Can You Combine Gorilla Trekking with Game Drive Safaris?
Yes, you can combine gorilla trekking with game-drive safaris in one trip. In Uganda, pair Bwindi or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park with Queen Elizabeth, Lake Mburo or Murchison Falls National Park. In Rwanda, combine gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park with game drives in Akagera. Plan the route around your arrival point, available days and wildlife priorities. Allow dedicated time for game drives and keep the trekking day flexible, since return times vary. BLS Safaris can help coordinate your permit, accommodation and transfers so the itinerary gives you time in the parks rather than relying on wildlife stops during long journeys.
Gorilla Trekking and Game Drive Combinations
Start with the combination that matches your available days and arrival point. The ranges below are planning suggestions, including travel between destinations. Flight times, lodge locations, and the booked trekking sector affect the final schedule.
| Park combination | Main activities | Suggested duration | Planning consideration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bwindi and Queen Elizabeth National Park | Gorilla trekking, game drives and a Kazinga Channel boat trip | 5 to 7 days | Match your Bwindi sector with the route and allow a full wildlife activity day |
| Bwindi or Mgahinga and Lake Mburo National Park | Gorilla trekking and game drives at Lake Mburo | 4 to 6 days | Allow time for a game drive rather than treating Lake Mburo only as a transfer stop |
| Bwindi and Murchison Falls National Park | Gorilla trekking, game drives and a Nile boat safari | 8 to 10 days | Allow for the longer circuit and dedicated activity days in both destinations |
| Volcanoes and Akagera National Parks | Rwanda gorilla trekking and savannah game drives | 5 to 7 days | Separate park transfers from trekking and wildlife-viewing days |
Durations are planning suggestions, including travel between destinations. Flight times, lodge locations and the booked trekking sector affect the final schedule.
Uganda Parks to Combine with Gorilla Trekking
Pair your gorilla destination with a wildlife park that fits the route. Allow time to explore beyond the transfer journey, with accommodation positioned for the activities you want.
Bwindi and Queen Elizabeth National Park
Spend an early morning exploring the Kasenyi plains, looking for elephants, buffaloes, antelopes and predators. A Kazinga Channel boat trip provides a different perspective, with hippos and wildlife along the banks. If your route passes through Ishasha, allow a separate game drive to search for tree-climbing lions. Sightings are not guaranteed. Match the onward journey to your booked Bwindi sector rather than assuming every lodge is equally convenient.
Bwindi or Mgahinga and Lake Mburo
Lake Mburo National Park adds game drives focused on zebras, impalas, buffaloes and other savannah wildlife. It suits a planned stop on a road safari connecting Entebbe with southwestern Uganda. Stay overnight where the schedule allows, leaving time for an afternoon or morning activity. A brief stop during a long transfer gives you less opportunity to explore. Guided walks or a lake boat trip can be arranged separately.
Gorillas and Murchison Falls National Park
Murchison Falls suits a longer safari. Give its game drives and Nile boat trip towards the falls dedicated time, rather than fitting them around a late arrival or early departure. The journey to the gorilla parks requires additional travel planning. If you include Ziwa rhino tracking, treat it as a separate stop outside Murchison Falls National Park, with its own activity arrangements.
Rwanda Gorillas and Akagera Game Drives
Combine gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park with game drives in Akagera National Park for a safari entirely within Rwanda. Akagera adds open savannah, lakes and woodland, where you can look for giraffes, zebras, elephants and other wildlife. Lions and rhinos are also present, but sightings depend on where the animals are during your visit. Allow a full day for game drives rather than relying on an arrival-afternoon outing. A Lake Ihema boat trip adds time watching hippos, crocodiles and waterbirds, subject to the booked schedule. Plan your Akagera accommodation around the areas you intend to explore. For the gorilla trek, stay near Volcanoes National Park before the morning briefing. Keep the transfer between parks separate from trekking day, and ask BLS Safaris to coordinate the route with your Kigali arrival and departure times.
How Many Days Should You Allow?
For one gorilla destination and one wildlife park, 5 to 7 days is a starting planning range. The final schedule depends on your arrival point, flight times and travel between the booked lodges. Reserve one day for gorilla trekking and at least one full activity day in the wildlife park. Two nights at the wildlife destination can provide that full day between arrival and departure. Keep transfers separate rather than counting them as complete game-drive days. Allow longer for Murchison Falls, additional parks or slower-paced stays. If your time is limited, reduce destinations before cutting the time spent on activities. See our combined safari duration guide for more detailed planning.
