12 Day Gorilla and Northern Parks of Tanzania Safari
Countries: Uganda , Tanzania
Destinations: Entebbe , Bwindi Impenetrable Forest , Arusha , Serengeti National Park , Ngorongoro Crater
Group Size: 0
Duration (days): 12
Number of Adults: 0
Number of Children: 0
A 12 day safari which encompasses Gorilla Trekking in Uganda and a high quality safari through the Ngorongoro Highlands and Serengeti. Stay in superb tented camps in some of the best locations for scenery and viewing wildlife. This safari operates from December to March - when the migrating herds are in the southern areas of the Serengeti.
Itinerary Outline
| Day | Location | Accommodation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Entebbe | The Boma Hotel |
| 2 | Bwindi Impenetrable Forest | Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge |
| 3 | Bwindi Impenetrable Forest | Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge |
| 4 | Arusha | Airport Planet Lodge |
| 5 | Serengeti National Park | Ndutu Kati Kati Tented Camp |
| 6 | Serengeti National Park | Ndutu Kati Kati Tented Camp |
| 7 | Serengeti National Park | Serengeti Kati Kati Tented Camp |
| 8 | Serengeti National Park | Serengeti Kati Kati Tented Camp |
| 9 | Serengeti National Park | Serengeti Kati Kati Tented Camp |
| 10 | Ngorongoro Crater | Lemala Ngorongoro Tented Camp |
| 11 | Ngorongoro Crater | Lemala Ngorongoro Tented Camp |
| 12 | Day of Departure |
Day 1 : Entebbe
You will be met at Entebbe Airport and transferred to The Boma Hotel Entebbe to spend 1 night on a bed and
breakfast basis.
Uganda
Uganda - The "Pearl of Africa." Uganda offers a vastly different experience from the standard safari itinerary, with lush jungles, volcanic mountains, plenty of primates, and the Nile River all creating a fabulous adventure.
Uganda has earned the well-deserved reputation of being the friendliest country in Africa, and you will be delighted by the local hospitality. While having quite a turbulent history, the people of Uganda have remained warm and welcoming.
With wonderful birdlife, a vast array of plains game, and the most extensive species list of primates, a wildlife safari in Uganda offers something special.
As asked on Uganda's Tourism website, "where else but in this uniquely lush destination can one observe lions prowling the open plains in the morning and track chimpanzees through the rainforest undergrowth the same afternoon, then the next day navigate tropical channels teeming with hippos and crocodiles before setting off into the misty mountains to enjoy viewing the unique mountain gorillas?"
Entebbe
The Boma Hotel
The Boma Hotel is Entebbe’s original and most exclusive hotel, set in tropical gardens in a leafy suburb, a few minutes drive from Entebbe International Airport. Our rooms combine the modern comforts one expects today with the charm and character of the original 1940’s home. The Boma Hotel in Entebbe Uganda is an ideal stopover for all airline passengers, and we will arrange all your airport transfers. Our staff and management team ensure guests receive a personable service and enjoy hospitality standards which are in keeping with the tradition of this charming lakeshore town.
Day 2 : Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
You return to the Entebbe Airport for your scheduled light aircraft flight to western Uganda. Upon arrival at the Kisoro Airstrip you will be met and
transferred by private vehicle to a Kisoro Organic Coffee Farm for a Coffee Experience Tour. You then have a drive of approximately 2 hours to the Rushaga Area of Southern Bwindi where you spend 2 nights on a full board basis at Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge You will arrive at the lodge in time for lunch.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Located in the south-western corner of Uganda, in the Virunga Mountains along the border with the DRC, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is a thick, lush, green jungle, housing heaps of wildlife and half of the world's remaining mountain gorilla population.
This pocket of huge primeval forest is one of the most biologically diverse areas on earth. It has
an eco-system that defines the very essence of the continent and has therefore been designated as a World Heritage Site.
Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge
Ichumbi derived from the local Rufumbira dialect means ' a cool, comfortable home '. The lodging facility that is just 10 minutes' walk to Rushaga gate of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, has a spectacular view of the park right from your room! It is designed to provide you with high end comfort and relaxation to be able to enjoy your Gorilla tracking experience, go birding watching and enjoy forest life surrounded by impressive landscape
Day 3 : Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
A highlight of your safari awaits you today: a meeting with the gentle giants of Bwindi! You will be transferred to the Rushaga National Park offices, where you will be divided into
groups of 8 and allocated a gorilla family 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.
