16-Day Rwanda Gorillas, Tanzania Safari and Zanzibar Holiday
Detailed Itinerary: 16-Day Rwanda, Tanzania Safari and Zanzibar
Day 1: Arrival and transfer to the hotel
Welcome to Rwanda. When you arrive at Kigali International Airport, you proceed to the immigration desk to acquire a Rwanda visa. After getting the visa, you will proceed to the arrivals where you will meet your driver guide. He will warmly welcome you and then drive you to the hotel for relaxation and dinner.
Accommodation: The Pinnacle Kigali (Luxury)/ Governor’s residence (Midrange)
Meal plan: Dinner
Day 2: Kigali city tour and transfer to Volcanoes National Park
After breakfast, you will be transferred to Kigali city centre for the city tour. During the city tour, you will visit the Gisozi genocide museum where you will learn more about what transpired during the April 1994 genocide. You will also visit the Belgium museum, craft markets, Nyamirambo art gallery among others. After the city tour, you will have lunch and then then embark on the 3 hours journey to Volcanoes national park. On the journey to Volcanoes, you will go through the rolling hills of the Virunga mountains.
Accommodation: One & Only gorilla’s nest (Luxury)/ Five volcanoes boutique hotel (Midrange)
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 3: Gorilla trekking & Ibwiwachu cultural tour
With packed lunch and drinking water, you will be transferred to the park headquarters for briefing about the dos and don’ts of gorilla trekking. After briefing, you will be allocated gorilla families and divided into groups of 8 per gorilla family. In company of the armed ranger guides, you will get into the forest to such for the gentle giants. When you locate the mountain gorillas, you will only be allowed to spend with them a period of 1 hour watching them pay, nurture their young ones, fees and breast feed. After the trek, you will return to the lodge for relaxation. In the evening, you will go for the Ibwiwachu cultural tour where you will learn more about the breath-taking Kinyarwanda traditional, cultural dances, and drama.
Accommodation: One & Only gorilla’s nest (Luxury)/ Five volcanoes boutique hotel (Midrange)
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 4: Golden monkey trekking and transfer to Kigali
After breakfast, you will head to the Volcanoes National Park headquarters for briefing. Golden monkeys are endangered species situated within Rwanda’s Volcanoes national park. Golden monkeys are easily located and locating them does not take so long. After the trek, you will return to the lodge for lunch. Later, you will be transferred to Kigali.
Accommodation: The Pinnacle Kigali (Luxury)/ Governor’s residence (Midrange)
Meal plan: Dinner
Day 5: Transfer to the airport for the flight to Kilimanjaro
Following breakfast, you will checkout of the hotel and transfer to Kigali international airport for the flight to Kilimanjaro. Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro, our driver guide will pick you up and transfer you to Arusha.
Accommodation: Arusha coffee lodge (Luxury)/ Kibo palace hotel (Midrange)
Meal plan: Dinner
Day 6: Tarangire National Park
After breakfast, you will checkout of the lodge and leave Tarangire National Park for Lake Manyara National Park. This wildlife destination has beautiful scenery and is located at the pitch of the spectacular great rift valley escarpment. This national park gives clients an extraordinary Tanzania safari experience famous for its affluent biodiversity and beautiful landscapes.
You will enjoy a guided game drive through this eye-catching ecosystem and here you might spot the famous tree climbing lions, elephants, giraffes, buffaloes among others. This park is also famous for its park is also renowned for its spectacular bird species positioning it as a prime place for birding in Tanzania with numerous bird species often spotted at the lake shore.
You will enjoy a picnic lunch with beautiful views of the park and the natural environment. After a day full of adventure, you will return to the lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation:And Beyond lake Manyara lodge (Luxury)/ Marera valley lodge (Midrange)
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 7: Serengeti national park
After early breakfast, you will transfer to the mighty Serengeti national park. ‘On you r way to Serengeti, you might visit the Olduvai Gorge commonly known as the Cradle of Humanity. Serengeti is one of Africa’s top iconic destinations and along the way, you will enjoy the beautiful views. Upon arrival, you will enjoy a thrilling afternoon game drive in the open plains in search for lions, cheetahs, leopards, wildebeest, zebra among others. In the evening, you will return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation: Melia Serengeti lodge (Luxury)/ Serengeti Heritage Camp (Midrange)
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 8: Full day Serengeti national park
Enjoy as you spend the entire day exploring Serengeti national park. This national park is unmatched for its attractiveness and place of residence to the greatwildebeest migration. The numerous herds of plains game like the wildebeest, antelopes and zebras are the most common in the park while the predators like the cheetahs and lions are found amongst the numerous kopjesdispersed across the plain. The vegetation is characterized by open plains in the southern part of the park, savannah with dispersed acacia trees is in the middle of the park, hilly and wooden grassland dominate, the comprehensive woodland and black clay plains to the west.
