Tanzania Safari and Gorilla Trekking Combo | Best East Africa Adventure Tours (Luxury & Budget)
Tanzania Safari and Gorilla Trekking Combo | The Ultimate East Africa Adventure
Imagine watching the Great Migration thunder across the Serengeti plains, and just days later, standing face-to-face with a majestic silverback gorilla deep in the misty rainforest of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Volcanoes National Park. This once-in-a-lifetime combination of Tanzania safari and gorilla trekking is the pinnacle of East African adventures offering wildlife lovers the rare chance to explore two of Africa’s most iconic experiences in one seamless journey.
Whether you’re captivated by the Big Five on Tanzania’s endless savannahs or the intimate thrill of tracking endangered mountain gorillas in the dense forests of Uganda or Rwanda, this combo is designed for adventurers, photographers, honeymooners, and families alike.
At Nextgen Safaris, we specialize in curating tailor-made Tanzania and Gorilla Trekking tours, blending luxury, comfort, and raw wilderness. Our packages cater to all travel styles from affordable group safaris to high-end private expeditions.
In this guide, you’ll find:
- What makes a Tanzania safari and gorilla trekking combination so special
- Differences between gorilla trekking in Uganda vs Rwanda
- Gorilla permit prices and logistical insights
- Sample itineraries combining Tanzania wildlife safaris with Bwindi Impenetrable Forest or Volcanoes National Park
- Travel tips, visa info, and best times to go
Get ready to embark on the ultimate East African journey that gives you the best of both worlds from the open savannah to the shadowy jungle.
Tanzania safari and gorilla trekking Combo Itineraries
Planning the perfect Tanzania safari and gorilla trekking adventure is all about balance between wildlife intensity, cultural immersion and scenic relaxation. Below are expertly crafted sample itineraries that combine the best of Tanzania’s iconic parks with unforgettable gorilla trekking in Uganda or Rwanda. Whether you’re a luxury traveler or a budget-conscious explorer, there’s a combo for you.
8 Days Tanzania Safari and Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda (Luxury)
Trip Highlights:
- 3 Days Tanzania Safari in Ngorongoro & Serengeti: Begin your journey with thrilling game drives across the Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti National Park. Witness the Big 5 and—if timing is right—the world-famous Great Migration.
- 2 Days in Rwanda: Fly to Kigali and transfer to Volcanoes National Park for a once-in-a-lifetime mountain gorilla trekking experience.
- 3 Days Add-on: End with luxury relaxation on the beaches of Zanzibar or a scenic hike around Mount Kilimanjaro.
Perfect for: High-end travelers seeking a seamless combination of Tanzania wildlife safaris and Rwanda gorilla trekking with time to unwind in paradise.
10 Days Tanzania and Uganda Gorilla Trekking Safari (Budget, Mid-range to Luxury)
Trip Highlights:
- 4 Days Tanzania Northern Circuit: Explore Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, and the Serengeti National Park on a classic overland safari. Stay in comfortable mid-range camps with excellent wildlife access.
- Fly to Entebbe or Drive from Kigali: Connect easily to southwestern Uganda for the gorilla experience.
- 3 Days Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi: Track mountain gorillas in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Stay in eco-friendly budget lodges close to the trekking trailheads.
- Optional 3-Day Add-on: Visit Queen Elizabeth National Park for tree-climbing lions or relax by Lake Bunyonyi’s peaceful shores.
Perfect for: Travelers seeking an affordable Tanzania safari and gorilla trekking tour that still packs serious wildlife and cultural punch.
12 Days East Africa Safari with Gorilla Trekking
Trip Highlights:
- Masai Mara (Kenya) → Serengeti & Ngorongoro (Tanzania) → Volcanoes National Park or Bwindi Impenetrable National Park(Rwanda/Uganda): Begin with the Great Migration in Kenya, cross into Tanzania for breathtaking landscapes and Big 5 sightings, then head to the Virunga or Bwindi mountains for gorilla trekking.
- Multi-country Experience: Enjoy a true East African adventure across borders with seamless logistics and expert guides.
