Tourists who seek unforgettable wildlife encounters in Africa often face a difficult choice of either heading into a misty forest of Rwanda to meet the endangered mountain gorillas or venturing into the sweeping savannahs of Tanzania for a classic big five safari. The fact is that you don’t need to choose between the two.
You can combine a gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda with a safari in Tanzania is not only possible but also one of the most rewarding African adventures you can embark on. The combination gives you the rare opportunity to witness both the intimate world of the great apes and the grand spectacles of East Africa’s game-rich plains.
As Tanzania offers large numbers of lions, wildebeests, elephants, rhinos, giraffes, zebras, cheetahs, and hundreds of bird species, including the ostriches, Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park provides a unique experience of standing just a few meters from the mountain gorillas. Few trips in Africa combine such varied encounters.
It is also possible to combine these safaris since Rwanda and Tanzania share borders with Uganda and Burundi, hence located in East Africa, and this makes regional travel manageable. Direct flight connects Kigali, the capital city of Rwanda, with Tanzania’s tourism hub, such as Arusha. From here, drive to national parks like Serengeti, Tarangire, Ngorongoro Crater, and more.
Rwanda’s landscape, which is green and mountainous, and Tanzania is dry and dotted with endless plains, making it a real experience of both countries, offering a rich perspective of East Africa’s landscapes and ecosystems. It is worth combining a safari in Tanzania offers a chance to witness the world’s annual Migration of wildebeests, and gorilla trekking in Rwanda is a once-in-a-lifetime hence making the ultimate African safari holiday.
Gorilla trekking in Rwanda takes place in the mighty Volcanoes National Park located in north northern town of Musanze, and it’s in the premises of the Virunga Mountains to several habituated gorilla families with other animals like the golden monkeys, elephants, red-tailed monkeys, olive baboons, and more.
Gorilla trekking begins early in the morning after breakfast with a briefing and exercise that takes you through the guidelines to follow, cross-checking the gorilla permits, assigning the park guide and the group of travelers to trek with, and more. Spend more than 2 hours in the forest, but an hour will be spent with a face-to-face interaction with the great giants. The trail is amazing as you spot more than what you expected.
The gorilla trekking permit costs USD 1,500 per person and is highly demanded and scarce. This calls for prior booking at least 3 months before the trekking day. You can book your permit through Standard Safari for convenience and comfort. This makes your life easy, as we plan the entire tour.
While in Tanzania, visiting the endless plains and then the Zanzibar archipelago with its blue beaches is worth it on this safari. Zanzibar is known for its great history of the slave trade, different spices, and beautiful beaches. Relaxing on the water after game drives in the savannahs is a great opportunity.
Best time to combine the Rwanda gorillas and the Tanzania safari
Any time of the year can be chosen to take this great safari, but we recommend the best time to be the dry season, which takes place from June to September and December to February. This is easy to trek since the trails are less muddy, and again, the wildebeests cross between June to October.
Therefore, a combined Rwanda and Tanzania trip requires careful planning and a higher budget, but for many, it is an adventure for a lifetime. In the end, this is more than just a holiday; it is a story you will tell for the rest of your life.
