Gorilla Trekking & Big Five Safari Guide

How to combine gorilla trekking and a Big Five safari. Combining gorilla trekking with a Big Five safari is one of the most rewarding wildlife experiences. This type of trip focuses on seeing endangered mountain gorillas in tropical forests and viewing lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, and rhinos in open Savannah areas.

Gorilla Trekking Experience

Gorilla trekking usually takes place in Uganda, Rwanda, or the Democratic Republic of Congo. Mountain gorillas are endangered, with a total population of about 1,063 individuals. Almost half of these gorillas live in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda. Rwanda is known for offering shorter treks and high end tourism in Volcanoes National Park.

Gorilla trekking starts early in the morning with a briefing at the park headquarters. Tourists are then placed into groups of eight, which is the allowed number for visiting each gorilla family.

The trek itself can be challenging because it involves walking on steep slopes. Tourists may spend between 30 minutes and 6 hours searching for the gorillas. Once the gorillas are found, visitors are allowed to spend one hour with them.

Gorilla Permit Costs

Gorilla trekking permits differ by country. In Rwanda, a permit costs about USD 1,500 per person per trek. In Uganda, the permit costs about USD 800 per person per trek.

Big Five Safari Experience

After completing gorilla trekking, tourists can continue with a classic Big Five safari in Uganda, Kenya, or Tanzania. In Uganda, Queen Elizabeth National Park and Murchison Falls National Park offer good chances to see lions, leopards, elephants, and buffaloes.

In Tanzania, popular safari parks include Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Conservation Area. In Kenya, Masai Mara National Reserve is a top choice for Big Five safaris.

Suggested Safari Plan

A well planned trip that combines gorilla trekking and a Big Five safari usually lasts between 10 and 14 days.

• Days 1 to 3 include arrival, transfer to the gorilla trekking park, and the gorilla trek.
• Day 4 includes a flight or road transfer to the safari park for game viewing.
• Days 5 to 10 focus on game drives and other activities in places such as Queen Elizabeth, Masai Mara, or Serengeti.
• Day 11 is for departure.

Combining gorilla trekking and a Big Five safari allows travelers to see some of Africa’s most well known animals in one journey.