A Sample Gorilla and Game Drive Itinerary
This 7-day Uganda itinerary combines Bwindi gorilla trekking with Queen Elizabeth National Park. It starts and ends in Entebbe, with the final arrangements matched to your flights and confirmed trekking sector.
| Day | Main plan | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Entebbe, meet your driver-guide and transfer to your accommodation |
Entebbe |
| Day 2 | Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park, with stops along the journey |
Queen Elizabeth area |
| Day 3 | Take an early game drive in Kasenyi, followed by a Kazinga Channel boat trip at the booked sailing time |
Queen Elizabeth area |
| Day 4 | Transfer to Bwindi. An Ishasha game drive can be included if the route and timing support it |
Near your booked Bwindi sector |
| Day 5 | Attend the park briefing and trek to the assigned gorilla family. Keep the afternoon flexible for rest |
Near your booked Bwindi sector |
| Day 6 | Drive back to Entebbe, allowing the day for travel and breaks | Entebbe |
| Day 7 | Transfer to the airport. Arrange any local outing around your departure time |
Departure |
This example starts and ends in Entebbe. Confirm the gorilla permit before finalising Bwindi accommodation. The Day 4 route depends on the booked sector, so an Ishasha stop is subject to route and timing.
Planning Transfers from Entebbe or Kigali
Plan transfers around your arrival time, wildlife park and confirmed gorilla permit. The location of each lodge matters as much as the park name.
Starting from Entebbe
Entebbe suits a Uganda circuit combining gorilla trekking with Queen Elizabeth, Lake Mburo or Murchison Falls. Arrange the park sequence before booking accommodation, allowing dedicated travel days where needed. If you arrive late, stay overnight before beginning a long road journey. Domestic flights can reduce road travel, but airstrip transfers and onward connections still need to fit the itinerary.
Starting from Kigali
Kigali is the starting point for a Rwanda safari combining Volcanoes and Akagera. It can also serve a Uganda itinerary, with a border crossing before continuing to Bwindi or Mgahinga. For a Uganda route, confirm entry requirements and coordinate the crossing with your arrival time and booked trekking location. Do not assume every Bwindi sector requires the same journey. An itinerary starting in Kigali and ending in Entebbe can reduce retracing, provided your flights support that arrangement.
Can You Trek Gorillas and Take a Game Drive on the Same Day?
Plan gorilla trekking and game drives on separate days. Bwindi, Mgahinga and Volcanoes are different destinations from the savannah parks, so combining both activities also requires a transfer. Your trekking return time depends on the gorillas’ location and trail conditions. Even an early return does not guarantee enough time to reach another park and enjoy a worthwhile game drive. You also need time to eat, change and recover from the walk. Keep the afternoon after trekking flexible for rest or a nearby outing if time and energy allow. Schedule the wildlife park transfer separately, then protect time for a morning or afternoon game drive.
Combining Gorillas with Kenya or Tanzania
Combine gorilla trekking in Uganda or Rwanda with game drives in Kenya’s Maasai Mara national reserve or Tanzania’s Serengeti national park and Ngorongoro Conservation Area. This gives you a forest trekking experience followed by dedicated time exploring savannah wildlife destinations. Treat the journey between countries as a separate part of the itinerary. Flight schedules, entry requirements and transfers to your safari accommodation determine how the two stages connect. Do not count an international travel day as a full game-drive day. Confirm your gorilla permit and wildlife safari dates together before booking flights. Ask BLS Safaris to coordinate the sequence around your available days, leaving enough time for both experiences rather than adding several parks to a tight schedule.
Permits and Activities to Arrange Separately
Your gorilla trekking permit does not cover game drives in another park. Check that your BLS Safaris quotation identifies all the arrangements needed for the combined trip.
- Gorilla permits, with the confirmed date, park and Bwindi sector where applicable.
- Wildlife park admission, for the destinations and visits on your itinerary.
- Game drives, including the vehicle and guide arrangements.
- Boat trips, such as the Kazinga Channel, Nile or Lake Ihema cruise.
- Accommodation and meals, with the included meal plan stated.
- Transfers and flights, including airport and airstrip connections.
- Optional services, such as porter assistance, guided walks or additional excursions.
These can be arranged within one safari package, but the inclusions should be clear before payment. See our gorilla permit booking guide for permit-specific advice.
