Tips For Planning A Combined Tanzania Wildlife Safari And Gorilla Trekking Safari

Tips For Planning A Combined Tanzania Wildlife Safari And Gorilla Trekking Safari : The great wildebeest migration and the African Big Five are two of Tanzania\’s most well-known wildlife safari attractions. Tanzania is the ideal safari location for wildlife safaris since it has so many national parks that are excellent for wildlife viewing, including Tarangire, Ngorongoro, Serengeti, Arusha, and Lake Manyara. Due to the country\’s proximity to Rwanda and Uganda, two of the greatest safari destinations in Africa for chimpanzee and mountain gorilla tracking, it is simple to combine a wildlife safari in Tanzania with gorilla tracking in those two countries. A wildlife safari that includes viewing the Big Five and the great wildebeest migration, as well as gorilla trekking to see mountain gorillas, is the best safari experience ever.

Mountain gorilla encounters are an unforgettable experience since these charming monkeys live in the mountainous regions of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda and Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. An action-packed safari through some of Tanzania\’s renowned big game parks and a climb to view the mountain gorillas are the perfect ways to combine two great wildlife experiences into one trip to Tanzania. Here are 10 quick recommendations for organizing your Tanzania safari and gorilla trekking trip, covering everything from choosing your destinations to obtaining permits and the experience itself.

Choose your Tanzania safari destination

Choose the Tanzanian safari location or locations you want to visit first. Perhaps you wish to visit the famous national parks and wilderness areas of the Tanzania Northern safari Circuit, including Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, and Serengeti National Park. If you\’re returning to Tanzania for a safari, you might wish to venture off the main path via the Southern safari Circuit, which passes through the vast Selous Game Reserve, Ruaha National Park, and Udzungwa Mountains National Park.

Before you determine where you want to go on safari, consider the animal encounters you\’re desiring. Do you want to spot some of the less well-known species away from the crowds, or would you like to witness the Great Wildebeest Migration in action? Both Kilimanjaro International Airport (the entry point to the Northern Circuit) and Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam offer flights to Rwanda and Uganda.

Decide on your preferred gorilla trekking destination

It\’s time to consider your options for your Tanzania safari destinations and where you wish to travel for your gorilla trekking experience. The two national parks of Rwanda are both easily accessed, but the Volcanoes National Park in the country\’s capital, Kigali, is the closest and easiest to get to. Although it is feasible to arrange a domestic flight to a city close to Bwindi, such as Kihihi or Kisoro, and then proceed by car from there, Entebbe International Airport, which serves as Uganda\’s major entrance point, is about 10 hours away from Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Because the foliage is less dense and sights are easier to come by, Volcanoes National Park is often thought of as being a little easier when it comes to the hiking experience. However, there is a cost associated with it, with gorilla licenses currently costing substantially more in Rwanda than in Uganda.

 Determine your budget and accommodation options

There are various lodges close to both parks, so lodging options are plentiful. With a few high-end businesses recently emerging close to Volcanoes National Park, notably Singita Kwitonda, Rwanda has the advantage when it comes to luxurious lodges. In contrast, Uganda offers a few mid-range accommodations in addition to luxury lodges, so it can accommodate a wider range of spending levels. Be realistic when setting your vacation budget because trekking to see mountain gorillas in Rwanda and Uganda is not a cheap adventure.

Secure a Gorilla Trekking permit

It\’s critical to obtain your gorilla trekking permit as soon as you\’ve made your travel plans. If you make your reservations through a travel agency like Nature Addicts Safaris they\’ll do the legwork and assist you in securing your permission for the dates you\’ve chosen to travel. It\’s especially crucial that you complete your travel arrangements early if you wish to trek from June to October, when demand for permits is at its highest. Rwanda considerably reduces the cost of its permits provided you\’re ready to hike over the challenging terrain from November to May, when rainfall is at its lowest.

Fly or drive a safari?

Consider scheduling a domestic flight if you\’re traveling to Uganda and don\’t want to deal with the tiresome trip from Entebbe International Airport to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. For trekking to see mountain gorillas in Bwindi, there are four trailheads: Buhoma and Ruhija in the north, Rushaga and Nkuringo in the south. The Buhoma and Ruhija trailheads are closest to Kihihi Airport, while the Rushaga and Nkuringo trailheads are closest to Kisoro Airport.

Combine your gorilla trekking with other in-country activities

Explore some of Uganda or Rwanda\’s other attractions to make the most of your time there. As previously noted, you can combine a trip to Akagera or Nyungwe National Parks with your journey to see the mountain gorillas of Rwanda. Likewise, Uganda contains world-class wildlife reserves, such as Queen Elizabeth National Park, which can be accessed in as little as two hours from Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Additionally, it\’s a very well-liked spot for whitewater rafting, with exhilarating excursions starting in Jinja along the Blue Nile\’s waters.

 Get into good trekking fitness

You might just need to hike for an hour to view mountain gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda because they are wild animals and are free to wander wherever they wish. Or you might spend four or five hours hiking. Trackers leave early every morning to check on the gorillas\’ location and radio it to the guides. They will next give you a briefing on the conditions, which will include hiking at altitude as well as how long you can anticipate hiking for. You must be in good health and prepared to bear the demands that will be placed on your body because of this.

Carry plenty of water or snacks

You should also make sure you have enough water and snacks with you to fuel your journey and keep you hydrated. Carry adequate supplies for a full day\’s hike even if the gorillas are nearby, just in case. Take the advice of your guides and pay attention to your body. You are the only one who truly understands how much water you need to drink and how much energy you need.

Respect the mountain gorillas’ space

Once you get close to the gorillas, you get an hour to spend with them, but you have to keep a five-meter distance from them at all times. This prevents injuries from occurring even if silverbacks are accustomed to humans and aren\’t violent. Your guides will give you a briefing on the regulations and any etiquette that should be followed. They may also show you how to make a low grunting noise that will reassure the gorillas. The gorillas may occasionally come close to you (they don\’t always abide by the five-meter guideline!), but you should just follow the advice of your professional guides, who will know how to handle the situation.

Document your experience

It\’s a remarkable experience to be in the presence of wild mountain gorillas, and you\’ll want to capture it on camera. To avoid disturbing the gorillas, it\’s crucial that you avoid using flashlight and, if at all possible, make use of your camera\’s \”silent\” mode. Regardless of how badly you want to catch \”that shot,\” you should always keep a safe distance from the gorillas and be considerate of the fact that other trekkers may also be trying to capture the moment. Don\’t forget to put your camera aside for a little while and just enjoy the experience through your own eyes since you only have an hour to spend with these amazing creatures.

“Want to arrange a personalized gorilla hike and safari in Tanzania? To get assistance planning your vacation, get in touch with one of our safari experts right away. Our Tanzania wildlife safari and gorilla trekking include lodging in opulent lodges and camps, food, ground transportation, and help obtaining all required permits”