Perfect for: Adventure seekers, wildlife photographers, and anyone looking to fully immerse in East Africa’s best safari and primate experiences in one grand journey.
These combo tours are just starting points. Nextgen Safaris customizes every itinerary to match your style, budget, and travel pace ensuring your Tanzania safari and gorilla trekking combo is as magical as it sounds.
Contact us today to tailor your dream East Africa safari!
Why Combine a Tanzania Safari and Gorilla Trekking Experience?
When planning a once-in-a-lifetime African adventure, nothing compares to combining a Tanzania safari and gorilla trekking experience. These two experiences showcase the absolute best of East Africa: Tanzania’s vast savannahs teeming with iconic wildlife and Uganda or Rwanda’s lush mountain jungles where endangered mountain gorillas live.
Here is why this combination is unmatched:
- Wildlife Diversity: A Tanzania safari offers sightings of the Big Five; lion, leopard, rhino, elephant, and buffalo alongside wildebeest herds during the Great Migration. Pair this with gorilla trekking and you will encounter one of the rarest animals on earth, the mountain gorilla, in its natural forest habitat.
- Contrasting Landscapes: The golden plains of Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater sharply contrast with the misty forests of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Volcanoes National Park, giving you a full spectrum of East Africa’s beauty.
- Efficient Itineraries: With smart planning, you can easily connect from a Tanzania safari to gorilla trekking in Uganda or Rwanda via short regional flights; Kilimanjaro or Arusha to Kigali or Entebbe.
- Bucket List Adventure: Both experiences, tracking gorillas and witnessing the Great Migration are bucket-list highlights for nature and wildlife lovers. Together, they create a safari that’s impossible to forget.
Whether you are a wildlife photographer, an adventurous honeymooner or a luxury traveler craving the wild with comfort, this Tanzania safari and gorilla trekking combo is curated just for you.
Where to Go Gorilla Trekking in Uganda vs Rwanda
When planning your Tanzania Safari and Gorilla Trekking combo, choosing the right gorilla trekking destination is key. Both Uganda and Rwanda offer unforgettable encounters with endangered mountain gorillas, but they differ significantly in terms of cost, experience, accessibility, and comfort.
Uganda Gorilla Trekking
Uganda is often considered the best destination for adventurous and budget-conscious travelers. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park offers a raw, immersive jungle experience with a wider choice of trekking regions.
- Location: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
- Permit Cost: $800 per person (2025/2026 rate)
- Accommodation: A range of options from budget hostels to boutique eco-lodges
- Accessibility: Road transfer (8–10 hours) from Entebbe, or faster fly-in options to Kihihi or Kisoro airstrips. Alternatively, access from Kigali, Rwanda is just 4–5 hours by road.
- Trekking Advantage: Uganda offers four trekking sectors (Buhoma, Rushaga, Nkuringo, Ruhija), each with multiple habituated gorilla families. This increases your chances of securing a Gorilla permit and getting a varied jungle route.
Rwanda Gorilla Trekking
Rwanda is ideal for travelers who prioritize comfort, luxury, and minimal travel time. Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park is known for its scenic beauty, well-organized treks, and high-end lodges, making it a premium choice for those combining it with a Tanzania safari.
- Location: Volcanoes National Park
- Permit Cost: $1,500 per person
- Accommodation: High-end lodges like One&Only Gorilla’s Nest, Bisate Lodge, and Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge
- Accessibility: Just a 2.5-hour drive from Kigali International Airport
- Trekking Advantage: Shorter hikes due to less dense forest; suitable for travelers seeking a less physically demanding trek
Uganda vs Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Comparison
| Feature | Uganda | Rwanda |
|---|---|---|
| Gorilla Trekking Location | Bwindi Impenetrable Forest / Mgahinga | Volcanoes National Park |
| Permit Cost | $800 | $1,500 |
| Accommodation Options | Budget, Mid-range, Boutique Lodges | Luxury Lodges Only |
| Travel Time from Major Airports | 8–10 hrs from Entebbe / 4–5 hrs from Kigali / 1-hr flight | 2.5 hrs from Kigali |
| Trekking Difficulty | Moderate to challenging hikes | Easier hikes |
| Trekking Sectors | 4 sectors, over 20 habituated gorilla families | 1 park, fewer gorilla families |
| Best for | Budget travelers, adventurers, multi-day treks | Luxury travelers, short safaris, VIP experiences |
| Gorilla Viewing Time | 1 hour with gorillas | 1 hour with gorillas |
| Recommended Combo | Great for pairing with Tanzania safaris via Kigali or Entebbe | Ideal for short add-on to Tanzania luxury safaris |
Which Destination Should You Choose for Your Tanzania Safari and Gorilla Trekking Adventure?
