Overview
This 11-day itinerary combines Rwanda's gorilla trekking with a proper Tanzania safari — two genuinely distinct wildlife experiences within one trip, connected by a short regional flight between Kigali and Kilimanjaro.
The Rwanda portion covers gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park, a closely regulated forest trek to spend an hour with a habituated gorilla family. From there, the itinerary continues into Tanzania's Northern Circuit for classic open-plains safari, a genuinely different pace and landscape from the dense Rwandan forest.
Given Rwanda's gorilla permits are limited and should be secured well in advance, this itinerary is best planned with a solid lead time before your travel dates.
See our Rwanda-Tanzania combo guide, or contact us to check permit availability.
| Accommodation | Confirmed together with you — see the Rates tab for general comfort levels we work with. |
|---|---|
| Meals | Full board on safari days; meals as specified for any city/beach nights, per your final itinerary. |
Day by Day (11 days)
This is the first day of this trip and since you are jetting in around 7:30 pm, you will be met and we welcomed by our driver-guide. Then you will be driven to Hotel Okapi for dinner and overnight. Meals on H/B
On this day you will wake up in the morning and have a relaxed breakfast. Then you will head for a city tour to various places of interest in the city like the Genocide memorial, parliament, Science university, and then to the local markets. You will break off for lunch and some refreshments. Then you will head for a 2 hours drive to the volcanoes national park where you will reach in the evening and check-in for dinner and overnight mountain gorilla view lodge.
Meals on F/B
On this day you will wake up very early in the morning and have your breakfast. Then you will head to the park headquarters for a briefing about the dos and donts when in the company of these primates and allocation of gorilla family to trek. Then you will head to the forest for the actual gorilla trekking experience. This trek takes between 2-6 hours looking for these primates depending on their movement. After coming across them, you will be accorded one hour to interact and take pictures of them. Then you will head back to your hotel after being filled with
this experience for relaxation, dinner, and overnight.
On this, you will wake up very early in the morning and have your breakfast. You will jump onto your safari jeep and drive for 7-9 hours in the southern part of the country with an en-route luncheon. You will reach late in the evening and check-in for dinner and overnight at Nyungwe hilltop view hotel.
Meals on F/B
You will wake up early enough and have your breakfast. Then you will drive for 1hour to Kyamudongo forest which is the actual chimpanzee tracking spot. You will get into the forest and start the actual chimpanzee tracking experience. You will then return to your hotel for lunch and some refreshments. In the afternoon you will go for a nature walk that will take you till late evening where you will go back to your hotel for dinner and overnight.
This is the last day of this Rwanda safari and you will have an early breakfast and then start on your drive back to Kigali with an en-route luncheon where you will reach late in the evening and since your flight is on this date
you will be dropped at the airport and this will mark the end of this trip.
: Transfer From Kilimanjaro Airport To Arusha
Travel time: 1.27 hours
Distance: 51.8 km
Get picked up at the airport upon arrival by a representative and transfer to the booked hotel. Get a short safari briefing for the next day. Have dinner and sleep at the hotel Arusha Tourist Inn or Arusha Planet Lodge lodge link: https://planet-lodges.com/arusha_planet_lodge/
Meal plan HB.
For budget lodging, you stay at Arusha Tourist Inn
: Drive From Arusha To Tarangire National Park
Non game-viewing travel time: 2.50 hours
Distance: 152.7 km
Leave early morning for Tarangire which is famously known for its large number of baobab trees and large herds of elephants. Game drive in the park spotting big cats, giraffes, bufallos, zebras, antelopes, and other animals. Break for lunch and proceed with an afternoon game drive across the Tarangire river while spotting many bird species. Overnight stay at Twiga Campsite or Farm Od dream Lodge
Eileen's Tree Lodge link: https://www.eileenstrees.com/ Meal plan HB
For budget lodging, you stay at Lilac Camping
: Transfer From Tarangire To Serengeti National Park
Non-game-viewing travel time: 6.47 hours
Distance: 345.8 km
After breakfast, start the journey heading to the famous Serengeti with packed lunch. Arrive in the afternoon and do a game drive in the plains searching for The Big Five, hippos, elands, zebras and a number of birds. Later evening, drive back to the lodge Mbugani Tented lodge or Seronera campsite.
Mbugani Tented camp link: http://mbuganicamps.com/
Meal Plan FB
For budget accommodation, you stay at: Seronera Public Camping
: Serengeti national park
Non-game-viewing travel time: 1.56 hours
Distance: 113 km
After breakfast, drive to Moru Kopjes in central Serengeti. See the weathered gigantic rock formations that rise like little mountains. These rock formations provide shade, small water pools, and a great vantage point for many animals, including lions, leopards, and cheetahs. It’s also the best place to spot a black rhino. Break for lunch in the plains and start a drive towards NCA arriving in the late evening. Mbugani Tented lodge or Seronera campsite.
Mbugani Tented camp link: http://mbuganicamps.com/
Meal plan FB
For budget accommodation, you stay at: Arusha Tourist Inn
: Ngorongoro Crater safari - Arusha
Non-game-viewing travel time: 4.08 hours
Distance: 192.9 km
After breakfast, start the descend to Ngorongoro Caldera, one of the world’s natural wonders. Game drive at the caldera floor to see The Big Five, elands, zebras, Oryx, hyenas, jackals, and thousands of flamingos. Ascend out of the crater to have lunch before heading back to Arusha.Dinner and overnight at Arusha Planet Lodge lodge link: https://planet-lodges.com/arusha_planet_lodge/
Meal plan HB.
For budget lodging, you stay at Arusha Tourist Inn
Optional
Balloon safari: $599 per person
Masai village visit: $100 for a group
Olduvai Gorge: $47 per person
2hrs walking in Lake Manyara park : $36 person including ranger fee
Tipping your guide is recommended $20 per day per group
Rates Per Person
See "Accommodation & Meals" on the Overview tab for the general comfort levels available — send us your dates and group size for an exact quote.
Next: Inclusions →Inclusions
Included
- Private vehicle with your own driver-guide
- Park entry and conservation fees
- Accommodation as specified in your itinerary
- Meals as specified per day (full board on safari days)
- Airport pickup and drop-off
Excluded
- International flights
- Visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Tips and gratuities
- Personal expenses and souvenirs
Getting There
Tour Start & End
This trip starts in Serengeti National Park and ends in Tarangire National Park.
Airport Information
Kilimanjaro International Airport and Mwanza Airport are the most common arrival points, depending on your route.
Transfer Information
Airport pickup and all transfers between destinations are included and arranged by our team.
Accommodation Before/After
Need a night in Mwanza or Arusha before or after this trip? We can arrange that on request.