16 Days Luxury Gorilla Trekking and Wildebeest Calving Season Safari Tour (Late December, January, February and March)
This Luxury Gorilla Trekking and Wildebeest Calving Season Safari Tour is a Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania Safari Tour that involves Trekking with Gorillas, Gorilla Habituation, Mountain Hike and Safari experiences in East Africa’s best Wildlife habitats of Bwindi, Volcanoes National Park, Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. This Luxury Gorilla Trekking and Wildebeest Calving Season Safari Tour Package is recommended during the Months of Late December, January, February and March.
From Late December to March, the Ndutu region is typically the ideal location of the great migration and mid February is when the babies are born in the Serengeti Plains. The Ndutu region of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area grass plains are rich in nutritious grasses around this time providing the best conditions for the herds to raise their newborns. By mid-February, the calving season is in full swing with approximately 8,000 wildebeest being born daily for about three weeks. As a result, the area surrounding Lake Ndutu is the best spot for great migration viewing at this time of year and Mid February is the best time to visit Ndutu Region of Serengeti.
Wildebeest Calving Season Video Courtesy of BBC EARTH
While on this Luxury Gorilla Trekking and Wildebeest Calving Season Safari Tour, you will trek Gorillas in Rwanda (Normal Gorilla Trekking) and Uganda (Normal Gorilla Trekking and Habituation), Hike Mt.Bisoke and track with Golden Monkeys. You will also explore the Seronera Area and Ndutu Area in Serengeti, follow the great migration calving season and finally explore the Ngorongoro Crater. The Luxury Gorilla Trekking and Wildebeest Calving Season Safari begins in Tanzania and ends in Kigali-Rwanda through Uganda.
16 Days Gorilla Trekking and Wildebeest Calving Safari Tour Package Price Includes the Following:
Transportation by a 4 x 4 vehicle
Full Board Accommodation
Normal Gorilla Permits in Uganda @USD800 Per Person and Rwanda @1,500 Per Person & Habituation permit @1500 Per Person
Park fees
Concession fees
Mount Bisoke Hike
Golden Monkey Tracking
All activities as highlighted in the Itinerary
One Way Flight Ticket from Kilimanjaro to Seronera Airstrip
One Way Internal Domestic Flight Ticket from Kilimanjaro International Airport to Kigali International Airport
All Complimentaries as per the Policy of Lodges
16 Days Gorilla Trekking and Wildebeest Calving Safari Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport and Transfer to Your Hotel
On arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you will meet and greet with your driver from Engabi Tour and Travel who will welcome you to Tanzania and transfer you to your hotel in Arusha. He will also brief you about your upcoming safari activities
Accommodation Option: Arusha Coffee Lodge
Meal Plan: Bed and Breakfast
Day 2: Flight to Seronera Airstrip and Afternoon Game Drive
After breakfast, you will transfer to Arusha Airport to catch your onward small aircraft flight Seronera Airstrip in Serengeti Central arriving in time for check-in, lunch and later an afternoon Game Drive in the Seronera area which is home to predators and other animals all year around. After the Game drive, you will return to the lodge for Dinner and Overnight.
Accommodation Option: Lemala Ewanjan Camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 3: Full day Central Serengeti Plains
Today you will have a full day game drive in Central Serengeti with chances to see predators chasing their pray and enjoy their kill. Serengeti is undoubtedly the best-known wildlife sanctuary in the world, unequalled for its natural beauty and scientific value. You will have game drive in the endless plains of the Serengeti with a chance to see the great herds of wildebeest, zebras and gazelles or a pride of lions lounging in the shade.
Accommodation Option: Lemala Ewanjan Camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 4: Optional Morning Hot Air Balloon Safari Full Day Game Drive in Serengeti (Seronera and Ndutu Area)
Today you will wake up early at 6:00am and you will be transferred to Balloon Safari Starting point from where you will a Start to fly with it to explore the beauty of Serengeti National Park and view the wild animal up to 7:30 am. You will then take a bush breakfast until 9:30 am and continue with your full day game drive with your guide moving towards the Ndutu Area in Southern Serengeti. You will arrive in time for check-in to your lodge, lunch and later an afternoon game drive returning to the lodge in the evening for dinner and overnight.
Ndutu forms a part of the route for the annual migration of more than 2 million wildebeests and thousands of zebra, antelope and gazelle. During game drives at the right season between December and April, you will be able to see the fertile plains turn into calving grounds and nursery for the great migration. This season attracts hordes of predators prying on vulnerable young wildebeest. Crested with Ndutu lake and Lake Masek, these waterholes offer plenty of wildlife game during the dry season. The Ndutu is also the home ground for 6 species of big cats – leopard, lion, cheetah, caracal, serval and wildcat.
Accommodation at: Lemala Ndutu Tented Camp
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 5: Full Day Game Drive in Ndutu
Today you will get up early for breakfast and embark on the highly fulfilling morning game drive in the Ndutu area. You will witness the stunning African sunrise while most animals are active and then enjoy a full-day game drive in the southern Serengeti plains, increasing your chances of spotting herds of the great Wildebeest migration grazing. Be prepared to witness predator-prey interactions. After the game drives observing the wildebeest migration, return to the camp for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation Option: Lemala Ndutu Tented Camp
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner
Day 6: Another Full Day in Ndutu Area
Stunned by the previous days spotting of the migration, today you get another chance to view the beautiful wildlife spectacle. You may go out for a morning game drive and relax in the afternoon or you may choose to have another full day game in the Ndutu area.
