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Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Manyara Safaris

Our customers from Norway, Olga and Edvard had an amazing safari with Shadows of Africa's guide Alex.

After a relaxing overnight in Moivaro Lodge, they headed to Ngorongoro Crater to start their search for the Big 5. They were lucky enough to see a black rhino there and spot some prides of lions as well.

It is not easy to spot the shy black rhinoceros as they are usually spotted too far away from the roads. You definitely need to use binoculars to watch them. This time it was much closer and Alex was even able to take a picture from his phone.

Of course, some elephants showed up during their game drive in Ngorongoro.

While our travellers were heading to have a picnic lunch, this couple of lions had a rest near the lake. Probably, they were lucky and had their lunch much earlier.

Olga and Edvard had a chance to compare warthogs with Pumba from the "Lion King". Though some people include these wild pigs as part of'The Ugly Five", we still think they are very cute.

After enjoying beautiful views from the NgorongoroSopa Lodge, the travellers continued the trip with a game drive in Serengeti National Park. They explored both the Central Serengeti and the Western Corridor, -  the area where wildebeests are moving to the Grumeti River during the migration.

It's not every day that you can see even one cheetah, but a couple of them at the same time is very lucky. Olga and Edward were able to observe them upclose and personal.

Of course, some lions were crossing the road on the way to the migration.

But finally, travellers could see for themselves the famous Great Wildebeest Migration. Wildebeests and zebras were heading though the Western Corridor to the North of the Serengeti.

Edward and Olga were especially lucky in their drive, as they also got to see a regal leopard in the wild!In the end of the itinerary, Olga and Edward travelled to Lake Manyara National Park. This place is famous for its tree-climbing lions and beautiful flamingos.

Anil and Basak from Turkey also had a successful safari this May. Both the Big Five and the Wildebeest Migration were on their list and they saw both!

What makes a safari so memorable is that you never know what else you can see!

Just as Edward and Olga did, Anil and Basak had three parks in their itinerary: Serengeti, Ngorongoro, and Lake Manyara. They travelled with our guide, Bashiru who shared some pictures from their safari.

The travellers and Bashiru enjoyed witnessing a small part of the Wildebeest Migration on the plains of the Serengeti.

They were surprised with the amount of lions in the Serengeti. This pride of young predators would be happy to catch some wildebeests for their lunch.

Cheetahs were hunting for food too.

And zebras had plenty of food in Ngorongoro Crater.

Some elephants in Lake Manyara and buffaloes on the way made The Big 5 complete.

Anil and Basak were happy to go for a safari with one of our best guides. You should join us next time!

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Wildebeest Migration in Seronera! Two more successful safaris!

The Wildebeest migration is beginning to capture the imaginations of travelers from around the world at this time of year.

Our guide, Musa has just shared his experience with his client, Benjamin.

First, they had a wonderful trip to Lake Manyara National Park where they saw lots of elephants, hippos, zebras, and impalas. After an overnight in a wonderful Serena Lodge, they headed to the famous Serengeti National Park where they observed the movements of wildebeests and zebras.

After the calving and green seasons have finished, the animals are slowly moving to the north of the Serengeti to cross the Mara River into Kenya’s Maasai Mara. Before that, they still need to cross one more obstacle– the Grumeti River.

Besides wildebeests, Benjamin and Musa were lucky enough to spot lions, buffalo, antelopes, giraffes, and even leopards in the Serengeti. They also spotted rhinos, baboons, and some more hippos in Ngorongoro. In the end, they saw all of the Big 5 and more!

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Our clients from Slovenia, Anja, Miha, Ester, and David had a full six days of safari and it was incredibly exciting.

Our driver, Alex shared some pictures from their trip so we can prove it! They started in Tarangire and it was a perfect park to see herds of elephants. Tarangire is most famous for its huge population of these African giants.

The Serengeti treated our travelers even better because they had a chance to meet lots of predators including lions, cheetahs, and a gorgeous leopard in an acacia tree.

As if trying to one up the Serengeti, in Ngorongoro a pride of male lions was so close to the car that they didn’t need to use any binoculars! While not as close,  they also saw the rarest animal from the Big Five – the endangered black rhino. Completed with buffaloes along the way, our travelers had the Big Five done. 

Their trip continued to surprise, as they were extremely lucky to see the famous tree climbing lions in Lake Manyara National Park.

Just look at the pictures how they are relaxing on acacia tree!

This rare behavior you can see only in only two world famous parks – Lake Manyara National Park in Tanzania and Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda.

Though from our driver’s experience, we can say that sometimes you can spot them in some other Northern Parks of Tanzania and this is even rarer and unique! Tanzania can always surprise guests with its stunning and unpredictable wildlife.

Seven Day Ngorongoro Highlands Trekking Adventure

Our clients from Australia, Peta and Karen had a very special adventure in Tanzania. They decided to explore one of the most beautiful places in the world – the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.Their goal was to see it not just from a comfortable safari jeep, but also to see local villages, trek to Empaakai crater, and to explore off the beaten path places within the Ngorongoro Region.

For people who prefer to explore everything on their own two feet, we have a beautiful Seven Day Ngorongoro Highlands Trekking Adventure.

The program starts with a game drive in Ngorongoro Crater.

It is a home to the Big Five and is also the best place in Tanzania for spotting rhinos. Our clients enjoyed watching lions, buffaloes, wildebeests, and hyenas there.

After a bit of a game drive, Peta and Karen continued on to their trekking venture. They had a hike through the Embulimnuli Depression, where on the way they could see Maasai cattle trails. In the evening, they settled the camp in Kamnana village.

