Combining Gorilla Trekking With Serengeti Safari
Combining gorilla trekking and Serengeti Safari is one of the most popular approaches to any safari to Africa, especially Eastern Africa. Doing this is always for a good reason. Spending time trekking and getting up close with the Giant Apes in their natural habitat is undeniably the perfect way to wake up your adventurous spirit. Yet the early mornings and invigorating walks through the jungles are best complemented by a few days of exploring the sprawling savannahs for a chance to see the Big Five Game and other wildlife species in one of Africa’s magnificent destinations.
But how to choose the best gorilla trekking locations? It should be noted that there are three incredible national parks to get up close and personal with the Giant Apes in their natural habitat. These include: Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda.
Combining Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park with a Serengeti Safari
Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda’s premier gorilla trekking safari destination, offers one of the best gorilla safari experiences on the Continent. This is especially when it comes to shorter driving distance from Kigali to the Protected Area. And a chance to trek easier and more moderate gorilla families. With over 12 habituated gorilla families, a total of 96 gorilla permits are issued each day by the Rwanda Development Board. Each permit costs USD 1500 per person as of 2025.
Offering some of the best safari experiences on the Continent, especially when it comes to seeing the Big Five Game and witnessing the Great Wildebeest Migration. This is Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park is just a short flight away, offering a perfect wildlife safari experience.
Here, visitors can choose between game drives through any of the wildlife-filled game tracks, witnessing the Great Annual Migration that involves millions of wildebeests accompanied by zebras and gazelles moving from Serengeti to Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya, guided walking safaris on foot with armed Ranger guides, hot air balloon tours, or visiting traditional Masai villages to learn about their ancient pastoralist lifestyle and culture.
When it comes to flights from Serengeti National Park to Kigali International Airport or vice versa, you can book direct flights by Auric Air that operate daily.
Combining Gorilla Trekking in Uganda (Bwindi or Mgahinga) with Serengeti Safari
Uganda is another phenomenal gorilla trekking destination in Africa, home to two National Parks where you can get up close and personal with these Primates in their natural habitat.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park offers many wild opportunities to experience the jungle and mountain gorillas, from standard gorilla treks that guarantee one hour with fully-habituated mountain gorillas or the Gorilla Habituation Experience, with a chance to spend four hours with semi-habituated mountain gorillas.
With over 25 habituated gorilla families in Bwindi alone, there are over 200 gorilla permits issued each day by Uganda Wildlife Authority. These permits provide an opportunity to visit any of the four gorilla trekking sectors- Buhoma, Rushaga, Ruhija, and Nkuringo, and if you are looking to visit Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, be aware that only 8 gorilla permits are issued each day for the only habituated gorilla family.
For regional- Entebbe to Serengeti flights, they are provided by Auric Air, three times a week (Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays).
How much time do you need to combine Gorilla Trekking with the Serengeti Safari?
We think that the longer your trip, the better! It is best to spend at least 8 nights on the safari, divided between Serengeti and the gorilla trekking destination (be it Uganda or Rwanda).
There’s plenty to do in Serengeti National Park; it is certainly not just a National Park that can be seen in a day or two. Ticking your wish list through game drives, witnessing the Great Annual Migration, and getting up close and personal with Mother Nature through guided walking safaris. You will also need to add exploring the traditional Masai villages to learn about their ancient pastoralist lifestyle and culture.
Enjoy the Big game
Serengeti National Park is famous for the Big Five Game and the Great Annual Migration. It is the sheer unpredictability that makes a Serengeti safari great, you never know what you are going to find, and it is not guaranteed that you will have any sightings on any particular day. Which is why it is advisable to have plenty of time in the Protected Area. The more time you have, the better your chances of seeing the wildlife you have your heart set on.
For instance, lions or leopards might only hunt every three days or so. If you want to see them getting ready to hunt (instead of just lazing around, snoozing in the shade), your chances are much better if you are on your Serengeti safari for at least three to four days. While three days is great, four days is the perfect amount of time to spend in Serengeti National Park, as it gives you more time to really take in all the sights.
For gorilla trekking safaris, you can choose to spend between two and three nights in the Park, depending on whether you wish to do a single or double gorilla trek. For single gorilla treks, you can spend two nights (first night you transfer to the Park, then second night after your gorilla trek), and for double gorilla treks, opt for three nights (first night you transfer to the Park, second night after your first gorilla trek, and third night after your second gorilla trek).
Should you do gorilla trekking or the Serengeti safari first?
There is no wrong or right answer, as you can choose whichever direction works best with your logistics.
Rwanda has a World-class International Airport in Kigali that welcomes direct International flights from a variety of African, Asian, and European countries. If you fly directly into Kigali International Airport, it makes sense to start your Trip there in a great Hotel, then drive (3 hours) or fly (30 minutes) to Volcanoes National Park.
Uganda has Entebbe International Airport as the gateway into the Pearl of Africa. For the Gorilla trekking destinations, Bwindi and Mgahinga are about an 8-9 hours’ drive from Entebbe, then 1 hour’s flight to nearby Airstrips, followed by a two-hour drive to the respective Parks.
On the other hand, if you jet into Kilimanjaro International Airport (where mostly regional flights and a few long-haul flights land), you will likely want to begin your trip with a Serengeti safari. If you land in the afternoon or evening, you would likely overnight in Arusha or Moshi City and leave for Serengeti National Park first thing the next morning to arrive in time for brunch, lunch, and an afternoon game drive.
There are plenty of opportunities in both locations (gorilla trekking areas and Serengeti), but if you have a choice, we recommend starting with gorilla trekking and heading to Serengeti National Park to top off your safari experience. Gorilla trekking adventures are thrilling but tiring experiences, and it is wonderful to follow your adventure with some time relaxing on a safari or poolside, or enjoying some of the wilderness scenery.
When is the best time to go?
Overall, peak seasons if from about June to September- dry season. The reduced rains over the Serengeti National Park thin out the grass radically, and animals don’t stray far from the few remaining water sources, hence making wildlife sightings more interesting. For a top-notch Serengeti safari experience, this is when to go for your trip.
At the same time, gorilla trekking destinations are usually going through the dry season with gloriously sunny days. This makes it wonderful for these adventures.
