13-Days Tanzania & Zanzibar Timeless Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda

Day 1: Touch Down in Tanzania

When you arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport, we will collect and transfer you to your first night at the Arusha Serena Hotel, located at Mount Meru’s foot second-highest mountain in Tanzania. The area is known as the gateway to the safari. Get settled in and meet your fellow travelers before you set off on your epic Tanzanian and Rwandan luxury adventure.

Main Destination: Arusha (City, Tanzania)

Accommodation: Arusha Serena Hotel, Resort & Spa

Luxury hotel located in or near Arusha (Tanzania)

Meals & Drinks:

• Dinner (Breakfast & lunch not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 2: Lake Manyara & on to Ngorongoro

In the morning, we depart from the Arusha Serena Hotel for a visit to a Maasai Boma Village, a perfect opportunity to learn about the Maasai traditions and have a bush lunch. Enjoy the first game viewing opportunity at Lake Manyara National Park as you continue on the lodge built on the dormant volcano’s rim, take in breathtaking views over the “lost world” below. Join us for a welcome reception and dinner at the lodge.

Main Destination: Ngorongoro Crater

Best Time To Visit: June to September (General wildlife viewing is best)

High Season: Most of the year – July to March (Expect crowds)

Best Weather: June to October (Rainfall is little to none)

Accommodation: Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge

Luxury lodge located on the crater rim of Ngorongoro Crater (Tanzania)

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 3: Game Drive & a picnic in Ngorongoro Crater

On Day 3, explore Africa’s “Garden of Eden” – the Ngorongoro Crater. Begin your Luxury Tanzania Safari with a game drive over the “lost world’ of Ngorongoro Crater. You will see grasslands, forests, and freshwater lakes that inspire the continual migration of animals. Today is the perfect opportunity to catch a glimpse of Africa’s notorious Big Five, i.e., buffalo, elephants, leopards, black-maned lions, and the rare black rhinoceros, as well as herds of zebras, wildebeest, and gazelles roaming life-giving landscapes. At the end of your migration safari, enjoy dinner and local entertainment. At your lodge, you’ll be able to observe Ngorongoro’s wildlife-rich caldera below from the comfort of your private terrace.

Main Destination: Ngorongoro Crater

Accommodation: Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge

Luxury lodge located on the crater rim of Ngorongoro Crater (Tanzania)

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 4: Vis Ol Duvai George & on to the Serengeti 

Study the development of humankind at Oldupai Gorge. This is where archaeologists Louis and Mary Leakey discovered some of the earliest known human species’ fossilized remains, an estimated 1.8 million years old. Learn all about the significance of such a site during your docent-led tour. Afterward, you will ride along rough dirt roads while taking in some more wildlife viewing en route to your lodge in the Serengeti, which was inspired by Maasai tribal dwellings. Have dinner at your leisure and enjoy some local entertainment in the lounge in the evening.

Main Destination: Central Serengeti National Park

Best Time To Visit: June to February (Areas are best at different times)

High Season: July to March (The Seronera area is crowded)

Best Weather: June to October (Little to no rainfall)

Accommodation: Serengeti Sametu Camp

Luxury tented camp located inside Central Serengeti (Tanzania)

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 5: More Game Drive in Serengeti

View the African plains from above. On Day 5, take a mesmerizing hot air balloon flight as dawn breaks over the stunning Serengeti grasslands. Observe the wildlife during the first light of day, which is sure to be an African safari highlight.

After landing below, indulge in a champagne breakfast in the bush. This experience is sure to mark an unforgettable day.

In the afternoon, embark on a game drive throughout the Serengeti plains, where sightings of wildebeest, zebras, giraffes, hyenas, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, rhinoceros, hippos, buffalo, jackals, gazelles are frequent. Not only that, but this area of land is the best place on the continent to see the pride of lions.

After much excitement, return to your lodge for lunch and an afternoon of leisure. Lectures will be held at the lodge by an expert if you wish to learn more throughout the afternoon. In the evening ahead, experience a sundowner with filmmaking gadgets before having dinner at the lodge.

Main Destination: Central Serengeti National Park

Accommodation: Serengeti Sametu Camp

Luxury tented camp located inside Central Serengeti (Tanzania)

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 6: Explore the Western Serengeti

Today we travel Serengeti’s remote Western Corridor, known for huge masses of migrating game animals seen thundering across the terrain. Tonight we stay at Grumeti, a luxurious tented camp in the remote Grumeti River region. A truly unique African safari experience. Some animals you might see during your afternoon game drive include wildebeest, lion, buffalo, cheetah, warthogs, giraffes, and zebra as you ride across the treeless plains of the Serengeti

Main Destination: Western Serengeti National Park

Accommodation: Kirawira Serena Camp

Luxury+ tented camp located inside Western Serengeti (Tanzania)

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 7: More Game Drive on the Serengeti Plains

Private safari game drives in Amboseli National Park offer an opportunity to view elephants, hippos, and buffaloes seeking the park’s natural watering holes and graceful antelopes grazing in the flat grasslands. An early morning visit to a Maasai village precedes a morning game drive, after which you’ll return to the lodge for breakfast. Spend time at leisure before lunch, then another game drive, and time to spend as you please at the lodge for the remainder of the afternoon. Enjoy an included dinner at your leisure at the lodge this evening.

