Combining Kenya wildlife safari and Uganda gorilla trekking experience is very much possible offering ultimate East African wildlife contrast biologically, visually, habitat and ecosystem contrast. It will therefore involve navigating Kenya’s vast open golden
savanna grasslands and trekking through misty dense volcanic and
rain forests to encounter the gorillas in their natural setting. Kenya offers a magical classic safari dream through the country’s open plains and iconic wildlife species whereas in Uganda you will trek mountain gorillas in dense misty forests which is one of the planet’s most intimate wildlife encounters. These encounters therefore create an extraordinary two-part journey involving cross-border travel, one sweeping
savanna world in Kenya and one unforgettable forest world in Uganda.
How to Combine Kenya Wildlife Safari and Uganda Gorilla Trekking Experience?
There are several ways these two wildlife experiences can be combined on a single journey or tour. You can start the journey by
traveling to Uganda landing at Entebbe Airport and then
traveling by road to Uganda’s gorilla destinations namely Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park and then flying to Nairobi Kenya to embark on wildlife viewing in the country’s game viewing National Parks. One also can decide to start in Kenya to enjoy a classic wildlife safari first and then connect to Uganda through Entebbe for Mountain gorillas. There are several flights that connect the two countries namely Kenya Airways, Uganda Airlines, RwandAir, Safari-link and others making it convenient to move between the two countries. In Uganda, there are domestic chartered flights that connect to gorilla destinations from Entebbe for example Aerolink Uganda and Bar Aviation taking about 1 to 2 hours to Kisoro or Kihihi airstrips than driving for about 9 hours to these destinations.
Overland travel is also possible for those who may prefer road travel between the two countries. The drive can start in Kenya west from Nairobi and cross to Uganda via the Busia border port lasting between 14 to 17 hours. This will however require border crossing requirements that we can help you organize.
Why Combine Kenya Wildlife Safari and Uganda Gorilla Trekking Experience?
There are several reasons why
travelers should combine the two experiences as described below;
It offers the opportunity to witness the diverse wildlife species in different locations and habitats. Kenya is known as a magical land boasting several National Parks, Reserves and Private Conservancies that host a variety of wildlife species including the African Big Five best for game viewing. Kenya is also popular for hosting one of the world’s most spectacular animal migrations known as the wildebeest migration. Whereas Uganda on the other hand is particularly known for its endangered mountain gorillas which is half of the world’s remaining mountain gorilla population. These gorillas can be seen in the Virunga massif specifically in Mgahinga National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Visitors are therefore guaranteed of witnessing the African Big Five, great wildebeest migration and the endangered gorillas all in their natural habitats.
Visitors have the opportunity to maximize their bucket-list value. Combining Kenya wildlife safari and Uganda gorilla experience on one trip feels like the best use of time, resources and travel costs more so if one is flying in from far away.
Kenya Wildlife Safari Experience
A Kenya wildlife safari experience is known to offer a true African
savanna experience, renowned for the African Big Five, predator-prey interactions and the Great Wildebeest migration. An ultimate Kenya wildlife safari that can be combined with a Uganda gorilla trekking experience pairs varied environments to capture different ecosystem although it’s not advisable for it to be compacted with multiple premier Parks. Prime wildlife viewing safari destinations in Kenya include Masai Mara National Reserve famous for Big cats and the great wildebeest migration, Amboseli National Park known for getting up-close to massive free-roaming elephant herds with snow peaks of Mountain Kilimanjaro in the background, OI Pajeta Conservancy known for protecting the country’s endangered species, Lake Nakuru and Naivasha known for their outstanding
bird-life and millions of flamingos.
What to Pack For A Kenya Wildlife Safari?
- Light neutral-colored clothing (safari tactical pants and shirts)
- Binoculars
- Camera with spare batteries and extra memory cards
- Universals, chargers and high-capacity power bank
- Backpack
- Headlamp for tented camps
- Sunscreen and sunglasses
- Insect
repellents
- Medical kit with anti-malarial tabs
- Reusable water bottle
- Rain coat
- Insect repellent
Uganda gorilla trekking experience
Uganda is known to be the world’s premier gorilla trekking destination since half of the remaining mountain gorilla population is found here living in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a UNESCO World heritage Site situated in the southwest region of the country. Gorilla trekking can also be done in Mgahinga National Park situated in the Virunga massif it shares with Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Virunga National Park in Democratic Republic of Congo. Gorilla trekking starts with a briefing at the Park headquarters early in the morning about the rules, visitors are assigned gorilla families and splint into small groups of maximum 8 members. Visitors are accompanied by armed rangers to navigate lush dense forests to locate a gorilla family and if once found an hour is allowed to observe them, play, feed and interact. This activity lasts between 2 to 6 hours depending on how far the mountain gorillas might have moved. Gorilla trekking permit costs 800USD for foreign non-residents, 700USD for foreign residents, 500USD for rest of Africans and 300,000 Uganda shillings for East African citizens. Gorilla permits are booked in advance through reputable tour operators that are registered with the Uganda Tourism Board.
What to Pack for Uganda Gorilla Trekking Experience?
- Light and neutral colored clothes
- Waterproof hiking shoes
- Rain jacket
- Camera
- Garden gloves
- Face mask
- Drinking water
- Backpack
- Insect repellent
Duration/number of days needed for a combine Kenya wildlife safari and Uganda gorilla trekking experience
Planning a combined Kenya wildlife safari and Uganda gorilla trekking experience typically centers around 7 to 25-day itineraries that often involve flying safaris and chartered domestic flights. This also depends on flight routes and how relaxed you want your travel schedule to be.
Best time for a combined Kenya wildlife safari and Uganda gorilla trekking experience
The best time to combine the two experiences is during the region’s dry season from June to September. During this period of the year, best conditions in the Masai Mara and those in gorilla trekking destinations in Uganda align. This period of the year is Kenya’s dry season and the peak of the Great wildebeest migration and river crossings in the Masai Mara while in Uganda this weather makes trekking trails in the forest accessible, passable and gorilla visibility is batter compared to the rainy season. However the rainy season from March to May and Late September to November becomes the best option for those
traveling on a tight and fixed budget.