Porters are on hand to be hired to assist you up and down the steep slopes. Expect to walk a
long distance in steep and muddy conditions, sometimes with rain overhead, before you
encounter any gorillas. But it will definitely be worthwhile as for one hour you observe them
closely while they eat, play and rest.
Day 4 : Arusha
Early this morning you will be transferred to Kisoro airstrip for your light aircraft flight back to Entebbe Airport. You will then fly to Kilimanjaro Airport via Nairobi. You will be met on arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred
to Airport planet Lodge in Arusha to spend 1 night on a bed and breakfast basis.
Tanzania
A land full of icons, with the names Serengeti, Kilimanjaro, Ngorongoro and Zanzibar immediately evoking images of exotic locations and abundant wildlife. A Tanzanian safari is an experience for all of the senses, and caters for every kind of traveller.
Tanzania is a country which was seemingly designed with the word "safari" in mind. There are enough national parks and different safari activities to keep travellers coming back year on year, with the added benefit of easily combining beautiful tropical beaches with the wildlife rich plains.
A Tanzanian safari is a journey in the true sense of the word, with each itinerary feeling like an exploration out into the wilderness. Moving from park to park, either by road or air, the countryside offers something new at each stop.
The plains of the Serengeti have become synonomous with an African safari, and by visiting the right areas and camps, you will be able to see the legendary wildebeest migration as it moves across the grasslands in constant search of fresh grazing and water.
To the south of the country are the remote reserves of Selous and Ruaha, while in the west you can trek into the mountains to witness chimpanzees along the shores of the mystical Lake Tanganyika.
Arusha
Situated below Mount Meru on the eastern edge of the eastern branch of the Great Rift Valley, the city is the country’s safari capital located close to some of Africa's most famous landscapes and national parks, which are Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara, Olduvai Gorge, Tarangire, Serengeti National Park, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) as well as Mt Kilimanjaro - Africa’s highest mountain.
Airport Planet Lodge
Airport Planet Lodge is the ultimate gateway to all Tanzania adventures! African style chalets are scattered withing the beautiful tropical gardens with many species of birds. The Lodge is ideally located between Moshi and Arusha, a quick 12 minute transfer from the Kilimanjaro International Airport (code JRO aka KIA). On clear sky days, views of of Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru are spectacular from the Lodge. Amenities include FREE transfers (JRO) a restaurant, Spa, swimming pool and bars with a teams that is skilled to provide excellent, timely service to busy travelers.
Guests heading on Safari, to trek Kilimanjaro or travelling on transit via Kilimanjaro International airport enjoy a relaxing stay and leave feeling at home with us!
Day 5 : Serengeti National Park
This morning you head to the Ngorongoro Conservation Authority Area (NCA), part of the
southern Serengeti eco-system, where the wildebeest migration may be starting to arrive at this time of the year. You will spend 2 nights here on a full board basis at Ndutu Kati Kati Tented
Camp.
Serengeti National Park
The word "Siringit" means "endless plains," and this is understandably from where the Serengeti National Park takes its name. The iconic, endless, golden plains of Africa are nowhere more evident than within this national park, as they stretch off into eternity, dotted throughout with thousands of animals.
Located in the north-west corner of Tanzania, alongside Lake Victoria, the Serengeti has earned its place as one of the world's most famous wildlife areas. While best known for the enormous herds of the wildebeest migration, there is far more to the Serengeti than this, and the national park can be enjoyed even when you are not in the vicinity of this spectacle.
The national park itself is roughly 14 500 square kilometres, but it forms part of the greater Serengeti eco-system, which comprises the neighbouring Ngorongoro Conservation Area, and the bordering Masai Mara, in Kenya, with the country boundary between Kenya and Tanzania seperating the two.
The Serengeti can be accessed on a road safari, usually in combination with the Ngorongoro Crater, or there are regular daily flights into the park from Arusha.
Ndutu Kati Kati Tented Camp
Allows you to immerse yourself in nature in this bushcamp.
Ndutu Kati Kati is a seasonal mobile camp strategically situated in south Serengeti from December to March. Ideal for exploring the extensive south of Serengeti and witness the migration.