- Choose Uganda if you want a more affordable, immersive, and adventurous gorilla trek with the flexibility of accessing via Kigali or Entebbe, and you’re okay with longer travel times.
- Choose Rwanda if you’re short on time, prefer luxury travel, and want to minimize physical effort while still experiencing an unforgettable gorilla encounter.
Both countries complement a Tanzania Safari and Gorilla Trekking itinerary perfectly, offering you Africa’s most thrilling wildlife double act: the Great Migration in Serengeti National Park and face-to-face moments with gorillas in the mist.
Top Tanzania Safari Destinations to Combine with Gorilla Trekking
When planning the perfect Tanzania Safari and Gorilla Trekking combo, choosing the right safari destinations is key. Tanzania offers some of the most iconic wildlife experiences in Africa, and combining these with gorilla trekking in Uganda or Rwanda creates a truly unforgettable East African journey.
Here are the top Tanzania safari parks to include in your itinerary:
Serengeti National Park – The Heart of the Great Migration
No Tanzania safari is complete without visiting the Serengeti, home to the awe-inspiring Great Migration. Over 1.5 million wildebeest and hundreds of thousands of zebras thunder across the plains in search of fresh pasture, creating one of the world’s most dramatic wildlife spectacles.
- Best Time to Visit: June to October (river crossings), December to March (calving season)
- Wildlife Highlights: Wildebeest migration, Big 5, cheetahs, crocodile-filled river crossings
- Safari Style: Game drives, mobile tented camps, luxury lodges
Pairing the Serengeti with a gorilla trekking safari gives you the rare chance to witness both plains wildlife and elusive primates in one trip.
Ngorongoro Crater – The Eden of Africa
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to one of the most concentrated wildlife areas on earth.
- Key Features: Ancient volcanic caldera, year-round game viewing
- Wildlife Highlights: Big Five (including rare black rhinos), flamingos, hyenas
- Proximity: Easily combined with Serengeti and Lake Manyara routes
After descending into the Ngorongoro Crater for epic game drives, you can fly to Uganda or Rwanda for gorilla trekking in Bwindi or Volcanoes National Park, rounding out your adventure with a rare primate encounter.
Tarangire & Lake Manyara – Underrated Gems for Elephant and Scenic Safaris
If you’re looking to escape the crowds and experience unique landscapes, consider Tarangire National Park and Lake Manyara National Park:
- Tarangire: Known for giant elephant herds, ancient baobab trees, and seasonal riverbeds teeming with wildlife.
- Lake Manyara: Famous for tree-climbing lions, birdlife, and lush groundwater forests.
These parks offer excellent pre- or post-Serengeti safari extensions and can easily be worked into a Tanzania and Gorilla Trekking combo trip.
Custom Itineraries from Tanzania to Gorilla Trekking
At Nextgen Safaris, we specialize in crafting seamless multi-country itineraries. Whether you’re starting with a Tanzania safari and flying to Uganda or Rwanda for gorilla trekking, or doing it in reverse, we handle every detail.
Want to combine the Great Migration with a face-to-face moment with mountain gorillas? Let’s make your dream Tanzania Safari and Gorilla Trekking experience a reality.
Contact us now for a custom quote or browse our suggested combo itineraries.
