On our 13-day wildlife safari, you will not only explore the World-class tourist sites of Tanzania but the most outstanding places in Rwanda. From Arusha Town, you will Travel north into Tarangire National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Serengeti National Park then the next leg of the safari starts in Kigali City, followed by a trip to Volcanoes National Park before ending in Africa’s cleanest City found in Rwanda.
Highlights of the 13-day Tanzania & Rwanda Wildlife Safari
• See Serengeti’s big five game and Great annual migration.
• Visit the Olduvai Gorge to trace the origin of mankind.
• Stop at some of the Masai villages of Tanzania.
• Trek the mountain gorillas of Rwanda.
Brief Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Arusha & afternoon/or evening City excursion.
Day 2: Drive to Tarangire National Park and enjoy a game drive.
Day 3: Tarangire National Park’s full-day game viewing experience.
Day 4: Drive to the Ngorongoro Crater, World’s largest intact Caldera.
Day 5: Ngorongoro Crater’s full-day game viewing.
Day 6: To Serengeti National Park with a stop at Olduvai Gorge.
Day 7-9: Explore different areas of Serengeti National Park via game drives.
Day 10: Flight from Seronera Airstrip, Serengeti National Park to Kigali, Airport Rwanda.
Day 11: Tour of Kigali City and drive to Northern Province, Volcanoes National Park.
Day 12: Trekking any of the 12 Gorilla families, Volcanoes National Park.
Day 13: Tracking the endangered Golden monkeys, Volcanoes National Park and drive back to Kigali City.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Arusha & afternoon/or evening City excursion
Welcome to Tanzania! On arriving at the safari Capital (Arusha), you will get treated to a private transfer to the Hotel within the City Center by the driver guide from Lets Go Tours Rwanda. Have some time to settle-in prior to embarking on your adventure-filled experience. You will most likely be excited to see some of the Town’s highlights like Lake Momella, Arusha National Natural History Museum and Arusha Declaration Museum among others.
For dinner, there will be an opportunity of digging into Tanzania’s delicious cuisines, served at the Hotel then rest for the night.
Accommodation options;
• Four Points be Sheraton Arusha or Gran Melia Arusha (upmarket).
• Moivaro Coffee Lodge or Arusha Planet Lodge (moderate).
• Home Villa or Fairmont Hotel (budget).
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 2: Drive to Tarangire National Park and enjoy a game drive
In the morning you will meet your private safari driver for another briefing before you embark on the grand road transfer from Arusha Town to Tarangire National Park. Enjoy the changes in vegetation from the open landscape, open grasslands to the woodland while arriving your first official safari destination on the itinerary. Have time to settle in the accommodation facility, get treated to a delicious lunch and later go on a proper game drive. Herds of gazelles, Defassa waterbucks, African bush elephants, zebras, wildebeests, giant elands, Masai giraffes, warthogs and so much more.
Accommodation options
• Luxury: Nyikani Camp or Tarangire Treetops.
• Midrange: Oliver’s Camp.
• Basic: Tarangire Kuro Treetops Lodge or Tarangire Osupuko Lodge.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 3: Tarangire National Park’s full-day game viewing experience
Having enjoyed breakfast, you will leave with the safari driver to explore Tarangire National Park. Start immediately from the Safari Camp while seeing Masai giraffes, Defassa waterbucks, African bush elephants, spotted hyenas, lions, leopards, giant elands, Hippos, bushbucks, African wild cats and some monkeys. The first phase of this full-day game viewing experience ends by lunchtime.
Later, be driven back to the Camp for a hot meal then continue exploring the sweeping plains of Tarangire National Park. It will offer the well-presented part this wilderness experience with visits to different places with lots of animals and reward it with dinner and overnight at the Lodge.
Accommodation options
• Luxury: Nyikani Camp or Tarangire Treetops.
• Midrange: Oliver’s Camp.
