10-Day Gorillas & Serengeti Safari — Uganda & Tanzania

A two-country East Africa safari combining three nights of Big Five game drives and Great Migration wildlife in the Serengeti National Park with shoebill tracking at Mabamba Wetland, a Lake Mutanda canoe crossing, mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, and a Batwa cultural trail — connected throughout by domestic flights between Arusha, Entebbe, Kisoro, and Kihihi.

Overview

This 10-day itinerary combines two of East Africa’s most celebrated wildlife experiences — the Serengeti’s Big Five game drives and Great Migration, and mountain gorilla trekking in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest — in a single well-paced trip connected by small domestic aircraft throughout.

The Tanzania chapter opens in Arusha before a bush flight into the Serengeti National Park — three nights covering the central plains and the northern Serengeti near the Mara River, where the Great Migration’s river crossings unfold between July and October. The Uganda chapter begins in Entebbe with a shoebill canoe trip at Mabamba Wetland, followed by a flight to Kisoro and the Lake Mutanda community walk and canoe crossing to Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge. Three nights in Bwindi cover the gorilla trek and the Batwa cultural trail before the Kihihi flight back to Entebbe on Day 10.

The contrast between the two countries is the itinerary’s core appeal — the open Serengeti savannah and its vast, fast-moving wildlife gives way to the intimate, enclosed world of the Bwindi forest and the stillness of the gorilla encounter. Both are once-in-a-lifetime experiences; the 10-day format allows both to be done properly without feeling rushed.

It suits travellers wanting a first or second East Africa trip that covers two countries and two flagship wildlife encounters — particularly those with an interest in photography, given the variety and quality of wildlife subjects across both destinations.

Key Information:

Duration: 10 days
Departure Location: Arusha / Kilimanjaro International Airport
Trip Type: Personalized / Relaxed
Price: USD 8,900 pp

The Serengeti and Bwindi together give you two completely different versions of Africa — the open savannah with its scale and movement, and the forest with its intimacy and silence. Very few itineraries cover both that well in ten days.

Highlights

Three nights in the Serengeti National Park — Big Five game drives and Great Migration
Northern Serengeti and Mara River — wildebeest crossing season (July–October)
Shoebill tracking at Mabamba Wetland, Entebbe
Flight to Kisoro — over the western Uganda highlands
Lake Mutanda canoe crossing and community village walk
Mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi’s Nkuringo sector
Batwa cultural trail with views over the Virunga volcanoes and Kigezi highlands
All inter-destination travel by domestic flight

General Information

Tanzania and Uganda are separated by less than two hours by air but represent fundamentally different safari environments. The Serengeti National Park covers nearly 15,000 km² of open savannah — one of the largest intact grassland ecosystems in the world and the setting for the annual Great Migration of over 1.5 million wildebeest. The northern Serengeti, near the Mara River, is where the migration crosses into Kenya’s Masai Mara between July and October in one of Africa’s most dramatic annual events.

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is its opposite in almost every way — dense, enclosed, ancient montane rainforest covering 331 km² of southwestern Uganda. The forest has been continuously forested for over 25,000 years and holds around half the world’s remaining mountain gorilla population. The gorilla encounter — conducted on foot in the forest — is among the most intimate and affecting wildlife experiences available anywhere in Africa.

Both parks are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Together on a single itinerary they give a comprehensive picture of East Africa’s ecological range.

What's Included?

Accommodation in luxury lodges throughout, meals as indicated
1 gorilla trekking permit ($800)
Park entrance fees (Serengeti and Bwindi)
All excursions and activities listed in the itinerary
Professional English-speaking guide throughout
All domestic flights: Arusha to Serengeti, Serengeti to Arusha, Arusha to Entebbe, Entebbe to Kisoro, Kihihi to Entebbe
Ground transport and transfers in a 4×4 safari Land Cruiser
AMREF emergency evacuation insurance cover
Government taxes

International flights to/from Kilimanjaro or Entebbe
Travel insurance (required — not provided)
Tanzania and Uganda tourist visa costs and processing
Extra activities and meals not listed in the itinerary
Extra luggage on domestic flights
Service tips, gratuities, souvenirs, and snacks
Accommodation after the end of the trip

Detailed

Itinerary

This 10-day itinerary has two clear chapters — Tanzania (Days 1–5) and Uganda (Days 5–10) — connected by a cross-border domestic flight between Arusha and Entebbe on Day 5. The Tanzania chapter is front-loaded with the Serengeti game drives. The Uganda chapter is built around the Bwindi gorilla experience, with Entebbe and Mabamba as the entry chapter and the Lake Mutanda canoe crossing as the transition into Bwindi.