Main Destination: Western Serengeti National Park

Accommodation: Kirawira Serena Camp

Luxury+ tented camp located inside Western Serengeti (Tanzania)

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 8: To Zanzibar & Spice Walk – Stone Town

Please sit back and relax as we transfer you from the plains to the ocean. Once we arrive, enjoy a cultural tour of the stone town and learn all about the rich history of Zanzibar and beyond.

Stay the night at the Park Hyatt as you change over to the luxury beach vacation section of your adventure.

Main Destination: Zanzibar Stone Town (Zanzibar, Tanzania)

Accommodation: Park Hyatt Zanzibar

Luxury hotel located in or near Stone Town (Zanzibar, Tanzania)

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 9: Cruise via Dhow

Dhows, the traditional Arabian sailboat, have ruled the Indian Ocean waters of the Swahili Coast for centuries. Set sail on one of these traditional sailboats from Zanzibar “Stone Town” for an Indian Ocean safari. Pay attention as the friendly captain and crew guide you to see dolphins playing in the great ocean blue before we cast anchor on the sandy beach for some light swimming or snorkeling over some coral reefs if you desire.

When back at shore, take the time to check out the rest of this UNESCO World Heritage Site and fascinating Stone Town.

Later on, meet us back at the hotel for a farewell reception followed by a farewell, dinner while gazing over the ocean once more.

Main Destination: Zanzibar Stone Town (Zanzibar, Tanzania)

Accommodation: Park Hyatt Zanzibar

Luxury hotel located in or near Stone Town (Zanzibar, Tanzania)

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 10: Fly to Kigali, Rwanda

Wake up this morning with exciting opportunity to enjoy a ‘spice’ tour of stone town, in the main port of Zanzibar City. You will learn where some of your favorite spice come from as your guide reveal an aromatic secret hidden in the nuts, roots, and bark. Then fly, and head to Kigali airport in Rwanda, home to Volcanoes National Park and the forested habitat of endangered mountain gorillas and golden monkeys. You can expect a late afternoon arrival at your Serena Hotel, which is followed by dinner at your leisure.

Main Destination: Kigali

Accommodation: Kigali Serena Hotel

Luxury hotel located in or near Kigali (Rwanda)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 11: Kigali Coffee on to Volcano National Park

Enjoy a cup of local coffee when you wake up in Rwanda for the first morning. See a local cooperative that empowers Rwandan women to become coffee growers. Learn all about how coffee is made, from planting and harvesting to roasting and brewing.

You will have plenty of opportunities to have a cup or two. Afterward, we head on a drive through the countryside to the city of Ruhengeri at the base of Volcanoes National Park. You will see right ancient volcanoes overlooking the thriving wildlife and breathtaking landscape, an authentic luxury Rwanda safari.

Tonight, we stay at a traditional grass-thatched Rwandan lodge, nestled under the eucalyptus trees at the foothills of the Virunga Volcano range. Take in lunch before we visit the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund Museum, here we will learn insights and observations about gorilla behavior in preparation for tomorrow’s trek. Listen to the fascinating story of Dian Fossey’s unforgettable quest to save the great mountain gorilla

Main Destination: Volcanoes National Park (Gorillas)

Best Time To Visit: June to August (It is drier and hiking is easier)

High Season: June to September (Permits are scarce)

Best Weather: June to October (Sunny, but not too hot)

Accommodation: One&Only Gorilla’s Nest Lodge

Luxury resort located just outside Volcanoes NP (Rwanda)

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• All drinks (Premium wines & liquors might be excluded)

Day 12: Gorilla Trek in Volcano National Park 

Rise early for your once-in-a-lifetime gorilla trekking opportunity. Together, we drive to Volcanoes National Park’s headquarters to receive a briefing from your expert mountain guides. They answer any questions you may have about your trek into the wilderness and provide a dance performance as you eat your boxed breakfast.

Climb aboard a safari vehicle as you make your way to the trailhead where your gorilla trek begins. Here, you will be assigned a porter who will help carry your provisions and camera while leading you to the gorilla family you are here to meet. Once we locate the gorillas, you will have the rare opportunity to watch them interact with each other, and potentially with you too if they choose!

When your hour-long visit is over, we head back to the lodge for lunch and an afternoon at leisure. A local expert will present an informative lecture this afternoon about the endangered mountain gorillas you were privileged to see. Join us tonight for a farewell reception and exceptional dinner at the lodge.

Main Destination: Volcanoes National Park (Gorillas)

Accommodation: One&Only Gorilla’s Nest Lodge

Luxury resort located just outside Volcanoes NP (Rwanda)

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• All drinks (Premium wines & liquors might be excluded)

Day 13: Journey Home

Time to say goodbye! Today, your tour ends, and you fly back home. After breakfast, we depart from the hotel. We will journey to Kigali, stopping en route to visit the Genocide Memorial Museum, where we will pay tribute to the 800,000 Rwandans who lost their lives during the atrocities of 1994. We discover how Rwanda could come together, heal, and move forward into the future with hope and resilience.

Finally, we arrive at the Kigali Serena Hotel, where we have reserved day rooms for you until your flight home in the evening. Airport transfers are included to Kigali International Airport. Please allow a minimum of three hours for flight check-in at the airport.

Accommodation: No accommodation (End of tour)