The camp offers comfortable accommodation together with the unique opportunity to enjoy a real safari experience on a camp. In its comfortable tents one will feel completely immersed in the surroundings and one can enjoy the rich animal life and vegetation of the area. An original form of accommodation which resembles the old camps of the first explorers in Africa, with all the commodities of today.
Located at a one-hour drive along a panoramic route from Seronera (Central Serengeti) and 30 minutes from the Olduvai Gorge. The camp has been designed to cause a minimum impact on the environment. All the infrastructure is mobile and the philosophy of the company is not to leave anything behind after dismounting the camp.
Day 6 : Serengeti National Park
Today will be spent on game drives exploring the vast plains of the Southern Serengeti.
Day 7 : Serengeti National Park
This morning you set out on your drive to Serengeti Kati Kati Tented Camp in the Central Serengeti, game viewing on the way. You spend 3 nights here on a full board basis.
Serengeti Kati Kati Tented Camp
Immerse yourself in nature in this bushcamp.
Kati Kati is a mobile camp strategically situated in central Serengeti, ideal for exploring the extensive Serengeti plains. The camp offers comfortable accommodation together with the unique opportunity to enjoy a real safari experience on a camp. In its comfortable tents one will feel completely immersed in the surroundings and one can enjoy the rich animal life and vegetation of the area.
An original form of accommodation which resembles the old camps of the first explorers in Africa, with all the commodities of today.
Located a two hour drive along a panoramic route from the Olduvai Museum and the river Grumeti, two of the indispensable visits for all travellers to Tanzania.
The camp has been designed to cause a minimum impact on the environment. All of the infrastructure is mobile and the philosophy of the company is not to leave anything behind.
Day 8 - 9 : Serengeti National Park
For these two days you will search for the best vantage points to see the amazing numbers of
animals on their migration and also to spot the abundant resident wildlife.
Day 10 : Ngorongoro Crater
You set out today towards Ngorongoro to the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater to spend 2 nights on a fully inclusive basis at Lemala Ngorongoro Camp.
Ngorongoro Crater
A unique and fascinating game viewing destination in Africa, the Ngorongoro Crater is a must-see on any Tanzania safari.
Being the world's largest intact caldera, and the result of a collapsed volcano thousands of years ago, the 260 square kilometres of crater floor hosts up to 25 000 animals at all times of year. This makes it one of the most dense wildlife areas in Africa, and allows for many memorable sightings.
Driving down the steep walls of the Crater early in the morning is an experience in itself, and you can always sense the excitement of heading deep into one of the world's natural wonders.
With lodges perched directly on the rim, hundreds of metres above the Crater floor, Ngorongoro accommodation provides you with some of the most incredible views, and the location will surely be a highlight of your holiday.
While being criticised at times for the number of vehicles on drives along the Crater floor, it is necessary to expect that tourist numbers here will be quite high, and be prepared to share this phenomenon with other travellers. Once your mind is not concerned with other vehicles, you can enjoy the Ngorongoro Crater for what it is; one of the world's truly remarkable wildlife areas.
Lemala Ngorongoro Tented Camp
Lemala Ngorongoro is intimately set in a delightful ancient acacia forest close to the rim of the magnificent Ngorongoro Crater. As it is located next to the quiet Lemala crater access road on the eastern side, a key advantage of staying at Lemala Ngorongoro is the quick and easy drive down on to the crater floor in the morning; Lemala guests usually have an hour’s head start over others descending via the far busier Seneto crater access road on the western rim. And of course can stay later in the afternoon before returning to camp. As Africa’s game is most active in the early morning and late afternoon this means better wildlife experiences for Lemala guests.
Game drives from camp may start as early as 6.15am and guests can be down among Ngorongoro’s abundant wildlife on the floor within 10-15 minutes – crucial for photographers who demand the best light conditions. Escorted walks are also available into the forest and along the crater rim with an armed ranger and Maasai guide.
Day 11 : Ngorongoro Crater
A highlight awaits you this morning as you descend 600m through the early morning mists to the crater floor for a six-hour tour. An amazingly diverse and abundant wildlife populates the ancient caldera, and you will spend the morning touring this varied habitat, with a picnic lunch at a hippo
pool. This afternoon you head back out of the crater to relax at the lodge with the spectacular views from the crater rim.
Day 12 - Day of Departure
You will be driven back to Arusha today, and dropped off at Kilimanjaro International Airport in time to connect with the onward flight on your travel schedule.