Yes, it is very possible to combine a safari in Kenya with gorilla trekking in Rwanda. With an experienced tour operator, visitors can enjoy an uninterrupted adventure of encountering the mountain gorillas in Rwanda, as well as the diverse wildlife species that roam the savannah plains in Kenya. This is achieved by crafting a perfect travel itinerary that perfectly fits the days of safari, combining both experiences.
Minding less on which adventure should be done first, visitors can choose randomly which destination they would wish to begin with. These thrilling safaris provide the best experience for nature lovers and adventure enthusiasts, from traversing the dense highlands of Rwanda for mountain gorillas to exploring the savannah plains dotted with a variety of wildlife species. Knowing that it is possible to combine a safari in Kenya with gorilla trekking in Rwanda, we need to understand in detail what these two adventures are all about.
Safari in Kenya
A safari in Kenya is an exploration of the vast wilderness savannah grasslands and woodlands on a game drive. Kenya is one of the leading safari destinations in the world, with vast landscapes of savannah wildernesses that are filled with multiple wildlife species. Visitors taking on a safari in Kenya are exposed to the variety of destinations in the country that offer a time with the wildlife. The country has several destinations, such as the Masai Mara National Reserve, Nairobi National Park, and Amboseli National Park, among others. These destinations harbor a huge percentage of Africa’s wildlife species, from the ferocious apex predators like lions, leopards, hyenas, and cheetahs to the giants like elephants, buffaloes, rhinos, hippos, and the common species like zebras, antelopes, gazelles, wildebeests, waterbucks, and reedbuck, among others.
Other than the wildlife, Kenya’s safari adds a cultural tapestry that exposes its incredible cultures to visitors. The Masai tribal people are the most common cultures in the country with an interesting background. They exhibit their traditions and cultures through their lifestyles on a visit to their communities. The Masai are a unique tribe of people, as they have coexisted with the wild by herding their cattle and livestock in the presence of the wildlife. What an interesting experience it is witnessing these incredible tribal people and learning their traditions and cultures on a safari in Kenya.
Gorilla trekking in Rwanda
When it comes to gorilla trekking, Rwanda is often mentioned since it is one of the very few gorilla destinations in the world. Gorilla trekking involves visitors spending up to an hour in the presence of mountain gorillas after traversing their dense habitats for a while. Gorilla trekking is the leading tourist activity in Rwanda. The country hosts over 300 mountain gorillas in its northern wilderness of Volcanoes National Park. Gorilla trekking is one of the most popular primate activities, given the rare occupancy of these mountain gorillas in the entire world. Only about 1,000 mountain gorillas roam the Virunga Conservation Area and not anywhere else in the world. This is the main reason why they are known as an endangered primate species. Visitors are allowed to witness them for just an hour as they go about their daily chores of feeding, resting, and playing.
Obtaining a gorilla permit in Rwanda
Gorilla trekking is Rwanda’s national pride, thus, encountering the endangered mountain gorillas, one is required to produce a gorilla permit. This gorilla permit is a document that allows visitors to trek these primates out into the wild. Purchased from the Rwanda Development Board, a gorilla permit grants access to visitors into the park after verification at the headquarters by the rangers. A gorilla permit costs USD 1,500, USD 1,000, and USD 200 for foreign non-residents, foreign residents, and East African citizens, respectively.
Judging from the number of visitors who flock to Rwanda to trek mountain gorillas every year, visitors are advised to purchase their gorilla permits at least 3 months before the trekking date. This is because the gorilla permits have a limited number of visitors per day to visit the primates. Only 8 people are allowed to trek a particular gorilla family daily. This is done not to stress out these primates with many visitors on a daily.
How best can Kenya and Rwanda be accessed on a combined safari and gorilla trek?
Traveling between Kenya and Rwanda on a combined safari and gorilla trekking adventure can be done using either air transport or road transport. Although Rwanda and Kenya are several kilometers apart, accessing them on an adventure is very simple. Visitors, upon deciding which experience to begin with, can fly directly there. For instance, choosing gorilla trekking as the first adventure, visitors can land at Kigali International Park and head for the park to undertake their gorilla trekking experience.
Depending on their preferred means of travel, visitors can fly to Kenya or drive there through Uganda. Flying directly creates more room for exploration due to the time saved on travel. Driving to Kenya for a safari, however, offers visitors an experience like never before as they explore Uganda on a road trip through its borders. Traveling by road takes longer, lasting over 20 hours on the road, yet flying takes around 5 hours. It is also important to note that traveling between these two nations requires a travel visa that is paid once on entry to either country, since they are part of the East African Community.
What is the best season to visit Kenya and Rwanda for a safari and gorilla trek, respectively?
The dry season is, without a doubt, the best time for a combined safari in Kenya with gorilla trekking in Rwanda. This is because these two activities are outdoor activities, thus, the dry season brings the best conditions. Characterized by humid temperatures and a dry atmosphere due to little or no rain, the dry season leaves the park trails dry and very easy to navigate through. The sparse vegetation cover in both destinations allows visitors to have a clear and open view of the wildlife species of the savannah on a safari and the mountain gorillas on a trekking experience in the highlands.
Kenya’s top safari destinations are located closer to the equator, and so is Rwanda’s gorilla destination of Volcanoes National Park, meaning they experience an equatorial or tropical climate, which has two wet and dry seasons annually. The dry months are June, July, August, September, December, January, and February. These are the best months for a combined safari in Kenya and gorilla trekking in Rwanda.