All travel between destinations is by domestic aircraft — no long overland drives. The Serengeti is accessed from Arusha by bush flight; the move to the Kisoro area from Entebbe is a one-hour domestic flight. The return from Bwindi uses the Kihihi airstrip, a one-hour flight from the Buhoma area back to Entebbe. This structure keeps transit fatigue to a minimum across what would otherwise involve very long overland transfers.

On arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, your driver meets you for the transfer to your Arusha hotel — a comfortable base for the night before the Serengeti flight. Arusha is Tanzania’s northern safari hub, a working town at the foot of Mount Meru with the Kilimanjaro massif visible on clear mornings to the southeast. An evening orientation briefing prepares you for the days ahead.

Accommodation: Arusha hotel (selected to suit preferences — discuss at planning) Meal plan: Bed & Breakfast

A morning flight from Arusha Airport to the Serengeti, with aerial views over Lake Manyara, the Ngorongoro Crater, and the migration herds below on approach. The Serengeti’s scale — its flatness, its expanse, the dust trails of wildebeest in the distance — is immediately apparent from the air.

An afternoon game drive from camp introduces the terrain: lion prides, elephant, giraffe, and the resident wildlife around the camp area. The light in the late afternoon on the Serengeti plains is among the most photogenic in Africa.

Accommodation: Serengeti Sopa Lodge or similar (3 nights) Meal plan: Full board

Two full days of morning and afternoon game drives across the Serengeti, ranging from the central plains to the northern sector near the Mara River. The Big Five are all present year-round — lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and the black rhino occasionally seen in the northern reaches. Cheetah are reliably encountered on the open central plains.

Between July and October, the northern Serengeti is where the Great Migration concentrates near the Mara River crossing points — wildebeest and zebra gathering in their hundreds of thousands before committing to the crossing, with Nile crocodiles waiting below and predators on both banks. Witnessing a crossing is one of the most dramatic wildlife events in Africa.

Outside the July–October window, the central and southern Serengeti hold exceptional resident wildlife year-round, with the calving season (January–March) at Ndutu on the southern plains being equally spectacular in its own way.

Accommodation: Serengeti Sopa Lodge or similar Meal plan: Full board

A final morning game drive in the Serengeti before the flight back to Arusha and the connecting flight to Entebbe International Airport. The cross-border transition — two short flights covering the distance between the Serengeti ecosystem and the Ugandan highlands — takes most of the afternoon.

Arrive at Papyrus Guesthouse in Entebbe in the early evening. A briefing on the Uganda leg of the trip before dinner.

Accommodation: Papyrus Guesthouse, Entebbe (2 nights) Meal plan: Full board

A morning canoe trip into Mabamba Wetland on Lake Victoria’s shore — around 45 minutes from Entebbe, and Uganda’s most reliable habitat for the shoebill stork. The shoebill — a prehistoric-looking bird with a massive, clog-shaped bill — is one of Africa’s most sought-after species for wildlife photographers. The papyrus swamp setting, the morning light on the water, and the bird’s statuesque stillness make Mabamba consistently productive for photography.

Beyond the shoebill, the swamp holds lesser jacana, papyrus gonolek, African fish eagle, and a range of wetland waterbirds. The afternoon is free in Entebbe before the early flight to Kisoro tomorrow.

Accommodation: Papyrus Guesthouse, Entebbe Meal plan: Full board

An early morning domestic flight from Entebbe to Kisoro — one hour over southwestern Uganda’s terraced hill country, with the Virunga volcanoes visible ahead on approach. On landing, a walking guide meets you for the community walk through Kisoro’s village paths and hillside gardens to Lake Mutanda.

