12 Days Big 5 Tanzania Safari, Rwanda Gorillas & Chimpanzee Trekking

Arrive in Rwanda – Kigali International Airport from your country of origin where you will be welcomed by our representative and transfer to the hotel for relaxation and overnight

Accommodation

Midrange: Hotel Chezlando – Bungalows

Luxury: Hotel Mille Collines – Garden rooms

Settle for breakfast at your hotel in Kigali after which you embark on the Kigali City tour exploring the beautiful city landscapes including nice buildings some of which are inspired by local architecture, Kigali markets including art stations and eventually the Gisozi genocide memorial to explore into Rwanda’s horrific past accruing from the ethnic conflict that befell this country in 1994.  Settle for lunch after which you embark on the transfer to Volcanoes National Park 116km about 2 – 3 hours’ drive enjoying the views of undulating hills of Rwanda that have formed the background of its naming as the land of a thousand hills.

Accommodation

Midrange:  Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge

Luxury:  Mountain Gorilla View Lodge  

The Gorilla trekking in Rwanda starts at Kinigi park station in Volcanoes National Park. You enjoy the traditional Intore performance before the briefing and a hot cup of coffee. Briefing starts at 8am after which you connect to the trail heads to embark on the gorilla trekking encounter.  Depending on the gorilla group allocated and how far it has moved that day, the trek lasts 2 – 8 hours and involves one full hour of Gorilla viewing and impressive photoshoots. Retreat from the activity and transfer to Gisenyi Lake Kivu 110km about 2 hours’ drive and spend the evening relaxing by the sandy beaches of Lake Kivu. An optional boat ride on the Lake can be arranged.

Accommodation

Midrange:  Hotel Paladise Malahide

Luxury:   Serena Resort Lake Kivu

After breakfast, set off for the transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park 294km about 7 – 8 hours’ drive exploring the impressive views of Lake Kivu. The lunch stop will be made in the resort town of Kibuye before proceeding to arrive Nyungwe in the evening.

Accommodation

Midrange:  Nyungwe Hill Top View Hotel

Luxury:    Nyungwe Forest Lodge

Depart the lodge at 5am to transfer to Cyamudongo Forest for Chimp trekking experience. Briefing commences at 8am before setting off to the forest in the company of the park ranger guide in search of Chimpanzees – man’s closest Ape in terms of DNA. The trek offers good views of lush flora, birds and other primate species such as the Black and White Colobus monkeys. The Chimp Trek lasts 2 – 5 hours inclusive of one hour with the chimps. Retreat from the activity, relax at the lodge, enjoy lunch and in the afternoon, connect to the Uwinka visitor center for the adventure canopy walk. This is a lasting adventure experience walking over 60m high off the group amidst the lush canopy of Nyungwe. It’s a long stretch with likely sights of birds, and butterflies and takes about 2 hours to accomplish.

Accommodation

Midrange:  Nyungwe Hill Top View Hotel

Luxury:    Nyungwe Forest Lodge

Transfer to Kigali following breakfast 268km about 6 hours’ drive excluding stops en route. You will make a stop in Butare to visit the National Museum of Rwanda also referred to as the Ethnographic Museum with great artifacts depicting Rwanda’s culture and history. Another stop will be made in Nyanza Palace – the Royal Palace of the traditional Kings of Rwanda and was the home to King Musinga and his son Rudahigwa.  You explore the Rukaari – Royal hut, the royal equipment and the beautiful inyambo cows.  Proceed to Kigali for relaxation and overnight

Accommodation

Midrange: Hotel Chezlando – Bungalows

Luxury: Hotel Mille Collines – Garden rooms

Check in at Kigali International Airport & fly to Tanzania’s Kilimanjaro International Airport where you will be welcomed by our representative upon which you transfer to Arusha for relaxation and overnight

Accommodation:

Midrange: African Tulip Hotel

After breakfast, your driver-guide will pick you up from your hotel and you will enjoy the 2hrs leisure drive southwestwards to Tarangire NP.

The Tarangire National Park has the highest concentration of elephants in North – Tanzania and you can view these animals all year round where elephant herd populations can reach as many as 3,000. The Tarangire River has water all year around. During the dry season (July-October), many animals from the surrounding areas come to the river to drink. If you visit the park during the dry season, you will witness an unforgettable natural wonder as you observe exotic big mammals such as lions, giraffes, buffaloes, wildebeests, zebras and various types of antelopes such as gazelles. During the dry season, Tarangire is a haven for bird watchers with over 550 different species including the Maasai Ostrich-the world’s largest bird. Around lunchtime, you will stop at a suitable picnic place. The afternoon is dedicated to more wildlife watching.

Accommodation

Midrange:  Sangaiwe Tented Camp

After breakfast, we proceed to the Serengeti endless plains by way of the lush Ngorongoro Crater Highlands.

The name “Serengeti” comes from the Maasai word siringitu, means “endless plains”. You will see why once you see its ocean of grassland savannas stretching to the horizon as far as your eye can see. However certain parts also are covered in the Acacia savanna, dense wooded hills or rocky outcrops known as kopjes, as well as pans and lakes. The abundance of African wildlife is of course what makes it such a sought-after safari destination, and includes healthy populations of lion, buffalo, impala, hippo, waterbuck, elephant, cheetah, leopard and a host of other game species – not mention the more than 400 species of birds.

We will arrive in Serengeti for afternoon game drive searching for wildlife. Later in the evening we will drive further to the camp for evening leisure and hot dinner.

Accommodation

Midrange: Kati Kati Tented Camp

The entire day is dedicated to game viewing in the Serengeti. Predators include lions, leopards (in the acacia trees) and cheetahs are seeing in this great park. During the short rainy season in November and December the herds move from the hills in the north to the plains in the south. During the longer rainy season from April to June they return up central heading west. As the migration is completely dependent on the yearly rainfalls, the location of the herds may vary from year to year.

After a full day wandering through the Serengeti central plains, you will head back to you camp for evening leisure and hot dinner.

Accommodation

Midrange: Kati Kati Tented Camp

After breakfast, depart with picnic lunch for final game drive in Serengeti. After lunch, we will drive in the direction of the Ngorongoro Crater. As soon as you have reached the edge of the crater rim, the crater appears half a mile below you inviting you to gaze at this jaw dropping natural wonder. When you reach its edge and view its 100 square mile expanse, it is a sight to behold.

We will be getting out of the safari jeep to enjoy the view while having a walking safari along the crater rim for an hour. Afterwards, you will proceed to Karatu for dinner.

Accommodation

Midrange: Ngorongoro Farm House

After breakfast, we drive to the Ngorongoro Crater and descend into it for a half-day of game viewing.

Ngorongoro Crater is the world’s largest volcano caldera formed three million years ago and is considered one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the world and one of Africa’s most remarkable geological sites.

The Big Five (rhino, elephant, Cape buffalo, lion, leopard) and most of the animal species found in the Serengeti, including zebra, hippos, wildebeest, and cheetahs, can be viewed close up. The Ngorongoro Crater ecosystem maintains the historic balance between people and nature in a way that is not possible in other parks.

Depending on your flight departure time, you will ascend and proceed to JRO for your flight back home.