10 Days Gorilla and Serengeti Safari – Uganda and Tanzania Adventure
Embark on the most incredible wildlife adventure you will ever have in a life time, on this 10 Days Gorilla and Serengeti Safari – Uganda and Tanzania Adventureyou will explore the endless plains of Serengeti where you will see the iconic Big Five – lion, elephants, cape buffaloes, rhino and leopards and the Great Wildebeest Migration. Then venture into Uganda’s Bwindi Forest, where you will have a humbling experience when you meet the mountain gorillas.
Highlights of 10 Days Gorilla and Serengeti Safari
Day 1: Arrive in Arusha, Tanzania
Day 2: Fly to Arusha to Serengeti National Park
Day 3: Explore The Big Game of Serengeti National Park
Day 4: Explore Northern Serengeti
Day 5: Bid Farewell to Serengeti to Entebbe
Day 6: Shoebill Encounter in Mabamba Swamps
Day 7: Fly to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day 8: Gorilla Trekking Experience in Bwindi Forest
Day 9: Batwa Cultural Experience
Day 10: Departure
Detailed itinerary of 10 Days Gorilla and Serengeti Safari
Day 1: Arrive in Arusha, Tanzania
On arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by our Driver-Guide and be transferred to your hotel in Arusha. The drive through Arusha, a bustling city gives you a real taste of Tanzanian life, a mix of excitement and anticipation as you soak it all in.
Spend the evening at rest before the real adventure kicks off. Today marks the start of your 10 Days Gorilla and Serengeti Safari.
Overnight at Arusha Coffee Lodge
Meal Plan: Dinner
Day 2: Fly to Arusha to Serengeti National Park
Start your day with breakfast, head to Arusha Airport to board a small plane for the heart of the Serengeti. As you leave the ground, a breathtaking scenery unfolds below – the shimmering blues of Lake Manyara, the vast bowl of the Ngorongoro Crater. The scenery might spark a feeling of longing and a desire to explore every inch of this incredible landscape.
Upon landing, you will be warmly welcomed by our guide and go for a game drive as you head to your lodge for lunch. In the afternoon you will return to the park for a game drive search for Serengeti’s iconic wildlife.
Overnight at Serena Sopa Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 3: Explore The Big Game of Serengeti National Park
As the sun rises, you will enjoy a hearty breakfast and go for a morning game drive exploring the endless plains of Serengeti. Keep an eye out for several animal species including large herds of elephants, wildebeests, buffaloes, zebras, gazelles, giraffes, hartebeests, lions, leopards, cheetahs and several bird species.
You will have a break for lunch at one of the picnic sites in the park and continue exploring till evening. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Overnight at Serena Sopa Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 4: Explore Northern Serengeti
The day starts with a sunrise game drive offering stunning photo moments. As you depart, there is a whisper of anticipation in the air, a sense that something extraordinary awaits as you head north towards the Mara River, where the wildebeest migration unfolds. And if you are lucky, you will witness one of nature’s most breathtaking spectacles – the river crossing.
Imagine the chaos of Mara River Crossing – the swirling dust, the desperate plunges into crocodile-infested waters. It is heart-stopping scene, perfect for dramatic wildlife photography that tells a powerful story.
Overnight at Serena Sopa Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 5: Bid Farewell to Serengeti to Entebbe
After breakfast, bid farewell to the endless plains of Serengeti and flight back to Arusha followed by a regional flight to Entebbe International Airport where you will be picked up by our guide and transfer to your hotel in Entebbe.
On this afternoon, you will have a chance to stretch your legs and explore Entebbe’s quiet neighborhoods providing you a chance to get a glimpse of a relaxed Ugandan life. Visit the bustling market presenting you a vibrant array of colors and textures.
Overnight at Papyrus Guesthouse
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 6: Shoebill Encounter in Mabamba Swamps
Wake up to a delicious breakfast and with hearts full of anticipation, you will venture into the world of the shoebill stork, a prehistoric creature so unique and captivating it seems plucked from the pages of a prehistoric field guide.
Mabamba Swamp, a lush sanctuary on the shores of Lake Victoria is a haven for bird life. This maze of papyrus reeds and waterways teeming with feathered wonders, but it is the shoebill that holds a special allure.
As the boat glides through the channels, keep your eyes peeled for its unmistakable silhouette. Imagine a thrill of seeing a shoebill, its feathers dappled in the morning light, patiently stalking fish in the shallows. This is your chance to capture the essence of a truly extraordinary birds.
Mabamba Swamp also supports a diverse array of avian life, from vibrant kingfishers to majestic African fish eagles which you see during this Uganda birding experience.
Overnight at Papyrus Guesthouse
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 7: Fly to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
After breakfast, you will be transferred to Entebbe International Airport for a domestic flight to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, your driver-guide will be waiting, ready to take you on to your lodge in Bwindi.
You will spend the day at relaxation or go for some of the optional activities available including a Batwa Village Visit, boat cruise of Lake Mutanda or guided nature walks in Bwindi Forest.
Overnight at Mahogany Springs Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 8: Gorilla Trekking Experience in Bwindi Forest
Get ready for the most exhilarating part of your 10 Days Gorilla and Serengeti Safari, the gorilla trekking experience. Enjoy early breakfast, meet your guide and head to the park’s headquarters for briefing about gorilla trekking and the right way to behave while in the presence of the gorillas.
In groups of 8 people you will be assigned a gorilla family to trek and head to the forests of Bwindi looking for mountain gorillas. Head into the forest looking for mountain gorillas, the trek takes approximately 2 to 6 hours or more depending on the movement of the gorillas and where they spent their previous night. You will be allowed to spend only one hour in the presence of the gorillas watching them interact with each other and take amazing photos of these gentle giants.
Finally, trek back to the park headquarters, meet your guide and return to your lodge, relive your incredible experience and marvel at the stunning scenery that surrounds you.
Overnight at Mahogany Springs Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 9: Batwa Cultural Experience
Today offers a chance to slow down on the adventure and savor the tranquility of the lodge. Indulge in a long, leisurely breakfast, letting the peace of the morning wash over you. With no rush, you have time to relax and recharge before the day’s next adventure.
In the afternoon, you will embark on a deeply moving cultural encounter with the Batwa people. Their ancient traditions and connection to the forest offer a fascinating glimpse into a different way of life, you will be entertained by local dances and drama, interact with the elders in the community among other experiences.
Overnight at Mahogany Springs Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 10: Departure
Filled with forever lasting memories, you will be transferred to the airstrip for your flight back to Entebbe International Airport, thereafter connect for your international flight back home, bringing your safari to an end.
