12 Days Tanzania and Rwanda safari
12 Days Tanzania and Rwanda safari is one of the best way to explore Tanzania wildlife and Rwanda primates. Volcanoes national park is Rwanda’s home for the endangered mountain gorillas. The park is located on Virunga Mountains shared with Uganda and Congo. Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park is different from other parks because it is quite easier to find the gorillas even with the steep hills of Virunga Mountains. There are about 10 habituated gorilla families for visitors to see. Apart from gorilla trekking, Volcanoes national park is also a home to the endangered golden monkeys and other primates, a few of the forest animals, about 200 different bird species and a Mountain hiking destination. With this package, you enjoy visiting Tanzania’s richest wildlife destinations including Lake Manyara national park, Serengeti national park and Ngorongoro crater where you will enjoy the nature’s best including the Big 5 game, the wildlife migration. This package can also be added with a tour to Zanzibar which is the best destination for relaxation and honeymooners. You will have maximum time to indulge in nature and beaches as a way of relaxing and chilling from the other noisy and busy world.
Safari highlights of the 12 Days Tanzania and Rwanda safari
- Day 1: Arrival in Kigali – Rwanda
- Day 2: Transfer to Volcanoes national park – Community tour
- Day 3: Gorilla trekking experience
- Day 4: Excursion at Lake Kivu – Transfer to Kigali
- Day 5: Fly to Tanzania
- Day 6: Transfer to Lake Manyara National park
- Day 7: Transfer to Serengeti National Park
- Day 8: Serengeti National Park – All day game drive
- Day 9: Another day in Serengeti national park and transfer to Ngorongoro conservation area
- Day 10; Explore Ngorongoro Crater
- Day 11; Transfer to Tarangire national park
- Day 12: Drive to Arusha – Departure
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Kigali – Rwanda
Upon arrival at Kigali international airport with your confirmed booked flight, you will be met by your safari driver who will be your guide throughout the trip, meet and greet, pack your luggage in the safari vehicle and drive to your booked accommodation in Kigali city. Depending on your time of arrival, doing a city tour on this day will be the best. Visit some of the interesting places in Kigali including the Kigali genocide memorial, drive to one of the hills in Kigali for a city view and a market tour. Return in the evening to your Hotel for dinner and overnight stay
- Luxury option: Kigali Serena Hotel
- Mid-range option: Des Mille Collins Hotel
- Budget option: Step Town Motel
Day 2: Transfer to Volcanoes national park – Community tour
After breakfast, check-out of the hotel and embark on your journey to transfer to Volcanoes national park. It’s a 2-3 hours’ drive from Kigali to Musanze where we find the home of the endangered mountain gorillas.
Arrive in Musanze at good time for lunch after checking-in your booked accommodation. Later afternoon, visit Iby’wacu Cultural Village-a Non-Profit umbrella organization that aims at improving the lives of reformed poachers and communities around Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park through provision of conservation incentives, supporting community enterprise development and livelihood based projects. It’s a rewarding place where you will be guided around the place as you enjoy the Kinyarwanda traditions including the Intore dance, traditional ceremonies and a guided community walk. Connect to your booked accommodation for dinner and overnight stay at
- Luxury option: 5 Volcanoes Gorilla lodge/Virunga lodge
- Mid-range option: Le Bambou Gorilla lodge/Da Vinci Gorilla lodge
- Budget option: Hotel Muhabura/Kinigi Guesthouse
Day 3: Gorilla trekking experience
After early morning breakfast, you will be transferred to the Kinigi park headquarters with your trekking gears for a briefing about the endangered mountain gorillas. You have been allocated a gorilla family to trek, connect to the starting point and start trekking along with the guidance of the armed ranger guides together with the ranger guides. This activity may take between 2-8 hours searching for the gorillas depending on their movement. However meeting them is so rewarding and you will spend maximally 1 hour with them as you take time studying them and taking pictures and videos. After spending your time with the fascinating mountain gorillas, return to the base and meet your driver to connect to your lodge for lunch and refresh. Spend the rest of your day at leisure. Dinner and overnight stay at booked lodge as above
Day 4: Excursion at Lake Kivu – Transfer to Kigali
After your breakfast, transfer to explore Lake Kivu and connect to Rubavu town at the shores of Lake Kivu where you will spend the rest of the day enjoying the shores while taking boat trips to the island of the lake, a town tour with lunch en-route then transfer back to Kigali. Check-in for dinner and overnight stay at
- Luxury option: Kigali Serena Hotel
- Mid-range option: Des Mille Collins Hotel
- Budget option: Step Town Motel
Day 5: Fly to Tanzania
After breakfast at your lodge, you will proceed to Kigali for your flight to Arusha. Your guide in Arusha will welcome you, brief you about your safari and drive you to your hotel for dinner and overnight at Tulia boutique hotel and spa.
