10 Days Rwanda Gorilla & Wildebeest Safari
Overview
This 10-day safari to the Volcanoes, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, and Maasai Mara is an awe- inspiring way to combine the thrilling experience in Rwanda, Tanzania, and Kenya all in one journey. At competitive prices, go gorilla trekking in Rwanda and game watching in Kenya and Tanzania’s flat plains. This journey begins in Rwanda and concludes in Kenya’s Nairobi.
Summarized Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Kigali and transfer to the Volcanoes National Park
Day 2: Mountain gorilla trekking
Day 3: Cultural tour of Ibyiwachu and flight to Arusha
Day 4: Transfer to Serengeti National Park
Day 5: Game viewing for the whole day
Day 6: Optional Balloon Safari & Ngorongoro Crater Safari
Day 7: Big five game and Olduvai Gorge visit
Day 8: Fly to Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya.
Day 9: Masai Cultural Tour & Game Viewing
Day 10: Departure
Itinerary in detail
Day 1: Arrive in Kigali and move to the National Park of Volcanoes.
Meet your driver guide from our company at Kigali International Airport and then transfer to Volcanoes National Park in north-western Rwanda. It takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes to drive from Kigali to Volcanoes Park.
Day 2: Mountain gorilla trekking
Very early in the morning, wake-up and have a cup of tea before heading to Kinigi Park Headquarters for registration and briefing about gorilla trekking dos and don’ts. You’ll be divided into eight sections, each with its own designated gorilla family.
The trek into the forest starts at 8:00 am to track the endangered mountain gorillas. Trekking time will vary from 1 – 6 hours. The journey is very challenging, but rather rewarding on an encounter with the majestic mountain gorillas.
Here you get to spend an hour with the endangered gorillas as you witness how they feed, play and roam the dense vegetation. This is a heart-touching moment while you take life time photos to carry on these memories to later generations.
After a wonderful and magical time with these gentle giants, retreat to your lodge for refreshment, dinner and overnight.
Mountain gorilla trekking
Day 3: Ibyiwachu cultural tour and flight to Arusha
After an early morning breakfast, head to the Ibyiwachu Cultural Centre to learn about the Rwandan customs, norms, and values. For entertainment, enjoy and participate in Rwanda’s traditional dances.
After a deep connection with the Rwanda culture, transfer to Kigali airport in order to catch your flight to Tanzania. At your arrival in Tanzania, transfer to your lodge for refreshment, dinner and overnight.
Day 4: Transfer to Serengeti National Park
With an early morning breakfast and packed lunch from the lodge, set out on a 6-hours drive to Serengeti, Tanzania’s most popular tourist destination.
Enjoy this scenic trip with multiple stopovers for roadside food and interaction with locals. Check-in your accommodation after a long journey and refresh, have dinner plus a comfortable overnight as you prepare for a morning game drive the following day.
Day 5: Game viewing for the whole day
After an early morning breakfast, head on for a scenic game drive through the vast savannahs grasslands. The game drives have outstanding views of the park’s numerous wild animals as they hunt, feed, and gaze. Here you get to encounter the Africa’s big game – Lions, Elephants, rhinos, leopards, buffalos as well as tigers, wildebeests, giraffes, hippos, jackals, Serval cats, Topis, Waterbucks, warthogs, monitor lizards, and foxes are only a few of the species you can expect to see.
You’ll enjoy a picnic lunch in the wilderness before going for an evening game drive to see the animals eat before retiring for the night. At the lodge, you’ll have dinner and an overnight as well.
Serengeti – game drive
Day 6: Optional Balloon Safari & Ngorongoro Crater Safari
Have an optional balloon safari in the early morning for aerial views of wildlife and entry into Serengeti National Park. Return to the lodge for a late breakfast, freshen up, then sign out of your lodge and transfer to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. On arrival, check-in to your lodge where you’ll have dinner and an overnight.
Hot-air balloon safaris
Day 7: Big five game and Olduvai Gorge visit
In the early morning, head to the Ngorongoro Crater for Big Five game viewing. Get an awe-inspiring experience as you see various wild animals including lions, Rhinos, Elephants, Buffalos, elands, blue monkeys, Hippos, Wildebeests, Leopards, Zebras, Gazelles, Kobs, jackals and spotted hyenas among others.
After a delicious picnic meal and sundowner, head to the Olduvai Gorge to see the earliest signs of human evolution. A guided walk to the Olduvai gorge is the most unforgettable experience that you get to encounter as well as a dinner and an overnight stay at the lodge.
Day 8: Fly to Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya.
After a morning breakfast, check out from your lodge, and drive to the airstrip to catch a flight to Masai Mara National Park. Upon arrival, have lunch and take leisurely game drive through the open plains of Masai Mara to explore resident wildlife that call this epic and awe-inspiring park home. Return to the designated lodge for dinner and an overnight.
Day 9: Masai Cultural Tour & Game Viewing
From a delicious early morning breakfast, go for morning game drives in the open plains of the park and encounter with early risers feeding before retiring for day rests. Among the animals you will see include Elephants, lions, Buffalos, Leopards, Rhinos, Wildebeest, Giraffes, zebras, waterbucks and kobs as well as witnessing the breath-taking sceneries of the park.
Retire to the lodge for late breakfast as you wait for hot lunch. In the afternoon, visit Masai local communities for a cultural performance and a campfire fully of ancient stories. Refresh up, have dinner and spend an overnight at your lodge as you take in the awesome memories that you have been collecting for the past days.
Day 10: Departure
Enjoy a morning breakfast as you say farewell to the awe-inspiring vast landscapes. Transfer to Nairobi for your return flight in time.
End of Safari!