What’s Included in Our Combo Tours
When you book one of our East Africa Gorilla and Safari Combo Tours, everything is thoughtfully arranged to ensure a seamless, worry-free, and unforgettable journey. Our packages are all-inclusive and designed for value, comfort, and maximum wildlife exposure.
Here’s what’s covered in your tour:
Gorilla Trekking Inclusions:
- Gorilla Permits for Uganda (Bwindi/Mgahinga) or Rwanda (Volcanoes National Park) – included in the price
- All necessary trekking fees and park entrance costs
- Pre-trek briefing and ranger support for a safe and informative trek
Safari Inclusions:
- National Park Fees for Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, or any Northern Circuit park in Tanzania
- Expert Local Driver-Guides with extensive knowledge of wildlife and culture
- Private 4×4 Safari Land Cruisers or Safari Vans, with pop-up roofs and air-conditioning for game drives and scenic transfers
Accommodation:
- All Lodging and Accommodation, from handpicked budget lodges to luxury tented camps based on your preference
- Comfortable, clean, and safe stays in wildlife-rich locations
Flights & Ground Transfers:
- All regional/local flights between countries (e.g., Arusha to Kigali, Entebbe to Serengeti, etc.)
- Private airport pickups and inter-country border transfers (e.g., Kigali–Bwindi or Entebbe–Bwindi)
- Air-conditioned transfers for all tour activities and border crossings
Taxes & Charges:
- All Government Taxes and VAT are fully included
- No hidden costs — transparent pricing for peace of mind
Cross-Border & Logistical Support:
- Expert handling of border crossings: Rwanda–Uganda, Tanzania–Rwanda or Kenya–Uganda
- 24/7 customer support before and during your safari
- Assistance with visa advice, East Africa Tourist Visa, and documentation
Travel Tips & FAQs for Gorilla and Safari Combo Tours
Planning a multi-country East Africa adventure can be thrilling but it comes with a few logistics to consider. Below are the most common questions and essential travel tips for combining gorilla trekking with Tanzania or Kenya safaris.
Do I Need Multiple Visas?
Yes, travelers visiting more than one East African country will need visas for each. For example, if you are entering Tanzania and Rwanda, you will need two separate visas. However, if you are visiting Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya, the East Africa Tourist Visa is a smart, cost-effective option.
What is the East Africa Tourist Visa?
The East Africa Tourist Visa allows multiple entries across Uganda, Rwanda, and Kenya for up to 90 days. Apply through the country you’ll be entering first. Note: It doesn’t cover Tanzania, you will still need a separate visa for that.
Best Time for Safari and Gorilla Trekking?
- Dry Seasons (June–October & December–February) are ideal for wildlife safaris and gorilla trekking.
- Serengeti’s Great Migration peaks from June to August.
- Gorilla trekking is available year-round, but trails are drier and less slippery in the dry season.
What Should I Pack?
- Lightweight, breathable clothes in neutral colors (avoid bright or dark colors)
- Long-sleeved shirts and trousers for trekking and mosquito protection
- Good quality hiking boots
- Rain jacket or poncho (especially for gorilla treks)
- Sunscreen, insect repellent, and a reusable water bottle
- Power bank, travel adapters, and binoculars
How Fit Do I Need to Be for Gorilla Trekking?
Moderate fitness is recommended. Treks can last 1 to 6 hours, depending on the location of the gorilla family. Some sectors like Nkuringo and Ruhija are steeper than others. Regular walkers, hikers, or those who cycle will do just fine.
Do I Need a Yellow Fever Vaccine?
Yes. A Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is required for entry into Uganda, Rwanda, and sometimes Tanzania, especially if you’re arriving from or transiting through a country with risk of Yellow Fever transmission. Get vaccinated at least 10 days before travel.
Book Your Tanzania Safari and Gorilla Trekking Combo Today
Ready to combine the legendary Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater with a once-in-a-lifetime gorilla trekking adventure in Rwanda or Uganda?
Whether you’re planning a luxury escape, mid-range expedition, or private family tour – our experts are ready to tailor your dream trip across East Africa.
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