The Ndutu region is a part of the glorious Serengeti National Park as well as the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA). Today you will be following the migration depending on its location in either NCA or Serengeti. This season attracts hordes of predators prying on vulnerable young wildebeest and watching the circle of life take its course will be an unforgettable experience etched for life. Dinner and Overnight at the lodge
Accommodation Option: Lemala Ndutu Tented Camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 7: Morning Game Drive in Serengeti and Afternoon to Transfer to Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Today after breakfast, you will head out for a morning game drive from where you will transfer to Ngorongoro Conservation Area arriving in time for lunch and later dinner and overnight.
Accommodation Option: Lemala Ngorongoro
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Travel Time: Approximately 2 Hours since the road is dirty and can only drive at 50kms/Hr
Day 8: Game Drive in the Crater and Transfer to Lake Manyara
After a very quick breakfast, you will make an early descent at around 6:30 AM into the crater floor for a game drive. This area is compared to Garden of Eden on earth. The big numbers of wildlife can be spotted in a day including all big five, the elephant, black rhino, buffalo, lion, leopard, cheetahs, and lots of hyenas, hippos, zebra and wildebeest being the most abundant. You will take a break for lunch and in the afternoon, you will continue game viewing in the south corner of the park where you visit Lake Magadi a place you can see flamingos, hippos and other water birds. Return for dinner and overnight
Accommodation Option: Lake Manyara Kilimamoja Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 9: Transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport for Flight to Kigali
On arrival at Kigali airport in Kanombe, you will be picked by your driver to begin your trip. He will transfer you to your hotel for dinner and overnight. He will brief you about your upcoming activities.
Accommodation at: Heaven Boutique Hotel Kigali
Meal plan: Bed and Breakfast
Day 10: Kigali City tour and Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
After breakfast, you will begin your city tour starting with a visit to Gisozi genocide memorial center. Here you will witness the graveyards of the genocide victims laid to rest. You will watch touching videos and pictures and listen to stories that narrate the horrifying genocide. Later you will visit the Caplaki crafts market to buy souvenirs and other local cultural items and from here you will have your lunch and then transfer to Volcanoes National Park arriving in time for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation at: Sambora Kinigi
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner
Travel Time: Approximately 3 Hours
Day 11: Gorilla Trekking and Iby’wachu Cultural Experience
Today after breakfast you will be transferred to the Park headquarters for briefing about the gorilla trekking rules. You will then enter the jungle to start the search for the Mountain Gorillas and on finding them you will Spend1 hour with them which will be a great experience for everyone. In the afternoon you will stay by the lodge relaxing or visit the Iby’wachu village for a cultural experience.
Accommodation at: Sambora Kinigi
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner
Day 12: Mount Bisoke Hike
Today after a very early breakfast, you will be transferred to the park headquarters ready with packed lunch and enough drinking water and in hiking gear. On arrival, you will be briefed by the park ranger guide then ascend to the mountain for your hike.
This will probably take 6 to 8 hours in total. With this activity you must be fit physically to conquer the beautiful hill as it gets muddy when it rains but very interesting to get to the top where the Crater Lake can be viewed from before descending back to the lodge.
Accommodation at: Sambora Kinigi
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner
Day 13: Golden Monkey Tracking and Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
After a very early breakfast, you will head to the park headquarters again for your golden monkey tracking. These are endangered type of monkey which is only found in this mountain range at high elevation within the Albertine rift region. They can easily be seen in large troop but on close view because of being habituated to human presence. The trekking takes 3 to 4 hours in total. when you return, you will have you lunch at your lodge and thereafter you will be transferred to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in the Rushaga Sector arriving in time for check-in and later dinner and overnight.
Accommodation at: Four Gorillas Lodge
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner
Travel Time: Approximately 3 Hours
Day 14: Bwindi Gorilla Habituation Experience
Today you will wake up very early (6:00am) and enjoy your breakfast after which you will be transferred to the park headquarters with packed lunch for briefing on the dos and don’ts of Gorilla habituation in Bwindi. You will then enter the jungle to meet the gorilla family that you will watch for four hours and during this time the rangers will tell you a lot about the group and thereafter you will head back to the park headquarters where you will meet your driver and transfer back to the lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation Options: Four Gorillas Lodge
Day 15: Gorilla Trekking (Normal)
Today you will get up so early in the morning for breakfast and thereafter your tour guide/driver will drive you to the Park head offices with your packed lunch. On reaching there by 7:30am you will be briefed about what to do and not to do while trekking after which you will be led by the ranger guides through the mist jungle. Trekking usually takes between to 8 hours or even a full day due to the location of gorillas. When you see them, it will be a great and fun time as you watch them and only 1 hour is permitted to watch them. Also ensure you carry enough water with you, hats, sun glasses, rain coats, and non-flash cameras.
Accommodation at: Four Gorillas Lodge
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner
Day 16: Transfer to Kigali International Airport
Today you will wake up at leisure and relax at the lodge until when it’s check-out time. You will slowly transfer to Kigali City arriving in time for lunch and later transfer to the Airport arriving in time for check in for your flight marking the end of the trip. You may choose to pass by the lake bunyonyi for lunch, relaxation and photography since you have so much time at hand before your flight time.
Accommodation at: N/A
Meal plan: Breakfast and Lunch
Travel Time: Approximately 4 Hours
End of Safari
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