Day 6: Transfer to Lake Manyara National park
After breakfast at the hotel, at an agreed time you with safari guide, depart Arusha to connect to Lake Manyara national park. This park is known for its huge soda lake filled with pink-hued flamingo birds and large numbers of baboons and incredible breath-taking views. It also rich in wildlife including the Elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, Zebras, Hippos and on a day you can spot the tree climbing lions. It’s a about 130kms (2 hours’ drive) from Arusha to Lake Manyara.
Upon arrival at the park, enjoy a late morning game drive for chances to spot the mentioned animals above as you drive to check-in your lodge. Have lunch and spend the rest of your afternoon at leisure either on another game drive or visit Lake Manyara for the chances of viewing the flamingo birds. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation and meals;
- Luxury option: Lake Manyara Sopa Lodge/Lake Manyara Serena Safari lodge
- Mid-range option: Marera Valley lodge
- Budget option: Lulimac Lake Manyara lodge
Day 7: Transfer to Serengeti National Park
After breakfast, you transfer to Serengeti national park. It is about 205 kms (4-5 hours’ drive). First you will proceed to your lodge for check-in and have lunch. Later afternoon, you will drive to Central Serengeti for game drive. In this area of the park, you will have opportunity to see big prides of lions, Cheetahs, Leopards, Hyenas, Giraffes, Elephants, different Antelopes and other wildlife. Later in the evening return to your lodge for dinner and overnight at either lodge as above
Accommodation and meals
- Luxury option: Serengeti Serena Lodge/Mbalangeti lodge
- Mid-range option: Osinon Camps and lodges
- Budget option: Ikoma Safari Camp
Day 8: Serengeti National Park – All day game drive
You will have breakfast at your lodge as you prepare for morning game drive in the savannah plains of Serengeti national park to see various wildlife species which are very active in the morning and can easily be spotted as you also enjoy the sunrise. Some of the attractions you will visit during your visit in Serengeti national park include the retina hippo pool where you can see many hippos swimming in a pool. You will also see different predators in the savannah of this national park especially sitting on top of rock kopjes.
Your lunch will be served at your lodge after your morning game drive. Later in the evening, you will engage in another game drive to see wildlife species such as the big five like lions, leopards, buffalos, rhinos and elephants. You will also see other wildlife and bird species which include wildebeest, waterbucks, antelopes, zebras, kudus, hippos, buffalos among others. You will return to your lodge after your evening game drive for dinner and overnight at lodge as above
Day 9: Another day in Serengeti national park and transfer to Ngorongoro conservation area
After breakfast, you will drive to Central Serengeti for game drive for yet another game drive. This area has a lot of animals to explore at your disposal with your picnic lunch. In this area of the park, you will have opportunity to see big prides of lions, cheetahs, leopards, hyenas, giraffes, elephants, different antelopes and other wildlife. Late afternoon, connect to Ngorongoro conservation area, check-in dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation and meals
- Luxury option: Ngorongoro Serene lodge
- Mid-range option: Ihando lodge
- Budget option: Rhino Lodge
Day 10; Explore Ngorongoro Crater
After breakfast, descend to the Ngorongoro crater to see different attractions such as Lake Magadi which is found at the center of the crater. As you explore the Ngorongoro crater, you will also see flamingos along the shores of Lake Magadi in big numbers as well as other bird species. You will also see wildlife species in the crater area such as elephants, buffalos, rhinos, zebras, waterbucks, antelopes, hyenas, gazelles, kudus, predators such as lions, leopards, cheetahs. You will also enjoy beautiful views of the scenery around you as you explore the Ngorongoro conservation area. You will then proceed to your lodge for dinner and overnight at lodge as above
Day 11; Transfer to Tarangire national park
After your breakfast, you will continue your drive to Tarangire national park which begins your wildlife viewing experiences in Tanzania. After checking in at your lodge in the national park, you will prepare to have your lunch before heading out into the wilderness of the national park.
During your game drive, you will see different wildlife species grazing and roaming in the national park such as lions, giraffes, antelopes, giraffes, lions, leopards, buffalos, wildebeests, elands, elephants, cheetahs, impalas and a variety of bird species can also be seen especially around the Tarangire national park. As you enjoy the sunset and scenery around you, your guide will dive you back to your lodge for dinner and overnight at
- Luxury option: Tarangire Sopa Lodge
- Mid-range option: Tarangire Roika lodge
Day 12: Drive to Arusha – Departure
After breakfast at your lodge, you will check out of the lodge and continue your drive to Arusha . You will be dropped off at the airport for your onward flight back home.
End of the 12 Days Tanzania and Rwanda safari
