10 Days Rwanda Tanzania Safari and Gorillas

This 10-day Rwanda and Tanzania Safari combines gorilla trekking in Rwanda with classic wildlife viewing in northern Tanzania. The journey starts in Kigali with a city tour before continuing to Volcanoes National Park for mountain gorilla trekking. You then fly to Tanzania for game drives in Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, Serengeti National Park, Northern Serengeti, and Ngorongoro Crater. This itinerary is suitable for travellers who want to experience two of East Africa’s strongest safari highlights in one trip, Rwanda’s mountain gorillas and Tanzania’s big game parks. The safari includes Kigali, Musanze, Volcanoes National Park, Arusha, Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Central Serengeti, Northern Serengeti, Ngorongoro, and Arusha departure. It gives travellers a clear route combining primates, culture, Big Five wildlife, open savannah, crater scenery, and possible wildebeest migration viewing in Northern Serengeti.

Safari Highlights

• Kigali city tour with Kimironko Market and the Kigali Genocide Memorial
• Gorilla trekking experience in Volcanoes National Park
• Optional Rwanda cultural experience near Ruhengeri
• Flight from Kigali to Tanzania
• Full day game drive in Tarangire National Park
• Game drive in Lake Manyara National Park
• Optional visit to Olduvai Gorge on the way to Serengeti
• Game drive in Central Serengeti
• En route game drive to Northern Serengeti
• Full day Northern Serengeti migration experience
• Ngorongoro Crater game drive
• Drop-off at Kilimanjaro International Airport or Arusha

 Detailed Itinerary

Day 1, Kigali City Tour and Transfer to Volcanoes National Park

On arrival in Kigali, you will be met by a company representative and welcomed to Rwanda. You will start with a Kigali city tour, visiting Kimironko Market and the Kigali Genocide Memorial, two important stops for travellers who want to understand the city’s daily life, history, and culture. After lunch, you will drive north to Musanze, also known as Ruhengeri, the main town near Volcanoes National Park. The drive takes you through Rwanda’s scenic hills and countryside before arriving in the evening. You will check in at your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay. Accommodation: Mid-range, Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge, Luxury, Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel. Meal plan: Lunch and dinner

Day 2, Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park

After an early breakfast, you will transfer to Volcanoes National Park headquarters with your packed lunch and bottled drinking water. At 7,00 am, park ranger guides will brief you about gorilla trekking rules, safety, and the gorilla family assigned to your group. After the briefing, you will enter the forest with ranger guides and trackers in search of mountain gorillas. The trek can take between 2 and 8 hours depending on the location and movement of the gorilla family. Once the gorillas are found, you will spend one hour observing them as they feed, rest, move, and interact in their natural habitat. After the trek, return to your lodge to refresh and relax. In the evening, you may take an optional cultural visit around Musanze or Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village, depending on timing and availability. Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 3, Drive to Kigali and Fly to Tanzania

After breakfast at your lodge, you will check out and drive back to Kigali. Depending on your flight schedule, you will be dropped off at Kigali International Airport for your flight to Tanzania. On arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport or Arusha Airport, you will meet your Tanzania safari driver guide and transfer to your hotel in Arusha. The rest of the day will be at leisure as you prepare for the days ahead. Accommodation: Mid-range, Tulia Boutique Hotel and Spa, Luxury, Gran Melia Arusha. Meal plan: Breakfast and dinner

Day 4, Full Day Game Drive in Tarangire National Park

After breakfast, you will leave Arusha early and drive to Tarangire National Park, a journey of about 2 to 3 hours depending on traffic and road conditions. This marks the start of your Tanzania wildlife safari. On arrival, you will begin a game drive through Tarangire’s savannah, riverine woodland, and baobab landscapes. The park is well known for elephant herds, but you may also see lions, leopards, giraffes, buffalos, wildebeests, zebras, elands, impalas, gazelles, warthogs, and many bird species. You will have lunch during the safari and continue game viewing in the afternoon before driving to the Karatu or Lake Manyara area for dinner and overnight stay. Accommodation: Mid-range, Lake Manyara Tortilis Lodge, Luxury, Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge. Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 5, Full Day Game Drive in Lake Manyara National Park

