9 Day Crater to Gorilla Forest: Tanzania and Uganda
Lake Manyara, the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater, then a flight to Entebbe and a gorilla trek in Bwindi.
Go beyond the expected.
Northern Tanzania's wildlife followed by Uganda's gorillas. Spend two nights in the Serengeti, a night on the Ngorongoro rim with a crater descent, fly to Entebbe and trek to gorillas in Bwindi.
- Lake Manyara's tree-climbing lions
- Olduvai Gorge
- Serengeti game drives
- Ngorongoro Crater
- Gorilla trek in Bwindi
What's included
Included
- Airport transfers
- Pop-up roof 4x4 vehicle with driver-guide
- Accommodation and meals as specified
- Park and reserve entrance fees for the activities listed
- Mountain gorilla permit
- Flight Arusha to Entebbe
Not included
- International flights
- Visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Tips and gratuities
- Personal expenses
- Alcoholic beverages
Confirm current park fees, permit availability, accommodation and pricing before booking, since these can change with season and demand. Access to remote areas should be confirmed before travel.
Day by day
Day 1 Arrival and Lake Manyara
Arusha and Lake Manyara National Park
Meet your guide at Kilimanjaro Airport, have lunch in Arusha and take an afternoon game drive in Lake Manyara.
Day 2 Olduvai Gorge and the Serengeti
Olduvai Gorge and Serengeti National Park
Stop at Olduvai Gorge, then game drives across the Serengeti plains.
Day 3 Serengeti full day
Serengeti National Park
A full day of game drives focused on the predators, with early and evening light.
Day 4 To the Ngorongoro rim
Ngorongoro Crater rim
A scenic drive with viewpoint stops to your lodge on the rim.
Day 5 Ngorongoro Crater
Ngorongoro Crater
Descend 600 metres into the crater for a full day of game viewing with a picnic lunch.
Day 6 Fly to Entebbe
Arusha and Entebbe
Transfer to Arusha and fly to Entebbe, where you have time to rest and are briefed on the Uganda leg.
Day 7 To Bwindi
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Drive south-west with a stop at the equator, or fly to Kisoro, and settle in at your lodge.
Day 8 Gorilla trekking
Bwindi
Trek to a gorilla family and spend an hour with them.
Day 9 Return to Entebbe
Bwindi and Entebbe
Fly or drive to Entebbe for your flight home. We recommend the flight, as the drive takes most of the day.
On this safari
Places you will visit
Travel Guide
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Questions about 9 Day Crater to Gorilla Forest: Tanzania and Uganda
Can I combine a Tanzania safari with Zanzibar?
Yes, this is one of the most popular East African combinations; a Serengeti or Ngorongoro safari followed by several days on Zanzibar’s beaches, connected by a short flight.
Do I need a visa to visit Tanzania?
Most nationalities need a visa for Tanzania, commonly available as an e-visa applied for online before travel. Requirements vary by nationality, so confirm current guidance for your passport ahead of your safari.
Do I need a visa to visit Uganda?
Most nationalities need a visa for Uganda, commonly available as an e-visa applied for online before travel. Requirements vary by nationality, so check the current official guidance for your passport well ahead of your safari.
How many days do I need in Uganda?
A focused gorilla trekking safari can work in as few as 4–5 days, but 8–12 days lets you combine gorilla trekking with chimpanzee tracking, a savannah park such as Queen Elizabeth or Murchison Falls, and some rest time. We shape the exact length around what you want to include.
How many national parks does Tanzania have?
Tanzania protects its landscapes across more than twenty national parks, alongside conservation areas and game reserves that together cover roughly a third of the country’s total area; one of the highest proportions of protected land of any country in the world.
How many national parks does Uganda have?
Uganda protects its landscapes and wildlife across ten national parks, ranging from the rainforest of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (home to mountain gorillas) to the savanna of Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls, Uganda’s largest park.
How much does a gorilla trekking permit cost in Uganda?
Uganda gorilla trekking permits are issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority and priced separately from your safari cost. Permit prices and availability change periodically, so we confirm the current official rate and secure your permit as part of planning your safari: book several months ahead where possible, since permits for popular dates sell out.
Is climbing Kilimanjaro part of a normal safari?
Kilimanjaro is usually planned as its own multi-day trek (typically 6–9 days depending on route) either before or after a separate safari itinerary, rather than combined into the same days, since it requires its own acclimatisation schedule.