arrive at the Serengeti in the afternoon.
Overnight: Tamba Tented Camp or similar mid-range accommodation.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 5 & 6: Full Days in Sserengeti
Two full days in the Serengeti with no other parks or transfers to think about.
Early mornings are the most productive time to be in the field. Your guide will plan each day around current wildlife movements, covering different areas of the park so both days feel distinct. Lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, and buffalo all live in the Serengeti, and with two full days you have time to follow whatever the bush presents without rushing.
Depending on the time of year, the Great Migration herds may be moving through the area. Migration patterns follow the rains and cannot be predicted precisely, but your guide will position you in the best area based on current conditions.
Picnic lunches are in the field and evenings are at camp.
Overnight: Tamba Tented Camp or similar mid-range accommodation.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 7: Ngorongoro Crater, then Back to Arusha
We make an early start and drive to the Ngorongoro Crater rim, then descend into the caldera for a morning game drive.
The crater floor covers about 260 square kilometres and supports a wide variety of wildlife within its walls. Black rhino, lion, elephant, buffalo, and hippo all live here, and the enclosed landscape makes for an intimate game viewing experience. After a picnic lunch at a scenic spot inside the crater, we ascend and drive back to Arusha for an overnight stay ahead of your flight to Uganda the following day.
Overnight: Parrot Hotel Arusha or similar mid-range hotel.
Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch
Day 8: Fly to Uganda
We transfer you to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your regional flight to Entebbe, Uganda. On arrival at Entebbe, you connect to a domestic flight to Kihihi Airport in southwestern Uganda, the closest airstrip to Bwindi. From Kihihi, our driver transfers you to your lodge near Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
The drive from Kihihi to the Bwindi area passes through rolling hills and small villages and takes about an hour depending on the specific lodge location.
Overnight: Engagi Lodge or similar midrange lodge near the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Meal Plan: Breakfast
Day 9: Rest Day at Bwindi
After the travel day, today is for settling in and getting familiar with your surroundings.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park sits in the highlands of southwestern Uganda at elevations between 1,160 and 2,607 metres. The forest is ancient and extraordinarily diverse, home to over 400 plant species and more than 350 bird species. Simply being in the environment is an experience before the trek even begins.
In the afternoon, there is a gorilla trekking briefing where the rules and expectations for the following day are explained. Porters are available to hire and are recommended for anyone who wants support on the terrain.
Overnight: Engagi Lodge or similar midrange lodge near the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 10: Gorilla Trekking Experience
An early start. After breakfast, you gather at the park headquarters where rangers assign each group to a specific habituated gorilla family.
The trek through the forest can take anywhere from 2 to 6 hours depending on where the gorillas have moved that day. The terrain is steep and the vegetation dense in places, which is where a porter earns their value. Once the trackers locate the family, you spend one hour with them at close but respectful distance. Mountain gorillas are large, calm, and entirely accustomed to the presence of small groups of visitors. The hour passes quickly.
You return to the lodge in the afternoon.
Overnight: Engagi Lodge or similar midrange lodge near the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 11: Fly Back to Entebbe
We transfer to the airstrip for your domestic flight back to Entebbe. After the stillness of Bwindi, the return to the capital is a gradual transition back to the wider world.
You overnight in Entebbe, a pleasant lakeside town on the shores of Lake Victoria, ahead of your international departure the following day.
Overnight: Hotel Number 5 or similar mid-range hotel.
Meal Plan: Breakfast
Day 12: Departure from Entebbe
If time allows before your flight, Entebbe is a pleasant town worth a short explore. It sits right on the shores of Lake Victoria, the largest lake in Africa, and the lakeside area has a relaxed feel very different from the forest and the plains you have spent the last 11 days in. The Uganda Wildlife Education Centre is also nearby for anyone with a couple of hours to spare, a good last stop for anyone who wants one final wildlife experience before flying out.
When you are ready, our representative will transfer you to Entebbe International Airport for your international departure flight.
Meal Plan: Breakfast
Gorilla Trekking Permit Information
Gorilla permits are required for trekking
Permits are limited per day
Advance booking is strongly recommended
Current Uganda permit price approx. $800 per person (subject to change)
Optional Safari Extensions
If you prefer a slower pace or wish to explore more of Uganda, additional days can be added after your gorilla trekking experience.
Popular extensions include chimpanzee trekking, a wildlife safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park, or cultural visits in Bwindi communities.
Your itinerary can be customized from 12 to 16 days, depending on your available travel time. Let us know your preferred extension in the inquiry form below, and we can customize this itinerary accordingly.
Price: Starts from $9,225 per person.
Price Includes:
Gorilla trekking permit in Uganda (per person)
All national park and conservation area fees in Tanzania and Uganda
Accommodation throughout this trip as specified in the itinerary
All meals as indicated in the daily itinerary
Private 4×4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof for game viewing
Professional English-speaking safari guide/driver
All ground transportation during the safari
Domestic flight(s) where mentioned in the itinerary
Airport transfers in Tanzania and in Uganda
Game drives and wildlife viewing activities as described
Drinking water during game drives and transfers
Government taxes and VAT applicable to tourism services
Excluded:
International flights to/from East Africa
Visa fees for Tanzania and Uganda
Travel and medical insurance
Tips and gratuities for guides, drivers, and lodge staff
Personal expenses (laundry, telephone calls, souvenirs, etc.)
Alcoholic and premium beverages unless stated otherwise
Optional activities not mentioned in the itinerary
Porter fees during gorilla trekking (optional but recommended)
Any government tax or park fee increases beyond our control
Cross-Border Logistics
Crossing from Tanzania to Uganda involves complex flight routing and permit management. Lora Adventures handles the entire process:
- Flight Routing: We coordinate your international arrival at Kilimanjaro (JRO) and your regional jump to Entebbe.
- Permit Security: Gorilla and Chimpanzee permits are limited. We secure these months in advance to ensure your spot is guaranteed.
- Local Expertise: You will be met by our professional Lora guides in Tanzania and our trusted primate specialists in Uganda.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need two different visas?
Yes, but you can apply for the East Africa Tourist Visa, which covers Tanzania (under certain conditions), Kenya, and Uganda in one application. We provide full guidance on this process.
How difficult is the Gorilla Trek?
The trek can range from 2 to 6 hours depending on the movement of the gorillas. We recommend a moderate level of fitness. Porters are available to assist with bags and terrain.
When is the best time to book?
Because Gorilla permits are strictly limited, we recommend booking 6 to 10 months in advance, especially for peak seasons (June–September and December–February).
Do I need a visa for Tanzania?
Yes. Most travelers require a visa. We recommend applying for a Tanzania e-Visa online at least two weeks before arrival to ensure a smooth entry process.
How is the internet connectivity?
While luxury lodges and camps offer Wi-Fi, it can be intermittent in the heart of the bush. It is perfect for checking emails or sending photos, but we encourage guests to embrace the “unplugged” experience.
Why choose a locally owned company?
Beyond keeping the economic benefits within Tanzania, local ownership ensures you are guided by people with a lifelong, intimate connection to the land. We don’t just show you Tanzania; we share our home with you.
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