9 Days Tanzania & Uganda Gorilla Safari

Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you’ll be warmly greeted by your safari representative and transferred to your elegant hotel in Arusha. Depending on your arrival time, you may relax and enjoy the lush gardens or take a short city tour of Arusha, the gateway to Tanzania’s northern safari circuit.

Destination: Arusha, Tanzania
Accommodation: Arusha Coffee Lodge / Gran Meliá Arusha
Meal Plan: Dinner

After breakfast, transfer to Arusha Airport for your scheduled flight to the Serengeti National Park, one of Africa’s most iconic wildlife sanctuaries. As you fly over the vast plains, you’ll begin to understand why the Maasai call this region “the place where the land runs on forever.”

Upon arrival, you’ll be met by your guide for a transfer to your luxury lodge or tented camp. Enjoy lunch before setting out for an afternoon game drive, where you can expect to see elephants, zebras, lions, giraffes, and perhaps the elusive leopard. Return to your camp at sunset for dinner and a cozy evening under the African sky.

Destination: Serengeti National Park
Accommodation: Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti / Kubu Kubu Tented Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Spend a full day exploring the endless plains of the Serengeti, home to one of the world’s greatest concentrations of wildlife. Depending on the season, you may witness the awe-inspiring Great Migration, where millions of wildebeest and zebras traverse the savannah in search of fresh grazing lands.

Enjoy both morning and afternoon game drives, with picnic lunch in the wild. The Serengeti offers incredible opportunities to spot all members of the Big Five — lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard, and rhino — along with countless other species. In the evening, unwind at your lodge and share stories around the campfire.

Accommodation: Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti / Kubu Kubu Tented Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

After breakfast, depart for the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to the world-famous Ngorongoro Crater. Descend 600 meters into the crater for a spectacular game viewing experience. This natural wonder is home to an incredible diversity of wildlife, including black rhinos, hippos, lions, flamingos, and herds of wildebeest.

Enjoy a picnic lunch by the hippo pool before continuing your exploration of the crater floor. Later in the afternoon, ascend the crater walls and drive to your luxury lodge perched on the crater rim, offering stunning panoramic views.

Destination: Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Accommodation: Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge / The Highlands Ngorongoro
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

After breakfast, transfer to Kilimanjaro Airport for your flight to Entebbe, Uganda. On arrival, you’ll be welcomed by your Ugandan guide who will assist with your transfer to your hotel in Entebbe. Depending on your arrival time, you may take a sunset walk along Lake Victoria or simply relax at your lodge.

Destination: Entebbe, Uganda
Accommodation: Hotel No.5 / Protea Hotel Entebbe
Meal Plan: Breakfast and Dinner

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your scheduled flight to Kisoro or Kihihi Airstrip in southwestern Uganda. The flight offers spectacular aerial views of Uganda’s lakes, mountains, and patchwork hills. Upon arrival, you’ll be met by your lodge driver and transferred to your luxurious forest retreat nestled in the foothills of Bwindi.

Spend the rest of the day at leisure, enjoying the tranquil atmosphere and breathtaking views of the mist-shrouded forest.

Destination: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Accommodation: Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge / Bwindi Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Today marks the highlight of your safari — gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. After an early breakfast, head to the park headquarters for a pre-trek briefing by Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers. You’ll then venture into the dense rainforest, following your guides as they track one of the habituated gorilla families.

Once you find the gorillas, spend one awe-inspiring hour observing their behavior — the gentle interaction between mothers and infants, the playful juveniles, and the commanding presence of the silverback. This extraordinary experience will leave you with lifelong memories. Return to your lodge for lunch, relaxation, and dinner.

Accommodation: Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge / Bwindi Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast and a relaxed morning. You may choose to take a guided forest walk to see some of Bwindi’s rich birdlife and forest fauna or visit a Batwa pygmy community to learn about their traditional forest lifestyle, music, and culture. Alternatively, relax at your lodge and enjoy the peaceful surroundings.

Accommodation: Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge / Bwindi Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

After breakfast, transfer to Kihihi or Kisoro Airstrip for your return flight to Entebbe. Enjoy your final views of Uganda’s scenic highlands before arriving in Entebbe to connect to your international flight. This marks the end of your remarkable 9-day Tanzania and Uganda Gorilla Safari, an adventure that combines the wonders of East Africa’s wildlife and primates in perfect harmony.

Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch