10-Day Rwanda Gorillas and Tanzania Northern Circuit Safari.
Detailed Itinerary: Rwanda Gorillas and Tanzania Safari (Northern Circuit Experience)
Day 1: Arrival and transfer to the hotel
Welcome to Rwanda. Upon touching down at Kigali, you will acquire a Rwanda visa at the immigration desk. Afterwards, you will walk to arrivals to meet your driver-guide. He will warmly welcome you and then drive you to the hotel for relaxation.
Accommodation: Pinnacle Kigali (Luxury)/ Governor’s residence (Midrange)
Meal plan: Dinner
Day 2: City tour and transfer to volcanoes
After breakfast, the driver guide will transfer you to the Kigali city center for the brief city tour. During the city tour, you will visit destinations such as the Gisozi genocide museum, In the Belgian museum, parliament, craft markets and art galleries. Afte the city tour, you will have lunch and then embark on the 2 hours journey to Volcanoes national park.
Accommodation: Wilderness Bisate (Luxury)/ Five volcanoes (Midrange)
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 3: Gorilla trekking & Ibwiwachu cultural tour
After a very early breakfast and with packed lunch, you will head to Volcanoes National Park headquarters for briefing about the dos and don’ts of gorilla trekking. After briefing, you will setoff for gorilla trekking in the Virunga hills of Rwanda. Gorilla trekking takes between 2-6 hours depending on the movement of the gorillas and their location that day. You will be allowed to spend one hour with these gentle giants watch them play, interact, feed and nurture their young ones. Take as many pictures as possible as you enjoy this once in a lifetime adventure. In the evening, you will go for the Ibwiwachu cultural tour.
Accommodation: Wilderness Bisate (Luxury)/ Five volcanoes (Midrange)
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 4: Golden monkey trekking & fly to Kilimanjaro
After breakfast, you will be transferred to Volcanoes national park for yet another adventurous encounter. Golden monkey trekking ends early in the afternoon. Afterwards, you will head back to the lodge for lunch and freshening up. After lunch, you will checkout of the lodge for the transfer back to Kigali international airport. You will board the flight to Kilimanjaro International Airport.
Accommodation: Arusha coffee lodge (Luxury)/ Kibo palace hotel (Midrange)
Meal plan: Dinner
Day 5: Transfer to Tarangire National Park
After breakfast, you will embark on the 3 hours journey to Tarangire national park for a full day game dive. Tarangire is Tanzania’s third largest national park and is famous for its huge and ancient baobab trees that scatter around the landscape shrinking the animals that feed under them. The centerpiece of the park is Tarangire river which is known for the biggest elephant herds in Africa. During the game drive, you will spot lions, elephants, buffaloes, cheetahs, giraffes, Zebras among others. After a full day of adventure, you will check-in the lodge for relaxation and dinner.
Accommodation: Tarangire Treetops by Elewana (Luxury)/ Marera Valley lodge (Midrange)
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 6: Transfer to Serengeti national park
Following breakfast, you will leave Tarangire for Serengeti national park. You will travel through the alpine regions in direction of southern. You will arrive at plains of Serengeti national park by mid-day. Serengeti is Tanzania’s largest national park and has a variety of ecosystems and landscapes characterized by lush vegetation, swamps, lakes and short grass plains. Serengeti national park is famous for the wildebeest migration rat takes place yearly when hundreds of wildebeest and Zebras cross to find grass and water. Upon arrival at the park, you will have lunch and then set out for an afternoon game drive.
Accommodation: Four Season Serengeti (Luxury)/ Serengeti Heritage Camp (Midrange)
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 7: Full-day game drive
Today, you will spend the entire day scouting Serengeti national park permitting you to go into the deeper into the wildlife areas and experiencing the park with no rush.
The day will start very early begins early to target the animals that rise and in the morning hours the animals are more active. As you carry on with the day, the speed is constantly flexible. Your guide will follow the movement of animals and take you to the best areas for animal spotting.
Serengeti national park is not merely about a variety of animals but additionally the feeling of space and freedom. During the game drive, you will witness herds of wildebeest and zebras, as well as lions, leopards, giraffes, elephants, elands, gazelles, impalas and a diversity of birds.
Enjoy a picnic lunch in the wild before continuing your afternoon adventure.
Accommodation: Four Season Serengeti (Luxury)/ Serengeti Heritage Camp (Midrange)
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 8: Morning game drive and transfer to Ngorongoro crater
Following breakfast, you will have a short morning game drive at Serengeti national park. Along the way to the park gate, you will have fun seeing some animals before you depart Serengeti. In the afternoon, you will have picnic lunch and then proceed with the journey to Ngorongoro conservation area. On arrival, you will check-in at the lodge located at the ridge of Ngorongoro rim for relaxation and dinner.
Accommodation: Neptune Ngorongoro lodge (luxury)/ Ang’ata Ngorongoro Camp (Midrange)
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 9: Explore Ngorongoro crater and transfer to Lake Manyara national park
Start the day early with half day of exploring the Ngorongoro crater. The Ngorongoro crater is the largest inactive and volcanic unfilled volcano in the world with a massive floor of approximately 260 sq. km.
During the 5 hours game drive on the crater floor, you spot a lot of animals and we highly advise that you keep the camera ready. You will spot various animals in plenty the animals such as African elephants, rhinos, buffaloes, hippos, hyenas, lions and cheetahs. You will have a picnic lunch at the incredible hippo pool and proceed with a game drive. Before earlier evening, you will start a steep ascend to the top exit of the crater. Afterwards, you will embark on the 2 hours journey to Lake Manyara national park.
Accommodation: And Beyond lake Manyara lodge (Luxury)/ Marera valley lodge (Midrange)
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 10: Game drive and transfer to Arusha
Today is the last day of your safari. You will have early breakfast and leave the lodge for the final game drive at Lake Manyara national park. This national park is famous for its evasive tree-climbing lions and various bird species. The alkaline and shallow Lake Manyara occupies a huge part of the park and it is a permanent place of residence to hundreds of flamingoes. Nevertheless, over 400 species of birds also reside here as well as mammals such as monkeys, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, elephants among others.
After the tour around lake Manyara, you will have lunch and then transfer to Kilimanjaro international airport for the flight to the next destination.
Meal plan: Breakfast & lunch
Inclusions
Private transportation
English speaking guide
Gorilla permit
Golden monkey permit
Ibwiwachu cultural tour
City tour
Accommodation
All transfers
Park entry fees
Bottled drinking water during safari
Meals as mentioned above
Exclusions
Flights
Visa fees
Travel insurance
Drinks at lodges (alcohol, sodas)
Tips and personal expenses
Optional activities