Planning to go Africa and take unforgettable migration safari in Tanzania think of visiting the Serengeti. After fly to the Rwanda and Congo for the gorilla safari in the Virunga massifs and that is Volcanoes and Virunga parks in Africa.
The migration gorilla safari will take you to Volcanoes National Park for gorilla trekking as well as Serengeti national park for the wildebeests migration and the rest of the game.
Serengeti National Park is a credible park teeming with wildlife: over 2 million ungulates, 4000 lions, 1000 leopard, 550 cheetahs and some 500 bird species inhabit an area close to 15,000 square kilometres in size. On this safari, explore the endless Serengeti plains dotted with trees and Kopjes from which majestic lions control their kingdom; gaze upon the Great Migration in awe or find an elusive leopard in a riverine forest. Or perhaps see everything from a bird’s-eye view and soar over the plains at sunrise during a hot air balloon safari.
Serengeti National Park houses the highest concentration of large mammals in the world, so you’re bound to spot giraffes, elephants, hippos and, of course, lions. You’ll also come across more than 500 species of birds, including ostriches and flamingos. But while seeing one or two animals at a time may be exciting, nothing beats seeing them in a pack.
The Great Migration is the Serengeti’s main draw. It involves more than one million wildebeest, zebras, gazelles and a variety of other animals traversing the Serengeti annually in search of food and breeding grounds. From December to June (the Serengeti’s wet season), the animals head south to Naabi Hill and Southern Serengeti. As temperatures rise and the dry season sets in, the herd travels through the Seronera River Valley and the Western Corridor before crossing the Grumeti River and moving north to the Lobo Valley and Bologonja Springs.
Serengeti Balloon Safaris has helped park visitors take to the skies to spot animals and watch the park’s famous Great Migration. The company’s fleet of eight, 12- and 16-passenger hot air balloons carries travelers annually across Central Serengeti (and seasonally through the Western Corridor and Southern Serengeti) to give them a bird’s-eye view of the park.
The safari guide collects visitors at 5 a.m. so that the balloons and their passengers can rise alongside the sun. Flights last about an hour, after which passengers gather, surrounded by the park’s lush plains, for a sparkling wine toast and an “Out of Africa” English-style breakfast.
Volcanoes National Park is one of the only three parks where tourists can pay to see habituated mountain gorillas in the wild. Before one can take part in gorilla tracking, one needs to buy a gorilla permit at $1500 in advance. Some tourists consider Rwanda the best place to see gorillas in Africa because of better infrastructure, shorter driving distance and manageable terrain.
One needs to be in good shape and with the right clothing before taking part in gorilla tracking. Good and light hiking shoes that are water proof are crucial. One also needs long trousers, long sleeved shirts, hand gloves and a raincoat for the best experience.
Hiking one of the Virunga volcanoes found in the park is also very popular among tourists. Only Mount Bisoke, Mount Karisimbi and Mount Muhabura are open to hiking from the Rwanda side. Gahinga, Sabyinyo and Muhabura can only be accessed from the Uganda side at the moment. Karisimbi is the highest of all the volcanoes in Virunga. This also calls for some level of fitness to be able to enjoy.
Hiking Karisimbi takes 2 days. While at the summit, one can view all the volcanoes within the Virunga region, the snow caped Rwenzori Mountain, Mount Nyiragongo and the beautiful scenery of the Volcanoes National Park.
visit the tomb of Dian Fossey while visiting the park to track gorillas. Dian Fossey is one of the greatest primatologists. Fossey discovered many things about mountain gorillas in her research that has helped current researchers in habituating them. She learnt how to imitate their sound and most important of all, she learned how to gain the trust of a dominant silver back.
Visit t he Twin Lakes of Ruhondo and Burera. For the nature and beautiful scenery lovers, you must visit these lakes. The lakes are known for their deep waters and surrounding hills but what strikes the eye is the scenery. Birds are in plenty and there are waterfalls close by. The greatest activities while at the lake are canoeing and interacting with the local communities. Visiting Lake Burera and Ruhondo is ideal after completing gorilla trekking or hiking one of the volcanoes.
Golden Monkey Tracking is worth while in volcanoes national park. Golden monkey tracking is one of the top 5 activities while at the Volcanoes National Park. Golden monkeys move in large groups that can reach 100 individuals.
They feed on mainly bamboo shoots but will raid human farms if possible. While getting their permits is relatively easier compared to that of mountain gorillas, one is advised to book them in advance for better preparation.
visitors prefer visiting the park during the drier periods and months. The drier months fall between June to Mid September and December to February. This is usually the best time to go for gorilla trekking in the park because the mountain slopes are easier to hike. The months of March through to May and October to November are characterized by heavy rainfall that makes the major hiking and trekking trails slippery and full of mud.
For accommodation, there are three categories of lodges you can go to and that is luxury, mid-range and budget where by your choice for the lodge will depend your budget. The hotels are of good quality regardless of which category you choose. They typically offer room services, a lounge, a restaurant, a bar and much more.
Once trekking is done you can decide to go for a city tour as you wind up your trip. Walk around the city centre will lead to impressive 5-star hotels, high-end restaurants, bars and nightclubs. he order of activities and places to visit in Kigali depends on the time you start the tour or point of pickup. If you wish to discover more about the nightlife, we can make a separate arrangement for you to visit the nightclubs, theatre and concert halls.
Mount Kigali will probably be the first place you will visit. It is not actually a mountain but the tallest of the many hills in Kigali. Kigali Genocide Memorial Site is one of the many built around the country to remember over 800,000 people who lost their lives during the 1994 genocide.
