Day 1 - Arrive Kigali

Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel for the night.  

Kigali, Rwanda’s capital, has been at the centre of the country’s dedication move past their tragic history stronger and better than ever. The city has been hailed one of the cleanest, safest and prettiest capital cities in Africa. This is unsurprising considering the substantial strides Rwanda has taken to ameliorating the country, from its ban of plastic bags, to the implementation of Umuganda which sees a monthly coalition of all citizens to clean up their neighbourhoods. Kigali’s extensive development has also seen the growth of cultural and contemporary activities; shopping at trendy artisan hub Kigali Cultural Village, exploring the explosion of colours at Kimironko Market, enjoying the city’s burgeoning dining and café scene, or honouring the country’s painful past by visiting the Kigali Genocide Memorial. Situated in the centre of Rwanda, Kigali is also the ideal base for tourists to explore the rest of the country’s treasures, such as trekking for the famed mountain gorillas.

Overnight: Bronze: Hotel Des Milles Collines | Silver: Kigali Serena | Gold: The Retreat

Meal Plan: D

Day 2 - Kigali – Volcanoes National Park

After breakfast you will be taken on a City Tour of Kigali including the Memorial Centre and Crafts Centres. This tour is a fantastic way to start your trip in Rwanda as it showcases the clean capital city, gives you an insight into the history of the county and also allows you to do a little bit of shopping along the way.

After lunch, you drive north to Ruhengeri at the foothills of the Virungas arriving at your lodge late in the afternoon in time for dinner and overnight.

Hidden away amongst the thick rainforest of Volcanoes National Park in the northwest of Rwanda lives one of the planet’s most endangered species: the gorilla. The park, which contains five out of the eight volcanos of the Virunga Mountains, is the most accessible gorilla national park in the world and is home to 10 habituated groups of this glorious creature. Volcanoes National Park offers other incredible lifetime experiences, including tracking the rare golden monkey, trekking to the top of Mount Bisoke - where lies a magnificent crater lake - and enjoying a guided walk through local communities to learn about their livelihoods and culture. Another popular activity is hiking to the tomb of American primatologist Dian Fossey who spent nearly 20 years studying gorillas in the park. This breath-taking place is the oldest national park in Africa, and offers experiences that cannot be missed by any individual visiting Rwanda.

Overnight: Bronze: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge | Silver: Bishops House | Gold: Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge

Meal Plan: B,L,D

Day 3 - Gorilla Tracking

After an early breakfast, drive to Volcanoes National Park HQs to be allocated a gorilla tracking group. After a briefing by your trackers you will drive to the trail head for the start of an amazing adventure.

The Mountain Gorillas in the Parc National des Volcanes are part of a worldwide population of just about 1000 individuals. The gorillas you are allowed to track belong to either one of four habituated family groups. For up to five years each, these groups have undergone an extremely delicate process that has gradually brought them to tolerate the presence of humans for a brief period every day and allowed a few privileged visitors to interact with them in the wild.

The gorillas are by no means tame, and are completely wild animals. However, experienced guides will accompany you on your tracking, many of who have been involved in the habituation process themselves. The guides will use their knowledge of the gorillas’ habits and information from the previous day to locate the group’s whereabouts.

Once the gorillas are located, you will be allowed a maximum of one hour with them. This is one of the world’s truly memorable experiences – a look into one of these magnificent creatures’ eyes brings home the bond that exists between them and us. It also brings home the poignant fact that they are on the edge of extinction, and that our presence here contributes to ensuring their continued survival.

Afterwards, you trek back to base where your driver will be waiting to take you back to the lodge for a well-deserved shower and lunch.

In the afternoon, you have the option to visit Ibyiwacu Cultural Center. This center is a non-profit organisation that aims to improve the lives of reformed poachers. Whilst here you will see a replica of the Kings house, have a taste of the local banana beer and meet and interact with the local people. 

Overnight: Bronze: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge | Silver: Bishops House | Gold: Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge

Meal Plan: B,L,D

Day 4 - Golden Monkey Tracking - Twin Lakes

After your breakfast at your hotel, you will be picked by your driver guide from your lodge, and drive to the park headquarters where you will be briefed and escorted to track the Golden Monkeys.

The Golden Monkeys are also an endangered species and the park is currently home to two habituated golden monkey troops which consist of approximately 40 members each. The troops live in the bamboo forests at the base of the volcanoes and the tracking experience is very similar to the gorilla tracking experience. There will be no more than eight guests tracking and the departure time is 07:00.

The golden moneys are very active creatures and spend a lot of time up in the bamboo forest jumping between the trees which can make them difficult to photograph. However this is a rare and delightful experience and one not to be missed whilst in Rwanda.

In the afternoon, choose to explore the twin lakes on a walk followed by a canoe with a sundowner on board (additional cost).

Overnight: Bronze: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge | Silver: Bishops House | Gold: Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge

Meal Plan: B,L,D

Day 5 - Fly to Serengeti National Park

Set out for Kigali early this morning to catch the mid day flight to the Serengeti. Arrive in the afternoon and do a short game drive to the property.

One of the world's last great wildlife refuges, the Serengeti, stretches between the Ngorongoro Highlands and Lake Victoria.  The name comes from the Maasai word siringet, meaning "endless plains". The Serengeti's 14,763 square kms contains about three million large animals, many of them taking part in seasonal migrations, unparalleled in nature.

Every year, triggered by the rains, 1.3 million wildebeest, 200,000 zebra and 300,000 Thomson's gazelle gather to undertake the long trek to new grazing lands. The migration of the herbivores roughly defines the boundaries of Serengeti National Park, which is the central zone of the Serengeti ecosystem, an area that also takes in Kenya's Maasai Mara National Reserve, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and the Maswa Game Reserve in the west.

Overnight: Bronze: Kubu Kubu | Silver: Siringit Serengeti | Gold: Lemala Nanyukie

Meal Plan: B,L,D

Day 6 & 7 - Serengeti National Park

Spend the next two days exploring the Serengeti National Park on morning and afternoon game drives. There is the chance to do an early morning balloon safari (additional cost).

Overnight: Bronze: Kubu Kubu | Silver: Siringit Serengeti | Gold: Lemala Nanyukie

Meal Plan: B,L,D

Day 8 - Fly to Manyara

Fly to the Lake Manyara Airstrip and transfer to the hotel for an afternoon at leisure.

Overnight: Bronze: Kitela Lodge | Silver: The Retreat at Ngorongoro | Gold: Gibbs Farm

Meal Plan: B,L,D

Day 9 - Ngorongoro Crater

Set off for a full day game drive in the Ngorongoro Crater - the worlds largest unbroken caldera. Guests should keep an eye out for rhinos who call the crater their home.  The Ngorongoro Crater is a deep, volcanic crater and the largest unbroken caldera in the world. About 20 kilometers (12 miles) across, 600 meters (1,969 feet) deep and 300 square kilometers (186 square miles) in area, the Ngorongoro Crater is a breathtaking natural wonder. Within the crater rim large herds of zebra and wildebeest graze nearby while sleeping lions laze in the sun. At dawn, the endangered black rhino returns to the thick cover of the crater forests after grazing on dew-laden grass in the morning mist. Just outside the crater's ridge, tall Maasai herd their cattle and goats over green pastures living alongside the wildlife as they have for centuries. 

Overnight: Bronze: Kitela Lodge | Silver: The Retreat at Ngorongoro | Gold: Gibbs Farm

Meal Plan: B,L,D

Day 10 - Drive to Arusha and Depart

Drive to Arusha and relax in a day room before being transferred to Kilimanjaro International Airport for the flight home.

Overnight:

Meal Plan: B