This is one of the best African safaris where you will trek mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and later explore the wide savannah plains of Serengeti National Park in Tanzania.
You will enjoy a picnic lunch and take in the beautiful East African scenery, especially the hills of Rwanda. Gorilla trekking is a top activity in Africa, and you will spend one hour in the presence of the gorillas.
If you travel during the right month, you may also see the great wildebeest migration.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Travel to Volcanoes National Park from Kigali after a pickup from your agreed location. On the way, visit the twin lakes of Burera and Ruhondo, where you will enjoy a boat cruise.
Volcanoes National Park is one of three parks in the Virunga Mountains, which are located on the borders of Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The park is well known for the work of Dian Fossey, a primate researcher who helped protect many mountain gorillas. After arriving at the park, you will head to your lodge for dinner and rest.
Day 2: Gorilla Trekking Experience
Start the day with breakfast, then take a short drive to the park offices for a briefing. You will learn about the mountain gorillas and how to behave while with them. The guide will explain what you can and cannot do, such as not feeding animals, not making noise, and not using flash when taking photos.
Carry a small snack or packed lunch, enough drinking water, and other essentials. With the help of an armed ranger guide, you will begin the walk through the forest. Along the way, you may see plants, birds, butterflies, and more.
When you meet a gorilla family, you will enjoy watching their behavior, which often looks like that of humans. You will spend one hour with the gorillas, then return to the lodge to relax.
Day 3: Transfer to Kigali, Fly to Arusha, and Drive to Serengeti National Park
After breakfast, drive back to Kigali to catch your flight to Arusha, Tanzania. When you arrive in Arusha, a company representative will meet you and give a short briefing about the rest of the safari.
Then drive to Serengeti National Park, where you will join a full-day game drive the next day. On arrival, check in at the lodge for your overnight stay.
Day 4: Full-Day Game Drive in Serengeti National Park
Spend the whole day exploring the Serengeti on game drives. Enjoy a picnic lunch in the park while watching animals on the open plains.
You will likely see zebras, giraffes, elephants, buffaloes, leopards, lions, wildebeests, and more. You will also see many birds, plants, and beautiful views. If you are lucky, you may witness the wildebeest migration, or even see them mating or giving birth.
Day 5: Morning Game Drive and Transfer to Arusha Airport
After an early breakfast, take one last game drive to see more animals or those you may have missed. Later, drive back to Arusha and head to the airport for your flight home. This marks the end of your safari through Rwanda’s forests and Tanzania’s Savannah plains.
