10 Night Rwanda & Tanzania Safari

Highlights:

• Magical Gorillas in The Mist, Rwanda
• Enchanting Tanzania Migration, Ngorongoro Crater and Elephants
• 10 Nights of Luxury

Day 1	Arrive in Kigali, Rwanda. Visit the genocide museum and enjoy a city tour. Road transfer to Ruhengeri, the base for gorilla trekking at the Parc National des Volcans.
Day 2	Transfer to the Volcanoes National Park HQs for the first gorilla trek.
Day 3	Depart to the park headquarters for the golden monkey trek.
Day 4	Fly to Serengeti, Tanzania
Day 5	Free day in Serengeti National Park
Day 6	Fly to Lake Manyara / Ngorongoro
Day 7	A full-day game drive in Ngorongoro crater
Day 8	Game drive / walking safari in the Chem Chem Concession (Tarangire National Park / Lake Manyara)
Day 9	Option of Game drives in Tarangire National Park, guided nature walks and / or visit a boma (village) to interact with the local Mbuwge people and learn about their culture.
Day 10	Transfer to Siringit Kilimanjaro Golf and Safari Retreat.
Day 11	Depart

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Kigali to Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda

Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport with morning flight, Visit the genocide museum and enjoy a city tour.

Lunch in Kigali.

Depart on scenic drive North West wards through the beautiful terraced hillsides that display Rwanda’s landscape.

Arrive at Ruhengeri, the base for Gorilla trekking at the Parc National des Volcans. The town itself is located only 25km from Uganda boarder, is relatively a small city of about 70,000 people. The constant flow of humanity is quite remarkable. The Town has great views of the surrounding volcanoes. People are very friendly here and although a former Belgian colony (and thus French-speaking), many people speak English here.

Overnight at Bisate Lodge (LDBB)

Day 2: Volcanoes National Park

Early breakfast.

0620 hrs: Transfer to the Volcanoes National Park HQs for the first gorilla trek.

0700 hrs: Briefing by your trackers then drive to the trail head for the start of your amazing Gorilla Tracking adventure.

Porters may be hired for the trek to carry your backpack and gear.
The cost is USD$10 per person/per day. We advise that you utilize this service.

Your trek again starts in the cultivated foothills of the Virunga’s offering stirring views in all directions. When it enters the national park, trekkers will be immersed in the mysterious intimacy of the rainforest, alive with the colorful bird calls, chattering golden monkeys, littered with fresh spoor of the mountains’ elusive buffalo and elephant. Through gaps in the canopy, the magnificent peaks are glimpsed, among the highest in Africa yet easily accessible, beckon an ascent.

Weaving through overhanging vines, moss-covered hagenia trees and giant lobelias that thrive in the tropical climate, our experienced trackers, who have spent their entire lives in or close to this forest, soon bring us up close with one of the Gorilla Families.

Upon sighting the gorillas, you will stay with them for a magical hour as they go about their daily life, feeding, playing, resting; raising their young. Coming face to face with a giant silverback must truly be one of the greatest wildlife experiences on earth!

After the trek, rejoin your driver Guide for a transfer to your lodge/hotel for lunch.

Afternoon visit the cultural village.

Overnight at Bisate Lodge (LDBB)

Day 3: Volcanoes National Park

Early breakfast at the lodge.

Depart to the park headquarters for the golden monkey trek.

Lunch at the lodge.

Depart from foothills of the volcanoes and drive south past banana plantations on a scenic drive to Kigali.

Everything and everywhere, sheer green and hanging on the hills; Rwanda truly - land of a thousand fertile green hills. (2.5 hrs).

Accommodation at Kigali Serena on bed and breakfast accommodation

Day 4: Serengeti, Tanzania

After breakfast transfer to the airport, Fly on a Coastal flight Kigali/Kogatende airstrip in Serengeti 0600hrs/0925hrs, On arrival into the Serengeti, you will be met by Serian safari vehicle and driver guide. It’s a short game drive to camp. On arrival you will be escorted to Reception, given a short safari briefing, before being shown your tent. Enjoy lunch on the main outdoor deck while you spot game from your table before spending the remainder of the afternoon discovering this stunning camp or lounging on your private deck. In the late afternoon, climb back into your safari vehicle in search of any of the animals you have not yet been able to spot.

Serian's Serengeti North camp is perfectly positioned to spectate the wildebeest river crossings. It's located opposite Crossing Point 4 and midway among all crossing points along the river next to the open plains of the Lamai Wedge with it incredibly beautiful and abundance in game. The seclusion of the camp means that you are free to have the run of the place. Comprising just 4 tents, the peaceful intimacy lends itself to exclusive bookings, or groups accompanied by private guides.

Though it’s a mobile camp, its furnishings and creature comforts are much the same as Serian’s Serengeti North – with flushing toilets and bucket showers in an en suite bathroom, enormous wrought-iron beds, Moroccan rugs, and all the trimmings make it simplistically elegant and comfortable.

The northern Serengeti remain fantastically quiet and largely unvisited, due to their relative inaccessibility. Unlike the southern plains of the Serengeti that dry out, forcing all but the hardiest of species to leave, the Northern Serengeti remains lush and green throughout the year. The annual wildebeest migration through the Serengeti and the Masai Mara is the largest mass movement of land mammals on the planet – with more than a million animals following the rains. From July through to November the Migration is in the Northern Serengeti and this is where many of the most famous scenes of the Migration occur with almost daily crossings of the Mara River.