The lake canoe crossing takes around 45 minutes to an hour in traditional dug-out canoes — the Virunga volcanoes and the Bwindi hills framing the water on both sides. Lunch is available at Mutanda Lake Resort on the northern shore before the final drive up to Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge. The lodge’s arrival moment — forested ridgeline, panoramic Kigezi highlands, the full Virunga chain visible to the south — is one of the itinerary’s most memorable.

Accommodation: Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge (3 nights) Meal plan: Full board (packed lunch)

Briefing at 7:30 am at the Nkuringo visitor centre — five minutes from the lodge. Groups of a maximum of eight are led into Bwindi Impenetrable National Park by an experienced tracker guide and two armed rangers. Trek duration is variable; one permitted hour is spent with the habituated gorilla family on finding them.

The contrast with the Serengeti’s open scale is complete here — dense, enclosed forest, steep terrain, and the sudden close-range encounter with a mountain gorilla family. The gorilla trek’s intimacy is its defining quality: the silverback at rest, infants climbing, the family going about the morning. Porter hire ($20) is available at the visitor centre and strongly recommended for the Nkuringo terrain.

Accommodation: Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge Meal plan: Full board (packed lunch)

A morning guided walk on the Batwa cultural trail — with Batwa elders sharing traditional forest knowledge, medicinal plant use, hunting techniques, and the history of a people who lived inside Bwindi for thousands of years. The trail runs through the forest edge adjacent to the park and is one of the most substantive Batwa cultural experiences available in the Bwindi area.

As the afternoon light builds, a short walk from the lodge reaches the hilltop viewpoint — perched at around 2,100 metres — with 360° views across the Kigezi highlands, the Bwindi forest canopy, and the Virunga volcano chain stretching along the horizon. The photographic opportunities here, in the late afternoon light, are the landscape counterpart to the wildlife photography of the preceding days.

Accommodation: Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge Meal plan: Full board

A scenic drive from Nkuringo to Kihihi Airstrip — around one hour — for the 2:30 pm domestic flight back to Entebbe. The flight crosses southern Uganda with Lake Victoria on the eastern approach. On arrival in Entebbe, transfer to the international airport or to a partner hotel for late departures.

Overnight accommodation in Entebbe on Day 10 is not included but can be arranged on request.

Accommodation: Optional — Papyrus Guesthouse or other Entebbe hotels Meal plan: Breakfast and packed lunch

Testimonials

What Our Travellers Say

My son and I spent two weeks experiencing African magic with Nkuringo Safaris, and we will never forget our time there. Truly a priceless experience. I could talk about those experiences for pages — the friendly people, the beautiful Nile River where we did whitewater rafting, the tree lions, the chimpanzees, and the majestic mountain gorillas.

Steven Susser

In November 2020, we travelled to Uganda as a couple in a 4×4 Safari Jeep. Considering the difficult time we are all in, we were especially happy about the level of service we experienced. You can travel to Uganda with no problem. During our travel, we felt safer than in Europe – everybody cared about our health and happiness.

Sarah B

Don’t miss out on this unique experience. Our guide, Richard, was excellent. We had an informative and unique walk down the mountain from Kisoro to Lake Mutanda. We walked through villages and saw families actively working their farms. The walk is easy. The dugout canoe was very comfortable, with padded seats. We highly recommend the adventure.

Kwa Alaska

My husband and I had a week’s vacation, which is not a lot given everything we wanted to do/see. Nkuringo organized our trip to make the most of this week. The trip was flawlessly organized. Time management was perfect. They were flexible and accommodating, all our needs were met, and we felt listened to; it was a truly customized experience.

Victoria V

The most beautiful scenery I’ve ever seen. The welcome from a gorgeous team was lovely… hot water bottles in the bed and a fire lit in our room each night made it such a special place.

David Q, UK

My son and I spent two weeks experiencing magic in Africa… the friendly people, the Nile where we did white-water rafting, the tree lions, the chimpanzees and the majestic mountain gorillas.

Steven S, USA

Travelling Uganda as a couple… our guide knew so much about animals, plants and the country’s history. He was funny and friendly and looked after us incredibly well.

Tom R, USA

We are a travel company ourselves and this company over-delivered for us… The whole thing ran like clockwork, even while making sure everyone was happy with the amount of time spent in each place.

Jeannie E, USA