Accommodation: Melia Serengeti lodge (Luxury)/ Serengeti Heritage Camp (Midrange)
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 9:Morning game drive and transfer to the Ngorongoro highlands
Have breakfast and set out for yet another exciting game drive in the vast plains of Serengeti national park. After the game drive, you will have a scenic transfer that climbs into the Ngorongoro conservation area highlands. Tonight you will have an overnight stay at the rim and the view will be a lifetime memory.
Accommodation: Ngorongoro lodge Melia collection (luxury)/ Ang’ata Ngorongoro Camp (Midrange)
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 10: Ngorongoro Crater and transfer to Tarangire
After an early breakfast, you will descend into the Ngorongoro crater for a full day game drive. Ngorongoro crater is often referred to as a lost world. During the game drive, expect to see animals such as lions, black rhino, flamingos, hippos, buffaloes all contained within one volcanic bowl. A game drive on the crater floor is genuinely incomparable to anything else on the continent. After a full day of exploring the crater floor, you will be transferred to Tarangire national park.
Accommodation: Tarangire Treetops by Elewana (Luxury)/ Ang’ata Tented Camp (Midrange)
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 11: Tarangire National Park
Following breakfast, you will be transferred to Tarangire national park for a captivating full day game drive. Tarangire national park is famous for its breathtaking scenery characterized by big baobab trees, enormous savannah landscapes and the Tarangire river which attract huge numbers of wildlife all year round. The park is known for its vast elephant herds frequently seen assembling along the river banks. Other animals you can see along the river banks include zebras, buffaloes, wildebeest, antelopes among others. Lions, leopards and other predators may also be spotted depending on your luck that day.
During the game drive, the driver guide will give you knowledge about the ecosystem of the park information and behavior of wildlife. You will enjoy picnic lunch while enjoying the beautiful scenery of the park surrounded by beautiful nature. Birding enthusiasts will also spot numerous bird species.
Later in the afternoon, you will proceed with a game drive while appreciating beautiful African sunset. You will head back to Arusha for relaxation and overnight stay.
Accommodation: Arusha coffee lodge (Luxury)/ Kibo palace hotel (Midrange)
Meal plan: Dinner
Day 12: Transfer to the airport for the flight to Zanzibar
After breakfast, you will checkout of the hotel and transfer to Kilimanjaro international airport for the flight to Zanzibar. Upon arrival at Zanzibar, you will be taken for the stone town tour. After the tour, you will be transferred to the hotel for relaxation and dinner.
Accommodation: The residence Zanzibar (Luxury)/ Essque Zalu (Midrange)
Meal plan: Dinner
Day 13: Snorkeling at Mnemba atoll
After breakfast, the driver guide will pick you up from the hotel and transfer you to the Mnemba island. Following short briefing regarding safety and checking the equipment, you will proceed to the docking point to board a small boat which is operated by experienced local operators that follow the marine safety.
The snorkeling happens over guarded coral gardens and here, coral reefs, fish and reef structures are clearly seen. After snorkeling, you will be taken back to the beach for lunch and relaxation. You will use the afternoon for swimming, walking around the beach and admiring the beach.
Accommodation: The residence Zanzibar (Luxury)/ Essque Zalu (Midrange)
Meal plan: Dinner
Day 14: Swimming with turtles at Salaam cave
After breakfast, the driver will transfer you to Salaam Cave. Salaam cave is a native turquoise pool situated down the rocks and lush vegetation. This one-of-a-kind site is a place of residence to a flourishing population of green and hawksbill turtles granting you an opportunity of experiencing one of most remarkable encounters. You will get into the col waters and swim besides the turtles as the
Step into the cool waters and swim side by side with the turtles as they slid elegantly near you. Experienced guides will be with you to ensure your safety and comfort sharing and at the same time shading more light about the behavior of turtles. After swimming with turtles, you will head back to the hotel for relaxation.
Accommodation: The residence Zanzibar (Luxury)/ Essque Zalu (Midrange)
Meal plan: Dinner
Day 15: Full day Nakupenda beach and prison island
After breakfast, the driver will pick you up from the hotel and embark on your full day Nakupenda beach and prison island tour. You will begin the day with visiting the prison island and while there you will see a number of giant tortoises which were a gift from the governor of Seychelles.
Afterwards, you will embark on a one-hour journey to Nakupenda beach. While here, you will enjoy the calm crystal-clear waters with mellow waves massaging your body. You will swim, snorkel and sunbathe in these calm waters while enjoying the col breeze. After diving, you will have lunch at the beach including sea foods.
Accommodation: The residence Zanzibar (Luxury)/ Essque Zalu (Midrange)
Meal plan: Dinner
Day 16: Transfer to the airport for the flight
After breakfast, you will checkout of the hotel and transfer to the airport for the flight to your next destination.
Inclusions
Private transportation
English speaking driver guide
Accommodation
Kigali city tour
Gorilla permit
Golden monkey permit
Ibwiwachu cultural tour
Park entrance fees
Game drives
Concession fees
All entrance fees
All transfers
Meals as mentioned above
Swimming with turtles
Snorkeling at Mnemba
Nakupenda beach
Prison island
Exclusions
Visa fees
Tips & gratuities
Personal expenses
Optional activities