On the third day, they had the breathtaking experience of hiking to the famous Empakai Crater. It is a real green paradise offering an amazing view of the Great Rift Valley, Lake Natron and Ol Doinyo Lengai – an active volcano of Tanzania.

After observing unforgettable landscapes, they had a picnic and finally relaxed in camp.

On the next day, Peta and Karen didn’t miss a chance to visit Naiyobi – a village of the Maasai. There they had a chance to meet some of the local people to see how they are living and what they are eating.They even got to visit a local school.

The Australian ladies continued their trip with some more trekking to get closer to OlDoinyoLengai – an active and very unique volcano that emits sodium carbonate and potassium. Climbing OlDoinyoLengai is an incredible experience and can promise you some beautiful views of Lake Natron and the surrounding lands.

At the end of the itinerary, travelers had a game drive around Lake Natron, famous for its flamingoes, beautiful landscapes and some wildlife.

What do you think of this itinerary? If you are an active person who likes trekking and beautiful landscapes, you should definitely try this one. You will camp in one of the most impressive areas of East Africa! This is a real adventure!

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Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda Too Expensive? Try Uganda!

Price Change

The Rwanda Development Board's recent announcement that they would immediately be lifting the cost of gorilla trekking permits from $750 USD to $1,500 USD has shocked a lot of people.

While there's no debating that generating more money for gorilla conservation can only be a good thing, the price change has made the prospect of gorilla trekking in Rwanda a daunting one for many travelers.

Thankfully, we're here to suggest a few ways in which you can still live your dream of seeing mountain gorillas in the wild without breaking the bank.

Existing Permits

If you've already purchased your gorilla trekking permit, your price is unaffected!

While there were rumors that the price change would affect existing bookings, we can confirm that all pre-booked gorilla trekking permits retain their original price.

Gorilla Trekking in Uganda

An obvious alternative to gorilla trekking in Rwanda is heading to neighboring Uganda, where permits range from $450 USD in low season to $600 USD during peak season.

While gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a more difficult hike, the experience is no less awe-inspiring.

With flights to Kigali still more affordable than flights into Entebbe, we've made things easier with our four new Ugandan gorilla trekking safaris.

Starting and finishing in Kigali, these trips include transfers into southern Uganda where you'll enjoy the thrill of gorilla trekking in either Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga National Park.

You can check out our new itineraries below:

Three Day Uganda Gorilla Trekking Itineraries

• Three Day Bwindi Gorilla Trekking Safari from Kigali
• Three Day Mgahinga Gorillas & Culture Safari from Kigali

The above two itineraries are perfect for people on a tight schedule.

While the drive north into Uganda is a long (six-hour) one, you'll be hard-pressed to find a more scenic drive in your travels.

You'll then get to go gorilla trekking in either Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga National Park, both of which offer world-class gorilla trekking at a fraction of the cost.

Four Day Uganda Gorilla Trekking Itineraries

• Four Day Ugandan Primate Special from Kigali
• Four Day Gorillas and Culture Safari from Kigali

If time is less of a factor, you might want to take advantage of these slightly longer itineraries.

Combining your Uganda gorilla trekking experience with either golden monkey trekking or a cultural tour, these are a great way to expand your trip without expanding your costs by too much.

Why Combine Uganda and Rwanda?

These four safaris allow you to combine Uganda's affordable gorilla trekking permits with Kigali's superior accessibility.

They also all include a complimentary Kigali city tour.

Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda

If you still have your heart set on gorilla trekking in Rwanda, there are ways to make the experience more affordable.

By combining Rwanda's other national parks with your visit to Volcanoes National Park, you can earn a 30% discount on the cost of your gorilla trekking permits.

How to get cheap Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Permits

It's as simple as paying a visit to Akagera National Park and Nyungwe Forest National Park.

Why not combine your gorilla trekking experience with chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe and a Big Five game drive in Akagera?

Our seven day Ultimate Rwanda Wildlife Safari combines all three parks into one fantastic itinerary, allowing you to take advantage of the 30% discount on gorilla permits.

Uganda Instead of Rwanda

if you didn't have your heart set on Rwandan and don't mind flying into Entebbe, why not just make your whole trip about Uganda?

The Pearl of Africa offers a huge variety of experiences and landscapes, as highlighted in our recent 10 Reasons Not to Overlook Uganda post.

From Big Five safaris to gorilla trekking to world-class chimpanzee trekking to whitewater rafting to hiking the Rwenzori Mountains, Uganda has something for everybody.

Why not browse some of our favorite Uganda itineraries below?

• Three Day Uganda Gorilla Experience
• Six Day Gorilla & Big Game Safari
• Twelve Day Pearl of Africa Safari

Combine Rwanda with Tanzania or Kenya

if the price of gorilla permits isn't an issue for you, why not combine your visit to Rwanda's famous mountain gorillas with a complete safari experience in either Tanzania or Kenya?

With Kigali International Airport so well connected to the world, it's easy to pair your visit to Rwanda with a Big Five game safari in either Tanzania or Kenya.

If witnessing the Wildebeest Migration on the Serengeti or Maasai Mara is also a dream of yours, we've got you covered!

• Ten Day Gorillas and Big Five Safari
• Six Day Best of Rwanda and Tanzania Safari

These itineraries are just a taste of what we can offer.

With offices in Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Kenya - Shadows of Africa is ideally situated to assist in planning a cross country safari.

Want to know more?

Are you planning to see Rwanda's mountain gorillas? Contact us to discuss how we can help to make your gorilla trekking dream a reality.

How to Plan a Cross-County Safari