12 days Serengeti national park and Uganda Primate safari

A combined gorilla trekking safari in Uganda and Tanzania safari is one of the best ways you can encounter Africa’s giant endangered gorillas and at the same time enjoy a safari in Tanzania’s top tourist destinations.

Safari highlights,

  • Gorilla habituation
  • Chimpanzee habituation
  • Game drives
  • Wildlife
  • Cultural visits

Day 1: Arrival and transfer to your hotel

On arrival, you will be welcomed by your tour guide and transferred to your hotel where you will be spending the 1st night of your trip.

Accommodation at Arusha Coffee Lodge

Day 2: Transfer from Arusha to Serengeti national park

Your safari will begin by 8AM in the morning with a pick up from your hotel at Arusha. With everyone aboard, you will head towards Serengeti National Park. The 240 Km drive will be covered in about 6hrs. The Serengeti, means endless plains in the local African language and watching the grassland stretch out as far as the eye can see and eventually merging with the sky at the horizon is an absolutely breathtaking view.

You will have your lunch along the way to the national park. The eventful day comes to an end with a heavy dinner and a good night’s rest in your accommodation.

Accommodation at Kirawira Serena Camp

Day 3: Serengeti

You can either have a relaxed breakfast and depart for full day game drives around 9:00 AM with packed lunch and return back to lodge late afternoon around 6:00 PM. Or you can depart at 6:00 AM on an early morning game drive. Later return to accommodation for breakfast and relax for a bit and depart on an afternoon game drive with packed lunch. You will explore the central portion of the Serengeti National Park today. During the off season of the migration, one must really look out for the lion prides that thrive in this region. Along with a picnic lunch during the full day game drive, the day will come to a close by around 5PM. The long day comes to an end with a heavy dinner and a good night’s rest in your accommodation.

Accommodation at Kirawira Serena Camp

Day 4: Transfer from Serengeti to Ngorongoro crater

After breakfast, you will have a morning game drive in Serengeti National Park. Later depart for Ngorongoro Conservation Area with picnic lunch. Ngorongoro Crater is the largest collapsed volcanic crater in the world and fourteen kilometers of isolated natural beauty. Ngorongoro Crater is surrounded by a ring of extinct volcanoes and the floor, dotted with watering holes, shelters some 30,000 animals. The eventful day comes to an end with a heavy dinner and a good night’s rest in your accommodation.

Accommodation at Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge

Day 5: Transfer to Arusha

On the last day of your safari, you will have an early start. Finishing up with a quick breakfast you will make an early descent at around 6:30 AM into the crater floor. The Ngorongoro Crater is the world’s largest inactive, intact and unfilled volcanic caldera. You will be having a picnic lunch at the Ngorongoro Crater.

You will be dropped off to your hotel in Arusha by 6:00 PM in the evening.

Accommodation at Arusha Coffee Lodge

Day 6: Flight to Uganda

You will have breakfast and then be transferred to the airport by your tour guide. On arrival, you will be welcomed by your tour guide and transferred to your hotel where you will be spending the 1st night of your trip.

Accommodation at Best Western Garden Premium Hotel

Day 7: Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park

After Breakfast, you will drive to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. Your guide will make stopovers at the Equator crossing in Kayabwe for photography, a brief talk and some experiments before you head to Mbarara town for lunch.

You will then drive past beautiful banana plantations, farms and the amazing Hills of Kigezi. You will arrive in the evening and check-in at the lodge for relaxation and overnight.

Accommodation at Four Gorillas Lodge

Day 8: Gorilla habituation experience

You will wake up early in the morning and head to the park headquarters to join other clients for briefing about dos and don’ts while with mountain gorillas on your habituation experience. After briefing, you will start your trek into the forest guided by researchers and guides.

After the tracking, you will return to your hotel for lunch and relaxing.

Accommodation at Four Gorillas Lodge

Day 9: Transfer to Kibale national park

After Breakfast, you will bid farewell to Bwindi impenetrable National Park and drive to Kibale Forest National Park on this third day of your 4-day gorilla habituation and chimp trekking safari. You will arrive late afternoon, check in at the lodge for relaxation followed by dinner and overnight since lunch will be served en route.

Accommodation at Chimpundu Lodge

Day 10: Chimpanzee Habituation

After an early morning breakfast, you will be transferred to Kibale National Park for briefing about the dos and don’ts while with a community or party of chimpanzees. After briefing, you will start your trek in the forest with chances of seeing other 11 primates in the forest. You will spend the one hour in the forest with guides for observation and photography. Return to the Lodge for Dinner and overnight.

Accommodation at Chimpundu Lodge

Day 11: Transfer to Entebbe

After a restful morning, enjoy breakfast and await your guide/driver for the return journey to Kampala. This 8-hour drive takes a scenic route through Mbarara and Masaka, offering diverse sights along the way. Highlights include stops at the Igongo Cultural Centre, where you can learn about local culture and the equator crossing in Kayabwe for memorable photos. Additionally, visit Buganda Royal drum makers as you approach Kampala.

Lunch will be at either the Igongo Cultural Centre or the equator crossing.

Accommodation at Best Western Garden Premier Hotel

Day 12: Transfer to the Airport

You will have breakfast at your preferred time and then transfer to the airport for your departure flight.

End of Safari

The safari includes,

  • Gorilla tracking permits
  • Chimpanzee tracking permits
  • Park entry fees
  • Conservation fees
  • Taxes
  • All meals
  • Accommodation on full board arrangement
  • Transportation
  • An English-speaking guide
  • Airport transfers

The price excludes,

  • Visas
  • Tips
  • Alcoholic drinks
  • Personal insurance
  • Flights