Gorillas and Tanzania 11 Days

Day 1: Arrival Entebbe International Airport

Welcome to the Pearl of Africa! Arrival at Entebbe Airport where you will be welcomed and transferred to your hotel.

O/n The Boma (D)

Day 2: Flight to Bwindi Forest

After an early breakfast transfer to Entebbe International Airport for a domestic flight to Western Uganda, departing at 07.00 or 07.45 hr. From Kihihi Airstrip (expected arrival at 08.45 / 09.30 hr) you will be transferred by road in about one hour to the home of the endangered mountain gorillas.

Check in at the lodge and enjoy a delicious lunch. In the afternoon you will have the opportunity to relax and prepare yourself for the next day. Or go for an optional (guided) forest walk for a first introduction with Uganda’s unique flora and fauna.

O/n Mahogany Springs (B, L, D)

Day 3: Gorilla Trekking

Arise early today and prepare for the highlight of your safari, an unforgettable encounter with the Gentle Giants!

Following breakfast, transfer to the national park offices where you will be allocated a gorilla family in groups of 8 as well as a gorilla tracking guide. After a pre-tracking briefing by your guide touching on the gorillas generally, your assigned gorilla family as well as appropriate safety precautions, you drive to the trailhead for the start of a thrilling adventure. Expect to walk between 2 and 8 hours in steep and sometimes muddy conditions with rain overhead, which can be tough and require a degree of (average) fitness. However the thrill of coming face to face with a giant Mountain Gorilla silverback completely makes up for the effort!

Upon sighting the gorillas, you spend the allowed one hour with them as they go about their daily life; feeding, moving, playing, raising their young and sometimes wrestling by the juveniles – it is a totally unique and unforgettable experience!

O/n Mahogany Springs (B, L, D)

Day 4: Gorilla Trekking

Just like yesterday, arise early today and prepare for the highlight of your safari, an unforgettable encounter with the Gentle Giants!

After breakfast, transfer to the national park offices where you will be allocated to another gorilla family in groups of 8 as well as a gorilla tracking guide. After a pre-tracking briefing by your guide touching on the gorillas generally, your assigned gorilla family as well as appropriate safety precautions, you drive to the trailhead for the start of a thrilling adventure. Expect to walk between 2 and 8 hours in steep and sometimes muddy conditions with rain overhead, which can be tough and require a degree of (average) fitness. However the thrill of coming face to face with a giant Mountain Gorilla silverback completely makes up for the effort!

Upon sighting the gorillas, you spend the allowed one hour with them as they go about their daily life; feeding, moving, playing, raising their young and sometimes wrestling by the juveniles – it is a totally unique and unforgettable experience!

O/n Mahogany Springs (B, L, D)

Day 5: Depart Uganda and Arrive Tanzania

Today we will depart the impenetrable forest of Bwindi and head back to Entebbe with the morning or afternoon flight. At Entebbe International Airport connect to your international flight. We recommend you book your own flight from Entebbe to Kilimanjaro Airport as part of your international ticket.

Arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport where you will be collected and transfer to Ahadi Lodge located just outside Arusha town.

O/n Ahadi Lodge (B, L, D)

Day 6: Arusha to Lake Manyara National Park

Depart from Arusha in the morning and begin the drive through a changing landscape towards Lake Manyara National Park for game drives of this very diverse park. If you are lucky you may see the famous tree climbing lions. Picnic lunch in the bush followed by game drives until mid-afternoon – then slowly make your way out of the park and return to the camp.

O/n Isoitok Camp Manyara (B, L, D)

Day 7: Manyara to Serengeti National Park

Morning wake-up call with bird chorus. After breakfast you head via the Ngorongoro Conservation Area to the endless plains of Serengeti. Game drive en-route to central Serengeti – explore the many different areas of the park, your driver guide will advice on the best places to visit.

O/n Kisura Serengeti Camp (B, L, D)

Day 8: Serengeti National Park

Optional: Early morning head out for a Balloon flight. View the Serengeti plains from a hot air balloon

followed by champagne breakfast on the landing site.

A full day of game drives in Serengeti National Park. Head over to the Rock Kopjes where you have good chances of seeing some of the cat families. Cheetah and lion use this giant rock out crops as observation posts.

O/n Kisura Serengeti Camp (B, L, D)

Day 9: Ngorongoro Crater Rim Nature Walk

After breakfast game drives en-route out of the Serengeti, heading back through the Ngorongoro

Conservation Area towards the Ngorongoro Crater. Continue to the crater rim and onto the NCAA HQ where you collect a ranger who will accompany you on a nature walk of the crater rim. Late afternoon head to Rhino lodge located just off the Ngorongoro Crater rim – enjoy your dinner and overnight.

O/n Rhino Lodge (B, L, D)

Day 10: Ngorongoro Crater

Early morning descend into the crater for game drives. There are 25,000 large mammals residing in the park. The elephants are mainly bulls, females stay out of the park due to it boasting the largest predator population in Africa. Black Rhino also make their home on the grassy plains, their numbers make up for almost half of what can still be found in East Africa; about 20 in total. Leave the crater early afternoon and return to Arusha.

O/n Ahadi Lodge (B, L, D)

Day 11: Transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport

After a leisurely breakfast at the lodge, slowly transfer to Kilimanjaro airport where you connect with your flight. (B)