Accommodation at Serian Serengeti North Mobile - Tent (Game Package)

Day 5: Serengeti

You are free to spend your days in any way you please as there are plenty of activities to keep you busy. You may prefer to rise before the sun for an early morning game drive before returning to camp for a mid-morning breakfast or settle down in a secluded spot on the plains and enjoy a private breakfast served in the heart of the bush. Alternatively, you may wish to rise a little later and enjoy a leisurely breakfast before heading out for your game drive and returning in time for lunch.

Overnight at Serian Serengeti North Mobile - Tent (Game Package)

Day 6 : Lake Manyara / Ngorongoro

After breakfast you will have a morning game drive in Serengeti National Park. Lunch at Serian Serengeti North Camp, after lunch transferred to Kogatende airstrip for Coastal Scheduled flight Serengeti/Manyara 1455hrs/1730hrs, met at Lake Manyara airstrip and drive to Gibbs Farm for dinner and overnight.

Gibb’s Farm overlooks the centuries-old Great Rift Valley and Ngorongoro Forest. The lodge was established as a coffee farm in the late 1920s and refurbished as a warm, rustic luxury inn, consists of a main farmhouse and several cottages that offer the warmth and charm of another era, with all of the modern amenities you could ask for. Inside, beautiful architectural details, such as the farmhouse’s original wooden beams, and colourful artwork reflecting the inspirations of local African artists greet you. Outside, the farm’s organic vegetable and terraced flower gardens provide a wonderful sanctuary for afternoon tea or a quiet walk or cycle on the back roads of Karatu. Beyond the farm’s coffee fields, Ngorongoro Forest and the local village beckon.

Accommodation at Gibb's Farm - Cottage (Full Board)

Day 7: Ngorongoro Crater

After breakfast drive to Ngorongoro crater descend into the sunken cone of the Ngorongoro Crater and enjoy a full-day game drive along the crater floor. The crater’s high walls serve as a natural enclosure for an abundance of wildlife. All the so-called "big five' may be seen. Among the notable birds are Lammergeyer, Vereaux's Eagle and Egyptian Vulture, which make their home in the highest of the crater wall, the beautiful Rosy-breasted Longclaw, which appears on the plains after rains and flocks of lesser and Greater Flamingos which are spasmodic visitors to the crater lakes. Picnic lunch will be served.

Overnight at Gibb's Farm – Cottage (Full Board)

By William Warby from London, England - In the Ngorongoro Crater, CC BY 2.0, Link

Day 8: Tarangire National Park

After breakfast drive to Little Chem Chem arrive for lunch, afternoon game drive / walking safari, dinner and overnight at Little Chem Chem.

Little Chem Chem is situated on the edge of an acacia forest, overlooking the freshwater lake, Lake Burunge. The atmosphere at Little Chem Chem is welcoming, elegant and oozing authenticity of a bygone era. Little Chem Chem’s intimate, elegant but authentic atmosphere, is the ultimate setting from which to explore Africa on foot. Little Chem Chem offers five exquisitely decorated tents, each with a large bedroom, with a rocking chair and study desk, a vanity area with dressing room and an en suite bathroom with a shower and flushing toilet. Embracing an ‘Out-of-Africa’ atmosphere each tent also offers a private fire pit with flames that mesmerize you as the sounds of an African night come to life all around to you.

The Chem Chem Concession lies in the migration corridor between the ancient landscapes of the Tarangire National Park and the tranquil waters of Lake Manyara. 50 000 acres of sole use concession ensures a truly private safari in an authentic Tanzanian wilderness. Activities within the concession, which is not subject to national parks' rules, include walking, night drives and off-road driving. Within the concession you'll find good numbers of giraffe, impala and zebra, as well as lesser kudu, cheetah, leopard, and over 200 species of birds. The occasional elephant and lion are also spotted here.

Accommodation at Little Chem Chem - Tented Room (Game Package)

Day 9: Tarangire National Park

Activities today include an option of Game drives in Tarangire National Park, guided nature walks and / or visit a boma (village) to interact with the local Mbuwge people and learn about their culture.

Overnight at Little Chem Chem - Tented Room (Game Package)

Day 10: Kilimanjaro

After breakfast drive to Arusha for lunch at Shanga restaurant, afternoon transferred to Siringit Kilimanjaro Golf and Safari Retreat, afternoon you will have an optional beading class, dinner and overnight at Siringit.

Siringit Kilimanjaro Golf and Safari Retreat is a luxury 6 bedroom villa for exclusive use. The main area is open plan and consists of a modern kitchen and a huge living room. Both rooms are very homely; with deep, comfortable sofas - complete with scatter cushions - and interesting ornaments on the wooden bookshelves. Upstairs there are six exquisitely decorated rooms with state-of-the-art bathrooms. Stylish wooden trunks serve as bedside tables continuing the country home theme. All of the bedrooms have lovely modern en-suite bathrooms with walk in rain shower, and some have contemporary free-standing, oval bathtubs.

Accommodation at Siringit Kilimanjaro Golf and Safari Retreat - Villa (Half board)

Included meals: Breafast & Lunch

Day 11: Depart

After breakfast transferred to Kilimanjaro International airport for your departure flight.

Download Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 - 2: Bisate Lodge, Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda
Day 3: Kigali Serena, Kigali
Day 4 - 5: Serian Serengeti North Mobile, Serengeti, Tanzania
Day 6 - 7: Gibb's Farm, Ngorongoro
Day 8 - 9: Little Chem Chem, Tarangire National Park
Day 10: Siringit Kilimanjaro Golf and Safari Retreat, Kilimanjaro