• Basic: Tarangire Kuro Treetops Lodge or Tarangire Osupuko Lodge.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 4: Drive to the Ngorongoro Crater, World’s largest intact Caldera
Breakfast at the Lodge is followed by meeting with your private driver and set off on a journey from Tarangire National Park. Take in views of the Great Rift Valley, Masai homesteads and sweeping savannah plains. Our next destination is Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a beautiful safari destination for some of the most beautiful landscapes. This 829200-hectare UNESCO World Heritage Site is haven to some of the largest herds of Buffaloes, Rhinoceros, African bush elephants, Defassa waterbucks, Topis, bushbucks, Masai giraffes prides of lions and leopard in addition to huge concentrations of pink flamingos.
You will then proceed to your Lodge for lunch and spend the rest of the afternoon driving through the savannah, towards the Crater floor where most of these animals are spotted.
Overnight at:
• Lemala Ngorongoro Tented Camp or Ngorongoro Crater Lodge (luxury).
• Ngorongoro Rhino Lodge or Ngorongoro Forest Tented Lodge (moderate).
• Pakulala Safari Camp or Lion’s Paw Camp (basic).
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 5: Ngorongoro Crater’s full-day game viewing
Your journey of discovering Tanzania continues as you head deep into the beautiful Ngorongoro Conservation Area, one of the top safari destinations in the African Continent. Think big five game, antelopes and lots of birds, think Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Drive through the spectacular savannah plains and its Crater floor with views of lions, Defassa waterbucks, leopards, Cape buffaloes, Masai giraffes, bushbucks, Topis, impalas, wildebeests, zebras, Rhinos, gazelles, Olive baboons, giant elands, duikers and so much more. Also make your way to Lake Magadi areas to witness lots of pink flamingos wandering along the shores and indulge in a real birding expedition. The picnic lunch is enjoyed in the middle of the game drive and mouth-watering dinner and overnight is at the Lodge.
Overnight at:
• Lemala Ngorongoro Tented Camp or Ngorongoro Crater Lodge (luxury).
• Ngorongoro Rhino Lodge or Ngorongoro Forest Tented Lodge (moderate).
• Pakulala Safari Camp or Lion’s Paw Camp (basic).
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 6: To Serengeti National Park with a stop at Olduvai Gorge
On this day, you will head to Serengeti National Park but before that, there will be an opportunity to visit Olduvai Gorge, considered the Cradle of mankind. Learn about how humans first emerged in the World. A short tour to the Olduvai Gorge Museum allows you to see the fossils and many other objects relating to evolution of mankind. From here, you will relish the breathtaking views of the mountain ranges and arrive Serengeti National Park late afternoon.
Overnight;
• Seronera Wildlife Lodge (luxury).
• Serengeti Sopa Lodge (midrange).
• Serengeti Simba Lodge (budget).
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 7-9: Explore different areas of Serengeti National Park via game drives
To many visitors, Serengeti National Park is the playground of wildlife and home to the annual wildebeest migration. After a hearty breakfast, start the morning with a guided game drive through the “endless plains” as it is traditionally known (“Serenget”) and the vehicle-accessible game tracks are filled with numerous animals. Continue driving through the magical savannah plains of the Protected Area while sighting Defassa waterbucks, Topis, Bushbucks, zebras, African bush elephants, Topis, gazelles, impalas, Buffaloes, duikers, impalas, lions, cheetahs, Masai giraffes, leopards, wildebeests, Olive baboons, Roan antelopes, greater and lesser kudus, to mention but a few. Game drives are not the only activity for these two days but rather expect walking safaris and visit to Masai village. Freshen-up at the Safari Camp/or Lodge and wait for dinner and overnight.
Overnight;
• Seronera Wildlife Lodge (luxury).
• Serengeti Sopa Lodge (midrange).
• Serengeti Simba Lodge (budget).
