This 2 weeks East African safari takes you to explore the magical Rwanda known as “land of A Thousand Hills”, the “soul of Africa” Tanzania and the unmatched leisure spot, Zanzibar. It comprises of Africa’s most sought after experiences with in the famous destinations, including gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National park, wildlife safari in Serengeti national park and an epic R&R experience in Zanzibar.
This will enable you to meet the world’s most endangered primates, mountain gorillas, the great wildebeest migration in Serengeti and Ngorongoro which are some of the seven wonders of the world and relaxing on the white sand, palm dotted shorelines of Zanzibar.
Day 1 – Arrival at Kigali international airport
Arrive at Kigali airport, meet and greet session with our company representative and later transfer to a pre-booked hotel in Kigali.
Accommodation:
Luxury: Kigali Serene Hotel
Midrange: Flame Tree Village
Budget: Murugo Hostel
Day 2: Morning Tour in Kigali City and travel to Volcanoes National Park.
Begin with a short excursion in Kigali city after your breakfast. Kigali city tour is an amazing way to explore the history of Rwanda and Kigali which dates back to more than a century ago. Visit the Kandt Museum, which was set up to commemorate the German explorer who set up Kigali city in 1907.
Other priority places to visit include Kigali Genocide Memorial center, Presidential palace museum, craft markets, etc.
Retire for lunch at 1:00pm and in the afternoon proceed on a 2.5 hours’ journey to the northern part of Rwanda in Volcanoes national park
Check in at your lodge in the evening, for dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation:
Luxury: Mount Gorilla View Lodge
Midrange: Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge
Budget: Muhabura Hotel
Day 3: Gorilla trek in Volcanoes national park. Return to Kigali for overnight stay.
Breakfast served at the lodge at 6:30am in the morning, followed by briefing that begins at 7:30am at the park headquarters. During this briefing with park rangers, you will be dived into groups of eight and each allocated specific gorilla families, depending on level of fitness, health, age, etc. and also the rules and regulations of trekking gorillas will be set out before the actual experience begins.
Thereafter, begin the trek into the impenetrable forest as you search for the mighty residents of the Virunga jungles. The trek can take somewhat 1-4 hours depending on the movement of a particular gorilla group; but you are only given 1 hour to spend with them after finding them. During this magical one hour, you are able to see the gigantic silverback, mothers grooming, juveniles playing and the entire experience is purely refreshing and unforgettable.
After trekking, descend back to the ranger station and join your driver guide who will transfer you back to the lodge. Take picnic lunch or have it from the lodge.
Immediately after lunch, check out of the lodge and begin the journey back to Kigali.
Arrive in the evening, check in at the lodge and have dinner.
Accommodation:
Luxury: Kigali Serene Hotel
Midrange: Flame Tree Village
Budget: Murugo Hostel
Day 4: morning flight from Kigali to Kilimanjaro airport. Drive to Karatu.
Early breakfast at your Kigali hotel. Transfer thereafter to the airport to catch a connecting flight to Kilimanjaro International airport.
Arrive in Kilimanjaro and meet with your Tanzania safari guide who will brief you about the entire trip in safari and thereafter transfer you to Karatu area for dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation:
Luxury: Gibb’s Farm
Midrange: Karatu Tented Lodge
Budget: Karatu Safari Camp Lodge
Day 5: Visit Lake Manyara National park. Transfer to Ngorongoro crater for overnight stay.
Early breakfast and begin your journey out of Moshi to Lake Manyara national park. With your packed lunch, immediately start off with a game drive in Lake Manyara National park.
A full day of game drive in this national park is a great opportunity to explore its signature residents the tree climbing lions, verdant vegetation, abundant bird life, hippos in Lake Manyara, and a variety of primate species.
After the game drive early evening, proceed to Ngorongoro area, check in at your lodge and have an overnight stay.
Accommodation:
Budget: Simba A campsite
Midrange: Ngorongoro Rhino Lodge
Luxury: Ngorongoro Sopa lodge
Day 6: Full day tour in Ngorongoro Crater area.
This is another full day of exploring Tanzania’s unique wonder which is a haven for countless wildlife and stunning scenery. During this full day of game safari, there is a possibility of spotting the African Big five mammals including lions, Leopards, elephants, buffaloes and Rhinos.
Enjoy your picnic lunch at one of the park’s scenic points, usually on the crater floor and in the evening drive back to your lodge marking the end of this dramatic wildlife safari day.
Accommodation:
Budget: Simba A campsite
Midrange: Ngorongoro Rhino Lodge
Luxury: Ngorongoro Sopa lodge
Day 7: Half day Ngorongoro crater safari and transfer to Serengeti national park.
After breakfast, have a morning game drive through Ngorongoro, this time not for the big game but rather for the great migration of the wildebeests and zebras, however you can also spot more lions, cheetahs and leopards. In the afternoon drive to Serengeti national park; known as Africa’s famous and most beautiful park, marked with undulating plain landscapes not found elsewhere in Africa.
Accommodation:
Budget: Seronera campsite
Midrange: Serengeti Kati Kati Camp
Luxury: Serengeti Serena safari lodge
Day 8: Full day of game drive in Serengeti National park.
Dedicate this day to full game drive in Africa’s most populated national park which boasts of its rolling plains filled with amazing wildlife, ranging from herds of elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, wildebeests, zebras, cats such as lions, spotted hyenas, leopards, and numerous reptiles in the Grumeti River.
You will traverse the northern, southern and Eastern (Ndutu) regions of Serengeti and depending on the season, you can encounter the great wildebeest migration on its way to Masaai Mara national park in Kenya.
Accommodation:
Budget: Seronera campsite
Midrange: Serengeti Kati Kati Camp
Luxury option: Serengeti Serena safari lodge
Day 9: Serengeti national park – Tarangire national park.
Have an early breakfast and check out of your Serengeti lodge. A brief game drive to explore the western corridor of Serengeti national park to view more wildlife and proceed right away to Tarangire national park.
Arrive in Tarangire National Park just in time for lunch and dedicate the entire afternoon for game viewing. Numerous animals can be viewed here including Lesser kudu, lion, eland and gerenuk, as well as a multitude of baobab trees and the elusive tree-climbing lions.
Accommodation
Economy: Panoroma camp
Midrange: Maramboi tented camp
Luxury: Tarangire Safari Lodge
Day 10: Depart Tarangire national park to Arusha airport – Flight to Zanzibar.
Take breakfast and immediately drive back to Arusha, arriving in time for lunch. Immediately continue to the airport and catch a flight to Zanzibar. On arrival in Zanzibar you will be met by our representative in Zanzibar who will later transfer you to your lodge for overnight stay.
Accommodation
Budget: New Teddy’s on the Beach
Midrange: Mizingani Seafront Hotel
Luxury: SeVi Boutique Hotel
Day 11, 12 & 13: Holiday / Leisure experiences in Zanzibar.
Spend these three days enjoying the white, palm dotted beaches of Zanzibar and a mixture of Swahili, African and Indian ways of life or spend the days relaxing at respective swimming pools for the resorts. Experiences to undertake here include, Scuba diving or diving course for beginners, spice Island tours, Stone town, farms, marine life, etc.
Accommodation
Budget: New Teddy’s on the Beach
Midrange: Mizingani Seafront Hotel
Luxury: SeVi Boutique Hotel
Day 14. Flight to Arusha airport – Departure.
Spend the entire morning in Zanzibar having the last and lasting moments. Stay here until lunch time, take your delicious lunch and check out of the lodge to catch your departure flight through Arusha airport.
