Tips for Planning a Combined Wildlife Safari in Kenya with Gorilla Trekking in Uganda or Rwanda
A combined Kenya Safari and gorilla trekking tour in Uganda or Rwanda presents a thrilling adventure for nature enthusiasts. While Uganda and Rwanda are famous for mountain gorilla encounters, a wildlife safari in Kenya offers its own unique allure. Imagine traversing lush forests to encounter majestic gorillas and then transitioning to the savanna plains where lions reign supreme.
The combination of an African safari in Kenya and Gorilla trekking in Uganda or Rwanda offers a diverse and captivating vacation experience and is one that you don’t want to miss as it brings you face to face with the big 5 animals and the majestic gorillas in just one single trip. However, many travelers, find it so challenging to plan a combined Kenya Safari and gorilla trekking vacation beginning with deciding on which destinations to visit, how to secure permits & activities and the experience itself, here are our quick guidelines and tips to planning your next combined Kenya safari and Gorilla Trekking in Uganda or Rwanda vacation.
How Can I Combine Gorilla Trekking in Uganda or Rwanda with a Wildlife Safari in Kenya?
You can combine gorilla trekking in Uganda or Rwanda with an African Safari in Kenya by either flying direct into Kigali Rwanda or Entebbe Uganda stay for 3 or 4 nights and then fly to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for the safari activities in the Kenyan National parks & game reserves later flying out back home from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
Alternatively, you can fly direct into Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, do the safari game drives in the parks & game reserves and then fly into Kigali or Entebbe for the Gorilla Trekking excursion later flying out of Kigali or Entebbe International Airports. Note that one can arrive in Kigali and trek the gorillas in Uganda on a 4Hrs drive from Kigali to Bwindi avoiding the long drive hours(10Hrs) from Entebbe to Bwindi. There is also an option of flying direct from any location in Masai mara into Kigali or Entebbe using a small Aircraft.
Should I Do Gorilla Trekking Before or After a Kenya Safari?
Gorilla Trekking in Uganda or Rwanda combined with a Kenya Safari gives you an ultimate African Safari experience as you get to encounter the Big Five Animals and the endangered Mountain gorillas in their natural habitats. However, you might find it hard to decide which one of the two wildlife experiences you should start with while on your vacation trip because you might be worried that doing Gorilla Trekking first might get you injured or sick which might compromise your primary activity the safari or you might have fears that doing the Kenya Safari first will make you exhausted by the time you finish it and you may not be able to appreciate the Gorilla Trekking experience.
From experience, we think it does not matter whether you do a gorilla trek at the start or at the end of a safari and you can combine Gorilla Trekking in Uganda or Rwanda with a Kenya Safari by starting with any of the two experiences depending on the best flight connections available. Unlike what some travelers think, we do not find a safari such a tiring experience as you are mostly seated in 4X4 safari Jeeps with frequent breaks & early bedtime as lodges/camps settle down in the early evenings and Gorilla Trekking is not such a high risk activity where you should expect to get injured or sick since there are guidelines to follow while meeting the apes and you are always in the company armed rangers who help to create path in the case of very thick jungles.
On the other hand, you should note that gorilla trekking and safari are very different experiences as gorilla treks involve hiking up and down the hills through thick jungles lasting over 2 to 8 hours until you meet the gorillas while Safari game drives involve viewing of the animals while in the comfort of a Safari Land Cruiser/Jeep/Van with a pop-up roof.
What is the Best time to do a Combined Kenya Safari and Gorilla Trekking Trip?
Tailored trips that combine a Kenya Safari with Gorilla Trekking in Uganda or Rwanda are organized throughout the year as all the three countries enjoy a pleasant climate with average temperatures of 25°C and cool nights most of the times. The rainiest Months in Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya are March, April and May with shorter rains in October and November. Therefore, choosing the best time to do a combined Kenya Safari and Gorilla Trekking trip depends entirely on what you want to see or experience on your Kenya safari before or after gorilla trekking in Uganda or Rwanda.