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 10: Flight from Seronera Airstrip, Serengeti National Park to Kigali, Airport Rwanda
This day needs an early rise as you wouldn’t want to miss catching the morning flight from Serengeti National Park to Kigali International Airport, Rwanda. You will be treated to a sumptuous breakfast at the Lodge and begin driving along the endless plains with sights of elephants, buffaloes, impalas, warthogs, Defassa waterbucks, bushbucks, wildebeests, zebras, Topis, cheetahs, bushbucks, Rhinos and many others. On disembarking at the main Airport of Rwanda, you will be received by our Rwanda-based safari representative for a briefing and check-in at the Hotel in Kigali City.
Accommodation;
• The Retreat or Kigali Serena Hotel (luxury).
• Onomo Hotel or Ubumwe Grande Hotel (moderate).
• The Kingfisher Resort or Kigali Diplomat Hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 11: Tour of Kigali City and drive to Northern Province, Volcanoes National Park
Have breakfast and enjoy a peaceful City tour along Kigali’s Boulevards and an early start makes it possible to beat the traffic. Check-out the Ivuka Arts Center, the Presidential Palace Museum, the Nyamirambo Women’s Canter and Kimironko local market before enjoying a proper lunch at the Hotel.
You will arrive Volcanoes National Park, tucked in the Northern Province of Rwanda after a 3-hour journey through breathtaking views of the countryside and Virunga Mountains. Afterwards, settle into your place of stay in the outskirts of Volcanoes National Park and have your hosted dinner.
Overnight;
• Mountain Gorilla View Lodge or Bishop’s House (luxury).
• La Palme Hotel or Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge (moderate).
• Villa Gorilla or Kinigi Guesthouse (budget).
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 12: Trekking any of the 12 Gorilla families, Volcanoes National Park
Today is the day of meeting the gentle giants of East-Central African jungles. Volcanoes National Park is one of the best places to meet face to face with the mountain gorillas in their natural habitats. Therefore, you will have breakfast and meet with the Rangers and other visitors at Kinigi Park Headquarters for a briefing. After embarking on your search for the Great Apes, relish the tranquil hike with views of other primates, birds and vegetation types along the way. Have one hour of watching and photographing mountain gorillas and for lunch, you will return back to the Lodge.
On getting back to the Lodge, you will have time to rest then later relax with a boat cruise along the Twin Lakes of Bulera and Ruhondo.
Overnight;
• Mountain Gorilla View Lodge or Bishop’s House (luxury).
• La Palme Hotel or Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge (moderate).
• Villa Gorilla or Kinigi Guesthouse (budget).
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 13: Tracking the endangered Golden monkeys, Volcanoes National Park and drive back to Kigali City
Gear up for another quality time in the jungles of Volcanoes National Park, as this day’s adventure will take you to one of the habituated golden monkey troops. Start with a delicious breakfast and head to the Park Headquarters at Kinigi for briefing on the rules and procedures to be followed by tracking for these small and frisky golden-brown primates. After your time with golden monkeys and lunch at the Lodge, continue to Kigali City, arriving on-time for the flight back home.
What’s included on the 13-day Tanzania & Rwanda wildlife package?
• Rwanda Gorilla trekking permit at $1500.
• Entrance fees to the National Parks, cultural sites (if required), Museums and Art Centers.
• Relevant Government taxes and levies for the two countries.
• Ground transport by some of the most comfortable 4WD Vehicles.
• City tours.
• Golden monkey permit.
• Game drives.
• Bottled water.
• Driver allowances.
• Fuel fees.
• Accommodation for 12 nights.
• Meals per the itinerary.
What’s excluded on the 13 days Tanzania & Rwanda wildlife safari?
• Domestic and International Flights.
• Tanzania and Rwanda visa (if required).
• Travel and medical insurance.
• Optional safari experiences.
• Expenses of personal nature in form of laundry fees, telephone calls, souvenirs, cigarettes, drinks and others