After breakfast at your lodge, you will drive to Lake Manyara National Park for a full day of wildlife viewing. The park lies below the Great Rift Valley escarpment and is known for its lake scenery, groundwater forest, birdlife, elephants, baboons, hippos, giraffes, and the possibility of seeing tree-climbing lions. Your guide will take you through different habitats in the park, including forested areas, open plains, and lake viewpoints. During the game drive, you may see elephants, buffalos, gazelles, waterbucks, warthogs, giraffes, impalas, hippos, hyenas, and many bird species. After the game drive, return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay. Accommodation: Mid-range, Lake Manyara Tortilis Lodge, Luxury, Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge. Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 6, Drive to Serengeti National Park and Game Drive in Central Serengeti

After an early breakfast, you will check out and begin the drive to Serengeti National Park. Along the way, you may take an optional visit to Olduvai Gorge, an important archaeological site linked to early human history and discoveries by Mary and Louis Leakey. You will continue into Serengeti National Park with en route game viewing across the open plains. After lunch, you will enjoy an afternoon game drive in Central Serengeti, an area known for kopjes, big cats, resident wildlife, and wide savannah landscapes. During the game drive, you may see lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, buffalos, giraffes, wildebeests, zebras, hyenas, warthogs, antelopes, and impalas. Later, proceed to your lodge or camp for dinner and overnight stay. Accommodation: Mid-range, Osinon Lodges and Camps, Luxury, Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge. Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 7, En Route Game Drive from Central Serengeti to Northern Serengeti

After breakfast, you will check out with a packed lunch and begin an en route game drive from Central Serengeti towards Northern Serengeti. The morning is a good time for wildlife viewing as many animals are still active before the heat of the day increases. You may pass through wildlife areas known for lions, leopards, elephants, buffalos, giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, antelopes, hyenas, and hippos. Depending on the route, you may also visit the Retina Hippo Pool, where groups of hippos can often be seen in the water. After lunch, continue towards Northern Serengeti with game viewing along the way. On arrival, check in at your lodge or camp for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay. Accommodation: Mid-range, Mara River Lodge or Mara Heritage Camp, Luxury, Mara Mara Tented Lodge. Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 8, Full Day Northern Serengeti Wildebeest Migration Experience

After breakfast, you will leave the lodge with a packed lunch for a full day game drive in Northern Serengeti. This region is one of the key areas for the wildebeest migration, especially when herds move towards the Mara River during the dry season months. Your guide will follow the best wildlife routes based on recent sightings, road conditions, and herd movement. During the game drive, you may see wildebeests, zebras, lions, cheetahs, hyenas, elephants, giraffes, buffalos, antelopes, hippos, and crocodiles near the river. If conditions are right, you may witness migration activity around the Mara River, although river crossings are natural events and cannot be guaranteed. You will enjoy your packed lunch in the park and continue exploring the Northern Serengeti plains before returning to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay. Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 9, Drive to Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Crater Game Drive

After breakfast, you will check out and drive towards the Ngorongoro Conservation Area with lunch en route. This is a long but scenic journey from the Serengeti plains towards the Ngorongoro highlands. Depending on arrival time and park arrangements, you will descend into Ngorongoro Crater for a game drive on the crater floor. The crater is one of Tanzania’s best wildlife areas, with chances to see lions, elephants, buffalos, zebras, wildebeests, hyenas, hippos, gazelles, and black rhinos. You may also visit Lake Magadi, a shallow alkaline lake that attracts flamingos and other bird species depending on water and feeding conditions. After the crater experience, you will continue to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay. Accommodation: Mid-range, Hhando Coffee Lodge. Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 10, Drive to Arusha for Departure

After breakfast at your lodge, you will check out and drive back to Arusha. The journey takes you through northern Tanzania’s highland scenery and local towns before reaching Arusha or Kilimanjaro International Airport. On arrival, your driver guide will drop you off at your hotel, Arusha Airport, or Kilimanjaro International Airport for your onward departure. This marks the end of your 10-day Rwanda and Tanzania Safari. Meal plan Breakfast

Inclusions and Exclusions

Inclusions

• Airport pick up and drop off
• Rwanda gorilla trekking permit
• 4×4 safari vehicle and fuel
• Full-time English-speaking driver guide
• Accommodation
• Meals as indicated in the itinerary
• Bottled drinking water during the safari
• National park entry fees

Exclusions

• International air tickets
• Inbound and outbound flights
• Rwanda visa fees
• Tanzania visa fees
• Travel insurance
• Personal expenses
• Porterage
• Tips and gratuities for guides, lodge staff, and wait staff
• Optional cultural visits
• Any activity or service not listed under inclusions