This 5-Day Gorilla Trek & Ngorongoro Wildlife Safari includes visits to mountain gorillas in Rwanda and the Big Five animals in one of the world’s largest calderas.
Rwanda and Tanzania are neighboring countries, and this trip combines the best of both.
Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Conservation Area, part of the northern safari circuit, is home to many plants and animals.
In Rwanda, you will visit Volcanoes National Park, where you can see mountain gorillas, which are the closest living relatives to humans.
Trekking the gorillas requires some fitness, while the game drive in Ngorongoro offers great views of the wildlife and landscape.
The journey starts in Kigali and ends in Arusha, Tanzania.
Detailed 5-Day Gorilla Trek & Ngorongoro Safari Itinerary
Day 1: Pick Up and Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
When you arrive at the airport, a company representative will meet you in the arrivals lounge. Your driver and guide will give you a briefing while you enjoy a fresh juice and learn what to expect on your safari. Then you will visit nearby cultural and historical sites.
You will see the Kigali Genocide Memorial Center, art galleries, and other places that tell the story of the Tutsi and Hutu conflict in 1994. After the city tour and lunch, you will travel north to Volcanoes National Park.
The drive takes 2 to 3 hours and offers beautiful views of the countryside. When you arrive, the hotel will welcome you with a drink before dinner and overnight stay.
Day 2: Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park
After breakfast, gather your packed lunch, trekking permit, and other essentials. At the park headquarters, ranger guides will give a briefing about the rules and what to expect during the trek. Volcanoes National Park sits at the base of the large Virunga Mountain range.
After the briefing, you will start your hike following the last known location of a gorilla family. You will walk through thick forest, seeing birds, monkeys, and different plants along the way.
When you find the gorillas, you will spend one hour with them, watching silverbacks protect their families and mothers care for their young.
Trekking can take between 2 and 8 hours depending on where the gorillas are. Afterward, return to the lodge to rest or take part in extra activities like visiting the Gorilla Guardians Village or a nature walk.
The day ends with dinner and overnight.
Day 3: Return to Kigali & Fly to Arusha, Tanzania
After breakfast, leave Volcanoes National Park and travel back to Kigali. There, you will catch a flight to Arusha in northern Tanzania. On arrival, you will drive to the Ngorongoro Crater area.
This day is mainly for travel, with time for lunch and short stops at safari spots. Your driver-guide will brief you on what to expect on your Tanzanian safari before you check into your lodge.
Get ready for the sounds and sights of wildlife the next day.
Day 4: Game Drive in Ngorongoro Crater
After a good breakfast, check out and take a packed lunch with you. Spend the day exploring the Ngorongoro Crater, one of the world’s natural wonders. You will enjoy lunch and breaks outdoors while watching animals. Lions, hyenas, and leopards can be hard to see, but you might get lucky.
The best chance to see them is in the evening. You will see many animals including antelopes, warthogs, buffaloes, lions, leopards, wildebeests, and hyenas.
The birds here are also special and add to the experience. After lunch, you will take an evening drive to see more wildlife dens. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 5: Departure
After morning tea, check out and travel to Arusha or Kilimanjaro airport for your flight home. This ends your 5-Day Gorilla Trek & Ngorongoro Wildlife Safari. Your activities on this day will depend on your flight time.