If you interest on the Kenya part of the safari vacation is just seeing wildlife especially the big five animals after or before gorilla trekking, the best time to combine a Kenya safari and gorilla trekking is throughout the year since Masai Mara and other Kenya National parks have enormous resident animals including predators that can be seen all year around. Travelers should however note that the Months of March, April and May are the rainiest seasons with some roads becoming slippery and impassable. On a positive note though, it is also during the rainy Months of March and April & May that tourists can enjoy discounted accommodation rates in most luxury lodges and camps in Kenya’s parks.
If you are interested in encountering the wildebeest Migration, the best time to do a combined Gorilla Trekking and Kenya Safari is during the Months of August, September since this is the time the survivors herd begins to cross into Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve. The herd breaks into smaller groups- almost half of the animals remain in the northern Serengeti, the rest of the wildebeest will have crossed the Mara River, and the majority of the herds will be in the Greater Masai Mara area, eating the lush green grass resources before venturing north towards the private conservancies (Mara North, Olare Orok). This is usually the most preferred moments of the migration, watching the frantic herds of the wildebeests crossing the Mara River.
What Else Can I Add on A Combined Kenya Safari and Gorilla Trekking Trip?
After or before a Kenya Safari and Gorilla Trekking tour, you may decide to do chimpanzee trekking in Uganda or Rwanda, do a big safari in Uganda or Rwanda, do Golden Monkey tracking, cultural experiences or even a boat excursion on Lake Bunyonyi or in Akagera National Park. You may also decide to stay by the beaches of Mombasa or Zanzibar and you may actually also add a safari in Tanzania’s Northern Circuit parks of Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara National Park and Tarangire National Park or hike Kilimanjaro Mountain.
Is It Possible to Do a Road Trip from Tanzania to Rwanda or Uganda and Vice Versa?
Yes, it is possible to do a road trip between Kenya and Uganda through Busia border however to access Rwanda Kenya you have to go through Uganda or fly-in. Please note that the journey from Nairobi to Kampala is a long one at 12 hours though these can be broken down by stopping over in major towns of Nakuru & Kisumu (Kenya) and Jinja (Uganda).
Where is Gorilla Trekking done in Uganda and Rwanda ?
In Rwanda, Gorilla Trekking is done at Volcanoes National Park which is located in the far northwest of Rwanda and home to the endangered mountain gorillas in the rich montane vegetation of bamboo forests and open grasslands while in Uganda Gorilla Trekking is done in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park in South Western Uganda 10 Hours from Kampala and 4 Hours from Kigali Rwanda and the trekking can be done all year around though the dry Months of June, July, August and September all through to October.
Unlike Safari activities fees which can be booked or paid on spot, Gorilla Permits to see gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda have to be booked/purchased at least 2 years in advance. Gorilla Permits in Rwanda cost 1500$ for Foreign non-resident, 500$ for the foreign resident and 200$ for the East African Citizen While in Uganda Gorilla Permits cost 800$ for Foreign non-resident, 700$ for the foreign resident and 300,000UGX for the East African Citizen.
Is it Possible to do Double Gorilla Trekking in Both Uganda and Rwanda in a single trip before or after a Kenya Safari Experience?
Yes, it is possible for you to do Gorilla Trekking in both Uganda and Rwanda in single trip before or after a Kenya Safari experience. You can do this by either flying direct into Kigali International Airport before or after a Kenya safari experience, stay on tour for a minimum of 4-6 Days doing gorilla trekking in Bwindi and Volcanoes National Parks and then fly out from Kigali International Airport via Katuna and Chanika border.
Alternatively, you can fly direct into Entebbe International Airport before or after a Kenya safari experience, first do Uganda adventure activities like Chimpanzee trekking and game park safaris and then finalize with gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda later flying out of Kigali International Airport. Read More about Double Gorilla Trekking in Uganda and Rwanda.
Why book your Gorilla Trekking and Kenya Safari Tour with Engabi Tours and Travel?
Engabi Tours and Travel is an experienced local East African Tour Operator with intimate local knowledge about Gorilla trekking and game park safaris in Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania. We are also highly rated and recommended on TripAdvisor.
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